doomsdayvirus
11-17-2005, 10:03 AM
Who could have seen the giants falling to the vikings (except maybe devilpaul)? how about the pack beating the falcons on the road? i had a feeling that one of these two games would turn out to be an upset but not sure enough to pick one, let alone both!
i really thought that philly could get it done against dallas at home now that the t.o. debacle was behind them. i was about 1 point off on that one.
however i did call the tampa bay upset over washington, and managed to make up for my week 9 record.
week 11 brings us back up to the 16 game schedule, so there's more picks to screw up. last week, i picked mostly favorites in lop-sided matchups. this week i'm throwing caution (and my average) to the wind, acting on a lot of hunches, and picking upsets across the board. here we go:
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OAKLAND @ WASHINGTON : WASHINGTON
My first pick is not an upset, but would have been a surprise 11 weeks ago. Washington's fired up after last week's last second loss to Tampa. Gibbs won't let it happen again. And the Raiders are so far from relevancy that it hard to picture them putting forth the effort to win this one on the road.
MIAMI @ CLEVELAND : MIAMI
The line for this game is even at the moment, but the Browns have already been eliminated in a division that contains both the Steelers and the Bengals. Miami still has a statistical chance of making the playoffs in the weak AFC East. While the Browns look ahead to next year, Miami will be focused on the game at hand. They've been close the last couple weeks, this week they'll finish the job.
PITTSBURGH @ BALTIMORE : BALTIMORE
Pittsburgh is in quite a pickle this week without a QB capable of throwing the ball. It would be foolish to start Roethlisberger at this point and risk losing him for a longer period of time, Batch made some progress the last few games but now he's out as well. Pittsburgh will be limited to their running game, and though they do it well Baltimore will be prepared for it.
DETROIT @ DALLAS : DALLAS
Detroit is simply just struggling too much to keep up with the gunslinging Cowboys offense at home.
JACKSONVILLE @ TENNESSEE : TENNESSEE
Tennessee is coming off of a bye and has had plenty of time to rest and prepare for the Jags. They haven't won a game in 5 weeks and will catch the visitors off guard with their sudden desire to win. Just don't expect it to last more than a week.
ARIZONA @ ST. LOUIS : ARIZONA
Another upset, Larry Fitzgerald shows why he's one of the league's most under-appreciated receivers when the Cardinals pull out a surprise victory in St. Louis this week. His play won't be enough to give them the win, but a steady barrage of field goals from Rackers will be.
NEW ORLEANS @ NEW ENGLAND : NEW ENGLAND
I should know better than to pick New England to win 2 weeks in a row, they haven't done it all season, but that has to change sooner or later. I'm actually not 100% confident in this pick and the game will be closer than Pats fans would like, but I'm going to roll with it.
PHILADELPHIA @ NEW YORK (NYG) : NEW YORK (NYG)
No Owens, no McNabb, no chance against a hot Giants team that typically plays well after one of their owners dies. Sorry, but it's true.
TAMPA BAY @ ATLANTA : ATLANTA
Another close call, but I'm taking Atlanta. Vick simply has more physical skills and leadership ability than his counterpart on the Bucs. It may end up being a shootout, but if the Falcons defense can contain Galloway this game will be all theirs.
CAROLINA @ CHICAGO : CAROLINA
Chicago is better than expected this year, much better. I liked them early on in the year and I like their chances for next year. But they haven't been able to put up the points necessary to beat a team like Carolina, even at home.
SEATTLE @ SAN FRANCISCO : SEATTLE
Watch out Indy, your streak just might come to an end in Detroit this February against a Seahawks team that has been dormant for decades. Like Mount St. Helens looming behind the Seattle skyline, this team is finally ready to erupt.
NEW YORK (NYJ) @ DENVER : DENVER
Maybe it's time to consider that coaching position in KC Mr. Edwards. This former "Wild Card" favorite pick of sports analysts everywhere will discover what lies below "rock bottom" this week.
BUFFALO @ SAN DIEGO : SAN DIEGO
Both of these teams are teetering on the brink of playoff elimination. The difference is the Chargers have the right weapons and experience to win when it counts. The Bills will have their day, but it won't be this one.
INDIANAPOLIS @ CINCINNATI : CINCINNATI
If there was ever a time for the Colts to loose a game this would be it. If there was ever a time for the Bengals to win big and prove their viability this would be that game. Cincy is coming off a bye and has had plenty of time to get ready for this. It's also Indy's last potential "foul-weather" game of the regular season. If Cincy can't prove themselves here, then they really are nothing but a fluke. A mediocre team beating up on bad teams, kind of like a certain squad out of western New York last year.
KANSAS CITY @ HOUSTON : HOUSTON
Surprise! KC continues an uncharacteristic slide this week in Houston. It's just a gut feeling. Nothing else.
MINNESOTA @ GREEN BAY : GREEN BAY
They were close last time these two teams met. This time they'll pull it off at home denying the Vikings their 2nd straight victory.
Season & Weekly Record
------------------------------
WK 1......8/16...(8-8)....50%
WK 2......6/16...(6-10)...38%
WK 3......6/14...(6-8)....42%
WK 4.....10/14...(10-4)...71%
WK 5.....10/14...(10-4)...71%
WK 6.....10/14...(10-4)...71%
WK 7.....10/14...(10-4)...71%
WK 8.....10/14...(10-4)...71%
WK 9......9/14...(9-5)....64%
WK 10....11/14...(11-3)...79%
------------------------------
Season...90/144..(90-54)..63%
------------------------------
i really thought that philly could get it done against dallas at home now that the t.o. debacle was behind them. i was about 1 point off on that one.
however i did call the tampa bay upset over washington, and managed to make up for my week 9 record.
week 11 brings us back up to the 16 game schedule, so there's more picks to screw up. last week, i picked mostly favorites in lop-sided matchups. this week i'm throwing caution (and my average) to the wind, acting on a lot of hunches, and picking upsets across the board. here we go:
----------$----------$----------$----------$----------$----------$----
OAKLAND @ WASHINGTON : WASHINGTON
My first pick is not an upset, but would have been a surprise 11 weeks ago. Washington's fired up after last week's last second loss to Tampa. Gibbs won't let it happen again. And the Raiders are so far from relevancy that it hard to picture them putting forth the effort to win this one on the road.
MIAMI @ CLEVELAND : MIAMI
The line for this game is even at the moment, but the Browns have already been eliminated in a division that contains both the Steelers and the Bengals. Miami still has a statistical chance of making the playoffs in the weak AFC East. While the Browns look ahead to next year, Miami will be focused on the game at hand. They've been close the last couple weeks, this week they'll finish the job.
PITTSBURGH @ BALTIMORE : BALTIMORE
Pittsburgh is in quite a pickle this week without a QB capable of throwing the ball. It would be foolish to start Roethlisberger at this point and risk losing him for a longer period of time, Batch made some progress the last few games but now he's out as well. Pittsburgh will be limited to their running game, and though they do it well Baltimore will be prepared for it.
DETROIT @ DALLAS : DALLAS
Detroit is simply just struggling too much to keep up with the gunslinging Cowboys offense at home.
JACKSONVILLE @ TENNESSEE : TENNESSEE
Tennessee is coming off of a bye and has had plenty of time to rest and prepare for the Jags. They haven't won a game in 5 weeks and will catch the visitors off guard with their sudden desire to win. Just don't expect it to last more than a week.
ARIZONA @ ST. LOUIS : ARIZONA
Another upset, Larry Fitzgerald shows why he's one of the league's most under-appreciated receivers when the Cardinals pull out a surprise victory in St. Louis this week. His play won't be enough to give them the win, but a steady barrage of field goals from Rackers will be.
NEW ORLEANS @ NEW ENGLAND : NEW ENGLAND
I should know better than to pick New England to win 2 weeks in a row, they haven't done it all season, but that has to change sooner or later. I'm actually not 100% confident in this pick and the game will be closer than Pats fans would like, but I'm going to roll with it.
PHILADELPHIA @ NEW YORK (NYG) : NEW YORK (NYG)
No Owens, no McNabb, no chance against a hot Giants team that typically plays well after one of their owners dies. Sorry, but it's true.
TAMPA BAY @ ATLANTA : ATLANTA
Another close call, but I'm taking Atlanta. Vick simply has more physical skills and leadership ability than his counterpart on the Bucs. It may end up being a shootout, but if the Falcons defense can contain Galloway this game will be all theirs.
CAROLINA @ CHICAGO : CAROLINA
Chicago is better than expected this year, much better. I liked them early on in the year and I like their chances for next year. But they haven't been able to put up the points necessary to beat a team like Carolina, even at home.
SEATTLE @ SAN FRANCISCO : SEATTLE
Watch out Indy, your streak just might come to an end in Detroit this February against a Seahawks team that has been dormant for decades. Like Mount St. Helens looming behind the Seattle skyline, this team is finally ready to erupt.
NEW YORK (NYJ) @ DENVER : DENVER
Maybe it's time to consider that coaching position in KC Mr. Edwards. This former "Wild Card" favorite pick of sports analysts everywhere will discover what lies below "rock bottom" this week.
BUFFALO @ SAN DIEGO : SAN DIEGO
Both of these teams are teetering on the brink of playoff elimination. The difference is the Chargers have the right weapons and experience to win when it counts. The Bills will have their day, but it won't be this one.
INDIANAPOLIS @ CINCINNATI : CINCINNATI
If there was ever a time for the Colts to loose a game this would be it. If there was ever a time for the Bengals to win big and prove their viability this would be that game. Cincy is coming off a bye and has had plenty of time to get ready for this. It's also Indy's last potential "foul-weather" game of the regular season. If Cincy can't prove themselves here, then they really are nothing but a fluke. A mediocre team beating up on bad teams, kind of like a certain squad out of western New York last year.
KANSAS CITY @ HOUSTON : HOUSTON
Surprise! KC continues an uncharacteristic slide this week in Houston. It's just a gut feeling. Nothing else.
MINNESOTA @ GREEN BAY : GREEN BAY
They were close last time these two teams met. This time they'll pull it off at home denying the Vikings their 2nd straight victory.
Season & Weekly Record
------------------------------
WK 1......8/16...(8-8)....50%
WK 2......6/16...(6-10)...38%
WK 3......6/14...(6-8)....42%
WK 4.....10/14...(10-4)...71%
WK 5.....10/14...(10-4)...71%
WK 6.....10/14...(10-4)...71%
WK 7.....10/14...(10-4)...71%
WK 8.....10/14...(10-4)...71%
WK 9......9/14...(9-5)....64%
WK 10....11/14...(11-3)...79%
------------------------------
Season...90/144..(90-54)..63%
------------------------------