NFL Week 10

I sat in stunned silence with the rest of America on Tuesday night.

It hurt. It confused me. It made me doubt everything I thought I knew. Is there truth in this world anymore? Are things slipping away?

Is it possible that we’ve been living a lie?

I mean, how? How? How in the hell did the Lakers – just days removed from blowing out the Warriors at Staples Center – fall to the 1-5 Mavericks? A Dallas team without Dirk Nowitzki and Deron Williams?

I thought the Purple and Gold were making progress. Who’s to blame for this?! Huh?! I’m so disillusioned.

Oh yeah, I’m supposed to be talking football. Let’s continue!

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

Week 9 picks: 7-6

Just like Jeff Fisher, I’m right at or slightly above average when it comes to making picks. You ever revisit a decision and not just wonder why the hell you made the choice you did, but how you were ever in that mindset?

Titans on the road? Really?

What’s more, I was this close to a perfect call in that Lions-Vikings game. It was low-scoring and Minnesota pulled out a touchdown with seconds remaining in the fourth quarter that should have won the game. But, no. Matthew Stafford had to do his thing and the Lions won in overtime.

So close.

Raise your glass to: Matthew Stafford

I was just talking about him. The Lions have won five games this season and Stafford has come through with late-game heroics in all of them. Suddenly, he finds himself to be a sexy pick for MVP.

So, let’s summarize his life: He was a standout quarterback in high school, starred at Georgia in college and was a No. 1 overall draft pick before the rookie wage scale was instituted. He’s a lock for at least 4,000 yards passing every year and is now joining the discussion for the biggest individual award in the NFL.

I feel ashamed that I have a jealous streak, but here we are. I resent you, Matthew.

Boo this man: Ben Roethlisberger

This macho nonsense needs to stop.

I know it’s a real sign of manhood in the NFL to shrug off an injury and play on Sundays, no matter if you have bits of surgically repaired flesh just dangling off your limbs. The players who do tough it out get respect, the ones who don’t are weak sauce jabronis who definitely wear shorts in the shower.

There’s a limit to everything though.

Watching Big Ben against the Ravens on Sunday, it was so obvious he was struggling. Maybe he was in pain, maybe he wasn’t, but you can’t miss a couple games to have freaking knee surgery, not really practice and expect everything to go well on game day.

Like a majority of people, I will show up for work even if I’m feeling a little under the weather. However, if I’m hacking every five seconds, spraying phlegm within a 15-foot radius of my desk and nauseating everyone around me, wouldn’t I be better served by staying home instead of making my co-workers ill?

It’s great to play hurt. It’s another thing to actively hurt your team by doing so. It makes more sense to just take another week off.

Now, on to the picks!

WEEK 10

BROWNS AT RAVENS

Rest assured, the Browns will win a game this season, despite their 0-9 record. Aside from two games against the Patriots and Cowboys, this team has been in every game it’s played.

It’s heartbreaking to watch, in a way. It must be the worst thing in the world to play on a winless team. You have to practice hard, watch film, nurse your injuries and you don’t even get a win for your troubles.

Sure, the nice paycheck is wonderful to have and takes the sting out of most things, but still.

Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, the Browns aren’t getting that first win this week. But it’s coming.

Pick: Ravens

CHIEFS AT PANTHERS

Do you know what was up with Alex Smith last week? Apparently he had a concussion, but then he didn’t, but he still wanted to sit out. But he was also upset about something …. quarterbacks, bunch of whiners.

Speaking of whiners, Cam Newton took another couple hard hits in last Sunday’s win against the Rams, but the only thing positive about that game was the final score. And now they get the Chiefs – mind you, in their own building – and their remarkable team balance.

Give me K.C. here. Smith will be back in the lineup and that should be enough. I’m thinking the AFC West will get three teams into the playoffs this year.

Pick: Chiefs

PACKERS AT TITANS

So, we’ve reached the point where Aaron Rodgers is calling out teammates. How lovely. This is what every teams strives for, said nobody ever.

The Packers can’t run the ball, their receivers can’t get open and it doesn’t appear their defense can stop anyone. So, yeah, I get why Mr. Rodgers is frustrated. I also don’t have a clue what’s going to happen this week.

The Titans are a ball control offense that supposedly plays tough up front. That didn’t happen at all in their loss at San Diego. Now, they’ve got a Green Bay team coming into their house with something to prove.

I don’t think this one is close.

Pick: Packers

VIKINGS AT REDSKINS

The Redskins can put points on the board and the Vikings can’t. End of story.

Pick: Redskins

FALCONS AT EAGLES

The Eagles have lost four of their last five games and things have cooled since their red-hot start that caused Carson Wentz jerseys to rocket up the NFL sales charts.

After back-to-back road losses, you would think Philadelphia would be welcoming a home game, but the Eagles have the Falcons this week in a matchup of birdie teams.

Atlanta and its offense are rolling over everyone at the moment and until someone proves they can stem the tide, I’m not picking against Matt Ryan and Co.

Pick: Falcons

BEARS AT BUCCANEERS

How about that Jay Cutler? Remember when he was left for dead by pretty much everyone, only to lead the Bears to an emotional win? He even added an impassioned locker-room speech, to boot!

Chicago is coming off a bye, which should have allowed Cutler enough time to return to his usual disinterested self, but I have faith in him. I think Smokin’ Jay does it again this week, and starts to bring more people on to his bandwagon.

Pick: Bears

TEXANS AT JAGUARS

Sometimes, I feel sorry for those reporters in Jacksonville who are forced to come up with multiple stories a week on the Jaguars. What else can you possibly say past Week 3?

Thankfully, I don’t have that burden. So, I’m going to take the Texans here and we’ll leave it at that.

Pick: Texans

BRONCOS AT SAINTS

The Broncos defense have put up 30 points to the Raiders. Granted, the Saints aren’t the Raiders, but they can put points on the board. And New Orleans will be at home in the dome on Sunday.

Hmm, do I have the guts? Yes, I do for once. By the way, I know I’m going to be kicking myself in the picks review next week.

Pick: Saints

RAMS AT JETS

Oh, goody.

This Rams team that can’t run the ball gets to take on the Jets and their brick wall front seven. I’m setting the over/under on three-and-outs at 7 and I’m encouraging people to take the over.

At least the Jets offense is also a joke, but not enough of a joke where they can’t put enough points up to get past L.A. at home.

Pick: Jets

DOLPHINS AT CHARGERS

The Dolphins are proof that fans shouldn’t freak out if their team starts off 1-3. Sure, this team looked like garbage and couldn’t get out of their own way, but things improve. Players get healthy and offenses begin to take shape.

And here comes a matchup to put a record scratch on all the fun. San Diego might have voted down a ballot measure that would have funded a new stadium, but its team is putting a good product on the field.

A win here gets the Chargers back to .500. They should be even better than that.

Pick: Chargers

49ERS AT CARDINALS

In case you didn’t hear, Colin Kaepernick didn’t vote.

He made all that fuss over his demonstration (which I supported) and then didn’t even exercise his true American right to make his voice heard. I think … yeah, I think I have a problem with that. That has nothing to do with this game, but that’s just another reason why the 49ers are awful.

Pick: Cardinals

COWBOYS AT STEELERS

Remember all those things I said about Ben Roethlisberger earlier? I stand by those statements, but I also think he turns it around this week. For all the slobbering people have done over the Cowboys this season, their defense has given up quite a few yards.

And after that pathetic offensive showing against the Ravens, you know they’re anxious to get it turned around. Side note: Vegas seems to agree with me as Pittsburgh is a 2.5-point favorite at home.

Pick: Steelers

SEAHAWKS AT PATRIOTS

Seattle played on Monday night and will have to deal with a short week before playing in this Sunday night matchup on the road.

Have you watched the Seahawks defense the past two weeks? Not so impressive. I’m thinking the Patriots light them up this week.

Pick: Patriots

BENGALS AT GIANTS

Cincinnati is coming off a bye for this game and while I’m still rolling my eyes over their tie in England a week-and-a-half ago, I’m thinking they shake that off.

Plus, I have a feeling we’re in for one of those patented Eli Manning 4-interceptions-at-home bonanzas.

Pick: Bengals