I can’t tell if Wolf Like Me by TV on the Radio is low-key, high-key, or high-key, low-key, one of my favorite tunes. Either way, I’ve always thought it was criminally underrated. The song came out in February of ‘06 and although it might not have shot all the way up the charts on Billboard Hot 100s, it landed #74 on Rolling Stone’s 100 Best Songs of the 2000s. TV on the Radio was formed in Brooklyn, NY in ‘01 and this is considered their signature song.
Okay so I had to look up say, say my playmate, it’s one of those clapping games kids play like Pat-A-Cake. To play the game you need to play with somebody else and you have to mirror each other’s movements. A malady is a disease or disorder, in the case of this song, the protagonist is a wolf (werewolf).
Becoming a werewolf only happened at night, full moon, you know the deal.
The protagonist and the playmate could steal a car but he’d end up infecting her making her a werewolf too. I think that’s how it works. This could also be a homage to Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
The chorus is about the transformation that happens when the moon is full.
Sidenote: Part of the reason I love the music portion intros is that I’m an idiot who loves songs but doesn’t really think about what the lyrics mean until the song is on in the background for Week to Week Notes.
Alright, so I should cut to the chase, the whole werewolf aspect is used as a metaphor for corrupting someone else. A mongrel is another name for a mixed breed dog, or what I’d refer to as a mutt.
The protagonist knows she has the killer instinct in her too. I don’t think he’s calling her ugly, just that he can relate to her.
I have no idea where or when I first heard this song. It was on in the background of a bunch of shows and movies in the 2000s such as Friday Night Lights, One Tree Hill, and Never Back Down, so I’m guessing one of those.
I love it when a song starts fast, has a slow bridge, and then picks up again. In that respect, there’s really not too many better than Wolf Like Me. Why it’s one of my favorites.
So in Verse 1, the guy was asking her if she wanted to be a werewolf. By verse 3, the deed is done, they already, ya know…
Writhing under your riding hood is a Little Red Riding Hood reference, but in this version of that story, Little Red Riding Hood ends up with the Wolf.
It’s okay, I don’t expect any bonus points from the connection with Hungry Like The Wolf from Wednesday…
Perfect outro for a song called Wolf Like Me. I never really gave much thought to the meaning behind the lyrics, just always thought the tempo was awesome.
Great tune, on to Week 2, ‘23…
Warped Logic - Week 2, ‘23
Thursday Nighter
MIN 28 - PHI 34
The Philadelphia Eagles dominated possession of the clock as they had the ball nearly twice as long as the Minnesota Vikings did (40 mins Philly to 20 mins Minnie). The Vikings kept shooting themselves in the foot with turnovers as they fumbled 4 times. D’Andre Swift had 28 carries for 175 rushing yards. DeVonta Smith had 4 catches for 131 yards and a TD. The one concern on the Philly sideline was that AJ Brown was complaining about not getting the ball but they were running the air out of the ball so he looked a bit ridiculous.
Per @PFF_Sam, Justin Jefferson at just 24 years old now has more career receiving yards than any Chicago Bears WR in the team’s history. The Bears have been playing since 1920. Jefferson and Randy Moss are the only players in NFL history with 5,000+ receiving yards prior to turning 25. While that is all dandy, Jefferson was one of the fumbling culprits tonight. His fumble resulted in a touchback which changed the momentum of the game…
Starting Week 2, 0 for 2 on the Spread and Over/Under, don’t even get me started on that TJ Hockenson garbage time TD…
1 PM Slate
A week after signing the richest contract in NFL history with a wild bowl cut, Joey B Cool Burrow got a haircut. When asked about how he knew it was time he needed a new Peaky Blinder haircut Burrow stated, “When you have a game like that on Sunday.” Last week was by far and away the former LSU Tiger’s worst game in the NFL as he threw for a measly 82 yards with a 45% completion percentage in the rain. Benching your franchise QB in the 4th Quarter of 3 score game isn’t an ideal way to start your season, but WR Ja’Marr Chase was also embarrassed by losing to the Browns with their Candy Ass Elf at the 50-yard line. Chase said, "I called their asses elves and I'm pissed because we lost to some elves. If they have a problem with me saying ‘Elves,’ then they're soft." The Ravens on the other hand are coming off a nice standard 25-9 win over the Houston Texans. Lamar Jackson didn’t exactly air raid the lights out of the Houston defense and the Ravens lost their starting RB in JK Dobbins, but rookie WR Zay Flowers had a nice debut with 9 catches for 78 yards. The Bengals offense wakes up in Week 2, as Chase and Higgins combine for 200+ combined receiving yards after only putting up 39 yards combined in Week 1.
Prediction: 30-24 CIN (-3.5 CIN &Over 46.5)
When the highlight of Geno “They Wrote Me Off But I Ain’t Write Back Though” Smith’s last weekend was screaming “Oh my God” on a hot mic as Aaron Donald had a free rush at him, it is safe to say it wasn’t his week. After Week 1, many Seahawk players blamed themselves and stated that the Rams played harder than them. Not a great sign when team leaders like WR DK Metcalf admit they may not have been giving their 100%. For the Lions, QB Jared Goff has thrown 359 passes without an INT which is the 3rd most in NFL history. Goff is 40 passes without an interception away from Tom Brady’s spot of 399 passes and 43 passes away from breaking Aaron Rodgers’ 402 record. The last time Jared Goff threw more than 42 passes in a game was Week 1 in ‘21 so I wouldn’t say it’s likely he’ll break it this Sunday, but just giving him his flowers for the time being.
Prediction: 23-17 DET (-5.5 DET & Under 49)
The Colts and Texans will be showcasing their Rookie QBs in this Week 2 AFC South matchup. The Colts’ QB Anthony Richardson flashed some elite traits while throwing for 223 yards with a TD through the air and gaining 40 yards with a TD on the ground. According to Warren Sharp, Texans QB CJ Stroud is the 1st rookie QB in NFL history to make a Week 1 start with over 45 dropbacks without throwing a single INT. Credit to Warren Sharp for going back and watching every rookie QB to dropback 45 times to verify this information. As for Stroud, during his 2 years as starter for the Buckeyes, he threw for 85 TDs to just 12 INTs so it looks like he will continue to avoid mistakes in the NFL. Richardson and Stroud have known each other since high school and have been friends, he told reporters this week, “Now that we're both drafted high and in the same division, it's kind of cool. That's my guy. I love him to death. He's a great dude and he's a good rapper. I like his songs. We're trying to get him this week.” I’m going with a Stroud and Texans in a home dog victory.
Prediction: 22-19 HOU (+1.5 HOU & Over 40)
After the Chicago Bears once again lost to the Green Bay Packers, questions about Bears QB Justin Fields’ future with the team again arose. I think Chicago should outlaw cheese since they clearly have no idea what to do with it on their deep-dish pizza. The Bears' new WR DJ Moore only saw 2 targets last week in large part because he was matched up with CB Jaire Alexander. Bears WR Coach made it a point of emphasis this week to say, “DJ is an accomplished receiver and people take note of accomplished receivers. We can anticipate that, yes. We can do a better job of moving him around to make sure he gets his targets ... We’ve got to adjust as coaches." I would expect DJ Moore to get fed against the Bucs. As for Tampa Bay, they had a nice upset win in Minnesota. Despite having less than 120 total yards last week against the Vikings, the Bucs won because they won the turnover battle. WR Mike Evans caught 6 passes for 66 yards (creepy) with a TD. Evans’ 66 receiving yards put him on pace for 1,122 yards on the season, yes, Week to Week Notes is already tracking Mike Evans’ chase for 10 straight 1,000-yard seasons. Da Bears figure it out because Baker has a couple of turnovers this week.
Prediction: 18-16 CHI (+3 CHI & Under 41.5)
Two of the Chiefs’ biggest names, TE Travis Kelce, and DT Chris Jones, made their return to the Kansas City practice field this week. As you can see from the GIF above, Kelce displayed disgusting vulgar behavior in which he clearly peer-pressured Chris Jones into likewise displaying such nature. Is Travis Kelce causing a distraction in the Chiefs locker room? None of these allegations from Week to Week Notes have anything to do with the rumors that he and Taylor Swift may or may not have hung out. No further comment on that situation for now. As for Sunshine and Jaguars, in Week 1 they welcomed WR Calvin Ridley aboard to the tune of 8 catches for 101 yards and a TD. Now they’ll give him his own Duval welcome in Jacksonville. Jags pass rusher Josh Allen (Montclair, New Jersey’s own) had his first 3 sack game as a pro last week. Allen hasn’t had a 3 sack game since New Year’s Day of ‘19 when he played for the Kentucky Wildcats against the Penn State Nittany Lions. We’re going to take the Chiefs in a shootout because Week to Week Notes provides fair, balanced, and unbiased insight regardless of whatever disgusting vulgar behavior the Kansas City players display on the practice field.
Prediction: 31-27 KC (-3 KC & Over 51)
Jordan Love in his debut as the Packers’ new franchise QB threw for the highest passer rating amongst all QBs while blowing out Green Bay’s arch-rival. Love looked comfortable as the Pack’s QB1, as he threw no-look passes that looked like Rodgers and free-flowing chuck-ups that worked as if he were Favre. If the Packers hit on Jordan Love they could very well be on their way to 4+ decades of successful QB development. Clearly, it is too early to make that call but it may not be too early to say the Packers are interesting. As for the Falcons, despite drafting RB Bijan Robinson, WR Drake London, and TE Kyle Pitts all in the Top 10 picks in their respective drafts, Atlanta decided that ‘22 5th Round Pick RB Tyler Allgeier would touch the ball the most in Week 1. Their QB Desmond Ridder this week claimed, “I’ve told you guys several times I’m not a stat person, so I don’t care how many times I throw the ball or whatever, I just want to win at the end of the day”, which is exactly something someone with underwhelming stats would say but I understand the sentiment. With all this said, I got the Falcons in the Brett Favre Bowl.
Prediction: 21-20 ATL (+1 ATL & Over 40.5)
The Las Vegas Raiders are coming off a nice road win in Denver where QB Jimmy G got it done for the 1st in the Black and Silver. Davante Adams in his first game paired up with Jimmy G for 6 catches for 66 yards. Are Davante Adams and Mike Evans trying to tell us they are in the Illuminati with their satanic stat lines? Both Jimmy G and WR Davante Adams landed on the injury report, they have an ankle and foot but are expected to play. Everybody who enjoys football seems to have tuned into Monday Night Football because it was the highest watched Monday Night Football game of all time. After games where Bills QB Josh Allen commits 3+ turnovers (against the Jets he committed 4), the Bills are 5-0 with Allen averaging over 250 passing yards per game with 8 TDs and 2 combined picks. The Bills in these wake-up call games have won the 5 games by an average margin of 14.8 points per game. (@BuiltInBuffalo_) I’ll take the Bills in this get-right home opener.
Prediction: 35-12 BUF (-9 BUF & Under 48)
The San Diego-less Chargers franchise QB Justin Herbert threw for an incredible 43 air yards in the team’s Week 1 loss. With the game on the line with 1:36 left in the 4th, Herbert lofted a ball into the flat to avoid a sack and was called for an intentional grounding. Rather than expound further on the deficiencies of Justin Herbert as a winner, Week 2 is a new leaf. The Chargers will blow the doors off the Titans by airing it out on Vrabel’s defense. Week 1’s game plan of just throwing check-downs and screens was just a setup for this week. As for the Titans, they are in the midst of an 8-game losing streak that dates back to Week 12 of ‘22, which was Thanksgiving time last year. Titans OC, Tim Kelly, stated he plans to feed Derrick Henry a ton, which seems to be the same Tennessee game plan for the past 5 years. Taking the Chargers in a blowout.
Prediction: 34-13 LAC (-3 LAC & Over 46)
4 PM Slate
The Niners had an early season statement win in Pittsburgh Week 1. RB Christian McCaffrey rushed for 152 yards on 6.9 yards per carry on 22 carries. In 14 games as a 49er, McCaffrey has already totaled 1,447 yards with 14 TDs and the 49ers are 13-1. His 63-yard TD run in the 3rd Quarter last week was essentially checkmating because the Steelers couldn’t move the ball against their elite defense. 2nd-year edge rusher, Drake Jackson, sacked Kenny Pickett 3 times and matched his 3 sack rookie season total. The Rams pulled off an upset in Seattle without Cooper Kupp. QB Matthew Stafford threw 119 yards a piece to Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell. If those names are unfamiliar to you, Nacua is a 5th-round rookie possession WR out of BYU who looked great in his 1st career NFL game. Tutu Atwell on the other hand is an undersized speedster entering his 3rd year out of Louisville and a former 2nd round pick who is blossoming. If these guys can continue to show up and Cooper Kupp can eventually get back on the field, the Rams might be back as real contenders in the NFC. Hand up, I completely overthought the Niners Steelers Week 1, I will not make the same mistake picking against San Fransico for at least another month now.
Prediction: 33-12 SF (-8 SF & Over 44.5)
In Week 1, the Giants 7th-round rookie DT, Jordon Riley, picked up a tackle for loss. I’m not even going to bother looking up anything else on either of these teams. The G-Men will pitch a shutout in a baseball score.
Prediction: 6-0 NYG (-4 NYG & Under 40.5)
The Sam Howell-led Commies are 1-0 after defeating the Cardinals. It was a sloppy game where Washington is lucky to have made it out of there with a win as it took a 4th quarter comeback to get it done. Howell had a rough day. He got laid out early on and had 2 fumbles, one of which was returned for a TD to go along with an INT. That said, Howell did rush for the game-winning TD at the start of the 4th and it was only his 2nd start in the NFL so we still have a lot more film study before we can all collectively decide if he is the Commie leader or not. As for the Broncos, Mr. Unlimited Russell Wilson didn’t have a bad stat line but just doesn’t look the same. From staring down open WRs while trying to improvise to not being as agile when he scrambles from the pocket. Now that said, as an American, I feel as though it is my patriotic duty to take Mr. Unlimited’s laissez-faire over a novice commie.
Prediction: 15-10 DEN (-3.5 DEN & Under 39)
If you’re the Dallas Cowboys, you couldn’t really ask for a better Week 1. A 40 to nothing burger over the Giants in New Jersey. The Dallas pass rush generated 7 sacks and was constantly pressuring Daniel Jones to the point that the Giants are now on the phones looking for O-Line help. Veteran CB Stephon Gilmore made his Cowboy debut and got himself a pick. Dak didn’t have to do much because let’s face it that game was over the minute Dallas blocked the field goal. It was a Sunday Night walk-through for Dallas. The Jets, on the other hand, went from Cloud Nine to hell and back. Many of their fans are still in a catatonic state of coping that will one day be studied by the AIs once they take over the world. Defense first was always going to be the Jets’ mindset even with Rodgers behind center, but with Rodgers, you’d figure they’d have a real shot at winning some inevitable shootouts if needed. Rodgers gave the team an extra safety net where they could start a game down 10 nothing and you wouldn't really be all that worried, we’ve seen Rodgers come back from those types of games countless times on Prime Time the last decade. Now when and if the Jets fall behind in games, fans won’t have that same luxury of confidence (which we never even got to experience in reality). With Zach Wilson at QB, more strain will be put on the defense to hold teams under 20 points per game, but the formula for winning should be much like how they played the Bills. Defense, win the turnover battle, run the ball, special teams, and hope Wilson or whoever is the QB can make a handful of throws when needed. Both of these teams made statements in Week 1, but we learned much more about the Jets than we did about Dallas.
Prediction: 14-7 NYJ (+7.5 & Under 42)
Prime Time
Sunday Scaries
I watched every snap of the Dolphins and Chargers game last week. It was a fun game where no defense was played. Both teams moved the ball up and down the field at will. Phins QB Tua Tagovailoa put up 466 passing yards and 3 TDs. He looked good and Tyreek Hill looked like a 1st Ballot Hall of Famer. The Patriots played quite the contrast against the Eagles. The Pats game was ugly, hard-fought, and rugged. I don’t like when the Patriots play ugly, hard-fought, and rugged, that’s usually when they’re at their best.
Prediction: 22-19 NE (-2.5 NE & Under 47)
Moody Mondays
Last week many of the football world learned of a new cool football name: Rashid Shaheed. Although he played last year, he was a bit non-descript wearing #89. In Week 1 in ‘23, Shaheed arrived, with 5 catches a TD, and 89 yards. He now wears the #22, which for a WR feels like it should be illegal in all 50 states but they must’ve grandfathered into New Orleans law so I’ll allow it. Panthers rookie QB Bryce Young made his 1st NFL start against Atlanta and he still looks like a boy amongst grown men, but he had a few nice moments including his 1st NFL passing TD to Hayden Hurst. I’m taking Young and the Panthers this Monday night strictly because who wants to be the guy at the water cooler who takes Derek Carr on primetime? Couldn’t be me.
Prediction: 8-5 CAR (+3.5 CAR & Under 40)
NFL Commish Roger Goodell with $50 million annual is blessing us with 2 Monday Night Football games on Week 2. The Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers just sounds like a rock fight. I’m annoyed that this game is being played this early into the calendar. Either the Bengals offense is about to fall off a cliff this year or the Browns are going to emerge as the next great defense in the league. As for the Steelers, WR George Pickens is already furious with not getting the ball and as a fantasy governor of his, I too hold Kenny Picketts’ play in contempt. White-Out Browns and the Under.
Prediction: 9-3 CLE (-2 CLE & Under 40.5)
YouTube Rabbithole
TV On The Radio - Wolf Like Me (Live on Letterman)