Thursday
Game: Kansas City at Oakland
Pick: Kansas City - Oakland's 0-10. That's all. I'll take the hot Kansas Chiefs by 10.
Result: Oakland 24 Kansas City 20
Record: 0-1
Sunday
Game: Cleveland at Atlanta
Pick: Atlanta - Sadly, even at 4-6, Atlanta is fighting for an NFC South title. Cleveland, at 6-4, is a very difficult team to figure out. They've beaten 6-4 Pittsburgh 31-10. They've lost to 1-win Jacksonville. They got dominated by 5-5 Houston this past weekend. Like every AFC North team, they can't seem to make up their minds on who they are and how good they are. They will be getting wideout Josh Gordon this week, which should help down the stretch. In his first game back, however, there will likely be some rust between he and quarterback Brian Hoyer. Atlanta, meanwhile, has won two straight road games and Matt Ryan and company have always played much better at home than on the road. I'd call this game a toss-up, but will give the home team Falcons a slight edge. I'll take Atlanta by 3.
Result: Cleveland 26 Atlanta 24
Record: 0-2
Game: Tennessee at Philadelphia
Pick: Philadelphia - Philly seems to beat up on all the poor and mediocre teams, but have yet to rise above that and be considered an elite football team. Their three losses this year were all road games, against the likes of San Francisco, Arizona, and Green Bay (combined record of 22-8). With the game at home against the sub-par Tennessee Titans, expect those trends to continue and for Philly to win by at least two touchdowns.
Result: Philadelphia 43 Tennessee 24
Record: 1-2
Game: Detroit at New England
Pick: New England - Detroit's defense should keep things close for 2.5-3 quarters. However, I have a hard time not seeing the red-hot Patriots offense pulling away late in the 3rd, early in the 4th quarter. Tom Brady is basically unbeatable at home, especially in November and December. Matthew Stafford, meanwhile, is 0-15 on the road against teams with winning records. Make that 0-16. I'll take New England by 10.
Result: New England 34 Detroit 9
Record: 2-2
Game: Green Bay at Minnesota
Pick: Green Bay - I'll make one bet right now. Green Bay will not score 50+ points for the third straight game. They should win, though. Aaron Rodgers is as hot as anyone in the league right now and should play well yet again. I'll go with the Packers by 10.
Result: Green Bay 24 Minnesota 21
Record: 3-2
Game: Jacksonville at Indianapolis
Pick: Indianapolis - Indy will be playing angry after getting handled at home against New England on Sunday night. Since Andrew Luck became the starting quarterback for the Colts, back-to-back losses is about as rare as winning the lottery. That should again be the case when the Colts square off against the one-win Jaguars. I'll take Indy at home by 17.
Result: Indianapolis 23 Jacksonville 3
Record: 4-2
Game: Cincinnati at Houston
Pick: Cincinnati - Which Bengals team will show up this week? The one that got embarrassed by Cleveland two Thursday nights ago or the one that dominated New Orleans on the road this past Sunday? Who knows? So long as Andy Dalton doesn't turn the ball over much, however, I think Cincinnati should be able to score enough points to come out with the victory. I'll take Cincy by 4.
Result: Cincinnati 22 Houston 13
Record: 5-2
Game: Tampa Bay at Chicago
Pick: Chicago - I honestly don't want to pick either team. However, in seeing that they can finally win again, with the game being at home, and their talented group of skill position players going up against one of the worst secondaries in all of football, I'll give the Bears another chance. I'll take Chicago by a touchdown.
Result: Chicago 21 Tampa Bay 13
Record: 6-2
Game: Arizona at Seattle
Pick: Seattle - Arizona is 9-1 and, no matter how ugly they may play on offense at times, they always seem to find a way to win the game. However, at 6-4, Seattle needs to start winning some games, especially those at home. Given their great home record these past couple of years, the wild crowd, and a sense of desperation for the team to stay in the NFC West race, I'm going to take Seattle by a field goal.
Result: Seattle 19 Arizona 3
Record: 7-2
Game: St. Louis at San Diego
Pick: St. Louis - Over the past few weeks, it's appeared as if these teams' records should be reversed. San Diego, at 6-4, just snapped a 3-game losing streak when they beat 0-10 Oakland by a touchdown. St. Louis, meanwhile, at 4-6, beat Denver 22-7. Three of St. Louis' wins have come against teams that made conference championship games a year ago, two teams that made the Super Bowl (Seattle, Denver, and San Francisco). They've also played tight contests against Dallas and Philadelphia. For as much as San Diego has struggled of late and Philip Rivers' health in question, I'm going to take the Rams in the upset. I'm going with St. Louis by a field goal.
Result: San Diego 27 St. Louis 24
Record: 7-3
Game: Miami at Denver
Pick: Denver - For as awful as they played on Sunday against St. Louis on the road, I have a very difficult time seeing Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos stinking it up yet again, especially at home. I'll go with Denver by 10.
Result: Denver 39 Miami 36
Record: 8-3
Game: Washington at San Francisco
Pick: San Francisco - Both teams seem to lack focus right now. However, even so, I'm going to give the edge to the 6-4 San Francisco 49ers. So long as their offense doesn't play sloppy, they should be able to improve to 7-4 with a 10-point win at home.
Result: San Francisco 17 Washington 13
Record: 9-3
Game: Dallas at NY Giants
Pick: Dallas - It's pretty amazing that, even though Eli Manning threw 5 interceptions on Sunday against San Francisco, the Giants still had a chance to win the game, in their 16-10 loss to the 49ers. The Giants just can't seem to get a solid performance in all three phases of the game, and going up against the well-rested Dallas Cowboys, I don't think that will start in this game. I'll take Dallas by a touchdown.
Result: Dallas 31 NY Giants 28
Record: 10-3
Monday
Game: NY Jets at Buffalo
Pick: NY Jets - I've changed my pick in this one. Initially, I went with Buffalo, because they were playing at home and I like how their passing game matched up with the Jets' secondary. However, in light of the crazy amount of snowfall in Buffalo, the fact the Bills haven't been able to practice due to it, and the game will be played in Pittsburgh, Detroit, or Washington, D.C., I'm going to give the edge to the well-rested Jets. I'll take New York by 3.
Result: Buffalo 38 NY Jets 3
Record: 10-4
Game: Baltimore at New Orleans
Pick: New Orleans - Remember when it seemed New Orleans couldn't win on the road and couldn't lose at home? Over their past three games, they're 1-0 on the road and 0-2 at home. Well, lucky for them, the Saints have appeared to be almost unbeatable at home on primetime national television. Also, with Baltimore's secondary being as beat up as it is, look for the Saints offense to score much more than they did in their 27-10 loss to Cincinnati on Sunday. I'll go with the Saints by 4.
Result: Baltimore 34 New Orleans 27
Record: 10-5
Week 12 Record: 10-5 (.667)
Overall Record: 108-67-1 (.617)
Game: Kansas City at Oakland
Pick: Kansas City - Oakland's 0-10. That's all. I'll take the hot Kansas Chiefs by 10.
Result: Oakland 24 Kansas City 20
Record: 0-1
Sunday
Game: Cleveland at Atlanta
Pick: Atlanta - Sadly, even at 4-6, Atlanta is fighting for an NFC South title. Cleveland, at 6-4, is a very difficult team to figure out. They've beaten 6-4 Pittsburgh 31-10. They've lost to 1-win Jacksonville. They got dominated by 5-5 Houston this past weekend. Like every AFC North team, they can't seem to make up their minds on who they are and how good they are. They will be getting wideout Josh Gordon this week, which should help down the stretch. In his first game back, however, there will likely be some rust between he and quarterback Brian Hoyer. Atlanta, meanwhile, has won two straight road games and Matt Ryan and company have always played much better at home than on the road. I'd call this game a toss-up, but will give the home team Falcons a slight edge. I'll take Atlanta by 3.
Result: Cleveland 26 Atlanta 24
Record: 0-2
Game: Tennessee at Philadelphia
Pick: Philadelphia - Philly seems to beat up on all the poor and mediocre teams, but have yet to rise above that and be considered an elite football team. Their three losses this year were all road games, against the likes of San Francisco, Arizona, and Green Bay (combined record of 22-8). With the game at home against the sub-par Tennessee Titans, expect those trends to continue and for Philly to win by at least two touchdowns.
Result: Philadelphia 43 Tennessee 24
Record: 1-2
Game: Detroit at New England
Pick: New England - Detroit's defense should keep things close for 2.5-3 quarters. However, I have a hard time not seeing the red-hot Patriots offense pulling away late in the 3rd, early in the 4th quarter. Tom Brady is basically unbeatable at home, especially in November and December. Matthew Stafford, meanwhile, is 0-15 on the road against teams with winning records. Make that 0-16. I'll take New England by 10.
Result: New England 34 Detroit 9
Record: 2-2
Game: Green Bay at Minnesota
Pick: Green Bay - I'll make one bet right now. Green Bay will not score 50+ points for the third straight game. They should win, though. Aaron Rodgers is as hot as anyone in the league right now and should play well yet again. I'll go with the Packers by 10.
Result: Green Bay 24 Minnesota 21
Record: 3-2
Game: Jacksonville at Indianapolis
Pick: Indianapolis - Indy will be playing angry after getting handled at home against New England on Sunday night. Since Andrew Luck became the starting quarterback for the Colts, back-to-back losses is about as rare as winning the lottery. That should again be the case when the Colts square off against the one-win Jaguars. I'll take Indy at home by 17.
Result: Indianapolis 23 Jacksonville 3
Record: 4-2
Game: Cincinnati at Houston
Pick: Cincinnati - Which Bengals team will show up this week? The one that got embarrassed by Cleveland two Thursday nights ago or the one that dominated New Orleans on the road this past Sunday? Who knows? So long as Andy Dalton doesn't turn the ball over much, however, I think Cincinnati should be able to score enough points to come out with the victory. I'll take Cincy by 4.
Result: Cincinnati 22 Houston 13
Record: 5-2
Game: Tampa Bay at Chicago
Pick: Chicago - I honestly don't want to pick either team. However, in seeing that they can finally win again, with the game being at home, and their talented group of skill position players going up against one of the worst secondaries in all of football, I'll give the Bears another chance. I'll take Chicago by a touchdown.
Result: Chicago 21 Tampa Bay 13
Record: 6-2
Game: Arizona at Seattle
Pick: Seattle - Arizona is 9-1 and, no matter how ugly they may play on offense at times, they always seem to find a way to win the game. However, at 6-4, Seattle needs to start winning some games, especially those at home. Given their great home record these past couple of years, the wild crowd, and a sense of desperation for the team to stay in the NFC West race, I'm going to take Seattle by a field goal.
Result: Seattle 19 Arizona 3
Record: 7-2
Game: St. Louis at San Diego
Pick: St. Louis - Over the past few weeks, it's appeared as if these teams' records should be reversed. San Diego, at 6-4, just snapped a 3-game losing streak when they beat 0-10 Oakland by a touchdown. St. Louis, meanwhile, at 4-6, beat Denver 22-7. Three of St. Louis' wins have come against teams that made conference championship games a year ago, two teams that made the Super Bowl (Seattle, Denver, and San Francisco). They've also played tight contests against Dallas and Philadelphia. For as much as San Diego has struggled of late and Philip Rivers' health in question, I'm going to take the Rams in the upset. I'm going with St. Louis by a field goal.
Result: San Diego 27 St. Louis 24
Record: 7-3
Game: Miami at Denver
Pick: Denver - For as awful as they played on Sunday against St. Louis on the road, I have a very difficult time seeing Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos stinking it up yet again, especially at home. I'll go with Denver by 10.
Result: Denver 39 Miami 36
Record: 8-3
Game: Washington at San Francisco
Pick: San Francisco - Both teams seem to lack focus right now. However, even so, I'm going to give the edge to the 6-4 San Francisco 49ers. So long as their offense doesn't play sloppy, they should be able to improve to 7-4 with a 10-point win at home.
Result: San Francisco 17 Washington 13
Record: 9-3
Game: Dallas at NY Giants
Pick: Dallas - It's pretty amazing that, even though Eli Manning threw 5 interceptions on Sunday against San Francisco, the Giants still had a chance to win the game, in their 16-10 loss to the 49ers. The Giants just can't seem to get a solid performance in all three phases of the game, and going up against the well-rested Dallas Cowboys, I don't think that will start in this game. I'll take Dallas by a touchdown.
Result: Dallas 31 NY Giants 28
Record: 10-3
Monday
Game: NY Jets at Buffalo
Pick: NY Jets - I've changed my pick in this one. Initially, I went with Buffalo, because they were playing at home and I like how their passing game matched up with the Jets' secondary. However, in light of the crazy amount of snowfall in Buffalo, the fact the Bills haven't been able to practice due to it, and the game will be played in Pittsburgh, Detroit, or Washington, D.C., I'm going to give the edge to the well-rested Jets. I'll take New York by 3.
Result: Buffalo 38 NY Jets 3
Record: 10-4
Game: Baltimore at New Orleans
Pick: New Orleans - Remember when it seemed New Orleans couldn't win on the road and couldn't lose at home? Over their past three games, they're 1-0 on the road and 0-2 at home. Well, lucky for them, the Saints have appeared to be almost unbeatable at home on primetime national television. Also, with Baltimore's secondary being as beat up as it is, look for the Saints offense to score much more than they did in their 27-10 loss to Cincinnati on Sunday. I'll go with the Saints by 4.
Result: Baltimore 34 New Orleans 27
Record: 10-5
Week 12 Record: 10-5 (.667)
Overall Record: 108-67-1 (.617)
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