One week later

 As things were happening last week, I wrote a post below that is likely wrong. We know more now. Two things have become clear this week:

1) The local apparat really, really wants to this story to follow an evil MAGA narrative. Julie Nelson, the anchor on the 10 p.m. news on KARE, made a point to call Boelter's activities "politically motivated" every night this week in the opening of the broadcast. It's an assertion, a mantra, and you should not question it. Boelter's letter, to the extent we understand its content, alters the narrative that's being constructed.

2) There's a barely concealed battle going on between the acting U.S. Attorney, Joe Thompson, and Mary Moriarty, the Soros-backed HennCo prosecutor. Moriarty is in trouble because she's been letting criminals loose in the usual Soros style, but she really, really wants to prosecute Boelter. The feds are taking the lead, as they have in the past, because she's feckless. 

An example of how this dynamic has played out: the previous U.S. Attorney under Biden, Andrew Luger, was the guy who actually did the heavy lifting in prosecuting the massive Feeding Our Future fraud cases, in which politically connected Somalis and their friends stole millions of dollars by claiming to feed millions of meals to kids during COVID. The locals let this go on for years. Luger is a loyal Democrat, but he's of the old-school sort and he wasn't willing to countenance the open corruption of this arrangement. These stories are not openly discussed, because they reflect badly on Walz, Keith Ellison (who took meetings with the criminals) and others within the DFL apparat.

It would be unlikely in the extreme that Walz ever communicated to Boelter except in passing; the boards that Boelter served on were advisory and weren't especially political. Having said that, there were some fairly heavy hitters on the boards, including a longtime DFL power player named Myron Frans, who has been a bigwig at the University of Minnesota and was the guy who ran the state government management office under Walz and his predecessor, Mark Dayton. As far as I know, no one has asked Frans what he thought of Boelter and his role. We'd rather not know, apparently.

I don't believe in conspiracies. Boelter has, from what we know, had an, ahem, interesting career. I'd personally like to know more about his work in Africa and whether the USAID cuts affected what he was doing. He seems to have acquired a lot of weapons and although his financial issues have been discussed, he seemed to have enough money to own a big house in the country and a lot of material possessions. Maybe the answers and statements are incoherent, but at a minimum he's a deeply weird dude. I'd prefer to simply follow the story wherever it leads, but you can see the narrative construction team straining mightily at the moment. From that you can draw your own conclusions.

pour encourager les autres

 Politics are too often a blood sport. Overnight this became evident, as Melissa Hortman and her husband were assassinated: 

Two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses were shot by someone impersonating a police officer, sources confirmed to FOX 9. Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were killed.

Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were shot in the overnight shootings in Champlin and Brooklyn Park. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is "cautiously optimistic" they will survive. 

Hortman was Speaker of the House in the previous legislature, but because of a power sharing agreement with the Republicans, she became the minority leader. The party leaders had to hammer out a budget agreement for the next two years. The results were contentious in the extreme. Hortman was as partisan as anyone in St. Paul, but in this instance she had to side with the Republicans to get the budget passed, so she cast the deciding vote in favor of the compromise proposal. I am guessing that vote cost her life. Donks do not like traitors in the main.

Hoffman cast a similar vote in the Senate [UPDATE - APPARENTLY HE DID NOT], which reinforces my supposition about the motive. We'll probably find out soon who the shooter is, because there's a manhunt underway and apparently law enforcement may have him cornered.

I don't write much about politics any more, because I find it depressing. During her career, I probably never said one good thing about Melissa Hortman. She didn't deserve this. No one does.

Always remember...

 Follow the money:

The money that individuals working abroad send to their families in Mexico fell for a third month this year.

And some fear further, possibly catastrophic declines in this vital source of income for the Mexican economy if the U.S. Senate approves the 3.5 percent tax on remittances the House green-lit in its version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Bank of Mexico (Banxico) data released this week shows Mexican families received $4.76 billion in wire transfers, checks, money orders and cash from abroad in April. That’s more than a quarter-of-a-billion-dollar decline from the $5.14 billion received in March, Banxico reports.

It also represents a 12.1 percent year-over-year decline – the biggest dip since September 2012. Mexico last year received $64.7 billion in remittances representing 4 percent of its gross domestic product.

Yeah, you'd fight too if that kinda money was involved. What you really wonder is what the Donks are getting out of the deal. Everyone assumes it's votes and political power because of the way the Census counts people, but I wonder.

Gotham on the Mississippi

 This amused me:

Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Minneapolis has a “very detached, bourgeois liberal mentality,” according to a New York Post story posted Friday as the city this week approaches the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder by police.

O’Hara said he became accustomed to a very Democratic city when he worked in Newark, N.J., but that nothing had prepared him for the “ultra-liberal orthodoxy,” as the Post put it, that he found in Minneapolis. O’Hara was Newark’s public safety director.

“Here it’s very, very ideological and a lot of times it’s like reality and facts can’t get through the filter. It’s a very detached, bourgeois liberal mentality … It’s bizarre," he is quoted as saying to the Post, a tabloid generally considered to be a conservative publication.

Yeah, but you're not supposed to talk about it, Chief O'Hara. I would have thought Commissioner Gordon would have told you that. 

Unsurprisingly, our betters were not amused:

O’Hara’s comments irritated some Minneapolis City Council members. Council President Elliott Payne said progressives in Minneapolis are not a monolith, which he said is hard for some “to wrap your head around, especially for people new to our city’s political ecosystem.”

“Some people come into their politics through a more academic process, others through solidarity, others through lived experience,” Payne said. “No matter how people develop their core values, one should have a deeper understanding of the diverse perspectives of our community before engaging in conversations with New York tabloids.”

Translation - you're not supposed to tell them we're a great herd of independent minds, capisce? 

The irritated members of the Minneapolis City Council are all grifters. They talk about "lived experience" and "solidarity," but that's all a ruse. They get rich from milking the taxpayers and it's a pretty good gig. Devotion to one's rice bowl is a perfectly understandable incentive - the vanguard guards the avant garde and being called bourgeois is an intolerable insult, especially when the audience is likely simps from Staten Island. Why should Payne have to explain his activities to anyone so utterly lacking in nuance? The sniffing is audible.

What remains a mystery is what Donk voters get out of the deal. I have lived in the Twin Cities for more than 30 years and I lived in Chicago before that, and most people in both places recognize that their rulers are scoundrels, but they continually return them to office anyway. I used a Batman reference early on; speaking of cartoonish individuals, Tim Walz and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker are Rocky and Bullwinkle villains, but they win almost by acclimation. And if you try to ask the question in polite circles, you are cast into the outer darkness.

Do you spot the real issue with O'Hara's remarks? The mentality in question isn't detached. It's unhinged. 

Recommendation

 Trump has so many "scandals" swirling about him that he really ought to combine a few to make things more efficient. My first recommendation - use the Qatari plane to fly in white refugees from South Africa.

The next pope - a few guesses:

So we're going to have a new Pope. To understand the state of play, it's worth considering a few things about Cardinal Bergoglio, the man who became Pope Francis:

He was a product of his upbringing in Argentina - he came of age under Juan Peron, the longtime dictator of Argentina, who was socialist in many ways but also a traditional caudillo in others. That experience framed Francis's world view - as I've said repeatedly in the past, you can take a Pope out of Argentina, but it's difficult to get the Argentina out of the Pope.

Francis was a Jesuit - if you compare the church to a deck of cards, the Jesuits are the Jokers. They wield a lot of power, but typically they have been independent operators. Where they are welcome, they can do marvelous things. Our country has a number of outstanding Catholic universities that are at least nominally under the control of the order. One place where the Jesuits were not welcome was in the Archdiocese of Minneapolis and St. Paul, which his why we have a diocesan university (St. Thomas), instead of a Marquette, or Creighton, or Loyola.

Francis was a reaction against currents within the Church. His two immediate predecessors, St. John Paul II and Benedict, were conservative in matters of doctrine and were somewhat ambivalent of modernism, especially as manifested in Vatican II. Francis was the opposite and he was able to  slow the conservative tide, but he didn't necessarily stop it.

Francis changed the composition of the College of Cardinals in two ways that don't necessarily travel together. He made it younger, and he made it far less European. What is interesting about that? Areas outside of Europe and North America are where the energy in the Church resides. But the energy of the youthful sectors of the Church tend to skew more conservative, especially on matters of doctrine. The future of the Church resides with the younger prelates, who mostly came up under JPII and Benedict, but most of those individuals are not yet considered papabile.

I believe the chances of another non-European pope are strong, for a number of reasons:

The primary energy in the Church is now elsewhere, especially in places that were once missionary territory. You could argue that Europe is missionary territory now, given the decline in Catholicism there. This decline is found within the Church but also within the mainline Protestant congregations, where in some ways the issue is even more dire. Our protestant brethren, especially of the more evangelical stripe, totally understand this - if you leave the parking lot of a Protestant church, you are likely see a sign when you leave the parking lot that says "You are now entering the mission field." The evangelicals believe this and are taking action. Catholics face the same issues and the younger prelates are the ones taking action.

I think Energy is important right now - the last two Popes have been elderly and JPII, while young when first elected, was quite elderly when he passed away. Many of the individuals considered papabile are in their 70s, so a younger Pope would very much be a sign that the Church leaders have made a decision about the future and want a leader who will have a papacy similar to JPII.

As for the specific candidates, I'd say the following:

There has not been an African pope since Pope Gelasius, who served from 492-496. Could we have an African pope this time? I think it's a strong possibility. There are fairly strong candidates

Peter Turkson -- currently at the Vatican, he is originally from Ghana. He is fairly liberal but not obviously so. He is also 76 - he was mentioned as a candidate in 2013 and might have been a stronger candidate then.

Fridolin Ambongo -- he is the Archbishop of Kinhasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is considered a powerful leader and thinker, but it is unclear where he stands on a number of issues. He is also among the younger candidates at age 65. Certainly a possibility

Robert Sarah -- emeritus Vatican official. He's from  Guinea and is probably the most conservative possibility. He is dynamic, but he's also likely too old. He will turn 80 this year. 

Other non-European candidates include:

Luis Antonio Tagle  -- currently in the Curia. Started out as a Jesuit but became a diocesan priest. He is a Filipino and clearly both a liberal and an acolyte of Francis, but he does stray a bit from the leftist orthodoxy and as a result fell out of favor a bit. He is younger at age 67. He has to be considered a strong possibility.

Charles Maung Bo --  currently the Archbishop of Yangon in Myanmar (Burma). He has a tough assignment and has managed it well. In terms of doctrine, he's significantly more conservative than Tagle, but he's also significantly older at age 76. He shares much in common with JPII, including being a playwright. He'd be excellent, I think.

Malcolm Ranjith  -- currently the Archbishop of Colombo (Sri Lanka). He is a conservative but pro Vatican II. He's a skilled communicator and speaks 10 languages, which shows both his intelligence and his engagement with the world. I see him as a potential compromise candidate; he is age 77, but if the Conclave is not prepared to chose a direction and is looking for a transition figure, Ranjith would be a good choice.

There are two possible US candidates

Raymond Burke -- in Rome, but not part of the current hierarchy following a split with Francis. He's originally from Richland Center, WI. Was Bishop of Lacrosse, WI, then St. Louis. He built a big shrine in LaCrosse for Our Lady of Guadalupe. He's conservative, brilliant, and humble. I think at age 76 he's unlikely to get the nod, but his career is fascinating. 

Timothy Dolan -- Archbishop of New York. Dolan is an old school Irish priest and he's genuinely popular among the flock and doctrinally conservative, but there are questions about his "gravitas." At age 75, I would consider him a longshot.

European candidates

Matteo Zuppi  -- currently the Archbishop of Bologna. He's pretty far left, and if he were selected would essentially a continuation of Francis. He's actually tied closely to leftist political parties in Italy. Age 69; if he is chosen it signals that the liberal wing has won the argument.

Jean-Marc Aveline -- currently the Archbishop of Marseille. He is a friend of Francis; he was born in Algeria, which would technically make him an African pope, but he's spent most of his life in Europe. He is also pretty far left. Age 66.

Pietro Parolin -- currently the Vatican Secretary of State. His background is quite similar to Pope Paul, serving much of his life as a diplomat. He is also controversial because of his role in brokering a deal with the Chinese communist party, which ceded important control to the government in order for the Church to continue to operate there. He was doing Francis's bidding, but now that Francis is gone he may have trouble with those who disagreed with the initiative. Age 70. 

Willem Eijk  -- currently the Archbishop of Utretcht (Netherlands). Eijk is very well regarded generally and is a fairly consistent conservative. I like him a lot, but he also presides over a very secular archdiocese and he's spent much of his time fighting secularism to limited effect. He's 71.

Peter Erdo  -- currently the Archbishop of Budapest. He is generally considered a  conservative to moderate; he's been successful. Having come of age in communist Hungary, he has some similarities to JPII. I could see him becoming a compromise choice. Age 72.

Pierbattista Pizzaballa   -- currently the Archbishop of Jerusalem. While his amusing surname has brought him attention, he's actually an intriguing candidate. He has served with great distinction in a tough neighborhood and has done well to protect the Church and his flock in the Holy Land. He's considered a moderate but has some conservative leanings. He's also one of the youngest papabile at age 60. Do not be surprised if he emerges.

My guess: who knows? I expect a reaction against some of Francis's excesses, but the question is whether or not a conservative will have the votes in the Conclave. Ranking the possibilities:

If a liberal wins:   Zuppi, Tagle, Aveline, Parolin. I think the number of liberals could split vote, perhaps lessening the chance that any one of them actually wins.

If a conservative wins:  Sarah, Eijk, Bo

If a compromise candidate: Turkson, Ranjith, Erdo

If a wild card is selected:       Ambongo, Pizzaballa

I fully expect to be wrong. If you want more information on the cardinals, The College of Cardinals Report is about as comprehensive as you'd want.

RIP, Pope Francis

 Francis has left us. A few thoughts:

• Popes are teachers, leaders, administrators. They wield enormous power. They are human beings and sinners, despite the majesty of the seat they hold. I never believed Francis was duplicitous, but I believed he was wrong about many things. As such, his passing affords an opportunity for a better future for the Church.
• Speculation always abounds when it's time to select a new pope. This site  provides a pretty good overview of potential successors, suggesting 22 names as papabile. The most familiar of these, by far, is Cardinal Raymond Burke, who grew up in Richland Center, Wisconsin and served as a bishop in LaCrosse and later St. Louis, among other places. He also became enmeshed in a significant feud with Francis and was essentially fired, although he maintained his rank as a cardinal. It would be a significant surprise if he were to be selected, but it would also be a welcome decision in my view.
• I have no idea who, or what, is coming next. I do know that while Francis did his level best to re-establish the Vatican II liberal/secular worldview to the Church, the energy within the Church lies elsewhere and signs are everywhere. Traditional Latin Mass is coming back all over and young people are the ones who are clamoring for it. The places where Vatican II was embraced are now falling to secularism and more energetic competing faiths, especially Islam. The Vatican may be situated on the European continent, but the future of the Church is elsewhere and we're already seeing that the traditional home of Christianity is now mission territory. The new Pope will need to recognize these trends and respond accordingly.

I haven't been writing much lately and I may not write a whole lot, but this moment does have my attention and we'll see if there is a renewal of this feature as a result.

Benster and D Pick Your Games--------The Super Bowl Nobody Wanted Once Again Edition

 So, we get a Super Bowl matchup that once again nobody wanted. The Chiefs and Eagles again isn't exciting. But thanks to the Bills and Commanders not getting the job done, we are here. 

And yet, it's seemed inevitable for a long time. The Chiefs always seem to find a way and the Eagles were looking like a juggernaut by the end of the season.

Also, the Chiefs winning means that the Packers would lose the distinction as the only NFL franchise to get 3 straight NFL titles. That is why Lombardi and Lambeau are our GOAT coaches. Nothing against Andy Reid, but you all know that I am a gigantic Packer fan.

This Chiefs team feels like the 1967 Packers team; flawed but still able to win when it comes down to it. Don't know if it means anything more, but I guess we find out tomorrow.

I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYPPEEEEEE! and ready to pick this game. Watch me work.

Kansas City Chiefs (-1.5) vs. Philadelphia Eagles, in New Orleans Two years ago was a great game between these two teams that came down to a questionable PI call that allowed the Chiefs to win. By the way, Tom Brady needs to have a great broadcast. Despite him getting better, if he does worse than Greg Olsen two years ago there will be some grumbling. I feel like as good as the Chiefs have been, they have relied on the Texans and Bills melting down instead of winning on their own merits. The Eagles look a lot more confident, and their power running game with Saquon has been decisive. I also feel like the Eagles defense has been a lot better, as they have made Jordan Love, Matthew Stafford, and Jayden Daniels all look very ordinary. I look for the Eagles to get off to a great start and finish the job they didn't do last time. Eagles 36, Chiefs 29.

When I look at this game, I think the Eagles have a better overall team, but they are lacking in two of the most important facets of football - quarterbacking and coaching. Jalen Hurts is a good quarterback, but Patrick Mahomes is an all-timer. The Eagles have a good overall coaching staff, but Andy Reid is an all-timer. The formula for the Eagles is simple - get an early lead and then ride Saquon Barkley to glory. It's worked all season. In theory, the Chiefs should struggle with that construct. But I don't know that it will ever get there. I think Mahomes will do enough to make Jalen Hurts have to beat him. And I am skeptical Hurts has it in him. Chiefs 28, Eagles 25.

Stone cold munching

Thanks again for reading this feature all year. Enjoy your football this weekend. For the final time this season, Ben out.  

Benster and D Pick Your Games----Please Beat the Chiefs Edition

 I think that I speak for a lot of people when I say that I really hope someone beats the Chiefs. 

That does seem to be the prevailing sentiment. And it's one I share.

I'm also happy for Ryan Day. Look, I am far from a Buckeye fan. But seeing him get to stick it in the faces of those crazy Buckeye fans that sent death threats to him and his family after the Michigan game was pretty awesome. And it really confirms that the Big Ten has changed the narrative surrounding the SEC. You do love to see it. 

While it remains to be seen if it's going to be a long-term trend, I am certainly okay with Big Ten teams winning championships, although maybe it would be cool if it weren't the resident Death Stars once in a while. The most heartening thing was seeing Indiana finally get a moment in the sun.

I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYPPEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work. 

Washington Commanders (+6) vs. Philadelphia Eagles I wasn't shocked that the Commanders went into Detroit and ripped the soul out of the Lions. I do appreciate Brad giving me props for being right on the 45 points that Jayden Daniels put up. The Eagles are a very complete team and were able to shut down the Rams last week in bad weather. What I believe the key to this game is that the Commanders are playing with house money. Nobody had this team making the NFC title game, and all of the pressure is on the Eagles. I believe that Jalen Hurts is going to struggle a bit, and the Commanders are going to pull up another impressive road upset. I am getting some 2007 Giants vibes from the Commanders. Hail to the Commanders 26, Cry Eagles Cry 24.

That's an interesting comparison. I have to say that Jayden Daniels has surprised me. He's dynamic in all the right ways but he seems to have an advanced understanding of the game and rarely makes bad decisions. My concern with him will be injuries, because he plays in a style that leaves him susceptible to getting rocked by the ill-intentioned linebackers. Which brings us to the Eagles, who have guys like that on their squad. This game will turn on Washington's ability to slow down Saquon Barkley. Hey, bold observation, right? The Communards (or whatever we're calling them) do have have a stout defensive line, which helps. The Eagles are huge and wear teams down; that's what they did to the Packers and the Rams. It may be a more difficult assignment this time. Eagles 27, Community Notes 21.

Buffalo Bills (+2) vs. Kansas City Chiefs The Chiefs and Bills both were able to get past a couple of game opponents. I will admit that the Texans complaints about the zebras feel like an attempt to cover up that CJ Stroud and the Texan special teams really didn't rise to the occasion. That being said, Patrick Mahomes really seems to be going looking to draw a flag in the same manner as James Harden does. The Bills gutted out a tight win against the Ravens thanks to Lamar making a throw that needed to be a bit better. You still have to catch that if you were Mark Andrews, and now you know why I was disappointed with the results when I drafted him as my tight end in fantasy football. This Bills team feels different. It seems that Sean McDermott has decided to let Josh Allen really take the lead, and the Bills were able to beat the Chiefs straight up. This seems like the year that the Bills finally are able to have the breakthrough that they want. Something tells me that Tim Russert is going to be smiling in heaven Sunday night. Nobody Circles The Wagons Like The Buffalo Bills 42, Chiefs Fatigue 36.

The difference this year? Buffalo can run the ball when they need to. That makes a big difference. Josh Allen can take charge because he has options he didn't have before. Having said that, the Chiefs are different, too. This is not a high-flying offensive team, although they can score. The Chiefs win with defense and they have been doing it all season long. Buffalo will need to score early and score consistently to win this one. I don't see 42 points as being possible. 28? Maybe. And will that be enough? Buffalo 28, Kansas City 27.

And now, it's time to laugh at the Lions. All of this talk about how the Same Old Lions weren't back, and how you were going to win the Super Bowl. The problem -- this is the NFL, and nothing is promised. As a Packers fan, I know for a fact how hard it is to win a Super Bowl and this is the type of loss you don't recover from. Congrats on winning 15 games and not winning a playoff game. The bottom line is that Dan Campbell didn't learn a thing from the Niners meltdown. Calling a wide receiver pass when you were down was a bad call, and not knowing that there were 12 men on the field on that 4th down was coaching malpractice. You may know how to build a great culture, but the bottom line is that the Lions failed. Jared Goff ended up showing why the Rams got rid of him. He played horribly, and I honestly don't know where he goes from here. After laughing at the Packers and the Vikings, the Lions had the chance to back up all of the talk. They didn't. I got flashbacks to the 2021 disaster that my Packers had against the Niners. Now the Lions need to understand that things might go south without their coordinators. Instead of trying to run all of these cool trick plays from Madden, why don't you take a good look at if Dan Campbell can manage a game? Because at the end of the day, he didn't put his team in a position to win. Putting your team in a position to win is the most important thing about being a head coach. Like LaFleur and KOC, Campbell has to answer to that. 

I will be interested to see what happens. Campbell has delegated a lot of work to his coordinators, which on balance is a good approach, but he'll need individuals of similar quality to keep things humming in Detroit. The division is still going to be tough next year and if da Bears can find a way to overcome their bumbling ways, especially in the front office and ownership boxes, they could be trouble, too.

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out. 

Benster and D Pick Your Games------Is The NFC North Frauds Edition

Remember when the NFC North was called the deepest division in NFL history? Yeah, that take didn't age well. And thankfully, I got a working laptop again, so my brilliance will flow stronger than ever. 

If you do say so yourself. I dunno. Philly is a tough place to win. The Rams played well. I wouldn't minimize what the Packers and the locals did this season, but yeah, Detroit needs to represent. That's called foreshadowing

The NFC North can go and join the SEC in the overhyped in 2024 party. You can see Greg Sankey and SEC hype men Clay Travis and Paul Finebaum looking upset at the buffet. 

Is it the breakfast buffet at the Drury? Because that's usually pretty good.

No, and besides you know you're not supposed to eat all those biscuits. And trust me on this - where Sankey, Travis and Finebaum eat is more likely a place where everything is deep fried. But enough food references - I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYPPEEEEEEEE! and ready to pick some games. Watch me work.

Houston Texans (+8.5) vs. Kansas City Chiefs I think that I speak for most of America when I am begging for someone to beat the Chiefs. The Patriots may have fallen into a rebuild, but the idea of the Patriots wasn't killed. I think that the Chiefs are like the 2011 Packers. The record is very impressive, but the Chiefs have needed either some Mahomes magic or some late game mistakes by their opponents to get that record. The Texans are a sneaky good outfit. They looked great against the Chargers, and I think that Stroud is ready to take the next step in his evolution as a star. Remember, the weather isn't going to be great in Kansas City tomorrow. I trust Joe Mixon to be the difference maker. Texans 36, Chiefs 29.

I would love that, but I don't see it happening. Cold weather will work to the advantage of the Chiefs. I think Stroud learned some things this year that will help him be a top echelon quarterback in the league in the future, but as a group the Texans are not there yet. Chiefs will win this one. Chiefs 27, Texans 17.

Washington Gridlocks (+9.5) vs. Detroit LOLions I think Dan Quinn should be getting more consideration for Coach of the Year. Don't get me wrong, KOC winning is something that I can agree with. The argument for Quinn is that a defensive minded coach was able to have Jayden Daniels become a star, build a great culture, and show that there is a chance that his career isn't defined by 28-3. The Lions are going to be a lot healthier, and are a year wiser with the playoffs. The thing is, Dan Campbell has to show that he is willing to manage the game better if things get tight. I'm not saying that he is a bad coach, as he has delivered the goods. What I do question is whether can he learn from the decisions he made against the Niners last January? If the Lions lose, then the NFC North might be the biggest bunch of paper tigers in NFL history. 3 double digit teams and an 0-3 playoff record would be terrible. Also, Detroit isn't a cursed sports city. The Red Wings and Pistons have been winners in my lifetime, and the Tigers have made a couple of World Series. Hail To the Commanders 45, LOLions Gonna LOLions 0.

Uh, no. Love you to death - you are my son after all - but that pick is ludicrous. The Lions are in Detroit and they have been the best team in the NFC consistently all season long. They are getting healthier, as you mentioned. The Commanders are a nice story, but they are not going to go into Detroit and win. Lions 31, Commanders 17.

Los Angeles Rams (+6) vs. Philadelphia Eagles So I talked to Mrs. D, aka Mom. She is a Vikings fan, and she said that she was surprised at how easily the Rams were able to get to Sam Darnold last week. I agree with her, and think that the Rams winning that comfortably was jarring. The Eagles made more plays than the Packers, who needed to play a perfect game last week to have a chance. Sadly, that a terrible performance by the players and coaching staff. I think that the Eagles are a team that is getting a bit slept on. They have Super Bowl experience from 2 years ago, and I feel like they match up well against any opponent on the NFC side. While the Rams are going to be up for this, the Eagles are just too well rounded. Eagles 31, Rams 17.

Hey, it's a sensible pick! I knew you had it in you! I could see the Rams giving the Eagles a game, but their defense is quick and small. That worked against a banged up Vikings offensive line, but it won't work against the earth movers in Philadelphia. And at some point, Saquon Barkley is going to break one. And that will break the Rams. Eagles 27, Rams 19.

Baltimore Ravens (-1) vs. Buffalo Bills This game is going to be a lot of fun. Both Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson are on a mission, and these teams are very exciting squads. Sean McDermott has been through the ringer the past couple of years thanks to suffering some brutal playoff losses, and he seems to have made some adjustments to his coaching style that have paid dividends. Josh Allen is a great player to have in your corner when you need magic, and I feel like with the Bills having home field advantage, they are going to finally win a big postseason game with the magic going in their favor for once. No more 13 Seconds, a game Bengals team, and a brutal miss by a kicker this time. Nobody Circles the Wagons 35, Ravens 34.

I don't have anything against the Ravens per se, but I'm tired of them. Buffalo has been on the verge of breaking through for a while now and it's time they do so. The only thing that makes me nervous is that the Bills defense is kinda ordinary and the Ravens can score. But it's at home and the Bills fans will be crazed. And Lamar Jackson, for all his brilliance, has a propensity to cough up hairballs, too. Bills 31, Ravens 27.

A School In Columbus (-8.5) vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish, in Atlanta I love that there is no SEC team in this game once again despite the fact this game is in the heart of SEC country. You really hate to see it. I am going to say this very bluntly about Ohio State. The fans who melted down after the Michigan game and insulted this team and coaching staff are not true Buckeye fans. I don't want to hear any fan who insulted the players, Ryan Day, or the coaching staff celebrate anything about this team. Ryan Day is a coach that 99% of college football programs would kill to have, and this Buckeye team has had to deal with a loud minority of fans that have decided to hold them to a standard that not even Woody Hayes could match. For those Ohio State fans that have supported this team all year long and have not engaged in that behavior, you are the true fans and deserve this. Those that haven't shouldn't be watching on Monday. 

Notre Dame has been very impressive. After a loss to NIU that looks worse every day, they have rallied. And remember, Marcus Freeman is in his third year as the coach of the Irish. The last 4 coaches at Notre Dame who have won a national championship did so in their 3rd year. I am no fan of the Irish, but I think that it would be deserving for a fanbase who supported their coach and team when the going got tough. Domers 26, Buckeyes 12.

Could Notre Dame win? Sure, I can see a scenario where it happens. Will they? I am skeptical. Ohio State has been crushing everything in its path since that Michigan loss and the win in Dallas was particularly impressive, because that was a very hostile venue. The Buckeyes have unbelievable skill players, as always - I would expect both of their top running backs and at least three of their wide receivers to be playing on Sundays in the future. They have a dominant offensive line and a nasty defense. Notre Dame can't match that. I think Freeman is an excellent coach and is building something that will wake up the echoes soon, but Monday is not the day. Ohio State 31, Notre Dame 24.

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out.