11-23-2018, 01:56 PM
Hopefully, everyone reading this thread is in the midst of a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday.
If only the joy wished above reflected in the standings for the Jaguars, who controlled most of the game last week and still managed to lose to the Steelers. The defending AFCC South champs are in dead last. Ugh. That reality is as distasteful as any fruit cake you would get this holiday season. The Texans and Colts have been on absolute tears, with the division leading Texans reeling off seven straight wins after starting 0-3, while the Colts have won five straight, crushing the tacks last week. The tacks are once again dealing with an injury to Marcus Mariota, who is recovering from a stinger.
My picks this year have caused me indigestion. Usually I get off to slow starts then come on later. But this year, I have yet to make that turn, and my struggles have lingered. The season isn't over, so hopefully I can still turn it around.
On to this week's picks.
Jaguars (3-7) at Bills (3-7)-By no means did I envision the Jaguars being at 3-7 going into this season. Under normal circumstances, when it becomes obvious the team will not make the playoffs, I do not object to the Jaguars losing down the stretch because it improves draft position. However, my buddy is an obnoxious Bills fan, and we wager a dinner on the game every time the Bills are on our schedule. He has taken glee in the Jaguars demise. If anything will take some of the sting off of this season, it would be beating the Bills. Buffalo welcomes Back rookie QB Josh Allen, who was the target of sharp criticism from Jalen Ramsey. However, besides him being rested from being out a few weeks and enjoying the bye week last week, the same things that hindered him earlier in the season (no speed at WR and a bad OL) are still there. But the Jaguars have many of the same issues offensively. Only Bortles is an experienced QB. Moreover, Buffalo has performed better defensively than the Jaguars. Though the Jaguars have played better offensively since Fournette has returned, I don't think we have enough to knock off the Bills in Buffahole. In an indigestion producing pick, the Bills beat the Jaguars 17-13.
Dolphins (5-5) at Colts (5-5) With Luck having enough arm strength to be a positive factor at QB, and their new GM filling in enough holes in the OL for him to operate, the Colts are riding a five game winning streak at home facing the Dolphins. The Colts (5th in scoring) are far superior offensively to the Dolphins (26th in scoring). Worse for Miami, The Colts' OL is a superb unit overall and is particularly adept at run blocking. Miami can not stop the run at all (29th). Colts squish the fish 26-20.
tacks (5-5) at Tinhorns (7-3)-Another matchup featuring widely disparate levels of offensive productivity. The tacks travel to Houston with a banged up QB to face a red hot Houston team. The tacks somehow won their early season matchup being down to their 3rd RT. I don't see that happening at all this week. Tinhorns win 24-14.
Last week: 1-2
Overall: 15-18
If only the joy wished above reflected in the standings for the Jaguars, who controlled most of the game last week and still managed to lose to the Steelers. The defending AFCC South champs are in dead last. Ugh. That reality is as distasteful as any fruit cake you would get this holiday season. The Texans and Colts have been on absolute tears, with the division leading Texans reeling off seven straight wins after starting 0-3, while the Colts have won five straight, crushing the tacks last week. The tacks are once again dealing with an injury to Marcus Mariota, who is recovering from a stinger.
My picks this year have caused me indigestion. Usually I get off to slow starts then come on later. But this year, I have yet to make that turn, and my struggles have lingered. The season isn't over, so hopefully I can still turn it around.
On to this week's picks.
Jaguars (3-7) at Bills (3-7)-By no means did I envision the Jaguars being at 3-7 going into this season. Under normal circumstances, when it becomes obvious the team will not make the playoffs, I do not object to the Jaguars losing down the stretch because it improves draft position. However, my buddy is an obnoxious Bills fan, and we wager a dinner on the game every time the Bills are on our schedule. He has taken glee in the Jaguars demise. If anything will take some of the sting off of this season, it would be beating the Bills. Buffalo welcomes Back rookie QB Josh Allen, who was the target of sharp criticism from Jalen Ramsey. However, besides him being rested from being out a few weeks and enjoying the bye week last week, the same things that hindered him earlier in the season (no speed at WR and a bad OL) are still there. But the Jaguars have many of the same issues offensively. Only Bortles is an experienced QB. Moreover, Buffalo has performed better defensively than the Jaguars. Though the Jaguars have played better offensively since Fournette has returned, I don't think we have enough to knock off the Bills in Buffahole. In an indigestion producing pick, the Bills beat the Jaguars 17-13.
Dolphins (5-5) at Colts (5-5) With Luck having enough arm strength to be a positive factor at QB, and their new GM filling in enough holes in the OL for him to operate, the Colts are riding a five game winning streak at home facing the Dolphins. The Colts (5th in scoring) are far superior offensively to the Dolphins (26th in scoring). Worse for Miami, The Colts' OL is a superb unit overall and is particularly adept at run blocking. Miami can not stop the run at all (29th). Colts squish the fish 26-20.
tacks (5-5) at Tinhorns (7-3)-Another matchup featuring widely disparate levels of offensive productivity. The tacks travel to Houston with a banged up QB to face a red hot Houston team. The tacks somehow won their early season matchup being down to their 3rd RT. I don't see that happening at all this week. Tinhorns win 24-14.
Last week: 1-2
Overall: 15-18
