Dec 6, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brian Hoyer (7) during the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Our fearless prognosticator may have missed on the Cleveland Browns last week, but he’s back for Week 14 of NFL action.
Well, that was a “no doubter.”
When I go against my best judgement and take a flier on the Cleveland Browns, I go nose down in flames as the Browns never came close to covering the 10-point spread last Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
On the other side of the ledger, I hit my “Upset Special” as the New Orleans Saints (+7) easily covered and almost beat the still unbeaten Carolina Panthers. I split my other two AFC West straight plays as the Kansas City Chiefs (-3) handled the Oakland Raiders, but lost when the San Diego Chargers came up snake eyes against the visiting Denver Broncos.
My teasers continued their 70-plus percent pace as the Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals and the New York Football Giants were each no sweat winners, while the Chicago Bears fell to the San Francisco 49ers on the shores of Lake Michigan (and I expect the 49ers to acclimate to the Lake Erie shores just as well this Sunday.)
For this week I like:
- Unlike Paul Brown, Bill Belichick has yet to mentor a successful NFL head coach, but he does teach them how to beat his own New England Patriots (see Mangini, Eric, 2010 Browns 34-14). Former Belichick aide Bill O’Brien and Tom Brady understudy Brian Hoyer keep the Houston Texans (+4) close on Sunday night, maybe even pull the upset.
- Speaking of upsets, Carolina can’t go unbeaten, can they? Atlanta Falcons (+9).
- As long as I’m stuck in crazyland, take the Dallas Cowboys (+7.5) at Lambeau against the Green Bay Packers.
- San Diego’s playing as bad as Cleveland and may be headed up I-5 to L.A. at season’s end (I don’t think so), but the Chargers (+10) will keep it close for legacy AFC West pride in Arrowhead against the Chiefs.
- I thought the Sportsbook.com line was a misprint since did you ever think the Baltimore Ravens (+10) would be double-digit underdogs at home in Charm City? My “end of Hannukah special” lands on the Ravens against the Seattle Seahawks.
In teasers (where you get an additional six points):
- Johnny Manziel may pull off some wow plays, but no way this Browns team beats anyone by more than a touchdown, so go with the 49ers. Meanwhile, down I-71 the Pittsburgh Steelers hang with and might sneak by the Bengals. The New York Jets beat the Tennessee Titans (who continue to find new ways to lose) and I don’t see Chicago by double-digits over the Washington Redskins.
Season record: Straight 28-27-2; Teasers 37-16.