Does Boston own New York now? And Week 13 NFL Picks

To paraphrase a quote I one read in a hip hop magazine... Has New York fallen the (bleep) off or what???
I wanted to ask this question after watching the Knicks get absolutely demolished by the Celtics 104-59 and the thought occured to me, as of late Boston Sports teams have been dominating New York teams. To Wit:
The Red Sox won their first AL East Crown over New York in 12 years and their second World Series in three years.
The Pats have destroyed the Jets their last three meetings
The Celtics aforementioned thrashing of the Knicks
The only kind of superiority that NYC can claim is in hockey where the Rangers have a better record than Bruins, but thats not saying much. I cant remember when the Bruins have been really good, so we'll exclude this one. But on the for real for real, Has NYC really fell that much off in sports?

I read that a number of suspects have been arrested in the Sean Taylor shooting and the way its looking that it was a robbery gone horribly bad. Now to all of those that tried to paint Taylor as a thug or gangsta wannabe, hang you head in shame. What happened to Taylor could have very well happened to anyone of us. Though I pray that it never does. I hope that it all comes to light that the only thing that Taylor did wrong was be sucessful enought to be a target for some real thugs.

While you consider that lets consider the weeks NFL schedule. Sooner or later I'll learn better than to open my mouth. I started off 3-0 for Thursday and then after ignoring the counsel of Reignblood (I was actually thinking of changing it to the Raiders...honest I was) and get burned by the Rams (Thanks for nothing Gus) I was sweating a sloppy rainsoaked slogfest in Pittsburgh to get above .500 So no more talk about layups. Odds are as usual posted for comparison and entertainment purposes. I'm flat broke so, don't come looking to me if you get burned on the points.

Sunday, December 2

Falcons (3-8 ) @ Rams (2-9)
Edward Jones Dome, St Louis 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Rams by 3
Fast Fact The Falcons loss last week assured them of their 32nd non winning season in 42 years.
Both teams are a mess, and Gus Frerotte’s ill-timed fumble cost the Rams a shot at upsetting the Seahawks. Joey Harrington is looking his usual confused self and both teams are going nowhere. Toss a coin in this one, give it to the home team.
Pick-St. Louis

Bills (5-6) @ Redskins (5-6)
FedEx Field; Landover, MD 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Redskins by 5½
Fast Fact The Redskins have lost five straight regular season games to Buffalo
The Skins play with heavy hearts following the shooting death of hard hitting safety Sean Taylor. They face a Bills team that has dealt with tragedy themselves. Jason Campbell is fast improving and the Bills will be just the needed tutorial to get a win and keep the Skins in the crowded NFC playoff race.
Pick-Washington

Lions (6-5) @ Vikings (5-6)
HHH Metrodome, Minneapolis 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Vikings by 4
Fast Fact The Vikings have won nine straight against the Lions in Minnesota
The Lions picked the worst time to go into a tailspin, and they face the Vikings who get Adrian Peterson back. The Lions stole a tight 20-17 win in Detroit back in September but I don’t see this game being that close again. While Tavaris Jackson won’t scare anyone he will do enough to manage the game and get Peterson and Chester Taylor enough carries to get the Vikings a win.
Pick-Minnesota


Texans (5-6) @ Titans (6-5)
LP Field, Nashville 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Titans by 3½
Fast Fact The Titans LenDale White has only rushed for 81 total yards during the Titans three game losing streak
The Texans are the perfect tonic for the fading Titans, and while the continued absence of Albert Haynesworth will hurt the Titans they can at least claim better than the Texans who after a promising start have stumbled. The key here is to keep Vince Young passing yards down, his three highest passing totals have come during this slide and if the Texans can force the Titans to throw they may steal it. But I cant see that happening, this will be an ugly game but the Titans will win a slugfest.
Pick-Tennessee


Jaguars (8-3) @ Colts (9-2)
RCA Dome, Indianapolis 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Colts by 6
Fast Fact Of the five losses that the Colts have in the AFC South in the past three years three of them have come from the Jags.
I was shocked to see the flex game not be used for this intriguing matchup. The Colts are trying to kickstart their sputtering offense. Peyton Manning usual reliable numbers are way way down. While the Jags lunch bucket style win few style points but are keeping them in the playoff hunt. Fred Taylor has stepped up nicely to compensate for the poor play of Maurice Jones-Drew. The Colts offense has been stagnant with the injuries to Marvin Harrison and Dallas Clark. Though the Colts don’t have these key components, look for them to try to pick on the Jags poor pass defense. Banged up or not, I’m not betting against the Colts at home
Pick-Indianapolis

Jets (2-9) @ Dolphins (0-11)
Dolphins Stadium, Miami 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Dolphins by 1
Fast Fact Only six teams in NFL history have started the season with 12 straight losses.
The Dolphins are an absolute joke, but the Jets are underdogs in this matchup. With no real offense to speak of on either side it might be the first team to get into field goal range will win it. As much as I would love to see the same team that went unbeaten go winless, I can’t see it happening. The Dolphins have lost 6 games by 5 points or less, the breaks go their way this time.
Pick-Miami (Upset of The Week)



Chargers (6-5) @ Chiefs (4-7)
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Chargers by 6
Fast Fact The Chiefs have won 19 of their last 20 December games at home
The Chargers have been winning ugly, but have been winning, five of their last seven have been victories. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are fading and after a humiliating loss to the Raiders, a team that they won ten straight against, are in real danger of dropping into irrelevance in the AFC west. The Chargers are starting to remember that LT is a decent running back and have been using him more often in their offense. The Chargers don’t play well on the road, but the Chiefs are scaring no one.
Pick-San Diego


49ers (3-8 ) @ Panthers (4-7)
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Panthers by 3
Fast Fact The Panthers have been outscored 200-70 in their last seven games at home all losses
The Panthers kept telling themselves that this game would be the gimme on their home schedule, but suddenly the Niners have become a problem child and not the type of team that the sad sack Panthers need to see. Vinny Testaverde will more than likely start for the beleaguered Carolina squad, and the Niners shocked themselves by scoring 37 points in their upset win in Arizona. I’ll regret doing this, but I’m gonna say that the Panthers finally get one at home.
Pick-Carolina


Seahawks (7-4) @ Eagles (5-6)
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Eagles by 3
Fast Fact The Seahawks have shut the Eagles out in their last two visits to Philly (38-0 in ‘98 and 42-0 in ‘05)
Instead of falling apart in Shaun Alexander’s absence the Seahawks have come together nicely and have taken a two game lead on Arizona in the NFC West. The Eagles played a solid game in nearly springing the upset on the Pats. I cant see AJ Feeley playing at that level two weeks straight. Look for Maurice Morris to continue his stellar play in Alexanders stead and lead the Seahawks to a needed road win.
Pick-Seattle


Browns (7-4) @ Cardinals (5-6)
University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, AZ 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite Even
Fast Fact The Browns have one win in each of the past four Decembers
The Browns are in unfamiliar territory, playoff contention. They are in position for their first playoff berth since 2001 and face a Cards team coming off a heartbreaking loss against a bad Niners team. This has all the making of a classic trap game for the Browns, but I don’t see the Browns squandering this one.
Pick-Cleveland


Broncos (5-6) @ Raiders (3-8 )
McAfee Coliseum, Oakland 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite Broncos by 3
Fast Fact The Broncos have won five straight in Oakland
The Broncos blew a golden chance to stay even with the Chargers when they blew a 14 point 4th quarter lead to lose to the Bears. The look to rebound against the Raiders who are feeling good about themselves after rallying to beat the Chiefs. The Raiders despite looking sharp last week are in no position to challenge the Broncos who despite the uneven play of Jay Cutler should have enough to get the win.
Pick-Denver


NY Giants (7-4) @ Bears (5-6)
Soldier Field, Chicago 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Giants by 1½
Fast Fact Devin Hester broke Gale Sayers team record with his ninth and tenth return touchdowns last week
Who’s gonna be the bigger wreck this week Eli Manning or Rex Grossman? Manning’s meltdown against the Vikes was sad to watch. Grossman didn’t fall apart against the Broncos, but he didn’t stand out either. The Giants are pulling their usual late season el foldo and while the Bears are not playoff contenders, I get the feeling that they’ll steal this one
Pick-Chicago



Buccaneers (7-4) @ Saints (5-6)
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Saints by 3½
Fast Fact The Bucs won last week despite being outgained 316-15 and not making a first down after halftime.
Skinny/Winner More often than not the Saints are an enigma, you never know what team is going to show up. Drew Brees has been inconsistent, but shined last week. Meanwhile the Bucs are scrambling to figure out who will be their QB after Jeff Garcia missed almost all of the previous game. The Saints thumped the Panthers but I don’t see them getting the win here.
Pick-Tampa Bay


Bengals (4-7) @ Steelers (8-3)
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Steelers by 7
Fast Fact The road team has won each of the last four years
The Bengals dealt out a stunning rout of the Titans while the Steelers won in spite of themselves last Monday. The Bengals offense has never really been a problem but their defense is. If Troy Polamalu does not play, things will be much easier for Carson Palmer. Ben Roethlisberger has been playing decently but the rest of his team has been playing to the level of their opponent. I get the feeling that the Steelers will get caught looking ahead to a meeting with possibly unbeaten New England and get burned in a streak that they were supposed to make hay in.
Pick-Cincinnati



Monday, December 3

Patriots (11-0) @ Ravens (4-7)
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite Patriots by 20
Fast Fact The Patriots are the first NFL team to be favored by more than 20 in consecutive games.
The Pats dodged a mammoth upset last Sunday, letting an overmatched Eagles squad hang with them nearly all game. The Ravens do not have the capability to do anything remotely close to what the Eagles did and the Pats will make the Ravens an example of the Ravens for the Eagles insolence. The Ravens lack of offense will be their downfall against the Pats tough defense. They may not score in the 30s but they have more than enough to beat the Ravens and continue their unbeaten march.
Pick-New England (Lock of The Week)

Last Week: 9-7 (Lock Correct, Upset Incorrect)
Overall: 107-69 (10-2 Locks, 3-9 Upsets)

Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!