A very interesting week last week, as there were only two close games, and lots of blowouts. In week 11, there were 10 games decided by 6 or less. In Week 12, the Colts won at San Diego by three and the Reds won at Seattle by three, but the next closest game was by ten.

   Brad's Picks was a dismal 7-9 last week, prescient only when Pittsburgh beat the Bengals 27-10 on TNF; when the Bears beat St. Louis 27-3; when Dallas beat the Niners 35-22; when Baltimore beat the Eagles 36-7; when Atlanta beat the Panthers 45-28; when the Redskins won in Seattle 20-17; and when the Giants beat Arizona 37-29.

   Brad's Picks was wrong when Denver got routed by the Raiders 31-10; when the Jets routed Tennessee 34-13; when the Bucs overcame a 17-0 deficit to beat Detroit 38-20; when the Patriots whupped Miami 48-28; when the Bills routed Kansas City 54-31; when the Texans beat Cleveland 16-6; when the Vikings beat Jacksonville 30-12; when the Colts won 23-20 on a long FG as time expired in San Diego; and when New Orleans beat the Pack 51-29 on MNF.

   Brad's Picks is 111-64-1 on the season.

   Home teams were a dismal 5-11 last week. On the season, home teams are 100-75-1. Home teams have won 57% of their games this year - last year, they won 54.7%.

   As to coast to coast games, visitors were 2-0, as the Giants won in the desert, and the Reds won in Seattle. Visiting teams playing on the opposite coast are 8-19 on the year. All of the wins were by east coast teams going to the west coast.

   George was a dismal 7-9 last week, and is 82-91-1 on the season.

   NFC 1, AFC 1 last week. On the season, it's NFC 21, AFC 18.

   Teams off a MNF game were 1-1 as the Bills won and Cleveland lost. Teams off a MNF game are 17-6 on the season.

    the Turkey Day games:

    the 10:30 MST game:

Tennessee (10-1) at Detroit (0-11) - I took Detroit vs. the Bucs last week, hoping for a Detroit win, just so they wouldn't have to join the old creamsicle Bucs as the only winless team in NFL history. That was probably the Lions' best chance at a win - the rest of the schedule is brutal. Take the Titans here. George likes the Titans also.

    the 2:15 MST game:

Seattle (2-9) at Dallas (7-4) - Seattle lost at home last week to the Reds. I can't see them winning at Dallas. George will take the Hawks, however.

    the 6:15 MST game:

Arizona (7-4) at Philadelphia (5-5-1) - This should be an interesting game, but most of us won't see it, since the nflhognetwork is only showing it to rich people. Eagles got totally whupped last week in Baltimore. Donovan McNabb had a QB rating of 13 by halftime, so Andy Reid benched him in favor of 2nd year QB Kolb, who was as bad as McNabb (they both threw two INT's). Correll Buckhalter is out, and Brian Westbrook is still limping. Eagles like to blitz, but Kurt Warner has been very successful against the blitz (71% completion rate, 10 TD's, 1 INT, and four sacks). I'd take the Cardinals in a heartbeat if this was in the desert, but no west coast team has won on the east coast this year. Here's hoping McNabb felt a fire when he got benched. Take the Eagles at home. George likes the Eagles.

    the 11:00 MST Sunday games:

Baltimore (7-4) at Cincinnati (1-9-1) - Division game. Keep it simple, and take the Ravens. George likes Cincinnati.

Carolina (8-3) at Green Bay (5-6) - Both teams lost on the road last week. Panthers lost at Atlanta, but in the NFC South, the home team always wins (something like 19-2 lately). But this is at Lambeau. Weather should be in the mid thirties, with maybe a few snow flurries. I'll take the Packers. George likes the Packers too.

Ineeplas (7-4) at Cleveland (4-7) - Brady Quinn's three game tenure as starting QB for the Browns has ended - his broken finger has landed him on IR. So Derek Anderson regains his starting job. Colts have lost two O linemen, guard Ryan Lilja is gone for the season, and center Jeff Saturday is out for a few weeks. I'm picking Cleveland, hoping that Derek Anderson provides a boost. George likes the Browns also.

Miami (6-5) at St. Louis (2-9) - Oh, the Rams are just pathetic. Take the Dolphins. George likes the Rams.

New Orleans (6-5) at Tampa Bay (8-3) - Division game. NFC South game. Both teams are off impressive wins, but the Bucs did it on the road, and the home team in the NFC South always wins, or almost always, so I'll take the Bucs. George likes the Bucs.

New York Giants (10-1) at Washington (7-4) - Division game. Only a fool would not take the Giants here. Doesn't meant they'll win, just means you gotta pick them. George likes Washington.

San Francisco (3-8) at Buffalo (6-5) - Bills shook off a four game losing streak and thrashed the Chiefs at Arrowhead last week. Niners are about as good as the Chiefs. Plus, no west coast team has won on the east coast all year (but you knew that). George likes the Niners.

   the 2:05 MST games:

Atlanta (7-4) at San Diego (4-7) - Tough call. Chargers are obviously not as good as advertised this year. They let FB Lorenzo Neal go in free agency, and lost LB Shawn Merriman to knee surgery. Both the run O and the pass D have suffered a lot since then. Chargers lost a close one to the Colts last week. Can the Falcons do the same? Says no, here, for a couple reasons. The Colts and the Chargers know each other, and the Falcons have a longer plane ride than the Colts. Plus, the Colts just barely won. I like the Falcons in their marvelous post Vick year, but I'm taking the Chargers at home. George likes the Chargers also.

   the 2:15 MST games:

Denver (6-5) at New York Jets (8-3) - This game was moved to the afternoon (MST) slot because it looked like a good one. And it should be. If you like scoring, tune in. Neither team has much of a pass D, and here come Favre and Cutler. Broncos have been better on the road lately. Jets have a good run game with Thomas Jones (4.4 per) but the Broncos run O has been pretty good lately, with young Peyton Hillis getting it going. To keep it simple, I'll always take the Broncos unless I can't, and I can here. Broncos D is ranked a lot lower than the Jets, but it's been better lately. I gotta take the Broncos. But don't put your money on it. George likes the Broncos also.

Kansas City (1-10) at Oakland (3-8) - Division game. Raiders looked really good at Mile High last week, while the Chiefs got bounced at Arrowhead by the Bills. George likes the Chiefs.

Pittsburgh (8-3) at New England (7-4) - Steelers have even more injuries. They've won a lot of games in spite of a poor O line, but you gotta take New England at home. George likes the Patriots also.

   the SNF game:

Chicago (6-5) at Minnesota (6-5) - Division game. Heck, who knows? Both teams won on the road last week, but Minnesota's win was more impressive. Bears' D hasn't been all that impressive lately, and here comes Adrian Peterson and his Vikings. George likes the Bears.

   the MNF game:

Jacksonville (4-7) at Houston (4-7) - Division game. Jags seem down, Texans seem up. And the Texans have always played the Jags tough, and they are at home. George likes the Texans too.