Sunday, October 18th
Chicago Bears 4-1 @ Carolina Panthers 3-2 - 12:00 PM CT
The Chicago Bears head to Carolina to face a Panthers team, who has won three in a row. The Bears elite pass defense, which is ranked 10th in passing, will be looking to slow down a hot Teddy Bridgewater this week. Both these teams struggle at stopping the run, so look for a heavy dose of Chicago’s David Montgomery and Carolina’s Mike Davis. The Panthers, similar to Chicago, have an elite pass defense ranked 5th. These two teams are similar and this week I feel Teddy does a little bit more than Nick Foles giving the Panthers the win.
Bears 17 - Panthers 20
Cincinnati Bengals 1-3-1 @ Indianapolis Colts 3-2 - 12:00 PM CT
Rookie Quarterback Joe Burrow leads the Bengals into Indianapolis to face the NFL’s number one defense. Joe Burrow’s offensive line has been awful and now he has to face Justin Houston and DeForest Buckner, both of these men should wreak havoc. The Colts, coming off a loss last week against the Browns will look to right their wrongs against this young Bengals team. I think the Colts use their run game and control the trenches try to keep Phillip Rivers as a game manager and get back in the win column this week.
Bengals 13 - Colts 20
Detroit Lions 1-3 @ Jacksonville Jaguars 1-4 - 12:00 PM CT
The Lions and the Jaguars face off this week in a matchup of two teams trying to save their season. The Lions are a better team than their record shows, but blowing leads has been a constant theme with them, they have three blown leads this season to be exact. The Jaguars play hard but a lack of talent has them at 1-4, now they hope to get a win this week and stay in the thick of things. The Lions will get the win this week in Jacksonville.
Lions 30 - Jaguars 27
Atlanta Falcons 0-5 @ Minnesota Vikings 1-4 - 12:00 PM CT
The winless Falcons travel to Minnesota to face the Vikings in a game with a lot of offensive talent. The Falcons fired head coach Dan Quinn this week and owner Arthur Blank made comments making it sound like a big rebuild is coming to Atlanta this offseason. The Vikings lost in a heart breaker to the Seahawks last week in Seattle. The Falcons have arguably the NFL’s worst pass defense coming in allowing 335 yards per game, and a quarterback rating of 117.7, which is ranked dead last. The Vikings are a team who relies on their run game and although the Falcons are ranked 13th against the run, they have struggled to stop the run at times. I’m picking the Vikings to get the win this week.
Falcons 28 - Vikings 34
Washington Football Team 1-4 @ New York Giants 0-5 - 12:00 PM CT
Quarterback Alex Smith returned to football after an awful compound fracture in 2018, it was a heartwarming moment to say the least. Whoever starts for the Football Team at quarterback this week must pray for better protection, as the Football Team has allowed the second most sacks in the league (21). The Giants aren’t much better at protecting the quarterback, they’ve allowed 16 sacks which ranks 26th in the NFL. The Redskins defense has a great young pass rush and their defense does a good job of taking the football away. The Football Team should win this week keeping their NFC East hopes alive.
Football Team 17 - Giants 13
Baltimore Ravens. 4-1 @ Philadelphia Eagles 1-3-1 - 12:00 PM CT
The Ravens face the Eagles this week in Philadelphia. The Eagles have struggled all season whether it be Carson Wentz and his turnover issues or the Eagles patchwork offensive line, which has allowed 19 sacks ranked 30th in the NFL. The Ravens racked up 7 sacks last week against the Bengals, now they have a chance to do something similar to the Eagles. The Ravens defense has been dominant this year, and that’ll continue this week. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens pass offense struggled last week, but their run offense has been what we knew it would be, which is very good. The Eagles pass defense has not been good, expect a good game from Lamar.
Eagles 17 - Ravens 31
Cleveland Browns 4-1 @ Pittsburgh Steelers 4-0 - 12:00 PM CT
An AFC North matchup the Browns face the Steelers, in what is my favorite game of the week. The return of Big Ben to the Steelers has paid tremendous dividends as he has 10 touchdowns this season to only 1 interception. The Browns are 1st in takeaways with 12 and are fourth in run defense. The Browns are 4-1, and are gaining momentum. The Browns are 1st in rushing offense and now they get a test against the NFL’s 2nd best rushing defense. The Steelers also boast arguably, the best pass rush in the league. This game will be determined by who can win in the trenches. Both teams have won games due to strong offensive and defensive lines. I think the Browns defense can slow down Pittsburgh just enough to pull off the upset this week.
Browns 23 - Steelers 20
Houston Texans 1-4 @ Tennessee Titans 4-0 - 12:00 PM CT
The Texans got their first win last week against the Jaguars and look to build off that in Tennessee. The Titans blew out the Bills on Tuesday and are one of the few remaining undefeated teams left. The Titans struggle to stop the rush ranking 27th in the NFL. Derrick Henry struggled to get going, but that shouldn’t be a problem this week against a Texans defense, who has been awful against the run. The Titans offense should be able to take advantage of this weak Texans defense.
Texans 23 - Titans 31
Denver Broncos 1-3 @ New England Patriots 2-2 - 12:00 PM CT
This game was pushed back due to Covid-19, so now that the game is this week, it has allowed Drew Lock to return on from his shoulder injury, and the Patriots get Cam Newton and Stephon Gilmore back, as they both had Covid-19. The Patriots rank 2nd in rushing offense. The Broncos have a middle of the pack defense. The Patriots have a pass defense which ranks 26th and a run defense that ranks 18th, and with the return of Phillip Lindsay, the Broncos run game should get a boost. The Broncos have a plethora of injuries and New England is getting their two stars back which should lead to victory.
Broncos 16 - Patriots 27
New York Jets 0-5 @ Miami Dolphins 2-3 - 4:05 PM CT
The abysmal Jets travel to Miami to face their AFC East foes, the Miami Dolphins. The Jets have shown nothing for me to think they’ll win, and I expect Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Dolphins to build off their win last week in San Francisco.
Jets 14 - Dolphins 31
Green Bay Packers 4-0 @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-2 - 4:25 PM CT
The game of the week we get to see Aaron Rodgers and the Packers square off with Tom Brady and the Bucs. The Buccaneers are 1st in stopping the run, but losing defensive tackle Vita Vea last week hurts, and now they face a Green Bay offense that ranks 5th in rushing offense. The Bucs are 4th in sacking the quarterback while Green Bay has allowed the fewest sacks in the league (3). Aaron Rodgers is reminding everyone of his greatness as he has 13 touchdowns and no interceptions. The Packers pass defense has struggled, and Tom Brady can take advantage of that. The Bucs offensive line struggled protecting Brady last week allowing 3 sacks and Green Bay rushes the passer very well. The Packers get Davante Adams back this week and this looks to be an incredible NFC powerhouse showdown.
Packers 34 - Buccaneers 30
Los Angeles Rams 4-1 @ San Francisco 49ers 2-3 - 7:20 PM CT
The Rams face the 49ers in a matchup of two NFC West foes. The 49ers offense struggled last week as Jimmy G got benched. The Rams should be able to take care of the struggling 49ers offensive line especially with the tear Aaron Donald has been on. This Rams defense has been much improved this season, but they have struggled against the run at times and the 49ers could take advantage of that because, of course in a Kyle Shanahan led offense, you can run the ball. The Rams should move to 5-1 and the 49ers will continue with their Super Bowl hangover.
Rams 27 - 49ers 20
Monday, October 19th
Kansas City Chiefs 4-1 @ Bills 4-1 - 4:00 PM CT
A big time AFC showdown, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to face Josh Allen and the Bills, as both teams look to bounce back from their first loss of the season. The Bills should get back to running the ball this week, as the Chiefs allow 157.6 yards per game, which is ranked 29th. The passing defense of Kansas City looked to be improved, until last week when the Raiders came in and torched them. Patrick Mahomes is back to putting up MVP numbers and Josh Allen is right there with him. This is an exciting matchup between the two strongest arms in the NFL. I’m looking forward to seeing a high scoring affair this week, and I have Mahomes and the Chiefs bouncing back and winning.
Chiefs 35 - Bills 31
Arizona Cardinals 3-2 @ Dallas Cowboys 2-3 - 7:15 PM CT
Kyler Murray and the Cardinals face the Cowboys, who will be without Dak Prescott, who is out for the season suffering a gruesome ankle injury last week. Andy Dalton is more than capable of stepping in and doing his job. The Cowboys have weapons all over on offense, but their defense is arguably the worst in the NFL. Now they have to face Kyler Murray and Deandre Hopkins, and that duo has been ridiculous this season. The Cardinals should be able to take advantage of this weak Cowboys defense and move to 4-2.
Cardinals 28 - Cowboys 24
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