2020-21 NFL Discussion & Pick 'Em Thread

[NewYorkExpress]

Thursday Night:

Chiefs defeats Texans
Sunday:

Seahawks defeat Falcons

Bills defeat Jets (are the Jets trying to win any games this year?)

Lions TIE Bears

Vikings defeat Packers

Eagles defeat Washington

Panthers defeat Raiders

Colts defeat Jaguars

Ravens defeat Browns

Chargers defeat Bengals

Dolphins TIE Patriots

Buccaneers defeat Saints (I'm not betting against Tom Brady until it's proven he can play without Belichick)

49ers defeat Cardinals

Cowboys defeat Rams

Monday Night:


Steelers defeat Giants

Titans defeat Broncos

[NewYorkExpress]

"The Washington Football Team"?! "THE WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM"?! Geezum crow.

Didn't Keith Olbermann literally call this years ago?

A close friend of mine who's Native American has the theory that this is part of a long game to provide themselves with an excuse to go back to the slur in a few years, and honestly, I can sort of see that.

If the sexual harassment allegations against Dan Snyder that have been unearthed recently prove true, and he's forced to sell the team, they aren't going back.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29803404/ex-washington-football-team-employees-want-owner-dan-snyder-removed

An attorney for 20 former Washington Football Team employees said her clients want the organization to have "accountability and change" and said that won't happen until owner Dan Snyder has been removed.

Lisa Banks told ESPN's Jeremy Schaap on Outside the Lines that the issues reported in two Washington Post stories this summer have been ongoing for two decades under Snyder.


"Well, it's certainly not about making a hire or changing a policy," Banks told Schaap. "The tone, the culture comes from the top. And here, I don't see us having meaningful change without a change in ownership."

The Washington Post spoke to 40 ex-employees who described a pervasive atmosphere of sexual harassment. They did not allege Snyder was involved. One former employee, Brad Baker, said a video was made for Snyder from secret footage of a cheerleader shoot in 2008. Other former employees denied that charge. Snyder has denied that he requested such a video.

<snip>

Banks and Debra Katz, who also represents the former employees, sent a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell last week stating they wanted Snyder suspended pending the outcome of a now-independent investigation. And, according to the letter, they wanted Snyder removed as owner depending on what the investigation corroborated or uncovered. They also pushed for the NFL to take over the investigation by attorney Beth Wilkinson, which the league indeed has done.

[NewYorkExpress]

https://www.tmz.com/2020/09/10/josh-bellamy-nfl-ny-jets-arrested-wire-fraud-bank-fraud/

In the "only could happen to the Jets department", Josh Bellamy, released by the team as of Tuesday, just got arrested for fraud involving PPP loans. Among the spending, is $95,000 on custom jewelry, $5,381 at Gucci, $2,014 at Dior and $62,000+ at the Seminole Hard Hotel and Casino.

[NewYorkExpress]

Upset Alert?

Houston up by a TD early.

[NewYorkExpress]

Browns defeat Bengals



Bears defeat Giants

Cowboys defeat Falcons

Packers defeat Lions

Titans defeat Jaguars

Vikings defeat Colts

Bills defeat Dolphins

49ers defeat Jets

Eagles defeat Rams

Steelers defeat Broncos

Buccaneers defeat Panthers

Cardinals TIE Washington

Chiefs defeat Chargers

Ravens defeat Texans

Seahawks defeat Patriots


Saints defeat Raiders

[NewYorkExpress]

Dolphins TIE Jaguars


Bears TIE Falcons

Bills defeat Rams

Browns defeat Washington

Vikings defeat Titans

Patriots defeat Raiders

49ers defeat Giants

Bengals defeat Eagles

Steelers defeat Texans

Colts defeat Jets

Chargers defeat Panthers

Buccaneers defeat Broncos

Lions defeat Cardinals

Cowboys defeat Seahawks

Saints defeat Packers


Ravens defeat Chiefs (I'm really looking forward to this one. Here's hoping both Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson stay healthy)

[NewYorkExpress]

WEEK 2 RESULTS

There were four games with a single dissenter.  The dissenter was wrong in all of them (and was the same person in three of them):

Sometimes you take a gamble and lose.

Yeah, that was me (one of these weeks I'll also stop betting on Tie Games too).

[NewYorkExpress]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29951448/chicago-bears-hall-fame-running-back-gale-sayers-dies-age-77

Former Chicago Bears star Gale Sayers, considered one of the greatest running backs in the history of the National Football League despite a career cut short by knee injuries, has died at age 77 after living with dementia.

Known as the "Kansas Comet," Sayers was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977 despite playing just seven seasons, all with the Bears. At 34, he was the youngest player ever inducted.

[NewYorkExpress]

You know, I seem to pick tie games every week.

So, it galls me when two games I pick to end in ties don't end that way, and then Eagles/Bengals, in which I picked the Bengals to win does end in a tie.

Is my life as a sports bettor some sort of cosmic plaything or something?

[NewYorkExpress]

Broncos defeat Jets



Bears defeat Colts

Bengals defeat Jaguars

Saints defeat Lions

Steelers defeat Titans

Dolphins defeat Seahawks

Chargers defeat Buccaneers

Ravens defeat Washington

Cardinals defeat Panthers

Texans defeat Vikings

Rams defeat Giants

Chiefs defeat Patriots

Raiders defeat Bills

Eagles defeat 49ers

Cowboys defeat Browns


Packers defeat Falcons



Thank you DFW for letting me know I missed the Browns/Cowboys game.

[NewYorkExpress]

Eagles defeat 49ers

As an Eagles fan, absolutely not.

Have you seen how many injuries the 49ers have?

Unless they get very healthy, very quickly, they aren't winning.

[NewYorkExpress]

I'll be surprised if the Titans/Steelers game isn't canceled outright.

This isn't MLB where you can pull off doubleheaders. There's a very limited window to play the game, and I don't think the Titans will make it.

[NewYorkExpress]

Buccaneers defeat Bears


Panthers defeat Falcons

Bills defeat Titans (don't be surprised if this one is taken off the schedule because of the ongoing COVID outbreak among the Titans)

Chiefs defeat Raiders

Cardinals defeat Jets

Steelers defeat Eagles

Rams defeat Washington

Ravens defeat Bengals

Texans defeat Jaguars

Dolphins TIE 49ers

Colts defeat Browns

Cowboys defeat Giants

Patriots defeat Broncos

Vikings defeat Seahawks



Saints defeat Chargers

[NewYorkExpress]

I severely underestimated my own Eagles. Congrats to NYE, the only person to pick them to win.

Insane! Wentz just reminded everybody who he is.

I'll happily accept accolades from anyone else who wants to give them to me.

[NewYorkExpress]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30048287/sources-houston-texans-fire-coach-gm-bill-obrien-0-4-start

We have our first coaching casualty of the year.

Bill O'Brien has been fired by the Texans, with Romeo Crennel being named the interim head coach.

[NewYorkExpress]

I'd be interested in who the Texans hire.

Do they take the interim tag off of Crennel? Will they hire a hot assistant like Eric Bienemy? Or will they hire a high-profile college coach like Dabo Swinney or Lincoln Riley?

[NewYorkExpress]

I'd be interested in who the Texans hire.

Do they take the interim tag off of Crennel? Will they hire a hot assistant like Eric Bienemy? Or will they hire a high-profile college coach like Dabo Swinney or Lincoln Riley?

Wade Phillips is looking for a job. 

Given what happened to the Rams last season wasn't really his fault, I'd consider him a viable candidate.

That said, a coach who can get more out DeShaun Watson and manage the offense, especially after O'Brien traded away DeAndre Hopkins for basically peanuts, would be an improvement. Given the way Oklahoma is playing right now, there's a non-zero chance Lincoln Riley might end up at least with job security issues. If the Texans offer him an interview (or the job) he should listen.

[NewYorkExpress]

Just thinking ahead here: if a team forfeits a game due to COVID, my inclination is to not count that game in the pick'em.  Anyone disagree?

I wouldn't be shocked if the NFL suspends/cancels the rest of the season by week 8 the way things are going.

[NewYorkExpress]

A note on Week 6....if the Tuesday night game doesn't happen, the Chiefs-Bills game will be shifted back to Thursday. IF so, then I think we should just not have that game count, unless people disagree.

Week 6 games:

Sunday, October 18th

Texans @ Titans 1 PM EDT CBS

Bengals @ Colts 1 PM EDT FOX

Falcons @ Vikings 1 PM EDT FOX

Broncos @ Patriots 1 PM EDT CBS

Washington @ Giants 1 PM EDT FOX

Ravens @ Eagles 1 PM EDT CBS

Browns @ Steelers 1 PM EDT CBS

Bears @ Panthers 1 PM EDT FOX

Lions @ Jaguars 1 PM EDT FOX

Jets @ Dolphins 4:05 PM EDT CBS

Packers @ Buccaneers 4:25 PM EDT FOX

Rams @ 49ers 8:20 PM EDT NBC

Monday, October 19th

Chiefs @ Bills 5 PM EDT FOX/NFL

Cardinals @ Cowboys 8:15 PM EDT ESPN

Just count the Tuesday night game as part of week six.

As for my picks.

Titans defeat Texans (If the Titans COVID outbreak is contained)

Colts defeat Bengals

Steelers defeat Browns

Vikings defeat Falcons

Bears defeat Panthers

Lions defeat Jaguars

Dolphins defeat Jets

Packers defeat Buccaneers

Rams defeat 49ers


Bills defeat Chiefs

Cardinals defeat Cowboys

[NewYorkExpress]

The Tuesday night game is part of week 5 given it was already picked by everyone albeit for Sunday

I'm aware of that. However, if it moves to Thursday, I can argue it is now in Week Six, and not in Week Five.

[NewYorkExpress]

https://247sports.com/Article/Dan-Quinn-fired-Atlanta-Falcons-head-coach-152091439/

According to reports out of Atlanta, Dan Quinn will be fired Monday or Tuesday.

If I'm the Falcons, I'm asking Kirby Smart whether he's interested in being an NFL head coach (it isn't like he's going to beat Nick Saban any time soon)

[NewYorkExpress]

The Tuesday night game is part of week 5 given it was already picked by everyone albeit for Sunday

I'm aware of that. However, if it moves to Thursday, I can argue it is now in Week Six, and not in Week Five.

It's not going to move to Thursday, I was talking about Chiefs-Bills

I'd count it anyways.

[NewYorkExpress]

Eagles defeat Giants


Lions defeat Falcons

Browns defeat Bengals

Saints defeat Panthers

Steelers defeat Titans

Bills defeat Jets

Cowboys defeat Washington

Cardinals defeat Seahawks

Chiefs defeat Broncos

Chargers TIE Jaguars

Patriots defeat 49ers

Buccaneers defeat Raiders


Rams defeat Bears

[NewYorkExpress]

Panthers defeat Falcons


Bills defeat Patriots

Titans defeat Bengals

Raiders defeat Browns

Colts defeat Lions

Packers defeat Vikings

Chiefs defeat Jets (If the Jets lose by less than three touchdowns, I'll be surprised...and I say this as a Jets fan)

Rams defeat Dolphins

Ravens defeat Steelers

Broncos defeat Chargers

Saints defeat Bears

Seahawks defeat 49ers

Eagles defeat Cowboys


Buccaneers defeat Giants (Again, I'll be surprised if the margin is within three touchdowns)

[NewYorkExpress]

For a brief wonderful moment I thought the J-E-T-S JETS! JETS!! JETS!!! might win one.

If the Jets win a game this season, I'll go to Las Vegas and get married by an Elvis impersonator to the first person I see (regardless of if they are already married).