ATTENTION NFL FANS: These are PREVIOUS picks — go HERE to view the latest “expert” predictions for The GTL’s NFL Picks…
Previous Week (Week 10): (9-6)
Year To Date: 91-53
All-Time (2006 Through 2008 Combined Record): 335-195-1…
The National Football League’s Week 10 has been completed, all byes have been burned and now that week 11 has arrived, we have only two undefeated teams left (the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts) and every team has won at least ONE game this year. So, can we assume the Saints and the Colts are the two best teams in the NFL this year? Can we somewhat safely assume we’ll be seeing a Colts vs. Saints matchup in Superbowl XLIII?
How about those Minnesota Vikings, sitting comfortably atop the NFC North with an impressive (NFL second-best) 8-1 record, thanks in large part to the arm of Brett Favre? Let us not forget about those (NFL third-best) 7-2 and quite surprising Cincinnati Bengals, too, sitting just one game ahead of the defending Superbowl XLII Champs — the 6-3 Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North.
So, who IS the NFL’s third best team? Do we simply go by the overall record and assume the 8-1 Vikes are the obvious answer? You’re probably going to disagree with MY answer — the NFL’s third best team is, by FAR, the AFC East leading New England Patriots who boast an impressive but not incredible 6-3 record. In fact, Tom Brady’s Pats are damned near as good as Peyton Manning’s Colts believe it or not. In fact, records aside; nobody even comes CLOSE to third place in The GTL’s NFL Power ratings to the Pats who thrash their average opponent by 12.11 points per game despite having three losses on the year. In comparison, the Colts are sitting at a 12.22 ppg differential and the Saints at a whopping 14.89 ppg. So, who’s fourth in my power ratings? Yep — now you can say “The Vikes” — trailing behind the Pats with a 9.67 ppg differential.
Surprised? Disagree? You’ll have your chance to opine in the comments section but for now…
The GTL’s NFL Picks — Week 11, 2009…
Thursday Night Football Game:
Miami Dolphins (4-5) @ Carolina Panthers (4-5) — Panthers
Sunday Early Games:
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) @ Kansas City Chiefs (2-7) — Steelers
Cleveland Browns (1-8) @ Detroit Lions (1-8) — Lions
New Orleans Saints (9-0) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-8) — Saints
Atlanta Falcons (5-4) @ New York Giants (5-4) — Giants
Buffalo Bills (3-6) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4) — Jags
Washington Redskins (3-6) @ Dallas Cowboys (6-3) — Cowboys
Seattle Seahawks (3-6) @ Minnesota Vikings (8-1) — Vikes
San Francisco 49ers (4-5) @ Green Bay Packers (5-4) — The Pack
Indianapolis Colts (9-0) @ Baltimore Ravens (5-4) — Colts
Sunday Afternoon Games:
Arizona Cardinals (6-3) @ Saint Louis Rams (1-8) — Cards
New York Jets (4-5) @ New England Patriots (6-3) — Pats
San Diego Chargers (6-3) @ Denver Broncos (6-3) — Bolts
Cincinnati Bengals (7-2) @ Oakland Raiders (2-7) — Bengals
Sunday Night Football Game:
Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) @ Chicago Bears (4-5) — Eagles
Monday Night Football Game:
Tennessee Titans (3-6) @ Houston Texans (5-4) — Texans
Byes: None
***
Agree? Disagree? Have your own picks? Post them into the comments section below…
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8:47 pm on November 19th, 2009 1
I like watching, not much into predicting, but I have a hunch that you can take whatever the point spread is with the Patriots this week, triple it and Pats will cover. They are going to be out for blood after that loss against the Colts, some teams may be out for blood but just don’t have the talent to execute, the Pats do, I expect a wide margin of victory for them.
9:13 pm on November 19th, 2009 2
The only one I can disagree with is, I’m sorry to say, is your pick of San Diego over Denver.
11:59 pm on November 19th, 2009 3
You got some good picks there.. combine them on the right Parlay and you’ll be laughing!!
I enjoy looking at your straight up picks once I am done typing and publishing my picks and blog. We are generally pretty close… Keep up the great work!!!
I’d love to post my picks in this comment but they are WAY to indepth.. lol
You can find them @ http://www.lionsdenu.com/category/sports/nfl-guide-2009-2010/
Thanks
TheCoach
12:01 am on November 20th, 2009 4
And Joe Lovell:
San Diego is going to pound Denver.. even if Orton starts he is banged up and if he doesn’t… you have Chris Simms under center who started his last game 3 years ago and had his spleen ruptured.. there is a reason he hasn’t started since (other than the spleen)… HE SUCKS!
Chargers 37 Broncos 17
Joe Lovell Reply:
November 20th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
@lduthecoach, I hope you’re right. But San Diego teams seem to have an ability to just take a day off while playing (unlike the GAWDAMPHUCKINRAIDERS who have the ability to manufactur a defeat out of nothing).
5:23 pm on November 22nd, 2009 5
Lookin’ good, Guns.
The GTL™ Reply:
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:48 pm
@Joe Lovell, Hey, I’ll take 8-2 going into the evening, SNF and MNF games bro — but as you know, historically, those games in those time slots haven’t been so kind to me of late
Hey — FINGERS CROSSED!
8:20 pm on November 22nd, 2009 6
Great gods and little politicians! The GAWDAMPHUCKINRAIDERS actually WON!!!!!
The GTL™ Reply:
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:23 pm
@Joe Lovell, GAWDAMPHUCKINRAIDERS!!! Without their win, I’m 12-2, with it, I fall to 11-3! Oh well, congrats to you and your Raiders, Joe…
8:22 pm on November 22nd, 2009 7
Let’s see….3 & 7….hmmm…..6 games left….hmm..so..if they win those 6, they end up 9 & 7…..That should give them a wild card spot…hmmm…Superbowl????
The GTL™ Reply:
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:32 pm
@Joe Lovell, Way to be that optimist type, Joe! You, Sir, are ABSOLUTELY CORRECT! The Raiders are still not TECHNICALLY, MATHEMATICALLY eliminated from the Superbowl yet!
2:27 pm on November 25th, 2009 8
The raiders may not put up too much of a fight, but if this offense does not start scoring more then we can forget about the post season.
Management has no problem spending the cash,but it seems like they keep bringing in the wrong people to run this outfit.
3:47 pm on November 28th, 2009 9
The Ronnie Brown injury is an absolute killer. Ricky Williams may simply be too old to have to carry the load on his own. Chad better become an NFL quarterback in a big hurry. The defense is decent, but not good enough to carry them all year long. They definitly have their work cut out for them.
12:58 am on December 5th, 2009 10
Without Ronnie Brown, the wildcat formation Miami likes to use, will be ineffective. Ricky Williams i don’t think is capable of being that type of player. He is having a great season running the ball but i think thats his limit