Another rough week has left all of us at Pigskin Prognosticator Headquarters searching for answers. Picking winners in the NFL is really hard, but we’re certainly making it look more difficult than it is. A 5-10 performance against the spread in week 3 leaves us at 20-27 for the year. That’s not good enough and Clarion faithful certainly deserve better. That starts this Thursday! Go Pack go!
Bad Beat of the Week: Which bad beat would you like to choose? The Buffalo Bills carried a two-touchdown advantage well into the second half and failed to cover a six-point spread. The Kansas City Chiefs had a 30-13 advantage over the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth quarter and that didn’t turn out well. The Patriots held a 30-7 lead in the fourth quarter and benched Tom Brady to give the backup QB some reps, the backup immediately threw a pick six and New England failed to cover. It was a rough week. I could go on…
Eagles @ PACKERS -4
Finally, a Thursday night game worth watching! Are the Pack back? The Cheese Heads look to start 4-0 by notching their third home victory of the season over the Eagles. Star receiver Davante Adams has yet to reach the end zone this season for the Pack, look for that to change against a beleaguered Eagles secondary. Packers win 23-17
SEAHAWKS @ Cardinals +5
The Seahawks were awful last Sunday losing to a New Orleans Saints team without Drew Brees. Seattle started the game with a three-and-out and the following punt resulted in a Saints touchdown. Things got worse from there. Seahawks RB Chris Carson has fumbled the ball four times in three games. This feels like an early season must win for the Hawks with both the Rams and 49ers at 3-0 in the NFC West. Seahawks win 27-20
Titans @ FALCONS -4
Titans QB Marcus Mariota has looked awful two consecutive weeks after a surprising opening performance in a victory over the Browns. This line feels a little fishy. Every gambling Joe will be on the Falcons -4 in Atlanta, but how can you side with the Titans after the last two weeks? Both teams are sitting at 1-2 and in desperate need of a win. Falcons win 30-20
PATRIOTS @ Bills +7
Darth Belichick and his anti-aging Padawan, Tom Brady, look to continue their early season dominance in Buffalo against the surprising 3-0 Bills. The Bills have impressed but certainly the Patriots represent a huge step up in competition. Buffalo has wins over the Jets, Giants, and Bengals. Those three teams are a combined 1-8 on the season. We’ll find out if the Bills are for real this Sunday. The play here is that they’re not quite ready for primetime. Patriots win 33-16
CHIEFS @ Lions +6.5
It doesn’t matter who lines up at receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs. Sammy Watkins, Demarcus Robinson and Mecole Hardman have all posted huge games for the Chiefs this season. Superstar TE Travis Kelce hasn’t had his turn but look for that to change this week. As long as QB Patrick Mahomes is healthy, it’s really hard to bet against KC. Chiefs win 38-27
Raiders @ COLTS -6.5
The Raiders got their lunch money stolen up in Minnesota last Sunday. Can the Fighting Chucky’s bounce back against a surging Colts team in Indiana? Ex-Colts QB Andrew Luck is a distant memory. Jacoby Brissett has filled in admirably and the Colts have a great opportunity to reach 3-1 with another good performance this weekend. Colts win 28-21
Chargers @ DOLPHINS +15.5
When you’re off to a rough start to the season, you start looking for something, anything to help. I turned to my three-year-old daughter, Kalea, and asked her who was going to win, the Chargers or Dolphins? She went with the Dolphins in emphatic fashion. There it is, folks. This is the stone-cold lock of the week! Dolphins win 21-20
Redskins @ GIANTS -2.5
Led by newly-anointed starting QB, Daniel Jones, the Giants overcame an 18-point deficit to topple the Bucs in Tampa last Sunday. Jones’ heroics have changed the vibe of a stale Giants team overnight. With Eli Manning under center the Giants knew what they had and that it was no longer enough to win football games. Jones gives the team hope and hope can go a long way. The Redskins don’t have hope. Giants win 27-17
BROWNS @ Ravens -7
This line feels like an over-correction to public appeal. The Browns were supposed to be this year’s Cinderella team, but instead their division rival, the Baltimore Ravens, have captured everyone’s attention through three weeks. The play here is that the Ravens are a little overrated with wins over the Dolphins and Cardinals hardly impressing. The Browns go into Baltimore and steal one. Browns win 23-19
Panthers @ TEXANS -4.5
Panthers backup QB Kyle Allen replaced an injured Cam Newton and led Carolina to an impressive win over the Desert Bats in Phoenix. Is this another Wally Pipp moment? Cam has looked average for years and Allen provided the Panthers with a spark. Another good performance on Sunday and Cam’s days could be numbered. The Texans will provide a formidable challenge for youthful upstart. Texans win 30-17
Bucs @ RAMS -9.5
The Rams vaunted offense is overdue to get back on track after last year’s lackluster finish. The defense, led by all-world DT Aaron Donald, hasn’t had any issues. The Rams can pressure the opposing QB like few teams in the league. Bucs passer Jameis Winston is famous for turning the ball over under duress. That’s a bad mix for the Bucs and great news for Rams backers. Rams win 35-13
Vikings @ BEARS -2
This feels like a coin toss game. Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky is a bad football player, but that Chicago defense is incredible. Pass rusher Khalil Mack is the only defender in the league that can compare with the Rams’ Aaron Donald. Mack can single-handedly ruin another team’s offensive attack. The Bears won’t score enough points to pull away from the Norwegians, but a late field goal will be the difference. Bears win 13-10
JAGS @ Broncos -3
Jacksonville may have finally found it’s leading man in Gardner Minshew. Mustache-mania has spread across northern Florida and the hapless Donkeys are about to feel the burn of a close shave. What does Denver do well? Joe Flacco is terrible. The once great defense feels uninspired. How long until Donkey faithful start clamoring for John Elway’s firing? Jags win 24-17
COWBOYS @ Saints +2.5
The Saints won without longtime starter and NFL great Drew Brees last week in Seattle. Can they make it two in a row this Sunday with Dallas in town? This looks like the best Fighting Jerry’s team since the early 90’s. Dak Prescott has taken another leap, they still have a strong rushing attack, and the defense is formidable. Only Jerry Jones can screw this up and he will at some point, but not this week. Cowboys win 30-17
BENGALS @ Steelers -4
Both of these teams are very bad at football and neither team can afford a win this weekend if they’re serious about earning the first overall pick in next year’s draft. Every time the Red Rocket completes a pass, take a drink. We have to make this game entertaining somehow. Bengals win 28-20
By Nolan Rose
For the Peninsula Clarion
