We’re hitting a stride, ladies and gentleman. I can feel it. This is where the NFL season becomes easy. The overachievers have fallen back to earth, and those who weren’t supposed to be basement-dwelling are beginning to climb their way out.
There are four very clear contenders for the Lombardi Trophy. Those teams are the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, and Kansas City Chiefs. Behind those teams are dark horses such as the Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Carolina Panthers. It’ll be interesting to see two true contenders, the Saints and Rams, go head-to-head this week. If the Rams make it through, they have a pretty strong chance to finish the season undefeated.
Overall Record Entering Week 9: 59-55-6
Thursday Night Football
Jon Gruden’s Oakland Raiders traveled to Levi Stadium in a TNF matchup with the Jimmy Garoppolo-less 49ers. San Francisco had an even bigger challenge this week, as QB CJ Beathard was replaced by Nick Mullens due to injury. Mullens went in and threw all over the putrid Raiders defense. It feels like Gruden is fully resetting the Raiders, and it’s only a matter of time before Derek Carr finds himself a new home as well.
The 49ers were 1.5-point underdogs heading into Thursday, but the Raiders have been playing so poorly that we decided to take the risk on Nick Mullens and take the Niners. Not only did Nick Mullens win the game (and our first pick of the week), he also won me over that night. I’m now #TeamNickMullens.
We’re up over .500. Let’s keep riding this wave.
SUNDAY 1:00 PM EST
Atlanta Falcons (+1.5) @ Washington Redskins (-1.5)
Chicago Bears (-10) @ Buffalo Bills (+10)
Detroit Lions (+5) @ Minnesota Vikings (-5)
Kansas City Chiefs (-8) @ Cleveland Browns (+8)
New York Jets (+3) @ Miami Dolphins (-3)
SUNDAY 4:00 PM – 4:25 PM EST
Pittsburgh Steelers (+1.5) @ Baltimore Ravens (-1.5)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+6) @ Carolina Panthers (-6)
Houston Texans (+1) @ Denver Broncos (-1)
Los Angeles Chargers (-1) @ Seattle Seahawks (+1)
Los Angeles Rams (-2) @ New Orleans Saints (+2)
SUNDAY 8:30 PM EST
Green Bay Packers (+5) @ New England Patriots (-5)
MONDAY 8:30 PM EST
Tennessee Titans (+4.5) @ Dallas Cowboys (-4.5)