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| The Titans will be one of the many teams starting a backup quarterback this week. Is this the face of a winner? |
Austen's Seven-Poin Pick
Atlanta over @Tennessee
Austen: Coming off of a crushing loss to the Saints, it would be unfathomable that a team that started 5-0 would lose against a Zach Mettenberger lead Titans team. The Titans lack any sort of identity even with Marcus Mariota, so it would take quiet the effort to knock off one of the most talented teams in the league.
Stally: I agree. The only thing Tennessee has going for it is that Atlanta plays better indoors, but I'm grasping at straws on that one.
Stally's Seven-Point Pick
@New England over New York Jets
Stally: There are a couple Patriots traditions in the five years of this blog: 1) New England gets drafted in the first round of the season-long draft, 2) New England gets picked with max confidence points at home against the Jets. Sure, it's a lot of point to put against a Jets team that's looking quite strong, but I'm picking the winning team, so who really cares how much spreads, lines, and confidence points? New England will win.
Austen: I do not have a ton of confidence in the pick, but I am putting my faith in the Jets this week. They have been one of the most efficient teams in the league on both sides of the ball. After being plagued by poor offensive line play, their OL has allowed just two sacks all season, which is four less than the next best team. Chris Ivory has been the best running back in the league so far this season. Branon Marshall has had over 100 yards or a touchdown in every game this season. Eric Decker has scored a touchdown in every game he has played in this season. After rolling out one of the worst offenses in the league for years, the Jets finally have the pieces on offense to keep up with the Patriots.
Austen's Six-Point Pick
@Arizona over Baltimore
Austen: No one, including the Ravens, can believe how bad Baltimore has been this season. It is borderline ridiculous. I'm going to assume last week against the Steelers was just a hiccup in the Cardinals season, as they have been the most well balanced team in the league so far this year. I think Carson Palmer gets back on track with a big game.
Stally: We might not be able to believe it, but it's always glorious watching the Ravens go 4-12. I couldn't think of an organization in sports I'd rather see struggle like that. Here's to 1-6, Baltimore!
Stally's Six-Point Pick
@San Diego over Oakland
Stally: I feel like I overdrafted this game, but I really don't see a whole lot of other games that look as lopsided on paper as this one. I'll put the Chargers on upset alert, as the Raiders could be sneaky against them, but Philip Rivers put crazy yards agains the Packers when forced to pass all day. I can respect his ability to control the game with his arm.
Austen: The Chargers top 3-4 receiving options are all banged up so I am not really sure who Phillip Rivers is going to pass to this week. The Raiders are fresh off their bye. I'm siding with the Raiders coming off a strong game from Latavius Murray.
Austen's Five-Point Pick
Seattle over @San Francisco
Austen: I was banking on the 49ers putting together another horrible offensive performance, and luckily they delivered for me. San Francisco might have the worst offense in the league. Only four times this season has an offense had 10 or fewer first downs in game, three of those performances were the 49ers. Stally might call this blind faith in the Seahawks, but it was more blind faith in the terribleness of the 49ers than anything else.
Stally: I took the home team 49ers against the 2-4 Seahawks. Seattle has just been horrible this season and I was sick of parading around like they're a Super Bowl contender.
Stally's Five-Point Pick
@Indianapolis over New Orleans
Stally: This seems like a lot to put on a team the last week ran the worst play in the history of the National Football League, but other than that play, the Colts put up a valiant effort against nemesis New England. The Saints are playing better football, but good enough to win in Indy? No, probably not.
Austen: Both of these teams are playing well below their expectations and potential. How or why, I am not totally sure, but I'll side with the home team that has the slight talent advantage.
Austen's Four-Point Pick
@Miami over Houston
Austen: Maybe it is an over correction after the Dolphins' strong performance last week, but I believe that they finally have a coach that knows how to use all the talent on his roster. It is not brain surgery, get the ball in you best players hands and let your best pass rushers attack the football. The Texans have been one of the most disappointing teams in the league this year and I will keep betting against them until proven otherwise.
Stally: The Texans have a lot of playmakers and Arian Foster missed the first three games of the season. Let's not call Time of Death on them yet. I'm taking them this week.
Stally's Four-Point Pick
@St. Louis over Cleveland
Stally: The Rams are no great shakes, but they're a solid all-around team. The Browns did give the Broncos a run for their money last week, but haven't shown the consistency to earn respect in a road game.
Austen: Todd Gurley gets to face the worst run defense in the league (I'm not sure if that is statistically true, but they are the worst run defense in the league). Gurley might set a single game rookie record this week.
Austen's Three-Point Pick
@New York Giants over Dallas
Austen: Matt Cassel's first game back will be without Dez Bryant. That is no good for anyone. Unless Jason Witten finds the fountain of youth, the Cowboys are going to have trouble moving the ball on offense. Eli Manning has quietly been putting together one of his best statistically seasons (despite last week's debacle). All signs point to Giants win.
Stally: The Cowboys made a lot of changes during the bye week, I'm just not sure they make the team better. I agree that the Giants win handily at home.
Stally's Three-Point Pick
Buffalo over @Jacksonville
Stally: The Bills have been road warriors so far this year, having gone 2-0 away from Buffalo and 1-3 at home. They'll really have the chance to go on the road in this one, playing in London against a 1-5 Jags team.
Austen: Let me put it this way, EJ Manuel is the worst starting quarterback in the league, and I do not think it is even that close (yes, this includes aforementioned Matt Cassel). It will not help that Percy Havin is mulling retirement and Sammy Watkins is out due to another injury. That is just too much for a terrible quarterback to overcome, even against a very bad Jacksonville team. LeSean McCoy will have to be the best player on the field for the Bills to win this one, which is a feat he has surprisingly failed to accomplish so far in 2015.
Austen's Two-Point Pick
@Carolina over Philadelphia
Austen: The Panthers are not getting the respect that they deserve. They are undefeated for a reason. Are they the best team in the league? No, but Cam Newton is putting together a MVP level performance this season and their defense has been one of the best in the league without their best player Luke Kuechly. The Eagles are one of the most mysterious dumpster fires in the NFL. I doubt they turn it around on the road this week.
Stally: I should be impressed by Carolina's win in Seattle last week, but I just keep expecting them to lose. I'll take an Eagles team that appears to have turned a corner and started playing better.
Stally's Two-Point Pick
Minnesota over @Detroit
Stally: The Vikings have yet to win on the road this season, but boast one of the stingiest defenses in the league to backup a workhorse running back (Adrian Peterson) that can control the clock. The Lions ... have none of that.
Austen: Let's not over think this. The Vikings have played well this season, the Lions have not. Matt Stafford had to throw four touchdowns (including on extremely controversial touchdown) to beat a simple dreadful Bears team. As long as Adrian Peterson's illness does not hinder him too much, this should be a solid divisional win for the Vikes.
Austen's One-Point Pick
Pittsburgh over @Kansas City
Austen: Landry Jones impressed the football world by doing the one thing Michael Vick could not do, get the ball in the hands of the Steelers plethora of playmakers. Knocking off the Cardinals last week could be the difference in the Steelers making the playoffs this season. I think we will see more of the same against one of the worst pass defenses in the league.
Stally: The Chiefs can be dangerous at home, and Pittsburgh is a very average team without Big Ben. But, I still like the other playmakers on the Steelers to pull this one out.
Stally's One-Point Pick
Tampa Bay over @Washington
Stally: In our phone call to make our picks, Austen pointed out to me that both these teams are bad. I couldn't help but agree, and I like the team coming off its bye week. The Bucs have a running back in Doug Martin that gives them a balanced offense, and the Redskins backfield is in shambles. No running backs usually translates to no wins.
Austen: Stally will take the team off the bye, and I'll take the home team. Realistically, one of really cares, even the fans of these teams.
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