I went 8-8 last week. That puts me at 104-88 for the season. For a comparison, check out the "experts" over at ESPN.
Here are my picks for the NFL's Week 14:
*THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9*
Indianapolis 6-6 at Tennessee 5-7 @ 8:20 PM [Line: Colts by 3]
The Titans have lost five in a row. The Colts have dropped three straight. Indianapolis needs to win this one if they want to have a shot at winning the AFC South and making the playoffs. Over the last five games, Peyton Manning has thrown 9 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions; the Colts have lost four of those five games.
RJ's Pick: Colts by 7
*SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12*
Cleveland 5-7 at Buffalo 2-10 @ 1:00 PM [Line: Bills by 1.5]
The Browns have won two in a row. The Bills have lost their last two. Unless the Browns get behind by a lot early, Peyton Hillis should rush for 100+ yards in this one, easy.
RJ's Pick: Browns by 4
Cincinnati 2-10 at Pittsburgh 9-3 @ 1:00 PM [Line: Steelers by 9]
The Bengals have lost nine straight games. The AFC North-leading Steelers have won three in a row. This one shouldn't be close.
RJ's Pick: Steelers by 17
Green Bay 8-4 at Detroit 2-10 @ 1:00 PM [Line: Packers by 6.5]
The Packers have the NFL's top defense in terms of points allowed. All four of their losses have come by exactly three points each. The Lions have lost five in a row. There's no good reason to pick the Lions in this one, but then there's no good reason to be a Lions fan, either.
RJ's Pick: Lions by 1
New York Giants 8-4 at Minnesota 5-7 @ 1:00 PM [Line: Giants by 2]
The Giants have won two straight. The Vikings have also won their last two. Will Brett Favre be healthy enough to start his 298th consecutive regular season game? We probably won't know until right before game time.
RJ's Pick: Giants by 8
Tampa Bay 7-5 at Washington 5-7 @ 1:00 PM [Line: Buccaneers by 2]
The Buccaneers have lost two in a row and are now unlikely to make the postseason. The Redskins have also lost two straight and have the league's worst defense in terms of yards allowed per game. Albert Haynesworth has been suspended without pay for the rest of the season for ... well, for being a selfish, immature asshole. (Daniel Snyder, you are a football genius.)
Article comments
1 - C2E
We differ on three picks this week, including the Packer-Lion game, of course. Couldn't bring myself to pick the Texans. Picks:
Colts over Titans
Patriots over Bears
Packers over Lions
Jaguars over Raiders
Buccaneers over Redskins
Falcons over Panthers
Giants over Vikings
Browns over Bills
Steelers over Bengals
Seahawks over 49ers
Saints over Rams
Chargers over Chiefs
Jets over Dolphins
Broncos over Cardinals
Cowboys over Eagles
Ravens over Texans
2 - C2E
Looks like that dang Wikileaks Army hacked the NFL RedZone channel. They are reporting that the Lowly Lions beat the Packers. Like I would believe that!
3 - RJ
Heh...
4 - RJ
TB beating Philly because of a missed extra point with nine seconds left...two football games on Monday night because of a game rescheduling caused by a blizzard basically destroying an NFL stadium...Brett Favre's streak likely to come to an end...it's been a weird week all around!
5 - C2E
The Fox video really looks like some sort of Hollywood action/disaster movie.
Vikings Giants musical stadiums is highly unusual. Hate to see Favre's streak come to an end!
Friggin Chargers playing lights out this week after knocking me out of Survivor last week...
Oh, well. Looks like we might have us a pretty good SNF game!
6 - C2E
Cowboys and Texans both had good games but lost in the end. This is becoming the Texans' trademark - find a way to lose!
I'm 10-6 this week and 126-82 overall.
RIP FavreStreak...
7 - RJ
FINAL SCORES:
COLTS 30, TITANS 28 - RJ 1-0 [0-1 ATS]
BILLS 13, BROWNS 6 - RJ 1-1 [0-2]
STEELERS 23, BENGALS 7 - RJ 2-1 [1-2]
LIONS 7, GB 3 - RJ 3-1 [2-2]
GIANTS 21, VIKINGS 3 - RJ 4-1 [3-2]
TB 17, REDSKINS 16 - RJ 4-2 [4-2 ATS]
ATLANTA 31, CAROLINA 10 - RJ 5-2 [5-2]
JACKSONVILLE 38, OAKLAND 31 - RJ 6-2 [5-3]
49ERS 40, SEATTLE 21 - RJ 7-2 [5-4]
SAINTS 31, RAMS 13 - RJ 8-2 [5-5]
MIAMI 10, JETS 6 - RJ 8-3 [6-5]
ARIZONA 43, DENVER 13 - RJ 8-4 [6-6]
SD 31, KC 0 - RJ 9-4 [7-6]
NE 36, BEARS 7 - RJ 10-4 [8-6]
EAGLES 30, DALLAS 27 - 10-5 [8-6-1]
RAVENS 34, HOUSTON 28 - 11-5 [9-6-1 ATS] (and I nailed the spread!)
8 - RJ
Through 14 weeks:
115-93 straight-up
101-98-9 against the spread
9 - RJ
Additional predictions:
"Unless the Browns get behind by a lot early, Peyton Hillis should rush for 100+ yards in this one, easy." Hillis rushed for 108 yards in a close game.
"The Panthers have the worst record in the NFL and have lost six straight. This should be a blowout, and possibly a shutout." Atlanta won 31-10.
"The Jaguars have won four of their last five. If it's a close one, there will probably be 300+ yards rushing between these two teams." Total rushing yards: Oakland, 153; Jacksonville, 234; Combined total, 387.
"The Super Bowl champion Saints have won five in a row. I expect a competitive game, but with an unsurprising outcome." New Orleans won 31-13.
"Jon Kitna has been solid over the last four games, with 7 passing touchdowns, 1 rushing touchdown, and just 2 interceptions. I expect a high-scoring, competitive game." Philadelphia won 30-27.
10 - RJ
ESPN's NFL "experts" in Week 14:
Allen 10-6 Golic 10-6 Hoge 13-3 Jaworski 11-4 Mortensen 9-7 Schefter 8-8 Schlereth 12-4 Wickersham 11-5 Accuscore 11-5 Pick 'em 12-4
11 - RJ
ESPN's NFL "experts" through 14 weeks:
Allen 120-88 Golic 132-76 Hoge 130-78 Jaworski 129-64 Mortensen 129-79 Schefter 112-96 Schlereth 132-76 Wickersham 124-84 Accuscore 135-73 Pick 'em 133-75