Week 1

Let’s start fast, shall we?

0-1 after Thursday…

…oh yeah

WTF Sark Part 2

Let’s not even revisit why Atlanta thought it was a good idea to replace Kyle Shanahan with someone who blew one of the premier positions in all of football with public drunkenness (and that’s AFTER he rescinded a dry locker room policy brought on by his predecessor). Ok, I’m revisiting it. Why? Because it’s becoming more clear and obvious that he was brought in as a favor to him, and to shoulder blame when the rest of the organization screws up.

Were those play calls awful? Yes, they were ATROCIOUS. I don’t ever want to say I could coach in the NFL, but if all I have to do is wait for the opposing coach to swing his dick on 4th and short in the first half, I might go 10-6 on that alone in my first year. However, there are several chips to fall for that play to come to pass. First is the now habitual fuckup of Dan Quinn to treat 3rd and 4th down separately when I presume that early in the game he knows he’s going for it. Second is the complete disconnect between the lack of quickness inside on this roster and the slot passing game they call in the redzone. Atlanta has gazelles, but no one with real agility to separate inside, which when the run stops PREDISPOSES them to throwing alley-oops to Julio. Atlanta has to be more creative in the RUN game to set up Julio off play-action, not reinvent the wheel in the pass calls.

Week 1

Cincinnati (ML +100) to win in Indy – Not only do you get to bet against the public on Andrew Luck’s return at home, this is an excellent matchup for Cincinnati’s secondary, who I think will be one of the top 5 in the league. They’ll double T. Y. Hilton and dare Luck to figure out the rest. I don’t think he will. Bengals 30, Colts 20.

Giants (+3 -105) vs. Jaguars – I don’t think this game will be a blowout either way, so I’m taking the points and the home team with explosive playmakers. Similar to the Colts game, the Giants secondary SHOULD be able to give Eli Apple (and NO ONE will be targeted in the NFL more this year than Apple across from Janoris Jenkins) a confidence boost in Week 1 before he pisses me off for four months straight. Shouldn’t there be a moratorium on Blake Bortles as a road favorite? Giants 21, Jaguars 20.

Titans (-1 +100) at the Dolphins – I think Miami is going to be awful, and they couldn’t have a worse Week 1 draw than the balanced and tough Titans. This will be a good teaching game for Mike Vrabel, because they’re going to have some mistakes early, but I see no way Miami controls Tennessee on either side of the ball for 60 minutes. Titans 34, Dolphins 17. 

Seahawks (+3 +100) at the Broncos  – I don’t buy Denver at all, and I think Seattle’s friskiness gets a good opening laboratory test here. Denver’s pass rush won’t be as effective against Wilson’s elusiveness, and if you think Vance Joseph can coach with Pete Carroll, you need to go find another blog. Seahawks 27, Broncos 23. 

Packers (-7 -105) vs. Bears – Go against the Bears until they show you something and/or the public bails. 7 is not a bad line for a home team with Aaron Rodgers. Packers 38, Bears 10.