NFL Picks, Week 13: A banquet of chosen games

It's Turkey Day everyone, and I have slaved for hours over the hot stove to make you this spread of NFL picks. Enjoy!

TURKEY DAY

Green Bay Packers at (-6½) Detroit Lions

The Packers have not won a game since quarterback Aaron Rodgers was injured. The Lions have lost two straight games to teams outperforming their past performance.

A six point spread seems high given how poorly the Lions have played recently, and with Matt Flynn starting at quarterback I believe the Packers will keep it close, but ultimately will lose in a close one.

The pick: Lions

Oakland Raiders at (-7½) Dallas Cowboys

I have tried my very best all year long to appreciate what the Raiders have in terms of talent, and their potential. However, when you look at the sum of what they've done this year, it's really hard to buy in to their ability to beat a Cowboys team that while not great is certainly better than the Raiders.

Oh and also the Cowboys are playing at home.

The pick: Cowboys

Pittsburgh Steelers at (-2½) Baltimore Ravens

As much as it hurts a Seahawks fan like me to say it, the Steelers have been playing well the last month or so. Three consecutive wins over slightly above average teams have Steelers fans' hopes high.

Meanwhile the Ravens have been playing better as of late, with a run game that seems like it might be getting into gear. I believe the Steelers are the better team, but the Ravens are playing at home which shouldn't be ignored. Those Baltimore fans really go crazy...

The pick: Steelers

Sunday

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at (-9½) Carolina Panthers

I was on the Carolina Panthers bandwagon before a whole lot of people, but the Buccaneers are playing pretty well right now and it's hard to imagine they don't play them tough.

That being said, the Panthers are just a much better team and playing at home.

The pick: Panthers

Jacksonville Jaguars at (-7½) Cleveland Browns

Jaguars fans must be pulling their hair out right now wondering why in the world the Jaguars are winning games with a team that should have much more interested in drafting quarterback with their first overall pick.

On second thought, knowing as many Jaguars fans as I do, I'll bet they're proud to no longer be universally considered the worst team in the NFL... Though I would still argue they are the worst team in the NFL.

The pick: Browns

Tennessee Titans at (-4) Indianapolis Colts

I don't really want anything to do with picking this game.

Since losing Reggie Wayne the courts have not looked like the powerhouse they were earlier this year as they beat the Seahawks Broncos and 49ers. They have looked a whole lot more like the mediocre team we thought that they would be this year.

Call me naïve, but I did not think Reggie Wayne was that big a deal. Clearly I was wrong...

The pick: Titans

Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings

Over the course of the year the Bears have been a much better team than the Minnesota Vikings.

A win against a crummy Redskins team and a tie against the stumbling bumbling packers won't fool me into thinking otherwise.

The Pick: Bears

Miami Dolphins at (-1) New York Jets

I say this all the time, but I swear it's only because I really mean it...

Screw the AFC East and the NFC East. I am just not a fan of a single team over there... So it's always hard for me to pick a game that involves two teams from one of those two divisions.

I'm going to go with the team that I think has the more consistent quarterback at the helm.

The pick: Dolphins

Arizona Cardinals at (-3) Philadelphia Eagles

There are only two road favorites this week if you ask Las Vegas, I think there should be one or two more... The Arizona Cardinals are one of those teams.

You can call me silly if you'd like, but the Cardinals have a defense that's capable of slowing down the Eagles and an offense that - as of late - has been doing it's fair share.

The pick: Cardinals

(-8½) New England Patriots at Houston Texans

If you're reading what I'm writing right here to find out how this game going to go, you need more help than I can offer.

The pick: Patriots

Atlanta Falcons at (-3) Buffalo Bills

The Falcons are not a good team and they're on the road, now let's all go eat some turkey dammit.

The pick: Falcons

St. Louis Rams at (-9½) San Fransisco 49ers

The Rams the play the 49ers tougher than most teams not located in Seattle, but I don't think they get it done on the road this weekend.

The pick: 49ers

(-5½) Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs

If you ask me one week ago I would've told you my moneys on Kansas City to win this game, but after the stinker they put up last week minus a couple of important pass rushers - what I'm trying to say is I've lost faith...

The pick: Broncos

Cincinnati Bengals at San Diego Chargers

The Chargers are kind of a enigmatic team, sometimes looking great, other times looking like a very beatable team. Philip Rivers is having a great year and Keenan Allen has looked like a bona fide number one receiver, but they find ways to lose games against teams they should beat.

This is the second in a run of three or four games that will tell us a lot about what kind of team the Chargers are, one way or another I think I'll make a statement this weekend.

Currently tied for the third best record in the American football conference, the Bengals look like the better team, but they're hard to trust - at least for me personally. I'm fairly certain I've picked the Bengals in every one of their losses... Speaking of which I kind of like them to win Sunday. Which is why...

The pick: Chargers

New York Giants at Washington Redskins

At home or on the road the Redskins defense is awful... If I own a Giants offensive skill position player in fantasy football, I'd have them my starting lineup this weekend.

I could be wrong here, but this seems so simple to me.

The pick: Giants

Monday

New Orleans Saints at (-5) Seahawks

I will personally attend this game to help make sure that the crowd noise does everything it can to help... That's my way of subtly bragging that I will be there. I'm pumped, and don't plan to see my team lose.

The pick: Seahawks

It's Turkey day everybody!

May your hearts, glasses, and stomachs be full!