In our third Head to Head of the season Offensive Lineman and Rookie of the Year Danny Cousins took on Vice Chairman Mark Chilton. Here’s how they got on…
Ravens 23 Steelers 20 (Thursday Night Football)
COUSINS: This was a tough one to call but Danny went with the hosts by a score despite them missing Big Ben. Home advantage seemed to be the difference for him but he called it wrong as the Ravens won a close one. 0-1.
CHILTON: Mark said the Ravens were better than their 0-3 record suggested, and said the short week wouldn’t help the Steelers. Spot on on both counts, it would seem. 1-0.
Jets 27 Dolphins 14
COUSINS: Danny’s back in the game. He called a big week for Chris Ivory and boy did he call that right. The only thing he had wrong was the margin of victory for the Jets, but we’ll let him off that one. 1-1.
CHILTON: Our lifelong Jets fan was never going to pick anyone other than New York in this one, but he had a little bit of science to back him up. “The key battle is that Miami’s offensive line will not cope…” he said. If you look at those stats the Fins O put up it’s hard to argue. 2-0 and a very happy Jets fan.
Texans 21 Falcons 48
COUSINS: That matchup must be our “never in doubt” game of the week. The Falcons brushed the Texans aside to go 4-0, Danny called it right, and he’s up to 2-1.
CHILTON: Chilts said Atlanta were his dark horses for a bit of a run this season. If they weren’t on everybody’s radar at the start of the season they sure as heck are now. Mark goes 3-0.
Giants 24 Bills 10
COUSINS: He trusted his instincts and said the Giants would not be able to overcome the Bills, and this showed that the Force is not strong in this one. Cousins is back to 2-2.
CHILTON: It’ll be a close one and “home field advantage may tile it in Rex’s favour” said Mr Chilton. The fast-improving Giants clearly didn’t get the memo for this one, and the Vice Chair has his first slip up. 3-1.
Raiders 20 Bears 22
COUSINS: Is the fact that both of our guys predicted a Raiders win on the road here a sign of how far Oakland have come, or how far the Bears have fallen? You be the judge. Anywho back in the room, Danny is now 2-3.
CHILTON: Chilts was closest to a correct prediction by saying they both could lose. He wasn’t far off, but he still falls to 3-2.
Chiefs 21 Bengals 36
COUSINS: Danny’s prediction of the Bengals clocking up over 200 yards on the ground was maybe a little optimistic, but he was bang on apart from that. He’s up to 3-3.
CHILTON: He had a lot of faith in Kansas City. Some would say misplaced faith, but one wouldn’t want to be unkind. Their “decent defense” shipped 36 points and left Bengals wondering if this could finally be the year it all comes together for them. Spoiler alert: it probably isn’t. Mark’s 3-3, and we’re all tied up.
Jaguars 13 Colts 16
COUSINS: Both of our guys picked the Colts to blow Jacksonville away, but in fairness that was before it was revealed that Andrew Luck would miss the game through injury. In any event, Danny’s above .500 for the first time. 4-3.
CHILTON: Neither team wanted to win this but eventually the Colts managed to make it stick. It was a big win in the context of the AFC South, but it won’t paper over the cracks of what has been a decidely dodgy start for them. Mark also goes to 4-3.
Panthers 37 Buccaneers 23
COUSINS: The Panthers are up and down more than…well, let’s just say they’re inconsistent. What was consistent though is that both our guys correctly picked them to beat the Bucs. Cousins goes 5-3.
CHILTON: Correctly predicted a Buccaneers defeat. Not much more to say really is there? Let’s move on. 5-3.
Eagles 20 Redskins 23
COUSINS: Went with the Eagles winning a close one. It sure was a close one, and the ‘Skins somehow dug out the win. Danny falls to 5-4.
CHILTON: Mark thinks it inexplicable that Washington are in freefall, which will come as a surprise to fans of NFC East teams who have enjoyed/endured watching them suffer for a number of years now. He’s also 5-4.
Browns 27 Chargers 30
COUSINS: “Chargers bounce back from their loss against the Vikings and get a home win against the Browns. Chargers win.” Just about sums it up. 6-4.
CHILTON: He went back and forth and eventually settled on a home win with no confidence whatsoever. Which ironically is exactly what we had. Mark is also 6-4.
Rams 24 Cardinals 22
COUSINS: Carson Palmer has been immense so far this season and Danny reckoned it would continue in this divisional game against the Rams. He was wrong. 6-5.
CHILTON: Oh Mark. Marky, Marky Mark. “This is the home banker/lock of the week” said Mr Vice Chairman. Not quite as wide of the mark as Will White and Jack Judge both picking the 49ers to beat the Cards last week, but it’s close. 6-5.
Vikings 20 Broncos 23
COUSINS: Vikings fan Danny had to go with his team on the road against Denver, and you have to admire him for that (are you listening, Mr McMaster?). Still, Minnesota lost the battle and it looks to have lost Cousins the war. 6-6.
CHILTON: Having said Denver would have too much for the Vikings he probably didn’t think it would be as close as it was, but that’s irrelevant. Mark edges ahead, 7-5.
Packers 17 49ers 3
COUSINS: Another game that finished closer than predicted, but he called a Packers win (although who wouldn’t?) and another good game for James Jones. Danny goes 7-6 but keeps it close.
CHILTON: The only thing Mark got wrong in this one was the margin of defeat for San Francisco. He expected them to ship 40 points but the 49ers defense managed to keep it fairly respectable. 8-5.
Cowboys 20 Saints 26
COUSINS: Always a tricky one to pick considering the injury situations at both teams, and not knowing whether or not Drew Brees would be playing. The Cowboys ran the previously 0-3 Saints close, but it’s not good enough for Cousins who falls to 7-7.
CHILTON: Chilts was a bit more confident of another Cowboys road victory, but hadn’t factored in Mr Brees being fit and in determined mood. He goes 8-6.
Lions 10 Seahawks 13
COUSINS: It wasn’t supposed to be this close, and but for another incredibly controversial call in Seattle it may have been very different. No matter, Danny rightly picked the Seahawks and finishes a just about respectable 8-7.
CHILTON: He called Kam Chancellor the difference maker in this one and boy was he right, but certainly not in the way he expected Chilts finishes 9-6 to take the win.
So there we have it. Vice Chairman Mark Chilton takes a close Week 3 with a score of 9-6 to Danny Cousins’ 8-7. The Coaches and Staff lead after three rounds 28-19 to 25-22, and it’s all to play for between the Players and the Staff next week where Running Back Matt Duffin take on Running Back Coach Neil Duffy.
Did any of this week’s results in the NFL surprise you? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment in the box below, by posting on our Facebook page, or by sending us a Tweet.