Hey friends... Here are my Week 12 Picks... Thanksgiving Edition... on the 11-Year Anniversary of the "I Called Tails, No You Didn't" controversy, starring Jerome Bettis and Phil Lockett...
Thanksgiving Day Games:
Packers @ Lions: Green Bay started strong against the Niners last week but then almost gave up the lead at the end. The Lions won a crazy game where rookie QB Matthew Stafford threw a game-winning TD pass on an un-timed down at the wire. Stafford is now hurt with a busted left shoulder and I think the QB Dante Culpepper will fill in somewhat-nicely. The Pack lost two key players to injury but I look for QB Aaron Rodgers and RB Ryan Grant to pull through in the Turkey Day opener. 31-20 GB
Raiders @ Cowboys: This game should be so interesting by halftime that I will go outside and throw the football and forget to come back inside for the 2nd half. I know Dallas has been struggling to score points and the Raiders got a early Christmas gift from the Bengals, but I still think the Boys will roll on Thursday. QB Tony Romo and WR "A Marathon Equals 26.2" Miles Austin should light up the scoreboard as the Cowboys will feast on the Raiders. 34-16 DAL
Giants @ Broncos: The Broncos got smoked by the BOLTS on Sunday and now have to come back on a short week with questions at QB and face the New York Gigantes. I think QB Eli Manning should have a solid night and RB's Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw should find the same running lanes CHARGER tailbacks enjoyed on Sunday. If Denver doesn't start winning soon, Broncos fans will let the team know it and I may have to start calling their signal caller Kyle Orton "Hears a Boo". I think the slide continues for Denver as the G-Men stand tall at Mile High. 27-16 NYG
Sunday Games:
Buccaneers @ Falcons: Atlanta RB Jason Snelling got a taste of a starting lineup on Sunday and liked it. He rushed for 76 yards and 2 TDs but the Falcons still lost in overtime. I look for Atlanta to bounce back this week on the back of Snelling and the arm of QB Matt Ryan. The Bucs lose again and the Falcons stay alive in the NFC wildcard race. 27-17 ATL
Dolphins @ Bills: In this AFC East match up, I look for more big things from WR Terrell Owens who is facing two rookie corners from Miami. RB Ricky Williams came up huge for the Dolphins on Thursday night and killed me in my fantasy league. I look for him to continue his resurgence and score a few more times this week. I think he's the difference as the Dolphins improve to 6-5. 24-16 MIA
Browns @ Bengals: Cleveland lost a heart breaker to Detroit last week in the "Brutal Bowl" and the Bengals managed to fumble away a victory in Oakland. I look for the Browns to have trouble moving the ball and the Bengals to force a few big turnovers on defense. Cincinnati figures out how to win a game you're supposed to and takes this one at home. 27-13 CIN
Panthers @ Jets: Carolina will need to continue to ride their 2-headed monster at tailback if they want to be effective on offense. New York will need QB Mark Sanchez to stop blowing the game with turnovers if they want to finish with a respectable record this season. I think this could be an interception fest between Sanchez and Jake (Great Name) Delhomme, but the running game of Sweet Carolina... dun dun duh, will be enough to get them the win. 26-20 CAR
Redskins @ Eagles: Philadelphia needs this win to try to keep pace with Dallas in the NFC East. The Skins need this win so their coach doesn't get fired. I think QB Donovan McNabb will have a big passing day and WR Jeremy Maclin and TE Brent Celek will be his main targets. Look for a lot of double coverage on WR DeSean Jackson which will limit his touches. Washington needs QB Jason Campbell to protect the ball and make some magic happen if the Redskins want to win this one on the road. Campbell has the hat but can't find the rabbit. The Eagles fly high again. 26-24 PHI
Colts @ Texans: Indianapolis comes in unblemished looking to improve to 11-0. I think this is the week they fall. You may be saying to yourself, "I thought you said last week was the week they were going to fall?" I did, and if Ravens QB Joe Flacco hadn't thrown an awful 4th quarter interception they would have. I think WR Andre Johnson and RB Steve Slaton will expose a thus far over-performing defense for the Colts. You all know my feelings on QB Matt Schaub, so I will save you the trouble. QB Peyton Manning will play well as usual, but the Colts will lose a close one late. 27-24 HOU
Seahawks @ Rams: The NFC West is probably the worst division in Ron Jaworski's "National Football League". St. Louis is pretty awful and Seattle is not too much better. Look for RB Steven Jackson to have a huge day and diminutive but solid WR/KR Danny Amendola to get a few more looks at wideout. In a Jake's Take first I am picking the Rams to win a game. 24-16 STL
Chiefs @ CHARGERS: The BOLTS dominated the Donkeys last Sunday and look to win their 6th straight. I think RB's LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles will find a lot of running room and the endzone. QB Philip Rivers should continue his solid play and find his enormous targets at wide receiver (i.e. Vincent Jackson, Malcom "the X Factor" Floyd and Legedu "I Only Need 3 Different Letters in my Last Name" Naanee). On defense, SAN DIEGO has been as fierce as Macy's on Black Friday morning. LB Kevin Burnett had his best game of the year and S Stephen Gregory may of had the best of his career. Look for the OLB Shawne Merriman and Co. to turn the lights out on Kansas City at the Q. Daygo goes to 8-3. 34-17 SD
Jaguars @ 49ers: Another one of the hottest teams in the league is Jacksonville. The Jags have won 3 straight and 6 of their last 8. I think they will be able to run the ball against the San Francisco defense with RB Maurice Jones-Drew. WR Mike Sims-Walker "Texas Ranger" may not have Chuck Norris' devastating roundhouse kick, but he can catch the football and make big plays. I think the Jaguars stay on the prowl as the 49ers keep mining for answers. 27-20 JAX
Cardinals @ Titans: Arizona will need QB Kurt Warner to be fully healthy if they want to win this one on the road. Tennessee has be decimated by injuries in the secondary and if Warner is healthy, he should have no trouble finding his talented crew of pass catchers. I think Warner will play, and play well but the defense of Arizona will let them down. QB Vince Young will create some big plays and RB Chris Johnson will do what he seems to do week in and week out... and that's gain huge amounts of yards. The redbirds defense lets them down in their first road loss of 2009. 30-24 TEN
Bears @ Vikings: The Bears are who we thought they were... a mediocre team at best. QB Jay Cutler has been terrible and the running game hasn't provided much help either. The Vikings on the other hand have the best running back in the game and a quarterback who feels comfortable in his Wranglers... and Viking purple. I look for Favre, WR's Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin and that dude in the backfield... I think his name is Adrian Something?? to have another big game and get another big win. Vikes win. 34-20 MIN
SNF: Steelers @ Ravens: A huge match up for a wild card spot or perhaps a AFC North title on prime time. Pittsburgh will need QB Ben Roethlisberger to be cleared and clear-headed when they face the attacking defense of the Ravens. Baltimore will need QB Joe Flacco to avoid costly turnovers and make some big plays against a Troy Polamalu-less defense. RB Ray Rice should be limited in the running game but I think he will be a big factor in the passing attack. I think Steelers will lose, but in a close one. Ravens get back in the hunt. 26-20 BAL
MNF: Patriots @ Saints: The Game of the Week pits the undefeated Saints against the always dangerous New England Patriots. It is incredibly hard to go into the Superdome and come out with a victory, especially on Monday Night. I look for both QB's to play well as usual. New Orleans needs the running game to get going early so the Patriots can't pin their ears back and attack QB Drew Brees. Look for Pats WR's Randy Moss and Wes Welker to continue their torrid pace and each catch a TD. New England had one undefeated team on the ropes 2 weeks ago and couldn't deliver the knock out punch, but I think they get it done this time around. The almighty Saints fall for the first time. 31-27 NE
Jake's Power Rankings through Week 11
1. New Orleans Saints
2. Indianapolis Colts
3. Minnesota Vikings
4. New England Patriots
5. Cincinnati Bengals
6. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
7. Dallas Cowboys
8. Arizona Cardinals
9. Pittsburgh Steelers
10. Philadelphia Eagles
Jake's Bottom of the Barrel Rankings
28. Seattle Seahawks
29. Detroit Lions
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
31. St. Louis Rams
32. Cleveland Browns
That's it for Week 12...
--- J
comments? corrections? am I stupid? let me know...
May have - not may of. : )
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