One request:

Can we please pump the brakes on Bailey Zappe?

A rookie? One who looked completely lost in preseason? One who the New England Patriots were so afraid would cost them the game in overtime at Green Bay that their fears cost them the game instead with their conservative play calling.

Granted, Zappe looked better and more confident in his regular season appearance last week, and there’s something to be said for working with the first unit. Those receivers are more apt to be in the right spots than the ones he was throwing to in preseason when the ball would occasionally end up in the hands of the other team.

He’s going to be trying to match points with a Detroit offense that leads the league in points per game. That means the Patriots defense is going to have to do the job against Jared Goff, whose career is starting to be on the upswing after, well, the Patriots nearly ruined it in the Super Bowl four years ago. Can Belichick confuse him again? You bet.

Meanwhile, last week we weren’t too confused about who to pick, and finally came through. Let’s see in the name of Pat Patriot – remember, it’s Throwback Sunday in Foxborough – if we can do it again:

PATRIOTS 24, LIONS 21

All logic says that there’s no way the Patriots can match points with this team when you say “Bailey Zappe.” But then you stop and say, “It’s the Lions.” Then you say, “It’s Jared Goff.” And then you really snap out of it when you say, “It’s Dan Campbell.”

JETS 30, DOLPHINS 20

We believe. We believe the Jets can win. They rallied a week ago with their second-year teeny bopper QB looking like a veteran. The Dolphins will have Teddy Bridgewater, but the balloon is popped on their 3-0 start. Gang Green fever.

BENGALS 30, RAVENS 27

Baltimore loses another heartbreaker at home when John Harbaugh , his team trailing Joe Burrow & Co. by six, decides to kick a field goal with two minutes to go on fourth and 2 from the Cincy 5, then trust his defense. Oops. Add it to the list.

CHIEFS 17, RAIDERS 13

Yes, a low score. Why? Kansas City misses Tyreek Hill, and the Raiders just haven’t grasped their new coach’s – what’s his name again – offense. Go with the home team.

RAMS 24, COWBOYS 20

If L.A.hasn’t had a wakeup call by now, then the Rams are in trouble. That’s why we think they’ll be a lot better than last week. And everytime everyone starts to sing the Cowboys praises, they drop back down. It’s still early.

EAGLES 30, CARDINALS 17

We should just have Jalen Hurts and Kyler Murray run around the field for 60 minutes and figure out who looked better. Come to think of it, that’s what we’ll do, and Hurts is the guy.

TITANS 34, COMMANDERS 13

The only other interconference game besides the Pats, so we feel obligated to pick it. And it’s an easy one. Washington is not a good football team.

LAST WEEK: 6-1

SEASON: 15-13

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