No video this time on the NFL picks, so I am going to straight up write it up right here on the Cohen's Corner blog. So without further adieu let's dive into this week's big games!
Saturday:
Bears (4-9) @ Lions (7-6): It's become a disappointing season for the Lions. With Aaron Rodgers having missed more than half the season, 2017 will be remembered as a missed opportunity for Detroit to jump to the top of the standings. Instead Detroit fell on its own sword three weeks ago when they lost to Minnesota on Thanksgiving Day. The Lions have been awful at home, posting a 2-4 record and really need a win to stay alive in the wild card race. The Bears have played hard all season, but John Fox is going to be fired regardless on January 1. PICK: LIONS 31, BEARS 23.
Chargers (7-6) @ Chiefs (7-6): Everyone is on the Chargers bandwagon so much that they are a one point favorite on the road in K.C. Let's be honest both teams have been going in opposite directions for some time now. The Chargers are 7-2 in their last night games, while Kansas City is 2-6 in their last eight. The Chiefs snapped a four game losing streak last week with a convincing win over the Raiders, but in order to regain the confidence they had earlier in the year, this is a must have tonight against Los Angeles. Everything is on the line tonight, most notably the AFC West title. Expect the Chiefs D to step up against Phillip Rivers and Company, and look for a statement from the boys in red. PICK: CHIEFS 27, CHARGERS 21.
Jets (5-8) @ Saints (9-4): This game was a joke before Josh McCown's injury last week for the Jets. It's an even bigger joke this week with Bryce Petty under center. This will be another embarrassment in a season full of them for Todd Bowles' Jets. The Saints need this one badly in order to stay ahead of Carolina and Atlanta in the NFC South; not to mention both the Panthers and Falcons beat the Jets this season. Gotta have it New Orleans. FYI, former Jets special teams coach Mike Westoff is coaching specials for the Saints, expect something big to happen. PICK: SAINTS 48, JETS 10.
Eagles (11-2) @ Giants (2-11): The Eagles Super Bowl chances took a major hit last week when Carson Wentz was lost for the season with an ACL injury. Still, even with Nick Foles under center the Eagles should find a way to win this one against the hapless Giants. The Giants were supposed to be sparked by the return of Eli Manning and the firing of Ben McAdoo last weeks, and instead turned in a 30-10 defeat at the hands of the Cowboys. This game will be ugly without Wentz, but Philly will do just enough to win. PICK: EAGLES 17, GIANTS 6.
PACKERS (7-6) @ PANTHERS (9-4): Football season is saved, Aaron Rodgers returns to the lineup for the Packers. After missing more than half the season with a collarbone injury that was supposed to sideline him for the year, Rodgers returns to try to get the Packers into the playoffs. That might be asking a lot considering the Packers have to face one of the league's top defenses this week. Carolina is 5th in the NFL in total defense, and tied for 3rd in the NFL in sacks with 40. This is asking a lot of even Rodgers. PICKS: PANTHERS 23, PACKERS 17.
RAMS (9-4) @ SEAHAWKS (8-5): The NFC West Championship game, essentially. The Rams are coming off a disappointing loss at home to the Eagles and now hit the road to face the Seahawks in their building with the 12th man at full voice. This will real tough for this young team. If the Rams are for real, they go into Seattle and beat a banged up Seahawks team. Just got a feeling the Seahawks and Russell Wilson are going to come to play Sunday, and I expect them to come away with the victory. PICK: SEAHAWKS 26, RAMS 17.
PATRIOTS (10-3) @ STEELERS (11-2): So the Patriots lost last week in Miami. Guess this means they are a slam dunk lock to win this week? The answer is yes they are. The Steelers are good, they have tremendous fire power offensively with Antonio Brown and Le'von Bell providing enough weapons for Big Ben, but this is the Patriots they are facing. New England is 8-2 in the last 10 games against Pittsburgh, and have owned the Steelers in games in December and January. While Pittsburgh's defense is ranked sixth in the NFL, they have not played at a "Blitzburg" level all season. Expect Tom Brady to have a lot of success throwing the football on Sunday, and if that's the case it's gonna be a long night for the Steelers. PICK: PATRIOTS 34, STEELERS 24.
COWBOYS (7-6) @ RAIDERS (6-7): When the schedules came out in April, Cowboys at Raiders sounded like a marquee matchup for late December. Instead its two teams with no identity, both trying to keep alive for the playoffs. Of the two team, the most frustrating has been the Raiders. Derek Carr has put together a really disappointing season coming off an MVP-type of season last year, and the team has not figured out how to use Marshawn Lynch at all this year. I don't know what to expect from Oakland, and Dallas is more desperate for a win here. PICK: COWBOYS 27, RAIDERS 23.
Saturday:
Bears (4-9) @ Lions (7-6): It's become a disappointing season for the Lions. With Aaron Rodgers having missed more than half the season, 2017 will be remembered as a missed opportunity for Detroit to jump to the top of the standings. Instead Detroit fell on its own sword three weeks ago when they lost to Minnesota on Thanksgiving Day. The Lions have been awful at home, posting a 2-4 record and really need a win to stay alive in the wild card race. The Bears have played hard all season, but John Fox is going to be fired regardless on January 1. PICK: LIONS 31, BEARS 23. Chargers (7-6) @ Chiefs (7-6): Everyone is on the Chargers bandwagon so much that they are a one point favorite on the road in K.C. Let's be honest both teams have been going in opposite directions for some time now. The Chargers are 7-2 in their last night games, while Kansas City is 2-6 in their last eight. The Chiefs snapped a four game losing streak last week with a convincing win over the Raiders, but in order to regain the confidence they had earlier in the year, this is a must have tonight against Los Angeles. Everything is on the line tonight, most notably the AFC West title. Expect the Chiefs D to step up against Phillip Rivers and Company, and look for a statement from the boys in red. PICK: CHIEFS 27, CHARGERS 21.
Jets (5-8) @ Saints (9-4): This game was a joke before Josh McCown's injury last week for the Jets. It's an even bigger joke this week with Bryce Petty under center. This will be another embarrassment in a season full of them for Todd Bowles' Jets. The Saints need this one badly in order to stay ahead of Carolina and Atlanta in the NFC South; not to mention both the Panthers and Falcons beat the Jets this season. Gotta have it New Orleans. FYI, former Jets special teams coach Mike Westoff is coaching specials for the Saints, expect something big to happen. PICK: SAINTS 48, JETS 10.
Eagles (11-2) @ Giants (2-11): The Eagles Super Bowl chances took a major hit last week when Carson Wentz was lost for the season with an ACL injury. Still, even with Nick Foles under center the Eagles should find a way to win this one against the hapless Giants. The Giants were supposed to be sparked by the return of Eli Manning and the firing of Ben McAdoo last weeks, and instead turned in a 30-10 defeat at the hands of the Cowboys. This game will be ugly without Wentz, but Philly will do just enough to win. PICK: EAGLES 17, GIANTS 6.
PACKERS (7-6) @ PANTHERS (9-4): Football season is saved, Aaron Rodgers returns to the lineup for the Packers. After missing more than half the season with a collarbone injury that was supposed to sideline him for the year, Rodgers returns to try to get the Packers into the playoffs. That might be asking a lot considering the Packers have to face one of the league's top defenses this week. Carolina is 5th in the NFL in total defense, and tied for 3rd in the NFL in sacks with 40. This is asking a lot of even Rodgers. PICKS: PANTHERS 23, PACKERS 17.
RAMS (9-4) @ SEAHAWKS (8-5): The NFC West Championship game, essentially. The Rams are coming off a disappointing loss at home to the Eagles and now hit the road to face the Seahawks in their building with the 12th man at full voice. This will real tough for this young team. If the Rams are for real, they go into Seattle and beat a banged up Seahawks team. Just got a feeling the Seahawks and Russell Wilson are going to come to play Sunday, and I expect them to come away with the victory. PICK: SEAHAWKS 26, RAMS 17.
PATRIOTS (10-3) @ STEELERS (11-2): So the Patriots lost last week in Miami. Guess this means they are a slam dunk lock to win this week? The answer is yes they are. The Steelers are good, they have tremendous fire power offensively with Antonio Brown and Le'von Bell providing enough weapons for Big Ben, but this is the Patriots they are facing. New England is 8-2 in the last 10 games against Pittsburgh, and have owned the Steelers in games in December and January. While Pittsburgh's defense is ranked sixth in the NFL, they have not played at a "Blitzburg" level all season. Expect Tom Brady to have a lot of success throwing the football on Sunday, and if that's the case it's gonna be a long night for the Steelers. PICK: PATRIOTS 34, STEELERS 24.COWBOYS (7-6) @ RAIDERS (6-7): When the schedules came out in April, Cowboys at Raiders sounded like a marquee matchup for late December. Instead its two teams with no identity, both trying to keep alive for the playoffs. Of the two team, the most frustrating has been the Raiders. Derek Carr has put together a really disappointing season coming off an MVP-type of season last year, and the team has not figured out how to use Marshawn Lynch at all this year. I don't know what to expect from Oakland, and Dallas is more desperate for a win here. PICK: COWBOYS 27, RAIDERS 23.
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