Opening Slate

Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears (-2.5)

Both of these teams are falling in the standings after hot starts. The Bears have to bounce back and Matthew Stafford’s injury allows them to do just that!

Bears over Lions – 24 to 13

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals (+10)

Tough matchup for the rookie Ryan Finley without AJ Green. Lamar Jackson and company have no hangover after their win over New England and mop the floor with Cincy.

Ravens over Bengals – 31 to 9

Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns (-3)

 Is this a must win game for Freddie Kitchens? With the playoffs nothing but a pipe dream, Cleveland needs anything to right a sinking ship. Their underrated defense subdues a still-developing Josh Allen and the Browns squeak out a W.

Browns over Bills – 20 to 17

Kansas City Chiefs at Tennessee Titans (+5.5)

 Mahomes is back. All you need to know.

Chiefs beat Titans – 34 to 23

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints (-13)

 Could be a ton of fireworks in this one. Both teams come off byes and are healthier while Dan Quinn appears like a dead man walking. It’ll be high scoring and close but the Saints are the best team in football.

Saints beat Falcons – 38 to 31

New York Giants at New York Jets (+2.5)

 Ugly, just ugly. The Battle of New Jersey looks like a game that no one wants to play. But it’s happening. The Giants somehow appear on a better path than the Jets. Yet I feel like Sam Darnold and Adam Gase get this one done. The Jets defense is just a little better than the Giants.

Jets over Giants – 27 to 24

Arizona Cardinals at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-4)

 Should be a shootout with minimal defense and two explosive, albeit turnover prone, offenses ready to light it up in Florida. I’m leaning toward the Bucs as Bruce Arians is simply too good a coach to lose to his former team.

Buccaneers over Cardinals – 42 to 38

4 O’Clock Showdowns

Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts (-10.5)

 Brian Hoyer will start which is a cause for concern. I think the Dolphins cover but too much Marlon Mack inhibits their ability to pull off the upset on the road.

Colts over Dolphins – 27 to 17

Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers (-5.5)

Christian McCaffrey is damn good and Kyle Allen no longer has the Cam shadow hanging over him. This Panthers team is good, but not good enough to beat an angry Packers team coming off that tough Chargers loss. Fantasy points are plentiful.

Packers over Panthers – 31 to 27

Los Angeles Rams at Pittsburgh Steelers (+3.5)

 Quite the interesting line here but the Rams have really struggled out of LA. Let’s be real though, still enough firepower to get by an underrated, young, and fast Steelers defense while the Steelers offense gets too deterred by Aaron Donald.

Rams over Steelers – 20 to 13

Sunday Night Football

Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys (-3)

Please Minnesota, knock these Cowboys off their high horse and get this victory in Big D. The Vikings are good, really good. But I can’t do it, not till I trust big game Kirk more. I’ll be rooting for them though.

Cowboys over Vikings – 23 to 17

Monday Night Football

Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers (-6.5)

 Game of the week by far. 49ers win and they’ve nearly wrapped up the division and a bye. Seahawks win and they are right back into the division and bye week race. Both of these teams are really good and neither should despair too much if they lose, both are playoff teams. But I haven’t seen Jimmy Garoppolo win a game for the 49ers yet so I’m sticking with MVP front runner Russell Wilson and a potent Seahawks passing attack.

Seahawks over 49ers – 27 to 24