By Stephen Nover
Observations, frustrations and vents from Week 4 of the NFL season:
Mark down this Week 6 matchup – Redskins at Dolphins. It’s a golden chance for the Dolphins to get their first and probably only victory of the season. The Dolphins are worse than an expansion team. But the Redskins could be equally bad they just haven’t received the credit for being so truly awful. That should start to come now after Jay Gruden benched Case Keenum early against the Giants to bring in rookie Dwayne Haskins. Keenum wasn’t playing well. But Haskins was totally overmatched against a bad Giants defense. If Gruden decides to force-feed Haskins it will be another DeShone Kizer situation. The Redskins allow the second-most points in the NFL, their offensive line is down three starters and their skill position talent ranks with the Dolphins and Bills as the worst in the league. Because of the Redskins, the Dolphins aren’t an automatic lock to get the first pick in the draft.
I thought the Broncos fired Vance Joseph. Denver has lost eight in a row going 1-7 ATS. The Broncos are averaging 15.3 points in their last eight games. They blew a 17-3 home lead to the Jaguars this past Sunday. If Joe Flacco doesn’t throw a ridculous interception near the end of the first half, the Broncos likely win. But then he wouldn’t be Joe Flacco would he?
Several Vikings fans started saying what a great break it was for them when Mitchell Trubisky got injured. Not so. The Bears are better off with veteran Chase Daniel as their starting quarterback. Daniel probably is the best backup QB in the league. He’s better than five starters in the league, including Trubisky, and brings the Bears more savvy, accuracy and command than Trubisky.
I didn’t like the Packers hiring of Matt LaFleuer. Now, four games into the season, my opinion hasn’t changed. The Packers run the ball when they should pass and pass when they should run. LaFleuer is best served letting Aaron Rodgers run things and not trying to force-feed a ground attack.
Vontaze Burfict got kicked out of another game. That’s around the 10th time that has happened to the head hunter. Burfict and Ndamukong Suh are the dirtiest players in the league. Burfict has chopped off more heads than Henry VIII’s executioner.
The Patriots are allowing an insane 6.8 points. Stephen Gilmore may be the best cornerback in the league. Jamie Collins is playing at a high level, too. But the Patriots aren’t explosive on offense. They have become an Under team going below the total in 11 of their last 13 regular season games. Their offense consists basically of three plays – running Sony Michel, throwing a quick slant to Julian Edelman and dumping off a pass to James White out of the backfield.
The Browns will win their share of games. Their talent level is too high for that not to happen. But they are too undisciplined and not coached well enough to make any noise in the playoffs – if they even reach the postseason. They won’t be a consistent force until they learn to mature.
If Bill Belichick is worth a point on the line because of his superior coaching than the Texans should be minus a point due to the inferior coaching of Bill O’Brien.
On the handicapping front, I have a Max Unit play on the Bengals-Steelers tonight. It’s my largest Monday wager of the season. I am 43-20-3 on my last 66 premium/free NFL plays for 68 percent going back to last season. I also am 34-14-2 on my last 50 premium/free college plays for 71 percent. If you are interested in my sports service please email me at scriber26@gmail.com, or message me via Twitter.
