Weekly Takes - Monday, September 19 Edition

Weekly Takes - Monday, September 19 Edition

1. The Blue Jays are not a perfect team – no team is, after all – but they were always a way better team than they were showing to be from April to August.

All they needed, for as simple as it sounds, was to play up to their capabilities internally. They are finally doing so, led by Bo Bichette, who is back looking like the superstar that he is.

2. If the Blue Jays are serious about a playoff run, though, they have to stop using Yusei Kikuchi.

Immediately.

3. I am not just saying this because I took the Broncos in survivor in week one, but Nathaniel Hackett’s coaching performance against the Seahawks is one of the worst coaching performances I have ever seen in the NFL.

The time management was… awful, the decision to kick a field goal that far out instead of trusting your franchise quarterback was… awful, the usages of timeouts were… awful, and there was not one creative red zone play drawn up.

This should be a five-alarm fire if you are a Broncos fan, more so given that he followed it up in week two with another… bad coaching performance.

4. The Steelers pass rush was, uh, not the same without T.J Watt, but their defence did enough to beat the Patriots on Sunday.

But Mitch Trubisky looks completely lost under centre and Matt Canada looks overwhelmed as the offensive coordinator.

Pittsburgh will not make any changes on a short week – and nor should they – but change has to come sooner rather than later for a team who is otherwise good enough to make the playoffs in a tough AFC.

5. If Tua Tagovailoa is even half the quarterback that he has shown to be through the first two weeks of the NFL season, the Dolphins are going to be a problem in the AFC.

They have all the makings of being a team that can knock out an excellent team out of a playoff spot.

6. Here is the thing with the Lions: They are kind of fun.

They have a stud at tight end, two starting calibre running backs, and an emerging number one wide receiver offensively.

Thanksgiving may not be unwatchable this season.

7. My Week 3 NFL picks…

• Steelers (+5)

• Kansas City (-7)

• Bills (-4)

• Ravens (-3)

• Saints (-3)

• Lions (+6.5)

• Bengals (-4.5)

• Eagles (-4)

• Texans (+3)

• Raiders (-1)

• Chargers (+7)

• Falcons (+2)

• Rams (-4)

• Bucs (-2.5)

• 49ers (+1)

• Cowboys (+2.5)

I went 6-8 in week two.