Houston Texans @ Cincinnati Bengals

I was checking out the Bengals schedule and came upon something pretty interesting. Their only loss was by five points and that was the result of a fluke play. Their biggest win was the next week at Green Bay by a whopping seven points. All of their other victories were by exactly three points and all came in the last minute of regulation/overtime. Sometimes the difference between 4-1 and 1-4 can be much smaller than you think. I also think it bodes well for Cincinnati that they don't get rattled in late game situations and find a way to win. The teams that can accomplish are usually some of the most dangerous ones come playoff time.

Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers

This game has me thinking more than usual. It used to be a given that you could just pick against Detroit and you were guaranteed a victory. The Lions have shown lately that they aren't the pushover that they were a year ago and that is what worries me the most in the game. However, the last time Detroit actually defeated Green Bay was on September 11, 2005 in Detroit. In that particular game, Brett Favre delivered a vintage performance going 27 for 44, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions. According to my calculations, the last time the Lions actually won a game in Green Bay was on December 15, 1991. That actually pre-dates the Favre era in Green Bay as Mike Tomczak was the starting QB for the Packers. History is not on Detroit's side this weekend.

Baltimore Ravens @ Minnesota Vikings

This game is easily one of the three best this weekend. Both teams are looking very good, although Baltimore has been slipping up the past two weeks. I think had they at least split the last two games I would be picking the Ravens to win this game. Trust me, I'd love to pick against Mr. Wranglers himself, but I just can't this week. Baltimore's usual strength in years past was their defense but it definitely isn't the same this year. Combine that with the fact that Minnesota is at home, and they should win this game. Plus, what sense would my power rankings make if I ranked Minnesota higher than Baltimore and then picked Baltimore?

New York Giants @ New Orleans Saints

This is the number one game of the week and a matchup every football fan is excited for. For the past two weeks I've been taking a beating when my rankings came out because I had the Giants in the top spot with New Orleans right behind them. Many argued that the Saints should be number one and while I didn't completely disagree, I said it would be settled this week. So much like the Ravens/Vikings game, I have to pick the Giants or else my rankings would be completely meaningless.

Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Ugh, this game has ugly written all over it. Not that the Panthers actually stand a chance at making the playoffs, but they can be officially written off if they lose to Tampa Bay. On a related note, one of my keeper fantasy teams that can start two QB's has Kurt Warner, Jake Delhomme, and Trent Edwards. I like to think I know a thing or two about fantasy but now I'm not so certain after seeing that lineup. I kept Delhomme on the bench even though I almost cut him a quarter into the season because I thought he might just turn it around. Turns out that was a good move, not because of Delhomme's play, but because Trent Edwards might be the worst QB in the league. I recently cut Edwards because I don't want him on my real team, let alone my fantasy team, so now it's up to Delhomme to pick up some slack along with Warner. All of a sudden this game is looking pretty good.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Washington Redskins

This is another horrendous game that you couldn't pay me to watch. At least with the Carolina/Tampa Bay game there are some fantasy implications. This game just has disaster written all over it. So far this season we've seen Washington lose to Detroit and Carolina, while defeating the Rams by two points and the Buccaneers by three points. I can say without a doubt that the Redskins are hands down, the worst two win team in the league, if not the history of the NFL. While I'm picking the Redskins to win this week, I'm doing it with zero confidence. The Chiefs are actually looking pretty good this week.

St Louis Rams @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Every time I write the power rankings, I always want to put the Bills at 32, and then I remember that the Rams still exist. Thankfully for them, Rush Limbaugh has been enough of a distraction that very few people realize how the Rams have been outscored 34-146 so far this season. Seeing that the Lions got so much attention last season for running the table in the opposite direction, I have to wonder why the Rams aren't getting nearly any attention at all. They have a very legit shot at becoming the second team in NFL history to finish 0-16.

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers

This game is going to be an absolute snooze-fest. It's not even a rivalry anymore and anybody that tells you otherwise is most likely under the influence. The Steelers have currently won the last 11 matchups against Cleveland. Once a winning streak against a particular team hits double digits, the word rivalry should be officially tossed out. Oh I'm sure the fans still get excited about this game, but just because the fans don't like each other, that doesn't qualify this matchup as a rivalry. If that were the case, every team would be a rival with the Steelers because NOBODY likes Steelers fans.

Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks

I'm picking Seattle and this is despite what I put in the power rankings. These teams are so close I very well could've made them 19a and 19b and probably should've done that to avoid completely contradicting myself by picking Seattle. Nevertheless, I'm picking Seattle and you're gonna have to get over that. Game that appear this evenly matched on paper usually come down to one deciding factor and for me, it's home field advantage. The Seahawks are one of the few teams remaining in the NFL that have a true home field advantage and in this game, that may be enough to push them over the edge.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Oakland Raiders

For someone who drafted Donovan McNabb as a starting fantasy QB, this game literally made my eyes light up. I'm even moving LeSean McCoy into the starting lineup because quite frankly, the Raiders are terrible in every sense of the word. Not that it could get any worse for Oakland, but the latest comments by Giants LB Antonio Pierce who said that it was like playing in a scrimmage, probably doesn't mean many good things for the Raiders season. I'm also making it a rule to not pick a team where the Head Coach assaulted his assistant and could get handcuffed and sent to jail while on the sideline. Actually, there may be reason to watch this game after all.

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets

If you thought I would actually pick the Bills in any game, let alone against the Jets, please stop reading this and go check yourself in at the insane asylum. The Bills are so bad and so inept that the most exciting part of writing this was actually looking inept up in the thesaurus so I have more adjectives to describe them come Sunday afternoon. So far my favorite is ham-fisted. Yes, the Buffalo Bills are ham-fisted.

Tennessee Titans @ New England Patriots

Why wouldn't the Titans start Vince Young? Listen, I have never been a fan of Vince Young and I couldn't drink enough to be convinced that he will ever be a good NFL QB. However, the Titans are 0-5 and yes, their season is already shot. So why not put him in, let him showcase his abilities, maybe win a game or two, and raise his trade value a little bit. I suppose the Titans could be worried about him actually hurting his trade value, but in my opinion, it can't go much lower than it is now.

Chicago Bears @ Atlanta Falcons

These teams met last year in Chicago in what could be deemed as Matt Ryan's coming out party. Wait…that sounded terrible. What I meant to say was that Matt Ryan officially cemented himself as a legit NFL QB in leading Atlanta to a miracle finish. In case you forgot, let me refresh your memory. The Bears got the ball with 2:43 left in the game and took a 20-19 lead with 11 seconds remaining in the game. Matt Ryan got the ball at his own 44 yard line, with one play threw a picture perfect pass to Michael Jenkins along the sideline with exactly one second remaining, and Jason Elam sealed the victory. It was an incredible thing to watch and I've been a Matt Ryan believer ever since.

Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers

This game worries me in a sense of me thinking too much. It seems pretty obvious that Denver is the better team and should win this game. But then I start thinking about how San Diego is coming off a bye week, they are essentially playing for the division this week, and Denver may suffer a letdown after last week's huge win against New England, so now I start thinking about picking the Chargers. Despite all of that, sometimes you just have to go with your first instinct and pick the better team and hope they play up to expectations.

BYE: Dallas, Indianapolis, Miami, San Francisco

Last Week: 9-5

NFL Season: 52-24

Scott's Picks:

Houston Texans @ Cincinnati Bengals

Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers

Baltimore Ravens @ Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants @ New Orleans Saints

Carolina Panthers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Kansas City Chiefs @ Washington Redskins

St Louis Rams @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks

Philadelphia Eagles @ Oakland Raiders

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets

Tennessee Titans @ New England Patriots

Chicago Bears @ Atlanta Falcons

Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers

Last Week: 9-5

NFL Season: 53-23