Well that stung a bit. I had a sinking feeling when I opened the magazine and saw that fellow contributor Greg Dempson and I were on the opposite sides of both my plays last week. That’s never a great way to head into the weekend action. And a tip of that hat to Greg, as he triumphed with a 2-0 week, and with that you can guess how I ended up. A fat 0-2 in the column, taking my overall season record to 36-21-1 ATS.
“Uber Eats” Play
As anyone who reads my column each week is aware, I tie one of my picks to the Sunday night culinary experience for Mrs. Holliday and myself…only if it wins. The 0-2 meant no special dishes for us and I Sunday evening. When Mark Andrews dropped that two-point conversion, Mrs. Holliday threw her head back and yelled F****, and this is someone who doesn’t swear a ton.
That drop meant we had no shot at the steamed crab and Natty beer layout she’d planned in honor of a Baltimore win. We actually stick to the rules of the “Uber Eats” play…a loss means no go. To be clear, that F*** reaction wasn’t directed at Mark Andrews. Hell no, it was at me for making the losing pick. It can get rough around here when I don’t hit those.
Half-Smoke Sunday
Let’s see if I can get us squared away this Sunday night with a special Uber Eats menu if I can pull off the win from that Commanders – Eagles game. We’ve had the opportunity to drop by Ben’s Chili Bowl in DC a few times. My god it’s good and has been around forever (since 1948). We love the spicy pork and beef sausage with onions, mustard and chili, known as the half-smoke. If Jayden and crew can get it done, we’re going to do our best to recreate something similar, with chili (and cold beer) on Sunday night.
On to the play.
NFL Play
Commanders at Eagles
There’s reasons to like the Eagles, and reasons to like the Commanders in this matchup. One reason not to be on the Commanders is that they’re a “team of destiny” as my Dad just told me on our call. My Dad pays fleeting attention to the NFL, so when he’s telling me that Washington is somehow pre-destined to get to the Super Bowl, we may have jumped the shark on them, which makes me nervous backing them this week, but I am.
I really like both Philly’s offensive and defensive lines, and of course, that running game. Going down the depth chart the Eagles have some clear edges. You know where they don’t? At Head Coach..and maybe offensive coordinator. Respect to Vic Fangio running the defense; they’re all good. I don’t trust Coach Sirianni. It was the coaching staff (Kellen Moore and the head coach) as much as anything else that tried to give that game away last week. Honestly, if they lost to the Rams after being up big with four minutes to go, I gotta think Sirianni would have to be shown the door. But this is a team that gets out-coached.
I also give the edge at QB, right now, to Jayden Daniels and the Commanders. Hurts is banged up, and there’s nothing scary about facing him when he drops back to pass. Daniels has shown he can be a game-changer when dropping back, when he gets pressured, and when he gets in space. Getting six points, I’m going to roll with Washington.
Play: I’m on the underdog Commanders