Steve Brownlee

I just got to thinking after this past weekend’s games that bring us almost to the midpoint of the NFL regular season.

We’re all in awe of the splendor of some teams, and I suppose you’d call it awe of the NON-splendor of some others.

So when we get around playoff time looking back at some of these teams’ seasons, we’ll be saying something like, “Wow, those Tarantulas (not a real team to protect everyone’s identity) really took off right about midseason when they beat the Fighting Artichokes in Week 8. They weren’t doing anything up until then.”

Or the opposite: “Those Flying Gnats sure looked good until they ran into the Bram Stokers right around Week 7.”

This will be that time we’re thinking of about two or 2 1/2 months from now.

So will the talk be about the New York Jets really turning the corner after they acquired former Packer Davante Adams to work with former Packer Aaron Rodgers and former Packer Allen Lazard and former Packer coach Nathaniel Hackett? I’m sure you Green Bay fans out there are hoping that’s NOT the case.

Or will the talk be about Cincinnati coming back from a losing record (3-4 right now) to win the AFC North and get a first-round playoff bye? Or San Francisco — which is also 3-4 — doing the same in its division?

Or will more talk center around flops that could happen to Minnesota? Or to Detroit? Or to Green Bay? Or heck, all three of them with the Bears winning the NFC North?

Well, that would be quite a story, though a sob story in our neck of the woods.

That would take some pretty good predicting if anyone wants to take that on. Not me, I can barely tell you what’s going to happen tonight, or this coming Sunday.

But I’ll try anyway, with a full slate — no byes — this week:

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Today, 8:15 p.m.

Minnesota at Los Angeles Rams — With the talk this week being about the Rams selling off some of their important parts, like receiver Cooper Kupp, it makes an easy pick even easier as far as I’m concerned. Vikings, 33-20.

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Sunday, 1 p.m.

Baltimore at Cleveland — This one got tougher to pick now that Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson was knocked out for the season with his torn Achilles last weekend. Apparently, Jameis Winston — he of the famous 30-touchdown, 30-interception season a few years ago in Tampa Bay — will start in his place. But does it really matter against a turbocharged Baltimore team? Ravens, 34-24.

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Tennessee at Detroit — A trap game if there ever was one, though I’ll be saying the same about the next four picks here too. Sure, Detroit will probably make this closer than they should after the emotional win at Minnesota last Sunday. But still, give me the Lions, 31-27.

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Indianapolis at Houston — Houston returns home licking its wounds after losing on the final play in Green Bay. Indy would seem like prime fodder. Texans, 29-20.

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Green Bay at Jacksonville — Somehow, Florida will seem like foreign territory to the Jaguars after spending the past two weeks in foggy Londontown. At least that’s what the Packer fan in me (he’s buried DEEP!) would say.

On an interesting side note, while looking up another game, this headline popped up: “Robert Saleh spotted at Packers practice weeks after Jets firing” from the New York Post. Hmm, well, he is buddies with Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur, in fact I think the Northern Michigan University graduate was in LaFleur’s wedding however long ago that was.

Anyway, getting back to business, I’ve got to go with the Packers, 39-26.

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Arizona at Miami — Things are going good for the Cardinals when they have to worry about looking past someone, especially when they’re on the road. But that might be the case after Arizona dropped the Chargers on Monday night. The Dolphins, meanwhile, just brought in veteran backup C.J. Beathard to make it five QBs on their roster, including the eligible-to-be-reinstated Tua Tagovailoa, who I hope they don’t rush back. Cardinals, 27-23.

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New York Jets at New England — Optimism apparently is a never-ending resource for the Jets, who seem to be a classic case of the sum being a whole lot less than the parts they’re made of. Still, this is the Patriots they’re facing. Jets, 24-22.

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Atlanta at Tampa Bay — Who looked less impressive in home losses last week? The Bucs falling while giving up 41 points to Baltimore or the Falcons while getting trounced by 20 to Seattle? As good as the Ravens are, I’ll give the unimpressiveness award to Atlanta. So it’s the Buccaneers, 28-24.

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Chicago at Washington — This quote from Adam Schefter, via a story by Steve Samra of the on3.com website, I think a TV station somewhere: “So they were glad that his mother tweeted out that he was fine, when they’re waiting to hear how he’s actually doing.”

That was on Monday and it was about Washington QB Jayden Daniels and the rib injury that knocked him out of the Commanders’ 40-7 blowout of lowly Carolina on Sunday. Apparently he didn’t practice Wednesday, so mom might’ve been a bit premature.

In this matchup of the top two picks in April’s draft, I’ll take the certainty. Bears, 23-19.

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Sunday, 4 p.m.

New Orleans at Los Angeles Chargers — The Saints are turning into a dumpster — oh, excuse me, that’s supposed to be a capital-d “Dumpster” as it’s a registered brand — fire ever since QB Derek Carr went down, including a home 33-10 loss to Denver last Thursday. Chargers, 29-19.

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Buffalo at Seattle — I like Buffalo here, even on a cross-country road trip, and that was before they picked up top receiver Amari Cooper in a trade with the Browns. Bills, 37-30.

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Philadelphia at Cincinnati — I really don’t feel comfortable taking either one of these teams, as each seems to have gaping holes, at least compared to the expectations for them. Sports Illustrated’s betting website at si.com made the point that Philly with top back Saquon Barkley could take advantage of the Bengals’ 30th-ranked rushing defense, so I’ll hold my nose and take the Eagles, 26-23.

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Carolina at Denver — In celebration of Halloween, I’ll wait for the reanimation of the Carolina corpse before I go out and ever pick the Panthers against anybody. Broncos, 37-26.

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Kansas City at Las Vegas — Familiarity probably breeds contempt for both of these teams, the Chiefs not thinking highly of Vegas and the Raiders tired of always having to look up at KC. Probably closer than it should be in a divisional rivalry, Chiefs, 31-29.

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Sunday, 8:20 p.m.

Dallas at San Francisco — Not only is this a traditional powerhouse matchup, I think most of us thought it would be still be one this season back around Labor Day. Not anymore. Now it’s the bad San Francisco team vs. the worse Cowboys. Which should bring glee to all of us NFC North fans.

With the way the 49ers don’t mind running the ball, this should be a slam dunk vs. the awful Dallas run defense. But despite the depleted San Fran team disappointing us on more than one occasion this season, I’ll take the 49ers, 27-22.

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Monday, 8:15 p.m.

New York Giants at Pittsburgh — Whoever was making the NFL season schedule last summer must’ve been an overly optimistic Giants fan to think this game would be any good. Steelers, 33-19.

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Last week — 11-4, 73 percent. Season — 65-42, 61 percent.

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