D.J. makes a dream pick, while Blaine's crazy dream falls one play short

Dolores Jillian stunned the football world in Week 6 when she made the most incredible prediction in Picks history. It truly was a dream pick. Her Oakland Raiders were 14½-point underdogs against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles, but the lowly Raiders somehow prevailed 13-9 to give her the week's best record of 9-4. It took real courage to call that miracle game.

Another miracle was unfolding on Sunday afternoon — a remarkable game that was playing out precisely how Blaine had dreamed it the night before — only to fall a single play short of becoming reality. Blaine couldn't believe it. The veteran was crushed. To fully understand his frustration, let's rewind to Saturday morning when Blaine first reviewed the Week 6 games.

Coming across the St. Louis Rams (0-5) at the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-3), he wondered if the Rams could win their first game as 10-point underdogs. He paused to think about that possibility, but quickly reasoned his way out of that silly line of thinking. The Rams are horrible. That would be an embarrassing pick, he thought.

Then came Saturday night, and Blaine's vivid dream about that particular NFL game. Really, this is true. In Blaine's dream, the Rams and Jaguars were engaged in a close battle in the fourth quarter, with the Jaguars clinging to a 20-17 lead. But late in the game, he saw the Rams score the winning touchdown on a play from about 10 yards out. In dreamland, the Rams were celebrating their 24-20 victory, and going crazy about it. Blaine was ticked that he didn't have the guts to choose the Rams.

But then Blaine woke up Sunday morning, realizing the game had yet to be played. Was his premonition about to come true? Would the hopeless Rams actually shock the Jaguars? Blaine couldn't go against his dream. He picked the Rams to win.

Well, the game was a close battle after all. The Rams led 17-13 late in the fourth quarter, and Blaine was thrilled. When the Jaguars scored with less than 2 minutes left to take a 20-17 lead, Blaine's disappointment soon faded. The Jaguars were supposed to lead 20-17, he remembered. That was the score in his dream. "This is when the Rams win the game," he thought.

The Rams quickly drove down the field, completing pass after pass like they were the best team in the league. It was all coming together, and Blaine couldn't believe it. The Rams had the ball on the Jaguars' 9-yard line with 7 seconds on the clock. It was time for the game-winning touchdown! Or time for the Rams head coach to make a boneheaded decision.

Out came the Rams field-goal unit on third down, and the kick sent the game to overtime. Why didn't the Rams try for a touchdown? There would have been time for a field goal on fourth down. The conservative play ruined Blaine's dream ending and led to a 23-20 Rams loss. Why a winless team didn't attempt to win in that situation is beyond Blaine's comprehension.