NFL Picks Last Week!

So I missed submitting my picks for last week and went a solid 8-8. Not bad seeing as I put barely any thought into my choices and did them on the bus on the way to an Xmas party. One noteworthy welcome surprise from the past week though, the Jets are now in the playoff picture for real; maybe Sanchez is warming up to the cold weather, absolutely no pun intended whatsoever. Well, it'll be interesting to see what he does this week when a simple win against a Bengals team who have already clinched a playoff spot will get the Jets into the postseason. Should be a lot of fun this week in the AFC.

Colts (-2.5) over Bills

Sure Indy lost to the Jets last week ending their perfect season, but benching all the starters in the third quarter was a decision based on winning a Superbowl, and no team wants to head into the playoffs rusty. Despite risk of injury, the Colts should leave their starters in a little longer to get some playing time before the postseason, and should rack up an insurmountable lead over a Bills team that is only playing for a draft position.

Jaguars (+1.5) over Browns

I said a couple weeks ago that the Jags were overrated and the Browns were playing better than their record showed, but Jacksonville still has a lot in their arsenal and still has a shot at the playoffs. The only thing I really see giving Cleveland the edge is the homefield, but I really think Vegas is riding a wave in this line, knowing that people will pick the Browns if the line was any lower. I like Cleveland, but honestly think the Jags will take this one.

Bears (-3.5) over Lions

Chicago took advantage of a stumbling Minnesota team last week and it could be just the confidence they need to get their defense back in check for the last game of the season. At least the lions won two games this season.

49ers (-7.5) over Rams

The only team the Rams beat all season was the Lions, that's pretty sad. San Fran had a chance at the playoffs and just narrowly missed catching up to the Cardinals. They're clearly a better team and I'd honestly give them 10 points over St. Louis at this point, but 7.5 is just fine.

Steelers (-2.5) over Dolphins

Too little too late it would seem, but Pittsburgh still has something to prove as defending Superbowl champs. With a miniscule chance at a playoff spot and two key wins against Green Bay and Baltimore, the Steelers have a new life. Combine that with one of the best rush defenses in the game, and Miami is going to have a tough team running a wildcat offense against this Steeler squad.

Vikings (-8.5) over Giants

This one is a tough call. The Giants shit the bed and eliminated themselves from playoff contention, and the Vikings seem to have lost that team chemistry that has made them dominant the whole season. Chalk that up to a disagreement between Favre and Childress if you will, but this team needs to get its mojo back. Well, that is exactly what I see happening against this New York team. The Vikings are still a strong team with a solid attack and a strong defense. They'll be in good shape for the playoffs, especially if they can crush the Giants in this final week.

Falcons (-2.5) over Bucanneers

Ryan is back, Turner is back, and Atlanta has some swagger. Sure the Bucs have won the last two, including an upset over New Orleans, but the Saints weren't really playing their hearts out or anything last week. The Falcons still have a decent team, even if it was slightly overrated at the beginning of the season, and still have the ability to beat a terrible Tampa Bay team. The question is whether the Bucs will come in riding a high from the past two weeks. The Falcons will have to put up some key stops early to quell the momentum.

Saints (+2.5) over Panthers

The Panthers have been proving troublesome lately and looking like the team everyone thought was going to have a stellar season, back before they actually started playing. The Saints on the other hand have lost two straight and are starting to look a little weak. That being said, I would still put New Orleans as the favorites in this game, but again Vegas knows people will be betting on Carolina and have evened it out a little by giving them two and a half points. could go either way with the Panthers playing at home, but I like the Saints in this one; losing three straight to finish the season doesn't seem like an option for Brees.

Patriots (+7.5) over Texans

Houston should put up a good fight in search of a playoff spot, but Belichick's inability to let up for even two seconds should make this a rather close game. Also, the Texans' constant urge to blow leads should make this one of those games that goes down to the wire. It should end up with either a Pats win or a Houston win by less than a touchdown.

Cowboys (-2.5) over Eagles

This one is way too close to call, and I'm not putting money on either team taking the NFC North title, but if i had to pick, I'd give the edge to the Cowboys at home.

Cardinals (-3.5) over Packers

I like the Packers a lot and I really seeing them causing some problems in the playoffs, but after solidifying themselves a place in the postseason I can see them settling back a little. Arizona could take advantage of this with their wide receiving core and effortlessly score a few touchdowns to give themselves a shot at a first round bye.

Redskins (+4.5) over Chargers

The Chargers have already clinched a first round bye and I can see them taking it a bit easy against the Redskins. With Washington's tough defense this could lead to a low scoring affair. Either way I see the Redskins making a game of this and the Chargers coming out soft.

Titans (-4.5) over Seahawks

Seattle hasn't done anything lately, and although the Titans' quest for a comeback and the playoffs was ruined by the Colts and subsequently the Chargers, they still have a lot to be happy about looking towards next season. Seattle needs to rebuild and I don't think they're going to be fighting too hard for a worse position in a deep draft.

Raiders (+10.5) over Ravens

As much as I like the Ravens to come out on top in this game and make the playoffs, Oakland has been causing some problems lately for a lot of teams. Baltimore will take this, but it should come as close as a touchdown or a field goal and I'll be biting my nails the entire time...

Broncos (-12.5) over Chiefs

The Chiefs want a top pick next year and with Washington and Cleveland both with 4 wins, they'll be happy with just 3 on the season and no more. Denver needs this one for any hope of a playoff spot after a terrible tumble the second half of the season, and I think they're going to show no mercy. This should be a blowout.

Bengals (+9.5) over Jets

A lot of people are putting a lot of faith in the Jets after beating Indy, but they have to remember that Cincinnati has been posting wins all season and should be able to keep this one within the 9.5, based on their defense alone.

Just Like Elizabeth Manley

Dead Gummit!

Bill Dance just can't get it together.

Excerpt from the wikipedia entry for the 1994 NBA Finals

Telecast interrupted by O.J. Simpson car chase

During Game 5, most NBC affiliates split the coverage of the game between NFL Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson's slow speed freeway chase with the LAPD. At the time, Simpson had been an NFL analyst on NBC. A visibly confused and distraught Bob Costas (NBC's anchor for their NBA Finals coverage and a colleague of Simpson) said during the telecast from Madison Square Garden that the Simpson situation was "not just tragic but now surreal."


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_NBA_Finals

Week 15 NFL Picks

There we go, back on track. After a terrible week where I picked a measly 4 correct (I don't feel so bad since both my uncle and Bill Simmons each picked 3 right) I got back on track in week 14. Well week 15 I figure will be just as good, and both New England and Baltimore look like they might make the playoffs, which makes me happy. The big question is though, is how long are Indy and New Orleans gonna go before losing? Will it be this week? I doubt it since the Colts face the Jags and the Saints are playing the road-poor Cowboys. Either way, Saturday nights just became more exciting and I've got something to watch during my late night shift at the video store in the absence of college football. Oh, I should probably make some bowl predictions soon, but for now, my week 15 picks.

Colts (-6.5) over Jaguars

Jacksonville lost to Miami last week, as I knew they would, and I'm starting to see the mighty cats fall. Their easy schedule has set them up with a playoff spot thus far, but to say they're gonna have a chance of bringing down division rivals Indianapolis is a bit of a stretch. I don't see any signs of Indy slowing down with the Jags, the Jets, and the Bills left to play and their regular-season win streak may wind up extending over three years (crazy thought isn't it?). All I can say is, anyone remember Dungy? Caldwell is looking pretty good right now.


Saints (-7.5) over Cowboys

It surprised me a little that Dallas wasn't able to take a home game against the Chargers, but if you look at the Cowboy's December performance in past seasons, it kind of makes sense. They have lost 5 of their last 6 games played in the month, bringing Christmas woes to Dallas fans everywhere. With a postseason appearance on the line, a trip to New Orleans is not exactly what the doctor ordered. The only positive is that the Saints have played a couple close games lately, but the inability for the Cowboys to score points on the road does not bode well for Romo and company.


Bills (+7.5) over Patriots

The Panthers held the Pats to a 10 point victory due to a strong pass defense, and the Bills, surprisingly, have a better one. Buffalo has a league-high 59.8 opposing pass rating and once again the Pats are gonna have to run the ball if they wanna win this one. In the season opener the pats only managed to win by a single point, almost a Buffalo upset. It should be another close one between these division rivals, with New England winning by a field goal or so.


Cardinals (-10.5) over Lions

If there's one thing I know about Kurt Warner, it's that he likes to follow up bad games with extremely huge blowouts. After a devastating loss to San Fran last Monday night, allowing seven turnovers, including two interceptions, look for Warner to come out angry against a terrible Detroit defense. Arizona should still take the NFC West, and this game should seal the deal.


Titans (-3.5) over Dolphins

Tennessee looked back on track last week against the Rams, and Miami, despite their strong showing against Jacksonville, will be lucky to come away with a win out of this one. The Titans are on a mission, and although they'll most likely miss the playoffs this year, just making it close after an 0-6 start. Whether or not Vince Young starts, Miami is going to have a tough time stopping Chris Johnson and their playoff hopes may be in jeopardy this week.


Browns (+2.5) over Chiefs

Cleveland hasn't gotten much respect this season, and their record has reflected a poor performance on whole, but the last few weeks the Browns have seen a surge of defensive power and have found a way of scoring a few points. The Chiefs aren't looking that bad either, but it's hard to go against a team finally finding some confidence, especially when their coach has faith in them.


Texans (-9.5) over Rams

Houston has had an alright season for themselves offensively, they have just been unable to hold leads and have lost a few close ones, all but eliminating them from the playoffs thus far. Well lucky for them, St. Louis has very little to offer in the way of offense. I don't see much different between this matchup and the the 34-7 drubbing of Seattle last week.


Falcons (+6.5) over Jets

This line may be a little high and that's why I'm taking Atlanta. I think the Jets are back on track as of late, but with both Matt Ryan and Michael Turner making returns for the Falcons, and New York's less than stellar home record, this should be a close game but I like The Jets to come out on top and keep their hunt for the playoffs alive.


49ers (+7.5) over Eagles

The Eagles have been on a tear lately, which leads me to believe me that they're due for a loss. This should be a good game since both teams are fighting for playoff spots, and I have to say it should be close. With the exception of one blowout against Atlanta, San Fran has yet to lose a game by more than seven points the entire season. Their defense has managed to keep things close and I see no exceptions here against an inconsistent Philly team.


Ravens (-10.5) over Bears

When the Ravens have been on lately, they've been on. They kept their playoff hopes alive last week with a huge win over Detroit and a key loss by Jacksonville. With one of the easier schedules left, Baltimore should be able to rope a playoff spot, and I see them coming out with all guns firing again this week against a Bears' team that has been less than stellar as of late.


Bengals (+6.5) over Chargers

Sure San Diego has won 8 straight, but I must reiterate that besides the game against Dallas last week, they haven't faced that many challenges. Cincinnati will be a true test as to whether this Chargers team is for real or not. That being said, the Bengals are coming off a devastating loss to the Vikings and are looking to prove themselves as well. Should be a great game and I would love to Cincy come out on top.


Broncos (-13.5) over Raiders

I don't know what it will take for the second worst offense in the league to overcome the third best defense, and I certainly don't see a third string quarterback doing it. I don't think the signing of Losman really solves anything and although this Raiders' team has managed to pull some upsets this season, I really think this should be a blowout.


Packers (+.5) over Steelers

Can Green Bay hand the reigning super bowl champs their sixth loss in a row and eliminate them from the playoffs? I really think so, especially with a Packers team that seems to be making a late season push with five straight wins, ready to position themselves as a top NFC team.


Seahawks (-7.5) over Buccaneers

I think this and the Jets/Falcons game were the two I thought about the most. Not really sure what to expect from any of these teams this deep into the season, but Seattle has shown some bright spots this season while Tampa Bay has suffered numerous blowouts and won only a single game. I think Hasselback might be able to give the Seahawks a respectable record for the season, but he has to win this one with games against Green Bay and Tennessee coming up next.


Vikings (-7.5) over Panthers

Carolina has a decent pass defense, but with the Vikings you never really know where to look; With Favre throwing and Peterson running they come at you from all angles. Minnesota has been simply dominating lately, with the exception of a loss to the Cardinals, and I see them finishing the season strong. Now, can they beat the Colts?


Redskins (+3.5) over Giants

Washington could really play the spoiler in this one, and the way Eli has been performing lately, it's quite possible. The Redskins could crush the Giants' hopes of a playoff spot with a win and their defense might be just the thing to do that. It really just depends on which Giants' team comes out to play...

Oh the Times We Had...

Yesterday afternoon I got a text from my friend Matt stating simply: "Halladay to Philly". My heart sank a little bit, and without even thinking, I forwarded the message to my friend Derrick. Some time passed and I received a response:

"For what"

No question mark, just a two word statement that embodied more than it meant. Twelve seasons with the Blue Jays, a six time all star, and a Cy Young Award, yet for twelve seasons, not a single playoff appearance. Only once did the Jays even manage to place higher than third in their divison. It saddened me more to think of how we squandered a hall-of-fame career on bad business decisions, letting him pitch complete games (led the AL four times) and amass wins (130 wins in 8 seasons, also an AL best), to no avail. We had our chance to relive the heydays of the early nineties, but alas, we let it slip through our grasp. Now we're headed into the "rebuilding phase" and letting go one of the best pitchers in the game and I must reiterate Derrick's sentiments, "for what?" Only I added the question mark.

When the Jays brought in Ricciardi, an underling of the famous Billy Beane in Oakland, Toronto had high hopes. Beane had transformed what had looked like a group of misfits and seemingly terrible draft picks into keys for success. Ricciardi was supposed to do the same here, only he forgot the cardinal rules that Billy lived by, not signing players beyond what they were worth. This included a horredous deal to closer BJ Ryan (5 years for $47 million, which, after realeasing Ryan, the Jays had to eat $15 million of), and monster contracts with Alex Rios (now gone) and Vernon Wells (still underperforming). It's all been quite the disaster (think 2012) and now we've gotten rid of the only thing worth watching for Jays' fans for... what exactly?

There is still no word on what the Jays will receive in compensation for this beast of a pitcher. There has been some talk of the prospects involved, but essentially we're ditching the Doc, plus $6 million which is headed to the Phillies, for a few nameless. Given Ricciardi's track record, I must say that I have little faith in what is transpiring. I understand that this is a rebuilding phase that the Jays are entering, but with J.P. screwing things up all over the place, I wish he was leaving as opposed to our beloved Halladay. Then maybe we could truly rebuild.

Well, I wish the Doc good luck in his endeavours, and I have to say that next year, I will be a Phillies fan, as I assume a lot of other Torontonians will be. Thanks for your time and patience Roy, now go win a World Series and make us all proud.

Ndamukong Suh's Apology

Colt McCoy almost destroyed Texas' entire season with his clock-mismanagement against Nebraska. Down by two at the end of the fourth quarter, the Longhorns' quarterback seemed to be oblivious to how much time was left on the game clock as he ran horizontally across the field, letting the seconds tick away. Luckily for Texas, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was chasing him and McCoy had to dump the ball out of bounds, leaving one second left on the clock. The Longhorns used that second to kick the winning field goal and earn a place in the National Championship Bowl. TCU sat and watched their spot vanish.

Earlier this week, Suh apologized to Jerry Hughes, the defensive end for the Horned Frogs, for having made the play. If Suh had backed off and let McCoy run down the clock, Hughes and TCU would be in the championship bowl instead of the Longhorns... but it was not so. Well last night Suh had even more to apologize for as he snatched the Lombardi trophy, awarded to the nation's top lineman, from Hughes' grasp.

I must say I like Ndamukong Suh. Not only is he probably the best defensive tackle in the NCAA, and the only defensive player in the hunt for the Heisman right now, but he is showing some great sportsmanship. Suh had as much to do with McCoy's leaving a single second on the clock as anyone, including McCoy himself who seemed happy to waste the rest of the game running around and take the L. If I was a TCU fan, or player for that matter, I'd be pissed. But at least Suh has the decency to admit he messed up and the balls to apologize. Good for him.

I hope Suh does win the Heisman. There has been so much emphasis on defense in the NFL as of late, it'd be great to see him take the trophy. He would be only the second defensive player in the history of the NCAA to be honored with the award, the other being cornerback Charles Woodson out of Michigan in 1997. Follow that up with a possible number one over-all pick in the NFL's 2010 draft and Ndamukong Suh could be off to a great start. I'm OK with that.

Cocaine is a hell of a drug

Time Distortions...Space is the Place...

Week 14 NFL Picks

I don't even want to talk about last week. It was God awful. There, enough said. This week I'm hoping for a little bit more. So while the US government seemingly wastes valuable time discussing a College playoff system, I'm gonna try to predict the winners in week 14.

Browns (+9.5) over Steelers

Pittsburgh has been in a free fall for the past few weeks without Polamalu and I knew it was gonna be a close game against the Raiders but I really think the Browns have very little to offer. That being said, both teams have been involved in close games and Cleveland has covered the spread the last three weeks, including games against the Chargers and the Bengals. I don't think the Browns will win, but Pittsburgh really has to work some magic to stop their disappearing act.

Saints (-9.5) over Falcons

Wow, Washington actually displayed some offense last week and gave the Saints a little scare. I must admit i was surprised. This Falcons team, however, does not look like it has the force to stop New Orleans' far-superior offense and this could be a blowout. Atlanta is 0-5 this season against teams over .500 and managed only 7 points against Philly last week, sans-Matt Ryan. I predict another beating at the hands of New Orleans.

Packers (-3.5) over Bears

Coming off one of the ugliest games I've ever seen in which my Ravens got beat badly, I would love to see Green Bay taken down a peg. I think they're inconsistent and don't really know what's in store for them if they should make the postseason. They should be able to beat a lowly Chicago though who gave up 36 points to Minnesota 2 weeks ago and just barely scraped by the Rams in week 13. However, the Bears have a pass defense that is ranked 9th in the NFL right now, allowing no pass over 50 yards the entire season. It could be a close game and Rodgers will be forced to hand off the ball rather than throw it. I would personally love to see an upset; fingers crossed.

Broncos (+7.5) over Colts

Indy has the best pass offense in the league, the Broncos have the second-best pass defense. Everyone knows the Colts have had problem with their running game this year, so i think this game is gonna be a lot tougher than people think. I like the Colts to continue their run for the perfect season, but Denver is gonna put up some key stops and this could be a close one. Not to mention that Denver has a lot more on the line than an Indy team that has already clinched their division and a playoff spot.

Bills (+.5) over Chiefs

I'm picking the Bills strictly based on the fact that Kansas City has allowed over 27 points/game. I also kinda like Fitzpatrick. Either way I'm probably not gonna watch this game.

Jets (-3.5) over Buccaneers

The Jets have looked OK as of late; Sanchez has regained some composure, and he seems to play a lot better when the temperature is not hovering around the freezing mark. In that sense, an away game is a lot better than a home game at this time of the year. Especially when they're playing one of the worst teams in football. I like the Jets chances here, and if Jacksonville manages to take out the Fins, the Jets might have a legitimate shot at the playoffs still.

Dolphins (+2.5) over Jaguars

That being said, I think Jacksonville is about to take a tumble. They have a tough schedule ahead of them, facing Miami, Indy, New England, and (*cough*) the Browns to finish the season. This should be a fun game to watch though as both are fighting for a playoff spot and have some of the best rush offenses in the league. This is gonna come down to who can put up the most stops, and I like the Fins in this one.

Ravens (-13.5) over Lions Lions (+13.5) over Ravens

Baltimore is gonna tear it up the rest of the season. They've got an easy schedule and as long as Flacco keeps his cool and stops throwing picks at key moments, their defense should keep the Lions in check. I'm also hoping for a lot fewer flags this game.

Edit (12/10/09): looks like it's gonna be a mess in Bmore on Sunday. Temperatures around freezing and mixed precipitation. I'm still taking the Ravens to win, but this should be a low-scoring game.

Texans (-6.5) over Seahawks

The Texans have had a disappointing season, unable to capitalize on early leads and stop the pass rush effectively down the stretch, but I think Houston has something to prove in this lackluster year and aren't dead yet. If Schaub is healthy, he'll show the Seahawks why Houston has the fourth best passing offense in the NFL, winning this by at least a touchdown.

Bengals (+6.5) over Vikings

Minnesota's fabulous offense showed some weaknesses last Sunday against a Cardinals' team that surged at this time last year as well. The Vikings looked like they had one of the strongest offenses and defenses coming into the game, but if you look at their schedule, they've had it pretty easy. Cincinnati will not be so easy. The Bengals are boasting one of the top defenses in the league and have surprised everyone this season by going 9-3. I really like the Bengals to win this one, or lose in a spectacularly Favreian way by only a few points.

Panthers (+13.5) over Patriots

On the surface it looks like the Patriots should run away with this one, but that's exactly what the Panthers might do, literally. Carolina has one of the pass defenses in the league, and one of the top three rushing games. They're facing a New England team that has based pretty much their entire offense this season on throwing the ball, and one that has a mediocre defensive core. The Pats are going to have to figure out how to stop DeAngelo Willimas or their playoff hopes could be in jeopardy.

Titans (-12.5) over Rams

Tennessee fell back to earth last week, as predicted, but that was only because they were up against an incredible Colts' team. I don't think the loss will discourage Vince Young too much, and he should have an easy time handing the Rams their 12th loss of the season.

Redskins (-1.5) over Raiders

Washington showed last week that it's D isn't just good, it's damn good. Oakland on the other hand stood up and asked to not be completely ignored, beating the Steelers in probably the biggest upset of the week. When all is said and done however, the Redskins have a lot more positives from this season than the Raiders, who have simply managed to stir the pot a little bit and piss off a few teams. I think the Redskins should put a halt to an extremely weak Oakland offense.

Cowboys (-3.5) over Chargers

After a disappointing loss to the Giants at the opening of Jerry Jones' 1.3 billion dollar stadium, the Cowboys have managed to impress the voracious home crowd since, going 5-0 after the initial defeat. This next game against the Chargers' will be tough to win though, facing a San Diego team that has won seven straight. The Chargers have had some pretty easy competition though, and Dallas should be able to come out on top if they can run the ball consistently.

Eagles (+.5) over Giants

These have been two of the most unpredictable teams this season. It's a tossup really of which team is going to come out to play on either side of the field. I'm favoring the Eagles slightly even without Westbrook. They've looked good their past three games and look ready to challenge for the NFC East title. A win over the Giants here could make their chances a lot better.

Cardinals (-3.5) over 49ers

Remember what the Cardinals did last year at this time? Well a dominating win over the Vikings last week is bringing shades of '08 to light. This poor San Fran team is going to be next in line for Warner and it looks like they have little that will be able to stop him. Not really a great Monday night game given the other options, but still worth a watch to see what Arizona has to offer.

Jimmy Clausen to Enter 2010 Draft

One of my favorite college football players, Jimmy Clausen, has decided to enter the NFL draft next year. Maybe he's tired of getting punched in the eye by irate Notre Dame fans, or maybe it's Weis' departure that has him itching for bigger and greener fields... either way, it makes next year's draft interesting. At quarterback alone, three of the, I would say, top 5 players are entering the draft: Colt McCoy, Tim Tebow, and now Jimmy Clausen (I'm leaving out a somewhat overrated Sam Bradford); and quarterback isn't even the most coveted position in this year's draft. CBS 2010 Draft Rankings


The most interesting thing about the whole scenario is that Charlie Weis is out of a job too. He was handed a 6-5 Notre Dame team at the beginning of the season with an offensive line that was rebuilding, and he did exactly what everyone expected; with the exception of course of the Notre Dame higher-ups. Either way, Weis is now gone and Clausen is leaving, both probably headed to the NFL. Well, what are the chances they will land in the same place? I'd like to see it happen. I like Weis, I like Clausen, and I think if a team can manage to land the pair in next year's draft they've got great ground to rebuild on.

St. Louis, Cleveland, and Washington, amongst others, are all in need of a quarterback right now, but I think the Redskins make the best case for the duo. They already have a decent defense, almost defeating the Saints in Week 13, and Jim Zorn already has one foot out the door, so why not try and grab the pair in the offseason and turn yourself into a possible playoff contender next year? Albeit, they probably need a little more work, but in an upcoming deep draft who knows what one can find in the later rounds? Just an idea... Check ESPN for more info on Clausen's decision

What a Sad Morning

First I watch The Cove first thing in the morning, and then I go on ESPN and see this.

NFL to pull plug on revenue sharing

And Sunday mornings used to be my favorite...

Patrick Chewing

Week 13 Picks

I've been a little distracted this week with all the college games going down, and I keep forgetting that a lot is still undecided in the NFL. That being said, after watching the Jets keep their playoff hopes alive last night, my interests have quickly been rekindled. Here are my picks for week 13, and Go Bama!!!



Eagles (-4.5) over Falcons

I said last week that Atlanta was overrated and picked the Bucs. Well, Philly is in the playoff hunt and Atlanta may be without Matt Ryan. Eagles should take this by a touchdown.


Rams (+8.5) over Bears

Again another battle of the bad teams, and again a Chicago defense that looks terrible. This could be close, but I don't see the Bears putting up enough points to allow their defense to cover an 8.5 point spread...


Bengals (-13.5) over Lions

Cincinnati's defense looks fantastic on the other hand, and Detroit still sucks. The Bengals just need to score enough to cover this and I think they should be able to do that against a pathetic Detroit defense ranked last in the league.


Titans (+6.5) over Colts

Indy should keep their winning streak alive and bring Vince Young and the Titans back down to earth a little but, but it's gonna be close and could be another come-from-behind victory for Manning. He seems to be doing that a lot this year.


Broncos (-4.5) over Chiefs

I know it was just one game, but it was against the Giants and Denver looks like they didn't blow their season entirely. I see them making a late charge. Remember, this team did start 6-0.


Saints (-8.5) over Redskins

Washington has a decent defense, but I feel like this line should be higher... don't you?


Buccaneers (+6.5) over Panthers

I like the Buccaneers' chances to win at least one more game this season, and it's probably not gonna be against the Saints, which leaves Seattle, the Jets, Atlanta, and these Panthers as the possible targets. Who knows what Carolina will do this game? Either way, I like the Bucs' chances as the underdogs.


Texans (+.5) over Jaguars

The Jaguars are either getting too much credit or not enough based on their record. I honestly think that Houston has played some good football this season, though they haven't been able to finish properly. I'm hoping they win this one so the Ravens, obviously a better team than the Jags, have a chance at the playoffs.


Raiders (+11.5) over Steelers

Oakland will probably lose this one, but Pittsburgh is not looking like a playoff team right now and I see them possibly blowing this one like the Bengals did a few weeks back; only in the Steelers' case, it could knock them out of the playoffs rather than cause a minor setback.


Patriots (-6.5) over Dolphins

New England always has trouble against Miami's wildcat offense, and right now the Pat's defense looks like shit. That being said, New England has to hold on to their AFC East lead and this game is crucial. They just need to rack up enough points to give their defesne some breathing room.


Chargers (-12.5) over Browns

Cleveland is just absolutely terrible and San Diego is one of my favorite teams in the AFC right now. Oh, and they've won 6 in a row. Pay attention.


49ers (+0.5) over Seahwaks

Not quite sure why Seattle is favoured in this one, who really thinks the Seahwaks are gonna put up points against a solid San Fran defense? Jacksonville managed only 3 points againast them, is Seattle gonna do better?


Cowboys (-1.5) over Giants

Romo and Eli both have something to prove this week. The Giants looked terrible last week though, whereas the Cowboys looked pretty dominant. This might be one of the most exciting games of the week but I think Dallas will come out on top.


Vikings (-3.5) over Cardinals

Not sure again why this line is so low... Favre has been putting up crazy numbers and Peterson, although it looks like he may be surpassed by Chris Johnson as the number 1 running back in the league, is still a viable threat to any defense. I say Vikings by around 10 in this one, Minny is on fire this season.


Ravens (+3.5) over Packers

Baltimore has had some tough losses this season but I still them as one of the top teams in the AFC. I'm pickin them to not only win this game, but finish the season strong and compete against the Colts for the AFC championship. Yeah, I'm that confident.

On Another Note

Anyone else watch that Stanford / Notre Dame game? Holy Shit!

How I Distracted Myself During the Pats' Horrible Showing on MNF