PIGSKIN 2019: Week One

PIGSKIN

WEEK ONE
Football Sunday

WELCOME BACK and THANK YOU for making PIGSKIN one of my more popular features.  There is no PIGSKIN, nor a Brooklyn Trolley Blogger without you.  I can not express enough how appreciative and grateful I am of your time and continued interest.

Where it concerns yours truly, I'm a novice Giants fan in the mid 1970's when John McVay is still head coach.  The disciplinarian Ray Perkins follows and guides the Giants through my first NFL playoff experience.  Bill Parcells takes over the reigns in 1983, and the rest is, as they say, history.  The Giants portion of this blog is titled: DO IT FOR THE DUKE. 

I am not a Jets hater.  Rather I'm one who enjoys the mayhem that comes with so many pro teams playing within the metropolitan area.  I remember Joe Namath's last season in green and was just as dismayed as any Jets fan to see him in a Rams uniform.  Joe Klecko belongs in the Hall of Fame!  What on god's earth are they waiting for?  I also derived no joy from watching Richard Todd throw three interceptions in the 1983 AFC championship game at Miami.  That said you can read my Gang Green stuff under: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE. 

Please allow me at this moment to reiterate my appreciation for your support.

RULES of PIGSKIN

• This is a friggin hobby, okay!  I do this for fun and entertainment purposes only.  If you lose money listening to me, tell it to the Marines.
• Otherwise the PIGSKIN preferred unit of value is a good ol' Brooklyn BAGEL.  For what it's worth: everything, pumpernickel, and cinnamon/ raisin, are my favorites in that order.  Each pick is worth one Bagel; the Schmear of the Week is worth three Bagels.
• I usually post my picks Friday evening, but I have a life, therefore sometimes they get posted on Saturday ... like today!
• I most always go by Friday's line as posted in the NYP.
• I stick to Football Sunday only, unless the Giants/Jets play a Monday/Thursday game.
• PIGSKIN does not refer to Daniel Snyder's organization by its present name.

2018 in Review

Regular Season Record:  95-122-10
Schmear of the Week:  9-7
Bagels in the Basket:  -39

• In an effort to break even I "imagine" wagered one billion bagels on last years Super Bowl.  Nailed it!  You can read my most confident and correct prediction HERE !!

WARM UP

• Limits on padded workouts and practice time; not playing starters; why have exhibition games at all?

COIN FLIP

• Can Jerry Jones win a Super Bowl?

1st and TEN

• Andrew Luck's sudden retirement.  I wish him well.
• All eyes are on return to the field of Le'Veon Bell.
• Where Eagles dare.

2nd and LONG

• The NFL landscape is littered with sophomore quarterbacks.
• Why can't the Patriots win two in a row?  It's not like the AFC East is gonna get in their way.
• Do the Steelers have a comeback season in them?  Who's their number two?

NO GAIN

• Antonio Brown is suspended; Antonio Brown is not suspended.  Oh, wait.  He got released!  Who is really in charge over there, as if, and when are they moving again?
• Betcha Ezekiel Elliot gets hurt.  Just a lack of camp thing; happens all the time.
• Two teams in Los Angeles ... or just something about the Chargers.

PUNT

• Still can't get over that non-pass interference call in Saints/Rams NFC championship game.  This year's replay policy is gonna suck more than it already sucks.
• Replay, the rules, and penalty flags, all suck!
• Fantasy: Don't draft Todd Gurley.

WEEK ONE..!
Friday Line ~ NYP

COWBOYS -7 Giants
What Giants defense ...?

ICYMI:

• In Search of the Big Blue Hog Mollies
• The Post Odell Beckham Jr. Era Begins

WIN; 35-17 Cowboys

JETS -3 Bills
Gang Green's off-season has been so wacky it just might work.  They'll be prepared for their home opener, after which your guess is as good as mine.  That said I'm confident Sam Darnold is heading in the right direction.  He's definitely a step ahead of Josh Allen.  Le'Veon Bell gives the Bills something else to think about other than just sacking Sam.  His mere presence will create down field opportunities Darnold has yet to realize.
Loss; 17-16 Bills

Falcons +4 VIKINGS
Great week one match-up.  I'm expecting a strong bounce back season from Atlanta.  The Vikings are more mysterious to me.  They couldn't garner the obligatory three points at home?
Loss; 28-12 Vikings

EAGLES -10 The D.C. Team
Old RFK Stadium will be demolished in 2021; demolition of D.C.'s football team begins Sunday at Philadelphia.
Loss; 32-27 Eagles

Ravens +6 1/2 DOLPHINS
That was a nice run last season by the Ravens.  Didn't think they had it in them.  Humidity in Baltimore can get pretty bad at times; not as bad as Miami but they should be okay.  Meanwhile the Sea Mammals are in the midst of destroying their habitat.  Optimal conditions for Ravens fans to build false hope.
WIN; 59-10 Ravens

JAGUARS +3 1/2 Chiefs
There's a new sheriff in Jacksonville, and his name is Nick Foles.  But is the Jaguars defense still in full effect?  We're gonna find out.  They've had a whole Spring and Summer to study the art of defeating Pat Mahomes and the Chiefs.  Can they execute?  Nothing like an opening day upset at home.  Otherwise we're talking Andy Reid and the Chiefs.  Stay Away!
Loss; 40-26 Chiefs

Titans +5 1/2 BROWNS
This is strictly football now ... Odell Beckham is starting the season somewhat compromised.  But the the Browns are nevertheless assembling a nice team, on paper.  I just feel Marcus Mariota and the Titans bring a greater measure of experience.  After last season they better understand the importance of a good start.
WIN; 43-13 Titans

PANTHERS +2 Rams
I trust that would-be wunderkind Sean McVay is a lot smarter this season having graduated with honors from the Bill Belichick Old School Academy of Gridiron Sciences.  Then again some people never learn.  I'm taking the approach Cam is healthy and the Panthers defense is improved.  They eye of Hurricane Newton should pass over the Rams by 2:30 (EST).
Loss; 30-27 Rams

SEAHAWKS -9 1/2 Bengals
Opening at Seattle is a real crappy way for Zac Taylor to start his reign as new head coach at Cincinnati.  Bengals fans might wanna hit the catnip and watch RED ZONE this season as their team vies for worst in the league.
Loss; 21-20 Seahawks

CHARGERS -6 1/2 Colts
After a twelve win season the Bolts short circuited in the playoffs.  If they're gonna take another step forward they better take advantage of this game.  No one knows how the sudden retirement of Andrew Luck will impact the Colts.  They're not a bad team by any stretch, but it may take them a few weeks to figure things out.  Then again maybe not.  Friendly line below seven but proceed  with caution.
Loss; 30-24 Chargers

Lions -3 CARDINALS
Siding with the lesser of two scrubs.  The Lions will not win many games but this will be one of them.  It's gonna be another long season in the Arizona desert.
Loss; 27-27 TIE

BUCS -1 Niners
I do not like the west coast coming east thing.  Moreover Tampa's humidity is gonna slap the Niners right in the face.  Bucs are gonna be a tough team this season.  I'll side with their acclimation to the heat versus the dehydration of San Francisco's cross country flight.  Bucs win big!  Slap!
Loss; 31-17 Niners

PATRIOTS -5 1/2 Steelers
Much has changed since last season.  However betting against the Patriots at home is still one of the biggest mistakes you'll ever make.  They're the defending Super Bowl champions.  Meanwhile the Steelers are in transition and have a lot to prove.
WIN; 33-3 Patriots


*SCHMEAR of the WEEK
Patriots -5 1/2
WIN


Good luck, and have a happy opening week of football.

Post Game:
Week One Record: 4-9
Schmear of the Week: 1-0
Bagels in the Basket: -2