NFL Picks for Week 11

These picks are coming later and later. I have to start making them on Friday nights again.

Last week was horrible. I was 5-8 for an overall record of 80-53 and a .601 winning percentage. Bad. I’ll try to do better this week. I again have to do them quick pick style.

Cleveland at Baltimore – CBS, 1 p.m.
My Browns know they had the game last week in Pittsburgh for the taking and allowed the Steelers to win it late. No way should that have happened. The Ravens can’t play on offense. Their defense is divided. Ray Lewis is pissed. Take the Browns to win, 28-10.

Miami at Philadelphia – CBS, 1 p.m.
I heard NBCSports.com’s Tom Curran give compelling arguments why Miami will win this game. I don’t agree. The Eagles are a schizophrenic team. You have no idea which one will show up. I pick them one week, they lose. I pick against them the next week, they win. I can’t figure them out. But Donovan McNabb looks like his mobility is truly back, but he’s not having fun playing. I do think Donovan will be with a different team next season, but that aside, the Eagles don’t want to play the role of New Orleans last week, big favorites against a winless team and pull a stinker at home to allow the Rams to get their first win. The Eagles are big favorites today and don’t want to pull another stinker at home this week. Take the Iggles to win today, although the Dolphins will play them tough, 23-19.

Oakland at Minnesota – CBS, 1 p.m.
The Raiders have a winnable game here, because Adrian Peterson won’t get the start, but more than competent Chester Taylor will play in his place. Oakland played Chicago well last week, but found a way to lose. The Vikings’ defense is pretty good and I think Cade McNown or no Cade McNown, the Raiders will find a way to allow the Vikings to win, 25-21.

San Diego at Jacksonville – CBS, 1 p.m.
The Chargers are still trying to find their identity. Despite picking Peyton Manning six times last Sunday night, the Colts were still a FG away from winning even though the Chargers got out to a quick 23-0 lead. Philip Rivers didn’t play well. LaDanian Tomlinson still isn’t getting enough touches. And Jacksonville got a very nice win last week against Tennessee. The Jags can use their two headed monster of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew to run against a Chargers defense that hasn’t not impressed this season. I’m going to take the Jags at home to win. They’ll control the clock and the ball. Jags, 28-17.

Kansas City at Indianapolis – CBS, 1 p.m.
One of the more intriguing matchups of the early games. The Colts are hurting. Marvin Harrison will not play again today. Dwight Freeney is out possibly for the entire season. Suddenly after two straight losses, Colts fans are wondering how good their team is. I’ll tell how good they are. Despite falling behind, 23-0 last week in San Diego, the Colts were in a position to win the game. Adam Vinitieiri, Colts fans, is not an embedded Patriot. He should have made that kick, but for some reason, missed a 23 yarder. The Chiefs have Brodie Croyle at QB this week and he’s learning on the job. Having him play in Indy is not a good place to start. The Colts will get much better against the Chiefs, 38-21.

Tampa Bay at Atlanta – Fox, 1 p.m.
The Falcons are actually playing much better these days. Last week’s win against Carolina was a prime example. Even Joey Harrington played well at QB and Detroit fans know how he can play, poorly at best. But even at home, I do think the Bucs who were off last week will be ready today. I’ll take the Bucs to win this, 26-13.

Arizona at Cincinnati – Fox, 1 p.m.
These are two teams coming off wins last week. The Bengals had 7 figgys and didn’t look impressive, but against Baltimore, you don’t have to be impressive. Arizona somehow ambushed Detroit. I still don’t know how they did it. Now, the Bengals are home and the Cards have a chance to get to .500 with a win today. I’ll take the Bengals only because they’re home, but their defense may lose this game for them. Bengals, 19-15.

Carolina at Green Bay – Fox, 1 p.m.
Take the Packers in this one. They’re at home. They have a new-found running attack. Brett Favre is having fun. The Panthers have no idea who’s playing at QB. Take the Pack, 28-10.

New Orleans at Houston – Fox, 1 p.m.
Again, I have no idea about the Saints. Right when you think they’ve righted the ship, they pull off a stinker against the Rams. Coach Sean Payton tried to warn his team last week that the Rams were a potential trap game, but did his team listen? No. Now they go into Houston where the Saints are another 4-5 team trying to get to .500. The Texans are hoping to get to 5-5 as well. I don’t know. I throw up my hands. I’ll take the Saints as I throw a dart at the board to determine this winner. Saints, 14-10.

New York Giants at Detroit – Fox, 1 p.m.
Both teams come off disappointing losses last week. The Giants more so as they got swept by the Cowboys in the season series. Even though Tom Coughlin is a kinder, gentler coach this season, he still has to be worried about a second half swoon that has come to hit his team in the last couple of seasons. Maybe by laying off as he has this season, he can avoid that, but he has to do it today against an improved Lions team which is also coming off a bad loss. The Lions have to show that they belong in the elite this season. I think they can. They’re playing at home and they have two really important games in four days as the Packers come to town on Thanksgiving Day. To show that they’re in the NFL elite, a win today would make a big statement. I’m taking the Lions today to win, 26-23.

Pittsburgh at New York Jets – CBS, 4:05 p.m.
Steelers win, 37-21.

Chicago at Seattle – Fox, 4:15 p.m.
Rex Grossman back at QB? Rex Grossman? He actually played well coming off the bench last week in Oakland throwing a TD pass to Bernard Berrian. I’ll take the Bears to defeat a Seattle team that won’t have Shaun Alexander today. Bears win, 21-17.

Dallas at Washington – Fox, 4:15 p.m.
I’ll go with the Cowboys. They’re the best team in the NFC right now. Cowboys, 31-10.

New England at Buffalo – NBC, 8:15 p.m.
Buffalo will play the Pats tough for a half or so, then the Pats will turn it on in the second and win this. Pats, 38-17.

Tennessee at Denver – ESPN, 8:30 p.m. Monday
Denver wins, 26-17.

There you go. Enjoy Week 11.