Not that you care, but we have an office pool here at 98.5 The Sports, comprised largely of the folks on the business side, specifically the sales staff. Yours truly won the weekly prize last week by going 11-4 against the spread, giving me 93 wins for the season. If you look below, you’ll notice that we here at Pick It and Stick It went 9-6 last week, which is worse than my individual performance.
See where I’m going with?
These bums are weighing me down.
With that in mind, I’d like to introduce you to Jim (The Anvil) Murray and Mike (Cement Shoes) Felger.
But I digress.
The obvious talk of the town this week has been the Patriots inaptly named offense, which reeks like Faneuil Hall on a hot summer day. De facto offensive coordinator Matt Patricia is on the hot seat. Bill Belichick – whom empowered Patricia and Joe Judge on that side of the ball – is getting much of the scrutiny. And entering the final five weeks of the season, the Pats’ offense is what is, which is to say that is stinks.
Can the Pats win this week? Sure, largely because their opponent, the Arizona Cardinals, have one of the worst defenses in football. (Talk about a pillow fight.) Nonetheless, we’ll have to wait until Monday night to find out. In the interim, here are our selections with five weeks to go during the regular season.
Last Week: 9-6.
Season to date: 95-83-4.
(Lines courtesy of DraftKings.)
Las Vegas (-6) at LA Rams
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 04: Davante Adams #17 of the Las Vegas Raiders scores a touchdown in the third quarter of a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
Don’t look now, but the Raiders offense is clicking and Josh McDaniels’ team isn’t completely dead. Over the last five games, Davante Adams (above) has 41 catches for 664 yards and seven touchdowns, placing at or near the top of an array of receiving categories. The Cinder Block and The Anvil both like the Raiders in this game – as do I, at least to win – but I have to admit that the Rams played a little better last week and are getting 5.5 points at home on a Thursday night. My point? I’d bet the Rams with the points. I’d take the Raiders to win the game. The sandbags win this one. Pick: Las Vegas.
NY Jets (+9) at Buffalo
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – OCTOBER 31: Mike White #5 of the New York Jets celebrates after catching the ball for a two point conversion during the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at MetLife Stadium on October 31, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Interesting game here. The Jets obviously defeated the Bills earlier this season and Buffalo is coming off a much-needed, long week of rest. So Buffalo gets revenge this week, right? Wrong. Murray (The Anvil) is taking the cheese here, but the Jets look like a far more complete team now that Mike White (above) is playing quarterback. Nine points feel like a too-big number and, at a minimum, the Jets rank sixth in the league in scoring defense. I hate to keep halving it, but I like the Bills wo win the game and the Jets with the points. Felger agrees on the second part. Discussion over. Pick: New York.
Philly (-7) at NY Giants
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 04: Head coach Brian Daboll of the New York Giants looks on in the first half of a game against the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium on December 04, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
We all know how it works. When you win, you are a feisty, cherubic little elf. When you lose, you start to look like a chubby tool. The fading Giants are 1-3-1 in their last five and coming off a tie against the Commanders, but Murray and Felger somehow think New York is the better pick this. I happen to like the Eagles, who still possess the best record in the NFL. The Giants have definitely kept most games close this season – that Dallas loss on Thanksgiving was deceiving – and I’ll admit this is a tough game to pick. So I don’t blame The Ball & Chain. But I like the Eagles. Pick: New York.
Cleveland (-6) at Cincinnati
CINCINNATI, OHIO – DECEMBER 04: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks to pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half at Paycor Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Once again, I would like to take this opportunity to profess my love for Joe Burrow, who is the closest thing to Tom Brady in the current NFL. But you know who has owned Burrow in his career? The Browns. And I’m not joking. Burrow is 0-4 against Cleveland with four interceptions and 17 sacks, and Cleveland obviously Deshaun Watson back last week after a highly publicized absence. So why do I like the Bengals. Because they’re playing as well as anyone right now. And because they’re due to beat the Browns. And because Watson looked like Garbage for much of that game. Murray likes Cleveland, but Felger is with me. Faber University, Murray – otherwise known as FU. Pick: Cincinnati.
Minnesota (+2.5) at Detroit
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – DECEMBER 04: Quincy Williams #56 of the New York Jets tackles Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
Anyone else smell a rat in this game? Minnesota is 10-2. Detroit is 5-7. So why are the Lions favored? The answer: Because the Vikings really aren’t that good. I mean, they’re not bad, but they’re 10-2 good, either. The Lions have played better of late and undressed Jacksonville last week. And as the above photo shows, Kirk Cousins sometimes looks like a high school freshman who is afraid of the seniors – Leave me alone! – and has a poor history on the road. Felger likes the Vikes. Murray and I are on the Lions. Felger is the dead weight here. Pick: Detroit.
Houston (+16.5) at Dallas
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 04: Ezekiel Elliott #21 celebrates a touchdown with Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth quarter of a game against the Indianapolis Colts at AT&T Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Well, let’s not belabor the point on this one. The only way the Cowboys lose this game is if they half-ass it and take their eyes off the ball, which is entirely possible. It’s also unlikely. What we have in this game is the team that leads the NFL in point differential (Dallas) against the team with the worst differential (Houston). Hence the whopping, colossal, gigantic spread of 16.5 points at the time we made our selections. No disagreements here. We all like the Cowboys – and big. Pick: Dallas.
Jacksonville (+4) at Tennessee
PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 04: Haason Reddick #7 and Josh Sweat #94 of the Philadelphia Eagles sack Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Tennessee Titans at Lincoln Financial Field on December 4, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
In two games this year against the Bills and Eagles, the Titans have now been outscored 76-17. Against everybody else – including Kansas City – they’ve been pretty good. Ryan Tannehill (above) isn’t enough to get Tennessee to to be the best of the best, but the last week has been tumultuous for the Titans, first in getting pantsed by A.J. Brown, second in the firing of general manager John Robinson. Coach Mike Vrabel never wanted to trade Brown to the Eagles and Vrabel is good at getting his team to bounce back. Again, we all agree. Jacksonville had a chance to validate its comeback win over the Ravens in Week and got blasted by Detroit. Pick: Tennessee.
Baltimore (+3) at Pittsburgh
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 28: George Pickens #14 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after scoring a two point conversion against the Indianapolis Colts during the fourth quarter in the game at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 28, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Don’t look now, folks, but the Steelers have won 3-of-4 and the Ravens have trouble scoring of late – and that was before they lost quarterback Lamar Jackson to injury. So what happens now? Good question. Pittsburgh has something going with young quarterback Kenny Pickett and wide receiver George Pickens – Pickett and Pickens – the latter of whom is pictured above and was selected after Patriots wideout Tyquan Thornton. Are the Steelers good now? Probably not. But they might not suck anymore, either. Mike Tomlin has it rolling again. We’re unanimous. Pick: Pittsburgh.
Kansas City (-9) at Denver
CINCINNATI, OHIO – DECEMBER 04: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half at Paycor Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
We all respect the Chiefs and their quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. But Kansas City had a tough road to the Super Bowl this year and the AFC looked deep with teams like Buffalo and Cincinnati at or near the top of the field. Denver, too, was supposed to be one of those championship-caliber clubs, but the regression of Russell Wilson has left the Broncos with a rather large problem, not mention a bad offense (and bad team). Felger and I like like the Chiefs to cover in this game. Murray must have dipped into his stash before he made this pick – because he’s a mile high in picking the Broncos. Stupid, I know. Pick: Kansas City.
Carolina (+4.5) at Seattle
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 04: Geno Smith #7 of the Seattle Seahawks scrambles out of the pocket during a 27-23 win over the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Let me get this out of the way first: Murray likes Seattle and Felger is going with Carolina. Me? I’d like to officially state my support for Geno Smith as NFL Comeback Player of the Year over Saquon Barkley of the NY Giants. In fact, if Barkley wins the award, I think it’s a disgrace. A guy like Geno Smith is the definition of what the Comeback Player award is supposed to be because he’s most like the Comeback Player of the Decade. Seriously. What a story this guy has been. I don’t how or if the Seahawks are going anywhere, but the Seahawks made the right call dumping Russell Wilson for this guy. Genius. Pick: Seattle.
Tampa Bay (+4) at San Francisco
FOXBORO, MA – OCTOBER 22: Tom Brady #12 and Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the New England Patriots run onto the field before a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Gillette Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Take a look at the above photo. Ah, the good, old days. Of course, this is the matchup we should have had this week, Tom Brady at Jimmy Garoppolo, which would have been an easy watch on a Sunday during which the Patriots were not playing. Unfortunately, Garoppolo suffered an injury last week that will likely keep him out for the remainder of the season. Brady, meanwhile, orchestrated a late, improbable comeback that lifted the Buccaneers over the New Orleans Saints. The Bucs will have the better quarterback this week, but the Niners have the better team – even with Brock Purdy at QB. Felger likes the Bucs – so he can Buc Off. Pick: San Francisco.
Miami (-3.5) at LA Chargers (Sunday night)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 04: Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers reacts in the fourth quarter of a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
We’re all in agreement on this pick, so let me speak for the group (which is always dangerous). Justin Herbert isn’t a winner. I don’t know if he’s a loser, per se, but you do the math. Herbert has great tools. He has had excellent numbers. He has fabulous weapons. So why doesn’t he win more? Now the possessor of a 20-23 record in his career, Herbert and the Chargers went just 9-8 last season and missed the playoffs. This week, he gets a Miami team coming off a loss at San Francisco, which feels like trouble. Vegas oddsmakers know all and they’re telling us plenty by favoring Miami. They right, as usual. Pick: Miami.
New England (-1.5) at Arizona (Monday night)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 26: Quarterback Mac Jones #10 and senior football advisor Matt Patricia of the New England Patriots talk on a sideline during their preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on August 26, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Patriots 23-6. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Oh, the irony of the above photo. Mac Jones and Matt Patricia are thisclose to another … and yet they seem so far apart. The Patriots looked like a college team last week against the Bills, who won the most deceiving 24-10 game in history last week in Foxboro. Are the Cardinals the Bills? Of course not – which is why I actually like the Pats this week. But The Anvil and The Cinder Block refuse to budge off of the Cardinals, who currently feel like the most dysfunctional outfit in the entire NFL. If the Pats lose this game, they might not win another. Remaining games: at Vegas, vs. Cincinnati, vs. Miami, at Buffalo. Pick: Arizona.
