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NFL Picks: It’s good Pats honor past, just don’t live in it

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Oct 24, 2021

Congratulations, Richard Seymour.

The New England Patriots continue to celebrate their glorious past, even while everyone is worried about their present.

Seymour was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame on Saturday, something certainly well-deserved.

Seymour, in these eyes, will always represent how the Patriots began shaping their dynasty, as much as Tom Brady’s insertion into the starting lineup.

He was drafted in the first round, sixth overall, and many were clamoring for Bill Belichick to grab flashy wide receiver David Terrell, whom the Bears later took.

Terrell was basically a bust, and Belichick knew the Patriots were too soft defensively, especially up front, and had to be rebuilt. Seymour was the first building block, later joined by Ty Warren and Vince Wilfork. Suddenly it was In Bill We Trust.

Now? Well, that’s a work in progress, just like Belichick’s team. But the lesson here is you honor the past, you don’t hold on to it.

“There’s nobody like Richard Seymour,” Belichick said at Saturday’s ceremony. “They just don’t come around. He was a generational player.”

Here are some not-so-generational picks:

PATRIOTS 27, JETS 13

It might not even be this close, but the Patriots just don’t rack up the points,do they? Zach Wilson has plenty of talent but he’s not ready for prime time. At some point, he will be. Look for the Patriots to exploit a bad and injury ravaged Jets defense.

RAVENS 30, BENGALS 27

Well, well, look at what’s happening in Cincinnati. But it would take quite a feet for the Bengals and Joe Burrow to knock off Lamar Jackson & Co. in Baltimore. Can’t see it, but they’ll give it the ol’ college try.

CHIEFS 23, TITANS 21

Kansas City really has a struggling defense, and the Titans certainly came through with their red zone stand against the Bills last Monday night. But Mahomes&Co.need to start rolling, and this could be the start of their roll.

RAMS 40, LIONS 14

This is too easy. It will cement who got the better of the Matt Stafford-Jared Goff trade. And Dan Campbell will be crying after the game for the main reason he knows what’s ahead with Goff at QB.

PANTHERS 27, GIANTS 10

This is disappointing, because we feel Joe Judge is a good football coach. The problem is he’s not coaching a good football team, one that is weak up front on both sides of the ball. Should have shown up at Matt Rhule’s doorestep the way the Panthers did and given him full player control, John Mara.

COLTS 24, NINERS 21

The Sunday Night games have been off the chain in terms of down to the wire. This will be another one. Jimmy G will be starting for the Niners as Trey Lance is apparently hurting, to go up against Carson Wentz. Two guys who were once held in high esteem somewhere. Colts squeeze one out.

RAIDERS 24, EAGLES 17

You read or listen to what people have been saying about Raiders interim coach Rich Bissacia and you wonder why he hasn’t been a head coach before in the NFL, and if the Raiders will keep him on after the Jon Gruden disaster. For that to happen, his QB Derek Carr & Co. have to beat teams like the Eagles at home, and they should.

LAST WEEK: 5-2

SEASON: 30-12

Tom King may be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow King on Twitter (@Telegraph_TomK).

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