SUNDAY FUNDAY: When it comes to COVID, the NFL needs to be on its game

Can the NFL make this work?

It was easy to laugh off COVID-19 potentially destroying Sundays right up until 11 a.m. Saturday when it was reported that Cam Newton had tested positive, immediately becoming the face of the NFL’s pandemic problem.

It seems like common sense would dictate the Patriots and the Chiefs shouldn’t play this week. There are plenty of people in New England who agree, but a lot of that has to do more with Brian Hoyer leading the Patriots [...]

Can the NFL make this work?

It was easy to laugh off COVID-19 potentially destroying Sundays right up until 11 a.m. Saturday when it was reported that Cam Newton had tested positive, immediately becoming the face of the NFL’s pandemic problem.

It seems like common sense would dictate the Patriots and the Chiefs shouldn’t play this week. There are plenty of people in New England who agree, but a lot of that has to do more with Brian Hoyer leading the Patriots into Kansas City to take on Patrick Mahomes and his speed freaks than actual concern about spread of the virus.

With how the NFL has handled positive COVID tests, there seems to be a precedent. If the Patriots were the hosts rather than the visitors Sunday, the game would have gone on. Last week Atlanta had a player test positive Saturday and the Falcons played on, while many ATL fans probably wished they hadn’t.

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The Patriots traveling halfway across the country is the issue and players not wanting to get aboard a plane Sunday or Monday makes all the sense in the world. While it's easy for any football fan to tell them to go play, stop for a second and ask yourself – would you get on?

Those players might just be laundry for most, but they’re far from it. They’re human beings with families and saying they wouldn’t want their families to get infected because of them isn’t something you need to confirm with a confidential source.

Moving on from players with COVID isn’t like moving on from players with a busted-up knee or sore shoulder. If you have COVID and get on an airplane for three hours, you’re going to give it to someone unless they tape you to the wing. Nobody in the history of modern travel has ever caught a high ankle sprain from a seatmate sitting in first class.

The NFL needs to start doing something it’s not very good at in order to solve any future problems that COVID’s going to bring and that’s thinking well outside the box.

Whatever decisions get made won’t be perfect and they certainly won’t be fair, but does that even matter? Because – after seeing how the MLB, NHL and NBA all ran – it seems like ensuring games can be played safely meant a hell of a lot more than whatever a "fair" format is.

This is a big weekend for the NFL.

And with their history of botching big moments, let’s hope they get this one right.

On to the picks.

EARLY GAMES

JACKSONVILLE at CINCINNATI (-2.5, O/U 49.5)

In the history of the question "where do you want to live when you grow up?" has anyone ever answered "Jacksonville" or Cincinnati?" The least these two franchises could do is not be raging dumpster fires and bring something to the table for their respective cities.

THE PICK: Jaguars 20, Bengals 13, Football Fans 0

CLEVELAND at DALLAS (-3.5, O/U 56)

Dallas is a more hostile workplace than a family where the parents stuck at home working while simultaneously home-schooling two elementary school kids. I’m not an ace negotiator like Samuel L. Jackson, but I’d have to imagine continually trashing Dak Prescott isn’t going to exactly entice him to sign long term with the ’Boys.

THE PICK: Cowboys 34, Browns 20

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NEW ORLEANS at DETROIT (+3, O/U 54)

Matt Patricia saying his fourth-quarter decision making skills are strong because of the Malcolm Butler Super Bowl pick is like me taking credit for the Patriots’ first Super Bowl because me and all my college roommates sat in the same seats during the playoff run.

THE PICK: Saints 28, Lions 20

SEATTLE at MIAMI (+5.5, O/U 54.5)

I’m really going to need N’Keal Harry to step things up in a big way because the window for defending the Patriots drafting him over D.K. Metcalf is practically shut, but I’m willing to get my fingers slammed before completely giving up on that take.

THE PICK: Seahawks 100, Dolphins 6

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS at TAMPA BAY (-7, O/U 42.5)

I told myself I wasn’t going to fall in love with any players from Hard Knocks this year and here I am thinking Justin Herbert is going to be a modern Drew Bledsoe (when he was with the Patriots, not the Bills or Cowboys).

THE PICK: Buccaneers 24, Chargers 16

BALTIMORE at WASHINGTON (+14, O/U 45.5)

The Ravens being unable to play from behind is befuddling. I don’t understand what the difference is being up two touchdowns or down two TDs. Just keep running the "Lamar Jackson is a better athlete than everyone on the field" play until someone consistently stops it like I do on Madden.

THE PICK: Ravens 28, Football Team 6

ARIZONA at CAROLINA (+3, O/U 52)

The Panthers are like the Cardinals except they’re noticeably worst at every position on the field when Christian McCaffrey isn’t playing.

THE PICK: Cardinals 30, Panthers 14

MINNESOTA at HOUSTON (-4, O/U 54)

Patriots fans always wanted Andre Johnson in Foxboro because he was too good to play for such a bad organization during his time in Houston. Feels like the same’s going to be said about DeShaun Watson over the next decade plus.

THE PICK: Texans 30, Vikings 25

LATE GAMES

NEW YORK GIANTS at LOS ANGELES RAMS (-13, O/U 48)

If the Giants would have skipped on Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones the last two years in favor of Josh Allen (QB) and Josh Allen (DE), would more people have made fun of them for that than are now?

THE PICK: Rams 33, Giants 17

INDIANAPOLIS at CHICAGO (+3, O/U 43)

Mentally, Mitch Trubisky has to be done with the Bears. If Foles goes down I wouldn’t trust a guy who was undefeated that I had to bench because he wasn’t good enough. If Mitch has to play again, he might throw pick sixes out of spite.

THE PICK: Bears 24, Colts 20

BUFFALO at LAS VEGAS (+3.5, O/U 53)

Josh Allen is playing an awful lot like Cam Newton did back in the day. Nobody wants to compare their playing styles for one obvious reason – clearly it’s their fashion sense.

THE PICK: Bills 28, Raiders 24

SUNDAY NIGHT

PHILADELPHIA at SAN FRANCISCO (-7.5, O/U 45.5)

Really appreciate the NFL putting on a game on Sunday where I can go to bed with zero fear of missing anything important whatsoever.

THE PICK: 49ers 24, Eagles 20

MONDAY NIGHT

ATLANTA at GREEN BAY (-6.5, O/U 56.5)

If the Falcons can manage to lose this without blowing a double-digit lead, it might be enough to save Dan Quinn’s job.

THE PICK: Packers 38, Falcons 30

TUESDAY NIGHT?

NEW ENGLAND at KANSAS CITY (-7, O/U 53)

I think there’s a better chance the Patriots win with Brian Hoyer than there is of this game being played.

THE PICK: Chiefs 40, Patriots 10

Last Week vs. Spread: 7-9 (21-27 overall)

Last Week O/U: 9-7 (24-24 overall)

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On Twitter: @EricRueb