Since this past week was Veterans Day, we want to honor former Cardinals defensive back Pat Tillman who gave up his NFL career to fight for our country, in this week’s Straight Pick-Em.

NFL WEEK 11 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

LAST WEEK’S RECORD: (8-6)

We would have to be helmet pickers in week 10 to have a better record than what we got. How do you figure the Dolphins over the Bills? Then the Saints over the Panthers was another slap to the face in trying to pick these match ups with some science to it. I know we have to go back to the lab and work even harder to better ourselves in week 11.

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

NEW YORK JETS (2-7) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (8-2)

The Patriots come into this game winning seven straight games. They are talking around the football world that their quarterback in his second season is in the MVP conversation. What about the Jets? They have won two straight beating the terrible Bengals defense and winning over a solid defense that the Browns offer. The Browns offense is going through a rookie quarterback’s hiccups. The Patriots defense will be a different challenge for the Jets. I like Justin Field being able to match up scores with Maye and that Patriots offense. Fields and that Jets passing game is one of the worst in the league which makes them one dimensional. The Patriots will take away what works well for the Jets, that running game. The Pats stay hot at home.

OUR PICK: PATRIOTS

SUNDAY MORNING (EUROPEAN GAME IN SPAIN)

MIAMI DOLPHINS (3-7) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (3-7)

This match up looked very good on paper before the season started. These are two bad teams playing overseas in Spain. Marcus Mariota will get the start at quarterback for the Commanders for the injured Jayden Daniels. The Dolphins come into this game with a pulse as they upset the Buffalo Bills last week in South Beach. Now, can the Dolphins swim the length of the pond and take their talents to Madrid’s beach? The head coach of the Commanders, Dan Quinn, will now call the plays on defense for Washington. Will that help bring Dolphins running back De’Von Achane to a halt? Probably not. The Dolphins defense should be able to fluster Mariota like they did to Josh Allen last week. Dolphins will finally have their first winning streak of the year.

OUR PICK: DOLPHINS

THE REST OF THE SUNDAY TILT

CAROLINA PANTHERS (5-5) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (3-6)

These two teams have made my hit list. How do the Panthers lose to the Saints and score one touchdown last week? The Falcons have pecked my eyeballs out a few times this season like some nightmare in the Alfred Hitchcock movie, The Birds.

It’s too bad the Falcons don’t play like the dirty birds of the olden days. They might win more games. The first meeting of the year with these two teams, the Panthers did not eat crow and beat up on the Falcons 30-0. The Falcons have lost 4 straight games. It is hard to sweep a team in divisional play. Bryce Young has struggled in the passing game. The Falcons have played better at home and have played in close games the last few weeks. I may end up giving both teams the bird trying to figure out who comes out victorious in this mess. I like Falcons by a beak.

OUR PICK: FALCONS

CHICAGO BEARS (6-3) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (4-5)

What do X Bears head coach Matt Eberflus and Caleb Williams have in common? They can’t win games in their own division. Eberflus as a Bears head coach went 2-10 in the NFC North. Williams as a starting quarterback is 1-7 versus teams in the NFC North and is 0-2 this season so far. In week one of the season, the Vikings had a second half comeback over the Bears in Chicago. It was a rookie debut for JJ McCarthy who led the comeback for the Vikings. The Bears last week look like they were blown out of the water by the Giants. Williams engineered another come from behind victory for the Bears as now he has 4 game winning drives this season. The Vikings are lingering around this season at the .500 mark waiting to get on a roll. They have played in some close games the last few weeks. They knock off the Lions and last week lost to Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. The Vikings defense will confuse Williams with their blitz packages. The Vikings should generate points from their rookie because the Bears defense is surrendering the most touchdown passes in the league. No comeback for Williams in this one as they lose on the road in a close game.

OUR PICK: VIKINGS

CINCINNATI BENGALS (3-6) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-4)

The first time these two teams met, it was a track meet with no defense on either side which ended up a high scoring game and a Bengals win. It was week 7 and Joe Flacco flung the ball all over the field, and the Bengals ran the ball well on the Steelers shower curtain that has all the holes in it. The Bengals are coming off their bye week and rumors around the water cooler are Joe Burrow is starting to practice again. The Steelers played sloppy last week which included Aaron Rodgers. I don’t think he will point the finger at himself, but many want to give the aging QB the finger for sure.

It was called the Icy Hot bowl in the first go around. I decided they should call part two the Ben Gay bowl. Not sure Ben Gay creme is still around. This time around the game is in Pittsburgh. I like the Steelers in this one. I think Mike Tomlin will have his guys rebounding from the bad game last week versus the Chargers. They will have a better game on defense. Rodgers will have a big game as well.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

GREEN BAY PACKERS (5-3-1) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (2-8)

Which set of problems would you rather have? Trying to figure out why the Packers offense went dormant or just the multiple Giant problems New York has. The Giants fired their head coach after the Bears game, Brian Daboll. The Giants were in control of the entire game until the Bears came out of hibernation to come back and win. The Packers lost 10-7 versus last year’s champions, the Eagles. Can Jordan Love find a way to resurrect this offense versus a Giants team that is all out of whack? The Giants interim head coach will be Mike Kafka. He will have his work cut out for him. Green Bay should win this game flat out. The Giants will not have their rookie quarterback, Jaxson Dart, who suffered a concussion versus the Bears. Russell Wilson will get get the nod at quarterback for the Giants. Do I have to say anything else?

OUR PICK: PACKERS

HOUSTON TEXANS (4-5) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (1-8)

Can the Texans find their way to the .500 mark after this game? The Titans are coming off a bye week. I’m sure the Titans don’t have some master plan they’ve been brewing up over their time off. The Texans shell socked the Jaguars with some 4th quarter magic last week in a come-from-behind victory with their back up QB Davis Mills who got the start. The Texans will have CJ Stroud back behind center in this one. The Titans really should be 0-9. Their only victory of the year came from the Cardinals, who gift wrapped that for them with a pretty bow. The Texans have a solid defense that should be able to stop the Titans rookie quarterback which is the key to a victory for Houston.

OUR PICK: TEXANS

LA CHARGERS (7-3) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (5-4)

THE HIPPIE BOWL

Remember in 2023 when the Chargers and Jaguars met in the AFC Wild card round? It was Justin Herbert vs Trevor Lawrence back then.

The Chargers had a 27-0 lead at the half in that post-season game. After a miserable first half, Trevor Lawrence led a huge come back in the second half as the Jags won the game 31-30. Lawrence is 2-0 all-time versus the Chargers. The Jags are coming off a humiliating loss to the Texans in the game they had last weekend. The Chargers blew the doors of the Steelers caravan. Can the Jaguars take advantage of getting to Herbert who has been sacked the third highest in the league? Herbert has also been hit a league high of 134 times. The Chargers defense has been doing most of the heavy lifting with this team this season. They will be the grill of the Surf Nazi quarterback all game and he will make some kind of mistake. Herbert will find pockets to avoid the Jaguars pass rush and generate enough offense to put these kitty cats to sleep for good.

OUR PICK: CHARGERS

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (6-3) AT BUFFALO BILLS (6-3)

The Buccaneers and the Bills are right now desperate for a victory. The Buccaneers are lacking play makers for Baker Mayfield. The Bills pretty much beat themselves last weekend versus the Dolphins. Josh Allen had a bad day at the office as the Bills turned over the ball multiple times ending solid drives. The Buccaneers are 4-1 on the road. Can the Buccaneers win in Buffalo in colder conditions? The Bills defense hung in there most of the game to keep Buffalo in that Dolphins game. Then the Dolphins ran wild on the Bills D and put the game on ice in South Beach. Mayfield has 4 game winning drives this season. If Mayfield does not engineer those key drives in the end of those games, the Buccaneers record would be totally different right now. I think the Bills defense can handle the Buccaneers lack of weapons. Josh Allen will have a big game. The Bills are at home and very tough to beat in Buffalo. The Bills get some key players back from sitting out with injuries in this one which will help.

OUR PICK: BILLS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (6-4) ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-6)

Last week both the Cardinals and 49ers defense gave up over 40 points.

WELCOME TO THE X PATRIOTS BOWL

The 49ers will have X-Patriot Mac Jones as their starting quarterback in this one. Then the Cardinals counter with another X Patriot quarterback in Jacoby Brissett. Jones was 18-24 as a starting quarterback when he left New England. While Brissett went 2-5 as a starting quarterback with the Patriots in his time in New England. Brissett has done better than Kyler Murray this season who is on the injured list right now. Mac Jones has done very well filling in for the injured Brock Purdy. The Cardinals will be without two of their top wide receivers in Marvin Harrison Jr. and Zay Jones. I like Christian McCaffrey having a big game to get the 49ers back in the win column. It will be a close game until the 49ers pull away late in this one. Which Jones will win the X-Patriots bowl? He will get a free lunch with Bill Belichick in the North Carolina University cafeteria.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

BALTIMORE RAVENS (4-5) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-7)

This is the game where the Ravens will climb out of their gigantic hole they dug themselves out of earlier in the season when they were 1-5. The Ravens could get to the .500 mark with a win over the Browns who they beat up in week 2. The Ravens trail only the Steelers in the AFC North, who are 5-4. Meanwhile the Browns lost to the Jets last week.

The Browns are the first team since 1950 to hold their opponent to 175 yards or fewer while not turning over the football. The record coming in was 225-0. The Browns lack an offense and are going through growing pains with their rookie quarterback. The Browns defense have kept them in most games this season. Even though the face of this Browns team, Myles Garrett, did not like the DAWG pound booing his guys for losing to the Jets.

DA Coach Mike Ditka would tell Myles he has a big zero for his IQ. The Ravens will win this game. The Browns can’t stop Lamar Jackson and company all game long. The Browns will not generate the offense to keep up with the Ravens. They are back & they are in the thick of things.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (5-4) AT DENVER BRONCOS (8-2)

A Chiefs loss here will set Andy Reid back in the AFC West and in the conference. The Broncos have won 7 straight and are trying to stay ahead of the Chargers who are on their tails. The Chiefs are coming off a bye week. The Broncos are rested as well, playing on Thursday in their last game. The Broncos have been winning the one score games unlike last year. The Chiefs are losing the one score games unlike last year. It’s been the Broncos defense that has carried this team the last few weeks. Bo Nix and that Bronco offense have had hard times generating a lot of points but getting just enough to win the games. I would love to see the Broncos put the Chiefs in a worse situation by adding another L to their record. Andy Reid historically after bye weeks has responded with victories only. My gut is telling me Patrick Mahomes will have a big game to help the Chiefs stay afloat in the playoff picture.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (7-2) AT LA RAMS (7-2)

This to me is the game of the week. This will be an epic NFC West show down with two offenses that put 40 points on the board last week. Both the Rams and Seahawks can play some defense as well. Both offenses are very well balance.

Both quarterbacks for each team are having one hell of a season. Matthew Stafford is completing 67.1% of his passes and has thrown 25 touchdown passes to only 2 interceptions. Just SICK numbers. Then Sam Darnold… you probably can’t say he’s a number 1 draft pick bust anymore. He has 17 touchdown passes and 6 interceptions. He is completing 71.1% of his passes. Is this a Cooper Kupp revenge game now? Playing for Seattle after years in LA which he helped them win a Superbowl. This obviously is for first place in the division as well. Who the hell do you pick here? I like Seattle’s defense just a tad over LA which leans me to the Seahawks side in which should be an amazing game.

OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

DETROIT LIONS (6-3) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (7-2)

The Eagles have a hex on Dan Campbell’s Lions. It’s like the Eagles’ Kryptonite turns the Lions’ silver and blue, to green. Campbell has not beaten the Eagles since he took the job as head coach of the Lions. He is 0-2. The Eagles played on Monday night in Green Bay and won. This will be the Lions’ second straight road game for them. This looks like another awesome game to watch in week 11. It’s a game that could go either way. The Eagles defense has improved with the addition of Jaelan Phillips from Miami. They also got back another solid defender of theirs in Nolan Smith Jr. from the injury list. Last week they had 8 hits on the Packers QB along with 3 sacks. The Eagles can get the pressure on the QB. With that pressure, Jared Goff is only completing 50% of his passes with two picks and only one touchdown pass. When he is not pressured, he completes 80 something percent of his passes. I think the Eagles will slow down his high octane Lions offense just enough for their offense to give them one score better than them for the win.

OUR PICK: EAGLES

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

DALLAS COWBOYS (3-5-1) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-7)

The Dallas Cowboys after their Monday night loss to the Cardinals almost two weeks ago had to deal with some sad news that went into their bye week. Marshawn Kneeland committed suicide after being involved in a police chase. Somehow the police lost him in that chase. They found Kneeland’s car after he crashed it. Then he fled on foot. After that he shot himself and police found his body. Kneeland was the defensive end that scored a touchdown versus the Cardinals on that Monday night game scooping the football off the turf and running it in. He was only 24 years old & in his second year in the league as he was drafted out of Western Michigan. He had a history of mental illness. The Cowboys should be amped up to get a win for their fallen teammate. The Cowboys added two solid defensive players at the trade deadline. They added former Jets defensive lineman, Quinnen Williams, and Bengals linebacker, Logan Wilson. Remember when the Raiders were king of Monday night football? That is a time warp. The Raiders are not very good this year. Pete Carroll has already been doing a shake up on his coaching staff getting rid of dead weight. The Cowboys are the better team. They will be emotional from their loss and get the job down in Vegas.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS