The Touchdown Three: Week 10
So, I didn’t get another perfect week in Week Nine but I did get another winning week. For those that are keeping score (namely me) that is three successful weeks on the run. If we want to turn what is an OK season into a great one, consistent winning has to continue, and with the NFL picks for Week 10 below I think the winning continues.
Week 9: 2-1
Overall Record: 16-10-1
Falcons @ Saints -13
Have the Atlanta Falcons ever recovered from losing the Super Bowl after being 28-3 up? Right now the team is zombie walking to the end of the season, so they can blow up the coaching staff and have some major conversations about the highest paid players on their roster. The team will look to play spoiler the rest of the season, but to do that the defense will have to get better as at present only 4 teams have allowed more points.
Whereas heartbreak in the playoffs seems to have destroyed the Falcons, it has galvanised the Saints. Multiple weeks without Drew Brees didn’t hold them back and right now they are in a great position to win the division and get a bye. The offense was efficient under Bridgewater but with Brees back I expect it to go to another level, which is bad news for the teams on the schedule.
A bad defense vs a good offense, only one winner here, take the Saints.
Rams -3.5 @ Steelers
Before the bye the Rams steadied the ship with two straight wins (I know they were against garbage) which means they are still just in the hunt for the NFC West title. The division is tough, so they have to keep winning and hope the 49ers and Seahawks slip up. They need to run the ball better and shore up that defense, but if McVay is as good as people say he is, this should happen.
What a weird season the Pittsburgh Steelers are having. The Three B’s gone or on IR, Conner and JJ struggling and starting 0-3. Somehow since they have won 4 of 5 and the people of Pittsburgh believe the season isn’t over, and if you look at the schedule they may be right, and they still have 5 games against teams with losing records. I don’t not think the Steelers are talented but good coaching and defense may turn a disaster season into a mediocre one, which will be some achievement.
I don’t rate the Steelers and I feel they may struggle against talented teams. I think the Rams have the talent to exploit the Steelers so I am taking the Rams here
Seahawks +6 @ 49ers
How good has Russell Wilson been this season? For me right now he is the MVP and leading his team to the playoffs. If they want to win the division, this week is a massive week as they cannot let the 49ers get too far away from them. The defense has struggled a lot more than you would expect a Peter Carroll coached team to do but I think Peter might have a special plan for the 49ers this week.
The 49ers just keep winning. It wasn’t dominant against the Cards in Week Nine, but they won and remained undefeated. Kyle Shanahan is doing a great job with the Offense and the defense has some tremendous talent on it and it shows as they continue to make plays week on week. I started watching the NFL in the 1980’s so I always feel better when the 49ers are good, and right now they are.
Last week I picked against the only undefeated team left in the AFC and was right, and this week I am going to do something very similar. The Seahawks only play close games and 6 points in a rivalry game is just too much. Take the Seahawks here and don’t be surprised if they pull the upset.
If you do like the ideas from this column and decide to use some of your hard earned cash to try and make some money, please remember that thetouchdown.co.uk takes no responsibility if you lose. Also please do gamble responsibly.
Paul Mainwaring
NFL Analyst
A former UKEndzone writer, Paul has been dragged out of an enforced retirement to give his thoughts on the NFL and anything else he can slide past the editorial team.
Paul is most famous (infamous?) as Mainz one half of Waxing Lyrical. alongside his Partner in Crime Neil ‘Dutts’ Dutton.
Find him @Mainzey7 where all manner of sports are on the menu.
Image credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports, Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports, Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports