Weekly Takes - Monday, September 27 Edition

Weekly Takes - Monday, September 27 Edition

1. Who I liked -- in order -- in the Maple Leafs’ preseason win over the Canadiens on Saturday night…

• Jake Muzzin

• William Nylander

• Nick Roberston

• Michael Bunting

• Josh Ho-Sang

• Ilya Mikheyev

• Flip Karl

I thought everyone played quite well (outside of Alexander Kerfoot and Semyon Der-Arguchinstev) -- including John Tavares, Jason Spezza, and Timothy Liljegren -- but those are the players who I thought stood out the most.

2. The 2021-2022 Buffalo Sabres may be the worst single-season team in recent memory, no?

That title will be well-deserved if that is indeed the case this season.

It is one thing to botch the value of any asset. To botch the value of a franchise centre is pitiful.

3. If the Blue Jays fail to make the playoffs this week, it is not going to be because they failed under the pressure.

It will come back to every close game that they choked away in the first three plus months of the season.

Investing in a bullpen matters. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

4. After week one, I wrote that the demise of the Steelers has been greatly exaggerated and that they can make the playoffs in the AFC.

That was… wrong.

Their strengths are quickly becoming flaws because of the amount of injuries they are dealing with, while their offensive line is not just bad -- it is the worst in the league.

Never mind the fact that Ben Roethlisberger looks to be all but done. His pocket awareness is at an all-time low and he is missing on nearly all of his deep passes. Even his short passing game has regressed from last season.

He may still dial it back on a play or two but Roethlisberger is done.

5. The actual team whose demise was greatly exaggerated? The Saints.

They are well coached and have one of the best defences in the league. As long as Jameis Winston doesn’t throw 30 interceptions this season, the Saints should make the playoffs, more so in the division that they are in.

6. What happened to Justin Fields yesterday should serve the Steelers a great guide regarding their offseason plans.

Yes, it’s great to draft a franchise quarterback, but it can’t happen before the Steelers revamp their offensive line.

The drafting of their next franchise quarterback should occur in 2023, not 2022.

7. I love what the Ravens and Chargers have done against Kansas City the last two weeks.

Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in football. There should be no circumstance where it’s acceptable to give the ball back to him with the chance to win the game.

8. Remember when people were concerned about Aaron Rodgers?

I think the Packers are a tier behind the Bucs and Rams in the NFC but as long as they have #12, they will be more than fine.

9. My Super Bowl contending teams, ranked, after the first three weeks…

1. Bucs

2. Rams

3. Cleveland

4. Kansas City

5. Green Bay

6. Buffalo

10. My week four NFL picks…

• Bengals (-7.5)

• Giants (+7.5)

• Kansas City (-5.5)

• Texans (+17)

• Panthers (+4)

• Browns (-1)

• Bears (-3)

• Titans (-7.5)

• Dolphins (-1.5)

• Football Team (+1)

• Seahawks (+3.5)

• Cardinals (+6)

• Packers (-6.5)

• Broncos (-1.5)

• Bucs (-5.5)

• Chargers (-3.5)

Survivor Team Pick: Bills (I have picked the Rams, Packers, and Ravens through the first three weeks of the NFL season, despite saying I was going to pick the Broncos in week three last Monday.)

(I went 3-12 in week three, with Cowboys-Eagles still pending. On the season, I am 21-26)