A 103 win season went by the wayside last Saturday, as Aroldis Chapman's 2-1 slider to Jose Altuve was deposited into right-center field at Minute Maid Park for a walk-off two run homer. The play hurt even more after DJ Lemahieu had one more Yankee moment in him after tying the game in the top of the 9th with a two run blast of his own. The 2010's will end as the first decade without a Yankee World Series appearance.
Reality has started to settle in that this isn't the franchise I grew up watching. Yankee postseason magic has gone away along with the House That Ruth Built. Some fans may say we didn't have the starting pitching, but more damning is the fact that when push came to shove we were in all but one game when Cole, Verlander, or Greinke left the mound. The bats Cashman built this team around became limp with runners in scoring position, much like they did against the Red Sox last season.
The more difficult question to answer is how can the Bronx Bombers take a step up from 100+ win regular season and carry that success in October. After a decade of failures in the playoffs something has to give. Pettitte, Mariano, and Jeter aren't walking into the clubhouse next season. Another dark offseason will begin and this team currently has more questions than answers.
As high as I was feeling after the Cowboys win is how low I am after getting embarrassed in prime time again by the Patriots. All Jets fans had the sinking feeling in their stomach watching Brady march down the field with a surgeon's like precision on the first drive. Then, in typical Gang Green fashion our first drive ended in an interception, along with four other drives ending in turnovers and another in a safety.
Ghost-gate has been overblown however. Belichick has sowed his oats making life a living hell for young quarterbacks, and Darnold won't be the last that sees ghosts against this Patriots defense. Coach Gase and the Jets do have a right to be salty with NFL Films allowing that moment to be shown on ESPN on Monday Night. We just have to hope "Seeing ghosts" doesn't follow Darnold the way the Butt-Fumble followed Sanchez around.
I'm seeing Hamburglars trying to make my picks the last few weeks. 4-4 last week keeps me at .500 for the season at 18-18.
Jets +6.5 and Moneyline @ Jaguars - The best way to put Monday Night behind us would be to beat the Jags in Jacksonville Sunday. The Jets defense has been strong this season, and I can see us winning the turnover battle against Minshew. A heavy dose of Lev Bell is in order for Sunday along with the Jets winning outright.
Bears -3.5 v Chargers - The Chargers o-line is banged up, and I see the Bears front seven licking their chops. Matt Nagy's job hangs on if he can figure out how to win the Trubisky.
Giants +6.5 @ Lions - Rumors out of Detroit is that the team is upset after the trade of captain Quandre Diggs. Can this be the Golden Tate revenge game?
Panthers +5.5 @ 49ers - The undefeated Kyle Allen takes on the undefeated 49ers. The irresistible force meets the immovable object. I see this game being a defensive slugfest, so I'll take Carolina getting the points with the possible MVP in Christian McCaffery.
Chiefs +3.5 v Packers - Arrowhead is one of the toughest places to play in football and the Packers have played a lot of tight games this season. Matt Moore still has Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce at his disposal Sunday night and I'll take them with the hook.
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