2020 COAS Pigskin Pick 'Em: Week 11

The coalition returns as we advance to Week 11, and I finally got a little bit of momentum again.

After a few weeks of struggles while Adam went on a heater, he cooled off a bit this week, allowing me to take five of our seven disputed games and close the gap. Despite my strong showing, Adam remains in first place in the group, bearing in mind that on ESPN, he and I both have one more point than we should. You can view correct standings, as well as how we've picked in relation to each other here.

We're coming up on Thanksgiving week, which I'm hoping to do something special for, but for now, Adam and I once again disagree on seven games out of the 14 to be played this week.

Thursday Night

Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks (-3.5)

Lucas: Cardinals. I wanted to call Adam lucky for his hero pick of the Cardinals this past week, but I mean... this isn't luck. This is some Aaron Rodgers-esque s***. And with Seattle in a bit of a freefall, I'll take this combo, thank you.

Adam: Cardinals. I can just imagine this is what Kingsbury was thinking during the post-game presser when he was being asked about the touchdown.

Sunday, Early Afternoon

Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints (-4.5)
Lucas: Saints. Break out the crab legs, we're gonna have those with our side of W's.

Adam: Falcons. Brees minus a lung I would take here, but alas it will not be the case.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Washington Football Team (-1.5)

Lucas: Bengals. I feel like this could go either way, but I think I have more faith in Joe Burrow than I do in Alex Smith, even though dude looked good in his first start in two years.

Adam: Bengals. I started off with two road dogs, so why not make it a trifecta? Kevin and the gang are a better team than “The Team.” Haha saying that make me thing of one of my favorite comedy sketch called “The Machine.” Watch it, pee your pants, thank me later.

Lucas note: I watched this with Adam a few years back and can confirm. Also, obligatory editor's note that the video contains NSFW language, which is why it's not embedded into the post.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Cleveland Browns (-3.5)

Lucas: Browns. We're still on the upswing part of the Baker Mayfield Cycle, right?

Adam: Eagles. May have been a bit premature on the Mayfield cycle, plus the weather did not help last week. But screw you to Cubby boy screwing me out of my hero pick last week, may you get injured again; but not too back, just a little.
Lucas note: Running backs taking a knee at the one: screwing over fantasy owners and gamblers since time immemorial.

Detroit Lions @ Carolina Panthers (-1.5)

Lucas: Panthers. I'm sorry, if you almost choke to THE FOOTBALL TEAM before Matt Prater bails you out, you deserve to get picked against, especially against a scrappy Carolina squad.

Adam: Lions. This comes down to if Stafford can do anything. I'm a little surprised that the line is not flipped (meaning Lions being favored), which is exactly why I will be happy to take the points.

Tennessee Titans @ Baltimore Ravens (-6.5)

Lucas: Ravens. This isn't the AFC Divisional Round. Baltimore's offense should be better now that they're out of the monsoon conditions we saw in Foxboro on Sunday night, and... I never thought I'd base a pick on a team's punting game, but the Titans did not do The Brand any favors last week.

Adam: Ravens. Everyone is entitled to a blow up, "WTF was that" type of game. That was last week for the Ravens. They will bounce back nicely at home. That said, not loving having to give almost a touchdown, but I see that being the spread, seven points.

New England Patriots @ Houston Texans (+2.5)

Lucas: Patriots. The Pats are starting to figure things out even though they only have like five passing touchdowns this season, and going up against a Houston team that's still kind of a dumpster fire as they try to undo the damage left by Bill O'Brien, they should continue to get back on track.

Adam: Texans. Here is a team that just cannot seem to catch a break. They've had some decent games where they came up just short, and other than last week's egg, have averaged over 20 points a game. Mrs. Newton will fall back to earth and the Texans eke out a squeaker.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Jacksonville Jaguars (+9.5)

Lucas: Jaguars. I'm gonna call trap game. The Steelers are unbeaten, sure, but it hasn't always been pretty, and they have a tendency to play down to competition. Combine this with the fact that the Jags are kinda scrappy, plus the history, and I'm taking the points.

Adam: Steelers. Why not? The Steelers are rolling, and Claypool, as much as I hate Notre Dame, is a stud of a WR.

Sunday, Late Afternoon

Miami Dolphins @ Denver Broncos (+3.5)

Lucas: Dolphins. Guess the Tua Empire will be expanding to Denver this week. Can't believe I only have to lay three and a half.

Adam: Dolphins. Tua, Tua, Tua, Tua. The Jamokes on the Fan in Dallas were having a serious conversation about if the Fins have a top 5 pick should they consider drafting a QB. SERIOUSLY.
Lucas note: Well, from what you've told me, the bar of the talking heads at The Fan is pretty low. I get that the 2021 quarterback class is supposed to be stacked at the top, but still... dude has looked good. Either get Tua some help in the top five should you stay there, or trade down and get a king's ransom!

New York Jets @ Los Angeles Chargers (-8.5)

Lucas: Jets. I know it's the Jets, but the Chargers should not be this big of favorites against anyone. Not with their propensity to choke.

Adam: Jets. Who doesn’t like a good challenge? Flacco is the QB now. WOW. Jets to not only cover, but win straight in a fantastic game.

Dallas Cowboys @ Minnesota Vikings (-7.5)

Lucas: Vikings. Look, I'm all for Dalvin Cook going bonkers on these guys, but the real story here comes from Reddit, where there's a campaign to get Yannick Ngakoue (now of the Ravens, I know) to the Pro Bowl, which increases the draft compensation the Vikings have to give up. Time to vote spam.

Adam: Vikings. MOOOOOO.

Green Bay Packers @ Indianapolis Colts (-2.5)

Lucas: Packers. Honestly, this game scares me. Green Bay barely beat Jacksonville last week, and the Jags' defense gave the Packers some fits, which Indy could easily do too. But the Colts have a subpar rushing attack, and Green Bay was down both of its starting corners this past week. I think they'll be fine.

Adam: Packers. So the Packers are 2.5 point favorites here... *inaudible whispering off mic to someone* *audible gasp of shock* Ahem, check that, the Packers are actually *stops to confirm again* 2.5 point dogs. In that case... SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY.

Sunday Night

Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders (+6.5)

Lucas: Raiders. So hold up. Vegas wins the opening matchup between these two... at Arrowhead... and they're a touchdown underdog at home? Gimme dem points.

Adam: Raiders. I wonder who will wear their mask better tomorrow: Gruden in his “So what we have here is the Tampa 2” or Reid in his “I just want a cheeseburger”

Monday Night

Los Angeles Rams @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3.5)

Lucas: Buccaneers. Should be a good one; happy birthday to me.

Adam: Rams. I’m taking the Rams; not because of offense on either team, because of the Ram's D. Also over/under on how many more weeks Brown is on the team after his assault on the cameras? Line set at 1.5 more games, I’ll take the over, but just slightly.
Lucas note: Put me down for the over too. I don't think we're at full blown diva territory yet.

Records So Far
Lucas: 75-72 (9-5 last week)
Adam: 78-69 (6-8 last week)
Joe: 65-82 (6-8 last week)
Geoffrey: 75-72 (5-9 last week)
Jim: 73-74 (7-7 last week)