NFL Week 12 Predictions

                                              Courtesy of printableteamschedules.com


After the Thanksgiving games, we learned that the Cowboys season is officially over, as they have been all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.  We also learned that the Chip Kelly experiment may be over sooner rather than later in Philadelphia, as the Eagles dropped to 4-7.  Lastly, Green Bay's awesome retirement ceremony for Brett Favre was spoiled as they fell to Chicago, and suddenly the NFC North road goes back through Minnesota...assuming they beat Atlanta today.  Let's take a look at the rest of Week 12's games.

                                                        Courtesy of sfexaminer.com

Oakland   -1
at Tennessee

The Raiders have been on a skid in recent weeks, but Tennessee is not a good football team.  Oakland has better skill position players and despite a horrible performance last week, I think Oakland gets it done in Nashville.  I believe more in Derek Carr and his receiving corps than I do in Mariota and the receivers in Tennessee.  Oakland 19 Tennessee 13.

                                                           Courtesy of kctv5.com

Buffalo
at Kansas City    -5.5

Kansas City seems to be playing with a chip on their shoulder, winning their last 4 games, and both they and Buffalo have a chance at the playoffs sitting at 5-5.  If Kansas City plays the type of football they've been playing, Buffalo is going to have a long day.  Alex Smith has been near perfect during this stretch, and hasn't thrown an INT in 253 pass attempts.  Buffalo has been hot and cold all year, and I think Kansas City just has more consistency, and being that this game is at home, they get the victory.  Chiefs 22 Bills 17.

                                                        Courtesy of nbcprofootballtalk.com

Tampa Bay
at Indianapolis    -3

Age and Experience vs Youth and Flair.  Matt Hasselbeck leads the Colts again for a 2nd straight game, after beating Atlanta on the road last week, in Andrew Luck's absence.  This is why back up QBs are important, and why it's worth having a guy who can win you games when your starter goes down.  The Bucs sit at 5-5 as well, and are looking to get the final Wild Card spot for the NFC.  Jameis and Doug Martin have played extremely well of late and if this game was in Tampa, they'd likely be favored.  Indy knows they have to keep pace and win their division if they hope to make the playoffs, and I think Hasselbeck makes enough plays when it counts to get them a close win at home.  Indy 24 Tampa Bay 21.

                                                                Courtesy of www.hostmama.com

NY Giants
at Washington    -2.5

The NFC East might have turned into a 2 horse race between the Giants and the Redskins, and the winner of this game will be in the driver's seat going into December.  The Redskins got demolished by Carolina last week, and they'll need to get their running game going to have a chance to get to .500.  The good news is that the Giants defense isn't nearly as good as Carolina's, but that bad news is that the Giants still have Eli Manning and Odell Beckham.  If this game was at MetLife Stadium, I'd clearly go with the Giants, but I think the Redskins control the clock by running the ball all day at home.  Washington 30 New York 26.

                                                           Courtesy of foxsports.com

New Orleans
at Houston     -3

The Saints have had 2 weeks to prepare for Houston after firing Rob Ryan.  They haven't been able to stop any offense this year, and Deandre Hopkins is emerging as an elite wide out.  With Rob Ryan out the door and 2 weeks to prepare, I think the Saints will have a better game plan and execution against the Texans this week.  The Saints offensive line is going to have their hands full with that Texans defense, who have gotten much better than they were at the start of the year, but I think they'll hold up long enough for New Orleans to execute some big plays.  Saints 34 Texans 30.

                                                               Courtesy of usatoday.com

Minnesota
at Atlanta        -2.5

The Vikings got handed a tough loss last week against Green Bay, but the Bears did them a favor by beating the Packers at Lambeau, and if the Vikings can knock off Atlanta today, they'll be in first place in the NFC North.  Devonta Freeman is out for today's game, and that's not good news for the Falcons.  Atlanta started out 5-0, but they've dropped 4 of the last 5 since that great start.  The Falcons are going to have to win this one in the air, if they hope to get to 7-4, but I think the Vikings defense and running game give them the edge against an Atlanta team that doesn't look nearly as good as it did a month ago.  Minnesota 28 Atlanta 23.

                                                                Courtesy of sportressofblogitude.com

St. Louis
at Cincinnati      -9

I would not want to play the Rams, because it's pretty evident that opposing QBs have a habit of getting injured when they go up against St. Louis.  Cincy has dropped their last 2 games after going 8-0, but I think they'll get back on track this week.  St. Louis doesn't have a QB, and even if Case Keenum starts, the Bengals are a better football team than the Ravens.  If Andy Dalton can stay upright today Cincy will get a victory at home.  Bengals 19 Rams 12.   

                                                                    Courtesy of bleacherreport.com

San Diego
at Jacksonville       -4.5

This might officially be the worst game of the week.  The 2-8 Chargers head across the county to face the 4-6 Jaguars.  The Jags hope to make it 3 in a row this week against a team with Philip Rivers and a bunch of dudes.  Blake Bortles has looked pretty good this year, and while the Jaguars aren't going to be an elite team anytime soon, they do look much improved from previous years.   With this game in Jacksonville and Philip Rivers lacking most of his weapons, give me the Jags to get the win 26-17.

                                                       Courtesy of heavy.com

Miami
at NY Jets      -4

Even with a bad performance last week, I still believe in the Jets more than I do the Dolphins.  Miami's best win came against the Texans on October 25th, and I don't think they'll do enough to go up to New York and come out with a victory.  With Revis out look for the Dolphins to throw the ball a lot today, but the Jets should still be able to hold them in check.  Jets 20 Dolphins 16.

                                                            Courtesy of media.philly.com

Arizona   -8.5
at San Francisco    

Well after getting beat by the Seahawks by double digits, it's pretty clear that San Francisco will be drafting early and they'll be in the QB market come 2016.  Do they go get Jared Goff from Cal?  Do they trade Kaep to the Eagles for whatever they can get for him, assuming Chip Kelly is still there?  In any event, their woes will continue today as Arizona, the 2nd best team in the NFC comes to town.  This one should be over early as the Cardinals jump out to a big lead.  Arizona 31 San Francisco 13.

                                                             Courtesy of picpicx.com

Pittsburgh
at Seattle    -3

With Seattle desperately fighting for that last Wild Card spot, they need to win this game at home.  Pittsburgh has a little bit of breathing room, but with the troubles the Bengals have been having, they're hoping to take the AFC North crown, and possibly get a bye.  Beast Mode is likely out for the rest of the regular season, so Seattle is going to have to rely on Wilson's arm at their defense, especially their secondary, to get them over the hump against Pittsburgh.  The match up between Antonio Brown and Richard Sherman should be fun to watch.  Seattle 27 Pittsburgh 24.

                                                            Courtesy of denverpost.com

New England   -2.5
at Denver    

At the beginning of the year, this game looked like it could be a preview of the AFC Championship.  But as the season wore on, it appeared it would likely be the last time that Manning and Brady would square off.  Both of those look unlikely now, as Manning is sidelined with an injury and has to watch as Tom Brady and the Pats come to town to face off against Brock Osweiler.  Denver's defense will keep them in this game, but I don't see Brock Osweiler beating Tom Brady.  Patriots 23 Broncos 17.

                                               Courtesy of detroit.cbslocal.com

Baltimore
at Cleveland   -3

Joe Flacco tore both his ACL and MCL last week, and still finished the game for the Ravens in their 16-13 victory over the Rams.  That's toughness.  Baltimore will also be without Justin Forsett who broke his right arm in last week's game.  So the Ravens are now without Flacco, Forsett, Steve Smith, Sr., Breshad Perriman, and Terrell Suggs.  Despite all the issues Cleveland has had this week with Johnny Football, they should win this Monday Night game at home.  Josh McCown is a veteran and though he's clearly not going to turn into an MVP candidate, the Browns at least have most of their players healthy.  Browns 17 Baltimore 13.

Week 12 gave us a nice preview on Thanksgiving.  Let's hope that the rest of the league's games this week hold up.  

SEC Week 13 Predictions

                   Courtesy of seccountry.com

With the SEC regular season coming to a close, let's take a look at what we learned so far this season before we get to the games this week.

                                                      Courtesy of saturdayblitz.com

1.  Auburn was overhyped by everyone, your's truly included.  

The Auburn Tigers looked like everyone's trendy pick to make the College Football Playoff, but after a close win against Jacksonville State in Week 2, it became blatantly evident that Auburn wasn't going to make it to Atlanta, let alone to the CFP.  They could never get it going on offense and haven't been impressive even in their wins.  They'll make a bowl this year, but they're likely headed to Birmingham or Shreveport. 

                                                                         Courtesy of Foxsports.com

2.  Alabama is still Alabama.

Alabama is likely going to head back to Atlanta and the College Football Playoff, barring a complete collapse.  They have beaten every team they faced this year, outside of the Rebels, who played a flawless game against the Tide in Tuscaloosa.  The only thing between them and the playoffs are a mediocre Auburn team, and a Florida team that they should crush in the SEC Championship next week.

                                                             Courtesy of gifsoup.com

3.  The Les Miles Era at LSU will end on Saturday.

Regardless of your personal opinion of Les, it's undeniable that he's been a great coach at LSU.  His record is exemplary, but Saturday will likely be his last regular season game as the head coach in Baton Rouge.  It's a sad day for anyone who is a fan of SEC football.  The administration did not handle this well, despite it's inevitability, and Les was a media correspondent's dream interview, because you'd always get something unique.  The Tiger faithful better hope Jimbo Fisher or someone as good is locked in to be the next coach in Baton Rouge, or they could be in for a rough next couple of years.  Thanks for the memories Les.

                                                                          Courtesy of cbssports.com

4.  Dan Mullen is likely headed elsewhere after this year.  

For the record, I'm not a Dan Mullen fan, but objectively he's a great coach.  Not a good coach, a great coach! His ability to win games at a place where no one has really won before, outside of one great season by Jackie Sherrill, is remarkable.  He has never been able to get 5 star talent to Starkville, but he's done a great job at developing the players he did recruit to come to State.  He has rallied the Mississippi State fan base, largely by starting a public relation's war with Ole Miss since he stepped foot on campus.  They've embraced the little brother mantra, and it's been a brilliant strategy.  He's likely going to cash in on his high stock value and head to Virginia Tech or some other school at the end of the season, but MSU should be proud of the job he has done.  

                                                       Courtesy of trbimg.com

5.  Jim McElwain will easily win SEC Coach of the Year

Winning the SEC East wasn't that difficult considering the competition, but McElwain's ability to meander through the schedule and finish with 1 conference loss is impressive.  Clearly the Gators aren't the same team without Will Grier, but they are still going to go to Atlanta, likely finishing at 11-1 or 10-2 and no one predicted that at the beginning of the year.  It'll be interesting to see how the Gators handle Florida State, which have their own issues with Jimbo being in flux.

                                                        Courtesy of foxsports.com
6.  Tennessee and Arkansas look improved, but they aren't there yet.

For those of you who think Tennessee and Arkansas are back, they aren't.  They are improved, but Arkansas is one fluke play away from being 6-6 and Tennessee beat 1 SEC team with a winning record.  Yes, the Vols had a lot of close games and they'll tell you how they won their last 4-5 games, but their last 5 games were against Kentucky, South Carolina, North Texas, Missouri, and Vandy.  If they didn't go 5-0 in that stretch, they should be embarrassed.  They have one quality win this year and that was against Georgia.  Arkansas on the other hand was up and down all year.  They lost to Toledo and Texas Tech in the state of Arkansas, and beat LSU and Ole Miss on the road.  Both fan bases will be energized heading into next season, but they should be cautiously optimistic rather than betting the farm on these programs.  

                                                               Courtesy of djournal.com

7.  Ole Miss is going to wonder what could have been.  

Ole Miss is going to be haunted by the 4th and 25 Arkansas play for years.  The same way Ole Miss will wonder what would have happened had Eli not fallen down against LSU in 2003, the Rebel faithful will say had the 4th and 25 play not been converted, a win in the Egg Bowl would mean Ole Miss would be headed to Atlanta.  The Rebels didn't do themselves any favors losing to a Memphis team they clearly weren't prepared for, and dropping an early game to Florida with a pre-ineligible Will Grier, but the Arkansas game is what people will remember.  If you told the Rebels at the beginning of the season that they'd have wins over Alabama, Auburn, Texas A&M, and LSU, and they'd still have 3 losses they'd have said you were crazy.  They have a minute chance, should Auburn beat Alabama in the Iron Bowl, but the Rebels likely won't be headed to Atlanta.  

                                                       Courtesy of southernpigskin.com

8.  Mark Richt's seat is getting hot, but Georgia will probably stay the course.

It's mighty quiet in Athens.  Georgia will likely finish the season at 9-3, should they beat a bad Georgia Tech team, but that means they'll probably finish in 3rd place in the SEC East, due to their loss to Tennessee.  Is Mark Richt a bad coach?  No, of course not, but he's had some issues getting over the hump, and with the talent Georgia has that's tough to stomach.  I think Georgia gives him one more year if he beats Georgia Tech, but should the Dawgs lose in an upset, they'll likely agree to mutually part ways.  It's upsetting because Richt is a great person who tries to run a clean program, but the Georgia boosters are growing impatient in Athens.

                                                            Courtesy of universityherald.com


It's been a fun ride, Arkansas dominated Missouri yesterday to get to 7-5 and keep the Tigers out of a bowl; with one regular season week of SEC football left, let's take a look at the rest of Week 13's games.

                                                          Courtesy of bleacherreport.com

Georgia   -4
at Georgia Tech

Georgia Tech is 3-8 with a win over FSU.  Their other 2 wins are against Alcorn State and Tulane.  How does that happen?  Georgia on the other hand needed overtime to beat Georgia Southern...at home.  They are 8-3 this year, but they haven't beaten a quality opponent all season.  Obviously, an 8-3 team should beat a 3-8 team, but these two teams are a lot closer than their records.  I'll go with the Bulldogs to pull out a close win, but don't be surprised if Georgia Tech makes it a game and pulls out a win at home.  Georgia 23 Georgia Tech 20.    

                                                           Courtesy of kykernal.com

Louisville    -6
at Kentucky

While this rivalry is more interesting on the hard court, the football match up between Kentucky and Louisville is not without its own passion.  Kentucky needs to get this win to get bowl eligible, while Louisville sits at 6-5.  Louisville has played a lot of close games all year, both in wins and losses.  They started out the year 0-3 with losses to Auburn, Houston, and Clemson, and then went on to win 6 out of their next 7 games.  Kentucky hasn't looked good against any quality opponent all year.  Their 5 wins have come against ULL, South Carolina, Mizzou, Eastern Kentucky, and UNC-Charlotte.  All signs point to Louisville winning this game, and they are clearly the better team, but I'm reluctantly going with the upset based solely since Kentucky is playing at home, and they desperately want to get to a bowl.  Wildcats 24 Cardinals 20.   

                                                      Courtesy of foxcarolina.com

Clemson     -19
at South Carolina

How is this line only 19 points?  I know that's a lot of points in a rivalry game, but Clemson is on a mission and South Carolina is already on the phone with Kirby Smart's agent.  These two schools couldn't be more polar opposites right now.  This game is going to be a blowout.  Clemson 45 South Carolina 7.  

                                                        Courtesy of rolltidewareagle.com

Alabama     -14.5
at Auburn

You won't find a bigger fan of the Auburn Tigers on Saturday than me.  I know Cam Newton will be at this game, but outside of him suiting up for the Tigers and playing, they ain't beating Alabama.  The Crimson Tide is better in literally every phase of the game.  Alabama wins big 38 - 10.  Enjoy 3 hours of Verne and Gary mispronouncing everyone's names and praising Nick Saban, America.  

                                                                Courtesy of timesfreepress.com

Vanderbilt
at Tennessee   -18.5

I know Vandy got shut out by Texas A&M, which is an amazing accomplishment, because Texas A&M's defense is not exactly the '85 Bears, but I think they somehow bounce back in this game.  Don't get me wrong, I don't think they'll beat Tennessee, but I do think they do enough to not get completely embarrassed.  Tennessee barely beat Mizzou and South Carolina, so I think Vandy will at least put up a fight, being that this is their last game of the year.  Tennessee gets to 8-4 and the Vols Hype Train gets started up again.  Vols 27 Commodores 13.  

                                                     Courtesy of espn.go.com

Ole Miss    -1
at Mississippi State

Ole Miss has the better overall team.  Dak Prescott is a phenomenal player and he deserves a statue in Starkville, but Chad Kelly has put up comparable numbers this year, and likely will set the single season passing record for a program that has seen 2 Mannings walk through the door.  Ole Miss has a better defense and receiving corps, while State has their entire offense based around one amazing player, and when he's on, may the Good Lord help you.  This game's outcome is going to be based solely on the performance of Dak Prescott.  There's no team outside of LSU that's more dependent on one player, and Ole Miss hasn't fared well against good QBs.  If he plays lights out, State will win in a close game, but if he struggles, the Rebels will be victorious in Starkville.  Looking at the last 20 years, I don't think there's a bigger home field advantage in a rivalry game, than there is between Mississippi State and Ole Miss.  Until the visiting team wins this game, I'm going with the home team to get the victory.  This may be the last battle between two elite coaches in Mullen and Freeze, so enjoy the game on ESPN 2.  Again, I fully hope I'm wrong, but I've watched too many Egg Bowls to go with the visiting team.  Mississippi State 31 Ole Miss 28.  

                                                     Courtesy of gamedayr.com

Florida
at Florida State   -2.5

I don't think anyone outside of a Florida booster would say this is a shocker, but Florida State should win this game.  There's been a lot of news out of Tallahassee this week, from Jimbo leaving for LSU, to the Jameis Winston investigation being mismanaged and possibly reopened.  That having been said, Florida barely beat the fighting Archimedes of Florida Atlantic last week.  Their QB issues are well known, and FSU is the better team.  Going to Tallahassee is going to be a rough adventure for the Gators.  They'll be rewarded for a great season by going to Atlanta next week, where they'll be trounced by Alabama.  FSU 27 Florida 17.

                                                    Courtesy of usathebiglead.com

Texas A&M
at LSU   -5.5

I spent Thanksgiving with my wife's family, who are all LSU fans.  They brought up a very good point; when LSU knows they are done, they are done.  After the Alabama game, the Tigers packed it in.  They aren't fighting for much at 9-3, but the one thing they'll rally around is Les for his final game on Saturday.  LSU has too much talent and with this being the last game for Les Miles, they'll pull through at home against the Aggies.  Texas A&M's defense still has trouble stopping teams not named Vanderbilt, and I think Leonard Fournette has a bounce back game to close out the year.  I'd be shocked if Les goes out with a loss.  Win this one for Les, LSU!  LSU 30 Texas A&M 17.

                                                               Courtesy of fansided.com

It's been a fun season.  I'll do my SEC Championship: Alabama vs. Florida predictions next week.  Spoiler Alert:  Alabama in a blowout!  Cheers!

NFL Thanksgiving Games Predictions

                                                       Courtesy of dystnow.com

Normally, I don't predict Thursday games; well if you've been reading these posts I don't really predict the Sunday games either, but anyway with 3 games being played on Thanksgiving, and all 3 having playoff implications I thought I'd give you my limited insight as to games this Thanksgiving.  So here we go.  

                                                                  Courtesy of phillymag.com


Philadelphia
at Detroit  -2

The Lions are done, so they have nothing to lose, while the Eagles sit at 4-6, but only 1 game back on the Giants for 1st place in the NFC East.  The reports out of Philly this week are that Chip Kelly has lost the Eagles locker room.  Has he really, or is he just looking to the infinite number of college jobs that seem to be opening up?  The Lions have managed to win the last two games against the Packers and Raiders, but the Eagles haven't really had an impressive win outside of the game against the Giants all year.  This is clearly a must win game for the Eagles as they have a brutal stretch going forward:  At New England, Buffalo, Arizona, Washington, at NY Giants.  

                                                Courtesy of thephillyvoice.com

Sanchez isn't a franchise QB, but the Lions have multiple issues.  I think Kelly knows that if he doesn't win this game and the Giants win, with the schedule going forward, he's looking at heading back to college.  Sanchez needs to target Jordan Matthews and get rid of the ball as quick as possible if the Eagles hope to win the NFC East.

                                                                 Courtesy of philly.com

Despite everything spiraling downward, I think the Eagles somehow pull out of the tailspin and get a win on the road to get to 5-6.  Things aren't going well in Philly; as evidenced by the fact they gave up 45 points at home to a rookie QB, but things haven't gone well for any team in the NFC East.  Philly 27 Detroit 17.

                                                              Courtesy of thesource.com

Carolina
at Dallas   -2

3-7 Dallas is favored against the 10-0 Carolina Panthers, because apparently the massive number of Dallas fans who gamble have the same amount of logic and reasoning as people who think Donald Trump should be President.  Dallas fans will tell you that under Tony Romo, their Cowboys are 3-0.  Yes, you're 3-0 against the 5-5 Giants, who you needed a last second drive to beat at home, the 4-6 Eagles, who just got trounced by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the 4-6 Dolphins who fired their head coach before the leaves started to change.  The Panthers on the other hand haven't been dominant in a lot of their wins, but they've looked pretty good all year.  The team plays good defense, runs the ball well, and their receivers have looked really impressive in the last couple of weeks. 

                                                          Courtesy of panthers.com

Here's where things get interesting:  Josh Norman vs. Dez Bryant.  If Josh Norman shuts down Dez Bryant, the way he's shut down every other top tier WR this year and last year for that matter, the Cowboys are going to have a long day.  Josh Norman didn't cover Desean Jackson on 1 major play where he scored on a 56 yard touchdown, because Colin Jones blew the assignment, but the rest of the day Jackson only had 31 yards receiving.  With Charles Tillman questionable, that means Colin Jones is likely going to be shadowing Terrance Williams/Cole Beasley.  Which means Romo will be looking to them a lot, because Kuechly and Thomas Davis will be covering Jason Witten.  

                                                   Courtesy of dallasnews.com

The battle up front is going to be one for the ages.  Greg Hardy vs. Michael Oher.  These two guys both played at the same high school, Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis, and college, Ole Miss together.   There might not be two guys in the league who know more about each other's characteristics more than these two players.  Greg Hardy has made it known he doesn't appreciate the way the Panthers treated him, while Michael Oher has found a resurgence in Charlotte, not seen since he won a ring with the Ravens in the 2012 season.  If you haven't been paying attention to the news or the history of these two players in the last 5 years, one has been tried for domestic violence and then paid off the victim not to testify, and the other has been a model citizen with an Academy Award winning film made about his life.   

                                                           Courtesy of cbssports.com

The Panthers are clearly the better football team, and despite Romo's success against the Dolphins, I think Carolina gets the win. "Analytical Ron," with his transition lenses, have the Panthers stay the course and they'll be steady throughout the game.  Vegas is begging people to take the Cowboys, because suddenly Romo is back so Dallas, and their huge fan base who think it's 1995, think the Cowboys are going to the Super Bowl, which ain't happening.  Give me the Panthers to win 31-23.

                                                              Courtesy of media.giphy.com

Chicago
at Green Bay   -8.5

The night cap sees the Bears heading to Green Bay.  Chicago has looked better than expected, but they are still 4-6 and have to go to Lambeau.  Green Bay snapped their 3 game losing streak by beating a good Vikings team soundly on the road 30-13 to retake the lead in the NFC North.  With Arizona playing the 49ers, the Packers know they have to keep pace with a win this week.  

                                                             Courtesy of wgnradio.com

Despite their 7-3 record the Packers have some serious problems running the ball and playing defense.  It's been the A-Aron show since the season started, but Jay Cutler has actually played fairly well the last few weeks, despite being 2-2 in the last 4 games.  The Bears aren't heading to the post season, but they can still have a decent year.  

                                                      Courtesy of trbimg.com

Brett Favre's jersey will be retired on Thursday night, and HOW HAS THIS NOT HAPPENED YET?  He's the best QB the Packers have ever had.  Sorry Aaron Rodgers fans, but I'll take Favre over Rodgers.  The Bears expect to have Alshon Jeffrey and Matt Forte back which means this should be a really close game, but I still like Green Bay to get the win at home.  They just have too much talent, and they own Chicago at Lambeau.  Green Bay 24 Chicago 16.

                                                            Courtesy of n4g.com

Enjoy your Thanksgiving this holiday season and may the Good Lord help you if you're going shopping on Black Friday.  God Speed.  Cheers!

NFL Week 11 Predictions

                                               Courtesy of printableteamschedules.com

The Thursday Night game saw a color rush match up between the Titans and Jaguars, and the Jaguars uniforms looked like the gutter outside Pat O'Brien's at 3AM.  The Titans uniforms on the other hand looked pretty cool.  That powder blue works, but unfortunately for the Titans their offense didn't and they lost to the Jags 19-13.

                                                                 Courtesy of ninersnation.com

The Jaguars are 4-6 and if Indy and Houston both lose today, both of which are highly possible, they'll be a 3 way tie for 1st place in the AFC South at 4-6.  The other key games this week see Green Bay trying to stop their 3 game skid by heading to Minnesota to face a Vikings team that is 7-2 and in 1st place in the NFC North.  Tony Romo returns for Dallas in hopes they can run the table and make the playoffs.  The 49ers head up to Seattle, but this game just doesn't have the juice it did in recent years as the 49ers are 3-6, while Seattle is 4-5.  Lastly, Cincy heads to Arizona on Sunday Night, for a game between 2 future playoff teams, and it'll be interesting to see Carson Palmer face his former team, as many people think he quit on the Bengals.  Let's take a look at Week 11.

                                                                Courtesy of foxnews.com

Oakland
at Detroit    Even

I've taken Oakland the last couple of weeks and gotten burned.  This game is a pick em, but the real show down everyone should be watching is Megatron vs. Charles Woodson.  I doubt Stafford goes all day without throwing a pick.  The Lions are riding high after getting a win at Green Bay for the first time since 1991.  The numbers between Carr and Stafford are very similar, as are the numbers between Meagtron and Amari Cooper.  This one should be a high scoring game, and I think Oakland is the better football team with the better head coach and the better QB.  I'm stubbornly going with the Raiders yet again.  Oakland 38 Detroit 35.

                                                              Courtesy of bettingsports.com

Indianapolis
at Atlanta    -4.5

The Falcons and Colts both had last week off, and Indy is without Andrew Luck, but the Colts have actually been better without him.  They are 2-0 with Matt Hasselbeck under center, and 2-5 with Luck as their QB this year.   Now granted, Hasselbeck played the Jags and Texans in his 2 games, but there's no question Luck has struggled this year.  The Falcons meanwhile started off red hot at 5-0 and have since gone 1-3.  Atlanta has a 2 game lead on a litany of 4-5 teams for that last Wild Card spot, so they desperately need this win, and I think with it being at home they'll get it.  Freeman and Julio Jones should both have big games against a bad Colts defense.  Atlanta 27 Indy 21. 

                                                        Courtesy of sportsworldreport.com

NY Jets    -3
at Houston

The Texans shocked the world on Monday Night bouncing Cincy from the ranks of the unbeaten.  The Jets however, completely blew their chance to get a game up in the Wild Card by losing to Rex and the Bills on Thursday Night.  I think the Jets get back on track this week and beat a Texans team that is playing it's 2nd string Running Back, and TJ Yates.  Ryan Fitzpatrick gets some revenge on his old team today, even with that injured non-throwing hand, and the Jets win 23-13.

                                                           Courtesy of gcobb.com

Tampa Bay
at Philadelphia  -6

Jameis pulled out a late comeback win against the Cowboys last week, and the Bucs will hope to do the same against Mark Sanchez and the Eagles in Philly today.  Sanchez practically gave a win to the Dolphins last week, as all he had to do was fall down 3 times and kick a FG to beat the Dolphins, instead he decided to throw an INT in the end zone to cost the Eagles the game.  If this game was in Tampa, I'd have the Eagles on upset alert and they may still be, but I think Philly gets it done today.  They need every win they can get, because they have a brutal stretch to end the season.  Philly 34 Tampa 23.

                                                               Courtesy of weheartit.com

Denver    -1.5
at Chicago  

The Broncos parted ways with John Fox, Jay Cutler, and Adam Gase, and now their starting QB is Brock Osweiler.  It's freezing in Chicago right now, actually it's below freezing, as the ground crews are shoveling snow and ice off the field.  Cutler has played pretty well this season, especially of late, and I'm sure he'd love to get some revenge on the Broncos.  The Bears aren't sure if Matt Forte will play today, but Jeremy Langford has done a great job for them in Forte's absence.  Fox downplayed the "revenge game" mantra surrounding this game all week, but this looks like a game where the Bears are primed to upset the Broncos.  The Bears are 3-0 against the AFC West so far this year, and I think they make it 4 in a close game.  Chicago 20 Denver 18.

                                                             Courtesy of foxsports.com

St. Louis/Los Angeles
at Baltimore    -2.5

How bad are things for the Rams?  They're playing a 2-7 team and they're underdogs.  The Rams benched Nick Foles, less than 4 months after giving him a 2 year contract extension that will guarantee he gets paid nearly $14 million.  For the Ravens though, things are actually worse.  The NFL admitted this week that the Jaguars stole a win from Baltimore last week due to bad officiating at the end of the game, but at this point for Baltimore it was probably a gift, because they'll get a better draft pick.  The Ravens have found every way possible to lose close games this year, but I think they beat Case Keenum and the Rams this week to get to 3-7.  Ravens 23 Rams 16. 

                                                                    Courtesy of cbssports.com

Dallas   -2
at Miami

Dallas gets Tony Romo back today, but it may be too little too late.  They'll almost have to run the table if they want to make the playoffs.  With Tony and Dez both back for the Cowboys, I think they'll get a win in Miami today, but it'll be a close game.  You'll see some rust from Romo out of the gate, but he'll settle in and lead the Cowboys to victory in South Beach.  Dallas 20 Miami 16. 

                                                                            Courtesy of SBNation.com

Washington
at Carolina   -7

Did Cam Newton maybe dance a little too long last week against the Titans?  Yes.  Does it matter?  No.  Sports are supposed to be fun, and having a come apart for someone dancing after a touchdown reeks of manufactured bias masquerading as moral outrage.  By the way, I didn't hear anyone complaining when Avery Williamson, the same player who was upset at Newton for dancing, did his best Drake impression after a sack earlier in the same game.  

                                                              Courtesy of SBNation.com

The Panthers sit at 9-0, as a decent Redskins team comes to Charlotte looking for an upset.  There are a lot of Redskins fans in the Carolinas, so expect Washington to be well represented, just don't hang any banners in Bank of America Stadium.  Bill Callahan has done a great job with that Redskins offensive line, and Kirk Cousins looks like he might be the long term QB for Washington.  He'll have his hands full today though with that Panthers defense.  Philly Brown is out for today, which means Devin Funchess opposite Ted Ginn, Jr. will get his first NFL start.  He struggled early on, but has made some big plays in recent weeks.  Look for another hard fought game between both teams as the Panthers focus on their run game and Greg Olsen.  The Redskins will give Carolina a fight, but the Panthers make enough plays to stay perfect and beat the Redskins 31-24.    

                                                               Courtesy of zimbio.com

Kansas City   -3
at San Diego

The Chargers sit at 2-7 despite having a good offense, because their defense leaves a lot to be desired.  The Chiefs are 4-5 with the ultimate game manager at the helm.  This is a game where all signs point to the Chiefs winning.  They've won their last 3 games, and San Diego has been riddled with injuries, especially along the offensive line.  Additionally, the Chargers Malcolm Floyd has a torn labrum in his shoulder, but will somehow play through it today.  I'm going with the Chiefs to get the win today, but this game could be a fluky one where Philip Rivers just puts the team on his back.  Kansas City 24 San Diego 20.  

                                                                           Courtesy of makeagif.com

Green Bay   -1
at Minnesota

P-A-N-I-C.  If Green Bay wants to host a playoff game, they better get it together this week against the Vikings, because right now the NFC North goes through Minnesota.  The Packers can't run the ball, and their defense is atrocious, which makes perfect sense that they're going up against a team that has Adrian Peterson and plays great defense.  That having been said, I think Green Bay knows that this is a must win game and Rodgers makes enough plays and they grit out a win on the road.  Packers 28 Vikings 27.    

                                                     Courtesy of sacbee.com

San Francisco
at Seattle   -13.5

One of these two men will be an NFL head coach in 2016.  This used to be the best rivalry in the NFL over the last 4 years, but those days are long gone.  Colin Kaepernick is set to have season ending surgery this week, and probably will never play another down for the 49ers.  The 49ers are likely going to be in the QB business come this off season and the draft, because I can't see them starting Blaine Gabbert next year.  As for today, Seattle has too much talent, and the 49ers are going to have a long day in the Pacific Northwest.  This game has blowout written all over it.  Seattle 27 San Francisco 9.    

                                                              Courtesy of abc15.com

Cincinnati 
at Arizona  -5

Carson Palmer faces his old team in the desert tonight, as the 8-1 Bengals come to town.  I think this is one where the Bengals are going to drop their 2nd game in a row, not because they've been exposed, but because they're having to go on the road and face a good football team in the Arizona Cardinals.  Andy Dalton will play better, but it won't be enough as the Cardinals move to 8-2.  Arizona 31 Cincy 24. 

Courtesy of en.yibada.com

Buffalo
at New England   -7

The Patriots vs. The World Tour continues in Foxboro on Monday Night.  What's really been impressive is that New England has been plugging in players along the offensive line all season without missing a beat.  With Edelman out with a broken foot for the what could be the rest of the regular season, someone else is going to have to step up for New England.  Look for Brandon LaFell to get an increased number of targets this week.  For the Bills, they beat the Jets last week and currently hold that last playoff spot in the AFC.  I've already picked the Jets to beat the Texans, and I'm going with the Patriots because they're the Patriots and they're playing at home.  So that means that the Bills and Jets should flip positions this week for the last Wild Card spot.  Patriots 34 Bills 24.

                                                 Courtesy of ballparkbiz.files.wordpress.com

Is this the week Carolina and/or New England finally lose?  What a story it would be if the Super Bowl had 2 undefeated teams playing for perfection.  It's unlikely to happen, but the media is dreaming about this scenario.  Enjoy football Sunday.  Cheers.