Written by Sam DeCoste
There are no shortage of must-see matchups in the NFL this week. While the Jaguars, Eagles, Bengals, Cardinals, Giants, and Colts take the week off, there are 13 games to talk about. The Steelers and Ravens renew their classic rivalry for AFC North bragging rights, the Saints and Rams battle in a possible NFC Championship preview, and two of the greatest players ever, Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, battle in New England this week. So without any further delay, let's get right to it!
Here are my season records:
Lock of the Week record: 6-2
Last week's record: 12-2
OAK @ SF
Both teams have been terrible this season. Each enters Thursday night with one win on their record. But one team will win their second game of the year, and I lean towards the home side. CJ Beathard is finding rhythm with his receivers, especially Marquise Goodwin, and they should tear apart the Raiders secondary.
Prediction: OAK 24, SF 31
PIT @ BAL
Remember back in Week 4 when the Ravens stunned Pittsburgh at home? That put the Ravens at 3-1, in a great spot to mount a sizable lead over their dreaded rivals in the AFC North. But they have lost three of four games since, and a loss puts them below .500. They badly need a win to get their season back on track, but that's a bad spot to be in when the Steelers are coming to town. James Connor is the third ranked rusher in the league, Antonio Brown is still scoring touchdowns, and they have the momentum. That being said, Baltimore has a history of giving the Steelers problems. But the Steelers are the better team right now.
Prediction: PIT 27, BAL 21
KC @ CLE
Underestimate the Browns at your own peril. This is a talented football team that has been held back by woeful coaching, and the Browns organization finally ripped the band aid off, firing Hue Jackson this week. This may allow us to see the best out of Baker Mayfield this season, and a better performance against one of the league's worst defenses. But Patrick Mahomes is the better quarterback in this matchup. He should continue his record setting season and carry his team to a win in Cleveland.
Prediction: KC 31, CLE 21
TB @ CAR
The Bucs turn to Ryan Fitzpatrick once again, after Jameis Winston completely unraveled in Cincinnati. Fitzpatrick has thrown 13 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in his four starts and second half performance last week, throwing for 194 yards and nearly leading the Bucs to an 18-point comeback victory. He faces a Panthers team which is hot off a blowout victory over the stout Ravens, who have not lost at home this season. Last week, it was the league's number one defense to march into Carolina. This week, it's Tampa's top ranked offense). But I think Cam Newton and crew are on too good of a roll to stumble against the Bucs.
Prediction: TB 20, CAR 27
NYJ @ MIA
Miami came out victorious in an upset win at the Jets back in Week 2. Sam Darnold turned the ball over twice, and the Dolphins won 20-12. This meeting should be more of the same. The Dolphins will ground and pound with Kenyan Drake and Frank Gore, while the defense forces turnovers off a rookie quarterback. Miami is coming off 10 days rest, having watched their 3-0 start dissipate into a .500 record, needing to get back on track. They should win the game, and keep their playoff hopes alive.
Prediction: NYJ 13, MIA 23
ATL @ WSH
The Redskins were my infamous preseason pick to win the NFC East. Well, so far, they are quietly 5-2, atop the NFC East. Now they face the Falcons who are fresh off the bye, and looking for their first road win of 2018. It should be a fascinating matchup, considering the Falcons are the third ranked passing offense in the league, and the Redskins are the fourth ranked defense in the league. However, in Atlanta's two road games so far, they averaged 14.5 points. The Redskins defense will be the best defense the Falcons play this season, and I think don't see a way the Falcons snatch a victory in the nation's capital.
Prediction: ATL 16, WSH 24
DET @ MIN
The Lions wasted an opportunity against the revitalized Seahawks to go over .500 for the first time this year, and now they face a challenging road. They go to Minnesota this week, to face the Vikings, who lost for the first time since Week 4 against the Saints last Sunday night. The Vikings still have an opportunity to win a mediocre NFC North, featuring the inconsistent Bears, the inconsistent Lions, and Aaron Rodgers' team. Surprisingly, the Lions beat the Vikings last season in US Bank Stadium, so they have proven they have what it takes to vanquish the Vikings. But Matt Patricia's Lions are more inconsistent, and the Vikings have only gotten better since last year. Minnesota should bounce back.
Prediction: DET 13, MIN 24
CHI @ BUF
The Bills defense is for real. They forced the Patriots to kick four field goals, and only 18 points. But the Derek Anderson led offense held them back once again, making for another heavy defeat. Now the Bears march in, off a gritty victory over the Jets. Chicago should take care of the Bills, and score enough points to escape with a win. They average 28 points per game, and they move the ball for 382 yards per game as well. If they can shut down the Bills' bottom ranked offense, they will beat the Bills comfortably.
Prediction: CHI 26, BUF 3
HOU @ DEN
Ah, yes. The Demaryius Thomas revenge game. It's not often that you get traded, and your first game with your new team is against your old team. The Texans took care of business against the Dolphins on TNF, and they face a Denver team which has only lost at home to the Rams and Chiefs. I feel the Broncos could give Houston lots of problems, but Denver just traded away one of their all-time leading receivers, and they face a top 10 defense this Sunday. And the Texans have won five in a row, they have the momentum to make it six.
Prediction: HOU 27, DEN 21
LAC @ SEA
Everybody wrote off the Seahawks this year. Myself included. Who would've thought that after such drastic roster upheaval, and after losing so many All Pro players, they would have a winning record at the midway point in the year. They have rediscovered their ground and pound identity, ranking as the fifth ranked rushing offense this season. They face a Chargers team which has only lost twice this year, to the Chiefs and Rams. Seattle is a tough test for the Chargers nonetheless, and this is the type of game the Chargers have come up short time and time again in the past. However, these Chargers are not your older brother's Chargers. They are here to win, and they will outlast Seattle's ground and pound.
Prediction: LAC 33, SEA 24
LAR @ NO
This is my dream NFC Championship Game. These teams combine for 66 points and 831 yards per game this year, and they should light up the scoreboard this Sunday. The winner of this contest just might clinch home field advantage in the playoffs, so the stakes couldn't be higher for a matchup between the Saints and the unbeaten Rams. For so long, the Rams faced inept offenses and strolled to comfortable victories week after week, until the Packers battled them for four quarters. That was the most lethargic performance they put up this season, but they still outlasted Green Bay. On the other side, New Orleans is on a roll. They fulfilled their vengeance after beating Minnesota last week, and now they face the lone undefeated team in the NFL, in the dome. Drew Brees will light the Rams up, and hand the Rams their first loss of the year.
Prediction: LAR 33, NO 39
GB @ NE
Sports don't get much better than this. Two of the best ever to play facing off against one another. This will be only the second time Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady square off, and the first time Aaron Rodgers visits Foxborough. Both teams stumbled last week, with the Packers fumbling an opportunity to hand the Rams their first loss of the year, and the Patriots were outplayed by Buffalo's defense on Monday night. Nonetheless, under the Sunday night spotlight, featuring the two best passers of our generation, this will be a fascinating spectacle. I give the edge to whoever has the ball last. I think that will be Brady.
Prediction: GB 30, NE 31
TEN @ DAL
These teams will have had 15 days rest to prepare for this Monday night matchup, so it should be a highly entertaining and competitive game. The Titans have lost four in a row since outlasting the Eagles in overtime, and Dallas is unbeaten at home this year, where they have average 28 points per game. Not to mention their defense is third in total defense, only allowing 313 yards a contest. I don't see the Titans offense posing any problems for the Cowboys, who are ranked 30th. Only the Bills and Cardinals have lower ranked offenses than the Titans this season (!!!). Dallas should stroll to a comfortable victory. This is my Lock of the Week.
Prediction: TEN 14, DAL 28
Breer, Albert. “MMQB: Aaron Rodgers and the Quest to Be like Brady.” SI.com, 30 July 2018, www.si.com/nfl/2018/07/30/aaron-rodgers-green-bay-packers-age-40-contract-tom-brady-diet-training-camp.
Great job Sam! Looking forward to the Sunday night matchup...should be a instant classic.
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