NFL Week Ten Cheat Sheet
Today is Veterans Day. I won't be using this space to tell you how to thank a veteran. I won't even tell you that you should or must thank a veteran.
You all have busy lives and you have your priorities. That is your business, not mine. I will just be happy if you read further.
I knew I wanted to serve our country in the military when I was pretty young. In high school, a guy on my paper route recommended I read the Long Gray Line, about the West Point class of 1966. After reading that book, I had one clear top priority, and that was to get into the West Point class of 1995. I made it into that class, made it to graduation, and then kept rolling for a while.
I drive at least 45 minutes to work each day (often longer due to the traffic). That drive takes me along the Potomac, where I can look across the river and I can see the Washington Monument, the Capitol, and the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials. I honestly don't often look -- I did yesterday.
So yesterday I was thinking about my 25-year Army journey during my drive home. There were a lot of moments in those years that were awful at the time and I was only counting the seconds until those moments were over. From the comfort and safety of my current position, I am grateful I had the opportunity to live and endure those moments on the Army team with my Army teammates.
On this Veterans Day, I would like to thank the Army for allowing me to be on that team for so long. I just wish I could go back and do it a little bit better.
Virtually every single time I see the Army depicted on screen, I hate it. Specifics are not accurate, or the whole scene is too "Hollywood."
This Veterans Day commercial by Buffalo Wild Wings has some glaring inaccuracies and perpetuates some myths, but it spoke to me...service, home, and community.
Let's gather our little community together and talk about some sports together...to the Cheat Sheet.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. (+10.0) Indianapolis Colts: The Steelers come to Indy off a bye week with their elite offensive weapons -- RB LeVeon Bell, 3rd most rushing yards in the NFL, and WR Antonio Brown, most catches in the league. The Colts defense has given up the most points of any team in the league, and it is ranked 31st in passing defense. This could get ugly early. -- STEELERS
New Orleans Saints vs. (+3.0) Buffalo Bills: New Orleans has missed the playoffs three years straight, and Buffalo hasn't been to the playoffs yet this century. Both teams are in the hunt and hungry for a post season opportunity. The steamer the Bills dropped last Thursday in a 34-21 loss to the New York Jets makes me wonder about them, but the Saints haven't won a game in sub-45-degree temperatures since 2014 -- game time temperature is projected to be 43 degrees. -- BILLS
Cleveland Browns vs. (-11.5) Detroit Lions: We don't have to spend a lot of time on this one, do we? -- LIONS
Los Angeles Chargers vs. (-3.5) Jacksonville Jaguars: This is a VERY tough game to call. The Chargers have won three of their last four games (the one loss coming against the New England Patriots in Foxboro) and are coming off a bye week. The Jaguars have the 3rd ranked defense that has totaled 35 sacks over eight games. The clincher for me: San Diego's rush defense is rated 31st in the NFL, and Jacksonville has RB Leonard Fournette. -- JAGUARS
Green Bay Packers vs. (-5.5) Chicago Bears: Green Bay has dropped three straight after the injury to QB Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers' replacement, QB Brett Hundley, has thrown four interceptions, and managed a 58.3 quarterback rating while at the helm this year. Chicago QB Mitchell Trubisky isn't much better (2 INTs, 66.3 QBR), but he can lean on the 8th rated defense in the NFL. -- BEARS
New York Jets vs. (+2.5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tampa Bay will be without starting QB Jameis Winston, who comes across as one strange cat during pregame motivational speeches. Even with Winston, the Buccaneers have dropped five in a row. New York is coming off a 34-21 victory over the resurgent Buffalo Bills, and looking much better than what many anticipated. -- JETS
Minnesota Vikings vs. (+1.5) Washington Redskins: Washington went to Seattle last week, and came away with a surprise victory over the Seahawks. Minnesota has won four straight, and is coming off a bye week. The Redskins have a hard time mustering a sufficient running game, and the Vikings only allow 81.4 rushing yards a game. -- VIKINGS
Cincinnati Bengals vs. (-4.5) Tennessee Titans: When I was a little boy, the Bengals gave me a huge thrill as a young fan when they made their magical run to the Super Bowl following the 1981 season. Remember, there was no such thing as the Indianapolis Colts back then, so they were my team. It would be an incredible magic trick if Cincy could pull their heads out of their asses. -- TITANS
Houston Texans vs. (-11.0) Los Angeles Rams: This would have been an awesome game if Houston QB DeShaun Watson were healthy. Prior to Watson going down before last week's game, the Texans had scored more than 30 points in five straight games, including a 57-point performance against the Titans. The Rams have scored more than 27 points in five of their past six games, including putting up 51 last week against the New York Giants. No healthy Watson equals no chance for the Texans. -- RAMS
New York Giants vs. (+2.5) San Francisco 49ers: It looks like the Giants head coach Ben McAdoo has "lost the locker room." That's what you get for hiring a dude that looks like a mid-80s porn star as your coach. Somehow the wise guys still favor New York for this east coast-to-west coast road game. I don't know what they know, because this one feels like the first win of the season for the home team to me. -- 49ERS
Dallas Cowboys vs. (-3.0) Atlanta Falcons: Have you been wondering why the Falcons offense -- with all of its weapons -- has failed to score more than 17 points four of the last five weeks? Yeah, me too. Looking up this game I was reminded that the Atlanta offensive coordinator is Steve Sarkisian...who is a God damned idiot. I know the Cowboys are missing RB Ezekiel Elliott now, but they are still a decidedly better team. -- COWBOYS
New England Patriots vs. (+7.5) Denver Broncos: We all knew coming into the season that the Broncos offense was nothing special and would most likely struggle a little. We also knew that the Denver defense might possibly be the best in the NFL. The Broncos starting quarterback is Brock Osweiler, who has an internet forum dedicated to his suck-itude. And the Denver defense gave up 51 points last week. -- PATRIOTS
Miami Dolphins vs. (-9.0) Carolina Panthers: Sometimes when I try to make time to write this blog, I wonder why I do it. This game is definitely one of those times. I do not envision giving two shits about this game come Monday night. We had a dozen 10-year old girls at our house last night for our youngest daughter's birthday celebration. I need to sit down, drink some coffee, and recharge. Reading about this game would be an absolute waste of my time. -- PANTHERS
You all have busy lives and you have your priorities. That is your business, not mine. I will just be happy if you read further.
I knew I wanted to serve our country in the military when I was pretty young. In high school, a guy on my paper route recommended I read the Long Gray Line, about the West Point class of 1966. After reading that book, I had one clear top priority, and that was to get into the West Point class of 1995. I made it into that class, made it to graduation, and then kept rolling for a while.
I drive at least 45 minutes to work each day (often longer due to the traffic). That drive takes me along the Potomac, where I can look across the river and I can see the Washington Monument, the Capitol, and the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials. I honestly don't often look -- I did yesterday.
So yesterday I was thinking about my 25-year Army journey during my drive home. There were a lot of moments in those years that were awful at the time and I was only counting the seconds until those moments were over. From the comfort and safety of my current position, I am grateful I had the opportunity to live and endure those moments on the Army team with my Army teammates.
On this Veterans Day, I would like to thank the Army for allowing me to be on that team for so long. I just wish I could go back and do it a little bit better.
Virtually every single time I see the Army depicted on screen, I hate it. Specifics are not accurate, or the whole scene is too "Hollywood."
This Veterans Day commercial by Buffalo Wild Wings has some glaring inaccuracies and perpetuates some myths, but it spoke to me...service, home, and community.
Let's gather our little community together and talk about some sports together...to the Cheat Sheet.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. (+10.0) Indianapolis Colts: The Steelers come to Indy off a bye week with their elite offensive weapons -- RB LeVeon Bell, 3rd most rushing yards in the NFL, and WR Antonio Brown, most catches in the league. The Colts defense has given up the most points of any team in the league, and it is ranked 31st in passing defense. This could get ugly early. -- STEELERS
New Orleans Saints vs. (+3.0) Buffalo Bills: New Orleans has missed the playoffs three years straight, and Buffalo hasn't been to the playoffs yet this century. Both teams are in the hunt and hungry for a post season opportunity. The steamer the Bills dropped last Thursday in a 34-21 loss to the New York Jets makes me wonder about them, but the Saints haven't won a game in sub-45-degree temperatures since 2014 -- game time temperature is projected to be 43 degrees. -- BILLS
Cleveland Browns vs. (-11.5) Detroit Lions: We don't have to spend a lot of time on this one, do we? -- LIONS
Los Angeles Chargers vs. (-3.5) Jacksonville Jaguars: This is a VERY tough game to call. The Chargers have won three of their last four games (the one loss coming against the New England Patriots in Foxboro) and are coming off a bye week. The Jaguars have the 3rd ranked defense that has totaled 35 sacks over eight games. The clincher for me: San Diego's rush defense is rated 31st in the NFL, and Jacksonville has RB Leonard Fournette. -- JAGUARS
Green Bay Packers vs. (-5.5) Chicago Bears: Green Bay has dropped three straight after the injury to QB Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers' replacement, QB Brett Hundley, has thrown four interceptions, and managed a 58.3 quarterback rating while at the helm this year. Chicago QB Mitchell Trubisky isn't much better (2 INTs, 66.3 QBR), but he can lean on the 8th rated defense in the NFL. -- BEARS
New York Jets vs. (+2.5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tampa Bay will be without starting QB Jameis Winston, who comes across as one strange cat during pregame motivational speeches. Even with Winston, the Buccaneers have dropped five in a row. New York is coming off a 34-21 victory over the resurgent Buffalo Bills, and looking much better than what many anticipated. -- JETS
Minnesota Vikings vs. (+1.5) Washington Redskins: Washington went to Seattle last week, and came away with a surprise victory over the Seahawks. Minnesota has won four straight, and is coming off a bye week. The Redskins have a hard time mustering a sufficient running game, and the Vikings only allow 81.4 rushing yards a game. -- VIKINGS
Cincinnati Bengals vs. (-4.5) Tennessee Titans: When I was a little boy, the Bengals gave me a huge thrill as a young fan when they made their magical run to the Super Bowl following the 1981 season. Remember, there was no such thing as the Indianapolis Colts back then, so they were my team. It would be an incredible magic trick if Cincy could pull their heads out of their asses. -- TITANS
Houston Texans vs. (-11.0) Los Angeles Rams: This would have been an awesome game if Houston QB DeShaun Watson were healthy. Prior to Watson going down before last week's game, the Texans had scored more than 30 points in five straight games, including a 57-point performance against the Titans. The Rams have scored more than 27 points in five of their past six games, including putting up 51 last week against the New York Giants. No healthy Watson equals no chance for the Texans. -- RAMS
New York Giants vs. (+2.5) San Francisco 49ers: It looks like the Giants head coach Ben McAdoo has "lost the locker room." That's what you get for hiring a dude that looks like a mid-80s porn star as your coach. Somehow the wise guys still favor New York for this east coast-to-west coast road game. I don't know what they know, because this one feels like the first win of the season for the home team to me. -- 49ERS
Dallas Cowboys vs. (-3.0) Atlanta Falcons: Have you been wondering why the Falcons offense -- with all of its weapons -- has failed to score more than 17 points four of the last five weeks? Yeah, me too. Looking up this game I was reminded that the Atlanta offensive coordinator is Steve Sarkisian...who is a God damned idiot. I know the Cowboys are missing RB Ezekiel Elliott now, but they are still a decidedly better team. -- COWBOYS
New England Patriots vs. (+7.5) Denver Broncos: We all knew coming into the season that the Broncos offense was nothing special and would most likely struggle a little. We also knew that the Denver defense might possibly be the best in the NFL. The Broncos starting quarterback is Brock Osweiler, who has an internet forum dedicated to his suck-itude. And the Denver defense gave up 51 points last week. -- PATRIOTS
Miami Dolphins vs. (-9.0) Carolina Panthers: Sometimes when I try to make time to write this blog, I wonder why I do it. This game is definitely one of those times. I do not envision giving two shits about this game come Monday night. We had a dozen 10-year old girls at our house last night for our youngest daughter's birthday celebration. I need to sit down, drink some coffee, and recharge. Reading about this game would be an absolute waste of my time. -- PANTHERS
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