We're already up to the Thursday night games. I still don't know if that means the picks will be made earlier every week (or if I'll still do them on Saturday and just tell you whether or not I got Thursday right), but it does this week. I also find it somewhat weird that 28 of the 32 teams have already had their byes, yet we're playing a full 16-game schedule this week and saving those remaining four byes until next week. That doesn't make much sense to me. Anyway, I digress. On to the picks:
Raiders (4-4) at Chargers (4-4): San Diego-At the halfway point, there are three-way ties for first in both the AFC East and AFC West. The AFC West is more interesting because Denver's just one game back. That's thanks to the Raiders, who lost at home to the Broncos last week. The Chargers really need to get back on track, too. San Diego was 4-1 before visiting the Jets. Now they've lost three straight, including that Monday night game they should've won in Kansas City. Needless to say, this is an important game in the AFC West race. NFL Network gets a good one for its first game of the year. I think the Chargers are a better team, thus they're the pick.
Saints (6-3) at Falcons (5-3): New Orleans-The Saints are one of those teams that hasn't had their bye yet, and they enter this one with a half-game lead over Atlanta. They meet again in New Orleans on a Monday night in Week 16, and that game could decide which one wins the division. The Falcons have won three straight, including a victory over the Lions. The Saints rebounded from that inexcusable loss to the Rams with a win over the Bucs last week. This is a good matchup that I expect New Orleans to win.
Steelers (6-3) at Bengals (6-2): Pittsburgh-This week we finally get to find out if Cincinnati is actually good or if the Bengals' record is just a reflection of their easy early schedule (my theory). Cincinnatti hasn't played either the Steelers or the Ravens yet, while Pittsburgh and Baltimore are done with each other. Blowing that game on Sunday night really cost the Steelers. Not only did it knock them out of first place, it gave the Ravens the tiebreaker. Pittsburgh can't really afford another division loss. I think the Steelers knock the Bengals back to reality.
Rams (1-7) at Browns (3-5): Cleveland-Little known fact: both of these teams actually started in Cleveland, and the Rams moving to Los Angeles is part of the reason the original Browns came into existence in the first place. Sometimes the NFL gives us games like this one. Is Cleveland OK with everybody?
Bills (5-3) at Cowboys (4-4): Buffalo-The Bills had a chance to take sole possession of first place in the AFC East last week, but lost at home to the Jets and are now stuck in a three-way tie. This the first of three straight home games for Buffalo, while Dallas has this one, then visits archrival Washington before that Thanksgiving game against Miami that the NFL for some reason is going to make us watch (although, in fairness, this was the only other option for the Cowboys' Thanksgiving game and nobody knew the Bills would actually be good this year). Both teams' playoff chances are definitely on the line this week. I'm going with the Bills.
Jaguars (2-6) at Colts (0-9): Jacksonville-Now that the Dolphins somehow managed to screw up and get a win last week, the Colts are now the leaders in the Andrew Luck Sweepstakes. With both games against Jacksonville and a matchup with the Panthers left on the schedule, I don't think they'll go winless, but in following my "pick against the Colts until they win" policy, Jacksonville's the pick.
Broncos (3-5) at Chiefs (4-4): Kansas City-Maybe going to Tim Tebow was the right move. Since he took over as the starter, Denver has won a pair of road games, but lost its only home game. They're on the road this week, which improves their chances. But I'm still going with the Chiefs to rebound after last week's disaster against Miami.
Redskins (3-5) at Dolphins (1-7): Washington-Attention Rex Grossman. This just in: the Redskins aren't going to win the NFC East. I just wanted to clear that up. With that being said, they're better than Miami.
Cardinals (2-6) at Eagles (3-5): Philadelphia-How much of a killer was that loss on Monday night for the Eagles? At 3-5, it's going to be hard for them to make the playoffs and nearly impossible to win the division (they're three games behind the Giants, who beat them the first time). The Eagles really can't afford to lose to the Cardinals at home. And they won't.
Texans (6-3) at Buccaneers (4-4): Houston-This was one of the toughest picks to make this week. Houston's probably going to run away with the AFC South and make the playoffs for the first time in their history. The Bucs, meanwhile, need a win to keep pace with the Saints and Falcons (a loss drops them two back of the Atlanta-New Orleans winner). Tampa Bay hasn't won since Week 6, while Houston has won three straight. That's why I'm taking the Texans in a close one.
Titans (4-4) at Panthers (2-6): Tennessee-The Titans are the only team that actually has a chance of giving Houston a race in the AFC South. Carolina is the only team that won't be in the race in the NFC South. I'm taking Tennessee in one of this week's dud games.
Ravens (6-2) at Seahawks (2-6): Baltimore-After last week, I think Baltimore might be the best team in the AFC. A loss to the Seahawks would be unacceptable. But then again, the Giants lost (at home) to Seattle, and it doesn't seem to have that adverse of an effect on them. The Ravens already laid their egg for this season, though, in that Monday night game against Jacksonville. They'll take care of business in the Pacific Northwest.
Lions (6-2) at Bears (5-3): Detroit-The Bears jumped right back into the thick of the playoff race with last week's win over the Eagles. Now they can make a move in the division with a win over the Lions. Detroit, meanwhile, hasn't played either the Bears or the Packers yet, so this is an important test for them, too. The Lions are coming off a bye, while the Bears are coming off a short week, having played on Monday night. That's enough for me to like the Lions in a close one.
Giants (6-2) at 49ers (7-1): Giants-It's safe to say that the winner of the NFC West won't be 7-9 this year. In fact, this matchup will probably determine which of these teams gets the other NFC bye (I don't think the 49ers will have any problems winning the NFC West). It's nice to see a Giants-49ers game meaning something again. I can totally see either team winning. San Francisco already has signature wins over Philadelphia and Detroit, and is a blown lead and resulting overtime loss to Dallas away from being undefeated. The Giants got their signature win last week in Foxboro. FOX has a tremendous doubleheader game for the second straight week. For no other reason than the fact I'm a Giants fan, I'm going with the Giants.
Patriots (5-3) at Jets (5-3): New England-Well, well, well. What have we here? The Patriots have actually lost back-to-back games for just the third time since 2003. The Jets, who were 2-3 after a three-game losing streak, have now won three straight, including their first road win of the season last week in Buffalo. As a result, they're tied for first place. A Jets loss means their chances of winning the division, and thus hosting a playoff game, will be slim to none. New England is in danger of not making the playoffs at all if they drop their third straight. I know I said before they played the first time that I expected the Patriots and Jets to split this season, but I don't see Bradicheck losing three in a row.
Vikings (2-6) at Packers (8-0): Green Bay-Did the NFL think this Favre retirement was like all of the other ones when they set Vikings-Packers at Lambeau as a Monday night game? I thought the first Packers loss might come last week in San Diego it didn't. Now we've got to wait until either that Thanksgiving matchup at Detroit or the following week at the Giants. In other words, the Packers aren't losing at home to woeful Minnesota.
Last Week: 6-8 (I know, it's embarrassing. I'm doing worse than a 10-year-old girl making her picks by pulling the teams out of a hat. I don't even know why I insist on making these picks public.)
Overall: 80-50 (Not terrible, but should be much better.)
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