Week 11 Picks

And Joe's season lead is gone, just as he predicted. Through 147 games, we're tied at 72-75, an unimpressive three games under .500, showing we know less than a random number generator.

Thursday Night Football:
BUF at MIA (-4.5)
Mike: MIA. Just taking the home team and moving on.
Joe: BUF. I'll take the points.
Final: MIA 22-9. You will take the points AND THE LOSS!

Sunday Football:
HOU @ CLE (-3.5)
Mike: CLE. You don't see Quarterback trees the way you see Coaching trees, but here's a matchup of former Tom Brady apprentices. I wonder what quarterback had the most future starting quarterbacks behind him on the depth chart. Anyway, this will be a low-scoring game with lots of punts. Cleveland 17-13.
Joe: CLE. In their last game before the return of Josh Gordon, the Browns solidify their spot atop the AFC North. Browns, 30-17.
Final: HOU 23-7. Browns lay an egg. I imagine they'll let Hoyer finish the season.

MIN @ CHI (-2.5)
Mike: MIN. It's simple science and there has been no evidence supporting confidence in Chicago. Vikings sneak an outright win 23-17.
Joe: CHI. Whenever we bring science and actual reason in to our picks they end up wrong. Bears, 31-20.
Final: CHI 21-13. Bears fell behind 10-0 in first quarter but rallied.

PHI @ GB (-5.5)
Mike: GB. After seeing that first half against the Bears, and with Mark Sanchez coming into town, I think this is the game where Sanchez snaps back to reality and the Packers roll 45-24.
Joe: GB. Sanchez will be forced to throw to keep up with Rodgers, not good news for the Eagles. Pack 38-24
Final: GB 53-20. A new team to beat has emerged. Will Packers lose again this season?

SEA @ KC (-1.5)
Mike: SEA. You and I have never bought into this Kansas City myth, and the Seahawks are due to show their 2013 form. Seahawks 31-24.
Joe: KC. I WILL TAKE THE MYTH FOR $1000, ALEX!!! KC, 27-24.
Final: KC 24-20. Joe hits on the daily double.

ATL (-1.5) @ CAR
Mike: ATL. Cam says he's hurt and despite glimpses of greatness, he continues to disappoint. Personally, I think he wins some playoff games in his future. There will be no playoffs for either one of these NFC South foes. ATL 27-24.
Joe: CAR. Ugly game with many turnovers followed by a last second FG, Panthers 24-23.
Final: ATL 19-17. Three turnovers and a late FG -- kind of what Joe predicted -- except for a tiny little thing called a scoreboard.

CIN @ NO (-7.5)
Mike: NO. So long as Andy Dalton is starting for the Bengals, they're doomed. You can't feign confidence on the playing field and the moment Dalton sails another errant pass, shoulders will shrug, heads will drop and the Saints will put them away. Dalton gets benched in second half. NO 37-17.
Joe: NO. I hope that all happens. Their backup is this guy. Saints, 38-24.
Final: CIN 27-10. Bengals are leading the AFC North -- but I still think they're toast.

TB @ WAS (-7.5)
Mike: TB. Redskins will win but it certainly won't be by more than a touchdown. They're 3-6 and two of those wins were by a FG or less, the only convincing win early against Jacksonville. The Bucs are terrible but I think they'll hang with them 'til the end. WASH 21-17.
Joe: TB. A touchdown is way too much. Washington, 31-27.
Final: TB 27-7. M. Evans 7 REC, 209 YDS, 2 TDS. Will we see these numbers from Josh Gordon?

DEN (-10.5) @ STL
Mike: DEN. Peyton playing in a dome. Shawn Hill back for the Rams. DEN 48-17.
Joe: DEN. I was going with the Rams until I saw they have given up over 30 in 6 of their 9 games. Shaun Hill may have a tough time keeping up, just a guess. Broncos, 38-20.
Final: STL 22-7. What a shame it will be for St Louis to knock off Seattle, San Francisco and Denver this season and then get shipped to Los Angeles.

SF (-4.5) @ NYG
Mike: SF. People are talking about the 49ers as though they're washed up. If you want to see what washed up is, check out the team in blue. 49ers bounce the Giants, 31-10.
Joe: SF. The G-Men are far from washed up but the return of Aldon Smith to the 49ers D will make the difference in this one. 49ers, 34-24.
Final: SF 16-10. Eli with FIVE interceptions. He has never been very good; it's always been the players around him.

OAK (-10.5) @ SD
Mike: SD. I wish the Browns had the Raiders first round pick instead of Buffalo's. SD 24-13.
Joe: OAK. San Diego hasn't won since October 12 when they won in Oakland by 3. If the Raiders don't win today there's a great chance they become the 2nd 0-16 team ever. Raiders, 20-19.
Final: SD 13-6. That's 0-10 now for the Raiders.

DET @ ARI (-1.5)
Mike: DET. I stopped picking Detroit there for a while and they jinxed me. I'd prefer I pick them to cover and then lose in real life. Jinx that! DET 24-14.
Joe: ARI. Neither team will get to 20 points in a great defensive battle. A late Stafford pick kills the Lions. Cardinals, 19-17.
Final: ARI 14-6. My double-reverse secret jinx worked. The Cardinals moved to 9-1 for the first time since the 1948 season, when they were the Chicago Cardinals. Their 9th win of that season came against... the Detroit Lions

NE @ IND (-2.5)
Mike: NE. I thought the Patriots were done but it looks like there's more life to this team than I gave them credit for. All hail, Bill. NE 38-31.
Joe: NE. The Pats D is just good enough to sneak this one out. Patriots 31-27.
Final: NE 42-20. Who the hell is Jonas Gray and why is he rushing for 199 yards and 4 TDs?

Monday Night Football
PIT (-6.5) @ TEN
Mike: PIT. Let's hope the Titans take a cue from the Jets. PIT 23-13.
Joe: TEN. No one plays to their opponents level like the Steelers. Pittsburgh 24-22.
Final: PIT 27-24. Titans trail by 10, then lead by 11, then lose by 3.

Mike: 6-8
Joe:  9-5