NFL Week 10 Picks

Not a good week of picking games last week. I went 5-7 and my spread picks went 1-3. Not good at all. In hindsight I probably shouldn't have picked the Bills or the Steelers to win. Oh well. Hopefully I'll do better this week.

By the way, now that the Steelers are officially horrible and the Red Sox season is over, I feel strange. What am I looking forward to now? I guess nothing until the Bruins start their playoff run (assuming they make it) or maybe UConn basketball.

Anyways, onto the picks...

Overall: 79-52  Spread: 14-21-1

Steelers 17, Bills 14 --- The Steelers are almost at rock bottom right now after letting up a double nickel to the Patriots. (I'm depressed about the 55 now. At first it was shock and anger, then I tried to deny it, but I certainly haven't accepted it yet). Anyways losing to the Bills would actually be rock bottom for the Steelers. If they lose and fall to 2-7, they might as well just lose out and try to get the 3rd pick in the draft.

P.S. 55 god damn points.

Seahawks 27, Falcons 21 --- The Seahawks haven't looked great in the past two weeks but they still beat the Rams and Bucs and are now 8-1. The Falcons are miserable. Matty Ice has thrown seven interceptions in their last two games and the Falcons have only scored 23 total points. In the past they were always great in the Georgia Dome but this isn't the same Falcons team anymore.

Lions 36 Bears 28 --- The Lions haven't won in Chicago since 2007 but they did beat the Bears in week four. In that game Jay Cutler had three interceptions and at one point in the third quarter the Lions were ahead 40-16. Cutler returns from injury this week after the Bears just beat the Packers on Monday Night. I think the Lions are the better team considering in week four, Calvin Johnson was limited with a knee injury and they only caught four passes. With a healthy Calvin the Lions might put up another 40 points.

Eagles 31, Packers 27 --- PHI +1 I just don't see the Packers winning with Seneca Wallace as their starting QB. Their running game has been very good all year but now that teams don't have to worry about defending Aaron Rodgers, it might get a little tougher to run. Also, the Eagles are 4-1 on the road and Nick Foles just had the best game of his life. As long as Foles avoids turning the ball over (which he has done all year, still zero interceptions) than the Eagles should be able to get the win in Lambeau.

Titans 24, Jaguars 10 --- I might be by myself on this but I think the Titans might be the final wild card team in the AFC. If they win this game they would be tied with the Jets at 5-4 but they beat the Jets head to head in week four. Three of their four losses are to the Chiefs, 49ers, and Seahawks (no shame in those L's). Plus in their final eight games they get Jacksonville twice, Oakland, Arizona, and Houston. They don't blow teams out but they have been winning with Jake Locker. Now that I'm saying all of this the Jaguars probably get their first win of the year.

Colts 27, Rams 20 --- STL -9.5 This spread is strange to me. Five of the Colts eight games have been decided by less than a touchdown. I know that are at home playing the 3-6 Rams but the Rams don't seem like a team that just lays down in games. In the past two games Zac Stacy has ran for 261 yards, sure they have lost both games but they were in the game late into the fourth quarter. The Colts will win this game but I think the Rams hang tough.

Giants 24, Raiders 14 --- The Giants might have finally figured things out before their bye week. At least on defense anyway. They only allowed seven points to both the Eagles and Vikings. This week the Raiders come across country to play a 1 o'clock game, never an easy task. The Raiders are also 0-3 on the road this year. The G-Men should be able to win this one and keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

Ravens 27, Bengals 24 ---  BAL +1.5 This game could pretty much determine the fate of the Ravens season. If they lose and fall to 3-6, while the Bengals move to 7-3 the AFC North crown is Cincy's. If the Ravens can win though they will be right back in the division and in the hunt for the final wild card spot. Andy Dalton is only 1-3 versus the Ravens, and that one win was week 17 of last year and the Ravens didn't play half of their starters. Today the Bengals are going to have to adjust to life without All-Pro Geno Atkins, which might finally let Ray Rice run the ball well. The Ravens need to prove that they are still the defending champs and get a win.

Panthers 21, 49ers 17 --- CAR +6 I know the 49ers are 6-2 and off a bye but look at the teams San Fran has beaten during their 5 game win streak, Rams, Texans, Cardinals, Titans, Jaguars. Not exactly the greatest competition but you can say the same thing about the Panthers four game win streak (Vikings, Rams, Bucs, Falcons). I'm picking the Panthers for the simple reason that they have the best run defense in the league and the 49ers are primarily a run team. They rank 5th in rushing and 32nd in passing. Yes, last in passing even though they have future hall of fame QB Colin Kaepernick. Plus the Panthers have Jonathan Stewart back so their run game will only improve. I think Carolina proves to the league this Sunday that they are contenders.

Cardinals 28, Texans 23 --- Six straight losses and now Wade Phillips is your interim head coach. Things are not going well in Houston, other than maybe finding their new QB in Case Keenum. He's played well in the past two games but he still hasn't gotten a victory. The Cardinals are off a bye and are a much better team at home. The Cards also may have found a way to keep Carson Palmer from throwing three picks a game and that is Andre Ellington. He ran for 154 yards against the Falcons. So if the Cardinals are smart they keep the ball on the ground.

Broncos 34, Chargers 24 --- No John Fox. No Problem. I think his absence may actually help the Broncos in their first game without him. Win one for the Gipper. Plus Peyton Manning is the basically a player/coach so the offense is going to put up points. I'm still not too sure what the Chargers are but the Broncos are by the far the best team they will play so far this year. Broncos win.

Saints 30, Cowboys 28 --- The Cowboys are a funny team. They have won three of four but it always feels like the sky is falling whenever anybody talks about them. People focus so much on the negatives about Tony Romo that he gets no credit when he leads them 90 yards for a game winning touchdown. I think the Cowboys are the best team in the NFC East, but with that being said, they aren't going into New Orleans and getting a win tonight. The Saints are 4-0 at home this year and are off a bad loss to the Jets.

Dolphins 26, Bucs 17 --- I'd imagine its been tough for the Dolphins locker room to focus on playing with the Incognito/Martin talk dominating the sports world but the field might be their sanctuary right now. The Dolphins are 4-4 and not a bad team. Last Thursday without Incognito and Martin they had their first 100 yard rusher of the season as they broke their four game losing streak. They are certainly capable of going into Tampa and getting their fifth win.

Enjoy the games people.