NFL Week 10 Picks! Plus Chargers Prepare for Annual Second Half Surge!
The Chargers managed to clear another hurdle in Week 9 with a comeback win against the Texans. What was the hurdle? Well, there were a few of them. First, it was the first time this season where the Chargers won two consecutive games. Second, this was the first win that the Chargers had on the road. Finally third, it showed that they can win even with their scout team on the field against an above .500 team.
That scout team comment is no joke. The Chargers went into Sunday's game with Malcom Floyd, Legadu Naanee, Kris Dielman, Antonio Gates and Buster Davis all missing from the offensive side of the ball. That means that Philip Rivers was without his top five receivers and his Pro Bowl left guard—not a good sign.
To make matters worse, shortly after getting the ball stripped for his third fumble of the season, rookie running back Ryan Matthews went down with yet another ankle injury. This was after he started the game looking pretty strong, averaging over four yards per carry and breaking several tackles.
Even with all of these problems on offense, Philip Rivers stayed poised and delivered strike after strike to guys like veterans Patrick Crayton, Randy McMichael and a guy who is just thrilled to be on the roster, Seyi Ajirotutu.
"Tutu " was so thrilled to be there he realed off four catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns! This is a kid who just went from the practice squad to becoming a viable NFL receiver who Philip Rivers will not only feel comfortable throwing to but may actually look for him often. Even coach Norv Turner has stated that Tutu will have a spot on the roster even after the other receivers get healthy, and Vincent Jackson is activated.
One more hurdle that the Chargers had to clear was poor special teams play to start the game and porous defense against Arion Foster all day long, but especially in the first half.
As for the special teams, I don't care what the stats say, there was another blocked punt after the Chargers started the game with a 3-and-out. The ball was snapped to Scifres and at the same time, a huge hole opened up right in the middle of the line. A Texan streaked through and smothered the ball off of Scifres' foot without even needing to dive. The ball bounced forward for a one-yard gain so it officially was a one-yard punt, not a block, but we know better.
The Chargers defense did not do a good job tackling or catching the ball, until the last possible moment. There were a couple of interception opportunities early in the game, but as the recent norm, Chargers defenders could not hang on for the turnover. If it wasn't for the dropped pass by Andre Johnson that he then kneed to Chargers Paul Oliver, who did make a nice catch, the Chargers would have set a record for going five consecutive games without a turnover on defense.
When it was all said and done, it was just one more example of how lucky the Chargers are to have Philip Rivers. I guess we have to give GM A.J. Smith credit for that pick up. Rivers was incredible as he hung in the pocket and threw strikes to people he just met a few weeks ago. Rivers ended the game with 295 yards passing, four touchdowns and one pick. He now has the highest passer rating of any quarterback in NFL history!
The Chargers get to rest up and try to get healthy during their bye week. Then it is time to strap it on and play their rivals, the Denver Broncos in a home Monday night game. Reports are that Gates, Floyd, Naanee and Kaeding may all return by that Week 11 game.
Now, on to the picks!!!
Season Total: 73 - 57
Last Week: 10 - 3
Enjoy the games!
Baltimore Ravens @ Atlanta Falcons
1 of 14
Wow! This is a great Thursday night matchup to start Week 10! Two teams with hard-nosed styles who are not afraid to hit or be hit. Both teams have very strong defenses, young, talented quarterbacks, skillful running backs, and gifted wide receivers. They even have the same record at 6-2.
This may be the most evenly matched game all season long. However, another stat that both teams share is a 4-0 home field record this season. So, the way I see it is that Atlanta is defending home turf, which is something they do very well, so I have to give them a slight edge.
Ravens 20 Falcons 23
Detroit Lions @ Buffalo Bills
2 of 14
This is not a sexy matchup, but it is potentially a very good, or at least close, game. Neither the Lions or the Bills are busy making plans for Dallas in February. Unlike other teams who are out of it (don't worry Cowboys fans, I won't name any names), both the Bills and the Lions are playing hard and trying to win, rather than see how high of draft pick they can get.
Buffalo is really scuffling, but they are scoring points. They have only lost by a field goal in three games straight, with two of those games going into overtime.
The Lions have been fighting hard as well. They are coming off a tough, lead-blowing loss to the Jets, but honestly should have won that game going away. The problem is that they, once again, lost their starting quarterback Mathew Stafford and will have to go back to Shawn Hill. Hill is a decent NFL quarterback but perhaps lacks the leadership skills of a Stafford.
Looks like a shootout in the making.
Lions 31 Bills 38
Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears
3 of 14
Frankly, I don't think much of either of these teams. I will admit that there are talented individuals on both teams. I will even admit that both teams have pretty solid defenses. That being said, I think both teams have dangerous quarterbacks who can throw the ball to either team with just as much ease.
Favre came back to life last week as he hurled for over 400 yards. Cutler threw for two touchdowns, but only 188 yards last week against the Bills. Nothing to write home about.
At this point, I think I may actually take Favre over Cutler, and I would certainly take Peterson over Forte. With that in mind....
Vikings 28 Bears 24
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New York Jets @ Cleveland Browns
4 of 14
Ask me about this game a few weeks ago and I would have laughed and said, "No contest. Jets."
Ask me about this game this week and you may get another answer. Yes, the Browns are starting to look like a real NFL team again. In the last two weeks, they are coming off blow out victories against the Patriots and the Saints. Not exactly slouches.
What about the Browns has changed? The quarterback! Yes, Colt McCoy has stepped in and looked like the savior of the franchise. That being said, Coach Mangini is still playing hard to get about answering if McCoy will get the start this week against the Jets. Mangini could go with Senaca Wallace and say the cliche, "you don't lose your job to injury," but that would be stupid.
Along with McCoy, running back Peyton Hillis has also been making a name for himself. Hillis found himself all over the highlight reels last week when he pounded his way for 184 yards and two touchdowns against Belichick's boys.
The Jets are coming off a win, and they do have a talented football team. However, they came too close to losing against the Lions last week, especially considering that they were coming off a bye week. Also, Tomlinson seems to be falling off of the torrid pace he set for himself early in the season. Perhaps, he is losing that fire that he started the season with.
I'm looking for the upset this week in Cleveland!
Jets 20 Browns 27
Cincinnati Bengals @ Indianapolis Colts
5 of 14
Peyton Manning may not win all of his games, but he is no loser. Last week, he had a little hiccup against the Eagles, but his defense will not have the same issues with Carson Palmer as they had with Michael Vick. They will never have to wonder where Palmer is or worry about him taking off with the ball.
They will have to worry about one Terrell Owens who got off against the Steelers on Monday night. Owens looked young again as he showed that he can still go deep and that Chad Ochocinco is almost irrelevant these days.
Austin Collie is out for the Colts, so that won't help, but I still will go with the Colts at home.
Bengals 24 Colts 28
Tennessee Titans @ Miami Dolphins
6 of 14
I don't expect Vince Young to be able to carry Chris Johnson, and his Titans for too long on his shoulders. However, flip the scenario around, and I'll buy it. Chris Johnson has had a week to rest his legs, heal any injuries he may have had nagging him and should be ready to come out and make the Dolphins look like guppies.
Okay, perhaps I am exaggerating a little. The Dolphins are not a bad football team. In fact, they have played well for most of the year. The main problems I see for the Fins is that they have yet to win at home, and they are changing starting quarterbacks. Chad Pennington will get the nod against the Titans this week. Pennington is not bad, but it will be his first action in a long time which could mean turnovers.
Look for Tennessee to go with the ground-and-pound philosophy and watch Chris Johnson run for over 150 this week.
Titans 31 Dolphins 17
Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7 of 14
I'm not that impressed with either team in this matchup, but that doesn't mean that I am looking for an upset here. I am 1-1 picking the Panthers to win this year. I will most likely end the year 1-1 picking them since I don't see them winning another game unless they play a good team that has already clinched their playoff birth and rests their starters.
Tampa is a sound team with a solid running game and a decent defense. They should be able to take care of business at home against the 1-7 Panthers.
Panthers 18 Bucs 27
Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars
8 of 14
Where is that coin? I may as well flip a coin on this game. I find these teams to be very unpredictable.
The Texans are 4-4 and coming off two losses. However, they certainly could have beaten my Bolts with a little bit of luck and if their receivers didn't get a case of the dropsies.
The Jaguars are also 4-4 and are the most schizophrenic team in the league. One day they are blown out by a struggling Chargers team, and just two weeks later, they beat the Colts and Peyton Manning.
After watching San Diego's own, Arian Foster last week, I am a believer. The undrafted kid can run—period. Jacksonville struggles against the run so look for Foster early and often.
Texans 30 Jaguars 24
Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos
9 of 14
I have tried and tried to find a way to pick the Broncos this week against the Chiefs. The only arguments that I could come up with that help the Broncos are: 1. They are at home. 2. They are coming off a bye week. And 3. McDaniel's will try some crazy plays in hopes of surprising the Chiefs and who knows, they may just work.
That is about it. The problem is that the thing that keeps bringing me back to earth is that the Chiefs run the heck out of the ball and the Broncos can't stop the run. Really, that says it all.
Chiefs 42 Broncos 17
Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants
10 of 14
I'm picturing the Giants defense actually foaming at the mouth with anticipation for this game. For the Cowboys, John Kitna will start at quarterback. The question is, who will finish at quarterback. Or perhaps, how many different quarterbacks will we see for the Cowboys this week?
Yes, the Cowboys are down and may not be able to get up for a while. Owner Jerry Jones did what he could to save his reputation by firing his friend, Wade Phillips, but that will not be enough.
Dallas fans have one thing to look forward to...a very high draft pick in 2011.
Cowboys 6 Giants 45
Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals
11 of 14
Both of these teams have been struggling of late, but at least the Cardinals have been competing. Don't expect much from the Seahawks, lead by "Clipboard Jesus," aka Charlie Whitehurst.
Seahawks 13 Cardinals 27
St. Louis Rams @ San Francisco 49ers
12 of 14
My gut says to go with the Rams in this one. Then I see that the Rams have not won on the road, and the Niners have actually played pretty well in San Francisco (at least against poor teams). That being said, it would not surprise me at all to see Steven Jackson run wild in this one and the Rams run away with the game.
However, since neither team is very good, I'll have to stick with the home team in this one.
Rams 20 Niners 23
New England Patriots @ Pittsburgh Steelers
13 of 14
Personally, I'm not sold on New England this year. Yes, they beat my Chargers but not by enough for me to believe they were deserving of their No. 1 ranking after that week. Then they came out last week and laid an egg on the road in Cleveland! Who knew?
Pittsburgh, on the other hand, hung on to beat Cincinnati and before that lost to the defending champs. They are a solid team with a very strong run defense.
I don't like to bet that Bill Belichick will lose two games in a row, but if there was ever a time to do that, it would be this week.
Patriots 24 Steelers 30
Vick @ McNabb (Maybe)
14 of 14
Here we go again! Michael Vick and the Eagles travel to our nation's capital and take on Donovan McNabb and his Redskins. Now wait a minute, I mean Mike Shanahan's Redskins.
Yes, Shanahan benched McNabb last week in a crucial part of the game and then later basically called him stupid and fat. In the mean time, McNabb's replacement went out there and dropped a turn on the field and gave up any chance the Redskins had of winning.
In Philly, Michael Vick came back from injury and went nuts. Running, passing, he did it all as the Eagles took care of Peyton and company. Look for more of that this week.
Eagles 27 Redskins 20
Feel free to comment and tell me where we agree or differ. Enjoy the games!!!
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