On the field, each of our teams came away with important victories last week as the Bills trashed Washington and the Titans prevailed over the Colts. Real-life wins are the best way to get over a rough week against the spread; we each went 2-3 last week and the Raiders disappointed us all despite their OT win over the Dolphins.
Lauren is the lone member of the group batting over .500, but I’m slowly creeping away from the Mendoza line. You know times are tough when 2-3 is an improvement. Onto Week 4!
As always, we are using the Vegas Insider Consensus lines.
Last week
- Lauren: 2-3
- Scott: 2-3
- Nolan: 2-3
Season
- Lauren: 8-7
- Scott: 6-8-1
- Nolan: 5-10
Lauren’s Picks
Tennessee -6 at N.Y. Jets
No AJ Brown or Julio Jones — no problem (this week at least). Punter Brett Kern also isn’t playing, but the Titans have Derrick Henry and it should be enough in the Big Apple. I do expect Corey Davis to have a nice day, and I’m fine with that as long as the Titans win.
New Orleans -7 vs. N.Y. Giants
The Giants couldn’t win with their top two receivers so how could they now without Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard? Prove me wrong, Giants, but this one could get ugly in New Orleans.
Green Bay -6 vs. Pittsburgh
Big Ben needs to retire and the Steelers should just run the wildcat formation with Najee Harris. But, neither are happening in the near future, and I don’t think Pittsburgh can keep up with the Packers offensively.
Denver PK vs. Baltimore
The Ravens have squeaked out win after win, but it ends today. Even with some injuries at the wide receiver position, give me the Broncos and their D at home.
Tampa Bay -6.5 at New England
The Tom Brady homecoming without Gronk isn’t going as fun as it could’ve been. Regardless, there’s no way Brady is losing this game, especially coming off a loss.
Side note: Watch the broadcast for a little shutout to Flagler College — Mac Jones’ dad, Gordon, won a natty in tennis at Flagler in 1977.
Scott’s Picks
New Orleans -7 vs. N.Y. Giants
Kansas City -6.5 at Philadelphia
L.A. Rams -4 vs. Arizona
Seattle +2.5 at San Francisco
Baltimore PK at Denver
Nolan’s Picks
Kansas City -6.5 at Philadelphia
The Chiefs and Eagles are both 1-2, but let’s not pretend they are in the same stratosphere. Motivated Mahomes against a bad team — I’m trying not to overthink it.
L.A. Rams -4 vs. Arizona
The Rams are the nerd who studies relentlessly, finishes the test in ten minutes, and gets an A. The Cardinals are the naturally smart kid who gets a kick out of winging it, banks on multiple choice questions, and oftens ends up with an A anyway. Both get As, but the smart kid gets the higher score.
Easiest pick of the season so far.
Seattle +2.5 at San Francisco
The Niners are 2-1 — and were oh, so close to being 3-0 — but this team gives off the vibe that they have no idea what they’re doing. Instead of handing the keys to Trey Lance, Kyle Shanahan seems to be waiting for Jimmy Garoppolo to crash the car. I know the Seahawks defense is, well, a car crash, but if there’s one thing we know about Seahawks football: The game will be close.
Green Bay -6 vs. Pittsburgh
Did you see Ben Roethlisberger play quarterback last week? Did you see Aaron Rodgers?
Las Vegas +3 at (?) L.A. Chargers
As Derek Carr said, this will be a Raiders home game in Los Angeles. Home field advantage is largely overrated, but I like the Raiders to keep this one close, if not stay undefeated. (Can the Raiders actually win the AFC West?)
Five Things To Watch
1. Brady vs. Belichick
We often over-romanticize moments in sports, but it’s impossible to do so in this case. A player and coach stuck around in one city for 20 years and engineered the greatest dynasty the sport has ever seen. Now, they face each other in the city where it all began. There is no parallel in the history of sports. I just wish Gronk could be there, too.
2. Carolina’s First True Challenge
I’m not sure how many people penciled Cowboys-Panthers in as a must-watch game before the season, but it undoubtedly is one. The 3-0 Panthers face their stiffest test yet against a 2-1 Dallas team that is pressing all the right buttons on offense. If you want a more nuanced preview on this game, check out The Athletic Football Show where Robert Mays and Nate Tice dive into the details for like 20 minutes.
3. Lamar Jackson vs. Vic Fangio
I’m poaching this idea from football nerd twitter and The Athletic’s aforementioned podcast. Disciples of Fangio’s defensive schemes are popping up across the league, but this is the first time the godfather will face the former MVP. Will Fangio force Jackson to stay in the pocket? Or turn the Ravens into a one-dimensional rushing offense? Also, are the 3-0 Broncos legit? I don’t know!
(This game would’ve been more fun with Rashod Bateman, Jerry Jeudy, and KJ Hamler, but I digress.)
4. Star Power in Hollywood
When Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins are on the field, so will Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald; when Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp are on the field, so will Budda Baker, Byron Murphy and JJ Watt.
The Rams have not lost to the Cardinals in the Sean McVay era, which means Kliff Kingsbury is unsurprisingly winless against his smarter and more handsome colleague.
5. MLB’s Hectic Finale
Roger Goodell doesn’t own Sundays.
It’s the final day of the MLB regular season and there is a possibility the AL Wild Card ends in a four-way tie between the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Mariners. The Dodgers and Giants could tie for the NL West division title. Oh, and every game is happening at roughly the same time. It’s going to be batshit insane.