Week 6 of the NFL season did indeed prove to be a challenge, and I was happy to emerge with a 9-5 record, a mark which moves the season total to 56-35 (.615).
With Da Bears and the Stinky Cheese both having byes, there is little on the NFL slate to draw my interest this week. With four teams having the weekend off — the Bengals and Broncos are also relaxing — and with a game in London, there are only two late Sunday afternoon games.
One is the Cowboys at the Giants, the other is the Raiders at the Chargers. Unless you live in California, the networks will shove another East Coast crapfest on the nation, and will do so again Sunday in prime time with the Eagles at the Panthers. Thank goodness for The Walking Dead and usually decent fare on Discovery and/or History.
Here (yawn) come the picks (yawn) for Week 7 ….
Thursday’s Game
SEAHAWKS at FORTY-NINERS, 7:25 p.m., CBS/NFLN
I love seeing Seattle and smug, used-car salesman Petey Carroll struggling. Too bad a short flight down the left coast will serve (for now) as a cure … SEATTLE 27-16.
Sunday’s Games
BILLS at JAGUARS (London), 8:30 a.m., TBA
Dear NFL: With all due respect, if your intention is to grow interest in the game in Mother England, the least you can do is send her good games. Yours, Everyone. … BUFFALO 25-12.
VIKINGS at LIONS, 12 p.m., FOX
Two weeks from being jobbed into a loss — and one week from being jobbed into a win — the kitties host the Norse. A toss-up, but I am not yet sold on Minnesota … DETROIT 21-20.
SAINTS at COLTS, 12 p.m., FOX
Brees played his college ball not far away in West Lafayette, which has zero bearing on this game … INDY 26-20.
STEELERS at CHIEFS, 12 p.m., CBS
My brother from another mother, Bill, and his wife Vicki will be joining two other of my friends at this game. Bill is diehard Pittsburgh; Vicki is trying to earn her bona fides. So, a little cruise before KISS Cruise V, and while I like KC in this one, for my buddy I take … PITTSBURGH 23-17.
TEXANS at DOLPHINS, 12 p.m., CBS
The problem with ultra-macho is that it only lasts for so long. For now, the He-Man approach still has some energy left … MIAMI 31-17.
JETS at PATRIOTS, 12 p.m., CBS
I will make a side prediction here: The Pats will lose a key player in this game. They will hang on to win, but … BOSTON 24-20.
BROWNS at RAMS, 12 p.m., CBS
Just cannot see McCown surviving the Rams pass rush … ST. LOUIS 19-10.
FALCONS at TITANS, 12 p.m., FOX
Just cannot see Matty Ice dropping two in a row, at least not with Tennessee the second team on the list … ATLANTA 38-21.
BUCCANEERS at REDSKINS, 12 p.m., FOX
Just cannot see why anyone not a fan of either team would bother watching this dog … WASHINGTON 20-17.
RAIDERS at CHARGERS, 3:05 p.m., CBS
Both of these franchises may be playing in Los Angeles in 2017 … SAN DIEGO 37-20.
COWBOYS at GIANTS, 3:25 p.m., FOX
If the way these two teams have looked the past two weeks are any indication, the public should prepare itself for ugly, poorly-played football … NY 24-20.
EAGLES at PANTHERS, 7:30 p.m., NBC *
Imagine what the Eagles could do with a professional quarterback. Imagine what Scam Netwon could do with professional weapons … EAGLES 28-21.
Monday’s Game
RAVENS at CARDINALS, 7:30 p.m.
The Crows have been a major disappointment, while the Cardinals seemingly only play to their talent level half of the time … ARIZONA 26-16.
Byes: Da Bears, Bengals, Broncos, Some team from NE Wisconsin.
Last week: 9-5. Season: 56-35 (.615).
Thanks for the shout out, Jeff. Vicki and I are celebrating our 29th wedding anniversary, which is Sunday. I took Vicki to Arrowhead once before to celebrate our union, when she was a lowly Jags fan, and they got crushed by the Chiefs that day. Here’s hoping that a change in her allegiance will bring a different result, even if she isn’t wearing that God awful bumble bee jersey as a hazing!
Yes, I remember your anniversary! I only wish you had not dragged out the photos from your wedding … seeing how I used to look reminded me of how I have devolved!