NFL Picks: Packers better be careful against Vikings

Published 4:57 pm Thursday, October 24, 2013

Here are the picks:

Carolina at Tampa Bay

I just realized the Bucs haven’t won a game yet this year. Could the possibly battle the Jaguars for the worst record in the league? If they’re both 0-16, we need to have the toilet bowl and make them play each other to see who gets the top pick.

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PANTHERS 34, BUCS 17

Dallas at Detroit

The Cowboys quietly handled the Eagles last week and they find themselves in the driver’s seat of the NFC East. The Lions need Calvin Johnson to be healthy to have a chance in this one.

COWBOYS 27, LIONS 23

Cleveland at Kansas City

Who thought the Chiefs had a chance to start 8-0 going into this season? Either Alex Smith is actually a good quarterback or Andy Reid is a miracle man.

I’d lean towards Smith being good.

CHIEFS 21, BROWNS 14

Miami at New England

Tom Brady has completed 55 percent of his passes for 1,708 yards, eight TDs and five interceptions this season. That’s good for a rating of 75.3, which would be, by far, the worst rating in a season in Brady’s career since he became a starter.

It’s time for analysts to realize that good quarterbacks need good receivers or suddenly they look very average. If New England didn’t have a good running game and a good defense, they would not make the playoffs.

PATRIOTS 17, DOLPHINS 10

Buffalo at New Orleans

The Bills have found a way to stay competitive this season, but the Saints will be tough coming off a bye week and a loss.

SAINTS 42, BILLS 21

N.Y. Giants at Philadelphia

The Giants just played in one of the worst Monday Night Football games in history and they won by default. That’s not enough for me think they’re going on any sort of run.

EAGLES 33, GIANTS 17

San Francisco at Jacksonville

Can the Jaguars just start forfeiting games? No team should have to lose players to injuries while playing these guys.

49ERS 44, JAGUARS 10

N.Y. Jets at Cincinnati

This should actually be a good game, but I think Cincy’s defense will force a couple of mistakes out of Geno Smith.

BENGALS 24, JETS 21

Pittsburgh at Oakland

The Steelers still have a chance to win their division this year, while the Raiders are pretty much finished.

STEELERS 23, RAIDERS 16

Washington at Denver

The Broncos’ pass defense went from concern to glaring weakness last week as the run-happy Colts threw all over them.

BRONCOS 41, REDSKINS 34

Atlanta at Arizona

Both of these teams are probably not playing in the postseason this year.

FALCONS 27, CARDINALS 26

Green Bay at Minnesota

As a Packer fan, this game scares me. Minnesota appears to be falling apart, but sometimes a wounded animal is a dangerous animal.

Meanwhile, the Packers are being ravaged with one brutal injury after another. Green Bay could win the game by pounding it on the ground with Eddie Lacy but I don’t trust Mike McCarthy enough to commit to a running game indoors on national TV. McCarthy will want to showcase Aaron Rodgers and he will probably pass enough times for Jared Allen to make some big plays.

Even with my doubts, it’s hard to have any faith in a Viking team that looked truly pathetic against the Giants. I think Minnesota will play better, but not good enough.

PACKERS 35, VIKINGS 33

Seattle at St. Louis

The fact that the Rams even talked about picking up a 44-year old Brett Favre, much less calling him shows how desperate they are.

SEAHAWKS 34, RAMS 10

Last week: 9-6; overall: 62-43