by Everlong » Dec 03, '13, 6:12 pm
GAME OF THE WEEK - Carolina Panthers (9-3) at New Orleans Saints (9-3), NO by 3.5 - If this game was being played in Carolina I'd certainly pick the Panthers to win, but the Saints are coming off a blowout loss to a good team and desperately need to rebound if they want to win their division. I think they take care of business at home against a feisty Panthers squad. Saints 28, Panthers 24
THURSDAY NIGHT - Houston Texans (2-10) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-9), HOU by 3 - Houston has lost ten straight and Jacksonville has won three of its last four, yet Houston is the team that's favored. I'm done doubting the Jags. This Texans team is just plain bad. UPSET! - Jacksonville 24, Houston 20
Indianapolis Colts (8-4) at Cincinnati Bengals (8-4), CIN by 5.5 - The Bengals and Colts have both lost some steam considering how they were looking a few weeks ago, but the Colts have clearly been hampered by the loss of Reggie Wayne on offense. Playing against a talented defense on the road makes me think they're in for a rough weekend. Bengals 27, Colts 23
Kansas City Chiefs (9-3) at Washington Redskins (3-9), KC by 3.5 - Nothing like a game against the Redskins to start getting some confidence back. The Chiefs played the Broncos pretty well for a while in that game, but now they need to start scoring some wins again to carry a bit of momentum into the postseason. Chiefs 24, Redskins 6
Minnesota Vikings (3-8-1) at Baltimore Ravens (6-6), BAL by 7 - Suddenly the Ravens find themselves right back in the thick of the playoff hunt. With a couple teams hot on their tails they can't really afford to lose many more games, so I'm expecting the Ravens to keep their winning ways going. Ravens 27, Vikings 17
Cleveland Browns (4-8) at New England Patriots (9-3), NE by 11.5 - The Browns are going to be starting either their 4th string QB or a guy just signed this week. Not looking good. Patriots 35, Browns 6
Detroit Lions (7-5) at Philadelphia Eagles (7-5), PHI by 3 - Interesting matchup here. The Lions have shown some particularly tenacious defense as of late, but they've been remarkably inconsistent on the season. The Eagles are quickly making a case of their own to be the NFC East champions, and NIck Foles is playing about as well as anyone could have hoped. My guess is the Eagles take this one. Eagles 31, Lions 17
Oakland Raiders (4-8) at New York Jets (5-7), NYJ by 3 - Man, the playoff hopes for the Jets sure went down the tubes quickly. That team is just looking bad. I think the Raiders can steal one from them on the road. UPSET! - Raiders 26, Jets 21
Miami Dolphins (6-6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (5-7), PIT by 3 - The Dolphins have probably surprised a lot of people by staying in the playoff hunt despite the shape their offensive line is in and all of the distractions they've had to overcome. The Steelers have some distractions of their own this week and are in a must-win situation if they want to maintain any hope of a wild card spot. Typically I'd take them in this scenario, but I called the Dolphins as a playoff contender before the season started, and I'm going to stick by them. UPSET! - Dolphins 23, Steelers 19
Buffalo Bills (4-8) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-9), TB by 2.5 - The Bucs have won three of their last four and have finally started to show a little bit of what made people consider them to be a possible major turnaround team this season. Tampa 23, Buffalo 13
Tennessee Titans (5-7) at Denver Broncos (10-2), DEN by 12 - Welp, this game should be the final nail in the coffin that holds the Titans' playoff chances. Broncos 41, Titans 14
St. Louis Rams (5-7) at Arizona Cardinals (7-5), ARZ by 6.5 - The Cardinals probably need to win this game if they're going to stay in the playoff hunt. In addition to needing to keep pace with San Francisco, they need to score as many divisional victories as possible for tiebreaking purposes. My guess is that they succeed. Cardinals 27, Rams 16
New York Giants (5-7) at San Diego Chargers (5-7), SD by 3 - Well, the Giants finally beat a starting quarterback, but now they face one of hte league's hottest players (and most underrated at this point), Philip Rivers. If the Giants had any hope left of a division title, it ends this week. Chargers 31, Giants 20
Seattle Seahawks (11-1) at San Francisco 49ers (8-4), SF by 2.5 - I think Seattle will easily win homefield advantage and get to the Super Bowl, but they're going to lose one more game this season, and this seems to be the prime candidate. They've had struggles on the road against the 49ers, and while I think this one will be close, I think this will be their second and final loss of the season. 49ers 27, Seahawks 26
Atlanta Falcons (3-9) at Green Bay Packers (5-6-1), PUSH - You know things have gone bad for the Packers when they're in a PUSH at home against the Falcons. If Aaron Rodgers plays, they win. If he doesn't, they don't. Simple as that. It's unbelievable how much one person can mean to a team, but he's the single best player in football. I guess I shouldn't be that surprised. Falcons 99, Packers 0
Dallas Cowboys (7-5) at Chicago Bears (6-6), DAL by 2 - Fuck the Bears. Cowboys 35, Bears 13
I'll get last week's picks scored tomorrow.
YOU HEARD IT FROM TAJ FIRST FOLKS