Brady & the NFL Arrive in Germany but Will the Seahawks Take the W?
McCarthy & the Boys Look to Send Green Bay Packing.
Can Washington Command Respect in the City of Brotherly Love?
Seattle Seahawks (6-3) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) (Seattle win)
The Buccaneers claimed a huge win last week over the Rams to snap a 3 game losing streak and move to the top of the NFC South – but it was far from impressive. For 58 minutes, their offense was putrid. They never led in the game until Tom Brady found rookie tight end Cade Otton in the end zone with only a few seconds remaining and there’s still plenty of cause for concern. All that being said, a win’s a win and the Buccaneers find themselves in a position to make some noise this season.
Next up is a trip to Munich and a tough looking game against a resurgent Seattle Seahawks as the NFL stages its first ever regular season game in Germany. Since week 6 the Seahawks defense – which seemed like a sieve in the first months of the season – is giving up just 16.5 points per game. Rookie running back, Kenneth Walker leads the league in rushing touchdowns (7) and this team is once again being built in Pete Carroll’s mould. It’s a run first offense; allowing them to benefit from the pay action- pass, aligned with good defense. It means, the Seahawks sit alone on top of the NFC West. The odds makers have Seattle as 2.5 point underdogs heading into this matchup, but the Bucs offense is still only average 18 points per game and last week’s win has done nothing to quieten the doubters.
Right now, there are still far too many questions surrounding this team and it’s difficult to see how they find the answers before facing Seattle on Sunday. Not only should Seattle cover the spread in this encounter, do not be surprised to see them head back to the US with the W as well!
PICK: Seattle Seahawks win
Dallas Cowboys (6-2) @ Green Bay Packers (3-6) (Packers under 20.5pts)
What is happening in Green Bay?! In the midst of a 5 game losing streak and last weekend, the indignation of not only losing to the Detroit Lions but being held to just 9 points – against the worst scoring defense in the NFL!
QB Aaron Rodgers doesn’t look himself either. He has 2 costly turnovers in that defeat. He missed open receivers and frankly, this team is a shambles right now. Across their last 4 games they’ve scored just 10, 21, 10 and 9 points! Perhaps the last team Green Bay wants to see heading to Lambeau then is the Dallas Cowboys.
Fresh off a bye week and their best offensive display of the year last time out, the Cowboys are getting healthy and look dangerous on both sides of the ball.
Defensively, they rank 3rd in scoring and lead the league with 33 sacks. They are +6 in turnover differential, compared to Green Bay’s -7 and with a 6-2 record, this is a big matchup for a Cowboys team 2 games back from the division leading Eagles. It also marks the first time head coach Mike McCarthy is returning to Lambeau since leaving Green Bay nearly 4 years ago. A tenure which saw him deliver a Lombardi Trophy in 2010.
There’s plenty on the line for both teams but it’s tough to make any sort of argument to support the Packers here. Dak Prescott beat Aaron Rodgers on his only previous visit to this ground as a rookie. Expect him to do it again on Sunday and don’t expect the final score to be close.
PICKS: Green Bay Packers under 20.5 points
Washington Commanders (4-5) @ Philadelphia Eagles (8-0) (WAS +11)
The Philadelphia Eagles are 8-0 for the first time in franchise history. They look potent on both sides of the ball. They have the no. 2 ranked scoring offense in the NFL, averaging 28.1 points per game. They have a QB who can make plays with his legs, while having two big receiving threats in the form of AJ Brown and Devonta Smith. While on defense, they play well against the run and have defensive backs with a nose for the ball. Throw into the equation the week 3 meeting between these two which saw a comfortable Eagles win – a game they led 24-0 at half-time – and it’s not hard to see why they are odds on favourites to win again!
All that being said, this is still an NFC East battle. The Commanders now have Taylor Heinicke at QB, who has a knack of making big plays. They are 3-2 over their last 5 games – each of which has been decided by 5 points or less. It’s something often talked about by players who’ve experience unbeaten starts to a campaign. The further into a season they go, the more difficult it gets to keep that record intact.
Make no mistake, the Eagles are rightly favourites and on home turf, they should win this match up, but do they win it by 11 points against a hungry division rival? Or does that underdog put up a fight?
PICK: Commanders + 11
