Alternative Picks: Week 15, 2020

This up-and-down, COVID-impacted season is nearing an end. Tony had narrowed the gap considerably, but in week 14 he kicked it all away. Andy lengthened his lead with only three weeks left.

Every time we count him out, he pulls back into the race. Can Tony pull closer again?

1) Andy: Rams over Jets – I don’t mean to shoot fish in a barrel here, but New York had its chance to win a game two weeks ago against Las Vegas and blew it. They’re going 0-16.
2) Tony: Packers over Panthers – The only thing I like about the Packers being the #1 seed for the NFC is the added disappointment that their next loss will bring. I don’t know when that will be, but I doubt it will be this week.
3) Tony: Colts over Texans – I gave the Texans too much credit last week, and the Colts not enough credit (probably for a while). If they finally have Jonathan Taylor going, they will be a team to be reckoned with.
4) Andy: Steelers over Bengals – Pittsburgh has had a couple tough ones in recent weeks, but Cincinnati should be a perfect remedy for those struggles.
5) Tony: Titans over Lions – I guess I should have scrolled all the way through the game list to see that Bengals game…but the Lions should still be just as anemic against the TItans.
6) Andy: Ravens over Jaguars – Jacksonville is still playing tough some weeks, but they often just don’t have the talent to compete.
7) Tony: Cardinals over Eagles – The Eagles got a cute little win over the Saints with Jalen Hurts, but something tells me 57% completion percentage isn’t going to get it done most weeks.
8) Andy: Bills over Broncos – I suppose a letdown is possible, but I’m buying Buffalo. Josh Allen looks to be for real, they can run a little, they can pass, they can defend … this team could be a threat.
9) Tony: Raiders over Chargers – Both teams are 2-3 in their last 5 games, and the Chargers managed to beat the Falcons–who curb stomped the Raiders two weeks earlier. While the Raiders have been struggling, I think they still pull this one out.
10) Andy: Buccaneers over Falcons: Curb stomped? I like it. Perhaps a more acceptable description of a dominant performance than skull fucked? I don’t think Tampa beats Atlanta by that much, but I do think it’ll probably be a decisive win.
11) Tony: Seahawks over Football Team – The Football Team is still in line to win the NFC East, for better or worse, but will find their next opponent a little tougher than … well, pretty much any of their last couple months worth. Other than the Steelers. Maybe.
12) Andy: Browns over Giants – I wanted to believe in the Giants, because someone in the NFC East has to make the playoffs, but then they got curb stomped by a Cardinals team that had lost four of five. They’re terrible. Plus, Cleveland is good.
13) Tony: Chiefs over Saints – If Drew Brees comes back, this might be a good game, even a Super Bowl preview (take a shot every time they mention that on the broadcast). If not, can they expect Taysom Hill to hang with Patrick Mahomes when he can’t even hang with Jalen Hurts? (to any Saints fans, I am fully aware that Hill had a better stat line than Hurts…but they lost…and the better Hill plays, the closer the games seem to be).
14) Andy: Dolphins over Patriots – The Patriots’ run is over. Not that it should be surprising or embarrassing to them. It was a great run. But there are a couple new sheriffs in AFC East town and the Dolphins are one of them.
15) Tony: 49ers over Cowboys – Who the heck knows…49ers will be without Deebo Samuel, but the Cowboys will be largely without heart, passion and talent.
16) Andy: Bears over Vikings – Who knows. Which Chicago team will show up? Which Vikings team will show up? Right now my guess is Minnesota will choke.

Andy gained a game in the straight-up picks too.