Steve Brownlee

By STEVE BROWNLEE

Journal Sports Editor

In flipping around on TV to various sporting events, I sometimes catch when soccer teams come out onto the field before their games.

If you’ve also seen that, have you ever noticed how the players and coaches from both teams come out of the same entrance, and also, that they’re all coming out with children, hand in hand?

When I saw that years ago, I thought that was an adorable way to make these big, strong athletes — well, not compared to American football players — look a little more human.

Now, though, I’ve realized that it’s something they do before just about every single match of any importance on TV.

I was thinking, why do they do that? And why haven’t I seen any U.S. sporting teams trying it?

As I thought about it, I figured it was a public relations move, which some searches on the internet seem to agree with.

Makes them seem warm and cuddly, or family friendly, something to that effect.

Others said it keeps the hooligans in the home crowd — we’re talking Europe for this — from throwing rocks or fireworks or stuff like that at the opposition.

But if that was the reason, for that to work wouldn’t the opposing players have to be escorted throughout the match all around the pitch with a small child, maybe he or she riding on his shoulders?

Not practical, not possible.

I already had a different thought closer to that last theory, and it was that since the two opposing sides are coming out of the same entrance, there’s a decent chance there could be some antagonism between them.

Could you see a big fight break out, a la the Michigan-Michigan State postgame football fight in the Wolverines’ tunnel a few years ago?

Having small children — we’re often talking 4-, 5- and 6-year-olds — would keep these soccer players at bay until they start fouling each other mercilessly, or at least faking that they’re doing that to each other.

I have absolutely zero evidence that this is the case, but with all the faking and spitting and shorts being pulled down in some of these overseas matches, it doesn’t seem that cynical to think that’s what’s going on.

OK, now onto the golden sunshiny glow we always get from the perfect-acting players in the NFL:

Today, 8:15 p.m.

Buffalo at Houston — Hmm, the Bills showed some life last week after going into a tailspin, while the Texans without starting quarterback C.J. Stroud have won back-to-back games with Davis Mills under center. A closer look shows those Houston wins were over Jacksonville and Tennessee by a total of 10 points. Those Texans opponents in no way resemble this Buffalo unit. Bills, 30-24.

Sunday, 1 p.m.

Indianapolis at Kansas City — One pundit I heard this week said this should’ve been a prime time game or at least a 4 p.m. Sunday game, but looking at some of the matchups in those time slots (we’ll see later), this game has to “put up” with being the premiere early-afternoon game.

The Chiefs keep letting down all those who think they’ll rise up as Super Bowl contenders again, and since I don’t want to get stuck on that sinking ship, give me the Colts, 23-19.

Minnesota at Green Bay — I’m not liking how either of these teams is trending, but the Vikings look more troubling, and that’s even before taking into account this game is being played at Lambeau Field. Packers, 21-17.

New York Giants at Detroit — With the Lions joining the Packers and the Vikings as losers of two of their last three games, they’ve all let the Bears — winners of seven of their past eight — take over the top spot in the NFC North.

It’s about time to put a stop to that, and the Giants seem a perfect foil for Detroit, especially at Ford Field. Lions, 33-22.

New York Jets at Baltimore — The Jets are one of those rejuvenated squads. But I doubt a Ravens team with renewed purpose — they’ve won four in a row since starting 1-5 — is going to let a pretender elbow in on their mission. Ravens, 28-20.

New England at Cincinnati — Speaking of teams with a purpose, New England knows with Buffalo finding its footing again, they better win every time out that they can with a two-game lead in the AFC East. Patriots, 34-23.

Pittsburgh at Chicago — A closer look at the Bears’ winning streak shows that in their last eight games, they’ve played exactly zero teams currently with a winning record, the closest to that achievement being the Ravens at 5-5 — and Chicago lost to them by two touchdowns.

But the Steelers haven’t won away from home since they took down Minnesota — in Dublin, Ireland — on Sept. 28. Without Pittsburgh having Aaron Rodgers, as he’s suffering from a rusty elbow or something like that, I’ll take a big swallow and take the Bears, 24-23.

Seattle at Tennessee — Seattle QB Sam Darnold can’t handle any pressure in the pocket, and while the Titans are supposed to have a really good defense, it might only take two TDs to win this game. Seahawks, 16-13.

Sunday, 4 p.m.

Cleveland at Las Vegas — This is an elimination game — for the No. 1 draft pick next April. Each of these teams are among the five in the league with two wins, all “trailing” 1-9 Tennessee. I have less confidence in the tanking abilities of the Browns, 22-17.

Jacksonville at Arizona — Until the last two weeks, when Arizona gave up more than 40 points to both the 49ers and Seahawks, the Cardinals hadn’t lost any game by more than a TD. Back to that form. Jaguars, 27-25.

Atlanta at New Orleans — With QB Michael Penix Jr. out for the season for Atlanta, this is actually a great time for Kirk Cousins to jump into the fray, going up against the worst the NFC can offer. Falcons, 26-17.

Philadelphia at Dallas — This is the sexier matchup than Colts-Chiefs, since everyone in the media likes the Cowboys playing the defending Super Bowl winners, in a divisional matchup to boot. I saw that Dallas is supposed to have a 42% chance of winning this. I think 4.2% is a closer approximation. Eagles, 29-20.

Sunday, 8:20 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Los Angeles Rams — This game lost a little luster with the Buccaneers’ recent losses to Buffalo at New England, but hey, earlier in the season Tampa beat the Rams’ fellow NFC West powerhouses Seattle and San Fran in consecutive weeks. They need to go back in time for this one, and time machines just aren’t in heavy production right now. Rams, 34-26.

Monday, 8:15 p.m.

Carolina at San Francisco — I commented here last week on the Panthers being a Jekyll-and-Hyde team, so not knowing what they’ll do, I’ll pick looking at what San Fran at 7-4 should do just playing any ol’ random team. That makes it 49ers, 27-23.

Last week — 9-6, 60%. Season — 92-71, 56%.

Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.