2018 COAS Pigskin Pick 'Em: Week 3

The coalition is chugging along as we begin Week 3 of the NFL season, and thus Week 3 of the Pigskin Pick 'Em contest!

After trailing for the entire 2017 season, I remain in the lead through two weeks in 2018 among the columnists after Adam and I split our disputed Week 2 picks. But in the overall standings, it is Kristen who finds herself as the queen of the group by two games. So far, her strategy of "Take the cat teams" has yielded positive results. You can view a breakdown of how everyone has picked compared to each other here, which also include accurate standings.

This week, we're staying at about the same pace as Adam and I disagree on seven games out of 16. Let's see if I can add to my lead.

Thursday Night

New York Jets @ Cleveland Browns (-3.5)
Lucas: Jets. Keep those beer fridges locked. The Browns have to be cursed; there's no other way to explain away that this team should be 2-0, or at least 1-1 with the loss coming in overtime at New Orleans.
Adam: Browns. This is it: this is the game. The Browns first win in over 600 days (as of game day, 9/20/18, it will be exactly 635, but who’s counting). That is 90 weeks! God, let us pray for the city of Cleveland.
Lucas note: Um... Requiem and Cleveland Pax and so forth, amen?

Sunday, Early Afternoon

New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons (-3.5)
Lucas: Saints. Taking the points and the possible upset here. I know the Saints typically struggle out of the gate, and they haven't looked great the past couple weeks, but visiting an archrival should get the blood pumping.
Adam: Saints. Not really sure here, not in love with this game. Could be a massive shootout, with Julio being left off the board of course, but other than that, not much...

Buffalo Bills @ Minnesota Vikings (-16.5)
Lucas: Vikings. I'm a little scared of this line, but with Vontae Davis quitting at halftime, a pretty high octane Minnesota offense, and Dan Bailey having roughly 16 weeks of being perfect until he gets a gimme blocked and returned 103 yards for a walkoff touchdown to blow a home playoff game, I think it's safe to lay the points here.
Adam: Vikings. So apparently the Bills are so bad that players are just throwing in the towel at half time, which has led to the greatest promotion of all time. It will be EPIC, EPIC, EPIC. So the promo allows fans to leave at half time and get their money back if the team is being slaughtered (defined as 14 or more points). I say the line is perfect and I want to see the stands after this promo pays out!
Adam note: So technically this is not until October 7 if it even happens, but who cares, the Bills are that bad. Also, reverb, see what I did there?
Lucas note: 

Cincinnati Bengals @ Carolina Panthers (-2.5)
Lucas: Panthers. It'll be a tough first true test for Andy Dalton and company. It'll be a tougher first true test for our group leader, who now has to choose between cat teams but will probably take the Panthers because black cats. And Matthew will probably approve.

Adam: Bengals. With Mix Master Mixon sidelined, Joker back Bernard can show us again why he was a fantasy darling in his first couple of years in the league. Cam will do Cam things, but not enough to beat Cincy.

Denver Broncos @ Baltimore Ravens (-4.5)
Lucas: Broncos. Okay, we've seen that Denver's been pretty good through two weeks, right? Why is Baltimore favored by this much? I don't think they're that good. Taking the points.
Adam: Ravens. My only interest in this game would be from a fantasy standpoint. I've got Alex Collins in a league or two and Royce Freeman in another league. Since Freeman has been taking the back seat to undrafted free agent Phillip Lindsay, I have to tip my cap to Flacco and team to cover and win at home.

Green Bay Packers @ Washington Redskins (+2.5)
Lucas: Packers. Look, you can tell me that from Tony Corrente's perspective in real time that it looked like Clay Matthews committed a penalty. But there was absolutely NOTHING wrong with his takedown of Kirk Cousins, and the fact that the NFL has since doubled down on their asinine take has me as riled up as a certain play in Seattle six years ago did. Fire Tony Corrente, fire Al Riveron, force whoever's on the competition committee to resign their seats, and fire Roger Goodell into the sun.

Adam: Packers. I bet the Packers comes out mad... really mad. But for the record, and as I have told Lucas who is probably bashing the refs right about now in his write up along with providing only the front view video clip, though I understand why folks don’t think it’s a roughing the passer (and it is a ‘weak’ call), if you watch in normal speed from the refs back view, it does look like he lifts, turns and then shoulder slams Cousins, that will get you a flag every time.
Lucas note: Here's an article with video Adam provided showing the hit from a few angles, including his crucial back view. Again, in real time, I can kind of see the argument. But A, that's a textbook form tackle that the league wants you to do where you're leading with the shoulder as opposed to the head, and B, COUSINS IS ALREADY IN THE FREAKING AIR BEFORE HE'S HIT. We need to move on before my rage breaks.

Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (-7.5)
Lucas: Titans. Given the line and Jacksonville finally beating a Tom Brady-led Patriot team, I'll take the points and the probability of a letdown game.
Adam: Jaguars. Seems like they may be the real deal this year. If Fournette can get back healthy, this team... dare I say?... could have Super Bowl thoughts in their heads.

Indianapolis Colts @ Philadelphia Eagles (-6.5)
Lucas: Eagles. BAH GAWD, THAT'S CARSON WENTZ'S MUSIC!

Adam: Colts. Hey Philly, where’s your Special now?! You just lost to Ryan Fitzpatrick... who’s a BOSS.

San Francisco 49ers @ Kansas City Chiefs (-6.5)
Lucas: Chiefs. Explosive offense going up against a somewhat struggling West Coast team with a noon start? Yes please.
Adam: 49ers. Mahomes was ridic’ last week. And this game could easily get way out of hand if that continues this week, but I am going to bet on a regression to the mean and go with he will not have six touchdown tosses. I’ll take the 6.5 points.
Lucas note: So if there's a regression to the mean... five touchdown passes?

Oakland Raiders @ Miami Dolphins (-3.5)
Lucas: Dolphins. If I may make a suggestion, Jon: build a time machine, go back three weeks, nix the Khalil Mack trade, and pay the man? That would probably fix your pass rushing woes.

Adam: Dolphins. This just in: the Raiders Defense is just waking up from a long nap and realizes their best player, better than all of them combined anyway, is no longer on the team. All players go back to sleep. Miami should have their way.

New York Giants @ Houston Texans (-5.5)
Lucas: Texans. I'm not really thrilled with either team, and I don't really like laying this many on a Texans team that has struggled out of the gate. But they're facing a Giants team that hasn't gotten off to a good start either, and since the Giants struggled against one good AFC South defense already, why wouldn't the same be true with the second?
Adam: Texans. Not much good to say about the G-Men. Manning spent an awful lot of time on his rear... and I don’t see that improving.
Adam note: I saw the G-Men’s busses driving to AT&T stadium outside of Dallas last week before the Sunday night game. My wife was confused and wondered who could be so important to get a police escort. I told her it was nobody just the Giants going to play the Cowboys.
Luce note: Ah yes... the athlete police escort. The bane of TMQ's existence for years.

Sunday, Late Afternoon

Los Angeles Chargers @ Los Angeles Rams (-6.5)
Lucas: Rams. Wanna bet the stadium's gonna be half empty for the First Quadrennial Battle of Los Angeles, even though both teams are probably good, with the Rams being better?
Adam: Rams. So technically isn’t this a home game for the Chargers too? Whatever, doesn’t matter. The Rams' high-octane offense will unload a wrath upon the Chargers. The Goff/Gurley/Cooks combo is deadly.

Chicago Bears @ Arizona Cardinals (+4.5)
Lucas: Bears. Sam Bradford's gonna get killed. Most likely suspect: that dude in white, orange, and blue wearing number 52 who keeps scaring me.
Adam: Bears. Now I am not going to tell you that the Bears offense is on the level of the Rams, but the Bears' D is Solid and only getting better. I do not see how the Bears don’t crush DJ and team.

Lucas note: Adam sent this with the caption "Best shirt ever." This is pretty good, but there's a big lack of blessing the rains down in Africa here...

Dallas Cowboys @ Seattle Seahawks (-2.5)
Lucas: Cowboys. I look forward to Adam posting the exact same picture with his pick for this game.

Adam: Cowboys. I know it didn’t take much to beat up on the G-Men, but Dallas looks to have found some level of competent play. Combine that with a weak Seattle team means Elliot will feast. I am going to say Elliot end with 16-125-2 on the ground and add another 5 catches for 40 yards in the air.
Lucas note: ...I am disappoint.

Sunday Night

New England Patriots @ Detroit Lions (+6.5)
Lucas: Patriots. The Lions are bad and the Patriots are thinking revenge. I'm sure Belichick kept some new wrinkle in reserve for his first game against his old defensive coordinator too.
Adam: Lions. Adam here reporting from the weather desk in Detroit. Sunday night looks like it will be overcast with just a bit of low fog. Wait, please hold... this just in, the Patriots to bring newly acquired WR Josh Gordon. It is NOT fog, but in fact a layer of smoke left behind by Gordon’s bong.
Lucas note: BAH GAWD, THAT'S JOSH GORDON'S MUSIC AGAIN!

Monday Night

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1.5)
Lucas: Buccaneers. HOW AM I GETTING POINTS WITH FITZMAGIC AGAINST THE TELENOVELA THAT IS THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS?!

Adam: Buccaneers. Bell's not showing up yet, AB wants a trade... who really wants to play for Pitt anymore? Besides, how can you beat a balla’ such as Fitzpatrick?
Lucas note: You can't.

Records So Far
Lucas: 18-14 (8-8 last week)
Adam: 15-17 (8-8 last week)
Geoffrey: 16-16 (7-9 last week)
Joe: 16-16 (6-10 last week)
Aiden: 14-18 (7-9 last week)
Kristen: 20-12 (11-5 last week)
Jen: 13-19 (6-10 last week)