Steve Brownlee

Wow, what a crummy day it was to be a Detroit sports fan on Monday morning.

The Tigers went to 15 innings before losing in the deciding Game 5 of the American League Divisional Series on Friday night, then the Lions spent most of the second half barely in contention of their nationally televised game at Kansas City on Sunday night.

That was a complete 180-degree turn from what Wisconsin sports fans went through.

The Brewers wrapped up their Game 5 against the Cubs on Saturday night, then saw their beloved Packers take care of the Bengals on Sunday afternoon.

And, of course, some of us up here in the Upper Peninsula have varying loyalties, so they might’ve happy with the Packers and sad about the Tigers, or happy with Brewers and unhappy about the Lions.

Uh, that last one I don’t know anybody who roots for just the Brewers and Lions, I have to admit.

Oh yeah, there was a bit of a silver lining for Detroit, since the Red Wings bounced back from their season-opening loss with wins on Saturday night and Monday afternoon, though I had totally forgotten until it was over that Monday’s game was a daytime contest on a weekday, apparently due to Canadian Thanksgiving.

Anyway, that’s what some of our worlds revolve around, how our teams — maybe college teams either at the major-institution level or with Northern Michigan University, or both — are doing.

Nothing wrong with that, I guess, though I’ve noticed for awhile now that I’ve adopted my late father’s pessimistic approach to the teams he rooted for.

“Oh, there goes Clubfoot again,” I remember him muttering at the TV multiple times when the Tigers were on the tube and Willie Horton was patrolling the outfield.

You have to know, I was too young to remember the 1968 World Series-winning Tigers, even though I was 6 years old then, but I remember Horton in his last few years at Tiger Stadium when he could hardly run — and it was just a couple years before the designated hitter rule was adopted that seemed perfectly suited for him.

While Al Kaline was working in right field snagging everything that came his way, I don’t know how many times I saw an opposing player hit an inside-the-park home run as Horton was chasing down a fly ball that caromed around the fence in left field.

Those were the days!

So I’ve taken that, I guess it’s called a fatalistic approach, to these Detroit teams and anyone else I am willing to root for — that anything that can go wrong, WILL go wrong. Just give it enough time.

That’s what I had to say about my NFL picks two weeks ago, when I got a whopping four correct out of 14 games.

Oh well, work will still be there tomorrow, and I hope my apartment, too.

Without any more of these sentimental, First World complaints, let’s look at this week:

Today, 8:15 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati — If the Browns with their rookie quarterback and potentially Super Bowl-caliber defense couldn’t figure out Pittsburgh, how do you expect brand “new” 40-year-old QB Joe Flacco and a sieve-like defense to do it for the Bengals? I don’t. Steelers, 33-24.

Sunday, 9:30 a.m.

Los Angeles Rams vs. Jacksonville — The third of three straight weeks of NFL games in London should be the best.

If I was over on the other side of the pond hungering for American football and I went to last week’s game between the Broncos and Jets, I’d have been hankering for tariffs to force the score higher than 13-11, or building a border wall so that only halfway-decent teams would be able to scale it and show up at whatever soccer stadium they’re using.

This week’s game, though, is a matchup worthy of Sunday Night Football, which is lucky for these Brits considering how lightly regarded the Jaguars were in the off-season.

So let’s see, I’m picking up on multiple disadvantages for the Rams — this is the last stop on about a 7,000-mile trek for this West Coast team, stopping in Baltimore last weekend and now continuing east to London.

Sounds like someone needs some rest.

Meanwhile, Jacksonville is playing at its home away from home. I believe it was just a couple years ago when the Jaguars were winning more games in London than in Jacksonville. Which is tough, considering even when they played two games in London, that’s left six to be contested in Jacksonville. Yet they did it.

Let’s go with the upstart Jaguars, 23-19.

Sunday, 1 p.m.

Carolina at New York Jets — Now this is more of a London matchup, not only is it two teams nobody thinks highly of, but this could turn into a blowout since Carolina is playing way over its head and the Jets are playing to get into Hades, let’s just say. Panthers, 34-20.

Las Vegas at Kansas City — Could be a trap, the Chiefs coming off an emotional win — not even mentioning the postgame fight started by the Lions’ Brian Branch — on national TV.

But it’s a divisional game, which generally gets everyone’s attention, plus the Raiders also won last week, not good in my world of reverse momentum. Chiefs, 28-22.

Miami at Cleveland — Dolphins head man Mike McDaniel is supposed to be on the hot seat after his team’s underwhelming performances. And QB Tua Tagovailoa stirred up a hornet’s nest saying some teammates don’t show up on time — or even at all — for some player-led meetings.

This could go two ways — it shatters what little is left of harmony in Miami, or it shakes up the Dolphins to play up to their potential.

The problem is the potential may not be that good, especially facing a growling defense like Cleveland’s. So I’ll take the Browns, 23-14.

New England at Tennessee — As the first team to fire its coach, the Titans are supposed to get a bounce for maybe one week with a change at the top. But considering this is New England coach Mike Vrabel’s most recent coaching stop, I think he’ll be ready. Patriots, 31-20.

New Orleans at Chicago — Now if Ben Johnson learned one lesson from Lions’ head coach Dan Campbell, it’s to kick the weak when they’re down. The Saints are down. Bears, 37-19.

Philadelphia at Minnesota — I don’t know what to make of this game. The Eagles are reeling, but are they a lost cause or do they just need some time to figure everything out?

And the Vikings still have Carson Wentz at QB, which seems to be working all right, though they didn’t do much on offense in London against the Browns until they really had to. I see that Minnesota is one of a few teams left that hasn’t given up 100 points this season, so let’s go with the Vikings, 24-20.

Sunday, 4 p.m.

Indianapolis at Los Angeles Chargers — I really like picking the Chargers with Jim Harbaugh as coach — not withstanding not being a Wolverines fan my entire life — but they are so banged up, I just can’t do that against a team that’s playing pretty good. Colts, 27-25.

New York Giants at Denver — Before Jaxson Dart became QB of the Giants, I wouldn’t have considered picking this New York squad against anyone else — except maybe that other New York team that also plays in New Jersey.

Now, though, the G-Men (say it with the Chris Berman inflection) are an energized bunch with 5-foot-2 (OK, they officially say 5-11) Cam Skattebo leading their running game after he won his second “Angry Runs” award from NFL Network personality Kyle Brandt just on Tuesday.

Nevertheless, expect the wind to go out of their sails as they’ll be winded in the mile-high altitude against a Denver team that can play. Broncos, 24-17.

Green Bay at Arizona — The Cardinals are one of those teams I have to look up online nearly every week, since the national media seem to constantly ignore them.

I see they’re 2-4 and just about every game has been close. A lack of a closing mentality is about as bad as it gets in this league where so many games come down to the wire. Packers, 29-27.

Washington at Dallas — Despite it being a short week for Washington, it’s also an angry week after this team let one slip away to the Bears on Monday night. Between that and what seems like only nine or 10 players showing up to play defense for the Cowboys week in and week out — can you be penalized for too few men on the field? — give me the Commanders, 34-27.

Sunday, 8:20 p.m.

Atlanta at San Francisco — The Falcons looked like they could stomp out an NFL all-star team with the way they flattened the Bills on Monday night. I see San Fran still has injury issues, so going against my head on this one, give me the Falcons, 29-27.

Monday, 7 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Detroit — I hope the Lions don’t become The Not Ready for Prime Time Players that the original cast of “Saturday Night Live” became, as these Detroit players have a second national prime-time game in a row.

I’m a bit concerned when I read the Associated Press’ analysis piece on the Lions this week, since it focused on the Lions’ lack of explosive plays.

During the game, I was more concerned about their defense not stopping Patrick Mahomes & Co. A rogue’s gallery of problems, so give me the Buccaneers, 26-24.

Monday, 10 p.m.

Houston at Seattle — I’m not exactly overwhelmed with the Texans, even coming off their bye week. And I was impressed with Seattle actually going to Jacksonville and handling the Jaguars. Though the indications are for Houston, I still want the Seahawks, 31-26.

Last week — 8-7, 53 percent. Season — 51-41 (I’m now dropping the tie), 55 percent.

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