
Happy Halloween, everyone!
We’ve spent a good chunk of the day getting ready for the trick-or-treaters. As I usually do, I’ll be handing out the treats tonight. I love to see the kids in their costumes, having fun. Seeing them out with their parents reminds me of when my own girls were little.
For any of you grown up ghouls who are venturing out to for a little adult Halloween fun this weekend, have fun, stay safe, and don’t overdo it on the “treats.”
Sunday is All Souls’ Day, the last of the traditional three-day celebration known in many cultures as the Day of the Dead. Fitting, since, even though it’s only Week 9, some of these teams’ playoff hopes are already under two yards of fresh dirt.
Last week, I went 9-6, more than enough to better Mr. Silver’s 6-9. Perhaps he’ll do better with this week’s schedule of only 13 games. He is 77 years old, after all.
Sunday
Buccaneers at Browns
The string of extremely winnable games continues for the Browns, after losing to the Jags and beating the Raiders. As long as Cleveland doesn’t catch themselves looking ahead to their Thursday Night matchup against Cincinnati they should be fine. Winner: Browns
Cardinals at Cowboys
Well, he did it again. Who did what? Jerry Jones went down to the sidelines during a close game. Hey, I know, he’s a billionaire, he owns the team and he can do whatever he wants, but he’s been pulling this crap for years. If you want to have a successful organization, you hire good people and let them do their jobs. Dallas has good coaches, and has had other good ones in the past, but their rich, egomaniac boss can’t stop sticking his nose into things at crucial times. He puts everyone on edge. He’s the reason that the Cowboys haven’t been able to field a winning squad since the one assembled by the only coach who ever had the balls to stand up to Jones: Jimmy Johnson. After the Cowboys lose to the Cards this Sunday, I expect the tension in Dallas to rise. Lose, you say? Yeah, lose, I say. Tony Romo got hit pretty hard last week and had to come out of the game for a while, and Dallas is playing on less rest than Arizona due to having played on Monday night. Arizona has thrived on defence this season, despite adjusting to losing key players, because their extremely talented secondary allows them to devote extra personnel to getting pressure on opposing QBs. So, to sum up, talented secondary/blitzing defence vs. banged-up (and post back surgery) Tony Romo/short week. Sounds like a recipe for disaster for Dallas. Winner: Cardinals
Eagles at Texans
Philly lost a tough one in Arizona last week, but are still playing very well. If they can contain JJ Watt and avoid turnovers they should exit Houston with a victory. Winner: Eagles
Jets at Chiefs
KC still looks like a playoff-calibre team to me, while the Jets look like they’re headed for a last-place finish in the AFC East. Winner: Chiefs
Jaguars at Bengals
Even though Cincy is coming off a hard-fought win against Baltimore, and are gearing up to face Cleveland on Thursday night, making this game an obvious candidate for a trap game-type scenario, the Bengals would have to screw up pretty badly to lose to the Jags at home. Winner: Bengals
Chargers at Dolphins
With the way Miami has been playing defence and running the ball of late, I am sorely tempted to pick them. However, I expect the Chargers to bounce back after two straight tough losses, due in no small part to them welcoming Dwight Freeney and Brandon Flowers back to practice this week. Winner: Chargers
Washington at Vikings
Not much really to choose from here. RGIII might play. He’ll face a pretty good pass rush if he does. Winner: Vikings
Rams at 49ers
San Fran should be well-rested after their week off, and should be able to handle the spirited but overmatched Rams. Winner: 49ers
Broncos at Patriots
I hope this one lives up to its “game of the week of the year”-type billing. It’s certainly an intriguing matchup. Our two marquee QBs have plenty of receiving talent at their disposal, and will be facing off against good defences. I’d give Denver the edge in receiving depth, but what Rob Gronkowski does to opposing defences is matched by few players in the league. The Pats at home swings the balance for me. Winner: Patriots
Raiders at Seahawks
A big win by the home team will make the fans momentarily forget that the struggling Seahawks are not going to be repeating as champs. Winner: Seahawks
Ravens at Steelers
Despite the air show Roethlisberger put on last week against the Colts, I still think that the Ravens are the better team, and will bring Big Ben back to earth this week. Winner: Ravens
Monday Night
Colts at Giants
The Giants say not to count them out, and I never would, but they’re facing an Indy team that got absolutely smoked last week, and will be out to prove they’re better than that. Andrew Luck on Monday Night Football= fireworks. Winner: Colts
Mr. Silver’s Picks
Buccaneers
Cowboys
Eagles
Chiefs
Bengals
Chargers
Vikings
Rams
Broncos
Raiders
Steelers
Giants
We’ve spent a good chunk of the day getting ready for the trick-or-treaters. As I usually do, I’ll be handing out the treats tonight. I love to see the kids in their costumes, having fun. Seeing them out with their parents reminds me of when my own girls were little.
For any of you grown up ghouls who are venturing out to for a little adult Halloween fun this weekend, have fun, stay safe, and don’t overdo it on the “treats.”
Sunday is All Souls’ Day, the last of the traditional three-day celebration known in many cultures as the Day of the Dead. Fitting, since, even though it’s only Week 9, some of these teams’ playoff hopes are already under two yards of fresh dirt.
Last week, I went 9-6, more than enough to better Mr. Silver’s 6-9. Perhaps he’ll do better with this week’s schedule of only 13 games. He is 77 years old, after all.
Sunday
Buccaneers at Browns
The string of extremely winnable games continues for the Browns, after losing to the Jags and beating the Raiders. As long as Cleveland doesn’t catch themselves looking ahead to their Thursday Night matchup against Cincinnati they should be fine. Winner: Browns
Cardinals at Cowboys
Well, he did it again. Who did what? Jerry Jones went down to the sidelines during a close game. Hey, I know, he’s a billionaire, he owns the team and he can do whatever he wants, but he’s been pulling this crap for years. If you want to have a successful organization, you hire good people and let them do their jobs. Dallas has good coaches, and has had other good ones in the past, but their rich, egomaniac boss can’t stop sticking his nose into things at crucial times. He puts everyone on edge. He’s the reason that the Cowboys haven’t been able to field a winning squad since the one assembled by the only coach who ever had the balls to stand up to Jones: Jimmy Johnson. After the Cowboys lose to the Cards this Sunday, I expect the tension in Dallas to rise. Lose, you say? Yeah, lose, I say. Tony Romo got hit pretty hard last week and had to come out of the game for a while, and Dallas is playing on less rest than Arizona due to having played on Monday night. Arizona has thrived on defence this season, despite adjusting to losing key players, because their extremely talented secondary allows them to devote extra personnel to getting pressure on opposing QBs. So, to sum up, talented secondary/blitzing defence vs. banged-up (and post back surgery) Tony Romo/short week. Sounds like a recipe for disaster for Dallas. Winner: Cardinals
Eagles at Texans
Philly lost a tough one in Arizona last week, but are still playing very well. If they can contain JJ Watt and avoid turnovers they should exit Houston with a victory. Winner: Eagles
Jets at Chiefs
KC still looks like a playoff-calibre team to me, while the Jets look like they’re headed for a last-place finish in the AFC East. Winner: Chiefs
Jaguars at Bengals
Even though Cincy is coming off a hard-fought win against Baltimore, and are gearing up to face Cleveland on Thursday night, making this game an obvious candidate for a trap game-type scenario, the Bengals would have to screw up pretty badly to lose to the Jags at home. Winner: Bengals
Chargers at Dolphins
With the way Miami has been playing defence and running the ball of late, I am sorely tempted to pick them. However, I expect the Chargers to bounce back after two straight tough losses, due in no small part to them welcoming Dwight Freeney and Brandon Flowers back to practice this week. Winner: Chargers
Washington at Vikings
Not much really to choose from here. RGIII might play. He’ll face a pretty good pass rush if he does. Winner: Vikings
Rams at 49ers
San Fran should be well-rested after their week off, and should be able to handle the spirited but overmatched Rams. Winner: 49ers
Broncos at Patriots
I hope this one lives up to its “game of the week of the year”-type billing. It’s certainly an intriguing matchup. Our two marquee QBs have plenty of receiving talent at their disposal, and will be facing off against good defences. I’d give Denver the edge in receiving depth, but what Rob Gronkowski does to opposing defences is matched by few players in the league. The Pats at home swings the balance for me. Winner: Patriots
Raiders at Seahawks
A big win by the home team will make the fans momentarily forget that the struggling Seahawks are not going to be repeating as champs. Winner: Seahawks
Ravens at Steelers
Despite the air show Roethlisberger put on last week against the Colts, I still think that the Ravens are the better team, and will bring Big Ben back to earth this week. Winner: Ravens
Monday Night
Colts at Giants
The Giants say not to count them out, and I never would, but they’re facing an Indy team that got absolutely smoked last week, and will be out to prove they’re better than that. Andrew Luck on Monday Night Football= fireworks. Winner: Colts
Mr. Silver’s Picks
Buccaneers
Cowboys
Eagles
Chiefs
Bengals
Chargers
Vikings
Rams
Broncos
Raiders
Steelers
Giants