Is anyone else in shock that the Red Sox just ripped off four straight wins against the Houston Astros to win the American League pennant? I couldn’t have predicted that even if I had a crystal ball sitting right in front of me. The Astros have one of the most complete rosters in baseball
Authentic Dwayne Allen Jersey , both pitching-wise and hitting-wise, and I wasn’t sure the Sox even had a chance in this series despite those 108 regular season wins.But they pulled it off, thanks to David Price conquering his postseason demons in Game 5, and now they are going to play in what will definitely be a very entertaining World Series. I am pretty stoked about this. But before Boston sports fans can start thinking about the World Series, they first have to get ready for the Patriots and the Bears on Sunday, live from Soldier Field in Chicago. It should be another great game; maybe not as crazy as last week’s Sunday night showdown against Kansas City, but the Bears have an outstanding defense and a young offensive unit with a very bright future. It will be another tough test for Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the 4-2 Patriots, whose two losses have both happened on the road. With that being said, lets him some Week 7 picks.(Home teams in caps and lines courtesy of OddsShark.com)CHARGERS (-6.5) over Titans – LondonI absolutely despise the NFL international games, but I do love that we always give London games that aren’t even worth watching. Last week it was Jon Gruden’s Raiders getting ramrodded 27-3 by the Seahawks. This week, it’s the less-than-thrilling Titans against the LA Chargers, a team that doesn’t even have any fans. Have fun, London.COLTS (-7.5) over BillsNothing makes me more uncomfortable than getting behind the 1-5 Colts as 7.5-point favorites. But the Bills don’t even have a quarterback right now after Josh Allen’s elbow injury. If Allen was playing, Buffalo could maybe cover this spread. But Derek Anderson is starting this game and I just can’t get behind this Bills offense actually moving the ball and putting up points.On the plus side for Bills fans, Anderson can’t be near as dreadful to watch as Nathan Peterman
Limited Malcolm Mitchell Jersey , who might be the worst quarterback in the history of football. At least they dodged that bullet.EAGLES (-4.5) over PanthersPhilly has momentum right now after a 21-point win over the Giants last week. The Panthers are coming off a tough loss to the Redskins, so any momentum they may have had is now through the floor. On top of that, the Eagles have played pretty good defense when they are at home. This seems like a good time to take the Super Bowl champs minus-4.5.Browns (+3.5) over BUCCANEERSGive Baker Mayfield some protection and he can win you ballgames. Luckily for the Browns, they are facing a Bucs team that has the fourth fewest sacks in the league. This might be one of those games where Mayfield can figure out a way to deliver the goods, as he’s done twice this season.DOLPHINS (+3) over LionsThe Dolphins are 3-0 at home, and the Lions aren’t exactly a contender. It’s surprising that the Lions are three-point favorites on the road against a Miami that shocked the Bears last week, but I guess it is kind of hard to get behind Brock Osweiler no matter what he did the previous week. His history speaks too loudly.But nonetheless, if Osweiler can beat that nasty Chicago defense, who is to say he can’t do it against the Lions?JAGUARS (-4.5) over TexansThe Jags have been blown out in back-to-back games on the road. They might need this home game more than anybody else, but it will be a tough one against a Texans team that is finally starting to click with three straight wins. My pick to win the AFC is not looking too hot.Vikings (-3.5) over JETSThe neat thing about this Vikings team is that it has receivers like Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs that can make an average quarterback like Kirk Cousins look like a Pro Bowler. After a disappointing start to the 2018 season — a Super Bowl or bust season for Minnesota — it’s about time this team starts hitting its stride.Patriots (-2.5) over BEARSThe Patriots faced their biggest test of the season last week against the Chiefs, and now they have their second biggest test this week against the Bears. Chicago is undefeated at home, and the Patriots are winless on the road. But those two defeats both came during their annual September slump. Since New England might not have the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC playoffs, they need to fix their road woes sooner rather than later.Cowboys (+1) over REDSKINSThese two teams are unpredictable. This game is a complete tossup.RAVENS (-2.5) over SaintsDrew Brees is one of the game’s all-time elite quarterbacks, but this Baltimore defense is playing lights out right now. They haven’t allowed a second half touchdown all season, and last week they sacked Marcus Mariota a whopping 11 times. I feel good about the Ravens at home, even though New Orleans will always be an extremely tough out as long as Brees is under center.Rams (-9.5) over 49ERSI’ve been living and dying with my “always pick the Rams” rule every single week this season. Last week it bit me in the rear end when Los Angeles failed to cover a seven-point spread
Devin McCourty Jersey , only defeating the Broncos by a mere three points. The very same week, the Niners nearly upset the Packers at Lambeau Field with C.J. Beathard playing quarterback. How unreal is that?But nonetheless, I’m sticking with my “always pick the Rams” rule. It has worked out most weeks.CHIEFS (-6) over BengalsLast week on Sunday Night Football, this high-powered Chiefs offense went into Gillette Stadium and put up 40 points. They are definitely beating the Bengals at home, and they are definitely covering these six points. You can bank on it.FALCONS (-4) over GiantsSaquon Barkley is on his way to becoming the top running back in the league, and he’s come up big for my fantasy in pretty much each of his first six games this season. But he can’t carry this dreadful Giants team on his own. New York fans, enjoy the time you have left with Eli Manning because he is on his way out the door. The (6-2) New England Patriots host the (3-3-1) Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football and this should be an incredible game. It features Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL over the past 20 years, in just their second head-to-head showdown. This could also be their last.We have our pregame show, game details, and live details below!Patriots pregame showGame detailsLive updatesPregameWhat the Patriots have to do to beat the Packers: Offense | DefenseGameday inactives: No Rob Gronkowski or Sony Michel.Q1The Green Bay Packers won the opening coin toss and elected to receive in the second half so the New England Patriots receiving the opening kick. 10 plays later, Tom Brady tossed the ball to James White, who scampered in for an 8-yard touchdown run. White had 3 carries for 18 yards and 3 catches for 26 yards as the Patriots are without Sony Michel. Phillip Dorsett added 2 catches for 13 yards. The Patriots lead 7-0 after a blazing-fast 3:20 opening drive.The Packers took the field and led a methodical drive down to the 10-yard line of the Patriots with Aaron Rodgers and Packers gaining more than 10 yards on a play just once in the entire drive. The Patriots buckled down in the red zone and forced the Packers to kick a field goal, to hold on to a 7-3 lead. New England did a good job not allowing Rodgers to escape the pocket and the pressure got thisclose to the quarterback. Hopefully they’ll get home later in the game.The Patriots wanted to respond, but a Julian Edelman drop and a sack by Mike Daniels- who blew past Ted Karras, in the line-up to replace the injured Shaq Mason- forced the Patriots to punt. Ryan Allen did a good job pinning the Packers on the 13-yard line.The Packers drove past midfield
Authentic Julian Edelman Jersey Salute to Service , but excellent coverage by Jason McCourty and a well-timed blitz by Devin McCourty forced Green Bay to punt the ball back to New England. Edelman collected the ball on the 12-yard line with 14 seconds left in the quarter. This game is flying.The Patriots picked up two first downs- one via penalty and one via a great run by Cordarrelle Patterson- before the end of the quarter. New England has the ball on their own 28-yard line to start the second quarter.Q2Brady found Josh Gordon for 29 yards to kick off the second quarter and then called the flea flicker to hit Edelman for 33 yards to get to the Packers 10-yard line. A rush for no gain by White and two consecutive incomplete passes (the second down pass felt a little hurried for no reason) forced New England to settle for a 28-yard field goal and a 10-3 lead.The Packers went three-and-out (!!!) thanks to great coverage by Stephon Gilmore and good pressure by Adam Butler- and an outstanding job by Butler of not allowing Rodgers to escape around the edge for a first. The Patriots will start their next drive on the 27-yard line.The Patriots went three-and-out in response, with two targets to James Develin and an acrobatic non-catch by Josh Gordon where his second foot was called out of bounds. Whenever you’re throwing the ball to Develin, your offense is digging deep into the playbook. It also feels like a waste of a play. Tip of the cap to the Green Bay Packers offense. Rodgers and company led a 13-play, 79-yard drive capped off with a touchdown pass from Rodgers to Davante Adams. The Patriots need to find an answer to the Packers ground game, with Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams combining for 68 yards on 12 carries (5.67 YPC) so far, setting up favorable second and third down situations for the Packers offense. The Patriots have otherwise done a pretty good job against the Green Bay passing offense.Who is this Cordarrelle Patterson? James White tweaked his leg on the Patriots final drive of the half and the Patriots put Patterson on the field, who promptly gained 40 rushing yards and a touchdown on his four-straight carries. New England regained the lead at 17-10, but they left 1:57 with three timeouts for Rodgers and the Packers. This half isn’t over by a long shot.The Patriots also picked up an extra 15 yards because of an Unsportsmanlike Penalty against the Packers, which saw DB/LB Jermaine Whitehead ejected for slapping David Andrews in the helmet. Andrews definitely started the extracurricular contact after the play, but Whitehead went for the head and was caught.Outstanding defense by the New England Patriots, including an open-field tackle of Randall Cobb by Jonathan Jones and a forced fumble by Adrian Clayborn on Aaron Rodgers forced Green Bay to punt. New England kneeled down the ball to end the half with a 17-10 lead.The Patriots have been forced to make-do without Rob Gronkowski and Sony Michel and they’ve been doing well-enough so far. Patterson has 51 rushing yards and a touchdown on 5 carries; White has 53 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on 9 touches. Edelman has 53 yards on 3 catches. It will be interesting to see if Patterson can continue to be successful rushing the ball in the second half, and whether or not any of the Patriots receivers can emerge as a reliable target.On the other side of the ball, the Patriots have held Aaron Rodgers to 16 completions on 27 attempts (59.3%) for only 123 yards and a touchdown. That’s an outstanding effort by the Patriots pass defense, which is clearly an emphasis for New England. It seems like the Patriots are focusing on stopping the pass, which is why the Packers running backs have 75 rushing yards on 13 carries (5.77 YPC). The Patriots would rather the Packers win on the ground than through the air.The Packers get the ball after the half.Q3Oof. On 3rd-and-6, Rodgers found rookie receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling for 51 yards on the inside of Jason McCourty
Limited Kevin Faulk Jersey , who was stuck on an island without any safety help. Aaron Jones picked up 16 yards on his next two carries to get to the Patriots 5-yard line, but a holding call pushed the Packers backwards. It was all for nothing as Rodgers found Jimmy Graham for a 15-yard touchdown to tie the game at 17.Double oof. The Patriots had an outstanding drive with Gordon picking up 31 yards and Dwayne Allen (!!) picking up 21 yards. The Patriots made it to the Packers goal line, but James White was stuffed on first down, Patterson was stuffed on second down, and Brady was incomplete on third and fourth down. The Patriots end up with zero points and give the Packers the ball on the 1-yard line.The Patriots defense forced an impressive three-and-out, but a holding call by Jonathan Jones on special teams pushed New England back 10 yards. Brady was sacked for an 11-yard loss to set up 4th-and-21, but a roughing-the-kicker penalty gave the Patriots new life. Patterson picked up 7 yards, but an ugly throw to nobody by Brady forced the Patriots to punt again. Allen pinned the Packers on their 7-yard line.Apparently Valdes-Scantling is Jerry Rice? Rodgers round Valdes-Scantling for 24 yards on 3rd-and-1 with J.C. Jackson in near-perfect coverage, and then connected again for 26 yards over Jonathan Jones in solid coverage to get to the Patriots 34-yard line to close out the third quarter.Q4How quickly fortune changes! Lawrence Guy forced the fumble on Aaron Jones and Stephon Gilmore recovered the ball on the 23-yard line. Brady found Phillip Dorsett for 17 yards on third down to extend the drive and Julian Edelman threw a pass to James White that picked up 37 yards to the Packers goal line. White plunged in for the score and a 24-17 lead. White has 103 yards from scrimmage and 2 touchdowns. Not a bad day.That’s one way to help close out the game. Jason McCourty made an outstanding pass break-up on second down and Trey Flowers and Adrian Clayborn split a 9-yard sack on third down to force a three-and-out and give the Patriots the opportunity to both drain the clock and extend their lead.How about that? Julian Edelman rushed for 17 yards around the edge, James White was stuffed for no gain, and then Brady connected with Gordon for a 55-yard touchdown to take a 31-17 lead.Ballgame? The Patriots defense rose to the occasion yet again, forcing the Packers to three third down attempts before they crossed midfield. Clayborn generated a ton of pressure (including a strip-sack called back for a penalty), and Rodgers’ fourth down prayer fell incomplete, giving the Patriots the ball back at midfield with 3:48 left in the game and a chance to ice it.And they do it! What a gorgeous fourth quarter from the Patriots on both sides of the ball. Brady found Gordon for 15 yards and Patterson ran twice for 5 yards to burn the Packers’ remaining time outs. Edelman picked up 11 yards on an end-around to get to the two-minute warning and end the game.The Patriots win 31-17 and move to 7-2. They are on the road next week to face the (3-4) Tennessee Titans.