I want to start this week out by taking a look at the top 10 of NFL.com’s Power Rankings this week…
1 – Philadelphia
2 – LA Rams
3 – Pittsburgh
4 – Kansas City
5 – New England
6 – Seattle
7 – Minnesota
8 – New Orleans
9 – Buffalo
10 – Jacksonville
Now let’s go back to the pre-season. Raise your hand if you thought that more than half of the top 10 would consist of the Eagles, Rams, Vikings, Saints, Bills and Jaguars…I’ll wait…still waiting…so…not you then?
This just sums up how topsy-turvy this season has been. By now, we should have a pretty good idea of what the 2017 version of the 32 franchises are. And, if anything, we will always know that “the Browns are gonna Brown!”
Week 9 – HERE WE GO!!!!
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)
13 – PHILADELPHIA over Denver – It’s scary to think that the best just got better with Philly’s acquisition of Jay Ajayi. Not even that Broncos defense will be able to stop that offense.
12 – HOUSTON over Indianapolis – Folks, DeShaun Watson is for real. If you don’t know by now, you need to know.
11 – JACKSONVILLE over Cincinnati – The Jags are used to being this high on our sheet…just not on the winning side.
10 – SEATTLE over Washington – Seattle has quietly found their way back towards the top of the league. It’s hard to see the ‘Skins stopping their momentum.
9 – NEW ORLEANS over Tampa Bay – Speaking of quietly becoming a force again, the Saints have found a bit of a defense to back up the Drew Brees led offense that never really seemed to miss a step.
8 – TENNESSEE over Baltimore – Baltimore looked dominant last week against Miami…key words being “against Miami.”
7 – DALLAS over Kansas City – Ezekial Elliot’s suspension is set to begin this week. But Alfred Morris isn’t exactly a slouch. My BOLD PREDICTION for this week is that ALFRED MORRIS WILL HAVE 100 YARDS THIS WEEK.
6 – GREEN BAY over Detroit – Hopefully the Packers used their bye week to realize that Aaron Rodgers is no longer under center and put together an offense more fitting for Brett Hundley.
5 – Atlanta over CAROLINA – I still don’t understand why the Panthers traded away Kelvin Benjamin.
4 – Oakland over MIAMI – Good news for the Dolphins is that their starting QB should be back this week. Good news for the Raiders is that the aforementioned QB is Jay Cutler.
3 – Buffalo over NEW YORK JETS – Keeping with the theme of a surprising first half of the NFL season, THIS game has implications for the top of the NFC East!
2 – NEW YORK GIANTS over Los Angeles Rams – The Giants have quickly been a team that if you think they will win, they should be on the #1 line. Unless of course you think…
1 – SAN FRANCISCO over Arizona – …the 9ers will also win this week. No David Johnson, no Carson Palmer, the Cardinals that are left standing will help the Jimmy Garoppolo era get off to a solid start.