The wait is over. It’s time for Blind Owl Blogs weekly NFL picks. To our loyal readers, I’m going to give you a peek behind the curtain. I typically write this little intro on Thursday morning and hope to get Concret3Cowboy’s before the Thursday Night game. This week was a tad different. I worked some extra days this week to make a little more scratch. So I’m writing this on Sunday morning.
For those who think I might be cheating, I should let you know that I have the Cowboys picks in my email as we speak. I haven’t looked at them yet, nor will I until I copy and paste them into the document. The only pick I know he made was the TNF game which we both sent via text message. That being said, let’s have a look at how we did in Week 12:
Week 12 Results:
Blind Owl: 9-6
Concret3Cowboy: 6-9
My dominance continues. It’s almost getting embarrassing. I could easily just coast my way to victory, but in the interest of rubbing it in, I continue to build my lead. Can’t take my foot off the throat now. Let’s see what this means for the total scores…
Totals:
Blind Owl: 96-82-2
Concret3Cowboy: 74-104-2
IT HAPPENED! One of us got to 100 on the scoreboard! Unfortunately for the Cowboy, it was him. In the loss column. Not only that, but his win total is the number I wore in high school. Things are looking better for me! There is now a space between us bigger than the Grand Canyon. I have a 22 game lead with only 5 weeks left in the season. It’s almost a forgone conclusion at this point. But let’s see if the Cowboy can narrow the gap in Week 13.
DAL @ NO: DAL -4.5
Blind Owl: Dallas is a team that is confusing me. They lost to the Broncos but then beat the Patriots. Then lose on Thanksgiving. They’re good, but keep losing for some reason. On the other hand, the Saints are not good. They have no QB, and are missing so many pieces. That’s why I have to stick with Dallas here. Sean Payton can only do so much with Taysom Hill at QB.
Concret3Cowboy: Amari Cooper is traveling with the team but I don’t him playing will even be critical. Without his top two WRs last week Dak still had 375 yards and 2 tds. Now the Cowboys did lose but that didn’t have much to do with the offensive output. The Saints do have a pretty good pass defense. But even with two picks against Allen on turkey day, they got stomped on the scoreboard. As good as the saints pass defense is the run defense has been statistically better. The Saints missed both their top two RBs last week, but Siemian won’t be starting this week. We’ll finally see Taysom Hill at QB1, in a short week (not really since they played last Thursday) it’ll be interesting to see how the Saints operate. A big thing against the Cowboys is they have no HC this week due to covid and other staff will be missing. Alvin Kamara will be playing. Expect an ugly game.
DEN @ KC: KC -10
Blind Owl: My heart and my brain are at odds here. My heart wants to pick the Broncos to cover here. My brain knows the Chiefs are just that much better of a football team. So, let’s dive into the mind of the Cowboy. I know for a fact he is going to pick the Broncos. I have some space to pick conservatively and go with the Chiefs. Even though I’d like the Broncos to win.
Concret3Cowboy: I’m hoping the Owl picks the Chiefs and continues to be the worst Broncos believer I know. Like I said last week, it all comes down to what Denver team shows up. If the Broncos can control the game with their run game and defense (you could say this about any team) they have a good chance to win. This is especially true with this Denver team. Last week against the Chargers was just as impressive as their game against Dallas. The Chiefs defense has been playing better and Andy Reid coming off a bye week is a bit scary. Add in that’s it’s a primetime game at Arrowhead, this game could go ugly for the Broncos pretty quickly. Im not afraid to roll the dice, probably why I’m down so much but I’m still breathing.
ARI @ CHI: ARI -8
Blind Owl: The Bears barely beat the Lions on Thanksgiving. There’s nothing else that needs to be said. Cardinals.
Concret3Cowboy: The Lions covered against the bears on thanksgiving. McCoy leading Arizona beat the Seahawks by 10. The Bears just aren’t good, I was kind of looking for an excuse to pick the Bears because of this 8 point spread. Kyler and D Hop are expected to return this week, unless their both super rusty and are anemic in the cold, there’s really no reason that the Bears with Andy Dalton should be able to keep pace.
PHI @ NYJ: PHI -6.5
Blind Owl: I picked the Jets for the first time all year last week. That will be the only time I do. The Eagles lost a tough one to the other New York team in a division battle last week. But, this is the Jets they’re playing now. The Eagles will win big.
Concret3Cowboy: Jets screwed me last week. Jalen Hurts laid an absolute goose egg against the freaking giants last week. Now there’s reports about him being hurt. Jalen being limited to a passer is scary, for no good reason but because he actually stinks at it. Philly’s offense is at their best when the run game is rolling (and when the receivers aren’t dropping everything). They’ve have a defense that is quiet but playing pretty good. The Jets though, they stink but their run defense is top 10 in the league. Zach Wilson stinks, he hasn’t played too many games but boy do I seem right about him being the biggest bust of the draft. Big spread for a game that really isn’t going to showcase offensive prowess.
IND @ HOU: IND -9
Blind Owl: HOUSTON IS ATROCIOUS! The Colts are actually good. Colts all the way. They might screw around and win their division.
Concret3Cowboy: Goddamn Leonard Fournette, damn him to hell. You didn’t have to score with 20 seconds left bro. The Colts really had the Bucs dead to rights and even had 4 turnovers committed. Houston just got beat up by the Jets and now they have an angry Colts team coming to town. Please send your thoughts and prayers to Tyrod Taylor. He might have a better go if he just gets his lung punctured before this game. Houston really doesn’t have much going for them, not like they did at any other point in the season. Carson Wentz is quietly putting together a nice little “comeback” season. He had some blunders but his numbers are looking really good for a team that runs the rock with a grown man in Taylor.
LAC @ CIN: CIN -3
Blind Owl: For once, I was happy the Chargers disappointed me. They lost to my Broncos. But that was the last time. The Bengals are flying high after obliterating the Steelers. So I’ve got to go with the hot hand and pick the Bengals. My fantasy teams are hoping for a shootout though.
Concret3Cowboy: Cincinnati is a pretty damn good football team. It seems like they have it figured out pretty good. So now is when I pick them and expect them to perform well and they’ll shit all over themselves and fall apart. But not this time! You hear me football gods! Not again! Herbert has been as hot and cold as you could be this season. He got the best shot of the Broncos last week and even a gift from Drew Lock before half to make the score not reflect what really happened on the field. Give me the Mighty Joe Burrow.
TB @ ATL: TB -11
Blind Owl: This is what we call a trap game for Tampa. No matter how good you are, it is hard to beat the same team twice, especially when you’re on the road. Unfortunately for Atlanta, the Bucs won’t fall into their trap. With Brady and that offense (even if AB isn’t there) in a dome in December, it’s going to be ugly. Tampa will demolish Atlanta.
Concret3Cowboy: Reach of the week. Hear me out though. Atlanta was very much in the game with the Bucs in their week 2 game. Until a pick 6 in the forth and then Tampa Bay scored 20 to finish the game. Typical Falcon stuff really. Atlanta has been really bad, just structure wise, and then with not too much talent around Matt Ryan, it just hasn’t worked out for them this season. Big but, Atlanta is home and 11 is a helluva big spread. I’ve gotta reach somewhere for better or for worst and I don’t have much to lose.
NYG @ MIA: MIA -3.5
Blind Owl: The Giants beat a much better Philly team in a divisional matchup last week. Meanwhile, the Dolphins might be the hottest team in the NFL right now. They’ve won 4 games in a row against some bad football teams and even the Ravens. This streak continues at home against another bad team in the Giants. Phins take it.
Concret3Cowboy: Miami has put together a semi-competent offensive ideology for Tua at QB. Well at least it’s been working for them for a couple of weeks now. They have won four games in a row. Kitchens said calling the game for the Giants offense against Philly last week went “really easy and flowed nice.” Well yea that happens when the other team can’t get out of their own way. I have a hard time imagining New York really mustering any kind of substantial outing this week.
MIN @ DET: MIN -7
Blind Owl: I had some faith in the Vikings. The 49ers had other thoughts. But luckily for the VIkes, they can take their frustrations out on the Lions. I’m shocked this line is only at 7. I get it’s a divisional matchup, but hey I’ll take it.
Concret3Cowboy: Man, just as they knock off the Packers then come out next week and line up in the wrong spot. San Fran is seeming like what I expected from them to open the season and just in time for the Rams to falter. It really wasn’t Kirk lining up behind his guard that made the Vikings lose this game, a lack of a running game was their demise. You know I want Detroit to win (almost kept a straight face) but it just isn’t likely against a vengeful Vikings team.
JAX @ LAR: LAR -13
Blind Owl: Matt Stafford is showing that he’s still the guy that was in Detroit. Seemingly everyone on the Rams is collapsing, except my guy Cooper Kupp. I’m cautiously taking this big 13 point spread because they’re playing the Jags. if they don’t cover this, I’m out on them.
Concret3Cowboy: The Rams need to start walking the walk. I’m not too sure that Matt Stafford is actually well, they’ve talked about a few injuries but he just hasn’t been playing like himself the last few games. The Rams with McVay were always there best when running the ball (I feel like this is a repeating trend) and really McVay’s offense never threw the ball all around, but too be fair keep in mind he was in Washington before LA. Put up or shut up LA, what are you really? You going to let some dude that owns a crappy roadhouse in Ohio touch your tight end?
WFT @ LV: LV -2.5
Blind Owl: Another team that is riding high is Washington. They beat Seattle which was big. Even if it isn’t the Seahawks of old. The Raiders just got a big win over Dallas on Thanksgiving and are looking to keep the momentum going. You know what? I’m all in on Heinicke. I’ll go with the Football team with the points.
Concret3Cowboy: Listen Washington has been one teams that actually been on my side this season. But you don’t just barely beat a sad, quitting Seattle team (albeit traveling across the country for Monday night) and continue to have the public think your good. Raiders offense is much superior to Washington’s and if this games over 20 points they really won’t be able to keep with 2.5. To think Washington would cover you’d have to think this game will be 16-17 or 13-14 and that may happen if it was in Washington. But don’t expect the Raiders offense to stink at home.
BAL @ PIT: BAL -4
Blind Owl: Old school Sunday afternoon football here. Big Ben announced that this will be his last year playing in Pittsburgh. Probably a year too late if you asked me. Maybe he’ll get motivated and put up some numbers this afternoon but the Ravens are just that much better than the Steelers. Lamar has a big game today.
Concret3Cowboy: The Steelers at home and the Steelers away are two completely different animals. The Ravens still found a way to win, even with Lamar being at his worst. The Ravens either win by 3 or get murdered. So this is a little tricky. It feels weird when Big Ben, Mike Tomlin and the Steelers stink. That just hasn’t happened. I mean, even last year they started 11-0 before crapping all over themselves but ask a Detroit fan what’d he do for a season like that. On the other hand, I just don’t like Harbaugh. I couldn’t tell you why that is, maybe his face, maybe his stupid glasses or maybe because he’s a Roman Catholic. Who knows, but I do like his team to cover.
SF @ SEA: SF -3.5
Blind Owl: Well, I’ve got to hand it to them. The 49ers seem to be for real. They beat a good Vikings team in a nice game. My guy John Lynch has assembled a team that is peaking at the right time. Conversely, Seattle is falling apart. This looks like the end of an era. Wilson isn’t what he used to be and Pete Carroll doesn’t seem to know what’s going on. I’ll enjoy seeing the 49ers beat the Seahawks.
Concret3Cowboy: Seattle is DEAD. I was blaming Russell’s finger last week, but this team is just done. I don’t want to say I don’t like Russell Wilson for the long shot of him becoming a Bronco and I like him on the field. But I just hate the dude as a dude. When he was hurt, he was running around before games and doing audibles and all this stupid crap. Meanwhile, Rodgers broke him toe and played guitar and is doing just fine. Russell comes back and STINKS. Wilson just screams a fake personality to me. Every Instagram post ends with “Go Hawks” but then his “team” is running their mouths with his words. Idk of San Fran will even cover Samuel isn’t expected to play but F Seattle.
NE @ BUF: BUF -2.5
Blind Owl: Ok Bills. What are you. You’re about to be put to the real test. I don’t care how good you think you are, if you can’t beat the Patriots at home to take control of the division then that’s it. This will be a very close game, so I’m going to take the points and go with the Patriots, but all the pressure is on Josh Allen.
Concret3Cowboy: I know I picked Buffalo to be my AFC contender but I like to consider myself a realist. Buffalo is the bully and when that bully gets hit he shuts up real quick. I’m jealous of Pats fans, and I always have been. Because they’re spoiled brats. Broncos have been trash can booty butt since Peyton retired. Meanwhile, the Pats have one “bad” season and then they spend more money than anyone ever in free agency and THEN they get the steal of the draft out of Mac Jones. Out there twisting ankles and smoking cigars. I just want people to feel my misery, but anyways I do believe New England has the right idea of what they need to beat Buffalo. So far this season, when Buffalo gets pushed they have not pushed back.
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