Get Ready for Fireworks in Indy! Rams Road Win Maybe?

Eric’s Week 12 NFL Picks

Remember, use my picks to wager $$$ at your own risk. If you lose, I had nothing to do with it. If you win beaucoup $$$, a 10% tip would be cool.  But, I’m realistic. This is just for your entertainment…or not, and for me to keep my sports “mojo” going until “I’m back in the saddle”. Remember the league’s unofficial motto…“ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAY, MONDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY OR SATURDAY……….

Last Week: 10-6 Season: 88-72

Had internet issues and wasn’t able to post my picks in time for the annual Thanksgiving Day Games. I did TWEET and FACEBOOK my Turkey Day Picks.

THURSDAY – THANKSGIVING

NEW ENGLAND (8-2) -7 @ DETROIT (2-8) O/U 45 pts
-Lions still going through growing pains. Patriots too good and eyeing the AFC East and beyond. PATRIOTS (45-24, PATRIOTS)

NEW ORLEANS (7-3) -3.5 @ DALLAS (3-7) 45.5 pts
-Cowboys playing well and going for three straight wins under “interim head coach” Jason Garrett. Saints getting healthy at just the right time. QB Drew Brees playing like an MVP. I’ll take him over Jon Kitna. SAINTS (30-27, SAINTS)

CINCINNATI (2-8) +9 @ NY JETS of NEW JERSEY (8-2) 37 pts
-This season just keeps getting worse and worse for a very talent-laden Bengals team. Jets QB Mark Sanchez and WR Santonio Holmes have some chemistry working. JETS (26-10, JETS)

SUNDAY

GREEN BAY (7-3) +1.5 @ ATLANTA (8-2) 47 pts
-Falcons QB Matt Ryan is “almost” a sure win at home having only lost once in his career at the GeorgiaDome. QB Aaron Rodgers playing like Brett Favre back in the day. Pack also getting healthy. Playoff preview. FALCONS (20-17, FALCONS)

PITTSBURGH (7-3) -6 @ BUFFALO (2-8) 43.5
-Bills are tough having won two straight. Steelers need to keep up with the Ravens in the AFC North. STEELERS (19-16, STEELERS)

CAROLINA (1-9) EVEN @ CLEVELAND (3-7) 0.0 pts
-No over/under because of QB uncertainty for both teams. Panthers with the “Couch Potato QB” Brian St. Pierre. Notre Dame rookie Jimmy Clausen set to return after an injury. Browns playing well with Rookie QB Colt McCoy who is hobbled with a high ankle sprain. Ex-panther QB Jake Delhomme will start for the Browns. BROWNS (24-23, BROWNS)

JACKSONVILLE (6-4) +7 @ NY GIANTS of NEW JERSEY (6-4) 44.5 pts
-How about them Jags!! First place in the AFC South. Their perch is tenuous. QB David Garrard is playing well as is fire plug RB Maurice Jones-Drew. Problem is, the Giants defense is still too good and QB Eli Manning and the offense won’t lose a third consecutive. GIANTS (24-20, GIANTS)

MINNESOTA (3-7) +2 @ WASHINGTON (5-5) 43.5 pts
-Vikings finally fired coach Brad Childress replacing him with defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Should’ve been done before Childress pulled the plug on Randy Moss. Don’t kid yourself. Whereas QB Brett Favre has made some bad throws, he’s still playing well and has been hobbled by WR’s with “drop-the-ball-itus”. Sense of relief for the Vikings’ players will give them a loft that’s too little, too late. Redskins have injury issues. VIKINGS (17-13, VIKINGS)

TENNESSEE (5-5) EVEN @ HOUSTON (4-6) O/U 0.0 pts
-No over/under because of the Vince Young/Jeff Fisher soap opera with the “Oilers (Titans)” while Houston’s defense is just horrible losing the last two games with just seconds left. It’s a Houston home game and the visiting “Oilers” are starting some guy named Rusty Smith at QB. Plenty on their minds as well with offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger diagnosed with cancer. TEXANS (20-0, TEXANS)

MIAMI (5-5) EVEN @ OAKLAND (5-5) O/U 0.0 pts
-Again, no over/under because these teams aren’t as good as their respective records? If only this were Griese vs. Stabler circa 1974.

But, it isn’t. Both these teams brought back down to reality and need “To Check Themselves Before They Wreck Themselves” – Ice Cube. RAIDERS (33-17, DOLPHINS)

KANSAS CITY (6-4) -1 @ SEATTLE (5-5) 44 pts
-Believe it or not, a battle of division leaders! Chiefs in the AFC West, Seahawks in the NFC West. Chiefs seem to be the better team because of that top-ranked running game. But the Seahawks are 3-1 at home. SEAHAWKS (35-24, CHIEFS)

PHILADELPHIA (7-3) -3 @ CHICAGO (7-3) 43 pts
-Michael Vick’s got the Eagles soaring into the playoffs with “Super Bowl” being mentioned in the same breath. QB Jay Cutler and the defense doing the same for the Bears. Most are unsure because they can’t run the ball well. Bears will be chasing Vick all day! EAGLES (31-26, BEARS)

ST. LOUIS (4-6) +4 @ DENVER (3-7) 44.5 pts
-Rams with a shot at the playoffs just a game behind first place Seattle in the NFC West. They need to win on the road for a shot at the playoffs, something they haven’t done in over a year. Here’s their chance. Rams ranked sixth in defense with 28 QB sacks and could get their mitts on Bronco QB Kyle Orton. Rams QB Sam Bradford the likely rookie of the year. RB Steven Jackson’s a man among boys. RAMS (36-33, RAMS)

TAMPA BAY (7-3) +7.5 @ BALTIMORE (7-3) 41 pts
-QB Josh Freeman has the surprising Buccaneers in the NFC South playoff chase. The Ravens are in a two-team race with Pittsburgh in the AFC North. It’s cold in Baltimore and Josh Freeman hasn’t been introduced to the NFL until Ravens LB Ray Lewis plants one on him. Ravens balanced on both sides of the line. RAVENS (17-10, RAVENS)

SAN DIEGO (5-5) +3 @ INDIANAPOLIS (6-4) 51.5 pts
-Phillip Rivers vs. Peyton Manning. Plenty of darts being flung in this one. Bolts have won five of six meetings between these two. Their quickness on defense causes problems for the stationary Manning. Rivers and the Chargers hitting their stride. CHARGERS (36-14, CHARGERS)

MONDAY

SAN FRANCISCO (3-7) EVEN @ ARIZONA (3-7) 40.5 pts
-Can I just flip a coin to pick the winner. Believe it or not, the winner still with a shot of winning the NFC West. CARDINALS (27-6, 49ERS)