Let’s take a look at the standings:

Pep: 78-43
Reeb: 76-45
Alx: 72-49
Jemp: 71-50
Screw: 70-51
​
Pep has reclaimed his lead as Jemp and I move closer to the bottom than the top.  This is turning into a two-man race, but we all know things can change in an instant in the NFL, and more importantly in our pick’em.  So let’s pick some games.
 
Raiders at 49ers:
Jemp: 49ers,  Reeb: Raiders,  Pep: Raiders,  Screw: Raiders
It appears that the Warriors are taking all the wins from the Bay Area.  Fortunately, the Raiders will be moving to Vegas in a few years and then they may have hit on a few of their plentiful first-round picks.  But for now, these fan-bases should stick to basketball, because their football teams are hard to watch.  You guys should all still read ProFootballJokes though, because no matter how bad your team is, PFJ is here to help alleviate your pain.
Prediction:  Raiders win 27-24
 
Bears at Bills:
Jemp: Bears,  Reeb: Bears,  Pep: Bears,  Screw: Bears
After a blazing hot start, the Bears defense had a couple hiccups just before their bye week.  Fortunately, they are going to receive the perfect remedy for what ails any defense, Nathan Peterman.  Okay, it’s not for sure, but I think they would take Derek Anderson too if they had to.  I’d say they don’t even need to play offense.  Just punt on first down every drive and let the Bills offense shoot themselves in the foot.  Maybe your defense might get a little tired, but you can always sub in some of your receivers as defensive backs since Nathan Peterman will be throwing to them anyway.
Prediction:  Bears win 23-0
 
Buccaneers at Panthers:
Jemp: Panthers,  Reeb: Panthers,  Pep: Panthers,  Screw: Panthers
I feel bad picking against the Panthers every week when I actually do think they are a good team.  However, I can’t pick against Fitzmagic when he has been so good all year.  He immediately turned around a struggling offense and was a Fat Randy field goal away from a chance to win it in overtime.  Fitz has thrown the ball 144 times this year to Jameis’ 148, but has nearly 400 more passing yards, 7 more touchdowns, and 5 less interceptions.  The Bucs offense has talent, and it took the old Amish Rifle to unleash it.  I expect the Bucs to win this one for the quarterback that knows how to properly eat a W.
Prediction:  Buccaneers win 27-24
 
Chiefs at Browns: 
Jemp: Chiefs,  Reeb: Chiefs,  Pep: Chiefs,  Screw: Chiefs
I feel as if I am always tempted to lone-wolf the Browns.  I expect them to respond well to the coaching change, and I think they might be able to find a way to slow down the Chiefs attack.  They need to get after Patrick Mahomes like there is a price on his head… which I’m sure there isn’t.  However, in the end I have to stick with the Chiefs.  While Gregg Williams might be an improvement on Hue Jackson (as would anyone with a pulse), he’s no Andy Reid.  I think the team plays hard for him, but they will come up just short.
Prediction:  Chiefs win 34-28
 
Jets and Dolphins:
Jemp: Dolphins,  Reeb: Dolphins,  Pep: Jets,  Screw: Jets
I think it’s nice that the NFL gets the Jets-Dolphins matchups out of the way early so the teams have no delusions of thinking these games will matter in the division race.  Unless second place really matters to them, which it might at this point.  I gave the last game to the Dolphins and they came through, so I figure why not give this one to the Jets?  Especially when the early strength of the Dolphins was their defense, which has been atrocious as of late.  Lamar Miller had the easiest revenge game I’ve ever witnessed, as every time he looked like he was expecting to get hit at the line of scrimmage, only to realize he was free and clear for 10 more yards.  This could be another Isaiah Crowell week.
Prediction:  Jets win 24-10
 
Steelers at Ravens:
Jemp: Ravens,  Reeb: Steelers,  Pep: Steelers,  Screw: Steelers
This is why I never trust the Ravens defense to be some dominant force.  After outpacing all other teams in terms of defensive statistics, they were flattened by Cam Newton and the Carolina offense.  They always have those types of game, but I expect them to show up for this one.  I know the smart money is always on the split in this matchup, but I think this is one of the rare times the Ravens get the sweep.  I still think they are the most complete team in this division, and they catch the Steelers on their last Le’Veon-less week.
Prediction:  Ravens win 27-21
 
Lions at Vikings: 
Jemp: Lions,  Reeb: Vikings,  Pep: Vikings,  Screw: Lions
Just after looking like they were going all in with a trade for Snacks Harrison, the Lions appear to have given up after the loss to the Seahawks by getting rid of Golden Tate.  Now they have to slide in TJ Jones to replace him, as I suppose they transition to a run-first offense?  However, I don’t think they would beat the Vikings anyway.  They had some bad luck against one of the best teams in the NFL last week, but that hasn’t dissuaded me from thinking this is a Super Bowl squad.  I say they get back on track against the Lions.
Prediction:  Vikings win 30-20
 
Falcons at Redskins:
Jemp: Falcons,  Reeb: Redskins,  Pep: Redskins,  Screw: Redskins
I’m not sure whether to be scared that the Redskins won’t be able to keep up with an explosive offense or not even worry about it because the Falcons offense hasn’t been good on the road.  FedEx Field might be the ultimate defense in this one.  That and of course the best team in football.
Prediction:  Redskins win 100-0
 
Texans at Broncos: 
Jemp: Texans,  Reeb: Texans,  Pep: Broncos,  Screw: Broncos
The Texans finally regained some shades of the dangerous offense they were last year, only to watch Will Fuller go down for the year.  However, they managed to replace the fastest guy on their team with an aging veteran who can’t run anymore.  While he may not make the impact that Fuller had, I think it was a good move by the Texans who needed someone to play receiver opposite Nuk.  I’m still feeling pretty good about my pick of the Texans to win the division, as I think they are clearly the better team here.  Although I do worry about Von Miller and company terrorizing their offensive line.
Prediction:  Texans win 24-17
 
Chargers at Seahawks:
Jemp: Chargers,  Reeb: Seahawks,  Pep: Seahawks,  Screw: Chargers
This could be the most underrated game of the week, as I think many people think of these teams as old news.  People may not realize it, but the Chargers look like one of the best teams in AFC, as their offense has been humming and their defense is lying in wait for their best player to come back.  This team can beat anyone right now, even if they were a 2 point conversion away from losing to the Titans.  Okay that last statement might have undermined my whole point, but it doesn’t matter because I’m taking the Seahawks anyway.  I’m back to the point in the year where I’m not picking against the 12th man, especially when Russ is back to being elite and might have the best rushing attack in the NFL to help him out.  The Seahawks aren’t missing the playoffs again this year.
Prediction:  Seahawks win 28-27
 
Rams at Saints: 
Jemp: Rams,  Reeb: Rams,  Pep: Rams,  Screw: Saints
Packers Patriots might get the hype because of the quarterbacks, but this is the matchup of the two best teams in the NFL.  They certainly have two of the three best offenses and they both made some recent trades to bolster their defenses.  In games like this, I’m taking the home team with something to prove.  We saw the Rams offense stumble last week, and I don’t think the Saints let them off the hook if they start with 5 straight punts this week.  Fortunately, I don’t see the Rams doing that again, but I do think it’s Drew Brees who pulls of the win in the Superdome.
Prediction:  Saints win 34-31
 
Packers at Patriots:
Jemp: Patriots,  Reeb: Patriots,  Pep: Patriots,  Screw: Patriots
No one is taking the Packers after they almost beat the Rams last week?  Yeah, me neither.  Like I have said many times, I rarely pick against the Pats, and never when they are at home in primetime.  However, this Packers defense is intriguing, even with the loss of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.  Jaire Alexander looked like a star in the making against the Rams, and the Packers defense has been good all year other than the one game against the 49ers.  However, the loss of Ty Montgomery will be too much for their offense to overcome, and Tom Brady moves the Patriots to 7-2.
Prediction:  Patriots win 31-27
 
Titans at Cowboys:
Jemp: Cowboys,  Reeb: Cowboys,  Pep: Cowboys,  Screw: Cowboys
This is another coin-flip game between two teams who are essentially mirror images of one another.  Normally, this would mean I would take the home team, but I can’t pass up a chance to lone-wolf against the Cowboys, even if does mean picking the Titans.  Just hearing myself say that makes me feel dirty, but I guess it’s better than picking the Cowboys.
Prediction:  Titans win 13-10

Let’s take a look at the standings:

Reeb: 67-40
Pep: 66-41
Alx: 63-44
Jemp: 62-45
Screw: 59-48
​
It was a pretty good week for everyone, as no one was worse than 10-4.  Fine, I was the one who went 10-4.  But I’m still right in the middle of everybody, and this race is not even halfway through, so let’s pick some games.
 
Dolphins at Texans:
Jemp: Texans,  Reeb: Texans,  Pep: Texans,  Screw: Texans
Nothing says TNF like a Brock Osweiler revenge game.  Remember when he lit up the Colts last year on Thursday Night?  Oh, that’s right, normal people probably didn’t watch the Broncos vs. Colts in Week 15.  But it was one of the rare bright spots in Brock Lobster’s career, and now he has a chance to stick it to the team that traded him for -2nd round pick.  Unfortunately for him, I don’t think the Texans are ever going to regret moving from him to Deshaun Watson, as I think the Texans continue their lukewarm streak.
Prediction:  Texans win 23-10
 
Eagles at Jaguars:
Jemp: Jaguars,  Reeb: Jaguars,  Pep: Eagles,  Screw: Eagles
Blake Bortles has been through a lot during his career, but I don’t know that it gets much worse than getting benched for Cody Kessler.  Remember how bad the Browns QBs were last year?  They still refused to put in Kessler.  Then again, I shouldn’t point to anything Hue Jackson does as evidence to prove my point, so maybe Cody is a good QB.  Regardless, it will be Blake Bortles again this week, and he gets to retreat to the solace of the Queen’s land.  Maybe it’s that he likes London, or maybe he is just a morning person, as he is 3-0 with 8 TDs and just 1 interception in these early morning games.  I’ll stick with the trend as they look to be the final four team to bounce back this week.
Prediction:  Jaguars win 24-17
 
Broncos at Chiefs:
Jemp: Chiefs,  Reeb: Chiefs,  Pep: Chiefs,  Screw: Chiefs
Von Miller said they were going to kick the Cardinals’ asses, and boy did he deliver.  It’s strange that he isn’t making a similar prediction this week against the Chiefs.  However, remember that no team has held the Chiefs or the Rams under 30 points this season, except the Broncos, who have done it to both.  And while Von Miller was the star against the Cardinals, it’s Bradley Chubb who has 5 sacks in the past two weeks.  The pass rushing duo is living up to the hype, and yet it is Patrick Mahomes that strikes fear into their hearts.  At least they had the long week to enjoy their last victory.
Prediction:  Chiefs win 30-20
 
Browns at Steelers: 
Jemp: Steelers,  Reeb: Steelers,  Pep: Steelers,  Screw: Steelers
This Browns team might be more talented than in years past, but Hue Jackson’s squad still finds a way to lose games.  I had hoped Baker might mitigate this tendency of the Browns, but the best thing that Browns fans can hope for is that their record is bad enough that Hue Jackson gets fired.  This week should help that cause, as the Steelers should be able to outpace a Browns offense that lacks firepower.  But at least they have all these 5th round picks.
Prediction:  Steelers win 27-21
 
Redskins at Giants:
Jemp: Redskins,  Reeb: Redskins,  Pep: Redskins,  Screw: Redskins
Normally I can’t stand watching Eli Manning play, but I think I will enjoy it this week.  Watching him get clobbered by the best team in football is just what I need this week.  Maybe they can knock some sense into Eli and he will realize he should throw it to a wide open Odell Beckham when he can get an easy touchdown.  He’s not getting one this week though.
Prediction:  Redskins win 200-0
 
Seahawks at Lions:
Jemp: Lions,  Reeb: Lions,  Pep: Seahawks,  Screw: Lions
This should be a great game between two teams that are sneakily entering the NFC playoff mix.  However, I said on our podcast that I think the Seahawks are the fourth-best team in the NFC, which might sound like a lackluster statement, but I’ll take them over the Bears, Eagles, Panthers, Packers, and these Lions.  They may no longer be the Legion of Boom, but they still have a solid defense, and now have the running game to pair it with.  Add a little Russell Wilson magic to all that, and you have a team to be reckoned with.
Prediction:  Seahawks win 24-20
 
Buccaneers at Bengals: 
Jemp: Bengals,  Reeb: Bucs,  Pep: Bengals,  Screw: Bengals
Reeb’s pessimism seems to have reached new heights after another Sunday Night debacle from the Bungles.  While none of expected them to beat the Chiefs, we didn’t expect the game to get that out of hand.  The defense I was so excited about coming into the year doesn’t seem to know what to do with itself now that they can’t get away with intentionally injuring players.  If only they had their defensive leader back, old Domata Peko.  But since they don’t, I’m going with the Bucs.
Prediction:  Buccaneers win 30-27
 
Jets at Bears:
Jemp: Bears,  Reeb: Bears,  Pep: Bears,  Screw: Bears
I never want to watch the Bears get into a shootout again, at least while Mitch Trubisky is their quarterback, which I pray won’t be that long.  I’m not quite as sour on the Darnold era, as he has certainly had his moments, but that doesn’t mean I’m sold on him either.  Trubisky had his moments as a rookie too.  Sam, if you want to win, get the ball to Robby Anderson and he will make you look good.  And Mitch, you should just hand the ball to Jordan Howard, and leave the rest to Khalil Mack and the defense.  This roster doesn’t really match up with what their coaching staff wants to do, but they should have enough to beat the Jets at home anyway.
Prediction:  Bears win 17-13
 
Ravens at Panthers: 
Jemp: Ravens,  Reeb: Ravens,  Pep: Ravens,  Screw: Ravens
I’m surprised that no one is taking the Panthers, but I’m not breaking the Ravens trend no matter how much I love going lone wolf.  When I saw the Panthers getting shut out in the first three quarters, I was ready to cross them off, but instead they fought their way back to relevance.  However, the Ravens loss to the Saints was actually more impressive to me.  Of everything that could have cost the Ravens the game, a Justin Tucker missed extra point is the last thing I would have expected.  Hopefully he doesn’t catch whatever Blair Walsh got when he missed his crucial kick, and as long as he goes back to being himself, the Ravens will be just fine.
Prediction:  Ravens win 20-17
 
Colts at Raiders:
Jemp: Colts,  Reeb: Colts,  Pep: Colts,  Screw: Colts
The Colts are not yet dead in the AFC South crawl after a pick-me-up from Derek Anderson and the Bills.  Andrew Luck continues to remind people why he was once considered the best draft prospect since Peyton Manning, and Jon Gruden must salivate over all the first round picks he could trade him for.  Unfortunately, he is stuck with Derek Carr, who could probably only fetch a single first-rounder, with no one else on the team that would be worth that price.  Then again, I would have said the same thing last week, and somehow the Raiders found the one guy dumb enough to overpay for a receiver.  Now they are left with a team full of disgruntled, mediocre players just waiting to be replaced by draft picks.
Prediction:  Colts win 34-17
 
49ers at Cardinals: 
Jemp: 49ers,  Reeb: Cardinals,  Pep: 49ers,  Screw: Tie
The real losers of this game are the poor saps who have to watch it.  The Cardinals managed to get the better of the Niners in San Fran despite being doubled up in yardage, but I don’t expect them to be so lucky.  We can see the arm talent of Josh Rosen, but there is more to being a quarterback than just throwing the football.  The lack of talent on their offense is still evident, and their coaches give them zero help to mask it.  At least I trust Kyle Shanahan to come up with something to get points, although I also trust his defense to come up with something to give up points, even against the Cardinals.
Prediction:  49ers win 23-20
 
Packers at Rams:
Jemp: Rams,  Reeb: Rams,  Pep: Rams,  Screw: Rams
While the Packers might have the better quarterback in this game, their advantages end there.  They scraped by the 49ers, and then got the bye week to prepare for the Rams.  However, Mike McCarthy could take an extra year to gameplan and I’d still be more confident in Sean McVay.  And after watching what Kyle Shanahan and CJ freaking Beathard did to this defense, I don’t even want to watch what the Rams could do.  Actually, I do.  I may sometimes rant about the lack of defense in the NFL, but it’s still always fun to watch the Rams.
Prediction:  Rams win 41-24
 
Saints at Vikings:
Jemp: Vikings,  Reeb: Vikings,  Pep: Saints,  Screw: Saints
The Saints don’t get a break after having to go to Baltimore last week.  The Ravens gave them an even tougher game than I expected, and now they have to play a Vikings defense that should get Everson Griffen back.  The Saints also get a defensive boost of their own with the addition of Eli Apple, but I still see this being an offensive game.  I know, big surprise in 2018.  I’m ready to watch Kirk Cousins duel with Drew Brees, and I’m taking Kirk in a good one.
Prediction:  Vikings win 34-31
 
Patriots at Bills:
Jemp: Patriots,  Reeb: Patriots,  Pep: Patriots,  Screw: Patriots
Having Jason Witten call the Patriots-Bills game makes total sense, it just shouldn’t happen in primetime.  But, this is the world we live in, and we will have to live watching Tom Brady beat the Bills for the 176th time, or somewhere around there.  The last time he lost was when he threw 4 picks in 2011, but he could probably throw 7 in this game and still beat the Derek Anderson-led Bills.  Sorry that I turned on you so fast Derek, but that was brutal.
Prediction:  Patriots win 31-7

Let’s take a look at the standings:

Pep: 55-38
Reeb: 55-38
Alx: 53-40
Jemp: 51-42
Screw: 47-46
​
Reeb and Pep are now tied for the lead, and congratulations to Screw for finally rising above .500.
 
Broncos at Cardinals:
Jemp: Broncos,  Reeb: Broncos,  Pep: Broncos,  Screw: Broncos
Steve Wilks’ defense has finally started to step its game up the past few weeks.  However what is really amazing is that Josh Rosen is playing fairly well, and yet the Cardinals still have one of the worst offenses in the league.  It seems like a Thursday night home game against a struggling Broncos team might be just the recipe for this Cardinals team to get a win, but then I look at the matchup between the Broncos pass rush and the Cardinals offensive line.  Von Miller said that they were going to destroy the Cardinals, and who am I to disagree with Von Miller?  Especially when Bradley Chubb is finally getting into the mix as well.
Prediction:  Broncos win 24-10
 
Titans at Chargers:
Jemp: Chargers,  Reeb: Titans,  Pep: Chargers,  Screw: Chargers
The bad news for the Chargers is that they have to play a game that is 6:30 in the morning according to their body clocks.  The good news is that they may have the most fans they will play for all season long.  At least, I hope London fans can at least cut the Chargers a break and come to root for the designated home team.  Besides, who in their right mind would voluntarily root for the Titans?  Most of the British are probably wondering if the Titans are some new NFL team.  Actually, that’s a little worrisome, because if they don’t know anything about the Titans they might just choose to root for them because they have the cooler name.  Then again, how often do you ask to borrow someone’s Titan?
Prediction:  Chargers win 23-17
 
Texans at Jaguars:
Jemp: Jaguars,  Reeb: Texans,  Pep: Jaguars,  Screw: Texans
I desperately want to pick the Texans here, as they could easily seize sole possession of the division I picked them to win.  However, nothing about the way they have played has indicated that they are a good team.  Nathan Peterman handed them a win on Sunday, just as Frank Reich did two weeks before that.  They did outplay the Cowboys, but they still just squeaked by a pathetic Cowboys team in overtime.  Although, at least they didn’t get smacked in the mouth by the Cowboys like the Jaguars did.  That was flat-out embarrassing, and the worst part was that it had very little to do with Blake Bortles.  Cole Beasley ripped up the Jags from the slot, which was the Jaguars’ biggest issue that was exploited in this game.  Fire up Keke Coutee in your fantasy leagues, but I still trust the Jags defense more than any part of the Texans, so I have to pick the Jags at home.
Prediction:  Jaguars win 20-14
 
Panthers at Eagles: 
Jemp: Eagles,  Reeb: Eagles,  Pep: Panthers,  Screw: Panthers
We can’t overreact to the Panthers losing to the best team in the NFL, but we should also recognize the limitations for this team.  I still think they are a playoff contender, but their lack of weapons on offense is an issue, no matter how many PPR fantasy players swear by Christian McCaffrey.  McCaffrey is a nice piece, but he isn’t a feature back and the Panthers lack a number one receiver.  Of course, this isn’t anything that hasn’t been true of the Panthers in previous years, even when they went 15-1.  While Cam Newton has been very good this year, it is Carson Wentz that looks closer to his MVP form right now.  The Eagles have problems in their secondary, but the Panthers don’t have the receivers to exploit them.  This will be a fun battle in the trenches, but ultimately, I like the Eagles’ line groups a little bit more.
Prediction:  Eagles win 24-21
 
Vikings at Jets:
Jemp: Vikings,  Reeb: Vikings,  Pep: Vikings,  Screw: Vikings
It was nice to watch Kirk awkwardly try to join the dancing circle on Adam Thielen’s touchdown, and then get his own chance to shine in the spotlight when he ran for a touchdown himself.  Okay, maybe he wasn’t the one who choreographed it, but he certainly gave it the Kirk Cousins flair.  Anyway, I’m encouraged by what I’m seeing from the Vikings, but they have yet to put it all together.  While it’s good to be able to win in different ways, I would like to see them come out and dominate the Jets to prove they are true Super Bowl contenders.  Okay, maybe beating the Jets won’t prove anything, but it can help their case.
Prediction:  Vikings win 34-17
 
Patriots at Bears:
Jemp: Patriots,  Reeb: Patriots,  Pep: Patriots,  Screw: Patriots
The Patriots are coming off maybe the biggest win of the season for any team.   Now they are in good shape to continue their streak of getting a first round bye, and the Chiefs certainly aren’t running away with home-field advantage.  However, I am a little worried about the Patriots this week.  This feels like just the type of game the Patriots might lose.  A 1:00 game on the road against a really good defense could spell trouble for the Pats.  But, there is no way that I am taking Mitch Trubisky to beat Tom Brady.
Prediction:  Patriots win 20-17
 
Bills at Colts: 
Jemp: Colts,  Reeb: Colts,  Pep: Colts,  Screw: Colts
Maybe we should give Vontae Davis some credit, because since he retired, well, since the game after he retired, this Bills defense has been lights out.  Unfortunately, their offense makes every defense that plays against them look even better, especially when Nathan Peterman gets a chance to play.  However, this week, I think the Bills will get their best quarterback performance of the season.  I don’t care that Derek Anderson just got here less than two weeks ago, he is a veteran that knows how to lead an offense.  The Colts are still suffering from a lot of injuries, and I think the Bills can be anchored by their defense to get this win.  That’s right, I’m lone-wolfing the Bills.
Prediction:  Bills win 17-13
 
Browns at Buccaneers:
Jemp: Browns,  Reeb: Buccaneers,  Pep: Browns,  Screw: Browns
I am a little concerned about giving Reeb the lone-wolf on the Buccaneers here.  While the Browns have looked like a better team since Baker Mayfield entered the lineup, the results haven’t shown up much on the scoreboard.  As a fan of good football, I still appreciate the quarterback change, but I would like to see a little more.  Fortunately, this is the week to do it, as the Bucs have been the worst defense in the league up to this point.  Maybe firing Mike Smith can light a fire under the defense, but I don’t know if I trust that.  At least the offense still looked okay with Jameis, but I’m taking the other number one overall pick.
Prediction:  Browns win 30-24
 
Lions at Dolphins: 
Jemp: Lions,  Reeb: Lions,  Pep: Lions,  Screw: Lions
No one believes in Brock?  Sorry, didn’t mean to put that question mark there, as that is just a statement of fact at this point.  While I may never trust Brock Osweiler, I can’t help but root for the guy, despite the fact that I continuously ripped him to shreds after he signed that deal with the Texans.  For all the jokes that are made about him, the guy still has a winning record in the NFL.  That’s why… no I can’t do it.  I can’t pick the Dolphins.  I actually find this team more likeable with Brock at quarterback, but I’m still picking the Lions.
Prediction:  Lions win 23-20
 
Saints at Ravens:
Jemp: Saints,  Reeb: Saints,  Pep: Ravens,  Screw: Saints
This one should be fun.  The high-flying Saints against the suffocating Ravens defense is a matchup everyone can get behind.  Unfortunately, I don’t really believe this Ravens defense is as good as the numbers indicate.  Don’t get me wrong, they are still a good defense, but I don’t expect them to be able to withstand the onslaught of the Saints, even if the Saints aren’t indoors.  I said this offense would really hit their stride when Mark Ingram came back and Tre’Quan Smith and Cameron Meredith got involved, and all of that happened in one magical game.  The Chiefs and Rams have been incredible on offense, but the Saints might now have the best attack in the league.
Prediction:  Saints win 30-20
 
Cowboys at Redskins: 
Jemp: Redskins,  Reeb: Redskins,  Pep: Redskins,  Screw: Redskins
Why even talk about this game?  Sure the Cowboys got a lucky win last week, but the Redskins will dominate them as they always do, and everyone at PFJ knows it.
Prediction:  Redskins win 200-0
 
Rams at 49ers:
Jemp: Rams,  Reeb: Rams,  Pep: Rams,  Screw: Rams
It was a nice effort by CJ Beathard, and I’m hoping this means I can start Marquise Goodwin in fantasy again.  However, I don’t think anyone in their right mind would pick the CJ to topple the Rams this week.  Kyle Shanahan thought this might be his year to compete with Sean McVay for the NFC West crown, but it looks like he will have to wait another year or two, as we all expect the Rams to keep rolling.
Prediction:  Rams win 35-21
 
Bengals at Chiefs:
Jemp: Chiefs,  Reeb: Chiefs,  Pep: Chiefs,  Screw: Bengals
Rough draw for the Bengals, as I don’t think any team would want to have to travel to Arrowhead for Sunday Night Football.  But it is especially rough for a team that is trying to shake off its stigma of sucking in primetime.  Andy Dalton may light up this Chiefs defense, but at the end of the day, all anyone will remember will be the tick in the loss column.  I recognize that it isn’t fair to you Andy, but I’m still going to make the jokes anyway.  After all, it is my job.
Prediction:  Chiefs win 34-30
 
Giants at Falcons:
Jemp: Falcons,  Reeb: Falcons,  Pep: Falcons,  Screw: Falcons
Ugh, well I guess the NFL will get what it wants as long as these two teams put up some points.  Can we just agree to make touchdowns worth like 50 points so games seem like they are more high-scoring, rather than just have a league where no defense is played?  If this game ends up being in the 30s or higher, everyone will say this was a great game regardless if neither team actually played good football.  Is it a crime to like defense?  Or even just to like for offense to actually have to work for what they get?  If you just like watching numbers go higher, the NBA is on now, so go watch that.
Prediction:  Falcons win 34-31

Let’s take a look at the standings:

Reeb: 45-33
Pep: 44-34
Jemp: 42-36
Alx: 41-37
Screw: 37-41
​
Reeb the unpaid intern surged to the top of the standings, as Pep squandered that big lead he had in one fell swoop.  Still, this has turned into a tight race, so let’s pick some games.
 
Eagles at Giants:
Jemp: Eagles,  Reeb: Eagles,  Pep: Eagles,  Screw: Giants
Good new for Giants fans, Ereck Flowers is gone, so the Giants are fixed!  From what I’ve heard from Giants fans, he was responsible for all the problems on the Giants, and now Eli Manning will once again be an elite quarterback who can easily beat the Eagles.  I actually considered taking the Giants in this game, but figured that might undermine my narrative.  Also, despite the Eagles struggles, they can still get after the quarterback, and even with Ereck Flowers gone, the Giants haven’t magically fixed their pass protection.
Prediction:  Eagles win 20-17
 
Buccaneers at Falcons:
Jemp: Falcons,  Reeb: Falcons,  Pep: Falcons,  Screw: Falcons
The Falcons really disappointed against that lousy Steelers defense, but this week they are back at home against a Bucs defense that allowed Mitchell Trubisky to throw 6 TDs.  If we extrapolate based on skill, I would expect Matt Ryan to throw about 20 TDs, and I don’t even think Matt Ryan is that good.  Okay, maybe he wont throw quite that many, but I do expect a shootout, even if Jameis can’t keep up the magic that his predecessor had captured.
Prediction:  Falcons win 38-24
 
Panthers at Redskins:
Jemp: Panthers,  Reeb: Panthers,  Pep: Panthers,  Screw: Panthers
Graham Gano deserves some love after leaving the Redskins and inevitably becoming one of the best kickers in the league.  Of course, that doesn’t mean he can beat the Redskins, since they are clearly the most dominant team in the league.  They were nice enough to help out Drew Brees with his record last week, but they won’t let Cam get any records… probably.
Prediction:  Redskins win 100-0
 
Seahawks at Raiders: 
Jemp: Seahawks,  Reeb: Seahawks,  Pep: Seahawks,  Screw: Seahawks
The Seahawks lost a heart-breaker to the Rams, but probably gave their division rivals the toughest fight they have faced all year.  Last week my blurb for the Hawks read like a eulogy, but that was before I had the chance to watch them play the Cardinals.  After watching that game followed by the Rams games, I came to the remarkable realization that the strength of the Seahawks is now their offensive line, particularly their prowess in the running game.  They have now produced a 100-yard rusher in three straight weeks, and their commitment to the running game must make Marshawn Lynch a little envious.  While his old team rediscovers its running game, his new team seems to abandon him in the second half.  Maybe that changes this week, and he gets his revenge as the Raiders run it in from the one yard line to win the game as Beastmode sticks it to Pete Carroll, but I doubt it.
Prediction:  Seahawks win 24-20
 
Colts at Jets:
Jemp: Colts,  Reeb: Colts,  Pep: Colts,  Screw: Colts
This has to be the toughest game to pick of the week.  The Colts are as banged up as any team in the league, yet still playing hard, but the Jets are the real enigma.  Some weeks they look like the pathetic Jets offense in 2012, and others they look like the explosive Jets offense in… oh right, they have never had an explosive offense.  I guess that sounds promising for Sam Darnold, but it is not as if he has lit up the skies in either of the Jets victories.  He has only thrown for exactly 198 yards in both wins, and it has been the running game that has taken over.  However, the important thing is that Sam Darnold may have finally realized who his best receiver is.  It’s Robby Anderson, and he better not forget it.
Prediction:  Jets win 24-20
 
Cardinals at Vikings:
Jemp: Vikings,  Reeb: Vikings,  Pep: Vikings,  Screw: Vikings
I was impressed with Josh Rosen as I watched his highlights last week, but then was turned off when I looked at his numbers.  I realized the only way to find out if he played well was to watch the tape, but I couldn’t bring myself to watch Cardinals-49ers.  Instead, I turned on the Vikings game, as I watched Kirk Cousins deliver more dimes, this time in a Vikings win.  What was once a complete team that was just a quarterback away is now a team being carried by its quarterback.  However, the defense rebounded with a strong performance in Philly, and hopefully Dalvin Cook will return to give this team a run game.  I haven’t given up on the Vikings as a super bowl contender just yet.
Prediction:  Vikings win 30-10
 
Steelers at Bengals: 
Jemp: Bengals,  Reeb: Steelers,  Pep: Steelers,  Screw: Steelers
The Steelers looked to finally get back on track last week.  Apparently all they needed was to play a slightly more injured version of themselves at home to get a win.  That being said, the defense held what had been an explosive offense (albeit only at home) to a paltry 17 points.  Getting Mike Hilton back made a huge change to that secondary, as it did last year when he entered the lineup.  He may be one of the best nickelbacks in the game.  However, the Bengals also got a boost on defense with the return of Vontaze Burfict, and so far he hasn’t gotten himself suspended again.  I had high hopes for this Bengals defense once they got Burfict back, but I hadn’t expected them to be so bad without him.  Hopefully last week was a sign of things to come for the Bengals D, and not just a product of playing the Dolphins.
Prediction:  Bengals win 27-24
 
Chargers at Browns:
Jemp: Chargers,  Reeb: Chargers,  Pep: Chargers,  Screw: Chargers
It’s a new day for these two teams, as the Chargers managed not to blow a game to the lowly Raiders and the Browns actually won a game on a Sunday in overtime.  However, both teams still have their kicking woes, and I don’t discount either of their abilities to pull out a loss at the last minute.  I was the only one to pick the Browns last week, and I am tempted to roll with them again at home, but I like this Chargers team a little bit more, and they certainly don’t mind playing on the road, since it is no different than playing at home for them.  Stop me if you have heard this before, but I think this is finally the year the Chargers go back to the playoffs.
Prediction:  Chargers win 23-20
 
Bills at Texans: 
Jemp: Texans,  Reeb: Texans,  Pep: Texans,  Screw: Texans
Maybe two overtime wins against a couple mediocre teams doesn’t exactly spell playoffs for the Texans, but it’s a step in the right direction.  Currently, they are only one game back in their division, with another game they should win on the docket.  However, the Bills are gaining a penchant for winning games they shouldn’t, probably because national opinion is that there aren’t any games they should win.  Yet, this is the Bills team I more or less expected, with a defense that can keep them in ball games while their offense might do just enough to get them a couple wins.  The Bills average 121 passing yards per game, which is simply atrocious in today’s NFL.  Actually it would be pretty bad in any day’s NFL, yet they still managed to beat the Titans with just 82 passing yards from Josh Allen, so who knows?
Prediction:  Texans win 20-10
 
Bears at Dolphins:
Jemp: Bears,  Reeb: Bears,  Pep: Bears,  Screw: Bears
Rough game for the Dolphins, as fans were about to come screaming back to the forefront of the league, pretending the Patriots game was an apparition and the Dolphins were still contenders.  Then they watched a 14-point fourth quarter lead evaporate.  But at least Adam Gase at least got to salvage his great record in one-score games, because the Dolphins were so bad down the stretch that they ended up losing by multiple possessions.  I don’t think this game will be much different.
Prediction:  Bears win 24-10
 
Rams at Broncos: 
Jemp: Rams,  Reeb: Rams,  Pep: Rams,  Screw: Rams
This Broncos team is starting to remind me a lot of last year’s Broncos.  They start out strong then start to crumble even against the worst of teams.  I guess beating the Seahawks and Raiders by a combined 4 points at home might not even qualify as starting out strong.  Their defense is worse than it was last year, and the strength of their offense is in their two rookie running backs.  I can’t even get excited for the Case Keenum revenge game in this one, because I have zero faith that he has a chance to win this.  The Rams offense looks unstoppable right now, and I don’t think Von Miller and company can put up much resistance.
Prediction:  Rams win 35-17
 
Ravens at Titans:
Jemp: Ravens,  Reeb: Ravens,  Pep: Ravens,  Screw: Ravens
Remember last week when a bunch of people were jumping on the Titans bandwagon?  Well whoever was driving it crashed it real fast, as they usually seem to do in Nashville.  While the Ravens also took an L last week, I don’t consider an overtime loss in Cleveland as a bad loss anymore.  I said the Ravens would win the AFC North despite that loss, and I’m sticking with that prediction.  I expect them to get back on track this week by sending the Titans back to .500, right where they belong.
Prediction:  Ravens win 23-13
 
Jaguars at Cowboys:
Jemp: Jaguars,  Reeb: Jaguars,  Pep: Jaguars,  Screw: Jaguars
The only reason Jags fans should be discouraged by their loss to the Chiefs is if they didn’t already know that Blake Bortles was prone to turnovers.  He threw 4 interceptions including a pick six, lost a fumble, and turned the ball over on downs twice.  The Jags still put up over 500 yards of offense and held the Chiefs to 30 points which is a win for their defense considering all the turnovers.  All Jags fans should know by now that Blake Bortles can lose any game for them, so that is something they will have to live with until the team finally gives up on him.  Other than that, they have to root for the good things their team does, which should be plenty to get them a win in Dallas, and I think Blake might even have a good game this week.
Prediction:  Jaguars win 24-6
 
Chiefs at Patriots:
Jemp: Chiefs,  Reeb: Chiefs,  Pep: Patriots,  Screw: Patriots
I’m not surprised there is a split on this one, as this is certainly the game of the week.  If there is one team that isn’t completely susceptible to losing to the Patriots, it’s the Chiefs.  They have also been the better team so far this year, with the hottest quarterback in the league.  Yet, we’ve seen what the Patriots have done the past couple weeks after people started doubting them.  I almost never pick against the Patriots, and I certainly wouldn’t dare do it when they are at home in primetime.  It feels about time for the Chiefs to take a loss, while the Patriots maintain their stranglehold on the conference that they have had for about 17 years.
Prediction:  Patriots win 34-31
 
49ers at Packers:
Jemp: Packers,  Reeb: Packers,  Pep: Packers,  Screw: Packers
There is no better way to end a great week of football than to watch Aaron Rodgers have a quarterback duel with CJ Beathard.  It’s anyone’s game!  The Packers might not be playing their best football, but the day that they can’t beat CJ Beathard in Lambeau with Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback is the day I pay full price for an authentic Beathard jersey.  Also, it would probably help if Mason Crosby could remember how to make a field goal this time, but it probably won’t matter for this game.  Well, it might matter for his job.
Prediction:  Packers win 27-14

Let’s take a look at the standings:

Pep: 38-25
Reeb: 34-29
Jemp: 33-30
Alx: 32-31
Screw: 30-33
​
Pep still has a stranglehold on the lead, as the rest of us are now all embarrassingly close to .500.  But I guess we love the NFL because it is unpredictable, so let’s try to futilely pick some games!
 
Colts at Patriots:
Jemp: Patriots,  Reeb: Patriots,  Pep: Patriots,  Screw: Patriots
The Patriots shocked the world last week as they managed to upset the previously undefeated Dolphins.  Josh Gordon was out there, and now we have Edelman coming back, but it was Phillip Dorsett and Cordarrelle Patterson that looked like they didn’t want to give up their starting spots.  As for the Colts, Andrew Luck proved his arm wasn’t quite shot yet as he was out there slinging it to Chester Rogers and Zach Pascal.  The Colts aren’t the pushovers that they were last year, but they couldn’t even beat the Patriots when they were good, so I’m sensing another Patriots victory.
Prediction:  Patriots win  31-24
 
Titans at Bills:
Jemp: Titans,  Reeb: Titans,  Pep: Titans,  Screw: Titans
The Bills went back to being the Bills, despite a valiant effort by their defense.  I said I thought this defense could be solid, but it’s tough when your offense has 145 total yards and 3 turnovers.  Maybe Pep was a little early calling Josh Allen the best quarterback in the league.  I mean, he couldn’t even draw a single roughing the passer call on Clay Matthews.  While Josh Allen was disappointing, Marcus Mariota had one of the most memorable games of his career (not saying a whole lot but still).  The Titans finally did something exciting, even though I think Roger was threatening some coaches to go for it or their teams would be relegated.  Roger to Mike Vrabel/Frank Reich: “If you want the NFL to be like soccer, then I’ll make it like soccer.”
Prediction:  Titans win 20-10
 
Falcons at Steelers:
Jemp: Falcons,  Reeb: Steelers,  Pep: Falcons,  Screw: Falcons
This one looks to be a shootout, which is unusual in today’s NFL.  Despite the laughable defenses put forth by these two teams, their offenses have at least kept them competitive in their games.  Now we are rapidly approaching the “must-win” mode for both of these two teams, because how could they possibly survive going a whole 3 games back in their respective divisions?  If I have to pick one of these teams, I’m going with the one that is getting their All-Pro RB back for this game (yes, Devonta Freeman has been an All-Pro, second team but still counts).  Despite the Steelers penchant for playing better at home, the Falcons are the offense I trust more.  At this rate, Calvin Ridley will surpass Julio for career TDs by the end of 2019, which might anger Julio Jones fantasy owners, but it only means good things for the Falcons.
Prediction:  Falcons win 37-32
 
Broncos at Jets: 
Jemp: Broncos,  Reeb: Broncos,  Pep: Broncos,  Screw: Broncos
Had it not been for Week 1, we might be talking about the Jets as the worst team in the league, or at least the worst offense.  Alright, the Bills and Cardinals are pretty bad too.  But you get my point, the Jets suck.  The Broncos defense might look like it did in 2015 with a little help from the Jets.  They squandered a huge opportunity to take an inevitably fleeting hold on the AFC West, but it would have been a nice moment regardless.  Instead, we are left with the image of Patrick Mahomes making a left-handed pass as he continues to take the league by storm.  But more on that in the next game.
Prediction:  Broncos win 20-10
 
Jaguars at Chiefs:
Jemp: Chiefs,  Reeb: Chiefs,  Pep: Jaguars,  Screw: Chiefs
Everything we’ve seen in this year’s NFL indicates that great offense will beat great defense.  With rule changes, offensive innovation and creativity, and the absolute confusion of defenders to figure out what they are supposed to do, it becomes increasingly hard to stop an offense with the scheme and talent of the Chiefs.  However, we saw the Broncos start to slow down the machine, even if it was all in vain.  Patrick Mahomes showed off his incredible ability to improvise and come through in the clutch, but this Jaguars defense is far better than the Broncos.  I think we started to see that things won’t be so easy for the Chiefs and probably all the steaming hot offenses all year, and while Mahomes proved he is good enough to win even when things don’t go completely according to the gameplan, I still think the Jaguars are able to come out of Arrowhead with a win.
Prediction:  Jaguars win 24-20
 
Packers at Lions:
Jemp: Lions,  Reeb: Packers,  Pep: Packers,  Screw: Packers
Poor Jemp has to endure watching his Lions blow games they should win.  The Lions were so bad that they made Dak Prescott look like Ryan Tannehill (yeah that’s now a good thing for Dak).  However, Matthew Stafford came up clutch as usual, but the it was the Cowboys who had the ball last.  That wasn’t something Aaron Rodgers had to worry about last week, as he probably felt great every time the Packers gave the ball back to Josh Allen.  However, this Packers offense doesn’t look nearly as explosive as it needs to be for this team to compete for a Super Bowl.  Aaron Rodgers is still a bit hobbled, and his receivers continue to drop passes instead of helping him out.  I like the Lions to pull the upset here at home.
Prediction:  Lions win 27-24
 
Ravens at Browns: 
Jemp: Ravens,  Reeb: Ravens,  Pep: Ravens,  Screw: Ravens
It was tough watching the Browns lose in such heartbreaking fashion last week, as the refs made some questionable calls that at least had nothing to do with the bodyweight rule.  Baker Mayfield stat-line wasn’t great, but you could see that he was the reason this offense was able to put up 42 points, even though two long TD runs from Nick Chubb helped.  His pick-six may have been an ill-advised throw, but it was also right on a dime and bounced off his receiver’s hands.  This Browns team is sneaky good, but the Ravens are just flat-out good.  Their defense has rebounded nicely after the disappointing game against the Bengals, and their offense continues to roll.  While I think the Ravens are the better team and will ultimately win this division, I think Baker pulls this one out for the Dog-Pound in Cleveland.
Prediction:  Browns win 22-19
 
Giants at Panthers:
Jemp: Panthers,  Reeb: Panthers,  Pep: Panthers,  Screw: Panthers
I think people are finally starting to admit that maybe Eli Manning isn’t all that good anymore.  Other than his one 2011 year, he hasn’t ever been all that good, and has been damn near dreadful for the past three seasons.  As for the Panthers, I’ll admit that they have surprised me.  I thought they would fall off, but their defense has been much better than I expected.  The fact that Donte Jackson, a third round rookie was starting at cornerback originally seemed like an indictment of their defensive backfield, but instead it has been a revelation of young talent.  And of course I have always known that Cam Newton can carry an offense when he is at his best, and he has been at his best all year.  I almost talked myself into thinking Odell could take this game over, but until I see Cam start to drop off, I’m not discounting that this won’t be another MVP type year for him.
Prediction:  Panthers win 24-21
 
Dolphins at Bengals: 
Jemp: Bengals,  Reeb: Bengals,  Pep: Bengals,  Screw: Bengals
Poor Dolphins fans.   They had to deal with everyone in the media patronizing their team, saying that this Dolphins team might be different.  Everyone said good things about the Dolphins right up to the point until they had to pick the game, and then everyone picked the Patriots.  That’s a hard moment for a fan, as you realize the talk about your team was nothing more than an attempt to get people excited for the game.  “We will show them,” Miami natives said to themselves.  “Just like when they picked against us when we played the Raiders, Jets, and Titans.  They will regret it.”  It’s a nice sentiment, but no one regretted picking the Patriots.  I certainly didn’t, and I doubt I’ll regret picking the Bengals this week.
Prediction:  Bengals win 27-17
 
Raiders at Chargers:
Jemp: Chargers,  Reeb: Chargers,  Pep: Chargers,  Screw: Chargers
Sometimes I wish I didn’t like the Chargers so I could pick against them in games like this and laugh as they blew a game to the hapless Raiders, who needed the refs to bail them out against the Browns.  I imagine there would be no team that would be more fun to hate than the Chargers.  Unfortunately, I love watching Philip Rivers and the Chargers, and always want to root for them to win.  Are they the better team in this one?  Of course.  It’s not even very close, despite the fact that the Raiders have played a lot better than most expected.  Yet, I almost expect the Chargers to lose this game, but I’ll continue to ride with them anyway.  Maybe this is the year that they actually live up to expectations!
Prediction:  Chargers win 31-28
 
Cardinals at 49ers: 
Jemp: 49ers,  Reeb: Cardinals,  Pep: 49ers,  Screw: Cardinals
Sad that this didn’t make it to the Thursday Night game.  The winless Cardinals against the CJ Beathard-led 49ers is what TNF used to be all about.  Now the NFL wants “ratings.”  We at ProFootballJokes certainly don’t care about those.  However, this will be one of the best chances Josh Rosen gets at a win, so he better take advantage of it.  He played pretty well last week for a rookie without much surrounding help, but we should also give a little love to CJ Beathard.  He kept the 49ers competitive in a game they had no business winning, albeit against the Chargers.  He was awful last year, but it’s tough to come in as a mid-round rookie on a terrible team.  He could still improve, and certainly has a chance to get this win.  You know what?  I was planning on taking the Cards, but I just talked myself into the Niners.  I’ll take the better coach at home in what could be the Sacko Bowl.
Prediction:  49ers win 23-20
 
Vikings at Eagles:
Jemp: Vikings,  Reeb: Vikings,  Pep: Vikings,  Screw: Eagles
The Eagles are getting healthier, but they did still lose to the Titans, something that didn’t even surprise me.  The Titans are no pushover, but if the Eagles were the team of last year they would have been able to roll over them easily.  While the Vikings clearly have some issues of their own, especially with an Everson Griffen-less defense, I believe they are the clearly better team right now.  The Vikings could really use a win here, and I think Kirk Cousins will deliver one.
Prediction:  Vikings win 31-24
 
Rams at Seahawks:
Jemp: Rams,  Reeb: Rams,  Pep: Rams,  Screw: Rams
The Legion went out with a boom on Sunday as its last surviving member was carted off the field, leaving Seahawks fans with nothing but memories of the brash, unfiltered unit once feared by receivers and quarterbacks alike.  They are left with a quarterback trying to hold a broken team together, and I don’t think even a 13th man could help them win this game against the LA juggernaut.  Many people will and have rejoiced at the demise of the self-proclaimed LOB, but remember this is a new league.  In a league where offense reigns supreme, and it’s the defense that is frightened by big hits, the Seahawks could be the last of their kind.  Now it’s time to pay your offense and dream up plays like Sean McVay, and if you want to know what defenders think of that, just ask Earl Thomas.
Prediction:  Rams win 42-21
 
Cowboys at Texans:
Jemp: Cowboys,  Reeb: Texans,  Pep: Cowboys,  Screw: Cowboys
Everything is bigger in Texas, especially the overreactions.  One win for the Cowboys at home against the Lions and suddenly their season is saved.  Of course, it isn’t as if the win by the Texans was much more impressive.  They got bailed out by the stones of Frank Reich, who deserves a medal for not subjecting us to another tie.  Instead the Texans have their first win, and I’m still hopeful that it will lead to many more.  JJ Watt may be the most dominant defender in the NFL once again even with Khalil Mack around.  However, the Texans need to rely on their offense to win games, and while Deshaun Watson has been far from flawless, he has moved this offense well since Week 1.  He has nearly 500 more passing yards than Dak at least, so I’m taking the home team.
Prediction:  Texans win 28-17
 
Redskins at Saints:
Jemp: Saints,  Reeb: Saints,  Pep: Redskins,  Screw: Redskins
Monday Night Football might not always be too kind to the Redskins, but with a revenge game for Adrian Peterson, the best team in football should have no problem winning this one coming off a bye.  Sorry Saints, the Redskins will send you marching home.
Prediction:  Redskins win 100-0

Let’s take a look at the standings:

Pep: 28-20
Jemp: 25-23
Reeb: 25-23
Alx: 24-24
Screw: 20-28
​
Hey I’m back to .500!  After going 7-9 the first two weeks, I stepped out of Jeff Fisher’s shoes and went 10-6 in week 3.  Now I just need to step my game up a little more as I continue to get a feel for these teams.  So let’s pick some games.
 
Vikings at Rams:
Jemp: Vikings,  Reeb: Rams,  Pep: Rams,  Screw: Rams
What was shaping up to be battle for supremacy in the NFC has turned into a desperate Vikings team trying to prove they belong with the high-flying Rams.  However, a home game against the laughing stock of the NFL sandwiched in between a 70 minute struggle with your division rival and a Thursday Night contest against the powerhouse of the conference can be found as the top recipe for a trap game.  The Vikings were by no means exposed by the Bills, the only question is whether they will enter this game with their confidence shaken or with something to prove?  I still think they are the more talented team now that Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib are out, so I like the Vikes to bounce back.
Prediction:  Vikings win 24-20
 
Jets at Jaguars:
Jemp: Jaguars,  Reeb: Jaguars,  Pep: Jaguars,  Screw: Jaguars
I did tell you that the Titans are somehow the Jags’ kryptonite (not enough to pick them, but still).  The Jags also lost to the Jets last year, so don’t count out Gang Green in this one.  Again, I’ll hedge my bets, because I don’t think the Jets will actually win.  This could be a tough stretch for Sam Darnold.  After facing the Jags this week, he has Von Miller and company coming to town.  Then he gets an improved Colts defense at home before having to face perhaps the two best defenses in the NFC, the Vikings and Bears.  Maybe throwing a 21-year old kid into the fire wasn’t the best idea after all.  But at least they didn’t wait until they needed a two-minute drive against a top 5 defense.
Prediction:  Jags win 17-10
 
Dolphins at Patriots:
Jemp: Patriots,  Reeb: Patriots,  Pep: Patriots,  Screw: Patriots
A classic AFC bout between a team that is struggling to find offense and a team that looks like it might run away with the division.  Patriots fans just may be confused as to which side they’re on.  However, no one is kidding themselves; the Dolphins might get the better of the Pats sometimes in Miami, but Tom Brady has never lost against the Dolphins at home.  Okay, he technically started a Week 17 game in 2005 where the Pats lost to the Dolphins in Foxboro, but Matt Cassel played most of the game as the Patriots rested their starters.  That being said, we might really start to worry if the Pats lose this one, but since no one actually thinks the Dolphins are good, I find it unlikely.
Prediction:  Patriots win 31-17
 
Eagles at Titans: 
Jemp: Eagles,  Reeb: Eagles,  Pep: Eagles,  Screw: Eagles
The Titans are holding their title as the most boring team to watch.  Their defense is fine, and their offense is meh, and that is all I really want to say about the Titans.  Instead let’s discuss the least talked about defending champ since the 2016 Broncos.  Hmm, Trevor Siemian really made that last statement seem pretty mild.  Still, the point is that everyone has forgotten about Philly because their offense has been riddled with injuries.  However, all of their pieces are expected to be back eventually, and their defense might be better than it was last year.  Okay fine, they aren’t all that exciting, but I really didn’t want to talk about the Titans.
Prediction:  Eagles win 20-12
 
Texans at Colts:
Jemp: Colts,  Reeb: Colts,  Pep: Colts,  Screw: Colts
I think Jacoby Brissett intentionally threw that Hail Mary out of the back of the end zone just to rub his cannon in Andrew Luck’s face.  Luck’s longest play of the day was a 33 yard run, and thanks to the Hail Mary that never was, defenses will now know that there is a reason for the short passing game of the Colts.  Fortunately, Margus Hunt and Darious Leonard are stepping up as the new faces of the Colts defense.  That’s right, the Colts have the best defense in this game, despite the re-emergence of JJ Watt.  Even so, my heart still lies with Deshaun Watson, and I’m sticking to my prediction of the Texans winning the AFC South.
Prediction:  Texans win 24-20
 
Bills at Packers:
Jemp: Packers,  Reeb: Packers,  Pep: Packers,  Screw: Packers
Breaking new from last week: Jerry Hughes did not miss the team bus.  In fact, he posted a strip sack an NFL record 15 pressures according the Next Gen Stats, at least since they started recording pressures a few years ago.  Also, the Bills mafia may have hope after all, in the form of rookie Josh Allen.  Remember when people compared him to Cam Newton, and we all laughed because he’s white?  Well he didn’t look white when he was jumping over Anthony Barr.  However, he didn’t really do all that much through the air, with less than 200 yards mostly in the form of screen passes and a couple busted coverages.  Still, it’s nice that Bills fans can cling to this faint hope for right now.
Prediction:  Packers win 24-10
 
Lions at Cowboys: 
Jemp: Lions,  Reeb: Lions,  Pep: Cowboys,  Screw: Lions
First I lone-wolf the Cowboys in Week 1, and now Pep’s doing it too.  These are strange times we live in.  Case and point: Tavon Austin has now caught touchdown passes in consecutive weeks.  In fact, he is the only one to catch a touchdown pass from Dak this year.  Remember when people were excited by the Allen Hurns signing?  Me neither.  The Lions, on the other hand, may now have the best receiving trio in the league with the emergence of Kenny Golladay (although the Bucs and Falcons may beg to differ).  Their defense may also have finally bought what Matt Patricia is selling, and perhaps this could be a solid team going forward.
Prediction:  Lions win 23-13
 
Buccaneers at Bears:
Jemp: Bears,  Reeb: Bucs,  Pep: Bears,  Screw: Bears
It looked like Fitz had lost all of his magic in the first half of Monday Night Football, but after a Kwikspell course at halftime, he was able to spin a few more charms at the end.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to topple the Steelers, but I think it will against this Bears team.  The Bears defense needs to get turnovers to win this game, but Ryan Fitzpatrick won’t let them get those, right?  On the other side of the ball, Mitchell Trubisky is quickly surpassing Rex Grossman as the biggest quarterback anchor the Bears have ever had, and not in a good way.  I honestly wonder how long it takes the Bears to move on from him if this continues.  Chase Daniel anybody?
Prediction:  Buccaneers win 24-17
 
Bengals at Falcons: 
Jemp: Falcons,  Reeb: Falcons,  Pep: Falcons,  Screw: Falcons
Almost feels disrespectful for all of us to pick the Falcons in this one, but with AJ Green and Joe Mixon nursing injuries, it’s hard to see how the Bengals pull this one off on the road.  The Bengals defense was a unit I was very excited about, and they have been a little disappointing.  Maybe they will get it together when Vontaze returns, but until then, I am sticking with this Falcons offense.  Fantasy owners may disagree, but I kind of think this offense might be better when it spreads the ball around to all of its many weapons instead of just jamming it into Julio Jones.
Prediction:  Falcons win 27-17
 
Seahawks at Cardinals:
Jemp: Seahawks,  Reeb: Seahawks,  Pep: Seahawks,  Screw: Seahawks
The Seahawks tend to lose a lot of games with only 11 men in September.  It’s their 12s that usually save them from falling into obsolescence early in the year, as seen last week.  This week, they will have to count on Steve Wilks to be their 12th man.  However, they will also have to contend with Josh Rosen, who will get to play in a live football game where he isn’t thrown immediately into a comeback drive at the end of the game.  Unfortunately, none of us believe that Josh Rosen can give the Cardinals the lift they need to win a game.
Prediction:  Seahawks win 24-16
 
Browns at Raiders: 
Jemp: Browns,  Reeb: Raiders,  Pep: Browns,  Screw: Browns
Guess who has the longest losing streak going into this game?  Not the Browns, because they are coming off their first win in… well we will just say quite a while.  Now they are trying to string together an actual winning streak.  However, the Raiders won’t go down without a fight.  Even though they are 0-3 they have been no pushovers, and I think you may have to give Jon Gruden some credit for bringing in a lot of castoff veterans who are playing pretty well.  They may be lacking any superstars, but there isn’t anything Gruden could have done about that, is there?  The Raiders are due for a win, but I’m counting the ferocity of the Browns defense along with the moxie of Baker Mayfield to win this game.
Prediction:  Browns win 28-17
 
Saints at Giants:
Jemp: Saints,  Reeb: Saints,  Pep: Saints,  Screw: Saints
The Giants didn’t look half-bad this past Sunday.  Eli looked like a competent quarterback who utilized the talented weapons he has.  The defense has also been solid all season, despite missing a few key players.  However, they haven’t faced an offense like the one they are about to play.  Michael Thomas is on pace to shatter the single-season reception record, but the crazy thing is that Alvin Kamara is on pace to break it as well.  He is still listed as a running back, right?  The offense could not be more concentrated, but it doesn’t seem to matter.  Just wait until they get Mark Ingram back and get Cameron Meredith and Tre’Quan Smith more integrated into the offense.
Prediction:  Saints win 37-21
 
49ers at Chargers:
Jemp: Chargers,  Reeb: Chargers,  Pep: Chargers,  Screw: Chargers
Who is excited to see CJ Beathard in action?  Unless his mom is reading this, I’m guessing none of you.  The 49ers season is probably over, but the Chargers still have a bright future ahead of them, that they typically like to squander.  However, they took care of business against the Bills, and I can’t be overly concerned that they lost to the Rams without their best player.  Although they still managed to screw up on special teams again, but it was mostly the fault of Derwin James who somehow didn’t realize he ran out of the endzone just before stepping out of bounds after making a great pick.  It was a classic move that only the Chargers could come up with.  However, if they could hold it together against the Bills, then they should be able to against this wounded 49ers team, and can hopefully turn the corner once Joey Bosa comes back.
Prediction:  Chargers win 28-10
 
Ravens at Steelers:
Jemp: Steelers,  Reeb: Steelers,  Pep: Ravens,  Screw: Ravens
The AFC North looks wide open, with any of the four teams having a chance to win it (that’s right, I’m not counting out the Browns).  The Ravens offense has scored 12 touchdowns in 12 redzone trips.  Justin Tucker gets to just nail long field goals and doesn’t have to worry about chip shots anymore.  Although anything inside of like 55 yards is basically a chip shot for him.  Joe Flacco looks like a new man mustering the strength to give Lamar Jackson a Vance McDonald-like stiff arm to the bench.  Speaking of Vance McDonald, is he finally going to become a thing in this Steelers offense?  Probably not, but it doesn’t really matter because the Steelers offense certainly isn’t the problem with their team.  It’s their defense that can’t stop anyone, and despite this historically defensive rivalry, I’m expect another shootout.
Prediction:  Steelers win 34-33
 
Chiefs at Broncos:
Jemp: Chiefs,  Reeb: Chiefs,  Pep: Broncos,  Screw: Chiefs
Pep is surprisingly high on the Broncos, and is calling the upset on Monday Night Football.  I wish I had his confidence in Case Keenum, but Case isn’t even the problem in Denver.  The problem is that the Broncos are no longer a team spearheaded by a suffocating defense.  Von Miller is still one of the best players in the NFL, but the Broncos defense is just looks average, but may look worse than that after Patrick Mahomes gets through with them.  This will be his first trip into the national spotlight though, so maybe the Broncos can hope he has a fear of nighttime.  I do think he must slow down eventually, but I’m not betting against him until I see a decline.  And as bad as the Chiefs defense might be, I don’t see Case Keenum putting up 40+ points.
Prediction:  Chiefs win 35-27

Let’s just skip the standings this week and get right into the picks!
 
Okay fine here they are:

Pep: 19-13
Jemp: 17-15
Reeb: 17-15
Alx: 14-18
Screw: 11-21
​
Yeah I’m not doing too well, but at least I’m not Screw, something I tell myself during the rougher parts of my life.  Anyway, it’s a long season and I think we can both get back into the running, so let’s get to the picks!
 
Jets at Browns:
Jemp: Browns,  Reeb: Browns,  Pep: Browns,  Screw: Browns
I have no idea how the schedule is made, but I imagine representatives from Thursday, Sunday, and Monday Night football picking their games, and as soon as Jets v. Browns comes up, the Thursday Night guy immediately calls dibs.  TNF needs commentators from ProFootballJokes.  But I’m excited for more than just the jokes in this game.  The Browns defense is nasty.  While they might have given up some yards in their first two games, they are aggressive at every level and have gotten the best of two supremely talented offenses.  I won’t speculate that this is because Greg Williams put bounties on opposing players.  The Browns should win this game easy, as Darnold is no Drew Brees or Big Ben, but if they don’t, please put in Baker.  Tyrod made an incredibly clutch dime on 4th down to give the Browns the taste of a potential fleeting lead, but he has been garbage other than that.  Fortunately, I think he gets this one done.
Prediction:  Browns win 17-6
 
Saints at Falcons:
Jemp: Falcons,  Reeb: Falcons,  Pep: Saints,  Screw: Saints
Both of these teams bounced back last week, but neither was all too impressive.  The Saints defense looked much better against the Browns, but Tyrod Taylor is no Ryan Fitzpatrick.  Matt Ryan had a nice fantasy day, but let’s see if he can replicate what Fitzmagic did to them.  My guess is that this Saints offense will roll over this depleted Falcon defense, and the Matty Ice won’t be able to keep up.  The Browns might have depressed the Saints scoring, but this is still as dangerous an offense as there is in the NFL, and once Mark Ingram comes back, look out.
Prediction:  Saints win 34-20
 
Redskins at Packers:
Jemp: Packers,  Reeb: Packers,  Pep: Redskins,  Screw: Packers
Sure, the Colts might have been tougher than expected, but the Redskins can easily take out this Packers team.  It took a blocked punt for a touchdown and three missed field goals just for them to tie last week.  Obviously the Redskins dominate.
Prediction:  Redskins win 100-0
 
Colts at Eagles: 
Jemp: Eagles,  Reeb: Eagles,  Pep: Eagles,  Screw: Eagles
I’m really tempted to take the Colts in this game.  I’ve given their defense a lot of grief, but they looked awfully competent on Sunday.  They were overmatched against the talent of AJ Green and Joe Mixon, but the Eagles are down their top running back and wide receiver.  The good is that they are not without their top quarterback who will continue to wonder if he will ever accomplish what Nick Foles did.   As for Foles, he gets to make his triumphant return to his old friend, the bench, and let me tell you, he has some stories to tell it.
Prediction:  Eagles win 20-17
 
Bills at Vikings:
Jemp: Vikings,  Reeb: Vikings,  Pep: Vikings,  Screw: Vikings
Roberto Aguayo really did a number on highly drafted kickers’ job security.  The Vikings were quick to cut bait on their 5th round draft pick, though at least Mike Zimmer was nice about it (For those of you who don’t follow kicker news: he wasn’t).  It’s nice to see Kirk Cousins killing it in Minnesota, and the offense will only get better as they are still getting acclimated to the new quarterback and OC.  Thielen and Diggs are showing off why they are best receiving duo in the league, and Laquon Treadwell makes them look even better by comparison.  I never thought I’d say this, but the Vikings shouldn’t have cut Kendall Wright.  Also I figure we don’t need to say anything more about the Bills.  This one could get so out of hand that someone on the Bills might just retire at halftime… oh right.
Prediction:  Vikings win 40-0
 
Raiders at Dolphins:
Jemp: Dolphins,  Reeb: Raiders,  Pep: Raiders,  Screw: Dolphins
I really don’t want the Dolphins to go 3-0, but it’s hard for me to see this Raiders team going cross country and winning an early game.  Say what you will about Ryan Tannehill, but he is the king of squeaking by bad teams.  And in case you haven’t watched football the past two years, the Raiders are a bad team.  They have played both games tough, but they just don’t have the talent.  They aren’t nearly as overmatched against the Dolphins, so the Raiders could get this one done, but in the end I’m taking the Fins to maintain their stranglehold on the AFC East.
Prediction:  Dolphins win 23-17
 
Broncos at Ravens: 
Jemp: Broncos,  Reeb: Ravens,  Pep: Broncos,  Screw: Ravens
The Ravens took a beating from the Bengals on Thursday Night, but at least Joe Flacco showed some signs of coming back.  I still think this is a good defense, but it’s hard for them to survive a slow start from the offense (remember the shellacking the Jags gave them in London last year?).  The Broncos also haven’t impressed me much despite the 2-0 start.  They also started 2-0 last year, and a comeback victory against the Raiders doesn’t show me that this year will be any different than last year.  However, I could change my tune if they win this one, but I doubt they will.
Prediction:  Ravens win 19-10
 
Bengals at Panthers:
Jemp: Bengals,  Reeb: Panthers,  Pep: Panthers,  Screw: Bengals
Reeb has preemptively given up on the Bengals, but I have liked what I’ve seen from them.  The defense hasn’t quite lived up to what I expected, but that could change once Vontaze Burfict comes back.  William Jackson and Dre Kirkpatrick actually look like one of the best cornerback tandems in the league, and we know they can get after the quarterback.  They should be able to handle the Panthers offense fairly easily, except for Cam.  If only they had Vontaze to twist his ankles.  As for the Bengals offense, their offensive line looks… good (hard to believe after last year).  Even when Price went down, it still held up, and Andy Dalton made some plays.   Losing Mixon hurts, but Gio can handle the load for a couple games, and I think they are still good enough to beat the Panthers.  Also, John Ross is now all the way up to 2 catches for 11 yards for the season.  He has really stepped up his game.
Prediction:  Bengals win 21-17
 
Giants at Texans: 
Jemp: Texans,  Reeb: Texans,  Pep: Giants,  Screw: Giants
Remember when Eli Manning was an above average NFL QB?  Good times, at least for Giants fans.  Now they are stuck watching him squander the offensive talent on this roster.  Saquon Barkley caught 14 passes on SNF, and it wasn’t because the Giants were trying to get him touches.  It was because Eli wouldn’t go downfield with the football so he ended up just checking it down every play.  Yes, the offensive line was bad, as expected, but it’s Eli that’s holding this team back.  As for the Texans, they desperately need a win to get back on track, and this would be a good team to do it against.  Then again, they did just lose to Blaine Gabbert, so who knows?
Prediction:  Texans win 27-21
 
Titans at Jaguars:
Jemp: Jaguars,  Reeb: Jaguars,  Pep: Jaguars,  Screw: Jaguars
To the rest of the league, the Titans are bunch of worthless little green rocks, but to the Jags, they are kryptonite.  Also, if Marcus Mariota is still out, then this could be the Blaine Gabbert revenge game!  With all the Blake Bortles hate, Blaine Gabbert must wonder if his career would have been different if he had been given that defense when he was in Jacksonville.  Unfortunately, I’m guessing Mariota will probably be back for this one, and the Jags continue to roll.
Prediction:  Jaguars win 24-10
 
49ers at Chiefs: 
Jemp: Chiefs,  Reeb: Chiefs,  Pep: 49ers,  Screw: Chiefs
Pat Mahomes gets to start his first game in KC, and I think he is probably feeling pretty good about it unless he turns out to be Bizarro Ben Roethlisberger.  Then again, the Chiefs defense is giving up over 500 yards per game which is by far the worst in the NFL.   So if Patrick Mahomes doesn’t continue to throw 4+ TDs every week, this team could be in trouble.  Part of it has certainly been that the Chiefs have gotten off to big leads and then the other team is playing catchup, and obviously their numbers won’t stay this bad, but there is still reason for concern.  Still, I can’t pick against Big Red’s blazing hot offense right now.
Prediction:  Chiefs win 31-27
 
Chargers at Rams:
Jemp: Rams,  Reeb: Rams,  Pep: Rams,  Screw: Rams
The Hollywood bowl gets its first showing, thankfully with the Rams as the home team.  It’s a good thing the Chargers are used to playing road games in Southern California.  The Rams are turning into everyone’s Super Bowl favorites despite the fact that they have just beaten up on some terrible teams so far this year.  In case you have forgotten, that’s what they did all last year, and it ended up with a first round knockout in the playoffs.  This will be their first real test, and I am particularly curious to see how this defense performs against a good offense.  I think Philip Rivers pulls off the upset, and he might even win over some LA fans in this one. 
Prediction:  Chargers win 30-28
 
Cowboys at Seahawks:
Jemp: Seahawks,  Reeb: Seahawks,  Pep: Seahawks,  Screw: Cowboys
We essentially saw this matchup last week if we just piece together SNF and MNF.  The Cowboys defense dominated a bad offensive line, while the Seahawks defense couldn’t make enough plays against a middling offense.  However, the big difference in this one?  The Seahawks are back at home, and we’ve seen that make all the difference in the Pete Carroll era.  The Cowboys no longer have pushover defense, but they aren’t quite as good as the Bears.  As for the offense, Scott Linehan did a much better job of working with what he had against the Giants, but it still wasn’t all that impressive.
Prediction:  Seahawks win 17-14
 
Bears at Cardinals:
Jemp: Bears,  Reeb: Bears,  Pep: Bears,  Screw: Bears
The Cardinals are lucky the Bills are so bad, because most any other year, this would be the worst team in football.  They have not been remotely competitive in either game, and they have totaled 6 points that really came in garbage time.  Not a great time to see Khalil Mack and company.  If only Mitchell Trubisky wasn’t awful, then this Bears team would really have something.  I guess Bears fans will have to learn what it’s like to have a dominant defense held back by a terrible quarterback.
Prediction:  Bears win 20-3
 
Patriots at Lions:
Jemp: Lions,  Reeb: Patriots,  Pep: Patriots,  Screw: Patriots
I called Josh Gordon going to either the Cowboys or the Patriots, and thankfully for him, it was the latter.  He has a chance to reclaim elite receiver status in Foxboro, but he could also easily end up playing minimal snaps for a team that runs a complicated offense.  I doubt he will play a ton in this game but don’t be surprised if he makes one or two plays that get everyone excited, well except the majority of the population that hates the Patriots.  Fortunately, I don’t reside in that camp, so I can just sit back and watch the Patriots go to work on Jemp’s Lions.
Prediction:  Patriots win 30-20
 
Steelers at Buccaneers:
Jemp: Bucs,  Reeb: Bucs,  Pep: Bucs,  Screw: Bucs
Wow, the rest of the staff is unanimous in picking Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bucs over the Steelers for the whole world to watch.  Even Screw doesn’t have faith in his Steelers to rebound after a tough loss.  However, I have just seen Ryan Fitzpatrick choke in big games too many times.  He has never been to the playoffs, and I don’t expect that to change this season.  Based on what we’ve seen this season, this should be a high-scoring affair, but I trust Big Ben to hold his end up more than I trust the Amish Rifle.  Sorry Fitz, but I would kind of like to see him prove me wrong.  Actually, for the sake of my picks record, please don’t.
Prediction:  Steelers win 35-21

Let’s look at the standings after week 1:

Jemp: 9-7
Reeb: 9-7
Pep: 8-8
Alx: 7-9
Screw: 6-10
​
Not a great start as the staff has a losing record overall.  We are still going to compete every day, and I like to play from behind.  It makes it more dramatic when I come back to win it all.  Let’s pick some games.
 
Ravens at Bengals:
Jemp: Bengals,  Reeb: Ravens,  Pep: Bengals,  Screw: Ravens
Reeb has regained his Bengals pessimism despite the win over the Colts.  The Bengals defense didn’t look as good as I thought they might be, but that could all change once Vontaze Burfict returns.  He won’t be back for this one though, which could allow one elite quarterback to light them up.  As for the other side of the ball, the Bengals offense goes from having to play the worst defense in the league to one of the best.  The Ravens defense might have disappointed in Week 1 as well, as they only were able to catch 2 of the passes that Nathan Peterman threw their way.  This is a good spot for them to rebound against Andy Dalton in primetime.
Prediction:  Ravens win 27-13
 
Panthers at Falcons:
Jemp: Panthers,  Reeb: Panthers,  Pep: Falcons,  Screw: Panthers
I don’t know that any player was more disappointing to me in week 1 than Matt Ryan, mostly because I had him on a lot of fantasy teams.  He was going so late in drafts!  I guess there was a good reason for that.  Still, I expect him to be better as the season moves along.  He goes up against another tough front sevens in the Panthers this week.  Carolina’s secondary also held up very well against the Cowboys, but it might be a little different guarding Julio Jones than it was against Cole Beasley.  Hopefully Matt Ryan realizes he is allowed to pass it to his other receivers as well.
Prediction:  Falcons win 28-17
 
Colts at Redskins: 
Jemp: Redskins,  Reeb: Redskins,  Pep: Redskins,  Screw: Redskins
Adrian PPPETERSON!  Yeah, the old AD showed out last game and didn’t mind sharing the spotlight with Chris Thompson either.  Who needs wide receivers? (other than the Cowboys).  Expect more of the same this week against the worst defense in football.  I mean, they allowed John Ross to catch a touchdown!
Prediction:  Redskins win 200-0
 
Texans at Titans:
Jemp: Texans,  Reeb: Texans,  Pep: Texans,  Screw: Texans
I know Deshaun Watson played a pretty bad game last week, as does he.  Maybe I will wait to write his hall of fame induction speech for a little longer.  I’m sure he will jump at the chance for PFJ’s head writer to ghost-write his speech.  Right, I was supposed to hold off on that.  Anyway, I’m not too worried about Watson just yet.  The Texans have the worst offensive line in the league, and I think Deshaun will correct the missed throws as he gets in a rhythm.  He will come out firing against the Titans like he did last year maybe not with quite as many TDs.
Prediction:  Texans win 34-20
 
Eagles at Buccaneers: 
Jemp: Eagles,  Reeb: Eagles,  Pep: Bucs,  Screw: Eagles
Game of the week right here.  If you add up the career highs of single-game TD passes by both quarterbacks, no game this week would have a higher total than this one.  That’s the kind of quarterback play you can expect from Nick Foles vs. Ryan Fitzpatrick.  Right now, it’s the Amish Rifle with the superior weapons though, and don’t sleep on the Bucs offensive line either.  However, Philadelphia’s defensive line is a little bit better, so I could see the bad Fitzpatrick surfacing this week.  The Eagles benefit from being able to win even if the Super Bowl MVP version of Foles doesn’t show up, while the Bucs aren’t so lucky.  Unless Fitzmagic gives an encore, I think the Eagles take care of business.
Prediction:  Eagles win 20-17
 
Chiefs at Steelers:
Jemp: Chiefs,  Reeb: Chiefs,  Pep: Steelers,  Screw: Steelers
So, who needs Lev Bell, right?  Unless of course you actually want to beat the Browns.  Or perhaps it might have had something to do with Big Ben turning the ball over 5 times, but that’s neither here nor there.  This week, the Steelers will be charged with the task of stopping Tyreek Hill who absolutely dominated the Chargers last week.  Yet, it seems like every year the Steelers take care of Andy Reid’s Chiefs.  For some reason, Reid’s offense always seems to struggle against the Steelers, and if they aren’t putting up 30+ points, I don’t see their defense bottling up Antonio Brown and company.  I guess I don’t see their defense stopping the Steelers offense regardless, but they need their offense to ball out again to have a chance to win.
Prediction:  Steelers win 31-24
 
Dolphins at Jets: 
Jemp: Jets,  Reeb: Jets,  Pep: Dolphins,  Screw: Jets
Tied atop the AFC East, the Dolphins and Jets do battle with gargantuan implications for the fate of the division on the line.  Oh sorry, almost forgot the Patriots were in this division.  Well one of these teams can fool themselves for another week.  Jets fans suddenly think Sam Darnold is their savior after leading the Jets to steamroll the Lions on Monday Night Football.  It was impressive how he picked off the Lions 5 times, returned a punt for a touchdown, and ran for a 62-yard touchdown as well.  The Dolphins probably enjoyed the least watched game in NFL history that actually made them look like a competent football team.  The Dolphins formula at least looks more sustainable, and the Jets need to be knocked down a peg.  The Jets only win if they get Robby Anderson more involved.
Prediction:  Dolphins win 17-14
 
Chargers at Bills:
Jemp: Chargers,  Reeb: Chargers,  Pep: Chargers,  Screw: Chargers
I suspect that if Sean McDermott hadn’t gone to Josh Allen in this game, Nathan Peterman might have called in sick.  PTSD seems like a legitimate excuse to not come in for work.  Now the Bills are again throwing a rookie quarterback to this fearsome Charger defense, albeit probably without Joey Bosa.  Fortunately, the Bills offensive line will probably make Isaac Rochel and Uchenna Nwosu look like Joey Bosa.  Hope that playoff appearance last year was enough to sustain Bills fans for the next 18 years.
Prediction:  Chargers win 33-7
(Didn’t even speculate that the Chargers could possibly blow this game.  Could they?  No, no way, right?)
 
Vikings at Packers: 
Jemp: Vikings,  Reeb: Vikings,  Pep: Packers,  Screw: Vikings
Aaron Rodgers pulled off the comeback last week, and the Packers defense played exceedingly well in the second half as well.  However, they don’t hold a candle to this Vikings defense that was able to take down the quarterback that couldn’t lose.  Kirk will only get better, and the last time he played the Packers, he smoked them on Sunday Night Football.  Good times.  Sure, he may no longer be on the best team of all time, but the Vikings are pretty good, and I think they get the win at Lambeau.
Prediction:  Vikings win 27-20
 
Browns at Saints:
Jemp: Saints,  Reeb: Saints,  Pep: Saints,  Screw: Saints
I blame Dennis Allen for making me look dumb when I called the Saints the most complete team in football.  I hope the defense gets back to where it was last year, when Drew Brees didn’t have to put up 50 points to win a game.  As for the Browns, they should just celebrate that they can lost out and have a better record than last year.  The Saints aren’t going to turn the ball over 6 times like the Steelers did though, so I might be tough for the Browns to avoid the dreaded L that they have done everything they can to avoid.  At some point I’d like to see them actually get a W though.
Prediction:  Saints win 33-20
 
Lions at 49ers: 
Jemp: Lions,  Reeb: 49ers,  Pep: 49ers,  Screw: 49ers
I wonder if Matt Patricia has called Bill Belichick to beg for the Pats DC job back yet.  I bet Jim Caldwell really enjoyed watching that Monday Night game.  He may have even almost had an expression.  It will be interesting to see what the Lions do if Patricia ends the year with like 4 or 5 wins, when they fired Caldwell for going 9-7 with essentially the same team.  Anyway, I apologize for piling on your team Jemp, but I’m just following the Jets’ lead.  I can’t pick that team I saw on Monday Night to win a game, so I have to stick with Jimmy G to rebound from his first loss.
Prediction:  49ers win 27-24
 
Cardinals at Rams:
Jemp: Rams,  Reeb: Rams,  Pep: Rams,  Screw: Rams
I’m not sure how to feel about the Rams coming off the win versus the Raiders.  They’re edge rushers were about as invisible as expected, but Carr didn’t even test Peters and Talib on the outside.  Until of course Peters lurked in the middle of the field and took his pass to the house.  Of course, that will all change with Sam Bradford coming to town, as I fully expect him to launch some deep balls for JJ Nelson and Chad Williams.  That will be the real test for this Rams team.
Prediction:  Rams win 38-14
 
Patriots at Jaguars:
Jemp: Patriots,  Reeb: Patriots,  Pep: Jaguars,  Screw: Patriots
Only Pep thinks the Jags have enough spirit to pull this one off.  Sure, they almost won in the AFC championships, and this time they get the Pats in Duvall.  However, as I watched them beat the Giants last week, I came to the realization that the Jaguars did not have a lot of playmakers on offense when Leonard Fournette went down.  Granted I still don’t know if the Jags offense is much better with Leonard out there.  And despite the fact that the Patriots skill player group against that Jaguars defense looks like a flat-out mismatch across the board (except for Gronk), I know Tom Brady will somehow be able to move the ball when it counts.
Prediction:  Patriots win 20-17
 
Raiders at Broncos:
Jemp: Broncos,  Reeb: Broncos,  Pep: Broncos,  Screw: Broncos
Despite the ferocity of the Jared Cook revenge game, the Raiders couldn’t pull off the upset in Gruden’s first game back.  We sure got to see his smiling face a lot though.  Now he get’s a much easier matchup against the Broncos, despite their nice win against the Seahawks last week.  The Broncos found a bit of offense with the duo of Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman out of the backfield and the rejuvenation of Demaryius Thomas and especially Emmanuel Sanders.  The offensive line looked much improved, so it’s a good thing the Raiders have one of the best pass rushers in the league…  Oh, right.
Prediction:  Broncos win 27-10
 
Giants at Cowboys:
Jemp: Cowboys,  Reeb: Cowboys,  Pep: Giants,  Screw: Giants
I know I’ve been down on the Giants all offseason, but I was actually somewhat impressed by them last week.  Sure, no one but Odell and Saquon could create any offense, but that was against the best defense in the league.  While the Cowboys defense is improved, they don’t compare to the Jaguars.  Their offense, however, reminds me a lot of the Jags offense in terms of their personnel, and the Jags offense only mustered 13 points against the Giants last week.  Odell should have a chance to take over this game, and people can get overly excited about this Giants team. 
Prediction:  Giants win 24-14
 
Seahawks at Bears:
Jemp: Bears,  Reeb: Bears,  Pep: Bears,  Screw: Seahawks
Everything points to the Bears winning this game, except the large gap at the quarterback position.  I’ve heard quarterbacks are important to winning football games.  Of course, the same thing could have been said about the Seahawks last week, and Case Keenum got the win in Denver.  However, the Seahawks offense looked better than I expected, and from what I saw from Mr. Biscuit showed me he can’t make that drive to take the lead in the fourth quarter.  Even with no Doug Baldwin, I think Russ shows out on Monday Night.
Prediction:  Seahawks win 20-17

Finally, the moment we’ve all been waiting for is here!  The ProFootballJokes pick’em.  I assume you have already heard, but we also now have a podcast.  You can find a link to those on our homepage.  However, we still save our game picks for just one place, so let’s pick some real live NFL games.
 
Falcons at Eagles: 
Jemp: Falcons,  Reeb: Falcons,  Pep: Falcons,  Screw: Falcons
We start the season out right with a matchup of the last two NFC champions.  Yet, everyone thinks all the lightning Nick Foles had last year has left the bottle.  Whoever Nick’s agent is must be kicking himself for getting him a two-year deal with the Eagles a season ago.  He should have known that Foles would be coming off a Super Bowl MVP and be in prime position to be insanely overpaid by the Browns.  Instead, he will be exposed as the same Nick Foles we’ve all come to know and will have to settle for the few million he will get for being a backup.  However, he was the one to finally get the Eagles a ring, something Eagles fans will forget by the second half of this game as Foles will have to retreat from a chorus of boos from the crowd.
Prediction:  Falcons win 27-13
 
Bills at Ravens:
Jemp: Ravens,  Reeb: Ravens,  Pep: Ravens,  Screw: Ravens
No one thinks Nathan Peterman can win this one?  He should be fine since he just has to take on the Ravens defense this week, and then gets to face his old teammates on the Chargers next week.  Oh that’s right, they weren’t actually his teammates, it just felt that way.  Of course, that’s assuming he doesn’t get benched before then.  Alright, enough with the Peterman bashing, but to quote the great Julius Thomas, “IT’S SO EASY!”  We will also get a look at the new and improved Joe Flacco, and find out if he gets back to his elite status.
Prediction:  Ravens win 17-7
 
Jaguars at Giants: 
Jemp: Jaguars,  Reeb: Jaguars,  Pep: Jaguars,  Screw: Jaguars
Saquon Barkley is here to save the Giants.  So what if they have a bad offensive line, a perennially lackluster linbacking corp, a cornerback group with only one guy who can cover, and a quarterback who has played at about Blake Bortles level for the past two years?  I couldn’t be higher on the combination of Saquon and Odell, but I still think this is the worst team in the NFC.  The Jaguars on the other hand have a lack of weapons for Bortles, but they have a powerful running game and the best defense in the league.  However, pay attention to their nickel corner to see if DJ Hayden can hold up there in place of Aaron Colvin who is now in Houston.
Prediction:  Jaguars win 28-10
 
Buccaneers at Saints:
Jemp: Saints,  Reeb: Saints,  Pep: Saints,  Screw: Saints
I have said all offseason that I think the Saints are the best team in the NFL.  The loss of Mark Ingram for the first four games might slow them down a bit, but somehow, I think they will still have enough firepower to take down Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bucs.  Obviously, their offense is the backbone of their team, but I wouldn’t call them the best team in the league if their defense wasn’t up to snuff.  They now have some depth on the defensive line, along with a very talented secondary including one of the best cornerbacks in the league in Marshon Lattimore.  Expect him to be the Patrick Peterson to Jalen Ramsey’s Richard Sherman for years to come.
Prediction:  Saints win 33-17
 
Texans at Patriots: 
Jemp: Patriots,  Reeb: Patriots,  Pep: Patriots,  Screw: Texans
Easily the game I struggled the most with.  I never pick against Tom Brady (unless he is playing the Redskins), especially at home.  However, I think the quarterback on the other side could be stealing his mantle very soon.  He went toe-to-toe with Brady last year but came up just short.  Reminds of when he came up just short against the league’s powerhouse team before.  Just like then, the second time is the charm for Deshaun Watson.
Prediction:  Texans win 31-30
 
49ers at Vikings:
Jemp: Vikings,  Reeb: Vikings,  Pep: 49ers,  Screw: Vikings
Four out of five ProFootballJokes analysts recommend 49ers bandwagoners jump ship to the Vikings.  However, Pep is the exception who thinks Jimmy G maintains his undefeated record with a little help from Alfred Morris.  However, as much as I love Alfred, I believe in Kirk more with all the weapons he has along with a star-studded defense.  His only problem is defunct offensive line which could be the downfall of this team eventually, but not this week.
Prediction:  Vikings win 26-16
 
Titans at Dolphins: 
Jemp: Dolphins,  Reeb: Titans,  Pep: Titans,  Screw: Titans
We get a rematch of one of last year’s most exciting games, but unfortunately, neither Jay Cutler nor Matt Cassel will be playing this time.  Instead we get to watch a couple first-round quarterbacks who have been just good enough to not get benched.  Originally, I was intrigued by the Titans, but now I see them going around 8-8.  I don’t really think they are much better than the Dolphins, but I’m more tired of Ryan Tannehill than Marcus Mariota, so I’ll take the Titans.
Prediction:  Titans win 17-14
 
Bengals at Colts:
Jemp: Bengals,  Reeb: Bengals,  Pep: Colts,  Screw: Colts
A lot of questions will be answered in this game.  Is Andrew Luck back to form?  Are the offensive lines of both these teams fixed?  Will John Ross catch a pass this season?  I don’t know the answers yet, but even if Andrew Luck is back to what he was, I don’t think he can overcome a defense so devoid of talent.  As for the Bengals, a lot of people are picking them as a bounce-back team, which I originally scoffed at looking at their offensive line and unproven offensive skill players.  I am still unimpressed by their offense, but they have a chance to have one of the best defenses in the league, at least once Burfict comes back.  He and Preston Brown make an intimidating linebacking corp, and not just because Burfict might twist your ankle after the play.  William Jackson is about to become one of the league’s premier corners, and their defensive line is as deep as anyone’s including the Eagles and Jaguars.
Prediction:  Bengals win 20-16
 
Steelers at Browns: 
Jemp: Steelers,  Reeb: Steelers,  Pep: Steelers,  Screw: Steelers
I’m really tempted to take the Browns in this one, especially if the Steelers are without Le’Veon Bell.  The Browns are talented this year with Myles Garrett prepared to take the next step as a defensive force.  They are surprisingly deep at cornerback and linebacker assuming Joe Schobert isn’t suddenly charged with corporate fraud or something.  We all know the talent they have at receiver and a good running back group as well.  They continue to have at least a good interior offensive line and now have a solid presence at quarterback as well.  However, I still believe in Hue Jackson finding a way to lose.
Prediction:  Steelers win 20-17
 
Chiefs at Chargers:
Jemp: Chargers,  Reeb: Chargers,  Pep: Chargers,  Screw: Chargers
It always makes me nervous when we all pick the Chargers.  How could this stacked Chargers team lose to a team with such a bad defense and an unproven quarterback?  I don’t know, but the Chargers have always been creative problem solvers.  Hopefully, the Chargers can shake that bad habit of theirs of blowing games they should win.  At least they don’t have the week 1 Monday Night game this year, because they always lose that one.
Prediction:  Chargers win 34-20
 
Seahawks at Broncos: 
Jemp: Seahawks,  Reeb: Seahawks,  Pep: Broncos,  Screw: Seahawks
Everyone is down on the Seahawks this year despite the fact that they have one of the best quarterbacks in the league.  You would think that their defense had the talent of the Colts, but it isn’t quite that bad, even if it’s definitely no longer the legion of boom.  It’s below average, and the offensive help for Russell Wilson may be as bad as it’s ever been, which is really saying something.  The Seahawks always get to a slow start on offense anyway, and we all know they aren’t as good on the road.  My boy Royce Freeman will run all over them.
Prediction:  Broncos win 23-19
 
Cowboys at Panthers:
Jemp: Panthers,  Reeb: Panthers,  Pep: Panthers,  Screw: Panthers
Wow, I never thought I would lone-wolf the Cowboys, but that is what I’m doing today.  Sure, the Cowboys are counting on Allen Hurns, Terrance Williams, and Geoff Swaim to start for them, but I guess they can just run the ball every play.  It worked for me against Pep in Madden.  The Cowboys defense should be much better, while I think the Panthers take a major step back this year.  They have a terrible offensive line and secondary and will have to count on Cam Newton once again to carry that offense.  Also, I’m not sure if I want to count on a 38-year-old Julius Peppers to be my top pass rusher.  And please calm down with the Christian McCaffrey hype.
Prediction:  Cowboys win 21-13
 
Redskins at Cardinals:
Jemp: Redskins,  Reeb: Redskins,  Pep: Redskins,  Screw: Cardinals
People keep fawning over how the Cardinals managed to go 8-8 last year despite losing David Johnson, but they were a terrible 8-8 team.  They squeaked by some bad teams and won some meaningless games to end the year.  The Cardinals have absolutely no depth at any position other than maybe quarterback, so expect them to fall apart once injuries hit.  As for now, we can watch them fall to the best team in the league.
Prediction:  Redskins win 100-0
 
Bears at Packers:
Jemp: Bears,  Reeb: Packers,  Pep: Packers,  Screw: Packers
The Packers usually get two free wins against the Bears every year, but this time around might just be different.  Vic Fangio has held this defense together with Scotch tape and Elmer’s glue for years, and now he finally has the proper tools to rebuild the Monsters of the Midway.  Now we just need for Matt Nagy to be the next Sean McVay and presto, the Bears have themselves a team.  The Packers are counting on a lot of young guys on both sides of the ball, and while I love Jamaal Williams, he doesn’t quite measure up to Jordan Howard.
Prediction:  Bears win 24-20
 
Jets at Lions:
Jemp: Lions,  Reeb: Lions,  Pep: Lions,  Screw: Lions
The Lions have become the forgotten team in the NFC North with the Bears making so much noise this offseason.  However, I’m sure a win against the Jets will get everybody talking about them.  Maybe Matthew Stafford can give us a nice fourth quarter comeback just for fun.  Or maybe the Lions can finally produce a 100-yard rusher. 
Prediction:  Lions win 23-17
 
Rams at Raiders:
Jemp: Rams,  Reeb: Rams,  Pep: Rams,  Screw: Rams
None of us think Jon Gruden will have a triumphant return to Monday Night Football.  His only solace will be that Jason Witten’s debut could be just as much of a trainwreck.  Then again, it can’t be as bad as Rex Ryan was in this spot last year.  Anyway, I’m trying to come up with reasons to stay up for this game, but I’m drawing a blank.  So unless your fantasy matchup comes down to this game, go get some sleep for work/school and rest easy knowing the Rams will get the win.
Prediction:  Rams win 42-17
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Here are the standings after the championship round season:

Alx: 177-99
Jemp: 176-100
Reeb the Unpaid Intern: 173-103
Screw: 171-105
Pep: 165-111

Well I guess Jemp made the right call by going with the Eagles as he was the only one to get both games right and now is within striking distance as it has become a two-man race.  Now let’s pick the Super Bowl.
 
Eagles vs. Patriots: 
Jemp: Eagles,  Reeb: Patriots,  Pep: Redskins,  Screw: Patriots
Pep is playing it smart by going with the Redskins, since he believes they won the week by trading for Alex Smith.  Of course, it’s a great decision to move away from a guy who has somehow managed to lead the Redskins to a winning record over his 3 years as a full-time starter despite having a bad defense and no running game, and this year we tacked on no receivers or offensive line either.  Alex Smith is a fine quarterback, but Kirk has been the lone bright spot of the team.  Anyway, let’s talk about the teams that are actually playing in this game.  The Eagles sure proved me wrong by dismantling a Vikings defense that completely fell apart.  Nick Foles benefitted from several complete breakdowns in coverage, but he was also dropping dimes and wasn’t flinching the few times he was under pressure.  However, trusting him to play that well again is a risky proposition.  And even if he does, we know Tom Brady can always come roaring back.  The Eagles defense is pretty good, but so was the Jaguars, but when it comes down to the wire Danny Amendola starts to look like Jerry Rice, which seem appropriate since he is getting paid like a receiver in the 80s.  Anyway, whether it’s Amendola or James White, or Phillip Dorsett, or even Kenny Britt, we all know someone will step up for the Patriots in crunch time if it gets to that point.  The other option is the bad Nick Foles shows up and the Patriots blow them out.  I know many of you are tired of the Patriots winning Super Bowls, but what does it really matter if they win 6 instead of 5?  This would mean so much more to Philadelphia and all Eagles fans, so why not root for their disappointment?
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Prediction:  Patriots win 31-28