One of these days I’ll get around to scoring the last few weeks I’ve missed. But for now, I’m going to get these picks put up while I have time so ya’ll can get yours done as well.
GAME OF THE WEEK – Carolina Panthers (8-3) at New Orleans Saints (8-3), NO by 4 – Massive stakes in this game, as it could end up deciding who wins the NFC South. The Saints got shown up by a tough Rams team last week, but they’re back at home in their comfort zone against a familiar foe. The Panthers didn’t exactly impress against a less-than-stellar opponent last week, so I’m going to take the home team to win it. Saints 24, Panthers 20
THURSDAY NIGHT – Washington (5-6) at Dallas Cowboys (5-6), DAL by 1.5 – Playing on a short week at home in a divisional matchup almost always favors the home team, but the Cowboys have been so listless lately that it’s hard to have any faith in them. Give me Kirk Cousins and Washington. UPSET! – Washington 27, Dallas 17
Detroit Lions (6-5) at Baltimore Ravens (6-5), BAL by 3 – The Ravens have been playing some good football as of late, while the Lions have been maddeningly inconsistent. I’ll take the team with the momentum. Ravens 23, Lions 16
San Francisco 49ers (1-10) at Chicago Bears (3-8), CHI by 3.5 – In a matchup of NFC bottom feeders, I actually like the 49ers in Jimmy Garoppolo’s likely first start to take this one. UPSET! – 49ers 23, Bears 10
Minnesota Vikings (10-2) at Atlanta Falcons (7-4), ATL by 3 – Another big matchup in the NFC playoff picture. The Falcons are desperately trying to keep pace in a hot wild card race, while the Vikings can’t afford to lose if they want to stick with the Eagles for the race for homefield advantage. Playing at home favors the Falcons big-time here, and they’re just beginning to resemble their former selves again, though they still don’t appear to be true contenders. Tough matchup, but I gotta go with the home team. Falcons 27, Vikings 24
New England Patriots (10-2) at Buffalo Bills (6-5), NE by 8.5 – The Bills are incapable of scoring enough to keep up with the Patriots. Patriots 30, Bills 13
Denver Broncos (3-8) at Miami Dolphins (4-7), DEN by 1 – A pair of majorly disappointing teams. The Broncos get the homefield advantage against a Dolphins team that’s rapidly falling apart. Broncos 20, Dolphins 16
Houston Texans (4-7) at Tennessee Titans (7-4), TEN by 7 – The Titans are in striking distance for an elusive playoff spot, and playing against the hapless and injury-depleted Texans isn’t going to slow them down. Titans 31, Texans 13
Indianapolis Colts (3-8) at Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4), JAX by 9.5 – A disappointing misstep for the Jaguars last week against the Cardinals, but that’s what happens when young teams without much big-game experience travel on the road with high expectations. Now they get a home match against a familiar foe to get their mojo back and stay in the thick of the playoff hunt. Jaguars 20, Colts 10
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7) at Green Bay Packers (5-6), GB by 2 – The Packers played far better against the Steelers than anyone could have predicted, but still came up just short. They can squeak out a crucial win against the Buccaneers to keep the playoff dream alive, if still on life support. Packers 23, Bucs 20
Kansas City Chiefs (6-5) at New York Jets (4-7), KC by 3.5 – The Chiefs desperately need a good performance to stop this free fall. While they still have the lead in their division, the Chargers and Raiders have been turning their seasons around and are just waiting for another KC misstep. Chiefs 28, Jets 17
Cleveland Browns (0-11) at Los Angeles Chargers (5-6), LAC by 13.5 – The Chargers are a hot team right now, and have their sights set on catching Kansas City. They can’t take a game against the Browns for granted. If they show up ready to play, it shouldn’t be a problem. Chargers 26, Browns 13
Los Angeles Rams (8-3) at Arizona Cardinals (5-6), LAR by 7 – Divisional games are always screwy, but so far the Rams have proven themselves to be fierce competitors. They’ve got their first non-losing season since 2004 clinched, and the next step is getting a playoff berth. The Cardinals should not stand in the way. Rams 30, Cardinals 20
New York Giants (2-9) at Oakland Raiders (5-6), OAK by 7 – The Raiders continue fighting to save their season, and are being helped a lot by the implosion of the Chiefs. The Giants are basically forfeiting this game by not starting Eli, which I’m sure the Raiders appreciate. Raiders 27, Giants 9
Philadelphia Eagles (10-1) at Seattle Seahawks (7-4), PHI by 5.5 – Typically I’d pick the Seahawks in a primetime home game, but right now they’re playing without Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor and no discernable running game. Plus, the Eagles have yet to show any real glaring weaknesses. Talk about a contender that’s really come out of nowhere this year. I like Philly here. Eagles 31, Seahawks 19
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-2) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-6) PIT by 5.5 – The Steelers always play to the level of their competition, for better or for worse. But they seem focused on getting to the matchup with the Patriots without another loss. I think they squeak this one out. Steelers 26, Bengals 20
