Week 8!
Now that the nation has been treated to a lopsided World Series matchup of Not-The-Dodgers Vs. Not-The-Yankees, our focus turns exclusively to the NFL – where Christian sports fans are no longer forced to choose between a team named after beers or a team named after devils.
This week, while the Mormons of the world were diligently preparing for that one evening of the year when everyone will open their door – Halloween – we’ve been diligently preparing another week of the Pix!
But let’s applaud the Milwaukee Brewers for their first-ever World Series Championship; we’ll put Halloween behind us, and we can look forward to “Buddy the Elf” making his annual appearance.
Let’s do the Pix…!
~ Thursday Night Football ~
Panthers @ Green Bay: The Packers were held to 5-of-15 on third down and barely mustered 17 points against one of the league’s worst defenses last week. In other words, despite the Lions trying to give the game away with fumbles and questionable coaching decisions, the Packers couldn’t win.
Now the Panthers come to town after looking pretty much obsolete on their home turf last week – despite playing against a QB with an injured throwing thumb. Now they’re stepping onto Lambeau field. I’ll take the home team.
Pick – Packers | Strength of Pick: 9 out of 14
~ Sunday ~
Ravens @ Bills: Sitting at 5-and-1, Buffalo fans seem to be in for another season where the team plays well right up until it counts, then completely chokes it all away in the playoffs.
Pick – Bills | Strength of Pick: 8 out of 14
Titans @ Bengals: Pick the Titans? To win two games in a row? Yeah, the team has shown a pulse lately, but dream on…
Pick – Bengals | Strength of Pick: 12 out of 14
Cardinals @ Dallas: What happens when a very stoppable force meets an easily moveable object? To find out, watch last week’s matchup between the Broncos and Cardinals, where Denver’s running backs ran through gaping, Grand Canyon-sized holes in Arizona.
Apparently, the Cardinals forgot that quarterbacks can run the football.
Pick – Dallas | Strength of Pick: 5 out of 14
In related news, the black half of professional golfer Tiger Woods was reportedly tased by police at the scene where the Asian half of Tiger Woods had wrecked his car.
According to Metal Pix sources, Woods’ Asian half had just managed to roll his vehicle on its side while driving in a neighborhood, only to exit the car and have his black half get nailed by a taser. At the time of this writing, Kamala Harris is rumored to have offered Woods online coaching on how to switch ethnicities.
Vikings @ Detroit: For an undefeated Vikings team that’s about to begin a four-game gauntlet, life is about to get much more difficult. But the Detroit Lions just aren’t buying the Detroit Lions either.
In fact, Lions’ QB Jared Goff told the media he wouldn’t be surprised if the Lions lost by 25 points today.
Pick – Detroit | Strength of Pick: 2 out of 14
Raiders @ Jets: Leave it to the Jets to leave us with the impression that Miami has one of the league’s most dynamic offenses. As for the Raiders, the team has lost four straight and now sits in familiar territory with a record below .500.
Mendoza time may be coming sooner than we expected.
Pick – Raiders | Strength of Pick: 10 out of 14
Browns @ Steelers: Last week the Steelers held the Saints to 18 rushing yards…in 17 attempts. That’s stout defense. Besides, Cleveland hasn’t won a regular-season game in Pittsburgh since 2003. It’s a trend that can be bucked, but not by these Browns.
Pick – Steelers | Strength of Pick: 1 out of 14
Falcons @ Buccaneers: The NFC South is still theirs for Tampa’s taking, but neither team is expected to make much noise in the postseason. Nothing to see here…
Pick – Buccaneers | Strength of Pick: 4 out of 14
Colts @ Jaguars: The Jaguars escalated to #2 in the NFL Power Rankings last week, and they didn’t even have to play!
Those things can happen when you field the league’s best run defense. Sorry. Was I supposed to say something funny…?
Pick – Jaguars | Strength of Pick: 14 out of 14
Chargers @ Rams: After taking the 49ers to the Super Bowl and winning a national championship in Michigan, I wonder how Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh is enjoying the distinction of “last winless team in the league?”
L.A.’s two franchises get to scrum it out in a game rife with disappointments and blown expectations. The winless Chargers are in last place league-wide while the Rams still could very easily begin a four-game winning streak without breaking a sweat.
If the Rams are to turn their season around, they’ll need to show more Jekyll and a lot less Hyde today. This is not the day to turn your back on the Chargers.
Pick – Rams | Strength of Pick: 7 out of 14
Chiefs @ Denver: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is probably still wondering what hit him after the Seahawks did the “Monster Mash” on his offense and left him reeling. It was the worst game of Mahomes’ career – 3 points.
Today’s game has the makings of a close, low-scoring game. If so, the Pix is taking Patrick Mahomes over Bo Nix.
Pick – Chiefs | Strength of Pick: 7 out of 14
Patriots @ Miami: The Patriots need to know that this is NOT a bye week. With the Packers and Lions on their docket, they can’t afford to overlook the one-win Dolphins.
Don’t lose hope, Miami fans! Only 5 weeks until you play the Jets again!
Pick – Patriots | Strength of Pick: 11 out of 14
Eagles @ Commanders: For the 5th time, the Eagles’ defense gave up 375 yards. Lose to the 1-4-1 Commanders on Sunday night, and this season is over. (Probably already is anyway.)
Pick – Commanders | Strength of Pick: 6 out of 14
~ Monday Night Football ~
Bears @ Seattle: Can the Seahawks do to Bears QB Caleb Williams what they did to Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes?
The Bears have a lot going for them entering this matchup, but after watching the Seahawks beat up on the Chiefs last week, my confidence leans more toward the Ballhawks out of the Pacific Northwest.
Pick – Seahawks | Strength of Pick: 3 out of 14
Enjoy the Games ~ Love you Guys,
Jason
