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Quick Snaps: NFL Week 11

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NFL WEEK 11 – SUNDAY RECAP

Browns 14 Jaguars 10 – The good news is that, unless you have Direct TV, this game was probably only on in two markets and I’m still not even sure if Jacksonville is aware that they have a professional football team.

Lions 49 Panthers 35 – Matthew Stafford threw for 5 TD’s as the Lions took care of business against the Panthers as they now prepare for their biggest Thanksgiving Day Game perhaps ever. With the undefeated Packers coming to town this Thursday, Detroit has a chance to show the national television audience that they are for real for the first time since the retirement of #20.

Packers 35 Buccaneers 26 – Speaking of Green Bay, the Bucs made this game on the Frozen Tundra much closer than most of us anticipated. But in the end, Aaron Rodgers played like Aaron Rodgers and the 10-0 Pack now prepare to feast on a little Turducken.

Dolphins 35 Bills 8 – Maybe Matt Moore is the long term answer at quarterback for the suddenly 3-7 Miami Dolphins. For Buffalo, 4-1 feels like eons ago and if things keep trending downward, look for Buffalo to switch uniforms again before next season.

Raiders 27 Vikings – Oakland was able to hold on for dear life in the Ponderosa as the Vikings mounted a valiant comeback only to fall a little short thanks to the rookie play of rookie quarterback Christian Ponder. Here’s hoping Adrian Peterson isn’t too hurt as he continues to show us all that great running backs can continue to run hard even after signing lucrative contract extensions. (We’re looking at you Chris Johnson.)

Cowboys 27 Redskins 24 – Tony Romo continues to impress as the Cowboys needed all the skill and talent they could muster to outlast the surprisingly spunky Redskins. Hold tight Washington fans, help in the form of Peyton Manning is coming next season. (No I don’t have any insider info but when this now rumor does come to fruition next offseason, I would like at least partial credit for calling it all the way back in October.)

Ravens 31 Bengals 24 – Late last night, during the second half of the USC/Oregon game, a little twitter hyperbole took place as a few notable football pundits like Peter King, lined up to praise Matt Barkley and begin to question if the Trojan quarterback might just as well turn out to be a better pro than the anointed one Andrew Luck. I liked what I saw from Barkley last night, but if we’re going to talk about an “under the radar” college quarterback who could end up being the goods in the pros, look no further than Waco, Texas and Baylor star Robert Griffin III. Dude is electric.

Seahawks 24 Rams 7 – In any other season, the NFC West would be the Seattle Seahawks to lose. And poor Sam Bradford. Are the St. Louis wide receivers that bad or do the Rams need to look for another franchise QB?

49ers 23 Cardinals 7 – A Happy Harbaugh Day to the brothers Harbaugh as Jim Harbaugh brings his 9-1 49ers into Baltimore to take on brother John Harbaugh and the 7-3 Ravens on Thanksgiving night. Apologies in advance if you do not get the NFL Network.

Falcons 23 Titans 17 – Jake Locker the future is now. Well, probably in a few years as Tennessee starting QB Matt Hasselbeck will probably be back next week after suffering a minor arm injury against Atlanta. The Falcons look to be one of 4 teams along with the Cowboys, Bears, Lions battling for the 2 wild card spots.

Bears 31 Chargers 20 – Speaking of Chicago, Jay Cutler took care of business once again as the Bears look like a legit obstacle in the Packers path to perfection. And Philip Rivers, enjoy the bench as I’m poised to announce Big Ben Roethlisberger as my fantasy starter for the remainder of the season.

view from MetLife Stadium courtesy of @wcv76

 

 

If Gambling Were Legal: NFL Week 11

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NFL Week 11

NY Jets (-6) over DENVER – I understand Tim Tebow is never going to be the most accomplished thrower of the football but aren’t there a few other routes he could complete on a regular basis besides the straight down the field go pattern? Like what about a swing pass to a running back in the flat? Or a TE screen? Quick slant anybody?

Tennessee (+6) over ATLANTA – Media members think Mike Smith made a mistake last week against the Saints by going for it on 4th and 1 from his own 29 yard line while his Falcons players apparently still love the uber-agressive play calling. Either way, Falcons and Titans both still have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs.

MIAMI (-2) over Buffalo – All it took for Reggie Bush to break out of his season long malaise was the dissolution of Kim Kardashian’s brief, but profitable, marriage. On a separate note, could the Dolphins be the perfect landing spot for a healthy Peyton Manning next season?

Baltimore (-7) over Cincinnati – Didn’t love what I saw from the Bengals last week against the Steelers. Didn’t watch much of the Ravens game in Seattle but saw enough to know that a Joe Flacco led offense is about as reliable as

Jacksonville (-1) over CLEVELAND – The Jaguars helmets remind me of those hypercolor tshirts that were big back in the early 90s.

MINNESOTA (+1) over Oakland – While most people focus on the embarrassing disappointment Titans running back Chris Johnson has been this season after holding out and signing a lucrative long term contract, maybe more attention should be given to Adrian Peterson, who also signed a new deal this summer, but who has refused to let all the new money slow him down.

DETROIT (-7) over Carolina – The Lions are going to run all over the suspect Panthers defense while avoiding the dreaded pre Thanksgiving Day trap game. There was a time when the Packers/Lions Turkey Day classic was destined to be the most impactful contest of the year. Now, this game can best be described as two ships passing in the night.

GREEN BAY (-14) over Tampa Bay – A whole bunch of sports talk show have started debating what’s more likely: 16-0 for the Packers or 0-16 for the Indianapolis Colts. I say the Colts going winless is a much more likely scenario because they have absolutely nothing to play for other than Andrew Luck and the only way to get the top pick in the 2012 NFL Draft is to lose the remaining games on their schedule. If pride or saving Jim Caldwell’s job were a major motivational factor you’d thing they would have already won a game or two.

Dallas (-7.5) over WASHINGTON – Best thing going for the Redskins are their yellow throwback pants.

Arizona (+9.5) over SAN FRANCISCO – Now THIS is a trap game! Niners are going to look past the lowly Cardinals in anticipation of their Thanksgiving Night game against the Ravens in Baltimore. I for one am already excited about the endless “human interest” pieces feature brothers John and Jim Harbaugh.

Seattle (+2) over ST. LOUIS – Maybe Tarvaris Jackson isn’t that bad after all.

CHICAGO (-3.5) over San Diego – Maybe Philip Rivers isn’t as good as we thought.

NY GIANTS (-4.5) over Philadelphia – The Eagles have been the biggest disappointment in the NFL. Now they must deal with a QB who has broken ribs and a WR with maxed out credit cards.

NEW ENGLAND (-15) Kansas City – Tyler Palko is going to be as bad as we thought.

Last Week 9-7 (Overall: 75-71)

view from Sports Authority Field courtesy of @blaxirican52

 

 

NFL Sunday Roundup: Week 11

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Let me speak for all of New England this morning when I say, “James Sanders, next one’s on me.” Wow! After what looked like another classic Peyton Manning down from 17 points in the 4th quarter comeback victory, Sanders and the Patriot defense came up with their biggest play of the season to date. For Patriot fans, who still had visions of Kevin Faulk on 4th and 1 in their heads, this was an incredibly large hurdle to pass, a result that now legitimizes the young Patriot defense and propels the team to the top spot in the AFC. Should be a mighty fine tussle when the J-E-T-S visit Foxboro in two weeks.

Going around the league, big wins yesterday for the Steelers, Ravens, and Jets.  The Jacksonville Jaguars are in first place in the AFC South and with their win over the Giants last night, the Philadelphia Eagles have assumed control of the NFC East.  Congrats to the Buffalo Bills on their amazing comeback win over the woeful Cincinnati Bengals. And finally, when do we start taking the Tampa Bay Bucs seriously as a legitimate contender in the NFC South? Share your views

View My Picks: NFL Week 11

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I sure hope they didn’t pay face value for these seats! Judging from this vantage point, it’s fair to say that Wrigley Field was not built to house major college football games.  Today’s contest between Northwestern and Illinois was the first college football game played in the Friendly Confines since 1938.  Even though stadium seating wasn’t perfect, and the field itself had only one operable endzone, I still would have enjoyed being a part of the atmosphere in Wrigley today.

On to the NFL Week 11 picks!

Oakland (+8.5) over PITTSBURGH

The Raiders and their fans relish the “no respect” role.  Take the points. Keep Reading