NFL 2022 Week 9 Prequel
Thursday, November 3, 2022, 8pm
Philadelphia Eagles (-13) (at) Houston Texans — The best team in the league takes on the worst team in the league. The spread is still too high for a road team on prime time. The Texans have been competitive. They played Tennessee tough last week. Jalen Hurts is playing great, and is far superior to Davis Mills. Yet Mills is competent enough and the defense is stingy enough to prevent a total blowout. Eagles win but fail to cover
Sunday, November 6, 1pm
Los Angeles Chargers (-3) at Atlanta Falcons — Why are the Chargers favored? Every year they look good on paper. Every year they underachieve. The Falcons are overachieving. Marcus Mariota is playing well. Yes, Justin Herbert is great. He lacks a good arch leading him. This could be as crazy as Atlanta’s win last week. Upset special, Falcons win outright
Miami Dolphins at Chicago Bears (-4 1/2) — This is not 1985. Justin Fields has not proven himself yet. Tua Tagovailoa has. The Dolphins have the better defense. They will force turnovers. Upset special, Dolphins win outright
Carolina Panthers at Cincinnati Bengals (-8) — The Panthers have gotten much better in the two weeks since steve Wilks took over. Yet the Bengals are at home looking to rebound after a humiliating prime time road loss at Cleveland. PJ Walker is no Joe Burrow, but he is competent. A garbage touchdown is highly possible. Bengals win but fail to cover
Green Bay Packers (-3) at Detroit Lions — The Packers have lost four straight, but the Lions cannot stop anyone. The Lions put up a bunch of points and then the defense melts down. If it comes down to a Hail Mary, trust Rodgers. Lions fans are still scarred from that one. A Detroit win here could finish off Green Bay, but until the Lions beat the Packers, they do not get the benefit of the doubt. Packers cover
Las Vegas Raiders (-1) at Jacksonville Jaguars — Both teams are awful with only two wins on the season. The Jaguars are well-coached by Doug Pederson and will improve. Josh McDaniels refuses to use Josh Jacobs when it matters. If the Raiders unleash Jacobs, they win. If McDaniels gets in his own way, the Raiders lose. The Raiders secondary is still awful. McDaniels may let Jacobs run wild so McDaniels can save his own job. This is the very last time to give the Raiders the benefit of the doubt. Raiders cover
Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots (-5 1/2) — The Colts blew a 9 point fourth quarter lead last week to lose in the final seconds. The Patriots gutted out a win at the Jets. Trust Mac Jones and Raimondre Stevenson over sam Ehlinger until Ehlinger gets more seasoning. Jonathan Taylor has not gotten going this year after a brilliant 2021. Patriots win but fail to cover
Buffalo Bills (-13) at New York Jets — The Jets are not as good as the hype, but they do not belong on the scrap heap either. They are improved, just not at the elite level Buffalo is at. Both teams have a good defense. Josh Allen is far better than Zach Wilson. The spread is too high given the Jets defense. Bills win but fail to cover
Minnesota Vikings (-3 1/2) at Washington Commanders — Kirk Cousins gets a chance to beat his old team. The Commanders showed guts and heart under Taylor Heinecke by overcoming a 9 point fourth quarter deficit last week. Yet the Vikings are 6-1 for a reason. Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen are a great receiving tandem, and Dalvin Cook is running hard. Pick your poison. This will not be a blowout, but the Vikings have the talent win by at least four points. Vikings cover
4pm
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals (-2) — The Seahawks shockingly lead tDe NFC West at 5-3 and got a huge emotional home win over the Giants. The Cardinals are improved with Deandre Hopkins back. Kyler Murray can scramble and gene Smith has been far more competent than effective. Pete Carroll is a better coach than Kliff Kingsbury. A letdown is certainly possible, but Carroll knows how to keep his players focused. Upset special, Seahawks win outright
Los Angeles Rams at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3) — The Rams blew a 27-3 lead before winning a dramatic playoff game 30-27 at Tampa last year on the final play. Both teams have regressed. The Buccaneers are 3-5, and the Rams just got humiliated at home again, this time by rival San Francisco. The Rams still have more healthy playmakers. Brady will be burning for revenge. This is the very last time this year to give Brady the benefit of the doubt. He has been so good for so long that it is hard to believe he has a bad team. Buccaneers cover
8pm
Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs (-11) — The Chiefs have an explosive offense that is back in gear after some early struggles. The Titans win ugly with smash mouth and defense. Walrus Andy Reid wants to out-scheme you on offense. Mike Vrabel wants to punch you in the mouth on defense. If the Chiefs get rolling early, it will be tough to establish Derrick Henry. Ryan Tannehill cannot go toe to toe with Patrick Mahomes. A blowout is possible, but if the Titans can handle the early emotions of the home crowd, they can make the game competitive enough. Chiefs win but fail to cover
Monday, November 7, 8pm
Baltimore Ravens (-3) at New Orleans Saints — The Saints have a very good defense that has frustrated everyone from Derek Carr to Tom Brady. Yet even with Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill, the offense does not do that much. Lamar Jackson is ridiculous. If any team can contain him, Dennis Allen’s defense has a shot. The Ravens have blown several double digit fourth quarter leads this year. Yet the team seems to has gelled. The Saints pitched a shutout last week, but John Harbaugh will commit to the run. Ravens cover