This is a 10* play on the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals must win this game if they have any chance to make the playoffs, while the Niners can clinch home field with a win on the road, and a Seattle loss. It might be asking a lot for the Seahawks to lose at home to St. Louis though, and winning in Arizona isn't gonna be easy either.

The Cardinals are 6-1 at home, and their only loss came at the hands of those pesky Seahawks. They have won seven of their last eight overall, and the only defeat came on the road in Philly in a game decided by just three points.

San Franscisco has won five straight, since suffering back to back losses to Carolina and New Orleans. Four of those five wins came against teams with losing records, while the exception was a 19-17 win over the Seahawks in San Francisco.

In fact, if you ask yourself how many road victories the Niners have versus teams with a winning record, the answer you will come up with is ZERO!

Their road wins came against Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, St. Louis and Washington.

Carson Palmer was picked off four times last week in Seattle, and still the Cardinals managed to upset the Seahawks. Interceptions have plagued Palmer throughout his career, and he's been picked off 21 times this season, but only six of those came at home in Arizona.

Palmer doesn't have to be perfect here, he just has to be better than Colin Kaepernick, and that shouldn't be a problem.

Take ZONA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the New Orleans Saints.

The Bucs have lost back to back games, and I can't see any reason why they would show up for a road game against a motivated Saints team that needs a win to improve it's playoff position.

The Saints have clobbered the opposition at home this year, with a 7-0 record at the Superdome.

Some might be wary of laying double digits, but I am expecting this to be all Saints, from start to finish.

Take New Orleans.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Green Bay Packers.

The Pack will have Aaron Rodgers back at quarterback in a must win game versus the Bears in Chicago. The Bears were blown out in Philly last week, and looked nothing like a team that hopes to play in the post season.

Jay Cutler has not played particularly well for the Bears since returning from injury, and the Bears defense has been just terrible.

I like the Packers to get it done in this must win.

Take Green Bay.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Denver Broncos.

The #Broncos led by just three points heading into the fourth quarter of last week's game on the road in Houston, but went on to score 21 unanswered points in the final period. Denver will wrap up the season on the road in Oakland, and the Broncos need a win to lock up top spot in the AFC.

The #Raiders have made the controversial decision to start Terrelle Pryor at quarterback in the season finale, after he lost the starting job to Matt McGloin. The move doesn't sit well with Pryor's agent, who says the team is putting his client in a position to fail.

Pryor has been picked off six times, without throwing for a single touchdown in his last five appearances. He's been dangerous with his legs, but Denver's defense has been good against the run all year. They held RGIII to just seven yards on five carries, and earlier in the season they roughed up Mike Vick in 52-20 victory over the Eagles.

The Broncos will be without Von Miller on defense, but remember he didn't play while serving a suspension through the first five games of the season.

Injuries on offense might be a bigger concern, with Welker still suffering from a concussion and a banged up offensive line. Oakland did well last week, limiting Phillip Rivers to just 201 yards with one TD and an INT.

We've seen the total go under in two of the last three meetings between these two teams, and the number for this game is way higher than it was in any of those previous contests.

Expect Manning to rest in the fourth quarter if Denver has a big lead, and I wouldn't be too optimistic about Oakland scoring a lot of points here.

Take the Broncos.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on OAK@SD to go OVER the total.

The Raiders were handed a fourth consecutive loss at home against Kansas City last Sunday, and once again their defense was victimized by another record setting performance.

Earlier this season, Nick Foles tied an NFL record throwing seven touchdown passes in a 49-20 blowout win over the Raiders in Oakland. Last week it was Jamaal Charles, who caught four touchdown passes, and ran in another.

The Raiders will limp into San Diego to take on the Chargers, who are in desperate need of a home win in order to stay alive in the race for an AFC wild card spot.

Phillip Rivers has a 9-1 touchdown to interception ratio in his last four starts, and he should be looking at a big day against an Oakland secondary that ranks 23rd in the NFL against the pass, allowing over 250 yards per game.

Rivers has had a breakout year, after slipping into mediocrity the past few seasons in San Diego. He's completing a career high 69% of his pass attempts, and he's thrown for 28 touchdowns, just six short of his career high 34 in 2008.

There's every reason to expect the Raiders to be on the wrong side of another blowout, against a motivated opponent on the road.

Take the Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the New York Jets.

The Jets lost again on the road last week in Carolina, but they did manage to cover the double digit spread. It's pretty clear that the Jets are a different team at home than they are on the road.

Five of New York's six wins have come at the Meadowlands, and they host a Cleveland team that is 1-5 on the road this Sunday.

The Browns have sent quarterback Brandon Weeden back to bench in favor of Jason Campbell, but the results were not good last week, losing at home to the Bears. Campbell was 23-of-39 for 273 yards and a touchdown, but he was picked off twice.

He's lost each of his last four starts, and he's thrown as many touchdowns as interceptions (5) during that span.

Geno Smith knows a thing or two about throwing interceptions, he''s been picked off 21 times this season. He'll be able to lean on a strong defense and power running game at home this week, and he's proven that he can be successful when he's not asked to do too much

This has all the signs of a tough, hard fought, close game, but my money is on the home side to come out on top.

Take NYJ.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Buffalo Bills.

The Dolphins are red hot, winners of three straight and four of five. Let's not forget what happened the last time they played the Bills though, when Buffalo won outright as a double-digit underdog in Miami in Week 7.

Ryan Tannehil was terrorized by the Buffalo defense, throwing a pair of interceptions in the loss. He was sacked four times last week in the win over the Patriots.

The Bills have lost three of their last four at home, but two of those losses came in overtime. They have a history of playing close games versus the Dolphins, and we should see another close game here.

E.J. Manuel did not play in the Bills Week 7 win in Miami, and he will sit out this game with a knee injury. Thad Lewis played well, completing 21-of-32 attempts for
201 yards with no touchdowns and an interception in that game.

Lewis will be under center once again for the Bills, looking for just his second win as a starter. He threw for 216 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 27-24 overtime loss to the Bengals in his season debut.

Take the points.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Colts were really slumping heading into last week's game versus Houston, but they turned things around with a big home win over the Texans. It should prove to be a lot tougher this week on the road at Arrowhead.

The Chiefs are coming off a big win on the road at Oakland, by a score of 56-31. The Raiders just couldn't stop Jamaal Charles, who caught four touchdown passes and ran in one more.

He could be in for a big game at home this week against one of the NFL's weakest run defenses. The Colts have allowed opponents to average over 128 rushing yards per game this season.

The Colts have alternated wins and losses every week since Week 5, and there is every reason to expect that trend to continue here on Sunday. Note that the Colts needed miracle comebacks to win in Houston and Tennessee.

Don't count on the Colts getting lucky this week.

Take the Chiefs.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Detroit Lions.

The Lions jumped out to an early 14-0 lead last week in Philadelphia, but they would end up losing in the snow to the Eagles by a score of 34-20. They are back in the dome this week, hosting the Ravens, who have really struggled on the road.

Baltimore is just 1-5 away from home this season, and the Ravens have lost three straight at Chicago, Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Joe Flacco has thrown just one more touchdown than he has interceptions this season, and 11 of his 17 picks have come on the road, where he has just eight touchdown passes.

The Ravens defense hasn't looked very impressive, and since losing to Denver they haven't really faced a top tier offensive team. Remember Peyton Manning threw for 462 yards and seven touchdowns in the win on Opening Day.

Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson are likely licking their chops at the thought of exposing this defense that allowed the vikings to score 20 points in the fourth quarter at home last week.

Detroit's defense has been very good against the run, ranking 5th with opponents averaging fewer than 100 yards per game. This is likely going to force the Ravens to pass, resulting in less time coming off the clock with offensive possessions.

We've seen high scoring games in six of the Lions last seven home games, and there is every reason to expect another barn burner tonight. When it's all said and done, I expect the home team to win and and cover.

Take DET.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on BAL@DET to go OVER the total (1st half)

The Lions jumped out to an early 14-0 lead last week in Philadelphia, but they would end up losing in the snow to the Eagles by a score of 34-20. They are back in the dome this week, hosting the Ravens, who have really struggled on the road.

Baltimore is just 1-5 away from home this season, and the Ravens have lost three straight at Chicago, Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Joe Flacco has thrown just one more touchdown than he has interceptions this season, and 11 of his 17 picks have come on the road, where he has just eight touchdown passes.

The Ravens defense hasn't looked very impressive, and since losing to Denver they haven't really faced a top tier offensive team. Remember Peyton Manning threw for 462 yards and seven touchdowns in the win on Opening Day.

Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson are likely licking their chops at the thought of exposing this defense that allowed the vikings to score 20 points in the fourth quarter at home last week.

Detroit's defense has been very good against the run, ranking 5th with opponents averaging fewer than 100 yards per game. This is likely going to force the Ravens to pass, resulting in less time coming off the clock with offensive possessions.

We've seen high scoring games in six of the Lions last seven home games, and there is every reason to expect another barn burner tonight. When it's all said and done, I expect the home team to win and and cover.

Take OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on CIN@PIT to go OVER the total.

The Steelers defense looked pretty bad against Miami last week, allowing the Dolphins to leave town with a 34-28 victory. They will host the Bengals this week, and Cincinnati is coming off a 42-28 win over the Colts.

Andy Dalton threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns, while Giovani Bernard picked up 99 yards on just 12 carries. The Bengals can clinch a playoff birth with a win in Pittsburgh, and a loss by the Ravens or the Dolphins.

Big Ben has thrown for 1190 yards and 11 touchdowns without a single interception over his last four starts.

These two teams have both scored their fair share of points this season, and I expect to see these two offenses put some points on the board. We see a very low total for this game, based on past trends of low scoring games. Those trends came at a time when the Steelers defense was a lot better than it is today.

Take the Over.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals have won five of six, with the only loss during that span coming on the road in Philadelphia. Arizona will be on the road this week, taking on the Titans, who have lost four of their last five.

Carson Palmer has the Cardinals offense running like a well oiled machine, and he's facing a Titans defense that was lit up for 51 points on the road at Denver last week.

You might expect the Titans to play better at home, but that sure hasn't been the case lately, losing four straight in Nashville, including a loss to the Jaguars. Ryan Fitzpatrick has struggled since coming in to replace Jake Locker, and he's thrown four picks and just two touchdowns in his last two starts.
He's got his work cut out for him this week against an Arizona defense that ranks among the NFL's best against the pass. The Cards have 38 sacks and 17 picks on opposing quarterbacks this season. Running the ball might not be an option, as Arizona has allowed fewer than 85 yards rushing per game (3rd in the NFL).
I like the Cardinals to grind out a win on the road here..

Take Arizona.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 6* play on the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs snapped a three game losing streak with a blowout win on the road versus Washington last week. This Sunday they will be facing another struggling team on the road in Oakland.

The Raiders have lost three straight, including a home loss to a below average Tennessee Titans team. These teams met in Kansas City prior to Oakland's bye week, and the Chiefs terrorized Terrelle Pryor in that game. The Raiders quarterback was sacked nine times and forced to throw three picks.

Pryor has since been demoted in favor of Matt McGloin, who has thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns the last three weeks (3).

The Raiders running game is also a big question mark, with Darren McFadden out, and Rashad Jennings coming back from a concussion.

Defensively the Raiders have been picked apart by opposing quarterbacks, most notably a record breaking performance by Nick Foles.

The Chiefs need to win to clinch a playoff birth, and there's every reason to expect Kansas City to do just that.

Take the Chiefs.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Houston Texans (ML)

The Colts have been nothing short of terrible since the bye week, going 3-3 during that six game span. It all started in Houston, coming back from a 21-3 halftime deficit to win 27-24.

Houston's head coach Gary Kubiak collapsed at halftime in that game, and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. The team appeared to be shell shocked for the remainder of the game, and Indianapolis took advantage.

The Colts mounted another stunning second half comeback against the Titans two weeks later, winning 30-27. The Indy defense has allowed over 30 points per game since the bye week, and they have really struggled against the run.

After losing 11 straight games, some think the Texans will fold like a cheap suit, I disagree. I recently published the following:

"Obviously the Texans don't have a lot to play for, and there is nothing left to salvage this season other than a little pride. There will be some players that are fighting for a roster spot, while others simply want to win. You don't make it this far as a professional athlete by accepting defeat. I am sure that many of the players in Houston's locker room absolutely despise losing, and relish every opportunity to get back onto the field and end this ugly losing streak.
It's also worth noting that during this span, they have lost five of those games by three points or less, and eight of those 11 losses were decided by no more than seven points.

They rank #3 in the NFL in total defense, which seems awfully hard to believe with a 2-11 record.

I see the Texans as a football team that has had some hard luck, but isn't really all that far off of where they need to be to compete in this league. Certainly not a team that needs to lose games intentionally to move up in the draft."

Take Houston to win outright.

GL,

Jesse Schule.

This is a 6* play on the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Vikings will host the Eagles this Sunday, and they will be without Adrian Peterson, who led the league in rushing last season. The Eagles will have LeSean McCoy, who leads the league with over 1300 yards rushing this season.

McCoy matches up against a Vikings defense that has struggled to stop the run, allowing an average of 118 yards per game. The news goes from bad to worse for Vikings fans though, as their struggles against the pass are ever greater, ranking 30th in the NFL allowing over 280 yards per game.

Nick Foles replaced Mike Vick as the starter in back in Oakland in November, and he tossed a record seven touchdown passes in that game. He's since gone 5-0 with 14 touchdowns and just a single interception during that span.

Matt Cassel will start at quarterback for the Vikes, and he hasn't been impressive at all, throwing four picks and three touchdowns the last four weeks.

Last week the Eagles proved they can play in bad weather, and we could be in for another snow bowl here in Minnesota on Sunday.

Take Philly.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas has won five of it's last seven games, with the only losses coming on the road at Detroit and New Orleans. The loss to Detroit saw the Lions score a controversial touchdown to win by just a single point on the last play of the game. The loss to New Orleans was a complete massacre, but good teams have been losing big at the Superdome all year long.

The Bears are a banged up team battling through injuries, and they have won just once in their last four games. Last week they lost in overtime to the Vikings, with Matt Cassel throwing for 243 yards and a touchdown.

Adrian Peterson ripped through the Bears #32 ranked run defense for 211 yards on 35 carries. DeMarco Murray has been very effective running the ball, averaging almost 5 yards per carry. Given the Bears inability to stop the run, he should be looking at a big game here tonight.

The Cowboys defense has given up an awful lot of yards in the air, and they rank at the bottom of the league against the pass. Don't be fooled though, consider that they played Denver, San Diego, Detroit, and the Saints in New Orleans, you could say those numbers are a little skewed.

Josh McCown has been sharp filling in for Jay Cutler, but it's asking a lot for him to trade shots with Tony Romo.

The Bears defense is going to have a tough time stopping Romo, as they could be without Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman, and Major Wright. On offense they won't have Jay Cutler, and Brandon Marshall has been limited in practice due to a strained quad.

Take Dallas.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the New Orleans Saints.

I cashed in on the Seahawks on Monday Night Football, as they completely dismantled the Saints. It was no surprise to see New Orleans struggle away from the dome, but I expect to see a different team here tonight.

After all, they are unbeaten at home (6-0), and they have dominated opponents at the Superdome. Carolina's defense has been impressive, but there is no defense for Drew Brees on his home turf.

The Panthers have won eight straight, but three of their last four wins all came in close games, and they needed a little luck along the way. Carolina won by a single point in San Fran, then there was the controversial call on the final play versus the Pats, and a late rally to come back from a 16-3 deficit against the Dolphins.

Cam Newton was picked off twice last week against Tampa Bay, and he's thrown six picks in his last five games. He's facing a Saints defense that ranked 4th against the pass, allowing an average of just 206 yards per game.

New Orleans should prove to be too much for the Panthers here, and I'm expecting to see another blowout at the Superdome tonight.

Take the Saints.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks looked awfully impressive in a 34-7 blowout win over the Saints on Monday night. They will be on the road in San Francisco this Sunday, taking on a 49ers team that they beat by a score of 29-3 in Week 2 at home.

Colin Kaepernick is finding life in the NFL to be a lot tougher than it was in his rookie season, and he has failed to live up to all the hype. He completed just 13-of-28 passes for 127 yards and no touchdowns, getting picked off three times in Seattle earlier this season.

Seattle has a reputation as a team that struggles on the road, but that simply hasn't been the case since halfway through last season. The Seahawks are 5-1 on the road this year, while San Fran is 4-2 at home.

I believe the Niners just don't match-up well against Seattle, especially Kaepernick facing this #1 ranked pass defense.

Russell Wilson might not have the biggest arm, and he might not be as dangerous with his legs as RGIII, but he makes up for that with his decision making. He simply doesn't seem to make mistakes, which is incredibly rare for a young quarterback. Wilson has 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions in his last five starts.

Can you believe the Seahawks are getting points?

Take Seattle.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Diego Chargers.

The Chargers have just one win in their last five games, but it was an impressive showing on the road against the Chiefs. The Giants have won five of their last six overall, but all of those wins have come against backup quarterbacks, or teams with losing records.
Philip Rivers is having himself his best season in years, throwing for 3,633 yards and 23 touchdowns so far. The Chargers rank 4th in the NFL in passing, averaging nearly 300 yards per game.

Statistically, the Giants appear to have an average defense, but those numbers have been aided by the circumstances. Facing Minnesota with Josh Freeman at quarterback, The Packers with Scott Tolzien under center, and a bunch of the NFL's bottom feeders in recent weeks.

Eli Manning is still struggling, and three of his 18 interceptions have come in the last four games.

The Giants won on the road in Washington last week, coming from behind. I don't expect to see the Chargers shoot themselves in the foot as did Washington.

Take the Chargers.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Houston Texans.

The Jags lost eight straight to start the season, and there was no doubt that they were the NFL's worst team. They have since won 3-of-4, including a win at Houston, and their stock is on the rise.

Make no mistake about it though, Jacksonville is not a very good football team, and they are still 0-5 at home. The Texans have lost 10 straight, but they have lost six in a row by seven points or less.

Houston had a lead late in the fourth quarter against the Patriots last Sunday, but New England kicked a pair of late field goals to come from behind and win 34-31.

Ben Tate had a big game, running for 102 yards and three TDs on just 22 carries. He should be in for a big night against the Jags, who allow an average of over 130 rushing yards per game (29th in the NFL).
Prior to last week's loss to the Patriots, the Texans owned the league's best pass defense, and ranked first in the NFL in total defense. The Jags only scored 13 points in Houston two weeks ago, but the Texans couldn't get anything going on offense in the 13-6 loss.

I'm counting on a better performance from Houston on the road here.

Take the Texans.

GL,

Jesse Schule

8*

This is a 10* play on the Washington Redskins.

Now anyone who follows my picks will know I am not a fan of RGIII and the Redskins, in fact before the season started I bet on Washington to finish with fewer than eight wins.

That bet is looking pretty good right now, but I think Washington has a good chance to bounce back with a win here this week. As bad as they have played defensively, the Skins have been making improvements on the defensive side of the ball.

They did a great job of shutting down the 49ers running game last week, Frank Gore had just 31 yards on 13 carries. The Giants running game doesn't pose much of a threat, New York is averaging just 88 yards per game on the ground.

The Giants also struggled to defend the run last week against Dallas. DeMarco Murray ran for 86 yards on just 13 carries. Alfred Morris is having a fantastic season, and he should be a workhorse here against the Giants.

The Giants are 4-7, and three of those four victories came at home. New York was fortunate to string together four straight wins against below average teams, and backup quarterbacks. It's asking a lot for the Giants to win on the road this week.

Take the Skins.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills won't have fond memories of previous trips north of the border, they were on the wrong side of a 50-17 blowout against Seattle last year. They have lost 4-of-5 in Toronto since 2008, but it should be a different story this year.

They will face a Falcons team that has really struggled all season, and Matt Ryan has thrown four more INTs than touchdowns during a five game losing streak.

The Bills defense isn't going to make Ryan's life any easier, Buffalo leads the NFL with 16 interceptions so far this season.

The Falcons may be doomed if they can't stop the Bill's power running game, and Atlanta hasn't had any success defending the run this year, ranking 29th in the NFL allowing an average of 130 yards per game.

Atlanta turned in a solid effort against the Saints at home last week, but I just don't think they match up well against Buffalo.

Take the Bills.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Baltimore Ravens.

The defending champions have struggled this season... or have they? Well not at home they haven't (4-1).

The Ravens defense dominated again at home last week, holding the Jets to just a field goal on 220 yards of total offense. They registered three sacks and a pair of interceptions on Geno Smith, who was 9-of-22 for just 127 yards.

They host the Steelers on Thanksgiving, and Pittsburgh has really turned things around since opening the season with four straight losses. They have won five of their last seven, one of those coming at home against the Ravens.

Big Ben had a good game on the road against the Browns on Sunday, but he had thrown four picks in previous two road games, in losses to New England and Oakland. This Ravens defense is likely to cause him all sorts of problems, as they haven't been kind to opposing quarterbacks on their home turf.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh used the wildcat against the Jets, and Joe Flacco has expressed his disapproval: "I don't like that stuff. ... I'm the quarterback," Flacco said. "I want to be behind the line of scrimmage, I want to be taking the snaps."

Flacco has a point, the quarterback's job is to be behind the line of scrimmage taking the snaps. Last time I checked, it was the coach's job to call the plays and execute a game plan? That's something that Jon Harbaugh has done quite well, and I expect him to have his team well prepared for this game.

Take the Ravens.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Detroit Lions (1st half)

As bad as the Lions have looked the past few weeks, I think we should see them pull it together at home on Thanksgiving against the Packers.

Green Bay will start Matt Flynn at quarterback, as the third stringer looked good replacing Scott Tolzien last week at home against Minnesota. It's a whole different story though on the road in Detroit, as this Lions defense is significantly tougher than Minnesota's.

You would think the Packers might want to lean on their running game with a third string quarterback under center, but that might not be an option either against the Lions #4 ranked run defense. Detroit has allowed an average of just 88 yards rushing per game this year.

Matthew Stafford was throwing to the wrong team last week, and he's been a little inconsistent all year. He should be able to settle down at home, and he'll likely get some help from Reggie Bush.

Given the success Bush has had, averaging 4.5 yards per carry, the Lions might want to give him a heavier workload. He's run for over 200 yards the last three weeks, despite only 41 attempts.

I expect the Lions to jump out to an early lead, and I don't think we're going to see any miracle comebacks here in Detroit.

Take the Lions.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Francisco 49ers.

The Niners are coming off back to back heartbreaking losses, at home to Carolina, and on the road in New Orleans. They will look to turn things around in the nation's capital tonight against RGIII and the Redskins.

Washington sits last in the NFC East, and they are coming off consecutive losses by a margin of 7+ points. Griffin completed 17-of-35 passes for 264 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the loss to the Eagles last week, but he was sacked four times and he was picked off by Brandon Boykin.

Protecting the quarterback has been a problem for the Skins all year long, and once again Shanahan has let him take a beating in games when he should have been pulled - such as the loss to Denver.

It's not going to be easy for Griffin to move the ball against this Niners defense. In the last two weeks they've stuffed Carolina's running game, limiting the Panthers to 109 yards on 31 carries, and holding Drew Brees to a single touchdown pass at the Superdome.

Unfortunately for San Francisco, the Panthers and the Saints are also among the top defensive teams in the league, and they couldn't get anything going offensively.

That might not be the case tonight, despite slight improvements in recent weeks, Washington ranks near the bottom of the league both against the run as well as the pass.

San Fran won the last meeting in Washington by a score of 19-11 in 2011, and they've won both meetings since 2005. I expect them to make it three straight tonight.

Take the NINERS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Denver Broncos.

Tom Brady might not have liked the call on the final play of Monday night's loss to Carolina, but that wasn't the play that cost the Patriots the game. It was the previous drive by Carolina, with Cam Newton taking the Panthers 83 yards, scoring a touchdown on a 25 yard strike to Ted Ginn Jr. with less than a minute remaining.
If New England's defense couldn't stop Cam Newton, it's hard to imagine they will have any success stopping Peyton Manning.

The Patriots are missing several keys players on the defensive side of the ball, including Jerod Mayo and Vince Wilfork. Their top two defensive backs were both knocked out of Monday's game in Carolina, and both (Talib & Arrington) are listed as questionable for tonight's game.

The injury woes are not limited to the defense, as Amendola, Gronkowski and Vereen are all banged up, even though all three are expected to play.

I hear a lot of talk about how bad this Denver defense is, and I can't help but think that is just utter nonsense. They've allowed an average of fewer than 20 points per game over the last three weeks, and they've racked up 10 sacks on opposing quarterbacks during that span.

They give up a lot of passing yards, while ranking near the top of the league in run defense. It's not too hard to figure out though, opponents have been forced to pass, because nine times out of 10, Denver has opened up a big lead, winning by double digits.

The Patriots are in a tough spot on a short week, with all their injuries.

Take the Broncos.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Dallas Cowboys.

The Giants looked about as bad as the Jacksonville Jaguars, going 0-6 in their first six games of the season. New York has since won four in row however, and the Giants are actually a favorite this week hosting the Cowboys.

Buyer Beware! Those wins came against the likes of Josh Freeman, Matt Barkley, Scott Tolzien and Terrelle Pryor. Other than Pryor, the rest of those names are all backup quarterbacks that you may or may not recognize.

The point is, the Giants have been piling up wins on poor teams with second string quarterbacks, and now they face a Cowboys team coming off a bye week. Dallas isn't going to be in a very friendly mood after getting shellacked by the Saints two weeks ago.

I hear a lot of talk about how bad the Cowboys are, and how bad their defense is, but I think that's been blown out of proportion. Keep in mind, they've lost to the 9-1 Broncos, the 9-1 Chiefs, and the Lions in Detroit, by a combined five points.

I think the Cowboys are going to win this game in rout, getting points is just an added bonus.

Take Dallas.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Arizona Cardinals.

The Colts have gone to halftime trailing by double digits in each of their last three games, but Andrew Luck was able to engineer miracle second half comebacks in two of those three games. I don't expect the Colts to be so fortunate this week, against an Arizona team that is far superior to the Titans and Texans.

The Cardinals are 4-1 at home, and their only loss on home turf came against the Seahawks, widely considered to be the NFL's best team. In fact, of their four losses, three of those have come at the hands of elite teams, Seattle, San Fran and New Orleans.

Carson Palmer has thrown for over 800 yards, with six TDs and just two picks, while winning his last three starts.

Injuries have taken their toll on the Colts, who lost Reggie Wayne for the remainder of the season, and Heyward-Bey has been ineffective playing hurt.

With Ahmad Bradshaw and Vic Ballard out, Indy's running game has suffered. Trent Richardson has done nothing since coming over from Cleveland, making the Browns GM look like a genius for dumping his salary.

The Colts have played very poorly since coming out of the bye week, and I think it's going to catch up with them in Arizona today.

Take the Cardinals.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 5* play on the New Orleans Saints.

The 49ers were able to slow down this Saints offense last Sunday, but it's unlikely that the Falcons will have any answers for Drew Brees and the NFL's #2 passing offense.

Last week the Falcons defense surrendered 41 points to a Bucs team that came in with just a single win, and hadn't scored more than 24 points in any of their previous nine games.

They've now lost four straight, all by double digits, and after such a lackluster performance against a team with a 1-9 record, it's tough to imagine that they can turn this around.

New Orleans completely shut down the San Francisco run game last week, and they are facing a Falcons offense that hasn't been able to run the ball all season.

This has put more pressure on Matt Ryan, and part of the reason why he's thrown so many interceptions (9 in his last four starts).

Injuries to Roddy White and Julio Jones haven't helped Ryan either, and while White is likely to play tonight, he's not 100%.

Take the Saints.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the New England Patriots.

Now I am not a Patriots fan, but I must admit that it has been amazing watching Tom Brady and Bill Belichick hold this team together, despite all the adversity they have faced this season.

Things seem to be falling into place for New England though. With Gronkowski back, and Amendola healthy, they put up 55 points on the league's best pass defense in their last game, and they come into tonight's game with added rest coming out of the bye week.

The Panthers might have won five straight, but four of those five wins came against teams with a losing record. Cam Newton has his moments, and everyone is talking about how great he's playing, but the reality is that he's thrown three INTs an just one TD pass the last two weeks.

This isn't the first time this season the Patriots have faced a tough defense on the road, they won in Buffalo in Week 1, and lost in overtime to the Jets Week 7.

They scored 50 points in those two games, and that was without all their weapons. There isn't a defense in the NFL that can stop Tom Brady when he's on top of his game, and I expect to see him have a big night tonight.

Take the Patriots.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on NE@CAR to go OVER the total.

Now I am not a Patriots fan, but I must admit that it has been amazing watching Tom Brady and Bill Belichick hold this team together, despite all the adversity they have faced this season.

Things seem to be falling into place for New England though. With Gronkowski back, and Amendola healthy, they put up 55 points on the league's best pass defense in their last game, and they come into tonight's game with added rest coming out of the bye week.

The Pats defense didn't look so hot against the Steelers though, as Big Ben threw for 400 yards and four TDs, and Pittsburgh put up 31 points in a losing effort.

New England has really struggled to defend the run, and that's going to be a problem against the Panthers, who have averaged over 120 rushing yards per game during their winning streak.

Both teams should put a few points on the board tonight.

Take the OVER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Denver Broncos.

The Kansas City Chiefs bring their perfect record into Denver, looking for an upset at Mile High Stadium. The Broncos aren't the most gracious hosts however, as visitors to Denver have left town with their tails between their legs since the Texans won here last September.

The Chiefs may be 9-0, but it would be naive to think that because they have a better record, they are a better team. Kansas City has just narrowly avoided defeat in each of it's last three games, playing close games at home against Houston and Cleveland, and coming from behind to beat the Bills two weeks ago.
There is a lot of talk that the Broncos defense can't stop the pass, but they looked pretty good last week limiting Phillip Rivers to 19-of-29 for 218 yards and a TD.

Admittedly, Denver doesn't rank very well defending the pass, allowing an average of 287 yards per game. The thing is, they've jumped out to big leads in almost every game they have played, and they haven't allowed much against the run.

Therefore opponents have abandoned the run, in an attempt to play catchup, and that has contributed to their high number of passing yards allowed.

I believe this Denver defense is underrated, and the Chiefs are coming in as the most overrated team in football, and should be ripe for the picking.

Take Denver.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the New Orleans Saints.

The Niners looked terrible against Carolina last week, losing at home and ending a five game win streak. None of those five wins came against a team with a winning record, and they are playing a Saints team this week that is 7-2, 4-0 at home.

San Francisco beat the Saints twice in 2012, but you can't really compare this year's team to the team that failed to make the playoffs last year without it's head coach.

The Saints haven't just beaten teams in New Orleans, they have annihilated the opposition, winning by an average margin of more than 17 points.

Their defense hasn't allowed more than 17 points in any of it's four games at home, and they rank third in the NFL against the pass, with opponents averaging fewer than 200 yards per game.

Colin Kaepernick is coming off one of the worst games of his career, completing just 11-of-22 attempts, for 91 yards, failing to get in the endzone and getting picked off in the home loss to Carolina.

Drew Brees and the Saints offense can put points on the board in a hurry, and if Kaerpernick is forced to pass, things could get ugly for the Niners.

Take the Saints.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Baltimore Ravens.

The Bears have lost two of their last three games in Chicago, and they host the defending champion Ravens this week. Baltimore is coming off an overtime win against Cincinnati last week, but is still just 4-5 on the season.

Chicago will be without starting quarterback Jay Cutler, who is out with a high ankle sprain. Backup Josh McCown has played well in his place, and he's thrown four touchdowns without any INTs, although the Bears have lost 2-of-3 when he's seen action.

The Ravens defense terrorized Andy Daulton last week, sacking him five times and forcing three interceptions.

Joe Flacco hasn't exactly lived up to expectations after signing a big contract in the off-season. He's thrown just one more touchdown (12) than interceptions (11). He could be in for a big game against this Bears defense though, as Chicago hasn't had any success stopping the run or the pass.

The Bears have covered the points just once in their last 11 home games, and they come in as a favorite today with their backup quarterback under center.

Take the points.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 6* play on the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles are still winless, with an 0-4 record at Lincoln Financial Field this year. Does this mean that they simply don't play well at home, or they have any less advantage on their home field than other teams do? I don't think so.

There is plenty of reason to be optimistic about the Eagles moving forward, while they have won four of their last six, what's most impressive is their defense during that span.

Philly has allowed opponents an average of fewer than 18 points per game over it's last six contests, and last week they held the Packers to just 13 points at Lambeau.

They've won four of five with Nick Foles as the starter, and the 24 year old has thrown 16 TD passes without a single INT. He's thrown 10 of those touchdown passes in the last two weeks.

The Redskins are 1-4 on the road, with their only win coming in a close game in Oakland, that saw them rally from a 14-0 deficit. The Eagles beat that same Oakland team a few weeks later by a score of 49-20.

Washington's defense has given up a combined 79 points in back to back losses in it's last two road games.

Take Philly.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Detroit Lions.

Pittsburgh's defense looked pretty good at home last week versus Buffalo, but it's going to be a lot more difficult this week against the Lions. The Steelers are banged up, with Lamar Woodley, Brett Keisel and Shamarko Thomas all listed as doubtful.

While it's not easy winning on the road, Detroit is 3-2 in away games this year, coming off a big win in Chicago last week.

Reggie Bush had a big game last week, gaining 105 yards on just 14 carries. He could be in for a big day in Pittsburgh, as the Steelers defense ranks 29th in the NFL against the run, allowing an average of 127 yards per game.

The Steelers still have one of the best pass defenses in football, but there isn't really any defense capable of stopping Calvin Johnson. He had six catches for 83 yards and a pair of TDs in last week's win at Chicago.

The Lions defense is also better than people give them credit for. Last week they held Jay Cutler to 21-of-40 passing with a TD and an INT.

Roethlisberger is having the worst season of his career, and he's coming off one of his worst games this season. He's been sacked 35 times, the second most among NFL quarterbacks.

Take the Lions.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Tennessee Titans.

Last week's loss to Jacksonville sure looks ugly for the Titans, and you might think they will need a better effort from their defense here tonight. When you dig a little deeper though, the numbers show that it wasn't the defense that was responsible for their loss last week.

They picked off Chad Henne twice, sacked him three times and didn't allow a touchdown pass. Henne threw for just 180 yards on 14-of-23 passing, and the Jags didn't have any more success running the ball. Maurice Jones-Drew averaged just two yards per carry, and Jacksonville finished with just 54 yards on the ground.

Three lost fumbles by the offense is what led to all the Jacksonville points, and clearly the Titans will have to do a better job of protecting the football.

Chris Johnson had a terrible game last week, but after he ran for 150 yards and a pair of touchdowns the week before against the Rams, we know he still has it in him. The Colts are among the worst in the NFL defending the run, allowing an average of 127 yards per game.

While both teams have their fair share of issues, the loss of Reggie Wayne is really taking it's toll on the Colts. The failed experiment that is Trent Richardson hasn't helped either, he was nearly going backwards with just two yards on five carries last week.

Take the points.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Tampa Bay Bucs (1st half).

The Bucs looked as good as they have all season in an overtime loss at Seattle last week, and they return home to host a Miami team that has is falling apart at the seems.

Miami ended a three game losing streak with an improbable come from behind overtime victory at home over Cincy last Thursday.

The Jonathan Martin "bullying" saga continues to haunt the Dolphins, and since the suspension of Incognito, several players have spoken publicly about the incident. This is a locker room with a toxic atmosphere, and it's spilling out on the field as well.

The loss of two starters isn't going to help and offensive line that hasn't had any success keeping opposing defenses away from it's quarterback.

The Bucs saw a lot of positives last week from rookie quarterback Mike Glennon, and fellow rookie Mike James. James ran for 156 yards on the Seahawks, and Glennon threw a pair of TDs on 17-of-23 passing.

I think Tampa will come to play, don't be surprised if they win outright.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the New Orleans Saints.

The Cowboys come into New Orleans with a 1-3 road record, having barely survived a scare from the Vikings at home last week. Things appear to be falling apart for the Cowboys, and it doesn't get any tougher than a road game in the Big Easy.

The Saints are 4-0 at home, 6-2 overall, and they've been nothing short of dominant at at the Superdome, limiting opponents to an average of 14 points per game, and winning by an average margin of 17 points.

The pass happy Cowboys will face one of the league's best passing defenses, and with DeMarco Murray banged up, running isn't going to be a picnic either. Dallas is averaging just 75 yards per game on the ground this year.

Drew Brees is likely to have a banner day, going up a Cowboys defense that ranks 31st in the league against the pass, allowing an average of 305 yards per game.

Dez Bryant had a big game against the Saints last year, but forget about that. This year's Saints team is nothing like it was a year ago, and I expect the home team to win by double digits.

Take New Orleans.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on DEN@SD to go UNDER the total.

The Broncos have seen the total go over the number in all of their games this year, and these two teams have seen the total go over in four of the last five meetings.

The result is that public money is coming in on the over, driving the total up several points, even though the opening line was sky high.

I had the under in Denver two weeks ago, and here is what I said:

"It's easy to see why people expect this to be a high scoring tilt, after all, Denver has seen the total go over the number in each of it's last 10 games dating back to last season. Keep in mind though, today's total is far higher than it was in any of those games.
Last week the Redskins and the Bears played a game with the score looking like a basketball game at halftime (45-41).

The thing is, all those points the Skins scored last week, all the touchdown passes that Manning has thrown this season, and all the touchdowns that the Washington defense has allowed... none of those count against the score in this game.
It's a new week, a new game, and anything can, and probably will happen. It takes a lot of things to go right for both teams offensively to combine for over 60 points, and not a lot has to go wrong to see just one of these offenses stall, resulting in the total going under."

Sure enough, the score was tied 7-7 at the half, but after a wild second half, it still went over.

Plain and simple .. the value is a play on the UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the San Francisco 49ers.

The Niners have looked almost unstoppable winning five straight games, all by double digits. They come out of their bye week to host the Panthers, who have also been on a roll.

Carolina beat up on the Falcons last week, but the final score (34-10) doesn't tell the whole story. The Panthers led by four points at the half, and seven points after three quarters, but then Atlanta folded like a cheap suit in the final period.

The Panthers passing game isn't scaring anybody, and last week Cam Newton looked pretty bad tossing a pair of interceptions. He repeatedly missed wide open receivers, but the Falcons were not able to make him pay.

The 49ers will get Mario Manningham back this week, and he might find some space if Carolina tries to double cover Anquan Boldin.

Frank Gore is facing the league's second best run defense, but he's traditionally had big games coming off a bye week.

Take SF.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Detroit Lions.

The Lions are coming off their bye week, heading into Chicago well rested and with plenty of time to prepare for the Bears. Chicago shocked football fans on Monday night with an upset win in Green Bay, after knocking Aaron Rodgers out of the game.

Now just six days later, they host rivals Detroit. The good news for Bears fans is that starting quarterback Jay Cutler is expected to return to the lineup this week. The bad news is, Cutler continues to be plagued by turnovers, throwing seven picks and losing four fumbles so far. Three of those interceptions came in a 40-32 loss to Detroit at the end of September.

The final score in that game was a little deceiving, as the Bears trailed 40-16 with four minutes to play, and Cutler was able to drive the length of the field twice and score a pair of TDs against the Lions prevent defense.

Reggie Bush ran for 139 yards on 18 carries, and he should be primed for a big game after resting up through the bye week.

Calvin Johnson caught 14 balls for 329 yards in the win over the Cowboys two weeks ago, and having the week off won't do him any harm either.

The Lions have a lot of weapons, and a superior defense. The return of Cutler isn't likely going to be enough to keep the Bears in this game.

Take Det.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills played well last week, but with Jeff Tuel at quarterback, they really didn't have much of a chance against the Chiefs. The Bills had a chance to go up by three scores with a first and goal at the KC 1 yard line, when Tuel was picked off for 99 yard TD for the Chiefs. That was the beginning of the end for Buffalo.

It should be different this week, with both Thad Lewis and E.J. Manuel ready to go. The Passing game should take a back seat though against a Steelers defense that ranks last in the NFL against the run, allowing an average of 132 yards per game.

The Patriots recorded over 600 yards of total offense in a 55-31 win over the Steelers last week. C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson are looking stronger than they have all season, with both backs combining for 193 yards in last week's loss to Kansas City.

We should see the Bills dominate this game with their running game, and I expect to see Buffalo pull off the upset.

Take the Bills.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Jacksonville Jaguars.

How bad a are the Jags? Well.. they are pretty bad, but I'm still taking them this week as nearly a two touchdown underdog to the Titans.

While Jacksonville was blown out in London two weeks ago, they have had two weeks to prepare for this game, and this Titans team is hardly the 49ers.

I hear a lot of people crying about Justin Blackmon's suspension, but I don't think he will be missed as much as people think. Cecil Shorts and Maurice Jones-Drew are the biggest weapons in the arsenal, and both are coming off inspiring performances in London.

Jacksonville has covered the spread in four of the last five meetings with Tennessee, and the line in this game is twice as high as it was in any of those previous meetings.

The Titans are 4-4, and all but one of those games were decided by seven points or less.

Take the Jags.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a play on the EAGLES/PACKERS UNDER.

Nick Foles had a monster day in Oakland a week ago, but welcome to Lambeau Field kid ..

This is not Oakland!

Green Bay's defense is going to have to dominate in order to give them a chance to win this game, and they might do just that.

Don't expect Senneca Wallace to air it out much.. the Packers should lean on the run.

Points should be far and few between.

Take the UNDER.

GL,

Jesse Schule