Picks:
Chicago over San Francisco. I wanted to believe in the 49ers... I really did. But if you can't beat the Titans in your own home, I can't pick you to beat even the midling Bears.
Atlanta over Carolina. This has all the feelings of a trap game for Atlanta, and I really don't want to make this pick, any more than I want to say Chicago. But I can't really get behind Carolina to win against a team as good as Atlanta can be.
Miami over Tampa Bay. Tampa looked susprisingly not awful last week. Miami hasn't looked awful yet.. they just haven't been able to finish what they start. Still, they've finished bad opponents.
Minnesota over Detroit. Just... 'cause.
Jets over Jacksonville. A game that might be important, but just feels boring as hell to me... like watching two 6-9 teams play in week 17. Jets to win, because they're a little less bad, and they're at home.
Pittsburgh over Cincinnati. This isn't a knock against Cinci; I think they've shown themselves a good team. But Pitt's at home, and last time they played, Pitt was without Polamalu; this time, the Bengals are without Odum.
New Orleans over St. Louis. It's like Vikings/Rams, only more so.
Tennessee over Buffalo. Buffalo's bad, and just feels like they've been getting worse. Tennessee is at least trying to erase the memory of that 59-0 drubbing.
Denver over Washington. Please, God... show the last two games were flukes, and the first 6 the real Broncos. Amen. They should roll over the Redskins, but they should have put up a better fight against the Steelers. Open up the fucking playbook, McDaniels.
Oakland over Kansas City. This is a game that feels even worse than Rams at Lions, if only because the Rams were at least fighting for their first win. I think Oakland might be marginally less awful, if only because they're home. As a present to the city, the game won't be televised. As punishment to sportsbars, it will somehow manage to be on there. Fuck.
Arizona over Seattle. This is what happens when a sporadic force meets a wet-Kleenex object. If not for the Sounders (Y'know, the soccer team) doing well, this city would feel like Cleveland West.
Dallas over Green Bay. Unless I missed the Packers signing Samson, Hercules, and fucking Zeus himself to the offensive line, I see no reason to expect the Packers to pull this off.
San Diego over Philly. I want Philadelphia to win... I rarely utter those words, but I really do. Otherwise, it's pretty much Tyche's take... both teams want it desperately, both teams have the players to make it happen. But San Diego's at home.
Baltimore over Cleveland. What a week of contrasts. On the one hand, you have some truly great games this week... and then you have something like this. I'm fairly sure the second team for the rest of three AFC North teams could beat the Browns. It was ugly before; I think a pissed off Ravens team makes it just as ugly this time.
Indy over New England. I love this game, every year, but the recent trend has been for the Colts. Peyton Manning might be better than he's ever been; Tom Brady is as good as he's ever been. The Colts, I think, just have more weapons on offense, and while the Patriots defense is probably better than Indy's, I don't think that's going to matter all that much because Peyton was going to beat them, anyway. I like the Pats as a team more than the Colts, but I think the Colts go 9-0 before they lose in Baltimore next week.
Last week:
8-5
Overall here:
42-25
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