Cassie Delivers A Strong Effort, NFL 2024 Heads To Week Five

The 2024 NFL Season Prepares To Cross The Quarter-Mark During Week Five.  Cassie Dominated The Selections In Week Four, With One Game Now Separating Her From Penny And Bob (And First Place).

Four Weeks Are Complete, And The Dogs Have Had The Best Record In Three Of Them.  Will The Information Available On Teams To This Point Assist Bob?  Or Will The Dogs And Their Games Win For The Fourth Straight Week?  The Odds Are Out, The NFL Teams Preparing To Play, And The Competitors Have Made Their Picks.

The cliched expression encourages individuals to go big.  In week four of the NFL selections, Cassie put in picks that included Chicago, Indianapolis, Denver, and Jacksonville.  She went big and hit on most of them.  One game now separates her from a tie at the top, where Penny and I both have 34 correct selections on the year.

Here’s a bit of perspective on the results to date as September ends.  When a gambler makes wagers against the point spread at the usual $110 to win $100 rate, that person must win 52.4% of the time to break even.  Cassie has the low score so far, with a 54.6% success rate.  Hypothetically—of course—the dogs are winning money this season.

Week Four:

Bob: 9-7

Penny: 9-7

Cassie: 11-5

The Year To Date:

Bob: 34-26-4

Penny: 34-26-4

Cassie 33-27-4

Penny and Cassie went out for a well-earned treat after week four's results.

Here are this week’s games:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers At Atlanta Falcons (-1.5)

Tampa Bay is in a very interesting position right now.  As the season nears the quarter-pole, their victories against Washington and Detroit look more impressive.  With the Broncos defeating the Jets last Sunday, the loss to Denver still hurts but isn’t nearly as horrendous.

Atlanta is difficult to judge.  The results feel a bit mediocre, with a 2-2 record supporting that generalization.  They haven’t offered an impressive complete game at any point this season.  What they have played is four teams that include two division leaders and no one with a losing record.  It’s not a bad record, but it isn’t nearly as impressive as the preseason hype suggested it might be.

All Tampa Bay has done is methodically arrive week after week, play the opponent that takes the field, and win three out of four times.  Atlanta is about to play their fourth home game of the season.  While the lack of travel so far should serve them well heading into this game on a short week, keep that in mind later on in the year when the hotel reward points start adding up.

In this game, take the team that has been consistent and reliable.

Bob: Tampa Bay

Penny: Atlanta

Cassie: Tampa Bay

New York (Jets) At Minnesota Vikings (-2.5)

Before the season began, many wondered if the Vikings could survive losing J.J. McCarthy.  McCarthy was coming in as a rookie, and set to replace Kirk Cousins following the latter’s departure for Atlanta.  The team had a decent roster to put in place around McCarthy though, with several weapons such as Justin Jefferson, and appeared to be satisfied with his place as the top option at quarterback.

McCarthy’s injury led to Sam Darnold taking over the quarterbacking duties.  He hasn’t been spectacular, even with four touchdown passes last week, but Darnold isn’t being asked for spectacular.  He’s being asked for ball control and consistency.  The Vikings are 4-0 and enter this game on a run of victories over the 49ers, Texans, and Packers.  Darnold is doing just fine.

The Jets are stumbling into this contest.  A loss to the Broncos last week, coupled with a knee injury for Aaron Rodgers, brings the team in at 2-2 and looking to stabilize their situation.  After New York was shut down by the Denver defense, they’ll face a Minnesota unit that held the explosive Houston offense to just 7 points.

Bob: Minnesota

Penny: New York

Cassie: Minnesota

Carolina Panthers At Chicago Bears (-4)

It’s the Chicago defense.

If you want an answer that explains how the Bears are 2-2 with some absolutely miserable offensive showings, that answer is their defense.  Caleb Williams, the rookie with no shortage of coverage and praise, has thrown for significant yardage in just one game.  That was 363 yards in a 21-16 loss against Indianapolis.  He has three touchdowns and four interceptions on the year.  Against Carolina, he will also be facing one of the worst defenses in the NFL.

The Panthers have played some feisty football with Andy Dalton leading the offense.  The Bears have a solid passing defense, but this game has every appearance of an opportunity for the Panthers to earn a win.

Bob: Carolina

Penny: Chicago

Cassie: Carolina

Baltimore Ravens (-2.5) At Cincinnati Bengals

Baltimore finally looked like the team that they were expected to be this season as they beat up on Buffalo last week.  It was a brash, physical, unapologetic, and not at-all pretty but quite dominating 35-10 victory.  Derrick Henry looks outstanding so far this season, as he ran for 111 yards in that game, and is averaging 120 yards per game so far on the year.

Divisional contests between these two teams, with each going 3-3 over the past three seasons, tend to be extremely close or significant blowouts.  I’d like to think good offensive performances the past two weeks are indications that the Bengals are settling down and playing better.  I’d like to think that, but I’m not confident in wagering on it.  I’m more inclined to believe that the Ravens will continue to demonstrate a swagger as their confidence strengthens.

Bob: Baltimore

Penny: Baltimore

Cassie: Baltimore

Buffalo Bills (-1) At Houston Texans

Houston is a team that is confusing me.  Nico Collins isn’t just blowing away other receivers in the league this season, he’s lapping them.  After four games, rookie sensation Malik Nabers of the Giants has gained 386 yards in receptions for second place in the league for reception yardage.  The leader, Collins, has 489 yards.  That’s more than 100 yards better than anyone else in the NFL, on a roster where C. J. Stroud is trying to keep Stefon Diggs happy and also has Tank Dell as an option.

The confusion is caused by how the Texans, even at 3-1, haven’t won any of the games convincingly.  Plus, Houston was pounded by Minnesota in week three.

The answer may be very simple.  Good teams win games, even when they don’t look good doing it.  Buffalo has the ability to make a similar claim when it comes to winning week-by-week and moving on, but last week’s loss to Baltimore will definitely have left a mark felt in this contest.

Bob: Houston

Penny: Houston

Cassie: Buffalo

Indianapolis Colts At Jacksonville Jaguars (-3)

Do you think Bill Belichick would coach the Jaguars in 2025?  I think Belichick would coach the Jaguars.  That’s just a thought.  Whether he would or wouldn’t coach the team won’t matter if Jacksonville can turn things around, starting with a win this week.

Bob: Indianapolis

Penny: Indianapolis

Cassie: Indianapolis

Miami Dolphins At New England Patriots (-1)

This has all the appearances of a fantastic week for the Patriots to bring out Drake Maye.  The Dolphins are spiraling the drain, with a season on the verge of being lost and a clubhouse that seems devoid of any leadership.

Don’t rush to the betting windows with wagers on the Patriots just yet.  New England has one of the worst offensive lines in the league, and now David Andrews is facing shoulder surgery that will likely end his season.

Tyler Huntley will be starting at quarterback for Miami.  New England is putting one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL on the field, and Huntley has been in situations where he needed to lead a strong team after the loss of the starting quarterback.  His career stats may not be impressive on paper, Huntley has won these exact types of games several times before.

Bob: Miami

Penny: Miami

Cassie: Miami

Penny and Cassie may look adorable. Don't fall for the looks, these two are all business when it comes to these games.

Cleveland Browns At Washington Commanders (-3)

Jayden Daniels is looking stronger and more confident every game.  The Washington Commanders are looking stronger and more confident every game.  Next week should be an amazing matchup, with Daniels and the Commanders taking on Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.  This week, the Commanders need to address the opponent on the field and dispatch a Browns team they should defeat.

Bob: Washington

Penny: Washington

Cassie: Cleveland

Las Vegas Raiders At Denver Broncos (-3)

Maxx Crosby is saying he’s going to play.  I thought I’d add that in since my big observation about this game involves Bo Nix.  The Broncos team has delivered two huge wins, defeating the Buccaneers and Jets.  They are 2-2 for the season, with Nix throwing 1 touchdown and 4 interceptions while averaging 165 yards passing per game.

Las Vegas may or may not have Crosby in this game.  The conversations about everything else indicate a fire sale may be about to take place, and that cannot be good for a locker room that just three weeks ago was celebrating a win over Baltimore and actually enters this contest coming off of a win.

Bob: Denver

Penny: Denver

Cassie: Las Vegas

Arizona Cardinals At San Francisco 49ers (-7.5)

Arizona is 1-3 on the year, and the offense has sputtered in the two most recent losses.  Kyler Murray has been all over the place with his consistency.  He hasn’t been horrible, with a good overall completion percentage and only 1 interception against his 6 touchdown passes.  In those two losses, however, he’s averaged just 175 yards in the air.  Murray is not delivering performances worthy of a difference-maker label.

On the other sideline, Brock Purdy is around 300 yards per game over his past three contests, even with a rotating cast of players around him due to injuries.  Jordan Mason is doing an outstanding job this season on the ground.

This is another important game for the 49ers, as they look to take care of business while sorting out a roster thinned at several positions due to health issues.  That approach should result in a no-nonsense performance and a solid win.

Bob: San Francisco

Penny: Arizona

Cassie: San Francisco

Green Bay Packers (-3.5) At Los Angeles (Rams)

Jordan Love was brilliantly awful against the Vikings in week four.  His first game back following a week one injury, Love contributed 389 yards passing and 4 touchdowns.  He also had 3 interceptions while completing less than 60 percent of his throws.  It’s worth allowing him a mulligan on the lower end of things and expecting an improved level of accuracy and ball control this week.

The Rams are having issues in all areas this season.  They scored a surprise victory over the 49ers in week three, but have otherwise shown every bit of the weaknesses you would expect from a roster missing important names at all positions due to significant injuries.

Bob: Green Bay

Penny: Green Bay

Cassie: Los Angeles

New York (Giants) At Seattle Seahawks (-6)

My best wishes to Malik Nabers, as he recovers from a concussion.  While it remains to be seen if he will be cleared to play in this game, practice has begun without him participating.  Seattle is good.  New York is not.  The best player for the Giants may not play.

Bob: Seattle

Penny: New York

Cassie: Seattle

Dallas Cowboys At Pittsburgh Steelers (-2.5)

Micah Parsons is hurt.  DeMarcus Lawrence is hurt.  The Cowboys do not play nearly as good on the road during Dak Prescott’s career, with Prescott’s stats dropping (and in some areas, such as touchdown to turnover ratio, dropping significantly).  Now, reports are coming out that wide receiver Brandin Cooks will miss this week’s game.

Bob: Pittsburgh

Penny: Dallas

Cassie: Pittsburgh

New Orleans Saints At Kansas City Chiefs (-5)

Kansas City is not delivering perfectly tuned offensive performances this season.  The area that is carrying them along is a strong defense.  New Orleans has cooled off from the blistering first two games.

Bob: Kansas City

Penny: Kansas City

Cassie: Kansas City

Odds sourced from USA Today

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