Gillette Field

NFL Week 14: No Spread Is Safe / Another solid week of 10-5 puts me only two games behind last season�s record pace. Considering some of the ugly weeks I had early in the season, I�m in a pretty good place. Let�s continue that, shall we:Overall: 118-62 (65%)Vs. Spread: 108-65-7As always, try not to use these picks for any gambling purposes.SUNDAYCarolina Panthers (5-7) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4)(-10.5)1:00 p.m. Alltell StadiumThe Panthers are one of 27 NFC teams still only one game or less out of a playoff spot. That they�ve done this while being quarterbacked by Vinny Testaverde would usually be nothing short of remarkable. But considering that they�re still only 5-7, it shows you how bad the middle to lower part of the NFC actually is. As these two 1995 expansion teams meet, it seems like an easy win for the Jaguars, who are a very good football team that continues to fly under the radar. But, we�ve seen the Jaguars blow non-conference games like this for the past few seasons. A Jacksonville loss wouldn�t shock me.Pick: Jaguars, Panthers coverDallas Cowboys (11-1)(-10.5) vs. Detroit Lions (6-6)1:00 p.m. Ford FieldLet�s see�an angry Cowboys team that is clicking on offense, that�s had 10 days to prepare for this game and is facing one of the worst defenses in the league. I don�t think there could be a line high enough in this one to persuade me to take Detroit.Pick: CowboysMiami Dolphins (0-12) vs. Buffalo Bills (6-6)(-7)1:00 p.m. Ralph Wilson StadiumI still don�t think the Dolphins will go winless, but it�s hard to pick them when they�re getting blown out by 27 against a fellow AFC bottom feeder.Pick: BillsNew York Giants (8-4) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (5-7)(-2.5)1:00 p.m. Lincoln Financial FieldC�mon�what would a NFL season be without a New York Giants late season collapse? It hasn�t happened yet, but with their remaining schedule, losing three out of the next four isn�t out of the question.Pick: EaglesOakland Raiders (4-8) vs. Green Bay Packers (10-2)(-11)1:00 p.m. Lambeau FieldAs I�ve been saying, the Raiders aren�t as awful as their record indicates. I don�t care how bad Kansas City is, it is never easy to win in Arrowhead. Oakland followed up that win with a victory over Denver, a team that�s owned them during this decade. They�ve played a fairly tough schedule (and won�t be helped by the closing stretch of Green Bay, Indianapolis, Jacksonville and San Diego), but if they manage to get a fifth win somewhere, I think that has to count as a positive step for the Raiders.Pick: Packers, Raiders coverSt. Louis Rams (3-9) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)(-9.5)1:00 p.m. Paul Brown StadiumAll I need to know is Brock Berlin is starting for the Rams under center.Pick: BengalsTampa Bay Buccaneers (8-4)(-3) vs. Houston Texans (5-7)1:00 p.m. Reliant StadiumWhere are all those people who said that the Texans were for real after they started 2-0? A 3-7 record since that time, including two wins over Oakland and Miami, just have me wondering.Pick: BuccaneersSan Diego Chargers (7-5)(-1.5) vs. Tennessee Titans (7-5)1:00 p.m. LP FieldWith a Detroit-Denver-Oakland finish to the season, it appears that all the Chargers would have to do is get by Tennessee to run the table, get a nice 11-5 record, and get ready to face the Browns or Titans again at home in the first round of the playoffs. That�s why they�ll probably lose here, go 10-6, and be forced to face Jacksonville in round one. Be on upset alert.Pick: TitansMinnesota Vikings (6-6)(-9) vs. San Francisco 49ers (3-9)4:05 p.m. Monster ParkSpeaking of upset alert, look out Vikings! Minnesota is feeling really good about themselves as of late, certainly good enough to overlook a miserable 49ers team. I don�t think the lousy play of Tarvaris Jackson has reared its ugly head for the last time. This game reeks of an upset. I wish I had the guts to pick the straight 49ers win, because it wouldn�t surprise me at all.Pick: Vikings, 49ers coverArizona Cardinals (6-6) vs. Seattle Seahawks (8-4)(-7.5)4:05 p.m. Qwest FieldAnother potential upset. The Seahawks never have an easy time in their own division. Get them outside of the NFC West, and they usually do fairly well. However, they play way too many close games in this terrible division. They�ve been doing so for years. Look for the Cardinals to make this one very interesting.Pick: Seahawks, Cardinals coverPittsburgh Steelers (9-3) vs. New England Patriots (12-0)(-11)4:15 p.m. Gillette FieldI for one don�t think that the Patriots received any favorable treatment against Baltimore. If you take a look at most of the Ravens� 13 penalties, most of them were false starts, offsides and delay of games. Which are pretty obvious calls. The personal foul on Bart Scott for throwing an official�s flag is also a very obvious call. The only two questionable calls were the late pass interference penalties. One I thought was a good call, the other was borderline. Other than that, the Ravens pretty much shot themselves in the foot this past Monday night and had a typical Ravens meltdown that included trash talking after a loss and complaining about the refs from both coaches and players.However, lost in all this babbling over the Ravens, is the fact that Patriots have played two lousy games in a row against two lousy teams. They continue to exhibit no running game whatsoever. Their defense is very questionable in the secondary. One week after getting burned by Hall of Famer A.J. Feeley, the Patriots allowed perennial Pro-Bowler Kyle Boller to go 15-23 for 210 yards and two scores. These are things that are going to catch up to New England as the weather gets colder. As good as the Patriots are, they don�t seem to be built to play in cold weather and less than ideal conditions. That�s pretty ironic considering where they play. Pittsburgh will probably lose here, but don�t just automatically hand the AFC over the New England. I think both Pittsburgh and Indianapolis are going to seriously challenge the Pats in January.Pick: Patriots, Steelers coverCleveland Browns (7-5)(-3.5) vs. New York Jets (3-9)4:15 p.m. Giants StadiumI�m still very much enjoying the Jets collapse this season. The only reason I�m enjoying it so much is that I was apparently the only one to see it coming. It�s called research people.Pick: BrownsKansas City Chiefs (4-8) vs. Denver Broncos (5-7)(-7)4:15 p.m. Invesco Field at Mile HighLast month, this looked like a great matchup featuring two teams that were right in the thick of a mediocre division. Well, they�ve still got the mediocre division thing going for them.Pick: BroncosIndianapolis Colts (10-2)(-9) vs. Baltimore Ravens (4-8)8:15 p.m. M&T Bank StadiumOnce upon a midnight dreary, there was a team both weak and wearyThis past Monday they had a huge meltdown that many deploreTheir coach looked dumb, their team looked old, their fans as obnoxious as everFalse starts, personal fouls and other no-nos they were called forCan they recover, maybe win and some luster they restore?Quoth the Ravens �Nevermore�Pick: ColtsMONDAYNew Orleans Saints (5-7)(-3.5) vs. Atlanta Falcons (3-9)8:30 p.m. Georgia DomeSo when do we consider Reggie Bush somewhat of a bust? And how big of a bust is he? The man has only produced three runs from scrimmage that have been 20 yards or more in his career. Adrian Peterson does that in a quarter. Heck, Bills retread Fred Jackson did that twice against the Redskins the other week. Just let me know so I can be on board.Pick: Saints