So here we are. We’ve seen week 1 of the Dan Campbell era, and I think it’s safe to say that no one saw anything worse than what they expected? Some better, I assume, because I might be put in that category with the comeback at the end. Anyway, the Tip Sheet would like to summarize it’s record from last week, and I’ll keep a tally throughout the season. I’m not tracking the records though, because those are hard to score and hit correctly.
Summary
Last week, the Tip Sheet picked these things to happen…
Tampa beating Dallas 1-0
Philly cleaning Atlanta’s clock 2-0
Minnesota to “out-talent” Cincinnati 2-1
Lions to lose by one score 3-1
Houston to be who everyone thought they were 3-2
Green Bay and New Orleans to switch uniforms 3-3
Rams to make quick work of Chicago 4-3
Over .500 is the motto for a week one, because that’s what keeps you undefeated at this point in the season.
Now to week 2…
Thursday, September 16th
NYG at WAS
Time: 8:20 EST
Importance: 1
Root For: NYG
Danny Dimes hopes to not trip over his own feet again in the stadium that’s infamous for ending QB’s careers with horrific injuries. Chase Young and the Washington defense will dominate the Giants pathetic excuse for an offense with a now shell of himself Saquon, and this wouldn’t be much of a contest, other than it’s a Thursday night game, and blowouts rarely happen on Thursday. You’re rooting for the Giants to pull one out here because Washington really does not need Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Prediction: WAS 27-10 NYG
Sunday, September 19th
CIN at CHI
Time: 1:00 EST
Importance: 3
Root For: CIN
The Bears got killed by your favorite quarterback last week, royally screwing our draft position and giving a big middle finger to the Lions fanbase. Good thing is, now we don’t need the help of those stinkin’ Bears! The Bengals shocked me a little last week with one of my more solid picks going the other way. Ja’Marr Chase actually did good for anyone who didn’t see, and the preseason looks like now it was maybe an anomaly. The Bears defense is better than the Vikings though, but I don’t see any real reason that the Bengals can’t put up a few points. This should be a good game.
Prediction: CIN 21-24 CHI
LAR at IND
Time: 1:00 EST
Importance: 5
Root For: IND
This didn’t work last week, but we’ll try this again, because now they aren’t playing a divisional opponent. Root for the Rams to lose here, because one pick in the draft could be the difference between Jeff Okudah and Chase Young. The Rams play a bit more capable of a team this week in the Colts, but given that Carson Wentz is their QB, I don’t think they have enough firepower to overcome the Rams defense.
Prediction: LAR 34-17 IND
DEN at JAX
Time: 1:00 EST
Importance: 3
Root For: JAX
It appears our competition for the number one pick and Kayvon Thibodeaux shifted from Houston to Jacksonville last Sunday, so you root for Jacksonville to win here because if they win, then we can lose out and get what we want: an actual defensive player. The Urban Meyer era has it’s first home game and also it’s first home loss…
Prediction: DEN 24-21 JAX
MIN at ARI
Time: 4:05 EST
Importance: 2
Root For: ARI
Minnesota lost a “should win” game last week against the Bengals, and now they play a game they should lose. Kyler Murray is good, and his defense is a lot better with Chandler Jones and J.J. Watt. I thoroughly expect the Cardinals to win this game, and Vikings fans will continue raging in social media comment sections and group chats about how they should be a lot better than they are, which is correct. Kyler and that offense are going to have a field day.
ARI 42-24 MIN
KC at BAL
Time: 8:20 EST
Importance: 2
Root For: KC
It’s all about draft positioning in games outside of ours, folks. That team you saw last sunday isn’t making the playoffs, we all have to accept it and move on. So get this, if Baltimore loses, our strength of schedule goes down, giving us potentially higher magic bean value. Fortunately for us, that will happen, as Lamar is facing off against Mahomes on Sunday night. You know, the guy that Lamar can’t beat? I see no reason why that happens this time either, because Baltimore doesn’t have an O-line anymore outside of Ronnie Stanley, and Orlando Brown plays for the other team.
Prediction: KC 35-28 BAL
Monday, September 20th
DET at GB
Time: 8:15 EST
Importance: 5
Root For: DET
While we aren’t officially in “root against Detroit” mode yet, everywhere else, we can plan for the worst. That isn’t the case with us though, so let’s see if Dan Campbell and the defensive coaches are capable of putting together a game plan that can do what New Orleans did to that Green Bay offense last week. Our offense should be kind of like it was last week. I fully expect us to be able to run the ball, and Goff will have some WTF plays, but he’ll also have some that make you say “he’s exactly who you thought he was”. Green Bay isn’t playing the NO defense though, and we know what Aaron Rodgers does to us. I expect a similar game to last week, just without the comeback.
Prediction: GB 42-24 DET