Brads NFL Picks Week Nine 2016
Brads Picks was 7-5-1 last week and is 69-49-2 on the season. Here’s the good, bad and ugly from last week.
(off last week: Baltimore; Miami; Pittsburgh; Los Angeles; San Francisco; NY Giants.)
the good:
Tennessee 36, Jaguars 22 (TNF) – It wasn’t that close. Score was 33 – 8 at the end of the 3rd. Titans had 214 rush yards in the game, Jags had 48.
Cheaters 41, Buffalo 25 – Tom The Cheater Brady threw 4 TDs. About what you’d expect from someone who sold out to Lucifer.
Houston 20, Lions 13 – It wasn’t that close. 17 – 3 at the end of the third. Texans remain undefeated at home.
New Orleans 25, Seaquacks 20 – Close game. Late in the 4th, the Squacks went from their 32 to the Saints 10. A Russell Wilson pass to Jermaine Kearse in the end zone on the final play was caught, but Kearse was out of bounds.
Raiders 30, Tampa Bay 24 (OT) – Raiders QB Derek Carr set a team record with 513 passing yards, surpassing Daryle Lamonica, Ken Stabler, Jim Plunkett and Rich Gannon. Passing is easier these days with the new rules favoring the passing game, but still. Raiders also set an NFL record with 23 penalties that cost them 200 yards.
Denver 27, Chargers 19 – It was that close. 17-13 at the end of the third. Rivers threw three INTs, Siemian one, but he got lucky on a couple of bad throws. Bradley Roby’s pick six and a blocked PAT by Shaq Barrett were the big differences.
Dallas 29, Eagles 23 (OT) (SNF) – Great come back by Dallas. Dez Bryant caught a 22 yard TD pass from Dak Prescott with three minutes left in the 4th. Dallas D kept the Eagles from scoring the rest of the 4th. That sent the game to OT. A 75 yard Dallas drive in OT for a TD on the first possession settled the final score.
the tie:
Reds 27, Cincinnati 27 (OT) – in London – Second tie game in two weeks (there weren’t any in 2015). Bengals missed a PAT and a FG in regulation or there wouldn’t have been an OT. Reds missed a 34 yard FG with two minutes left in OT.
the bad:
Atlanta 33, Packers 32 – A week ago, it was Atlanta 30 Chargers 33. Packers are missing their top three CBs.
Jets 31, Cleveland 28 – Browns had a 20-7 lead at halftime, but alas. Still winless at 0-8.
Chicago 20, Vikings 10 (MNF) – Yardage stats were comparable, but the Bears got 2 TDs and two FGs to the Vikings one and one. Vikings have been winning games by the defense forcing turnovers, but that didn’t happen Monday night – no turnovers in the game.
the ugly:
Carolina 30, Cardinals 20 – Carolina snapped a 4 game losing streak and are now 2-5. Carson Palmer was sacked 8 times and forced two turnovers. Pretty much the game as yards gained was about equal. Palmer did throw for three TDs (one 2 point try failed). Cam Newton had no TDs and no INTs.
Chiefs 30, Indianapolis 14 – 24-14 at the end of the third. Basically, the Chiefs won the game. Nick Foles came in when Alex Smith got injured and threw two TD passes (Smith had already thrown one).
this weeks games: (off this week: Arizona, Chicago, Cincinnati, Washington, New England and Houston)
the TNF game:
Atlanta (5-3) at Tampa Bay (3-4) – Division game. TB won the first game 34-21. Only the Saints, Browns and 49ers have allowed more points than the Falcons, but that’s OK because the Falcons can outscore anybody. Derek Carr and the Raiders scored at will on the Bucs a week ago and the Falcons will do better. Falcons are a much better team than they were in Week One..
the 11:00 MST games:
Dallas (6-1) at Cleveland (0-8) – Browns play each game hard but that’s not enough in the NFL. Unless the Cowboys have a real big letdown after their big OT win against the Eagles, they’ll win, despite not having any pass rush, or defense at all, really. And as poorly as Dak Prescott played last week (until the last few minutes, and then in OT, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Browns pull out a win.
Pittsburgh (4-3) at Baltimore 3-4) – Division game. Both teams are off a bye. Ben the R looks to be back after a knee injury three weeks ago. Take the Steelers but this division game could go either way.
Philadelphia (4-3) at NY Giants (4-3) – Division game.
The Giants are coming off a bye and the Eagles are playing consecutive road division games – last Sunday night at Dallas, and it went to OT. I think the Giants will limit Carson Wentz, while Eli Manning has a big day.
Detroit (4-4) at Minnesota (5-2) – Division game. Minnesota started the season 5-0, largely on the strength of their defense coming up with turnovers. They didn’t get any last week and lost at Chicago. Their offense is bad, after losing QB Teddy Bridgewater and RB Adrian Peterson before the season began, and then both starting tackles after just a few games. And now OC Norv Turner has resigned.
I’m taking the Lions, who have been steady if not spectacular. Matt Stafford is playing lights out.
NY Jets (3-5) at Miami (3-4) – Division game. The Dolphins come out of their bye with the thinking they can make a playoff push. They have won the last two thanks to a power run game. They will continue that here with Jay Ajayi and keep rolling against a Jets team playing consecutive road games. HC Adam Gase has the team behind him and I like the Dolphins here.
Jacksonville (2-5) at Kansas City (5-2) – Alex Smith will not play for the Chiefs. Nick Foles will start and Tyler Bray will be the back up. Smith had concussion like symptoms last week but has been cleared, and now they are saying it wasn’t a concussion at all. Foles did well last week – 16-22-223-0 and 2 TDs in relief of Smith. Foles was signed after the Rams released him before the season started. He played for Andy Reid in Philadelphia so knows the system. Take the Chiefs at Arrowhead.
the 2:05 MST games:
New Orleans (3-4) at San Francisco (1-6) – San Francisco is lousy on D, while the Saints are great on O. Saints won in the open on the west coast in week 4, and the Chargers are a much better team than the 49ers. Take the Saints
Carolina (2-5) at Los Angeles (3-4) – Tough call. Long trip for Carolina. They had a convincing win at home last week over the Cardinals, but maybe that just shows what a long trip can cost you. Take the Rams at home.
the 2:25 MST games:
Tennessee (4-4) at San Diego (3-5) – Marcus Mariota played great in October, and the Titans run game has been very good with DeMarco Murray. Titans D has been a little better than San Diego’s. But I like the Chargers here. They played a real good game at Mile High last week. Phillip Rivers is one of the best QBs in the league and rookie TE Henry Hunter is playing lights out. RB Melvin Gordon also.
Indianapolis (3-5) at Green Bay (4-3) – Aaron Rodgers seems to have found his groove. Take the Packers at Lambeau.
the SNF game:
Denver (6-2) at Oakland (6-2) – Division game. Oakland is plus 12 in the PF/PA stat; Broncos are plus 58. Raiders are 1-2 at home this year.
Derek Carr is on pace to throw for 4,642 yards this year with 34 TDs and just 6 INTs. But the Raiders haven’t played a team with a winning record yet. I think the Broncos D can slow the Raiders O down quite a bit, and the Broncos O can move the ball and score on a bad Raiders D. I’m taking the Broncos.
the MNF game:
Buffalo (4-4) at Seattle (4-2-1) – Bills RB LeSean McCoy might miss the game with a bad hammy. Bills have lost two in a row. Quacks have a tie and a loss. Russell Wilson has been battling a bad ankle and a bad knee and now a sore pec. This one could go either way but take the Quacks at home.