With the dual death of Chris Henry and the fact that I have finals, can't really spend all this time on writing this. Of course, I spent mental time going over the slate of games, but that can be done without the handcuff of a computer.
Anyway, the games:
Indianapolis (-3) @ Jacksonville
Gotta believe they will go all out. Mathis and Freeney will be limited, but the Manning Co. will be at full strength, and that should be enough. This is a night game, and Manning is 17-3 in night games going back to 2003.
Colts 31 Jaguars 20 (IND)
Dallas @ New Orleans (-7.5)
Really, if this were a small-market good but not great team against New Orleans (say, Miami), this line is 13. They are just too good in that dome, especially on primetime. Manning will make an MVP statement Thursday, Brees will have to answer. Those Cowboys just cannot get it done in December.
Cowboys 17 Saints 35 (NO)
Miami @ Tennessee (-5.5)
Big line, especially with a team who can stop the run, and is a tough-as-nails foe. Miami rarely gets blown out, and Tennessee doesn't blow teams out, at least those not QB-ed by Kraig Null. Gotta go with the gut, and the gut tells me that Miami is one of the six best teams in the AFC.
Dolphins 23 Titans 20 (MIA)
New England (-7.5) @ Buffalo
Moss is dogging it. Brady is slightly hurt. Defenses are routinely holding them in the 20s in normal conditions. Snow is in the air for Buffalo, and at least cold, cold weather. (When I say snow, I don't mean Baltimore/DC level snow, but flurries). The Bills are playing hard for Perry Fewell, and an interim coach can do nothing better than beat a divisional foe fighting for a playoff spot.
Patriots 20 Bills 24 (BUF)
Arizona (-14) @ Detroit
I doubt Arizona turns it over 7 times. I doubt it matters.
Cardinals 38 Lions 14 (ARZ)
New York (a) (-7) @ Atlanta
No Ryan, no Turner against a defense that feasts on average offenses. The Jets can be beaten defensively by a good team, but against the Falcons/Chris Redman-level dregs of the league, they will make Redman turn Blue (Yeah, I'm that busy, that is the level of jokes this week!!).
Jets 27 Falcons 14 (NYJ)
Cleveland @ Kansas City (-2)
I want to pick Cleveland, but Todd Haley's temper would actually kill someone if they drop this one. Also, I think it is time to call Matt Cassel a bum, and a product of Randy Moss, which puts him in the same level of a 37-year old Cunnincham, Jeff George and Culpepper. I really have no idea. Mangini is probably coaching for his job, with Czar Holmgren staring at him.
Browns 27 Chiefs 24 (CLE)
Houston (-14) @ St. Louis
Houston, somehow, can still sneak into the playoffs, and now, when they are the biggest longshot, they will go on their run and save Kubiak's job. Here's a prediction, and cast it in stone: If Kubiak stays, they win 11 games next year, minimum.
Texans 41 Rams 17 (HOU)
Green Bay @ Pittsburgh (-.5)
The Pack's bandwagon is getting a little too crowded. They are a good team, but they need to drop one to get all this "They are the only team with the defense to beat the Saints" garbage out. Also, come on. The 'Burgh can't lose 6 in a row!! Not happening.
Packers 16 Steelers 21 (PIT)
San Francisco @ Philadelphia (-7.5)
Really, this should be alot higher. Philly is really, really good, and the 49ers somehow made a game where they were giftwrapped 7 turnovers interesting in the fourth quarter. An Owl couldn't see through that smokescreen of a win.
49ers 14 Eagles 31 (PHI)
Chicago @ Baltimore (-11)
I would say this is a tad high, but the snow kills this. Flacco is yet to play in a snow game. Cutler spent the last three years in Denver. I'll say he has the snow advantage. In a blizzard-like snow, throwing is easier than running, and that also helps the Bears, as the Ravens depend on the run more, while Matt Forte is now allowed to spend another week in Guantanamo.
Bears 20 Ravens 24 (CHI)
Cincinnatti @ San Diego (-7)
So, Ochocinco want to wear 15 in honor of Chris Henry. I love it. Roger Goodell, that never-ending dipshit, does not. He will fine Ochocinco. Thankfully, the NFLPA has already said that they will pay Ocho's fine. I love it! Roger Goodell is an idiot, straight and true. He really has done nothing good for the league. The salary cap is on the way out, he wants to play games in London where they could give two shits for the NFL, and wants to ludicrously expand the schedule. Why is he commissioner?
Now, about the Henry situation. It's a real tragedy. He was turning his life around, recommitting himself to his three kids, and being the family man he wasn't three years ago. It is just horrible that three kids will grow up without the father that they deserve and the father that Henry was working so hard to be. RIP Chris Henry, and the Bengals will honor you well.
Bengals 24 Chargers 14 (CIN)
Oakland @ Denver (-14)
This strikes me as too high, and if Gradkowski was starting, I might have even called up Mexico and placed some dinero on the ol' Silver and Black. However, Charlie Frye is starting, the guy who was onced traded to Seattle, and was behind Seneca Wallace on the QB depth chart. That guy. However, the Raiders are in total "ABJ" mode. That's "Anybody but JaMarcus".
Raiders 20 Broncos 30 (OAK)
Tampa Bay @ Seattle (-6.5)
Really, a truly awful game. How the mighty have fallen in Seattle.
Buccaneers 14 Seahawks 27 (SEA)
Minnesota (-9) @ Carolina
Isn't this why flex scheduling was invented. CIN @ SD was not a protected game, so why on earth was that not flex-ed in. This Favre ball-washing has to stop. There is no reason for this to be the primetime games. None. However, since it is, gotta believe the Panthers get it up a little bit. I mean, John Fox has to have pride, and I know Steve Smith does.
Vikings 27 Panthers 20 (CAR)
New York (n) (-3) @ Washington
Not a terrible MNF game, considering the Redskins have been playing better, and will probably be in great spirits after being enshackled from that mafia boss Cerratto. However, the Giants are a team steaming from last weeks win, and since Devin Thomas does not scream "DeSean Jackson" I'll have to go with them.
Giants 28 Redksins 20 (NYG)
Enjoy the Games.
RIP Chris Henry.
