The Monday Night Message.

We’d be lying if we told you we were disappointed that the Kansas City Chiefs-New England Patriots game originally scheduled for MNF was flexed to two weeks from today at 1 p.m. Getting home at a decent hour instead of near dawn is always a preferred thing, and there’s probably no one in the media sad about this.

But if that doesn’t push that second foot of Bill Belichick halfway out the door with the other one all the way out, we don’t know what does. The league and ESPN are telling you that you’ll get killed with your inept offense that night and we just don’t want TV remotes on stand-by – even if Taylor Swift is in the house, a house where she’s performed several times. Ouch.

It’s just insulting for the Patriots and the Krafts, the latter who may have been telling the league it’s ok if you want to. Perhaps Robert Kraft feels that getting moved out of prime time is better than getting blown out in prime time.

It’s a shame, but hey, the Patriots will be on prime time this Thursday and we’ve got that fabulous Christmas Eve night game in Denver (talk about coal in your stocking). But wouldn’t it be funny if Bailey Zappe is able to throw the ball down field and lead a Patriot resurgence.

Or better yet, Malik Cunningham? Take that, ESPN.

Oh boy, we better lay off the spiked egg nog….Anway, here are this week’s picks:

PATRIOTS 20, CHARGERS 17

We’ve got Zappe fever. And Ryland Fever, as the rookie kicker boots one at game’s end to pull out a win over one of the worst coached teams in the league. And Zappe moves the Patriots down the field on that last drive, as he does throughout the game.

Yeah, dreamland. But we’ll go with it.

JAGUARS 27, BENGALS 13

The season is a lost cause in Cincinnati thanks to Joe Burrow’s injury, and Jacksonville will be a playoff team once again. Probably a divisional round casualty, but the Jags are making progress.

HOUSTON 30, DENVER 17

The Bronco bubble bursts. Houston is the real deal, C.J. Stroud is better than Russell Wilson, despite the veteran coming back from the dead. Plus, the game’s in Texas. Had it been at Mile High, or whatever it’s called these days, might be a different story.

EAGLES 17, NINERS 16

Man, this better be a good one, because both teams are simply the best in the NFC with Dallas a close third. The way Jalen Hurts keeps leading the Eagles back in the fourth quarter is getting ridiculous, and we’re tired of hearing that stupid song. But what can we do? Eagles will win it all this year.

LIONS 33, SAINTS 13

See the Lions. Hear them roar. They were embarrassed on Thanksgiving in losing to an inferior Packer team and whoever is next on the schedule is gonna pay. Who Dat? Well, you know the answer.

CHIEFS 30, PACKERS 10

Speaking of the Packers, they will come back to earth rather quickly tonight on NBC. The Chiefs bounced back vs. the Broncos last week, and we just follow the usual formula, go with the better QB. Sorry, Jordan Love just isn’t consistent enough.

FALCONS 12, JETS 9

The Jets defense doesn’t allow a touchdown, but they don’t score one, either. Typical, right? Hey Jets, Joe Flacco is probably starting for Cleveland today. … Too funny.

LAST WEEK: 5-2.

SEASON: 55-29

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

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