Week 11 Picks

Going by the spread would've been the best score last week, as my picks were worth only 77 points and finished only better than my own numbers. Let's hope for better luck this week, but you'll probably notice that there isn't much variety among these picks:

PFW Spread		Brian Burke	Yahoo Users	Wunderdog	My Numbers
16—Cowboys (11 ½)		16—Saints (.91)	15.5—Vikings (98%)	16—Saints (32-21)	16—Saints (152)
14.5—Saints (11)		15—Steelers (.90)	15.5—Steelers (98%)	15—Steelers (25-15)	15—Cardinals (112)
14.5—Vikings (11)		14—Bengals (.87)	14—Saints (97%)	14—Cardinals (28-18)	14—Steelers (82)
12.5—Steelers (10)		12.5—Vikings (.80)	12.5—Bengals (96%)	13—Bengals (22-13)	13—Vikings (78)
12.5—Patriots (10)		12.5—Cowboys (.80)	12.5—Patriots (96%)	12—Cowboys (25-17)	12—Bengals (75)
10—Cardinals (9)		11—Packers (.77)	10.5—Cowboys (95%)	11—Vikings (28-19)	11—Cowboys (56)
10—Jaguars (9)		9.5—Patriots (.76)	10.5—Cardinals (95%)	10—Patriots (26-19)	10—Colts (48)
10—Bengals (9)		9.5—Giants (.76)	9—Jaguars (93%)	9—Jaguars (24-18)	9—Patriots (42)
8—Giants (6)		8—Jaguars (.74)	7—Eagles (84%)	8—Packers (23-19)	8—Giants (37)
7—Packers (5 ½)		7—Texans (.65)	7—Lions (84%)	7—Texans (26-22)	7—Texans (36)
6—Texans (3 ½)		6—Eagles (.68)	7—Packers (84%)	6—Giants (25-22)	6—Jaguars (29)
5—Panthers (3)		5—Lions (.67)	5—Colts (82%)	5—Eagles (24-21)	5—Chargers (20)
3.5—Chargers (2 ½)		4—Colts (.66)	4—Giants (78%)	4—Panthers (22-20)	4—Packers (18)
3.5—Lions (2 ½)		3—Panthers (.65)	3—Chargers (72%)	3—Chargers (23-21)	3—Bears (17)
1.5—Colts (2)		2—Cardinals (.62)	2—Panthers (68%)	2—Lions (19-17)	2—Browns (11)
1.5—Eagles (2)		1—Broncos (.59)	1—Texans (61%)	1—Colts (22-22)	1—Dolphins (8)
102.5 points (12-4)		96 points (11-5)	105 points (12-4)	97 points (12-4)	98 points (11-5)

And now my own set of picks this week:

16 points
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) over Kansas City Chiefs (2-7)
+26/-1 : +80/82/-2 : -1/+54

Pressure's on Pittsburgh to keep pace with the Bengals now that they're essentially two behind in the division after getting swept for the season. Kansas City's already sputtering offense isn't likely to improve this week now that the team's number one receiver is sitting out the next four weeks.

15 points
Cincinnati Bengals (7-2) over Oakland Raiders (2-7)
-3/-37 : +42/75/-33 : +4/+45

The Bengals have had problems in Oakland in the past, but so had everybody before this year's Raiders. And I think I've learned my lesson that these are not the usual Bungles we've grown accustomed to.

14 points
New Orleans Saints (9-0) over Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-8)
+74/-2 : +150/152/-2 : 0/+76

It's just too hard for me to believe the Saints can really run the table, but I don't have the guts to call an upset here. I think Tampa can certainly give them problems like N'awlins has been having in recent weeks but at the end of the day, I'll stay with the Saints.

13 points
Minnesota Vikings (8-1) over Seattle Seahawks (3-6)
+55/-4 : +94/78/+16 : +20/+39

Banged-up Seahawks will never find a groove in the Metrodome—or a way to stop Adrian Peterson.

12 points
New England Patriots (6-3) over New York Jets (4-5)
+36/-3 : +26/42/-16 : -13/-10

The Jets aren't talking quite as tough as the last time these two teams met, and Bill Belichick would probably help put a lot of the criticism of last week's decision behind him by pummeling Rex Ryan's squad.

11 points
Dallas Cowboys (6-3) over Washington Redskins (3-6)
+40/-1 : +67/56/+11 : +12/+27

The first visit to their new stadium by perhaps their biggest rival in the division is not the type of game the Cowboys are bound to take lightly. The NFL owes them a few calls after last week's debacle too.

10 points
Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4) over Buffalo Bills (3-5)
-7/-10 : +22/29/-7 : +3/+29

Tempting to think the new head coach results in an immediate upset, but it's more realistic to think the mighty MJD runs up the numbers as a way of making it up to his fantasy owners for taking that knee last week.

9 points
Green Bay Packers (5-4) over San Francisco 49ers (4-5)
+3/-5 : +17/18/-1 : +4/+14

The Pack is back in the playoff race with last week's win while the Niners defense isn't likely to get spotted five interceptions again.

8 points
Arizona Cardinals (6-3) over St. Louis Rams (1-8)
-2/-22 : +90/112/-22 : 0/+92

I'm still not totally sold on the Cards, but chances are that this should be another glorious return to St. Lou for Kurt Warner.

7 points
New York Giants (5-4) over Atlanta Falcons (5-4)
+35/0 : +56/37/+19 : +21/+19

Same records, but the Giants have been spending two weeks waiting for this game. Eli & Co. need it more, period. Anybody afraid of dealing with the dreaded Atlanta media?

6 points

Detroit Lions (1-8) over Cleveland Browns (1-8)
-6/+82 : +71/11/+82 : 0/+77

My sympathy to anyone forced to actually watch this.

5 points
San Diego Chargers (6-3) over Denver Broncos (6-3)
+38/+7 : +28/20/+8 : +1/-10

Two teams headed in different directions and I'll take the Chargers while they're on the rise. The run at the division was fun while it lasted, Denver.

4 points
Indianapolis Colts (9-0) over Baltimore Ravens (5-4)
+72/-3 : +70/48/+22 : +25/-2

If Terrell Suggs weren't out, I'd probably go the other way. But instead I'm going to hold off on picking against Indy again.

3 points
Carolina Panthers (4-5) over Miami Dolphins (4-5)
+11/+28 : +33/8/+41 : +13/+22


2 points
Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) over Chicago Bears (4-5)
+18/+4 : +9/17/+26 : +22/-9

I'm tired of being disappointed by the Bears this year (for now ... bound to change next week).

1 point
Tennessee Titans (3-6) over Houston Texans (5-4)
-11/+16 : -4/5/+1 : +2/-7

Call me crazy. Vince Young's been responsible with the ball in his first three games back and now in Texas with the aid of teammates looking to avenge their home opener loss, the Titans get some big plays from him when not riding Chris Johnson to an upset.