Going with my gut didn't work for me on Thursday, but Jason lost with me too, so it's not just me. So this week, I'm abandoning all stats. That's right, it's a completely stat-free week! I went with my gut on about half the picks, and on the others, I consulted my own "What I Learned" posts from a week and two weeks ago and tried to actually apply those lessons to these picks. What a novel concept, huh? Those picks will have my learned lesson listed below in the thoughts and observations section. Here now, our picks for Week 10:
| Thu. Nite |
|
|
|
|
|
| SD (4-4) | 7 | Oak (4-4) | Oak 24-17 |
| SD | SD |
| Sunday |
|
|
|
|
|
| Jack (2-6) | 3 | IND (0-9) |
|
| Jack | Ind |
| KC (4-4) | 3 | Den (3-5) |
|
| Den | Den |
| Pit (6-3) | 3½ | CIN (6-2) |
|
| Pit | Pit |
| DAL (4-4) | 5½ | Buf (5-3) |
|
| Buf | Buf |
| ATL (5-3) | 1 | NO (6-3) |
|
| Atl | Atl |
| CLE (3-5) | 2½ | StL (1-7) |
|
| StL | Cle |
| MIA (1-7) | 4 | Wash (3-5) |
|
| Wash | Mia |
| Hou (6-3) | 3½ | TB (4-4) |
|
| Hou | Hou |
| CAR (2-6) | 3½ | Tenn (4-4) |
|
| Car | Car |
| PHI (3-5) | 14 | Ariz (2-6) |
|
| Ariz | Phi |
| Bal (6-2) | 6½ | SEA (2-6) |
|
| Sea | Sea |
| CHI (5-3) | 2½ | Det (6-2) |
|
| Det | Chi |
| SF (7-1) | 3½ | NYG (6-2) |
|
| NY | NY |
| Sun. Nite |
|
|
|
|
|
| NYJ (5-3) | 1½ | NE (5-3) |
|
| NE | NY |
| Mon. Nite |
|
|
|
|
| GB (8-0) | 13 | Min (2-6) |
|
| GB | Min |
Some of our thoughts and observations included:
- In light of recent events at Penn State U., Jason and I would like to bring a new descriptor into the IMLD lexicon. Along with calling a blowout as a "squoosh," we reserve the right to also refer to a blowout as "getting Sanduskied." For instance, I'm picking the Jaguars to Sandusky the Colts, specifically RB Maurice Jones-Drew. He should enjoy pulling down Indy's pants and sodomizing them from behind, because he's so good at it. Jason needed only to hear that Jacksonville and their putrid passing game and QB Blaine Gabbert were not just favorites, but road favorites. That was enough to push him towards Indianapolis getting their first victory.
- And now for a long list of agreeable picks. We like Denver at Kansas City because we feel foolish believing in the Chiefs last week against Miami after their big Monday night win over San Diego. When the Chiefs lose, they don't just lose, they get Sanduskied. And if Reggie Bush can do that to KC, what will the Broncos and their RB duo of Willis McGahee and Tim Tebow do? What would Tebow do? WWTD?? My Lesson Learned: Kansas City, Week 7--"Oakland's 322 net yards was actually more than the Chiefs' 300," pointing to the Chiefs having defensive issues; Denver, Week 8--"Would you like to call some running plays for Mr. Tebow to take advantage of the one thing he knows how to do"?
- We like Pittsburgh at Cincinnati because it's time for the Bengals to prove how real they are, which is to say not at all, and because Pittsburgh's gotta be mad after getting swept by the hated Ravens last week. Jason never likes a Steelers opponent after a Steeler loss. Bad timing for the other team.
- We like Dallas to beat Buffalo but not cover the number. Dallas remains too dumb to cover big numbers, and while 5½ isn't very big, it is against a decent team like the Bills, who are coming off that paddling by the Jets and should be looking for redemption. My Lesson Learned: Dallas, Week 8--"What Philadelphia did to Dallas was a thorough dismantling of another team...239 rushing yards?!?"
- We like Atlanta to get it done at home against the Saints because Atlanta's looked hot, like as hot as any team under Green Bay. They are clicking on offense, and New Orleans, as we know, is scuffling trying to stop the run. Good luck stopping Michael Turner. My Lesson Learned: New Orleans, Week 8--"The Saints can't be trusted the rest of the year against a team that can run the ball at all."
- Jason likes Cleveland to get it done against St. Louis. He has no idea how the Browns score, but they do it and win games against really bad teams. My viewpoint is that the Rams, however bad they may be, still aren't as bad as the Browns. I'm taking a bad team over a worse team.
- I struggled with Miami maybe getting their first home win over Washington. Sure, the Redskins are horrible, but the Dolphins don't win at home. They haven't won a home game since Michael Jackson was alive. I split the difference in the end and took Miami to win but Washington to cover. This feels like an overtime 3-point Dolphin win to me. No stats, just feel baby. 19-16, write that shit down. Jason will take Miami to cover because John Beck still makes him giggle, although we both have a funny feeling that the Shanahan Boyz will call on Sexy Rexy sometime during this one. How much more Beck does one need to see? My Lesson Learned: Miami, Week 7--The Dolphins "did enough to win a game against a team without a QB who can actually get the ball down the field. Well, for 55 minutes they did."
- Houston is red hot right now, as Arian Foster and Ben Tate are making for a killer RB combo. We'll go with the Texans over the Buccaneers because Houston is good and Tampa Bay is not.
- Carolina isn't great, but they may be the best 2-6 team ever. Would you want your favorite team to play them right now? We'll take them over Tennessee because they're at least promising to be good soon, unlike the Titans. Jason threw a stat at me to make up for all the stats I usually hit him with. The Titans leading rusher this year is still Chris Johnson, but he has only 366 yards! At this late stage of the season, I don't think Chris is hitting that 2,000-yard mark.
- No indecision from me on the biggest spread of the week. Arizona has a QB in John Skelton who can't do anything but throw the ball deep up for grabs, and WR Larry Fitzgerald, as he proved last week, will go get it. So I love the Cardinals to cover two TDs at Philly, although Philadelphia badly needs this win. They gotta get off the deck in this spot, right? Jason thinks they'll rise all the way up and beat down the inferior opponent.
- We'll both gladly take Seattle to cover almost a TD against Baltimore because Baltimore doesn't seem to know how to play hard when they don't fucking respect the opponent. We'll pick them to keep playing down to their competition, although we both like the Ravens to win.
- I didn't hesitate in picking Detroit to go into Chicago and get a big win because for some reason I think they still want to avenge getting robbed of a win in Chicago last year even though they already beat the Bears in Motown this year. I know if I got a game-winning TD catch stolen from me like Calvin Johnson did, I'd relive it again upon walking back into the stadium, and it would motivate me to pull out my whang and Sandusky the Bears repeatedly until there are no other sounds echoing throughout Soldier Field except the sound of rhythmic slapping. Jason is taking Chicago just because he has a hunch. We know what that means. Bet all you possess on Chicago immediately.
- Jason loves the hook on the Niners-Giants spread, so he'll take New York to cover, but not to win. I'm going all the way and taking the Giants FTW. If the defense gets penetration and Eli Manning plays QB like he has so far this year, the Giants can hang with any team in the damn league. And who do you want late in a close game, Alex Smith or Eli? My Lesson Learned: New York Giants, Week 8--"...quarterbacks win in this league by throwing, and Eli Manning's arm prevailed in the end..."; San Francisco, Week 8--"Niners QB Alex Smith at one point threw a play-action screen to an eligible offensive lineman for a first down, and if that wasn't crazy enough, he threw a play-action screen to a defensive lineman for another first down. The Browns allowed Coach Insane to do that. A real team will not."
- On Sunday night, I struggled with taking New England to overcome the worst defense in the league (their own) or picking the Jets and handing Tom Brady his 3rd loss in a row. I went with the Patriots because I still consider the Jets D overrated and I think Brady and the crew will be motivated to shred Gang Green and shake the losing streak. Plus, the Jets can't get defensive penetration and rattle Brady quite like the Giants can. Jason's not taking Mark Sanchez, he wants to make clear, but he's picking the Jets for the 2nd week in a row. The Pats are playing bad, the Jets are playing well, and Jay's going with the team and the foot-loving coach that has had Brady and Bill Belichick's number lately. My Lesson Learned: New York Jets, Week 7--"The Bolts seemed to move the ball with ease when they had to early (against the Jets), and it wasn't Philip Rivers dominating with the pass."
- And no stressing over the Monday night pick for me, either. Yes, Minnesota stayed very close with Green Bay in QB Christian Ponder's first start, losing by only 6. But that was in Minnesota with a huge effort from RB Adrian Peterson. Not that Peterson isn't capable of another huge effort, but it's less likely on the road, not to mention at Lambeau Field. I like the Packers to Sandusky the Vikings by 20. Jason will take Minnesota to keep it close because that's how Godawful the Pack's defense has been this year.
No comments:
Post a Comment