Paging Mr The Pug the NFL season is at the halfway point.. Where are you at buddy? Brooks is the first person to get a tie added to his record while Trevor has a comfy 2nd place lead over Ed.
“The Bald and Beautiful” Brooks Roland
N.Y. JETS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS
The big story entering this game is whether or not both teams will be able to escape without any of their quarterbacks getting injured. Who’s starting for Cleveland this week, anyway? Cody Kessler? Kevin Hogan? Maybe they’ll have to bring Bernie Kosar out of retirement? As for the Jets, Ryan Fitzpatrick had been stinking the joint up, so Geno Smith took over the job, which was followed by Smith suffering an injury and Fitzpatrick coming back in. I still think the Browns are going 0-16, so I’m gonna take the Jets in a squeaker. No QB’s were harmed in the making of this pick.
My Pick: New York Jets
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS AT DENVER BRONCOS
The Broncos sit in a tie atop the AFC West at 5-2 with the Oakland Raiders, while the Chargers have bounced back from a 1-4 start to win two straight, including an OT thriller in Atlanta last week. These two teams met two weeks ago in San Diego on a Thursday night in what was easily the best pair of Color Rush uniforms the NFL has ever seen. Other than that, the game wasn’t terribly exciting as the Chargers came away with an important divisional win. Can’t say that I see the same thing happening here, as Denver’s defense tightens up on its home field to get the win.
My Pick: Denver Broncos
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT DALLAS COWBOYS
“Wentz vs. Prescott! Get ready for the next great QB duel in the NFL!”, says everyone and their brother. Let’s dial it back a notch. This will be an entertaining contest, between the teams with the two best records in the NFC East. But Carson Wentz and the Eagles have struggled in their last two away games. Philly got back on track last week at home by handing the Vikings their first loss, but it was the defense that led the way. Dallas is coming off a bye week, but I expect them to continue their winning ways, as Ezekiel Elliott continues to dazzle and Dallas finds a way to win a close one.
My Pick: Dallas Cowboys
OAKLAND RAIDERS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
On paper, this has all the makings of a game that could be a shootout. Two young, hotshot QB’s coming off of victories after going across the country, as the Bucs blasted the Niners in San Francisco and the Raiders handled the Jags in Jacksonville. Both teams like to maintain a balanced offense, but I’m going with the Raiders on the road in this one. They’re already 4-0 away from home, and I look for them to control the clock with the running game while balancing things out with Derek Carr keeping things honest with his arm. It’ll be a close one, though.
My Pick: Oakland Raiders
WILD CARD GAME OF THE WEEK: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT BUFFALO BILLS
The last time these two teams met, the Patriots suffered their first shutout loss at home since 1993. However, that was without Tom Brady or Rob Gronkowski in the lineup. Both of them will be back and I expect both of them to have big days against this Buffalo defense that got shredded by Dolphins RB Jay Ajayi last week. Even though I do expect this to be a close game, I just don’t expect the Bills to get the better of the Patriots twice in one season. Hasn’t happened in years and I don’t see it happening now.
My Pick: New England Patriots
“The Bossman” Trevor Grout
NY Jets @ Cleveland Browns
Two teams that could go either way. Right now the Bucs and Browns are the only two teams without a home win. Somehow some way that could change this week for one of those teams, but it won’t be the Browns.
My Pick: NY Jets
San Diego Chargers @ Denver Broncos
San Diego is better than their record shows, but Denver’s defense is keeping them at the top of the AFC West division tied with the other 5-2 team the Oakland Raiders. This game between AFC West rivals could really go either way.
My Pick: Denver Broncos
Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott can do no wrong right now as the starting QB for the Cowboys. Carson Wentz on the other hand has begun possibly regressing. By now means am I saying the Eagles are a bad team, they aren’t. Dallas is just a hair better than they are as a complete team.
My Pick: Dallas Cowboys
Oakland Raiders @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This is going to be an extremely interesting game. The 5-2 Raiders vs the 3-3 Buccaneers. If Jameis throws 32 or less passes and the Bucs are able to run the ball there is a chance the Bucs could upset the Raiders.
My Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Wildcard Game of the Week
Arizona Cardinals @ Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton has to put up a good game eventually right? I mean it is bound to happen one of these weeks so why not this week?
My Pick: Carolina Panthers
Anthony “The Pug” Pugliese
