Steve Brownlee

Shouldn’t it be a good thing that it’s hard to predict these NFL games?

I think so when it comes time to watch them, that’s for sure.

But trying to write this column, it sure leaves me at various times scratching my head, sucking the end of my pen (nah! way too unsanitary!) or just plain being embarrassed as the scores come in on Sunday afternoon.

Or Thursday night.

Or Sunday night.

Or Monday night.

Of Sunday morning, for that matter, when teams head over to Europe.

Some teams have been pretty predictable, like New Orleans losing seven of eight times.

But then the Jets hadn’t won a game all season, sometimes getting blown out and sometimes finding a way to lose when winning should’ve almost been inevitable.

Then they turn it around last Sunday and edge a Cincinnati Bengals team that was just starting to show some life.

Some other head-scratchers from this past week were the dead-in-the-water Ravens knocking off the red-hot Bears, the lifeless Texans upending the upstart 49ers, and maybe the biggest surprise, the coach-on-the-hot-seat Dolphins blasting Atlanta 34-10.

And other than the Jets’ 39-38 win over Cincy, these were all double-digit upsets.

But, hey, the main part of the entertainment portion of this column is all of you watching me make a fool of my supposed sophistication when it comes to picking games.

So I guess I’m accomplishing something.

Onto some more entertainment value for you:

Today, 8:15 p.m.

Baltimore at Miami — I think some of these up-and-down performances have to do with my theory of “reverse momentum” — the better you did before, the worse you’ll do later.

That’s because you work extra hard coming off a loss trying to figure out what you did wrong, but you’ll tend to not want to change anything when you win. Bad strategy, since your next opponent will have a better idea about what they’re going to see.

Although both these teams are coming off wins, it’s Baltimore that knows it needs a lot more to get its season back to its own and everyone else’s expectations. Ravens, 27-19.

Sunday, 1 p.m.

Atlanta at New England — What I just said means I have to take the Falcons, after their awful loss to the Dolphins and New England continuing to win.

Ha! Go ahead and make me! My cover for this pick is that I think a good performance by the Falcons is still more likely a loss. Patriots, 31-26.

Carolina at Green Bay — I could’ve been tempted into thinking this is a trap game for the Packers, if it was being played in whichever Carolina (I think it’s North) the Panthers play in. But it’s in Green Bay. Packers, 24-20.

Chicago at Cincinnati — Another game that reverse momentum doesn’t apply, since both were disappointing after previous good performances. But I like Chicago righting its offense against a weak Bengals’ D. Bears, 30-27.

Denver at Houston — Now it’s two teams coming off good wins. Even with the Broncos losing top defender Patrick Surtain II, I’m told Riley Moss is just about as good a cornerback. Though I have some trepidation as the real worry is how good the other one or two cornerbacks are, I still intensely dislike the Texans’ offense. Broncos, 21-13.

Indianapolis at Pittsburgh — Sorry, I just have to actually look at these two teams, not just going with the opposite of how they did last week. Colts, 33-24.

Los Angeles Chargers at Tennessee — If the Titans drove the reverse momentum car, they’d find there’s no “reverse” gear, just an extra neutral setting on the gear shift. If you understand what that means, drop me a line. Chargers, 37-20.

Minnesota at Detroit — Carson Wentz going on injured reserve pretty much forces the Vikings to finally play J.J. McCarthy at quarterback. I don’t think Ford Field is a good place for his return. Lions, 29-19.

San Francisco at New York Giants — The Giants have taken a couple big injury hits on their best players, but don’t expect the 49ers to feel sorry for them with all the injury problems they’ve had the past few years. I expect Robert Saleh to have San Fran’s defense ready for the New York team he didn’t coach. 49ers, 27-17.

Sunday, 4 p.m.

Jacksonville at Las Vegas — Both teams coming off byes after each had subpar performances two weeks ago. Hmm, I’ll take the team showing at least some life. Jaguars, 31-23.

New Orleans at Los Angeles Rams — The Saints are one of the more predictable teams — as long as you don’t predict them to win. Rams, 34-22.

Kansas City at Buffalo — KC is really starting to roll, and I can’t say that yet about the Bills. Chiefs, 28-24.

Sunday, 8:20 p.m.

Seattle at Washington — Seattle coming off a bye, Washington off a bad game. Seahawks, 26-20.

Monday, 8:15 p.m.

Arizona at Dallas — Even with the Cardinals coming off a bye, I just don’t see Dallas’ offense being headed off enough. Cowboys, 36-31.

Last week — 8-5, 62 percent. Season — 68-52, 57 percent.

Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.