NFL Picks, Week 11

There are no more byes left on the schedule. 16 big ones coming up!

Last week: 6-8 (yuck)
Season: 95-41

Washington at Dallas: The Redskins are pretty ordinary, evidenced by last week’s home loss to the Eagles. The Cowboys are showing themselves to be the class of the NFC. This is shaping up to be a special season in Dallas. Pick: Dallas

Carolina at Green Bay: The Packers continue to look good, and are tied with the Cowboys for the best record in the NFC. Panthers coach John Fox has chosen 44-year old Vinny Testaverde as his starter over a healthy David Carr. Two months ago, Vinny was watching games at his house on TV. Brett Favre isn’t as old as Vinny, but he’s a better quarterback. Pick: Packers

Oakland at Minnesota: The sorry Raiders visit the great not-quite-white North this week to play the Adrian Peterson-less Vikings. In his place, Chester Taylor comes up big for the Vikes this week. Pick: Minnesota

New Orleans at Houston: Houston’s Third Team (behind the Texans and Cowboys) visits this week, reminding Texans fans of the botched 2006 draft, when Reggie Bush was not picked by Houston. This one is hard to pick. The Saints lost last week to the winless Rams. The Texans aren’t real great, but have won four games. Make that five. Pick: Houston

Tampa Bay at Atlanta: The Falcons are becoming winners, as they have won the last two games in a row. The Bucs are in first place in a mediocre NFC South. Atlanta wins another one. They’re hot! Pick: Falcons

Arizona at Cincinnati: The Bengals won a game last week by kicking seven field goals. Can they score a touchdown on the Cardinals? Which Cardinals show up? Can they play two good games in a row? Pick: Cincinnati

NY Giants at Detroit: Giants looked really mediocre last week against Dallas. Lions went back to being the normal Lions last week in Arizona. Can Detroit rediscover the mojo? Yes. Pick: Detroit

Kansas City at Indianapolis: Colts return home licking their wounds after blowing a chance to win last week in San Diego. Chiefs stunk last week against Denver. Colts bounce back. Pick: Indy

Miami at Philadelphia: The Dolphins are 0-9, and start John Beck at QB this week for the first time. They are also bringing Ricky Williams back from a drug suspension, but not for this week. The Eagles earned a good comeback win last week in Washington. In spite of their problems, they should hand the Dolphins defeat number 10. Pick: Philly

San Diego at Jacksonville: San Diego really saved their season last week, as they held on for a 23-21 win over the Colts. Jacksonville scored an important win as well, going on the road to defeat the Titans. The Jaguars, most weeks, are a pretty solid team. Pick: Jags

Cleveland at Baltimore: New Browns vs. Old Browns, Part 2. The Ravens are quickly becoming an ugly, ugly team. Their offense has never been good, and their defense is getting injured and old. The Browns, on the other hand, are the surprise of the year in the NFL. Derek Anderson lights another defense up as the Browns prepare to trade Brady Quinn for a #1 pick in next year’s draft. Pick: Browns

St. Louis at San Francisco: The Suck Bowl. The Rams finally hit the win column last week, as Marc Bulger and Steven Jackson have returned from injury. The Niners have slipped into futility again, as Alex Smith and Trent Dilfer have both been ineffective at quarterback. Rams get another win this week. Pick: St. Louis

Chicago at Seattle: The Bears scored two touchdowns in the last four minutes of last week’s game against the sorry Raiders, behind (or in spite of) QB Rex Grossman. Seattle flexed their muscle last week againt the awful 49ers, and has the advantage again this week. Pick: Seattle

Pittsburgh at NY Jets: Pittsburgh is good. The Jets are not. Pick: Pittsburgh

New England at Buffalo: Ambush alert. The Patriots are coming off a bye to play a Sunday Night game against the resurgent Bills. Believe it or not, this might be a good game. However, don’t pick against the Pats. Pick: New England

Tennessee at Denver: Where did the Broncos come from? They looked like a pretty good NFL team last week in disposing of the Chiefs. The Titans, meanwhile, were mediocre in losing at home to the Titans. Can Denver play two good games in a row? Sure. Pick: Denver