BILLS WILL BE FACING A PARADE OF LOUSY DEFENSES
If you’re looking for a reason to believe these offensively-challenged Buffalo Bills might end their 17-year playoff drought this season, check out the defenses they’ll be facing the rest of the way.
Here’s where Buffalo’s opponents in the 11 remaining regular-season games rank in the 32-team NFL on defense entering Week 7 (in chronological order) –
30th...23rd...25th...26th...18th...29th...32nd...31st...11th...32nd...11th.
The two 11ths are the two games against Miami and the two 32nds are the two games against New England. The Dolphins have by far the NFL’s worst offense (242.8 yards and 12.2 points per game) and the Patriots have by far the league’s worst defense (440.7 yards allowed per game – 31st-ranked Indianapolis is 410.0 ) and 30th-ranked 26.5 points allowed per game.
Maybe the resourceful Bills can keep their heads above water in the NFL’s current sea of mediocrity.
THURSDAY’S NFL “BEST BET”: CHIEFS OVER THE RAIDERS
The Kansas City Chiefs lost their first game of the season last week, 19-13 at home to Pittsburgh. The Chiefs are 0-3 against the Steelers since 2016 but 17-3 versus the rest of the NFL.
The Chiefs probably simply had an off game last week. They appeared flat and paid for it. I expect them to bounce as a 3-point favorite in Oakland.
The Raiders have lost four straight games. Quarterback Derek Carr has a back issue and Marshawn Lynch is averaging just 3.7 yards per carry. Oakland ranks 30th in total offense and 25th in total defense – far below expectations on both sides of the football.
The Raiders figure to turn things around soon, but Thursday night’s “Best Bet: is Kansas City 24, Oakland 17.
WILL THE HURRICANES BLOW DOWN SYRACUSE?
The Miami Hurricanes (would it be a good idea to change the nickname?) might crush visiting Syracuse by 50 points on Saturday afternoon, but I don’t know why they’re favored by 15 points.
SU is coming off an impressive upset victory over the defending national champions and then second-ranked Clemson Tigers. The unpredictable Orange are 4-3.
Miami is 5-0 and ranked No. 8 by Associated Press and No. 7 by the coaches. But the Hurricanes haven’t exactly been blowing out strong opponents:
Won 41-13 home over Bethune-Cookman
Won 52-30 home over Toledo
Won 31-6 at Duke
Won 24-20 at Florida State
Won 25-24 home over Georgia Tech.
COMPARING JUDGE TO OTHER SLUGGING YANKEES MVPs
I don’t believe New York Yankees rookie slugger Aaron Judge will beat out Houston’s Jose Altuve for American League Most Valuable Player, but I think he’ll easily finish second.
Just for fun, here is how Judge’s 2017 season compares some of the power-hitting league MVP Yankees of the past:
Judge 2017 – 155 games; .284 batting average; 128 runs; 24 doubles; 3 triples; 52 HRs; 114 RBI; 127 walks; 208 Ks; 1.049 OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage).
Alex Rodriguez (2007) – 158 games; .314; 143 runs; 31 doubles; 0 triples; 54 HRs; 156 RBI; 95 walks; 120 Ks; 1.067 OPS.
Don Mattingly (1985) – 159 games; .321; 107 runs; 48 doubles; 3 triples; 35 HRs; 145 RBI; 56 walks; 41 strikeouts; .939 OPS.
Thurman Munson (1976) – 152 games; .302; 79 runs; 27 doubles; 1 triple; 17 HRs; 105 RBI; 29 walks; 38 strikeouts; .769 OPS.
Elston Howard (1963) – 135 games; .342; 75 runs; 21 doubles; 6 triples; 28 HRs; 85 RBI; 35 walks; 68 strikeouts; .869 OPS.
Roger Maris (1961) – 161 games; .269; 132 runs; 16 doubles; 4 triples; 61 HRs; 141 RBI; 94 walks; 67 Ks; .993 OPS.
Mickey Mantle (1956) – 150 games; .353; 132 runs; 22 doubles; 5 triples; 52 HRs; 130 RBI; 112 walks; 99 strikeouts; 1.169 OPS.
Yogi Berra (1954) – 161 games; .307; 88 runs; 28 doubles; 0 triples; 22 HRs; 122 RBI; 56 walks; 29 strikeouts; .819 OPS.
Joe DiMaggio (1939) – 120 games; .381; 108 runs; 32 doubles; 6 triples; 30 HRs; 126 RBI; 52 walks; 20 strikeouts; 1.119 OPS.
Lou Gehrig (1927) – 155 games; .373; 149 runs; 52 doubles; 18 triples; 47 HRs; 173 RBI; 109 walks; 84 strikeouts; 1.240 OPS.
Babe Ruth (1923) – 152 games; .393; 151 runs; 45 doubles; 13 triples; 41 HRs; 130 RBI; 170 walks; 93 strikeouts; 17 stolen bases (21 caught stealing); 1.309 OPS.
The biggest difference between Judge and several of his slugging predecessors was his huge total of strikeouts and walks-to-Ks ratio.
SHORT SHOTS
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott’s lawyers are having a better season than he is.
Ric Flair has unveiled his four-man Mount Rushmore of pro wrestling. Naturally, The Nature Boy is one of the quartet, with Hulk Hogan, Steve “Stone Cold” Austin and The Rock. No room for Andre The Giant, Randy Savage, Bruno Sammartino or Killer Kowalski or Verne Gagne, etc.
Four-year-old thoroughbred champion Arrogate will be retired to begin his stud career after he attempts to repeat in the Breeders’ Cup Classic November 4 at Del Mar in California. He has 10 career starts, with seven victories and earnings of $17,302,600.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Wednesday, October 18
Brittney Griner (27)...Brad Miller (28)...Yoenis Cespedes (32)...Lindsay Vonn (33)...Alex Cora (42)...Bob Whitfield (46)...Doug Lidster (57)...Kjell Samuelsson (59)...Thomas Hearns ()59)...Martina Navratilova (63)...Hilliard Graves (67)...George Hendrick (68)...Willie Horton (75)...Mike Ditka (78).
Thursday, October 19
Daniel Descalso (31)...Ashlyn Harris (32)...Josh Tomlin (33)...J.A. Happ (35)...Jose Bautista (37)...Rajai Davis (37)...Michael Young (31)...Leonard Little (43)...Brad Daugherty (52)...Webster Slaughter (53)...Evander Holyfield (55)...Tim Belcher (56)...Dawn Cole-Jones (57)...Bruce Weber (61)...Lonnie Shelton (62)...Joe Bryant (63)...Lionel Hollins (64)...Dale Tallon (67). John Lithgow (72) is invited to the birthday party.