FRIDAY AFTERNOON QUARTERBACK: NFL WEEK 10

BY ADAM GREENE

It was another humbling week here in The FAQ as teams continue to take weeks off when it suits them, whether they have a bye or not.

Consider the Tennessee Titans in Thursday night’s contest. Not even a full week after the Indianapolis Colts and quarterback Philip Rivers played bad enough to become a meme against the Baltimore Ravens, the team and QB dusted off their ass kicking boots to deliver a solid punt to the Tennessee Titans’ keister in front of their own fans and a prime time NFL audience.

Rivers, who managed to lead Indy to just 10 points five days before, was near perfect against Tennessee, finishing 29 of 39 for 308 yards and a touchdown. Rookie wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., after getting cut by every fantasy football owner after Week Two, will now be a hotly contested waiver wire pick up after catching seven passes for 101 yards.

But no one will cause more frustration as a fantasy football free agent than running back Nyheim Hines, who before Thursday night had total of 107 rushing yards and a touchdown in eight games (to go with 220 receiving yards and three touchdowns). Hines looked like the best offensive player on the field. He rushed 12 times for 70 yards and a touchdown and caught five passes for 45 yards. That’s 115 combined yards and a score. To put that in perspective, Titans running back Derrick Henry had 109 combined yards and was held out of the end zone.

It’s going to be one of those weeks.

So let’s do these picks and try to make the best of it.

Byes: Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets

HOUSTON TEXANS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (-3.5, O/U: 48)

The Browns are deep in the playoff hunt and can’t afford to lose the games they’re favored to win. So we all know what’s going to happen now. Texans 27, Browns 24

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM AT DETROIT LIONS (no line available)

Alex Smith gets his first start of the season after a tremendous game off the bench against the Giants last week. Smith, in just his second action since nearly having his leg torn off a couple of years ago, went 24 of 32 for 325 yards, one touchdown and three picks. If he performs similarly against Detroit, they have a real chance here considering the Lions are still the Lions (basically the NFC’s version of the Browns). Still, Matthew Stafford makes the difference. Lions 26, WFT 24

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (-13, O/U: 49.5)

You know who isn’t fooled by Jake Luton’s strong game out the gate for Jacksonville? The books. And I agree. Packers 34, Jaguars 13

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT NEW YORK GIANTS (+3.5, O/U: 44.5)

Philadelphia has the chance to move to .500 for the first time this season, and since it’s the second half of the year and no one wants a squad with a losing record to make the playoffs, this is a good thing. It’s an even better thing that they’re playing New York, as Daniel Jones has just one victory over any team not based out of Washington D.C. in his career. Eagles 34, Giants 20

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (+5.5, O/U: 50.5)

Carolina has played teams close and is building strong for next season, but a pissed off Tom Brady is still somebody no one wants to play after a loss until proven otherwise. Bucs 35, Panthers 23

DENVER BRONCOS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (-4, O/U: 50)

For most of the season Denver was the NFL’s forgotten franchise, thanks to preseason injuries that removed pretty much all their star power. But a funny thing happened with no spotlight anywhere near them, they’re not too bad. Three of their five losses were by one score and they’ve managed an upset and a fourth-quarter comeback. This is a fun team to watch, but the Raiders can’t afford to stumble here with the Chiefs, Colts and Dolphins still coming up on the schedule. Raiders 24, Broncos 20

BUFFALO BILLS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (-2.5, O/U: 56)

The Bills just wiped the floor with the Cardinals and hung on against the Rams as they fight for a figurative NFC West title after already all but claiming the AFC East. Is there a reason to think this game will be different? How about a cross country travel schedule in a pandemic? Still, I’m rolling with Buffalo. Bills 30, Cardinals 24

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (-1, O/U: 48.5)

After the draft, this is the game we should have had circled as the first of what should turn out to be a decade’s worth of match ups between Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa. Instead, LA wanted to play Tyrod Taylor and no one knew how long Brian Flores would go with Ryan Fitzpatrick. Still, we got what we wanted and we should enjoy it. And here’s the really interesting part, the Miami defense is legit and that’s what will make the difference. Dolphins 20, Chargers 17

CINCINNATI BENGALS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (no line available)

The Steelers are dealing with their own COVID-19 situation as that’s killed this line and could even push the game around. As it is, no one thinks for a second the Bengals stand a chance, which could make the game closer than it should be. Steelers 31, Bengals 17

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT LOS ANGELES RAMS (-1, O/U: 54.5)

I’d feel better about this pick if the Seahawks knocked off the Bills last week. Still, Los Angeles has a match up advantage over Seattle and have for years. Even going back to the Jeff Fisher era with the Rams, the teams either split every season since 2014 or LA got the sweep, as they did in 2015 (if you can believe it) and 2018 (significantly easier to believe). Off the bye, I give Los Angeles the edge. Rams 31, Seahawks 30

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (-10, O/U: 49)

Thanks to the 49ers placing nearly every good player from their Super Bowl run on injured reserve, the interest in this one plummeted. I say not so fast. The San Francisco defense is built to stop this very type of offense. Does that mean they’ll win? Nope, but it does mean New Orleans might not cover. Saints 24, 49ers 16

THIS WEEK

Straight up: 0-1

Against the spread: 0-1

LAST WEEK

Straight up: 8-5

Against the spread: 5-8

SEASON

Straight up: 89-42-1

Against the spread: 66-66