Buffalo @ Cincinnati:
Grace Sprague: Buffalo. Not the most obvious pick, but Fitzpatrick has been playing well and morale is at an all-time low in Cincinnati. Just the right climate for a T.O./Ocho implosion.
Jack Dale: Cincy. Too much TO for the Bills, as if one year with him wasn't enough.
Steve Vote: Cincinnati. Cincy’s bad but not THAT bad. Right?
Kartar Singh: As of now, the Bengals are in disarray and TO and Ochocinco don’t seem to be on the same page with Carson Palmer. And if you didn’t know, Ryan Fitzpatrick is my boy. Bills on a mini winning streak.
Detroit @ Dallas:
Grace Sprague: Dallas. Never underestimate the team that has nothing left to lose. The difference between these two bad teams is the preseason Super Bowl expectations placed upon the Cowboys. They’re playing for pride now.
Jack Dale: Dallas. This is more painful to me than any of you can know. I just threw up a little bit.
Steve Vote: Dallas. I don’t understand this season at all and no team is more perplexing than the Cowboys. I’m betting Kitna keeps partying like its 1999.
Kartar Singh: Detroit has been incredibly unlucky this season losing 5 games this year by 3 points or less. Matthew Stafford is good but only when he actually plays. On the other hand, Romo is still out so there’s still no hope. Gonna be a lame game but someone’s gotta win. Detroit squeaks one out.
Washington @ Tennessee:
Grace Sprague: Tennessee. Short week + bad showing on Monday night for the Redskins = Blowout loss.
Jack Dale: Tennessee. The Titans will begin to use Randy Moss, and Donovan McNabb will steal $40 mill from Redskins fans. Oh wait, that second part already happened? Well, never mind then.
Steve Vote: Tennessee. Zzzzzzzzzz
Kartar Singh: I hope for D.C.’s sake that the McNabb extension was worth it. The NEW SUPERBOWL CONTENDERS, Tennessee, win it though.
Arizona @ Kansas City:
Grace Sprague: Kansas City. Last week’s beatdown in Denver was a fluke. Kansas City still has a chance to win the division. Sorry Steven!
Jack Dale: Kansas City. You gotta feel bad for Arizona fans, wait, no you dont. HA.
Steve Vote: Kansas City. KC rebounds against a group of underachievers. Or not. And then the AFC West is all but guaranteed to have a 7-9 division champion.
Kartar Singh: Kansas will bounce back from an embarrassing loss to the Broncos and take one at home. Plus, who would ever trust a team lead by Derek Anderson?
Green Bay @ Minnesota:
Grace Sprague: Green Bay. Max, as much as I wanted to pick against the Packers, the Vikings seem to get worse every week.
Jack Dale: Green Bay. Watch Tavaris Jackson get the start and lead the Vikings to victory. JUST KIDDING!
Steve Vote: Green Bay. Minnesota’s so bad. I really don’t understand it. The over/under on Brad Childress’ time left with the team depends heavily on the outcome of this game.
Kartar Singh: This game is going to be a joke, even with it being in Minnesota. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense explodes for a huge game against this Vikings’ team who doesn’t even believe in themselves.....or their coach
Houston @ New York Jets:
Grace Sprague: New York Jets. Don’t get me wrong, the Jets are a very good team. I’m just still waiting for them to become the team that everyone said they’d be. Still, I don’t think Houston is primed for the upset.
Jack Dale: New York. I hate the Jets. I hate Mark Sanchez. I hate Rex Ryan. But the defense will wrangle the Texans offense, and Mark Sanchez will have a good day against that terrible, terrible, TERRIBLE, Houston secondary.
Steve Vote: New York Jets. The Jets struggle the last time at home, but Houston has been completely erratic. Guarantee this week doesn’t end in a Hail Mary TD.
Kartar Singh:Jets will have the advantage playing this one at home with winter sneaking up on us. Sanchize comes up with another big game this week. Plus, after the way Houston lost last week, I don’t expect them to come out “pumped up”
Oakland @ Pittsburgh :
Grace Sprague: Oakland. I was sort of unimpressed last week with the play of the Steelers and I think Oakland’s defense will matchup extremely well with Pittsburgh’s occasionally frustrating offense.
Jack Dale: Pittsburgh. I realize the Raiders are one of the hottest teams in the AFC right now, and I know they went into Heinz Field and upset the Steelers, but that was with Bruce Gradkowski running the show, and the Steelers will be ready this time.
Steve Vote: Pittsburgh. This could possibly be the game of the week. It’s only logical that Roethlisberger rebounds after a poor showing against the Pats.
Kartar Singh: Steelers. Oakland’s win streak ends this week. Big Ben and this hard nosed defense will be too much for Jason Campbell and this suddenly energized Raider team.
Baltimore @ Carolina:
Grace Sprague: Baltimore. I guarantee nobody outside of Carolina is picking the Panthers in this game. A rookie quarterback facing Baltimore’s stingy defense does not bode well for Carolina’s chances.
Jack Dale: Baltimore. Ravens are mad they lost last week, and will take it out on Carolina. RIP Jimmy Clausen or Tony Pike.
Steve Vote: Baltimore. Possibly the most unfair matchup of the week. Instead of running the offense, Clausen should practice lying face down on the grass all of this week. That is after all what he’ll be doing for most of Sunday. Well, that and running for his life
Kartar Singh: Ravens. Carolina is arguably the worst team in the NFL this season. And their playing arguably the best team in the NFL. This one is gong to get ugly quickly. Sorry Mr. Fox.
Cleveland @ Jacksonville::
Grace Sprague: Jacksonville. The Jags ride the Hail Mary momentum all the way to a home victory.
Jack Dale: Jacksonville. I'm riding David Garrard's arm into the sunset.
Steve Vote: Cleveland. I thought about the possibilities with this one and went cross-eyed. Can you call Cleveland a decent team after 3 straight good showings? Did they just get lucky? Do they only play well against quality opponents? Will they show up against Jacksonville? Yack.
Kartar Singh: Cleveland lost a game they probably should’ve won because of a Chancey Stuckey fumble last week. This week they bounce back and beat an INCREDIBLY lucky jags team.
Tampa Bay @ San Francisco:
Grace Sprague: San Francisco. Tampa hasn’t really beaten a good team all year and the 49ers are riding a two game win streak, their first win streak of the season. In true 49er fashion, they’ll play themselves right out of the Andrew Luck sweepstakes this week.
Jack Dale: Tampa Bay. I love the Niners, but anyone who thinks Troy Smith is going to continue to play the way he has been needs to wake up.
Steve Vote: Tampa Bay. Tampa is not a legit contender, simply a team that beats bad teams. Luckily, San Francisco is a bad team.
Kartar Singh: I know two weeks ago I compared Troy Smith to Michael Vick. He might not be there yet but he’s definitely a Vince Young type of player who can make passes when needed and use his athleticism to make plays with his legs. Most importantly the team believes in him. Niners at home.
Seattle @ New Orleans:
Grace Sprague: New Orleans. Reggie Bush is back on the field for this game against his old coach. I know his numbers don’t show it, but I think he meant more to the Saints success last year than everyone assumed.
Jack Dale: New Orleans. Now begins the down fall of Pete Carroll. Let the children of the world sing!
Steve Vote: New Orleans. Reggie Bush and Pete Carroll on the same field again. Only this time, Reggie’s getting paid. Wait a minute…
Kartar Singh: I have no doubt in my mind that Drew Brees will expose this seahawks defense for the mediocre squad that they are this Sunday. Saints win easily at home.
Atlanta @ St. Louis:
Grace Sprague:Atlanta. Losing to San Francisco was not exactly a confidence boost for the Rams. Atlanta wins this one and it’s not close.
Jack Dale: Atlanta. The Rams are going to make noise in the league in a couple of years, but Atlanta is one of the best teams in the NFC.
Steve Vote: Atlanta. The best team in the NFC takes their momentum from last Thursday into Nellyville and wins.
Kartar Singh: Falcons. After last week’s win, controversial or not, I’ve finally started drinking that Falcons Kool Aid. ( I’m sure Joey is happy to hear that) St. Louis has been a surprising young team this year but their still a couple of season away from contending. I’ll take Ryan over Bradford.....for now.
Indianapolis @ New England:
Grace Sprague: New England. I think I would have waffled more with this game if the Colts had the other half of their roster. Brady is my current favorite for MVP.
Jack Dale: New England. Bill Belichick knows how to beat the Colts and their superstar QB better than anyone.
Steve Vote: New England. Brady looked unreal last week. The more the Pats win, the more wicked smaht I look for picking them to win the Super Bowl.
Kartar Singh: Colts. Either this game or the Sunday night game will be Game of the week this week. All the story lines are their. Peyton vs. Tom. Playoff implications in the mix. I’ll take my boy Peyton in this one but it could go either way.
New York Giants @ Philadelphia:
Grace Sprague: Philadelphia. Vick is getting all of the press, but their defense was effective against McNabb and the Eagles are playing well as a unit. The Giants, meanwhile, looked out of sync against the Cowboys.
Jack Dale: Philly. Did you see Mike Vick on Monday?
Steve Vote: Philadelphia. I’m not sure anyone could’ve beaten Vick and the Eagles last Monday night.
Kartar Singh: Michael Vick is now one of the best QB’s in the league for this season. Monday night against the Redskins he proved how versatile and talented he really is. Philly wins another Division game at home.
Denver @ San Diego:
Grace Sprague: San Diego. Denver’s offensive explosion last week as impressive, but you have to wonder which performance was more of a fluke for the Broncos: the blowout loss to the Raiders, or the blowout win over the Chiefs. Plus, San Diego always comes ready to play against Denver.
Jack Dale: San Diego. It's in San Diego, nuff said.
Steve Vote: San Diego. If San Diego wins, at least I get a pick correct. If they lose, it makes my year. Anytime I have to good fortune to see Phillip Rivers lose it gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. I’ll be honest: the Broncos will probably win 3 or 4 of their last 7 games and finish the season once again in no man’s land with the 12-15th overall pick. I hate mid-first round draft picks. Also, I refuse to buy a Tebow jersey.
Kartar Singh: Finally the Chargers are playing that should’ve been since week one. Phillip Rivers has played better than any other QB this year except perhaps Michael Vick and there are no signs of him slowing down. Plus as good as Orton has been, River is still better. Bolts Baby.
