NFL (AFTER 12 WEEKS OF ACTION – HEADING INTO WEEK 13 GAMES)
DEC. 1, 2022
“STOCK UP” TEAM OF THE WEEK:
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS – The Commanders Defense has turned this season around as in their winning run (6-1 last 7 games) as they had been really bad in Man to Man coverage prior to this nice run they are on. Now in those 7 games they are #1 in the entire NFL playing Man to Man Defense. I am a Commanders fan my whole life and although the team is winning….don’t be too fooled by QB Heinicke as he’s still just an average QB. The two reasons the Offense has improved is: (1). The same Offensive Line starting 5 has now played all 5 together during this (6-1) run. Prior they were missing 2 OL starters or more. (2). Since their super solid non first round pick (RB B. Robinson) starting suiting up (Missed first 4 games after being shot in offseason) – the Offense is finally running the ball well and heck he’s even lit a fire under the other RB A. Gibson. They now play the Giants this week, get their “BYE” week next week, then play this same NY Giants team again! They can determine their own Playoff fate with a sweep of the Giants. This team is the best proof that often times STATS LIE. You simply can’t use the stats for the entire season for this Commanders team as it’s a totally different team the past 7 games than it was the first 5 weeks when really short handed and playing with a brand new QB (C. Wentz).
“STOCK DOWN” TEAM OF THE WEEK
CHICAGO BEARS – This team has only won one game the past 9 games. But truth be told the Offense seemed to finally not just find their groove as they also looked like they were going to put up 30 point range every week ahead the way QB Fields was running the ball at will on opposing Defenses. But the bottom line is this team isn’t likely to win more than one more game the rest of this season. The Defense traded away it’s best 2 players weeks ago and with the remaining schedule left (GB, PHILLY, BUFFALO, DETROIT, MINNESOTA) you can see they face three Top 10 Offenses and then two dead middle Offenses (GB, Minnesota). It’s clear now with their #1 wide receiver now out for the season and who really knows if/when Fields returns and this team is now fighting only for a better (higher) Draft pick. I see nothing that will make me place my money on this Bears team these final 5 games. They had their mini uplift time and now it’s time where reality will set in and it will get harder and harder to compete and you will see the effort across the board get less and less each and every game the rest of the way. Pass on Da’ Bears rest of this 2022-23 season.
OUT OF GAS TEAMS
1). LA RAMS: Things have gone from bad to worse to now disastrous as even Iron Man superstar DE A. Donald will miss his first ever game. No team has been hit this hard with key injuries and there should be no line at all to make you place a bet on this walking wounded team.
2). GREEN BAY PACKERS: Really now it’s on both sides of the ball and knowing there will be no Playoffs this season I could see their effort decline greatly ahead. No team has fallen to expectations more than the Packers this season.
3). DENVER BRONCOS OFFENSE: It’s hard to even act like this Offense is somehow now out of gas….this Offense has been as putrid all season as it gets. But somehow thinking all of a sudden this Offense will finally find it’s way is just “FOOLS GOLD”.
ON THE CLOCK
1). HOUSTON TEXANS: The first pick in the Draft is in the bag as having Cleveland (with former QB Watson playing his first game) and then Dallas, KC, Tenny and a rising Jags team means they won’t catch Denver or the Bears to 3 wins. They may enter their final game vs. Colts with a chance to go win and have it not affect their number 1 pick. This is one of the worst HC teams I’ve ever watched. Lovie Smith will be one and done as this signing was the biggest head scratcher of my 34 year betting career.