The Bye Week Blues.

Got ’em?

New England Patriots fans must after last week’s Torture in Tennessee. But the players probably couldn’t get away from Foxborough and Gillette Stadium fast enough.

They have today and Sunday off and then it’s back to work.

“I just think the morale changes,” Patriots safety Devin McCourty said this week before the players said ‘bye. “…This is my ninth year, I don’t remember when we’ve won or lost (before) a bye week, but I remember all bye weeks kind of being the same. … The type of work and we we need to get done has kind of been very similar.”

Will it be enough? We will have to wait after we have our turkey, etc. this week to find out, but the Patriots get to face the hopeless Jets. It’s almost like two byes in a row.

So while the Patriots self scout, we need to do the same as last week was not a good one at 3-4. Let’s see if this week’s choices are more in line with late November picks:

RAVENS 24, BENGALS 17

Welcome to the NFL, Lamar Jackson. The Bengals have college film on the Ravens rookie QB, likely to see action with Joe Flacco out. But is that enough? We say his mobility makes him tough to deal with and a star could be born – and maybe a Ravens season revived.

COLTS 27, TITANS 17

Can Mike Vrabel’s team beat up another opponent, but this time on the road? We say no, the Patriots hangover effect will take place. Indy and Andrew Luck got a break with a late call last Sunday, but they may not need that this time.

CHARGERS 35, BRONCOS 13

Los Angeles, although against weak competition, has become a legitimate playoff team. Denver hasn’t. No one in L.A.really cares about the Chargers, but that won’t matter to Philip Rivers & Co.

VIKINGS 23, BEARS 21

Perhaps the toughest game to pick, because Khalil Mack is back at full strength, apparently, for Chicago. The Vikes are better than their record shows, if Kirk Cousins can avoid trouble, even on the road, his better Minnesota team should come out on top.

SAINTS 30, EAGLES 17

The Kings are dead, long live the Kings. Changing of the guard in the NFC as the Eagles season goes in the dumper and the Who Dats keep marching in, er, on. How can you lose to Dallas at home and then beat arguably the NFC’s best team in their loud place? You can’t.

TEXANS 20, REDSKINS 17

Good game. Adrian Peterson may not be able to be effective against the Titans defense, but we don’t see Houston getting a lot of points, either, on grass and after a bye week. Almost a pick ’em, but we’ll pick the hot Texans who go for their seventh straight win.

RAMS 37, CHIEFS 34

Ahhh, the long-awaited Game of the Year, matching up two of the best QBs in Jared Goff and Pat Mahomes. ESPN must be loving the fact it’s got this one and doesn’t have to pour a ton of game broadcast workers (tech staff, etc.) into Mexico City. It’s now a Rams home game, and despite them losing valuable receiver Cooper Kupp, they win because of that true home edge.

LAST WEEK: 3-4

SEASON: 41-27-2

Tom King can be reached at 594-1251 or tking@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow King on Twitter (@Telegraph_TomK).

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