Neil Miller/TheNYExtra.com 2025
ROBBIN$ NE$T
Here’s the debate: Which is the worst team in the NFL after one week?
The envelope, please. (The Tennessee Titans were as bad as expected and are have all but wrapped up the Worst 2025 Team season title) Is it:
- The New York Giants
- The Carolina Panthers
- The Miami Dolphins.
The Giants were the only team other than the Titans that didn’t score a touchdown in a 21-6 loss to the Washington Commanders. Star WR Malik Nabors had a second-quarter squabble with embattled coach Brian Daboll. The Giants compiled a mere 231 yards in total offense, 76 of which came on the drive that resulted in a field goal and Nabors barking at Daboll.
And how did your team’s opener go?
The Panthers were hoping to see QB Bryce Young pick up where he left off during the second half of last season. He threw two picks, making his career touchdown-interception numbers, 12-12. Oy! Unless Young really picks it up, he’s in danger of joining the QB Bust Club and the Panthers could take years to recover from making him the No.1 overall pick.
And how did your team’s opener go?
The Dolphins did score a touchdown with 6:21 left in a 33-8 loss that made the Indianapolis Colts, who were ranked 26th in ESPN’s preseason poll, six slots below Miami, look like the best team in the AFC South. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s QBR was 2.7. Former Jets flop Zach Wilson was 16.2. Coach Mike McDonald was on the hot seat coming into the season. Now that seat in Florida in July hot.
Nothing like speculation about the future of the coach heating up after the opener.
And how did your team’s opener go?
To the fans of those three franchises, we offer this in the way of consolation:
The Yankees, and maybe the Mets, look as if they’ll make the playoffs, meaning there are other NY teams to watch. Sorry Giants fans, that’s all we got.
The Panthers look like they got it right in first-round pick, WR Tetairoa McMillan, who led all receivers with 68 yards receiving. Sorry Panthers’ fans, that’s all we got.
The Florida Hurricanes open play Oct. 7th seeking to become the first NHL team to accomplish a three-peat since the NY Islanders won four straight from 1979-82. Sorry Fish fans, that’s all we got.
The Giants are 5.5 underdogs at Dallas. The Panthers are 6.5 dogs at Arizona. And Browns are 11.5 dogs at the pissed off Ravens. Taking the Giants, Panthers and Pats sounds like a nice parley place to start.
Week 1 Woes: Many of us who make a living wagering use this excuse when the first weekend goes South:
“We didn’t have the benefit of a preseason to practice our craft.” It’s a bullshit excuse. After opening 0-3, we’ll take it.
The first game of the NFL season resulted in our first loss. Dallas played much better than most Cowboys fans (yes, I’m one of them who’s considering a new team after the Micah Parsons trade) expected. Had CeeDee Lamb – now a charter member of the Diamond Smile Club – had diamond hands, the Boys could have pulled a shocking upset. We had Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley scoring rushing touchdowns, but got crushed taking the Birds and giving 7.5.
In the Steelers giving 2.5 at the Jets, it took a 60-yard field goal by Chris Boswell with just over a minute remaining for Pittsburgh to secure a 34-32 victory.
Our other parlay also failed. The Bengals were giving 5.5 in Cleveland. That was Joe Burrow vs Joe Flacco. We tacked on a Trey Hendrickson sack, which we nailed. Bengals escaped with a 17-16 triumph.
So we’ve dug an 0-3 hole to climb out of. Yikes!
We were much more successful in the college ranks. Iowa State edged Iowa, 16-13. We had the Cyclones winning but the Hawkeyes covering the 3.5 and the under of 41.5 was never in danger.
GIANTS +5.5 at COWBOYS
The Giants new offense, built around QB Russell Wilson, looked a lot like the old offense under Daniel Jones. Why? The O-line was awful – again. Wilson was only sacked twice, but he was pressured more than Robert F. Kennedy at a Senate Finance Committee hearing. The Cowboys had no sacks against the Uber mobile Jaylen Daniels. Wilson no longer has that escapability, and Giants star tackle Andrew Thomas (foot) remains out.
Even without CB Daron Bland out( foot), the Cowboys’ secondary has a ball hawk mentality, led by feast or famine, Trevon Diggs. Take the ‘Boys, give the points, and parlay that with a Wilson pick. Jaxson Dart, grab your helmet.
Pick Cowboys -5.5. Parlay that with two Wilson picks.
BROWNS +11.5 AT RAVENS
I know, monster line. Monster. But the Ravens were favored by 20.5 against the Browns last year in Week 18. Baltimore was playing for the AFC North title. Cleveland was starting QB Baily Zappe, who is now on the team’s practice squad. The Ravens covered, 35-10.
This scenario is quite different: Week 2. The Browns should have won their opener, a 17-16 home loss to the Bengals. Now they’re on the road for Baltimore’s home opener. Joe Flacco is the QB. He threw two picks, one TD and had a QBR of 32.7 last week. Not all his fault. The Browns rushed for a paltry 49 yards on 24 carries.
Now, imagine how much fun the Ravens’ practices were after that 4th-quarter collapse in Buffalo? Think of an enema. Jim Harbaugh isn’t the ass is his brother John, but a wallflower doesn’t coach the Ravens.
Pick Ravens -11.5 over Browns. Parlay that with the Ravens recording more than two sacks (They sacked Lamar Jackson twice!) and it’s a Week 2 bounce back.
PANTHERS +6.5 AT CARDINALS
The Cardinals haven’t won a playoff game since 2015. Since getting to the Super Bowl in 2015, the Panthers are on their 7th coach. Neither franchise has ever won a Super Bowl. Both have been guilty of horrible ownership. Bill Bidwell, anyone. David Tepper, you say.
Mike Bidwell is now the owner of Cardinals it’s too soon to say if he’ll be a better Bidwell, but one good thing he’s done is make Monti Ossenfort (previously with the Titans and Patriots) the GM. Ossenfort has put together a smart, deep roster that has a great mix of veterans and young players. Second-year WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (five catches, 71 yards, one TD) might be poised to follow in dad’s footsteps and become a lethal No.1 target. This roster may not match the Eagles, Rams, or Lions, but it could develop into an upper-echelon NFC team as the season progresses. If…
The offensive line plays better. QB Kyler Murray got sacked five times in the opener, a 20-13, win over a Saints go marching out team. A running QB can be susceptible to sacks, but five is a crooked number. This pick is more of a vote of incompetence on the Panthers side than one of confidence in the Cardinals.
CARDINALS -6.5 OVER PANTHERS. Parlay that with a +50 yards receiving for Harrison Jr.
COLLEGE PICK
SMU -27.5 AT MISSOURI STATE
The Bears began their move to FBS level with a 73-13 loss at USC. Although they won last week at Marshall, the Thundering Herd doesn’t have the depth or talent of the Trojans. SMU has pumped more into its football program than maverick investors have poured into Bitcoin. They might not have the talent and depth of USC, but they’re not that far behind.
Missouri State, despite playing in its home opener, gets another taste of FBS reality when the burned Mustangs come to Springfield, MO. SMU had thoughts of repeating as ACC champs, but blew a 38-24 lead and got burned at home in Double OT by Baylor, 48-45
Pick – SMU giving 27.5.
NFL picks last week, 0-3; season 0-3.
College picks, 1-0; season 0-1
