Week 14 Pick-Down

Matchup	Adam's Pick	Eric's Pick
Colts at Titans	Colts	Titans
Patriots at Bears	Patriots	Patriots
Bengals at Steelers	Steelers	Steelers
Packers at Lions	Packers	Packers
Giants at Vikings	Vikings	Giants
Raiders at Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars
Browns at Bills	Browns	Browns
Buccaneers at Redskins	Buccaneers	Buccaneers
Falcons at Panthers	Falcons	Falcons
Rams at Saints	Saints	Saints
Seahawks at 49ers	49ers	Seahawks
Dolphins at Jets	Jets	Jets
Broncos at Cardinals	Broncos	Broncos
Chiefs at Chargers	Chargers	Chargers
Eagles at Cowboys	Eagles	Cowboys
Ravens at Texans	Ravens	Ravens
	Adam	Eric
Week 13 Record	10-6	10-6
Season Standings	110-82	115-77

To see how the "Experts" stack up: http://espn.go.com/nfl/picks

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The predictions here come from Adam and correspond to his picks.

Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans

Peyton Manning has been bad lately, which is hard to believe considering his mind numbing consistency over his career.  Still, I have to give Manning the benefit of the doubt, and I believe he will figure out what he's doing wrong.  The Titans are sliding, and with injuries at receiver and quarterback, they don't look like they can get back on their feet.  This will be a good game to help the Colts get back on track.

Prediction: Colts 31 – Titans 17

New England Patriots at Chicago Bears

The Pats carved up the blitz happy Jets on Monday, but now they get the Cover 2 Bears.  Chicago is much more likely to pressure the quarterback with just four rushers and drop back into zone coverage.  They have been very effective this year, allowing less points than any defense in the NFL.  New England will need an entirely different game plan than this past week if they want to move the ball.  Fortunately for the Pats, they have Bill Belichick, and developing a brilliant gameplan is his kind of thing.  I think the Pats have found out exactly who they are as a team, and know precisely what they must do to win games.  Tom Brady is the MVP right now, and I expect him to lead his team better than Jay Cutler can.  The Bears' defense will win some battles against the Pats, but not enough.

Prediction: Patriots 27 – Bears 23

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers

There's not much to this one.

Prediction: Steelers 24 – Bengals 16

Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions

Detroit's shaky secondary will not slow down Aaron Rodgers and company.  The Pack need every game, and they'll be ready to put it on Detroit.

Prediction: Packers 37 – Lions 19

New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings

I don't know what kind of team Minnesota really is under Leslie Frazier.  Sure they're 2-0, but those wins came against the Redskins and Bills.  Brett Favre will likely play, but considering his performance this year, I'm not sure that's a good thing for Minnesota.  The Giants have injuries to the offensive line and receiving corps, and they have not played great lately.  This could go either way, but with both teams underwhelming me at the moment, I'll ride the home team who has a little momentum.

Prediction: Vikings 22 – Giants 16

Oakland Raiders at Jacksonville Jaguars

The Raiders are the Seahawks of the AFC.  Nobody can figure them out, but at 6-6, Raiders fans won't complain.  They are still in the AFC West race, but I just don't trust them to put any consistent play together.  The Jaguars befuddle me as well, but they seem to put a more consistent week-to-week product on the field than Oakland does.  David Garrard has been solid, and Maurice Jones-Drew is the focal point of the Jags offense.

Prediction: Jaguars 26 – Raiders 17

Cleveland Browns at Buffalo Bills

The Fire Eric Mangini train is losing steam, and with a win, the Browns will be dangerously close to .500.   To get this team to 6-7 would be a  feat considering their situation at quarterback and overall lack of explosive players on offense.  Playing the Bills, I expect the Browns to run Peyton Hillis 35 times, throw mostly off of play action, and protect the football.

Prediction: Browns 17 – Bills 13

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Washington Redskins

This is a win Tampa needs to stay in the playoff race.  The Redskins can't get anything going on offense, and things are chaotic due to the Albert Haynesworth situation.   I trust Josh Freemand to put up some points; I don't trust Washington to keep up.

Prediction: Buccaneers 24 – Skins 13

Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers

We got the best team in the NFC vs. the worst team in the NFC.

Prediction: Falcons 30 – Panthers 9

St. Louis Rams at New Orleans Saints

We should see a lot of offense between two good quarterbacks in a dome environment.  Drew Brees has more help than rookie Sam Bradford, and the Rams' secondary will be completely overmatched against the Saints receivers.

Prediction: Saints 33 – Rams 24

Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers

This game harbors Alex Smith's not so triumphant return after Troy Smith was medicore in his last two starts.  Alex gives the Niners a different look, but it's not really a better look.  Both quarterbacks have been ultimately ineffective, and neither looks like a perennial starting-level signal caller.  Amazingly, the Niners could move just a game back in the West yet again if the Rams lose at New Orleans and they win this game against Seattle.  The Niners' defense has been playing better of late, and playing at home, San Fran will have enough to beat the up-and-down Seahawks.

Prediction: 49ers 20 – Seahawks 16

Miami Dolphins at New York Jets

The Dolphins' passing game has been far too inconsistent, and I expect the Jets' defense to bounce back after that embarrassing Monday night showing.

Prediction: Jets 21 – Dolphins 13

Denver Broncos at Arizona Cardinals

Who cares?

Prediction: Broncos 21 – Cardinals 10

Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers

The Chiefs are great at home, but this game is on the road, and despite the fact that Kansas City has been the more consistent team, I think San Diego has a higher ceiling because of Phillip Rivers.  Ultimately, Rivers will put San Diego right back in contention for an AFC West title with a win against the division-leading Chiefs.

Prediction: Chargers 28 – Chiefs 24

Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys

Jason Garrett has done a really good job of getting this team to play hard.  They have plenty of talent, and they are now matching that talent with good effort.  Still, Jon Kitna is not Tony Romo, nor is he Michael Vick.  The Eagles need every game in a tight NFC East race with the Giants, and I expect them to come out swinging in this one.

Prediction: Eagles 31 – Cowboys 20

Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans

It's a matchup of the terrible Texans secondary against Joe Flacco, Anquan Boldin, Todd Heap, Derrick Mason, and Ray Rice: advantage Baltimore.

Prediction: Ravens 27 – Texans 17