Week 13 Picks (Part 2)

The Bengals played about as fine a defensive game as one could ever dream of. They were 61 seconds from posting their second consective shutout. And they have played their way back into serious playoff contention. With that game in the books, there are still many good games to be had this weekend. Submitted for your approval and review are this weeks picks and analysis

Cardinals (2-9) @ Rams (5-6)
Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis 1 (Fox)
Favorite- Rams by 6.5
Its A Fact- The Cards became the first NFL team to have two 99 yard plays in one game.
After breaking their losing streak, the Rams are still on the fringes of the NFC playoff hunt. The Cards are on the slow train to nowhere and the promise that was so much a part of the early part of the Cards early season is a distant memory. The Rams have so much to play for and will look like it, the Cards are playing out the string and will look like it.
Pick-St. Louis

Falcons (5-6) @ Redskins (4-7)
FedEx Field; Landover, MD-1 (Fox)
Favorite- Redskins by 2
Its A Fact-The Falcons have only won once in Washington. Beating the 'Skins in RFK stadium in 1994.
The Falcons are coming apart fast, Michael Vick was just lightened $20K for his thoughtless "dirty bird" flip to heckling fans after a beating by the Saints. Jason Campbell is fast looking like the long term future of the Skins at QB. The problem with both teams is maddening inconsistency. The question is who will be less inconstent. I'm gambling that Vick will be mecurial enough to give the Skins problems.
Pick-Atlanta

Lions (2-9) @ Patriots (8-3)
Gillette Stadium; Foxboro, MA- 1 (Fox)
Favorite- Patriots by 13.5
Its A Fact-This is the Lions first appearance in Gillette Stadium, and first trip to Foxboro since 1993.
The Lions are prepping for their offseason and the Patriots are speeding toward another playoff berth. The Lions aren't even a speed bump to them.
Pick-New England (Lock Pick of the Week)

Colts (10-1) @ Titans (4-7)
LP Field, Nashville- 1 (CBS)
Favorite- Colts by 7.5
Its A Fact-The Titans are 3-14 against the AFC, all three wins coming agains the Texans
The Colts got back in stride with an emphatic thumping of the Eagles, the Titans are feeling good after their improbable comeback against the G-Men. The Titans are doubly cursed, they won't sneak up on the Colts like they did in their taut 14-13 loss in week 3. Also, the Colts if spotted a 21 point lead won't implode.
Pick-Indianapolis

Chiefs (7-4) @ Browns (3-8)
Browns Stadium, Cleveland - 1(CBS)
Favorite-Chiefs by 5
Its a Fact-The Chiefs have beaten the Browns in both of their meetings since the Browns reentry in the NFL in 1999.
The Chiefs are in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt and cannot afford to stumble on the road. The Browns are coming apart fast and are smarting from a shutout from the Bengals, the Chiefs defense is a whole lot better than the Bengals. It'll be another long day at the pound.
Pick-Kansas City

Vikings (5-6) at Bears (9-2)
Soldier Field, Chicago- 1 (Fox)
Favorite
Its A Fact-The Bears have won the past five meetings in Chicago.
The Vikings stopped their slide against a woeful Cards team and had trouble just putting them away. The Bears are still in high gear despite losing a tight game against the Pats. The Bears rallied to win Minnesota in week 3, they shouldn't have that much trouble in the raw cold elements of Soldier Field.
Pick-Chicago

Jets (6-5) @ Packers (4-7)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay- 1 (CBS)
Favorite- No Line
Its A Fact- The Pack are 4-11 in their last 15 home games
The Jets aren't pretty but they continue to win the ones that they are supposed to and as a result are very much in the playoff hunt. Brett Favre continues to throw bushels of passes but the Pack are just not a very good team. The Jets aren't that good, but they are better than the Pack.
Pick-New York Jets

Chargers (9-2) @ Bills (5-6)
Ralph Wilson Stadium; Orchard Park, NY- 1 (CBS)
Favorite- Chargers by 5.5
Its A Fact- The Chargers have not won in Buffalo since 1985
JP Losman and the Bills are making solid strides at being a respectable squad. The problem lies in facing a red hot Charger squad that is getting Shawne Merriman back. They won all four in spite of his absence and get better with him. LT is a beast and will get his against a so-so Bills D.
Pick-San Diego

49ers (5-6) @ Saints (7-4)
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans-1 (Fox)
Favorite-Saints by 6.5
Its A Fact-Drew Brees has thrown for 854 yards in the past two games for the Saints, both losses.
The Saints bounced back from their beating by the Bengals to whip the Falcons and are in solid control of the NFC South, the Niners blew a golden chance to stay on solid playoff footing by blowing a late lead in St. Louis. The Saints at home are way too much for the young Niners to handle.
Pick-New Orleans

Jaguars (6-5) @ Dolphins (5-6)
Dolphins Stadium, Miami- 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite-Dolphins by 3
Its A Fact-This is the Jags 1st trip to Miami
The Jags are up and down, having blown a very winnable game in Buffalo while the Dolphins are coming off a Turkey day beatdown of the Lions. Its tough to tell which team will show up from week to week for the Jags while the Dolphins have been on a nice run. I'm gonna regret this, but I think the Fins run continues.
Pick-Miami

Texans (3-8) @ Raiders (2-9)
McAfee Coliseum, Oakland- 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite-Raiders by 3
Its A Fact-The Raiders are averaging 12 points per game.
The Raiders are not a pushover, but they find ways to lose games. Their defense is keeping them competitve, but their offense is putrid and losing LaMont Jordan makes them even worse. The Texans are an enigma, good enough to stay in games but only good enough to beat teams from Florida. The Raiders blow their chance to solidify their claim to Brady Quinn.
Pick-Oakland

Buccaneers (3-8) @ Steelers (4-7)
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh- 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite-Steelers by 3
Its A Fact- This is the Bucs first visit to Pittsburgh since 1983
These 2005 playoff teams are going nowhere but home next month, Pittsburgh can pound the ball at the Bucs injury ravaged line and keep the Bucs from trying to duplicate what the Ravens did in beating Big Ben senseless. The Bucs have not shown any propensity for offense having only scored over 20 points three times this season (1-2), so if the Steelers get any kind of lead at home, the Bucs are in trouble.
Pick-Pittsburgh

Cowboys (7-4) @ Giants
Giants Stadium; East Rutherford, NJ- 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite- Cowboys by 3.5
Its A Fact-The Giants are 7-1 in their last vs. NFC East teams
The Pokes are the picture of stabilty. Tony Romo is looking more and more like the long term answer offensively and is that a brief smile we saw from the Tuna? Meanwhile the G-Men are coming unglued. An inexcusable fall from ahead loss to the Titans and the finger pointing has begun in earnest. Can Eli Manning hold it together? Three weeks ago, this game looked like the crowning moment in the NFC East, but it will be the Pokes exacting revenge. If the G-Men can regroup and steal the game they will hold a pair of crucial tiebreakers. But I think the G-Men are past the critical mass point.
Pick-Dallas

Seahawks (7-4) @ Broncos (7-4)
Invesco Field @ Mile High, Denver- 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite- Broncos by 4.5
Its A Fact-The Seahawks have given up an average of 30 points in their last four road games
The Broncos have given up on Jake Plummer and given the offense to rookie Jay Cutler, many think Shanny is making a mistake but insiders say that Cutler is ready, but a prime time stage is not the optimal setting for a rookie debut. The Seahawks are puzzling, fierce at home but skittish on the road. One might think that the return of Shawn Alexander and Matt Hasselbeck wil stabilize the Seahawk offense. I'm not real sold on either team, but the Broncos don't lose three in a row at home. With a hot Bengals team hot on their heels in the wild card race, the Broncos will play with some urgency. They can ill afford not to.
Pick-Denver

Panthers (6-5) @ Eagles (5-6)
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia- 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite-No Line
Its A Fact-Both teams won their previous Monday appearance
The Panthers should be battling the Saints for control of the NFC South, if not leading the division outright. They keep losing winnable games. The Eagles can score points, but their defense looks lost right now. The Panthers have enough offensive moxie, to keep the Eagles from turning this into a shootout.
Pick-Carolina

Last Week 11-5
Overall 105-70