Back-to-back weeks of 3-3 has brought my record to 37-38-2 on the year. I am still hovering around a respectable number, but I’ll need one or two big weeks down the stretch to finish strong. Buffalo, Kansas City and Carolina let me down last weekend. While the Giants, 49ers, and Vikings strengthened my record. Here are the games I’ll be circling this weekend.
SILVER PREDICTIONS
DALLAS COWBOYS VS NEW YORK GAINTS (+3.5)
This game shouts Giants cover and win outright. The Cowboys have been playing like garbage (minus last their last game) the last couple weeks. While the Giants are in a very precarious situation here. They cleaned house this week firing their GM and head coach Ben McAdoo. For most franchises this would be concerning, but I think that the Giants are going to rally around this situation. McAdoo clearly lost the locker room and with Eli Manning back under center this week I’m expecting a good performance on both sides of the ball for this team. In the Giants last home game they held the Chiefs offense to only 9 points, I could see a similar performance this weekend. Dak Prescott has been exposed and he clearly isn’t the same quarterback without his Ezekiel blanket. Expect a close divisional matchup, but for the Giants to ultimately stink the Cowboys playoff hopes.
FINAL SCORE – COWBOYS 10 – GIANTS 16
NEW YORK JETS VS DENVER BRONCOS (+1)
Denver has been a flaming dumpster fire since week four. They have lost 8 straight games and I think this is the weekend they snap that streak. New York has been a massive surprise this year and have found themselves in winning position nearly every week, but the Broncos are desperate here. Their defense is better than the numbers show and Aqib Talib is back after serving his one game suspension. Denver might be 3-9 this year but all three victories have come at Mile High this year. Look for them to nab the fourth this weekend.
FINAL SCORE – JETS 9 – BRONCOS 19
GOLD PREDICTIONS
OAKLAND RAIDERS (+4) VS KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
This is a huge divisional matchup this weekend. Kansas City is holding on the NFC West divisional lead by a thread. After starting 5-0 they have gone 1-6 and sit at tied with San Diego and Oakland at 6-6. This game could decide the AFC West division. Neither team has a strong defense and both have struggled offensively at points; expecting this game to end outside of 3-points would be a mistake. Oakland has the offense to score points and Kansas City is officially sitting their best cornerback Marcus Peters for his antics at the end of last weeks game. While you could argue that the Raiders defense is not unblemished this year, I think they step up in this situation. They made some nice plays against the Giants last week and Kahlil Mack is due to make a splash. Take the points for this divisional matchup this weekend.
FINAL SCORE – RAIDERS 23 – CHIEFS 20
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS VS JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (-2.5)
Seattle is flying high after their upset on Sunday night football in week thirteen, yet I still have a hard time buying them as a serious contender. Without Russell Wilson under centre Seattle would be in the basement of the league. All of their success rides on the legs of Wilson, and the Jaguars have one of the best defensive lines and linebacking cores in the league. They have what it takes to pressure Wilson and I think his Houdini magic will run out this weekend. The Jaguars are in the thick of the AFC South and are going to come out desperate in this game. You can easily make a case they have the best one-two cornerback combinations in the league with A.J Bouye and Jalen Ramsey. As for Seattle, they are banged up on the defensive side of the football and have been riding the laurels of what used to be the legion of boom. Their home field advantage is bar-down the best in the league and playing away from the CenturyLink always exposes their weaknesses. Look for Jacksonville to pull off an extremely important victory this weekend and send the Seahawks packing in convincing fashion.
FINAL SCORE – SEAHAWKS 17 – JAGUARS 30
PLATNIUM PREDICTIONS
WASHINGTON REDSKINS (+6) VS LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
After starting 0-4 who could have predicted the Chargers would be tied to for the AFC West division lead at 6-6? It has been a roller coaster the last couple weeks and while the Chargers are making a case that they have the best all around team in their division, I can’t help but think this game is going to be close. Washington has had some gutsy wins this year, including knocking off the Seahawks in Seattle. The Chargers have an elite pass rush but their secondary is nothing special, if Washington can give Cousins time he should be able to put up numbers versus this secondary. This game looks to me like one where the Chargers blow a lead, sprinkle in a little bad coaching, some costly turnovers and you’ve got a recipe for a Washington victory. 6-points is plenty, I’ll gladly take the Redskins in this game.
FINAL SCORE – REDSKINS 24 – CHARGERS 21
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (-2.5) VS CAROLINA PANTHERS
Minnesota is playing mistake free football on offense and punishing teams defensively. The best statistic to show just how good they have been is 3rd down conversion percentage. On offense the Vikings are 2nd in the league converting third downs 45.96% of the time, while on defense they are limiting teams to a third down conversion percentage of 27.21%, best in the entire league. I have been high on Carolina the last couple weeks but with their offensive line banged up and their inability to get a solid running game going is going to hurt them versus Minnesota. As for the Panthers defense, they are 27th in the league in the red-zone giving up a touchdown 62.96% of the time. You can’t ignore the things Minnesota has been accomplishing this year, lay the points and watch them easily earn another victory.