Week 13 Picks!

The playoff picture will start to come into full bloom as we hit the month of December. Just remember that it is too early to start looking at seeding and potential playoff matchups right now. I looked back to this point in the season a year ago. What I found was that in the NFC the Eagles were out of the playoff picture, and the Redskins were firmly in the wildcard spot. The Buccaneers were battling for homefield advantage and a first round bye. In the AFC, the Broncos looked like they were about to wrap up the West, and San Diego looked like it was headed to a disappointing season. The AFC East was a two horse race between the Patriots and the Jets. Those same Jets were looking like a lock for the #2 seed in the AFC. The Dolphins weren't really a threat in the East or in the wildcard picture for that matter. We saw how much changed after Thanksgiving last year. Don't count out a 6-5 team like Baltimore and Jacksonville or a 5-6 team like Tennessee or Miami. Also, could an 8-3 team like Cincy fall apart and miss the playoffs? Look for a team like Atlanta at 6-5 to make a run or a team like 5-6 San Francisco to make some noise. This time of year in the NFL, nothing is guaranteed. On to the picks for Week 13.....

Last Week's Record: 8-7-1

Overall Record: 84-85-7

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

New York Jets (-3) over BUFFALO: This game takes place in Toronto. Sunday's Grey Cup will be more exciting than this AFC East clunker. The Jets win in a snoozefest.

Oakland (+14) over PITTSBURGH: I see this one 23-10 Steelers. Although they lost on SNF at Baltimore, the Steelers are in prime position to make a wild card run. They get it going this week versus the Raiders. This isn't exactly Chuck Noll and the Steel Curtian vs. John Madden and his renegade Raiders from the 70s.

Houston (PICK) over JACKSONVILLE: Both of these teams are tough to figure out. A lot of people are going to count out the Texans after last week's loss to Indy, but I think they bounce back and knock off the Jags.

Tennessee (+7) over INDY: This is the one that Indy loses. The Titans always play Indy tough, and they are playing so well right now. I say it every week: I love watching Chris Johnson play. Vince Young established himself as a viable NFL QB with his performance against Arizona last week. The Colts' undefeated run ends here.

Philadelphia (-4) over ATLANTA: I don't trust the Eagles at all, especially on the road, but the Falcons are too banged up for me to pick them. Without Matt Ryan and a beat up Michael Turner, the Falcons are not a threat. They will get healthy, and they will make a run at the Wild Card, but I think they fall to the Eagles this week.

CINCY (-13) over Detroit: The Bengals take care of business in one of those humdrum, matter-of-fact wins over the Lions. Call it Bengals-24 Lions-7.

New Orleans (-8) over WASHINGTON: The Redskins have played hard the last three games, but I think they are in over their head this week. The Saints are rolling towards the #1 seed in the NFC. The Saints will lose a game this season, but it won't be this week.

CAROLINA (-5) over Tampa Bay: It might be a blessing for Carolina if Jake Delhomme can't play due to injury. The Panthers are playing out the string, and John Fox is coaching for his job. As for the Bucs, Raheem Morris is just in over his head. The fact that he was so well thought of after his interviews, shows that he is just that- a good interviewer.

CHICAGO (-9) over St. Louis: This is a Jay Cutler special. Against an awful team and a depleted defense, Cutler will go 24-31 for 330 yards and 3 TDs on Sunday.

San Diego (-13) over CLEVELAND: The Chargers got the Chiefs last week and the Browns this week. What a gift from the scheduling gods! The Chargers are steamrolling for the #2 seed in the AFC and that quest continues with a pounding of the Browns in Cleveland this week.

San Francisco (PICK) over SEATTLE: I know Seattle is good at home, but the 49ers are just a better team. San Fran stays in the playoff picture with a gutty win at Quest Field.

ARIZONA (+5) over Minnesota: I have the right to change this pick if Kurt Warner doesn't play. If he plays, I like the Cardinals in an upset at home. Minnesota is due for a slip up, and the Cardinals can match score for score with the Vikings.

Dallas (-2) over NEW YORK GIANTS: The G-Men are finished for 2009. I would like to congratulate myself for picking the Giants to go 8-8 when I made my season predictions back in August. The Cowboys roll into to the Meadowlands and bury the Giants.

New England (-5) over MIAMI: Miami is still only two games out of the division, but the Pats will be focused and ready to roll in Miami this week. New England won't lose two in a row.

Baltimore (+3) over GREEN BAY: Everyone is talking about how the Packers are on a tear towards the playoffs. I'm not so sure. They were due to play well when they beat the Cowboys at home, just held on to beat SF at home, and pounded the beat up and inept Lions on Thanksgiving. The Ravens got a huge win over Pittsburgh on SNF, and now they will make their run for the wild card. The Ravens beat up Aaron Rodgers and the Packers and win in Lambeau.

KANSAS CITY (+4) over Denver: As much as I wanted to take the Broncos, the specter of Arrowhead looms too large for me. Arrowhead Stadium has been a graveyard for the Broncos in my lifetime. Many great Bronco teams couldn't win there, so I'm going with history on this one. I know the Chiefs aren't very good, but I still can't trust Denver even after their dominating performance over the Giants on Thanksgiving. This will be close, but the Chiefs win late in another Arrowhead nightmare. FINAL SCORE: Chiefs-26 Denver-23.