I went 10-6 last week. That puts me at 101-59 for the season. For a comparison, check out the "experts" over at ESPN.
(Note: This week’s column will be rather short due to several factors - Thursday afternoon games, the Thanksgiving holiday, the author having large amounts of school work to do, and the author being in the process of moving. Please submit any and all complaints to Blogcritics Magazine Sports Editor Matt Sussman. Be sure to be creative in your use of vulgarities.)
(Editor's Note of Rebuttal: I think I speak for everyone when we all wish RJ a very happy Thanksgiving. May he enjoy his delicious TV dinner as he watches the Lions game sitting on his beanbag chair in his cold, empty apartment this Thursday afternoon. —Suss)
Here are my picks for the NFL's Week Twelve:
*Thursday, November 22, 2007*
RJ'S GAME OF THE WEEK: Green Bay 9-1 at Detroit 6-4 - 12:30 pm (Sheridan’s line: Green Bay by 3.5)
The Packers are looking ahead to their big matchup next week against Dallas. The Lions, who have dropped two straight, simply need to win this one more.
RJ’s Pick: Detroit by 3
New York Jets 2-8 at Dallas 9-1 - 4:15 pm (Sheridan’s line: Dallas by 14)
Congratulations to the Jets for getting their first win since September last week. They only have a few days to savor their one-game winning streak, however, before they get demolished by the Cowboys on Turkey Day. A one-sided blowout like this will put more people to sleep than tryptophan.
RJ’s Pick: Dallas by 24
Indianapolis 8-2 at Atlanta 3-7 - 8:15 pm (Sheridan’s line: Indianapolis by 11.5)
The Colts are still banged-up and struggling. The Falcons never know who they are going to wind up playing at quarterback week to week. Indy is the superior team, but I expect this game to be close.
RJ’s Pick: Indianapolis by 5
*Sunday, November 25, 2007*
Buffalo 5-5 at Jacksonville 7-3 - 1:00 pm (Sheridan’s line: Jacksonville by 7.5)
The Bills defense was looking rather impressive this year until they allowed 56 points at home to the Patriots last week. The Jaguars have won two big games in a row, and trail the Colts by just one game in the AFC South.
RJ’s Pick: Jacksonville by 10
Houston 5-5 at Cleveland 6-4 - 1:00 pm (Sheridan’s line: Cleveland by 4)
The Texans aren’t out of it just yet! At 5-5, they are alone in last place in the AFC South, but would be in a tie for first place if they played in the AFC West. Their chances of making the playoffs as a Wild Card are somewhat slim, however, especially with their 0-3 division record and 3-4 conference record. The Browns continue to surprise and impress.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - RJ
Close, but I don't own a beanbag. Too expensive for my tastes.
2 - CallmeMaddy
Sigh.
I'm still depressed about my Steelers losing to the Jets. How embarrassing.
Your predictions seem about right. We'll see.
3 - alessandro
I guess I should give my picks for tomorrow, eh?
Green Bay, Dallas and Indy.
I'm sure there's an upset in there but I'm not about to even try...
Matt, you forgot the inflatable doll.
4 - alessandro
Since it's TG in the USA, I reserve the right to chance my pick - Lions. Thank you.
5 - DOM @ HSU
det - i want the pack to lose more than anything..
indy
dal
6 - sierra
I'm taking every home team except Colts @ Falcons. (still having to go way out there to try to crawl back to 1st place in my pool).
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
7 - RJ
Bad move changing your pick, Alessandro... :-/
8 - RJ
Final Scores:
GB 37, Detroit 26 - RJ 0-1
Dallas 34, Jets 3 - RJ 1-1
Colts 31, Falcons 13 - RJ 2-1
9 - b in nh
rj - wanna take a second stab at a "game of the week"? i like seattle, new orleans, tennessee, and denver to cover the spreads.
you do pretty good analysis. you're not the only guy i read picking detroit today - much to my surprise. what swayed my pick was the meltdown kitna had after last week's game. a team in turmoil is nothing to be scared of.
thanks. keep up the good work.
10 - alessandro
i don't know who that guy was. didn't you know i'm bi-polar?
11 - DOM @ HSU
JACKSONVILLE
CLEVELAND
NYG... I guess..
CAROLINA.. close game here
KC.. shouldn't lose three in a row but they could
ST. LOUIS.. just don't like seattle.. if Jackson makes some plays seattle is going to lose
TENNESSEE
TB.. go Tampa
SF.. freak game SF wins.
SD
DENVER
NE
PITTSBURGH
12 - alessandro
Jacksonville,Cleveland , Giants, Panthers,Kansas City, Seattle, Tampa, Arizona, San Diego, New England, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Tennessee.
I was eating some tortellini and remembered that I forgot to put in my picks.
Hey, better late than never.
13 - RJ
Updated lines:
Tennessee over Cincinnati by 1.5
Chicago over Denver by 2
Cleveland over Houston by 3.5
New York Giants over Minnesota by 7
New Orleans over Carolina by 2
Kansas City over Oakland by 5.5
San Diego over Baltimore by 9
New England over Philly by 24(!)
14 - RJ
Final Scores:
NO 31, Carolina 6 - RJ 3-1
Jaguars 36, Bills 14 - RJ 4-1
TB 19, Washington 13 - RJ 5-1
Seattle 24, SF 19 - RJ 6-1
Vikings 41(!), Giants 17 - RJ 6-2
15 - RJ
Oakland 20, KC 17 - RJ 6-3
Bengals 35, Tennessee 6 - RJ 6-4
Cleveland 27, Houston 17 - RJ 7-4
16 - RJ
ESPN's NFL "experts" through 11 games:
Wickersham 8-3
Salisbury 6-5
Hoge 9-2
Jaworski 7-4
Schlereth 7-4
Allen 7-4
Mortensen 5-6
Golic 6-5
Accuscore 8-3
17 - RJ
Final Scores:
SF 37, Arizona 31 (in OT) - RJ 7-5
SD 32, Baltimore 14 - RJ 8-5
Chicago 37, Denver 34 (in OT) - RJ 8-6
18 - alessandro
Man, that's a tough loss for the Iggles. Why did Feeley make than forced pass? They had the vibe going. They could have scored on that final drive.
19 - alessandro
But they leave with their heads high.
20 - RJ
Pretty good game!
Final Score:
NE 31, Philly 28 - RJ 9-6
21 - DOM @ HSU
9-6... yay i picked a 10.5 dog! SF..
and wow STL had 4 chances to get in the endzone at end of the game 1st and goal!!
cant believe tennessee got whooped by the bengals too... whats up with that RJ?
22 - RJ
I certainly didn't see the outcome of the Titan-Bengals game coming, DOM.
Maybe the Titans just aren't all that good? Last season they came on strong at the end; this season they seem to be collapsing at the end...
23 - DOM @ HSU
ya definitely a freak game.. now three losses in a row but they're coming home.. plus still in wildcard race.. they really have to put it all on the table against Houston.. should be a close game.
24 - RJ
Final Score:
Steelers 3, Dolphins 0 (!!!) - RJ 10-6
25 - RJ
ESPN's NFL "experts" -
Wickersham 11-5
Salisbury 10-6
Hoge 13-3
Jaworski 9-6
Schlereth 10-6
Allen 10-6
Mortensen 9-7
Golic 9-7
Accuscore 11-5