Guaranteed Picks for NFL Week 11, Recap for Week 10

     It was one of those weeks when the league lost it’s damn mind.  Rams almost beating to the Saints.  Deadskins knocking off the Broncos.  No one saw those coming.  Carolina knocks off Atlanta, and the Packers stomped a Texas sized mudhole in the Cowboys.  Who called those?  (Horn tooting time… I did!)  But in a crazy week, I still picked a respectable 10-4.  (not counting tomorrow’s Browns/ Ravens fiasco)

     But on to week 11…. my guaranteed picks…

Miami Dolphins (4-5) at Carolina Panthers (4-5)

Both teams are playoff long shots at this point;  the loser becomes a playoff no shot.

Prediction:  The Dolphins keep hope alive.  Dolphins 31 Panthers 21

Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (2-7)

The Seelers may have (gasp!) fallen behind Cincy for now, but rest easy, Pittsburgh fans.  There’s still no team in the league as built for post season success.

Prediction: No contest here.  Steelers 34 Chiefs 10

Atlanta Falcons (5-4) at New York Giants (5-4)

A battle of 5-4 teams we all thought were much better a month ago.

Prediction:  You have to figure Coughlin will have the giants up for this one, especially off of a bye.  Falcons lousy defense helps.  Giants 31 Falcons 21

San Fransisco 49ers (4-5) at Green Bay Packers (5-4)

We’ll see if the Packers’ domination of the Cowboys was a fluke; for now, Capers looks like a genius.

Prediction:  Packers roll.  Packers 27 49ers 10.

Washington Redskins (3-6) at Dallas Cowboys (6-3)

The Skins should be just what the cowboys need to get the taste of Lambeau sod out of their mouth.

Prediction:  Redemtion for Romo.  Cowboys 38 Skins 14

Cleveland Browns (1-7) at Detroit Lions (1-8)

Probably the last chance at a win for either team.

Prediction:  No Comment.  Lions 13 Browns 10.

New Orleans Saints (9-0) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-8)

It’s hard to say a 9-0 team is struggling, but the Saints march hasn’t been so completely dominating of late.  The Succaneers should fix that.

Prediction:  Whoopin’ time.  Saints 45 Bucs 10

Buffalo Bills (3-6) at Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4)

The Jags just keep hanging around.

Prediction:  Seems like I’ve said this before, but…. Jags stay in the picture for one more week. Jags 27 Bills 14

Seattle Seahawks (3-6) at Minnesota Vikings (8-1)

Did we really believe that with the gunslinger back there, this would be A.P.’s team?

Prediction:  The old man leads on.  Vikings 38 Seahawks 17

Indianapolis Colts (9-0) at Baltimore Ravens (4-4)

Baltimore was a trap when the Broncos were 6-0.

Prediction:  Not this week.  Just another stop on the Pony Express.  Colts 41 Ravens 21

Arizona Cardinals (6-3) at St Louis Rams (1-8)

Cardinals are about to run away to an NFC west crown.  By Default.

Prediction:  Warner goes to town.  Cardinals 35 Rams 10

New York Jets (4-5) at New England Patriots (6-3)

The Pats were a Belichick head scratcher from knocking off the Colts.

Prediction:  Pats bounce back.  Pats 27 Jets 21

Cincinatti Bengals (7-2) at Oakland Raiders (2-7)

It just feels wrong saying ‘First place Bengals’ this late in the year.

Prediction:  First is where they remain.   Bengals 31 Raiders 6

San Diego Chargers (6-3) at Denver Broncos (6-3)

Broncos fading fast…

Prediction:  Chargers make it 5 straight.  Bolts 31 Broncos 24

Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) at Chicago Bears (4-5)

Bears never fooled us; no one believed they were any good.  Jury’s out on Philly.

Prediction:  Eagles, but close.  Eagles 27 Bears 24.

Tennessee Titans (3-6) at Houston Texans (5-4)

The Titans will keep rolling…

Prediction:  This is the week that people will start noticing.  Titans 38 Texans 21

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Week 10 in Review;  The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

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Chicago Bears (4-4) at San Fransisco 49ers (3-5)

Remember a few weeks back when these two teams were ‘going places’? Neither one can beat a good team.  Should be fun to see what they do with each other.

Prediction:  Niners in a shootout. 49ers 35 Bears 31

Results: 49ers 10 Bears 6.  That wasn’t fun at all. Good

Detroit Lions (1-7) at Minnesota Vikings (7-1)

We’ll see how Favre holds up as time goes on, but not this week.

Prediction:  It’s the Lions.  Vikings 38 Lions 10

Results: Vikings 27 Lions 10.  Is Favre getting better?  Good

Denver Broncos (6-1) at Washington Redskins (2-6)

The Broncos aren’t quite as good as we thought.  No one thinks the Deadskins are any good at all.

Prediction:  Yawn.  Broncos 27 Deadskins 7

Results: Redskins 27 Broncos 17.  Turns out the Broncos were really over rated.  Bad

Cincinatti Bengals (6-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)

Ok, I’m buying.  The Bengals don’t suck.  But at Pittsburgh?  This is the time of year the Steelers start to roll.

Prediction:  Don’t see it.  Steelers 24 Bengals 14

Results:  Bengals 18 Steelers 12.  Anyone still doubting the Bungles?  Bad

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4) at New York Jets (4-4)

The team that loses this game will already be exiting the playoff race.

Prediction:  Jags have been lucky.  Always roll with the best D.  J-E-T-S 23 Jags 14

Resilts: Jags 24 Jets 22.  Say g’night to the J-E-T-S.  Jags somehow still alive.  Bad

New Orleans Saints (8-0) at St Louis Rams (1-7)

No mystery here.

Prediction:  Saints could score 60.  Saints 49 Rams 

Results:  Saints 28 Rams 23.  Ok, maybe a little.  Saints still go marching to 9-0.  Good.

Buffalo Bills (3-5) at Tennessee Titans (2-6)

Why the hell did they wait so long for Vince?!

Prediction:  Just wait… we’ll be talking playoffs for the Titans in a month.  Titans 34 Bills 17

Results:  Titans 41 Bills 17.  People laughed.  I’m still sayin’ it…. 3 in a row for Vince and the boys.  And is Chris Henry not the most underrated running back in the game?  Here they come… All Pro

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-7) at Miami Dolphins (3-5)

I really thought the ‘Fins were going to pull it off against the Pats, even in the fourth quarter.  They may not be the Succaneers any more (thanks to the worst coach in the NFL), but the Bucs will be outmatched here.

Prediction:  Wildcatted to death.  Dolphins 34 Bucs 14

Results:  Dolphins 25 Bucs 23.  Ok, not outmatched, but again, the ‘Fins just don’t quit.  Good

Atlanta Falcons (5-3) at Carolina Panthers (3-5)

It’s hard to tell if the Panthers are dead or not.  Upset special #1.

Prediction:  Rumors of Carolina’s demise are exaggerated. Panthers 28 Falcons 24

Results:  Panthers 28 Falcons 19.  Exaggerated, indeed.  All Pro

Kansas City Chiefs (1-7) at Oakland Raiders (2-6)

The battle for the cellar in the AFC west.

Prediction:  I will never pick a team with Jamarcus starting again.  Chiefs 21 Raiders 13

Results: Chiefs 16 Raiders 10.  Yup.  Good

Dallas Cowboys (3-6-2) at Green Bay Packers (4-4)

Jobs are about to be on the line in Titletown.  Upset special #2

Prediction:  With the season effectively on the line, the Cheeseheads come up with the first real important victory of Rodgers’ career.  Packers 38 Cowboys 35

Results:  Packers 17 Cowboys 7.  Not a shootout, but dammit, I called it.  The Packers defense hasn’t looked that good since a certain minister was suiting up.  All Pro

Seattle Seahawks (3-5) at Arizona Cardinals (5-3)

This is the week where the Cards start to pull away with the division.

Prediction: Blowout.  Cards 38 Seahawks 10

Results:  Cards 31 Seahawks 20.  Ok, not quite a blowout.  Good.

Philadelphia Eagles (5-2) at San Diego Chargers (5-3)

Settle down, Bolts fans.  Beating the Giants isn’t near as impressive as it would have been a year ago.

Prediction: No string of NFC East wins here.   Eagles 34 Chargers 21

Results:  Chargers 31 Eagles 23.  How in the hell do you throw for 450 yards… and lose?  4 in a row for the Bolts… latest team in the ‘Are they really that good?’ sweepstakes.  (Don’t bet on it)  Bad

New England Patriots (6-2) at Indianapolis Colts (8-0)

This one never disappoints.

Prediction:  Not in Peyton’s Place.  Colts 31 Patriots 27

Results: Colts 35 Patriots 34.  Wow. All I can say.  All Pro.

Baltimore Ravens (4-4) at Cleveland Browns (1-7)

Can anyone tell me why the hell this is a Monday night game?

Prediction: Uh…. Ravens 38 Browns 6