Rise and shine, Patriot fans. Of course, maybe you don’t want to see them play while trying to eat breakfast.

Of all the games the Krafts want to win, this is it. This morning’s game in Frankfurt, Germany vs. the Indianapolis Colts is their Corporate Super Bowl, you bet your apple stroodle.

That means that the the Krafts’ football team better not embarrass them the way they have at Gillette Stadium throughout much of this season.

If you have any doubts, consider these words spoken by Robert Kraft to a group of German fans this weekend, as reported by the Boston Globe:

“I told (the team) every play tomorrow was so significant,” Kraft said. “They worked very hard, and getting a victory (today) was critical, and they gave me a big cheer, so let’s hope that translates to the field.”

Gulp.

Kraft was talking about former Patriot Sebastian Vollmer and how popular he is in Germany, spreading the Patriots gospel and making the team incredibly popular. We’ll see this morning if the crowd is tilted New England’s way.

But of course, all this is more pressure for one head coach Bill Belichick. We told you a while ago that the sponsorship, the brand, etc., is all tied into how the owner feels about things. Everyone loves a winner, and the business world in the region and beyond had fallen in love with the Patriots as we’ve known them the last 23 years or so.

So has Germany. So has the international business world.

The 2-7 Patriots are under pressure today not to screw that up.

Let’s hope we don’t screw up these picks:

COLTS 24, PATRIOTS 14

Maybe the Patriots wish they had Gardner Minshew as their QB now. There are a lot of flaws with both teams but the way the Patriots are playing offensively, which is putrid. The Colts are averaging 10 points more. This week New England will be without offensive lineman Trent Brown, who apparently joins corners J.C. Jackson and one or two others in the Belichick doghouse, likely deservedly so. Colts win, and Krafts get ancy.

RAIDERS 20, JETS 10

An offense that is almost as bad as New England’s belongs to the Zach Wilson QB’d Jets. Antonio Pierce has the Raiders actually believing in something. We’re buying. But NBC probably wanted to sell this off in the worst way.

RAVENS 30, BROWNS 17

Suddenly, quietly, Baltimore is looking like the bomb in the AFC. The best way to keep it going is to win these divisional games, and they certainly should take this one at home, whether or not DeShaun Watson plays for Cleveland.

SEAHAWKS 24, COMMANDERS 20

Hey, Sam Howell is not a bad QB, as the Patriots found out the hard way last week. But suddenly Seattle has a better defensive line thanks to the Washington selloff and will be looking to bounce back from a horrendous 34-point loss at the hands of the Ravens. Not this week, Ron Rivera.

VIKINGS 17, SAINTS 13

Not really any more good all-NFC games to choose, but Minnesota may have found something with Josh Jacobs, and the Vikings havea battled back from a horrendous start to be 5-4. The Saints just don’t seem as good as that record indicates, but, hey, the Patriots will give them props.

NINERS 30, JAGUARS 27

This may be the best game of the week. Suddenly the bloom is off the 49er/Brock Purdy rose, and the Jags are drawing lots of attention. This could be a ready-for-prime time game for Jacksonville, but the Niners need it more.

STEELERS 19, PACKERS 10

Neither team is that good, let’s face it. But Pittsburgh is good for at least one defensive score, and we’ll even throw in a safety to go with it. Ah, 10 years ago this would’ve been a classic, right? Like a Super Bowl?

LAST WEEK: 5-2

SEASON RECORD: 40-23

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

Newsletter