Math wasn’t my strongest subject in school, so someone is going to have to explain to me how this equation is going to work out:
Joe Schoen minus Brian Daboll equals winning.
I don’t buy the suggestion that Schoen assembled a talented group and Daboll coached it into the ground.
Like any GM, Schoen has had hits and misses in the draft, and it looks as if he has probably hit on Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo. His trade for Brian Burns is looking good, as the linebacker has rolled up 19.5 sacks in a season-and-a-half. Malik Nabers and Abdul Carter were upgrades to the overall talent of the roster, but it’s hard to overcome back-to-back flops such as Evan Neal and Deonte Banks.
I’m not sure how Schoen survived the “Hard Knocks” episode in which he BS’d John Mara about the ongoing Saquon Barkley situation when he knew Barkley would be a goner, yessing the co-owner after he said he’d have a hard time sleeping at night if Barkley were to end up on the Eagles.
Schoen’s team and Daboll’s team were the same team, and it was 20-40-1 in their combined tenures through Monday morning. That record included 11-33 since the beginning of the 2023 season.
Perhaps the endgame isn’t to keep Schoen. Remember, last year, Jets GM Joe Douglas survived the in-season Robert Saleh firing and was shown the door later. Our Paul Schwartz reported that Mara and co-owner Steve Tisch fired Daboll and told Schoen about it. Mara and Tisch will be the ones to select the new coach. Anyone worth hiring will want to pick his GM or be part of a new tandem, not work under a powerless Schoen. So this might still be a work in progress.
The other big change for Sunday’s game against the Packers is that Jameis Winston will be starting for the first time with the Giants. The move by interim coach Mike Kafka was the right one. It’s incredible that the washed-out Russell Wilson and not Winston served as the backup to Dart. Was that solely a Daboll decision, or did he have front-office help on that?
Either way, Winston comes up from the third string. At least he’ll bring some fun, which was not going to be on the menu Sunday at MetLife Stadium with Wilson.
The Packers come in off home losses to the Panthers and Eagles, in which they scored a total of 20 points. TE Tucker Kraft is out, and Micah Parsons (pec) was questionable as of midweek. The Giants could get a dead-coach bounce. These are the factors pointing in the direction of a cover for a touchdown home underdog.
I can’t get there. The Giants are more viable for the first pick than they are for this one.
The pick: Packers -7.
Miami Dolphins (-2.5) over Washington Commanders (in Madrid, Spain)
Mike McDaniel and his funky pants survived long enough to earn this trip to coach in the NFL’s first regular-season game in Spain. Blowout victories over the Falcons and Bills over the past three weeks made keeping McDaniel more palatable for 85-year-old owner Stephen Ross than the alternative. The Commanders, down Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin, are on a five-game skid with zero covers.
TENNESSEE TITANS (+6.5) over Houston Texans
Wasn’t happy to see this number drop from 7.5. Each of the Titans’ eight losses has been by seven points or more, including a 26-0 drubbing at Houston. Still, the Titans are coming off a bye and lost by just a touchdown to the Chargers on Nov. 2. And even this reduced spread would be a lot to ask of Davis Mills on the road, filling in again for C.J. Stroud (concussion).
Chicago Bears (+3) over MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Rematch of the Week 1 Monday-nighter in which the Bears led 17-6 after three before J.J. McCarthy led three touchdown drives to win 27-24. Willing to take a few points in a toss-up game, the road underdogs could win.
Cincinnati Bengals (+5.5) over PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Joe Flacco is listed as questionable, but his shoulder had a bye week to rest after putting up 470 yards in a 47-42 loss to the Bears. Taking some significant points in what shapes up as a sequel to the Bengals’ 33-31 shootout victory over the Steelers on Oct. 16.
Carolina Panthers (+3.5) over ATLANTA FALCONS
The Falcons couldn’t hold on in Germany, losing in OT to the Colts. Now they make the long trek home without the benefit of a bye week. The Panthers won the first meeting 30-0 in Week 3 and could have their way with the tired Falcons on the ground if Rico Dowdle (quad) is good to go.
BUFFALO BILLS (-5.5) over Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bills have been extremely inconsistent, following up their big win over the Chiefs with an unfathomable blowout loss to the Dolphins. The Bucs’ dire injury situation is getting too much for Baker Mayfield to handle. Bucky Irving and Chris Godwin are unlikely to return this week, and the offensive line is in bad shape.
Los Angeles Chargers (-3) over JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Midweek injury reports aren’t the most reliable, but you have to take notice of the Jaguars listing seven offensive starters as questionable — including four offensive linemen. Safer to side with the Chargers at a reasonable number, as they’ve won four of five and scored at least 24 points in each of those.
San Francisco 49ers (-2.5) over ARIZONA CARDINALS
The 49ers have been decimated on defense this season, and now the Cardinals offense is reaching that status with Marvin Harrison Jr. out after an appendectomy. Kyle Shanahan was trying to get Brock Purdy for his first action since Week 4, but Mac Jones would be fine, too.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (-2.5) over Seattle Seahawks
Both Matthew Stafford of the Rams and Sam Darnold of the Seahawks have been at the controls of juggernaut offenses this season. It’s hard to separate them, but here’s one potential edge: Remember when Darnold said he was “seeing ghosts” in a game with the Jets? He might see more of them on a Rams defense that sacked him nine times in last year’s playoffs.
Baltimore Ravens (-7.5) over CLEVELAND BROWNS
This line came down a point on the news of Lamar Jackson missing Wednesday’s practice. Some previous Jackson status reports have been shady, but you don’t want to be on the other side at anywhere near this number if he were to play.
Kansas City Chiefs (-4) over DENVER BRONCOS
Interesting that the Broncos (8-2) are 2 ¹/₂ games ahead of the Chiefs (5-4) in the AFC West but are home underdogs by more than a field goal. Hmm. Might have something to do with Andy Reid’s 22-4 record after a bye. Or injuries to J.K. Dobbins and Patrick Surtain II. Or that recent wins over the terrible Jets, Giants, and Raiders came by three points or fewer.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (-2.5) over Detroit Lions
Like with the Bucs, the Lions’ injuries might be hitting the tipping point when it comes to competing with top competition. Potential absences dot the defense as well as Detroit’s vaunted offensive line. The Eagles have some concerns on the O-line, but their defense is intact and has benefited from the arrival of Jaelan Phillips.
Betting on the NFL?
Monday
Dallas Cowboys (-3.5) over LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
The Raiders have lost seven of their past eight games, and though the past two were by a total of four points, these teams are on different levels. The Raiders are in the No. 1-pick hunt, and the Cowboys can still make the playoffs. Maybe Quinnen Williams will help solve one of their biggest weaknesses.
BEST BETS: Dolphins, Rams, Cowboys.
LOCK OF THE WEEK: Dolphins (Locks 3-7 in 2025).
LAST WEEK: 7-7 overall, 2-1 Best Bets.
THURSDAY: Patriots.
