Week 12 NFL Picks/MVP Watch

Green Bay (10-0) @ Detroit (7-3)

The Lions are the first team in NFL history to comeback from 17 point deficits three times in one season. This stat might impress some, however it doesn’t impress me one bit. If the Lions want to be taken seriously, continuously falling behind by huge margins needs to stop. They have no hope of ending the Packers undefeated season.

Green Bay 35 Detroit 20

Miami (3-7) @ Dallas (6-4)

Two teams on a three-game winning streak but I’m not expecting Dolphins QB Matt Moore to go into Texas Stadium on Thanksgiving Day and win. Plus I think the Cowboys are a lot better than people think.

Dallas 34 Miami 14

San Francisco (9-1) @ Baltimore (7-3)

I still can’t envision the Niners winning a playoff game. Like for example, if the Saints or Cowboys come into San Fran during the divisional playoffs, I don’t see the Niners coming out victorious. Maybe because they’ve beaten up on garbage teams and wildcard playoff teams. Now they get to face a first place team. Baltimore wins this one and silences the people who are pumping the Niners tires right now.

Baltimore 20 San Francisco 10

Minnesota (2-8) @ Atlanta (6-4)

No Adrian Peterson means no chance for the Vikings.

Atlanta 30 Minnesota 21

Cleveland (4-6) @ Cincinnati (6-4)

I really don’t believe in the Bengals…but the Browns are hopeless.

Cincinnati 23 Cleveland 10

Carolina (2-8) @ Indianapolis (0-10)

Watch the Colts win the week I finally pick against them.

Carolina 27 Indianapolis 14

Houston (7-3) @ Jacksonville (3-7)

With Matt Schaub now done for the year (and any Super Bowl aspirations for the Texans probably done for the year) the Matt Leinart experiment begins. Expect a hefty dose of Arian Foster on Sunday afternoon.

Houston 30 Jacksonville 13

Buffalo (5-5) @ NY Jets (5-5)

Any chance the Bills had in this one was dashed when they announced Fred Jackson won’t be playing. Buffalo’s season is spiralling out of control and at least something’s spiralling in Buffalo, because Ryan Fitzpatrick’s throw sure isn’t.

NY Jets 27 Buffalo 10

Arizona (3-7) @ St. Louis (2-8)

And the weekly NFC West coin toss goes to….the Rams!

St. Louis 20 Arizona 17

Tampa Bay (4-6) @ Tennessee (5-5)

Kind of a toss- up..two teams that nobody really knows what to expect from. But as I’ve said over and over, the Bucs are a different team away from Tampa.

Tennessee 24 Tampa Bay 18

Chicago (7-3) @ Oakland (6-4)

The Bears are not done yet despite Jay Cutler’s injury. The defense should get the best of Carson Palmer in this game and Matt Forte will get the ball…a lot.

Chicago 21 Oakland 13

Washington (3-7) @ Seattle (4-6)

Seattle gets the edge here because of their home field advantage, where every visiting team seems to have problems.

Seattle 24 Washington 14

New England (7-3) @ Philadelphia (4-6)

Let’s face it..the Eagles got lucky last week. Vince Young was dreadful except for one drive and Eli Manning was just as bad. No matter who starts this game at QB for the Eagles, Young or Michael Vick, they will have a heck of a time stopping the Patriots, who appear, after a brief slip, to be the threat that we all thought they would be.

New England 27 Philadelphia 24

Denver (5-5) @ San Diego (4-6)

If Denver wins this game, I’m done watching football for the year.

San Diego 24 Denver 21

Pittsburgh (7-3) @ Kansas City (4-6)

So wait, why didn’t NBC flex this game out of the Sunday night spot?

Pittsburgh 30 Kansas City 7

NY Giants (6-4) @ New Orleans (7-3)

Elisha Manning comes home to New Orleans….and gets smoked.

New Orleans 35 NY Giants 14

MVP Watch (Last week’s rank in brackets)

5. Matthew Stafford (NR) QB Detroit 2843 YDS, 25 TD 10 INT

Exploded for five touchdown passes against Carolina.

4. Tom Brady (4) QB New England 3266 YDS 25 TD 10 INT

Certainly didn’t light it up against the Chiefs but solid, nonetheless.

3. Cam Newton (3) QB Carolina 2885 yds 12 TD 14 INT 9 rushing tds

The interceptions are starting to kill him, but he continues up phenomenal rushing numbers as he sits only three rushing touchdowns behind Steve Grogan’s 1976 record for a quarterback with 12.

2. Drew Brees (2) QB New Orleans 3326 YDS 23 TD 11 INT

Bye week

1. Aaron Rodgers (1) QB Green Bay 3168 yds 31 TD 4 INT

So he needs 20 touchdowns to break Tom Brady’s single season record. With six games left, that would probably mean a minimum of three touchdowns per game and a few four or five touchdown games in there.

Week 11 NFL Picks/MVP Watch

NY Jets (5-4) @ Denver (4-5)

It appears that Tim Tebow just knows how to win…that is until he goes up against the stingy Jets defence. Expect Tebow to take a step back in this game, although it’s hard to be worse than two completions. Could I see him not completing a single pass..why not?

NY Jets 23 Denver 10

Cincinnati (6-3) @ Baltimore (6-3)

What are we gonna do with the Baltimore Ravens? One week they’re Super Bowl contenders, the next week they’re Suck for Luck contenders. The Ravens always seem to bounce back though after bad losses, and they always seem to be good within their division, so another Baltimore meltdown is not likely here.

Baltimore 31 Cincinnati 14

Jacksonville (3-6) @ Cleveland (3-6)

Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew is better than every other player in this game combined.

Jacksonville 22 Cleveland 17

Carolina (2-7) @ Detroit (6-3)

The Lions get a breather after looking like a mess last week.

Detroit 27 Carolina 22

Tampa Bay (4-5) @ Green Bay (9-0)

My biggest fear is when do the Packers start resting Aaron Rodgers for the playoffs because he’s my fantasy quarterback. Probably not till they get to 12 or 13 wins.

Green Bay 38 Tampa Bay 14

Buffalo (5-4) @ Miami (2-7)

I kept saying the Bills were frauds and they’re showing us exactly that. I think a Dolphins team that is on fire puts another dagger in the hearts of those poor Bills fans.

Miami 19 Buffalo 14

Oakland (5-4) @ Minnesota (2-7)

The last time an AFC West team won in Minnesota was back in September of 1999. Do you really see Carson Palmer going into the Metrodome and coming out with a win? Neither do I

Minnesota 23 Oakland 18

Dallas (5-4) @ Washington (3-6)

You want a team who I think can compete with the Green Bay Packers? The Dallas Cowboys

Dallas 33 Washington 14

Arizona (3-6) @ San Francisco (8-1)

San Fran is due for a terrible game. And I think it comes against a streaking Cardinals team.

Arizona 20 San Francisco 19

Seattle (3-6) @ St. Louis (2-7)

Flipped a coin for this one.

St. Louis 21 Seattle 17

Tennessee (5-4) @ Atlanta (5-4)

If it wasn’t for the bonehead coaching decision in overtime last week, the Falcons would be at the top of the NFC South right now. Atlanta will use all their offensive weapons in this one and get the win.

Atlanta 30 Tennessee 21

San Diego (4-5) @ Chicago (6-3)

It’s do or die for the Chargers in this one. And this is a team who does not give up on a season easily, as shown by their past records in the second halves of seasons. Chicago has been winning games with their run game and defense in the last few weeks, and if the Chargers can shut down Matt Forte, then Rivers should have no problem carving the Bears secondary.

San Diego 34 Chicago 13

Philadelphia (3-6) @ NY Giants (6-3)

I have a feeling something strange happens in this one. The Eagles seem to be always a different team in primetime and Eli never tears it apart at home as shown by his loss to Seattle this year, and his near losses to Miami and Buffalo.

Philadelphia 31 NY Giants 24

Kansas City (4-5) @ New England (6-3)

It was going to be a tough task for Matt Cassel to come into Foxboro and win. But now he’s injured. Enter Tyler Palko.

New England 29 Kansas City 17

MVP Watch (Last week’s rank in brackets)

5. LeSean McCoy (NR) RB Philadelphia 906 YDS, 12 total TD

Let’s forget about the Eagles struggles, this guy has been the best running back in the league. He leads the league in touchdowns with 12 and is only 11 yards behind the league lead in rushing.

4. Tom Brady (5) QB New England 3032 YDS 23 TD 10 INT

Appears to be back in form after a 3 touchdown performance against a tough Jets defence.

3. Cam Newton (2) QB Carolina 2605 yds 11 TD 10 INT 7 rushing tds

An awful performance against the Titans.

2. Drew Brees (3) QB New Orleans 3326 YDS 23 TD 11 INT

Another MVP-like performance from Brees in Atlanta this past week.

1. Aaron Rodgers (1) QB Green Bay 2869 yds 28 TD 3 INT

What are the odds that he throws another interception this year?

Week 10 NFL Picks/MVP Watch

Oakland (4-4) @ San Diego (4-4)

This has all the makings of a classic Philip Rivers bounce-back home game under the lights at Qualcomm. Want proof? Rivers is 10-2 all-time at home in night games. Plus, Carson Palmer is on the other side.

San Diego 34 Oakland 14

New Orleans (6-3) @ Atlanta (5-3)

First place in the NFC South on the line in this one. New Orleans has been brutal on the road this year, but they went into Atlanta last year and won the division so I don’t see why they can’t do it again. If they can get their running game/short passing game going with Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas, then the Falcons are going to have to go blow-for-blow with the Saints. And judging from previous game results, Matt Ryan doesn’t bode well in shootouts (Falcons/Packers, last January)

New Orleans 30 Atlanta 26

Tennessee (4-4) @ Carolina (2-6)

Tough one to call here. Cam Newton is playing out of his mind this year, but the Panthers always seem to find a way to blow games.

Tennessee 27 Carolina 25

Pittsburgh (6-3) @ Cincinnati (6-2)

Like basically every other football fan, I don’t believe in the Bengals and Andy Dalton. But here’s their first chance to prove all the doubters wrong. The only problem is you have a furious Steelers team coming to town that just got swept by their arch-rivals from Baltimore. Expect some heads to roll in this one.

Pittsburgh 27 Cincinnati 10

St. Louis (1-7) @ Cleveland (3-5)

The Browns might be the worst 3-5 team in the history of football. Every week they step out on the field and look worse and worse. The Rams are better than 1-7 and Sam Bradford is due to get his first win as a starter.

St. Louis 24 Cleveland 19

Buffalo (5-3) @ Dallas (4-4)

It was nice of you Buffalo to pretend you were a contender. It made for a really good story. Now move over and let the big boys take charge.

Dallas 35 Buffalo 10

Jacksonville (2-6) @ Indianapolis (0-9)

Well it’s now or never for the Colts. If they don’t beat the Jags at home, then they might go 0-16. And plus if they manage to win this game, the Suck for Luck race gets a whole lot more interesting again.

Indianapolis 31 Jacksonville 13

Denver (3-5) @ Kansas City (4-4)

Who really knows what’s going to happen with the AFC West anymore? The thought of Tim Tebow winning two straight NFL games doesn’t seem possible.

Kansas City 30 Denver 17

Washington (3-5) @ Miami (1-7)

John Beck comes back to Miami, a place where he once started, and gets a huge revenge win! Best storyline of the week.

Washington 21 Miami 20

Arizona (2-6) @ Philadelphia (3-5)

The Eagles season is still alive but they need to start winning right now.

Philadelphia 40 Arizona 21

Houston (6-3) @ Tampa Bay (4-4)

Tampa and Josh Freeman are a different team at home but I’ll take a chance with the Texans who might be playing the best ball the franchise and their fans have ever seen.

Houston 36 Tampa Bay 20

Baltimore (6-2) @ Seattle (2-6)

Will the Ravens blow another road game that they should have easily won? They’ve already done it twice in games at Tennessee and at Jacksonville this year. Time to smarten up Ravens. You’ve swept the Steelers. Now prove you’re a Super Bowl contender already.

Baltimore 33 Seattle 17

Detroit (6-2) @ Chicago (5-3)

Once unable to even win a game on the road, the Lions now can’t lose away from home. And even though it appears the Bears are for real this year, the Lions offensive attack is a step better than Chicago’s and will make the difference in this one.

Detroit 30 Chicago 21

NY Giants (6-2) @ San Francisco (7-1)

If Eli can go into Foxboro and win, then he surely can go into Candlestick and come out with a win. In my opinion, the Niners are in the same boat as the Bengals. I just don’t believe in them yet, but a win this week might change things. But the Giants need this game a LOT more because of the brutal schedule that lies ahead for them.

NY Giants 27 San Francisco 14

New England (5-3) @ NY Jets (5-3)

I think the Pats go back to their dominant ways(offensively) in this one because they know the Jets really really well, unlike the Steelers and Giants, who made Tom Brady look below normal. Brady knows the ins and outs of Revis Island and this experience puts the Pats back on top of the division.

New England 33 NY Jets 22

Minnesota (2-6) @ Green Bay (8-0)

The Packers are halfway home.

Green Bay 35 Minnesota 17

MVP Watch (Last week's rank in brackets)

5. Tom Brady (5) QB New England 2703 YDS 20 TD 10 INT

Led a late touchdown drive against the Giants and didn’t play that bad last week. He’s hanging on this list by a thread.

4. Matthew Stafford (4) QB Detroit 2179 yds 19 TD 4 INT

Bye Week.

3. Drew Brees (3) QB New Orleans 3004 YDS 21 TD 11 INT

Bounce-back performance against the Bucs. Eyeing Dan Marino’s regular season yardage record.

2. Cam Newton (2) QB Carolina 2393 yds 11 TD 9 INT 7 rushing tds

Bye Week.

1. Aaron Rodgers (1) QB Green Bay 2619 yds 24 TD 3 INT

It’s a race for 2^nd place. Barring an unfortunate injury, Rodgers has virtually locked up the award.