Last week ended on a historic call. The Packers lost a game they shouldn’t have because of the brutal replacement officiating. An interception overturned because of a brutal roughing the passer all. A pass interference call on a 1st & 33 situation that was, if anything, offensive pass interference. Then the finale. The hail mary bomb from Russell Wilson to Golden Tate. Tate clearly pushed off of the Packers DB, then wrapped his arm around MD Jennings who clearly intercepted the ball. As soon as the back judge raised his arm, the side judge immediately assumed he was going to call it a touchdown, so the side judge singled touchdown. The back judge continued to raise his arms, but to signal a time out and what would should’ve been a touchback. It was a terrible display of officiating that cycled $1 Billion dollars in the betting circuit.
The good news is, the NFL and regular Referees have reached an agreement. Finally, regular football is back.
Now for some picks.
Thursday Night Football (NFL Network) 8:20
Cleveland Browns (+13) vs. Baltimore Ravens (-13) Over/Under: 44
Gibs: Ravens/Under:- The Ravens are playing their fourth game in 18 days. If they were playing anyone else, I’d say that’d play a factor in tonight’s game. Luckily for Baltimore, they play the Browns who are coming off of a 24-14 loss at home against Buffalo. The Ravens are going to toy with rookie QB Brandon Weeden, I like Baltimore in a blowout.
1:00 Sunday Games:
New England Patriots (-4.5) vs. Buffalo Bills (+4.5) Over/Under 52
Gibs: Patriots/Under:- The Bills look better and better each week, but they’re more than likely going into Sunday’s game without the NFL’s leading rusher, CJ Spiller and stud RB Fred Jackson. New England isn’t a team to drop three straight, and Bill Belichick is going to point out Buffalo’s weakness (the secondary, especially Terrance McGee). I won’t be surprised if Buffalo beats them at home for two consecutive years, but I’m more confident in the Patriots getting out of this slump.
Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions
Gibs: Vikings:- This is going to be a very close game. The Lions are coming off of heartbreaking losses these past two weeks, and come home to face divisional rival Minnesota. The Vikings are riding high after a huge upset win against the 49er’s last week. Ponder looked great, and Percy Harvin was near impossible to cover. I would pick the Lions, but Matthew Stafford has a strong possibility to not play. Backup QB Shaun Hill isn’t terrible, he’ll get the ball to Megatron, but I like a healthy Vikings team against an injured and depleted Lions team.
Carolina Panthers (+7.5) vs. Atlanta Falcons (-7.5) Over/Under: 48.5
Gibs: Falcons/Under:- Hotlanta remains undefeated and they showed their power last week by dismantling the Chargers in San Diego. The Panthers will have gone through 10 days of preparation when Sunday comes, but it won’t matter. Their defense is average at best, and Cam Newton looks like he’s falling into a sophomore slump. I like Atlanta to have their way with Carolina.
San Francisco 49er’s (-4.5) vs. New York Jets (4.5) Over/Under: 41
Gibs: 49er’s/Over:- San Francisco got a wake up call last week in Minnesota. This week they’re going to respond, and respond hard. The Jets should’ve lost last week in Miami, and Rex Ryan is going to have his hands full trying to figure out how to replace Pro-Bowl corner back Darelle Revis. I like the 49ers to get back on track.
San Diego Chargers (-1) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (+1) Over/Under: 45
Gibs: Chargers/Under:- San Diego got smoked out at home last week against the Falcons, and the Chiefs squeaked past the Saints last week in overtime. The reality? KC beat a terrible Saints defense, and the Chargers are just inferior to the Falcons. It’s that simple. I like San Diego to bounce back this week against a weak Chiefs team.
Tennessee Titans (+12) vs. Houston Texans (-12) Over/Under: 45
Gibs: Texans/Over:- The Titans grabbed their first victory of the season last week in a shootout. In my opinion it was a very flukey shootout with two kick returns for TD’s, and a pick six. That’s not going to fly in Houston, where the Titans will get a reality check against the (current) best team in the NFL.
Seattle Seahawks (-3) vs. St. Louis Rams (+3) Over/Under 38.5
Gibs: Seahawks/Over:- Seattle didn’t beat the Pack on Monday night. The replacement Ref’s did. However, the Seahawks did play a very strong game on defense, sacking Aaron Rogers eight times in the first half. I like Seattle’s front line to create headaches for Sam Bradford, and to roll over the Rams.
4:00 Sunday Games:
Miami Dolphins vs. Arizona Cardinals
Gibs: Cardinals:- The Dolphins should’ve beaten the Jets last week, but Philbin decided to do the stupid timeout before the snap on a FG attempt. His team blocked the original field goal, then Folk kicked in his mulligan to seal NYJ’s victory. The Cardinals are turning everyone into a believer. I’ll admit myself, that I’m an Arizona believer after they shredded the Eagles last week. The Dolphins are about to get pounded out in the Desert.
Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos
Gibs: Broncos:- This is going to be very close. The Broncos got smoked out in the first half of last week’s game against Houston, but made a valiant comeback effort. The Raiders had an upset win as they beat the Steelers on a last second field goal. I don’t see Oakland having that much success on Offense against a strong Bronco’s D. I like Peyton to end the Broncos losing streak.
Cincinnati Bengals (-3) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (+3) Over/Under: 43
Gibs: Bengals/Over:- Cinci is looking better and better after they got blown out against Baltimore week one. Since then, Dalton has been on fire with his go-to wideout AJ Green. I like the Bengals to keep rolling against the Jags.
New Orleans Saints (+8) vs. Green Bay Packers (-8) Over/Under: 54
Gibs: Packers/Under:- Green Bay is pissed. Lets face it, they got jobbed and a win was stolen from them. This week they face the Saints — who are miserable. Their defense is atrocious, and they’re proving why a head coach is so important to have in preparation and on the field on game day. I like the Packers – big.
Washington Redskins (+3) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3) Over/Under: 47.5
Gibs: Buccaneers/Over:- This is a hard game to pick. The Bucs are struggling putting up points on the board, and the Redskins are having a hard time stopping teams from scoring. I really do think that the ‘Skins can sneak out of Tampa with a win, but I’ll give the Bucs the benefit of the doubt at home.
Sunday Night Football – 8:20
New York Giants (+1) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (-1) Over/Under: 47.5
Gibs: Giants/Over:- How are the Eagles favored? The Giants proved last week Thursday, that injuries aren’t a problem for them. Andre Brown and Ramses Barden went off last week, and stepped their game up for a big road win in Carolina. The Eagles are 2-1, but easily could be 0-3. Last week in Arizona showed that their previous two wins were very lucky, and Vick has already started the turnover mary-go-round. Vick has 3 TD’s and 6 INT’s. He’ll have more than six picks on his stat sheet after a night with the Giants front four.
Monday Night Football – 8:30
Chicago Bears (+3.5) vs. Dallas Cowboys (-3.5) Over/Under: 41.5
Gibs: Bears/Under:- This will be a very entertaining Monday Night Football game. The Cowboys put up 16 against the Buc’s last week, and the Bears got right back on track stomping out the Rams 23-6. I know the Cowboys are at home, but the Bears are a much more talented team. It’s all about Cutler, and his pass protection. If Cutler’s back doesn’t touch the turf, the Bears will roll in this game.
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