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I struggled a bit with my college picks, going 3-4 (what was I thinking, picking UVa -- more on that next week). Here are my NFL picks, in which I am 21-16 on the year after going 5-4 two weeks ago.
Bengals at Lions, 1 p.m. CBS
Both of these teams have struggled and shown flashes of greatness. Cincinnati held the Patriots to six points in a 13-6 win two weeks ago then needed OT to beat the Bills (who were down to Thaddeus Lewis as their QB) last week. The Lions won a 40-32 shootout over the Bears then scored nine points two weeks ago in a 22-9 loss to the Packers in which Calvin Johnson did not play because of an injured knee. He played last week as the Lions bounced back in a 31-17 win over the Browns, but he served mostly as a decoy. He should be more productive in today's game. Detroit has clearly played better at home this season as have the Bengals.
Lions 28, Bengals 24
Patriots at Jets, 1 p.m. CBS
In Week 2, New York played New England tough in Foxborough in a 13-10 loss. Since then, the Patriots have finally gotten their offense going, especially last week with a 30-point effort vs. the Saints. The Jets have alternated wins and losses all season. A highlight includes a 30-28 win on Monday night in Atlanta and a lowlight came last week with a 19-9 loss to the Steelers, Pittsburgh's first victory of the season. The Patriots have improved more since that first meeting and has been more consistent. I think it will be a fairly close game, though.
Patriots 21, Jets 16
Bears at Redskins, 1 p.m. FOX
Gotta think this is Washington's last stand to start a run to the playoffs. A loss would put the Redskins at 1-5 with a trip to Denver looming next week. That would make them 1-6 and I can't see them going 7-2 the rest of the way after that to get to 8-8, a mark that could maybe win the NFC East. Washington needs this game in the worst way possible. The offense moved the ball well last week vs. the Cowboys but turnovers and missed opportunities did it in. Chicago's defense is not as good as a normal Chicago defense. The new head coach, Mark Trestman, is more focused on offense compared to former coach Lovie Smith. The Redskins' secondary is not good so I think Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall will have a big day.
Bears 30, Redskins 24
Broncos at Colts, 8:25 p.m. NBC
The promos for this game have been hilarious, opening with a montage of Peyton Manning saying goodbye to the Colts in a tearful press conference. The first time I saw the promo, I thought a new ESPN 30 for 30 movie was coming out. Nope. That's just the way NBC has been billing the game. And it should be a fun one. Manning returns to the home where he won a Super Bowl and set many QB records during his 13 seasons playing for the franchise. Andrew Luck gets a chance to match wits with perhaps the best mind the game has seen. I think both teams looked ahead to this contest a bit last week. The Broncos were struggling with the Jaguars in the third quarter before winning, 35-19. The Colts lost at the Chargers, 19-9. I think this one will live up to its billing and be great theater.
Broncos 38, Colts 34
Vikings at Giants, 8:30 p.m. Monday night ESPN
Vikings 23, Giants 20
Cowboys at Eagles, 1 p.m. FOX
Nick Foles will be starting for the Eagles under center, who have been very good on offense this season but bad on defense. Foles started last week and the offense was still clicking, scoring 31 points against the Buccaneers. Philly is 3-3 along with Dallas but its wins are over the Redskins, Buccaneers, and Giants, three teams with a combined record of 1-15. The Eagles also own a 10-point loss to the Chiefs, three-point loss to the Chargers, and 32-point loss to the Broncos. Dallas has a better resume, but barely, with wins over three-win St. Louis, Giants, and Redskins. Dallas fared better against Kansas City (17-16) and Denver (51-48) than Philadelphia did, but lost to San Diego by more (30-21). This game will probably be a shootout. I don't know how much of this can translate to the NFL, but Dallas' DC, Monte Kiffin, could not stop Chip Kelly's offense when Kelly was at Oregon and Kiffin was the DC at USC. Hopefully, Kiffin can adapt but he is an old guy and probably stuck in his ways. What's more, Dallas' defense is beaten up, though it did give a courageous performance against the Redskins last Sunday night. The problem with the Eagles this year is that defense, which is mediocre. The fast-paced offense the Eagles run keeps the defense on the field a lot, too. Dallas will have to take advantage of these extra opportunities and score touchdowns. This one could come down to the wire and we might see another chance for Tony Romo to be a hero or a scapegoat as he was two weeks ago despite a great game against the Broncos.
Cowboys 38, Eagles 31
I struggled a bit with my college picks, going 3-4 (what was I thinking, picking UVa -- more on that next week). Here are my NFL picks, in which I am 21-16 on the year after going 5-4 two weeks ago.
Bengals at Lions, 1 p.m. CBS
Both of these teams have struggled and shown flashes of greatness. Cincinnati held the Patriots to six points in a 13-6 win two weeks ago then needed OT to beat the Bills (who were down to Thaddeus Lewis as their QB) last week. The Lions won a 40-32 shootout over the Bears then scored nine points two weeks ago in a 22-9 loss to the Packers in which Calvin Johnson did not play because of an injured knee. He played last week as the Lions bounced back in a 31-17 win over the Browns, but he served mostly as a decoy. He should be more productive in today's game. Detroit has clearly played better at home this season as have the Bengals.
Lions 28, Bengals 24
Patriots at Jets, 1 p.m. CBS
In Week 2, New York played New England tough in Foxborough in a 13-10 loss. Since then, the Patriots have finally gotten their offense going, especially last week with a 30-point effort vs. the Saints. The Jets have alternated wins and losses all season. A highlight includes a 30-28 win on Monday night in Atlanta and a lowlight came last week with a 19-9 loss to the Steelers, Pittsburgh's first victory of the season. The Patriots have improved more since that first meeting and has been more consistent. I think it will be a fairly close game, though.
Patriots 21, Jets 16
Bears at Redskins, 1 p.m. FOX
Gotta think this is Washington's last stand to start a run to the playoffs. A loss would put the Redskins at 1-5 with a trip to Denver looming next week. That would make them 1-6 and I can't see them going 7-2 the rest of the way after that to get to 8-8, a mark that could maybe win the NFC East. Washington needs this game in the worst way possible. The offense moved the ball well last week vs. the Cowboys but turnovers and missed opportunities did it in. Chicago's defense is not as good as a normal Chicago defense. The new head coach, Mark Trestman, is more focused on offense compared to former coach Lovie Smith. The Redskins' secondary is not good so I think Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall will have a big day.
Bears 30, Redskins 24
Broncos at Colts, 8:25 p.m. NBC
The promos for this game have been hilarious, opening with a montage of Peyton Manning saying goodbye to the Colts in a tearful press conference. The first time I saw the promo, I thought a new ESPN 30 for 30 movie was coming out. Nope. That's just the way NBC has been billing the game. And it should be a fun one. Manning returns to the home where he won a Super Bowl and set many QB records during his 13 seasons playing for the franchise. Andrew Luck gets a chance to match wits with perhaps the best mind the game has seen. I think both teams looked ahead to this contest a bit last week. The Broncos were struggling with the Jaguars in the third quarter before winning, 35-19. The Colts lost at the Chargers, 19-9. I think this one will live up to its billing and be great theater.
Broncos 38, Colts 34
Vikings at Giants, 8:30 p.m. Monday night ESPN
Vikings 23, Giants 20
Cowboys at Eagles, 1 p.m. FOX
Nick Foles will be starting for the Eagles under center, who have been very good on offense this season but bad on defense. Foles started last week and the offense was still clicking, scoring 31 points against the Buccaneers. Philly is 3-3 along with Dallas but its wins are over the Redskins, Buccaneers, and Giants, three teams with a combined record of 1-15. The Eagles also own a 10-point loss to the Chiefs, three-point loss to the Chargers, and 32-point loss to the Broncos. Dallas has a better resume, but barely, with wins over three-win St. Louis, Giants, and Redskins. Dallas fared better against Kansas City (17-16) and Denver (51-48) than Philadelphia did, but lost to San Diego by more (30-21). This game will probably be a shootout. I don't know how much of this can translate to the NFL, but Dallas' DC, Monte Kiffin, could not stop Chip Kelly's offense when Kelly was at Oregon and Kiffin was the DC at USC. Hopefully, Kiffin can adapt but he is an old guy and probably stuck in his ways. What's more, Dallas' defense is beaten up, though it did give a courageous performance against the Redskins last Sunday night. The problem with the Eagles this year is that defense, which is mediocre. The fast-paced offense the Eagles run keeps the defense on the field a lot, too. Dallas will have to take advantage of these extra opportunities and score touchdowns. This one could come down to the wire and we might see another chance for Tony Romo to be a hero or a scapegoat as he was two weeks ago despite a great game against the Broncos.
Cowboys 38, Eagles 31
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