It was a decent week for most of us. Adam and I split our six disputed games, while he and I each took three of five from Joe. The slow week though knocked Adam out of first place, though he is just a game off the lead behind Jim. A total of eight games separates the entire group, so we're all doing fairly well.
You can view how we've all picked in relation to each other here. It was not a good week for hero picks, though superminority folks had a pretty good day. Ultimately my struggles in these 5-2 split games on both sides is a big part of why I'm six games off the pace.
As we move onward, Adam's taking a shot at extending his lead as he and I disagree on eight games and he and Joe on six. Joe and I, meanwhile, have major groupthink as we only dispute two. Let's get to it!
Thursday Night
Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (-5.5)
Lucas: Ravens. Cincy's not bad, but I don't think they'll be able to get enough stops against this Baltimore offense.
Adam: Ravens. Fresh off beating up the Broncos, the Ravens come back and beat up on the Bengals.
Joe: Ravens.
Sunday Morning
New York Giants vs Carolina Panthers (+4.5)
Lucas: Panthers. Deutschland, es tut mir so leid für dieses abscheuliche Fußballspiel, mit dem Sie sich auseinandersetzen müssen.
Adam: Giants. Maybe I should give the win to the Panthers for their absolute fleecing of Jerra for a generally unknown WR named Mingo, but that’s an off the field win. On the field Giants are the better team and will show it in what may be the dumpster fire bowl of the year.
Joe: Panthers.
Sunday, Early Afternoon
New England Patriots @ Chicago Bears (-6.5)
Lucas: Patriots. Look, I think the Bears will find a way to pull this out; they're at home, but I'm gonna take the points because the Bears are a horribly coached team. Eberflus will last the season before getting canned, the McCaskey's will find some excuse not to hire the fans' desired successor in Ben Johnson, whoever the new hire is will ruin Caleb Williams, and we'll repeat this cycle again.
Adam: Bears. 6.5 Seems like a healthly line. I would like it lower, but I see the Bears rebounding after two weeks of poor showings and beating up on the Pats who are LiteMayo?!?! Sorry, would probably be a better joke for Tennessee.
Joe: Bears.
Buffalo Bills @ Indianapolis Colts (+3.5)
Lucas: Bills. Go figure, we sing the praises of Joe Flacco the Elite, and he regresses to the mean. Naturally, we go back to the wild card that is Anthony Richardson, which isn't going to be enough against this Bills team.
Adam: Bills. How is this a line? These types of lines always make me go, ”What do the oddsmakers know that I don’t?” which is probably something exceedingly obvious which I am sure Lucas will razz me on below. But seriously, this line...
Lucas note: Honestly, I got nothing. And I think the sharps seem to agree, as from the little bit of digging I've done the line has pushed up a point to Buffalo -4.5, maybe even -5. ESPN locks these in on Tuesday morning, so I'll take the hopefully free point.
Joe: Bills.
Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs (-9.5)
Lucas: Broncos. Kansas City is going to get burned one of these weeks. Maybe once they actually call a false start.
Lucas note: I should be clear that I'm not saying the games are rigged; the Chiefs are getting breaks and it happens. But regression to the mean is due at some point.I GOT TWO FOR YA! 😭 https://t.co/qJLhcittHr pic.twitter.com/PQu6gNNBau
— Austin Perkins (@saustinperkins) November 5, 2024
Adam: Broncos. KC cannot win by more than 7. That’s it, plain and simple. They only are able to beat in OT an Evans and Godwin-less Tampa at home! OK, I get it, it was raining and Mahomies did “blow out his achilles” and then return as if nothing happened...
Joe: Broncos.
Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints (+3.5)
Lucas: Falcons. Even though this was due, it probably doesn't solve the core issue. Also, this is hilarious.
Adam: Saints. “I’m the freakin’ Pope”. The Saints have been blessed; it is done.
Joe: Falcons.
San Francisco 49ers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+5.5)
Lucas: Buccaneers. I mean, if I'm getting points against an injured to hell Niners team, I'm gonna take them.
Adam: 49ers. Run CMC? Maybe? All 1st overall draft pick fantasy owners who are 1-8 or 2-7 are praying for miracles.
Joe: Buccaneers.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Washington Commanders (-2.5)
Lucas: Commanders. I could probably have gone either way here. I'll take newest Commander Marshon Lattimore to lock down Pickens, and as long as the High End TalentTM doesn't show up to save the day I should be good.
Adam: Steelers. A close game that could go either way. There is just always some juju in Pittsburgh. When was their last losing season? Certainly not guaranteed at this point, as their back half looks dicey with both against Baltimore, one against the Eagles and one against KC, but still, they always seem to find a way.
Lucas note: For reference, 2003 was their last losing season, and even that was 6-10. Incredible consistency. The [expletive] is real.
Joe: Commanders.
Minnesota Vikings @ Jacksonville Jaguars (+4.5)
Lucas: Vikings. We're due for a continued bounceback at this point, probably. Although I'm sure Sam Darnold would like to stop getting his head nearly taken off with the league turning a blind eye to it.
Adam: Vikings. I saw a report that Sunshine may be hurting…yeah when you get paid millions and are sitting at 2-7 I am sure you are hurting…
Joe: Vikings.
Sunday, Late Afternoon
Tennessee Titans @ Los Angeles Chargers (-7.5)
Lucas: Chargers. LA's quietly been a pretty good team so far this year. Obviously just a setup to pain when it matters most, but still.
Adam: Titans. So, I originally had the Rams here because I misidentified the logo. Was like SD not LA... Rams, ok Rams win. But then I realized when I was getting ready to write my Monday night pick I had the Rams again, lol. SO came back here and rewrite my pick from the Rams to Tennessee as I think the touchdown-plus is just a touch too much for the Chargers to lay.
Joe: Chargers.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys (+7.5)
Lucas: Eagles. Dak being out for a significant chunk of time hurts, not that him being healthy would have made a difference in the bigger picture. I just want to see if Saquon can find a way to top this.
Adam: Heiferladies Cowboys. Jerra said he was “going to make a big move at the trade deadline.” Apparently that was just selling the farm to get a meh receiver that no one has heard of. But hey, Dak is injured so now you can play your better QB who is 5-1 for all his starts. I’ll give them the W straight too just to give them hope.
Joe: Eagles.
New York Jets @ Arizona Cardinals (-0.5)
Lucas: Cardinals. Partially continued solidarity, partially because I can't wait for the storyline where Don Aaron reveals that the Stroudwriter has secretly been in control this whole time.
Lucas note: Rodgers still has another five years on his current deal, though I could see him getting cut before the 2026 season for cap savings (and then potential renegotiation). Tae has four years left on his deal, with big cap savings if he gets cut before either of the next two seasons.
Joe: Jets.
Sunday Night
Detroit Lions @ Houston Texans (+3.5)
Lucas: Lions. Detroit has to be the favorite to come out of the NFC at this point, right?
Adam: Lions. Earlier in the year I would have tagged this as a must watch. And it still will be a must watch as it is Sunday Night Football, but maybe not the nail biting battle we all want. Detroit will get out early and cruise to a easy cover.
Joe: Lions.
Monday Night
Miami Dolphins @ Los Angeles Rams (-2.5)
Lucas: Rams. Another week, and Tua is still going. He isn't risking it (mostly), but he's keeping the Dolphins in the game. I think the Rams will take care of business by enough in this one though.
Adam: Rams. This could go either way, but taking the home team with all the weapons back over Tua "I'm a Touch Away from Not Playing Again" Tagovialoa.
Joe: Rams.
Records So Far
Lucas: 70-68 (7-8 last week)
Adam: 75-63 (7-8 last week)
Joe: 68-70 (6-9 last week)
Geoffrey: 74-64 (8-7 last week)
Jim: 76-62 (8-7 last week)
John: 73-65 (10-5 last week)
Matthew: 68-70 (9-6 last week)
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