I just can't go Cleveland. Can't do it. I actually feel the exact opposite of Mallett. I've talked about it here many times, but time and time again, new QB's get the starting job (either a rookie or a guy that started previously who gets the job again after a long layoff) and lightning strikes for a week or three. Then the league catches up to them, and they fall back to their true talent level. Shit, we're seeing that play out right now with Sanchez, and Orton to some extent. We saw it with Kirk Cousins for the first couple of weeks, Bridgewater in his first start, arguably Hoyer (we don't know yet if it was the type of fluky thing I'm talking about or if he's the real deal), Drew Stanton got Arizona a couple of wins, etc. Rookie QB's scare the shit out of me.
On top of that, like I said earlier, he's got a damn, damn good set of weapons around him, starting with the guy he can just hand it to, in Aryan Foster, who is easily a top 5 RB in the NFL this year, as well as Hopkins and Johnson on the wings. Flip it around, and you have a guy in JJ Watt that can wreak havoc on the Browns offense, and if Clowney comes back this week and is possessed to show what he can do, look out.
Nope, Cleveland is a non-starter for me.
You're right. I'm truly fucked, but I gotta have hope. I've been sitting around thinking about it all day, and the more I do, the more I'm getting comfortable with the Pittsburgh choice. I think the odds are very good that last week was a complete fluke. Oh wait, did I just say something about guys getting the starting job back and playing well for a few weeks, Michael Vick? Anyway, I think they are definitely closer to the team that waxed Baltimore and Indy in back to back weeks than what they showed last week, and this is a huge, must win for them going into a tough part of their schedule Meanwhile, the Titans are just floundering. The only team they've beaten since that fluke against Kansas City in week one is Jacksonville. I think Pittsburgh comes out and takes care of business.
So, now I'm shaky on Washington. Vegas has them giving 7.5 points to Tampa, and that alone, gives me a little comfort. They've been in basically every game this year, except the debacle against the Giants, but I'm taking them much more on the strength (or lack thereof) of the Bucs. The Bucs have one win this year (against fucking Pittsburgh, UGGH, I need to go to bed), and they haven't looked good at all recently, home or away. I would still argue that their first loss to Atlanta earlier in the year was one of the worst games ever played by an NFL team. Their defense is shredded with injuries, they have no running game, and aside from their receivers, I'm not sure there are more than a handful of guys on their team that would start for anyone else.
I could do this all night, but really, I'm just doing it to make myself feel better. I'm really surprised nobody has any thoughts on that Niners/Giants game. I would have figured that's a game that would tempt some people, especially the folks thinking about New Orleans this week. Didn't the Niners just beat them at home last week? You all don't think they can go and beat the Giants in New York after that? I don't know how you can be interested in the Saints at home against the Bengals moreso than the team that beat them going against the 3-6 Giants who have looked worse and worse during their current four game losing streak. Ever since the Rashad Jennings injury, they've been completely unable to run, and while Beckham has been a shining light for them recently, their defense just can't stop the run. Marshawn Lynch just made them his bitches last week, and I think Gore, Kaepernick and Hyde can do the same this week.
Fuck, now I'm talking myself into San Fran. Nope, not doing this. Good night.
