UGH

Folks, I can't believe I did this. I forgot to post my picks for this past Sunday's games on Friday, probably because I was sleepwalking when my wife got up at 2:30 am to go shopping and I couldn't fall back to sleep! Anyway, I can tell you that I went 10-6 for the week based on my picks elsewhere. And I won't forget this week!

NFL Picks: Turkey Day Edition

Last Week: 10-6
Season Record: 93-67

New England at Detroit--The Lions typically play hard on Thanksgiving, for whatever reason. But here they are facing one of the best teams in the NFL, and they can't possibly match up. Stranger things have happened, but no. Patriots 38, Lions 24

New Orleans at Dallas--Remember last year when Dallas marched into the Big Easy and blemished the Saints' perfect record? Don't think the Saints don't remember, and they face a Dallas team that is inspired under a new coach, but will be horribly overmatched in this one. Saints 31, Cowboys 17

Cincinnati at NY Jets--This was a playoff game last year? Yikes. The Bengals have become, well, the Lions. Jets 24, Bengals 6

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

NFL Picks: Week 11

Last week: 5-9
Season record: 83-62 (including last night)

This season has been weird. Every week there are upsets and usually upsets that make no sense based on the previous week or the season as a whole. But it all has me thinking....this is a great game and we love it like we love little else in the sports world. Let's hope the owners and players can reach agreement on a new CBA so that we'll have football next year and beyond.

Baltimore at Carolina--Whew. Should the Panthers even show up? Well, based on this season, who knows? But when the name Brian St. Pierre comes up as starting QB for Carolina against that Ravens' D. Just ouch. Ravens 27, Panthers 3

Buffalo at Cincinnati--Don't think this won't be an upset. Then again, the Bengals have won only one game more than Buffalo. Bengals 24, Bills 20

Detroit at Dallas--A stunning matchup of 2-7 teams. The Cowboys are feeling good again with a new coach and a victory against the Giants under their belt, but the Lions are pesky and will play much harder. Lions 23, Cowboys 20

Cleveland at Jacksonville--Both teams have shown flashes of brilliance, and the Jags are actually 5-4 and just one game out of first in the AFC South. That just doesn't seem right. Browns 27, Jaguars 17

Arizona at Kansas City--The Chiefs will win this game for one reason and I'll sum it up in one word: Jamaalcharles. Chiefs 30, Cards 20

Green Bay at Minnesota--The ol' gunslinger tries to make magic one more time against his former team. Let's face it though, even with a win, the Vikes would have to leapfrong the Packers and/or Bears for any hope at the playoffs. A loss, and Favre could be done for good. Packers 28, Vikings 24

Houston at NY Jets--What happened to the Texans' being everyone's darling and possible Super Bowl pick? Here is a prediction: Gary Kubiak will be looking for a job soon. Jets 34, Texans 24

Oakland at Pittsburgh--The Steelers remember last year well, when the Raiders shocked them at home, setting off a tailspin. It won't happen this time around. Steelers 27, Raiders 13

Washington at Tennessee--Albert Hayensworth returns to his roots, with his tail between his legs after that beating from Michael Vick. Titans 20, Redskins 10

Seattle at New Orleans--This is another surprise, as the 5-4 and division leading Seahawks face the second place and 6-3 Saints. It won't be that close on the scoreboard. Saints 38, Seahawks 20

Atlanta at St. Louis--Sure, the Rams are improved, but come on. Falcons 23, Rams 14

Tampa Bay at San Francisco--The Niners are trying desperately to make a surge, but there are three reasons they won't continue that Sunday--Freeman, Williams, Blount. Bucs 27, Niners 24

Indianapolis at New England--This one is always a beauty, and there is no reason to think this won't be either. Patriots 34, Colts 31

NY Giants at Philadelphia--All the talk is about Mike Vick and the flying Eagles, but let's not forget the Giants were and are legitimate Super Bowl contenders, and Philly is due for a letdown. Giants 30, Eagles 27

Denver at San Diego--Boy, these NFC West teams sure don't like each other. Chargers 38, Broncos 27

NFL picks: Thursday Night Edition

Last week: 5-9
Season record: 83-61

Sure is getting tough to make these picks! Tonight's game is no exception:

Chicago at Miami--This could be Lovie and company's first trip to Miami since the 2006 Super Bowl. And both his Bears and Tony Sparano's Dolphins are two of the harder teams to figure out this season. Sure, the Dolphins have struggled at home (1-3) and the Bears are 3-1 on the road. But something tells me Jay Cutler will be running for his life all night. Dolphins 20, Bears 16

NFL Picks: Week 10

Last week: 9-4
Season record: 79-52

Will the season's weirdness continue or will the good teams continue to distinguish themselves from the rest of the pack? Who knows, and that's why they play the games (and why we love the NFL so much.

Detroit at Buffalo--Believe it or not, this is one game I wouldn't mind watching. The Bills are STILL looking for win number one, and the Lions are so much more talented than their record suggests. They'll show it on Sunday. Lions 30, Bills 27

Minnesota at Chicago--The Vikings kept their slim playoff hopes alive last week with another Favre stunner in OT, and now they look to narrow the gap between them and second place Chicago. I say they do it. Or more accurately, Favre does it. Vikings 27, Bears 20

NY Jets at Cleveland--Suddenly this game is intriguing, as the Browns have knocked off the Saints and Patriots in their last two games. And you just know Eric Mangini wants to stick it to his former employer. Jets 20, Browns 17

Cincinnati at Indianapolis--The Bengals have lost a stunning five straight, and they are rewarded with a game in Indy? It's a weird season, but not that weird. Colts 33, Bengals 17

Houston at Jacksonville--These two teams are tied for second, or last, in the AFC South at 4-4. But the talent on the Texans is just so much greater, and Arian Foster is putting up Marshall Faulk-like fantasy numbers. Texans 31, Jags 28

Tennessee at Miami--Both of these teams play hard-hitting, low-scoring bore-fests, except when Chris Johnson has the ball in his hands. CJ and now Randy Moss make this game more interesting. Oh, and Miami is 0-3 at home, 4-1 on the road. Titans 17, Dolphins 13

Carolina at Tampa Bay--Okay, this is a game I really don't want to watch. Bucs 21, Panthers 10

Kansas City at Denver--The Broncos' run defense is like a sieve, and they get to face that blur that is Jamaal Charles. Of course, Todd Haley will probably start Thomas Jones. Chiefs 34, Broncos 17

Dallas at NY Giants--New coach for the Cowboys, but the same personnel that has gone 1-7. The Cowboys wound up making the game in Dallas a few weeks ago competitive with Jon Kitna, but there is too much talent differential right now. Giants 38, Cowboys 27

Seattle at Arizona--Another game that only fans of these two teams will watch. Cards 17, Seahawks 14

St. Louis at San Francisco--If the Rams win and Seattle loses, the Rams will have sole possession of first place in the NFC West after Week 10. Not only might that happen, it probably will. Rams 23, 49ers 20

New England at Pittsburgh--If the Pats can lose to Cleveland on the road, this one could be downright ugly? Still, you never know. Steelers 24, Patriots 21

Philadelphia at Washington--The McNabb vs. Philly Bowl II, or will Rex Grossman start for Washington if Shanny deems McNabb unfit to play? Eagles 30, Redskins 17

Bye week banter:
Green Bay Packers--Suddenly looking like NFC title contender again
New Orleans Saints--Reggie Bush comes back soon
Oakland Raiders--They could actually WIN AFC West. We're talking about the RAIDERS
San Diego Chargers--Vincent Jackson comes back soon, to Philip Rivers' delight

NFL Picks: Thursday night edition

Last week: 9-4
Season record: 78-52

Hey folks, there is a game tonight. How awesome is that? And it's not even a stinker!

Baltimore at Atlanta--The Ravens are a very good team, but they are 4-0 at home, 2-2 on the road. The Falcons are also a very good team, maybe more quietly than Baltimore. And they are also 4-0 at home, 2-2 on the road. But wait, there's more. Atlanta is 17-3 at home the last three seasons combined. And Roddy White is having a career year. Falcons 24, Ravens 20

Hello, Vegas?

Here were three of my picks from Friday, and if you would like to pat me on the back, pats on said back are being accepted today :)

Jets 23, Lions 20

Raiders 23, Chiefs 20

Eagles 26, Colts 24 (exact score, reversed teams)

NFL Picks: Week 9

Last week: 9-4
Season record: 69-48

Still staying above the curve, but still lots of goofy happenings in the NFL last week! Here are my Week 9 picks:

Tampa Bay at Atlanta--The Bucs are 5-2 and would make a really impactful statement if they won Sunday. But let's face it...it's not going to happen. Falcons 20, Bucs 16

Miami at Baltimore--The low-scoring special of the week. Ravens 13, Dolphins 9

Chicago vs. Buffalo at Toronto--Kinda funny that the Bills will get their first win on foreign soil. Bills 27, Bears 20

New Orleans at Carolina--The Saints are one of the hardest teams to figure out this year. The Panthers, well, they're not hard to figure out. Saints 30, Panthers 10

New England at Cleveland--The Browns aren't that bad, but bad enough to lose to the on-fire Patriots. Patriots 34, Browns 20

NY Jets at Detroit--You just know Jets' fans are terrified of this game. And the Lions will surely make them sweat on Sunday. Jets 23, Lions 20

San Diego at Houston--I predict that if Antonio Gates does not play Sunday, that Darren Sproles will have 200 all-purpose yards. But the Chargers will lose. Texans 34, Chargers 24

Arizona at Minnesota--Yours truly will be at this game, and looking forward to seeing old man Favre and young man Adrian Peterson in person. Vikings 27, Cards 20

NY Giants at Seattle--Charlie Whitehurst will start at QB for the Seahawks, as Matt Hasselbeck was declared out of this game by HC Pete Carroll. Which begs the question, who is Seattle's third string quarterback? Giants 28, Seahawks 17

Indianapolis at Philadelphia--Michael Vick returns but runs head first into Dwight Freeney. Colts 26, Eagles 24

Kansas City at Oakland--Two teams with a big-time resurgence. Hard to imagine the Raiders stopping Jamaal Charles, but hard to pick against them as a hot home team. Raiders 23, Chiefs 20

Dallas at Green Bay--By the time my flight from Minneapolis lands in Madison, the Packers will be up 17-0. That's how bad Dallas is right now. In fact, Jerry Jones might make Wade Phillips walk home. Packers 38, Cowboys 17

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati--Last season when the Bengals swept their division games? That is a distant memory. Steelers 17, Bengals 13

Bye week banter:
Denver Broncos: Josh McDaniels gets an extra week off to get his resume together
Jacksonville Jaguars: Is it crazy that in this crazy NFL season, the Jags are actually in contention?
St. Louis Rams: A good time to rest a rookie QB who has probably never played more than 12 games in a season
San Francisco 49ers: Mike Singletary saved his job last Sunday, at least for now
Tennessee Titans: Randy Moss' third team in about a five-week span
Washington Redskins: The Albert Haynesworth mess was nothing compared to Shanahan benching Donovan McNabb in the fourth quarter last Sunday.