Welcome back kids, and say hello to the new bizarro NFL! That’s right step right up and see that the NFC West is being led by the 4-2 Arizona Cardinals, see that 3-3 earns you a tie for first AND last place in the AFC East! It’s a bold new strange world, and I would say get used to it, if it wasn’t an annomily.
Consider this as an example, last year the Steelers, Packers and Patriots went a combined 40-8. This year, and I’m guessing the Mayans might have something to do with this, those same three teams are 8-9. Three of the most steady franchises over the past decade plus, can’t get a pulse on what’s going on, and we’re having annual jokes like the Cardinals and Texans enjoying a string of success to start the year off.
And for me, this whole thing is throwing off my predictions. At this point I don’t know up from down, right from left or Tom Brady from Tim Tebow with this season going the way that it is. Which is why I offer picks for games in case any of you happen to visit Las Vegas. On to the picks:
Top five games you can bet on this week:
5. Oakland Raiders (-4) over Jacksonville Jaguars
Least. Watchable. Game. Ever.
4. Dallas Cowboys (-1) over Carolina Panthers
The battle of who could care less.
3. New Orleans Saints (-2.5) over Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Time to see if Drew Brees has it back.
2. Indianapolis Colts (-3) over Cleveland Browns
How is this not a lock?
1. Baltimore Ravens (+6.5) over Houston Texans
You lock it up.
This week: 1-4
The season: 10-14-1
SeriouslyPowerRankings
5. San Francisco 49ers (4-2)
That, ladies and gentlemen, was ugly.
4. New York Giants (4-2)
Shows that last year’s title game was no fluke.
3. Baltimore Ravens (5-1)
Ravens got lucky, then lost Ray Lewis, not so lucky.
2. Houston Texans (5-1)
Not gonna knock the Texans for a loss to a desperate Packers team, but this squad needs to be aware that every week they will have a target on them.
1. Atlanta Falcons (6-0)
Four consecutive weeks without a Michael Turner DUI!