WEEK TEN CRYSTAL BALL - WEEKEND: A Recollection of Relevance
Published continually since 1994
My friends, THE GURU is old enough to remember a lot of things. The typewriter. The Carter Administration. The rollout of Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
And yes, I even recall the Browns and Jets playing important football games late in the season.
A high-stakes matchup won’t occur in 2025 as Cleveland (2-6, 0-4 away) visits New York (1-7, 0-5 home) today, but I’ll never forget the 1986 NFL postseason when the teams engaged in a slugfest for the ages.
Long story short: the Jets held a 20-10 lead with four minutes left and appeared on their way to a date with Denver in the AFC Championship game. But New York sack artist Mark Gastineau hit Browns QB Bernie Kosar late on a 2nd-and-24 incompletion pass to give Cleveland new life. And Kosar & Co. delivered.
Indeed, with just under two minutes left, running back Kevin Mack scored to cut the lead to 20-17 before TIMMY THE BROWN’s boys sent the game to overtime with a late Mark Moseley field goal. Then, in OT, Moseley - the 1982 NFL MVP - missed a gimme FG try before drilling a chip shot to give the Browns the 23-20 victory.
It was a bitter day for the Jets, who wouldn’t advance that far in the postseason again until the 1998 campaign, when they lost the AFC Championship game at Denver. And, surely, you’re well aware of the team’s current postseason drought, which began in 2011.
As for today, I’m going with Cleveland to get the win with Myles Garrett - he of the five sacks last week - wreaking havoc on Jets QB Justin Fields and his mates. You can catch it at 1 pm on CBS with Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta, Aditi Kinkhabwala on the mike.
Wins were in short supply for LE GURU last weekend, though I got a much-needed victory Thursday night when the Broncos squeaked past the Raiders. My season mark is now 74-61 (.548).
On to the games with four teams - the Bengals (3-6), Chiefs (5-4), Cowboys (3-5-1), and Titans (1-8) - enjoying the bye…
SUNDAY
9:30 AM - NFL NETWORK
In Berlin, the Colts (7-2, 2-2 away) pound the Falcons (3-5, 1-3 away) like a wiener schnitzel. Yes, I know (a) Indy is without all-world defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and (b) wiener schnitzel is an Austrian dish but I’m asking you to trust me on this one, folks.
1 PM - CBS
I like Tampa (6-2, 2-1 home) over the visiting Patriots (7-2, 4-0 away) in a game so tight that my buddy SIR ALEX would wear it as a shirt. Hey, the man is British after all…
…the Bills (6-2, 2-1 away) rout the Dolphins (2-7, 1-3 home) in Miami. There are many surprises each NFL season, but this game won’t be one of them…
…the Texans (3-5, 2-2 home) lose at home to Jacksonville (5-3, 2-1 away) with QB CJ Stroud out with a concussion. I’m in the tank for DeMeco but I’ll go with Trevor Lawrence, even if he’s missing Messrs. Hunter and Thomas. Houston’s Davis Mills gets his first start since 2022.
1 PM - FOX
The Saints (1-8, 0-4 away) fall at Carolina (5-4, 3-1 home) and this one could get uglier than THE GURU in a wig…
…take the Bears (5-3, 2-1 home) against the visiting Giants (2-7, 0-5 away). Sadly, time is slipping away for Brian Daboll, an excellent coach, in this results-oriented business. Tough times for the one-time University of Rochester safety…
…host Minnesota (4-4, 1-2 home) takes down the Ravens (3-5, 1-2 away). Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy is no Lamar but he’s at home and also seems to be the real deal.
4:05 PM - FOX
The Cardinals (3-5, 2-2 away) lose a hard-fought road game at Seattle (6-2, 2-2 home) but Jacoby Brissett continues to play well. In his tenth season - and with his sixth pro franchise - has the NC State alum finally found a football home?
4:25 PM - CBS
The Lions (5-3, 2-2 away) lay the wood to My Beloved Commies (3-6, 2-2 home). Washington is well coached and fights hard but the injuries continue to mount, even extending to Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s teeth. Yep, the cat-quick rookie running back had dental work done this week and could miss the game.
Reminds me of the early ‘90s when FATBACK had to sit out a round at the buffet in Bethlehem, Pa., after burning his lips with some scalding sweet-and-sour sauce…
…take the Rams (6-2, 3-1 away) at San Fran (6-3, 2-1 home) with Stafford playing some of the best ball of his career. It’ll be close but McVay will prevail.
8:20 PM - NBC
Nightfall brings us to the Kiss of Death Alert for the Steelers and the HOUSE OF SUSSEX…
…yep, I’m taking Pittsburgh (5-3, 2-1 away) at the Chargers (6-3, 3-2 home). Feels like Rodgers is in a rhythm, and you never know what you’ll see from the San Diego1 club.
MONDAY
8:15 PM - ABC/ESPN
I’m going with the Eagles (6-2, 3-1 away) to upend the Packers (5-2-1, 3-1 home) in Green Bay. Should be a good one but, at day’s end, there’s no team I trust more on the road than these Birds2.
That’s all for this week, folks. Enjoy the games and God bless!
Move be damned. The Chargers are still San Diegans to me!
As painful a sentence as I could write.