NFL Week 12 - Mac's Picks

NFL Week 12 – Mac’s Picks

Last week: 9-7
Overall: 87-71-2

The saddest part about the current Thanksgiving Day NFL broadcasts is the absence of John Madden and Pat Summerall. Couldn’t we reunite this legendary duo for one of the games?

It was always comforting knowing that by the middle of the 3rd quarter, Summerall was well in the bag, and Madden was doing hand-drawings of turkeys on his telestrator while audibly drooling over the “turducken”.

Anyways, it’s Thanksgiving morning and we’ve got a couple of inches of snow on the ground. That must mean it’s time for this week’s picks!

Atlanta at Detroit Steve Mariucci is keeping who is starting QB will be today under wraps. As if it matters. On the Turkey Day games, I’ve found that it’s best to always go with the better team, since neither had much time to prepare. Pick: Falcons –3

Tryptophan/Red Hook IPA –7 ½ over Mac

Denver at Dallas See above. The Cowboys are a fine team, but the Broncos are doing some incredible things this year. Pick: Broncos –2

Baltimore at Cincinnati The last time these two teams played, a horrendously bad call kept it from being a nail-biter. Cincy won’t have to worry about that this time. Pick: Bengals –9

Carolina at Buffalo Do you think the Bears might’ve exposed a weakness or 5 along the Panthers offensive line? Buffalo plays much better at home, so don’t be discouraged by their performance in San Diego last week. Pick: Bills +4 (I’m not at all confident about this one)

Cleveland at Minnesota The Minnesota Vikings are 5-5, which may mean that the Vikes may stick with Mike Tice as head coach. It could also mean that Einstein was wrong. Pick: Vikings –4

Chicago at Tampa Bay A part of me still thinks that the Buccaneers are a group of frauds, and I think we’ll get our answer when Chris Simms has to face that Bears defense. Speaking of Simms, isn’t it great to see his daddy come to his rescue? Yep, that’ll answer all those questions about Chris’ toughness. Pick: Bears +3

New England at Kansas City Playing the Texans is the ultimate elixir to get over a bad loss. However, you shouldn’t give the ball 36 times to a guy you’re going to need production out of in December to have a shot at the playoffs. Not when the game was over at halftime. And for New England, if anyone knows how to win through adversity, it’s Bill Belichick. Despite his personal loss, he’ll have this team ready to play on Sunday. Pick: Patriots +3

San Diego at Washington San Diego is a good team, but going cross-country 4 times in a single season is a lot to ask of any team. Pick: Redskins +3

San Francisco at Tennessee Normally, in a battle of 2-8 teams, the only angle of note is “Who wants the #1 pick”. But, as long as the Houston Texans (and Dom Capers) are in the NFL, that’s not the case this time around. Pick: 49ers +8

St. Louis at Houston Hey, speak of the devil. I know some people are looking at the way the Rams have fallen apart and are picking the Texans to “shock” the Rams this week. Did any of you see what Larry Johnson did to the Texans on Sunday night? If so, what do you think Joe Vitt plans to do with Steven Jackson, especially now that Marc Bulger is done for the season and he’s got Jamie Martin at QB? Pick: St. Louis –4

Jacksonville at Arizona The Cardinals might win this one outright, but if not, it’ll at least be a 3-point game. Jacksonville struggles away from home, and the Cardinals have a little confidence after trouncing the Rams. A healthy Anquan Boldin will do that for you. Pick: Cardinals +3 ½

Miami at Oakland I just wonder how different the Raiders season would be if they didn’t have such a tough schedule to start the season. They’re really playing well, despite a gimpy Randy Moss, and that defense is tightening. Pick: Raiders –7

Green Bay at Philadelphia Who else is buying stock in the “Andy Reid accidentally ate Mike Martz, which explains his avoidance of the running game, and that directly attributed to McNabb’s season-ending injury” theory? Just me? Pick: Eagles –4 ½

NY Giants at Seattle The Seahawks can clinch the NFC West with a win this Sunday, which is pretty amazing seeing how we’re not even in December yet. More important, though, is that with a win over the Giants, coupled with the earlier win over Dallas, Seattle would have a virtual death-grip on the #1-seed and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. With a 18-3 record at home the last three years, that’s huge. Pick: Seahawks – 4 ½

New Orleans at NY Jets FYI: Anne Heche and Tate Donovan star in the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie “Silver Bells”, this Sunday at 9pm on…CBS. Pick: Saints –1 ½ (and Anne Heche –3 ½)

Pittsburgh at Indianapolis Expect a lot of late-night calls on Monday from members of the ’72 Dolphins, because after this one, they’ll really start to get nervous. Pick: Colts –5 (and don’t worry, those ’72 Dolphins are going to get a nice Christmas present from Mike Holmgren & Co.)