My uncanny ability to predict the winners of NFL games continued on Thursday when the Jets got Tebowed in Denver. This really is getting ridiculous. I used to be good at picking NFL games. Maybe I should just focus on the MLB awards, where I'm a perfect 6-for-6 with two to go. Anyway, I have a feeling that the NFL is going to go back to semi-normal at some point, so I'll continue to make my picks as if that's actually going to happen. The fact that it's Week 11 and it still hasn't yet can probably help explain my embarrassing record so far this season. I'm already 0-1 this week. Here we go with the rest of them:
Jaguars (3-6) at Browns (3-6): Cleveland-These are the games that really screw with you. It's a game nobody cares about between two bad teams. The Browns are at home, so I'll throw the Dawg Pound a bone and make Cleveland the pick.
Panthers (2-7) at Lions (6-3): Detroit-This could easily be a trap game for the Lions, who suffered that tough loss to the Bears last week and have the short week before that matchup with the undefeated Packers on Thanksgiving. I don't think they'll get caught up in it, though. Cam Newton will put up his crazy fantasy numbers, but Detroit will win.
Buccaneers (4-5) at Packers (9-0): Green Bay-I still don't think the Packers are going to finish undefeated. But I don't think the Bucs are going to be the team that beats them, either. On Thanksgiving in Detroit, though...that might be where Green Bay runs into some trouble.
Bills (5-4) at Dolphins (2-7): Miami-The Bills have started to come back to Earth. After losing to the Jets, they went to Dallas and reenacted their two Super Bowl losses to the Cowboys. That's what makes this game one of the hardest picks of the week. The Dolphins aren't good, but they've won two straight since handing a game to Tim Tebow, severely damaging their Andrew Luck chances. Buffalo's the better team, but the way each squad is playing right now scares me. The Dolphins are headed in the right direction. The Bills aren't. That's why I'm going against my instincts (and, probably, better judgment) and taking Miami.
Raiders (5-4) at Vikings (2-7): Oakland-It's crazy that Oakland is in first place in the AFC West at midseason. It's even crazier that an Oakland loss on Sunday means the Broncos will be tied with them. Fortunately for the Raiders, they're playing the Vikings, who have to be in the discussion among who's the five worst teams in football. Even in Minnesota, I don't think the Vikings will pose much of a challenge to Darren McFadden and Co.
Cowboys (5-4) at Redskins (3-6): Dallas-As everyone in the world except for Rex Grossman already knew, the Redskins have dropped back into the category of an "also-ran" in the NFC East. Dallas, meanwhile, has won two straight, including that rout of the Bills last week. The Cowboys, of course, have the short week before playing on Thanksgiving, and the Redskins would like nothing more than messing with their archrival's playoff chances. But I don't see that happening. The Cowboys win to keep pace with the Giants in the division, as well as the Bears, Lions and Falcons in the wild card race.
Bengals (6-3) at Ravens (6-3): Baltimore-The Ravens are one of the most confusing teams in all of football. They look incredible one week, then look absolutely horrendous the next. They've lost games to both Jacksonville and Seattle this season. The loss to the Seahawks came last week and dropped Baltimore out of first place. Cincinnati, meanwhile, finally played a division game last week and lost to the Steelers. I think the Bengals' start was the result of an easy early schedule. Baltimore needs to win to move back into a first-place tie with Pittsburgh (sidebar: why did they play a full week last week, then have the final four byes this week?). The Ravens are a much better team at home than they are on the road. The game's in Baltimore, so I'm going with the Ravens.
Seahawks (3-6) at Rams (2-7): Seattle-A Rams win and a 49ers win over Arizona means San Francisco clinches at least a share of the division title. Last year, it was these two playing for the NFC West crown on the final Sunday night, and Seattle won to become the first 7-9 division winner in NFL history. We won't have to worry about this season, as Rams-Seahawks goes back to a No. 6 regional offering available in only the St. Louis and Seattle markets on FOX. I'm taking the Rams at home if anybody cares.
Cardinals (3-6) at 49ers (8-1): San Francisco-Is everyone convinced that the 49ers are for real now? That win over the Giants last week was an important character-building, statement victory over a team pretty unanimously agreed to be one of the best in the NFC (this just in, San Francisco's also in that group). The 49ers should have no problem at home against the Cardinals. The only things left for them to worry about are "When will we clinch the NFC West?" and "Will we get a first-round bye in the playoffs?" The Harbaugh Bowl awaits San Francisco on Thanksgiving night.
Titans (5-4) at Falcons (5-4): Atlanta-This is an important game for the playoff chances of both teams. The loser probably isn't going to make it, while the winner will definitely still be in the thick of the race. I think Atlanta's the better team, but the Good Matt Ryan needs to show up. I think he will. The Falcons win.
Chargers (4-5) at Bears (6-3): Chicago-Does any team need a win more than the Chargers? San Diego was once sitting pretty in the AFC West at 4-1. A four-game losing streak later, the Chargers are in their usual predicament in a crowded AFC West. But a win reestablishes San Diego as a potential division winner. And we all know the Chargers are a much better second-half team. The Bears, meanwhile, have won four straight, including a big victory over the Lions last week. As a result, Chicago currently holds one of the two NFC wild cards. This has the potential to be one of the better Week 11 matchups. While the Chargers are capable of pulling off the upset, I think the fact that the game's in Chicago tips the scale in the Bears' direction.
Eagles (3-6) at Giants (6-3): Giants-Can we write off the Eagles' "Dream Team" yet? This team finds a way to blow a fourth-quarter lead every week. The Giants, of course, know all about that after what happened when these two met at MetLife Stadium last year. Philadelphia has been the thorn in their side for the last couple of years, but it was the Giants that picked up the W when these teams met in Philly. The Giants have a brutal remaining schedule, and Dallas is coming (the Cowboys are only one game back). They need to take advantage of a reeling Eagles team that may or may not have Michael Vick available on Sunday night.
Chiefs (4-5) at Patriots (6-3): New England-Matt Cassell's return to New England turns into Tyler Palko's first NFL start. The Chiefs are still technically in the race in the AFC West, but that's going to change quickly with Palko at quarterback. The Patriots entered last week's game against the Jets on a two-game losing streak, then they looked like the Patriots team we've all gotten used to seeing in the second half. I still don't know what to make of New England. But with a win, the Patriots would become one of at least three (potentially four if Baltimore also wins) with an AFC-best record of 7-3. A matchup against Kansas City in Foxboro should be enough for the Patriots to join that group.
This Week: 0-1 (lost with the Jets)
Last Week: 7-9 (you have no idea how embarrassing it is for me to type that)
Season: 87-60
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