"The Stack" 9-8-17
The Stack is back on this first Football Friday of the year and we can’t go on without mentioning Hurricane Irma and how it looks like it is going to make a direct hit on Miami and South Florida. Thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who is and will be affected. Evacuations are already ongoing and the traffic is heavy and a slow-go on the major highways and interstates. Irma has already caused plenty of destruction in the Caribbean. Just be safe everyone. Plenty of college games have already been cancelled as has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers-Miami Dolphins game set for Sunday though that will be made up week 11. What an upset last night by the Kansas City Chiefs taking the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots 42-27. The Chiefs offense was explosive. EXPLOSIVE I say! I may be paying up on a few bets. So much for that undefeated season. Now let’s get on to some picks in “the stack” for today, Friday, September 8th:
New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills 1 PM ET CBS
For a little while, it looked like the Jets may have a legitimate shot to win this game and they still may. No the game hasn’t been played yet, but the fact that Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor passed the concussion test and will play pretty seals the deal. It will be the beginning of a long year for the Jets.
Prediction: Bills 20 Jets 9
Atlanta Falcons @ Chicago Bears 1 PM ET FOX
We’ll find out early on just how much of a hangover the Falcons have from the Super Bowl last year. They are head and shoulders a better team than the Bears, but if the offense doesn’t get some points on the board quickly, this game may be closer than most of us think.
Prediction: Falcons 30 Bears 13
Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals 1 PM ET CBS
I think both of these teams are going to be fighting neck and neck for second place in the division. Joe Flacco hasn’t played all preseason so he may be rusty. Wonder how much of Joe Mixon we’ll see for the Bengals. They get a little more done in this one and come out with the win.
Prediction: Bengals 23 Ravens 20
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns 1 PM ET CBS
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is going to have to wait to sack Ben Roethlisberger. He’s out with a high ankle sprain. Roethlisberger can breathe a little easier. The Browns defense won’t. The Steelers offense is going to shred them.
Prediction: Steelers 35 Browns 13
Arizona Cardinals @ Detroit Lions 1 PM ET FOX
This is a very difficult game to pick. I have a hard time figuring out what kind of team the Lions are going to be this year and while I think the Cardinals are going to be a playoff team this year, an early kickoff to begin the year isn’t easy. I’ve been leaning Lions all week, but perhaps the Cardinals’ talent will win out late.
Prediction: Cardinals 24 Lions 20
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans 1 PM ET CBS
Can’t begin to imagine what the atmosphere is going to be like in Houston on Sunday especially when J.J. Watt is announced to the crowd. That defense is going to make life miserable for Blake Bortles. Tom Savage is not going to have to do much in this one.
Prediction: Texans 20 Jaguars 10
Oakland Raiders @ Tennessee Titans 1 PM ET CBS
Easily one of the better games of the weekend. I am one of the many people that like the Titans to win the AFC South this year or at the very least make it to the playoffs. I think the Raiders are going to win the AFC West, but after Thursday night, the Chiefs have made me second guess myself. Early kickoff for a west coast team. That may prove to be a little difficult. Derek Carr against Marcus Mariota, two quarterbacks who suffered knee injuries in week 16 of the regular season last year. I think Mariota’s team gets the slight edge.
Prediction: Titans 27 Raiders 24
Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington 1 PM ET FOX
There are those out there that believe Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz is going to take a big step forward this year. With Alshon Jeffrey and Torrey Smith he should be prime for a good season statistically. Washington’s passing attack didn’t look great in the preseason. They need to get off to a good start. You like that Kirk Cousins? Do something.
Prediction: Washington 24 Eagles 23
Indianapolis Colts @ Los Angeles Rams 4:05 PM ET CBS
If Jared Goff and the Rams can’t beat Scott Tolzien and the Colts, it is going to be a long year for the Rams. Seriously, it’s Scott Tolzien.
Prediction: Rams 24 Colts 10
Seattle Seahawks @ Green Bay Packers 4:25 PM ET FOX
After last night’s game I don’t think I should be going around making such bold proclamations, but the Seahawks defense is really good. Eddie Lacy returns to Green Bay and while I shouldn’t doubt Aaron Rodgers, I think this Seattle defense slows them down enough and I think Blair Walsh kicks a field goal late to seal the victory.
Prediction: Seahawks 27 Packers 24
Carolina Panthers @ San Francisco 49ers 4:25 PM ET FOX
We didn’t see much of Cam Newton in the preseason, but the one or two drives we did he looked good. I am very anxious to see how the Panthers use Christian McCaffrey, but with the way the 49ers looked in the preseason, I think Kyle Shanahan might just be able to throw enough at the Panthers to pull off the upset.
Prediction: 49ers 20 Panthers 17
New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys 8:30 PM ET NBC
Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. sounds 50-50 for this game. If I had to guess I would say he won’t play. Since Ezekiel Elliott is playing while fighting his six game suspension, knowing the two road games they have in front of them, this is a very important game for the Cowboys. They will win this game.
Prediction: Cowboys 31 Giants 24
Coming up Monday: Sunday NFL reaction plus picks for MNF doubleheader
