Week 10 NFL Picks

Well it's been 10 days since the end of the 2009 MLB season and maybe it will finally culminate in my sanity sooner rather than later. Maybe I won't have dreams like last night's where down 8-6 in the top of the ninth against Mariano Rivera, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez come in and hit respective home runs off him to make the game 10-8 and eventually forcing a game 7. What can I say folks? I bleed red. Well, like Phillies-red... you get the picture.

Moving on to the Eagles; this team more or less the antithesis of the Phillies. Just when they can win back an entire city that is fresh off a World Series defeat, they blow their biggest game of the year (thus far) at home to their biggest rival. Just doesn't bode well does it? Yet another prime example that this Eagles team is one that can't get it done in the big moment, when it counts most. I'm sure I'll be singing a different tune come December, as always, but for right now the Eagles have shown that they have a whole lot to prove.

Week 10 of the NFL has arrived, a pivotal week to those second place, 5-3 teams, such as our Eagles, where they can boost their playoff hopes by going 3 games over .500 or taking one step closer to the dreaded .500 mark. There are some interesting match-ups this week, many that could be the deciding games in eventual playoff births. Let's take a look at those who I deem worthy...

(Home team in CAPS)

Chicago over SAN FRAN

I'll be honest here, I picked the game and didn't write it down or post it. I thought that San Fran was on the slide and hey - Jay Cutler couldn't really be this bad, could he? Turns out he is much, much worse. 5 picks in a game!?

Naaaahhhlins over ST. LOUIS

New Or-lee-ans has it locked up until week 13 against the Patriots.

MIAMI over Tampa

I am a big believer in momentum, but no 1-7 team that has used three starting Quarterbacks in 8 games will win two in a row, especially on the road.

MINNESOTA over Detroit

Is this the game that Brad Childress leaves The-Quarterback-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in the game for a series too long and he finally throws out his back like any normal, grey-haired/faced 40-year-old would and inevitably refuses to forfeit his consecutive games played streak and continues to play, leading to a .500 second-half for a top-4 team, opening up questions as they face a hot Atlanta Falcons team who demolished the Cardinals in round 1 of the playoffs? Why yes, I think so.

NY JETS over Jacksonville

The Jets keep their slim playoff hopes alive for just one more week before they get crushed by the Pats.

Buffalo over TENNESSEE

This is the game that saves us from a 1st and 10 frenzy on ESPN wondering if Vince Young has finally matured and is ready to take over the helm and lead the Titans into the future. The answer, as provided by this matchup: no, he isn't. He's really stupid, really big, and really not good.

PITTSBURGH over Cincy

They day that Marvin Lewis sweeps a season series from the Steelers when the division lead is up for grabs is the day that Elton Brand ever comes close to averaging a double-double again (9 points and 5 rebounds per game as of today). In short, that day will not dawn. The Big Ben Show marches onward.

Denver over WASHINGTON

This will mark the first time that I have picked the Denver Broncos all season. Do I believe in Josh McDaniels and that liar Brian Dawkins? - No. But I believe much less in the Redskins. This should be one of the Broncos last easy wins.

Hotlanta over CAROLINA

Matt Ryan was named the second-best QB in Southeastern PA (my highschool football area) over the past decade. Pretty astonishing to see in the Philadelphia Inquirer. This one should be closer than it looks at first glance, as the Panthers have been playing decently as of late. Atlanta will prevail as our first 5-3 team to take a step closer to the postseason (is it ever called the postseason in the NFL? No? Why not? It is in the other 3 major sports. I will start to use this term for the NFL.).

OAKLAND over kc

Week 8 featured Detroit vs. St. Louis. Week 9 treated us to Jacksonville vs. KC and Seattle vs. Detroit. This week our fandom is rewarded even further with the worst offense in the NFL vs. the 3rd-worst offense in the NFL. I won't even mention their defensive rankings.

ARIZONA over Seattle

Will the real Arizona Cardinals please stand up? A 5-3 team that stands alone in first in the worst division in football, this isn't do-or-die for the Cardinals. Pencil them in.

GREEN BAY over Dallas

My upset of the week. It's time for Dallas to lose. They have quietly, and then not so quietly won 4 in a row. On the road in Green Bay is always a tough place to play and Romo is due for a horrendous performance isn't he? The national spotlight is suddenly on the Cowboys again. Not Romo's specialty.

Eagles over SAN DIEGO

I know, I know - I'm biased towards the Eagles to say the very least. But just when everyone gets down on us is when we make our comeback. Right? Right? Somebody? Anybody? Does anyone want to play defense for the Eagles? Or offensive line for that matter? Somebody wake up!

INDY over New England

Still don't understand the inter-division scheduling in the NFL. How do we get to see such a marquee matchup every single year? I'm going to go ahead and pick the undefeated team against the Patriots, who have undeniably been on a roll for the past month. I'm going to predict a defensive battle. Ready for it? Ok, here it comes. I predict a defensive battle.

Baltimore over CLEVELAND

If Baltimore wins this game, as expected, we could very realistically see three teams in the postseason from the AFC North. Only Denver/San Diego pose a major threat to this occurring.

Season: 83-43

**Check out the new poll**