84-32
After going 11-2 and STILL unable to win my office pool, I’m left with no choice but to go a perfect 13-0 this week.
Falcons @ Colts
The list of teams that the Colts might be able to squeak a victory past is getting shorter by the week. This week included.
Falcons
Jets @ Bills
I might be one of the few (non Jets fans) who actually think the Jets are gonna show up here. Matters are more urgent for the Jets who cannot afford to fall two games back of the pace to a PAIR of division teams to whom they’ve lost a game to, each. They’re awful on the road (giving up 32 points per game) and the Bills are explosive offensively, everywhere. This is the toughest game to call this week and may also be the best game of the bunch. Look for a gutsy, narrow road victory for the Jets who capitalize on a late game turnover to seal the deal.
Jets
Browns @ Texans
Although the underrated Browns’ secondary is likely going to keep Schaub in check (especially without Andre Johnson, still), I’d be shocked if Arian Foster didn’t have another 100-150 yard day. The Texans have got to be feeling that this season is the one they finally win the division but they’ve got to take care of these sorts of games at home.
Texans
Dolphins @ Chiefs
A few weeks ago this would have been a toss up. Instead this matchup is a near lock as the Chiefs are coming off a 4 game winning streak, climbing back into a tie for 1st in the division and doing it with pretty strong defense, a serviceable offense and a lot of guts. Can’t believe I’m saying this but the Chiefs are going to continue to roll.
Chiefs
Niners @ Redskins
I don’t want to hear any nonsense about traveling East and playing an early game. The Redskins don’t have enough healthy offensive weapons to score on this Niner team. Also, Harbaugh has managed to prepare the team for eastward road games this year and they’ve yet to lose any of em. The Niners continue to cruise towards a division title.
Niners
Bucs @ Saints
One of a couple revenge tilts this week, I don’t expect a repeat of their last meeting. The Bucs stunned the Saints in Tampa on a day that saw Coach Payton sidelined (on the sideline) with a broken leg. The distraction and ensuing chaos (albeit controlled) may have played a role in Tampa ’s win. That won’t happen again. Unless, of course, a scoreboard falls on the Saints coaching staff or something. Saints will bask in their vengeance at home.
Saints
Seahawks @ Cowboys
The Hawks have a better than advertised run defense but not much else. That may dampen things for Demarco Murray but Romo should unleash his fury on the Seahawks to atone for last week’s clinic inPhilly.
Cowboys
Broncos @ Raiders
McFadden isn’t gonna play and nor should he; Michael Bush is more than capable of rushing for 100 yards on the Broncos at home. Palmer looked sharp in practice and says the extra work this bye week with his receivers (and the arrival of TJ Houshmandzadeh) has helped him learn the whole playbook. And there’s of course also the fear that Tebow might not resurface from the Black Hole. Look for him on milk cartons come next week.
DA RAAAIDAAZ
Bengals @ Titans
The Titans are in a strong position in the AFC South albeit due to circumstance. When they’ve won, they’ve looked good. When they’ve lost, they’ve looked awful. My concern with them in this matchup is that, even though they’re at home, they go up against one of the top defenses in the league and an offense led by a couple rookies who are playing years older than they really are. They also get a fresh Benson back from suspension and the Titans are 27th in the league against the run. The Bengals are, apparently, for real.
Bengals
Giants @ Patriots
Super Bowl rematch. Strangely enough, the Giants are a better road team and its because they rely on Eli’s arm more on the road. Completely counterintuitive but then again so has everything about the Giants been this year. This is a classic New York v. Boston battle and just as the Giants pulled an improbable upset in the Super Bowl a few years ago, they are not to be overlooked here. That said, I don’t expect Brady and Belichick to start losing back to back games all of a sudden. Brady is more dangerous when he’s pissed and I think Pitts pissed him off.
Patriots
Rams @ Cardinals
I’m not sure how anybody is picking the Cards in this game. I understand that this is a match up of two 1-6 teams and usually the home team is the safe bet in these sorts of toss ups but I don’t know if this is as much a toss up as it’s being made out to be. For one, these two are headed in opposite directions. The Rams are getting healthy, recently dealt for Brandon Lloyd and are coming off an impressive victory against the Saints. The Cards have lost 7 straight since barely edging out a Panthers team that’s only won a couple of games, might not have Kolb and even if they did, haven’t had much offense at all. The Rams play above average defense and run the ball considerably better.
Rams
Packers @ Chargers
I don’t deny my homerism; I do not like the Chargers but I do give credit where credit is due and for years, I’ve figured them into the conversation with the sport’s elite teams because that is what they were. That is not what they are, now and won’t be any time this season. If Norv does not lose his job by the end of this year, I’ll be completely shocked. Rivers is playing like a man overwhelmed with having to do EVERYTHING for his team because his supporting cast has either been jettisoned, is old or hurt. Or simply suck, which many of the replacements for departed players are. The Pack doesn’t have the best defense around and their running game is meh at best but if Matt Cassel could move the ball in the air against them, I can’t imagine what A-Rod is going to do. It’ll be tough for Rivers to, again, have to put this team on his back after Rodgers spots the Packers a couple early scores. San Diego is headed for .500
Packers
Ravens @ Steelers
The other revenge game. As much as this is being heralded as one of the week’s best games because of the history between these two rivals, this is also damn near a lock. The comeback against Arizona was nice but given their opponent, the Ravens didn’t impress me. They’re looking oddly susceptible to slow starts and the way the Steelers have been mashing people, that’s not a good thing. I also can’t imagine the Steelers losing at home to the team that wooped them the very first game of the season. The Steeler transformation is nearly complete… they are no longer the run-run-pass team of old and they seem to also have ditched the standard issue zone blitzburgh packages of Dick Lebeau’s legendary career. And they’re much better for it.
Steelers
Bears @ Eagles
The Bears won’t have the Monday Night magic to beat the Eagles. Normally, I have a hard time betting against the Bears in primetime as it just seems they play out of their minds the bigger the game is. In this case, the Eagles are going to be looking to keep the flow going from their impressive primetime victory over the Cowboys last week in which they appeared to shore up a lot of the problems that were plaguing them on both sides of the ball. Most notable is the improved play of Michael Vick, the return to form of Nnamdi Asomugha and the change of scheme of the defensive front. With the way Chicago ’s O line has been playing, this cannot be good for the Bears.
Eagles.
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