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Championship hopes and week 12 winner aspirations….
That's what's on Ol' Lucky Lester's mind coming into
Week 12. No new plan or Crazy plot to take over the
world, just 16 solid picks from the man with a plan.
Thursday:
Miami
Dolphins (-2.5) at Detroit Lions: The Lions without
Kevin Jones will be a gong show against the recently
revitalized Dolphins defense, so don't even take a chance
on the Lions. Miami has proven over the past few games,
and ever since Nick Saban took over, that they are a
second half of the year team. Look for them to treat
the Lions like a Turdunkin on Bird Day.
Tampa
Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys (-10.5): The
Cowboys have too many options to play around with the
Bucs, whose only real option is Cadillac Williams, something
the Cowboys will make sure not to allow. Joey Galloway
is still a game breaker, and rookie QB, Bruce Gradkowski
has been solid, but with Tony Romo and the Cowboys pushing
for the NFC West title, this should be a tough day for
the Bucs in Dallas.
Denver
Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs (even): The Chiefs
rushing attack should dominate the Broncos suddenly
sieved-like defensive front, on way to a huge inter-conference
win at home. When it comes right down to it, the Chiefs
need this game more, and with both the Broncos' running
backs struggling to stay on the field, KC is the more
physical team, and they are at home, where they are
always good.
Sunday:
Arizona
Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings (-6): What has
Minnesota done for me lately? Absolutely freaking nothing.
That's right, since an early season burst the Vikings
have been just a notch above the horrible Raiders for
league's worst team honors. But, they play Matt Leinart
and the bumbling Cardinals this weekend in Minnesota,
a perfect game to get back on track with. Edge won't
be able to run against the Vikings, so all the weight
will be on Matt's shoulders. He's just a little guy,
not strong enough to carry that team.
Carolina Panthers (-4) at Washington Redskins:
This has to be my safest pick of the week. The Panthers
are leaps and bounds and years ahead of the Redskins,
who start Jason Campbell at quarterback for the second
time in his young career. But the Panthers aren't the
Bucs, and young Jason will soon find that out when he's
running for his life with Julius Peppers chasing him
down. Look for Jason's second outing to be a little
less successful than beginners luck was.
Chicago
Bears (+3) at New England Patriots: I guess I'm
waiting to see if Tom Brady and the Patriots are the
team that started 5-2 or the team that started 6-1 and
recently ousted the Packers 35-0… Or are they the
team that lost back to back games at the hands of the
Colts and Jets? Either way, the Bears seem to step up
big in big situations, this being one of those, I expect
them to play very well. When Chicago is at the top of
their game, and Rexxy is tossing the rock with confidence
and accuracy, the Bears are very close to unbeatable.
The overriding factor in this game, you ask? Dillon
and Maroney will have a tougher time with the Bears
D than Jones and Benson will have with the Patriots.
Cincinnati
Bengals (-2.5) at Cleveland Browns: Last week the
Browns put up a good fight against the Steelers, but
faded in the 4th allowing Pittsburgh to pull out with
a lucky win. Well, all that does is crush an already
struggling team. While Cinci on the other hand, is riding
the Chad Johnson hot streak all the way to playoff contention.
With the Browns' season already in the tank, expect
the team with more to lose, Cincinnati, to dominate
the 2nd half and the scoreboard.
Houston
Texans (+6) at N.Y. Jets: I don't see why the Texans
are getting the write off here. The Jets can't stop
anyone on the ground, giving the Texans, who actually
have a pretty productive rushing attack, an easy way
to control the clock, and win this football game. I'll
take the underdog with the points here, but an upset
wouldn't surprise me one bit.
Jacksonville
Jaguars (-2.5) at Buffalo Bills: Anthony Thomas
nor Willis McGahee if he was healthy, will be going
anywhere positive against the Jaguar rushing defense.
With Donovan Darius out, the Jaguars lose yet another
big time playmaker on the defensive side of the football,
but their big guys up front are healthy, making it easier
for backers and defensive backs to make plays. Expect
the Jags to make those plays and down Buffalo on the
road.
New
Orleans Saints (+3) at Atlanta Falcons: Mike Vick
used to play very well against the Saints, but Aaron
Brooks (his Cousin) has moved on to bigger and crappier
things, so sibling rivalry shouldn't get Mike pumped
any more. Drew Brees is the better signal caller here,
and Reggie Bush and Deuce are better running backs.
The Saints defense has played better all year, and without
an accurate arm to pick their secondary apart, (ala
what Pitt did and Cinci did to them in back to back
weeks) the Saints should be able to walk out of Atlanta
big winners.
N.Y.
Giants (-3) at Tennessee Titans: The Titans will
have a nice opportunity to do what they do best, and
run, against the Giants, but I have a feeling that Eli
Manning is ready to trot out of his slump and carry
the struggling Giants to a win against the up and coming
Titans. Sooner or later NFL teams are going to make
Vince Young beat them, and I don't think Vince can beat
the Giants quite yet.
Philadelphia
Eagles at Indianapolis Colts (-8.5): I like Brian
Westbrook as a fantasy star this weekend, but I still
think the Colts will pull out of Week 12 with a double
digit win over the Eagles. Peyton Manning will play
better than he did last week, especially against an
Eagle defense that struggles against high end quarterbacks.
Without McNabb, everyone will be able to see who the
MVP of the Eagles is, as if there were any question
going in.
Pittsburgh
Steelers at Baltimore Ravens (-2.5): I like the
Ravens at home against just about anybody, especially
a Steeler team that till walks around like they own
the joint. Ray Lewis should be back in pads this week,
making Willie Parker's, Big Ben's, and any other Pittsburgh
offensive player's lifer more difficult. If the Ravens
do one thing well, it's capitalize on opposing team's
mistakes. Ben will make his, as will the rest of the
Steelers, and when they do, McNair, and more likely,
the Ravens defense, will turn those mistakes into points.
San
Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams (-5): I know,
the 49ers beat the Hawks last week, and have fought
their way to .500 on the season while the lowly Rams
have seen 5 straight defeats on way to a 4-6 record
and a 1st to 3rd fall in the NFC West. But, St. Louis
will win this game, because they are the better, more
talented team. I hate underestimating Orlando Pace's
effect on the Rams, because he's out this week, and
I know he's a vital part to the whole offense, but….
Ah yes, but…. The Niners leading receiver was caught
drinking and driving, Vernon Davis still hasn't proven
healthy, Arnaz Battle has a flat tire, and Alex Smith
has baby hands. That combination should kill the Niners
in this battle.
Oakland
Raiders (+14.5) at San Diego Chargers: Everyone
has a down week. The Chargers, yes, even the Chargers,
after two huge comeback wins, might just be too tired
to dominate the lowly Raiders. I hope LT has a brilliant
game, but I imagine Marty-Ball will lift its ugly head,
and LT will be thrown into a run stop package put together
by the only decent think in Silver and Black, a tough
nosed Oakland Defense. Bad teams only have a few chances
to get up and rowdy for a game, seeing a chance to stop
the "All Mighty" Chargers and the leagues'
best player (LT) should get them ready to go. No crazy
outcome here, just a closer game than expected.
Monday:
Green
Bay Packers (+9.5) at Seattle Seahawks: I don't
like the Packers, that's for sure, but if the Seahawks
expect Matt Hasselbeck to come back and make everything
better, like a snoopy band-aid, then they will be stunned
by Monday's game. The Hawks problem isn't Matt's injury,
though that hasn't helped, it's a bunch of guys who
just expect to win on Sunday. Yeah, they have one of,
if not the most talent in the NFC, especially on defense,
yet they are often pathetic on both sides of the ball.
They Hawks will claw back and win this game, but the
Packers will teach Seattle a lesson on overlooking an
opponent.
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