Despite there being but a handful of teams that are over .500, this might be a last breath for a couple of teams. Some are flirting with entering the tank, while some will be putting distance between themselves and the rest of the league.
Locks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Vs. Carolina Panthers: Buccaneers (-5.0)
Now, I know it looks like Tom Brady tripped over kryptonite this year, but this should nevertheless be a bye week for him and the Bucs. Carolina is a team in disarray, trading their best player to the Bay Area and likely shipping more in the future. Carolina has embraced the rebuild, so despite Brady finally looking mortal for the first time since 2008, Tampa likely gets buoyed by a strong run game.
Safe Picks
Kansas City Chiefs Vs. San Francisco 49ers: Chiefs (-1.0)
Run CMC is a big addition, but that doesn’t change KC is one of the best teams in the league, with or without Hill. Besides, it’s unknown whether Hill will be a part of the gameplan on Sunday, given he was just traded a matter of days ago.
Green Bay Packers Vs. Washington Commanders: Packers (-3.0)
Green Bay gets a Commanders team missing Carson Wentz. Based on how you view him, that may be a positive or negative. Either way, Washington doesn’t roster a QB as good as Rodgers. That aside, Washington has a bottom-tier defense that can’t defend the run, and they’re playing Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon.
Chicago Bears Vs. New England Patriots: Patriots (-5.0)
I’d say this game is a Battle of Mid, but New England actually has a pulse with Bailey Zappe. Justin Fields might need to be free of the clutches of Matt Nagy/Ryan Pace before he can flourish, but there’s not nearly enough evidence to suggest he can carry this Bears team. Whether that’s on him or the organization will be known when he’s traded in a matter of years.
Detroit Lions Vs. Dallas Cowboys: Cowboys (-6.5)
I’d love for Detroit to win for the memes, but I know that’s unfortunately likely not happening. It’s up to Dak Prescott to show how much rust he’s shaken off in his short time on IR. It’ll also be interesting to see how much he misses the absence of Amari Cooper. The clock resets every year. In the one game Dak played this year, he put up three points. Despite all this, I’m still begrudgingly taking Dallas because of how bad Detroit’s defense is and how Dallas’s defense dominates (everyone but the Eagles). Also, Swift is out for Detroit, so that’s also something.
Other Picks
Atlanta Falcons Vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Bengals (-10.0)
I feel like I shouldn’t be this nervous about picking the Bengals. Atlanta is supposed to be terrible and Cincinnati is supposed to be great. So why do I hesitate? Atlanta’s been impressive this year while Cincy has been underwhelming. If this matchup came down to one player, someone that can flip the game on its head, in a matter of seconds, it’d be Ja’Marr Chase. In a broader sense, the entirety of the Bengals skill players. Tee Higgins, Chase, and Joe Mixon.
Indianapolis Colts Vs. Tennessee Titans: Colts (+1.0)
Colts fans, Jonathan Taylor is back! I’m going to be a touch bold and say that Indy wins to avoid getting swept. After Jim Irsay was clearly upset after the last loss to TEN, they’ve rattled off two wins in a row. One impressive, one not so much. It all depends on what version of Matt Ryan shows up.
New York Giants Vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: Giants (+1.5)
One team that I didn’t expect to do well was the Giants. I don’t think anyone expected anything from them. And yet, thanks to a combination of a great running game and coaching staff, New York has once again reached respectability for the first time in half a decade. Jacksonville started out of the gate strong and it looked like Doug Pederson was on pace to reaffirm himself as one of the top head coaches in the league. While CERTAINLY an improvement over the disaster that was the Urban Meyer hire, the Jaguars inevitably crumbled under the weight of the Jags’ roster’s imperfections.
Cleveland Browns Vs. Baltimore Ravens: Ravens (-6.0)
Cleveland has the better team but the worse QB, while Baltimore, well, you get the idea. Let’s look at each group’s advantages over the other. Cleveland has better RBs, WRs, OL, DL, and LB. Baltimore, meanwhile, has a better QB, DBs, special teams, and coaching. Baltimore also has home-field advantage and a 3-1 vs. the Browns in home games since 2018. I might be twisting a bit to justify BAL winning, but I really don’t like Cleveland in this environment against this opponent.
New York Jets Vs. Denver Broncos: Jets (+7.5)
I do not like this reality where the Jets are a respectable team, especially since I owe my Jets friends five dollars every time they win a game. It’s not going to happen, but it’d be nice if Brett Rypien would ball out if for no other reason than my sake. Also, it’d be a more entertaining watch than the husk of Russell Wilson being paraded each week.
Houston Texans Vs. Las Vegas Raiders: Raiders (-8.0)
Well, somebody has to win this game. Perhaps this could be called the Battle for Bryce, as I’m not sure that Carr or Mills are the answer for their team anymore. I like Carr and respect what he did last year, but if you’re 1-4 and have 8 TDs-4 INTs with Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow, and Darren Waller, how am I supposed to look at you? I know they picked it up against the Chiefs, but that was more due to Jacobs having 154 yards than anything. If Vegas pulls it around this year, I’ll eat my hat (and my words), but if they don’t, Bryce Young might be too good to pass up.
Seattle Seahawks Vs. Los Angeles Chargers: Seahawks (+8.5)
I live in a world where I’m picking Geno Smith over Justin Herbert. I admire Herbert’s resolve, but in a strange twist, Smith has been playing better than 70% of the league this year. Plus, Seattle is healthier and better coached. I’m not too worried about Herbert, as he does have chest fractures. The concerning part of that offense is Brandon Staley.
Pittsburgh Steelers Vs. Miami Dolphins: Dolphins (-3.5)
I’m not sure how to feel about this one. Tua was playing like a top 5 QB early into the season, but a combination of injury and getting outplayed by Teddy Bridgewater at one point provides cause for concern. Still, either option is more predictable than what Kenny Pickett offers, and I tend to go with the safer option. That’s not to mention how much better the Miami receiving core is.
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Dylan Patrowicz is a featured writer at The Birds Blitz. For more from Dylan, check out his archive and read through our Eagles articles for the latest news about the Birds.
