Here are the picks:

San Diego at Denver

This is way too important of a game to be played on a Thursday night. It could end up having a huge impact on who gets the top-seed in the AFC and it could actually end up being a good game.

For whatever reason, the Chargers’ defense seems to have Peyton Manning’s number and San Diego’s offense is dangerous. If this game were on a Sunday night or even a Sunday afternoon, I would pick the Chargers to go into Denver and win.

But it’s not. It’s in the Mile High City with a short week for both teams.

BRONCOS 34, CHARGERS 20

Detroit at Atlanta

Somehow Detroit has changed its luck. Last year, especially towards the end of the season, the Lions always seemed doomed in the fourth quarter, even when they had the lead. Now the Lions are turning 13-point deficits into 1-point wins in a matter of just a few minutes.

I’m not sure if Jim Caldwell has changed anything or if Detroit’s luck had to change eventually.

LIONS 27, FALCONS 14

St. Louis at Kansas City

Is it groundhog’s day in St. Louis? Last year rookie running back Zac Stacy came on strong at this point of the season and now the Rams are turning to another rookie running back, Tre Mason, who had a big game in the upset of the Seahawks.

CHIEFS 21, RAMS 13

Houston at Tennessee

How long will the Texans let Ryan Fitzpatrick cost them games before they turn to Ryan Mallet? I thought the change would’ve been made a couple of weeks ago.

TEXANS 17, TITANS 13

Minnesota at Tampa Bay

The Vikings’ offense is on life support, but the Bucs may be the kick-starter they need.

VIKINGS 28, BUCS 17

Seattle at Carolina

Carolina was humiliated in every way possible in Green Bay Sunday. They couldn’t do anything right. Typically good teams bounced back from bad performances in the NFL, but the trouble is I’m not sure if the Panthers are a good team yet.

I also don’t know what Seattle was thinking when it traded Percy Harvin last week. Did they not know he was trouble when the Vikings told him to stay away from the team when he was ‘hurt’ and Minnesota rallied to a playoff berth without him. Did they not think it was weird that Minnesota was so willing to depart with such a talented player when it traded Harvin to the Seahawks?

Did they not know Percy Harvin is prone to ‘migraines’ that cause him to leave games when his team is behind?

If Seattle was going to make that move, they had to stick with it, at least for this season. My guess is they wanted to clear up cap space to re-sign Russel Wilson and they weren’t going to keep Harvin after this season anyway. But to trade him in the middle of a season, creates more distractions for a team that already has enough to worry about.

I think Seattle knew Harvin was trouble when they picked him up and should’ve just ridden it out with him, at least for this year.

SEAHAWKS 21, PANTHERS 17

Baltimore at Cincinnati

The Bengals suddenly look helpless, but if they have anything in them, they will bounce back at home. The NFL can change drastically from week to week.

BENGALS 21, RAVENS 20

Miami at Jacksonville

Okay, I’ve got to give Jacksonville credit for getting a convincing win over the Browns, but I’m still not picking them this year.

DOLPHINS 27, JAGAURS 20

Chicago at New England

The Bears have been a solid team on the road this season and New England’s defense isn’t that great, especially without Jerod Mayo.

BEARS 31, PATRIOTS 28

Buffalo at N.Y. Jets

Percy Harvin should give the Jets a boost.

JETS 22, BILLS 19

Philadelphia at Arizona

This is the biggest game of the week. Both teams have a chance at a top-seed in the NFC and both squads are kind of a surprise with their fast starts. I think the Cardinals’ defense is just too good in this one.

CARDINALS 24, EAGLES 21

Oakland at Cleveland

The Browns will recover from their loss against the Jags, but I expect Johnny Manziel rumors to begin soon.

BROWNS 35, RAIDERS 21

Indianapolis at Pittsburgh

I’m going to chalk Pittsburgh’s latest win as a fluke.

COLTS 38, STEELERS 28

Green Bay at New Orleans

Expect a lot of Eddie Lacy up the middle to set up the play-action game for the Packers.

PACKERS 31, SAINTS 24

Washington at Dallas

Roll on Cowboys.

COWBOYS 37, REDSKINS 21

Last week: 11-4; overall: 66-39