Schein 9 NFL Week 10:

We are halfway through the NFL season, and there are so many questions. NFC West winner? MVP favorite? Why does Jordan Love insist on throwing pick 6s?

The NFL is the ultimate reality show and the trade deadline added drama.

 

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Here are our midweek musings, Schein 9 style. 

1. Steel City

Steelers fans need to be jumping for joy. Omar Khan made a couple of really good trade deadline moves at areas of weakness, getting receiver Mike Williams from the Jets and pass rusher Preston Smith from the Packers. Williams, available after the Jets great trade for Davante Adams, instantly becomes the second-most talented receiver on the Steelers behind George Pickens. Williams has 60 contested catches since 2020, fourth most in the NFL in that time frame. Smith has experience, talent, and savvy that makes TJ Watt and the Steelers defense much more dangerous. Smith is one of 11 players to have eight or more sacks in each of the last three seasons. He’s so solid and a big upgrade. I have been reluctant to believe in the Steelers this year. Heck, I still think the Ravens win the division. And I’m going to bet the Commanders against Pittsburgh with Washington at 7-2 and fresh off of getting lock-down corner Marshon Lattimore in a fantastic trade from the Saints. But now we can officially talk about the Steelers as a legit playoff team and having the ability to navigate a truly tough schedule in the second half. Great job by the organization going for it.

2. Big D, Big Disaster

The Cowboys are dead. They were dead on Sunday when they lost against the Falcons. They were dead when Dak Prescott injured his hamstring. They were truly deader than dead when Jerry Jones said Tuesday the injury was worse than originally feared and the Cowboys would likely place Prescott on IR, making it Cooper Rush’s football team. And then, to truly add insult to injury, Jones inexplicably traded a valued fourth-round pick to the Carolina Panthers for second year receiver Jonathan Mingo. This cannot happen. Now, I liked Mingo out of college. But this year, he has 12 catches for 121 yards. That’s a CeeDee Lamb game. And he has the second-worst reception percentage (49.5%) among qualified receivers. And Mingo has never scored a touchdown. Amateur hour. So the Ravens gave up less to get Diontae Johnson. You can’t make that up. This is the same Jerry Jones who traded a 4th rounder for Trey Lance. 

These are the kind of draft picks you use to improve the run game and the defense. It’s a shame. Dallas is the biggest loser at the deadline.

3. Commanding Attention 

With the Washington trade for Lattimore, and the constant follies from Nick Siranni coaching the Eagles, I think Washington is the favorite to win the NFC East. I love this trade so much for the Commanders. Lattimore is a glove. Consider this year Marshon Lattimore’s stats of quarterbacks throwing 8/16 for 83 yds while allowing zero TD allowed as primary defender in coverage this season. And this is the ultimate upgrade. The Commanders have allowed nine pass TD with zero interceptions outside numbers this season. That’s the most touchdowns without a pick of any team. I’m so happy for the long suffering Washington fans, who had their joy zapped by Daniel Snyder for all of those years. New owner, new head coach, young star quarterback, and a deal to send a jolt? This is simply sensational. And wait until they beat the Steelers.

4. Joe Knows

The Bengals torched the Raiders in Week 9 with Joe Burrow throwing for five touchdowns. It was a vintage performance without Tee Higgins to give Cincy its first win at home all year. Now, with Higgins availability still very much in doubt, Burrow and the Bengals get a step up in class against the Ravens in a monster division game. I think the Bengals defense doesn’t have a prayer against the historic combination of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. But this is a monster game for the Bengals with the losses to inferior teams. Winning in Baltimore is always tough. But I just don’t see Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase going down without a fight. And they have terrific matchups in the passing attack against the Ravens defense. I’ll grab the 6 1/2 with Cincy.

5. Ball Don’t Lion

I know the Chiefs are undefeated but on the eyeball test the Lions are No. 1 on our power ranking. And I’m obsessed with the trade for Za’Darius Smith. This was the player we said the Lions would trade for when Aidan Hutchinson went down. Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby weren’t realistic. I would like Jennifer Aniston to call me back. Won’t happen. Hutchinson is irreplaceable. But Smith upgrades the current pass rush big time. It’s not hyperbole to believe this gets the Lions to their first ever Super Bowl to compliment their unreal talent, balance, coaching, attitude. And I wouldn’t be surprised to see Z make an immediate impact against the Texans and their shaky offensive line. I’ll take the Lions laying the 3.5 in Houston.

6. LA Story

Can both the Rams and Chargers make the playoffs? Well, yes. Jim Harbaugh’s team backed up my claim they were the best bet of week 9. Justin Herbert is back. JK Dobbins had shades of Trevor Hoffman closing the game. The Chargers pass defense is special. They take another step forward and cover the 7.5-point spread in Tennessee. A Harbaugh team doesn’t take a team lightly or worry about a trap game with Week 11’s showdown with Joe Burrow flexed to Sunday Night Football.

When you are in the NFC West, every game matters. Matthew Stafford’s rocket to Demarcus Robinson for the win was special. The Rams are significantly better than Miami. And significantly better-coached. Miami played Buffalo as well as could possibly be… and lost. It’s over. Rams make another loud statement and cover the minuscule 2 ½-point spread.

7. Bass Kicking

The Bills didn’t cover, but beat Miami on a 61-yard bomb Tyler Bass kick. That’s the kind of game Buffalo historically loses. Monster sign. The Week 11 game at home against the Chiefs looms as massive to the standings, seeding, confidence in the playoffs, Josh Allen’s MVP chances (I have him currently second behind Lamar). Now, don’t overlook the Colts. Indy, as we’ve been saying forever on VSiN, did the right thing benching Anthony Richardson. Of course Joe Flacco then played his most pedestrian game in Minnesota. Still the right and only move. I expect the Colts to play better against the Bills defense. In theory this is a tricky trap spot. But Allen should light up the Colts defense. I like the Bills -4.

8. Viking Quest

The Vikings got off the schneid and used a terrific second half to comfortably beat the Colts. Sam Darnold was excellent and Justin Jefferson was unstoppable. Brian Flores’ defense flew around. Which is why I keep staring at the spread for the Jags and Vikings. Minnesota by 4. I know the Jags covered against the Eagles. We bet it. So much was aided by Siranni’s ineptitude. I love the Vikings on Sunday.

9. “Buc You”

I simply cannot believe that Todd Bowles didn’t go for the 2-point conversion at the end of regulation. Baker Mayfield, the running backs, the offensive line, Cade Otton deserved so much more and better. You cannot leave it to chance of the flip of the coin to start over time in KC. This should’ve been an easy call. The shorthanded Bucs were stunningly moving the ball brilliantly all night long. Just brutal. And to have this kind of effort without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin wasted, that’s a wrap on the Bucs season, let down by their head coach in a big spot.

Niners are only favored by 5.5 in Tampa. Christian McCaffrey is practicing and en route to making his 2024 season debut, which changes everything for the Niners in a great way. I think the Niners, after the bye, get a huge CMC boost and cover the spread.

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