Both of us showed our Thursday night mettle yet again by rolling with Touchdown Jesus to answer our prayers against the Jets. My Tebow-ner is riding high right now.
On to the rest of Week 11
Bucs (+14) at Packers
Dave: Bucs - Perhaps it's my infamous pessimism that's waiting for the other shoe to drop on my 2011 Green Bay Packers, but this game makes me nervous on a couple fronts. One, the game is sandwiched in between the league's bright idea of having Green Bay play three games in the span of 10 days, with the last of the three being a much-anticipated divisional showdown with Detroit on Thanksgiving. The idea that the Packers might be looking ahead to that game with a potential clinch on the line isn't farfetched, and that would be foolish on the Pack's part because Tampa Bay is still a wildly talented team even if everything is falling apart for them so far. Secondly, Aaron Rodgers has three 3-INT games in his career. Two of them came against Green Bay, most notably a couple years ago when A-Rod and company lost to the then-winless Bucs in the New Sombrero. It's not inconceivable that the Packers roll here but 14 points is a lot for a team that has every reason to put on the brakes. Pack by 10.
Gabe: Green Bay – To be the best you gotta beat the best. The Packers are the best and until someone beats them, I’m picking them. I think 14 is a lot of points, but the Packers, at home, could easily turn this into a 20+ point rout.
Jaguars (+1) at Browns
Dave: Jaguars - How's that sleeper buzz working for you, Cleveland? With nothing left on offense and the defense still rebuilding, the Browns aren't a sleeper anymore. They're in a coma. Meanwhile, the Jags are a sneaky team that are better than you think. They beat Tennessee, who might still win the AFC South with Houston losing players left and right. They gave Pittsburgh all they can handle and notched wins over Baltimore(who swept the Steelers) and Cincinatti(who holds the lead for the first Wild Card spot). Blaine Gabbert is a couple years and a couple weapons away from being a star but he's a few more steps ahead than Colt McCoy is, so I'll give him the nod by 3.
Gabe: Cleveland – Umm, I could not give less of a fuck about this game. I’ll take the Browns because they are at home.
Panthers (+7) at Lions
Dave: Lions - Remember when Cam Newton lit up Arizona in Week 1 and we all said "Why Can't Tim Tebow Be More Like Cam Newton?". Well, now that Touchdown Jesus has double the wins Cam-Cam has in just five starts(to Newton's 9 starts), when do we get to ask "Why Can't Cam Newton Be More Like Tim Tebow?". The Newton-Tebow debate is another issue for another day, but it's looking like the #1 overall pick has hit the rookie wall. That's not a good look with the Suh World Order in town looking to stay afloat before hosting Green Bay in four days. My money is on Detroit overlooking Carolina a little and this being a shootout in the first half before the Lions dig in their heels and rout the Panthers. Lions by 14.
Gabe: Detroit – This is an interesting match-up, because of the quarterbacks. In a lot of ways, Carolina is where Detroit was a few years ago. I’m curious to see how Cam Newton reacts the first time he is crushed by the Lions’ defensive line. I think Cam plays OK, but the Panthers still lose, but 9.
Bills (+2) at Dolphins
Dave: Bills - This is perhaps the biggest hoax of a spread all season. The Bills may have fallen from grace after getting trounced the last two weeks but let's not forget that this is the same Dolphins team that was the favorite in the Andrew Luck Sweepstakes not too long ago. The Dolphins may be going up as the Bills are going down but I think both teams meet at the middle and Buffalo escapes with a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Bills by 6.
Gabe: Miami – The Dolphins have strung together a couple of wins after not being able to get anything done at the beginning of the year. The Bills are going the opposite direction; they got a couple of surprising wins at the beginning of the year, but now they are settling down to where they should be. A cold weather team playing in warm weather is always a concern for me. I think Miami wins by a touchdown.
Raiders (+1.5) at Vikings
Dave: Raiders - This game means more for Oakland than it does for Minnesota as a loss here would kill their chances of finally pulling ahead in the AFC West. Once the Vikings give Christian Ponder a receiver or two, they might have something special because Ponder looks to be the goods. Right now, however, the Vikes are a team on a downward spiral and, defensively, they aren't going to be able to stop Oakland with the way Michael Bush is running and with Carson Palmer continuing to shake the rust off. Palmer goes for 300 and a couple scores and Raiders win by 10.
Gabe: Minnesota – Carson Palmer seems to be progressing in the Raiders’ offense, but the strength of Minnesota’s team is their defense, especially the line. The Vikings offense is showing signs of life with Christian Ponder. I think Carson Palmer is in for a rough day. Minny wins by a touchdown.
Cowboys (-7) at Redskins
Dave: Cowboys - Do I really need to go into detail on this one?
Gabe: Dallas – Everything points to Dallas winning this game. Dallas is clearly more talented and better coached. The Redskins have been a mess all year. My one concern is that this is a rivalry game and anything can happen in the NFC East. I’ll go with my head and say the Cowboys win by 10.
Bengals (+6.5) at Ravens
Dave: Ravens - For some reason, the Ravens seem to only get up for games against legit opponents. Jets? Stomped them. Steelers? Swept them. Houston? Beat them. The bottom feeders, however, have Baltimore's number. Jags? Didn't bother showing up. Cardinals? Barely escaped after going down 24-3. Seahawks? Couldn't stop Marshawn Lynch. This week, though, the Ravens could get a leg up on the Bengals and the rest of the division by regaining the top spot in the North with a W against an A.J. Green-less Cincy squad. CB Leon Hall is also out for Cincy so Joe Flacco really has no excuse to not carve up this Bengals squad. Make or break game for Baltimore, so I'll say they win by 9.
Gabe: Baltimore – Baltimore gets up for the good teams and plays like shit against the bad teams. So the question is, are the Bengals good or bad? I think they are on the way to being good, and someday they will be very good….but not today. The Ravens are going to be angry and looking for a win. I say they get it, by double digits.
Seahawks (+3) at Rams
Dave: Seahawks - I'm not sure what happened to this Rams team. Maybe Sam Bradford hit a sophomore slump. Maybe the Brandon Lloyd trade was too little, too late. Maybe Steve Spagnuolo isn't the second coming of Bill Belichick but this team looks pathetic. Seattle is equally unbearable but if forced to choose, I'll take the points.
Gabe: St. Louis – Both of these teams have generally played terribly this year. I think the Rams at least have some potential and do a couple of things well. I take the Rams because of that and because they are at home.
Cardinals (+10.5) at Niners
Dave: Niners - On the bright side for Arizona, they would probably struggle running the ball even if they weren't facing the best run defense in the league. Injuries are going to limit an already limited offense for the Cardinals with QB Kevin Kolb and RB Beanie Wells both slowed with foot and knee ailments, respectively. The Niners will serve up a healthy dose of Frank Gore and the Niners D will find ways to blanket Larry Fitzgerald and pitch a shutout.
Gabe: San Francisco – A team that could easily be undefeated versus a team that starts a guy named Skelton at QB? I’ll take the Niners to win big.
Titans (+6) at Falcons
Dave: Falcons - The Titans could have used the $53 million they agreed to pay Chris Johnson to open up a chain of TCBY franchises and found someone who could be a more productive runner than CJ2K has been this season. It says something about Matt Hasselbeck that he's still able to put up good numbers despite the fact that he lost his best receiver a month ago and his franchise back is in the Missing Persons list. This week, Hasselbeck is going to have to match Matt Ryan and the Falcons have too much balance on offense to lose a shootout to a Tennessee team with not much of an arsenal. Dirty Birds by 10.
Gabe: Tennessee – Atlanta can’t seem to get any traction this season. They should have beaten New Orleans last week and if they had I think they would have had some momentum. But they didn’t beat the Saints, mostly because of that stupid shouldonly-be-done-in-Madden-go-for-it-on-4th-down-in-overtime-in-your-own-territory call. That being said, I think the Falcons get the win, but by 4 or less.
Chargers (+3.5) at Bears
Dave: Bears - With declining San Diego and Oakland on its agenda for the next two weeks and Detroit having to face the defending champs on a short week this Thursday, am I the only one who can see a scenario where the Bears steal the Wild Card spot away from the Lions and kill all the hope that's been fostered in Motown? Phillip Rivers has struggled all season for the Bolts and his prospects of throwing into the crisp winds of Chi-town aren't promising. The Bears are going to dominate this game with strong D and a lot of Matt Forte. Hopefully, this puts the nail in the coffin for the Norv Turner era in San Diego. Bears by 13.
Gabe: Chicago – The Chargers have no chance. They are a mess, especially when it comes to motivation. Chicago is flying right now. I think Devin Hester takes one to the house and the Bears win by 10.
Eagles (+4.5) at Giants
Dave: Giants - I'm sorry, you want me to bank on Vince Young turning around the Eagles' season against the best pass rush in the league on national television in a game the Giants need to keep Dallas at arms length for the division crown? You'd have a better chance getting me to agree to be the bounceback opponent for Cain Velasquez. The Eagles are done for and, hopefully, Andy Reid joins Norv Turner on the "Coaches Who Are Finally Fired Three Years Too Late" list. In a weird way, I can see Eli blowing this one by trying to be a hero against a good Philly secondary but I think Coughlin plays it smart and lets Brandon Jacobs bowls over a poor Eagles run defense. Giants by 10.
Gabe: N.Y. Giants – The last time they met, the Giants got an unexpected 13-point victory. This time the Eagles will be without Mike Vick and will have to start Vince Young at quarterback. This plays right into the Giants hands. Their pass rushers will be able to pin their ears back and get after Young. I don’t see the Eagles being able to move the ball very well on offense. I think Eli does just enough to cover and the Giants win by 9. And remember….you can’t spell “elite” with Eli.
Chiefs (+14.5) at Patriots
Dave: Patriots - The Patriots are coming off a big win against.......you know what, I'm going to skip the pre-amble. The Chiefs have lost two straight and are starting Tyler Palko in his first ever start.....on national television.....against the best team in the AFC. Tyler Palko.....need I say more?
Gabe: New England – Kansas City plays well against bad teams, but gets exposed against good teams. Also, Tom Brady does not lose in primetime. New England gets the big win and puts a strangle hold on the AFC East.
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