After what was clearly my weakest week yet of picking winners in week 9, I try to right the ship and continue what had been a solid 2011 season. Both of my "Upset Special Picks of the Week" fell flat as the St. Louis Rams were on their way to victory, but let the St. Louis Cardinals take them to overtime and then a Patrick Peterson punt return ended it. Whatever I was thinking in picking the Indianapolis Colts to upset the Atlanta Falcons must have clouded my brain as it was as poor of a pick as there could have been.
Let's hope that week is out of my system and we get back on track in week 10. Here we go, and as usual, I'll pick & pan Baltimore at Seattle tomorrow:
Steelers over Bengals: Ravens fans are on both sides of the fence on this game, but anytime Pittsburgh loses, it makes me a little bit more comfortable that we might not have to face them again in the post season, which is fine by me. Cincinnati's rookie QB has not faced a defense like this and we will have a uh better idea of how "real" the Bengals are after this game and then await them next week in Baltimore.
Browns over Rams: From one of the best games of the weekend to one of the worst, as Cleveland and St. Louis are so offensively challenged that this could very well be another one of those classic 6-3 snoozers, as no one outside of both cities, much less inside of them, truly cares about this incredibly poor match-up.
Falcons over Saints: I'm not a huge fan of Atlanta, but the way that New Orleans has played on the road this season makes me think they will not be able to pull off a road win in a tough place against a team that might be on a roll towards the NFC South title and a playoff spot with a win here.
Panthers over Titans: Carolina Cam Newton is going to be the run-a-way winner of the NFL Rookie-of-the-Year as he has embarrassed the experts that sad he would fail in the NFL, as he has carried the team on his back and should be able to beat a Tennessee team that has looked terrible ever since they upset the Ravens in week two.
Cowboys over Bills: I was beginning t think that Buffalo was for real and they still might be if they can go down to Dallas and hold off the Cowboys but I am predicting they aren't and can't. Anytime a playoff contender in the AFC goes down, it's good for our Ravens.
Colts over Jaguars: Obviously, I haven't learned my lesson as I am once again going with Indianapolis as my "Upset Special Pick of the Week!" If the Colts are going to win any game this year, this appears to be their best chance against another rookie QB and a pretty bad team as well.
Chiefs over Broncos: I'm clueless on this one, as who knows which Kansas City team will show up, the one that upset the San Diego Chargers two weeks ago or the one that almost laid a goose-egg vs. the Miami Dolphins last week. I'm thinking Denver doesn't do to many Te-bows during this one. I think.
Dolphins over Redskins: Speaking of Miami, a win here and they are pretty much out of the "Suck for Luck" sweepstakes, although perhaps Washington will end up in the thick of the race for the first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. The 'fins looked surprisingly balanced last week and the 'skins can't seem to figure out which QB can lead them into the end zone.
Eagles over Cardinals: Arizona's Kevin Kolb won't be able to have the chance to enact revenge on his former team and won't be able to gloat afterwards as there is no way they beat Philadelphia in the City of Brotherly Love without or even with him. As bad as Philly has looked they're still better than the Cards.
Buccaneers over Texans: My second "Upset Special Pick of the Week" as I like Tampa Bay to protect their home turf against a high-flying Houston team that will still be without star WR Andre Johnson for at least one more week. The Bucs are a much better team at home than on the road and they need this game real bad and the recent addition of DT Albert Haynesworth may actually help them make a difference.
Bears over Lions: Detroit is the "sweetheart" of the NFL but Chicago's Jay Cutler is as hot as any QB in the NFL right now. The Lions are fighting to stick with the Green Bay Packers but so are da' Bears, and I like Chicgo at home in this black n' blue division match-up.
49ers over Giants: Easily one of the top games of the week, with two division leaders fighting for possible playoff seeding. an Francisco is running away with the NFC West while New York sits atop the NFC East, as both really want to prove they are the second best team in the NFC.
Jets over Patriots (Sunday Night Football): I didn't think New England would lose two in a row last week and now I'm picking them to lose their third in a row. I think Rex Ryan has figured out Bill Belichick and surprisingly, Jets QB Mark Sanchez plays well in these games while the Pats defense is among the worst in the league. These combinations along with the game being in New York Jersey, makes the Jets the pick.
Packers over Vikings (Monday Night Football): Let's see: The undefeated Super Bowl defending champs at home on national TV against a 2-6 Minnesota team with a rookie QB? Need I say any more?
Last Week: 6-8
Season Record: 82-48