Week 12 Picks

Last week I went 12-4... Good, but not great. I'm shooting for 13 this week.

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions - Without Matthew Stafford, this will barely be a game. Hopefully it is since we all have to watch it, but this will barely be a game.

I'm taking the Packers on the Road.

Oakland Raiders @ Dallas Cowboys - With all the watchable games on the Cowboys schedule why did the schedule makers put this one on Thanksgiving. Another snooze.

I'm taking the Cowboys at Home.

New York Giants @ Denver Broncos - Remember how good this game looked half a season ago? Some people dared to say Super Bowl preview. It's going to be harder than it looks for the Giants; short week, road game, mile high, but the Giants should still win. The Broncos aren't that good.

I'm taking the Giants on the Road.

Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills - This is a must win for the Dolphins and they're going to win it. They'll be at 6-5, and the way I see it, in control of the wild card. The schedule gets tough, but they have a chance to control their own fate, and I like that.

I'm taking the Dolphins on the Road.

Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans - It's tough. You have to figure the Colts won't go undefeated. Not that they're not talented enough to go 19-0 (because this season they are), but because I honestly don't think the franchise wants to be 16-0 headed into the playoffs; they learned that lesson the hard way in 2005. The thing is, unless they coast and grow content, they're probably going to win this game. Houston are heartbroken and heading into a short week. Then again, that may be the very reason they win this game.

I'm taking the Texans at Home.

Seattle Seahawks @ St. Louis Rams - If the Rams are going to win again, this may be the game. Bulger is down so Boeller is back, and that hurts their chances.

I'm taking the Seahawks on the Road.

Washington Redskins @ Philadelphia Eagles - The Redskins aren't going to be a pushover the rest of the season; they're going to play hard, they're going to win a few games as well. The Eagles won't let that happen this week. They realize that every game from here on out is precious. They'll lose a few between now and week 17, but this probably will not be one of those instances.

I'm taking the Eagles at Home.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons - Atlanta's season is pretty much over, but they're still going to win this game.

I'm taking the Falcons at Home.

Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals - The Bengals had their "we're not really elite" loss last week against the Raiders. They should bounce back this week against a pesky Cleveland Browns team.

I'm taking the Bengals at Home.

Carolina Panthers @ New York Jets - The Panthers are the best team in the league with a losing record, and the Jets are in free fall. Revis vs Steve Smith (should it happen) will be a nice match up to watch.

I'm taking the Panthers on the Road.

Kansas City Chiefs @ San Diego Chargers - Kansas had a huge overtime win last week against the Steelers, but that was likely more of a mirage than an honest assessment of how good the Chiefs are. San Diego are hot, they won't win out, but this won't be a loss.

I'm taking the Chargers at Home.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ San Francisco 49ers - The 49ers are desperate for a win, they know the playoffs are out of reach, but they need a win. The Jaguars are winning, but they've struggled to beat even the shamelessly mediocre teams.

I'm taking the 49ers at Home.

Arizona Cardinals @ Tennessee Titans - The Cardinals are a playoff team, but not without Kurt Warner, which makes this game really hard to predict. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that Warner starts, and that will be the difference maker. This team loves to play on the road too.

I'm taking the Cardinals on the Road.

Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings - My biggest upset pick of the week. The Vikings are due for a loss. The Bears are due for a win. It's going to happen this week.

I'm taking the Bears on the Road.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens - If the Ravens lose they're buried. If the Steelers lose they're in danger of not making the playoffs for the first time since 2006. This is going to be a tough game, but I still don't think the Ravens can beat the Steelers. If Big Ben doesn't play it's a different story. But he'll play. Not until he's 35. But he'll play this week.

I'm taking the Steelers on the Road.

New England Patriots @ New Orleans Saints - New England are a good team, but their three losses are alarming (@NYJ, @Denver, @Indianapolis) because it's three road losses to above average (at the time) teams. New Orleans are way above average, and though they've been playing opossum the past few weeks, they'll be up for this game.

I'm taking the Saints at Home.