BenThere_DoneThat's Pix - Week 11 Recap | BenThere_DoneThat's Blog

Week 11 Pix - Recap: (14-2)

Buccaneers at Falcons : BUCCANEERS : The Falcons outmaneuvered the bi-polar Panthers last Sunday. And with that, the Falcons have peaked for this season. The Buccaneers don't inspire much confidence in me outside the Pirate Ship, but I believe they can keep the Falcons under control. Buccaneers win.

Final Score: BUCCANEERS 31 - Falcons 7

Browns at Ravens : BROWNS : The Browns gave the Steelers a wake-up call last weekend. Unfortunately for them, the Steelers heard it. The Ravens got manhandled by the Steelers two weeks ago. Last weekend, they lost to the Bengals by giving up 7 field goals. This week they named Kyle Boller as their starting QB, over Steve McNair. That's like choosing a Yugo over a Pinto, when you have to move furniture. This will be the payback game Cleveland fans have fantasized about, ever since Art Modell moved the old team to Baltimore. Browns fans should have an easy time getting tickets from disgusted Ravens season-ticket holders. Browns win.

Final Score: BROWNS 33 - Ravens 30 (OT): ... and the original Cardiac Kids... have returned.

Giants at Lions : LIONS : Nope. Still not comfortable making picks in any game involving NFC North teams and equally shaky opponents. The Lions seem to be charmed at home, in their dome. The Giants are starting to expose their weaknesses. If the game was in Jersey, I'd pick the Giants... but in Motown... Lions win.

Final Score: Giants 16 - LIONS 10 : The Lions continue to frustrate me. That's it... no more straining my overworked brain cells, trying to figure this team out. For future reference, they lose to the Packers... at home to winning teams from outside their own division... and all away games outside their division. There... I just picked the Lions for the rest of the season. I'm done.

Dolphins at Eagles: EAGLES : The Dolphins are going to try another untested QB this weekend. John Beck. Now there's a name befitting an NFL star. I'll bet John Beck can't wait to take on the Jets. Poor Cleo Lemon never had a chance as an NFL QB. The Football Gods would not allow it. He's destined to be a completely forgettable career clipboard holder. He may, however, have a promising career as a coach... ala Ken Whisenhunt and Mike Malarkey. Sorry... nothing else about this contest seemed to require comment. Eagles win.

Final Score: EAGLES 17 - Dolphins 7

Raiders at Vikings : VIKINGS : Another NFC North game... great. Without Adrian Peterson, the Vikings aren't going to win many more games this season. Playing the Raiders will give the Vikings fans one more week to believe... and then it's over. Vikings win.

Final Score: VIKINGS 29 - Raiders 22

Chargers at Jaguars : JAGUARS : The Chargers took down the mighty Colts last week, and NFL fans stood in awe. Later, it was revealed that the Chargers had not, in fact, beaten the Colts. The Chargers beat Payton Manning and the Colts' practice squad. Meanwhile, the Jaguars are masters of beating up tough opponents, then promptly disappearing against weaker ones. The Jags are consistently tough against the run. The Bolts are a lost cause, when they can't get LaDanian Tomlinson going. Jags win.

Final Score: JAGUARS 24 - Chargers 17

Chiefs at Colts : COLTS : Payton Manning looked completely frustrated last week, against the Chargers. Of course, it's understandable. He had no idea who he was throwing to. I don't see that happening two weeks in a row. The Chiefs fell flat against the Broncos' practice squad all-stars last week. They won't be able to handle the Colts' practice squad all-stars, either. Colts win.

Final Score: COLTS 13 - Chiefs 10

Cardinals at Bengals : CARDINALS : That's right... the Cardinals. Even with the Cards' anemic running game, Edgerrin James will have a decent day. The Cards' receivers and defense will be too much for the Bengals. Beyond that, the Cardinals coaching staff grew up in the AFC North. Remember what these Cards did to the Steelers? They're going to give the Bengals another really bad day in front of the Cincinnati faithful. Cards win.

Final Score: CARDINALS 35 - Bengals 27

Panthers at Packers : PACKERS : I don't get these Panthers... at all. Bi-polar is really the most appropriate description I can think of. Nothing about their wins or losses makes any sense. At least the Packers have been dependable. Last week, it looked like they accidentally found their missing running game. Packers win.

Final Score: PACKERS 31 - Panthers 17

Saints at Texans : TEXANS : After their meltdown versus the Rams, I don't know how I could pick the Saints right now. It's not just losing to the Rams... it was how poorly they went about it. The Texans are at least marginally predictable. They might lack a little talent... but they always play hard. Once in a while... they even manage something truly spectacular. I don't remember them completely collapsing yet this year. Texans win.

Final Score: TEXANS 23 - Saints 10

Steelers at Jets : STEELERS : The Steelers refused to lose to the Browns last week, twice scoring come-from-behind touchdowns to secure a win. The primary culprit... kickoff returns. The Browns' special teams had more yardage in returns than the Browns' offense managed the whole rest of the game. Now enter the Jets, with an even better return unit. Yikes! Then again... the Jets have one win this season... because they played the Dolphins. Next week, the Jets will still have only one win... because they played the Dolphins. Steelers win.

Final Score: Jets 19 - STEELERS 16 (OT): Mmmmm... CROW! Believe it or not, this loss really didn't surprise me. Make no mistake, I'm disappointed... but not entirely surprised. The Steelers 3 losses this year are: at the Cardinals, at the Broncos, and now at the Jets. The Steelers cannot seem to keep it together on the road, outside their own division. Next week vs. the Dolphins officially makes me nervous. Since I could go on at length about this, I'll be doing a separate Steelers - Jets posting... later.

Bears at Seahawks: SEAHAWKS : The Bears beat the Raiders last weekend... even with Rex Grossman at QB. The Seahawks are plummeting toward Raider-esqe hopelessness... but are not quite there yet. If they lose this game... they will have officially hit rock bottom. Welcome to the last hope on the west coast. Seahawks win.

Final Score: SEAHAWKS 30 - Bears 23

Rams at 49ers : RAMS : Remember back... early in the season... when the 49ers beat the Rams? You can bet that the Rams remember it. After what they did to the Saints, I don't see the 49ers beating them. Rams win.

Final Score: RAMS 13 - 49ers 9

Redskins at Cowboys : COWBOYS : The Redskins aren't consistent. They haven't really shown the ability to handle a better... or even equal... opponent. The Cowboys, on the other hand, have beaten all of the teams that they should beat. They should beat the Redskins... so they will. Cowboys win.

Final Score: COWBOYS 28 - Redskins 23

Patriots at Bills : PATRIOTS : The Bills have been a reliable pick, the past few weeks. Despite the Bills' commendable improvement this season, you know the Patriots have spent the past 2 weeks picking them apart, frame by frame. Hopefully the Bills have been studying what the Colts almost pulled off. For what it's worth, I firmly believe the Bills are capable of an upset win. I hope they pull it off. But for my pix... Patriots win.

Final Score: PATRIOTS 56 - Bills 10: I was really pulling for the Bills... but hey... Pix are Pix...

Titans at Broncos : BRONCOS : I was sure that the Titans would take down the Jags last week. They weren't exactly spectacular, but they were consistently winning. Instead, they tanked... big time. I didn't give the Broncos a chance last week, and they went into KC and slapped the Chiefs around. The logical part of me is screaming Titans... for all of the logical reasons. They're the better team. Of course, that kind of thinking earned me a 6-8 Pix record last week. Forget logic. The Broncos refuse to lose at home on Monday night. Broncos win.

Final Score: BRONCOS 34 - Titans 20

Week 10 - Recap

Week 10 Pix: (6-8) Last 4 Weeks: (37-18)

My Winners: PACKERS vs Vikings, BILLS at Dolphins, STEELERS vs Browns, BEARS at Raiders, COWBOYS at Giants, SEAHAWKS vs 49ers.

My Losers: TITANS vs Jaguars, CHIEFS vs Broncos, SAINTS vs Rams, REDSKINS vs Eagles, PANTHERS vs Falcons, RAVENS vs Bengals, LIONS at Cardinals, COLTS at Chargers

Consolation: I keep telling myself that a 6-8 Pix week won't become a habit. We'll see...