These past three weeks of Giants football have had a “Final Destination” feel to them.
asserted
weeks → have → them
The difference is, they don’t die.
asserted
they → die → ?
Titans trail 12-7 with 24 seconds to go.
asserted
Titans → trail → seconds
From the 7-yard line, Cam Ward throws into the end zone in the direction of Elic Ayomanor, but the ball goes directly to Jevón Holland for the interception.
asserted
ball → throw → interception
Giants win.
asserted
Giants → win → ?
Cardinals trail 30-24 but have fourth-and-goal from the Giants’ 4 with 11 seconds to go.
asserted
Cardinals → trail → seconds
Jacoby Brissett fires for Michael Wilson at the left pylon, but Deonte Banks steps in front, picks it off, and returns it 98 yards.
asserted
Banks → fire → yards
Giants win.
asserted
Giants → win → ?
Giants come back from 14 points down to force overtime at 27-27.
asserted
Giants → come → 27
They miss a field goal, force a punt, then Cam Skattebo fumbles at the Washington 24.
asserted
Skattebo → miss → Washington
The Commanders get to the Giants 26 with 55 seconds to go, but run only one more play and fail to attempt a field goal in one of the most stunningly inept sequences in NFL history.
asserted
Commanders → get → history
Giants tie.
asserted
Giants → tie → ?
These results leave the Giants at 3-1-1 and in first place in the NFC East in a season when the Eagles and Cowboys are both having huge problems.
asserted
Eagles → leave → problems
Normally, they’d have a bettor suspicious that the Giants are living in a charmed bubble that’s about to burst.
asserted
that → have → bubble
But I’m not certain that’s the case here.
asserted
that → ’m → ?
In the Titans and Cardinals games, you could argue the Giants made plays, and that’s a reflection of better coaching by John Harbaugh and his staff.
uncertain
that → argue → Harbaugh
In Washington, the Giants were out-inepted in overtime, but credit is due for the late comeback.
asserted
credit → inepte → comeback
And maybe their luck isn’t quite running out because the 1-4 Saints are next on the docket Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
asserted
Saints → run → Stadium
New Orleans had an interesting start, losing by one point in overtime in Detroit and beating the Ravens in Baltimore.
asserted
Orleans → have → Baltimore
But the past three weeks they’ve lost by eight, 21, and 10 points at home.
asserted
they → lose → home
Last week, Tyler Shough managed all of 96 yards against the Vikings.
asserted
Shough → manage → Vikings
Also, he’s not a threat to run, which was the Giants’ big problem against Jayden Daniels.
asserted
which → ’ → Daniels
Jameis Winston was a Saints backup for four seasons, and the sight of the fleur-de-lis on the Saints’ helmets should drive him to produce the better part of the Jameis Winston Experience this week.
asserted
sight → drive → Experience
The pick: Giants +1.5.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (-7.5) over New York Jets
The Jets’ victory over Cleveland last week had some of the same elements as the Giants’ successes.
asserted
victory → have → successes
The Browns missed an extra point, launched a punt snap, and dropped a bunch of wide-open passes in the fourth quarter.
asserted
Browns → miss → quarter
Credit to the Jets for winning, but I’m not sure eight sacks is a repeatable act, particularly in Foxborough, Mass., where they are 1-14 in their past 15 visits.
asserted
they → win → visits
The touchdown spread certainly makes this a challenging pick, and this is a chance for Aaron Glenn to completely change the narrative about this season and his tenure.
asserted
Glenn → make → season
There’s even some hope from the injury report as Omar Cooper Jr. should be playing for the first time since Week 1, and the Patriots may be missing RB TreVeyon Henderson and possibly OT Will Campbell.
uncertain
Patriots → ’ → Henderson
Still, this is a Patriots team that was in the Super Bowl last season and is on a bit of a heater now after beating the Bills and crushing the Raiders.
asserted
that → beat → Raiders
Maybe Glenn will prove me wrong, but I can’t take this leap of faith with a 5-17 head coach against Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels.
asserted
I → prove → Vrabel
Houston Texans (+2.5) over Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars have a bit of an advantage playing a second game in a row in London after a field goal miracle win over the Eagles, while the Texans had to make the trip this week.
asserted
Texans → play → trip
There’s not quite the usual difference here that you see between 1-4 and 4-1 teams, and I’m leaning into Will Anderson Jr. against a troubled Jacksonville offensive line.
asserted
I → ’ → line
Maybe Marvin Harrison Jr. can give C.J. Stroud another receiving option beyond the excellent Nico Collins.
asserted
Jr. → give → Collins
Carolina Panthers (-3.5) over PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
This is a nice scheduling spot for the Panthers, coming off a bye against an Eagles team that played last week in London.
asserted
that → come → London
News came out Thursday that Jalen Hurts is out, piling on to a bunch of injuries to top offensive players.
asserted
Hurts → come → players
The only hesitancy is the Eagles really need this game.
asserted
Eagles → need → game
Baltimore Ravens (-4) over CLEVELAND BROWNS
Tyler Huntley led the Ravens to a road victory at Atlanta, and I’m comfortable backing him again in Cleveland if Lamar Jackson isn’t able to make it back.
asserted
Jackson → lead → it
The Browns defense gave up 116 yards to Jets bull-like RB Braelon Allen, and Derrick Henry figures to do the same or more.
asserted
Henry → give → same
The Browns needed to do a walk-through instead of practice Wednesday because they’re banged up everywhere.
asserted
they → need → through
Tennessee Titans (+6.5) over INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Despite a popgun offense that’s averaging 11.6 ppg, the Titans have covered two spreads this season.
asserted
Titans → average → spreads
…and 19 more, not listed.
The Aporia
