stonescoldtakes

*sorry I know I missed a week but my wife and I welcomed our first child the other week and things have been a bit busy since then. Should be back though to normal going forward now.

Layout:

— Individual Team News + Stone’s Cold Takes

— Miscellaneous/Other NFL News

— Picks of the Week

— Featured Team of the Week - Carolina Panthers

Arizona Cardinals (2-10):

• Lost 37 to 14 against the Rams

Tough loss for the Cardinals despite QB Kyler Murray overall playing well. Big thing here for the Cardinals was that they were not able to establish and stick with the run game very well. There are clear holes on this team in multiple different places and there is going to need to be some significant moves made in order to make this team a contender again for the playoffs. It will be interesting how they end up treating the draft given that they could end up with one of the top picks if not potentially the top pick depending on how things pan out with the Panthers the rest of this season.

Atlanta Falcons (5-6):

• Won 24 to 15 against the Saints

Great team win for the team as QB Desmond Ridder found ways to once again turn the ball over multiple times. At least now it appears he is making some pretty dang good throws but he still is far from being the QB the Falcons need for the future. The defense has proven to hang in there and give the offense a chance all year this year and a pick six by Jessie Bates III was a big difference maker in this game since the Saints were in the red zone threatening to score.

Baltimore Ravens (9-3):

• Won 20 to 10 against the Chargers

Great win for the Ravens on a day where the offense did not have to do too much. When you win the turnover battle 4 to 0 there really aren’t going to be many games that you lose. Overall though the receiving unit looked good in a game where they lacked TE Mark Andrews and it appears that the Ravens are going to keep on rolling. The Ravens know how to play hard nose football and in this game especially it goes to show what good coaching can do for teams. The Ravens find ways to constantly compete despite their talent.

Buffalo Bills (6-6):

• Lost 37 to 34 against the Eagles

What a game. The Bills lost a tough one though and the schedule does not appear to really get any easier. QB Josh Allen threw an interception in the 4th quarter that gave the Eagles back the momentum. Despite making huge plays before that pick and after. The interception is what gave the Eagles the key opening and life they needed to be able to get their offense going. Once again the Bills lost in an overtime game after only being able to come up with a field goal in overtime that was followed by a TD by Philly. What as interesting to me was that it appeared that they took WR Stefon Diggs out quite a few times on key 3rd down plays. It does not appear that any controversy is brewing but it just seems interesting that you would take him off the field in those situation where he would likely be helpful to the team in taking attention from others or to just get open himself. Either way the Bills need to do something fast because they are slipping out of playoff contention with each week that they lose.

Carolina Panthers (1-10):

• Lost 17 to 10 against the Titans
• Fired HC Frank Reich

Hard fought game by the Panthers that still ended in the Panthers losing again like they have done all season long basically. Owner David Tepper left the locker room very angry and ended up firing HC Frank Reich shortly after it appears. There is some concern here because it is believed that ownership wanted QB Bryce Young but the coaching staff wanted QB CJ Stroud the whole time. I will say the disaster that has been the Panthers this year stretches much further than just the QB or coaching staff with them needing to rebuild in just about every part of this team offensively.

Chicago Bears (4-8):

• Won 12 to 10 against the Vikings

Not really much good to say here despite the win. The defense looked good but they were playing QB Josh Dobbs who has been known this year to have a few good games before falling apart. On offense the Bears were horrible and didn’t manage a touchdown all game. I would still say nothing has changed in Chicago and that they are more than likely headed for a total rebuild this offseason from the front office to the QB position but we shall see. The sad thing is that the main issue here may be with the ownership group but that is not going to change anytime soon.

Cincinnati Bengals (5-6):

• Lost 16 to 10 against the Steelers

With QB Joe Burrow being out for the rest of the season it is hard to get excited to watch the games because he is so much of the team. Clearly the defense will still play well but in order to make playoff runs and actually win you need QB Joe Burrow playing. It was clear that moving the ball on offense was going to be a struggle and it doesn’t make it any easier when you are playing the Steelers who are considered by many to have one of the better defenses in football. Even with inspired play from the skill position players on this team it is clear that this season is not going to be their season to win the Super Bowl or event potentially make the playoffs.

Cleveland Browns (7-4):

• Lost 29 to 12 against the Broncos

The AFC North has been hit hard by QB injuries with QB Deshaun Watson also being injured and out for the rest of the season. His loss definitely hurts but I feel like hurts more emotionally for this team than it does physically. QB Watson had not really been himself since joining the Browns so the QB play does not fall off much when he doesn’t play but there was always that hope that with him they would have a chance to win and see him return to form. The game against the Broncos was just a mess in terms of them turning the ball over 3 times. When that happens it makes it a lot easier on the opposing team to be able to find ways to win rather than lose.

Dallas Cowboys (8-3):

• Won 45 to 10 against the Commanders

Dak Prescott has been playing really well lately along with the entire team. This game was a good one too because the run game really got going as well with RB Tony Pollard averaging over 6 yards per carry. If the Cowboys can continue playing like they did against the Commanders there may not be a team that can beat them. The problem is that they don’t always do this. The Cowboys may be considered the most complete team as we are getting ourselves into this last stretch of the season which could bode well for them as one dimensional teams get figured out or have to rely too much on one side of the ball.

Denver Broncos (6-5):

• Won 29 to 12 against the Browns

It appears the HC Sean Payton may actually know what he is doing again. The Broncos are back to playing the brand of defense they were last year and it appears the offense is starting to click a little more as well but did not have to do as much on a day where the defense provided. QB Russell Wilson is still looking far from being back to his old self but there are definitely more flashes of the old Russ over the last few weeks. Denver could be an interesting team to watch as we head down this last stretch in the season to see how they close things out.

Detroit Lions (8-3):

• Lost 29 to 22 against the Packers

The main story here for why the Lions lost is because they turned the ball over 3 times and did not force any turnovers out of the Packers. The game just looked like one where the Lions came out expecting to win and allowed the Packers to come out an punch them in the chin a bit. QB Jared Goff looked off and gave up all 3 turnovers via fumbles. He still threw the ball pretty well and thankfully he is not someone who is super fumble prone so it shouldn’t be an issue going forward. Definitely a rough loss though against a divisional opponent that could mean more down the line depending on how things shake out.

Green Bay Packers (5-6):

• Won 29 to 22 against the Lions

Great game for QB Jordan Love that should silence his doubters for at least a week. Avoiding turnovers was the main thing that helped take this team to victory. It still hurts that they don’t have RB Aaron Jones to supplement the rushing game but if WR Christian Watson can make plays like he did the other day then this team should be just fine. The nice thing here too is that the offensive line kept QB Jordan Love clean which has not been the case all season long. Right now the Packers are the first team out of the playoffs so very reasonable to believe they have a chance if they continue to play the brand of football they did on Thanksgiving.

Houston Texans (6-5):

• Lost 24 to 21 against the Jaguars

Tough fought game but the Texans came up just short. It looked like for a second that the Texans were going to be able to pull of another come back and at least tie the game but the field goal miss hurt. QB CJ Stroud overall played pretty well but there are certain times where he just needs to throw the ball away rather than take the sack. Overall the main thing that did not go right for the Texans the other day was there running game did not ever get established. If they could have done that they could have done a better job of controlling the game and helping keeping guys off of QB CJ Stroud. Either way this was a great game and one that the Texans can feel comfortable with despite the loss because they are hanging with the AFCs best.

Indianapolis Colts (6-5):

• Won 27 to 20 against the Buccaneers

Great win for the Colts. They are finding ways to win and it is really showing that HC Shane Steichen must be a pretty dang head coach. He is winning with a mediocre receiver room and QB Gardner Minshew at QB against the Bucs who have a good passing offense and a top tier defense in the NFL. It has definitely been helpful for the Colts to have RB Jonathan Taylor back as he is making things a lot easier on everyone on the offensive side of the ball.

Jacksonville Jaguars (8-3):

• Won 24 to 21 against the Texans

Great win by the Jaguars. They are needing to make sure they win the types of games they just did if they are going to have a good chance at taking the number 1 seed in the AFC. They have played well overall this year and QB Trevor Lawrence had a great game. Need him to avoid turning the ball over but it was good to see him make some plays with WR Calvin Ridley. It still has felt like this whole season those two have been figuring each other out. The key with this team though is that they have lots of weapons on offense and can really spread the ball around.

Kansas City Chiefs (8-3):

• Won 31 to 17 against the Raiders

Despite going down by 14 points to start off the game the Chiefs righted the ship and ended up easily handling the Raiders. QB Patrick Mahomes had a good game after a few lackluster performances which is good to see as he was able to get WR Rashee Rice more involved who led the team in receiving. IT seems like Rice has been the guy he has been hoping would step up all season so hopefully now they are finally able to get on the same page going forward. The defense struggled stopping the run but were able to the keep the Raiders from scoring for most part besides early in the game so won’t hold that against them

Las Vegas Raiders (5-7):

• Lost 31 to 17 against the Chiefs

Tough loss for the Raiders who were feeling pretty good early on after getting out to an early lead before the Chiefs just poured it on and their defense put the clamps down on the Raiders. QB Aidan O’Connell continues to play well though and being able to do what he did against the Chiefs is no joke since their defense has made most QBs look bad this year. The other good things for the Raiders is that RB Josh Jacobs played really well. This team is one that is playing different since firing HC josh McDaniels.

Los Angeles Chargers (4-7):

• Lost 20 to 10 against the Ravens

The Chargers are going to do what they do and that is disappoint. This game was no different than any other for them. Despite some decent performances from certain individuals, overall the team as a whole fell short once again. It is really tough here because on paper the Chargers have all the talent in the world and arguably are a much more talented team overall than the Ravens. HC Brandon Staley should be updating that resume which he should have been doing the past few years. Also, this can’t look good for OC Kellen Moore who has not really brought anything new to the Charger offense. Sure seems like the Chargers are going to miss the playoffs and be in difficult conversations this offseason.

Los Angeles Rams (5-6):

• Won 37 to 14 against the Cardinals

The Rams came to play and made easy work of the Cardinals. QB Matt Stafford was very efficient and RB Kyren Williams had a great game rushing for well over 100 yards. The Rams are hanging around and with QB Matt Stafford healthy they are a sneaky good team that could make some noise in this last part of the season. It is going to be key for them that WRs Nacua and Kupp figure things out with Stafford to keep the offense rolling against some of the tougher defenses in the league.

Miami Dolphins (8-3):

• Won 34 to 13 against the Jets

Great win for Miami to go in and take care of business against a Jets team who has a really good defense that makes things difficult for just about everyone. Despite the struggles from their offense at times, the Dolphins defense actually was just about able to match turnovers with the Jets defense and then it was clear that the Dolphins had a much better offensive plan and players who were able to take advantage of holes and score points. The only concern I have here is that QB Tua Tagavailoa is still the weakest link on the offense and they will go as far as he will let them. My worry is that when he has to make off schedule plays or deal with pressure that he will crumble like he has done so many times in the past.

Minnesota Vikings (6-6):

• Lost 12 to 10 against the Bears

Tough loss for Minnesota who was coming off a high of QB Josh Dobbs playing inspired football. He ended up throwing 4 interceptions and managing to only score 10 points. The Vikings are headed into a bye and it is critical they make the right decisions here going down the stretch since they are very much in the playoff race but have a lot of options at QB, none of which are ideal. If I were them I have been waiting for this to happen so that they can put QB Jaren Hall in to see what they have with him and then go from there.

New England Patriots (2-8):

• Lost 10 to 7 against the Giants

The defense looked good against a bad Giants offense but the offense continues to look horrible. People try to blame it all on QB Mac Jones or on the offensive scheme but at the end of the day I think a lot of it has to do with the playmakers they have on offense not being who everyone hopes they would be. There is not a true #1 receiver on the team and not even a top #2 receiver in the group. The best receiver on the Patriots would likely be the third option on most other teams. HC Bill Belichick’s days as GM and Coach are almost certainly numbered and we may even see him leaving New England all together.

New Orleans Saints (5-6):

• Lost 24 to 15 against the Falcons

The Saints offense played well until they had to get the ball in the end zone. It is weird for them because the defense is good and so is the offense but for some reason when they get down to the red zone they can’t seem to put things together to score. I don’t know if it is just because QB Derek Carr and co. are still learning the offense and getting comfortable with each other but they should have enough going on with RB Kamara and jack of all trades Taysom Hill to make things easier on them to get in the end zone. Once again because the division is so bad as a whole the Saints still have a chance to make the playoffs but they have a lot to figure out on the offensive side of the ball.

New York Giants (4-8):

• Won 10 to 7 against the Patriots

What an ugly game but the Giants found a way to win in part due to a field goal miss at the end of the game for the Patriots. I would still not be thrilled if I am Giants fan and almost would have preferred a loss for the draft pick. QB Tommy Devito played interception free football and then rookie WR Jalin Hyatt had over 100 receiving yards in a bit of another breakout performance. When they score 10 points the Giants are not going to win many games and need to figure something out if they want to even be competitive in their remaining games.

New York Jets (4-7):

• Lost 34 to 13 against the Dolphins

Will Aaron Rodgers still come back this year? That has to be the question a lot of folks minds as the Jets have struggled in recent weeks. They benched QB Zach Wilson because they were looking for someone to blame and surprise surprise the result was just as bad if not worse against a defense that has been known for being bad all season long. The offensive line is still really bad and with all the turnovers on offense it made things extremely difficult on a good Jets defense to stop the Dolphins. They are always having to try and find ways to save the offense rather than just playing good solid defense that can rely on the offense to score at least 20 points a game.

Philadelphia Eagles (10-1):

• Won 37 to 34 against the Bills

What a win for the Birds! They got late life when QB Josh Allen threw a 4th quarter interception and the Eagles just kept rolling from that point on. QB Jalen Hurts was dynamic and RB Deandre Swift is back to making plays all over the field. Also, WR Devonta Smith was making plays all over the field the other day. The Eagles are finding ways to win and despite an overall rough performance by the defense they managed to find a way to pull through and get the win in the end. Good that they have gotten these early wins in their tough stretch because it sets themselves up well for the rest of the season even if they do end up dropping a game or two more against some of these tough teams they are going through right now.

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4):

• Won 16 to 10 against the Bengals

The Steelers finally gained over 400 yards in their first game without OC Matt Canada and while in the first week it did not result in a bunch more points, it did result a refreshed feel from the team. QB Kenny Pickett looked a lot more comfortable and there were a lot more throws down the field and over the middle. Overall just the vibes from the team seemed a lot better. I imagine that as the new offense in implemented we will see more and more points scored and the Steelers could be a sneaky good playoff team with the change made resulting in a different offensive performance from what we had become accustomed to over the past few years.

San Francisco 49ers (8-3):

• Won 31 to 13 against the Seahawks

Good win the for the Niners especially in a game where QB Brock Purdy had a “off day” for his high standards he has set. It is good for the team to win these still handily and show that they are able to win games in a lot of different ways. The Niners appear to be getting rolling again now at the right time and keeping the team healthy, especially RB Christian McCaffrey will be key down this last stretch of the season.

Seattle Seahawks (6-5):

• Lost 31 to 13 against the 49ers

It was very clear that the Seahawks have a lot of work to do after watching them play the Niners. QB Geno Smith looked out of sorts and the running game couldn’t get going. The defense looked lost for the most part despite making the good play to get the interception off QB Purdy. Recently though the biggest difference from last year is that QB Geno Smith does not look as good as he did last year.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7):

• Lost 27 to 20 against the Colts

The Buccaneers feel like a team that is always just almost there. I would still say the biggest issues here are the lack of a threat in the run game despite them to doing a decent job of sticking to it most of the time and then a really bad offensive line. Despite that normally being the biggest issue RB Rachaad White had a great game and was a big reason why the Bucs were in this game til the end. In a bad division the Bucs still have plenty of opportunity to turn things around but if they don’t figure it out here soon they will even be out of time to pull something off depending on how the the Falcons and Saints finish out the year.

Tennessee Titans (4-7):

• Won 17 to 10 against the Panthers

Nothing too special or fancy about this game. It was just a hard fought game and the Titans just ended up outlasting the Panthers in this one. RB Derrick Henry was able to find the end zone a couple of times and QB Will Levis played a turnover free game. That Titans are always a tough game for teams because they are well coached. At this point I imagine they are really trying to see what they have though in this team to understand how best to position themselves this offseason. They may still have an outside chance making the playoffs but if they don’t see significant improvement from their offense they aren’t going to make it.

Washington Commanders (4-8):

• Lost 45 to 10 against the Cowboys

Rough loss for the Commanders and it feels like this team has just kind of fallen apart since the trade deadline when they got rid of some of their best defensive players. QB Sam Howell appears to still be playing well but I imagine a total rebuild is coming this team’s way. It will be interesting how they handle things in the offseason and in the draft. They will likely have a lot of options with where they end up falling in the draft. To be able to compete with the likes of the Cowboys and the Eagles a lot of work needs to be done.

Picks of the Week:

• Falcons -2.5 v. Jets +2.5
• 49ers -2.5 v. Eagles +2.5
• Seahawks +9.5 v. Cowboys -9.5
• Colts -2.5 v. Titans +2.5
• Chargers -6 v. Patriots +6
• Lions -4 v. Saints +4
• Cardinals +5.5 v. Steelers -5.5
• Dolphins -9.5 v. Commanders +9.5
• Broncos +3.5 v. Texans -3.5
• Panthers +5.5 v. Buccaneers -5.5
• Browns +4.5 v. Rams -4.5
• Chiefs -6.5 v. Packers +6.5
• Bengals +8.5 v. Jaguars -8.5

Featured Team of the Week: Carolina Panthers

*links for the Diner and the jersey are at the link in my bio

Do you still believe in rookie QB Bryce Young. If so get his jersey here.

Restaurant of the Week: (Midnight Diner)

No need to explain their hours here because they are always open which also makes them the perfect choice for this week’s restaurant because it has been a rough one for the Panthers. So any day, any time if you need some comfort food for what has been a rough season, Midnight Diner has got you covered. Here I am big fan of their Brunch Burger, Chicken & Waffles, and their Cool Ranch Wrap to give y’all some variety. Don’t worry there are lots of desserts as well since those are typically the best way to drown our sorrows. I will let y’all just check out the menu and choose for yourself.

Layout:

— Individual Team News + Stone’s Cold Takes

— Miscellaneous/Other NFL News

— Featured Team of the Week - Atlanta Falcons

Arizona Cardinals (2-8):

• Won 25 to 23 against the Falcons

Great to see QB Kyler Murray back playing and it is clear that he can shake off rust fast. He looked like a QB who has been playing all year and made things extremely difficult on a really good Falcons defense running around and avoiding pressure. It is clear that this Cardinals team still needs to add pieces to be true contenders but with QB Kyler Murray back I would have a lot of hope. I know there have been rumors about him getting traded but it would take a lot for me to be willing to move on from him even with the QB talent in the upcoming draft. I expect QB Kyler Murray to continue to look better as the season finishes out.

Atlanta Falcons (4-6):

• Lost 25 to 23 against the Cardinals

Rough loss for the Falcons who hung in there until the very end but it is clear that something is either off with the QBs or the coaching or potentially both here when it comes to their offense. There is a lot of talent on this team and no reason they should be struggling as much as they are. Even better this past Sunday they were able to play clean turnover free football and fed RB Bijan Robinson the ball. I expect the Falcons to be very active in the QB market this offseason because while QB Desmond Ridder looked alright coming in for Taylor Heinicke I would still say I am far from being confident with him going forward leading the franchise.

Baltimore Ravens (7-3):

• Lost 33 to 31 against the Browns

Biggest challenge here for the Ravens was the lack of run game against the Browns and then QB Lamar Jackson’s two interceptions. It is clear that they miss RB JK Dobbins and this loss is big in a tight division race. QB Lamar Jackson needs to be more efficient with his throws and obviously avoid the turnovers. The good thing for the Ravens is that they found ways to put up points against a tough Browns defense and also that WR Zay Flowers continues to have good games for the team.

Buffalo Bills (5-5):

• Lost 24 to 22 against the Broncos

Horrible game all around except for overall the defense played pretty well. QB Josh Allen does not look in sync and comfortable in the offense, RB James Cook was the most explosive player on offense but also the most prone to cough up the football and the WRs seemed to struggle with. catching the ball in key situations (one of which led to an interception). This Bills team looks awful even though it has the explosive moments where you see what they can be when things are clicking. I think for the most part though this comes down to their offensive scheme and attack and poor decision making at times by QB Josh Allen. I worry about how things shake out with this locker room though and how the players react given that their are a lot of high profile names on the team and the expectations for this team have really been super bowl or bust for a couple of years now. It will be interesting to see how things trend down the stretch here. Overall the Bills lost this game arguably more than the Broncos really won the game.

Carolina Panthers (1-8):

• Lost 16 to 13 against the Bears

The Panthers can’t be thrilled with their season thus far at all. The progression of QB Bryce Young has not been fast and they don’t look good at all on offense. In a game where the defense actually held the Bears to only 16 points the Panthers still could not find a way to win. What is even more crazy about this is that losing this game also helped the Bears get a better draft pick because the Bears have their first round pick in the upcoming draft. I am starting to wonder if HC Frank Reich will be around for much longer or not.

Chicago Bears (3-7):

• Won 16 to 13 against the Panthers

Good win but also good thing they have a couple good frat picks because they have now won more games with QB Tyson Bagent than they did with QB Justin Fields. It is clear that neither of them in my opinion are the long term answer at the QB position for this franchise. This whole organization needs a reset overall but good to see them get wins and still improve their draft position. That trade for DJ Moore just keeps getting better and better.

Cincinnati Bengals (5-4):

• Lost 30 to 27 against the Texans

Tough loss at home against the Texans. Good thing here is that the WRs are really getting in sync for the Bengals and they just need to limit their turnovers at the end of the day. This is a team that I am starting to just feel confident in winning games when things really matter towards the end of the season to get into the playoffs. With that said they may be in the toughest division in football and it sure would be nice to have WR Tee Higgins back in the lineup to play for them. DC Lou Anarumo is not going to allow many teams to put up 30 points on him and I imagine it will get back to business as usual in the coming weeks following this loss.

Cleveland Browns (6-3):

• Won 33 to 31 against the Ravens

Good to see QB Deshaun Watson starting to look a bit more like himself. He still did not have an incredible game but is looking much improved. The most exciting thing for me to see out of this Browns team was that the running game started to get going on again and if that is happening they are going to be maybe the toughest team to beat in the AFC. It is all dependent though on them playing complete football with the defense stepping up, Deshaun Watson playing decent, and getting back the explosive run game they clearly had prior to the Nick Chubb injury. This divisional win could go a long way at the end of the season as these AFC North teams all fight hard this year.

Dallas Cowboys (6-3):

• Won 49 to 17 against the Giants

Not much to say here. The Giants are still playing with QB Tommy Devito who has not looked good at all and the Giants defense for the most part has not looked good this year. The Cowboys did what they were supposed to do and should be able to do something similar against the Panthers this next week. At this point though they need stumbles from the Eagles and Lions to have a chance at the #1 seed in the NFC.

Denver Broncos (4-5):

• Won 24 to 22 against the Bills

Gutsy ugly win by the Broncos but a win is a win and at the end of the day they did overall look better than the Bills in this game. This is now two tough wins for the Broncos against top tier QBs after defeating Patrick Mahomes and now Josh Allen. The big concern here though is still ball security and turnovers. The defense is starting to look a lot better than the start of the season but the offense is still putting themselves consistently in 3rd and longs due to self-inflicted wounds and turning the ball over too much if they want to be a team that is talked about seriously towards the end of the season.

Detroit Lions (7-2):

• Won 41 to 38 against the Chargers

Great win for the Lions and this is the type of game they used to always be on the losing side. QB Jared Goff and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown played phenomenally and the running game with RB Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery could not be stopped. They were able to slice up the Chargers defense really without any issues whatsoever. This Lions team appears poised to go the distance this year but only time will tell if they can find ways to win the big games towards the end of the season and during the playoffs.

Green Bay Packers (3-6):

• Lost 23 to 19 against the Steelers

Packers fans are not thrilled this year and it appears that QB Jordan Love is at the center of most people’s complaints. This Packers team was not close to being ready last year and they only lost players this offseason so I don’t know why folks are surprised. They have issues at the WR position, the RBs have not played nearly as well as expected and the o-line has not been as healthy as they had hoped. With that said QB Jordan Love has not played his best football either but it is hard for me to say that I think he is a bust or not with the team that is currently constructed around him.

Houston Texans (5-4):

• Won 30 to 27 against the Bengals

QB CJ Stroud is making up for all those QB busts that have come out of Ohio State in recent years. He is playing out of his mind and doing so with players on offense who were viewed as nobodies until he came in this year and made them look like top tier players. Goes to show you that with a good o-line and good QB it may not be as important to go out and get the most expensive skill position guys but rather go with the guys in house. The Texans have a new energy about them and I would say it all starts with HC Demeco Ryans and how he inspires the team to play hard nose football on both sides of the ball.

Indianapolis Colts (5-5):

• Won 10 to 6 against the Patriots

The Colts seems to always find ways to make things interesting and got a tough fought win in Germany that was definitely not the most fun game to watch. In the game it felt like both teams were playing to not lose and the Colts did a slightly better job of that by winning the turnover battle essentially.

Jacksonville Jaguars (6-3):

• Lost 34 to 3 against the 49ers

The streak had to end at some point but it didn’t have to end the way it did. The defense could not really stop the Niners and this should have easily been a 40 points game. Something that continues to be disappointing for me is the production the Jaguars are getting out of WR Calvin Ridley. He was supposed to be someone who could come back and be a true #1 receiver but he and QB Lawrence just have not really found it consistently this year. QB Trevor Lawrence looked rattled in this game as well and ended up having 3 out of the team’s 4 turnovers. Not too worried overall about this team and they will find ways to bounce back and get back to fighting for the top seed in the AFC.

Kansas City Chiefs (7-2):

• Bye Week

Las Vegas Raiders (5-5):

• Won 16 to 12 against the Jets

They are now 2-0 since the coaching and QB change. This was an ugly win but at the end of the day they did a better job than the Jets on offense and finding ways to score. The team is clearly playing inspired football and while it still may not mean a playoff birth this year (we shall wait and see) the Raiders seem to have found something in terms of their preferred style of play. QB Aidan O’Connell thus far has been a significant upgrade over QB Jimmy G and clearly hung in there against arguably the best defense in the NFL.

Los Angeles Chargers (4-5):

• Lost 41 to 38 against the Lions

The Chargers are the new Lions. They have a QB who plays really well and even makes plays to come back and put his team in a great position to win but can’t seem to find a way to get wins. The defense looked awful and after a couple of weeks of showing prowess on that side of the football this had to be brutal for fans to see. WR Quentin Johnston had an alright game and looks to be starting to get more involved. The big issue though for me is that he looks lost or mad at himself on most of the plays that where the cameras were able to catch him either missing a block, running a wrong route, etc. The Chargers have all the talent in the world but at this point they just are not a team that is going to find ways to win the tough close games.

Los Angeles Rams (3-6):

• Bye Week
• Signed QB Carson Wentz as Matt Stafford continues to deal with injury

Miami Dolphins (6-3):

• Bye Week

Minnesota Vikings (6-4):

• Won 27 to 19 against the Saints

QB Josh Dobbs continues to impress so now for Vikings fans the key is that Dobbs continues his upward trend rather than doing what he did with the Cardinals in going downhill fast after the first few weeks. It appears though that thus far the added mobile element of Dobbs’ game has helped a lot with the Vikings lack of a real running threat through the early part of the season. Great to see TE TJ Hockenson making plays and hopefully he can continue to play at a high level with WR Jordan Addison while WR Justin Jefferson continues his recovery process.

New England Patriots (2-8):

• Lost 10 to 6 against the Colts

The Patriots just are not a good team this year. It is hard to believe that this is the case but they really just aren’t good at all. QB Mac Jones seems to have lost his talent, the WRs/TEs can’t get any separation and even when the RBs look alright and are making plays they find a way to not make it into the end zone. Things are getting loud here and it is clear there is going to have to be change again this offseason and there is a lot of talk of that change being at the HC position. It is crazy to think about and if HC Belichick becomes available he will not last long if he wants to continue to coach.

New Orleans Saints (5-5):

• Lost 27 to 19 against the Vikings

Rough game for the Saints and they are back to the head scratchingly bad team I thought maybe was slowly going to fade out. QB Derek Carr could not get the offense going and then QB Jameis Winston showed why he is not the starter with his turnovers and barely completing 50% of his passes. WR Olave had a good game but the key here on offense is that they need to establish the run and get that going before they can really get the rest of the offense going. It will be interesting to watch this week if QB Derek Carr can make it back from concussion protocol to play.

New York Giants (2-8):

• Lost 49 to 17 against the Cowboys

The Giants are bad. I don’t know what else to say. The defense is bad, the QB play (no matter who it is) is bad, the WRs have been bad, and I can go on and on. This is a team that is headed fast for a rebuild and trying to get that #1 overall pick. HC Brian Daboll does not have his magic with him to be able to save this team and there are going to need to be changes next year likely at the QB and DC spots.

New York Jets (4-5):

• Lost 16 to 12 against the Raiders

This was another team that I am just going to describe as bad but really just the offense here. QB Zach Wilson actually looked alright and made some incredible plays but they just find ways to shoot themselves in the foot throughout the game. In the past the blame has been on Zach Wilson but this week it was drops and offensive penalties for the most part. There was the crucial late game interception that QB Wilson threw but they should have never even been in that spot to begin with. The Jets need to turn things around so that it makes sense for QB Aaron Rodgers to come back in December like it sounds like he plans.

Philadelphia Eagles (8-1):

• Bye Week

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3):

• Won 23 to 19 against Packers

Gutsy win and once against the Steelers were outgained on offense but found a way to pull it off in the end. The defense here continues to play extremely well and it appears that the run game they are starting to figure out more as they split carries more evenly between RBs Harris and Warren. The crazy thing here is that QB Kenny Pickett really didn’t do much but the offense avoided turnovers and at the end of the day that was enough for them to pull out the win.

San Francisco 49ers (6-3):

• Won 34 to 3 against the Jaguars

The bye week served this team well. They came back and for the most part everything was clicking. The defense looked lock down and played fired up all game long. DE Chase Young has already started to make an impact. When the defense gets 4 turnovers there aren’t going to be many games this team loses. QB Brock Purdy had a great bounce back game and really everyone looked good on offense even RB Christian McCaffrey even though he was held without a touchdown for the first time in 17 games. This Niners team is back to being in the conversation for best team in the NFC and if they can string together a few good weeks could be back in the conversation for best team in football.

Seattle Seahawks (6-3):

• Won 29 to 26 against the Commanders

Gutsy win by the Seahawks in a game that really went down to the wire. The Commanders are tough team even without their top defensive pieces and the Seahawks held on for this win. A lot of it came thanks to QB Geno Smith and his impressive day throwing for over 350 yards and 2 TDs. Look for RB Zach Charbonnet to start to get more carries if he continues to impress like he did yesterday. The RB duo in Seattle is going to cause a lot of problems for lots of teams and gives them a good chance against teams like the 49ers who like to get after the QB.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5):

• Won 20 to 6 against the Titans

This was a must win for the Buccaneers who are still very much in the playoff hunt due to their dismal division that they get to play in. QB Baker Mayfield played well despite being up against a very good Titans defense who seem to give most people trouble. The big struggle here is that they do not have a run game. Good job of them trying to establish it but it is hard to get much done when you average 2.5 yards per carry. I was very surprised they did not look to sign someone to try and help out. What QB Baker Mayfield is doing with this team despite that threat of the run not existing is actually pretty impressive. Also, big shoutout to the defense who definitely made QB Will Levis look like a rookie QB.

Tennessee Titans (3-6):

• Lost 20 to 6 against the Buccaneers

Nothing was working for them on offense. They couldn’t throw the ball and they definitely could not run the ball. RB Derrick Henry does appear to be showing his age and the toll the hits over the years have taken on him. He has had flashes of his old self but he is not as regularly getting to the second level of the defense or shedding defenders like he used to. The Titans on offense may be heading towards a major rebuild overall. This is another job to watch if the Titans decide to move on from HC Mike Vrabel he will likely get hired in a heartbeat elsewhere.

Washington Commanders (4-6):

• Lost 29 to 26 against the Seahawks

QB Sam Howell continues to impress this year and is proving to be a very good option for them long term at the QB position. As a side note this might end up boding well for QB Drake Maye who is at UNC now. Anyways it is clear that the offense can score points here for the Commanders. They will get more consistent and not miss out of red zone opportunities as much as QB Sam Howell matures but the overall struggle here is in my opinion with HC Ron Rivera. I would not be surprised if OC Eric Bieniemy takes over next year as they look to rebuild. I will say in this game against the Seahwks it idid not help that they had just given up arguably two of their best defensive players.

Picks of the Week:

• Buccaneers +11 v. 49ers -11
• Jets +7 v. Bills -7
• Bengals +3.5 v. Ravens -3.5
• Steelers +4 v. Browns -4
• Bears +10 v. Lions -10
• Chargers -3 v. Packers +3
• Raiders +11.5 v. Dolphins -11.5
• Giants +10 v. Commanders -10
• Cowboys -11 v. Panthers +11
• Titans +6.5 v. Jaguars -6.5
• Cardinals +4 v. Texans -4
• Seahawks -1 v. Rams +1
• Vikings +1.5 v. Broncos -1.5
• Eagles +3 v. Chiefs -3

Featured Team of the Week (Atlanta Falcons):

*for links to restaurant and hat see full post at link in bio

Get this Red Falcons Hat

Restaurant of the Week: (Righteous Que)

This is one you’re going to have to drive for a bit but is my favorite barbecue spot in the Atlanta Metro. It is probably is about a 15-30 min drive from the stadium depending on time of day and traffic or you can drive the 15 mins to the nearest MARTA station and take the train in to avoid paying for parking. Either way the main thing you need to get at Righteous Que are pictured here. The pulled pork sandwich is on another level and the Mac N Cheese is never something you can go wrong with. For your other side I would recommend the baked beans but the fries are always good as well. They have really good white sauce as well as their sweet bbq sauce. I recommend using the white for fries and then using the sweet bbq for the sandwich. I know it is a bit out of the way but definitely worth the stop. The other good thing to kno w though about Mercedes Benz Stadium is that food and drinks for the most part compared to elsewhere is very cheap and the stadium has free refills at coke soda machines located throughout the stadium.

Layout:

— Individual Team News + Stone’s Cold Takes

— Picks of the Week

— Featured Team of the Week - Detroit Lions

Arizona Cardinals (1-7):

• Lost 31 to 24 against the Ravens
• QB Kyler Murray could return next week
• Benched QB Josh Dobbs

This game ended semi close but really was not that close for til the end. The Cardinals clearly have needs at a lot of different positions. This team is still missing RB James Conner and it is making things a lot more difficult on everyone else. QB Josh Dobbs who started out the season avoiding turnovers has struggled recently doing just that. There are rumors that QB Josh Dobbs could be on the trade block and that may be the reason why he is not starting next week. The team announced it will either be rookie QB Clayton Tune or QB Kyler Murray. At this point it would be difficult to turn things around enough to make the playoffs for the Cardinals.

Atlanta Falcons (4-4):

• Lost 28 to 23 against the Titans
• Benched QB Desmond Ridder at Half
• DL Grady Jarrett out for Season with ACL injury
• Traded for DL Kentavious Street from the Eagles

Tough loss for the team and even tougher to lose DL Grady Jarrett for the season. The defense has been the key thing for the Falcons that has been keeping them in games and Jarrett is a big part of that. Good move to get some help here with DL Street from the Eagles. It will be interesting to see how the team proceeds but at least at the moment it sounds like they are going to be sticking with QB Desmond Ridder. QB Taylor Heinicke showed a bit more of the potential of the offense and it will be something that will hopefully be more fully implemented as QB Desmond Ridder continues to develop.

Baltimore Ravens (6-2):

• Won 31 to 24 against the Cardinals

This team just keeps on rolling and really had this game pretty well put away from the get go. QB Lamar Jackson continues to play at a high level and be efficient with the ball. In this game though the offense did not have to do too much with the turnovers generated by the defense and the overall efficiency. The real test for this team should come next week against the Seattle Seahawks.

Buffalo Bills (5-3):

• Won 24 to 18 against the Buccaneers
• Signed RB Leonard Fournette

Good to get a win for the Bills but this was not as convincing of a win as it should have been. Had WR Chris Godwin for the Bucs turned around he probably would have caught the game winning Hail Mary from QB Baker Mayfield. To me it still feels like the Bills are trying to figure out their identity. The good news is that they are getting a lot of production out of TE Dalton Kincaid and starting to get help from other folks too like Deonte Harty. RB James Cook is even running the ball pretty well in his limited touches. The defense still has holes due to their pile of injuries and they seem to be grasping at straws to solve problems that may not even be there. I don’t love the signing of RB Leonard Fournette because I don’t think he is much of an upgrade over RB Latavius Murray and definitely in my opinion is not an upgrade over RB James Cook. Overall I am a huge Josh Allen fan but this offense and their struggles do have me scratching my head. However, with them still being at 5-3 I have a feeling that in the long run they are going to be just fine. They are going through pre-holidays slump at the moment. Also, the fact that they won was big this week with the Chiefs losing to the Broncos.

Carolina Panthers (1-6):

• Won 15 to 13 against the Texans

I had a feeling about this game and Carolina fans can rest a little easier at night knowing they avoided losing every game this season. Hopefully this can be a confidence builder for young QB Bryce Young and he can figure out how to continue to improve throughout the rest of the season. It has been encouraging to see a bit more production out of WR Jonathan Mingo these last few weeks as well as WR Adam Thielen. The big concern here on offense at the moment is about what is going on with RB Miles Sanders. He did not see much action even though his counterpart RB Chubba Hubbard did not do much. Maybe a win now will help him to play inspired football the rest of this season because being able to establish a run game will be key for the team if they want to have more success than just this one game.

Chicago Bears (2-6):

• Lost 30 to 13 against the Chargers
• CB Jaylon Johnson requests trade

Rough game for rookie QB Tyson Bagent. Also, the Charger defense really did show up making things difficult on the Bears the whole game. The Bears let the Chargers get out to an early lead and had some calls not go there way on offense and all of the sudden they were in a hole down 14 to 0 after the first quarter and 24 to 7 at half. I would say that this one was just ugly because of that and then a QB who is still a rookie. Overall though I thought QB Bagent showed some poise and made some really good throws. He left a few deep balls on the table that he decided to throw elsewhere but it sounds like he will get another chance to start next week as QB Justin Fields continues to heal from his injury. This next one should be interesting since they will be facing a very good defense from New Orleans and an offense that may be starting to hit its stride.

Cincinnati Bengals (4-3):

• Won 31 to 17 against the 49ers

Great win for the Bengals and a team we were so worried about after starting the season 0-3 has now ripped off 3 straight wins against the NFC West and this one in convincing fashion. QB Joe Burrow appears to be healthy again and was able to move around quite a bit more in this game than he has in any other this season. It appears that he is finding his connection with WR Tee Higgins as well after doing so with WR Ja’marr Chase the other week. The key player in this game though was RB Joe Mixon. In his return back to his hometown he shined bright and produced for the team making it impossible for the Niners defense to clamp down on offenses like they do so often.

Cleveland Browns (4-3):

• Lost 24 to 20 against the Seahawks

The defense here overall played pretty well for the Browns but they need more out of the QB position than journeyman backup PJ Walker can offer. They are playing money to the QB position as if they have a Hall of Famer in place and what they have gotten is an oft injured QB Deshaun Watson who has maybe played one game in the past two years that reminded us of the Watson who played for the Texans. Really though at the end of the day this was sloppy game for both teams and one they will quickly want to move on from. They need QB Deshaun Watson back and they need the old version of him back sooner rather than later. I worry for the future of NFL players getting more guaranteed money based on how his contract has gone.

Dallas Cowboys (5-2):

• Won 43 to 20 against the Rams

The Cowboys came out and were playing like they were trying to make a statement. Great and very convincing win by the team where they were firing on all cylinders. At 5-2 they set themselves up pretty well in the NFC and recent struggles by the 49ers have made things a bit easier. I still feel like the key to sustained success though for the Cowboys is for them to really find and commit to their run game which they still don’t seem to be doing. This was a great win and they didn’t need to but as the season progresses if they can get that going is what will make them a clear cut Super Bowl contender rather than just a strong playoff team.

Denver Broncos (3-5):

• Won 24 to 9 against the Chiefs

Great win for the Broncos and Denver is probably starting to feel good about themselves and Russ’ ability to cook. The stats don’t jump off the page here but they didn’t need to do a lot on offense to beat the Chiefs who had 5 turnovers and couldn’t seem to figure out how to hold onto the ball. Good win for them in the division which sets themselves up well if they can go on a little run now. Key for them moving forward is for the defense to continue to step up and look like it did last year and for QB Wilson to find his old form. That will likely come through a run heavy focused offense that allows Wilson to have plenty of time when he does decide to drop back.

Detroit Lions (6-2):

• Won 26 to 14 against the Raiders

Strong bounce back win for the Lions after a rough week against the Ravens. Overall just a well played game. A couple things they can clean up on offense but the big news from this win was the emergence of RB Jahmyr Gibbs who ran for over 150 yards and added almost 40 yards receiving as well. This is what the fans have been wanting and waiting to see. If he can really get going consistently it will open up this offense quite a bit. The other great and encouraging thing for Lions fans was the 6 sacks and just overall suffocating play by the defense. The Lions are the real deal in the NFC and should be considered in any conversation about top NFL teams. The nice thing is that the division they are in has not been strong this year either so should allow them to have easier divisional games than most of the rest of the league.

Green Bay Packers (2-5):

• Lost 24 to 10 against the Vikings

Tough loss for the Packers who seem to be going downhill fast. The Packers really need to figure out the run game here because I actually feel like QB Jordan Love still has quite a bit of potential and could be the long term answer. He has no real experienced receivers, a struggling offensive line, and a run game that has not really been effective this year. Overall the defense has played well but a little more help on the offensive side of the ball here should go a long way in helping QB Jordan Love continue to progress and make strides to become what he needs to in order to lead this Packers team.

Houston Texans (3-4):

• Lost 15 to 13 against the Panthers

Tough loss for the Texans against the Panthers but the encouraging thing here is that they are still going to be in a lot of games with who well the defense played. Overall the offense struggled to get the passing game or the running game going. No need to panic here because the team is playing better still than most expected at the beginning of the year and will have game like this, especially with a young QB. It seems that QB CJ Stroud is still coming along well and limiting interceptions which so many young QBs with coming into the league and adjusting the speed of the NFL.

Indianapolis Colts (3-5):

• Lost 38 to 27 against the Colts

The Colts definitely are not making it easy on anyone to beat them and are starting to reap the benefits of having RB Jonathan Taylor back in the lineup. Against the Saints though it just was not enough. Good to see that WR Josh Downs continues to play very well. I think the main thing hurting them now is WR Michael Pittman Jr. and his complaining about the team not valuing him. He had the most targets at 13 and the most reception at 8 and managed just 40 yards. He needs to produce at a higher clip when he gets the ball rather than just complain about not getting it or feeling like he is an important part of the offense. Right now WR Downs is playing like the better talent in my opinion and WR Alec Pierce is coming on strong too. Obviously I hope they can all figure it out and play well together.

Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2):

• Won 20 to 10 against the Steelers

Another good win for the Jaguars. They seem to be quietly making their case for the top spot in the AFC. The main thing here is that they have been playing well on both offense and defense. QB Trevor Lawrence has done a good job of limiting turnovers and playing within the offense. I expect them to start unlocking a bit more though of the potential they have given their weapons now as the season progresses. There is no reason this offense should not be able to put up closer to 30 points a game with the talent they have. Against a tough defense what they were able to do was huge and should serve as a confidence boost for them going forward.

Kansas City Chiefs (6-2):

• Lost 24 to 9 against the Broncos
• QB Patrick Mahomes sick prior to the game

Not going to write too much here. QB Mahomes did not look good but was playing sick and the receivers did not look good either. The Chiefs will figure it out and bounce back but getting some more production out of the WR room here would not hurt. Overall though I am not worried about this team and am excited for the upcoming game against the Dolphins.

Las Vegas Raiders (3-5):

• Lost 26 to 14 against the Lions

Rough game and it does not seem like the Raiders are trending in the right direction. The QB play has been awful, WR Davante Adams does not seem happy with his role, and RB Josh Jacobs has not been the same this year. It kind of feels like a typical Raiders season again where on paper they have a lot of talent but just don’t seem to be able to inspire confidence in themselves or their fans. I worry about them down the stretch here with the other teams in their division starting to look better.

Los Angeles Chargers (3-4):

• Won 30 to 13 against the Bears

Great overall win for the Chargers and they needed this one. It was a game they should have won pretty handily and they did. It seems normally the Chargers end up making these games close games but overall good execution by the offense and defense. QB Justin Herbert looked sharp and was spreading the ball around to lots of different receivers. I think a big difference maker here on offense was having RB Austin Ekeler back with the team. Even though he did not do much rushing the ball he led the team in receiving yards and was able to get lots of yards after the catch. If the Chargers can keep trending upwards they are a scary team but we shall see how things go.

Los Angeles Rams (3-5):

• Lost 43 to 20 against the Cowboys
• QB Matt Stafford has sprained thumb

Tough loss and potentially losing QB Matt Stafford is definitely not going to help. Turnovers and the defense letting them get down early are what hurt this team the most in this game. It felt like this game was over after the first quarter with the Cowboy up 17 to 3. The good news though is that it sounds like Stafford avoided major injury and is considered day to day.

Miami Dolphins (6-2):

• Won 31 to 17 against the Patriots
• CB Jalen Ramsey likely to return this week

Great win for the Dolphins against a Patriots who has proved to be a bit problematic for some teams recently even the Dolphins earlier in the season. WRs Waddle and Hill were really cooking and should they continue it is going to make it extremely difficult on teams to stop them. WR Chase Claypool even had a reception this week and was targeted twice in the game. Good to see Miami win again in a game where the run game struggled for them. The good news for this team is that they start to get some help back on defense this week with CB Jalen Ramsey returning. The defense has been the weakest point thus far so any reinforcement are key there.

Minnesota Vikings (4-4):

• Won 24 to 10 against the Packers
• QB Kirk Cousins tore Achilles

What a heart breaking injury. QB Kirk Cousins is someone that I feel like everyone roots for and was pulling this Vikings team back into relevance this year after a rough start for the team. He was playing some of the best football of his career and even doing so without WR Justin Jefferson the past few weeks. Now the team has a decision to make as the trade deadline approaches. They have QB Jaren Hall in place at the moment and are they going to try and help him out with some pieces added or are they going to be sellers at the deadline as they head towards a potential rebuild next year with QB Kirk Cousins hitting free agency. Lots of decisions to be made and very little time to make them.

New England Patriots (2-6):

• Lost 31 to 17 against the Dolphins
• WR Kendrick Bourne tore ACL

Tough loss for the Patriots and on top of that losing their top WR this year does not help a team that doesn’t have much at the position to begin with. There have been a few high moments for this Patriots team but for the most part it feels like this team is on a downward spiral this year. It is tough to see but appears to be the case. No receiver had more than 40 yards in the game and the run game was held under 100 yards. RB Ezekiel Elliott looked the best of the all the backs so maybe they give him so more carries here in the weeks to come and see if he can jumpstart something.

New Orleans Saints (4-4):

• Won 38 to 27 against the Colts

The Saints seem to be started to find themselves potentially. QB Derek Carr had a great game and threw the ball all over the field. This offensive showing is what was expected from the beginning of the year just with WR Shaheed stepping up more than WR Chris Olave early in the season. Next big thing for them will be to have a complete game where the defense plays well like it had been most of the year complementing an explosive offensive performance. They have a good chance to do that next week against the Bears.

New York Giants (2-6):

• Lost 13 to 10 against the Jets
• Lost QB Tyrod Taylor due to injury
• Traded DL Leonard Williams to Seahawks for 2024 2nd round pick and 2025 5th round pick
• QB Daniel Jones cleared to play

I don’t even want to write about this one. It was an overall ugly game and the good thing is that the Giants defense looked really good and were able to shut down the Jets until the end of the game. The QB situation clearly during this game was a difficult one and it is welcome news that QB Jones will be back this week. Trading away Leonard Williams was a good move though because they could use the draft capital as it is clear they are the worst team in the division as currently constructed.

New York Jets (4-3):

• Won 13 to 10 against the Giants

I don’t know what it is in this type of game that the Jets are able to get the win but somehow they are willed to victory. QB Zach Wilson did not look great all game but towards the end figured something out and I think it is just when he gets to play loose and do less thinking that he is at his best. At 4-3 the Jets are looking pretty good for the back half of the season and much better than folks thought when they lost QB Aaron Rodgers. They need to get more out of the running game in order to keep winning game and keep the pressure off of Wilson. RBs Hall, Cook, and Carter averaged under 2 yards a carry across 15 carries.

Philadelphia Eagles (7-1):

• Won 38 to 31 against the Commanders

It was not an easy one for the Eagles but the great teams find ways to get it done. Great 4 TD performance by QB Jalen Hurts and WR AJ Brown continues to amaze. The biggest concern here is that the QB Hurts is dealing with a knee injury that will be something to watch over the coming weeks and how he recovers from it because clearly they need him healthy and starting to contend. Right now Philly looks like the best team in football and with GM Howie Roseman it will be interesting to see if they pull anything off before the deadline to get them more secondary help.

Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3):

• Lost 20 to 10 against the Jaguars
• QB Kenny Pickett questionable due to rib injury

Ugly loss for the Steelers and I know there were some questionable calls but overall the struggles on offense here are the main problem with this team. It appears to be potentially a QB and OC issue but primarily an OC issue in my opinion. I know it is the popular thing to rag on OC Matt Canada but it really feels like that is the root of the problem here with this team that has an incredible defense.

San Francisco 49ers (5-3):

• Lost 31 to 17 against the Bengals

That is 3 in a row for the Niners. It is hurting them not having WR/RB Deebo Samuel and OL Trent Williams. I know Purdy has had his struggles in the past couple of weeks but at least from this game I was more impressed with a lot of the plays that he did manage to make. What is more concerning here was how the defense got sliced apart and how when the Niners play good QBs they don’t seem to have an answer for how to stop them. Sunday they didn’t have an answer for stopping the run either. The bye week could not have come at a better time though and hopefully they can get fully healthy and figure out the funk they have been in because they are no longer atop the division.

Seattle Seahawks (5-2):

• Won 24 to 20 against the Browns
• Traded a 2024 2nd round pick and a 2025 5th round pick to the Giants for DL Leonard Williams

Great trade by the Seahawks as they see the struggling Niners across from them and the Rams flailing as well. It was not a pretty win but ugly wins are better than losses and it seems like this team just finds way to get things done. The run game looked great for Seattle and will be key for them down the stretch and against teams like the Niners. Another thing that has been developing more recently is WR Smith-Njigba getting more involved in the offense and just giving QB Geno Smith another high level target to look for in the passing game when WRs Lockett and Metcalf are covered.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4):

• Lost 24 to 18 against the Bills

Even though they lost the Buccaneers should still feel good. They are very much still in it in their division being only a half game back of the Falcons and the Saints. They can easily turn things around in my opinion as they re-find their offensive identity and they have a defense that has slowed down even the best of offenses. They also win this game if WR Chris Godwin turns around a second sooner to catch the Hail Mary pass from QB Baker Mayfield. I really would love it if they find a way to get some more help at the RB position because they still are not getting enough there but we shall see what happens.

Tennessee Titans (3-4):

• Won 28 to 23 against the Falcons
• QB Will Levis started

What a day for QB Will Levis and WR Deandre Hopkins. This could be a great sign for the Titans who struggled with poor QB play thus far this year. QB Will Levis came in and stepped up with 4 TDs against a top ranked Falcons defense and seemed to get the veterans producing on the team as well including WR Deandre Hopkins who caught 3 of the TD passes and had over 100 yards receiving. It was also good to see RB Derrick Henry have over 100 yards and get involved in the receiving game. The Titans could have just figured something out. They have a tough test this week against the Steelers on Thursday night football but I am sure there are more people excited to watch that game after the performance by the 2nd round pick.

Washington Commanders (3-5):

• Lost 38 to 31 against the Eagles

Tough loss for the Commanders where they showed their potential to be able to go toe to toe with the best team in the league. OC Eric Bieniemy clearly has done something right during his time there thus far with how well QB Sam Howell is playing this year. The defense has been inconsistent but the Commanders should still be excited for the future with the young core they have leading this team on offense. They have a game this upcoming week against the Patriots that they need to win and should win.

Picks of the Week:

Went 7-8-1 this past week so that brings me to 55-66-1 on the year with hopefully my best week yet coming up. Things have been very unpredictable recently.

• Vikings +4.5 v. Falcons -4.5
• Bills +3 v. Bengals -3
• Titans +3 v. Steelers -3
• Dolphins +2.5 v. Chiefs -2.5
• Cardinals +8 v. Browns -8
• Rams +3 v. Packers -3
• Commanders +3 v. Patriots -3
• Bears +7.5 v. Saints -7.5
• Seahawks +5.5 v. Ravens -5.5
• Buccaneers +2.5 v. Texans -2.5
• Colts -2.5 v. Panthers +2.5
• Giants +2.5 v. Raiders -2.5
• Cowboys +3 v. Eagles -3
• Chargers -3 v. Jets +3

Featured Team of the Week:

*For links and pictures please see the link in my profile

Lions Den Welcome Sign

Restaurant of the Week (Mom's Spaghetti):

Since we are back in Detroit I had to find a way to give Eminem a bit of a shoutout here. From his song Lose Yourself where talks about Mom’s Spaghetti comes to you the restaurant Mom's Spaghetti. It is a bit of a changeup from the typical place I pick here for restaurant of the week but this one is definitely worth a try. The menu is pretty straightforward here with spaghetti coming with a couple different sauce options and if you would like even in a sandwich. I recommend just getting good old Spaghetti and meatballs but again it is not like you aren’t getting that in one way or another when you order here. It is a half mile from the stadium too so it should not be too hard to make a choice here.