We're back again and it only keeps getting trickier. Last week the Browns, 49ers and Jets proved all of us wrong and yet again helped Cal retain his lead over Jordan Brandon and I. Here are our picks for Week 11.
Bills at Dolphins, Thursday @ 8:25 p.m.
This should be a close division matchup. The Dolphins are coming off a last-second loss to the Detroit Lions after losing their left tackle, Branden Albert, for the remainder of the season. The Chiefs pulled off a late win over the Bills last week as well, but with the Dolphins injury troubles (Ryan Tannehill and Lamar Miller are also banged up), I think Buffalo pulls out the win.
Tom: Bills 17, Dolphins 13
Jordan: Dolphins 17, Bills 10
Brandon: Miami 25, Bills 21 (Bills cover +4.5 spread)
Cal: Bills 24, Dolphins 23
Vikings at Bears, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
Can the Bears end their unprecedented downward spiral this week against their division rivals? The Vikings are coming off of a bye week and Chicago has lost three consecutive games in which they surrendered 133 points. The Bears' only wins have come against the 49ers, Jets and Falcons, who have a combined record of 10-18. I'm not sure Chicago can rebound against a team that has beaten them in two of their past three meetings.
Tom: Vikings 27, Bears 20 (Vikings cover +1.5 spread)
Jordan: Bears 21, Vikings 17
Brandon: Vikings 27, Bears 21
Cal: Bears 24, Vikings 20
Texans at Browns, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
The Texans have switched quarterbacks amidst their slide and are turning to Ryan Mallett. Cleveland has avoided a quarterback controversy thanks to Brian Hoyer's solid performance throughout the season, so the Johnny Football fans have been silenced. However, the Browns have been barely getting by some of the league's lesser teams, discounting their 24-3 victory at Cincinnati last week. I think J.J. Watt and the Texans get to Hoyer early in this one and pull off the upset.
Tom: Texans 20, Browns 17
Jordan: Browns 24, Texans 20
Brandon: Texans 23, Browns 20
Cal: Browns 21, Texans 17
Seahawks at Chiefs, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
Seattle escaped the Giants last week with an unheard of fourth quarter performance. The one interception Eli Manning threw in the end zone turned everything around when the game was tied at 17. Now Seattle is traveling to Kansas City to face the Chiefs, who have won six of their last seven games. The Chiefs' defense has been great and I think they'll get the best of Seattle.
Tom: Chiefs 23, Seahawks 14
Jordan: Seahawks 17, Chiefs 13
Brandon: Seahawks 25, Chiefs 23
Cal: Chiefs 24, Seahawks 21
Falcons at Panthers, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
Can you believe a 3-6 record in the NFC South still has a chance? Both the Falcons and Panthers are just one game behind the 4-5 Saints for the division lead. With Mike Smith on the hot seat, it seems as if the Falcons are playing with more urgency, as opposed to the Panthers, who haven't won a game since October 5. I like Atlanta on the road after Carolina's 24-point Monday night loss at Philadelphia.
Tom: Falcons 27, Panthers 21
Jordan: Falcons 17, Panthers 14
Brandon: Panthers 24, Falcons 20
Cal: Falcons 30, Panthers 10
Bengals at Saints, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
New Orleans lost their first game at home last week against the 49ers, while the Bengals did the same against the Browns. These two teams have surprisingly been underperforming but are still very much alive in the playoff race. Unfortunately for the Bengals I can't see the Saints dropping two consecutive games at home.
Tom: Saints 31, Bengals 20 (Saints cover -7 spread)
Jordan: Saints 28, Bengals 20
Brandon: Saints 28, Bengals 22
Cal: Saints 31, Bengals 17
Buccaneers at Redskins, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
We can only hope the Redskins can defeat the pathetic Buccaneers after RG3 and co. had a bye week.
Tom: Redskins 27, Buccaneers 16
Jordan: Redskins 21, Buccaneers 7
Brandon: Redskins 24, Buccaneers 18
Cal: Redskins 27, Buccaneers 17
Broncos at Rams, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
The Rams have kept games close against some of the NFL's best this season, but they're returning to Shaun Hill at quarterback and such a change will not provide immediate positive results, especially against Peyton Manning.
Tom: Broncos 37, Rams 23
Jordan: Broncos 35, Rams 10 (Broncos cover -10.5 spread)
Brandon: Broncos 32, Rams 18
Cal: Broncos 34, Rams 10
49ers at Giants, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
Before their fourth quarter collapse in Seattle last week, the Giants looked good against the Seahawks. They'll face another NFC West team and have an advantage when the 49ers are playing at 10:00 a.m. PST. If the Giants didn't learn to contain the quarterback last week and apply that to Colin Kaepernick, it's hard to believe they'll learn anything ever.
Tom: Giants 24, 49ers 23
Jordan: 49ers 24, Giants 14
Brandon: 49ers 21, Giants 20
Cal: 49ers 35, Giants 14 (49ers will cover -4 spread)
Raiders at Chargers, Sunday @ 4:05 p.m.
The Raiders kept the last matchup very close back on October 12, but the Philip Rivers and the Chargers are out for blood following their 37-0 loss against the Dolphins two weeks ago. They had some time to recharge their batteries during their bye week and they'll likely send the Raiders closer to a defeated season.
Tom: Chargers 24, Raiders 20 (Raiders cover +10 spread)
Jordan: Chargers 24, Raiders 16 (Raiders cover +10 spread)
Brandon: Chargers 23, Raiders 16
Cal: Chargers 42, Raiders 13
Eagles at Packers, Sunday @ 4:25 p.m.
Two of the league's most high-powered offenses will meet in Green Bay on Sunday. It's a very interesting matchup because the Packers' defense has proved to be weak this season and Mark Sanchez is now leading the Eagles' offense. Philadelphia's defense and special teams overshadowed the offense in Sanchez's first start last week. The Packers look to have the advantage here being at home with Aaron Rodgers under center.
Tom: Packers 31, Eagles 21
Jordan: Eagles 28, Packers 24
Brandon: Packers 31, Eagles 24 (Packers cover -5 spread)
Cal: Eagles 37, Packers 35
Lions at Cardinals, Sunday @ 4:25 p.m.
Two of the top teams in the NFL square off on Sunday in Arizona. The 8-1 Cardinals lost their starting quarterback for the year and will have Drew Stanton fill in for the rest of the way. The Lions have squeaked out three consecutive wins by a combined six points and improved to 7-2. I said last week I thought their luck would run out against Miami, but they managed to score in the final seconds of the game. I'll still stand by that assertion this week.
Tom: Cardinals 20, Lions 17
Jordan: Cardinals 14, Lions 7
Brandon: Lions 27, Cardinals 24
Cal: Cardinals 21, Lions 20 (Lions will cover +3 spread)
Patriots at Colts, Sunday @ 8:30 p.m.
The over/under for this game is 57 and could still increase as the day goes on. America is about to see perhaps the most entertaining Sunday Night Football game this season as Tom Brady faces Andrew Luck in Indianapolis. New England had two weeks to prepare for this game and Lucas Oil Stadium is nothing new for Brady and the Pats. Expect a shootout tonight, but in the Patriots favor.
Tom: Patriots 38, Colts 33
Jordan: Patriots 33, Colts 31
Brandon: Colts 32, Patriots 31
Cal: Patriots 35, Colts 28
Steelers at Titans, Monday @ 8:30 p.m.
The 'Bergers (Ben and Zach) make for another boring Monday Night Football game. Every primetime Monday game seems to be characterized by high scoring blowouts, and this one will be no different. In case you weren't sure in whose favor, it's the Steelers'.
Tom: Steelers 27, Titans 14
Jordan: Steelers 24, Titans 13
Brandon: Steelers 25, Titans 16
Cal: Steelers 34, Titans 14
