Welcome to Cadence Call and as you can tell if you have been following this weekly column or you already had a chance to read the AFC East Week 3 game previews, Cadence Call decided to change up the format.  Like it, hate it or do not care, let me know.  There is a good slate of games for the AFC North for Week 3 so grab a Harpoon Oktoberfest and a nip of some Bookers bourbon, a solid Padron 4000 maduro and sit back and let the good times roll.  In addition, remember, guilt is like a bag of bricks, all you have to do is just drop it.

I am McLovin!

Cadence Call regular season record (4-6).  Now, on to the game previews.

Cleveland Browns @ Minnesota Vikings (Sunday Sept 22, 1:00PM ET)



The Cleveland Browns (0-2) travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings (0-2).  Playing in a dome, weather is a non-issue.  This game for me is a slam-dunk.  Take the Vikings at home in the dome minus the points and do not look back.  Enjoy your Bookers and Harpoon because this one will be a blowout.  The Browns are starting third-string quarterback Brian Hoyer in place of injured Brandon Weeden.  Hoyer will be without his best offensive weapon, running back Trent Richardson who the Browns traded to the Colts this week for a first round 2014 draft pick.

It is insane to put Hoyer in his first game of the year without his star RB after the team traded him with reports swirling that Weeden’s time is about over since the Browns are reportedly going to use their two first round picks to go after a quarterback.  There is much dissention in the Browns' locker room and their performances will reek of it.

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson will “RUN FOREST RUN” all over the Browns and they will not be able to recover.  Take the Vikings minus the points and watch the Vikes take the Browns to the ice-fishing shed, 31-13.   





The Houston Texans (2-0) are set for a showdown with the Baltimore Ravens (1-1) who may be without star running back Ray Rice who is suffering from a strained hip flexor.  Rice did not practice all week and he does not need to.  However, if he does play look for it to be in a limited role and RB Bernard Pierce should get more touches.  Quarterback Joe Flacco has been pedestrian at best so far this year even though his head coach thinks he is the greatest thing since sliced bread.  In fact, Flacco thinks he is as well.  Actually, both head coach and starting quarterback think they are all better than sliced bread.  Tell that to Wonder and quarterback hunter J.J. Watt.  In addition, Ed Reed will be welcomed back into the Baltimore fold as if he never left and the fans will cheer under sunny skies with temperatures in the 70s.  

Look for Andre Johnson, DeAndre Hopkins, Arian Foster to get rolling for the Texans and Baltimore will have no answer, except maybe some bread.  Take the Texans minus the points and watch Houston cut the crust off Flacco and the Ravens, 28-17.


Green Bay Packers @ Cincinnati Bengals (Sunday Sept 22, 1:00 PM ET)


*Line:  Packers -3     


This is my AFC North game of the week as the Green Bay Packers (1-1) gear up to tangle with the Cincinnati Bengals (1-1).  This game will see points people.  Both offenses are capable of scoring in the 30s and both offenses can win the game on their final drive.  Mostly sunny skies with a kick-off temperature of around 67 degrees will make this game exciting to watch and it will come down to which offense has the ball last. 

Jermaine Gresham, Tyler Eifert and A.J. Green should have big games against a weak Packer secondary.  However, Packer defensive coordinator, Don Capers, will bring multiple blitzes at the doorstep of relativity immobile Andy Dalton.  If Dalton and the Bengals can handle Capers’ blitz capers then the Pack will have a long day.

This is a very tough game to pick.  Both teams can score.  Let us put this on hold for a second while I clear my head with a shot of Gentleman Jack.  Okay back.  I had to do two because my wife was yapping.  All right, I think the Bengals and Dalton will take Capers and get him lost in the Jungle.  Take the Cincy Cats plus the points and watch them jack the Pack, 31-27.

Chicago Bears @ Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday Sept 22, 8:30 PM ET)


*Line: Bear -3    


This game is a necessary win for the Pittsburgh Steelers (0-2) as they host the Chicago Bears (2-0).  However, the Steelers will have a tough go at this one.  Partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the low 60s should not play a role in this game.  Bears cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings should give Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders wicked problems.  Look for the Bears CB pair to shut them down.

In contrast, the Bears should get running back Matt Forte going on the ground that will set up the play-action passes for quarterback Jay Cutler.  Cutler has better protection so far this year so he is a happy cub.  Bears tight end Martellus Bennett should have a big day since the Steelers have been having difficulties covering tight ends.  If Steelers’ TE Heath Miller plays, he could create some problems for the Bears but one cannot expect him to walk out of a phone booth with a red cape on in one game.

Take the Bears minus the points, have some beers and enjoy the Bears beating the Steelers, 24-16.  Booze, Bears and beers, oh my!      

*Football lines provided by Bovada at the time of this writing are subject to change.



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