Alternative Picks: Week Eight, 2021

Tony’s run of dominance continues (Let’s all remember that last year Andy was the one in the lead all season). He doubled Andy up in week seven, significantly extending his lead.

1) Andy – Rams over Texans – Everybody thought heading into the season that Houston would be bad. After a couple plucky games early, it’s turned out everyone was right.

2) Tony – Bills over Dolphins – I seem to remember thinking not too long ago that it seemed like the Dolphins were on the way up, and might be the team to finally challenge the Patriots for supremacy in the AFC East. That ship sailed to Buffalo when the Dolphins started making deals like the Laremy Tunsil deal. Now the Dolphins are more in competition with the Jets to see who is deeper in the cellar.

3) Tony – Bengals over Jets – Speaking of the Jets…

4) Andy – Chiefs over Giants – So … I’m kind of glad Tony took that Bengals/Jets game because it feels a bit like a trap. It’s not that long ago Cincinnati spent two decades right where the Jets are. Then again, here I am, trailing Alternative Picks by a dozen, and taking the Chiefs, who seem to have gone from Super Bowl to super bad in the blink of an eye.

5) Tony – Cardinals over Packers – I’m pretty glad you took the Chiefs too, because I can’t trust them any further than Patrick Mahomes seems to be able to throw the ball without having it intercepted (regardless of how his mommy wants to count them)…or further than he should be trying to run away from his brother. Here, the undefeated Cardinals get the Packers at home…and apparently almost certainly without Davante Adams. I would have leaned slightly Arizona before that news broke–I move them up the list now.

6) Andy – Buccaneers over Saints – Drew Brees wasn’t that great his last couple years, but it’s evident watching this year’s team that even as his skills were eroding, he was still the glue. This year’s New Orleans team just isn’t very good.

7) Tony – Chargers over Patriots – I agree the Bucs win, but I think just because they’re that good, more than because the Saints are bad. In the northeast, Patriot fans have to be happy with what they’ve seen so far from Mac Jones–but his solid, not spectacular, season pales in comparison to Justin Herbert in Los Angeles.

8) Andy – Seahawks over Jaguars – Sure, Tom Brady this, Bucs are great that, blah, blah. On another note, there are some bad games this weekend. This is probably going to be one. Geno Smith will likely justify his continued existence in the league.

9) Tony – Falcons over Panthers – Three weeks into the season this pick would have been unfathomable. But the two teams have completely changed trajectories since then, with the Panthers giving Adam Gase a glimmer of hope that he isn’t a complete black hole for quarterback careers in the NFL, and Kyle Pitts starting to live up to the incredible amount of overhype directed at him in the fantasy community this preseason.

10) Andy – Cowboys over Vikings – Vegas always knows something I don’t, there is no question about that. One minor shortcoming in some lines is I think spreads give home teams too much leeway. i suspect that’s because spreads are only there to get as near an equal amount bet on each game as possible and fans generally gravitate toward home teams, when in doubt. This would be a case where I think that approach fails. Dallas has one of the best offenses in the league this year. Minnesota’s has been great at times, but not consistently. The Cowboys attack the Vikings this weekend with top CB Patrick Peterson out. I don’t think this is going to be pretty.

11) Tony – Browns over Steelers – The Browns should be getting Nick Chubb back this week. Even if they don’t, D’Ernest Johnson looked solid last week. They may still be without Baker Mayfield, but as much of a backup as Case Keenum is…he might be better than Ben Roethlisberger at this point. Advantage Browns.

12) Andy – Titans over Colts – Indy did pull off a win over San Francisco last week, but after a tough start, Tennessee seems to have regained its identity in recent weeks. The Colts will have no answer for Derrick Henry.

13) Tony – Bears over 49ers – Getting into the dregs…I’m going with the Bears here, thinking that Matt Nagy might have to sit out due to a positive Covid test–which could only help their offense.

14) Andy – Lions over Eagles – Wow. There aren’t many teams I’d pick Chicago to beat right now, so kudos on that pick. I’ll take a similar upset path here. Neither team is good. Either team could show up pathetic and ready to lose. But the Eagles can become one dimensional, to their detriment. And Detroit seems to be playing hard. And I think they finally turn one of their close losses into a win.

15) Tony – Football Team over Denver –

Will it ever end? Tony’s dominance is stretching into straight-up picks, as well.

And yet another week: