NFL Week 12: All Tied Up

Following the incorrect Thursday pick, I was 8-5-1 last week. That puts the overall record at 90-59-1 for the season. By the way, what’s the deal with all these prediction websites giving themselves a win despite the fact the Eagles and Bengals tied? If it’s a tie for them, it’s a tie for you. Anyway, I another bad week against the spread (4-11…yes, 4-11) and the spread record is now strictly average at 73-72-5. Because the NFL can’t figure out which touchdowns are legal, the following should not be used for gambling purposes.

THURSDAY

Cincinnati Bengals (1-8-1) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-3)(-11)
8:15 p.m. Heinz Field
Would someone like to enlighten me as to why these Thursday night games are a good idea? Denver-Cleveland wasn’t bad enough? Now we have to sit through Cincinnati-Pittsburgh and Oakland-San Diego for the next two Thursday nighters. The only Thursday NFL games should be played on Thanksgiving.
Pick: Steelers

SUNDAY

Houston Texans (3-7) vs. Cleveland Browns (4-6)(-3)
1:00 p.m. Cleveland Browns Stadium
What, this wasn’t good enough to be the Thursday night game? I don’t think I’ve seen enough of the Browns this season. They’re only scheduled for five primetime games this season. Not bad for a team that’s 4-6 and had .500 written all over them before the season began.
Pick: Browns

Buffalo Bills (5-5)(-3) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (1-9)
1:00 p.m. Arrowhead Stadium
It didn’t take long for the Bills to hit the skids. I was a bit surprised because I was drinking the cool-aid back in October. The AFC East looked to be theirs for the taking. However, last Monday’s game showed the true coaching genius of Dick Jauron. With plenty of time left in the game Jauron decided to play it safe, run the clock and attempt a 47-yard field goal. Since when has a 47-yard field goal been a sure thing? You want to do that from 30 yards away, be my guest. But 47? That’s terrible coaching. Kind of happy to see Buffalo lose based on that type of decision.
Pick: Bills

New York Jets (7-3) vs. Tennessee Titans (10-0)(-4.5)
1:00 p.m. LP Field
The Jets have been tip-toeing their way to some victories in recent weeks. They’ve taken advantage of a middle-heavy division, a soft schedule and have had just about every break go their way. This reminds me a lot of their 2006 season, when they won 10 games (most of them close), made the playoffs and played one of the easiest schedules in NFL history. That set up high expectations for 2007, when all the breaks evened out and the Jets were terrible. Looking ahead, it could be a rough 2009 for New York.
Pick: Titans

New England Patriots (6-4) vs. Miami Dolphins (6-4)(-1.5)
1:00 p.m. Dolphin Stadium
Something tells me that the Dolphins won’t rack up 400 yards using the Wildcat formation again. I can’t see the Hooded Bum letting that happen twice.
Pick: Patriots

San Francisco 49ers (3-7) vs. Dallas Cowboys (6-4)(-10)
1:00 p.m. Texas Stadium
Well, the Cowboys got their “season-saving victory” last week. Now they’ll rack up two easy home wins before losing three of their last four and plunging into chaos.
Pick: Cowboys

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3)(-8.5) vs. Detroit Lions (0-10)
1:00 p.m. Ford Field
Just remember, when the Lions go 0-16, who was the first person to tell you it could happen? That would be me back in late September. It doesn’t get any easier with Tennessee in town next week.
Pick: Buccaneers

Philadelphia Eagles (5-4-1) vs. Baltimore Ravens (6-4)(-1.5)
1:00 p.m. M&T Bank Stadium
Even though it was enjoyable to see the Eagles squander an easy game in Cincinnati, you can’t convince me that a tie is actually worse or more embarrassing than a loss. If the Eagles make the playoffs by a half-a-game, that tie will be looking awfully good. Meanwhile, it was good to see the Ravens come back to Earth a little bit. Sure it’s nice playing Cincinnati and Cleveland twice a season, but welcome to the NFC East kids. You got to put on your big boy pants to play this division.
Pick: Ravens

Chicago Bears (5-5)(-8) vs. St. Louis Rams (2-8)
1:00 p.m. Soldier Field
I don’t know why I keep thinking the Rams are going to pull upsets, but I could easily see the Bears blowing this game. Chicago is running out of easy games to help keep pace with Green Bay and Minnesota. A loss here could have the Bears staring at a 7-9 finish.
Pick: Bears, Rams cover

Minnesota Vikings (5-5) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-6)(-2)
1:00 p.m. Alltel Stadium
I took a shot last week with Jacksonville, and it looked pretty good for about three quarters. While the Jags have been running the ball much better recently, they still can’t stop the run with all of their injuries on defense. Not a good problem to have with Adrian Peterson in town.
Pick: Vikings

Oakland Raiders (2-8) vs. Denver Broncos (6-4)(-9)
4:05 p.m. Mile High Stadium
Oh, to be Denver! It must be nice to be 6-4 and be comfortably ahead in your division. I wouldn’t know what that’s like since 6-4 in the NFC East is almost good enough for last place.
Pick: Broncos

Carolina Panthers (8-2) vs. Atlanta Falcons (6-4)(-1)
4:15 p.m. Georgia Dome
Ok, if the Falcons want to prove they are legitimate, this is their chance. I don’t see this team getting a wild card spot, so they are going to have to take down the two teams ahead of them in the division and hope for a little bit of help. It’s hard to believe that this could be the game for supremacy in the NFC South. It’s also hard to believe the Falcons are favored.
Pick: Panthers

New York Giants (9-1)(-3.5) vs. Arizona Cardinals (7-3)
4:15 p.m. University of Phoenix Stadium
While I realize that this game means practically nothing for Arizona since they already have their division wrapped up, it is an important game from their physiological standpoint. They haven’t beaten a whole lot of good teams this season. In their one showcase game two Monday’s ago, they needed help from a terrible team to win at home. This is chance for Arizona to make a statement to the rest of the league. Considering Kurt Warner is a statue in the pocket, and the Giants blitz pretty darn well, there is no reason for me to make this pick. But I’ll do it anyway.
Pick: Cardinals

Indianapolis Colts (6-4) vs. San Diego Chargers (4-6)(-2.5)
8:15 p.m. Qualcomm Stadium
Very quietly, the Colts are getting healthy and starting to sneak up the standings in the AFC. They won’t win their division, and they won’t have a home playoff game, but I would never bet against a healthy Colts team. This is a big one for Indy. They need to keep pace in the conference, and they can pretty much eliminate San Diego from all postseason discussions with a win.
Pick: Colts

MONDAY

Green Bay Packers (5-5) vs. New Orleans Saints (5-5)(-2.5)
8:30 p.m. Louisiana Superdome
Last chance to dance for the Saints. A loss here to another 5-5 team, at home, would basically end any chance they have at a wildcard spot. If Drew Brees is truly the MVP this season, then he needs to help his team win this game.
Pick: Saints

Later in the week we’ll painfully relive the Redskins game from Sunday night. It was nice to see the old Redskins back, handing wins over to the other team. Wait, did I say nice? It meant groin-kickingly painful.