The last of the byes, as after this week, we will all have played 10 games with 6 to go.  The official “stretch run” – and it’s always fun.

Thursday Night

Miami (5-4) at BUFFALO (4-5) – Vegas: Bills -2.5
A cold Thursday night in Buffalo is not exactly what the guys from South Beach are looking for on a short week.  Bills (moderate)

Sunday, Early Afternoon

Arizona (3-6) at ATLANTA (5-4) – Vegas: Falcons -6
The Cardinals do have two weeks to prepare for this game, and the Falcons are coming off a huge game against New Orleans, but it’s an early game against a much better team.  Falcons (moderate)

Cleveland (1-8) at DALLAS (4-5) – Vegas: Cowboys -7.5
Pretty much the exact same story as the game above:  Road team is coming off a bye.  Home team is coming off a really tough divisional game.  But, the home team is simply better and should win.  Cowboys (moderate)

Green Bay (9-0) at DETROIT (5-4) – Vegas: Packers -3
I swear I’m not this high on the Packers, but the schedule is just set up beautifully for them.  This is yet another game that I think they could lose, but for schedule reasons (coming off the bye with two weeks to prep for a vulnerable defense), I have to pick them.  Packers (close)

Cincinnati (7-2) at KANSAS CITY (3-6) – Vegas: Chiefs -2.5
This one is really tough.  The Chiefs are on a short week, but the Bengals are coming off a tough game with the Giants.  In the end, I think the Chiefs homefield advantage is good enough for them to eke out this W.  Chiefs (close)

Philadelphia (7-2) at WASHINGTON (2-7) – Vegas: Eagles -3.5
Real bad spot for an Eagles team that always seems to have trouble with the Redskins, no matter how bad they are.  The ‘Skins have two weeks to prepare for this game, while the Birds are coming off a three-week run of Atlanta, New Orleans, and Dallas.  This stinks of a week of overreactionary radio personalities going crazy when the Birds lay an egg in Landover.  Redskins (close)

Tampa Bay (4-5) at CAROLINA (3-6) – Vegas: Panthers -6.5
I want to pick the Bucs because I really think they might be the better team, but I just can’t justify them going on the road and beating Carolina without a good reason – and I can’t find one.  Panthers (close)

Jacksonville (4-5) at HOUSTON (6-3) – Vegas: Texans -10.5
The Texans are coming off a tough Sunday Night game in Chicago, but shouldn’t have trouble with the Jags here at home.  Texans (easy)

N. Y. Jets (3-6) at ST. LOUIS (3-6) – Vegas: Jets -3
Here’s a tip:  don’t watch this game – it’s gonna be UGLY.  But, give me the Jets in a first-to-9-wins kind of a game.  Jets (close)

Indianapolis (2-7) at NEW ENGLAND (8-1) – Vegas: Patriots -14
The annual Peyton-Brady Bowl?  Wait, what?  Really?  We already had that in Week 5?  Okay, well, I’ll take the team that still has a Hall of Fame QB.  Patriots (easy)

Sunday, Late Afternoon

New Orleans (6-3) at OAKLAND (1-8) – Vegas: Saints -3
I am the opposite on the Raiders as I am on the Packers – I, honestly, don’t think they are this bad, but the schedule is telling me something.  Saints (moderate)

San Diego (5-4) at DENVER (4-5) – Vegas: Broncos -3.5
A huge AFC West showdown in Mile High.  A game like this is exactly why the Broncos went out and got Mr. Manning.  And, a game like this is exactly why the Chargers should not still have Mr. Turner.  Broncos (moderate)

Sunday Night

Baltimore (5-4) at PITTSBURGH (7-2) – Vegas: Steelers -3
My two favorite non-Eagles games all year are the two times that these two teams try and kill one another.  The Ravens get a break here, as the Steelers are coming off of a Monday Night game against Kansas City, while Baltimore had an early Sunday game at home against Oakland.  On Sunday Night, in a more desperate position – this is where having a personality like Ray Lewis on your team (even if he is a quarter of the player he used to be) flat-out wins you games.  Ravens (close)

Monday Night

Chicago (6-3) at SAN FRANCISCO (7-2) – Vegas: 49ers -4.5
Both prime time games this week should feature teams led by hard-hitting defenses – that’s a recipe for great football.  These teams are pretty close, and I can’t really find a reason not to pick the home team here, though I think I’d lean towards Chicago, as the better team, on a neutral field.  49ers (close)

Standings After Week Eleven

NFC EAST:
The Giants take the week off and see Philly give one away to the Dedskins; the Cowboys also stay relevant with a W
7-3 Eagles
6-4 Giants
5-5 Cowboys
3-7 Redskins

NFC NORTH:
The 19-0 talk has started…again…in Green Bay, though it’s more of a schedule issue so far; a tough prime time loss for the Bears sets them back a bit
10-0 Packers
6-4 Bears
5-5 Lions
4-6 Vikings

NFC SOUTH:
The top two teams win and Carolina beats Tampa to come out of the cellar
7-3 Saints
6-4 Falcons
4-6 Panthers
4-6 Bucs

NFC WEST:
All joking aside, I actually stopped to think about whether or not the Niners had clinched yet – they haven’t…technically
8-2 49ers
3-7 Rams
3-7 Cardinals
3-7 Seahawks

AFC EAST:
A big W for Buffalo over Miami; also, the Jets get closer to playoff consideration
9-1 Patriots
5-5 Bills
5-5 Dolphins
4-6 Jets

AFC NORTH:
The Ravens pick up a game on both division leaders with a huge win over the Stillers
7-3 Steelers
7-3 Bengals
6-4 Ravens
1-9 Browns

AFC SOUTH:
It’s looking more and more like there will be no wild card from the South this year
7-3 Texans
4-6 Jaguars
4-6 Titans
2-8 Colts

AFC WEST:
The huge Broncos win over San Diego makes this a hearty three-team race
5-5 Broncos
5-5 Chargers
4-6 Chiefs
1-9 Raiders

NFC Playoff Picture

1 – Packers (10-0)
2 – 49ers (8-2)
3 – Eagles (7-3)
4 – Saints (7-3)
5/6/OUT – Giants//Bears/Falcons (6-4)
IN THE MIX – Cowboys/Lions (5-5)

AFC Playoff Picture

1 -Patriots (9-1)
2/3 – Steelers/Texans (7-3)
4 – Broncos (5-5)
5 – Bengals (7-3)
6 – Ravens (6-4)
IN THE MIX – Bills/Chargers (5-5)
FALLING OUT – Jaguars (4-6)