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We're back after yet another sub-par week. 11-5 and another oh-fer on the upset specials isn't exactly the way to pontificate your pigskin prognostication prowess.
Still, it beats the 8-8 weeks I was putting up earlier this year and by this time a year you can see which teams are playoff bound, which ones are fighting for their lives, which still have a little underdog left in them and which have pulled out the golf clubs (Tampa is perfect for golf this time of year).
Still, if it was easy anyone would do it...and since I am anyone - I'll go ahead and give you this week's ramblings of a slightly psychotic man that I like to call DLT's Deadlocks.
Last Week: 11-5 68% Overall: 138-70 66% Upset Specials: 9-14 39% Bucs Picks: 8-5 61%
Thursday Night
Atlanta 41, Jacksonville 14 - Okay, I'm cheating a little bit since this is going up on Friday. I may not get credit for getting the score right (after all, the game's already over) but I'm going to give myself credit for picking Atlanta - who would have been my pick had I not missed my deadline. Who in their right mind would pick Jacksonville on the road?
Saturday Night
Dallas 40, Tampa Bay 10 - Ever see North Dallas 40? Well, for the young Bucs who may have missed it - they'll see Dallas go 40 on Saturday night.
Sunday
Houston 23, Carolina 20 - Carolina showed me in the Atlanta game that they're just not ready to win football games right now.
NY Giants 23, Washington 14 - This is the kind of game that has upset special written on it. The Giants coming off that huge emotional win against the hated Cowboys take on another rival in the Skins. If this game was on the road I may call it, but in MetLife Stadium I just can't do it.
Buffalo 23, Miami 13 - Tony Sparano is sleeping with the fishes (look it up, youngsters) and the Dolphins head to frigid Buffalo in December...the Bills finally break their slump.
Chicago 23, Seattle 13 - The Bears try to recover from being Tebow'd. Luckily, the Seahags will oblige.
New Orleans 30, Minnesota 14 - The Saints are coming to town to face a Vikings team that is still playing scrappy.
Cincinnati 23, St. Louis 13 - The Bengals get a little break by returning to the NFC West influenced schedule.
Tennessee 28, Indianapolis 10 - The Flaming Thumbtacks push the Colts closer to oh-for-2011.
Green Bay 23, Kansas City 13 - The tyranny of Todd Haley has ended but it's not going to help the Chiefs against the best team in the NFL.
Oakland 27, Detroit 20 - Oakland's up and down season goes up again as they catch a Lions team that is fighting to secure a playoff spot.
Upset Special: Denver 28, New England 27 - I want to see if the power of Tebowmania is stronger than DLT's Suckitude at Upset Specials.
NY Jets 23, Philadelphia 20 - Jets are feasting on a favorable schedule right now. The Eagles are a nightmare (I know, I know the dream team turned nightmare thing is getting old. I promise I'll only use it two more times this season)
Arizona 23, Cleveland 13 - Quietly, the Arizona Cardinals are having a strong finish to the 2011 season.
Sunday Night
Baltimore 26, San Diego 20 - The Ravens look to take the lead in the AFC North, while San Diego wraps up yet another disappointing season.
Monday Night
San Francisco 28, Pittsburgh 23 - Holy crap - a Monday Night Football game actually worth watching? Praise be to Tebow! This could be the best game of the week with one of the best teams in the NFC taking on one of the best in the AFC. With Big Ben hobbled and the Niners at home, I'll go with San Fran.