MINNESOTA (-4.5) over Chicago, 1:00 ET.
I like Chicago more than most, but it seems like the Vikings will be desperate this week. They've lost the lead in the division and have had to some tough losses against really good teams. That defense will stand up and make enough plays against this good Bears offense to pull out the win.
Minnesota 24, Chicago 21.
JACKSONVILLE (-2.5) over Atlanta, 1:00 ET.
Jacksonville isn't all that bad. They have good young weapons, Blake Bortles is coming into his own. The Falcons are absolutely reeling and they can't keep the Jags off the scoreboard. Look, Jacksonville actually has a chance at the AFC South title. They're one game back, and one of the two of Indy and Houston will lose because they're playing each other. By this time Monday morning, the Jaguars will be tied for second in the division.
Jacksonville 28, Atlanta 24.
Houston over INDIANAPOLIS (-1.5), 1:00 ET.
Charlie Whitehurst might start this game for Indy. CHARLIE WHITEHURST!!!! Are you kidding me? That guy is going to beat J.J. Watt, the emerging Jadeveon Clowney, and the rest of that Texans defense? Deandre Hopkins is going to go another week without aking an impact? Come on. Why are the Colts even favored? They have no way of moving the ball!
Houston 20, Indianapolis 14.
KANSAS CITY (-7) over Baltimore, 1:00 ET.
The Chiefs are on a mission right now. The defense is playing incredibly well, and Alex Smith is actually using his wide receivers, playing some very nice football. They're moving the ball on offense, and stopping the ball on defense. Baltimore... Baltimore's a train wreck. They've been ravaged by injuries. It's very unfortunate, but I think it's karma for the whole "we employ wife-beaters and murderers and generally awful people" thing. So I won't shed a tear for them.
Kansas City 31, Baltimore 20.
WASHINGTON over Buffalo (-2), 1:00 ET.
So the Bills are 5 points better than Washington on a neutral field? Didn't the Bills just lose to the Eagles for no particular reason? What am I missing? Why do people think the Bills are really good? Are they enamored with Tyrod Taylor? I don't really get it. Washington needs this game, with the Giants playing Carolina and Philly playing Arizona, to move ahead in the division. Kirk Cousins is playing some very good football as of late, and the Washington defense is pretty nice.
Washington 27, Buffalo 24.
NEW ENGLAND (-14.5) over Tennessee, 1:00 ET.
The Patriots are a completely different team when Gronkowski plays. You could see it last week against the Texans; he opened up the field for the running game, for Amendola, and for LaFell. Even though he played fewer snaps than usual, you could see the impact he has on the game, the way he makes so many things possible for the Pats, and that's why it's so hard as a Pats fan to watch these safeties go after his knees each week. For now he's back, so I'm taking the Pats.
New England 31, Tennessee 17.
Carolina (-5) over NY GIANTS, 1:00 ET.
I wanted to pick the Giants for this game. As we all know, the Giants have a history of ruining streaks and undefeated seasons (sigh), and they always elevate their game against good teams. I expect nothing less than a fantastic game fro these two teams. But I'm not picking against Carolina until they prove to me that they can lose. Cam Newton has made it a legitimate battle for MVP with Tom Brady, and he's playing at a level we always wanted to see from him. I have to roll with Carolina.
Carolina 28, New York 27.
SEATTLE (-14.5) over Cleveland, 4:05 ET.
Seattle is coming on strong in recent weeks, which is about the least surprising development as we transition to the end of the season. I'll take them at home over Cleveland.
Seattle 35, Cleveland 14.
Green Bay (-4) over OAKLAND, 4:05 ET.
It was fun while it lasted with Oakland, and they should be a contender in the upcoming years if they can, but now they're running up on the Packers. Aaron Rodgers doesn't generally lose games in December, especially to the Raiders. That Packer defense has been playing well, I think they'll force some turnovers against the young David Carr.
Green Bay 31, Oakland 24.
Miami over SAN DIEGO (-2), 4:25 ET.
What a crappy game. FYI, the Chargers should never get points because they're playing at home, since they have about the opposite of a home field advantage. I don't know what's going to happen in this game, but I do know one thing; I wouldn't watch this game even if I did have NFL Sunday Ticket.
Miami 24, San Diego 20.
PITTSBURGH (-7) over Denver, 4:25 ET.
Pittsburgh needs this game to improve their spot in the standings, I think they'll play hungry, motivated. Look for a great game from Antonio Brown or Martavis Bryant. I like Brock Osweiler, but I'm not sure he can take enough advantage of the Steelers atrocious secondary to keep up with Big Ben and the Steelers weapons.
Pittsburgh 31, Denver 27.
Cincinnati (-6.5) over SAN FRANSISCO, 4:25 ET.
This is a nice little match-up for the Bengals to beat up on San Fran before taking on Denver in a huge game next week. This could be a nice tune-up for AJ McCarron to gain some confidence in case he has to start that Denver game in place of Andy Dalton. This one's pretty much a foregone conclusion.
Cincinnati 35, San Fransisco 13.
Arizona (-4) over PHILADELPHIA, 8:30 ET.
Arizona and Seattle are the only teams in the NFC that I think could beat the Panthers. That's high praise. The Cardinals are really good. Carson Palmer is operating at the same level as Brady, Newton, and Russell right now, taking advantage of his many weapons. The defense is just as good as it was last year, maybe even better. Meanwhile, I'm starting to come around on the Eagles, but not enough to believe in them against this Cardinals team.
Arizona 35, Philadelphia 24.
Last Week: 9-6
Season: 64-36
I like Chicago more than most, but it seems like the Vikings will be desperate this week. They've lost the lead in the division and have had to some tough losses against really good teams. That defense will stand up and make enough plays against this good Bears offense to pull out the win.
Minnesota 24, Chicago 21.
JACKSONVILLE (-2.5) over Atlanta, 1:00 ET.
Jacksonville isn't all that bad. They have good young weapons, Blake Bortles is coming into his own. The Falcons are absolutely reeling and they can't keep the Jags off the scoreboard. Look, Jacksonville actually has a chance at the AFC South title. They're one game back, and one of the two of Indy and Houston will lose because they're playing each other. By this time Monday morning, the Jaguars will be tied for second in the division.
Jacksonville 28, Atlanta 24.
Houston over INDIANAPOLIS (-1.5), 1:00 ET.
Charlie Whitehurst might start this game for Indy. CHARLIE WHITEHURST!!!! Are you kidding me? That guy is going to beat J.J. Watt, the emerging Jadeveon Clowney, and the rest of that Texans defense? Deandre Hopkins is going to go another week without aking an impact? Come on. Why are the Colts even favored? They have no way of moving the ball!
Houston 20, Indianapolis 14.
KANSAS CITY (-7) over Baltimore, 1:00 ET.
The Chiefs are on a mission right now. The defense is playing incredibly well, and Alex Smith is actually using his wide receivers, playing some very nice football. They're moving the ball on offense, and stopping the ball on defense. Baltimore... Baltimore's a train wreck. They've been ravaged by injuries. It's very unfortunate, but I think it's karma for the whole "we employ wife-beaters and murderers and generally awful people" thing. So I won't shed a tear for them.
Kansas City 31, Baltimore 20.
WASHINGTON over Buffalo (-2), 1:00 ET.
So the Bills are 5 points better than Washington on a neutral field? Didn't the Bills just lose to the Eagles for no particular reason? What am I missing? Why do people think the Bills are really good? Are they enamored with Tyrod Taylor? I don't really get it. Washington needs this game, with the Giants playing Carolina and Philly playing Arizona, to move ahead in the division. Kirk Cousins is playing some very good football as of late, and the Washington defense is pretty nice.
Washington 27, Buffalo 24.
NEW ENGLAND (-14.5) over Tennessee, 1:00 ET.
The Patriots are a completely different team when Gronkowski plays. You could see it last week against the Texans; he opened up the field for the running game, for Amendola, and for LaFell. Even though he played fewer snaps than usual, you could see the impact he has on the game, the way he makes so many things possible for the Pats, and that's why it's so hard as a Pats fan to watch these safeties go after his knees each week. For now he's back, so I'm taking the Pats.
New England 31, Tennessee 17.
Carolina (-5) over NY GIANTS, 1:00 ET.
I wanted to pick the Giants for this game. As we all know, the Giants have a history of ruining streaks and undefeated seasons (sigh), and they always elevate their game against good teams. I expect nothing less than a fantastic game fro these two teams. But I'm not picking against Carolina until they prove to me that they can lose. Cam Newton has made it a legitimate battle for MVP with Tom Brady, and he's playing at a level we always wanted to see from him. I have to roll with Carolina.
Carolina 28, New York 27.
SEATTLE (-14.5) over Cleveland, 4:05 ET.
Seattle is coming on strong in recent weeks, which is about the least surprising development as we transition to the end of the season. I'll take them at home over Cleveland.
Seattle 35, Cleveland 14.
Green Bay (-4) over OAKLAND, 4:05 ET.
It was fun while it lasted with Oakland, and they should be a contender in the upcoming years if they can, but now they're running up on the Packers. Aaron Rodgers doesn't generally lose games in December, especially to the Raiders. That Packer defense has been playing well, I think they'll force some turnovers against the young David Carr.
Green Bay 31, Oakland 24.
Miami over SAN DIEGO (-2), 4:25 ET.
What a crappy game. FYI, the Chargers should never get points because they're playing at home, since they have about the opposite of a home field advantage. I don't know what's going to happen in this game, but I do know one thing; I wouldn't watch this game even if I did have NFL Sunday Ticket.
Miami 24, San Diego 20.
PITTSBURGH (-7) over Denver, 4:25 ET.
Pittsburgh needs this game to improve their spot in the standings, I think they'll play hungry, motivated. Look for a great game from Antonio Brown or Martavis Bryant. I like Brock Osweiler, but I'm not sure he can take enough advantage of the Steelers atrocious secondary to keep up with Big Ben and the Steelers weapons.
Pittsburgh 31, Denver 27.
Cincinnati (-6.5) over SAN FRANSISCO, 4:25 ET.
This is a nice little match-up for the Bengals to beat up on San Fran before taking on Denver in a huge game next week. This could be a nice tune-up for AJ McCarron to gain some confidence in case he has to start that Denver game in place of Andy Dalton. This one's pretty much a foregone conclusion.
Cincinnati 35, San Fransisco 13.
Arizona (-4) over PHILADELPHIA, 8:30 ET.
Arizona and Seattle are the only teams in the NFC that I think could beat the Panthers. That's high praise. The Cardinals are really good. Carson Palmer is operating at the same level as Brady, Newton, and Russell right now, taking advantage of his many weapons. The defense is just as good as it was last year, maybe even better. Meanwhile, I'm starting to come around on the Eagles, but not enough to believe in them against this Cardinals team.
Arizona 35, Philadelphia 24.
Last Week: 9-6
Season: 64-36
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