(Note: I was extremely busy on Friday, and barely managed to get my picks done before I passed out from exhaustion at around 2 am, and had to get up at 6 am for work. Since I didn’t get a chance to finish my intro for this week, I’ll have to make it up by doing an extra at the beginning of the week. I’ll shoot for Monday or Tuesday and see how it goes. Stay tuned—G.)
The Steelers and Panthers are off this week, signaling the end of bye weeks (at least until the playoffs). After this week's action, I have a feeling that the playoff picture will be in much sharper focus.
Last week, Mr. Silver only managed to hit on 5 out of 14 games. Ouch. I was 10-4.
Sunday
Browns at Falcons
At long last, Cleveland gets Josh Gordon back on the field, and though it would be easy to discount his having a huge impact in his first game this season, with his talent, you can’t rule it out either. Against a really bad Atlanta defence, Gordon will have to be accounted for; I say he either has a big game, or the extra attention Gordon draws will opens up things for other parts of the Browns’ offence. Winner: Browns
Titans at Eagles
Welcome back to the NFL, bad Mark Sanchez. I missed you, but I had a sneaking suspicion I’d see you again. And thank you. And to the Philly fans I love so much, and who are not a bunch of ugly, smelly, Neanderthals, enjoy your victory against Tennessee this week, which will have you again believing that your team is going to be ok with the Sanchize running your offence. Suckers. Winner: Eagles
Lions at Patriots
As long as the Pats don’t suffer any more injuries on defence, and as long as Gronk stays healthy, games like this will be mismatches. Detroit has a very good defence, but it’s one-dimensional; it works only because of the intense pressure generated by the defensive line. One-dimensional won’t cut it against Tom Brady and the Pats’ offence. And as for, Detroit’s struggling offence, points should be few and far between for them in Foxborough. Winner: Patriots
Packers at Vikings
The Packers still don’t look like they have a championship calibre defence, but with Aaron Rodgers and the offence playing like it is, that probably doesn’t matter. Well, at least for this week. Winner: Packers
Jaguars at Colts
Whether Indy fails to hold off the still-alive Texans for the South Division crown, or whether they’re one-and-done in the playoffs, they can point to the moment that they lost Ahmad Bradshaw and had to rely on Trent “Tippy-toes” Richardson as the reason why. I mean, did you watch the Pats-Colts game last Sunday night? What a stark contrast between Richardson and the Pats’ Jonas Gray, as Gray continuously did what Richardson seems unable or unwilling to do, namely, tote that rock. Andrew Luck and the passing game might be enough to beat teams like the Jags, but without a running game to keep defences honest, the Colts can’t hang with the big boys. Winner: Colts
Bengals at Texans
I don’t know if Ryan Mallet is the answer at QB for Houston, but the other Ryan (Fitzpatrick) sure wasn’t. At any rate, Mallet did the job in Cleveland last week. So, with the Texans playing at home, and since I don’t know which Bengals team is going to show up from one week to the next, I’ll take the team with the best player. I shouldn’t have to say who that is. The Bengals know. Winner: Texans
Buccaneers at Bears
Friggin’ Bears. They’re hopeless. I know it. But I picked them last week in a game they had no business losing (they didn’t), so I’m picking them again for just the same reason. Friggin’ Bears. Winner: Bears
Cardinals at Seahawks
I know, I know; the Seahawks are desperate, defending champs, three games behind the Cards, playing at home. I don’t care. The aura of invincibility of the “12th Man” has been shattered, and Arizona is simply the better team right now. One thing worries me, though. Larry Fitzgerald, whether he’s making the plays, or opening things up with the attention he demands, is a huge part of what the Cards do on offence. He did not practice this week, and will be a game time decision. I say the smart thing would be to shut him down for the week to let him rest and get healthy. This is going to be a slugfest, but I’m sticking with the Cards. Winner: Cardinals
Rams at Chargers
The early-season talk about how great the Chargers are is over. They can’t beat any good teams, and they struggle to beat the bad ones. The Rams are not a good team, but with their pass rush suddenly coming to life in recent weeks, and with the rest of the young talent they have, they’re not exactly terrible either. Just ask the Broncos. I’m not calling this an upset. Winner: Rams
Dolphins at Broncos
With Denver having trouble running the ball, and with Miami’s tough defence and ferocious pass rush, I could see the Dolphins pulling an upset here. I think the Broncs’ defence given the opportunity to be the difference-maker, does not disappoint. Winner: Broncos
Washington at 49ers
Hard to figure the 49ers; they’re still holding it together on defence, the offence is a inconsistent, Colin Kaepernick is a talented QB, but nowhere near a good one. Fortunately for the home team, the team coming to town is a mess. Winner: 49ers
Cowboys at Giants
I have no doubt that the Giants will be up for this one, and will play their hardest against their old rival. However, with Dallas coming back from the bye after getting some much-needed rest (especially Tony Romo’s back and DeMarco Murray’s everything), it won’t be quite enough. Winner: Cowboys
Monday
Jets at Bills (in Detroit)
Despite the Bills being a better team, I was leaning towards the Jets, due to Buffalo having no place to practice after their stadium got buried under about a million tons of snow. Fortunately for the Bills, the league came to the rescue, moving the game to Monday in Detroit, and thereby giving the Bills the opportunity to get some practice time in at Ford field. It was the only fair thing to do. Winner: Bills
Ravens at Saints
I have no faith in the Saints any more, not even at home. The defence is terrible, and Drew Brees is way off his game this season. On the other hand, Baltimore hasn’t beaten a good team in a while, and though their defence has played reasonably well, it is susceptible to the pass, and has to adjust to the loss of its best CB, Jimmy Smith. I see this one as a high scoring affair. Winner: Saints
Mr. Silver’s Picks
Browns
Titans
Patriots
Vikings
Jaguars
Texans
Buccaneers
Cardinals
Chargers
Broncos
49ers
Giants
Bills
Saints
The Steelers and Panthers are off this week, signaling the end of bye weeks (at least until the playoffs). After this week's action, I have a feeling that the playoff picture will be in much sharper focus.
Last week, Mr. Silver only managed to hit on 5 out of 14 games. Ouch. I was 10-4.
Sunday
Browns at Falcons
At long last, Cleveland gets Josh Gordon back on the field, and though it would be easy to discount his having a huge impact in his first game this season, with his talent, you can’t rule it out either. Against a really bad Atlanta defence, Gordon will have to be accounted for; I say he either has a big game, or the extra attention Gordon draws will opens up things for other parts of the Browns’ offence. Winner: Browns
Titans at Eagles
Welcome back to the NFL, bad Mark Sanchez. I missed you, but I had a sneaking suspicion I’d see you again. And thank you. And to the Philly fans I love so much, and who are not a bunch of ugly, smelly, Neanderthals, enjoy your victory against Tennessee this week, which will have you again believing that your team is going to be ok with the Sanchize running your offence. Suckers. Winner: Eagles
Lions at Patriots
As long as the Pats don’t suffer any more injuries on defence, and as long as Gronk stays healthy, games like this will be mismatches. Detroit has a very good defence, but it’s one-dimensional; it works only because of the intense pressure generated by the defensive line. One-dimensional won’t cut it against Tom Brady and the Pats’ offence. And as for, Detroit’s struggling offence, points should be few and far between for them in Foxborough. Winner: Patriots
Packers at Vikings
The Packers still don’t look like they have a championship calibre defence, but with Aaron Rodgers and the offence playing like it is, that probably doesn’t matter. Well, at least for this week. Winner: Packers
Jaguars at Colts
Whether Indy fails to hold off the still-alive Texans for the South Division crown, or whether they’re one-and-done in the playoffs, they can point to the moment that they lost Ahmad Bradshaw and had to rely on Trent “Tippy-toes” Richardson as the reason why. I mean, did you watch the Pats-Colts game last Sunday night? What a stark contrast between Richardson and the Pats’ Jonas Gray, as Gray continuously did what Richardson seems unable or unwilling to do, namely, tote that rock. Andrew Luck and the passing game might be enough to beat teams like the Jags, but without a running game to keep defences honest, the Colts can’t hang with the big boys. Winner: Colts
Bengals at Texans
I don’t know if Ryan Mallet is the answer at QB for Houston, but the other Ryan (Fitzpatrick) sure wasn’t. At any rate, Mallet did the job in Cleveland last week. So, with the Texans playing at home, and since I don’t know which Bengals team is going to show up from one week to the next, I’ll take the team with the best player. I shouldn’t have to say who that is. The Bengals know. Winner: Texans
Buccaneers at Bears
Friggin’ Bears. They’re hopeless. I know it. But I picked them last week in a game they had no business losing (they didn’t), so I’m picking them again for just the same reason. Friggin’ Bears. Winner: Bears
Cardinals at Seahawks
I know, I know; the Seahawks are desperate, defending champs, three games behind the Cards, playing at home. I don’t care. The aura of invincibility of the “12th Man” has been shattered, and Arizona is simply the better team right now. One thing worries me, though. Larry Fitzgerald, whether he’s making the plays, or opening things up with the attention he demands, is a huge part of what the Cards do on offence. He did not practice this week, and will be a game time decision. I say the smart thing would be to shut him down for the week to let him rest and get healthy. This is going to be a slugfest, but I’m sticking with the Cards. Winner: Cardinals
Rams at Chargers
The early-season talk about how great the Chargers are is over. They can’t beat any good teams, and they struggle to beat the bad ones. The Rams are not a good team, but with their pass rush suddenly coming to life in recent weeks, and with the rest of the young talent they have, they’re not exactly terrible either. Just ask the Broncos. I’m not calling this an upset. Winner: Rams
Dolphins at Broncos
With Denver having trouble running the ball, and with Miami’s tough defence and ferocious pass rush, I could see the Dolphins pulling an upset here. I think the Broncs’ defence given the opportunity to be the difference-maker, does not disappoint. Winner: Broncos
Washington at 49ers
Hard to figure the 49ers; they’re still holding it together on defence, the offence is a inconsistent, Colin Kaepernick is a talented QB, but nowhere near a good one. Fortunately for the home team, the team coming to town is a mess. Winner: 49ers
Cowboys at Giants
I have no doubt that the Giants will be up for this one, and will play their hardest against their old rival. However, with Dallas coming back from the bye after getting some much-needed rest (especially Tony Romo’s back and DeMarco Murray’s everything), it won’t be quite enough. Winner: Cowboys
Monday
Jets at Bills (in Detroit)
Despite the Bills being a better team, I was leaning towards the Jets, due to Buffalo having no place to practice after their stadium got buried under about a million tons of snow. Fortunately for the Bills, the league came to the rescue, moving the game to Monday in Detroit, and thereby giving the Bills the opportunity to get some practice time in at Ford field. It was the only fair thing to do. Winner: Bills
Ravens at Saints
I have no faith in the Saints any more, not even at home. The defence is terrible, and Drew Brees is way off his game this season. On the other hand, Baltimore hasn’t beaten a good team in a while, and though their defence has played reasonably well, it is susceptible to the pass, and has to adjust to the loss of its best CB, Jimmy Smith. I see this one as a high scoring affair. Winner: Saints
Mr. Silver’s Picks
Browns
Titans
Patriots
Vikings
Jaguars
Texans
Buccaneers
Cardinals
Chargers
Broncos
49ers
Giants
Bills
Saints
RSS Feed