I went 9-5 with my picks in Week 11, improving to 94-66 on the year. Week 12 of the NFL brings on the Thanksgiving weekend. Our theme this week will focus around somebody or something that each projected victor should be thankful for (or that I'm thankful for). Feel free to weigh in on some of the games in the comments section.
Week 12 Games | Explanation | Pick | ||
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Falling Apart: The Eagles are going with QB Mark Sanchez again, as he hopes not to re-live his infamous butt-fumble moment. Philadelphia has bigger problems on the horizon, though, as the chatter has begun as to whether Chip Kelly will remain the team's head coach in 2016. Although I'm not crazy about the Lions, they'll use the momentum of their two-game winning streak to propel them to a Thanksgiving Day victory on a short week. Lions 23, Eagles 20
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Game of the Week: This is a great Thanksgiving Day game for fans to enjoy, right when they are finishing up with the turkey and trimmings. The Panthers enter this game at 10-0, but the Cowboys are a different team with QB Tony Romo -- they are 3-0 with him and 0-7 without him. I think Romo pulls out all the stops in his second game back to pull off a mini-upset and keep the Cowboys very much alive in the NFC East playoff race. Cowboys 27, Panthers 21 |
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Back on Track: After having lost three straight games, QB Aaron Rodgers got the Packers back on track with their biggest win of the season last week, taking the division lead back from the Vikings. Rodgers will continue that flare on Sunday night, where he'll dispose of another division rival. Packers 31, Bears 17 |
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Comeback Chiefs: I'm thankful for the Chiefs providing me one shred of optimism that maybe, just maybe, Cleveland can turn things around after a dismal start. Everyone wrote the Chiefs off after they were 1-5 and losers of five straight games, but they are 5-5 after winning four in a row. Taking things one game at a time and playing at a higher level defensively will guide them over the Bills. Chiefs 24, Bills 17 |
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Winless in the Division: The Dolphins are 0-4 in their division, but they are thankful that the Jets' offense is scuffling and that Darrelle Revis will be out with a concussion this week. These teams are still bordering on wildcard contention, but Miami will be the team getting a big boost as the Jets continue to slide. Dolphins 28, Jets 14 |
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They've Been Shanahan'ed: As miserable as the Browns are, for the second week in a row, I can be thankful that another team will see the vulnerability of Kyle Shanahan's start-the-season-hot, finish-ice-cold type of playbook. Will there be a 32-point presentation when he skips town again? The Vikings were finally slowed down last week, but look for them to rebound. Vikings 27, Falcons 20 |
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Hoyer the Destroyer: If one thing is similar between 2014 and 2015, it's that Brian Hoyer is on the verge of leading his team to a division crown. Last year, he and the team crumbled, allowing the Bengals to take over. This year, now with the Texans, I'm thankful that he gets an opportunity at redemption. Against the Saints' defense, they'll continue their hot streak. Texans 31, Saints 20 |
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Never a Clear Favorite: I'm thankful for the NFC East always being the most dramatic division in football. Regardless of the year, you can bet that three or four of the teams in the division will go back-and-forth a million times before you have any clear idea who will take the division crown. The Giants are coming off of a bye with the division lead, so I'll take them over a Redskins team that fell flat last week. Giants 34, Redskins 17 |
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Carr vs. Mariota: I'm thankful that we get to see a match-up between two young and rising quarterbacks in Derek Carr vs. Marcus Mariota. The Raiders got my hopes up when they were 4-3, but after dropping three straight games, I fear that they've lost their way. Fortunately, they take on a Titans team that remains the worst in the AFC, in my opinion, because of their inability to protect the quarterback. Raiders 30, Titans 24 |
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Parity at It's Finest: Who isn't thankful for parity in the NFL? I just wish the Browns could be part of it like the Jaguars are. Jacksonville has grinded games out and remind me of the 2002 Browns team that made the postseason. The AFC South is up for grabs, and they get an easy opponent this week in the Chargers. Jaguars 23, Chargers 20 |
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Not Thankful: When I look at the state of the Rams, Chargers, and Raiders, I don't feel very thankful because it's a reminder of the fact that Cleveland lost to each of those clubs. The Bengals have dropped two straight games after an 8-0 start, but as long as they aren't overwhelmed by the Rams' physical defensive play, they should have no issue out-scoring the Rams. Bengals 28, Rams 10 |
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Bizarre Game of the Week: I'm thankful that we have a game like this. I would have never guessed in my wildest imagination that Jameis Winston would help lead the Buccaneers to a 5-5 start, and I would've never guessed that Matt Hasselbeck would lead the Colts to an undefeated record in games that he's started. I really don't know what to expect from the inconsistent nature of each team, but I'll go with Hasselbeck because the Colts have gutted games out under him. Colts 17, Buccaneers 14 |
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Massacre of the Week: I'm still thankful that the Browns are not the 49ers this year. When I look at San Francisco, I see proof that things can indeed be worse, even though they are 3-7 and Cleveland is 2-8. The Cardinals are going to lay waste to San Francisco. Cardinals 42, 49ers 13 |
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Can He Move? The intrigue to this week's game is how well Ben Roethlisberger can move on his foot coming off of the bye week. The Browns couldn't get to him, and although Seattle has well underachieved this year, the talent is still there for them to flip the switch again. I'm thankful that the Steelers have a foe this week that can take them down a notch again. Seahawks 21, Steelers 18 |
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Sadness: Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning use to be an annual affair I'd look forward to. This is a big chance for Brock Osweiler to make a splash, but instead, I think we'll see him have difficulty on the big stage of Sunday Night Football against an undefeated Patriots team. Patriots 27, Broncos 17 |
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Monday Night Party? No, no partying -- just business. That's what Johnny Manziel should've been thinking during the bye, and worse yet, when he got caught, he lied about it. This is a national game, but not many people outside of Cleveland and Baltimore will tune in. My full game preview will be up on Saturday or Sunday. |
TBA | ||
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Week 11 Picks Record: 9-5
2015 Season Record: 94-66
Record in Browns Picks: 4-6
Survivor Pick: I'm on a two-game survivor winning streak after the Seahawks beat the 49ers last week. The teams I've used so far are CAR and SEA. This week, I'll go with the Cardinals over the 49ers.
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