NFL - Week Eight Preview

 

The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens go at it on Sunday in Charm City with first place in the AFC North division on the line. The Steelers are 6-0 heading into this one while the Ravens (5-1) have only lost to the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs back in Week Three. 

The Steelers are the only undefeated team left in the NFL and you know the Ravens would love to put an end to that. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson hasn't been off to the awesome start like last season, but still has ten touchdown passes to just two interceptions and has averaged just under seven yards per carry while leading his team in rushing.  

Both teams have played excellent defense through the first six games, so look for a lower scoring game unless both teams' offenses overwhelm in this game. The Steelers have averaged 30 points per game while giving up just under 20 points per game. The Ravens average 29.8 points a game and allow 17.3 points per game. Whichever team makes the big plays in the clutch and protects the football will determine the winner of this game. 

The Las Vegas Raiders (3-3) play in Cleveland this Sunday against the Browns (5-2), who are coming off an exciting win on the road at Cincinnati. In that game, QB Baker Mayfield had five touchdown passes and the team pulled out a last second win. Meanwhile, the Raiders got spanked at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 45-20 in what could be called a fourth quarter collapse, getting outscored by a 21-0 count. Once again, whichever team has fewer turnovers should get the win here in a tight game. 

The late window has two games featuring playoff contenders with the New Orleans Saints (4-2) playing at the Chicago Bears (5-2) in what is expected to be a very windy day with gusts expected to exceed 40 miles per hour, so that should be a definite factor in this one. The Saints rely on QB Drew Brees and the passing game and all purpose back Alvin Kamara, who has already scored seven touchdowns. The Bears rely on a tough defense as their offense has struggled so far with virtually no running game. 

The San Francisco 49ers (4-3) face the Seattle Seahawks (5-1) at Century Link Field in Seattle in what should be another nail biter that comes down to the final possession. The 'Niners have played well in the past two weeks following a stinker loss against Miami in Week Five. The Seahawks suffered their first loss this season in Arizona last Sunday night, 37-34 in overtime with QB Russell Wilson throwing three interceptions, including one in OT that gave the Cardinals the ball back for the game winning kick. 

 

The rest of the action for Week Eight is previewed in the capsule style format with the Heftyinfo picks following. 

 New England (2-4) at Buffalo (5-2) - There are some "experts" saying this game will be close . . . maybe, maybe not. Take the Bills at home in this one. 

Tennessee (5-1) at Cincinnati (1-5-1) - Both teams are coming off tough losses at home, so look for a thriller in this game. 

Las Vegas (3-3) at Cleveland (5-2) - The Raiders and the Browns playing in a meaningful game in Cleveland? That's the NFL in 2020. 

Indianapolis (4-2) at Detroit (3-3) - The Lions have been getting some breaks lately, but the Colts play real good defense and that will be the difference in this game. 

Minnesota (1-5) at Green Bay (5-1) - Packers roll again. 

N.Y. Jets (0-7) at Kansas City (6-1) - Chiefs have no excuses to not win by at least 20 points or more in this game. 

L.A. Rams (5-2) at Miami (3-3) - It's Tua time in Miami. Only problem is he is facing a solid defense with a great pass rush with the Rams. 

Pittsburgh (6-0) at Baltimore (5-1) - The NFL game of the week for sure. Ravens pull it out in a close game, perhaps in overtime. 

L.A. Chargers (2-4) at Denver (2-4) - The loser of this game will definitely be in a hole as far as playoff hopes are concerned.  Toss up. 

New Orleans (4-2) at Chicago (5-2) - The Saints blew the Bears out last season at Soldier Field, but this game will likely be much closer. 

San Francisco (4-3) at Seattle (5-1) - Cannot see Seahawks QB Russell Wilson struggling for a second consecutive game, so take the 'Hawks in a close one as the 49ers defense keeps them in it.

Dallas (2-5) at Philadelphia (2-4-1) - The Sunday night game featuring two teams with losing records in the battle for first place in the NFC East division. Eagles get the nod. 

Tampa Bay (5-2) at N.Y. Giants (1-6) - Monday Night Football with Tom Brady and the Bucs rolling over the hapless Giants. 

The Heftyinfo predictions for Week Eight  . . . . . . .   (Home teams are listed in bold; Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS)

 

Atlanta over Carolina 

Buffalo over New England 

Tennessee over Cincinnati 

Las Vegas over Cleveland 

Indianapolis over Detroit 

Green Bay over Minnesota 

KANSAS CITY over N.Y. Jets 

L.A. Rams over Miami 

Baltimore over Pittsburgh 

L.A. Chargers over Denver 

New Orleans over Chicago 

Seattle over San Francisco 

Philadelphia over Dallas 

Tampa Bay over N.Y. Giants

Last Week's Record -  11-3 

SEASON RECORD -  71-33-1

Lock of the Week Record -  5-2 

 

 

 

 

Joe Biden Is The Obvious Choice For President

After the last four years of insanity known as the Trump Administration in the United States of America, former Vice President and U.S. Senator Joe Biden is the one for the job for President of the United States of America. 

Dodgers Win World Series

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, 3-1 to win  the 2020 World Series in six games. 

See you next spring baseball fans.         

Be Angry Now, But Vote The Bums Out

We all saw this coming when U.S. Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg passed away on Friday, September 18th. 

The Republican majority led U.S. Senate rammed through Trump's candidate (Amy Coney Barrett) to the United States Supreme Court on Monday evening, just a week away from the 2020 elections.

The hypocrite known as the Senate majority leader is named Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and he has betrayed the citizens of the U.S.A. with his shit show for the past six years when the republicans gained control in that congressional mid-term election. We know the history of republicans these past six years with stopping former president Barack Obama's judicial nominees at all levels, including the SCOTUS in 2016 with the denial of even a hearing for Merrick Garland.

Trump has been a disaster as president and he continues to be until he is blown out of the water in the election next week. There is also the likelihood the U.S. Senate is going back to the control of the Democratic party (as the U.S. House already is) so it will be a double majority - but only if the people of this country get out and vote. 

Elections have consequences the republicans like to say when they are in charge, but when it's the other way around, they cry and whine like babies. 

Vote, vote, vote. 

The thing about the republicans is they always over reach and it always comes back to bite them in the ass. This time will be no different. We are angry and rightfully so, but just get up, get out and vote, if you haven't already done so.  

Vote -  win the elections  - and then make the changes to get it back to a democracy. 

The 2018 elections were a shot across the bow, now it's time to finish the job and get the U.S. Senate back in Democratic control and take back the presidency. America, make it be like the 2006 and 2008 elections once again. 

Be angry now, but vote the bums out. 

 

NFL - Week Seven Review

And then there was one. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers (6-0) are the lone unbeaten team in the NFL after winning on the road, 27-24 against the Tennessee Titans (which was also unbeaten going into the game) while the Seattle Seahawks (5-1) lost their first game this season on Sunday night in Arizona. The host Cardinals defeated Seattle, 37-34 in overtime. 

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (pictured right) was intercepted three times, but also had two touchdown passes as they built up a 27-7 lead early in the second half. The Titans (5-1) battled back behind two TD passes from QB Ryan Tannehill and a scoring run by running back Derrick Henry. After getting the third pick of the game off Big Ben, the Titans drove downfield in the closing minute, but kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed the 45-yard field goal try to end the game.

 

On Sunday night, the Arizona Cardinals (5-2) beat Seattle, 37-34 in OT when kicker Zane Gonzalez (who had earlier missed from 41 yards in the OT) made a 48-yard kick to win it with 20 seconds remaining. The Cards overcame a 13-point deficit thanks in part to QB Kyler Murray, who had three TD passes and one rushing touchdown in the win. Arizona tied the game at 34-34 to force the OT session when Gonzalez drilled a 44-yard field goal. Seahawks QB Russell Wilson also threw for three scores, but was intercepted three times as well. All three of the TD passes went to wide receiver Tyler Lockett, who also had 15 receptions for 200 yards. The two teams combined for 1,091 yards in total offense.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers throttled the host Las Vegas Raiders, 45-20 to improve to 5-2 as QB Tom Brady had four touchdown passes to go along with 369 passing yards. The Raiders (3-3) trailed by just 24-20, but the Bucs scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to coast to the win. 

Green Bay improved to 5-1 with a 35-20 pasting of the Houston Texans (1-6) as QB Aaron Rodgers had four TD passes. The Packers jumped out to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter and made it a 21-0 halftime advantage when Rodgers hooked up with WR Malik Taylor for his third scoring pass in the first half. The second half was all cruise control as the Packers got the road win. 

The Kansas City Chiefs (6-1) won on the road in snowy Denver, 43-16 on Sunday afternoon with a complete game, scoring in all facets of the game. The defense scored on a 50-yard "pick six" interception by safety Daniel Sorenson and also had a 102-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Byron Pringle. Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire added a scoring run and QB Patrick Mahomes had a TD pass to pace the rout. The Broncos (2-4) out gained the Chiefs in total yardage, but turned the ball over four times in the loss. 

The Cleveland Browns (5-2) bounced back this week for a 37-34 road win at Cincinnati as QB Baker Mayfield had five TD passes, including the game winning 24-yard pass to rookie WR Donovan Peoples-Jones with only eleven seconds remaining in the game. It was a back and forth affair in the final quarter with five lead changes as Bengals QB Joe Burrow had 406 passing yards and three TD strikes in the loss, which dropped the Bengals to a 1-5-1 record. It was also reported just Monday morning that Browns star wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. is out for the season with a knee injury suffered during the game.

 

                                                   Elsewhere Around the NFL   . . . . . . . . .   

 

The Philadelphia Eagles (2-4-1) won a last second thriller against the visiting New York Giants, 22-21 on Thursday night to gain sole possession of first place in the NFC East division. Eagles QB Carson Wentz threw his second TD pass of the game to RB Boston Scott for the game winner . . .  The Los Angeles Chargers (2-4) outlasted the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars, 39-29 to snap a four-game losing streak as QB Justin Herbert had three scoring passes along with 347 passing yards and also had a TD run to lead the way . . .  The Washington football team (2-5) toppled the Dallas Cowboys, 25-3 for a home win to snap a five-game losing streak. The Cowboys (2-5) managed a meager 142 total yards of offense while Washington used a balanced attack to get the easy win . . .  The Buffalo Bills (5-2) got six field goals by rookie kicker Tyler Bass to win on the road, 18-10 against the New York Jets (0-7), which managed just 190 yards in total offense . . .  The New Orleans Saints (4-2) won their third straight game, 27-24 against the visiting Carolina Panthers (3-4) behind a pair of TD passes and a rushing touchdown by QB Drew Brees. Saints kicker Will Lutz made two field goals in the second half to help make the difference. Panthers QB Teddy Bridgewater had two TD passes in defeat . . .  The San Francisco 49ers (4-3) crushed the host New England Patriots, 33-6 as RB Jeff Wilson scored three times on the ground while rushing for 112 yards to lead the offense. The 'Niners defense had four interceptions in the rout, which dropped the Patriots to 2-4 for the season . . .  The Detroit Lions (3-3) got an 11-yard touchdown pass from QB Matthew Stafford to tight end T.J. Hockenson on the final play for a 23-22 road win against the Atlanta Falcons (1-6) in a strange game. Trailing 16-14 and with no timeouts left for Detroit, the Falcons were looking to run down the clock for an easy field goal attempt in the final minute, but RB Todd Gurley scored his second touchdown of the game instead of falling down short of the goal line, which left enough time for the Lions to drive downfield for the winning score . . . The Los Angeles Rams (5-2) dominated the Chicago Bears, 24-10 on Monday Night Football. Rams QB Jared Goff had two TD passes and the Rams defense intercepted Bears QB Nick Foles twice and registered four sacks as the Bears dropped to 5-2 with the loss.

 

Week Seven Results 

Philadelphia 22, N.Y. Giants 21

New Orleans 27, Carolina 24

Pittsburgh 27, Tennessee 24

Detroit 23, Atlanta 22

Cleveland 37, Cincinnati 34

Washington 25, Dallas 3

Buffalo 18, N.Y. Jets 10 

Green Bay 35, Houston 20

San Francisco 33, New England 6

Tampa Bay 45, Las Vegas 20 

Kansas City 43, Denver 16

L.A. Chargers 39, Jacksonville 29  

Arizona 37, Seattle 34 (OT)

L.A. Rams 24, Chicago 10

 

 

 

 

 

NFL - Week Seven Preview

After a three week delay the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans will finally play their game in Nashville this Sunday. Both teams are 5-0 and the Steelers have been dominating opponents with a stingy defense and balanced offense. Meanwhile, the Titans have been battering opposing defenses with All-Pro running back Derrick Henry and the timely passing from quarterback Ryan Tannehill to an array of wide receivers. 

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage on across the United States of America and the Titans have been the hardest hit team in the NFL regarding outbreaks. They have fought hard and lead the AFC South division by two games over the Indianapolis Colts (4-2) while the Steelers hold a slim edge over the Baltimore Ravens (5-1) in the rugged AFC North division. 

Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger (eleven touchdown passes, one interception) has been stellar in his return from elbow surgery and the offense has been balanced while averaging 31.2 points per game. Their defense has been allowing just 18.8 PPG so far this season and their run defense is second in the NFL, allowing just 66 yards per game. The Titans have been putting up 32.8 PPG with a running game that averages 158 yards per game. The Tennessee defense has allowed 126 points this season (25.2 PPG) while also giving up big chunks of yardage on the ground and through the air, although they do have six interceptions. 

Other games that look to be intriguing include the Seattle Seahawks- Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay- Las Vegas and the game between the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams in L.A. on Monday night. 

The Seahawks (5-0) lead the NFC West but the Cardinals (4-2) have been surprisingly good this season and are coming off a 38-10 dismantling of the Dallas Cowboys last Monday night. The game between these two teams was moved into the "prime time" Sunday night slot because the Tampa Bay at Las Vegas game was moved up to Sunday afternoon as a result of the Raiders team having an outbreak of COVID-19 cases. The entire starting offensive line for the Raiders either tested positive for the virus or had close contact with others who were positive. 

Seattle quarterback and MVP candidate Russell Wilson have been the "cardiac kids" this season with thrilling last minute victories happening three times already. Meanwhile, Arizona and QB Kyler Murray have been lighting it up as well with their offensive attack. No doubt, this game should go down to the wire.

The Buccaneers and Raiders will go at it in Sin City and this should be another game that could be decided in the final minutes. The Bucs (4-2) appear to be coming together on offense with Tom Brady leading the way while their defense shut down Green Bay last weekend and leads the NFL against the run, allowing a meager 64 yards per game. The Raiders (3-2) stunned the Kansas City Chiefs two weeks ago on the road and are coming off their bye week. The offense has been steady and QB Derek Carr has a 73 percent completion rate and has eleven TD passes with just one interception. 

The Bears (5-1) and Rams (4-2) will wrap things up for Week Seven on Monday Night Football. The Bears defense has been rounding into form and QB Nick Foles has done just enough with the offense to keep the team on the winning end of things. Los Angeles is still trying to prove their record is no fluke after dropping a 24-16 decision last weekend in San Francisco. The Rams wins came against the four NFC East teams. The NFC East is by far the worst division in pro football, so they have to prove they can beat a formidable foe and the Bears defense will provide the stiffest of challenges.

The rest of the games for Week Seven are featured in the capsule style format and the Heftyinfo predictions follow up. 

 

Detroit (2-3) at Atlanta (1-5) - Two stinker teams go at it in this one. Which one will find a way to blow the game? 

Cleveland (4-2) at Cincinnati (1-4-1) - The battle of Ohio. Is it really worth fighting for? 

Green Bay (4-1) at Houston (1-5) - The Packers laid an egg last week while the Texans finally got a win after firing head coach Bill O' Brien. Toss up. 

Carolina (3-3) at New Orleans (3-2) - The Panthers have been on a magic carpet ride without star player Christian McCaffrey so far this season, but the Saints should send them crashing back to reality in this game. 

Buffalo (4-2) at N.Y. Jets (0-6) - Will the Bills lose their third consecutive game?  Not against this hapless Jets team. 

Dallas (2-4) at Washington (1-5) - The Cowboys are reeling and their defense is the worst in the NFL. The Washington team is looking to snap a five-game losing streak. 

Kansas City (5-1) at Denver (2-3) - The Chiefs have had problems with Denver in recent years, so this will be no easy task for them. 

San Francisco (3-3) at New England (2-3) - Two teams that need a victory in the worst way. This game should go down to the wire. 

Jacksonville (1-5) at L.A. Chargers (1-4) - The Chargers have been banged up on both sides of the ball, but they are due for a big win after losing four games by a combined total of just 18 points. The Jaguars are just a bad team. 

 

The Heftyinfo picks for Week Seven  . . . . . . .   (Home teams are listed in bold; Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS)  

Philadelphia over N.Y. Giants 

Atlanta over Detroit 

Cleveland over Cincinnati 

Green Bay over Houston 

New Orleans over Carolina 

Buffalo over N.Y. Jets 

Dallas over Washington 

Pittsburgh over Tennessee 

Tampa Bay over Las Vegas

Kansas City over Denver 

San Francisco over New England 

L.A. CHARGERS over Jacksonville

Arizona over Seattle 

Chicago over L.A. Rams 

Last Week's Record -  10-4 

SEASON RECORD -  60-30-1 

Lock of the Week Record -  4-2 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NFL - Week Six Review

 

The Tampa Bay defense dominated Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in big win

The big showdown between quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady turned out to be a big dud.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2) routed the Green Bay Packers, 38-10 handing the Packers (4-1) their first loss this season as Brady had two touchdown passes and the Bucs defense intercepted Rodgers twice, including a "pick six" that got them back into the game after falling behind 10-0 in the second quarter. The Tampa Bay defense also had five quarterback sacks and limited the Packers to just 201 yards in total offense. Bucs running back Ronald Jones rushed for 113 yards and scored twice to help pace the rout. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers (5-0) flexed their muscles and crushed the visiting Cleveland Browns, 38-7 as their defense dominated the game, sacking Cleveland QB Baker Mayfield four times, intercepting two passes (including a pick six) and limited the Browns (4-2) to 220 yards in total offense. The Steelers used a balanced offense to get the easy win and maintain first place in the AFC North. 

The Baltimore Ravens held off the host Philadelphia Eagles, 30-28 to improve to 5-1 behind a balanced offense (182 rushing, 173 passing) and a TD pass and run from QB Lamar Jackson. The Eagles fell to 1-4-1 even though they roared back from a 18-point fourth quarter deficit as QB Carson Wentz passed for two scores and rushed for another. The two-point conversion worked on two of the touchdowns but fell short to tie the game with just under two minutes remaining. 

The most exciting game of the day was in Tennessee where the Titans (5-0) beat the visiting Houston Texans, 42-36 in overtime. Titans running back Derrick Henry had a monster game, rushing for 212 yards and scoring two touchdowns, including the game winner in OT on a five-yard run. His other score was a 94-yard romp. Tennessee QB Ryan Tannehill had four TD passes to go with 364 passing yards as the Titans racked up 601 total yards in offense. Houston (1-5) held a seven-point lead when QB Deshaun Watson threw his fourth TD pass of the game with just 1:50 remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Texans defense couldn't hold as Tannehill connected with wide receiver A.J. Brown for a seven-yard touchdown with just four seconds left. 

The Kansas City Chiefs (5-1) went into Buffalo on Monday and beat the Bills, 26-17 as quarterback Patrick Mahomes had two scoring passes to tight end Travis Kelce and running back Darrel Williams scored a rushing touchdown while rookie RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushed for 161 yards to pace the offense. The Bills (4-2) dropped their second straight game as the Chiefs outgained them by 466-206 in total offense. 

 

 

                                                         Elsewhere Around the NFL  . . . . . . .     

 

The Chicago Bears (5-1) won at Carolina, 23-16 as their defense forced three turnovers and had four sacks to lead the way and snapped the Panthers (3-3) three-game win streak. Bears QB Nick Foles had a scoring run and a passing TD while Cairo Santos kicked three field goals to help make the difference . . .  The Indianapolis Colts (4-2) overcame an early 21-point deficit to defeat the visiting Cincinnati Bengals, 31-27 as QB Philip Rivers had three TD passes and 371 yards through the air . . .  The Detroit Lions (2-3) blasted the host Jacksonville Jaguars, 34-16 sending the Jags (1-5) to their fifth straight defeat. Lions RB D'Andre Swift rushed for two scores and gained 116 yards to pace the win . . .  The Miami Dolphins blanked the hapless New York Jets (0-6) in a 24-0 win to even their own record at 3-3 behind three TD passes from QB Ryan Fitzpatrick . . .  The Atlanta Falcons (1-5) won their first game of the season, 40-23 in Minnesota behind four TD passes (along with 371 passing yards) from QB Matt Ryan. The Vikings (1-5) managed just 32 rushing yards in the loss and QB Kirk Cousins was intercepted three times . . .   The New York Giants (1-5) also won their first game this season, 20-19 against the Washington football team (1-5) with linebacker Tae Crowder scoring on a 43-yard fumble return and their defense stopping Washington on a two-point conversion attempt with 36 seconds remaining in regulation time . . .  The Denver Broncos (2-3) surprised the host New England Patriots, 18-12 behind six field goals by kicker Brandon McManus (including two of them from beyond 50 yards) and a defensive effort that had four sacks and three turnovers. Cam Newton scored a rushing touchdown in his return as starting QB, but also threw two interceptions for the Patriots (2-3) after missing a game due to the being on the COVID-19 IR list . . .  In the Sunday night game the San Francisco 49ers (3-3) snapped a two-game losing streak with a 24-16 home win against the Los Angeles Rams (4-2) with QB Jimmy Garoppolo throwing for three touchdowns and 268 yards while leading a balanced offense that controlled the football for nearly 38 minutes. Rams QB Jared Goff had two scoring passes in defeat . . .  In the Monday night game, it was all Arizona Cardinals (4-2) as they routed the host Dallas Cowboys, 38-10 behind two TD passes and a scoring run by QB Kyler Murray. One of the scoring passes was an 80-yard strike to WR Christian Kirk, who had both TD throws from Murray in the win. Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake scored two rushing touchdowns (including a 69-yard run in the final two minutes of the game) and went for 164 yards while Murray added another 74 yards to the ground attack. Dallas turned the ball over four times (two fumbles, two INT) as they slipped to 2-4 this season.

 

Week Six Results 

Chicago 23, Carolina 16

Pittsburgh 38, Cleveland 7

Baltimore 30, Philadelphia 28

N.Y. Giants 20, Washington 19

Indianapolis 31, Cincinnati 27

Atlanta 40, Minnesota 23

Denver 18, New England 12

Tennessee 42, Houston 36 (OT)

Detroit 34, Jacksonville 16

Miami 24, N.Y. Jets 0 

Tampa Bay 38, Green Bay 10 

San Francisco 24, L.A. Rams 16 

Kansas City 26, Buffalo 17 

Arizona 38, Dallas 10