Alternative Picks: Week 9, 2020

Week eight was an ugly affair. The writers ended up tied, but each missed most of his picks. It happens in the NFL.

Andy decided to go first this week. Here are the picks:

1) Andy: Steelers over Cowboys – Ok, after they took care of Baltimore, I now believe the Steelers to be Kansas City’s biggest threat to a repeat. Rarely have I felt this confident in a win/loss result … so, does that mean there is an upset coming?
2) Tony: Chiefs over Panthers – This is less a case of the Panthers not being that good, and more a case of the Chiefs just being that good.
3) Tony: Patriots over Jets – This, however, is a case of the Jets just not being that good. Actually, calling the Jets “not that good” might be an insult to other teams that are “not that good.”
4) Andy: Titans over Bears – This is going to be an interesting week. There aren’t a lot of easy games on the docket. Chicago has a good record but may not be as good as advertised. The Titans seem legit, though the Cincinnati loss is troubling. Throwing a dart, I guess.
5) Tony: Raiders over Chargers – Outside of a week 7 win over the hapless Jaguars, the Chargers are basically throwing away an unexpected amazing rookie season by Justin Herbert. Other than being at home, I’m not sure I understand why the Raiders are only 1.5 point favorites here.
6) Andy: Cardinals over Dolphins – After last Sunday, when Miami won in spite of Tua, it appears as though Ryan Fitzpatrick is the better choice for the Dolphins if the goal is winning now. They’re on the right track, but the Cardinals and their young phenom QB are further along in that development.
7) Tony: Texans over Jaguars – The battle to stick with the Jets to have a chance for the first overall pick…the difference here is that the Texans have a QB, whereas the Jaguars are hoping to get a pick to draft one that won’t try to play through a broken throwing hand.
8) Andy: Vikings over Lions – Now that the season is more or less over for the Vikings, they seem determined to play hard and screw up the opportunity to earn a top draft pick. If this team isn’t a seller at the deadline … but then again, who needs a franchise quarterback. Story of the franchise – can’t even suck just quite right.
9) Tony: Buccaneers over Saints – The return of Antonio Brown will be an interesting one to watch–will be interesting to see how they spread the ball around.
10) Andy: Ravens over Colts – Indianapolis isn’t bad, but Philip Rivers and Lamar Jackson are difference makers for their respective teams right now in different ways.
11) Tony: Packers over 49ers – I really wanted to take the 49ers here, with the hope that the crushing loss to the Vikings, combined with the potential of needing to start their 4th string RB might start the slide to the middle of the pack that Packers fans deserve. Unfortunately, with Jimmy Garoppolo, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel all out…I’m not sure I can find a way to pick the 49ers to keep up with Aaron Rodgers & Davante Adams.
12) Andy: Falcons over Broncos – It’s been 22 years since John Elway’s Broncos defeated Atlanta in the Super Bowl our hometown team should have been in, but for taking a knee and wide left. Uggh. Why am I thinking about that again. Anyway, the Falcons have been playing better of late and they’ll avenge the loss they had in the game they never should have played in. We’re happy for them.
13) Tony: Seahawks over Bills – This will be an interesting game, as the Bills have some strong defensive backs, the Seahawks are potentially still without their top 2 RB, and the Bills offense hasn’t exactly been lighting it up. Ultimately, I think Russell Wilson finds a way.
14) Andy: Giants over Football Team – No idea who wins this game. No reason to care either.

Somehow these clowns did manage to predict that Miami would beat the Rams. Otherwise the picks were largely gross. Andy picked up one more game on the season.

Tough slate of games this week. We’ll probably be mediocre again this week. Cheers.