Oct 25 2020
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Scott was making a run for the lead, but then Week 6 hit like Jadeveon Clowney against that Michigan running back. I tried to look up his name, but I think he’s been placed in the Witness Protection Program.

Scott’s picks — the Browns, Vikings and Packers — all got blown out. After a 4-0 Sunday slate, Andy Dalton and the Cowboys blew my chance for the first ever perfect week. While Scott and I rotate between 4-1 and 1-4, Lauren keeps chugging along by going 3-2 or 2-3 seemingly every single week.

Now for Week 7. As always, we’re using the Vegas Insider Consensus lines.

Last week

  • Lauren: 3-2
  • Scott: 1-4
  • Nolan: 4-1

Season

  • Lauren: 16-14
  • Scott: 15-15
  • Nolan: 19-9-2

Lauren’s Picks

Buffalo -10 at N.Y. Jets

The only thing that would keep the Bills from covering this spread would be the Jets’ turf. After back-to-back AFC losses, Buffalo will use the Jets as their punching bag to get back on track.

Green Bay -3.5 at Houston

Both of these teams are coming off tough losses, but I can’t see the Packers dropping consecutive games. The Texans’ schedule has been brutal this season and there won’t be any relief coming versus Aaron Rodgers and Co.

Kansas City -8 at Denver

The Broncos had a quality victory at the Patriots’ place a week ago; however, it’s hard to think that fortune will continue in hosting the Chiefs. I was a little hesitant with this eight-point spread but also feel the Chiefs could easily win by 10. Hopefully Le’Veon Bell didn’t bring the bad Jets’ mojo to KC. 

Tampa Bay -4 at Las Vegas

This may come back to bite me, but with a week off after a massive victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, I think the Raiders will edge this one out by a field goal or lose by a touchdown. The Bucs stuck it to then-undefeated Green Bay in primetime and could be getting in their groove as the Super Bowl contenders everyone thought to begin the Brady era.

Seattle -3.5 at Arizona

The Cardinals had a party at AT&T Stadium last week against a bad Cowboys team. Now, they have to come off their high horse and face arguably the best team in the NFC. I think the Seahawks win by a touchdown.

Scott’s Picks

Buffalo -10 at N.Y. Jets

The Bills have had a rough couple of weeks (Sorry, Nolan!). But there should be no better remedy than a matchup against the hapless Jets. If the Bills are going to contend in the AFC, and I feel like they have the personnel and staff to do so, then this should be an absolute blowout. Also, as long as Adam Gase is employed by the Jets, I will continue to pick against them. That is my rule.

Green Bay -3.5 at Houston

The Texans have certainly looked better since absolving themselves of Bill O’Brien, while the Packers put forth possibly their worst performance of the past two seasons last week against the Bucs. I don’t think either of those things will matter this week. Aaron Rodgers and company are going to play with a little chip on their shoulder this week, and they’ll be doing so against an absolutely abysmal Texans defense. I’m as confident in this pick as any single pick I’ve made, which means that Houston will somehow roll to victory.

Pittsburgh +1 at Tennessee

This is my defense mechanism. Fans do weird things and making this pick is my way of guarding myself. If we lose, at least I’ll have the minor satisfaction of correctly picking the winner for our column. In all honesty, I think this game is a complete toss-up and I’m incredibly nervous/excited for it. Whoever wins will immediately be thrust into legit contender status, though I think most pundits already had the Steelers in that conversation. A win for the Titans would put them squarely in that category as well.

Dallas +1 at Washington

Yes, I’m picking Andy Dalton to win on the road. What have I become? It took all of two drives for the “Andy Dalton can do most of what Dak does” crowd to disappear, and I’m thankful for that. The Red Rocket is bad, but the Washington Football Team is too. If I was smart, I would just stay away from the NFC East completely, but I’m a glutton for punishment. In all honesty I do believe the Cowboys will win outright, hence this pick.

Seattle -3.5 at Arizona

The Seattle defense is shaky to say the least and I’m a little concerned about that extra half point, but I’ll go with my gut. This should be a fun game that will go back and forth throughout. I’m banking on Russell Hustle and Bustle Wilson to do what he does best, which is lead a late drive to pull out the victory, hopefully by at least four points! 

Nolan’s Picks

Buffalo -10 at N.Y. Jets

My mind is so broken by Allen’s inevitable regression that I considered not picking against Adam Gase and the Jets. But now that this line has dropped to just ten points… 

Pittsburgh +1.5 at Tennessee

The Steelers front seven is dominant and Tennessee is without LT Taylor Lewan. The path for the Titans winning this game is to air it out and hit a couple deep shots. Notice I did not mention Derrick Henry, but I feel like the Titans are going to try and get him going. That’s why I’ve got Pittsburgh. I also have grown a weirdly strong distain for the Titans and I’m not really sure why.

Cleveland -3.5 at Cincinnati

The Browns beat the Bengals by five points in Week 2, but that was a 12-point game until Backdoor Burrow scored with just 45 seconds left. I hate the slate this week, but I think the Browns can win by over a field goal over the lowly Bengals. I don’t feel good about this, but I can’t envision picking Cincinnati +3.5 so here we are.

Tampa Bay -4 at Las Vegas

The Bucs defensive front will not allow Josh Jacobs to get going on the ground, nor will Derek Carr be able to sit back and hit slants all afternoon. Similar to Tannehill, Carr will have to take shots deep; unlike Tannehill, he’s notoriously hesitant to do so. The Bucs offense is getting healthy and they should have a bit of an extra pep in their step with Antonio Brown’s signing.

Chicago +6 at L.A. Rams

This is going to be a low-scoring slogfest, so give me the 5-1 team inexplicably getting nearly a full touchdown. The Bears might be frauds, but they aren’t bad. The Rams, winless outside of the NFC East might be the bigger frauds. (I have some regrets with my fraud rankings.)

Answering Week 6’s Questions

Can Teddy Two Gloves keep it rolling?

The Panthers offense was largely stifled by the Bears defense as Bridgewater threw two picks and no touchdowns. His receivers didn’t help a whole lot, but Carolina out-gained the Bears by nearly 50 yards. You have to win under those circumstances against Nick Foles.

Brady versus Rodgers… that is all.

Rodgers threw the first punch as the Packers stormed out to a 10-nothing lead. Then the Bucs scored 38 unanswered points. I thought this game would be a shootout, instead it put me to sleep. Literally.

Is this San Francisco’s final stand?

The Niners beat the Rams last week, almost exclusively due to Kyle Shanahan’s brilliance. Jimmy Garoppolo almost never threw the ball downfield and his receivers racked up what felt like 20 YAC every play. San Francisco isn’t dead yet.

Can Andy Dalton lead Dallas to the playoffs?

Look, it’s not Dalton’s fault. Dallas forced him to start on Monday Night, what did they expect?

How does Jaheim Allen rebound?

Allen rebounded like Brook Lopez, which is to say not at all.

Five Questions Entering Week 7

What do the karma gods have in store in Atlanta?

Something dumb is bound to happen between the Lions and Falcons, two of the leagues most tortured fanbases. If there’s a game that will end in a tie, a Fail Mary, a botched field goal hold or perhaps something my mind cannot even conceive, it’s this one.

Why didn’t Steelers-Titans get the Sunday night game?

I’d be remiss if the biggest game of the week didn’t make it into the Five Questions. There are so many questions within this game. Will the Titans try to run with Henry or air it out with Tannehill? Big Ben has been ultra-conservative this year. Will he start taking some shots downfield to Chase Claypool or Dionte Johnson? This game could be massive for the AFC’s one-seed race, which is especially crucial now that only one team earns a bye.

Can Baker Mayfield prove something?

Mayfield was in a lose-lose situation last week. This week, he gets the Bengals, who just lose. He has to bounce back after another horrendous showing against a good team. The tough questions are starting to be asked and they’ll only grow louder with another dud.

What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?

I probably overuse that quote but I don’t really care. There is no offensive coach better at creating something out of nothing than Kyle Shanahan, and no defensive coach better at taking away an offense’s strengths than Bill Belichick. It’s also a Revenge GameTM for Jimmy Garoppolo in New England. Something has to give in this battle of the minds.

Can Deshaun Watson keep his hot streak going?

Watson is quietly tied for the league lead in yards per attempt at 8.9 and ranks second in net yards per pass attempt (which factors in sack yardage lost). The loss of DeAndre Hopkins is forcing Watson to spread the ball around more, and I theorized before the season that could actually help the young quarterback grow as a passer. Since Bill O’Brien’s firing, that seems to be coming to fruition. It just hasn’t lead to many wins because Houston’s defense is garbage.

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