The Week 12 Picks:
Last Week: 10-6 This Week: 2-1 Season: 74-82-7
Minnesota (+2) at Washington
The proverbial "good team remembers they're good after the head coach gets fired" game. If that's not a proverb, we should make it one. And did we already forget Washington lost 59-28 on Monday just two weeks ago?
Pittsburgh (-7) at Buffalo
Remember last week when people picked Oakland to go into Pittsburgh and defeat the Steelers? No really, that actually happened. In Cincinnati last Sunday, Buffalo scored 35 straight points to comeback and beat the Bengals 49-31. But I'm not sure Cincy actually qualifies as an NFL team.
Tennessee (+6) at Houston
I'm picking a sixth-round pick from Florida Atlantic on the road in his first career start at quarterback. His name is Rusty Smith. I think that answers how historically bad this Houston pass defense is.
Jacksonville (+7.5) at New York
Jacksonville has lured me into taking them. They have won three straight, and are getting more than a touchdown against a team who hasn't played well in three weeks. I feel like I'm getting trapped as I'm typing.
Carolina (+8.5) at Cleveland
A Jake Delhomme-led Cleveland Browns team is favored by 8.5 points against an NFL team. Let that last sentence sink in for a little bit. And while Carolina's offense is horrible, Delhomme may be able to provide them with one or two interceptions returned for touchdowns.
Green Bay at Atlanta (-1.5)
Never go against Matt Ryan at home. Never go against Matt Ryan at home. Never go against Matt Ryan at home. Never go against Matt Ryan at home.
Miami (+3) at Oakland
Chad Henne is starting, which means Miami will have some semblance of a professional quarterback this Sunday. Miami should stay competitive, but this is more a pick against the Raiders. I can never endorse taking Oakland as a favorite of three or more.
Kansas City at Seattle (+2)
Seattle is 5-5, has been outscored 126-65 in the last four weeks and is -48 in point differential for the season. Ladies and gentlemen, your 2010 NFC West leader! The Seahawks are at home, and that's really the only reason I'm picking them.
Tampa Bay (+8) at Baltimore
Tampa Bay has only played one good team since Week 6 (a 27-21 Week 9 loss at Atlanta), which makes it easy to forget they got annihilated by Pittsburgh (38-13) and New Orleans (31-6) at home. But Raheem Morris and Co. have screwed me over too many times in these last few weeks, so I'm just going to take the points and hope for the best.
Philadelphia (-3.5) at Chicago
Last week, I picked a Miami team starting a third-string quarterback over the Bears on Thursday night. It was more of a pick against Jay Cutler than it was for the Dolphins. The Chicago defense stepped up, but Mike Vick is a little different than Tyler Thigpen. And I still have zero confidence in Cutler.
St. Louis (+3.5) at Denver
Kyle Orton has thrown for over 3,000 yards already, Knowshown Moreno is a solid running back when healthy and Brandon Lloyd has more than 1,000 receiving yards with seven touchdowns. With so many useful fantasy players, it's easy to forget that Denver is not a good reality team. St. Louis for the cover.
San Diego at Indianapolis (-2)
Never go against Peyton Manning at night. Never go against Peyton Manning at night. Never go against Peyton Manning at night. Never go against Peyton Manning at night.
San Francisco (-1) at Arizona
A battle between the two worst teams in the NFL's worst division. On Monday Night Football. Monday Night Raw is a possibility here.
As always, enjoy the games!
tylertomea@gmail.com
