There are some weeks when picking NFL games can wreak havoc on the psyche.
Consider me destroyed.
For now. I’m too resilient and tough to stay in bed for long. But, man, was I bad last week.
I went 7-9 straight up, 5-10-1 against the spread in our expert picks, and 1-5 on my best bets as part of the Pick Six Podcast. That lowered my season records to 24-23-1 straight, 22-25-1 ATS and 10-8 on my best bets.
The good start I had at the start of the season was ruined. That means it’s time to get back on track.
We’re hoping for 65 percent winners this week. Can a man dream?
Thursday, 8:20 p.m. ET (Amazon Prime)
Featured Game | Cincinnati Bengals vs. Miami Dolphins
This is a difficult point for Miami. They pull off a big, emotional division win over the Bills and now have to travel to play a good Bengals team in a short week. This could be Joe Burrow vs Tua Tagovailoa depending on Tagovailoa’s health. These two met in college. I think at home in a short week, Burrow will make the most of it – even with Tua playing. Bengals will win it with a nice offensive performance.
Choose: Bengal 30, Dolphins 20
Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET (NFL Network, FuboTV)
Featured Game | New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Saints are struggling offensively at the moment, which is never a good thing. The Vikings rallied to beat the lions, but they didn’t look the same on offense either. Where’s Justin Jefferson? Also, Dalvin Cook could drop out. This could be a low scoring game that I think the Saints will find a way to win.
Choose: Saints 21, Vikings 17
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+)
Featured Game | Atlanta Falcons vs. Cleveland Browns
The Falcons are back home after sharing two road games on the West Coast, losing to the Rams and beating Seattle last week. Offense looked good in that game in Seattle and I think it will prevail here. But can they stop the Browns? I do not think so. Cleveland will pull off a win thanks to their running game and timely passing.
Choose: Brown’s 27, Falcon’s 23
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+)
Featured Game | Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills
The Bills play back-to-back street games, which is always difficult. But they also have their first defeat behind them and have big injury problems. The Ravens also have injury problems. Both quarterbacks play at MVP level. So look for plenty of points as Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson shoot them out. Look for the bills to make the most of it and return to the win column.
Choose: Bills 35, Ravens 30
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (Fox, FuboTV)
Featured Game | Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Commanders
Washington was terrible in all aspects of the game last week, but Dallas is playing in a short week. Still, the big disparity here is the Dallas defensive front versus the Washington offensive line. This line was bad last week. It will be here too. The Cowboys will win behind some turnovers forced by that line and good ground play.
Choose: Cowboys 27, Commanders 16
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (Fox, FuboTV)
Featured Game | Detroit Lions vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Lions are losing in a game they should have won. Seattle has lost twice in a row and looked bad doing it. The Seahawks’ defense is bad, while the Lions were really good offensively. That will show up in this one when Detroit returns to the winning column.
Choose: Lions 33, Seahawks 20
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+)
Featured Game | Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers are really screwed. They lost star tackle Rashawn Slater for the year and Joey Bosa is likely out with a groin. This is on top of all the injuries they already had. The Texans have a chance to take advantage, but Davis Mills has really struggled over the past two weeks. Something says he’s starting it here. They hang around in this one.
Choose: Chargers 26, Texans 24
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (Fox, FuboTV)
Featured Game | Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans
This is a big preseason AFC South game. Both teams come to impressive home wins after terrible losses away. Both teams are also struggling with many injury problems. Every team wants to run the ball with their star back. So it depends who can do it? My pick is that Jonathan Taylor makes it work better than Derrick Henry. Colts win.
Choose: Stallions 26, Titans 20
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (Fox, FuboTV)
Featured Game | New York Giants vs. Chicago Bears
Both teams are 2-1, but is either of them good? The Giants have a short week to play, but being home helps ease that burden. The Bears can run the football, but Justin Fields was limited when throwing. The Giants will find a way to win a low-scoring game to go 3-1.
Choose: Giants 20, bears 14
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+)
Featured Game | Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
This is one of the best games of the weekend. Who could have imagined? It will be a pleasure to watch the Eagles offense versus the Jaguars defense. Can the Jaguars contain Jalen Hurts? It will not be easy. So I think the Eagles will find a way, but it’s close.
Choose: Eagles 28, jaguars 24
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+)
Featured Game | Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Jets
The Steelers will be rested for 10 days when the Jets come to town. Pittsburgh’s offense is struggling, but this could be the game to start. The Jets have problems with defense. Pittsburgh will win as Mitch Trubisky calms down talk with Kenny Pickett
Choose: Steelers 24, Jets 17
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET (Fox, FuboTV)
Featured Game | Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals
The Panthers claim their first win of the season while Arizona lost on offense at home to the Rams. This has the makings of a low-scoring game where both offenses struggle. Look to the Carolina defense to get the best out of Kyler Murray. The Panthers win a second game behind their defense and the questions for the Cardinals really heat up.
Choose: Panthers 23, Cardinals 20
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+)
Featured Game | Green Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots
The Patriots will be without Mac Jones in this case, which means there’s Brian Hoyer as quarterback. That’s not a good thing against the Green Bay defense. The Packers are also healthy up the offensive line, which will help get the passing game going. I think that’s happening here. packer big.
Choose: Packers 27, Patriots 14
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+)
Featured Game | Las Vegas Raiders vs. Denver Broncos
This is a big early AFC West game, especially for the Raiders. With the score down 0-3, they need a win in the worst possible way. They lost some tough games. The Broncos played well on defense but struggled on offense. That’s the difference here. The desperate Raiders will move the ball around Denver’s defense to find a way to claim their first win.
Choose: Raiders 28, Broncos 24
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC, FuboTV)
Featured Game | Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are playing back-to-back away games as they suffered an away loss in Indianapolis. The Bucs lost to the Packers last week in a game where they did little on offense. The Chiefs haven’t been as good on offense this year as they have been in recent years and are being challenged by the Tampa Bay defense. However, the Bucs are too limited on offense to win this game.
Choose: Chiefs 23, Bucs 17
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN, FuboTV)
Featured Game | San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams
The 49ers didn’t do much offense when they lost to the Broncos last week, so Jimmy Garoppolo is now in the spotlight. He needs to get better. The Rams didn’t look right either, but they are 2-1 after beating the Cardinals. The 49ers are without Trent Williams, which is a big achievement. Look for the Rams to get the most out of Garoppolo and the 49ers offense. Aries take it.
Choose: Rams 27, 49ers 21