PIGSKIN 2020: Week Four

PIGSKIN

FOOTBALL SUNDAY

Week Four

RESULTS

Week One

Week Two

Week Three

SCOREBOARD

Week Three Record:  6-7

Overall Record:  24-16-1

Schmear of the Week: 1-2

Bagels in the Basket:  +4

1st and Ten

• First game rescheduled due to positive COVID testing: Tennessee Titans outbreak count is up to eleven organizational personnel.  Titans/Steelers game to be rescheduled.
• Congratulations Brett Rypien on your first NFL start and win.
• Undefeated: N.Y.'s real team, the BUFFALO BILLS < STEELERS > TITANS < CHIEFS < PACKERS > > bears < < SEAHAWKS. 

2nd and Short

• What's it gonna take for Christopher Johnson to second guess himself?
• Wait a Second!  Fewer holding flags, game manipulation?  No Way!
• AP: Players Past and Present Want More Action From Owners

No Gain

• Broncos head coach after the Jets game says eff that handshake!
• No Dubyas: jets < giants < falcons < vikings < Eagles < Bengals < Texans.
• League trying to lower the hammer on facial masks.

PUNT!

• NFL Network's Steve Smith smells a pig!  Oink!  Says (paraphrasing) Jets defensive coordinator Gregg (oink!) Williams' defense is about BS!  Oink!  Jets defense: six personal fouls vs. Broncos.
• NFC LEAST: division owns a 2-9-1 record.  The Cowboys and the WTF's are tied for first with one win each.
• How bout them Falcons?  

WEEK FOUR

Friday Line NYP

RAMS -12 1/2 Giants

Somehow the Giants are middle of the pack in defense.  It just doesn't seem that way.  Offensively, they have more troubles than a math book.  They're near last in passing and dead last in rushing.  I have so far seen zero offensive creativity much less adaptability from Jason Garrett.  I do not foresee much changing.  I just keep my eye on the offensive line and wait.

Loss  17-9 Rams

Colts -2 1/2 BEARS

NICK FOLES!?  The Bears are not staying undefeated.  Let them keep proving to me they can beat what is to date the best defense in the NFL.

WIN  19-11 Colts 

Saints -4 LIONS

Got questions whether Drew Brees can throw a sharp 35-yard pass?  Lions secondary is suspect.  I'll go with a balanced attack from the Saints who's defense as a whole is better than Detroit's.

WIN  35-29 Saints

Cardinals -3 1/2 PANTHERS

Panthers do not run very well, but the Cardinals do.  Now switch to the other side: Cardinals are defending against a one dimensional offense, and the Panthers will have their hands full, no sneaking extra guys in the box.  Kyler Murray vs. Teddy Bridgewater ... what's your first thought?  Exactly.

Loss  31-21 Panthers

Jaguars +3 BENGALS

The Bengals can not stop what the Jaguars do best: run the ball.  Otherwise these teams are somewhat even?  Time I stopped disrespecting Gardner Minshew?  Although, Bengals have a good secondary?  Let's see what Minshew can do.

Loss  33-25 Bengals

Browns +4 1/2 COWBOYS

Dak, Dak, Dak.  Prescott will throw a lot and pile up yardage.  Mr. Franchise Tag should be able to shred Cleveland's secondary.  Or, this kind of plays into a new promising Cleveland secondary's hands.  A pick or two and the Browns running game might be enough to keep Dak off the field...?  Look around, I'm picking a lot of dogs this week.  The sun shines on a dog's posterior at least once a day.  Dog Pound Day Afternoon.

WIN  49-38 Browns

Vikings +4 TEXANS

The Toilet Bowl IV - My mailman can rush for more yards than the Texans making them at the moment too one dimensional.  Not that the Vikings can take advantage.  One team has to win.  Take the points or just stay away.

WIN  31-23

DOLPHINS +6 1/2 Seahawks

The Seahawks defense is a sieve.  They've allowed the most yardage in football.  The secondary is very generous.  But Seattle does a great job a stopping the run.  Problem is Ryan FitzMagic.  I know, I'm suggesting Fitz will have a better game than Dak did.  Seattle to Miami is a long flight even for a sea hawk.  They might be lagged.  Meanwhile, the Fish have been swimming socially distanced around their tank for over a week.  In FitzTragic we must trust.

Loss  31-23 Seahawks

BUCS -7 CHARGERS

Chargers are already having trouble scoring points.  Tyrod Taylor is still a little deflated after taking an errant injection to the lung.  Bucs defense should again limit the Chargers to minimal points.  Tom Brady will find a way to cover.

PUSH  38-31 Bucs

WTF No Name +13 Ravens

A defensive showcase .. nothing more.  Low scoring, take the under and the points.  I don't know why I'm putting faith in the WTF offense.  I've made this mistake before.

Loss  31-17 Ravens .. one freakin point!

Patriots +7 CHIEFS

Haven't you been paying attention?  Wanna beat the Chiefs, play smash mouth football.  The Patriots don't have a pass rush to speak of, but they lead the league in rushing.  In other words, hog the ball.  Renaissance Man Cam will fill in the gaps.  If he has to win the game himself, he can.  Defensively both teams are neck and neck and both teams feature quarterbacks which force you to play honest.  Belichick versus Reid is always a chess match.  Cover, yes; upset, maybe.

BREAKING 10/3/2020: Cam Newton tests positive for COVID; multiple positive tests reported; GAME CANCELLED. 

Bills -3 RAIDERS

My least confident pick of the week.  Raiders have good days and bad days.  I really don't wanna pick against them at home.  They're usually money at home against the spread.  But here goes ... to the best team in New York State!

WIN  30-23 Bills

Eagles +7 NINERS

A game that just makes you rethink your whole existence.  I know when healthy the Niners have a good defense.  But the Eagles gotta get out of this funk.  And they can (no, I didn't learn my lesson).  The Eagles still field a really good defensive front as well.  Meanwhile, the Niners are coming off back to back cakewalks against the Jets and Giants.  No such luck this week.  Go with desperation and the points against persisting injuries.

WIN  25-20 Eagles

Schmear of the Week (1-2)

Rams -12 1/2

Good luck and have a great FOOTBALL SUNDAY everyone!

POST-GAME:

Week Four Record:  6-5-1

Overall Record:  30-21-2 (+7)

Schmear of the Week: 1-3 (-6)

Bagels in the Basket:  +1