- Gardner Minshew is the GOAT - Just kidding. Unless... Maybe it's an overreaction, but the Gardner Flint Minshew II bandwagon is filling up quickly. While he may never be an elite quarterback, Minshew looks like he could at least be a starting QB in the NFL, and he has the appearance and eccentricness to be a fan favorite (which he already seems to be). After leading the Jags to a Thursday night victory over Tennessee, Minshew further tightened his hold of the starting job in Jacksonville for the foreseeable future. Long live Gardner Flint Minshew II.
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| via cougcenter.com |
- Daniel Jones is the GOAT - Remember when everybody was making fun of the Giants for drafting the former Duke quarterback sixth overall? Well, guess who's laughing now? In his first career start, Jones captained New York to a 32-31 victory over Tampa Bay. He finished 23 for 36 for 336 yards and two passing touchdowns, along with two rushing touchdowns. I'll let New York enjoy this, because it won't be like this every week. Yes, Jones looked good, but he was also playing the Buccaneers, and the Giants would've lost if rookie kicker Matt Gay wouldn't have missed a last-second field goal (after Bruce Arians took a delay of game to make it easier for him). I wish the best for Daniel Jones, but let's pump the breaks just a little bit.
| via insidehook.com |
- Kyle Allen is the GOAT - With Cam Newton out due to a foot injury (among other ailments), backup Kyle Allen made the start on Sunday. He led Carolina to a 38-20 win, throwing for 261 yards and four touchdowns (albeit against the Cardinals). In two career starts, he has looked impressive. It's a small sample size, but if Allen continues playing like this (or at least close to it), the Panthers can afford to take their time with Cam.
| via yahoo.com |
- Teddy Bridgewater is the GOAT - It looks like the Saints will be just fine without Drew Brees. Teddy and company took care of the Seahawks in Seattle, winning 33-27 (the game was not as close as the score suggests). New Orleans has built an elite team, and while Teddy Bridgewater is no Drew Brees, he's a decent quarterback who can keep the team afloat with the help of the talent around him. Conversely, there are questions in Seattle. The Seahawks are 2-1, but they barely beat the bad Bengals and Mason Rudolph-led Steelers, and lost at home to the Drew Brees-less Saints. They have the talent, but they haven't looked great thus far.
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| via canalstreetchronicles.com |
- Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes are the GOATs - Okay, this one might be true. Brady and the Pats dispatched of the Jets to move to 3-0, while Mahomes and the Chiefs beat Lamar Jackson and the Ravens to improve to 3-0. If I were to make a ranking of every team in the AFC right now, it would be the Chiefs and Patriots, then everyone else. A lot can change between now and January, but it will probably be one of these two teams representing the AFC in the Super Bowl.
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| arrowheadpride.com |
- Freddie Kitchens... - In most cases, a seven-point loss to the defending NFC champs in primetime wouldn't be a cause for panic. However, it's the way the Browns lost Sunday night that's upsetting. The offense still looks out-of-sync, and the playcalling has been suspect at best. Freddie Kitchens called a draw on fourth-and-nine late in the second half, then had first and goal on the Rams' four yard line with under two minutes left and couldn't punch it in. Some of the blame also goes to Baker Mayfield, who has had issues reading coverages and getting rid of the ball quickly. I still believe in Freddie and Baker, but they need to go back to what they were doing late last season. That's what got Freddie Kitchens the job.
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| via theathletic.com |
Week 3 Superlatives
Best Performance: Daniel Jones, QB, Giants (23-36, 336 yards passing, 4 total touchdowns)
I had to give this to the rookie, who, in a 32-31 win over Tampa Bay, announced he was here to rescue New York from Eli and laughed in the face of his many doubters.
via NFL
Best Play: Lions KR Jamal Agnew returns a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown
Kick return touchdowns are so rare these days that we must recognize them when they happen. Also, this is the first kick return TD of the 2019 NFL season. Plus, the Lions won.
via NFL
Best Quote: "We was catching 'em, unlike Agholor" - Hakim Laws, Eagles Fan
Philadelphia resident Hakim Laws helped rescue babies from a burning building Monday morning by catching them as they were being thrown down. His interview with the local news, where he managed get in a shot at Eagles WR Nelson Agholor, went viral, even getting to Agholor himself.
via 6abc Philadelphia
Week 4 Games
Thursday
Eagles @ Packers
(8:20 PM, FOX/NFL)
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| via forbes.com |
The training room is the most hopping place in Philadelphia right now, as it seems to be every year around this time. The short-handed Eagles will have a tough time beating the unbeaten Packers at Lambeau. The Green Bay defense has given up a total of 35 points through three weeks.
Spread: GB -4.5 Over/Under: 46
Prediction: Packers 24, Eagles 17
Sunday
Panthers @ Texans
(1:00 PM, FOX)
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| via latimes.com |
Kyle Allen and company will have a much tougher test against the Houston defense than they did against the Arizona defense. Deshaun Watson and the leaky Texan offensive line could have trouble against Carolina's front, too, but I think they'll pull out the home victory.
Spread: HOU -4 Over/Under: 46.5
Prediction: Texans 24, Panthers 17
Browns @ Ravens
(1:00 PM, CBS)
| via pressboxonline.com |
Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore offense has looked exciting thus far, even in a loss to Kansas City last week. The Browns offense... not so much. The incredible Cleveland defense should keep the Browns in this, but the offense will need to look much better for them to win in Baltimore.
Spread: BAL -7 Over/Under: 45.5
Prediction: Ravens 24, Browns 20
Chiefs @ Lions
(1:00 PM, FOX)
| via chicagotribune.com |
The Lions may actually be good(?) this season. Unfortunately for Detroit, Kansas City is better than good. To anyone who thought Patrick Mahomes' MVP season was a fluke, he's showing that it most definitely wasn't. I could see Detroit staying in it at home, but I'll go with the Chiefs to cover.
Spread: KC -6.5 Over/Under: 54
Prediction: Chiefs 35, Lions 24
Chargers @ Dolphins
(1:00 PM, CBS)
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| via usatoday.com |
The Dolphins actually played competitively for a half last week against Dallas, and now host a Charger team that has lost two in a row. I'm not saying the Dolphins could win (though they technically could), but they could conceivably beat the spread. I don't think they will.
Spread: LAC -16 Over/Under: 44
Prediction: Chargers 32, Dolphins 14
Patriots @ Bills
(1:00 PM, CBS)
| via abcnews.go.com |
The top two contenders in the AFC East come into this matchup unbeaten following three games against weak/banged-up teams. I almost talked myself into a Bills upset here. I even had a projected score (Bills 23, Patriots 20). Then I remembered that it's not smart to pick against New England.
Spread: NE -7 Over/Under: 42.5
Prediction: Patriots 27, Bills 23
Raiders @ Colts
(1:00 PM, CBS)
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| via colts.com |
I owe an apology to Colts fans (of whom I know several). Despite understanding that this is a very good team with a good quarterback in Jacoby Brissett, I have picked against them in each of their first three games. I'm not making that mistake this week. Don't let me down, Indianapolis.
Spread: IND -7 Over/Under: 45
Prediction: Colts 30, Raiders 21
Titans @ Falcons
(1:00 PM, CBS)
| via atlantafalcons.com |
I can't trust either of these teams. The Titans looked like a well-oiled machine (like they did when they crushed the Browns), then lost to Jacksonville. The Falcons have a lot of good players, including arguably the best receiver in the league, but are 1-2. I have to pick someone, so I'll go with Atlanta.
Spread: ATL -4 Over/Under: 45
Prediction: Falcons 27, Titans 16
Redskins @ Giants
(1:00 PM, FOX)
| via reddit.com |
Unfotunately, this will not be a battle between the QB the Giants drafted (Daniel Jones) and the QB the Giants passed on (Dwayne Haskins). Instead, it will be Jones vs. Case Keenum (boooooriiing). Even without Saquon Barkley, I'll take the Giants to move to 2-2.
Spread: NYG -3 Over/Under: 49
Prediction: Giants 34, Redskins 30
Seahawks @ Cardinals
(4:05 PM, FOX)
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| via espn.com |
You would think that a team with one of the better quarterbacks in the league would utilize him more. Not the Seahawks, who are still very run-heavy. That worked when they had a ferocious defense, but it isn't what it once was. Despite all the negative stuff I just said, Seattle should win.
Spread: SEA -5 Over/Under: 48
Prediction: Seahawks 32, Cardinals 20
Buccaneers @ Rams
(4:05 PM, FOX)
| via profootballtalk.nbcsports.com |
The Rams offense struggled Sunday night in Cleveland, but the defense was dominant. Aaron Donald and company return home to face Tampa. The offense should look much better (as it usually does at home), and the Bucs are worse than the Browns, so L.A. should have no trouble in paradise.
Spread: LAR -10 Over/Under: 49.5
Prediction: Rams 35, Buccaneers 17
Jaguars @ Broncos
(4:25 PM, CBS)
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| via ftw.usatoday.com |
This will be a defensive struggle, even if the Jags don't have star corner Jalen Ramsey (who may or may not be sick and/or injured). This might come down to which quarterback makes enough big plays (if any), and it's pretty clear which team has the more explosive quarterback.
Spread: DEN -3 Over/Under: 39
Prediction: Jaguars 19, Broncos 16
Vikings @ Bears
(4:25 PM, CBS)
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| via bearswire.usatoday.com |
Who do you trust more (or distrust less)? Kirk Cousins or Mitch Trubisky? I trust neither (despite Mitch's solid performance on Monday Night Football). But I do trust the Chicago defense, and I think they'll contain the league's leading rusher (Dalvin Cook) Sunday afternoon.
Spread: CHI -2 Over/Under: 38.5
Prediction: Bears 17, Vikings 14
Cowboys @ Saints
(8:20 PM, NBC)
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| via thebiglead.com |
This should be a good one. Despite being without Drew Brees, the host Saints will keep it close against a Dallas team that started slow versus Miami last week. But in the end, I think Zeke and the Cowboys will pull out the Sunday night victory.
Spread: NO -2.5 Over/Under: 47
Prediction: Cowboys 31, Saints 24
Monday
Bengals @ Steelers
(8:15 PM, ESPN)
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| via bengalswire.usatoday.com |
Monday Night Football features a scintillating battle between winless AFC North teams this week. I can't trust Andy Dalton and the Bengals in prime time, but I also can't trust Mason Rudolph and the Steelers right now. I'll go with Zac Taylor getting his first win as head coach of the Bengals.
Spread: PIT -4 Over/Under: 43.5
Prediction: Bengals 24, Steelers 21
Last Week: 9-7 vs. Spread: 4-12 Over/Under: 9-6-1
Season: 29-18-1 vs. Spread: 17-31 Over/Under: 22-25-1
Week 4 Picks to Click
Best Game: Browns @ Ravens
If Freddie Kitchens and the Cleveland offense doesn't fix some things, this won't be the best game on the slate. But I think Kitchens will have his team ready for this battle atop the AFC North, and I know John Harbaugh will have his team ready.
Best Bet: JAX +3 @ DEN
Maybe the fever dream that is Gardner Minshew is clouding my judgement, but I feel very confident in this pick. The Denver defense is legit, but I have no faith in Joe Flacco and the offense. As Emmanuel Sanders said Sunday, the Broncos are in a "world of suck" right now, and I agree.
Top Fantasy Matchups:
Chargers vs. Miami - The Chargers play the Dolphins this week, so start Phillip Rivers, Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, and the LA defense. I especially like Ekeler.
Dak Prescott vs. New Orleans - Dak Prescott is playing well and has a favorable matchup with a Saints defense giving up over 300 passing yards per game.
Russell Wilson/Tyler Lockett vs. Arizona - Seattle's offensive stars have a great matchup against the bad Cardinal defense.
Every Defense in the 4:25 PM Games - The late afternoon games (Jaguars @ Broncos and Vikings @ Bears) are likely to be defensive battles.
Fantasy Sleepers:
Case Keenum, QB, Redskins - Although I'd rather see Dwayne Haskins playing QB for Washington, Keenum has thrown at least two touchdown passes in each of the first three weeks and draws a favorable matchup against the Giants.
Josh Jacobs, RB, Raiders: Jacobs has performed pretty well through three games, and this week he goes up against a Colts defense that has allowed 150 rushing yards per game.
Marques Valdez-Scantling, WR, Packers - MVS has become Aaron Rodgers' second-favorite target (behind Devante Adams). He had 99 yards receiving and a TD last week.
Will Dissly, TE, Seahawks - Dissly has three touchdowns so far this season, and now former teammate Nick Vannett is in Pittsburgh.
Stats and info via ESPN.com, OddsShark.com, CBSSports.com, SportingNews.com, YouTube.com, USAToday.com, and Twitter.com
Lines via OddsShark.com
Lines as of Wednesday afternoon
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