We are building some momentum here as the NAP has landed 3 out of 4 times (Fortunately, I forgot to call one week 1). Let’s see if we can bring home the bacon again.

I can’t believe it’s Issue 20 already, so I just want to thank everyone so much again. You don’t know how much I appreciate the support and feedback.

LA Rams @ New York Giants: Rams -6.5 (NAP)

Rams:

• The Rams have the 10th ranked offence and the 21st ranked defence.
• They have the 2nd ranked passing offence and the 24th rushing offence.
• On average, the Rams are scoring 28.2 points per game and conceding 23.2 points.
• Stafford & Co. are throwing for 317.4 yards per game and rushing for 98.0 yards.
• The Rams’ defence is allowing 294.2 passing yards per game and 117.2 rushing yards.
• LA are 1 of only 3 teams (Cowboys, Chiefs) that have scored over 20 points in each game this season.

Giants:

• The Giants have the 13th ranked offence and 28th ranked defence.
• They have the 8th ranked passing offence and 25th ranked rushing offence.
• On average, the Giants are scoring 20.6 points per game and conceding 27.8 points.
• Jones & Co. are throwing for 295.6 yards per game and rushing for 95.8 yards.
• The Giant’s defence is allowing 280.4 passing yards per game and 138.4 rushing yards per game.
• The Giants are 0-4 against the spread in their last 4 home games versus a team with a winning road record.
• Saquon Barkley, Kenny Golladay and Justin Hilliard are out, and Darius Slayton is questionable for tomorrow’s game.
• Daniel Jones has been cleared by a neurologist to play.

The Rams are a good team, and the Giants are a bad team. It’s as simple as that. The Rams are one of the last teams you want to face when you’re banged up like the Giants are. Facing Aaron Donald is the stuff of nightmares, even when healthy. Key players like Saquon and Golladay are out but Daniel Jones has somehow been cleared to play after suffering a nasty concussion last week against Dallas. No wonder the NFL has a CTE problem. On the flip side, the Rams are sucking serious diesel and closed out last week’s game against Seattle with ease. Stafford was slow to start but got going in the second half to lead the Rams to a 26-17 victory. As you can see from the stats, the Giants are poor defensively against the passing game, so I expect Stafford and his array of weapons to take full advantage and cover the spread. The spread is moving around a bit, ranging anywhere from 6 to 9 points. Take the -6.5 and enjoy.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Washington Football Team: Chiefs -6.5

Chiefs:

• The Chiefs have the 4th ranked offence and 31st ranked defence.
• They have the 5th ranked passing offence and the 8th ranked rushing offence.
• On average, the Chiefs are scoring 30.8 points per game and conceding 32.6 points.
• Mahomes & Co. are passing for 298 yards per game and rushing for 128.2 yards.
• The defence is allowing 308.6 passing yards per game and 141 rushing yards per game.
• The Chiefs three losses have come against the Bills, Chargers and Ravens. Three of the top teams in the AFC and arguably the league.
• The Chiefs have won seven straight against the Football Team.
• Mahomes is leading the league in the passing TD category with 16.
• Last week against the Bills, Kansas turned over the ball four times.
• Josh Allen had 12.1 yards per attempt last week but could only help the Bills complete 5-11 third down conversions. The Chiefs D is hit or miss.

Football Team:

• The WFT have the 20th ranked offence and 26th ranked defence.
• They have the 21st ranked passing offence and 16th ranked rushing offence.
• On average, the WFT are scoring 24.6 points per game and conceding 31 points.
• Heinicke & Co. are passing for 244.2 yards per game and rushing for 108.8 yards.
• The Football Team defence is allowing 301.4 passing yards per game and 114.4 rushing yards per game.
• The Football Team have allowed 4 passing TDs in each of their last 3 games.
• The WFT three losses have come against the Bills, Saints and Chargers.
• Last week against the Saints, the WFT defence held firm on third down, only allowing Winston and New Orleans to complete 4-11. However, they allowed 4.3 yards per rushing attack.

The Chiefs look like they’re in a bit of a sticky situation, which is not what many predicted before the season kicked off. Kansas have lost three in a four-game span for the first time since weeks 5-8, 2019, which is a pretty damning statistic if you’re a Chiefs fan. The good news is they went on to win 24 of the next 26, which included Superbowl LIV in Miami. Can they do it again here or will they fade off into the abyss? If they are to make a comeback, this is a good game to keep things moving in the right direction. The Football Team have straight up stunk the place out this year and are lucky to be 2-3. They are also dealing with their off the field issues, which I’m sure is doing nothing for the locker room moral. Both teams are similar in their offensive and defensive statistics, but Mahomes is a far superior player compared to Heinicke and I trust in him to get the job done on the road this Sunday. Kansas are 4-0 against the spread in their last four road games versus a team with a losing home record. I expect it to be 5-0 after their trip to FedEx field.

San Diego Chargers @ Baltimore Ravens: Over 51.5

Chargers:

• The Chargers have the 8th ranked offence and the 17th ranked defence.
• They have the 3rd ranked passing offence and the 17th ranked rushing offence.
• On average, the Chargers are scoring 28.4 points per game and conceding 23.2 points.
• Herbert & Co. are passing for 315.2 yards per game and rushing for 108.4 yards.
• The Charger’s defence is allowing 226.6 passing yards per game and 157.6 rushing yards.
• Last week against the Browns, Herbert went 26-43 for 398 yards and 4 TDS with 0 INTs. Ekeler rushed for 66 yards and 2 TDS, while also catching 5 passes for 53 yards and a TD.
• After last week, Herbert now has the record for most 300+ yards passing games in his first two seasons with 11, with 12 games left in the schedule. Mahomes and Marino are next with 10.
• The Chargers are 4-0 against the spread in their last 4 road games.

Ravens:

• The Ravens have the 2nd ranked offence and the 22nd ranked defence.
• They have the 6th ranked passing offence and the 4th ranked rushing offence.
• On average, the Ravens are scoring 27.2 points per game and conceding 23.4 points.
• Jackson & Co are passing for 303.8 yards per game and rushing for 148.8 yards.
• The Raven’s defence is allowing 315 passing yards per game and 93.2 rushing yards per game.
• On Monday night against the Colts, the Ravens clocked 523 yards total. Lamar went 37-43 for 442 yards with 4 TDs and 0 INTs and had QB rating of 140.
• The Ravens are 1-4 against the spread in their last 5 games following a win.
• Ravens are 0-5 against the spread in their last 5 home games versus a team with a winning road record.

‘Don’t jinx it, don’t jinx it, don’t jinx it’ This is looking like the game of the weekend, and we are blessed that it is a 6pm kick-off Irish time. Two of the best teams in the league, each with one of the most talented QBs in the league, both leading two of the most electric offences. Football gods, please let this game play out the way the numbers predict it will. The Ravens are running the ball as good as anyone in the league and the Chargers cannot stop the run. With some issues in the secondary, the Ravens cannot stop the air game and Justin Herbert is averaging a scandalous 315 yards passing per game. This game has shootout written all over it and I really hope it plays out that way.

Seattle Seahawks @ Pittsburgh Steelers: Steelers -4.5

Seahawks:

• The Seahawks have the 19th ranked offence and 32nd ranked defence.
• They have the 16th ranked passing offence and 19th ranked rushing offence.
• On average, Seattle is scoring 24 points per game and conceding 25.2 points.
• Wilson/Smith & Co. are throwing for 265.4 yards per game and rushing for 104 yards.
• The Seattle defence is allowing 321.6 passing yards per game and 145.2 rushing yards per game.
• Seattle will be without Russell Wilson, Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny.

Steelers:

• The Steelers have the 27th ranked offence and the 14th ranked defence.
• They have the 19th ranked passing offence and the 31st ranked rushing offence.
• On average, the Steelers are scoring 18.8 points per game and conceding 22.4 points.
• Big Ben & Co. are throwing for 257.2 yards per game and rushing for 73.6 yards.
• The Steelers defence is allowing 272 passing yards and 100.4 rushing yards per game.
• JuJu is out for the season. Plenty of time to hop in his Corvette now.
• The Steelers got their first win since week one, last week against the Broncos, winning 27-19.

Watching Big Ben move is like watching a fridge slide down a gentle slope. While Brady is ageing in reverse, the same cannot be said for Roethlisberger. But he did look much better last week against a decent Broncos defence. That positive progress should be amplified this week against the worst defence in the league, as no team is conceding more yards per game that the Seahawks. To make matters worse for the Seattle massive, Russell Wilson and Chris Carson are both out as, Geno Smith takes Wilson’s place. Cult hero, Smith has a tough job on his hands this week away from home, against TJ Watt and Co. Looking at the stats, you may be asking why the rushing yards for the Steelers are so low, but it’s down to Big Ben throwing a lot of check down passes and screens for Harris. The injury worries, poor defence and hostile away environment are enough for me to go against Seattle this week and side with the home team. Lock up the Steelers on the handicap.

J

CURRENT RECORD: 7-15