I'm okay, I guess, with how I closed out the first half of the season. I'm not thrilled that Adam took four of our six disputed games last week, but I am happy that I did well enough that I'm now tied for second in the group with Geoffrey and behind just Adam for the group lead, even if the gap is widening a little bit.
You can view how we've all picked in relation to each other here. Adam's big advantage has come in the fact that he has almost half of the group's total hero picks, and he's hit on half of those; he's also done really well in minority picks (where just he and one other of us have gotten that game right). We're also doing pretty well when we all come to a consensus.
The other fun thing this week: after some bullying persuading, we finally talked Joe into joining the column. I'm not sure if this will be a permanent thing or not, but given his enjoyment of the memes over our group text, I'm glad he's finally sharing his wit with all of you.
This week, Adam and I disagree on five games out of 14, Joe and I on four, and Adam and Joe on seven. Let's get to it!
Thursday Night
Baltimore Ravens @ Miami Dolphins (+7.5)
Lucas: Ravens. I look forward to my Thursday win streak getting snapped at one when Miami backdoor covers this game.
Adam: Dolphins. If Tua plays, especially at home, I don’t see the Ravens winning by more than a touchdown. Maybe some last second heroics by Tucker.
Joe: Ravens. Easy pick, not much to say on that front.
Sunday, Early Afternoon
Atlanta Falcons @ Dallas Cowboys (-9.5)
Lucas: Falcons. The Falcons have had multiple opportunities this season to Falcon and... haven't Falconed? What universe are we in? Given that, plus the Cowboys maybe finally coming back down to earth means I'm taking the points and bringing back Ol' Reliable.
Joe: Falcons. The way Dallas played against the Broncos, and the result of last years game in Dallas, I like the points here. I don’t think 105.3 The Fanboys thinks they are an elite team anymore.
New Orleans Saints @ Tennessee Titans (-3.5)
Lucas: Titans. I think they can tread water at least for now; last week proved that.
Adam: Saints. Tennessee won last week becase Stafford forgot he was not in Detroit any longer... the Titans' defense won that game. I just don’t see the same here. Call it a gut feeling, but I see the Saints winning outright.
Joe: Titans. I get the points at home here.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts (-10.5)
Lucas: Jaguars. I know it's the Jags, but I don't think the Colts should be double digit favorites even though I totally got away with it last week. This one we have to be careful of though: Tony Corrente is reffing this game, so you know some [expletive] is going to go down here. Dude is the NFL's equivalent of Angel Hernandez and needs to be fired.
Adam: Jaguars. When I read “Jags vs Colts,” I feel like I need to have my Micro Machines running around in the dirt with obnoxious graphics and gratuitous firework explosions. Weird, I know. Jags cover.
Joe: Jaguars. Sunshine gets a win against Glass Knees Wentz.
Cleveland Browns @ New England Patriots (-1.5)
Lucas: Patriots. Calling for a letdown game after Cleveland curbstomped the Bengals last week. Oh God, the Patriots are going to steal the AFC East from the Bills, aren't they.
Adam: Browns. Oh the Baker cycle. Sky point for the win last week. This week he will look more pedestrian but will squeak out the win.
Joe: Browns. I think with OBJ gone and that drama off of Mayfield, he gets a good win here in New England.
Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets (+13.5)
Lucas: Jets. New York seems to finally be figuring things out regardless of who's taking snaps, and the Bills are arguably the biggest disappointment of the first half. Getting two touchdowns at home with Mike Freaking White starting? LET'S GO!
Adam: Bills. The Jags beat the Bills, so the overreaction here would be to expect the Jets to do the same. Yes, Mike White is playing for the Jets, so he could be the magic mojo they need. But I think the Bills come out hungry and trounce the Jets.
Joe: Jets. New York at home and White behind center? I like this pick.
Detroit Lions @ Pittsburgh Steelers (-9.5)
Lucas: Lions. Pittsburgh should not have won that game. I mean, maybe they should have, but they got a heavy dose of Tony Corrente being Tony Corrente, and I will not get off this soapbox that Corrente needs to be fired. Better yet: have him trade jobs with one of the TV officiating analysts, but let them keep their respective paychecks because Corrente doesn't deserve a windfall for being a buffoon.
Adam: Lions. Here is another prime game for another overreaction; my gut says lay the wood and roll with the Steelers. But the they did get every, I mean Every, no seriously EVERY break Monday night against my Bears.
Joe: Steelers. They should have gotten an L on Monday Night Football against a team they haven't beaten since 2005. I guess the check cleared. Going against a 0-8 Lions team? Easy points here.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Washington Football Team (+9.5)
Lucas: Buccaneers. Watch Brady get OBJ too and just have an embarassment of riches with his weapons.
Adam: Buccaneers. Not much to say here. Touchdown Tom to the rescue.
Joe: Buccaneers. Easy win for Brady here. The Bucs are going to go off on the WFT.
Sunday, Late Afternoon
Carolina Panthers @ Arizona Cardinals (-10.5)
Lucas note: Hang on, I'm gonna let Adam go first so my joke flows better.
Adam: Cardinals. Should we also give Carolina a 10 pt. head start. If they put Darnold on the field, they are really only playing 10 guys…so…maybe ghosts?
Lucas: Cardinals.
Couldn’t even complete a fracture https://t.co/7B3ajX1tO7
— Mike Renner (@PFF_Mike) November 10, 2021
Joe: Cardinals. Arizona at home is a dangerous team. I see the Cardinals winning here by two touchdowns.
Minnesota Vikings @ Los Angeles Chargers (-2.5)
Lucas: Chargers. Hey, is Minneapolis on fire yet from Vikings fans wanting Mike Zimmer gone or nah?
Adam: Vikings. This is a gut play. Minnesota has close losses to Dallas and the Ravens; they are right there. So I'm going to take the points and hope Cousins can throw better than he did during his gender reveal.
Joe: Chargers. With the drama going on this week in Vikingland and the way the Chargers have been playing, I see a good win here at home. The Chargers have always been that team everyone forgets about, then they get into a playoff spot. A win here will get the sports media buzzing about this team.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Denver Broncos (-2.5)
Lucas: Eagles. I was about to write something about the Broncos getting an inflated record from playing Tank Division, but I know they're not that good, and the Eagles seem to sometimes put things together a little bit. I'll take the points on a gamble here.
Adam: Eagles. I know how much the heads of the Dallas radio jamokes will explode if Philly beats Denver, who just put a spanking on the Cowgirls the week before.
Joe: Broncos. They do it again and beat another awful NFC East team by 10.
Seattle Seahawks @ Green Bay Packers (-3.5)
Lucas: Packers. I reserve the right to use one of my mulligans here if Rodgers (who, yes, is an idiot and should have either should have gotten vaccinated or not misled everyone about it with that whole "I'm immunized" statement in his presser months ago and actually followed protocol... preferably the former) still can't go. This isn't a vote of no confidence in Jordan Love; he did okay in his first start given the circumstances. It's more an indictment of Maurice Drayton, who needs to be fired because the Packers' special teams are incompetent aside from the Silver Fox (most of the time) and our new boomstick in Christian Bojorquez until Drayton ruins him the way J.K. Scott got ruined.
Adam: Packers. I really want to pick Seattle so I don’t have to support K-A-A-Ron and clever use of the work “immunize”. Alas, here I am. Even with Wilson back, on the road Seattle loses.
Joe: Packers. Russ is back for the Seahawks after the finger injury, but I don’t see him being 100% coming back to beat a 7-2 Packers team in Green Bay.
Sunday Night
Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders (+2.5)
Lucas: Raiders. I can't believe I'm picking a cluster[expletive] of an organization who had arguably the worst draft ever (2020), but here we are. This is more of an indictment of a Chiefs team that had some struggles putting away a Green Bay team without Aaron Rodgers. Keep Jackson Mahomes away from every Vegas nightclub and shut down his TikTok.
Adam: Raiders. I mean, how is Kansas City favored? Sid the Kid will out shine Mahomie. Too bad I didn’t see anything from Brittney this week, I wonder what she is up to...
Joe: Chiefs. I know that when Kansas City plays the Raiders, it can go both ways. This is a rivalry game. I see the Chiefs getting a win in Vegas by 6. You can bet on that.
Monday Night
Los Angeles Rams @ San Francisco 49ers (+3.5)
Lucas: Rams. Imminent bounceback game for Matthew Stafford. He was bound to have a Detroit game at some point, right?
Adam: Rams. This is just a pick based on overall offense and defense. I like the Rams on both sides of the ball. Laying a field goal-plus is just fine by me, even on the road.
Joe: Rams. Another 7-2 team playing a 3-5 team. The points are easy on this one. Fun fact: Robbie Gould is back for a Monday night game.
Records So Far
Lucas: 72-64 (8-6 last week)
Adam: 79-57 (10-4 last week)
Joe: 65-71 (5-9 last week)
Geoffrey: 72-64 (5-9 last week)
Jim: 68-68 (5-9 last week)
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