Week 13 NFL Picks

Last week: 13-3
Season total: 119-57

I know I shouldn’t waste time with a long intro this week, so I’ll get right to the picks:

Titans at Bills

I know I shouldn’t think that Chris Johnson is back to normal based on one good game last week. I also know that it’s dangerous to trust Matt Hasselbeck on the road. The Bills have just been so terrible lately, and the Titans have to know that this might be their best chance to make a move on Houston in the AFC South. Winner: Titans

Chiefs at Bears

I know I shouldn’t trust Chicago QB Caleb Hanie, especially after he basically handed Oakland a victory last week. I think that he settles down this week, and lets the defence and his running game do their thing against the Chiefs. Winner: Bears

Panthers at Buccaneers

I know I shouldn’t trust the porous Carolina defence to be able to stop Bucs’ RB LaGarrette Blount. That being said, Tampa Bay’s defence is nothing to write home about either. Cam Newton is due for a big passing day.  Winner: Panthers

Raiders at Dolphins

I know I shouldn’t be picking a team that started 0-7 to beat a division leader. However, Miami has won three of their last four, and came close to beating Dallas last week, while Oakland was fortunate to pull out a victory against the Bears. This should be a close one. Winner: Dolphins

Colts at Patriots

I know I shouldn’t start thinking that all of New England’s defensive problems are fixed because they’ve spent the past three weeks beating up on inferior competition. However, this week they’re playing Indianapolis, the closest thing to a guaranteed win there is these days. Winner: Patriots

Falcons at Texans

I know I shouldn’t pick against the formidable Texans’ defence at home. The way I see it, though, is that if Atlanta can’t beat a Houston team that is down to its third-string QB, then they don’t deserve to be in the playoffs. I’ve been hearing a fair bit about Texans’ QB T.J. Yates’s big arm this week. If he’s overly anxious in his first start, don’t be surprised to see one or two tipped interceptions if he’s a bit wild with his throws. Winner: Falcons

Broncos at Vikings

I know I shouldn’t pick Denver for the fourth-straight week, especially on the road and with Von Miller questionable after thumb surgery. Minnesota is banged up on defence too, though, and will be without Adrian Peterson again this week. Who would have thought that the Tim Tebow-led Broncos could be tied for first-place in the AFC West after this weekend? Winner: Broncos

Jets at ‘skins

I know I shouldn’t be betting on Mark Sanchez on the road. He’s so inaccurate it’s almost painful to watch at times. I keep expecting one of his receivers to get decapitated or broken in half trying to catch his off-target throws. For at least another week, though, the Jets are still in the playoff hunt, and should be able to take care of business against Rex Grossman and company. Winner: Jets

Bengals at Steelers

I know I shouldn’t think that the Bengals can beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh, after losing to them in Cincinnati just three weeks ago. Losing close games against the Steelers and Ravens has shown the Bengals that they can compete. I can definitely see this game being close again, with the balanced Cincinnati offence and strong defence pulling out the victory. Winner: Bengals

Ravens at Browns

I know I shouldn’t start thinking, yet again, that the Ravens are the class of the AFC after their impressive victory over the 49ers last week. Baltimore has established a disturbing pattern this season of following up a big win with a loss to a vastly inferior team. Enter the lowly Browns. The Ravens have to start proving that they can put out a consistently good effort every week, regardless of the opponent. Winner: Ravens

Rams at 49ers

I know I shouldn’t worry too much about San Francisco, after they got pummelled by Baltimore last week. They should bounce back nicely against the dreadful Rams. Winner: 49ers

Cowboys at Cardinals

I know I shouldn’t trust Tony Romo against a team that has given Dallas plenty of trouble in recent years. This is a game that the Cowboys should win easily. That’s what’s scary about it. Dallas needs to focus on beating Arizona, and not get caught looking ahead to more difficult matchups. The NFC East is the Cowboys’ to win or lose. Winner: Cowboys

Packers at Giants

I know I shouldn’t pick the struggling Giants to upset Green Bay. So I won’t. Winner: Packers

Lions at Saints

I know I shouldn’t count Detroit out yet, but I’m starting to like my preseason prediction of them not making the playoffs more and more each week. Drew Brees should be able to light up the Detroit defence like a Christmas tree, but he’d better keep his head up, as the Lions have more dirty players than suspended DT Ndamukong Suh. Speaking of Stompy the Clown, after losing the appeal of his suspension, and with no defenceless football players around, he must be mad enough to do something crazy like drive his car into a tree. Winner: Saints

Monday Night

Chargers at Jaguars

I know I shouldn’t think that even Norv Turner could figure out something this simple, but I’ll take a chance: Jacksonville has a terrible offence, and if you focus on stopping Maurice Jones-Drew, then the Jags can’t score. Surely not even ol’ Norville could screw up that simple formula for success. Right? Winner: Chargers