You may have wondered if we made picks last week. We did — I’ll give you a moment to check; here, I’ll even give you the link — I just forgot to share the link last week because I was choking in match play at a bowling tournament.
Now onto Week 6: It’s Bills-Titans week, folks! On Monday Night! And Josh Norman isn’t playing!
We each went 3-1-1 last week – very weird — and as always, we are using the Vegas Insider Consensus lines.
Last week
- Lauren: 3-1-1
- Scott: 3-1-1
- Nolan: 3-1-1
Season
- Lauren: 12-12-1
- Scott: 12-11-2
- Nolan: 11-13-1
Lauren’s Picks
Cincinnati -3.5 at Detroit
Some things never change: the Lions can’t catch a break. It’ll continue at the hands of Joe Burrow and Company today.
L.A. Chargers +2.5 at Baltimore
The Ravens keep winning close games. This week, I predict they’ll lose one in a nail-bitter versus Justin Herbert and the red-hot Chargers.
Las Vegas +4 at Denver
It’s been a wild week in Las Vegas, but did anyone on this team ever truly respect Jon Gruden? I think the Raiders will have some fun and squeak this one out.
Pittsburgh -5 vs. Seattle
The Seahawks are without both their starting quarterback and running back. It’ll be a long day for Seattle versus the Black & Yellow.
Tennessee +5.5 vs. Buffalo
I’m not saying the Titans are going to win this, though I hope, but I believe it’ll be a close one in a shootout in Nashville.
Scott’s Picks
Minnesota -2.5 at Carolina
I just really don’t believe in the Panthers, who it sounds like is preparing to be without their star running back for the foreseeable future. The loss to the Eagles was particularly concerning. The Vikings haven’t exactly instilled confidence, but I think a healthy Dalvin Cook will be the difference.
Kansas City -6.5 at Washington
Ok, this is my last time trying this. This is a borderline must-win game for the Chiefs, and surely they can beat Washington by a touchdown. Surely. If they struggle again today, I think it is time to be truly concerned. But I still believe that Mahomes and company are going to get this on the right track.
Cleveland -3.5 vs. Arizona
I was leaning towards Cleveland before learning that Kliff Kingsbury is out for Covid. So now I like this pick even more. The Cardinals are not going undefeated and this seems like a good spot for the last unbeaten to go down, especially with their play caller sitting at the house.
Las Vegas +4 at Denver
I’m going to zig while everyone else is zagging. I’m not so sure Denver is good. Vegas isn’t that far removed from a 3-0 start with a win over the Ravens. I also just don’t think the Gruden thing is going to impact this team as much as people seem to expect.
Dallas -3.5 at New England
Dallas has looked like one of the most explosive teams in the NFL all season. I know that Belichick will have a solid game plan prepared and that Foxborough is still a tough place to play, but this Cowboys team seems up to the task.
Nolan’s Picks
Houston +10.5 at Indianapolis
You have to be a sick, sick person to pick the 2021 Houston Texans in any capacity. However, anyone being double-digit dogs to the 1-4 Colts is crazy.
Kansas City -6.5 at Washington
Both of these teams won their division last year. Both of these teams currently have a 2-3 record.
One of these teams has Patrick Mahomes. One of these teams has Taylor Heinicke.
L.A. Rams -7.5 at N.Y. Giants
I guess I’ll take the largely healthy good team against the banged up bad team.
Dallas -3.5 at New England
The Cowboys have at least five offensive players (six if you include Michael Gallup) with more juice than anyone on the Patriots, yet the coaching staff still finds creative ways to maximize their strengths. ‘Boys by a billion.
Buffalo -5.5 at Tennessee
I’m a Bills fan in a picks contest with two Titans fans. Unlike Scott, I have faith in my team. (Though he is correct to not trust the Titans.)
Five Things to Watch
Chargers-Ravens
Sometimes, you don’t need to squint. Justin Herbert versus Lamar Jackson is the matchup of the week.
The Post-Gruden Raiders
Las Vegas lost their head coach this week following a “masterclass of stupidity” by Gruden. If you’re reading this and thinking to yourself He wrote those emails ten years ago, who cares? or Those were supposed to be private. We all have things we wouldn’t want publicized.
To those I have two answers. To the former, Gruden wasn’t some immature kid — he was in his late 40s. There isn’t a statute of limitations on racism, misogyny and homophobia.
To the latter, work emails are not private. I actually do not have a treasure trove of insensitive messages buried in an old email account. Do you?
Anyway, the Raiders have a football game against the Broncos to play today, and an important one at that. Denver and Las Vegas each sit at 3-2 and firmly in Wild Card contention. (Technically, they are each only one game back of the Chargers for the division race, but let’s be real.) It’s only Week 6, but these are the type of games that decide playoff races and tie-breakers come January.
The Geno Smith Era
Geno Smith might be a gem hiding in plain sight. Or he might be a career journeyman exactly where he belongs. We’re about to find out.
The Kliff-less Cards
Undefeated Arizona will be without their head coach and play-caller this week in Cleveland as Kliff Kingsbury tested positive for COVID-19. (The pandemic isn’t over yet, people.) Football media has ridiculed Kingsbury’s play-calling tendencies since the day he was hired, and not without good cause. There is a non-zero chance the Cardinals offense improves with a new play-caller. Is it likely? No, but it’ll be interesting to watch.
A Too-Early Loser Leaves Town
The 3-2 Panthers host the 2-3 Vikings. I don’t know if either of these teams are good. The Panthers looked great early in the season, then couldn’t move the ball against the Eagles. The Vikings three losses have all come to teams with winning records and have the best point differential in the NFC North, so maybe they are better than their record indicates.
Now that the nuance is out of the way… If the Panthers win, then the Vikings officially stink. If the Vikings win, then the Panthers were frauds and are eliminated from playoff contention (despite potentially being tied for a Wild Card berth, even with a loss.)
Look, I don’t make the rules. That’s just how it is.