Quality aside, staggered games are the best games, I keep telling myself. I’ve taught that having options is great so this is great.

Fallout:

-Yeah Shield, going through an entire game without committing a penalty is impossible. There’s too many goddamn moving parts on every single play. I’m not a Chiefs hater by any means-I think they’ve gotten to where they are in a much more palatable way than the Pats. But c’mon. Rather than go the conspiracy route I’ll tell myself it was incompetency.

-Baker is on a Roll: No Evans? No Godwin? No Egbuka? No Problem! The Hot-Takers that raised the notion of an MVP run after week three are looking good for once. Once. Usually if lesser QB’s elevate their play it’s due to having a connection with a wr. Yesterday he fell back on the Mr’s Johnson-Tex and Kameron. To me that indicates he’s seeing the entire field and running through his progressions.

-The Packers are looking pretty good but if they want to be the NFC  favorite the D has to improve. To date they have only two turnovers-last year they finished with 31. There will be some tight spots the rest of the way and the defense has to respond.

-The Titans had a chance to do something they’ve not since 2022-win two games in a row. The Raiders did not acquiesce.

-The Steelers are the best team in the AFC North! Entirely by default. Where are those calls for Tomlin’s head?

To The Games!

Bills/Falcons:

-The spread of 4 1/2 seems awfully skinny considering the overall problems that Atlanta has had offensively. I’m told the sharps in Vegas now regard home field as just a 1 1/2 point advantage these days which means that on a Wichita pitch Buffalo would be favored by just three. Interesting.

-And then I dug a bit deeper and noticed that Bijan racked up 181 all-purpose yards in his last game before the bye. Also, Bills linebacker Matt Milano has been ruled out and that the D is ranked 28th vs the run. The pieces are starting to fall into place.

-Atlanta needs this to stay in the running for a wild card spot behind the Bucs but they’re in a tough spot.

Bears/Commies:

-Rook running back Croskey-Merritt’s nickname is “Bill”. WTF?

-No wonder runinng backs are so devalued and interchangeable in coach’s minds. This guy was drafted in the last round and seems to be ascending to the top spot after only five weeks. Really, the premium is ‘fresh legs’ because, aside from the A-1 talents, these guys break down so fast. I honestly think that 10 years back I’ll look fondly on that one year that Cam Skattebo had before the leg injuries and concussions took their toll. He’ll not get a second contract-he just plays too reckless.

-Deebo looks to be a game-timer.

-Bears Rome Odunze is looking for his 5th straight TD catch.

-QB Daniels is the only dude in NFL history to amass 4,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards by his 20th game.

Do your thing.