Tag: Football

NFL Week 7 Predictions

Buffalo Bills (4-2) @ New England Patriots (1-5)

As overmatched as the Pats have looked vs the Bills in recent years, this Pats team is even worse. The Bills will win, cover (-8), and the over (40) hits.

Los Angeles Chargers (2-3) @ Kansas City Chiefs (5-1)

A big game for a Chargers team that wants to get to .500 to get on track to make the playoffs. The Chiefs may be 5-1, but have not looked like their electric self on offense and have really relied on their defense to win games. I think the Chiefs win but the Chargers cover (+5.5) and the over hits (47.5).

Miami Dolphins (5-1) @ Philadelphia Eagles (5-1)

A high profile matchup between two 5-1 teams. I think the Dolphins have looked better this year, but that the Eagles are the better team overall and will make it further in the playoffs. I think the Eagles win, cover (-3), and the under hits (51.5).

NFL Week 6 Reaction

New England Patriots (1-5) @ Las Vegas Raiders (3-3)

Since last year, I have thought Bailey Zappe gives the Pats a better chance to win than Mac Jones. But the fact he was waived after the preseason, demoted to 3rd string today, and that Bill won’t play him despite Mac’s awful play means he’s probably not very good. All Pats fans can hope is that we get the number 1 pick. #RoadtoCalebWilliams

When the Pats go down just one possession, it feels like they are out of the game. And when they have a 3rd down longer than 5 yards, it seems impossible to get. It took them 19 minutes to get a first down and they had negative yards til the beginning of the 2nd quarter. All of this to tell you the Pats awf(ul)ense stinks. Not only is the play bad, but they are undisciplined with stupid penalties. The Pats first drive perfectly sums up their season:

  • 1st and 10: False Start
  • 1st and 15: Incomplete pass on a screen, had an ineligible man downfield, penalty was declined
  • 2nd and 15: Pass dropped by Rhamondre Stevenson
  • 3rd and 15: Run play (because Mac can’t throw more than 5 yards downfield)
  • 4th and 9: 34-yard punt to the opposing 40 yard line

It’s also hard to swallow that the Pats wouldn’t pay Jakobi Meyers 11 mil a year and 21 mil guaranteed over 3. He has more receiving yards than any Pats player this year despite missing a game.

The Pats easily could’ve won this game once Brian Hoyer came in at the start of the 2nd half. As any Pats fan can tell you, he isn’t very good- but still outplayed Mac Jones.

Dallas Cowboys (4-2) @ Los Angeles Chargers (2-3)

A back and forth game ends with a Cowboys win. The Chargers had a chance to win if not for some inefficient red zone trips.

Betting Picks Results

Game: 2-0 (16-8 Overall)

Spread: 2-0 (19-5)

O/U: 1–1 (12-11-1)

NFL Week 6 Prediction

New England Patriots (1-4) @ Las Vegas Raiders (2-3)

The Patriots come into the game fighting to not be the worst team in the league. The Raiders aren’t that good but have much more talent than the Pats. I think Belichick knows how to coach against Josh McDaniels and Jimmy G but that won’t help the Pats horrid offense. The Raiders will win, cover (+3), and the under will hit (41.5).

Dallas Cowboys (3-2) @ Los Angeles Chargers (2-2)

The Cowboys flopped last week and now are looking to rebound. And with the Chargers coming off a bye, I think a lot of points will be scored. The Cowboys will win, cover (-2), and the over (50.5) will hit.

Rookie QB Strategy

Every time a team drafts a potential franchise QB, the fanbase is pumped up but often gets let down. The truth is, that a huge determinate of a QB’s success is where they end up. Even a guy like Andrew Luck, who was one of the best QB prospects ever, played great for the Colts but had his career shut down due to his front office not being able to protect him. Below is what I think teams should down before/after drafting their future QB.

First, they need to build the team around him. With few exceptions (i.e. Luck or Trevor Lawrence) you can’t just draft a QB onto an awful team and expect things to turn around. It’s much smarter to draft a QB onto a team that has pieces around him. Start with a solid O-Line that can protect him. Then you want 1 or 2 good to great playmakers he can get the ball to and make him look good. Finally, an, at minimum, average defense that won’t lose him games in which he’s played well enough to win.

QBs should play as soon as possible. If a QB isn’t remotely ready or you have a capable guy ahead of him, then I get it. But if he is the best option you have, why not play him and let him get experience? The first year might suck, but if they are going to be a future star, then it should make them better. Trevor Lawrence had Urban Meyer his first year and has still developed into a great QB.

There are 3 types of exits for QBs after you have drafted them. If after one year they show complete ineptitude and are a bad locker room guy, then its time to move on. After year 2, if they have not shown flashes that they can be great, then its time to move on. Finally, by the end of year 3, if they have not developed into a good QB, it is time to move on. Devoting more than 3 years to a guy who isn’t the answer is unwise. Especially because every current star QB who has been drafted the last 10 years, has shown his talent by the end of year 3.

NFL Week 5 Reaction

Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2) @ Buffalo Bills (3-2) (In London)

As I predicted, the Jags took advantage of having been in London all week. Both teams were sloppy, the Jags were just less sloppy.

New Orleans Saints (3-2) @ New England Patriots (1-4)

The Saints are not that good, the Patriots are just that bad.

Dallas Cowboys (3-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (5-0)

As predicted, the Cowboys once again flopped horribly after a great showing last week. This game makes it clear that in the NFC there are the 49ers and Eagles then everybody else.

Brock Purdy gives off Tom Brady vibes. Right now, all he has to do is be a great field general just like Brady was his first couple years. He is the perfect QB for this team as he can distribute the ball like a point guard to all the weapons they have. The 49ers are loaded on both sides of the ball and look like the best team in football.

Betting Picks Results

Game: 2-1 (14-8 overall)

Spread: 3-0 (17-5)

O/U: 3-0 (11-10-1)

NFL Week 5 Preview

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2) @ Buffalo Bills (3-1) (In London)

A massive game in terms of AFC seeding. The Bills are probably the best team in the NFL right now and the Jags are starting to look more like themselves. The Jags have the huge advantage of having been in London all week and are more used to playing there than the Bills. I think the Bills win but do not cover (-5.5), and that the under (48.5) hits.

New Orleans Saints (2-2) @ New England Patriots (1-3)

The Saints roster is way more talented than the Pats, but Belichick is a much better coach than Dennis Allen. Both team played awful last week, but the Pats do not have any talent right now and are banged up. The Saints win, cover (+1), and the under (39) hits.

Dallas Cowboys (3-1) @ San Francisco 49ers (4-0)

The Cowboys are back to being in America’s good graces after killing the Pats last week. That, combined with the 49ers being a better and more physical team, is going to lead to a poor showing from Dallas. The 49ers will win, cover (-3.5), and the over (45) hits.

Odds via DraftKings

Current Quaterbacks Going to the Hall Of Fame

No Doubt

Aaron Rodgers: A four time MVP who throws the prettiest ball of all time. He’ll be a first ballot HOF and no one will bat an eye.

Patrick Mahomes: He is putting up numbers and accolades at a faster pace than any QB ever. It pains me to say, but he will make a run at the NFL GOAT and at minimum should be on the Mt. Rushmore for QBs if he stays healthy.

Likely In

Russell Wilson: Forget last year and the beginning of this year. He’s a nine time Pro Bowler, a Super Bowl Champ, an All-Pro, and the QB of a legendary team. I do think he needs one more MVP/OPOY/All-Pro type season to guarantee himself and he has a chance with Sean Payton. The one thing that could keep him out is if his play continues to be this ugly moving forward and our last memories of him are awful play and being overpaid.

Young, but will eventually make it

Justin Herbert: I think his floor is a Dan Marino type career where his team lets him down but he puts up all time numbers. If he can even win one Super Bowl, I think he goes down as a Top 10 QB ever.

Joe Burrow: He is a gamer and a winner and it looks like he’ll have Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase for years to come. I think the Bengals will win at least one Super Bowl and he’ll have many individual accolades.

Missing Out

Josh Allen: His play is absolutely amazing but playing like Superman has its consequences. I think he takes too many hits and it will lead to him having too short of a career to do what he needs to make the Hall.

Matthew Stafford: I don’t get the Hall buzz for Stafford. He has made one Pro Bowl, never been an All-Pro, never been considered a Top 5 QB, and never won a major award. It’s not even a question, he’s out.

NFL Week 4 Reaction

Miami Dolphins (3-1) @ Buffalo Bills (3-1)

As I have said, Tua and the Dolphins are overrated. He’s good enough to get the ball to the abundance of playmakers he has. But do we really trust him to outduel the great AFC QBs come playoff time? Or do we trust him to bring Miami back when they’re down in the playoffs? We saw what happened when the Fins went down Sunday. He looked like a deer in headlights and was terrible.

The Bills are a better team overall and showed it. They are great on offense and defense, and the AFC East is theirs to lose. The Tre White injury is a big blow, but the Bills still have a great chance to win the AFC.

New England Patriots (1-3) @ Dallas Cowboys (3-1)

Blow it up. The Pats absolutely stink and have no hope of getting better. They have ONE star player in Matt Judon and ONE promising young player in Christian Gonzalez. Sadly, those two got hurt Sunday and are out indefinitely. After that, the whole team is full of average guys who don’t have any chance of developing into studs. Trade away vets with value and draft a new QB and some offensive talent in this upcoming draft.

Not much else to say, but Bill needs to be more aggressive. The Pats needed to go for it on 4th and 1 at the beginning of the game. They suck on offense and need to get TDs whenever possible. And then when they did go for it on 4th down later in the game, they tried a QB sneak with unathletic Mac Jones and it failed.

As I predicted, the Cowboys completely and utterly outplayed the Pats. They were great in all aspects of the game and, unlike the Patriots, were disciplined too. They won’t make the Super Bowl, but they’ll compete for the NFC East title.

Betting Picks This Week

Game: 2-0 (12-7 Overall)

Spread: 2-0 (14-5)

O/U: 2-0 (8-10-1)

NFL Week 4 Preview

Miami Dolphins (3-0) @ Buffalo Bills (2-1)

A huggggggggge early season matchup in terms of determining who will win the AFC East. I thinks it’s pretty clear it’ll be between these two teams at this point. I am still skeptical of the Dolphins, as last year they started off 8-3 before finishing 9-8. I understand their win last week was insane and that they have been putting up points, but Buffalo is still the better team and has a point differential nearly identical to the Dolphins. I think the Bills win, cover (-2.5), and the over (53.5) hits.

New England Patriots (1-2) @ Dallas Cowboys (2-1)

Dallas is going through their classic cycle of playing well, getting overhyped, then under performing. Now that people are giving them shit for losing to the hapless Cardinals, they probably refocus and turn in a great game. The Pats defense will be able to limit the Cowboys offense. But the Dallas defense is legit and the Pats offense is so bad the Cowboys easily have the edge this game. I think the Cowboys win, cover (-7), and the under (43) hits.

NFL Week 3 Reaction

Los Angeles Chargers (1-2) @ Minnesota Vikings (0-3)

The Chargers barely saved their season IN SPITE of their coach Brandon Staley. I love teams being aggressive but he consistently makes dumb calls when going for it on 4th down. His team is so talented that they saved this game and maybe his job. I think eventually Kellen Moore will take over for him.

Games like this are why I think Justin Herbert is right behind Mahomes as the best QB in the league. He’s 6’ 6” 240 lbs, can avoid pressure in the pocket, scramble, make throws on the run from any arm angle, and has a rocket arm. In 52 career games, he has 15,000 yards passing and 100 TDs. Insanely fun to watch.

What do the Vikings do? Kirk Cousins is not the reason this team is losing as he has thrown for 1,075 yards and 9 TDs in three games. But do they want keep in around when he is expensive, old, and has had very little postseason success? I think they should keep him around until the deadline. At that point, if they still suck they can trade him and look to get one of the great new QBs in next year’s draft.

New England Patriots (1-2) @ New York Jets (1-2)

Once again the Patriots defense is amazing and their offense is a let down. Despite grossly out gaining the Jets in yards, the games comes down to a Hail Mary that the Jets almost executed. Mac isn’t good but neither are the skill players around him. Get ready for a lot of unders hitting this season for the Pats.

The Jets are in a brutal spot right now. Zach Wilson sucks but who out there is a better option than him? There’s no good solution.

Los Angeles Rams (1-2) @ Cincinnati Bengals (1-2)

The Bengals save their season in a much needed game. Something still looks off with the Bengals offense. They are not dynamic as normal and Burrow and the WRs are out of sync. I do like how they put Chase all over the field and really got him the ball. But if Burrow’s injury lingers, this team may continue to struggle.

Those Bengals white out uniforms are absolutely awesome. The end zone and logo also being white was the cherry on top.

The Bengals defense was the star of the game today. They will have to continue playing this way until the offense gets it together.

The Rams have played much better than I thought they would. Once Kupp returns, they could make a run at the playoffs.

Other Thoughts:

Wow the Dolphins put up Madden numbers against the Broncos. The first team since 1966 to put up 70 points and they did it without WR Jaylen Waddle. The fantasy numbers they put up were ridiculous too. RBs De’von Achane (51.3) and Raheem Mostert (45.2) combined for 96.5 points.

Betting Picks This Week

Game: 3-0 (10-7 Overall)

Spread: 3-0 (12-5)

O/U: 0-3 (6-10-1)