Daniel Jones (4-13) @ Carson Wentz (33-28-1)
This is a game that fans of both teams would tell you is going to be far more underwhelming than it should have been. Jones, a second year starter for the New York Giants, appears to have taken a step back after a rookie season where he saw his struggles. While Wentz is barely holding onto his job at this point. The Philadelphia Eagles continue to start utilizing rookie qb Jalen Hurts more and more each week, and there may come a point where Wentz is watching Hurts from the bench for longer than a play or two at a time.
Both guys should be better than they are this year. In Jones’ case, it appears to be a combination of not being fully ready, having a weak offensive line, and the loss of his star RB Saquon Barkley, all of which has put more pressure on a guy who has only started 17 games. Jones’s inconsistencies will have to be addressed sooner rather than later if the Giants have any chance of making the playoffs, and they’ll have to come sooner rather than later if Jones wants that 5th year option to be considered.
Wentz also is struggling as he appears physically and mentally damaged. The throws he’s making this season are not the same as the ones he made during his first four seasons. The last three years he threw 7 interceptions each year and has already eclipsed that with 10 games to go. The Eagles have struggled as he’s one of only two starters who have made it this far without injuries.
This game is likely to be ugly and feature lots of turnovers. Could be perversely entertaining.
Prediction: Eagles 17, Giants 13.
Matthew Stafford (71-82-1) @ Matt Ryan (110-85)
Two franchise leaders going head to head is usually a dream matchup. One can think of all the Brady vs. Manning games, or even Marino vs. Elway for those slightly older. But one doesn’t necessarily think of either of these guys as franchise leaders as both have been slightly underwhelming throughout their careers.
Even worse, this is a game where the two franchise leaders could be winding up their careers at their home bases. Stafford has suffered major back issues over the last year and could be a victim of a new regime, new qb rule soon in Detroit. Ryan may also be facing a new coach but his contract is so massive that he may survive two more years on the team, but not perhaps as the starter. Given where the Falcons are this season (1-5), Ryan may find himself on a team that begins tanking in order to win the first pick and draft the young upstart Trevor Lawrence.
So what does this match up provide then? Lots of offensive fireworks. Both guys love to air it up and in the domed Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, they both might throw for 350+ and several TDs a piece. In that regard it could be lots of fun. But there could be a somber atmosphere as both guys face potential benching or even cutting in the near future so this may be a potential game to reflect upon in the years to come when we could see two titans face each other.
Prediction: Atlanta 42, Detroit 35
Andy Dalton (0-1) @ Kyle Allen (0-2)
At the opposite end of the franchise leader spectrum is this game, where two qbs are simply trying to keep their teams afloat during this treacherous middle part of the season. Dallas lost their starter to a crippling injury, one that may cost the team the division title and a shot at the playoffs. Washington not only benched their starter, but demoted him to 3rd string because he simply wasn’t any good. Now there are rumors that Dwayne Haskins is on the trade block.
This game probably won’t be pretty, but there are massive implications. The NFC East is still up for grabs and both teams have a realistic shot, and both guys were free agent castoffs after last season so a good showing this season could get either guy a potential starting job somewhere. Dalton didn’t even make it through a full game last week and saw 7th round pick rookie Ben DiNucci handle the final drive. Allen left a game due to injury two weeks ago and even after being medically cleared Washington stuck with backup Alex Smith, a man who hadn’t played in two years due to his own gruesome injury.
Lots of strange parallels exist for both guys here so this could be worth watching as both guys attempt to win their first start for their new team.
Prediction: Dallas 21, Washington 10
Jimmy Garoppolo (0-0) @ Cam Newton (0-0)
The prodigal son comes home? A year ago this game would have been far more interesting with Jimmy G coming back to the team that drafted him – New England – to play his former coach as well as the man who thwarted him from being the starter, Tom Brady. Instead, Jimmy G and the 49ers will travel to the Northeast to play a Covid ravaged team that may not have anywhere near what their starting lineup should be.
This will be a fun matchup as these are two teams that both on teetering on missing the playoffs, something which is unheard of in New England and would be unthinkable for a San Francisco team that made the Super Bowl last year.
Prediction: New England 34, San Francisco 24.
Gardner Minshew (7-11) @ Justin Herbert (0-4)
This is a game that could feature a lot of points and a lot of bad defensive plays. Jacksonville and Los Angeles are both fun to watch on offense and horrid to watch on defense so this has the makings of one of Minshew’s old Washington State classics where he might throw 6 TDs and still lose the game.
It’s also a tale of two young qbs who may be trending in opposite directions. Herbert was the 6th pick of this year’s draft and won the starting job after starter Tyrod Taylor was injured and then re-injured by an awful medical staff. Despite the lack of wins, the Chargers seem very confident to hand the reins over to Herbert naming him the starter after just a handful of starts.
Minshew also won his job after his starter was injured during a game. But that was a year ago and the Jaguars now find themselves drifting into the Trevor Lawrence hunt. Would the Jags dump their 6th rd pick from a year ago in order to get Lawrence? The answer is likely yes and despite Minshew’s great play, the results just aren’t showing up on the field. It’s rather sad because Minshew is extremely fun to watch and a qb who may deserve a second shot somewhere else if they do wind up drafting Lawrence.
Prediction: Chargers 40, Jaguars 35
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