2017 NFL Picks Week 2

Week One: 9-6 (with Tampa Bay-Miami delayed to Week 11, due to Hurricane Irma)

Week 2:

Thursday Night Football on NFL Network:

Houston at Cincinnati: Well, these two teams crashed and burned last week. The Texans have an excuse, considering all the mess they went through with Hurricane Harvey the last few weeks, though they were playing at home. Cincinnati does not. QB Andy Dalton played like (bleep) at Baltimore and sunk this team, who was not very helpful. Baltimore’s defense is good, but throwing four interceptions makes it easy to ultimately score, even field goals and/or worse, no (offensive) points, either. Now, Cincinnati comes home on a short week to face these Texans who had no offense against a young and hungry Jacksonville defense. Not totally surprised. Houston is going to start rookie Deshaun Watson this week instead of ineffective starter Tom Savage who was benched in the second half. This was looking like one of the better TNF matchups when the schedule came out in April. Not so much now. This is already a must-win game for both teams. The loser will be down two games in the conference, plus very few teams rally from 0-2 to make the playoffs. I will watch just to see who bounces back better from Week 1’s debacles.

Who wins? The Bengals are not one who loses multiple games in a row often in coach Marvin Lewis’ tenure….but they (nor he) has ever won a playoff game ANYWHERE, either. Houston may get a boost from the rookie QB Watson who seems to be as talented as Dalton, with less baggage and without red hair. More importantly, Houston has WR DeAndre Hopkins and DE J.J. Watt and OLB Jadeveon Clowney and Cincinnati doesn’t. Having TE Tyler Eifert and WR A.J. Green and rookie RB Joe Mixon and more is not enough for the Bengals on a short week, even at home. Texans win.

Houston 28 Cincinnati 17

Sunday’s Games:

Cleveland at Baltimore:  Cleveland put up a big fight at home versus the Steelers. Alas, as usual, they cannot finish the job and the Steelers escape. Now they go to Baltimore who went and took the Bengals to the woodshed, hanging a big 0 on the Bengals. Cleveland doesn’t have the firepower of those Bengals. Even with rookie DeShon Kizer starting, the Baltimore defense is no joke…ever. I don’t see another shutout here, but it won’t be pretty.

Who wins? These Browns are too young and inexperienced to beat a veteran Ravens squad, as long as QB Joe Flacco stays upright and the defense is brutal like they were in the vintage Ray Lewis/Ed Reed and friends days in the early 2000s. Too early to say on the latter, but the Browns will not steal this win away….without a miracle. Ravens win again.

Baltimore 30 Cleveland 10

Chicago at Tampa Bay: There was doubt about this game being played, due to the effects of Hurricane Irma bashing the state of Florida last weekend, but apparently the stadium held up well enough to allow Tampa (and Jacksonville) to have its home opener on time. Miami got the short end of things with their home game postponed to their (now) former bye week in 9 weeks, leaving the Dolphins to play away from Miami until October (more on this later). So this is the Buccaneers’ first game. Chicago didn’t look great in a loss to NFC champion Atlanta at Soldier Field, but they did fight hard and came close to a major upset. Starter Mike Glennon wasn’t horrible, but we know these Bears are close to being declawed on both sides of the ball. Still, could these Bears take advantage of the distracted and untested (this year) Bucs and steal an upset win, similar to what the Jaguars did in Houston?

Who wins? Tampa is clearly the better team and has more weapons all around, especially on offense with QB Jameis Winston, and WRs Mike Evans and free-agent pickup DeSean Jackson. The Bears don’t have the firepower to match up scoring-wise, nor has the defense to slow them down. But the Bears did play a real game last week and Tampa didn’t. If their field is less viable due to the hurricane than is being said, plus IF the Bucs are sloppy in their play…and the Bears are even sharper and feistier than they were against Atlanta….this is the trap of trap games. Glennon, a former Buccaneer QB, knows that team and that field. If anyone can take advantage, even with an inferior team (on paper), it could well be Glennon. This is too juicy a potential upset not to take…so I will. Tampa is still young in a lot of ways and ripe for an upset here, even though the circumstances are beyond their control. Ask Miami about that! Bears get a big upset.

Chicago 27 Tampa Bay 24 (OT)

 Minnesota at Pittsburgh: This game has more intrigue after the Vikings beat up the Saints on MNF Game 1. The Browns had the Steelers in trouble before they pulled it out late, and the Steelers were at full strength! Minnesota is a bit better, even outdoors, than Cleveland. Pittsburgh has defense and they still have QB Big Ben and his boys (WR Antonio Brown and RB Le’Veon Bell), but Bell did nothing last week, but Brown bailed them out. The Vikings and a tougher defense provide a tougher test. Having home field may not be enough…unless the Vikings have to kick a lot. Right. Knowing that Green Bay could well lose at Atlanta and Detroit could lose at the Giants after this game, Minnesota needs this game BAD. The Steelers may be okay if they lose unless the Bengals right their sunk ship FAST and Baltimore fades fast. Maybe. And these Steelers don’t lose often at home.

Who wins? If the newly revamped Minnesota offensive line can protect Bradford so he can throw like he did last week, and rookie RB Dalvin Cook surpasses last week’s strong run game, Minnesota can win. But I don’t think they will and/or the whole Pittsburgh offense comes in and does the job. I am pretty sure Bell will not stink it up 2 weeks in a row, unless he gets hurt (again). The Steelers are stronger at home, and the Vikings are too iffy to solve the ball-control game better than these Steelers. I have to take the home team.

Pittsburgh 27 Minnesota 20

New England at New Orleans: The champs got smacked around AT HOME by the Chiefs. Not good. QB Tom Brady had no TD passes (1 TD thrown to Gronk was called a drop after a review) and looked pissed...causing a new meme to go viral. Now they go on the road to face a Saints team who got beat down in Minnesota. QB Drew Brees didn’t have a horrible night but he didn’t exactly light it up. But these Saints are different in the SuperDome.  The Patriots had better be ready. They lose this game and fall to 0-2…odds are not good on them coming back from that. Check the records.

Who wins? These are the Patriots and they can rally. But we haven’t seen them in a serious rally mode in the Brady/Belichick era, except for the year the Chiefs tore up Brady’s knee in the opener and shelved him for the year. That team still won 9 more games (after backup Matt Cassel closed out the Opening Day win) and just missed the playoffs. But that was a decade ago. A lot has changed since then. Drew Brees is a future HOF QB just like Brady and can go. And these Saints…can be magical...at times in that dome. I am taking the Saints in another upset. This is the year that Patriot Nation gets smacked down..hard.  Saints steal one.

New Orleans 34 New England 31

Philadelphia at Kansas City: (return of Jeremy Maclin to KC) Few people outside of Kansas City would have thought it possible that the Chiefs would beat the defending champion Patriots in the opener in Foxboro last Thursday. Fewer expected the domination that occurred. Now the Chiefs come home for their home opener against an Eagles team that looked solid but not great in a win at Washington. Chiefs QB Alex Smith is seeking to make an awesome audition tape for himself for he doesn’t see himself in KC next year, having drafted QB Patrick Mahomes as a future starter. But as of now, the job belongs to Smith. But was last week a fluke win….for either team?

Who wins? The Chiefs are historically tough at home. But they also have crappy luck in games that matter. So does Coach Reid (for his career). Even with the advantage of the mini-bye, I just see a dropoff from the Chiefs after that upset last week. The Eagles could get it going on the road, knowing that if Dallas is beat in Denver, the Eagles could be alone in first in the NFC East. I think they will. I will take the Eagles in a minor upset that will make former Eagles coach Andy Reid smile. Eagles win.

Philadelphia 30 Kansas City 28

Tennessee at Jacksonville: This is a major opportunity for these Jaguars. After going into Houston and upsetting the expected division champion Texans and watching their field and homes survive Hurricane Irma last week, the Jags open the home schedule against a dangerous Titans team, who was tough, is in the same division, but also could not stop the Raiders at home last week….again. QB Marcus Mariota was decent, his RB tandem of Demarco Murray and Derrick Henry was steady. But kicking field goals and punting is not enough to beat this Raiders team. It might not be enough against this very young and hungry Jaguars defense. But can the Jaguars offense score enough on the Titans defense. A win makes the Jags 2-0 in the division AND the conference and could be a big leg up in a division where one has to figure only the champion will go to the playoffs. Don’t see a wild-card coming from the AFC South in this stacked AFC. Can they do it?

Who wins? If there is a time for QB Blake Bortles to shine…it must start NOW. Losing free-agent to be WR Allen Robinson (knee) for the year and with another WR out until at least mid-season will not help. But Bortles must rally whomever they have left and score points and help their defense who may really be better than one thinks (not just on paper). The Titans have weapons on offense and will be a different and far more potent kind of challenge than the offensively-challenged Texans were. I see a surprise here and at least this week…the Jaguars get it done with the extra motivation Irma’s wrath will give them that Harvey’s wrath didn’t give Houston. Jaguars win again.

Jacksonville 28 Tennessee 24

Arizona at Indianapolis: These Colts are already in trouble. I know the Rams have a better defense (sans DT Aaron Donald who sat after returning from a holdout just before the opener) than many think. And they did get two pick-sixes AND a safety, too. But the Rams got 30 offensive points in LA on these Colts, too with Jared Goff…who only threw 1 TD pass. Not good. We are asking, when (or if?) will QB Andrew Luck be back? I don’t know and it doesn’t look good. Worse, the Colts lost an offensive lineman to IR and have other injuries too. Trading for QB Jacoby Brissett may help down the road…but this offense if FUBAR right now. RB Frank Gore and WR T.Y. Hilton are not young and cannot do much if they can’t get the ball in their hands or blockers to make holes. They need a starting QB. Arizona fought hard but fell late to the Lions in Detroit. They come east to play in another dome before they go home to open in Arizona next week. They have a QB in Carson Palmer and future HOFer Larry Fitzgerald. But the injuries are piling up already and losing starting RB David Johnson for at least half to 2/3 of the regular season (screwing a lot of fantasy football teams....but not mine!) and now #2 WR John Brown (quad) is trouble. This game may not have many points scored. Such a shame.

Who wins? The Colts don’t have much on defense either, especially with starter CB Vontae Davis already hurt for a while. Arizona still has weapons and plenty of RBs to control the clock even before resigning RB Chris Johnson for depth. RB Kerwynn Williams will start for David Johnson (for now) and Andre Ellington is still the 3^rd down back. Arizona has enough to get this win, which they need bad with only the Rams at 1-0 in the (bleeped up) NFC West. Falling 0-2 in this division may not be a death blow…but what if? No one is expecting a wild-card from this division either. Just saying. Cardinals win a grinder kind of game. It may have to be the first of many…until David Johnson and some others get back. Hope that field goal kicker is loose and ready to work…a lot.

Arizona 18 Indianapolis 7

Buffalo at Carolina: Buffalo got it done at home over the underpowered Jets. So? With the surprise loss by the Patriots (and Miami’s unplanned bye), the Bills are alone in first in the AFC East for the first time in a long time. The path to an unexpected playoff berth is simple now: Keep winning somehow and don’t let Miami and/or New England catch up! Those two playoff teams have a harder schedule than the Bills, but this one is no easy test on the road. Carolina went to Santa Clara and took down a weak Niners squad. Solid…but not overwhelming. Carolina has a lot of weapons and we think QB Cam Newton is recovered from last year’s injuries and beat-downs that started in Super Bowl L and Week 1 against Denver and just kept coming all year. Also, the Panthers are mostly healthy all around and the addition of rookie 1^st round pick RB Christian McCaffrey is a big boost to help keep Newton cleaner and healthier. But Buffalo has weapons too, though they likely are always worried about the health of starting QB Tyrod Taylor and RB LeSean McCoy. These opposing combos will make for an interesting game without cold or bad weather to factor in.

Who wins? The Bills could steal this game and they do have some defenders too. But a healthy Panthers team (less WR Kelvin Willams, who is healthy now) was in the Super Bowl and ruled the NFC 2 years ago. They also still have all-world TE Greg Olsen too. That is a hard group to stop. And they will get it done in a shootout here. Panthers win at home.

Carolina 37 Buffalo 28

Miami at Los Angeles Chargers: Miami has been getting (bleeped) right in the blowhole for several weeks now. First, they lose injured starter QB Ryan Tannehill (for the year (?)) when he chooses not to get surgery on his injured knee in the offseason (why?) and rehabs without such, comes back and reinjures it worse early in training camp. Season over. So, rather than trust backup Matt Moore and/or signing former Niners starter Colin Kaepernick to take over, they convince former Broncos and Bears starter Jay Cutler to put off his (forced) retirement and cushy Fox announcing job to become the new Dolphins starter for a $10 million dollar 1 year deal, figuring he knew the new coaches’ offensive system well. Okay. Then, Hurricane Irma just had to come through and beat up the entire state of Florida on Opening Day, screwing them even worse. True, the Dolphins stadium is intact, as are the people of the state (can’t say the same for islands in the Caribbean!) as is Miami for the most part, but because the schedule-maker screwed Miami by giving them road games and a long trip to London for a “home game” 2 weeks from this Sunday, the Dolphins will not get to see their home field at all in September…AND lose their almost ideal late bye week as well, forcing them (and Tampa Bay) to play 16 straight weeks this year. I have bitched about my Raider’s not fun schedule for last year and this year (3 of the first four AND final four weeks on the road! WTF?), but that is manageable (as was proved….mostly…last year by the Raiders) compared to Miami’s hell. We have no idea how these (still talented) Dolphins will handle this. First challenge is going west (they left early to avoid the hurricane and have hung out in California all week) to face these LOS ANGELES Chargers in their home opener in their…..tiny…by NFL…or even FBS college standards….temporary home. But they are also on a short week. The Chargers rallied from a 21 point deficit at Denver due to turnovers and luck and had the Broncos staring at OT and maybe a LOSS…but alas…a timely “ice the (rookie) kicker” timeout and a more-timely blocked field goal afterwards dropped the Chargers franchise to 1-150-something when they fall behind by 21 points or more in a game. Bummer. Now these Chargers get a Miami team who are far from home and totally green as far as the regular season goes. However, these Chargers are more talented than that Chicago team that will go to Tampa earlier in the day under the same circumstances. The Chargers have weapons, young and strong defenders, especially DEs Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram and they have QB Phillip Rivers. No offense to Cutler, but we all know he is no Rivers. Miami has defenders and weapons too, but these are extraordinary circumstances on both sides. Watch this game and see what happens, which may be historic.

Who wins? On paper, it is a close game. But chuck the paper for the reasons above. We don’t know if Cutler can really guide the dangerous Miami offense (at all, much less better than Tannehill or longtime backup Matt Moore might have.) The Miami defense has talent, still…but these Chargers can go on both sides of the ball….and no one is hurt that matters (yet). At full strength, these Chargers are trouble for anyone….ask Denver about that. I just don’t have faith in the Miami coaches, nor in Cutler in particular, like I do Rivers. Unfortunately, a healthy Tannehill, nor Moore, is not like a major upgrade, anyway. That Charger D is very tough and is more prepared. Miami is not, despite the unplanned week off. Chargers win.

Los Angeles Chargers 27 Miami 17

San Francisco at Seattle: Just a few years ago, this was a major (division) game. Now….not so much. The Niners still have fight, but going to Seattle is tough. But after that weak performance on offense in Green Bay, I am not so sure home cooking will immediately fix the Seattle offense’s woes. But these Niners are not very strong on offense either. Bottom line, Seattle has QB Russell Wilson. SF has QB Brian Hoyer. Any questions?

Who wins? Bottom line, the Niners are rebuilding. Seattle is retooling, but their defense, led by the dangerous Legion of Boom secondary (CB Richard Sherman, S Kam Chancellor and friends) and augmented by the trade with the Jets to get DT Sheldon Richardson, has a clear advantage. There may not be many points scored, but this will be an interesting in-division battle. Remember, the Rams are the only team in the NFC Worst…I mean, West…lol…with a win. A loss here could really hurt later. Seattle needs this one. And they will get it. Seahawks win…but not big.

Seattle 20 San Francisco 10

Dallas at Denver: This is a major game. Could this be a (very early) potential Super Bowl preview? Dallas took advantage of 1) having RB Ezekiel Elliott available and 2) the Giants coming to Dallas without injured WR Odell Beckham, Jr. (ankle) being able to play. Elliott could be officially suspended (domestic violence-6 games) at any time as the courts sort it out, but not this week. Dallas didn’t score a lot last week, but Denver is another animal. They are shaky at QB with Trevor Simien and maybe at RB, too. But they still have WR Emmanuel Sanders and Demayrius Thomas and they still have that defense. Oh, my. Can Dallas QB Dak Prescott, WR Dez Bryant, TE Jason Witten and friends score a lot of points on THIS defense…IN Denver? I have my doubts. Don’t expect many points here.

Who wins? If you love defense, this is a good game to watch. Dallas has more weapons, but can the Dallas defense keep Denver’s offense off the board? It wasn’t the defense’s fault that the Chargers almost rallied to beat Denver, needing a blocked FG to save the game. It may come to that again. As much as a Denver loss would help my Raiders, I don’t know. Screw it. I am taking Dallas because I just cannot believe in Simien to lead the Denver offense to score enough to win. Dallas better grab this one while they can, just in case they lose Elliott in the coming week(s). Cowboys win.

Dallas 27 Denver 17

Washington at Los Angeles Rams: Those LA Rams. Wow. I didn’t see this team score that many points on anyone. But it helps when almost half of those points came from 2 pick-sixes and a safety (you don’t see THAT often…even on Madden (if you play on Easy level…I do not)….rare feat indeed!). Remember, stud DT Aaron Donald DID NOT PLAY since he had just returned from his salary holdout. The Rams needed that but can they do it again? The Redskins fought hard at home but mistakes and questionable calls doomed them against the Eagles. The Eagles have a good defense. Now they come west to face this rugged Ram defense. The other question is…can the Eagles offense under QB Carson Wentz and free agent pickup WR Alshon Jeffrey score in bunches? Washington may have the advantage at QB  with embattled starter Kirk Cousins, but that supporting cast worries me, especially talented, but injury prone TE Jordan Reed. Will be an interesting late game to watch.

Who wins? I am not convinced of the talent of Rams starter QB Jared Goff yet. But that defense is tough, with or without Donald. I don’t know how much he will play Sunday, or what he could do after missing preseason. Bottom line, I don’t see much scoring this week. The Redskins defense is not all that, though they were all right last week, but Cousins does have a fair number of turnovers. Unless he plays a perfect game, that will enough to sink this team again. I have to take the defense and the Rams this week.

Los Angeles Rams 20 Washington 17 (OT)

New York Jets at Oakland: The Jets looked horrible last week at Buffalo. They look like a team trying to get the 1^st overall pick in the next NFL draft. But at least they did score points! Now, they go west to face a happy Raiders squad in their only home game in September after going to Nashville and beating a dangerous Titans team in their house (again).  The Raiders defense passed a major test against the dangerous Titans double-headed running game and young gun QB Marcus Mariota. They will face many more test this season. Likely, this week will not be one of them. Though the Jets have a little bit of a running attack, this offense is no Tennessee, nor would such challenge any of the other AFC West teams the Raiders will face later in the season. Oakland has offense, with QB Derek Carr back from injury and hometown hero RB Marshawn Lynch leading the running game with the already dangerous passing game with WRs Armani Cooper, Michael Crabtree and Seth Roberts, plus free agent pickup TE Jared Cook and all world DE/LB Khalil Mack and LB Bruce Irvin leading a (hopefully) improving defense, the Raiders can run up some stats here, in one of the rare weeks where that is an option. Great for Oakland, bad (in certain ways) for these Jets.

Who wins? Barring injury and/or playing worse than the Bengals, Giants and Texans did last week, this will be a laugher. The Jets cannot score with these Raiders on their best day with the personnel they currently have, and these Raiders need and will make an early statement at home, for they really don’t need more close or last-minute wins, like they did last year, as exciting as they were. A few blowouts wins will be nice for these still-young Raiders, especially with the challenges the schedule has ahead for them. Raiders win easily and then go back on the road again.

Oakland 37 New York Jets 18

Sunday Night Football on NBC:

Green Bay at Atlanta: This was already a must see game as the NFC champs begin in their new home, hoisting a championship banner….just not the BIG one they let slip through their fingers, due to poor (Seattle-based) coaching and lack of killer instinct. Anyway, the black birds of the NFL get to have QB Aaron Rodgers and the Packers as their first home test. Good luck with that. The Packers come off a tough win over Seattle at home, while Atlanta…just got by the Bears in Chicago. This test is big for the defenses, neither of which are all that. Can the veteran and his revamped set of weapons score enough to keep with QB Matt Ryan and the Falcons? We will see.

Who wins? Green Bay is not a sucky team, but look, that defense is not exactly built to slow down a high scoring passing team like Atlanta. Seattle prefers to run more often and throw a little. Atlanta is a pass first team, even with two decent RBs in Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman in the lineup. Bottom line points will be scored. Barring injuries and/or big errors, WR Julio Jones and friends will score more at home. Falcons win. This may be one of the highest scoring games of the year…in Week 2!

Atlanta 48 Green Bay 42

Monday Night Football on ESPN:

Detroit at New York Giants: Detroit really sucked early but rallied behind four second half TDs from new Mr. Money Man, QB Matthew Stafford, to get by Arizona at home. Now they go outdoors and into the cooling air of New Jersey to face the Giants. These Giants sucked in Dallas, not even able to score 1 touchdown, likely because all-world WR Odell Beckham, Jr. (ankle) did not play, free agent pickup WR Brandon Marshall (shoulder) was hampered and shut down and no one else, including QB Eli Manning showed up to play. Will Beckham play? As of today (Thursday), we have no idea. I think he will, but will be 80% at best. Having him on the field means you have to account for him and I don’t know if Detroit has the defensive backs to shut him and Marshall and WR Reuben Randle and the tight ends and the running game (weak) AND get Manning at the same time. Not a lot of teams do. This is, on paper, one of the better MNF games on the schedule. If Beckham plays (well), than it will not disappoint. If not, well………you get the idea.

Who wins? Detroit outdoors is never a great bet, since they automatically play at least 9-10 games in domes every year, but it is not December so they have a chance. Eli’s best days as a QB may be behind him, but his supporting cast is dangerous and deeper than most teams. The loser of this game is in trouble, because their divisions are tough and getting a NFC wild-card spot may be tougher. Hard to say who needs this game more. I am taking Detroit because the Giants are just another team if Beckham is not healthy and playing…and he isn’t 100% right now! Lions win.

Detroit 38 New York Giants 28

Bonus picks:

1A.   College football: I see at least two ranked teams getting upset (other than 23 Tennessee vs 24 Florida, where you can’t call an upset here). I do think 14 Louisville can upset 3 Clemson at home, but I don’t think it will happen. Unfortunate, since the loser of this game is likely out of the ACC and national title picture (again), but that is the schedule.

2B.   Boxing:  I am taking Canelo Alvarez to upset middleweight champ Gennady Golvokin in a split decision. It will be a good fight, but since we already say Mayweather-McGregor, who really cares (outside of boxing) about this one? Not that many.

3C.  NASCAR:  The playoffs begin on Sunday at Chicagoland. Watch this race between NFL games, because this will be a good race and the last one with this track in the Chase format. (The order of races changes a bit in 2018.).  Below is a brief report on the 16 Chase drivers below. I am predicting that a non-Chase driver wins this race (maybe Dale Jr. entering his final 10 races as a full-time driver?  Aric Almirola in his (we assume) last 10 races in the iconic Petty 43 Ford? Danica Patrick stuns the world in her last 10 races for SHR (and/or in NASCAR, too?)), assuming regular-season champ Martin Truex, Jr, doesn’t do it. I expect a more competitive, if not nastier playoff series than in recent years. Just a thought.

Drivers in the Chase for the Monster Energy Cup (or NASCAR playoffs or whatever they (bleeping) call it now):

11. Martin Truex, Jr.- Furniture Row/Bass Pro Shops Toyota-Car 78- 4 wins-regular season champion and points leader: Truex has overcome a lot of issues in the car and in his personal life (girlfriend overcoming cancer) to be in this spot. He has enough playoff points that he MIGHT be able to weather one disaster race in the first (or second) round and still advance. He has led just over a fifth of the laps driven this year. He has the car, team and momentum on his side. Only mistakes or bad luck can stop him from winning his first Cup title. Right?

  2. Kyle Larson- Ganassi Target Chevrolet-Car 42-4 wins- This young gun is very good. He earned this spot. But his playoff inexperience versus the champion drivers behind him will be hard to overcome. But if he does, he could be champion this year.

33. Kyle Busch-Joe Gibbs M&M/Skittles Toyota-Car 18-The most “colorful” of the JGR drivers. Already one of the best drivers around with 100+ wins across the three national series, he is a major favorite. Remember what he went through just to make the playoffs, never mind win his only Cup championship 2 years ago? He could do it again. He is unquestionably the John Cena of NASCAR from fan support/disdain, but he is that damn good. Period. Fatherhood, marriage, injury and experience has tempered him. His talent and his team, if his luck gets better in the playoffs, can carry him to a second title.

44. Brad Keselowski-Penske Miller Lite Ford-Car 2-The highest ranking Ford in the playoffs, Brad K. is a great driver. Fewer overall wins than K. Busch but he is as talented. Beware of Brad K. for the last time he had to go in the playoffs “alone” with no teammate with him in the chase, when he was driving a (lame-duck) Dodge, he outdrove all 4 Hendrick cars, and other multi-car teams to win his only Cup championship. With a few breaks (and wins), he could do it again.

55. Jimmie Johnson- Hendrick Lowe’s Chevrolet-Car 48-Mr. Seven-time is in the playoffs (no surprise) but has struggled and has been quiet all summer, if not longer. However, we all know what he can do in the playoffs. Having two teammates in the playoffs will help, but I doubt either will do much to change the final outcome. If Johnson gets hot in the next 9 races again and makes the final four…Johnson will be the prohibitive favorite to win his record 8^th Cup title and be The Man in the Monster Energy Cup record book. Good luck with that.

  6. Kevin Harvick-Stewart Haas Budweiser Ford-Car 4-Harvick is a tough driver. Very good, very skilled. Not always lucky, but one you don’t want on your rear bumper on the last lap going for a win. People don’t call Harvick “The Closer” for nothing. If he makes it to Homestead as part of the Final Four, many will bet on Harvick to win his second Cup title….against anyone else in this field. Seriously.

77. Denny Hamlin-Joe Gibbs FedEx Toyota-Car 11-Steady, strong and experienced Chase driver, former finalist, too. Total dark horse in the playoffs versus his champion teammates and the rest. He needs some breaks (and wins) to get to the final four at Homestead. Beware if he gets there, especially at the expense of one of the six drivers ahead of him in these standings. If he and Jimmie Johnson are two of the final four, no matter who the other two drivers are….expect fireworks at Homestead.

    8. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.-Rousch Fenway Ford-Car 17-Stenhouse gets Rousch back in the playoffs. Great. Stenhouse can drive, but is young. I don’t think he has the skill yet, nor the experience to steal rounds to get to the final four. The experience will do him a lot of good, though.

99.  Ryan Blaney-Wood Brothers Motorcraft Ford-Car 21-It is good to see the iconic Wood Brothers 21 car in these playoffs. Blaney is a rising star. I don’t see him escaping the first round, but this team and this driver is rising fast.

110.   Chase Elliott-Hendrick Dupont Chevrolet-Car 24-Elliott has already proven he can drive, just like his Hall of Fame dad, Bill, whose number (9) he will take on next year. Elliott would love to take the iconic 24 car that he took over from from future HOF driver Jeff Gordon to another title. Can he win often enough in the playoffs to do it?

111.   Ryan Newman-Childress Catepillar/Quicken Loans Chevrolet-Newman made the playoffs with a win instead of on points for once! This guy is a gritty, skilled and fun driver. I have my doubts he gets past the second round, but if he gets to the Final Four in Homestead…I like Newman to shock the world in that race.

112.  Kurt Busch-Stewart/Haas Monster Energy Ford-Car 41- This former Cup champ is another dark horse. Talented like his brother Kyle, can be even more fiery. He is another dark horse, looking for a second title and it would be wild with the Cup series sponsor on his car. Needs some help to do it…but IF he gets it…watch out!

113.   Kasey Kahne-Hendrick Farmer’s Insurance Chevrolet-Car 5-Kahne has mostly underachieved as the fourth Hendrick car for years. He finally wins and makes the playoffs…but finds out he will be dumped next season anyway. Will this fuel him to fight for a shot at a championship.

114.   Austin Dillon-Richard Childress  Dow/Cheerios  Chevrolet-Car 3- Dillon, the grandson of owner Richard Childress did a great job getting this team and the iconic 3 car back in the playoffs. Can this playoff rookie make noise? Yes, but only with perfect strategy and an upset win or two. Don’t see that happening with similar circumstances that got him a win and into the playoffs in the first place. Beware of this kid in 4 years.

115. Matt Kenseth-Joe Gibbs Dollar General Toyota-Car 20: The former champ needs a bit playoff run to help him find a viable ride for 2018, since he apparently won’t be back in this car next year. He has the skill, but I don’t think the third Gibbs car can get Kenseth through 3 rounds.

116.   Jamie McMurray-Ganassi McDonald’s/Cessna Chevrolet-Car 1- McMurray is a good driver, but not the superstar that some of those above him on that list is. Just getting in on points with the second Ganassi car is great, but he needs a lot of luck and wrecks and wins to escape the opening round. But he won’t. Sorry.