I hate starting off with the whole this time last year introduction but in Week 6, ‘22 I used the Cranberries’ Dreams as the song on in the background. The reason behind it was I just love the song and thought it went perfectly with the dancing baby in the bottom right corner below. Up until that point, I thought most of the stuff I was doing on social media to go along with the link of Week to Week Notes was sort of bland so I figured try posting something a bit more clickbaity and see if it got more views. It did, sorta. Out of context, I figured people might think it looked very bizarre, but I needed to experiment. Anyway, no dancing baby this year, and enough of this timelast year talk, this song is too good to only use once like that…
Dreams by Cranberries came out in September of 1992. The Cranberries at the time were still on the rise, but not very well known. Once they became more well-established in 1994, the band re-released Dreams with Linger as singles for their album called Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? This song did pretty well for the band as it peaked at #9 on the charts of Ireland and #42 on Billboard’s US Hot 100. The Cranberries lead singer, Dolores O'Riordan, wrote this song when she was just 20 years old. In a SongFacts interview, she told them, “I wrote that about my first love when I was living in Ireland. It's about feeling really in love for the first time."
Her quote about falling in love for the first time makes these lines make a ton of sense. She has fallen head over heels for this special someone.
Dolores O'Riordan really had such a great voice. Much of her vocal style of singing was rooted in Sean-nós Gaelic tradition. (Source: University of Limerick) Unique, powerful, but vulnerable.
…and also a great songwriter. The Cranberries drummer, Fergal Lawler said, “I remember when we were writing it, Noel brought in the chords and as soon as it started I said, ‘This is different’. The demo isn’t really that different from what ended up on the album, the album version is a bit more poppy, a bit more uptempo. Around that time we were listening to a lot to Peter Gabriel’s Passion album and a lot of world music. That was definitely an influence on that song.”
Great tune, on to Week 6…
Week 6, ‘23
Thursday Nighter Recap
Denver Broncos 8 | Kansas City Chiefs 19
That was the most boring NFL Game that Taylor Swift has attended so far. I feel bad that she had to sit through that, Travis could have at least got her a TD or something, he only had 9 catches for 124 yards. Kansas City has now beat Denver 16 straight times. Patrick Mahomes has never lost the Broncos in his career. The Chiefs held Mr. Unlimited to a measly 95 passing yards while he threw 2 INTs. The highlight of the game was when Al Michaels glowing talked about Rainy Day Books in Kansas City.
I had the Chiefs winning this one 31-13 (-10.5 KC & Under 49) so 2-0 heading into Week 6 weekend…
Sunday Mornin’ in London
With the World Cup Rugby going on in Paris, the English will not only have their team to root for against Fiji on Sunday, but they can watch an NFL version of Rugby on Sunday too. The Titans and Ravens are run-first offenses. The Titans are 2-0 when their RB Derrick Henry has at least 22 rush attempts. In his career, King Henry has had 32 career games with 22 or more carries and the Titans are 28-4 in those games. As for Baltimore, they take it even a step further with rugby, as their WR coach has their pass catchers practice catching rugby balls instead of footballs. As Sal Pal is explaining in the GIF, rugby balls are bigger and force you to use two hands. That practice trick didn’t work great for the Ravens’ WRs last week as the team dropped 8 footballs and 3 potential TDs in their loss to Pittsburgh. The internet roasted the Ravens for this but the team has apparently been using this practice for years now. While Lamar Jackson doesn’t run as much as he used to, he does already have 4 rushing TDs, the most he’s had in a season since ‘20. I’ll go with Baltimore’s scrum.
Prediction: 16-12 BAL (-3.5 BAL & Under 40)
1 PM Slate
The Panthers were reportedly one of the teams interested in Denver Broncos’ WR Jerry Jeudy. At the moment, Carolina WR Adam Thielen seems to be enjoying his return to being WR1 for a team again. In just 5 games with the Panthers, Thielen already has 2 100+ yard receiving games, something the undrafted wideout hasn’t done since ‘20. Last week despite the Dolphins losing the turnover battle 3-0 to the Giants, Miami was able to win comfortably 31-16. A Dolphins fan had turned the ball a 4th time as he stole Tyreek Hill’s TD ball that was supposed to be given to the WR’s mother. The Phins may be without their rookie RB De'Von Achane will head to the IR with a knee as Miami will be without the fastest RB in football for at least 4 games. Phins will survive.
Prediction: 28-5 MIA (-14 MIA & Under 48.5)
The Saints went marching into New England and opened up a can of whoop-ass. New Orleans’ Safety Tyrann Mathieu scored himself his 4th career Pick-6 INT. The defense as a whole only allowed 3.3 yards per play against the Patriots last week. Texans Rookie QB had another clean stat sheet where he didn’t throw an INT. Stroud has now thrown 177 attempts and has yet to get picked off, which is a record-breaking start to a promising career. The other Texans’ offensive rookie, WR Tank Dell, unfortunately, banged his on the turf last week and suffered a concussion. With Dell likely out for Sunday, John Metchie may see an expanded role. Metchie made his NFL debut this season after tearing his ACL in college, getting drafted, and then being diagnosed with leukemia. Last week against Atlanta, Metchie received an increase in snap count and will be in line for his first NFL start if Dell can’t go. I’ll take the Saints, but hopefully, Stroud and Metchie link up for a TD.
Prediction: 20-17 NO (-1.5 NO & Under 41.5)
The Washington Commies got some extra rest after not showing up 2 Thursday Nights ago. They have now lost 3 in a row on the season after starting off 2-0. Sensing that this Sunday’s game against the Falcons is winnable, head coach Ron Rivera made an old-school football coach move of placing a massive “DO YOUR JOB” sign in the locker room. Rivera is on the hot seat as he is a holdover from the Dan Snyder ownership and Washington’s Josh Harris may look elsewhere if the team doesn’t turn it around soon. Atlanta is riding high after Ridgewood’s own, kicker Younghoe Koo, drilled a 37-yard winning field goal as time expired last week. The Falcons are now 3-2 and Desmond Ridder is coming off a career-high 329-yard passing game after Week to Week Notes questioned his arm last week. This week my criticism of Atlanta’s offense will be about how Bigan Robinson is averaging more yards after contact (3.3) than Tyler Allgeier is averaging overall yards per carry (3.1) and yet Robinson has only 5 more carries than Allgeier. (Source: @Ihartitz) Maybe I’m just projecting as a disappointed Bijan Robinson fantasy football governor. I’m taking the Commies because Ron Rivera is pulling out the Do Your Job signs after a long week of practice, simple as that.
Prediction: 14-11 WSH (-2.5 WSH & Under 42)
Every fantasy football governor of Jonathan Taylor you know saw their fantasy football nightmares come into reality when they started Taylor just to watch Zack Moss go off for a career-high 165 rushing yards with 2 TDs. With QB Anthony Richardson out the Colts will rely more on this one-two punch of Moss & Taylor, rather than Richardson’s legs. While you could make the case that this plays right into the Jags defense’s strength (they have allowed the 7th least amount of rushing yards on 3.7 yards per carry), I’ll counter by saying this is the QB Gardner Minshew revenge game. Don’t let the 27-year-old retired Frat Star vibes that Minshew gives off fool you, there is still some mania in there somewhere. After going 2-0 and spending 10 days in London, the Jacksonville players will be jetlagged.
Prediction: 22-19 IND (+4 IND & Under 46.5)
The Seattle Seahawks are coming off of a Week 5 Bye and should be in good shape from a health standpoint. QB Geno “They Wrote Me Off But I Ain’t Write Back Though” Smith & LB Jamal Adams were back practicing this week and are in line to play. Seattle’s Devon “Spoon” Witherspoon is coming off of a breakout performance in Week 4 which was capped off with his 97-yard Pick 6 INT. Both of these teams have alpha WR1 studs between DK Metcalf and Ja’Marr Chase. Things got interesting this week when Metcalf said, “Chase is a great receiver. I tip my hat off to him, but I think Spoon will get the best of him.” Chase has since responded by Retweeting Metcalf’s clip and saying that Seahawks CBs Tariq Woolen & Devon Witherspoon “are not horrible.” After a horrible start to the season, it looks like QB Joe Burrow may have got his mojo back last week as he found his connection with Chase 15 times for 192 yards and 3 scores. Have your popcorn ready, the Bengals win a close one at home.
Prediction: 24-21 CIN (-2.5 CIN & Under 46.5)
The Minnesota Vikings will be without star WR Justin Jefferson for at least 4 games as he has a hamstring. With the Vikings being 1-4, would it be crazy to think they just shut him down for the year so they are in a better position to draft their next QB next spring? One beneficiary of Jefferson being out will be WR Jordan Addison. The rookie wideout out of USC already has 19 catches for 249 yards and 3 TDs to his name in 4 games as a pro. Over the offseason, Addison was caught speeding in Minnesota going 140 MPH. Not a great look, but apparently it was an emergency involving his dog, so you know what I’ll give him a pass for it. Anyway, Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell was hilarious this week when he was asked about Addison’s development as a Viking. “Since we drafted him, it’s been positive after positive outside of driving a little fast one time. My expectation is we hit the gas with Jordan this weekend. No pun intended.”Da Bears snapped their franchise-long 14-game losing streak in Week 5 and it took WR DJ Moore going off for 8 catches, 230 yards with 3 TDs to do it. I don’t think either of these 1-4 teams will really want to play much defense so I’ll take the over and Minnesota by a smidge.
Prediction: 26-23 MIN (-2.5 MIN & Over 46)
The San Francisco 49ers are unreal. Head coach Kyle Shanahan seems to have the perfect feel for his talented offense. QB Brock Purdy is still undefeated in the regular season with a 10-0 record. RB Christian McCaffrey has now scored a TD in 14 straight games (including playoffs) which ties him with Emmitt Smith for the 4th-longest streak in NFL history. (@ESPNStatsInfo) After not scoring a TD through Weeks 1 to 4, TE George Kittle scored 3 times against Dallas, a new career high for him. Shanahan clearly likes to switch things up offensively, maybe this is the week that WR Deebo Samuel goes crazy? As for the Browns, QB Deshaun Watson will sit out his 2nd straight game with a shoulder injury. After being medically cleared to play, Watson still doesn’t feel right enough even after the Bye Week to strap ‘em up so backup QB PJ Walker will get the start. Even if Watson were starting, I would’ve rolled with the Niners on the road here.
Prediction: 10-3 SF (-5 SF & Under 39)
4 PM Slate
Mediocre Mac Jones in the 2 games since being called a pervert on Week to Week Notes is 0-2 with 260 passing yards, 0 TDs, 4 INTs, has been benched twice, and the Pats offense has combined to score 3 points. I’m not insinuating that there is any correlation, I’m just stating facts. When head coach Bill Belichick sloppily looks across the field at the Las Vegas sideline this Sunday, he’ll see 2 familiar faces in his former QB Jimmy G and former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Surely there is no way that those two ex-Pats could beat the Evil Hoodie and Mediocre Mac, right?
Prediction: 2-0 NE (+2.5 NE & Under 41.5)
Let it be Noted that the Detroit Lions actually ran the reverse flea-flicker throw for a TD to the TE hours before the Niners did the same thing on Sunday Night Football. The Lions are humming right now. They are 4-1 and even in their loss to the Seahawks, Detroit’s offense put up 31 points. It is one thing for a team like the Lions to get hyped up during the offseason and another when they actually execute. Their only blemish this week is that their offensive rookies are nicked up. TE Sam LaPorta showed up on the injury report with a calf strain and RB Jahmyr Gibbs has a hammy. The Bucs are coming off a strong Week 4 win against the Saints and had a Bye Week last weekend so players such as WR Mike Evans could recover from hammy injuries of his own. QB Baker Mayfield has been playing with a real chip on his shoulder and I’ll add to it by going with the Detroit. The Lions have been around since 1929 and have started 5-1 on the season just 8 times, with ‘11 being their most recent. How about they hit that mark for a 9th time?
Prediction: 25-18 DET (-3.5 DET & Under 43.5)
The Arizona Cardinals are trying, I’ll give them that. The Rams welcomed back WR Cooper Kupp last week and returned the favor by catching 8 passes for 118 yards. Kupp’s new sidekick WR Puka Nacua continued his great start in the NFL with 7 more catches for 71 yards and another TD. I’m not saying these guys are Issac Bruce and Torrey Holt just yet, I mean they lost last week in the duos’ debut, but they should handle Arizona at home.
Prediction: 35-6 LAR (-6.5 LAR & Under 48)
For this GIF I could have gone with quite a number of Eagles QB Jalen Hurts’ or Jets RB Breece Hall’s highlights. Instead, I figured the genuine reaction that went viral from Eagles TE Dallas Goedert’s girlfriend was more wholesome. It was Goedert’s first TD of the season so she must have had the camera rolling for a month and I respect the due diligence. Hopefully, she does not get to see a TD from her mans this Sunday. The 5-0 Philadelphia Eagles seem to be experiencing absolutely no Super Bowl Hangover after their crushing defeat last February. Both of these teams generate a good pass rush with their front 4. The Eagles through 5 Weeks have blitzed just 25% of the time (20th in the NFL) and have generated QB pressure at 40.2% (6th in the NFL). This means they have more guys in coverage to guard against passes. The Jets on the other hand are the only team in the NFL with 3 players to record 20+ total pressures each in Bryce Huff (25), John Franklin-Myers (22), and Q-Ball Williams (20). For the Jets to have a shot, Zach Wilson doesn’t necessarily have to play a turnover-free game, but just be decisive and aggressive. It would be great if a loud MetLife Stadium crowd and Q-Ball & Co could be the team to push back on the Brotherly Shove.
Prediction: 15-9 NYJ (+6.5 NYJ & Under 42)
Prime Time
Sunday Scaries
Man, Giants fans, another Prime Time game and this one in Buffalo, sheesh. The good news is that RB Saquon Barkley is still day-to-day but will likely play. The bad news is QB Daniel Jones and LT Andrew Thomas haven’t yet practiced this week. Without Andrew Thomas, this might be one of the worst offensive lines in quite some time, and trust me I feel your pain being a Jets fan. In Week 5, PFF ranked each of the Giants’ starting offensive linemen in comparison to the rest of the league like this: LT Joshua Ezeudu 65th out of 65 tackles, LG Mark Glowinski 55th out of 70 guards, Ben Bredeson 30th out of 31 centers, Marcus McKethan 65th out of 70 guards, and Evan Neal 64th out of 65 tackles. Not what you want, especially with a Buffalo Bills team coming off a loss in London pissed off and sleep-deprived. The Bills will circle the wagons for this one.
Prediction: 34-8 BUF (-14 BUF & Under 44.5)
Moody Mondays
The Kellen Moore Game. That is the best I could come up with on this Monday Night Matchup. Kellen Moore, the former legendary Boise State QB turned NFL backup for a spell, became Dallas’ coaching whiz-kid when he made the jump from the field to the sideline. At one point in the past few years, it was as if Moore was going to succeed Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy before things went sour and Moore decided to take the LA offensive coordinator job overseeing QB Justin Herbert. The Dallas Cowboys are coming off of an embarrassing Sunday Night blowout to the Niners. Offensively, Dallas was abysmal as RBs Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle combined for 44 rushing yards on 13 carries while QB Dak Prescott threw 3 INTs. Dak has only thrown 3 INTs in a game once, back in Week 5 of ‘19 and he followed that game up with a 0 TD game against the Jets in Week 6. Totally irrelevant stat but I remember Sam Darnold played great in that game. Anyway, LA is coming off a Bye Week and Kellen Moore knows this Dallas defense from going up against them the past 4 years in practice. After some time off last weekend, let’s see if he can incorporate rookie WR Quentin Johnston into the game plan a bit more. The Kellen Moore Game goes to Kellen Moore.