The Buck List NFL Pick Off: Week 11

Welcome to the first installment of a series that is sure to continue for many, many moons -- The Buck List NFL Pick Off. First,we must go over a few ground rules. Listen carefully, as I don't plan on repeating myself. The three of us each have a total of 30 units to wager on the week's games, and each contestant must bet at least one unit on each game. (Note: The Carolina-Miami game will not be included this week because, well, it already happened). We will keep track of our winnings as the year progresses, and the overall season champion will be awarded a twenty dollar gift certificate to the Flea Market Montgomery. Have at it:

Indianapolis (-2) at Baltimore  [Result: Indianapolis 17, Baltimore 15 (push)]

John: Indianapolis (2 units)

Ryan: Indianapolis (1 unit)

Kevin: Baltimore (1 unit)

Brilliant Prediction (Ryan): The Ravens were my preseason pick to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, but since then they've been curiously average on defense, particularly against the pass (13th in the NFL). I don't expect them to perform much better against Peyton Manning and an offense that leads the NFL in passing, averaging more than 300 yards per game. Baltimore needs this game, but no more than they needed it this past Monday night when they managed only 270 yards of total offense against the woeful Browns.

Washington (+10.5) at Dallas  [Washington 6, Dallas 7]

John: Washington (1)

Ryan: Washington (1)

Kevin: Washington (1)

Brilliant Prediction (Ryan): Dating back to 2006, 4 of the last 5 meetings between these two teams have been decided by less than a touchdown. Question marks surround a suddenly lifeless Cowboys offense which narrowly avoided being shutout last Sunday in Lambeau while Washington is coming off a rare win at home over the Broncos. It wouldn't surprise me to see the Cowboys get back on track in their first home game in over a month, but it's hard to take them to win by more points than they scored against an ordinary Packers defense. The Redskins are bad, but their defense is playoff caliber and they won't roll over in a rivalry game at Jerry World. Cowboys win -- Skins cover.

Cleveland (+4) at Detroit [Cleveland 37, Detroit 38]

John: Detroit (3)

Ryan: Detroit (1)

Kevin: Detroit (3)

Brilliant Prediction (Ryan): The Lions and Browns are bad. The Browns' defense performed admirably on national television against the Ravens and will keep this game close early, but if the offense can't stay on the field for more than 20 minutes, Calvin Johnson and the Lions will eventually capitalize. I'll lean towards the team whose playbook consists of a play where the receiver runs more than 7 yards downfield: Lions -4.

San Francisco (+6.5) at Green Bay  [San Francisco 24, Green Bay 30]

John: San Francisco (1)

Ryan: Green Bay (2)

Kevin: San Francisco (1)

Brilliant Prediction (Ryan): No one really knows what to make of the Packers thus far this season. Two Sundays ago they yielded 38 points in what may result in Tampa Bay's only win of the season, only to follow it up with a simply dominant performance against a Cowboys team who many had pegged as the most complete team in the NFC. This week they play host to a San Francisco team who has lost 4 of 5, their only win coming last Thursday courtesy of Jay Cutler and 5 gift-wrapped interceptions. Somehow the Niners still only managed 10 points in a tight 4 point victory. Take the Packers and the points in a low scoring game at Lambeau.

Buffalo (+9) at Jacksonville  [Buffalo 15, Jacksonville 18]

John: Buffalo (4)

Ryan: Buffalo (1)

Kevin: Jacksonville (1)

Brilliant Prediction (Kevin): This game bores me. I'll go with the team that isn't starting Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB.

Pittsburgh (-10.5) at Kansas City  [Pittsburgh 24, Kansas City 27]

John: Pittsburgh (2)

Ryan: Pittsburgh (4)

Kevin: Pittsburgh (3)

Brilliant Prediction (John): I really want to honor the late Pimp C and pick Port Arthur, Texas native Jamaal Charles and his Kansas City Chiefs. Plus there seems to be something about Longhorns this year, and I'm convinced that Charles is liable to go all Cedric Benson/Ricky Williams at any minute. Oh, but these are the Steelers and I'm not sure it's even worth it to hand the ball off against their run defense. I'll pick the champs mainly because I like their helmets, but my loyalty to UGK limits me to a confidence of 2. 

Seattle (+11) at Minnesota  [Seattle 9, Minnesota 35]

John: Minnesota (3)

Ryan: Minnesota (2)

Kevin: Minnesota (1)

Brilliant Prediction (John): Seattle is nothing short of terrible on the road. Like have yet to lose by less than 11 points terrible. I suspect the Vikings will dominate and Favre will look really old and awkward while celebrating a touchdown along the way.

Atlanta (+6.5) at NY Giants  [Atlanta 31, New York 34]

John: Atlanta (1)

Ryan: NY Giants (1)

Kevin: NY Giants (4)

Brilliant Prediction (John): I once thought the Giants would win the Super Bowl this year. I now think they won't beat Atlanta by a touchdown at home. That probably betrays how much insight I have into the NFL.

New Orleans (-11.5) at Tampa Bay [New Orleans 38, Tampa Bay 7]

John: New Orleans (1)

Ryan: New Orleans (1)

Kevin: New Orleans (1)

Brilliant Prediction (John): I have been to both New Orleans and Tampa and both were fun. But only New Orleans sells Jagermeister tooters on the street for a dollar.

Arizona (-9) at St. Louis  [Arizona 21, St. Louis 13]

John: St. Louis (4)

Ryan: Arizona (1)

Kevin: Arizona (1)

Brilliant Prediction (John): Over the past two weeks Arizona's offense has finally looked like the force that propelled the Cardinals to the Super Bowl last year. But somehow Kurt Warner has only fumbled the ball five times through the first ten weeks of the season, and that just can't last. A few dozen fumbles out of Warner and the sheer will of Steven Jackson should keep the Rams within a touchdown for most of the game.

San Diego (Pick) at Denver  [San Diego 32, Denver 3]

John: Denver (1)

Ryan: San Diego (6)

Kevin: San Diego (4)

Brilliant Prediction (Kevin): After the Broncos won in San Diego in week 6 to move to 6-0, the media jumped all over itself to anoint Josh McDaniels the league's next genius. Since then, the Broncos have lost three in a row, while the Chargers have rattled off four consecutive victories. With Chris Simms starting at QB for the Broncos, expect these rivals to continue to move in opposite directions.

New England (-11) at NY Jets  [New York 14, New England 31]

John: NY Jets (1)

Ryan: New England (2)

Kevin: New England (4)

Brilliant Prediction (Kevin): Bill Belichick and Rex Ryan both had pretty bad weeks. Belichick's unending hubris cost his team a win in Indy and, very possibly, home field advantage in the playoffs. But hey, at least Bill didn't break down crying in a team meeting the next day. It's more tears for Rex this week.

Cincinnati (-9.5) at Oakland [Cincinnati 17, Oakland 20]

John: Cincinnati (1)

Ryan: Oakland (1)

Kevin: Oakland (1)

Brilliant Prediction (Kevin): Cincinnati put the league on notice with last week's win in Pittsburgh, but the Bengals haven't won by more than a touchdown on the road all year. The Raiders, meanwhile, have finally realized that it is not good when a quarterback completes only 47 percent of his passes. With the below average Bruce Gradkowski somehow representing a huge upgrade at QB, the Raiders will keep it close.

Philadelphia (-3) at Chicago [Philadelphia 24, Chicago 20]

John: Chicago (1)

Ryan: Philadelphia (5)

Kevin: Philadelphia (2)

Brilliant Prediction (Kevin): Jay Cutler leads the NFL in interceptions with 17. The Eagles pass defense is third in the league with 15 picks. Translation: Cris Collinsworth will spend a large portion of Sunday night's telecast ripping Cutler's poor decisions.

Tennessee (+4.5) at Houston [Tennessee 20, Houston 17]

John: Tennessee (3)

Ryan: Tennessee (1)

Kevin: Houston (1)

Brilliant Prediction (Kevin): Vince Young has led Tennessee to three straight victories since replacing Kerry Collins as the starter. Now Vince returns to his hometown for a Monday night showdown with the team that passed on him in favor of Mario Williams with the first pick in the 2006 NFL draft. Unfortunately for VY, the Titan's pass defense currently ranks second to last in the NFL. Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, and friends will spoil Vince's return to the Third Coast.

Weekly Results
Ryan: 11 pts
John: 9 pts
Kevin: 1 pt