Week 12 Picks cont.

Last Week: (Dave: 7-9, Gabe: 9-7)

Season: (Dave: 59-79-4, Gabe: 72-66-4)

This Week: (Dave: 2-1, Gabe: 1-2)

Vikings (+1) at Redskins

Dave: Vikings - Classic "Underachieving Team Plays Up To Potential To Make New Head Coach Look Good and Stick It One Last Time To The Old Coach They Hated" game for Minnesota here. Leslie Frazier is going to bring the D back to form and Favre is going to suddenly feel healed now that Brad Childress has been shown the door. As for the Redskins, the fiasco over Donovan McNabb's extension(equipped with well-publicized out clauses) shows how dysfunctional this team is. Redskins stink up the joint again at home and Favre tries to prove he's not finished by going nuts on a defeated Washington squad. Vikes by 10.

Gabe: Vikings - Dave nailed it. The Vikings are going to rally for at least one game now that Chilly is gone. The Redskins are relying on Keiland Willams and James Davis, who until yesterday I thought were the other two guys in Dru Hill, to run the ball. Vikes by double digits.

Steelers (-6.5) at Bills

Dave: Steelers - It's easy to get overdramatic here and take Buffalo. The Bills are fiesty and it's possible Ryan Fitzpatrick slings it enough on this weak Steelers pass D to make things close. However, Pittsburgh showed last week that the beatdown they took from New England wasn't an indication that the Curtian has fallen off and, when they need to, they can put foot to ass on an inferior opponent. I think LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison get up in Fitzpatrick's grill a few times and we see a couple picks from Troy Polamalu and his hair. Steelers roll here....by 14.

Gabe: Steelers - The Bills won't be able to hit the home run ball against the Steelers' D. They also won't be able to stop the Steelers' running game. Steelers win this one easy.

Titans (+6) at Texans

Dave: Titans - The Texans just find ways to lose and having them as six-point favorites over anyone, especially a team as dangerous offensively as Tennessee, is a joke. Yes, new Titans starting QB Rusty Smith doesn't set the world on fire, but Chris Johnson does and I like the Titans to at least keep it close, if not pull out the straight up W.

Gabe: Texans - Why not? They've got every reason to want to win this game. The Titans are starting a nobody at quarterback, so they should be one dimensional on offense. Now, that one dimension is Chris Johnson, but teams have figured out ways to stop him this year. I can see the Titans having a stinker and Houston's offense going nuts. Texans win by at least 7.

Jaguars (+7) at Giants

Dave: Giants - There's no chance the Giants lose their third straight, at home, to a Jags team that has no business being first in their division, right? I see the Big Blue pass rush making a comeback after running on fumes chasing Mike Vick last week and I see Jax struggling to move the ball with a hobbled MoJo D. Eli tosses a few picks but scores a couple too, even without Nicks and Smith. Prepare to hear the name Derek Hagan alot. Giants by 10.

Gabe: Giants - I thought the Redskins had it bad. Mario Manningham, Derek Hagan, and Duke Calhoun. I wish they were the backing vocals from an unremarkable mid-90's R & B group, and not the Giants' starting receiving corps for this Sunday. Because of Ahmad Bradshaw's continued fumbling issues, and the no-name receivers, expect the Giants offensive game plan to be Brandon Jacobs right, Brandon Jacobs left, Brandon Jacobs up the middle. Also, Justin Tuck caught Michael Vick for three sacks last week. How many times do you think he'll catch Garrard? The Giants impose their will physically on the Jags and run away with this one.

Panthers (+9.5) at Browns

Dave: Browns - These are the kind of spreads that get me in trouble. I would have no problem taking Cleveland to pounce on a terrible Panthers team, except Jake Delhomme is getting the start possibly for the injured Colt McCoy. The presence of Delhomme alone means a potential house call or two for Carolina's defense. Sure, Jake could use that chip on his shoulder to stick it to his old mates but, really, the better bet is Peyton Hillis mowing over Carolina while Cleveland's D makes Jimmy Clausen regret leaving Notre Dame. Browns by 13.

Gabe: Panthers - This is just too many points. Neither team's passing game is any good. The Daily Show should be back in the line-up for the Panthers after practicing all week. The difference will be the running of Peyton "I'm a full grown man" Hillis. It just won't be a 10 point difference. Browns by a touchdown.

Bucs (+8) at Ravens

Dave: Bucs - I'm not as high on Tampa Bay as some others but I think they are the type of young, inspired bunch that gives older, veteran teams like Baltimore fits. Josh Freeman has been Big Ben Lite, using his big arm, big frame and icy veins to steal victories all season. On defense, the Bucs aren't as dominant as Baltimore, but they can at least make this Ravens offense sweat. Baltimore wins this one, but I'll say by only a touchdown.

Gabe: Ravens - The Bucs have to come back down to Earth sometime. The Ravens defense is just the squad to make them do that. Ray Lewis is still intimidating. Plus, this game is in Baltimore. I think the Ravens run away with this game and win by 10 or more.

Eagles (-3) at Bears

Dave: Eagles - I've been saying this for awhile: Chicago has beaten one team with a pulse all season and it needed a myriad of penalties and a James Jones fumble that mystically stayed inbounds to beat Green Bay by 3. Mike Vick is in MVP mode, Asante Samuel is making a dark horse run on Defensive Player of the Year and the Bears' offensive line couldn't protect Jay Cutler from Nicole Ritchie rushing at him. I think Cutler gets his bell rung a few times, connects a pick or two to Samuel, and the Eagles run roughshod on the Bears. Eagles by 14.

Gabe: Eagles - Michael Vick is going to do his thing in this game and I don't think it will be pretty for the Bears. The Eagles get to Cutler early and often. Eagles win big.

Packers (+1.5) at Falcons

Dave: Falcons - This game may very well decide home field in the NFC. The Falcons are close to unbeatable in the Georgia Dome and the Packers haven't faced a real opponent since they skunked the Jets a month ago. If there's an advantage for the Pack, it's that Charles Woodson stands a better chance at stopping Roddy White than Dunta Robinson does against Greg Jennings. Great matchup between two exciting offenses and it really should have been flexed to the Sunday night game but, in the end, I think the Packers struggle with Atlanta's balance on offense and lose a close one on the road. Falcons by 3.

Gabe: Falcons - Don't bet against Matty Ice at home. Even if Roddy White is taken out of the game the Falcons just have too many weapons. I think the Pack get sent home with a touchdown loss.

Dolphins (PK) at Raiders

Dave: Raiders - I'm not really sure why this is a pick 'em, but the Dolphins stopped being a legit team in my eyes when Chicago shut them down last Thursday night. The Raiders win this one with the run game and some good D. Raiders by 9.

Gabe: Raiders - I think this is an easy pick. Raiders, at home, over a struggling Dolphins team? Easy. Raiders by 10.

Chiefs (-2.5) at Seahawks

Dave: Chiefs - Prime candidate for one of Gabe's upset specials. Seattle is very good at home(whereas the Chiefs aren't nearly as good away from Arrowhead) and the 'Hawks have pulled out a few W's over the AFC West so far. Still, this Chiefs' offense is clicking. QB Matt Cassell is quietly having a Pro Bowl caliber year, as is top target Dwayne Bowe and I think KC eeks this one out by a field goal.

Gabe: Chiefs - This is a good candidate for an upset special, but I hate the Seahawks and hate picking them to win. So, for that reason, and not much more than that reason, I'm taking the Chiefs.

Rams (+4) at Broncos

Dave: Rams - The Broncos D is just plain awful and I don't think they can put enough heat on Sam Bradford to make this Rams offense sputter. Kyle Orton will put on a show, as he's done all season, but the Rams know they have a chance to gain some more ground in the NFC West with Seattle hosting Kansas City and I don't think they'll let that slip away by losing to a toothless Denver team. Rams by 7, with a big day from Steven Jackson.

Gabe: Rams - Here's an upset special....The Rams are playing well right now and are just dumb enough to think that they can win the division. The Rams win outright.

Chargers (+2.5) at Colts

Dave: Colts - A battle of two schools of thought. On the one hand, you don't go against Peyton Manning at night. On the other hand, if there's one team that has been Manning's kryptonite, it's been San Diego. The Chargers may not be the doormat that I once thought they were and Phillip Rivers has been lighting it up so far and now welcomes back Vincent Jackson, but I like the moxie of this Colts team after they came thisclose to coming back against the Pats. Begrudgingly, I'll take Indy here by 6.

Gabe: Chargers - The Colts are starting to show cracks. And Dave is right, the Chargers have always been their kryptonite. I think the Chargers' offense will be too much for the Colts to handle and they take this one under the lights. Chargers by 7.

49ers (-1) at Cardinals

Dave: 49ers - Colts-Chargers, Packers-Falcons, Saints-Cowboys all scheduled this week and we get THIS huge steaming turd as the Monday night? Good job, ESPN....this may be the only matchup more unbearable than the guys calling it. Niners by 6.

Gabe: 49er - The Cardinals sucks. San Fran is at least showing signs of life now. The Niners win behind a big game from Frank Gore.