The Shenoa Report Week 8 '20 #theshenoareport

The Shenoa Report
October 29, 2020
Regular Season Week 8

The most important thing going into week 8 is making sure you have a voting plan. Polls are open now in many places, so get out there and VOTE! 

As for Halloween, we’ve been wearing masks and eating candy for the last 7 months, I don’t think we need a day dedicated to it anymore. 
There are positive tests in the Giants and Chargers organization as of today. 

I went 10-4 in my picks and lost again in fantasy. … Here’s the recap of week 7. 


NY Giants @ Eagles 21-22

Danny Jones is still the leading rusher, by far, for the Giants. His most memorable rush of his career was 80 yards at 21.8 mph. Unfortunately the open field tripped him up and he fell flat on his face before he hit the endzone. That pretty much sums up the Giants season. So much false hope. Ugh. This game. Stupid Giants. 

Lions @ Falcons 23-22

For the fourth time this season the Falcons blew what should've been a win. They are continually in their own Groundhogs Day nightmare that started with their blown loss in overtime in the Super Bowl. This time they blamed the loss on Todd Gurley, because he scored a touchdown! Maybe if the Falcons defense actually stepped up they wouldn’t have to blame a member of their offense for the loss. If they are going to place any blame at all it should be on the defense.  

Browns @ Bengals 37-34

I’ve had 3 Browns on my fantasy team. Nick Chubb - MCL sprain - IR, Austin Hooper - Appendicitis - Out, and most recently OBJ - torn ACL - out for the rest of the season. The Browns have been bad luck for me.  With OBJ going out early after trying to make a tackle after a Baker Mayfield interception things looked bleak for Cleveland. Mayfield turned it around throwing five touchdowns to get the win. 

Steelers @ Titans 27-24

This is one of those head scratching games where the “winning” quarterback has more interceptions (3) than touchdowns (2). While the losing quarterback had 2 touchdowns and zero interceptions. Alas, Pittsburgh is the only undefeated team left. Sigh.  

Panthers @ Saints 24-27

The Saints, fresh off their bye, got the win over the Panthers. The game was very evenly matched, but it was the Saints that scored  last, winning the game. 

Bills @ Jets 18-10

The Bills trailed against the J-E-T-S the entire first half. Bahhahahaha. Then they got their shit together, kinda, and shut them out in the second half. The Bills were not able to score any touchdowns, they survived on field goals. 
 

Cowboys @ Washington 3-25

The Cowboys are in an epic collapse. As a Giants fan, it’s wonderful to watch. Andy Dalton was pulled out of the game after a dirty hit and is now in concussion protocol. Third string quarterback Ben DiNucci took over and fumbled on the first play he was on the field. The Football Team dominated on both offense and defense, making this win look easy. 

Packers @ Texans 35-20

The Packers definitely bounced back with this win over Houston. Aaron Rodgers had 4 touchdowns to DeSaun Watson’s 2. Davante Adams also had a big day catching 2 touchdown passes. I think it's safe to say the Packers are back. 


Chiefs @ Broncos 43-16

This was indeed the first snow game of the season. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t start the Chiefs defense in fantasy, if I had, I probably would have won this past week. To add insult to injury the Chiefs were doing so well they pulled Patrick Mahomes, who was my starting quarterback. I guess I should’ve started Rodgers with the 4 touchdowns. On top of all that, I started Philip Lindsay who was pulled out of the game with a concussion. I just can’t win. 

49ers @ Patriots 33-6

Stupid me, started the Patriots defense… The Patriots haven’t lost this bad at home since 2005. Cam Newton threw 3 interceptions before he was benched and backup Jarrett Stidham was put in. Who, incidentally, threw another interception. At this point the Pats should lose the rest of their games in hopes that they can draft Trevor Lawrence. In other news, it was national Tight End day, it was a good day for George Kittle indeed. 

Jaguars @ Chargers 29-39

The Chargers were finally able to get their second win of the season. Justin Herbert was on fire with 347 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns, and 1 rushing touchdown. The Jags defense couldn’t even. 

Buccaneers @ Raiders 45-20

The Bucs are truly a different team this year. They are like the Lakers in basketball. Sign all the big names for one season in hopes to win a championship. Tom Brady managed 4 touchdowns with no interecptions this game while his team rallied around him. Even Leonard Fournette had a touchdown, while on my bench. 

Seahawks @ Cardinals 34-37 OT

I was tired, the Seahawks were up by 10 late in the fourth quarter, so I went to bed. D’oh! (Said like Homer Simpson) Boy was I surprised to hear that the Seahawks lost in overtime. Looking at the stats it makes sense; Russell Wilson had 3 interceptions to Kylar Murray’s 1. DK Metcalf saved one of Wilson's picks by running the  length of the field to tackle the defender on the 8 yard, preventing a pick 6.  Defender Budda Baker was even surprised that he was caught and tackled thinking he had an open field. 

Bears @ Rams 10-24

Nick Foles continues to struggle with 2 interceptions and no touchdowns Monday night. The Rams, on the other hand, were not bothered by what everyone thought was a great Bears defense racking up 3 touchdowns and a field goal. 


WEEK 8

Thursday, October 29th

Falcons (1-6) @ Panthers (3-4) (8:20pm FOX/NFLN) 

Tonight will be a windy rainy mess as tropical storm Zeta is due to roll through Charlotte. Christian McCaffrey will not suit up for this game against the Falcons. Hopefully the wind bodes well for Gurley’s game giving him a lot of touches. I’m going to pick the Panthers to win but I’m sure that the Falcons will be up at one point and blow the lead. 

Sunday, November 1st

Raiders (3-3) @ Browns (5-2)  (1pm FOX)

The Browns have not lost a game at home yet this season and I hope that trend continues. They’ve lost a lot of players due to injuries but those have been replaced by seemingly talented players. I’m picking the Browns to win this game. 

Patriots (2-4) @ Bills (5-2) (1pm CBS)

Julian Edelman has had a procedure on his knee and will be out for this game against the Bills. I’m picking the Bills to win this game, though the last time the Patriots lost in Buffalo was 2011. GO BILLS!

Titans (5-1) @ Bengals (1-5-1) (1pm CBS)

I’m picking the Titans to win this game. I think that the Bengals are beat up too much to even make a run for it. 

Vikings (1-5) @ Packers (5-1) (1pm FOX)

This is always a fun division rivalry to watch. I’m picking the Packers to win this go around. I think I pick the Packers to win this matchup every time. 

Colts (4-2) @ Lions (3-3) (1pm CBS)

I guess it’ll depend on which Philip Rivers shows up. He seems to be the weakest link in the Colts offense, well him and T.Y. Hilton. Why doesn’t Rivers show any love to T.Y.? I didn’t think that the Lions could win two in a row and they proved me wrong. Can they win three in a row, no I don’t think so. I’m going to pick the Colts to win this game. 
  
 
Jets (0-7) @ Chiefs (6-1) (1pm CBS)

I’m going to go out on a limb and pick the Chiefs to win this game. (Insert sarcasm here)

Rams (5-2) @ Dolphins (3-3) (1pm FOX) 

The Dolphins are fresh off their bye and starting a rookie quarterback. I’m picking the Rams to win this game. 

Steelers (6-0) @ Ravens (5-1) (1pm CBS)

I’m picking the Ravens to win this game, mostly because I don’t like the Steelers. Also, I have Justin Tucker and Marquis Brown on my fantasy team. 

Chargers (2-4) @ Broncos (2-4) (4:05pm CBS)

The Broncos, who have not won a game at home yet this season, are playing the Chargers who only have one win on the road. I am going to pick the Broncos to win this game. 

Saints (4-2) @ Bears (5-2) (4:25pm FOX) 

I maintain that the Bears are not as good as their record. Therefore, I’m picking the Saints to win this game. 

49ers (4-3) @ Seahawks (5-1) (4:25pm FOX) 

 
I think that the Seahawks will bounce back and win this game. 

Cowboys (2-5) @ Eagles (2-4-1) (8:20pm NBC)

I hope this game ends in a tie. No, really. I’m picking the Eagles for the win, but hoping for a tie. 

Monday, November 2nd
 
Buccaneers (5-2) @ NY Giants (1-7) (8:15pm ESPN)

I’m picking the Bucs. This will be a tough game to watch. Maybe I’ll just go to bed early so I can get up early to vote… GO GMEN! #VOTE!

BYE
Cardinals, the Football Team, Jaguars, Texans
GO GMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the edit Eric!

The Shenoa Report Week 7 '20 #theshenoareport

The Shenoa Report

October 22, 2020

Regular Season Week 7

Tonight will be the final presidential debate before the election. It will coincide with Thursday night football where the Giants will face off against the Eagles.  Both are sure to be “shit shows.” As of right now I’m not sure which one will be more of a train wreck. #vote. #gmen. 

COVID-19 NFL news this week includes the Las Vegas Raiders.  Trent Brown tested positive, and the whole O-line was sent home to quarantine. The Raiders just had their BYE week so who knows what will happen if they have to postpone this upcoming game. 

In other football news, the Buccaneers signed Antonio Brown, the Ravens are looking at Dez Bryant, and Ryan Fitzpatrick is heartbroken that he lost his starting job to rookie Tua Tagovailoa.

Week 6 was my “any given Sunday” week as I went 6-8 in my picks and lost again in fantasy. At least the Giants won… Here’s the recap of week 6. 

Texans @ Titans 36-42 OT

Yo, this game was crazy. The Texans led twice, which is something they hadn’t really done yet this year. The Titans drove down the field at the end of regulation and Ryan Tannehill threw a touchdown pass to  A.J. Brown that tied the game, sending it into overtime. The Titans won the coin toss. Derrick Henry took the drive on his shoulders and scored the final touchdown to seal the win. 

Bengals @ Colts 27-31

The Bengals put up a fight and, for a time, I thought they might actually win the game. But the Colts were just a little bit better. The Colts defense dominated, and if Philip Rivers could stop throwing interceptions their offense would be lethal as well. 

Falcons  @ Vikings 40-23

Firing the head coach in Atlanta was just the change the Falcons needed. They played a completely different game and pacified the Vikings. I was shocked. Matt Ryan had 4 touchdowns. It was crazy. (I got this pick wrong)

Broncos @ Patriots 18-12

The Patriots are NOT the same. I got this pick wrong too. The Broncos defense intercepted two of Cam Newton's passes but the offense couldn’t convert the turnovers into touchdowns. Between the two teams, 7 field goals were scored and only one touchdown. 

Washington @ NY Giants 19-20

The Giants ALMOST blew it, but instead it was Washington who couldn’t get it done in the end and they lost the game. Thankfully, for the Giants, Riverboat Ron decided to go for 2 at the end of the game to try to win. They did not convert and Joe Judge got his first win as a head coach in the NFL. Woot! Danny Jones was the leading rusher for the Giants, and on one of his rushes he was clocked going 20MPH!!!! That’s insane.  According to my rule of only picking the Giants for a win after they’ve won a game, I can now pick the Giants. We’ll see.

 

Ravens @ Eagles 30-28

The Ravens played down to the level of the Eagles and almost lost the game. The Eagles had a chance to tie the game and send it to overtime, but failed on a two point conversion.

Browns @ Steelers 7-38

The Browns looked down right awful! They couldn’t string 3 plays together throughout the entire game. They actually took Baker Mayfield out of the game. It wasn’t good for the Browns and it wasn’t good for my fantasy team either. 

Bears @ Panthers 23-16

Okay, I’ll finally admit that the Bears are legit. Their defense is tough and Nick Foles is clicking with the offense. (I got this pick wrong too) The Bears completely shut down the Panthers and didn’t allow a touchdown until the 4th quarter when the game had already been won. 

Lions @ Jaguars 34-16

Welp, another pick I got wrong. D’Andre Swift dominated the game with 116 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Jags defense didn’t even try to stop the run. The Lions now have more wins on the road than they do at home. 

Jets @ Dolphins 0-24

Fitzmagic did so well at shutting out the Jets that they benched him in the 4th quarter and put in rookie Tua Tagovailoa. Ryan Fitzpatrick learned after the game that this would be his last game as a starter for the Dolphins. This is the first season in years that the Dolphins are playoff contenders. Is it really the right decision to take Fitz out and put Tua in? Only time will tell. 

Packers @ Buccaneers 10-38

Yikes! The Packers looked terrible! Rodgers threw 2 interceptions in this game, which is unheard of! Green Bay jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter and then decided to not score for the rest of the game. It was ugly. I got the pick wrong. 

Rams @ 49ers 16-24

To continue backwards day in the NFL the 49ers finally got a win, against the Rams! I mean, what in the world is going on? The Rams had 4 wins and only one loss heading into this game while the 49ers only had 2 wins. Just another pick I got wrong, but I’m pretty sure you would've gotten this pick wrong too. 

Chiefs @ Bills 26-17

Fantasy wise I was feeling pretty good. I had Patrick Mahomes left to play and I was up 40 points. The weather was crappy. The Bills were worse than crappy. The Chiefs, who are usually pass heavy, took to the run game because of the weather. I started Patrick Mahomes, my opponent started Clyde Edwards-Helaire who had a monster game. In my stupid league RBs get a point everytime they touch the ball… Clyde got 47 points… I was no longer feeling pretty good about a fantasy win. My opponent had one player left to play. 

Cardinals @ Cowboys 38-10

I was up by 11 points heading into this game. My opponent had the Cardinals defense. I hate the Cowboys and never root for them. I just needed them to score some points. Instead, Zeek Elliot had 2 fumbles and the Ginger, Andy Dalton, had 2 interceptions.  Adding insult to injury, I lost by 5 points. 

WEEK 7

Thursday, October 22nd

NY Giants (1-5) @ Eagles (1-4-1) (8:20pm FOX/NFLN) 

Both teams have 1 win and first place in the NFC East is in sight. That’s how bad this division is. It’s hard to believe that this division has produced more Super Bowl Champions (13) than any other, but it’s true. The Eagles almost pulled out a win against the Ravens last week and the Giants almost lost to the Football Team. This game is pretty evenly matched and both teams are injury ridden. The Eagles welcomed fans back into their stands last week, and of course, they had their first fight in the stands. Oh the brotherly love in the time of Covid. Shockingly the fighters did not practice social distance. The Giants haven’t won in Philadelphia since 2013. My heart says the Giants will win this game but my head says to pick the Eagles. I’m going with my head, I hope I’m wrong. GO GMEN!

Sunday, October 25th

Lions (2-3) @ Falcons (1-5)  (1pm FOX)

The Falcons have not won a game at home, while the Lions have only won on the road. I think that the Falcons get their first win at home, because I don’t think that the Lions can win two in a row. 

Browns (4-2) @ Bengals (1-4-1) (1pm CBS)

It really depends on which team shows up this week. The Browns need a bounce back game and the Bengals are itching for another win. I’m picking the Browns to win this game but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bengals upset them. 

Steelers (5-0) @ Titans (5-0) (1pm CBS)

I’m picking the Titans to win this game. It should be a good, close game. 

Panthers (3-3) @ Saints (3-2) (1pm FOX)

The Saints are coming off of their bye and the Panthers are struggling. I’m picking the Saints to win this game. 

Bills (4-2) @ Jets (0-6) (1pm CBS)

 I’m picking the Bills to win this game. No other words needed.  

 

Cowboys (2-3) @ Washington (1-5) (1pm FOX)

I’d like the Football Team to win this game, and I think they can. I’m picking Washington for the win.  

Packers (4-1) @ Texans (1-5) (1pm FOX) 

I think that the Packers will bounce back and win this game. If they don’t there are bigger problems in Green Bay. 

Buccaneers (4-2) @ Raiders (3-2)  (4:05pm FOX)

With the positives in Las Vegas I’m not sure if this game will be played. I was going to pick the Raiders to win, but with their O-line sent home to quarantine I’m going to have to pick the Bucs to win this game if it’s played.  

49ers (3-3) @ Patriots (2-3) (4:25pm CBS) 

Neither team is really good this year. I’m going to pick the Patriots to win, because under Belilchick they don’t usually lose back to back games. 

Jaguars (1-5) @ Chargers (1-4) (4:25pm CBS)  

I think that the Chargers will get their second win of the season. 

Seahawks (5-0) @ Cardinals (3-2) (8:20pm NBC)

I’m picking the Seahawks to win this game. 

Monday, October 26th 

Bears (5-1) @ Rams (4-2) (8:15pm ESPN)

I’m picking the Rams to win this game, but I’m sure it’ll be a close one. 

BYE

Colts, Dolphins, Vikings, Ravens

GO GMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the edit Eric!

The Shenoa Report Week 6 '20 #theshenoareport

The Shenoa Report

October 18, 2020

Regular Season Week 6

Good news, as of 25 minutes ago Adam Schefter reported that there were no new positive COVID-19 tests this morning and all 12 games are set to be played as scheduled today! Happy Football Sunday! 

Earlier in the week New England’s, Atlanta’s and Indianapolis’ facilities were shut down due to positive cases.  

In other football news, Le'veon Bell is now a Kansas City Chief.  

The NFL has changed the COVID-19 protocol once again. Now if a player tests negative but still has covid like symptoms they can’t be with the team. This was the case for OBJ, who was sent home from practice Thursday. Friday morning his test came back negative, though he is still listed as questionable as of Sunday morning. I hope he is ok! I need him this week as does his team against the Steelers.   

I went 10-4 in my picks and had my first loss in fantasy. Here’s the recap of week 5. 

Buccaneers @ Bears 19-20

It wasn’t a Super Bowl performance but Nick Foles was able to beat Tom Brady once again. With Fournette out for the Bucs it was easy to root for the Bears and watch Brady scream and pout. A pouting Brady might be one of my favorite images. I think that the Bucs thought this would be an easy win so they didn’t really try.  Also, we learned that Tom Brady can’t count to 4. At the end of the game Brady thought it was third down, but it was actually 4th down and he blew the game. Amazing. 

Panthers @ Falcons 23-16

I read a meme last week saying,  “We are in the fourth quarter of 2020. I sure hope we are playing the Falcons.” The Falcons fired their head coach, Dan Quinn and general manager, Thomas Dimitroff after Atlanta lost it’s fifth game of the season. Atlanta’s only saving grace is Todd Gurley, who had their only touchdown of the day while Matt Ryan had zero touchdowns and an interception. On the other side of the ball, Teddy Bridgewater had two touchdowns and zero interceptions. 

Raiders @ Chiefs 40-32

The Chiefs defense was non-existent on the Raiders biggest offensive plays, and their offense really couldn’t string plays together until the second half. It was not the prettiest game, and I think we were all shocked that KC actually lost. I kept expecting the Chiefs to turn it around, but they never did. Very disappointing. 

Cardinals @ Jets 30-10

The Cardinals got back on the winning bus after a couple of tough losses in weeks prior. It was an easy win, as they were playing the Jets. Why can’t the Giants play the Jets? Le'Veon Bell was back for the Jets but it wasn’t enough for a win, mostly because the Cards got the best deal of the offseason by picking up DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins always wins. 

Eagles @ Steelers 29-38

Not liking either team I found myself rooting for the defense on both teams. I will say that after rookie Chase Claypool’s second touchdown (he had 4 on the day) I went and put in my waiver wire request. I have to wait till Thursday to see if I picked him up. Fingers crossed. (Update - I was last in waiver order, and wasn’t able to pick him up. He would’ve been a great replacement for TY Hilton, who has done absolutely nothing the first 5 weeks.  Oh well.)

Rams @ Washington 30-10

I cried a few times Sunday. The first time was in this game when the Football Team pulled Kyle Allen and put in Alex Smith. For those who don’t remember, Smith left the game about 2 years ago with a broken leg. The leg fracture led to life-threatening sepsis that required 17 surgeries to prevent amputation. Instead of retiring from the game he went through a lengthy recovery process and was placed on injured reserve until last week. He was activated, and then put in the game! I was sooooooo nervous for him, I can’t imagine how his family felt. The first time he got hit, I stopped breathing. The camera kept panning over to his family, where his wife seemed to be beside herself, excited, terrified, happy, and nervous all at the same time. You could tell by the expression on her face, even though she wore a mask! There were fans in the stands and Smith received a standing ovation. Washington lost the game but got to see their beloved Alex Smith under center again. 

Bengals @ Ravens 3-27

The Ravens almost shut out the Bengals but with 32 seconds left in the game Randy Bullock kicked a 38 yard field goal. The Ravens dominated the game on both offense and defense. Lamar Jackson used his arm more than usual and rushed far less. Maybe he is slightly injured. Marquise Brown had his first touchdown reception of the year, which was exciting for me because he was my flex player that I had to put in last minute, because of the Denver / New England postponement. 

Jaguars @ Texans 14-30

The Texans finally got their first win of the season, under the oldest active interim coach in the NFL, Romeo Crennel.  Deahaun Watson had 359 passing yards,  2 interceptions and 3 TD passes , one each to Will Fuller, Darren Fells, and Brandin Cooks.  

Dolphins @ 49ers 43-17

The 49ers were embarrassed by the Dolphins. Jimmy Garoppolo was benched and C.J. Beathard was put in the game in his place, it was a mess. The Dolphins kicker, Jason Sanders, had 5 field goals! Of course my opponent in fantasy this week had him. I got beat by a kicker… 

Colts @ Browns 23-32

The Colts have a good defense but, their offense is terrible. Philip Rivers had no touchdowns and two interceptions, one of them went for a pick six. He also got tackled in the endzone for a safety. The Browns were better on offense and defense. I would’ve liked to see OBJ involved more, but it’s hard when he is in double coverage for most of the game. 

NY Giants @ Cowboys 34-37

False hope. Every frickin time. This was the second and third time I cried. First when I saw the Dak Prescott injury. I thought his shoe had come half off, and then realized his shoe was on fully, but his foot was pointed in the wrong direction. Dak was crying, I was crying. It was a terrible injury. Then I thought with Dak out of the game, and Andy Dalton in as the backup, the Giants actually had a chance to win a game. HAH. I was wrong. I cried again. This time I blame it on a family friend who called my father to congratulate him on the win, while they were still ahead…. Thanks Dean. 

Vikings @ Seahawks 26-27

This game was super exciting. I needed the Vikings to score a lot since my opponent had the Seahawks defense. But I picked the Seahawks to win, as I’m not a fan of Kirk Cousins. The Vikings had the lead late in the fourth and had the chance to go up even further by kicking a field goal on 4th and 1  at the 6 yard line. The field goal would have put them up by 8 points, meaning the Seahawks would have to march down the field with less than two minutes to go, score a touchdown, and convert the 2 extra points. Well, the Vikings didn’t kick the field goal, and instead went for it,  and came up short. The Seahawks marched down the field and scored a touchdown with 15 seconds left in the game. They went for 2 and missed. But, because the Vikings didn’t kick that field goal the final score wasn’t 29-27 or even 29-29 to send it into overtime. It was just a Seahawks win. Did you follow that? 

Chargers @ Saints 27-30 OT

This was a really close game that was so back and forth it was decided in overtime. Justin Herbert had 4 touchdowns and played a hell of a game, unfortunately Keenan Allen, Chargers WR, was injured in the first half and didn’t return. Maybe, if he hadn’t been hurt the Chargers would have won this game. I know that the Allen injury contributed to my fantasy loss. It was Will Lutz who kicked the game winning field goal for the Saints in OT.  

Bills @ Titans 16-42

This game was supposed to be played on 10/11, and maybe it would have been a different outcome. It was an embarrassing game to watch. The Titans, who hadn’t been on the field in almost two weeks, not able to practice (officially), were way better prepared than the Bills.  The Bills blew it in true Buffalo fashion, and really, we should’ve seen it coming. The first quarter was pretty decent but it fell apart shortly after. It was ugly, and that’s all I have to say. 

WEEK 6

There will not be a Thursday night game this week. 

Sunday, October 18th

Texans (1-4) @ Titans (4-0)  (1pm CBS)

I don’t think that the Texans have a chance to win this game. The Titans are riding high after their return to the field and win over the Bills Tuesday and I think they’ll ride that train to victory Sunday. 

Bengals (1-3-1) @ Colts (3-2) (1pm FOX)

News came out Friday morning that the Colts facility has been shut down for multiple positives. The positives were retested and came back negative, so the game will not be postponed.  Positives or not, I’m picking the Colts to win this game. 

Falcons (0-5) @ Vikings (1-4) (1pm FOX)

With the positive in the Falcons facility I’m going to pick the Vikings to win this game. I would’ve picked the Falcons to win this game without a positive, though I really wouldn’t be surprised if the Vikings lost. Go Gurley! 

Broncos (1-3) @ Patriots (2-2) (1pm CBS)

This game should’ve been played last week, and if it had been played I probably would’ve won in fantasy. I blame the Patriots for my loss. No, I’m not over it. I’m bitter. I lost to the owner of the company I work for. Booooooo. Anyway, Melvin Gordon is out with an "illness" and will not play, cough cough got arrested. Cam is off of the COVID list and has been practicing with the team since Thursday. I’m going to pick the Patriots to win regardless of who is starting. 

Washington (1-4) @ NY Giants (0-5) (1pm FOX)

This will be another game that the Giants can win, should win, but will ultimately blow it, because they are the Giants and they fill their fans with false hopes. Every. Freakin. Time. Kyle Allen will start for the Football Team and Alex Smith will be the backup. Danny Jones is still the starter for the Giants, but does that mean anything? Go Giants. Wooo.-sarcastic exclamation.  

 

Ravens (4-1) @ Eagles (1-3-1) (1pm CBS)

This should be an easy game for the Ravens. I’m picking the Ravens to win. 

Browns (4-1) @ Steelers (4-0) (1pm CBS) 

The Browns beat the Steelers last year, which Ray Lewis seemed to forget multiple times on Inside the NFL this week. I know that the Browns can beat the Steelers but because this game is a home game for the Steelers, and there will actually be some fans in the stands, I’m going to pick the Steelers for the win, I hope I’m wrong. GO BROWNIES!

Bears (4-1) @ Panthers (3-2) (1pm FOX)

I don’t think that the Bears record reflects their game performance. I’m going to pick the Panthers to win this game. 

Lions (1-4) @ Jaguars (1-4) (1pm FOX)

This game is really a toss up. Both teams are terrible. I’m going to pick the Jags only because they are home, and they have fans. 

Jets (0-5) @ Dolphins (2-3) (4:05pm CBS )

Fitzmagic is going up against one of his former teams. I think the Dolphins will get this win. 

Packers (4-0) @ Buccaneers (3-2) (4:25pm FOX)  

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are playing their best game right now. I am picking the Packers to win this game and hoping for more pouting Brady. Green Bay running back Jamaal Williams fired a playful shot at Tom Brady, “My quarterback knows what fourth down is.” Game on! 

Rams (4-1) @ 49ers (2-3) (8:20pm NBC)

I’m going to have to pick the Rams to win this game. The 49ers are suffering a severe Super Bowl hangover, and will continue their downward spiral. 

Monday, October 19th 

Chiefs (4-1) @ Bills (4-1)  (5pm FOX/NFL) 

After last week’s games both teams are looking for a win. I’m picking the Chiefs to bounce back and win this game. 

Cardinals (3-2) @ Cowboys (2-3) (8:15pm ESPN)

I’d love to see the Cowboys lose, but I think they will play this game for Dak and get the win. I hope I’m wrong. 

BYE

Raiders, Saints, Chargers, Seahawks

GO GMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the edit Eric!

The Shenoa Report Week 5 '20 #theshenoareport

The Shenoa Report

October 8, 2020

Regular Season Week 5

Where do I even start? Crucial Catch? Covid? Injuries? NFC East? Records? Fantasy?

Week four was a doozy to say the least. As you know the Titans / Steelers game was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Titans organization. 20 positives came out of the organization in just one week which put up red flags and raised the question of, are teams taking things seriously? The Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots also had positive tests Saturday with Chiefs practice squad quarterback Jordan Ta'amu and Patriots starting quarterback Cam Newton. The game scheduled to take place Sunday was immediately postponed so that contact tracing and more tests could be administered on Sunday and Monday. In other Covid news, 10 Raiders were fined for not wearing masks at a charity event. 

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell warned the league's 32 teams Monday of penalties including potential forfeits of games for violations of COVID-19 protocols that force changes in the schedule.

These are the COVID-19 protocols for returning to play following a positive test; 

If Asymptomatic, cannot return until: 10 days after first positive test OR 5 days after first positive test and 2 negative PCR tests 24 hours apart. 

If Symptomatic, cannot return until: at least 10 days after first symptoms, at least 72 hours since symptoms ended, local regulations/requirements are satisfied. 

Those players who do test positive regardless of symptomatic or asymptomatic are placed on the NFL’s COVID-19 reserve list. 

We can all agree that COVID-19 sucks, but you know what else sucks? Cancer sucks. We have all been personally affected by that horrible word. In the month of October, while watching the NFL you’ll see some rainbow colors on uniforms, as well as some gaudy tie-dye throwback to the 80’s hats. This is to show support, awareness, and bring attention to the fight for cancer, research, those lost, and survivors. Since 2009, the first year of the NFL's Crucial Catch campaign, the NFL’s work has raised more than $22 million for the American Cancer Society, and has supported over 370,000 cancer screenings. When you buy anything with the Crucial Catch logo on it from the NFL shop proceeds go towards cancer research. The NFL does not retain any profits generated by royalties received due to the sale of Crucial Catch products. All dollars are donated to the American Cancer Society. Cancer sucks. Please, get yourself checked out, early detection saves lives.

In other NFL news, Texans fire head coach and general manager Bill O’Brian after an 0-4 start to the season, the earliest firing of a head coach in NFL history, not a good record to have. 

I’ll talk about injuries and records in the recap, as for the NFC East we should probably refer to them as the NFC LEAST. With a combined record of 3-12-1 the NFC East is an embarrassment to the League. Philly is on top of the division with a record of 1-2-1… Good news is that the Giants are just 1.5 games out… 

I went 10-5 in my picks and won again in fantasy. Here’s the recap of week 4. 

Broncos @ Jets 37-28

The fact that the Jets led any of this game was a little disconcerting, and went to show that the Broncos aren’t much better. The Broncos and my fantasy team suffered a blow when Noah Fant went out of the game with an ankle injury and didn’t return. He isn’t expected to play next week, which is a bummer but it doesn’t seem to be a season ending injury, which is really good . 

Colts @ Bears 19-11

Nick Foles was awful in his first start as a Bear. Now Chicago doesn’t know what to do about the quarterback position. Will they bring back Jay Cutler? Too soon? The Colts defense really shut down Foles and Phillip Rivers struck early for the offense. 

Jaguars @ Bengals 25-33

“Winning is fun” is all that Joe Burrow had to say after he brought his team to victory for the first time in his NFL career. It was Joe Mixon who was the MVP of the game though, with 151 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns on the day. 

Browns @ Cowboys 49-38

Last week I said, “I’d love to see the Browns wallop the Cowboys”. I think the Browns read my report!!!!  OBJ has FINALLY had a good game, with 3 touchdowns!!!! The bad news for the Browns, and my fantasy team, is Nick Chubb left the game with a knee injury and will not be returning to the field for at least 6 weeks. He has an MCL sprain which will keep him sidelined, but hopefully he will be able to play again this season. The Cowboys looked horrible and tried to rally late in the game, but because they are horrible, they lost. 

Saints  @ Lions 35-29

The Saints scored 5 touchdowns in this game, 2 of them were only two minutes and 19 seconds apart. That doesn’t say much for the Lions offense, or defense. 

Seahawks @ Dolphins 31-23

Russell Wilson actually threw a pick during this game. It was shocking to see, as we don’t see that often. He quickly rebounded though, having another stellar game with 360 passing yards, two touchdowns, and a win. Ryan Fitzpatrick had no magic with 2 interceptions, though he did have a rushing touchdown. 

Chargers @ Buccaneers 31-38

There were 22 years in between starting quarterbacks Tom Brady and Justin Herbert, the biggest gap in NFL history. The old man (Brady) had a very good day throwing 5 touchdowns to 5 different receivers. Herbert also had a good day with 3 touchdowns, but easy math will tell you that 5 is better than 3 when it comes to winning.  Both QBs had an interception. 

Ravens @ Washington 31-17

The Ravens were able to bounce back from last week's loss and beat the Football Team handily.  I’m beginning to think Washington’s first win was just a fluke. Lamar Jackson ran for a 50 yard touchdown and threw for another 2, and the Football Team couldn’t stop him. 

Cardinals @ Panthers  21-31

The Cardinals have let me down 2 weeks in a row. I think I might stop picking them to win. The Panthers, who allowed fans in the stands for the first time this season, had a great game. Teddy Bridgewater had three total touchdowns, 1 rushing and 2 passing to lead the Panthers to victory. 

Vikings @ Texans 31-23

The Texans are HORRIBLE. They are also going on the list of teams I’m going to stop picking to win until they actually have a win.  It was after this loss that their head coach/general manager was fired.  The Vikings didn’t even look that good in their win over the Texans, so I really have nothing else to report on this game. 

NY Giants @ Rams 9-17

For the first 3 weeks of the season I was super frustrated that we didn’t get the Giants broadcast on our local tv stations. We’d get stupid games like the Eagles or the Cowboys, or the Jets or Bills. This Sunday we actually got the game but it was so bad that I, who always watches the game till the bitter end because I’m a glutton for punishment, decided to clean the bathroom complete with scrubbing the tub and sweeping and vacuuming the downstairs instead of watching the game. It was a much more enjoyable way to spend my afternoon. The Giants are the worst I’ve ever seen them, and I’ve been watching them for close to 40 years. I can’t believe we have 12 more weeks of this nonsense. 

Bills  @ Raiders 30-23

Josh Allen had two passing touchdowns and one rushing and the Bills are 4-0 after defeating the Raiders in Las Vegas. Hopefully for Bills fans, what happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas, except for Allen’s little banged up shoulder, that can stay in Vegas. 

Eagles  @ 49ers 25-20

The Eagles didn’t “win” this game, it was the 49ers who lost it. Both teams looked abysmal. 

Patriots  @ Chiefs 10-26

The Chiefs didn’t have a particularly good night on offense, but the Patriots back up quarterbacks had a much worse time. With Cam Newton out of the game after testing positive the weight of the team fell on Brian Hoyer and when he was benched for lack of good performance, it was left to Jarrett Stidham. Neither QB did well and the Chiefs defense made sure of it. 

Falcons @ Packers 16-30

The Falcons really didn’t have a chance against the Packers.  I mean, Todd Gurley had 2 touchdowns for them but that’s about it. Aaron Rodgers had four touchdowns while Matt Ryan had none. 

WEEK 5

With a positive case in New England, Las Vegas, and positives again in Tennessee as of Thursday morning there might be more game postponements, and the Bills / Titans game is in jeopardy. The Titans held workouts off premises, when in person gatherings had been banned, and might be the reason for the spread of the virus. The Titans should just forfeit the game due to their stupidity; at least I’d get one pick correct. 

Thursday, October 8th

Buccaneers (3-1) @ Bears (3-1) (8:20pm FOX/NFL Network)

When the game kicks off tonight, Tom Brady and Nick Foles will become the first quarterbacks to face off as starters in a Super Bowl and then later in their careers while each starting for a different team. I’m picking the Bucs to win this game.

Sunday, October 11th

Panthers (2-2) @ Falcons (0-4)  (1pm FOX)

I’m picking the Panthers to win this game. At least the Giants won’t be the only team 0-5…

Raiders (2-2) @ Chiefs (4-0) (1pm CBS)

With a positive case in the Raiders locker room and the Chiefs potentially exposed during the game against the Patriots, as Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore tested positive, this is another game that might be postponed. I really hope that isn’t the case for so many reasons. If it is played I am picking the Chiefs to win this game. 

Cardinals (2-2) @ Jets (0-4) (1pm FOX)

Joe Flacco will start for the Jets with Sam Darnold out. I said that I wasn’t going to pick the Cardinals to win, but because they are playing the Jets, I am going back on my word and picking Arizona for the win. 

Eagles (1-2-1) @ Steelers (3-0) (1pm FOX)

 I’m picking the Steelers to win and I don’t think it’s going to be a close game. 

Rams (3-1) @ Washington (1-3) (1pm FOX)

Dwayne Haskins has been benched and Kyle Allen will start for the Football Team. With that said, I’m picking the Rams to win this game. 

Bengals (1-2-1) @ Ravens (3-1) (1pm CBS)

It’s a good thing that Joe Burrow got a win last week because I don’t think he’s going to win this week. I’m picking the Ravens to win this game. 

Jaguars (1-3) @ Texans (0-4) (1pm CBS) 

Both teams are horrible, but with the Texans firing their head coach maybe the interim head coach will be able to coach the team into their first win. I’m going to pick the Texans to win one last time… 

Dolphins (1-3) @ 49ers (2-2) (4:05pm FOX)

I’m picking the 49ers to win this game. I don’t have a good reason for this, I just am. 

Colts (3-1) @ Browns (3-1) (4:25pm CBS)

 I’m going with the Browns to win this game. The Colts have a good defense but, dare I say, the Browns have a better offense, even with Chubb out. We’ll see. 

NY Giants (0-4) @ Cowboys (1-3) (4:25pm CBS )

If the Giants were ever going to win a game this season it would be this game. Jason Garrett, Giants offensive coordinator, will be facing his former team where he was the head coach for 13 years. That being said, I’m picking the Cowboys to win. I hope I’m wrong. GO GMEN! 

Vikings (1-3) @ Seahawks (4-0) (8:20pm NBC)

I’m going with the Seahawks for the win. No question.  

Monday, October 12th 

Chargers (1-3) @ Saints (2-2) (8:15pm ESPN)

This game might be moved to Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium because Hurricane Delta is due to hit New Orleans this weekend.  Justin Herbert was named the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season, sorry Tyrod. Even though the Saints won’t have home field advantage I think they’ll win this game. 

Tuesday, October 13th

Bills (4-0) @ Titans? (3-0) (7pm CBS) 

Yes, that's right. This game is slotted for Tuesday for the same reason that the Broncos Patriots game was also moved. As of Friday morning, there were no new positives in the Titans organization... Fast forward to Sunday morning, there was another positive test. This game is also, once again, in jeopardy. Who knows if this game will even be played. If it does happen I’m picking the Bills to win, but I’m not going to hold my breath. 

BYE

Lions, Packers,

Broncos, Patriots forced bye week due to positive test Sunday morning.

GO GMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the edit Eric!

The Shenoa Report Week 4 '20 #theshenoareport

The Shenoa Report
October 1, 2020
Regular Season Week 4

Multiple positive COVID-19 tests in the Titans organization came through early this week and have been added to throughout the week. There was a possibility that infections could have spread at the Vikings game as well, though as of Wednesday the Vikings had zero confirmed cases. The Titans have closed their practice facility until at least Saturday, while the Vikings have closed theirs until Thursday. Breaking news came this morning saying that the Titans - Steelers game scheduled for Sunday has been postponed till later in the season. Now the NFL has to figure out how to reschedule a game between two of its seven undefeated teams after the league's first COVID-19 outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

The NFL has done a fantastic job, way better than MLB, and remarkably through the first couple of weeks there were no positive cases. As contagious/infectious as this virus is, it was only a matter of time before an outbreak happened. Hopefully, it can be contained and it won’t affect the rest of the season.  For those reading this way in the future, just a reminder, 2020 was a bitch. 

I went 9-6-1 in my picks and won again in fantasy. Here’s the recap of week 3. 

Dolphins @ Jaguars 31-13
The Dolphins showed up big against the Jags. Ryan Fitzpatrick has now beaten the Jaguars as starting quarterback for 6 different teams. That’s a fun stat.

Bears @ Falcons 30-26

Two weeks in a row the Falcons blew a big lead and ended up losing the game, and that’s after the Bears benched their starting quarterback to put in backup, Nick Foles. Come on man!

Rams @ Bills 32-35
The Bills got lucky. They blew a 25 point lead only to claw back with a touchdown pass with 15 seconds left in the game. Bills fans everywhere are just shaking their heads.  

Washington @ Browns 20-34
The Browns are over .500 for the first time since 2014 after beating the Football Team.  Baker Mayfield played very well along with Nick Chubb. I just wish that OBJ would have done better. It was a costly loss for Washington as they lost rookie defensive end Chase Young to a groin injury. 

Titans @ Vikings 31-30
Because there is no testing on game day only time will tell if the Titans infected any of the Vikings, and that’s a gap in the protocol. There is no social distancing on the field for sure. 

The game was super close, no pun intended. It came down to a field goal after the 2 minute warning to end the game. Stephen Gostkowski made a career-long 55 yarder to seal the win. The Vikings are pretty tired of losing and put up a good fight. Maybe next time…

Raiders @ Patriots 20-36

Instead of relying on Cam for all the scoring the Patriots leaned heavily on Rex Burkhead who had three touchdowns for New England, running all over Las Vegas. The Patriots defense also had a stellar game with a fumble returned for a touchdown. 

49ers @ NY Giants 36-9
Ugh. This was the game that the Giants were supposed to win. The 49ers had half their team sidelined due to injury. The Giants are a joke. I couldn’t even bring myself to watch the second half of the game. So frustrating.

Bengals @ Eagles 23-23 OT
Last week I said,  “I wouldn’t be surprised if it ended in a tie.” Sure enough, I was right.  This game was almost as painful to watch as the Giants game. No one really wanted to win, which was evident in overtime. But, for the first time this season both Joe Burrow and Carson Wentz helped keep their team from losing.

Texans @ Steelers 21-28
The Texans actually led for the first part of this game and held their own against a tough Steelers defense. Only they failed to score a single point in the second half giving the win to the Steelers. This was also a game that had three siblings on the field throughout the game; the Watt brothers, J.J. (Houston), T.J., and D.J. (Pittsburgh). Apparently they also like abbreviated names.

Jets @ Colts  7-36

At least the Giants aren’t the worst team in NY. Thanks J-E-T-S! The Jets made the Colts look GREAT as their defense intercepted Sam Darnold 3 times, 2 of them ending in pick 6’s while their offense made Philip Rivers look like an all star.

Panthers  @ Chargers 21-16

The Panthers may not have had McCaffrey, but as it turns out, they didn’t need him anyway as it was their defense that forced 3 Charger turnovers, while Joey Slye kicked 5 field goals to bring the win for Carolina.

Buccaneers @ Broncos 28-10
The Broncos took a beating with the Bucs only letting them score in the second quarter. Tom Brady had three touchdown passes and the Bucs defense forced a Broncos safety in the third quarter. Let’s just say it wasn’t a good day for Denver.

Lions @ Cardinals 26-23
The Lions snapped an 11 game losing streak but it came at the expense of the not so hot Cardinals. This game surprised me. I thought the Cardinals would have no problem beating the Lions. I was wrong. 

Cowboys  @ Seahawks 31-38

The Seahawks could have scored more than 38 if DK Metcalf hadn’t been so cocky and actually protected the ball as he trotted into the endzone after an amazing pass from Russell Wilson. But he didn’t and the ball was punched out of his hand and called a touchback giving the ball to the Cowboys. Thankfully that play happened in the first half of the game and Metcalf was able to redeem himself catching a touchdown pass with under 2 minutes to go, giving the Seahawks the win. It was Tyler Lockett and Russell Wilson that had the real magic with 3 touchdown combos in this game.

Packers  @ Saints 37-30
The Saints are trying to be great this year, but the Packers are just a little bit better. Aaron had a huge game with 283 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. Coincidentally, Brees’ numbers were a touch better with 288 passing yards and 3 touchdowns and Alvin Kamara put up 139 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. But it was Packers kicker, Mason Crosby, with 3 field goals that gave the extra push and points to win the game. 

Ravens @ Chiefs 34-20
The Chiefs DOMINATED this game. Patrick Mahomes, my fantasy qb, had 4 passing touchdowns, 385 passing yards, and one rushing touchdown. He gave me all the points I needed to beat my opponent, before halftime. It was a fun game to watch, and I even rooted for the Ravens to score a few times, because I knew that Pat would continue to throw the ball as long as the game was close enough. 

WEEK 4

Thursday, October 1st

Broncos (0-3) @ Jets (0-3) (8:20pm NFL Network)
I mean, both teams are pretty terrible. I’m going to pick the Broncos to win because I’m thinking they are the least terrible. 


Sunday, October 4th

Colts (2-1) @ Bears (3-0)  (1pm CBS)

Foles is the starting qb for the Bears moving forward. That being said, I think the Bears might just win this game.

Jaguars (1-2) @ Bengals (0-2-1) (1pm CBS)
I predict that Joe Burrow gets his first win in the NFL. I could be totally wrong, but I’m picking the Bengals for the win. 

Browns (2-1) @ Cowboys (1-2) (1pm FOX)
I’d love to see the Browns wallop the Cowboys but I don’t think that is going to happen, even though I hope it does. I’m picking the Cowboys to win this game. 

Saints (1-2) @ Lions (1-2) (1pm FOX)
I don’t think that the Lions will win 2 in a row. I’m picking the Saints to win this game.

Seahawks (3-0) @ Dolphins (1-2) (1pm FOX)
I’m picking the Seahawks to win this game. Russell Wilson is on fire!

Chargers (1-2) @ Buccaneers (2-1) (1pm CBS)
I think that the Bucs will win this game. Mostly because the rookie is going up against the vetran. I just hope Fournette has a huge game.

Ravens (2-1) @ Washington (1-2) (1pm CBS)
I’m pretty sure the Ravens won’t lose back to back games. I’m picking Baltimore for the win.

Cardinals (2-1) @ Panthers (1-2) (1pm FOX) 

I was surprised at the outcome of both teams in week 3. I am going to pick the Cardinals once again. Hopefully they won’t disappoint me this time.

Vikings (0-3) @ Texans (0-3) (1pm FOX)

I am going to pick the Texan to win their first game of the season. Especially if any of the Vikings test positive for Covid.

NY Giants (0-3) @ Rams (2-1) (4:05pm FOX)
HAH. I’m picking the Rams to win this game. 

Patriots (2-1) @ Chiefs (3-0) (4:25pm CBS )
I’m picking the Chiefs to win this game. I might have to pick up another defense, as I have both team’s defenses in fantasy…

Bills (3-0) @ Raiders (2-1) (4:25pm CBS)

I’m picking the Bills to win this game but wouldn’t be surprised if the Raiders broke their winning streak.

Eagle (0-2-1) @ 49ers (2-1) (8:20pm NBC)
I’m picking the 49ers to win this game but, really, who knows. 

Monday, October 5th

Falcons (0-3) @ Packers (3-0) (8:15pm ESPN)
The Falcons can’t keep a lead to save their lives. I’m picking the Packers to win this game.

BYE?

Steelers (3-0) @ Titans (3-0) 

This game has been postponed because of the positive cases in the Titans organization.

The simplest scenario for rescheduling is Week 7 on Oct. 25. That's the Titans' bye. Pittsburgh is scheduled to play at Baltimore that week, but both the Steelers and Ravens have byes in Week 8 allowing the NFL to make a change affecting only one other team.

GO GMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the edit Eric!