2019 NFL picks, score predictions for Week 10

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens scores a first quarter touchdown against the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium on November 3, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 03: Quarterback Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens scores a first quarter touchdown against the New England Patriots at M&T Bank Stadium on November 3, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images /

Los Angeles Chargers (4-5) at Oakland Raiders (4-4)

Thursday, November 7, 8:20PM ET

Okay, seriously. I hate the Los Angeles Chargers. Through the first seven weeks of the season, I picked them to win every week — they rewarded me with two wins. The last two weeks, I’ve picked against them — they won bought outings, including against a superior Packers team.

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It’s like no matter what I predict they’ll do, they go against me. And in this matchup with the Oakland Raiders, it really could go in either direction. Seeing as I’m nearly incapable of picking the Chargers’ games correctly, I’m going with Los Angeles in this one.

Based on what we saw last weekend, this Chargers team has the potential to be playoff-bound come January. I’m not sure why they’ve refused to show it through the first half of the 2019 campaign, but the potential is there. Against a wildly inconsistent Raiders team with several flaws, it seems like an ideal opportunity for the Chargers to keep their win streak going.

Philip Rivers will take advantage of a leaky Oakland secondary, while Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler provide a solid one-two punch on the ground. The Los Angeles defense pulls off an encore of Week 9, putting the clamps on Derek Carr and Josh Jacobs, allowing them to sneak away from Oakland with the win.

Prediction: Chargers win 23-20