Week 13 Picks

Thanksgiving Games:
CHI @ DET (-7.5)
Joe: CHI. Had to choose between Detroit's D and San Fran's D in fantasy this week. Even though the Bears have been a mess, I can see this being a 35-31 shootout...
Mike: DET. I think the Lions will step it up at home, looking for not only a win but a commanding win. Meanwhile, the Bears players are away from their families on Thanksgiving and aren't 100% focused on the game. I wonder what the all time record is for Away teams on holidays.
Final: DET 34-17. M. Stafford 34-45, 390 YDS, 2 TDS

PHI @ DAL (-3.5)
Joe: DAL. Mark Sanchez on a national stage.... He'll score points and put up yards but mostly provides highlight game-changing turnovers. Dallas 38-27.
Mike: PHI. Mark Sanchez with a non-broken back is better than Tony Romo with a broken back. One average sack and Weeden is in.
Final: PHI 33-10. And we can't blame Weeded on this one.

SEA @ SF (-0.5)
Joe: SF. While this is almost always a 17-16 game. And I'm taking Phil Dawson for the win.
Mike: SEA. Agreed that it should be low scoring. I guess I'm not a Kaepernick believer.
Final: SEA 19-3. I started Kaepernick in my non-money league and he put up one point. Thanks, punk.

Sunday Games:
WASH @ IND (-9.5)
Mike: WAS. How ironic that Colt McCoy will be facing the Colts. Other famous matchups: Jeff Feagles vs the Eagles; Walter Packer vs the Packers and Antonio Brown vs the Browns.
Joe: IND. I don't think this will go well for the fightin' Colts (McCoys).
Final: IND 49-27. Well, it was close 'til the 3rd quarter.

TEN @ HOU (-6.5)
Mike: HOU. Defense will shut down that selfie guy.
Joe: TEN. Who this guy?
Final: HOU 45-21. The blog took away your link. Booooo.

CLE @ BUF (-2.5)
Mike: CLE. It's a mistake to make the Browns an underdog. Only thing that worries me is Sammy Watkins. Browns better hope they have a 9+ point lead in the 4th quarter.
Joe: BUF. For the first time in a while I really don't feel good about a Browns game. This has dud written all over it. As a Browns fan, it's pray for decent - expect the worst. I'll GLADLY be wrong on this.
Final: BUF 26-10. Hoyer yanked for Manziel. What will we think of this game 10 years from now?

SD @ BAL (-5.5)
Mike: BAL. The craziness in the AFC North continues for another week.
Joe: SD. At Baltimore, Home for New England & Denver, then closing on the road in San Francisco & Kansas City... This looks like the final chance for a win for the Chargers, who could easily go from 7-4 to 7-9.
Final: SD 34-33. I was pleased that SD won this game until I realized they're also ahead of Cleveland for a WC spot.

NYG (-2.5) @ JAX
Mike: NYG. There's nothing about this pick that I like.
Joe: NYG. Well, there is this!! OK, this!! He went a couple picks after Justin Gilbert, that hurts.
Final: JAX by 1. Should have followed my instinct. NYG is terrible.

CIN (-4.5) @ TB
Mike: CIN. Bucs, Jags and Raiders fighting for that number one pick.
Joe: TB. The Bucs can score (see: Evans, Mike) and Dalton has played very well the last couple weeks. He's due for 3 INTs.
Final: CIN by 1. I guess this was the week to pick the underdogs.

OAK @ STL (-6.5)
Mike: STL. I'll say it again, but it'll be a real shame to see the Rams move back to LA just as they're on the cusp of something good.
Joe: STL. We need more West Coast teams for more late games. You know, for fantasy purposes. Adds more intrigue.
Final: STL 52-0. Well that was embarrassing.

NO @ PIT (-3.5)
Mike: PIT. It's that damned Saint defense. Terrible in '12, great in '13 and back to terrible in '14.
Joe: NO. I think I picked Pittsburgh last week and the stink is still on me.
Final: NO 35-32. Thank you, half point, and also for scoring the garbage TD as time expired.

CAR @ MIN (-2.5)
Mike: CAR. Panthers will take the win to stay in the hunt.
Joe: MIN. Vikings WR Charles Johnson, former Browns practice squad player (who they signed from Packers not knowing he had a torn ACL), is now their #1 receiving option.
Final: MIN 31-13. I just end up knowing less and less about football.

ARI (-2.5) @ ATL
Mike: ATL. The Cardinals are not nearly as good as their record and the Falcons are not nearly as bad as theirs. Home team with the Vegas upset.
Joe: ATL. I disagree with both of those statements but agree on the pick, It's Drew Stanton.
Final: ATL 29-18. And then I completely redeem myself with this pick. Oh, so did you. Dang.

NE @ GB (-3.5)
Mike:  NE. It is just ludicrous that I'm going against the Packers at home but Gronk is unstoppable.
Joe: NE. The only team better than the Packers right now, the Patriots.
Final:  GB 26-21. It was ludicrous going against the Packers at home.

DEN (-1.5) @ KC
Mike: DEN. Here's your Sunday night blowout.
Joe: KC. Might be some emotion in the loudest stadium in the NFL with the terrible Eric Berry news that came out last week.
Final: DEN 29-16. Not the blowout I expected. Would you rather have Alex Smith or Manziel?

Monday Night Football
MIA (-5.5) @ NYJ
Mike: MIA. Now that Geno Smith is back at QB, the spread should be -15.5.
Joe: MIA. Yes, this will not be watched by me. Pity Jets QB next year, Jameis Winston.
Final: MIA 16-13. Jets had a chance to knock out the Dolphins but blew it like we knew they would.

Mike: 8-8 (despite 3-0 on Thanksgiving)
Joe: 7-9 (despite 0-3 on Thanksgiving)