Last week: 5-8-1Weeks 1 through 6: 42-44-4Last week wasn¡¯t
the best of weeks. Time to get back over the .500 mark¡Los Angeles Chargers
(-6.5) vs. Tennessee (London)The Chargers were quite impressive last week in
Cleveland and seem to be hitting their stride. The
Titans
T.J.
Hockenson Jersey , well, they must protect Marcus Mariota a little better
if they want to hang in this one.Regardless, hopefully this game will be a
better showing for the London fans than Seahawks-Raiders was last
week.<em>Pick: Los Angeles Chargers (-6.5)</em>Indianapolis (-7.5)
vs. BuffaloThis game feels like it will be a struggle for both sides. For the
Bills, Derek Anderson is an upgrade over Nathan Peterman, but that¡¯s not exactly
a compliment. Running backs do flourish in the passing game against the Colts
defense, so keep an eye on LeSean McCoy.<em>Pick: Buffalo
(+7.5)</em>Philadelphia (-5) vs. CarolinaEagles are 13-2 in their last 15
home games and are coming off of a thrashing of the Giants last Thursday night.
They should come out fresh and ready to go.<em>Pick: Philadelphia
(-5)</em>Tampa Bay (-3.5) vs. ClevelandIf you take away last week¡¯s
blowout loss, the Browns have been in every single game they¡¯ve played in this
season. I¡¯d expect this one to be no different. Both Baker & Jameis have big
days.<em>Pick: Cleveland (+3.5)</em>Detroit (-3) vs. MiamiIt is
slated to be 88 degrees with 69% humidity on Sunday in Miami, and the Dolphins
are 3-0 at home so far this season. They also have Kenyan Drake &
the ageless Frank Gore to wear down a poor Lions run D.<em>Pick: Miami
(+3)</em>Jacksonville (-4) vs. HoustonI honestly am not sure what to think
of Jacksonville right now. I¡¯ll take them here, though, as they¡¯ll come out with
an edge after being humiliated in Dallas last Sunday.<em>Pick:
Jacksonville (-4)</em>Minnesota (-3.5) vs. New York JetsHow good is Adam
Thielen?? With another 100 yards receiving this week, he would tie the NFL
record with seven consecutive 100-yard games to begin a season. He is also on
pace to break the single-season NFL record for catches. Not bad for a
UDFA.<em>Pick: Minnesota (-3.5)</em>New England (-2.5) vs.
ChicagoMitch Trubisky is a different QB at home (in a good
way)
Jahlani
Tavai Jersey , but the Patriots offense is rolling right
now.<em>Pick: New England (-2.5)</em>Baltimore (-2.5) vs. New
OrleansDrew Brees has beaten every single NFL team in his career¡.. except the
Ravens. Coming off a bye, he gets that W here.<em>Pick: New Orleans
(+2.5)</em>Washington (-1) vs. DallasDallas is 0-3 on the road. Washington
has beat some good teams at home. I¡¯ll take Washington.<em>Pick:
Washington (-1)</em>Los Angeles Rams (-9.5) vs. San Francisco9.5 points is
a lot for a division game on the road. The Rams stay unbeaten, but it will be
closer than some think.<em>Pick: San Francisco (+9.5)</em>Kansas
City (-6) vs. CincinnatiThe Chiefs may have lost against the Patriots, but I¡¯m
sold on Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense. They will score in bunches on
Sunday Night & the Bengals won¡¯t be able to keep up.<em>Pick: Kansas
City (-6)</em>Atlanta (-4) vs. New York GiantsI mean, we¡¯ve seen better
Monday Night matchups.<em>Pick: Atlanta (-4)</em> CHARLOTTE, N.C.
(AP) ¡ª In a story Oct. 22 about the Carolina Panthers offense, The Associated
Press erroneously reported Cam Newton¡¯s ranking among active quarterbacks in
fourth-quarter comebacks. He is 11th in fourth quarter comebacks among active
quarterbacks, not first.A corrected version of the story is below:Panthers going
to hurry-up offense? Not so fast, says RiveraPanthers coach Ron Rivera says team
will continue to use no-huddle offense ¡ª in certain situationsBy STEVE REEDAP
Sports WriterCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) ¡ª Panthers quarterback Cam Newton loves
playing in the no-huddle, hurry-up
offense
Will
Harris Jersey , calling it ¡°our edge.¡±Tight Greg Olsen believes Newton
excels in an upbeat offense.But coach Ron Rivera pumped the breaks on the notion
that the Panthers should shift to an up-tempo style offense for four quarters
after erasing a 17-point fourth quarter deficit Sunday and stunning the
defending Super Bowl champion Eagles 21-17.Rivera said Monday that while he is
open to using the no-huddle more in certain situations moving forward, he
quickly added ¡°I don¡¯t think that is going to drive who we are as an
offense.¡±Panthers offensive coordinator Norv Turner went to the hurry-up offense
in the fourth quarter to breathe some life into a listless offense that managed
just seven first downs and no points through three quarters. Newton responded
big time, completed 16 of 22 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns in the
closing quarter, including the go-ahead score to Greg Olsen with 1:22
left.Newton has excelled in the no-huddle offense throughout most of his
eight-year NFL career, seemingly liking the rhythm of a fast-paced attack.Many
of those have come in the fourth quarter. Newton now has 15 career fourth
quarter comebacks, 11th among active QBs and ahead of Green Bay¡¯s Aaron
Rodgers.That¡¯s something that hasn¡¯t gone unnoticed.¡°I think we¡¯re really good
when we don¡¯t huddle,¡± Olsen said. ¡°¡ I think when we got into that tempo, and
just stayed on rhythm, stayed ahead of the chains, it allowed us to just kind of
settle in a little bit and then we saw guys, all different
guys
Austin
Bryant Jersey , making plays.¡±Newton said he feels like it gives the team
an edge over the defense.¡°And coach always says it, being in a hurry up doesn¡¯t
mean rush, doesn¡¯t mean mayhem, it¡¯s just controlled tempo ¡ª and we are in
control of that,¡± Newton said.Newton isn¡¯t sure why it all clicked so well on
Sunday.¡°I have been doing it my whole career, to a degree,¡± Newton said. ¡°But we
know in this league, given defensive wrinkles you see, that¡¯s what it¡¯s all
about, making mid-game adjustments.¡±Rivera said there are plusses and minuses to
running the no-huddle offense, but it would be impractical to use it all of the
time.The Panthers host Baltimore and its physical defense on
Sunday.¡°Circumstances dictate a lot of things that happen more so than
anything
Rashan
Gary Jersey ,¡± Rivera said. ¡°And there have been situations where we have
come out and started the game in no-huddle and gone three-and-out, so I just
think it is situational. (But) do we need to look at it? Most certainly.¡±Rivera
said the benefit is that it often prevents defenses from substituting players
for obvious passing downs. And when it begins to click, Newton seems unstoppable
at times.On the downside, Rivera said the no-huddle can cause unneeded stress on
the defense when it¡¯s not working.¡°If you go three-and-out, three-and-out and
three-and-out, your defense is constantly out there,¡± Rivera said. ¡°So it can
wear your defense out as well. It is mostly certainly a team thing and
situational and by rhythm. I believe Norv has a good handle on it. I think what
he did Sunday was right along the lines of trying to create energy. And he did
that.¡±NOTES: Panthers wide receiver Torrey Smith has a sore knee, but said there
is no structural damage after a late-game injury on Sunday.