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Steve Brownlee

I’m just thinking after last weekend’s games that put us almost halfway through the NFL regular season.

We’re all in awe of the greatness of some teams, and I suppose you’d call it awe of the NOT-greatness of some others.

So when we get to the playoffs and look back at some of these teams’ seasons, we’ll say something like: “Wow, these Tarantulas (not a real team protecting everyone’s identity) really hit their stride right in the middle of the season when they defeated the Fighting Artichokes in Week 8. Until then they haven’t done anything.”

Or the opposite: “Those Flying Gnats were certainly looking good until they met the Bram Stokers around Week 7.”

This will be the point we’re thinking about in about two to two and a half months.

So will it be about the New York Jets truly turning things around after acquiring former Packer Davante Adams to work with former Packer Aaron Rodgers, former Packer Allen Lazard and former Packer coach Nathaniel Hackett? I’m sure the Green Bay fans out there are hoping that’s NOT the case.

Or will it be about Cincinnati coming back from a losing record (currently 3-4), winning the AFC North and bowing out in the first round of the playoffs? Or does San Francisco – which is also 3-4 – do the same thing in its division?

Or will there be more discussion about flops that could happen to Minnesota? Or to Detroit? Or to Green Bay? Or heck, all three while the Bears win the NFC North?

Well, that would be quite a story, albeit a sad story in our area.

That would require some pretty good predictions if someone wanted to take this on. Not me, I can hardly tell you what will happen tonight or next Sunday.

But I’m going to try it anyway, with a full cast – no bye – this week:

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Today, 8:15 p.m

Minnesota at Los Angeles Rams – With talk this week of the Rams trading some of their key pieces like receiver Cooper Kupp, it’s even easier for me to make an easy pick. Vikings, 33-20.

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Sunday, 1 p.m

Baltimore vs. Cleveland – This question is harder to answer now that Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson was ruled out for the season last weekend with a torn Achilles tendon. Apparently Jameis Winston — he of the famous 30-touchdown, 30-interception season in Tampa Bay a few years ago — will start in his place. But does it really matter against a turbo-charged Baltimore team? Ravens, 34-24.

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Tennessee at Detroit – A trap game if there ever was one, although I’ll say the same thing about the next four picks as well. Sure, Detroit will probably get it closer than it should after an emotional win at Minnesota last Sunday. But still give me the Lions, 31-27.

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Indianapolis at Houston – Houston returns home licking its wounds after losing its last game in Green Bay. Indy seems to be the main fodder. Texans, 29-20.

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Green Bay at Jacksonville – Somehow Florida will seem like foreign territory to the Jaguars after spending the last two weeks in foggy Londontown. At least that’s what the Packer fan in me (he’s buried DEEP!) would say.

Interestingly, when looking up another game, this headline came up: “Robert Saleh was spotted at Packers practice weeks after the Jets fired.” from the New York Post. Hmm, well, he’s friends with Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur. In fact, I believe the Northern Michigan University graduate was at LaFleur’s wedding, no matter how long ago it was.

Anyway, back to business: I have to go with the Packers, 39-26.

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Arizona at Miami – Things are going well for the Cardinals when they have to worry about looking past someone, especially when they’re on the road. But that could be the case after Arizona dropped the Chargers on Monday night. The Dolphins, meanwhile, just brought in veteran backup CJ Beathard to have five QBs on their roster, including the returnable Tua Tagovailoa, who they hope they don’t rush to bring back. Cardinals, 27-23.

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New York Jets at New England – Optimism appears to be a never-ending resource for the Jets, who appear to be a classic example of the sum being much less than the parts that make them up. Still, it’s the Patriots they face. Jets, 24-22.

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Atlanta at Tampa Bay – Who looked less impressive in last week’s home loss? The Bucs fall while giving up 41 points to Baltimore, or the Falcons while losing 20 points to Seattle? As good as the Ravens are, I’ll give Atlanta the award for inconspicuousness. So it’s the Buccaneers, 28-24.

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Chicago in Washington – This quote from Adam Schefter, via a story by Steve Samra from the website on3.com, I believe a TV station somewhere: “So they were happy that his mom tweeted that he was OK while they waited to hear how he was actually doing.”

That was on Monday and it was about Washington QB Jayden Daniels and the rib injury that sidelined him from the Commanders’ 40-7 win over struggling Carolina on Sunday. Apparently he didn’t practice on Wednesday, so maybe mom was a little hasty.

I’m going with certainty in this matchup of the top two picks in April’s draft. Bears, 23-19.

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Sunday, 4 p.m

New Orleans at Los Angeles Chargers – The Saints are turning into a dumpster – oh, excuse me, that’s supposed to be a capital D “dumpster” since it’s a registered trademark – fireworks since the demise of QB Derek Carr, including a 33-10 home loss to Denver last Thursday. Chargers, 29-19.

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Buffalo in Seattle – I like Buffalo here, even on a cross-country road trip, and that was before they acquired top receiver Amari Cooper in a trade with the Browns. Bills, 37-30.

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Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati – I really don’t feel comfortable facing either of these teams as both seem to have gaping holes, at least compared to what is expected of them. The Sports Illustrated betting site at si.com pointed out that Philly, with its top defender Saquon Barkley, could take advantage of the 30th-ranked Bengals’ rushing defense, so I’ll have the edge and give the Eagles a 26-23 win .

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Carolina in Denver – To celebrate Halloween, I will wait for the Carolina corpse to reanimate before I go out and ever pick the Panthers against anyone. Broncos, 37-26.

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Kansas City at Las Vegas – Familiarity probably breeds contempt for these two teams, the Chiefs don’t think much of Vegas and the Raiders are tired of always having to look up to KC. Probably closer than it should be in a division rivalry, Chiefs, 31-29.

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Sunday, 8:20 p.m

Dallas at San Francisco – Not only is this a traditional powerhouse matchup, I think most of us thought it would be one again this season around Labor Day. No longer. Now it’s: the bad team from San Francisco against the worse Cowboys. This should bring joy to all of us NFC North fans.

Since the 49ers don’t mind running the ball, this should be a slam dunk against the terrible Dallas run defense. But even though San Fran’s weakened team has disappointed us more than once this season, I’ll take the 49ers 27-22.

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Monday, 8:15 p.m

New York Giants at Pittsburgh – Whoever made the NFL season schedule last summer must have been an overly optimistic Giants fan who believed this game would be a good thing. Steelers, 33-19.

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Last week – 11-4, 73 percent. Season – 65-42, 61 percent.

Steve Brownlee can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 552. His email address is [email protected].