I will explain this photo, as it pertains to week 10 in the NFL.
In 2002 we were breaking down summer camp at Camp Cherokee, which is now named something different. I call it "Camp Guy-Who-Gave-25 Million Dollars to Camp Cherokee" because I just can't remember the name of the guy, though I'm sure he was very nice - especially for that 25 MILLION DOLLARS he handed over to the camp.
Anyhow, breaking down camp required pulling down several canvas tents, along with stacking the large wooden cross-beams and up-rights that held them up. It took several trips with a trailer to complete this task, over the course of the final weekend of camp.
This task also required several folks driving shitty camp trucks and trailers from the campsites to storage, and for some reason I was trusted with driving one of these rigs.
After dropping off a full load in the 105 degree heat, I headed back for another load. When I was about half-way back to the campsites I noticed something - there was no trailer behind my truck anymore.
I figured maybe someone detached the trailer when we dropped off the load and I failed to notice, so we headed back to look for it. No trailer.
The only logical solution was the trailer had fallen off in transit, so we drove the route maybe 7 or 8 times each way, scanning the woods for a rouge trailer missing its truck. Still no trailer.
On the last round-trip I noticed that the road followed the lake, close enough to make me think the lake may become the next search area. I was freaking out.
I was 18 years old, trusted with driving a camp vehicle and trailer (a huge honor for a young staff member) and I was certain I would be the first person to lose a trailer in the lake.
We arrived back at the storage barn and I decided to give up - let's go search the damn lake.
While heading towards the lake someone noticed what became this photo, the trailer drifted off about 50 yards into the woods near the storage barn.
Hence the thumbs up - I was so excited to have escaped the humiliation of asking the aquatics staff for their snorkels and flippers.
To get to my point - this week is, on paper, the worst week of matchups during the 2023 NFL season. However, I think by the end of it, there will be some thumbs up:)
BACK TO THE FOOTBALLS!
During the 2023 NFL season I am currently 48-23 when my NFL picks are documented, which improves my season winning percentage from 66% to 68% . For the sake of the Cowboys I sat out calling Week 9, which didn't work out how I hoped.
In Week 8 I narrowly missed calling the EXACT score of the Browns vs Seahawks game by a single point - I called a 24 - 21 Seahawks win, it ended 24 - 20 Seahawks.
I never expect these score predictions to work out for the over/under or spreads. It will be neat when I hit one on the nose - just for me though:).
Remember when there wasn't football from March - August? I do. It is better now, despite the awful slate the NFL has served up this week.
More importantly, I am now 4-0 when predicting Taylor Swift's NFL attendance.
She did hang out with Brittany Mahomes last week though - how kind of her!
Brittany has grown quite a bit form her "throwing drinks on fans of the opposing team" days.
I hope Jackson Mahomes has too, but he hasn't earned any of my respect.
It is now time for Week 10 predictions!
Thursday Night
Carolina Panthers (1-7) at Chicago Bears (2-7)
I refuse to call this game. I think it will be entertaining though. I wrote this before it started.
Sunday Morning
Indianapolis Colts (4-5) at New England Patriots (2-7)
I thought it was so cool when the ref spoke German last week. I would have thought it would have been cooler if he spoke in German the whole game. Commit to your stunts, refs.
Also, I always get excited when the NFL plays in Europe and points are scored by kickers, because it is more like the football Europe is used to. A field goal is just like a free kick, except more contact happens. I'd like to see Mac drop kick an extra point, that would be fun.
Pats win 29 - 27
Houston Texans (4-4) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-3)
The Texans are now the only Texas-based major professional franchise without a championship. This will probably be the case for a while.
Nice work Texas Rangers! You won the World Series without trash cans or wires. As far as we know:)
Bengals win 34 - 24
New Orleans Saints (5-4) at Minnesota Vikings (5-4)
Did everyone just forget last season - when Baker Mayfield did the same thing Josh Dobbs did last week? But with less time, and a worse team?
Both are impressive, but I've heard zero comparisons, and I consume NFL content like its oxygen. I hear you Baker, you're a champion.
Vikings win 23 - 16
Green Bay Packers (3-5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3)
When two disappointing quarterbacks battle it out, usually the coaching wins.
I kind of hope the Steelers lose because they might actually consider firing Matt Canada, but I know this won't happen.
Steelers win 27 - 21
Tennessee Titans (3-5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5)
Back to Baker - I want to see this guy succeed - despite how I feel about him as a person and his affiliation with the University of Oklahoma. He tries so hard. I actually miss his commercials.
He will get some advertisement work when he is the lead SEC color guy in 2-3 seasons.
Buccaneers win 37 - 24
San Francisco 49er's (5-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2)
This is the best game of the slate. Go T-Law, show them what some nice hair can do.
Also, Calvin Ridley scores 2+ touchdowns. If you can, put that shit in the bank.
Jags win 31 - 24
Cleveland Browns (5-3) at Baltimore Ravens (7-2)
Most folks are saying nobody will score a touchdown during this game, but I'm going to say there are a lot of points to score. Both defenses are good AND both offensives have had good games against good defenses.
I'm thinking Lamar has 30+ fantasy points.
Sorry I jinxed you, Lamar fantasy friends. I only call it how I see it:)
Browns win 35 - 33
Sunday Afternoon
Atlanta Falcons (4-5) at Arizona Cardinals (1-8)
For too long I thought Arthur Smith was the son of the Falcon's owner Arthur Blank. Then I thought "why would they have different last names?"
That's cause Arthur Smith is the son of FedEx Billionaire Frederick Smith, and Arthur Blank is just a billionaire who founded Home Depot. All billionaires look alike to me.
Much like most billionaires, neither of them understand where their money comes from - they just like the money.
That is why Arthur Smith likes to call plays to piss off fantasy football managers - he doesn't understand that a key part of the NFL revenue comes from fantasy football. If it were not for fantasy football, viewership for shitty teams (especially his) would drop significantly.
The NFL makes money based on viewership for the most part. Not ticket sales, not beer sales - TV contracts. Those contracts have been extremely valuable due to the exponential growth in fantasy football (and straight-up gambling). But Arthur Smith thinks he can outsmart that. I get it - he's never had to make a dollar for himself, and he won't ever have to.
But Arthur Blank does like money, and I imagine he doesn't like someone who is actively losing him money based on his ego/thinks he's smarter than every coach who kicks his ass.
Please, for the sake of humanity, give Bijan the ball. Please.
Cardinals win 31 - 28
Detroit Lions (6-2) at Los Angeles Chargers (4-4)
San Diego is such a nice town.
Chargers win 41 - 21
New York Giants (2-7) at Dallas Cowboys (5-3)
16 point spread!?!?!?! Stop it Vegas. I would put everything on the Giants to cover.
Cowboys win 27 - 21
Washington Commanders (4-5) at Seattle Seahawks (5-3)
Washington had a fire sale on their defense, despite having a record that could make the playoffs. The players know this. They gave up on Tuesday.
Seahawks win 34 - 17
Sunday Night
New York Jets (4-4) at Las Vegas Raiders (4-5)
I didn't understand why this game did not get flexed until Josh McDaniels got fired. Now it is interesting.
While I really want the Raiders to win out - thus further taking a giant shit on Billy Boy's coaching tree - I want to see Aaron Rodger's miraculous comeback end in the Wild Card round more.
Seriously though - if people who have worked with me in the past performed like Belichick's coaching tree - I would cry myself to sleep every night. Every. Single. Night.
Jets win 26 - 25
Monday Night
Denver Broncos (3-5) at Buffalo Bills (5-4)
Go Bills.
Bills win 42 - 17
Rock and roll,
-Stein
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