It’s that time again, when we finish up our week of NFL tomfoolery and prepare for the next one. As always, the most important concern we want to focus on is how I’m doing with my NFL picks. Frankly, I feel like it’s the only thing keeping this fragile nation together right now. It’s a lot on my shoulders, but I’m strong enough. You’uns pray fer me.
Here’s how I rolled in Week 10.
This week
Straight up: 9-5
Against the spread: 6-8
Last week
Straight up: 9-4
Against the spread: 11-2
Season
Straight up: 87-59
Against the spread: 75-70
What was my best pick of the week? I have two that were pretty terrific. The Saints putting a curb stomp on the suddenly hapless Buffalo Bills, 47-10, not only got me a win against the spread and straight up, but helped me finally figure out this Bills squad. It helped their head coach, Sean McDermott, solve the mystery too as he just benched Tyrod Taylor for rookie Nathan Peterman.
My other fave was the Green Bay Packers in an “upset” over the Chicago Bears, 23-16. Brett Hundley looked a lot like the quarterback I thought he’d be coming out of UCLA and the Bears just aren’t good. They’re better, but still bad.
My most shockingly wrong pick was going against the Tennessee Titans in their 24-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Titans have now won four in a row under Mike Mularkey, which I’m pretty sure is in the Book of Revelations as a sign of the Apocalypse.
I’m not happy with the New York Jets letting Ryan Fitzpatrick beat them and The Dallas Cowboys really took a dump in on the duvet against the Atlanta Falcons. That was a bad loss for everybody.
Here’s what our lines look like before we start picking games.
EARLY NFL WEEK 11 LINES
Thursday
Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers (-7), O/U: 43.5
Sunday
Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears (+3), O/U: 41.0
Baltimore Ravens at Green Bay Packers (+2), O/U: 38.0
Jacksonville Jaguars at Cleveland Browns (+7.5), O/U: 37.5
Arizona Cardinals at Houston Texans (+1), O/U: 40.0
Los Angeles Rams at Minnesota Vikings (-2), O/U: 46.0
Washington Redskins at New Orleans Saints (-7.5), O/U: 51.0
Kansas City Chiefs at New York Giants (+10.5), O/U: 44.0
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins (-1), O/U: 41.0
Sunday Late
Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Chargers (-4), O/U: 43.0
Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos (-2.5), O/U: 39.5
New England Patriots at Oakland Raiders (+6.5), O/U: 52.5
Sunday Night
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys (+3.5), O/U: 48.5
Monday Night
Atlanta Falcons at Seattle Seahawks (-3), O/U: 45.0
Byes: Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers
I’m really looking hard at that Packers (+2) against the Ravens. I’m not sure Hundley is getting any respect there. That Vikings (-2) is kind of telling. It’s strength on strength in that game, with the Rams’ offense going against the Minnesota defense at home where they’re always tough. That means the Los Angeles defense vs Case Keenum is your key match up.
The Saints at (-7.5) is a huge line against a good Redskins offense and I feel the same way about the Patriots at Raiders at (+6.5). And the Broncos at (-2.5)? Are we ready to pick them over anyone at this point? Hmmm.
NFL WEEK 10 KEY INJURIES
For the Seattle Seahawks, who are in a pitched battle with the high flying Los Angeles Rams for the NFC West, the worst happened when cornerback Richard Sherman went down with a torn Achilles against the Arizona Cardinals last Thursday. Sherman is out for the rest of the year.
Sherman is still one of the league’s best corners. This year he had 35 tackles, one fumble recovery, seven passes defended and two interceptions. Seattle’s probably glad at this point that their trade involving cornerback Jeremy Lane didn’t go through. Sherman will be replaced by rookie Shaquill Griffin. You’ll probably recognize Griffin as the guy that gets called for pass interference pretty much any time he’s on the field. He’ll be making his first start facing off against Julio Jones and the Atlanta Falcons too. It should be fun.
https://twitter.com/deshaunwatson/status/929077548440543232
Since Lane still isn’t 100 percent, former UT Volunteer Justin Coleman will start on the other side. The Seahawks also brought in former Legion of Boomer Byron Maxwell. So, pick your poison, Julio Jones!
The Seahawks did get some good news on left tackle Duane Brown. In just his second start with the team since being traded from the Houston Texans, Brown left the game early with an ankle injury. He says he’s fine and should play Sunday.
In addition to being the last winless team in the league, the Cleveland Browns got more bad news this week. Linebacker Jaime Collins will miss the rest of the season after an MCL injury to his right knee.
With LB Jamie Collins out for the season and on Injured Reserve, they promoted LB Deon King to the active roster.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 15, 2017
Collins is the best defensive player on the Browns by a pretty wide margin, so needless to say this doesn’t help the prospects for a victory. Collins has 31 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, three passes defended and one interception this season. James Burgess will move into the starting line up in Collins’ spot. Burgess was an undrafted free agent out of Louisville last season and didn’t play a down in 2016. This year he’s started two games, played in seven and has 19 tackles, two sacks, three passes defended and a forced fumble.
And lo, as foretold by an inscription upon the back of an ancient sea turtle shell perched at the top of of Mt. Ararat, the Blaine Gabbert era officially begins for the Arizona Cardinals.
Drew Stanton suffered a knee sprain against the Seahawks Thursday night and will have to sit out at least two weeks. Stanton was 1-1 as a starter for the Cards this season and played in three games. He completed 48.4 percent of his passes for 540 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Drew Stanton with a clean pocket all night pic.twitter.com/2ALYR7Ork5
— Michael Hitchcock (@FF_Hitch) November 10, 2017
Gabbert went 1-4 as the starting quarterback from the San Francisco 49ers last season. He completed 56.9 percent of his passes for 925 yards, five touchdowns and six picks.
The Washington Redskins lost starting running back Rob Kelley for the season after a knee injury suffered in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings Sunday. The Redskins placed Kelley on injured reserve. Kelley carried the ball 62 times this season for 194 yards and three touchdowns. Chris Thompson will move into a starting role.
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