By Lance Tominaga, ESPN Honolulu Web Editor.
My long and slow road back to respectability continues. It’s frustrating because in ESPN Honolulu’s ongoing “Pigskin Picks” I’m batting .656 (44 of 64 games correct), which would place me among the leaders in our local division. Maybe I’m just picking the wrong six games to predict here?
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On to this week’s picks:
♦ GREEN BAY @ CINCINNATI: Remember after Week 1 we were all writing off the Packers? (Well, maybe it was just me.) Well, now Aaron Rodgers and Co. have won three straight and are looking like legit contenders again. Can they keep things rolling against a surprising Bengals team that is also 3-1? I think so, but it will be a close one. Pick: PACKERS
♦ DENVER @ PITTSBURGH: XXX. Pick: Say, didn’t you used to be the Pittsburgh Steelers? It’s almost sad to see the Steelers fall so hard. They’ve lost three straight, and their offense is putting up a measly 16 points per outing. That’s bad news considering the Bronco defense is only giving up 12.3 points a game. For Denver, the big concern is the status of starting Teddy Bridgewater, who was knocked out of the game this past Sunday and is under concussion protocol. Pick: BRONCOS
♦ CHICAGO @ LAS VEGAS: The Raiders not only returned to Earth, but they landed hard. The MNF loss to the L.A. Chargers exposed the Silver & Black’s most glaring weakness: its patchwork offensive line. That sound you hear is Khalil Mack salivating. Bears QB Justin Fields looked solid last Sunday against the Detroit Lions, and the mobile rookie could do some damage to the Vegas D. Still, the Raiders are 2-0 at home. They’ll make it three. Pick: RAIDERS
♦ CLEVELAND @ L.A. CHARGERS: This is going to be a fun game to watch, as both teams are young and potentially on the road to greatness. Both feature dynamic and versatile defenses. Colin Cowherd likes to say that the team with the better QB usually wins. If that is the case, I’m going with the Chargers. Justin Herbert is the real deal. Pick: CHARGERS
♦ SAN FRANCISCO @ ARIZONA: As undefeated teams go, who would have thought the last team standing would be the Arizona Cardinals? Kyler Murray is having an MVP-type season, and the 4-0 Cards are leading the NFL in scoring (averaging 35 points per game). Arizona will be favored to win this one no matter who the Niners start at QB. One reason for hope: The 49ers’ two wins this season have been on the road. Yeah, that’s not much. Pick: CARDINALS
♦ BUFFALO @ KANSAS CITY: Here’s your marquee game of the week. Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen are the NFL’s top two QBS, and this is quite possibly a preview of this season’s AFC championship game. Look for Bills slot receiver Cole Beasley to have a monster game in this one, if only because I started him on my Fantasy team last week and he absolutely sucked. But I’m not bitter. KC is the home team here, and I expect Tyreek Hill to have another big game. Pick: CHIEFS
Last Week: 4-2 | 2021 Record: 11-13 (.458)