Arizona (4-8) at Seattle (7-5) - 4:25 p.m. (Line: SEATTLE BY 10)
The Cardinals have lost eight games in a row. The Seahawks are undefeated at home this season, but are 0-3 against divisional opponents.
---RJ's Pick: Seattle by 4
New Orleans (5-7) at New York Giants (7-5) - 4:25 p.m. (Line: NEW YORK GIANTS BY 5)
The Saints need to win their last four games to have any realistic chance of making the playoffs. They are just 2-4 on the road this season. The Giants have lost three of their last four and are at risk of falling out of first place in the NFC East.
---RJ's Pick: New York Giants by 1
Detroit (4-8) at Green Bay (8-4) - 8:20 p.m. (Line: GREEN BAY BY 6.5)
The Lions have lost four in a row, including three straight home games in which they held a fourth quarter lead. The Packers are 5-1 at home this season. I strongly discourage readers from taking my advice on this pick.
---RJ's Pick: Detroit by 3
*Monday, December 10*
Houston (11-1) at New England (9-3) - 8:30 p.m. (Line: NEW ENGLAND BY 3.5)
This is quite possibly a preview of the AFC Championship Game. The Texans have the league's second best offense in terms of points scored per game; the Patriots have the best. The Texans are ranked fourth in total yards of offense; the Patriots are ranked first. The Texans, however, are allowing just 18.4 points per game, while the Patriots are allowing 21.7.
Key questions: How many of Tom Brady's passes will J.J. Watt get a hand on? How many times will J.J. Watt get his hands on Tom Brady? Which Texans defense will show up? The one that gave up 42 points to Green Bay, 37 points to Jacksonville, and 31 points to Detroit? Or the one that held Chicago to 6 points, Buffalo to 9, Tennessee to 10, and Baltimore to 13?
---RJ's Pick: New England by 10
[If you're interested, you can check out the full list of Danny Sheridan's Odds here.]
Article comments
1 - C2E
Your answers to the questions posed in the Game of the Week analysis apparently are as follows:
Not many
None
The Former
Have to disagree:
A couple
At least once, but look out for Antonio!
The former in the latter part of Q1, first part of Q2, latter part of Q3 and most of Q4; the former otherwise.
Texans defense will decide the outcome. Shake Brady and they win. No sweat Brady, they lose.
Texans by 4.
2 - C2E
Former/latter error.
Defense plays well in latter part of Q1, first part of Q2, latter part of Q3 and most of Q4. Plays poorly and allows 20 or so points otherwise.
3 - RJ
Final Score:
Denver 26, Oakland 13 - RJ 1-0 (0-1 ATS)
4 - RJ
FINAL SCORES:
RAMS 15, BILLS 12 - RJ 1-1 (0-2 ATS)
DALLAS 20, BENGALS 19 - RJ 1-2 (0-3 ATS)
BROWNS 30, KC 7 - RJ 2-2 (0-4 ATS)
COLTS 27, TITANS 23 - RJ 3-2 (0-5 ATS)
VIKINGS 21, BEARS 14 - RJ 4-2 (1-5 ATS)
EAGLES 23, TB 21 - RJ 4-3 (1-6 ATS)
REDSKINS 31, RAVENS 28 (IN OT) - RJ 5-3 (2-6 ATS)
CAROLINA 30, ATLANTA 20 - RJ 5-4 (2-7 ATS)
JETS 17, JACKSONVILLE 10 - RJ 6-4 (3-7 ATS)
SD 34, STEELERS 24 - RJ 6-5 (3-8 ATS)
SF 27, MIAMI 13 - RJ 7-5 (3-9 ATS)
SEATTLE 58, ARIZONA 0 - RJ 8-5 (3-10 ATS)
GIANTS 52, NO 27 - RJ 9-5 (3-11 ATS)
5 - RJ
FINAL SCORE:
GB 27, LIONS 20 - RJ 9-6 (3-12 ATS)
6 - RJ
Final Score:
Patriots 42, Texans 14 - RJ 10-6 (4-12 ATS)
7 - RJ
C2E:
Houston's defense has looked pretty awful in three of their last four games now. It might be time for Texans fans to worry. Heck, they not only run the risk of falling out of the top seed in the AFC, but they could realistically fail to even win their division! (Two of their three remaining games are against the Colts, who are two games back in the AFC South.)
8 - RJ
RJ through 14 weeks:
133-75 straight up
94-106-8 against the spread
9 - RJ
ESPN's NFL "experts" in Week 14:
Allen
12-4
Golic
7-9
Hoge
9-7
Jaworski
9-7
Mortensen
10-6
Schefter
11-5
Schlereth
12-4
Wickersham
11-5
Jackson
10-6
Johnson
10-6
Ditka
11-5
Carter
11-5
Accuscore
10-6
Pick 'em
9-7
10 - RJ
ESPN's NFL "experts" through 14 weeks:
Allen
124-84
Golic
128-80
Hoge
135-73
Jaworski
136-72
Mortensen
146-62
Schefter
131-77
Schlereth
133-75
Wickersham
146-62
Jackson
128-80
Johnson
125-83
Ditka
130-78
Carter
137-71
Accuscore
131-77
Pick 'em
133-74
11 - C2E
Texans were just awful. Sort of a depressed mood in Houston today. Texans have injuries on defense, but they just don't seem to match up with Green Bay or the Pats. They can't air it out with the top QBs.
It's one thing to get beat...Pats were likely to do that. But to get outplayed on so many levels was embarrassing!