After last week's picks hiatus, I'm ready to go. I've been studying the matchups, controlling my overpowering gut (instincts) and planned this week as if I was in Vegas trying to score millions of the games (note to Vegas: you are going to be very happy when some particular Blog writer turns 21). Let's GO:
Denver (-5.5) @ Kansas City
Interesting game. I think Denver has suddenly become a little bandwagony now. It's strange that during their real winning streak the media needed to see them win 6 games before they thought that Denver was "for real". Now, all they need is one? Everyone seems to be pegging Denver into a Wild Card spot (including me) without guessing twice. I find it strange. Anyway, as for this game, Chris Chambers has made Kansas City alot scarier of a team, however Matt Cassel propensity to take sacks and curl up on the ground like a ferrett may even that out. However, Denver has an awful history in Arrowhead Stadium. Since the Chiefs are a black hole of suck, I'm pretty sure their fans hate them now, but they will come out for Broncos week. If for only reason the Broncos cannot play well in Arrowhead, I'll take the Chiefs.
Denver 20 Chiefs 16 (KC)
Oakland @ Pittsburgh (-15)
Pittsburgh just is not good without Polamalu. I still think Ed Reed is the better player (witness his lock-ness in my Hall of Fame post, and Troy's should-be-in), but the way the Steeler defense is playing is great service to the font of brilliance that is the dreadlocked Tongan. So, Pittsburgh's defense is not good without Troy, and the Raiders defense is not good with all of their current enrostered defensive players. Nnamdi will lock down on either Santonio or Hines, but the other will carve up that secondary much like those fucking Turkeys on Thanksgiving. Also, Mendenhall will go off, and even count in Heath Miller for some action. Ben will get over that post-concussion groginess easily with the wide-open passes the Raiders are bound to give him.
Raiders 17 Steelers 38 (PIT)
Houston (-1) @ Jacksonville
Houston is just better. Sure, the Jags have a better record and they beat Houston in Houston. I don't care. Houston are worldbeaters when everyone finally leaps off the "Houston is Playoff Bound!!!" caravan, and now since even their fans, owners and half their players have, look for them to make a run. Jacksonville's pass rush sucks, and their best corner is out. So look for that Matt Schaub to Andre Johnson connection (my fantasy team will be looking long and hard). Also, its hard to even give Jacksonville a second look for being a home team, since the Jacksonville-ians are much more interested in that nights shuffleboard 4000 than the Jags game. Honestly, just move them to Portland or San Antonio, or even, god forbid, Los FUCKING Angeles.
Texans 34 Jaguars 20 (HOU)
Philadelphia (-5.5) @ Atlanta
Matt Ryan's out. Michael Turner and Roddy White are banged up, but could play. That's all I need to know. Actually, all I needed to know was that first injury. No way in hell Chris Redman wins this game. I'll put the over/under on the whole entire fanbase that the Falcons fans would rather have Michael Vick start that game for them than Chris Redman. And I would still take the over. This one is like stealing candy from a one-day old, let alone a baby.
Eagles 27 Falcons 10 (PHI)
Detroit @ Cincinnatti (-13)
This is an interesting game. I mean, Cincy will win, that's not the interesting part. The interest and wonder checks in with that line. Cincinnatti has blown out precisely one team this year: Chicago. They played only three other games against the Shitty teams, and lost one (@ Oakland) and kept the other two close (the Cleveland duo). So, there is reason to believe that they keep this one close. However, both of the other shit teams they play have a level they can reach on defense that Detroit just cannot touch. Both Cleveland and Oakland can play good to great defense on one particular day (it will use up their quota for the half year, but its possible). Detroit, on the other hand, made Brady Quinn look like Brady Quinn (the Notre Dame edition). Cincinnatti's defense is probably the best defense, as currently constructed, in the NFL. Not a good combination.
Lions 7 Bengals 30 (CIN)
New Orleans (-9.5) @ Washington
This is why the NFL is great. I can actually fathom a scenario where Washington wins this game. Washington is a good defensive team, they can cover well. They can run the ball (New Orleans biggest weakness), and they can too have those games where they look positively Pittsburgh-ian. So, why am I still going to pick New Orleans. Here's why: They are a great, great, great, great team. Everyone brings up that Rams game, but the Rams scored in garbage time, and New Orleans was basically missing everyone but Drew Brees on defense. They can win this game with their defense (like they did against the Jets and Buffalo earlier this year).
Saints 27 Redskins 14 (NO)
Tampa Bay @ Carolina (-6.5)
I think it says something about a QB that he goes out, and the line is unchanged. I'm guessing had Jake Delhomme been in there, the line would have been exactly the same. Matt Moore sucks (just look at his numbers in his few starts in 2007). So does Tampa. Why anyone would watch this game is beyond me. If you live in the Tampa or Carolina areas (like I have any readers that live in Tampa), I would call and complain to FOX for subjecting you to such crap. This became my second "Just Toss a Damn Coin" games. Tails, and "Tails" and "Tampa" both start with "T"s, so there it is!!!
Buccaneers 20 Panthers 17 (TB)
St. Louis @ Chicago (-9)
There seemed to be a nice trail of people riding St. Louis this week. God knows why, as Kyle Boller is their starting QB now, but I guess its all Jay Cutler hate. The hate is well deserved, but really, he's not Cade McNown. He's not Craig Krenzel or Steve Hutchinson, or Stoney Case. He's a good player who's having a bad year. Brett Favre had similar years, yet no one gave him shit, because Favre was a good guy who did not look like he had just seen a picture of his parents getting it on, which is the expression that is plastered to Cutler's mug. If Cutler can't win them this game, then he best cross lake Mississippi, and move to Flint.
Rams 14 Bears 31 (CHI)
Tennessee @ Indianapolis (-6.5)
My favorite line of the weak. Tennessee is on such a run. 5 straight wins, a huge performance by Vince Young. Chirs Johnson is the Chuck Norris of football right now. They just won a huge comeback game. Everything is pointing to a 6th straight win. Well, you know what? Everything is also pointing to a TWENTY-FIRST straight win for the Colts, too. Just to put that in comparison, people are going legitimately batshit over the Titans five game win streak, well the Colts have put together four 5-game win streaks. The last time they lost, was in October..... 2008. Also, there seems to be some "The Titans always play the Colts close" line going around. They do, in Nashville. They own the Titans in Indianapolis. This won't be close to what people are expecting. At all.
Titans 13 Colts 31 (IND)
San Diego (-13) @ Cleveland
Just writing about this game makes me depressed. San Diego is going to be 9-3 without beating a solitary good team, apart from Denver who also beat them. Actually, they beat the Giants, in a game where they were outgained 304-226 and the Eagles in one of their bipolar days. Not particularily impressive. However, Cleveland cannot suck more if they tried right now. I heard that Shawne Merriman, Luis Castillo and Eric Weddle might all miss this game, and still if San Diego loses, they should be banished to the CFL.
Chargers 30 Browns 14 (SD)
San Francisco @ Seattle (PK)
Seattle should have one more great home game left in them this year. Also, with GM Tim Ruskell's resignation, something every Seahawk fan has secretly been pining for since 2007, there is that feeling of having finally destroyed that corpse in a way that is untracable. They have lived through the Ruskill ordeal, Holmgren is on speed-dial 2. All is right in Coffee-ville. On the other side, the schizophrenic overrated team continues. Sure, they destroyed a 6-4 Jacksonville team last week, but lord knows how. I never saw them with the ball on NFL RedZone. Seattle should drum them like a Gee-tar at home.
49ers 14 Seahawks 20 (SEA)
Dallas (-2.5) @ New York (n)
This is the toughest game for me. I still feel that New York is better, but now Eli Manning is suffering from pain again. I still feel that Dallas is a tad overrated, and that clock is striking midnight any second now for Miles Austin. They were awful in their two previous games before taking the magic elixir that is an evening with the Raiders. New York was as lifeless as a team can possibly be in Denver. Must've been the trictophan, or at least vodka poisoning, or something. Anyway, the Giants get up for Dallas week, and that's even when the Boys are clearly better. This is the game that the Giants need more. Dallas is in that San Diego zone where people are fondling their balls for winning games they should win, and not waiting for them to truly prove themselves. Outside of Philadelphia, Dallas has beaten nobody. Outside of Dallas, New York has beaten nobody. This is a really tough, tough game to pick. I'll say New York, just becuase they should be motivated in what is the last Boys-Giants game in old Giants Stadium.
Cowboys 20 Giants 24 (NYG)
New England (-6.5) @ Miami
This line is just stone-cold proof of the media's continual, never-ending, dick-sucking of the Patriots. There is just no better way to put it. That team was humiliated on Monday Night. Humiliated so bad that Bill Belichick was not even angry in the postgame handshake, just conceited that his time is up. However, if either New Orleans or Indianapolis, or even Minnesota, were playing in Miami this week, none of them would be favored by this much. What has New England done this year to be given this benefit of the doubt. What? Three good quarters in Indianapolis? Well, they followed that up with one of the all time blows in the fourth quarter. Honestly, I was in MIDDLE SCHOOL the last time they won the Super Bowl. It's time to stop thinking they are the class of the league, and the Golden children anymore. It's over. Now, if this line were one point higher, I would pick the Dolphins, but I think the Pats win by a touchdown, but most media act like the Dolphins will be some sort of sacrificial lamb. The Dolphins are a proud team that plays the Pats well. Especially in Miami.
Patriots 27 Dolphins 20 (NE)
Arizona @ Minnesota (NL)
There is no line because of Kurt Warner's vision. I'll say that if Warner plays, I'll take the Cards and whatever the points are. If Leinart plays, give me the Vikings and whatever those points are.
Baltimore @ Green Bay (-3)
Another good Monday Night game. ESPN has gotten great luck this year (I've programmed my mind to forget that Browns/Ravens debaccle). This is a good game between two teams in the Wild Card race. Green Bay is quietly 6-1 in non-Vikings games since September 27th. Baltimore is not quietly 6-5 and just outside the 6 seed if the playoffs started today. Baltimore is the more desperate team, as Green Bay is safely in the playoffs today, but Green Bay is expecting snow this weekend. Baltimore is probably the least northern north city, and snow is definitely out of their element. This makes me want to pick the Packers. What else makes me want to pick the Packers: the Ravens secretly aren't great at rushing the passer, while that is really the only way to beat the Packers.
Ravens 17 Packers 24 (GB)
Enjoy the Games!!
