We are getting close the midpoint of the season. There have been seemingly safe picks that have wiped out much of the field. So, be careful what you pick. One never knows who is going to surprise.
Don’t think about it
Kansas City heads to Denver with a two-game home losing streak. Vic Fangio and the Broncos are riding a two-game winning streak and playing tough defense. In this Thursday nighter, the Broncos can create enough problems for Patrick Mahomes to make them dangerous. … The Oakland Raiders are coming off a bye and a stunning victory in London over the Chicago Bears. They are no longer the patsies they have been in the past and Green Bay’s WR corps is dinged up big time. Aaron Rodgers barely got the pack past Detroit Monday. The short week doesn’t help. … Speaking of dinged up, the Los Angeles Rams are hurting on the schedule and in the standings. Under normal circumstances the 1-5 Atlanta Falcons would be a welcome sight but not this week. The Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts duel. These teams are nicely matched and there is no circumstance at this point of the season to play the game in a knockout pool. Same goes for Minnesota at Detroit. The Lions are smarting after the wicked defeat Monday. They can play the Vikings tough, too tough to make a call. The Baltimore Ravens pay a visit to the Seattle Seahawks in a stellar matchup. This is one to sit back, watch and enjoy. The 3-3 Philadelphia Eagles meet the 3-3 Dallas Cowboys for supremacy in the weak NFC East. Despite how confident Doug Pederson is, we can’t agree with the Eagles’ coach.
Let the bettor beware
Bill Callahan managed to get Washington its first victory over the woeful Dolphins. Now, he gets the unbeaten San Francisco 49ers. It seems like a gift if you haven’t used SF. However, Kyle Shanahan and the Niners are coming off huge wins over Cleveland and the Rams. This smells like a letdown possibility. The Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans are both in miserable stretches. Neither can be tabbed with any confidence. Yes, it seems like the Chicago Bears have to rebound from the awful loss to the Raiders in London. The offense is offensive and will not have an easy time against the New Orleans Saints. There is way too much jeopardy here.
Tempting fate
It simply feels too easy to pick Jacksonville against winless Cincinnati. The Bengals have been close in their last two, and could be due to spring an upset of Gardner Minshew II and the Jaguars. Are you seriously going to play one rookie QB on the road against another? That’s why the Kyler Murray and the Cardinals are not as glamorous a pick as they seem against Daniel Jones and the Giants. Pass … and there figures to be plenty of them. … And it seems as if the New England Patriots get another free square as they go into MetLife to play the New York Jets. Adam Gase had success in South Beach against the Pats. So, be careful.
Go for it
Hate to be Capt. Obvious, but the goal is to win and advance to Week 8. If you have the Buffalo Bills left in your stable, pick them. The Miami Dolphins have enough issues playing in Florida, let alone Western New York in the fall. Expect Brian Flores & Co. to fall … for the seventh straight game.
