I keep flirting with a sub-.500 weekend of picking games. Which serves as another reminder that it’s impossible to consistently bet and win at football.
I don’t bet. I won’t bet. I enjoy football for what it is. I don’t need the dopamine rush that comes from the period of hopeful anticipation between locking in the wager and waiting for the final score. It’s no different than the practice of bastardizing the games into a “fantasy football” team adds nothing at all, for me, to the enjoyment of staying within the boundaries of reality when following the sport.
Sure, I shoot my shot every week with a gut-level guess at who will win each game. But when the games start, I still root for an entertaining game, regardless of whether my pick ends up being right or wrong.
And it’s much easier to be pragmatic about the football-viewing experience when I’m doing a crappy job of picking games. Last week, I was 7-7. That puts me at 52-40-1 for the season. In the past, I’ve flirted with a full-season success rate of 66.6 percent. This year, I’ve got plenty of work to do to get there.
Here’s the next shot at getting better (or worse), thanks to the latest slate of games.
Patriots at Bears (Thursday night)
It would be fitting to see the first Super Bowl played after the passing of Mike Ditka to feature a rematch of the Super Bowl that capped the magical season of the ’85 Bears. Much needs to happen for a reunion of Super Bowl XX in February. For now, we’ll get the rematch as the first game of Week 7.
The Patriots have turned it around, but they may be a little too banged up to keep it going against a healthy Caleb Williams and a defense that knows how to get off the field.
Bears 24, Patriots 20.
Steelers vs. Saints (Paris)
There’s still no guarantee that this one won’t be switched to London, which would introduce a curveball for both teams. The Steelers have been more consistent on both sides of the ball, and they need to win the games they should in order to keep pace with the other teams of the NFC North.
Steelers 23, Saints 20.
49ers at Falcons
The 49ers continue to surge, despite a long list of injuries. The Falcons continue to perform differently in the daylight.
49ers 27, Falcons 20.
Bengals at Ravens
The Ravens need Lamar Jackson to return. If he does, it will become a lot easier for Trey Hendrickson to wreak havoc on his former team.
Ravens 28, Bengals 24.
Buccaneers at Panthers
The Bucs end up in yet another one-score game. And the Panthers are hoping to run away with the NFC South.
Panthers 20, Buccaneers 17.
Giants at Texans
Can J.J. McCarthy get it done against a stout Houston defense? Even if he does, it will be hard for the Giants to overcome a Texans team that has rediscovered its footing.
Texans 27, Giants 17.
Colts at Vikings
Four years later, the Vikings shouldn’t have to come back from a 33-0 deficit to the Colts.
Vikings 30, Colts 17.
Dolphins at Jets
The Dolphins get a rare chance to avoid creating the ultimate NFL bookends: 17-0 and 0-17. Maybe they’ll win the rematch in Miami.
Jets 16, Dolphins 13.
Browns at Titans
The Browns are finally good enough to have trap games. And to periodically step right into one of them.
Titans 19, Browns 13.
Broncos at Cardinals
The Cardinals have gotten their win for the month.
Broncos 24, Cardinals 13.
Packers at Lions
The Detroit defense needs to make a stop, at some point, to win this one.
Lions 28, Packers 27.
Rams at Raiders
If the Rams get to five losses with 10 games left, they could be done.
Rams 26, Raiders 23.
Chiefs at Seahawks
If the Seahawks can play just a little cleaner, they can get back to where they were supposed to be.
Seahawks 27, Chiefs 23.
Cowboys at Eagles
The Eagles have an excuse or two for being 2-4. The Cowboys don’t. It’s desperation time in Dallas. Absent a turnaround, the changes for 2027 could be dramatic.
Cowboys 21, Eagles 13.