There is only one undefeated team (who would’ve thought it would be the Arizona Cardinals?). And there are only two teams without a win (that one is much easier to guess: Lions and the Jags). The Super Bowl favorite KC Chiefs are 2-2 and at the bottom of their division. Meanwhile the mediocre Titans are also 2-2 and sit atop their division. Life in the NFL.
As always, there are some surprises. I thought the Washington Football Team would have a much better defense than they have so far. I didn’t think the Panthers would be 3-1 with a very good defense and a (so far) very good Sam Darnold. And I certainly didn’t think the Cards would be 4-0.
And, as always, there are some things that aren’t surprising at all. Tom Brady is pretty good. Urban Meyer is a walking pile of human excrement. And I’ve been wrong (so far) about something (fuck you Josh Allen). Par for the course.
In the news: Packers sign Jaylon Smith, who the Cowboys cut just two years after giving him a fat contract. Definitely worth a shot, especially with a weak/injured LB corp. And the Pats trade Stephon Gilmore, who they signed to a massive contract just two years ago, to the Panthers in return for a 6th round pick. Another high upside/very little risk move.
Without further ado: here’s your games:
Thursday Night Football
Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks (+1, 51.5)
Sunday, October 10th
Morning
New York Jets vs. Atlanta Falcons (-3.5, 44) — in London
Noon
Philadelphia Eagles @ Carolina Panthers (-4.5, 46)
New Orleans Saints @ Washington Football Team (+1, 44)
Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars (+3.5, 48)
Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings (-8, 49)
Green Bay Packers @ Cincinnati Bengals (+4, 49.5)
New England Patriots @ Houston Texans (+9.5, 39.5)
Denver Broncos @ Pittsburgh Steelers (+1.5, 40.5)
Miami Dolphins @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-10.5, 49.5)
Late
Cleveland Browns @ Los Angeles Chargers (-1.5, 49.5)
Chicago Bears @ Las Vegas Raiders (-5.5, 45.5)
New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys (-7.5, 50.5)
San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals (-4.5, 53.5)
Night
Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs (-2.5, 56.5)
MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Indianapolis Colts @ Baltimore Ravens (-7, 48)
A very interesting game on Thursday night, as the West Coast gets to shine. The Rams were a bit exposed last week as Matthew Stafford/Sean McVey returned to Earth (mostly due to turnovers) and the defense just got their ass handed to them. And the Seahawks are a Jeckel and Hyde team so far this year. Could be a fascinating game.
I gotta say: I love London games. With three teenagers and a hectic week, I love waking up on Sunday morning, getting a cuppa, and sitting on the coach in my jammy pants watching football. With no one else (except the doggo, who quietly hangs out with me) awake let alone bothering me to run an errand, do a household chore, or take on a home project, it’s a small slice of heaven. It is a shame that, by and large, the teams that play in London are awful. This week is no different. A bad game between shitty teams, that I’ll happily watch in peace and quiet.
Packers/Bengals seems like the best of the early games, and should be a good watch. The development of Joe Burrow looks to be continuing, and the defense looks great on paper (it’s not in real life, which I think we will find out Sunday). Losing one of, if not the, best cover CB in football in Jaire Alexander will hurt the Packers against this loaded Bengals WR corp. Should be some serious fireworks.
Browns/Chargers is the game to watch, as two very good teams with huge expectations go head to head. Baker Mayfield continues to be a better pitchman than QB, but has been game managing well enough with that run game and defense to compete. And the Chargers have looked good so far this year. I expect a hard fought, great game to watch. If you don’t want to watch two contenders duke it out, you can watch two equally matched yet much less good teams in the Raiders and the Bears play. That game should be fun.
The clear Game of the Week is Sunday Night’s Bills/Chiefs. Not much to say other than it is a must watch. And Monday night has a football game too.
Do you like Sunday morning games as much as I do? What do you think about teams cutting/trading away players hey just signed to big contracts a couple years ago? And who do you think wins this weekend. Let’s hear from you.