2017-18 NFL (Week 7)

Games I watched (some of):
Chiefs 30-31 Raiders
Pretty good effort from the Raiders, finally got Amari Cooper into the offense, and made the plays down the stretch to get it done (even though I kept reminding everyone at the bar, "Wait, wait....it's the Raiders..."). Tough loss for the Chiefs, thought they were the better team. They let the Raiders run up and down on them, which the Raiders haven't done much of this year, so did the Chiefs mess up or did the Raiders finally get right? I think I'm going with the latter, there's still time for the Raiders to get back into this. But I still consider the Chiefs the class of the AFC (yup, even on a 2-game losing streak).

Ravens 16-24 Vikings
Two rugged defenses, the Vikings with a slightly less mediocre  offensive attack. Seemed like Flacco was getting sacked (or preparing to get sacked) pretty much all day long. I kinda can't stand the Ravens, dread seeing them on my TV listings, I think Flacco was never as good as he should've been and is now just barely average (if that). The Vikings are a pretty good team and now that they no longer have to go up against Aaron Rodgers, should win their division. But I feel like they need to get better to make much difference in the post-season; they could get better but they might not.

Saints 26-17 Packers
I know he didn't get the W today but I still believe in Hundley for the Packers, I think he's got a good shot to hold it all together in case Rodgers comes back (if Rodgers doesn't come back, then none if it matters). The Saints are playing pretty good right now, got a good groove going. The Packer D slowed them down for a while but it was only a matter of time before Brees and co. put some points on the board.

Falcons 7-23 Patriots
The Falcons just have no attack at all. They had one good game against the Packers earlier this year but have otherwise never shown anything approaching the blistering offense they had last year. A change at offensive coordinator is clearly the difference, but the whole frickin' team is the same, how could they have dropped off so much? The Pats offense is still the same ol' well-oiled machine they've had for years. The D is up and down, this week the Falcons made them look good again, kinda hard to tell if the Pats defense is where it needs to be or if they just caught a Falcons offense sputtering on prime time. Oh well, until someone beats the Pats, you gotta go with the Pats.


Other results (surprising):
Panthers 3-17 Bears
Hmmm....thought the Panthers were finally getting it together, figured a rookie QB (and rookie RB) on the other side wouldn't get the best of them. No points in the 2nd half? 'Sup wit dat?

Titans 12-9 (OT) Browns
I dunno, I've watched enough of the Browns this year to be wildly unimpressed with their talent, their preparation and their effort, figured the Titans could easily steal a W on the road. Perhaps the Browns have finally figured out how to give a complete effort, but I suspect Mariota isn't quite back from injury and that Titan offense isn't ready to go. 

Cowboys 40-10 Niners
The Niners have had nothing but close losses all season long, figured this would be another one. Not sure if this signals that the Cowboys are ready to kick ass again or if the Niners are even more anemic than we thought.


Other results (not so surprising):
Jags 27-0 Colts
Yeah, the Cols have no offense. The Jags have not much offense but a top quality defense. This one was easy to see coming.

Cards 0-33 Rams
The Cards are deteriorating rapidly, they're rebuilding they just don't know it yet. The Rams are cooking, man, they've got a nice attack, nice D-line, and they're getting used to winning. These guys can win in the playoffs, the NFC is as open as any time in recent memory. Don't be shocked if the Rams go deep.

Bucs 27-30 Bills
More points than I would've thought either of these teams could muster but the result (even the lateness of it) is pretty much what I thought it would be. The Bucs are talented but not in sync, the Bills are in sync but only so-so talented, making them strangely on par with each other.

Jets 28-31 Dolphins
The high score is a little surprising but division games are always potentially off-kilter, so no red flags here. The Dolphins finally went to Matt Moore and they look better, don't they? The Dolphin D is still pretty solid, perhaps if they can get their offense straightened out they can still make a run. The Jets, on the other hand, seem to have gotten some things together lately, but there's still a good chance for them to undo what they've done and get back on track for that high draft pick they need so bad. Wouldn't be surprised to see the Dolphins in the playoff hunt from here on in and for NYJ to finish with a top 5 pick.

Chargers 21-0 Broncos
Well, the lopsided score is a little surprising but the result does not shock me. The Chargers have been knocking on the door all year long and have finally started to turn the corner in the last few weeks; meanwhile the Broncos are the exact opposite: overachieving early on and now seem to reverting to the norm. Division games are always unpredictable because the teams know each other so well, this game would've gone totally different in Week 1 or Week 10. But in Week 7, the Chargers are the better team and the Broncos are backsliding.

Seahawks 24-7 Giants
Giants stink. The Seahawks are still getting spotty offensive line play and that's gonna bite them eventually, but not against the Giants.

Redskins 24-34 Eagles
The Redskins defense has been pretty good this year, so far the Eagles to lay 34 on them is impressive. I can still be talked into the Redskins: the D is legit and the offense is not bad most of the time, if they can stop being their own worst enemy they can win games in the post-season. The Eagles are steadily better each week, I thought they would be but then again I never think that what I think is the way its gonna be, so I'm as shocked as anyone. In the Rodgers-less NFC, the Eagles are the best team.


Won and covered: Raiders, Bills, Bears, Saints, Jags, Rams,Vikings, Cowboys, Seahawks, Steelers, Chargers, Patriots, Eagles
Won but didn't cover: Titans
Push: Dolphins, Jets,
Lost and covered: Browns,
Lost, didn't cover: Chiefs, Bucs, Panthers, Packers, Colts, Cards, Ravens, Niners, Giants, Bengals, Broncos, Falcons, Redskins