Game of the Week: Cowboys vs. Bills
Week 15 is off and running. Playoffs loom over every win.
NFL Quick Hitters:
(Apologies; I wrote this last Wednesday but didn’t publish it. The week ended up being dominated by some family issues. I’m publishing it now. And since some of the games have been played, I popped in a quick hitter on a game this week. I’ll also get the regular articles back out this week. I’ll be writing and publishing two a week. First one for next week is done and in editing. Thanks all.)
Brandon Staley era is over. He’ll be fired on the Monday after the season ends. It is unacceptable for a professional football team to give up 63 points to a team that was shut out a week ago. You had a team score 63 and also 70 this year. This is a reflection of the system. Rules have changed to favor the offense, and maybe more critical, do not allow for much contact during the off-season. Tackling and blocking are not often not coached to the level they’ve been coached in the past. Poor fundamentals can flip a mediocre team to a horrible team with the flick of a wrist completing a 10 yard pass that goes for a 80 yard touchdown.
Eagles should win on Monday night. It’s a more important game than you might think. They’ve lost two in a row. By double digits. And were dominated on the line of scrimmage. They need a dominate win to get their ‘mojo’ back. They’re still a threat for the Super Bowl but they need to right the ship. A loss in Seattle and they may be one and out in the playoffs.
Josh Allen will be under pressure again. The team is average without Allen. but with him they are a Super Bowl contender. Cowboys are a pressure, turnover, big play defense. The game will depend on the play of Allen. If he is the Super Allen, they win. If he is just good, or average, or commits turnovers Cowboys win big.
One of the all-time NFL plays is wiped off the books because of a offensive offsides call. Yes, he was offsides but he’d been offsides the entire game. He wasn’t warned. Technically, the refs don’t have to warn him. But in reality refs normally will. But he wasn’t penalized either. Had he been penalized earlier - like he should have been if this is an emphasis - he likely would have checked with the refs the rest of the game. But instead incompetence by the refs and the player cancelled one of the greatest plays in NFL history. This is a problem.
NFL: Week 15
Last week’s totals: 7 - 8: A flop week.
Season’s totals: 133 - 84
Oh, and if you use these picks to gamble do so at your own risks. I’m a ‘gut feel’ type of picker. I don’t do a computer analysis.
Chargers vs. Raiders - Raiders, just because they’re at home. Can’t be shut out two weeks in a row.
Vikings vs. Bengals - Bengals, still the better team
Steelers vs. Colts - Steelers
Broncos vs. Lions - Lions, bounce back. They’re a different team at home.
Falcons vs. Panthers - Falcons. ugly game of week.
Bears vs. Browns - Browns
Buccaneers vs. Packers - Packers
Jets vs. Dolphins - Jets, I think this could be a sneaky good game.
Giants vs. Saints - Saints
Texans vs. Titans - Texans, not sure if Stroud will play. Probably not but still going with the Texans.
Chiefs vs. Patriots - Chiefs, big.
49ers vs. Cardinals - 49ers but closer than you’d think
Commanders vs. Rams - Rams big
Cowboys vs. Bills - Cowboys. Game of the week. Cowboys have to prove to themselves they can win a big game on the road.
Ravens vs. Jaguars - Ravens
Eagles vs. Seahawks - Seahawks, if Geno plays. Otherwise Eagles.
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