The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

rwells@tribunemedia.net

BEFORE we jump into the picks this week, let’s take a moment to celebrate and cheer the week that was. There were high quality games all around, late-game heroics and, in a couple of instances, gut-wrenching plays.

The Bengals, Panthers and - yes you guessed it - my Patriots are the only unbeaten teams left standing. Cam and Brady are having MVP seasons, while Dalton refuses to make that one big mistake we have grown accustomed to seeing from him.

There are a multitude of four win teams plotting ways to jump back in to playoff contention over the next few weeks. Like them, the NFL office is still licking its wounds after New York courts earlier this week issued bans on fantasy web giants Draft Kings and Fan Duel, insisting that both were nothing more than online gambling.

Can you say “Back to the drawing board”?

For me, a modest 8-5 on picks last week, rounding in at 74-58 on the season. All my chalk talk last week seem to propel me; hopefully the results are the same this week.

Buffalo Bills (4-4) @ New York Jets (5-3)

Rex is back in New Jersey (technically New York, but still, they play in New Jersey). This Thursday night game is all about comfort. Rex was the head coach with the Jets last year, now he is with the Bills. Ryan Fitzpatrick and his beard once called Buffalo home, now he makes plays for gang green.

This week, look past all of that familiarity talk. This game is all about the defences. Jets are top five overall, 14th against the pass and no.1 against the run. The Bills last week lived off the run, which in turn set up the play action for returning QB Tyrod Taylor.

Stop the Shady McCoy and you stop their momentum, so look for the Jets to pack eight in the box and dare Tyrod to complete passes of 10 yards or more.

JETS

Detroit Lions (1-7) @ Green Bay Packers (6-2)

Packers have dropped two straight and now have a chance to get it right against division rival Lions. Arron Rodgers hasn’t quite looked like himself in those two losses, but did offered up glimpses of exactly who he is in the closing moment against the Panthers. We get four full A-Rod quarters this week.

PACKERS

Dallas Cowboys (2-6) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5)

So what does a team do after losing six consecutive games? You go to Tampa and hope that the players get so angry on the flight that they exit the plane in a hitting mood. Well, that is what the Cowboys hope. Despite Tampa having a better record, an injured Cowboys team still exists as the better unit. Dez has been all that and more since his return two weeks ago, at times generating plays one could marvel at (you saw the touchdown catch where he went up and came down with the ball as if the defenders huddled around him boosted him up to catch it). Dallas know that this week is a must win if they intend to make it to the playoffs.

COWBOYS

Carolina Panthers (8-0) @ Tennessee Titans (2-6)

Carolina continues to win, I continue to pick them to lose. Ok I get it, If I pick you to win there is a strong chance you lose. I have to test this theory this week.

PANTHERS

Chicago Bears (3-5) @ St Louis Rams (4-4)

Bears and Jay Cutler have over the last two weeks put together two strong wins under the radar. Jay set a new Bears TD record last week and looks to continue his big season this week.

The Rams just didn’t have enough to finish it up last week against the Vikings. Their offence has to be the most unbalanced in the league; fifth in rushing but dead last with the pass. Todd Gurley can’t do it all on his own - he can this week.

RAMS

New Orleans Saints (4-5) @ Washington Redskins (3-5)

Let’s go Drew.

SAINTS

Miami Dolphins (3-5) @ Philadelphia Eagles (4-4)

Oh my God! Suh squares off agains Demarco Murray.

EAGLES

Cleveland Browns (2-7) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4)

So both Le’veon and Big Ben are out for the Steelers this week. No chance for the Steelers right?

Well, there is still some uncertainty as to who is going to start on Sunday for the Browns. It could Johnny Manziel or it could be Josh McCown. The later has completed 65 per cent of his 254 passing attempts, has 1,897 passing yards and has thrown 11 touchdowns to four interceptions. While Johnny has been Johnny, shaking to say the least.

The Steelers are home in this one so they get the nod.

STEELERS

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) @ Baltimore Ravens (2-6)

Baltimore is coming off of a bye and has had sometime to get their act together. Yes, we know that Terrell Suggs and Steve Smith aren’t walking out of that locker room this week to play, but they are home and facing a young Jaguars team.

RAVENS

Minnesota Vikings (6-2) @ Oakland Raiders (4-4)

Raiders are at home.

RAIDERS

New England Patriots (8-0) @ New York Giants (5-4)

Objectively speaking, I hate the Giants. Objectively speaking, I know Tom Brady does.

PATRIOTS

Kansas City Chiefs (3-5) @ Denver Broncos (7-1)

Denver dropped one last week. No chance they lose two.

BRONCOS

Arizona Cardinals (6-2) @ Seattle Seahawks (4-4)

Arizona doesn’t fear going into Seattle. Arizona doesn’t fear that Seattle defence. Arizona wants to put Russell Wilson on his back.

CARDINALS

Houston Texans (3-5) @ Cincinnati Bengals (8-0)

This game is secretly, low-key going to be a big game. Texans are rested and fixed on the idea that they are in control of their own destiny in terms of a playoff push now that division rivals Indianapolis is without their starting quarterback, Andrew Luck, for the next four to six weeks. If there is any chance for the Texans to win this division they would have to win this game.

Yes it is a tall order! They would have to go into Cincinnati, beat a good defence, outscore a high-scoring offence and outplay an undefeated team. That is just far too much for one team to do.

BENGALS

Teams on bye

Atlanta Falcons (6-3)

Indianapolis Colts (4-5)

San Diego Chargers (2-7)

San Francisco 49ers (3-6)