PIGSKIN 2020: WEEK ONE

PIGSKIN

FOOTBALL SUNDAY

Week One

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 for your time and continued interest.

The Giants department of my blog: DO IT FOR THE DUKE.  Just so you know, I am a blue bleeding Giants fan.  I was a novice in the mid 1970's when John McVay still roamed the sideline.  The disciplinarian Ray Perkins followed and guided the Giants through my first playoff experience.  Bill Parcells takes over the reigns in 1983, and the rest is history.

The Jets department of my blog: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE.  I am not a Jets hater.  If you follow me you'll concur.  I just call it like I see it.  I'm one who enjoys the mayhem that comes with having so many pro teams playing within our 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 is Canton waiting for?  I also derived no joy from watching Richard Todd throw three interceptions in the 1983 AFC championship game at Miami - the game that got Walt Michaels unfairly fired.

Please allow me 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.  PIGSKIN is not DraftKings.  If you lose money following PIGSKIN advice, tell it to the Marines.
• Otherwise the PIGSKIN preferred unit of value is a good old Brooklyn deli BAGEL.  For what it's worth, my favorites are everything, pumpernickel and cinnamon raisin, in that order.  Each PIGSKIN pick is worth one Bagel; the Schmear of the Week is worth three Bagels.
• I usually post PIGSKIN picks by Friday evening.  But I have a real life, therefore sometimes my picks get posted on Saturday ... like today.  In fact, I may do more Saturday this season.
• regardless of posting day, PIGSKIN uses the NFL line from Friday's edition of the NYP/NYDN.
• PIGSKIN only cares about Football Sunday.  Exceptions are Thanksgiving Day and if the GIANTS/JETS play on Monday/Thursday, as is the case Monday night when the NYG take on PITT.
• PIGSKIN for several years has openly protested the Washington D.C. Football Club and sees no reason to stop now.
• PIGSKIN is cool.  Tell your friends.

Warm-Up

• COVID: The year 2020 offers no quarter.  Football will find out it's no different.  I bid health and a little luck this season to everyone.
• How the hell did the NFL start on time and manage to do it quietly?  Oh, right, no pre-season games.

Coin Toss

• Does Vegas have an over/under for potential games lost due to COVID?
• Fans or no fans ... prepare for both.  Just depends on the state.  Unless the game is in Florida where their governor could give a rat's ass.
• Is fans booing a moment of solidarity at Chiefs/Texans opener at Kansas City a sign of things to come?

FIRST and TEN

• THE.LAS.VEGAS.RAIDERS.ARE.NOW!  Just Win Baby!  If any team ever deserved a new stadium, it's them. #OAK #LA
• Tom Brady's First season with Tampa Bay ... TAMPA BAY!
• Odell Beckham Jr., and the Cleveland Steamers ... can't make this stuff up.
• Joe "Effing" Judge.

SECOND and SHORT

• Cam Newton Part II starts now!  Welcome to New England.
• Philip Rivers went from the Bolts to the Colts.
• After two seasons on the unemployment line, Mike McCarthy lands his second head coaching job with Dallas.
• Le'veon Bell enters his second season with the Jets.  Last season were his fewest rushes and yards gained over a full season since his 2013 rookie debut.

NO GAIN 

• Thursday's Opening Night ratings DOWN!
• After twenty season with New England Tom Brady is out of the division and the Jets still aren't in a position to win the AFC East.
• Teams already opting to stay in locker rooms during National Anthem.

PUNT!

• Roger Goodell continues fumbling the ball.  If NFL owners want to get and stay ahead of racial injustice and matters of equality, fire Goodell now.
• Andy Reid's face shield.

From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE 

A Poor Case for Adam Gase

The Jets are arguably less talented than last season.  I'm being kind.  What a shame for a team that finished last season with a 6-2 record over their final eight games.  In any event, they ranked dead last in total offense.  Now they have a new, new, general manager, and therefore a new, new direction.  That is otherwise known as spinning in circles.  The question is can Joe Douglas finally put an end to it.  In the meantime, Sam Darnold enters year three.  He is improving but still has a ways to go.  He's playing behind a questionable, albeit transformed offensive line.  The collective improvement remains to be seen.  Meanwhile, Le'Veon Bell must be looking at the acquisition of Frank Gore like wtf?!  Adam Gase last season demonstrated little to no use for Bell, or at least that's the way it appeared on TV.  As a result Bell is coming off a season of rookie level proportions.  Circling back to Adam Gase, if Sam Darnold does not demonstrate marked improvement this season, what would be the sense in keeping him around?  Let Joe Douglas hire his own coach and stop this maddening habit of hiring alternating general managers and head coaches.

WEEK ONE

Friday Line ~ NYP

BILLS -6 1/2 Jets
I think the Bills win and cover.  Period.  End of statement.
WIN 27-17 Bills

Eagles -5 1/2 D.C. NAMELESS

The Eagles have a playoff record to speak of, the NO NAMES not so much.
Loss 27-17 NoNames

Seahawks -2 1/2 FALCONS

Falcons are in no way out of the mix yet.  But the addition of Jamal Adams seals it for me.  Russell Wilson is only getting started.
WIN 38-25 Seahawks

PATRIOTS -6 1/2 Dolphins

Can't trust the Fish outside of their tank, not yet.  Cam Newton missed practically all of last season.  Now he plays for Simon Bar Sinister.  Not ready to go cold turkey on the Pats now that their fix is gone.
WIN 21-11 Patriots

VIKINGS -2 1/2 Packers

I pooh-poohed the Vikes all last season, and they sacked me every time.  I actually think the Packers are overrated.  Matt LaFleur?
Loss 43-34 Packers

Colts -7 1/2 JAGUARS

Philip Rivers vs. Gardner Minshew.  I'll take Rivers playing behind a solid offensive line and one of the best centers in football.  Good running game too.
Loss 27-20 Jaguars

LIONS -3 Bears

This game screams stay away!  Matt Patricia's rebuilding continues, on and on.  But at least the Lions have somewhat of a clue.  I can't say the same for Mitch Trubisky or Nick Foles.
Loss 27-23 Bears

RAVENS -7 1/2 Browns

The Browns are still in the Show Me stage.  Show me ...  The Ravens on the other hand will be one of the dominant teams in the AFC.  LaMar Jackson's interceptions will come down.
WIN 38-6 Ravens

Raiders -3 PANTHERS

I'm not saying they're bad, but there is just too much fluxing around going on in Carolina.  Even Vegas doesn't trust the home team.  New coach, no Cam, you get the idea.
WIN 34-30 Raiders

Chargers -3 BENGALS

The veteran Tyrod Taylor for the Chargers versus the rookie Joe Burrow going for the Bengals.  Oh, what's a gambling degenerate to do?  When starting center Mike Pouncey is out, I think twice.  But San Diego's defense should take care of this one.
PUSH 16-13 Chargers

SAINTS -3 1/2 Bucs

Game of the Week!  Drew Brees versus Tom Brady - two statues who've joined to throw for over 150,000 yards.  And the Gronk is back!  Tampa is better than I give them credit for.  Their defense is staunch.  But I think Tom Bundchen might be taking this too far.  Just pay attention to him and the overall speed of the game.  Might as well keep an eye on Brees as well.
WIN 34-23 Saints

Cardinals +6 1/2 NINERS

Another situation at center, 49ers Weston Richburg is out for the opener.  Otherwise, don't ever sleep on Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals.  Take the Cardinals and the points whenever you can.
WIN 24-20 Cardinals

Cowboys -2 1/2 RAMS

Rams, new stadium, paper tiger.
Loss 20-17 Rams

Schmear of the Week
Bills -6 1/2
WIN

Week One Record:  8-5-1
Overall Record:  8-5-1
Schmear of the Week:  1-0
Bagels in the Basket: +5

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Steelers -6 GIANTS

Big Ben is back and the Giants are gonna be in trouble. 
WIN 26-16 Steelers

As far as the team itself, I'm very interested to see what Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard and the return of Evan Engram can conjure under new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.  I'm also curious to see this transformative offensive line perform.  Nate Solder is out and as far as I'm concerned that's a good thing.  That's not a slight at Solder.  It just means we get throw first round draft selection Andrew Thomas into the fire.  Nick Gates is making his first career start at center.  That's where most of my focus will be.  Insofar as the defense, I have no expectations.

ICYMI:

• NYG: Head Coach Joe Judge is Now in Session
• NYG: Novice Nick Gates Is Latest Center of the Day

Good Luck and have a great Opening Week of football..!!