Given that Buck is traveling this week for the holiday, there won't be a show. We will however give our picks, with our thoughts on each game.
Season Standings:
Dave: 108-53
Buck: 103-58
Dave:
Green Bay @ Detroit - Green Bay has it rolling again. They have to beat Detroit and they will. The playoffs are in sight for them.
Oakland @ Dallas - Dallas has been really stinking lately. It's late November and until he proves otherwise, it's tank time for Romo. Oakland actually played decently last week so this one will be closer than it should be, but Dallas has to win.
New York @ Denver - Just like Dallas, the Giants are an NFC team not playing really well. Luckily for them, Denver is free falling. I see the Giants coming out with a "thank God we played them now instead of in September" win.
Tampa Bay @ Atlanta - Tampa stinks. Atlanta plays very well at home and they need to win. Luckily, Santa Claus is coming to town.
Miami @ Buffalo - Don't look now but Miami is back in the playoff hunt. Buffalo played decently last week but I have to go with the team that has more to play for.
Cleveland @ Cincinnati - That was one embarrassing loss last week for the Bengals. It won't happen again. The Browns are pathetic.
Seattle @ St. Louis - I am going to do a Buck Woodward upset special here and pick The Rams to win at home. Seattle has been hugely disappointing and should win, but I will say Coach Spags can get his team up and grab their second win.
Carolina @ New York - Let's make it two upsets in a row. The Jets have spiraled down the drain and Mark Sanchez looks lost most of the time. I think Carolina will just run, run, run and come away with a win.
Washington @ Philadelphia - This will probably be another ugly, boring game between these two. The Eagles are in the thick of things and can't afford to choke this one away.
Indianapolis @ Houston - I am really tempted to pick Houston at home but I just can't go against the Colts. Even when they don't play well, they find a way to win. Plus, Houston is coming off of a heartbreaking loss on Monday night. That could leave them tired.
Kansas City @ San Diego - The Chiefs beat The Steelers at home last week for a huge victory. They come back to Earth this week. San Diego has been coming on for weeks now and they will not falter at home here.
Jacksonville @ San Francisco - Jacksonville has been playing decent ball and has gotten back into the thick of things. I see Mr. Hyde coming back this week and them losing a game they should win if they want to be a legit playoff team.
Arizona @ Tennessee - Arizona has been traveling very well this year but I have to go with Tennessee. They just seemed to be charmed right now.
Chicago @ Minnesota - The Bears stink. It's embarrassing how bad Jay Cutler is. He overthrew so many guys against the Eagles I would have benched him. The Bears don't win the ones that they should win. I don't see them winning one that they shouldn't.
Pittsburgh @ Baltimore - The smart pick here is the Ravens but something tells me that The Steelers will come in pretty ticked off on defense after what happened last week. UPDATED 11/28 at noon. With Big Ben out, I am going to change my pick to the Ravens.
New England @ New Orleans - Much like the Colts, I am not picking against the Saints until someone shows me that they can beat them. New England is good, but not great. Going to the Big Easy will make this one too tough to win for them.
Buck:
Green Bay @ Detroit - Despite some tough losses, Green Bay is in the thick of it when it comes to a Wildcard spot, and you know they would love one more crack at the Vikings in the playoffs. Detroit has shown improvement this year, and thankfully did not lose to the Browns this past week, showing they are no longer the worst team in the NFL. Green Bay takes it.
Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans - A division game, which means it will probably be a close one, just like Houston's loss to Tennessee on Monday night. However, as we discussed last week, how can you bet against Peyton Manning? He always finds a way to win, no matter how much the other team controls the field or posseses the ball. Probably one of the better games of the weekend, despite the records of the two teams.
Kansas City Chiefs @ San Diego Chargers - Kansas City, despite all their internal issues with the departure of Larry Johnson, pulled off a huge upset by knocking off the Steelers in overtime last weekend. I don't see them pulling that rabbit out of the hat two weeks in a row. The Chargers, having taken down Denver is in a position to pick up another division win, and start seperating themselves from the pack. They certainly seem playoff bound at this point.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ San Francisco 49ers - The Jekyll and Hyde Jaguars have, rather quietly, positioned themselves in a wildcard spot for the playoffs alongside the Steelers and Broncos. They have a legit shot at it, if they can pick up games like this one. While I've been pulling for the 49ers this season (and I am sure Dave will say something about me having a man-crush on Mike Singletary in his comments), it seems like they just aren't able to pull out the wins and are watching the division pull away from them with the Cardinals playing so well.
Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings - Easiest game to pick of them all, honestly. Jay Cutler has practically given away the last two games, and seems allergic to winning. Meanwhile. old man Farve, young man Harvin, and middle-aged man Peterson have turned the Vikings into arguably the best team in the NFL right now. They don't have the 10-0 of the Colts or Saints, but their wins have been more impressive and they've had less "close calls" in recent games. The Vikings have to been as heavy favorites going into the post-season.
Arizona Cardinals @ Tennessee Titans - I guess this is an upset special when you look at the records, although I haven't checked out any spreads on the game. Tennessee is reborn with Vince Young at quarterback, and the story of his turnaround is one of the cooler this season. The Cardinals, after a rough start, are back in playoff form, and look to be running away with the NFC West. This should be a really good game, but I am picking the Titans to get their fifth straight win, after starting off with six losses. I guess Jeff Fisher knows what it is like to be a winner now, maybe he can trade in the Manning jersey for a Vince Young one.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens - How crazy is it that Week 12 is the first meeting of these teams? Obviously, NFL schedule makers figured this rivalry would dominate the AFC North, not expecting the Bengal to emerge the way they have. The Ravens need this win to save face, as they have to be embarrassed over their 5-5 record. The Steelers need to put last week's loss behind them, and pick up a win to keep pace with the Jags and Broncos in the Wildcard race (provided those teams win). The Steelers got good news with Big Ben being able to play. Had he been ruled out, and with Charlie Batch breaking his wrist, I believe the Steelers next QB choice would have been the popcorn vendor in section 213. That said, not having Polomalu will make it tough on the Steelers, but I see them getting the win. UPDATED 11/29 at noon. I guess they need that popcorn vendor, as Ben is now out for the game. Change my pick to the Ravens.
New England Patriots @ New Orleans Saints - After two weeks of less-than-important games, the folks at ESPN have to be thrilled to have this game on Monday. The Saints keep rolling along, and have shown they are just as able to win the close ones as they are dominating teams. The Patriots have come back from an early season slump, but dropped a close one to Indy two weeks ago, and in all honesty, could have lost to the Jets if Mark Sanchez remembered what color jersey his teammates were wearing. I don't see Drew Brees having that issue, plus the game is in New Orleans, giving the Saints the edge to go 11-0.
Oakland @ Dallas - Upset special time! Dallas has only scored 14 points in their last two games total. The Packers put a whupping on them before Dallas got a pity touchdown near the end of the game, and if not for the Redskins inability to hit field goals, the Cowboys would have lost this past Sunday. Oakland has been an "upset king" this year, and while this isn't being played in the Black Hole, I think Dallas (aided by a earlier than usual Romo collapse) might blow their first Thanksgiving game in their new home.
NY Giants @ Denver - Duh! After attending this past Sunday's game, and turning their season around, it is time to start a winning streak. On a more serious note, Eli Manning is coming off one of this best performances ever, unfortunately the same cannot be said for our once incredible defense, which blew a 14 point lead in the 4th quarter against Atlanta. Denver has been brutalized by the Steelers, Ravens and Chargers, and I can't believe Kyle Orton is anywhere near 100 percent at this point.
Tampa Bay @ Atlanta Falcons - A division game in a division that has already been decided, as I see no way Atlanta can catch up to the Saints at this point. Tampa Bay has shown some signs of life, but they are definitely in "Phase One" of rebuilding. At least they got that Packers win to keep from being the Lions of 2009. Atlanta is still in the Wildcard race, and this is a win they need to keep in the hunt.
Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills - Whenever a team switches head coaches in Week 11, it is a pretty good bet, they won't be winning right away. The Dolphins have gotten beaten by quality teams this year, the price they pay for a tough schedule after making the playoffs last year. However, that won't be an issue with the hapless Bills to get runover by the Wildcat. It is a division game, and Buffalo is the home team, so maybe I should give them more credit ... nah.
Washington @ Philadelphia - I am tempted to go with upset special here, as Washington has been on the verge of finally getting Bingo. However, when you can't get three points on two field goal attempts to finish off a division rival, you wonder if they can get anything done right. The Eagles have been trying to give away games, like this past Sunday with Chicago, but luckily, their opponents have wanted to blow it more. Eagles win, and probably by a point.
Seattle Seahawks @ St. Louis Rams - If Rams QB Marc Bulger wasn't sidelined for the next few weeks, I honestly would go with the Rams. I just think they're due, and their performance against New Orleans two weeks ago, showed they have more in the tank than anyone realizes. However, I can't imagine they went the whole season with Bulger, if they had any viable alternative on the bench. So, Seattle picks up the win in St. Louis.
Carolina Panthers @ NY Jets - Two teams in very similar positions, sitting at 4-6 and watching the season get away from them. The Panthers have had an extra long week to think about that close loss to Miami on Thursday night, while the Jets had a legitimate chance to take down the Patriots for a second time this season before Mark Sanchez turned into an interception machine. Because the game is in New York, I think the Jets will pull one out here, and to be honest it is do-or-die time for these teams. The winner still has a glimmer of hope for Wildcard, the loser is done.
Cleveland @ Cincinnati - Last time these teams met, it went to overtime. Not happening again. Cleveland, somehow, has found a way to get worse as the season as gone on. Cincinnati has turned into a monster in the AFC North, sweeping the Steelers and Ravens. They had their letdown game with the Raiders, and I imagine they will come into this game determined to get back on track in a big way. I wonder what excuse Eric Mangini will have this week for the loss. Maybe he can claim that his team ate too much turkey on Thanksgiving and was up too late shopping at Black Friday sales over the weekend, and thus were too tired to win.
