Steve Brownlee

Maybe in this election season — that MAY be over in five short days, or may have a long ways to go if some of the strange things that happened in 2020 happen again — we’re all getting too sensitive on one hand, too amped up on the other.

Watching the national sports TV shows earlier this week, they seemed to be on another level in their outrage and incredulousness, I think that last one is the correct word. This specifically relates to the NFL.

They couldn’t get over the Chicago Bears’ failure to protect against the Hail Mary pass play that ended their game against Washington, nor Indianapolis quarterback Anthony Richardson tapping out and asking to come out in the middle of another game because he was tired.

Let alone the Dallas Cowboys’ continued failures or the Baltimore Ravens’ new ones.

I actually hadn’t heard what happened in any of these games, except the final scores, until the morning after as I was paying attention to putting our Monday sports section together during almost the entire length of Sunday’s games.

With the Chicago-Washington game, I had to applaud what the Commanders pulled off rather than dwelling on the Bears’ failure, considering when I watch a number of those Hail Marys, it looks like the team trying to pull it off has a chance to, except a player isn’t quite in the right place at the right exact moment to do so.

I don’t want to let Chicago cornerback Tyrique Stevenson off the hook for his celebrating in the middle of the play, but I just shake my head at him when he assumed the game is over when it obviously wasn’t.

I have a lot bigger problem with ball carriers heading toward the end zone when there is no one close to them, and then they try to time dropping the ball just as they reach the goal line. Often, they do it too early and lose the fumble and give away their team’s certain score.

Now THAT’S completely hot dogging it and only for your own benefit and drawing attention to yourself.

Stevenson should be taught a lesson to play to the whistle and all that jazz.

Anyway, my rant isn’t about the plays themselves, but the national media — which I’ve decided is really just the New York media masquerading as the national media — having such an over-the-top reaction in this hyped-up emotionally charged national situation we’re in with next week’s election.

I can only hope it dies down quickly after Tuesday.

Now onto this week’s picks, with San Francisco and Pittsburgh enjoying just about perfectly timed byes at the exact midpoint of the season — after this week, Week 9, we have another nine weeks to go before we conclude the regular season with Week 18:

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Today, 8:15 p.m.

Houston at New York Jets — This seems like a pretty good game, the Jets pulling themselves off the mat when now it’s essentially too late to make a difference. And Houston has been kind of stumbling around, playing well sometimes and not so at others. Still, give me the Texans, 27-23.

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Sunday, 1 p.m.

Dallas at Atlanta — For me, the Cowboys have gone into “prove it to me” mode — until they show some life, I’m picking against them against everyone but Carolina. And Atlanta ain’t close to Carolina. Falcons, 30-19.

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Denver at Baltimore — This game tests my “reverse momentum” theory that you do better following a loss, since the Ravens were unceremoniously knocked off by division rival — but still lightly regarded — Cleveland last week.

Baltimore should be mad, they should be concerned, and maybe most importantly, they should be focused on the task at hand, getting back in the AFC North race as they return home. Ravens, 35-24.

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Miami at Buffalo — Sure, the Dolphins should be better with Tua Tagovailoa at QB, but Buffalo has turned into a real buzzsaw, I can imagine even moreso at home. Bills, 31-26.

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New Orleans at Carolina — As bad as New Orleans has shown out lately, this IS Carolina on the other side of the ball. Saints, 23-17.

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Las Vegas at Cincinnati — If Vegas was playing a mediocre team in the NFC, I’d consider taking them. But coming east to play another AFC team that is trying to get its act together, give me the Bengals, 27-24.

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Los Angeles Chargers at Cleveland — I don’t trust Browns backup QB Jameis Winston against Jim Harbaugh’s defense. Chargers, 20-13.

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Washington at New York Giants — Remember in the lead-up before QB Jayden Daniels threw that successful Hail Mary to win it for Washington, his playing status was anywhere from questionable to doubtful for the game due to a rib injury?

I couldn’t find anything online about his ribs after the Hail Mary, so I’ll read that as he’s as miraculously cured as his pass was miraculous. Commanders, 29-20.

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New England at Tennessee — Well, since it only took the Lions 225 yards of offense to roll up 52 points, can you imagine what a regular offensive showing would’ve done? It’s that kind of thinking that gets me in trouble with these predictions.

Instead, what I’m thinking after careening all over the place reacting to what happens one week totally affecting the next, is that Tennessee won’t let it happen again. And the Patriots are the perfect team to try that out on. Titans, 27-23.

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Sunday, 4 p.m.

Chicago at Arizona — The Bears, the poor Bears. Yeah, except they’re in the NFC North, so it’s always good when they lose one like this, purely for us Lions and Packers fans’ benefit.

Normally, I think the “reverse mo” gives Chicago a lift, but one thing seems to be true with Bears’ head coach Matt Eberflus — he often DOESN’T dot his I’s and cross his T’s. So the Fail Hail Mary could linger. Cardinals, 24-19.

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Detroit at Green Bay — You had to read this far just to find out what I think about this game? That’s what happens when possibly the two best teams in the NFC get scheduled in the late afternoon window on Sunday.

With both teams racking up serious injures — or a suspension in the case of Detroit receiver Jameson Williams — they’ve still been playing pretty well.

But a QB injury ramps it up on Green Bay’s side. Yes, Malik Willis has looked good, but he’s done it against the dregs of the AFC South, and there’s plenty of those kind of teams around once you look past Houston.

But nobody’s like that in the NFC North.

Even if Jordan Love plays, will he be 100%? I just gotta go Lions, 33-28.

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Los Angeles Rams at Seattle — The Rams proved how good their offense can be when they have QB Matthew Stafford AND receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nucua at full strength. But I don’t like picking against Seattle at their home, however, their defense has looked quite leaky some weeks, so it’s the Rams, 39-34.

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Jacksonville at Philadelphia — This game was flexed out of Sunday night, a good thing with the barely competitive Jaguars going on the road. “The road” doesn’t count as London for Jacksonville since they play well there, but heck, this week’s road trip is to where the Declaration of Independence was signed to fight off the British. Eagles, 36-23.

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Sunday, 8:20 p.m.

Indianapolis at Minnesota — Then they go and replace the Sunday night game with THIS matchup? I guess Indy presents an intriguing story with their “rookie” QB Richardson — he’s played less than a season’s worth of games due to injuries — getting benched after his “tired” post-game comment from Sunday.

Minnesota catches a break after losing twice in five days over the last two weeks. Vikings, 42-27.

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Monday, 8:15 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Kansas City — Bucs’ QB Baker Mayfield has been a feel-good story of the underdog coming through in the face of adversity. But really, stand him next to the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and what do you see? Ah, not something pretty by the time KC’s defense gets done with a Bucs’ offense lacking almost all of their decent receivers. Chiefs, 24-13.

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Last week — 11-5, 69 percent. Season — 76-47, 62 percent.

Steve Brownlee can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 552. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.