The Week 11 picks:
Last Week: 5-9 This Week: 0-1 Season: 62-76-7
Buffalo (+5.5) at Cincinnati
Last week, Cincinnati scored a touchdown with less than three minutes left to lose the game, but cover the point spread. Wait a minute, that never happens! Anyway, my one goal this Sunday is to not watch a single play from this game. Not a one.
Baltimore (-11) at Carolina
Brian St. Pierre is starting for Carolina this weekend. And yes, I'm just as surprised as you are that the last sentence is true. I think Baltimore can pretty much name a score this Sunday.
Oakland at Pittsburgh (-7)
Mark Schlereth and Tedy Bruschi of ESPN's NFL Live both picked Oakland to win this Sunday's game at Pittsburgh. I didn't think I'd type that sentence for at least another 10 years. Pittsburgh should bounce back from an awful game, in the same way New England did last week.
Houston (+7) at New York
One pass interference call, Matthew Stafford injury and Chansi Stuckey fumble later and the Jets are 7-2 and atop the AFC. While some could say the Jets could be 5-4 or 4-5, I think you have to give them credit for winning games, because at the end of the season, that's all that matters. I think Houston's offense is decent enough to cover here.
Arizona (+8) at Kansas City
I'm glad to see Arizona playing in the 1:00 p.m. slot this Sunday, because I'm tired of having their game as one to choose from at 4:00 p.m. I think the NFL needs to change the schedule around a bit, just because my head might explode by having to usually watch some variation of Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland and St. Louis at 4:00 p.m. But I think Arizona stays close with a struggling Chiefs squad.
Green Bay (-3) at Minnesota
Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy and the Green Bay Packers travel to Minnesota to try and put the final nail in the Vikings' coffin. I keep telling myself this is the way it has to end.
Washington (+7) at Tennessee
One week later, and I'm still wondering what Washington did during its bye week. Tennessee should win, but I don't know if they'll be able to cover a 7-point spread. Or maybe I'm just bitter after picking the Titans and them losing to Miami's third-string quarterback last week.
Detroit (+6.5) at Dallas
Detroit has lost 25 straight on the road. Dallas has not won in four games at home this season. At least we'll get to see Jon Kitna and Roy Williams, members of the 2007 Lions that started 6-2, play against their old team. (Desperately searching for reasons to watch this game).
Cleveland (+2.5) at Jacksonville
It was a pleasure to hear Gus Johnson call David Garrard's Hail Mary that beat Houston last week. With the college basketball season getting underway, he's due for some big calls in the coming months. But with Jacksonville at 5-4, does anyone think they're a playoff team? Anyone?
Seattle at New Orleans (-11.5)
Seattle seemed to be easy to figure out. They would be the quintessential "good at home, awful on the road team" this season. But, as former WWE superstar Rowdy Roddy Piper once said, "Just when you think you have the answers, I change the question." And after road wins at Chicago and Arizona this year, we might have to think of Seattle as legitimate NFC West contenders. But I just don't feel they can compete on the road against New Orleans.
Indianapolis (+4) at New England
Looking back on it, you can't overstate the opportunity Peyton Manning let slip by in last February's Super Bowl. That was the team that was supposed to give him his second Super Bowl ring- and his late interception sealed the game for New Orleans. But it's the regular season, and the Colts are getting four in a rivalry game that's very competitive.
Tampa Bay at San Francisco (-3.5)
I was hoping St. Louis would beat San Francisco last week, just so we could stop talking about them as a potential playoff team. I like the 49ers here though, as the Bucs struggle when they head out West and they're do for at least one clunker this season.
Atlanta at St. Louis (+3.5)
This is a game with two quarterbacks who were tasked with completely rejuvenating their franchises. Matt Ryan was drafted in the post-Mike Vick, post-Bobby Petrino era. Sam Bradford had to lead a team that went 1-15 with Marc Bulger, Kyle Boller and Keith Null at the helm. Credit these guys for doing a tremendous job. St. Louis is undefeated at home, and Atlanta might be looking ahead a bit to next Sunday's showdown against Green Bay at home.
New York at Philadelphia (-3)
Mike Vick returns to primetime after a fantasy football performance that will be talked about for decades. And as much as I want to pick the Giants here, I can't get the image out of my head of DeSean Jackson beating the New York secondary deep over and over in a Sunday night game last year at the Meadowlands.
Denver at San Diego (-9.5)
An NFC West game on Monday night. Ugh. This is historically the time when the Chargers play better, and I think they can cover this spread against a Denver team that seems to show up once every few weeks.
As always, enjoy the games!
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