PIGSKIN 2019: Week Three

PIGSKIN

FOOTBALL SUNDAY

Week Three

RESULTS

Week One

Week Two

SCOREBOARD
Week Two Record:  10-5
Overall Record:  14-14
Schmear of the Week:  1-1
Bagels in the Basket:  flat

Familiarize yourself with how PIGSKIN works - HERE

1st and Ten

• Antonio Brown remains the NFL's lead story for a third straight week.  Happy 100th anniversary.
• Look what NFL officiating did to the New Orleans Saints, again!
• Oh yeah, Drew Brees out six weeks or more; thumb surgery.
• Odell torches Gregg Williams Jets in front of a national audience on Monday night.
• Big Ben out for season; elbow surgery.
• Drew Brees out at least six weeks; thumb surgery.

2nd and Long

• No excuse for Antonio Brown playing in week two.  There already existed ample available information to prevent him from stepping onto the field.  This is a league atrocity matter that  should have never been left in New England's hands.
• Buffalo Bills - New York State's only real team - win back to back games against teams from New Jersey.
• Atlanta Falcons redeem themselves in week two.
• Ron Rivera is losing it; his team keeps losing games; senses job may be in jeopardy; ya think?

No Gain

• Patriots pick up Antonio Brown and release him just over a week later; BTW thanks for the touchdown.  There's no accountability on behalf of New England.  They get to walk away from situation without having to answer for Bill Belichick themselves.
• Jets are spiraling out of control down to their third string quarterback; Giants turning to their new first string.
• Cam Newton is either really hurt, done as a viable QB, or just out of his damn mind, or maybe all three, sometimes at the same time.
• Titans take huge step backwards against Jags on Thursday.
• Contract negotiations between Jerry Jones and Dak Prescott
• Taco Charlton cut by Dallas!  What now?

PUNT!

• Antonio Brown text messages are where the NFL draws the line.  Everything else is copacetic.
• Miami Dolphins 102 points allowed in two weeks.
• Giants pull the rug from under Eli Manning's feet after completely ruining second half of his career.

WEEK THREE
Friday LINE NYDN

PATRIOTS -22 1/2 Jets
The Jets defense clearly likes playing for coordinator Gregg Williams.  Last week's 23-3 final score overshadows an otherwise aggressively Green effort (sans Odell Beckham).  Everyone knows if teams generate QB pressure up the middle, Brady's game takes a big hit.  Moreover New England enters the game with two compromised offensive linemen.  Adam Gase's best bet would be to let Jamal Adams play as angry as he wants to be.  However, with or without C.J. Mosley, the Jets defense will ultimately tire.  The Jets enter week three against the New England Patriots with third string quarterback Luke Falk.  I can't envision Gase conjuring a plan that would ensure ball possession for the requisite 38:00 minutes it will take to keep Brady and company off the field.  Props to Le'Veon Bell for carrying the offense after back-up quarterback Trevor Siemian leaves last week's game with a broken foot.  Adam Gase on the other hand is leaving much to be desired.  I wonder where Christopher Johnson's profound respect for his wonder coach now stands after watching his team lose its first two games of the season via a second half collapse against the Bills, and an offensively ponderous sixty minute effort against the Browns.  The Patriots have limited their first two opponents to just three total points while scoring 76 points for themselves.  Good luck with that.
Loss; 30-14 Patriots

BUCS -6 1/2 Giants

• Big Blue Brass Pull Plug on Eli Manning's Swan Song
• Coach Shurmur Fails to Pay the Bills

This has less to do with Daniel Jones' starting debut and everything to do with the Giants defense.  Jameis Winston doesn't necessarily profile as a hall of fame quarterback but even he should be able to shred the Giants novice secondary.  Until Bad Blue is able to cover receivers in excess of "ten seconds" they have no real chance of winning.  Now ... if the Giants finally decide to go smash mouth with Saquon Barkley and the Hog Mollies, the complexion of this game changes.
Loss; 32-31 Giants

PACKERS -7 1/2 Broncos
Ehhh ... Broncos lose a close game at home against the Bears, then lose by eight points at Oakland.  That screams inconsistency.  Despite Aaron Rogers continued sniveling the Packers win their first two games predicated on defense.  This week will be no different, although I'm not too comfy with this spread.
WIN; 27-16 Packers

EAGLES -6 1/2 Lions
Not sure what to make of the Lions yet.  But the Eagles are certainly worth a gamble playing at home, laying less than a touchdown.
Loss; 27-24 Lions

CHIEFS -6 1/2 Ravens
This spread is an anomaly.  If the Ravens were home I just might have taken the bait.  Baltimore is coming off parity wins over the on-strike Miami Sea Mammals and the Cardinals.  Meanwhile Chiefs are playing like they haven't skipped a beat.  They'll give up points, but lay the points at home anyway.
Loss; 33-28 Chiefs

BILLS -6 Bengals
Enjoy yourselves, Buffalo, you're about to start the season with a 3-0 record.  Just don't burn anything down.
Loss; 21-17 Bills

Falcons +1 1/2 COLTS
Both teams coming off big wins in week two.  I'm going with the more polished Matt Ryan and the Falcons over the Colts, their second string quarterback Jacoby Brissett, and their banged up defense.
Loss; 27-24 Colts

Raiders +8 VIKINGS
Two teams I still cant figure out.  Eight points is a nice cushion, though.
Loss; 34-14 Vikings

COWBOYS -21 1/2 Dolphins
I got Patriots/Dolphins wrong, so naturally this week I'm going the other way.  Why not ... everyone else is.  The Miami Sea Mammals have decided to tank the season and rather just sun bathe along Collins Avenue.  Josh Rosen starting at Big Dallas spells h-u-g-e-t-r-o-u-b-l-e.
WIN; 31-6 Cowboys

CARDINALS +4 1/2 Panthers
One failed goal line stand and everyone is souring on the Panthers.  Count me in.  Panthers rushed the ball just 17 times for a mere 39 yards last week against Tampa in a game that was never out of control, so to say.  Meanwhile the Bucs scored touchdowns via both air and ground.  Crazy Cam (Newton) is out this week, and perhaps for another week to come.  Cardinals put up 17 points in week one versus Jacksonville and last week tied Detroit with 27 points.  Larry Fitzgerald and the Cards will find a way towards their first win.
Loss; 38-20 Panthers

SEAHAWKS -3 Saints
We're gonna find out what the Saints can do without Drew Brees.  Even though the Seahawks have been winning by the hair of their chinny-chin-chins, traveling Teddy Bridgewater versus the Seattle crowd is a tough assignment.
Loss; 33-27 Saints

Texans +3 CHARGERS
Neither team jumps out at me.  Vegas doesn't seem too impressed either.  Chargers yielded four sacks last week.  I'm hoping JJ Watt can get a hold of Philip Rivers, early, often, and late.  Houston split very close games against the Saints and Jags.  Chargers week one loss to Detroit is my seed of doubt.
WIN; 27-20 Texans

49ERS -6 1/2 Steelers
Steelers have more problems than a math book.  At last check, Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Le'Veon Bell never played a down on defense.  Steelers have allowed 61 points through two games.  Were it not for the snoozing Sea Mammals they'd be last in the AFC in point diff.  Let's see what they can do in the absence of Big Ben, or not.
Loss; 24-20 Niners

Rams -3 BROWNS
Vegas showing no respect for the Browns at home.  Nor should they.  Their secondary is shot after Monday night's game.  Jared Goff is not Trevor Seimian and the Rams are just a tad bit better than the Jets.
WIN; 20-13 Rams


Schmear of the Week (1-1)
Falcons +1 1/2
LOSS


Good luck, and have a great Football Sunday, everyone.

Post Game:
Week Three Record: 4-10
Overall Record:  18-24
Schmear of the Week: 1-2
Bagels in the Basket: -9