After this week, we finally don't have to deal with byes anymore! It's not that much of a problem when it comes to making picks, it was just really weird to have that extra week of byes this year. And it didn't make any sense that there were some weeks with six and some with two. Eight weeks, four teams a week. Why is that hard? Since they needed the ninth week this year, have two weeks were there are two. That some weeks six, some weeks four, some weeks two thing was just really confusing. But I digress. One game down, 13 to go in Week 12, which also features a special bonus game--the Grey Cup.
Steelers (4-6) at Browns (4-6): Pittsburgh-Amazingly, Pittsburgh is still in contention for a playoff spot. That probably says more about how weak the race for that second AFC wild card is, but the fact remains Pittsburgh is in the hunt after that miserable start. The Steelers and Browns are actually in a three-way tie for second place with Baltimore, which obviously will be broken on Sunday. This is the first meeting of the year between these two, and I think Pittsburgh's going to pull it out.
Buccaneers (2-8) at Lions (6-4): Detroit-Break up the Bucs! After losing their first eight games, they won twice in a week, although, in fairness, it was against Miami and Atlanta. The Lions keep moving into first place, only to lose the next week. Like last week in Pittsburgh. I'm hesitant to take Detroit as a road favorite now. Fortunately for the Lions, this isn't a road game. They'll beat the Bucs and be ready for the Packers on Thanksgiving.
Vikings (2-8) at Packers (5-5): Green Bay-People have finally realized that Minnesota's not a good team. In fact, the Vikings are pretty awful. Eric Dickerson has even reached out to voice his support for Adrian Peterson, who's not exactly going to reach that 2,500-yard prediction. The Packers are in a pretty sorry QB situation without Aaron Rodgers, and it doesn't look like it's going to get any better until he comes back. But I still think they've got enough to snap their three-game skid.
Chargers (4-6) at Chiefs (9-1): Kansas City-What Denver showed last week is that Kansas City's previously-undefeated record was a product of their schedule as much as it was their improvement. However, the Chiefs also showed that they are, indeed, a very formidable team. I still think the Chargers are going to beat the Chiefs this season, but that'll be when they play in San Diego in Week 17. With that crowd and Denver on tap again next week, Kansas City takes care of business this week.
Bears (6-4) at Rams (4-6): Chicago-For the life of me, I can't figure out why St. Louis is the favorite in this game. I get that a lot of people think the Bears are overrated and the Rams are very tough at home, but I still think Chicago's not getting a whole lot of respect. Jay Cutler or no Jay Cutler, the Bears should beat a Rams team without Sam Bradford. Even on the road.
Panthers (7-3) at Dolphins (5-5): Carolina-Does anyone want to play the Carolina Panthers right now? They're no longer a playoff sleeper. They're a legitimate contender in the NFC South. Especially if New Orleans loses in Seattle next week. There's no team hotter than Carolina. That shouldn't change in Miami.
Jets (5-5) at Ravens (4-6): Baltimore-This is the Jets' week to win. Except this week they're on the road, and they're not a good road team. Their only road win this season came in Atlanta, and it doesn't look anywhere near as good now as it did then. The Ravens have lost four out of five, which explains why their record has dropped to 4-6. For Baltimore to stay in contention for the wild card the Jets currently possess, they need a win this week. That happened a couple weeks ago against Cincinnati, and they got the job done. Count on the Ravens to do it again.
Jaguars (1-9) at Texans (2-8): Houston-Believe it or not, Jacksonville will move out of last place with a win this week. And they're definitely capable of getting one against a struggling Texans team. Houston and Atlanta are fighting for the title of most disappointing team this season, and the Texans bring an eight-game losing streak to the party. I feel sorry for the people in North Florida and Houston who'll be subjected to this game. For the record, though, I think the Texans are slightly less bad enough to get the win at home.
Titans (4-6) at Raiders (4-6): Tennessee-Even though I don't think they're any good at all, the Raiders are in that big mass of teams who are 4-6 and one game out of that second wild card spot. What Oakland's done well is beat the other bad teams on its schedule. Tennessee only slightly qualifies in that category. The Titans are better than the Raiders, but playing in Oakland levels the playing field a little. I'm going to play my gut and take the Titans in a game that could easily go either way.
Colts (7-3) at Cardinals (6-4): Indianapolis-This week we get to see what Arizona is made of. The Cardinals are, incredibly, right smack in the middle of the NFC playoff race. This week is one of their biggest tests, though, taking on the Colts. Indy has had a couple tests of its own this season. And won them both, beating the Niners in San Francisco and knocking off the Broncos in Peyton's return. I'll take the Colts in this one, too.
Cowboys (5-5) at Giants (4-6): Giants-Outside of Manning vs. Brady, this is your game of the week. The Giants, incredibly, can be only one game out of first with a win. Dallas, meanwhile, moves back into a tie with Philly if they win in the Meadowlands, where they won on Opening Night last year. The critics are once again coming out, though, wondering if Jerry Jones the owner's best move might be to fire Jerry Jones the GM. Well, you know that's not going to happen. I like the way the Giants are playing right now way too much. This is the Giants team we thought we'd see at the beginning of the season. They also have that Opening Night loss in Cowboys Stadium in their minds. That should provide plenty of motivation for consecutive win No. 5 and a sweep of the three-game homestand.
Broncos (9-1) at Patriots (7-3): New England-The next chapter of Manning vs. Brady will be played out on Sunday night. Denver once again proved its the best team in football with last week's win over previously unbeaten Kansas City. The road doesn't get any easier, though. They've got the Chiefs again next week, and have to deal with the Patriots on the road first. In the irony of ironies, even those fans who hate the Patriots are saying they got screwed at the end of the game on Monday night. Well, they weren't. And the pass interference didn't change the game-ending interception. Anyway, Denver's the better team on paper and should, in theory, beat New England pretty handily. For some reason I think Brady's going to find a way to pull this one out, though. That's why I'm going against my man Peyton and taking the Patriots. Either way, this game will probably have huge implications on the AFC playoff race.
49ers (6-4) at Redskins (3-7): San Francisco-Is there anything worse than flying cross country (the bad way) to play a Monday night game? The schedule-maker was not kind to the 49ers, who've already had to play a game in London this season. They need to win this one, though, if they have any hope of challenging Seattle for the division title. Back-to-back losses to the Panthers and Saints haven't helped that cause, but, as we know, Carolina and New Orleans are both pretty good. So are Indianapolis and Seattle, the other teams San Francisco's lost to. In other words, the 49ers take care of business against inferior opponents. The Redskins certainly qualify in that category.
BONUS GAME: Grey Cup: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Saskatchewan Roughriders: Saskatchewan-Last year we had a home team in the Grey Cup, and the Toronto Argonauts came away with the trophy. This year's game is in Regina. That's good news for the hometown Roughriders. The Grey Cup will spend the next year in the Prairies.
BYES: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Seattle
This Week: 1-0
Last Week: 11-4
Season: 104-59
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