NFL Picks: Week 12

Only a few weeks remain and Ghoji continues to hold a lead over the field. Late arrival Paddi has been on fire these last few weeks, too. Over the remainder of the season we will see if Paddi’s absurd winning percentage evens out or not. Here are your updated standings by winning percentage:

Paddi: 40-13 (75.5%)

Ghoji: 93-49 (65.5%)

Pete: 87-55 (61.3%)

Mark: 83-59 (58.5%)

Heath: 81-61 (57%)

Matias: 79-63 (55.6%)

Clark: 55-47 (53.9%)

JEB: 62-55 (53%)

There you have it. As stated previously, my personal goal is to creep over the 60% range before season’s end. My time is running out.

This week the strongest picks according to “Vegas” are New England (-16.5) vs. Miami, Pittsburgh (-14) vs. Green Bay, Philadelphia (-13.5) vs. Chicago, Atlanta (-10) vs. Tampa Bay, and Kansas City (-10) vs. Buffalo. At the time of this writing, only one writer had picked against any of these favorites, and he picked against two of the aforementioned teams. Clark likes Tampa Bay at Atlanta and Buffalo at Kansas City...both tall orders. Good luck way out on that limb, Clark.

Yours truly is out on a limb with the Detroit Lions at home against the Vikings. I wrote a ton about Matthew Stafford in the preseason and I am not backing away from him now. I think Detroit finds a way (Golden Tate?) at home.

The Cowboys were initially looking like whipping boys this week, but good news in the form of LT Tyron Smith, LB Anthony Hitchens, and PK Dan Bailey has appeared. All three return to give the desperate Cowboys a boost. I now like Dak to find a way (Cole Beasley?) to get it done at home.

Other against-the-grain choices include Pete and Clark (again?!) taking the Paxton Lynch Broncos on the road over the Raiders, and Paddi rolling with the Colts at home over the Titans. The Colts are not a bad choice given the Titans’ pass defense woes, but I cannot pick against Mariota in good conscience. I also have some minor concerns about Jacoby Brissett and his return from a concussion, too. At the first sign of trouble, I expect he would be yanked. Let’s hope not.

Finally, yours truly is rolling with the Giants to get the job done in a divisional matchup against the Redskins. Call me crazy all you want, but Washington is without their starting center, their backup center, their starting left guard, their best running back, their second-best running back, and their starting left tackle is a game-time decision (though Trent Williams IS expected to play at this current time). Still, yikes! Stranger things have happened than the Giants pulling off the upset, AND this is a divisional game.

That’s it for the “analysis,” ladies and gents. Good luck out there!