The Brooklyn Trolley Blogger: PIGSKIN 2020: Week Thirteen

Happy December!
Who will beat the Steelers?
Will the Jets finally win a game?
Hey Johnson Brothers! Adam Gase said he hasn't done a good enough job developing Sam Darnold! Ya think...?
One more time: If Joe Douglas isn't allowed to fire Adam Gase after the season, he should quit on the spot.
Will I finally correctly pick a damn Schmear of the Week?
America's new favorite sensation .. Tuesday Night Football returns with Ravens vs. Cowboys.
Roger Godell essentially told the Broncos screw you and your COVID by letting them play last week without a quarterback.
Rumor: Bill Belichick to L.A. Chargers?
Tom Brady's hair still looks great, doesn't it? I heard he goes to sleep at 9:30pm every night. I'd love to know what he and Bruce Arians really think of each other.

WEEK THIRTEEN

Friday Line ~ NYP/MGM

SEAHAWKS -10 Giants

I have faith in the Giants defense but I'm not as confident on offense without Daniel Jones. A heavy dose of running game will not be enough. Giants need a playmaker at QB. Can't say Colt McCoy is that kinda guy. Therefore, I don't see the offense playing well enough to keep the defense off the field. By the late third quarter, these guys will be gassed and the Seahawks will pull away.

Loss 17-12 Giants

ICYMI: Hog Mollies Giving Wayne Gallman His Space

Raiders -8 1/2 JETS

Don't ask me what happened to the Raiders last week against Atlanta. I do know they'll be pissed off as hell. Too bad the Jets really really suck. Once upon a time, this was such a great rivalry. The Raiders are 7-4 against the spread and play better on the road. Gang Gase takes another step closer to earning that #1 draft pick.

Loss 31-28 Raiders

ICYMI: Woe and Eleven

Lions +3 BEARS

I dub thee Toilet Bowl XIII ... The Lions send Matt Patricia the traditional going away gift with a convincing victory over the Bears. Yeah, thanks a lot! Oh, wait! Bears fired their head coach too!

WIN 34-30 Lions

DOLPHINS -11 1/2 Bengals

Even with Joe Burrow, the Bengals points totals were up, down, and everywhere in between. Without him, down, down, down they'll go. Only the Steelers have yielded fewer points this season than the Fish.

WIN 19-7 Dolphins

VIKINGS -10 1/2 Jaguars

Jags don't wanna win. They want that number one draft pick but first must figure out how to out-tank the Jets. Good luck with that. Jags give up nearly 30 points per game. Vikes still run the ball well. They've scored at least 25 points in nine of eleven games, and four times touched 30 points.

Loss 27-24 Vikings

Saints -2 1/2 FALCONS

Whatever the Saints are doing with Taysom Hill, it's working. Their defense is also playing like a bunch of crazed dogs. Falcons all of a sudden wanna play football .. but it's way too late for them now. Falcons last week benefitted from a terrible game by Derek Carr.

WIN 21-16 Saints

Titans -6 BROWNS

Perhaps a closer game in-store than fans realize. In truth, I think whichever team scores first, wins. Both teams are playing good defense and both feature strong running games. I just think the (smash mouth) Titans are a little more polished in the art of ball control. If Baker Mayfield is forced to play catch-up the Browns will be in trouble. Six points is a tall order ... not that comfortable.

Loss 41-35 Browns

Colts -3 1/2 TEXANS

Not a trap game! Colts smell a division title. They've been put to the test twice by the Titans, Ravens, and Packers over the last four weeks. They still sport one of the better defenses in the AFC and reactivated DeForest Buckner. They won't take the Texans lightly.

WIN 26-20 Colts

Rams -2 1/2 CARDINALS

Both teams lost close three-point games last week. If the Rams were home they would be favored by five points. I do not like picking against the Cardinals, but go ahead and take the Paper Tigers (Rams) and lay the points.

WIN 38-28 Rams

PACKERS -8 Eagles

The Eagles have lost three straight and scored only 17 points each time. That's called a trend. The Cowboys are the only team this season not to score at least 20 points against the Eagles. Discount last week's Packers game against the Bears. The week prior they scored 31 points in a losing effort against a good Colts defense.

WIN 30-16 Packers

Patriots -1 CHARGERS

The Bolts are probably better than their record indicates, but they're somewhat one-dimensional. I just hope HC Anthony Lynn's job isn't in jeopardy. Meanwhile, the Patriots are what their record says they are. They're only averaging 20.8 points per game. Justin Herbert is coming off a great game against the J-E-T-S, but not so much against the Bills. Patriots do not have to sack Herbert. Bill Belichick will make him think twice through scheme alone. Joe Bosa is playing on a bum leg.

WIN 45-0 Patriots

CHIEFS -14 Broncos

Both teams are 6-5 versus the spread. What's a degenerate gambler to do? Dolphins are the only winning team (percentage) team to fall against the Broncos. The Chiefs are second in the NFL with a +110 point differential. The Broncos own a -89 point differential. Said another way, the Chiefs own a near 200 point differential margin over Denver. Funky math says the Chiefs win by 18 points.

Loss 22-16 Loss

Schmear of the Week

Colts -3 1/2

WIN ... finally!

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

Post-Game

Week Thirteen Record: 7-5

Overall Record ATS: 91-71-5 (+15)

Schmear of the Week: 3-10-1 (-24)

Bagels in the Basket: -9