Thursday
Game: Tennessee at Jacksonville
Prediction: Tennessee - I consider this to be a toss-up game. The only reason I'm leaning ever so slightly in the favor of the Titans is that Marcus Mariota has been much less prone to making mistakes than Blake Bortles, who seems to force one to two interceptions each and every game. Given that, I'll take the Titans by 3.
Result: Jacksonville 19 Tennessee 13
Record: 0-1
Sunday
Game: Oakland at Detroit
Prediction: Oakland - No, I'm not really sure what I saw at Lambeau Field on Sunday afternoon either. For the first time in 25 years, the Detroit Lions beat the Packers in Green Bay to improve to 2-7 on the season. I have a hard time seeing that happen in back-to-back weeks, so I look for the Raiders to get back on track with a 7-point win on the road in this one.
Result: Detroit 18 Oakland 13
Record: 0-2
Game: Indianapolis at Atlanta
Prediction: Atlanta - Atlanta's made me nervous over the past month of the season. Their extremely talented offense has seemed to forget how to score, especially when inside the red zone. However, coming off a bye week and facing the Andrew Luck-less Indianapolis Colts at home, I'll tentatively take the Falcons by 4.
Result: Indianapolis 24 Atlanta 21
Record: 0-3
Game: NY Jets at Houston
Prediction: NY Jets - To put it simply, the New York Jets are the defensive squad the Houston Texans had been in years past and wish they could be again this season. Unfortunately for them, that's not the case, and I look for the Jets to improve to 6-4 with a 10-point win on the road.
Result: Houston 24 NY Jets 17
Record: 0-4
Game: Tampa Bay at Philadelphia
Prediction: Philadelphia - Tampa's made some nice progressions in Jameis Winston's first season behind center. The Eagles, at 4-5, have let multiple games get away from them this season and will need to break that cycle if they want to win the NFC East. Fortunately for them, 4-5 is good enough to stay in contention for the division title. Whether it be Sam Bradford or Mark Sanchez behind center, I like the Eagles in this one at home, by 4.
Result: Tampa Bay 45 Philadelphia 17
Record: 0-5
Game: Denver at Chicago
Prediction: Chicago - While much was made early in the season about Peyton Manning's struggles, the Denver Broncos, led by their defense, was still finding ways to win games. That hasn't been the case these past two weeks, against sub-par competition, and it's a wonder whether or not Manning, who was pulled in the team's loss to the Chiefs on Sunday, will even start in this game. For the season, Manning has thrown just 9 touchdown passes compared to 17 interceptions. Chicago, meanwhile, appears to be heating up, and given both teams' recent performances, I'll give the Bears a slight edge at home. I'm taking Chicago by 6.
Result: Denver 17 Chicago 15
Record: 0-6
Game: St. Louis at Baltimore
Prediction: St. Louis - St. Louis is in danger of falling out of playoff contention and Baltimore is in danger of contemplating who to take with the #1 pick in next year's NFL draft. While the Rams laid a major egg at home against the Bears on Sunday, I think they're too good of a team to do that again in this game. Look for Todd Gurley to light up the suspect Ravens defense. I'm going with the Rams by a touchdown.
Result: Baltimore 16 St. Louis 13
Record: 0-7
Game: Dallas at Miami
Prediction: Dallas - This pick is subject to change if Tony Romo doesn't start for the Cowboys. For the time being, though, he's scheduled to make his return here. With Romo and Bryant finally back on the field together, look for Dallas to finally get back in the win column with a tough 3-point victory on the road in Miami.
Result: Dallas 24 Miami 14
Record: 1-7
Game: Washington at Carolina
Prediction: Carolina - If Kirk Cousins doesn't turn the ball over, this could be a tricky game for the unbeaten Carolina Panthers. Washington's defense has proven itself to be one of the better ones in the NFC this year. They also feature a pretty solid ground attack, so if and when Cousins plays well, the team can be a pain in the backside. However, in saying all that, it's hard for me to go against the Panthers at home. It should be tight and low-scoring throughout, but I'll go with Carolina by 3.
Result: Carolina 44 Washington 16
Record: 2-7
Game: Kansas City at San Diego
Prediction: Kansas City - To put it simply, Kansas City is playing very well at the moment, and San Diego is so battered and bruised, it's difficult to see them get through any game without a coach or a waterboy playing at least the second half. While part of me is tempted to go with Phillip Rivers and the hometown Chargers, for how well the Chiefs have been playing their past three games, I just can't bring myself to do that. I'll go with Kansas City by 4.
Result: Kansas City 33 San Diego 3
Record: 3-7
Game: Green Bay at Minnesota
Prediction: Minnesota - The Green Bay Packers need to find some answers and in a hurry, as they now look up at the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North standings. It'll be difficult to find those answers on the road against those very Vikings in this game, however. Minnesota's on a roll, on both sides of the ball, and the Packers' offensive line will likely have a difficult time against the Vikings' front seven. I'm going with Minnesota by 4.
Result: Green bay 30 Minnesota 13
Record: 3-8
Game: San Francisco at Seattle
Prediction: Seattle - While San Francisco has been decent at home, they've been horrible on the road. That's double-trouble when playing against Seattle, a team fighting for their playoff lives. I'm going with the Seahawks at home by 13 to improve to an even 5-5.
Result: Seattle 29 San Francisco 13
Record: 4-8
Game: Cincinnati at Arizona
Prediction: Arizona - When healthy, these could be the two best, most balanced teams in the league. They're solid in every phase of the game and it wouldn't at all surprise me to see the two teams in the Super Bowl. Coming off a huge road win in Seattle on Sunday night and with this game at home, though, I look for Arizona to get the best of the visiting Bengals. I'll take the Cardinals by a field goal.
Result: Arizona 34 Cincinnati 31
Record: 5-8
Monday
Game: Buffalo at New England
Prediction: New England - If this game were in Buffalo, I'd think about taking the Bills. However, with it in Foxboro, that's not going to happen. Then again, I said the same thing about the Lions winning in Lambeau... I'll still take Tom Brady and the Patriots at home in this one, by 10.
Result: New England 20 Buffalo 13
Record: 6-8
Week 11 Record: 6-8 (.429)
Overall Record: 88-72 (.550)
Game: Tennessee at Jacksonville
Prediction: Tennessee - I consider this to be a toss-up game. The only reason I'm leaning ever so slightly in the favor of the Titans is that Marcus Mariota has been much less prone to making mistakes than Blake Bortles, who seems to force one to two interceptions each and every game. Given that, I'll take the Titans by 3.
Result: Jacksonville 19 Tennessee 13
Record: 0-1
Sunday
Game: Oakland at Detroit
Prediction: Oakland - No, I'm not really sure what I saw at Lambeau Field on Sunday afternoon either. For the first time in 25 years, the Detroit Lions beat the Packers in Green Bay to improve to 2-7 on the season. I have a hard time seeing that happen in back-to-back weeks, so I look for the Raiders to get back on track with a 7-point win on the road in this one.
Result: Detroit 18 Oakland 13
Record: 0-2
Game: Indianapolis at Atlanta
Prediction: Atlanta - Atlanta's made me nervous over the past month of the season. Their extremely talented offense has seemed to forget how to score, especially when inside the red zone. However, coming off a bye week and facing the Andrew Luck-less Indianapolis Colts at home, I'll tentatively take the Falcons by 4.
Result: Indianapolis 24 Atlanta 21
Record: 0-3
Game: NY Jets at Houston
Prediction: NY Jets - To put it simply, the New York Jets are the defensive squad the Houston Texans had been in years past and wish they could be again this season. Unfortunately for them, that's not the case, and I look for the Jets to improve to 6-4 with a 10-point win on the road.
Result: Houston 24 NY Jets 17
Record: 0-4
Game: Tampa Bay at Philadelphia
Prediction: Philadelphia - Tampa's made some nice progressions in Jameis Winston's first season behind center. The Eagles, at 4-5, have let multiple games get away from them this season and will need to break that cycle if they want to win the NFC East. Fortunately for them, 4-5 is good enough to stay in contention for the division title. Whether it be Sam Bradford or Mark Sanchez behind center, I like the Eagles in this one at home, by 4.
Result: Tampa Bay 45 Philadelphia 17
Record: 0-5
Game: Denver at Chicago
Prediction: Chicago - While much was made early in the season about Peyton Manning's struggles, the Denver Broncos, led by their defense, was still finding ways to win games. That hasn't been the case these past two weeks, against sub-par competition, and it's a wonder whether or not Manning, who was pulled in the team's loss to the Chiefs on Sunday, will even start in this game. For the season, Manning has thrown just 9 touchdown passes compared to 17 interceptions. Chicago, meanwhile, appears to be heating up, and given both teams' recent performances, I'll give the Bears a slight edge at home. I'm taking Chicago by 6.
Result: Denver 17 Chicago 15
Record: 0-6
Game: St. Louis at Baltimore
Prediction: St. Louis - St. Louis is in danger of falling out of playoff contention and Baltimore is in danger of contemplating who to take with the #1 pick in next year's NFL draft. While the Rams laid a major egg at home against the Bears on Sunday, I think they're too good of a team to do that again in this game. Look for Todd Gurley to light up the suspect Ravens defense. I'm going with the Rams by a touchdown.
Result: Baltimore 16 St. Louis 13
Record: 0-7
Game: Dallas at Miami
Prediction: Dallas - This pick is subject to change if Tony Romo doesn't start for the Cowboys. For the time being, though, he's scheduled to make his return here. With Romo and Bryant finally back on the field together, look for Dallas to finally get back in the win column with a tough 3-point victory on the road in Miami.
Result: Dallas 24 Miami 14
Record: 1-7
Game: Washington at Carolina
Prediction: Carolina - If Kirk Cousins doesn't turn the ball over, this could be a tricky game for the unbeaten Carolina Panthers. Washington's defense has proven itself to be one of the better ones in the NFC this year. They also feature a pretty solid ground attack, so if and when Cousins plays well, the team can be a pain in the backside. However, in saying all that, it's hard for me to go against the Panthers at home. It should be tight and low-scoring throughout, but I'll go with Carolina by 3.
Result: Carolina 44 Washington 16
Record: 2-7
Game: Kansas City at San Diego
Prediction: Kansas City - To put it simply, Kansas City is playing very well at the moment, and San Diego is so battered and bruised, it's difficult to see them get through any game without a coach or a waterboy playing at least the second half. While part of me is tempted to go with Phillip Rivers and the hometown Chargers, for how well the Chiefs have been playing their past three games, I just can't bring myself to do that. I'll go with Kansas City by 4.
Result: Kansas City 33 San Diego 3
Record: 3-7
Game: Green Bay at Minnesota
Prediction: Minnesota - The Green Bay Packers need to find some answers and in a hurry, as they now look up at the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North standings. It'll be difficult to find those answers on the road against those very Vikings in this game, however. Minnesota's on a roll, on both sides of the ball, and the Packers' offensive line will likely have a difficult time against the Vikings' front seven. I'm going with Minnesota by 4.
Result: Green bay 30 Minnesota 13
Record: 3-8
Game: San Francisco at Seattle
Prediction: Seattle - While San Francisco has been decent at home, they've been horrible on the road. That's double-trouble when playing against Seattle, a team fighting for their playoff lives. I'm going with the Seahawks at home by 13 to improve to an even 5-5.
Result: Seattle 29 San Francisco 13
Record: 4-8
Game: Cincinnati at Arizona
Prediction: Arizona - When healthy, these could be the two best, most balanced teams in the league. They're solid in every phase of the game and it wouldn't at all surprise me to see the two teams in the Super Bowl. Coming off a huge road win in Seattle on Sunday night and with this game at home, though, I look for Arizona to get the best of the visiting Bengals. I'll take the Cardinals by a field goal.
Result: Arizona 34 Cincinnati 31
Record: 5-8
Monday
Game: Buffalo at New England
Prediction: New England - If this game were in Buffalo, I'd think about taking the Bills. However, with it in Foxboro, that's not going to happen. Then again, I said the same thing about the Lions winning in Lambeau... I'll still take Tom Brady and the Patriots at home in this one, by 10.
Result: New England 20 Buffalo 13
Record: 6-8
Week 11 Record: 6-8 (.429)
Overall Record: 88-72 (.550)
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