I’m beginning to wonder if I’d be better off locking myself out and going with a replacement selector. It was another brutal week, even though I was one of the recipients of the gift to Golden in Seattle Monday night.
But, if for no other reason at this point than I am extraordinarily stubborn, I am back for more. Last year’s 23 games over .500 seems a long way away at this point, though.
As per usual, home teams are in CAPS:
Thursday night
RAVENS (minus 12½) over Browns: The Ravens’ defense may not be what it once was. But neither is the Ravens’ offense. If Cleveland ever brings both its offense and defense to the party at the same time, the Browns might actually be onto something. Until then, though, ummm … no.
Sunday
BILLS (plus 4½) over Patriots: I get it. It’s the Patriots. But you know, they lost at Ralph Wilson Stadium last year and it’s not like they’re exactly coming in firing on all cylinders right now.
49ers (minus 4½) over JETS: San Francisco’s not going to be a happy bunch as the 49ers make another trip East for an early game. The Jets didn’t exactly set the world on fire in Miami.
Seahawks (minus 3) over RAMS: St. Louis’ offense is still offensive. Seattle might have one of the top six defenses in the league and yet only be third-best in its own division.
FALCONS (minus 7½) over Panthers: Cam Newton is coming off an awful game in prime time and the Charlotte media might just be turning on him, as evidenced by this cartoon in the Charlotte Observer. The Falcons might be the best team in the NFC.
LIONS (minus 4½) over Vikings: Detroit might have found a running game with Mikel Leshoure. The Vikings are going to have to win in someone else’s dome before I believe in them away from the Collapsadome in Minneapolis.
Chargers (even) over CHIEFS: Kansas City beat the Saints. So far, that’s not that boastworthy. San Diego gets a bounce-back win.
TEXANS (minus 12) over Titans: Remember what I said about the Falcons? Houston might be the best team in the AFC. The Texans aren’t going to give up big plays the way the Lions did.
Bengals (minus 3) over JAGUARS: I’m supposed to get excited about Blaine Gabbert because he completed one short pass against the Colts and watched a guy run with it?
BRONCOS (minus 6½) over Raiders: Sure, Oakland got a win last week over the Steelers. But Denver showed some signs of figuring some things out late against Houston.
CARDINALS (minus 6) over Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, meet the Cardinals defense. Ryan Tannehill, meet the retractable University of Phoenix Stadium turf. This could get ugly.
BUCCANEERS (minus 3) over Redskins: Have they put an over/under on Robert Griffin III’s life span if he keeps taking hits like he did against the Bengals?
PACKERS (minus 8) over Saints: I liked Green Bay in this one before the Packers got royally hosed in front of a national-TV audience. New Orleans’ defense is simply ghastly.
Giants (plus 1) over EAGLES: Tell ya what, Philadelphia. Stop averaging four turnovers a game and I might actually believe in you again.
Monday night
Bears (plus 3) over COWBOYS: Dallas’ effort against Tampa Bay was a loss everywhere but on the scoreboard. Chicago bounced back nicely from the “Lynch Cutler” game in Green Bay.
Last week: 5-11 (yeah, I know …)
Season: 18-28-2 (see above)
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