Week 12 Recap:
Vs. W/L (10-6)
Vs. Spread (9-7)
Vs. O/U (11-5)

For the Season:
Vs W/L: 106-70-0
Vs Spread: 82-94-0
Vs. O/U: 94-82-0

Here’s where we’re at via the Spread relative to the “Sportsline Experts”:

Expert “J”: 99-76-0
Expert “P”: 97-78-0
Expert “S”: 90-85-0
Expert “H”: 89-86-0
Expert “R”: 85-90-0
Expert “D”: 84-91-0
PFN: 82-94-0
…Getting closer by the week.

Week 12 Game Balls:

Philadelphia Eagles: Coach Reid’s crew came up to Foxboro and gave the Patriots one heck of a scare. Homers can spin it anyway they want but Philly may have figured a way to make the things interesting for New England coming down the stretch.

Chicago Bears Special Teams

Indy and Jacksonville: Resounding Wins

Duds:
Coach Herm: What was he thinking?
Eli Manning: Will he ever become the quarterback the G-Men envisioned?
Arizona: How can a team put up 550+ yards of offense and still lose?
Pittsburgh: That was a disgrace. There are salt marshes in New England that would’ve been more a suitable playing surface than what the teams played on Monday night.

Week 13 Preview:
It is December, and well more than half of the teams are playing out the fourth quarter of the season hoping that the clock will move quickly. In looking over week 13’s slate of games, there are some pretty awful matchups here. Where a pessimist sees problems, the optimist sees opportunities. However, in some of these contests football fan has to dig pretty deep to find a silver lining.

At Miami -1.0 NY Jets 38

“Ricky, we hardly knew ye.” Let’s kick off Week 13 with a matchup between two teams who enter with a combined record of 2-20. This is not only bad, but legendarily so. Do you remember a few years back when both of these teams stunk so bad that the network didn’t even bother to send a broadcasting crew? “Brilliant!” Beyond the obvious what is there to say about this, really?

Projected Final Score: NY Jets 19, Miami 17

At Carolina -2.5 San Francisco 35.5

Answer this simple question: What has Carolina done this year that demonstrates any right to be considered favorites in any football game? Last week, the ‘Niners gave their fans a ray of hope looking forward to next year. The only thing Panthers’ fans can look forward to is a wholesale housecleaning. Good seats are still available for Sunday’s game…

Projected Final Score: San Francisco 20, Carolina 17

At St. Louis -3.5 Atlanta 40.5

After Thursday night’s clash of the NFC Titans, the schedule maker brings football fans everywhere back to earth with the force of a runaway elevator in this clash of also-ran’s. Gus Frerotte against Joey Harrington: and they have the audacity to charge people money to attend this game? Not even if they were raffling off free tickets for a brand-new Cadillac would anyone with half an ounce of common sense show up for this game without a disguise.

Projected Final Score: St. Louis 23, Atlanta 17.

At Washington -5.5 Buffalo 37

Speaking of a lack of common sense (not to mention an utter lack of class), the Vegas Boys decided to actually post a wagering line for this game. Putting all of the emotion of the moment aside, it is pragmatically difficult to establish a proposition where one team’s performance would largely be the product of an emotional response. But the show must go on, one supposes. This is not an ordinary game for the Redskins, as they now have to begin to pick up the pieces following the sudden and tragic death of one of their best players. If there is any grace in such a solemn and sad moment, it is Coach Gibbs’ leadership. For three hours on Sunday afternoon, the players will be able to rise above their grief and sadness and honor the memory of their teammate, with a convincing victory.

Projected Final Score: Washington 24, Buffalo 17.

At Minnesota -3.5 Detroit 45

How did the Vikings score for 41 points last week? Okay, how did the offense score 20points? It’d be hard to duplicate that effort even against a Lions’ team that took a first-class ass whippin’ on Thanksgiving. Quarterback play will be the key. If Kitna plays like a Cadillac, Honolulu Blue will win easily. If he plays like a Yugo, well…it’ll be a tough day for Coach Marinelli.

Projected Final Score: Detroit 27, Minnesota 24.

At Tennessee -3.5 Houston 42

Is Haynesworth playing? At this point, Vince Young appears to be in freefall and the team needs to do something quick to right the ship. The last time these teams hooked up it was a barnburner with Tennessee winning 38-36. Young didn’t play in that one, so you’ve got to figure that it’s time to win or start setting up January tee times…

Projected Final Score: Tennessee 24, Houston 20

San Diego -4.5 At Kansas City 37.5

The late, great Hank Stram was widely touted as an offensive genius during the ‘60’s and ‘70’s. When he looks down upon what Coach Clueless has done to his team, Stram is most likely in a state of perpetual cringing. Thanks to the easiest schedule this side of Division III, the Chargers can coast into the playoffs with one hand tied behind their backs. This week KC, next week it’s the Little Sisters of the Poor. The only conceivable way the Chiefs can hang in there is by pinning the Chargers in their end and hope for a fumble.

Projected Final Score: San Diego 24, Kansas City 17

At Philadelphia -2.5 Seattle 42

Looking good may only count in horseshoes, but give Philly a ton of credit for their performance last Sunday night in Foxboro. McNabb’s days in Philadelphia seem to be headed for the past tense. The defensive schemes Coach Johnson put forth against New England kept the Eagles in the game (though allowing nearly 500 yards of total offense is hardly a “shutdown performance”. The offense did quite well moving the ball, too. Seattle’s been a big disappointment this year, no question. Alexander returns to the lineup for the ‘Hawks and while he’s no longer quite the force of years past, his presence brings greater balance to the offense. Maybe that’s all the team needs…

Projected Final Score: Seattle 20, Philadelphia 17

At New Orleans -2.5 Tampa Bay 41.5

If the Saints fail to win Sunday, the season’s over “O-V-A”, over. Every time it appears that they’ve turned things around they fall back into the pit of despair. Maybe last year was a fluke after all. The Bucs have been a nice surprise this season as many experts predicted a dismal year for Coach Chucky. They’ve really rebounded from awful injuries to their running backs, and Garcia and the defense have played well.

Projected Final Score: Tampa Bay 21, New Orleans 20

Denver -2.5 At Oakland 42

On the “Suckitude Index”, this one ranks about a 9.6. Both teams are nothing to write home about, but the Broncos appear to be a notch or two above the Raiders on the food chain. It’s finally about time for Coach Kiffin to give JaMarcus a taste of life in the Big Time. Getting his feet wet can only improve the team’s chances next year. But it’s still 2007 and Denver will win because they’re the better team, simple as that.

Projected Final Score: Denver 23, Oakland 20.

At Arizona -1.5 Cleveland 51.5

This is a big test for the Browns. Taking one on the road would do wonders for the team, and they’ve proven to be one tough and scrappy bunch. On the other hand, doesn’t it seem as if the Cardinals are a spent bullet after last week? It’d be one thing if they were beaten by a powerhouse, but that was a bad football team they lost to (twice this year). It’s not the Cardinals’ offense that’s the problem…
Projected Final Score: Cleveland 27, Arizona 24

NY Giants -1.5 At Chicago 41

In this rematch of the 1963 NFL Championship, Coach Coughlin ought to really consider doing two things: (1) run the football 98% of the time; and (2) do not punt or kick the ball within 25 yards of Devin Hester. It’s an open question as to whether Eli’s a big league quarterback now, or will become one in the future. The Giants remain in the hunt for one of the Wild Card slots, though they ought to start cementing their place sooner rather than later. The Bears, you ask? I’m sorry, but I haven’t a clue (though neither do they).

Projected Final Score: NY Giants 23, Chicago 20.

At Pittsburgh -7.5 Cincinnati 45

The Rooneys ought to hang their heads in shame after last Monday Night’s debacle. The only injustice was the final score. The players should’ve told the league that they would not play a game on that surface any sooner than playing in a swamp. The weather forecast doesn’t look too good for Sunday, either. And the condition of the field won’t improve all that much despite the tune they’re whistling in the media. Again, the weather conditions aren’t the issue but the condition of the playing surface most certainly is. Hopefully the Steelers get creamed. But more than likely…

Projected Final Score: Pittsburgh 17, Cincinnati 13

At Indianapolis -6.5 Jacksonville 44.5
Finally, the schedule makers provide one marquee matchup for the day. Indy has a tough test at home against the Jags’ defense. Both teams are in good shape physically. Maybe Indy still has a few more weapons to prevail.

Projected Final Score: Indianapolis 24, Jacksonville 17.