one inch frame
the personal site of eric a. Farris
Last week: 8-6 vs. spread, 7-7 straight up. This week: 6-6-1 vs. spread, 8-5 straight up.
Two teams on the rise. A three point advantage to the home team means this is an even game. I’m going to take the Texans at home, and give the niners those points. Results: 49ers 21, Texans 24 (Push, W)
Regardless of how their old QB might be playing right now, I believe the Packers made the right choice last year when they hitched their wagon to Aaron Rogers. And the Brownies aren’t all that. But nine and a half is too much to give them at home. Give me the Pack to win, but the Browns won’t be that far behind. Results: Packers 31, Browns 3 (L, W)
It wasn’t that long ago that this would have been a marquee game and a real shootout. The Colts have had two weeks to think about this one, and it will look like it. Sure, why not, the Colts by more than 14. Results: Colts 42, Rams 6 (W, W)
The yanks and pirates in London. I get that the NFL would like to export their product, but the teams suffer when they do it. There’s no home advantage here, and these games don’t look or feel like normal NFL games. A blowout is too much to expect. Patriots win, but the Bucs keep it closer than 14.5. Results: Patriots 35, Bucs 7 (L, W)
Here’s an interesting game. So tempted to push here. Two QBs at different stages in their careers, yet both looking to prove what they are. Give me the Bengals in a close one at home. Results: Bears 10, Bengals 45 (W, W)
No one in the AFC West likes having to play the Chiefs at home. Doesn’t matter that the Chiefs are stinking it up; Arrowhead is Arrowhead. There’s the strong smell of upset in the air, give me the Chiefs for the straight-up win. Results: Chargers 37, Chiefs 7 (L, L)
That’s an interesting line. The undefeated Vikings underdogs in Pittsburgh? And by a full six points? The Vikings almost made me look like a genius last week, folding late and only a missed FG away from an upset loss at home. This week, I’m down on them again, I’ll take the Steelers by a touchdown or more. Results: Vikings 17, Steelers 27 (W, W)
Oh, seriously, who cares? Panthers win, but the Bills beat the spread. Results: Bills 20, Panthers 9 (L, L)
The Raiders and their pigeons impressed last week, or this line would have been double digits. The Jets are trying to have their talented QB learn on the job, which usually leads to good results, but is messy and painful to watch. Including this week. Give me the Raiders straight up. Results: Jets 38, Raiders 0 (L, L)
Year after year, the Cowboys over-promise and under-deliver. Or perhaps it’s the media that just overhypes them. Either way, they haven’t been all that in years. Atlanta seems to know what they’re doing, and I’ll take Tony Gonzalez over Tony Romo any day. I like the Falcons straight up. Results: Falcons 21, Cowboys 37 (L, L)
So much is made about the “Wildcat” offense that the Dolphins run, and this is another year where we again see defenses struggle with what they know is coming. Why Miami does it better than everyone else is left as an exercise for the reader, but there’s no denying it. The Saints, however, are showing they’re an elite team with a record breaking offense. They’re on a roll, and they made me look like a fool last week. So, they get rewarded, the Saints by more than 6. Results: Saints 46, Dolphins 34 (W, W)
Maybe a playoff preview here? (Yeah, I said that about the g-men last week, too). The Giants were completely beaten last week, and they’ll not stand for it this week. They’ll win, but the line is too much, I’ll take the Cardinals. Results: Cardinals 24, Giants 17. (W, L)
The string of watchable MNF games is officially over. Two teams sinking into irrelevance, but no team is fading faster than Washington. Nothing, though, compares to the embarrassment of losing to the Raiders, like the Eagles had to suffer last week. Given the total disaster that is the Redskins management, it’s a case of ‘how have the mighty fallen.’ Eagles win big. Results: Eagles 27, Redskins 17 (W, W)