Week 11 Picks!

As we get closer towards Thanksgiving, the playoff picture seems to take more shape. If you look at it now the AFC and NFC playoff pictures are pretty similar. In both conferences, the AFC West and NFC West winners will each take one spot. It doesn't matter who wins the West divisions(Kansas City, Oakland, or San Diego in the AFC/St. Louis or Seattle in the NFC) because they will take away one spot from someone. That leaves 5 spots for about 6 legitmate playoff teams. You have NE and the Jets in the East, Baltimore and the Steelers in the North, Indy and the Titans in the South. I'm leaving out Jacksonville, and of course someone could sneak up and snag a spot, but it looks like those 6 will fight for 5 spots. In the NFC, you have Philly and the Giants in the East, Green Bay and Chicago in the North, and New Orleans and Atlanta in the South. I'm leaving out Tampa Bay because I don't think they are a legit playoff team. 12 good teams and only 10 spots. There will be a few good teams that are going to miss the playoffs this year, and this month will start to fit those pieces into the playoff puzzle. Onto the picks for Week 11.........

Last Week's Record: 7-6-1

Overall Record: 83-58-5

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

Oakland (+7) over PITTSBURGH: The Steelers' loss to the Pats on Sunday Night really bothered me. I was high on the Steelers, but it seems like they have too many injuries right now, and they might be leveling off. The Steelers will make the playoffs this year, but this might be a rough stretch for them the next few weeks. The Raiders make a statement and run the ball just enough to pull the upset.

Houston (+7) over NY JETS: The Jets have survived three road games in a row. They should have lost to Denver, Detroit, and Cleveland. The Jets looked like they were dead in all three games, but somehow they were able to pull the game out. I would expect the Jets to win this game, but maybe the Texans make it close. Houston is always dangerous when everyone counts them out. I'll take a chance on the Texans this week.

Baltimore (-10) over CAROLINA: The Panthers are down to Brian St. Pierre at QB, so there is no way you can pick. The Ravens have had 10 days to prepare, and they will get to 7-3 with a big win over Carolina.

TENNESSEE (-7) over Washington: The Titans are a good team, and they will get back on track after two losses in a row. I don't think Washington is dead, but I don't think this is a good week for them. The Titans will get revenge on Albert Haynesworth and get the W.

Detroit (+7) over DALLAS: I'm not going to just think that the Cowboys are going to start playing lights out all of a sudden. Yes, they played great against the Giants last week, but that game was classic NFL. The Lions are still playing hard and tough, and they will give the Cowboys some problems this week.

Green Bay (-3) over MINNESOTA: I don't know what to make of Minnesota anymore. I thought they would win last week and win this week to get them really in the mix. They lost at Chicago to fall to 3-6 and they are basically playing out the string. I'm not sold on the Packers just yet, but maybe the football gods give the Packers the ultimate revenge, and Green Bay throttles the Vikings and sends off Brett Favre with a giant middle finger.

CINCY (-4) over Buffalo: The Bills finally won their first game last week, and the Bengals are falling apart. At 2-7, I wouldn't trust the Bengals, but they will get their third win at home vs. Buffalo.

Cleveland (+2) over JACKSONVILLE: The Jags won on a hail mary last week, so you really can't buy them as a legitimate playoff team at 5-4. The Browns are 3-6 and lost a heartbreaker to the Jets in OT. The last few years, every time you felt that Jacksonville would take the next step, they would lose a game like this. The Browns will play well on the road and beat the Jags in Jacksonville.

KANSAS CITY (-7) over Arizona: The Cards are the worst 3-6 team in football history. Their passing offense is so bad, and it won't help them that they have to travel to Arrowhead this week. You have to be able to throw the ball to have any chance on the road. The Chiefs have lost two in a row, but this game is tailor made for them. The Chiefs are good at home, and they get to 6-4 after burying the Cardinals this week.

Seattle (+12) over NEW ORLEANS: A 12 point spread for the Saints over Seattle!! Really? I love the Seahawks in this matchup. Don't just give New Orleans the thumbs up just yet. The Saints should win this game, but the Seahawks will make it close. Seattle isn't good on the road, but they will give the Saints some trouble.

Atlanta (-3) over ST.LOUIS: If this line was higher, then I would pick the Rams at home. This game could get tricky for the Falcons, but I still see them as the 1 seed in NFC. Matt Ryan might have made the leap last week against the Ravens, and they will win a gutty game against a gutty team in St. Louis.

SAN FRANCISCO (-3) over Tampa Bay: The Bucs are the worst 6-3 team in the history of the NFL. Troy Smith is getting his chance and he is making the most out of it. The Niners get to 4-6 at home with a win over the Bucs.

NEW ENGLAND (-3) over Indy: The best rivalry in the NFL gets going again this week. Pats-Colts is by far the best rivalry in the NFL right now and for the past decade. The Pats rank first in wins since 2000, and the Colts rank second. The Colts rank first in playoff appearances since 2000, and the Pats rank second. It is the NFL's version of Alabama-Auburn, Michigan-Ohio State, and Texas-Oklahoma. Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady is such an attractive matchup. This is a big game of course in the AFC, but with all the injuries to the Colts, then I have to give the edge to the Pats. The Colts will play well and Manning will play great, but this year the Pats and Brady knock the Colts off.

PHILLY (-3) over NY Giants: Michael Vick is playing lights out right now. He is the X-Factor in the NFL right now. He could take the Eagles on his back right now, and he could help them make a run this year. You have to think that Vick will have a bad game sooner or later, but this week I can't bet against him. The G-Men will play well, and even if they lose this week, they should still make a playoff run. This is a tough spot for the Giants, and the Eagles take it at home.

Denver (+10) over SAN DIEGO: Fuck it I'm taking the Broncos this week on the road in the Whale's Vagina. The Broncos looked good last week, but I know that the NFL is a week to week league. This look's like an impossible situation for the Broncos. On the road, with a bad defense, at San Deigo with Philip Rivers coming off a bye week. All signs point to a blowout win by the Chargers and they have owned Denver the past four years. With all that said, I'll take Denver. Why not? They are 3-6, and they aren't going anywhere this season. Everyone expects the Chargers to make their annual run to win the AFC West. Maybe this is the year is doesn't happen. The Broncos pull the shocker in San Diego

Final Score: Denver-27 San Diego-26