NFL Week 11

You ever feel like you were destined for greatness?

Me neither.

I always wonder what an NFL quarterback feels before making his first start. What exactly goes through his mind in the week leading up to the game?

“This is my first step to Canton!”

“Did my first start have to come against Ndamukong Suh?”

“Ugh, I feel my shoulders don’t properly fill out my jersey.”

“What if I buttfumble?”

“Oh, no, my Mom is bringing a sign to the stadium that says ‘I love my sonny.’”

The mindset must be a mix of excitement, a genuine pee-your-pants-level fear, great hope and endless doubt.

Does confidence have any room to fit in somewhere? I know I’d have zero faith in myself.

I feel for Jared Goff. I’m sure Rams coach Jeff Fisher through he was doing his No. 1 overall pick a favor by holding him out of the first half of the regular season, but an unfortunate byproduct of that was to brighten the spotlight. Especially since other rookie QBs have been tearing up the league.

All eyes will be on the Coliseum on Sunday, to see Ryan Gosling Jr. take his first hacks at the pro level. My expectations are low, because the Rams have an awful offensive line and receivers that are questionable, at best.

But I’m hoping for the best. And I’ll be there in person. Second Rams home game of the season for Mr. Saraf! I’m even going to drop $100 for parking because I want to tailgate!

OK, let’s move on.

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

Week 10 picks: 5-9

Oh, like you’re so perfect, huh? Yes, my Week 10 record was a horror show, but I was agonizingly close with a couple picks.

I took the Bengals and they lost by one to the Giants. I had the Saints in position to get past the Broncos before a ridiculous special teams play screwed that up. If the Steelers played a lick of defense, they were in position to take down Big D.

But then again, I took the Packers to beat the Titans, the Bears over the Buccaneers and thought the Patriots would dominate the Seahawks at home.

Sigh. Time to shake it off and respond strong.

Raise your glass to: Russell Wilson

Nobody would have blinked if the Seahawks laid an egg in New England. They were playing on a short week and had to travel cross-country for a Sunday night matchup. Plus, it’s the freaking Patriots playing at home.

Did Russell and his gimpy leg limp to an uninspired loss? Hell, no. He just threw for 348 yards and 3 TDs and the Seahawks did some serious work in a 31-24 win.

Honorable mentions: Marcus Mariota (4 TD passes) and Ezekiel Elliott (3 total TDs)

Boo this man: Brock Osweiler

Yes, the Texans won the game. Yes, Brock O threw 2 touchdown passes. But good lord, he was 14 of 27 for only 99 yards. If I had one word to describe that stat line, it would be: WTF?

How do you play in a professional football game and throw for less than 100 yards? Disgusting!

But hey, the Texans are 6-3, so whatever, right? Houston might be the first team in history to suck out loud all the way to the postseason.

Dishonorable mentions: Philip Rivers (4 INTs), Green Bay Packers (everyone was bad).

Alrighty, on to the picks!

WEEK 11

SAINTS AT PANTHERS

Something’s rotten in the Carolinas, but Cam Newton apparently isn’t worried.

“… We have a locker room full of winners and a locker room full of fight still, and I know I’m willing to go to battle with those guys,” Newton said via NFL.com. “I can’t wait until Thursday.”

Well, that’s nice.

I’m definitely in no rush to watch this Panthers team after they handed a win to the Chiefs at home. A loss so ugly it could derail whatever playoff hopes they have remaining.

Now, they get a division test. And I have no confidence they’ll be able to get out of their own way against the Saints, a team that’s actually playing well as of late.

That being said, I’m not picking against them. Not with Vegas oddsmakers listing Carolina as a 3.5-point favorite. Somehow, I think they’ll pull this one out. And it will probably be an ugly watch.

Pick: Panthers

BILLS AT BENGALS

Marvin Lewis always had an excuse. Sure, they’ve had playoff flameouts in five straight years, but he deserved credit for getting his team to the dance in the first place.

Now, Cincinnati is sitting at 3-5-1. If things get worse, this might be the year the Bengals go searching for a new head coach.

Thankfully, they welcome the Bills and their three-game losing streak into their house. Buffalo is coming off a bye, but I don’t think that matters here.

Pick: Bengals

CARDINALS AT VIKINGS

I liken the Vikings’ season to the movie Titanic.

Everything starts out great. There’s some light comedy, Billy Zane and Kathy Bates. Leo hooks up with the pretty redhead and steams up a turn-of-the-century jalopy, declares himself the king of the world and all is fine and dandy.

Then an iceberg comes into view and before you know it, pretty much everyone has either froze to death in freezing water, drowned, committed suicide, or been split in two by a falling boiler.

It’s horrifying to watch something that could have been so great just dashed to pieces. All hope is lost in Minnesota. Just let go.

Pick: Cardinals

BEARS AT GIANTS

Yeah, like I’d ever pick the Bears again.

Pick: Giants

TITANS AT COLTS

Man, if Andrew Luck and the Colts had the Titans’ ability to run the ball, that would be … I dunno, it’d be something good.

The Titans will be a week removed from their impressive pasting of the Packers, but I’ve heard people say not to trust blowout losses or blowout wins. And the game against Green Bay was ridiculous because of the ease in which they moved the ball down the field.

Are they due for a letdown? Yes, somewhat, but the Titans can still move the ball via the run game and that can help keep Luck off the field. This is where I probably make my first mistake of the week, but I want to take a risk here.

Pick: Titans

BUCCANEERS AT CHIEFS

It’s hard to predict which Buccaneers team will show up most weeks. I have no such problem this time.

The Tampa team we’ll see on Sunday will be the one that can’t hold off an aggressive Kansas City pass rush and will watch Jameis Winston make mistakes. The Chiefs are red-hot, having won five straight.

There’s no reason to think they won’t get a sixth.

Pick: Chiefs

STEELERS AT BROWNS

I’ve said it before: The Browns will win a game this season.

But once again, it’s not going to be this week, even though Cody Kessler is playing surprisingly good football and the team is giving its full effort.

The Steelers defense will get it together after being torched by the Cowboys.

Pick: Steelers

RAVENS AT COWBOYS

The Ravens have won two straight and are sitting on top of a surprisingly soft AFC North. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have won eight straight and are sitting on top of a surprisingly strong NFC East.

Not only that, Tony Romo gave a surprising vote of confidence to rookie Dak Prescott, who is now free to control the reins for the rest of the season – barring something catastrophic. This team has come together.

I’m looking for the Cowboys offensive line to hold off a good Ravens front seven.

Pick: Cowboys

JAGUARS AT LIONS

Matthew Stafford is having a season to remember and I don’t see how the Jaguars are going to stand in the way of that. Especially with the Lions coming off a bye and playing at home.

Vegas has Detroit favored by 6.5 points. I think the Lions cover that fairly easily.

Pick: Lions

DOLPHINS AT RAMS

It’s really fashionable to take shots at Jeff Fisher and I tend to stay out of that. I don’t know why he’s been able to last this long in the NFL with so few winning seasons, and quite frankly, I don’t care.

However, I’m having a hard time finding the logic in starting Jared Goff now. You held him out this long, only to let him loose against a Dolphins team that’s playing solid defense as of late?

A team with a front seven that can tear the Rams offensive line apart? I just hope Goff doesn’t get hurt.

This game will be closer than it should, but Miami gets it done.

Pick: Dolphins

PATRIOTS AT 49ERS

I already feel sorry for the 49ers.

Pick: Patriots

EAGLES AT SEAHAWKS

Philly came through with a solid defensive effort at home to beat the Falcons. Now, the Eagles are in for a true test in Seattle.

How will that defense respond against a Seahawks offense that has found itself over the past two weeks? And more important, how will Carson Wentz respond when he won’t be able to hear his offensive coordinator give him the play thanks to that thunderous crowd?

I actually think both will do pretty well. But I don’t think that will be enough to win.

Pick: Seahawks

PACKERS AT REDSKINS

Look, until the Packers figure out what the hell is going wrong up there, I’m not wasting a pick on them. They got blown out by the damn Titans.

This is more an anti-Green Bay pick than a pro-Washington pick.

Pick: Redskins

TEXANS AT RAIDERS

This game is appointment viewing because it’s in Mexico City. What a great matchup for the fans down there.

Look for Brock Osweiler to continue to stink out loud and for the Silver and Black to tear the Texans apart.

Pick: Raiders