NFL Week 10 is almost here so that means its tie for our 2011 NFL Week 10 Picks Against the Spread. Let’s find out who I like against the spread in Week 10.

CINCINNATI BENGALS (+4.5) over the Pittsburgh Steelers

Denver Broncos (+3.5) over the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Jacksonville Jaguars (-3) over the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Buffalo Bills (+4) over the DALLAS COWBOYS

Houston Texans (-4.5) over the TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Tennessee Titans (+4) over the CAROLINA PANTHERS

Washington Redskins (+4) over the MIAMI DOLPHINS

ATLANTA FALCONS (-1) over the New Orleans Saints

Detroit Lions (+3) over the CHICAGO BEARS

St. Louis Rams (+3) over the CLEVELAND BROWNS

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (-13) over the Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens (-8) over the SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

New York Giants (+4) over the SAN FRANCISCO 49ers

NEW YORK JETS (-2) over the New England Patriots

GREEN BAY PACKERS (-13) over the Minnesota Vikings

Last Week: 7-7

Year-to-Date: 66-58-5

A wild Week 10 in the NFL capped off by a thrilling and controversial ending in the Pats-Colts game.

Were inching closer to the playoffs as teams are falling out and stepping up.

Now onto my recap of Week 10 in the NFL:

Pats Gamble, Colts Capitalize

The game of the year lived up to it’s billing as we were treated to a trilling finish in Indianapolis as the Colts rallied from 13 down in the final minutes to win in the final seconds.  With the victory the Colts are now in the drivers seat for home field advantage, while the Pats are still two games up in the AFC East.  Now much has been made about Belichick’s decision to go for it on fourth and two on his own 28 with two minutes left.  It’s easy to second guess now that it backfired, but I actually liked the decision.

Giving Peyton Manning the ball with 2 minutes and a timeout is like giving him an eternity.  There was no doubt in my mind he would have drove them down for a score and I’m sure the same thing was going through Belichick’s mind.  If the Pats convert and I still think Faulk got the first down, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the refs make a spot like that, Belichick is a genius.  Everyone would be saying just another great call by Belichick.  This call reminded me of the time a few years back when Belichick took a safety against the Broncos.  When he did it everyone was criticizing him, but it worked out in the end and he was praised for the call.  Now different circumstances but similar in the sense that they were both unconventional. This is type of coach Bill Belichick is.  The same guy that we come to love and praise for years.  He’s got the stones to do something this bold and he’ll take the heat for it failing.  But I still feel if he could go back he’d make the same call.

New King in the AFC North

Lost in the shuffle behind the Pats-Colts game was the Bengals taking down the Steelers in Pittsburgh.  Without Cedric Benson for most of the game the Bengals were able to win a tough, grind it out game that we have come to expect the Steelers win over the years.  The Bengals out Steelered the Steelers.  I have to give credit to the Bengals defensive that was pressuring Roethlisberger all day and shut down Rashard Mendenhall.  The Bengals are no effectively two games up on the Steelers and could be looking at a first round bye.  Tell someone that before the season started and they wouldn’t though you were crazy.  That’s the beauty of the NFL.

Denver Fading?

The Broncos were the talk of the league after starting 6-0 and Josh McDaniels was on top of the world.  O how long ago that seems in Denver.  After three straight losses the Broncos are reeling and searching for answers.  The first two losses to the Ravens and Steelers were understandable, but losing to the Redskins is puzzling.  The loss of Kyle Orton at halftime really derailed the team, but outside of the two Brandon Marshall bombs they only scored 3 points.  Now, they face San Diego next week, who has won four in a row, for the division lead.

Bad Day to be a Running Back

If you were a running back yesterday chances are you got injured.  In total five backs went down that could be out for at least a week and some more.  The victims were Michel Turner, Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson, Brian Westbrook, and Julius Jones.  Of the five Westbrook appears to be the most seriously injured.  He suffered his second concussion in a number of weeks and some were speculating after the game that not only is his season in jepordary, but his career could be as well.  Andy Reid said postgame that football is “secondary” for Westbrook and they won’t rush him back.  Larry Johnson must have been praying for some injuries.  I still wouldn’t count on any of these teams signing him.

Game Balls

Charles Woodson

The Green Bay corner was excellent on Sunday posting nine tackles, two forced fumbles, one sack, and an interception at the goal line.  He was instrumental as the Packers held Dallas scoreless for virtually the entire game.  The win put the Packers right back into the thick of things in the NFC playoff picture.

Chris Johnson

It seems like Johnson can make this list every week.  He torched the Bills for 132 yards on the ground and 100 receiving while also scoring twice.  Johnson has taken the Titans out of the dumps and has them at a respectable 3-6 now.

Bernard Scott

The rookie sixth round pick scored the lone touchdown in the Bengals-Steelers game and it came on a kick return.  He also filled in admirably after Cedric Benson went down rushing for 33 yards and adding 21 yards receiving.

Sidney Rice

Rice was everywhere on Sunday hauling in seven passes for 201 yards in the Vikings win.  Rice continued his breakout campaign, with his best of the season and has clearly emerged as Brett Favre’s go to guy.

Phillip Rivers

Rivers stats weren’t very flashy (231 yards, 2 tds), but he was virtually flawless the entire day.  He was in complete control of the game and was picking apart the Eagles secondary.

Lame Ducks

Jay Cutler

The much-maligned quarterback did not bring his A game on Thursday night as the Bears went down to the 49ers.  He tossed five interceptions including two red zone interceptions.  The game ended predictably on a Cutler interception in the end zone.

Jeff Reed

Reed gave one of the worst attempts to tackle Bernard Scott on the kickoff making no effort whatsoever and letting Scott run right by him.  For someone who is known for going crazy when he has too much to drink you’d expect to see that mentality on the football field, even though he’s a kicker.

Chris Simms

The Broncos held a three-point halftime lead against the Redskins only to score zero point in the second half and lose by 10.  The man that came in at halftime due to a Kyle Orton injury, Chris Simms, is much to blame for the poor effort.  Simms completed only 3 of 13 passes for a measly 13 yards while also tossing an interception.  If Orton is out for any extended period of time the Broncos are in trouble.

Stat of the Week:

Since 2001, on 4th and 2 or less, the Patriots had converted 76.4 percent of fourth-down plays.

Quote of the Week:

Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew after kneeling at the one yard line late in the Jaguars-Jets game.

“Sorry to my fantasy owners. I apologize. I had myself today. It was a tough call, but whatever it takes to get the victory, that’s what counts.”

Maurice, you killed me yesterday.  I had you on my team and you might cost me a win and you torched my Jets.

Picture of the Week:

Billy Madison at it again, lighting poop on fire.  Wait, I just called the shit poop.

Picture of the Week 2:

Titans owner, Bud Adams, 86, flipping the bird to the Bills sideline.  The old man still has some fire in him.

Video of the Week:

Belichick’s bodyguard takes out the cameraman.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Video of the Week 2:

Marino says shit on live tv.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Week 10 will be here in no time and it looks like a good one.  Only two teams, the Texans and Giants, are on a bye and then starting next the byes are finally over.

The best games are the Patriots vs. Colts, Steelers vs. Bengals, and the Chargers vs. Eagles.

Here’s what you should watch for this weekend.

Brady Back in Action

In the third game of the season against Baltimore, Brady Quinn was pulled at halftime in favor of Derek Anderson.  Now he makes his return to the starting lineup against who else but Baltimore.  It’s could be the last chance for Quinn to succeed in Cleveland, and he’ll be in the spotlight on Monday Night.

Elimination Game in New York

The Jets and Jaguars square off on Sunday in a must win game for both teams. They are in contention for a wild card behind the Bengals, Chargers, and Ravens.   They both sit at 4-4 and a loss on Sunday drops one of them to 4-5 and all but out of the playoff picture.  I like the Jets to win this matchup.  They’re coming off a bye and playing at home against a hot and cold Jaguars team.

Andy Reid vs. Norv Turner

Arguably two of the worst game managers in coaching meet on Sunday in a huge game for both teams.  Andy Reid is being ripped for his decision to kick a field goal late in the game against the cowboys instead of going for it while it seems like Norv Turner’s job is always in question.  This game may come down to which coach doesn’t screw up.

Can Aaron Rodgers and the Packers O-Line Rebound?

The Packers have allowed a league high 37 sacks this season and are on pace to shatter the all time record.  Last week, they allowed five sacks to an anemic Buccaneer pass rush.  It doesn’t get any easier this week.  DeMarcus Ware is one of the best in the business and Jay Ratliff is emerging on the defensive line.  They do play at home though, and need this win to saty in the playoff picture.

AFC North Control

A rematch from week 3 of the season, pits the Bengals and Steelers for control of the AFC North.  Both teams sit at 6-2, but the Bengals have the tiebreaker because of the win earlier in the season.  A win for the Bengals and suddenly they’re two games up on the Steelers and 5-0 in the division.  The Steelers though, have not lost since that defeat and will not go out easy on their home turf.

Brady vs. Manning

The talk of the week.  Brady and the Pats taking on Manning and the Colts.  But we know this game is about much than these two players.

The Colts have escaped the last two weeks, but won’t be able to do against the Patriots.  Tom Brady will look to take advantage of the Colts depleted secondary, something Matt Schaub could not.

In reality though, is this game doesn’t really matter much other that bragging rights.  The Colts have all but locked up the South and the Patriots are still the clear favorite in the East.  Anyway, it still should be a heck of a game.