PIGSKIN 2020: Week Three

PIGSKIN

FOOTBALL SUNDAY

Week Three

RESULTS

Week One

Week Two

SCOREBOARD:

Week Two Record:  10-4

Overall Record:  18-9-1

Schmear of the Week:  1-1

Bagels in the Basket:  +8

1st and Ten

• REST IN PEACE ~ GALE SAYERS
• Eleven teams with 2-0 record ties for most in NFL history (2008).
• With the first pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, the NYG select...?
• Buffalo Bills only New York team with a victory.

2nd and Short

• After two games the Jets season already looks all but over.
• Bill Belichik's sense of fashion is second to none, that last sweatshirt looked older than me.

No Gain

• Ten teams with 0-2 record.
• Robert Kraft gets his happy ending after all; solicitation charges in Florida dropped.
• Niners QB Jimmy G (ankle) is hurt, again.

PUNT!

• NFL reprimands five head coaches for not wearing masks.
• Hail Mary!  Florida governor has essentially declared everything in the state, open.
• Texans interested in WR Antonio Brown?
• Tyrod Taylor out after having his lung punctured by the team physician administering an injection.

WEEK THREE

Friday line NYP

GIANTS +4 Niners

Despite the loss of Saquon Barkley, I'm still throwing the Giants a bone.  The running game has been wholly ineffectual, but the team is yet to embarrass themselves in games against the Steelers and Bears.  The Giants need better play from the offensive line.  They've run left for minimal yards and have yet to gain positive yardage rushing up the middle.  More than half of all rush attempts have gone right behind Kevin Zeitler and Cam Fleming.  As a unit they've so far yielded seven sacks.  After two games together, I'm anticipating a better performance.  If they create just a little bit of daylight for new acquisition Devonta Freeman and pass protect a little better, Daniel Jones stands a better chance of leading the Giants to their first victory.  The Niners are also beset by injuries after last week's game against the Jets, but are still well equipped to defeat the Giants.  With nothing to lose, it's up to OC Jason Garrett to be ultra aggressive.  Let's see if Jones and Darius Slayton can steal the show.  Food for thought: this spread opened at seven points.

Loss 36-9 49ers

• ICYMI: NYG: Hog Mollies Keeping Offense in the Dark

COLTS -11 Jets

The Jets are presently the worst team in football.  Injuries aren't helping.  Sam Darnold can not do this by himself.  Jets are lucky if they score 17 points.  This could get ugly.  The Colts should be flirting with 3-0 but got upended in Week One.

WIN 36-7 Colts

PATRIOTS -5 1/2 Raiders

The Raiders are traveling East and coming off a short week.  They are a team on the rise, just not this week.  This is still the Patriots at home.  Bill Belichick will figure something out.  Cam Newton is playing inspired football again.

WIN 36-20 Patriots

Rams +2 1/2 BILLS

This is based on opponents.  The Bills will challenge for the division title, but I'm little impressed with victories against the broken Jets and the South Beach Fish.  The Rams are undefeated after playing the up and down Cowboys and the flightless Eagles.

Loss 35-32 Bills

STEELERS -4 Texans

When it rains it pours.  Life is about to get worse for the Texans.  Steelers defense rules the day, and the offense does just enough (to cover). 

WIN 28-21 Steelers

Titans -2 1/2 VIKINGS

The Titans defeated the Broncos by two points and the Jaguars by three points, both on late field goals.  Ball control: Titans offense is closest thing to smash mouth football that exists in the league.  Looking for them to kick it up another notch against a ponderous Vikings defense.

Loss 31-30 Titans

 

BROWNS -7 No Names

I thought the No Names defense would be able to slow down Arizona's offense.  They didn't, and on the other side of the ball only scored 15 points.  The Eagles were complete garbage when WTF defeated them in Week One.  Baker Mayfield is the wavering variable.  Cleveland was limited to just six points when opposed by Baltimore's pass rush, then opened up for 35 points against the hapless Bengals.  If the Browns play to their two week mean they should be okay.

WIN 34-20 Browns

EAGLES -4 1/2 Bengals

Welcome to the Week IV Toilet Bowl.  The Eagles still have enough in place to win a game, right? Leaning towards the team with more in the toolbox. (I hate this game)

Loss 23-23 TIE*

FALCONS -3 Bears

Atlanta's absentee defense be damned.  Who do you trust to score more points, Matt Ryan or Mitch Trubisky?  

Loss 30-26 Bears

CHARGERS -6 1/2 Panthers

A good Chargers defense going up against a Carolina offense missing Christian McAffrey.  Similar to the Falcons, the Panthers defense is nowhere to be found.

Loss 21-16 Panthers

CARDINALS -5 1/2 Lions

Lions are cornered cats, but the Cardinals refuse to go away.  Ride the Kyler Murray bandwagon with me!  Cards beat the Niners when San Fran was still at full strength, then doubled up the No Names.  The undefeated Seahawks and Rams are all the motivation the Cardinals need.  Lions have too big a hill to climb after getting buried last week by the Packers.  

Loss 26-23 Lions

  

Bucs -6 1/2 BRONCOS

This is still a good Broncos defense.  The Steelers let Denver back into last week's game.  I do not foresee the Bucs defense doing the same.  Tom Brady will do enough to keep the Broncos at bay.

WIN 28-10 Bucs

  

SEAHAWKS -5 1/2 Cowboys

The Cowboys should be 0-2 entering Week Three.  The Falcons last week handed them victory on a silver platter.  To their credit, the Cowboys still got the job done.  But the Seahawks will not be as kind.  Seattle will provide no quarter.

WIN 38-31 Seahawks

Packers +3 SAINTS

Derek Carr carved up the Saints like a turkey.  The Saints couldn't get the Raiders offense off the field.  Look for Aaron Rogers to treat them similarly.  I expect Sean Payton and Drew Brees to throw everything in the book at Green Bay.  Problem is we've seen it all before, whereas Aaron Rogers and head coach Matt LaFleur seem to be onto something new.

WIN 37-30 Packers

Schmear of the Week (1-1)

Titans -2 1/2

LOSS

Good luck and have a great FOOTBALL SUNDAY everyone!

SCOREBOARD

Week Three Record:  6-7

Overall Record:  24-16-1

Schmear of the Week: 1-2

Bagels in the Basket:  +4