NFL Week 8 Picks , but first, M-E-T-S METS METS METS (and probably for the last time)

Ah, the New York Mets. My beloved professional baseball franchise. I tend to eschew the successful, well-run franchises. Too boring. I like the circus-like Jets, the bungling Knicks, and the ridiculous Mets. I understand that winning is fun (Syracuse basketball has given me my only consistent experience with that), but I like to root for the underdogs. Sports are fun for me in a whole different way. Do the Mets have the pedigree and somber arrogance of the New York Yankees? They do not. They don't have their 27 World Series titles either (ask any Yankees fan, they'll tell you)? No. But the Mets have Mr. Met, "Meet the Mets," the "we've got the teamwork to make the dreamwork," the Amazins and the Miracle Mets of 1986 and 1969, respectively, and a charming ballpark in Queens that is the antithesis of the dreary, cathedral-like block of granite over in the Bronx.

I chose the teams I chose for a reason, and this Mets run to the World Series has been a wild ride. Unexpected, weird, and fun - just like the Mets! So as the Mets play tonight in a desperate attempt to stop the Kansas City Royals from celebrating a World Series title at Citi Field, I raise a glass to - in the words of the immortal Steve Sommers of WFAN - the New York Metropolitans. Thanks for the pennant, fellas. Here's to hoping your former stadium mates the New York Jets can reach a Super Bowl in my lifetime and give me half as much enjoyment as you did this fall.



Live by the Murphy, die by the Murphy

I'm up against it time-wise, so it's time for some lightning round NFL predictions. Onto the football picks!

Thursday 10/29

Miami at New England

Ah, the Miami Dolphins "new coach" bump wore off, just in time, of course, for the Patriots game. Things always seem to work out just perfectly for the Patriots. Barf. That's why I picked them, though, although I thought it would be more competitive.

Patriots 31
Dolphins 21

Sunday 11/1

Detroit at "Kansas City" (London)

Happy November! I was way off on this one. I thought the Lions would win, after all the coaching staff changes. LOL, no. That did not happen. The Chiefs crushed them, but I had:

Lions 24
Chiefs 17

Tampa Bay at Atlanta

This is a game that the Falcons BETTER win. Can't afford to lose at home to the Bucs, yo.

Falcons 27
Buccaneers 17

Arizona at Cleveland

Cleveland is a mess.

Cardinals 31
Browns 20

San Francisco at St. Louis

Rams, I guess? Why not.

Rams 20
49ers 17

New York Giants at New Orleans

G-men! And for the LOVE OF GOD, ODELL BECKHAM, DO SOMETHING.

Giants 27
Saints 24

Minnesota at Chicago

Vikings vs. Bears in real life would have been a cool matchup to watch.

Vikings 27
Bears 20

San Diego at Baltimore

San...Diego? Maybe? This game should look like a Big 12 game, as neither team plays defense.

Chargers 38
Ravens 35

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh

It's the Bengals year, I BELIEVE! WHO DAT! (I hope that makes you happy, Eric Rogers!)

Bengals 30
Steelers 27

Tennessee at Houston

Who cares.

Texans 24
Titans 20

New York Jets at Oakland

This game will tell us a lot about both teams. Usually, those scenarios don't work out well for the Jets. We'll see.

Jets 28
Raiders 24

Seattle at Dallas

Is Tony Romo back yet? No? Oof.

Seahawks 31
Cowboys 27

Green Bay at Denver

Aaron Rodgers against the Denver defense is the matchup of the week.

Broncos 27
Packers 23

Monday 11/2

Indianapolis at Carolina

Panthers! They're fun. Cam Newton should get a chance to do that Clark Kent/Superman thing of his.

Panthers 34
Colts 24

Last week: 9-5
Season: 53-38