Make sure to give your local Cleveland Browns fan a hug. Boy, talk about a franchise that just can’t get it right.
While no one expected the Browns to do much of anything this season, the hope was that the team would finally start to show a little progress after a decade-plus of utter ineptitude.
Instead, Cleveland once again looks like the worst team in the league and, as usual, it begins at the quarterback position.
Rookie DeShone Kizer has had a rough go of it so far. Now, you can’t place all the blame on one player when a team has this many issues.
But it goes back to the fact that the Browns simply haven’t been able to find an answer at quarterback ever since they rejoined the league two decades ago. It doesn’t help that they’ve continually passed on QBs in the draft, only to watch those players (like Carson Wentz and Deshaun Watson) light up the scoreboard early in their careers.
The Browns’ failure to field a competitive team for more than a decade should serve as a warning to the rest of the NFL: no matter how good the rest of your roster is, you probably aren’t going very far if you don’t have an at least competent man under center.
Rodgers for MVP
There have been a few players who have already thrown their hats in the ring for early NFL MVP. Tom Brady and Drew Brees have been models of cool precision, while Chiefs rookie Kareem Hunt is setting the league on fire.
But for my money, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers has been the league’s most valuable player so far.
Look no further than the Packers’ dramatic last-second victory over Dallas last week. Was there anyone who didn’t think that Rodgers was going to lead Green Bay down the field for the game-winning score?
Despite dealing with a slew of injuries on offense, Rodgers alone makes the Packers one of the most dangerous teams in the league. It’s scary to imagine what he’ll be able to do once he actually has a full, healthy lineup to work with.
On to the picks:
Miami at Atlanta
The Dolphins ought to feel very fortunate to be sitting at .500. They should be in for a wakeup call against a well-rested Falcons team that will be eager to bounce back from a shocking home loss to the Bills.
Nick’s pick: FALCONS
Green Bay at Minnesota
Both of these offenses are playing at an extremely high level. The difference is that one of them has Aaron Rodgers and the other doesn’t. As I mentioned above, there might not be anyone playing better than Green Bay’s QB right now.
Nick’s pick: PACKERS
Detroit at New Orleans
New Orleans’ poor defense has overshadowed yet another brilliant Drew Brees performance so far. For all the talk of Tom Brady beating Father Time, Brees has been playing just as well while also pushing 40. If the Saints can play just a little ‘D’, Brees should carry them the rest of the way.
Nick’s pick: SAINTS
New England at N.Y. Jets
Patriots versus Jets for first place in the AFC East: who would’ve thunk it? While New York is 3-2, those three wins haven’t exactly been impressive. New England looks like it might be figuring out some of its defensive issues, which spells big trouble for the J-E-T-S.
Nick’s pick: PATRIOTS
San Francisco at Washington
I don’t believe the 49ers are as bad as their winless record might indicate. But I also believe the Redskins are playing better than their own record. San Francisco just doesn’t have the same kind of talent that Washington does.
Nick’s pick: REDSKINS
Chicago at Baltimore
This game could be a low-scoring affair featuring two struggling offenses and two pretty good defensive units. Mitchell Trubisky showed promise in his first start for the Bears, but facing the Ravens is a tall task for any rookie.
Nick’s pick: RAVENS
Cleveland at Houston
Despite losing to the Chiefs, the Texans should feel very good about how well rookie QB Deshaun Watson has played so far. Things will get much easier against the woeful Browns, though No. 1 pick Myles Garrett adds some intrigue to the matchup.
Nick’s pick: TEXANS
Tampa Bay at Arizona
This has the feeling of a game that looks extremely uninteresting on paper yet could end up being one of the games of the week. Jameis Winston and Carson Palmer represent an interesting juxtaposition at quarterback: the former on the rise, the latter on the decline.
Nick’s pick: CARDINALS
L.A. Rams at Jacksonville
Before the season started, this looked like a very ‘meh’ matchup. But both the Rams and Jaguars have played better than expected. The Rams offense will hope to rediscover its groove against Jacksonville’s punishing defense.
Nick’s pick: RAMS
Pittsburgh at Kansas City
Call me crazy, but I think this will be a close game. Ben Roethlisberger can’t possibly be worse than he was last week. I also think the Chiefs are due for a stumble sooner or later, and Pittsburgh’s defense is no joke. That being said, the Chiefs clearly look like the class of the NFL right now.
Nick’s pick: CHIEFS
L.A. Chargers at Oakland
With Derek Carr still on the mend, this becomes a much more winnable game for the Chargers, who finally got off the schneid last week. Oakland’s offense has regressed to the point where it can no longer cover up for its porous defense. Philip Rivers ought to have a big day.
Nick’s pick: CHARGERS
N.Y. Giants at Denver
Oh, the Giants. They looked bad even before Odell Beckham Jr. went down for the season with an injury. It now remains to be seen just what the heck New York does for offense now. Against Von Miller and company, I’d be surprised if the G-Men reach double digits in this one.
Nick’s pick: BRONCOS
Indianapolis at Tennessee
If Marcus Mariota doesn’t play for the Titans, we’re looking at a Monday Night Football QB matchup of Matt Cassel and Jacoby Brissett. Yikes. I mean, the Titans should still win. Right?
Nick’s pick: TITANS
Last week: 7-6
Overall: 34-24
