The Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots are currently squaring off (where did that come from, anyway, ‘squaring off?’) in Frankfurt, Germany, as this is being written, but there is obviously a full day of football coming.
One game, of course, is already in the books: Chicago edged Carolina in the Draft Pick Bowl, 16-13, on Thursday night.
Here’s the schedule, along with a preview of each game, and then see (if you’d like – I’m not sure anybody wants to, after the day I personally had with my college picks yesterday) our TFB staff picks after the schedule.
The times listed here are Central Standard time.
Houston at Cincinnati, noon, CBS (Spotlight will shine on quarterbacks Joe Burrow and C.J. Stroud as Bengals and Texans meet )
New Orleans at Minnesota, noon, FOX (Dobbs’ Vikings debut was a winner. What can the ‘passtronaut’ do for an encore vs. the Saints? )
Green Bay at Pittsburgh, noon, CBS (Kenny Pickett is eyeing consistency as Steelers’ homestand ends with a visit from Packers)
Tennessee at Tampa Bay, noon, CBS (Struggling Buccaneers, Titans searching for answers to salvage frustrating seasons)
San Francisco at Jacksonville, noon, FOX (Streaking Jaguars try to project how edge rusher Chase Young will fit in with skidding 49ers)
Cleveland at Baltimore, noon, FOX (This time, the Browns and Ravens should have both Watson and Jackson healthy when they meet)
Atlanta at Arizona, 3:05 p.m., CBS (Cardinals QB Kyler Murray expected to return vs. Falcons after being sidelined 11 months)
Detroit at Los Angeles Chargers, 3:05 p.m., CBS (Chargers continue to struggle on offense as they prepare to face Lions)
New York Giants at Dallas, 3:25 p.m., FOX (Cowboys have won 11 straight at home. They’ll again host a New York team coming off a QB injury)
Washington at Seattle, 3:25 p.m., FOX (Seahawks try to rebound from a humbling loss when they host Commanders in a key NFC matchup)
New York Jets at Las Vegas, 7:20 p.m., NBC (Jets, Raiders look to regain momentum in prime-time matchup on Sunday night)
Monday’s game: Denver at Buffalo, 7:15 p.m., ABC (Slumping Bills seek a spark as they prepare to host the rested Broncos)
Staff picks
So, we’re all doing MUCH, much better with our picks in the college games, total, than we are in the NFL games – like, we’ve all hit the over-100 win total over there.
Here on the NFL side… well, not so much. The upset bug has bitten us a lot, and the “unexpected crappy team” bug has bitten us, too. Injuries, as always, have played a part. But let’s not make excuses. Let’s man up, and get to the week, because we pick every single game. Here we go.
Making our TFB picks are myself, my lovely wife and correspondent Jenna Lucas, our photographer Alex Nabor, correspondents Shelby Thompson Molandes and Mitchell Molandes, my son and videographer Jacob Lucas, associate editor Clayton Fletcher, and my college-student daughter, Ashtyn Lucas, whom, by the way, leads the standings with an 86-50 record.
Fletch is in second at 84-52. Then it’s Alex (82-54), myself (80-56), Jacob (78-58), Mitchell (77-59), Shelby (76-60), and finally, Jenna (75-61).
Houston at Cincinnati: Houston coach Demeco Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud have done an outstanding job so far, and I’m not saying the Texans have been swimming in the kiddie pool, but this is a bit deeper water today. The pick: Cincinnati, unanimously (8-0).
New Orleans at Minnesota: I cannot imagine the Vikings doing all that well after quarterback Kirk Cousins, who had the second-highest passing yards so far this season, is now lost for the year with a torn Achilles. But Josh Dobbs has done a nice job so far in Arizona. Maybe he’ll keep them above water. If they win today, they’re 6-4. The pick: Minnesota, 6-2, with Fletcher and myself being the two. That worries me.
Green Bay at Pittsburgh: Green Bay has had issues for a few weeks. The staff believes they’ll continue. The pick: Pittsburgh, unanimously (8-0).
Tennessee at Tampa Bay: Will Levis has been named the starter at quarterback for the Titans, who might be moving to the future. The future for Tampa? Not as clear. Is it Baker Mayfield? Nobody’s certain. But they’ve lost a few close games, like games that came right down to the wire. They scored last week with 40 seconds left, then lost to the Texans, anyway. The pick today; 5-3, in favor of the Bucs (Ashtyn, Shelby and Fletch picked the Titans).
San Francisco at Jacksonville: The 49ers started the season hotter than any team in the league, except maybe the Eagles, or maybe even including the Eagles. But they’ve lost three straight. They’re so unlucky that, the week they had their open date (last week), the Jaguars, today’s opponent, also had THEIR bye week. And the Jags have won six straight! The pick: I like the 49ers, and so do five others. Jenna and Shelby took Jacksonville, but the pick is SF, 6-2.
Cleveland at Baltimore: Well, here’s the Fight Night edition of today’s games. The pick: Baltimore, across the board (8-0).
Atlanta at Arizona: Kyler Murray is back for the Cardinals, and while I’m sure he’ll be rusty, I feel like the team will play for him today to get that first win in his return. The pick: I took the Cardinals, but not many others were convinced. Jacob was the only one, in fact. The pick is 6-2, in favor of Atlanta.
Detroit at L.A. Chargers: I respect the Lions, I do, but I’m not 100 percent convinced they travel well. I think they caught the Chiefs off guard in that opening week. Let’s see it travel. I took the Chargers. Again, Fletch chose them with me. The pick: 6-2 Detroit.
New York Giants at Dallas: Fletch took the Giants. I think he’s also gonna take that big ‘L.’ The pick: 7-1 Dallas.
Washington at Seattle: We have one believer in the Commanders, ladies in gentlemen, and his name is Mitchell Molandes. Everyone else, sit down! No, kidding. The pick: Seattle, 7-1.
New York Jets at Las Vegas: Could the Jets actually get quarterback Aaron Rodgers, 39, who tore his Achilles on the fourth play of the season, back this same season? No way! Rumors say he might! But not today. Hey, I like the Jets, and they are gutty. In this game, though, I took the Raiders. And I have no idea why, just a gut feeling. The pick: 5-3 Jets, with myself, Jenna and Alex taking Las Vegas.
Denver at Buffalo: The Bills have been a bit of a disappointment so far: nine games played, five games won, four games lost. That is not the mark of a dominant team, not even the mark of a very, very good team. And quarterback Josh Allen, to many, is the best, or second best, quarterback in the league. He hasn’t played like it. That’s a challenge, Josh. The pick: Buffalo, in a unanimous landslide (8-0).
