Pick: Cardinals +7. A disastrous playoffs has sunk my winning percentage way below the .500 mark, and even a win in Super Bowl XLIII won't rectify it. However, I must maintain my professionalism and pick the game. I like the Cardinals plus the points. I picked against Arizona in every round (twice at home) and each time they covered as the dog. My only logic here is to go with the hot team, even if it requires a back door cover. Pittsburgh is the more well rounded team, but they haven't had to cover receivers like Fitzgerald and Bolden. But there's one more thing that bothers me about the Steelers. Pass protection. I don't believe a Super Bowl winning team gives up the amout of sacks and pressure they do. And again, the Cardinals defense is playing its best at the right time of year. The Cardinals, plus seven, is the pick here.

Pick: Philadelphia -4. Is Arizona the team of destiny? Or is it Philly based on how they slipped into the playoffs? When I see Arizona giving up over 400 points this season, that plays right into the Eagles' hands.

Pick: Baltimore +4. Pittsburgh will win this game. But in a battle of division rivals, how can I expect anything but a field goal game in this matchup of elite defenses?

Pick: Tennessee -3. Baltimore is the suddenly trendy pick from the AFC, but their offense (or lack of) will spell their doom in this game.

Pick: Carolina -10. I can't ignore the lack of sucess Arizona has had traveling to the East Coast this year. And while they played the Panthers tough in Carolina this season, I see Carolina making a statement on Saturday night.

Pick: Giants -4.5. Like Baltimore, Philly is the team everyone has fallen in love with the last few weeks. But I expect a rested Giant team to avenge their only home loss this season.

Pick: Pittsburgh -6. San Diego has been playing playoff football for the last five weeks. Their run ends against that fantastic Pittsburgh defense.

Pick: Atlanta -1. I don't trust a team which gave up over 400 points in the regular season. Atlanta will control the ball, and escape with a win.

Pick: Indy -1. Toughest game on the docket. It's revenge for Indy based on last year's playoff meeting. But the Chargers are looking to avenge a home loss earlier this year. With Gates and Tomlinson hurting, I'll go with Peyton.

Pick: Miami +3. Look for a defensive struggle from both sides, and a field goal deciding it late.

Pick: Philadelphia -2. On the surface, this appears to be an easy choice. Jim Johnson versus a one dimensional Viking offense. If the Eagles can stop the run, they'll win. If not, it's a coin flip.

Pick: New England -6.5. New England needs help to make the playoffs, but will take care of their own business.

Pick: Philadelphia -3. Whether the Eagles are playing for a playoff spot or not, this will be their playoff game.

Pick: Carolina -3. Carolina was very impressive in a loss last week to New York. They still need a win to clinch a bye, so they are the pick.

Pick: Tampa Bay -3. After two straight defeats, Tampa knows it must win its final two games. With both at home at both against West Coast AFC teams, look for Tampa to make their final playoff run.

Pick: Kansas City +4. Kansas City, despite their record, has played tough football all year. And Miami has had plenty of close games versus some of the weaker teams in the league. Weather to be a factor here as well.

Pick: Denver -7. Denver doesn't want to go into next week's San Diego game for the division title. Buffalo is the perfect cure to clinch the AFC West.

Pick: Atlanta -2.5. It's revenge for Atlanta, and Tampa is coming off a short week after a Monday nighter in Carolina.

Pick: Pittsburgh +1.5. Rookie Joe Flacco has been very impressive, but I give the advantage to the better offense in a game featuring two of the NFL's best defenses.

Pick: Denver +8.5. After a huge Monday night win over Tampa, Carolina probably still wins, but expect a close game. And a Bronco cover.

Pick: Dallas +3. Dallas needs to keep winning, and after a big conference win over New England and divisional rival Baltimore looming, I'll take Dallas in a close one.

Pick: New England -4.5. The Pats need to rebound, plus Seattle isn't nearly the toughest place to play anymore (especially with Matt Hasslebeck hurt).

Pick: NY Jets -4.5. Again, I hate laying points on the road but the Jets need to rebound after their dissapointment versus Denver.

Pick: Pittsburgh. Matt Cassell gets a chance to go up against the number one defense in the league. Conversely, Big Ben gets a shot at a defense that has given up a ton of points over the past two weeks.

Pick: Atlanta +5.5. How can the Chargers be favored by 5.5 in this game? I realize Atlanta is flying West, but I expect a close game.

Pick: Carolina +3. Green Bay amazingly struggled against a woeful defense in New Orleans last Monday night. While I like Aaron Rodgers, I just don't think this is the Packers' year.

Pick: Baltimore. The Ravens will be smarting after a road loss to the Giants, and will look to get back on track against an Eagles team that appears to have lost its way.

Pick: Atlanta. Carolina has an impressive record, but they've been doing it against the second rate teams. Atlanta looks to avoid two straight home losses.

Pick: Tennessee -5.5. The Jets needed to come through this two game stretch versus New England and Tennessee with a split. Having won last week, a split is what they'll get.

Pick: Jacksonville +3. The Jags have been dissapointing, but this just has the feel of game they will win.

Pick: Washington. Clinton Portis probably won't play, but how effective will Romo be after missing four weeks? Take the home team.

Pick: Buffalo -4.5. Buffalo is slowly seeing their season slip away. Cleveland and Brady Quinn is just the remedy.

Pick: Green Bay +1.5. One of these teams will make a second half move. I'm betting on the Packers.

Pick: Miami -9. Seattle, traveling for the third time to the East Coast this year, will simply go through the motions.

Pick: Buffalo +4. Intra-divisional battle that should come down to the final seconds.

Pick: Green Bay +6. Classic letdown spot for Tennessee, who defeated division rival Indy last Monday night.

Pick: Seattle +7. Let's reverse the trend of teams traveling from coast to coast. This time it's a East Coast team going West.

Pick: Indianapolis -5.5. This is the last chance for Indy to stay in the playoff hunt. I expect the desperate team to come up huge here.

Pick: Atlanta +9. Atlanta's defensive stats scare me a bit, but I expect this young team to keep it relatively close.

Pick: Jets -13. Am I really picking the Jets two weeks in a row? Brett Favre gets to take a week's worth of frustration out on the Chiefs.

Pick: Baltimore -7. Here we go again...West Coast team traveling East...you know the deal.

Pick: Buffalo. West Coast team traveling East for a 1PM game. Take the East Coast team.

Pick: Cleveland +7. Cleveland looks to gain momentum after their big win on Monday night. Look for a close game.

Pick: NY Jets -3. The Jets continue the cupcake part of their schedule.

Pick: Carolina +1. Carolina should be able to get it done versus an aging Jeff Garcia.

Pick: Jacksonville +3. I don't know how much longer Denver can mask their horrid defense with that great offense. And Jacksonville needs to make sure they don't fall too far into the pack.

Pick: San Diego -5.5. Two consecutive West Coast trips will be too much for the Brady-less Pats.

Pick: Tennessee +3. Kerry Collins gets his revenge eight years later...

Pick: Washington +5.5. Even if Westbrook plays (and how healthy will he be?), this line should be closer to three. I'll gladly take the extra points.

Pick: New England -3. I generally hate laying points on the road, but with Bellichick having an extra week to prepare, I think this is a excellent spot for the NE defense to rebound against JT O'Sullivan.

Pick: Washington +11.5. NFC East grudge game where you can throw out the records, as they like to say. Dallas a bit full of themselves after two big national TV wins.

Pick: Houston +7. Houston has been very disappointing so far, and while they might not win this one outright, expect it to be close.

Pick: Green Bay +1. I expect the Pack to rebound after a poor showing at home last week against Dallas.

Pick: Cleveland +3. Must game for the Browns if they are going to get themselves back into this thing. Getting points and playing a rookie QB can only help.

Pick: New Orleans +3. Football gods (and how could they not pull for the Saints?) make things right based on what Denver stole last week.

Pick: Green Bay +3. The Cowboys have never won in Lambeau and are traveling after an emotional Monday night win.

Pick: New England +1.5. You see it so much in sports. Best player gets hurt and the team circles the wagon. New England keeps its regular season win streak alive.

Pick: New Orleans. Weird line, especially after the way Washington looked in Week 1. Figure it to be a field goal game, but New Orleans is just a better team at this juncture.

Pick: Cleveland +6. Everyone has been critical of Cleveland's poor play versus Dallas in Week 1. Dallas is very good, and yes, Cleveland didn't play well. But close inspection of that game reveals Cleveland was just a half step behind the Cowboys on a lot of plays. Look for a great effort at home this week from the Brownies.

Pick: Houston +6.5. Gary Kubiak has the Texans pointed in the right direction, and his team can make a statement game right off the bat.

Pick: Kansas City +16.5. I must be a sucker for these big spreads (see last year). Anyway, Brady has to be a little rusty and I think KC will keep the game relatively close.

Pick: Seattle -1. It's a long trip East for Seattle, which never bodes well for them. However, it is Week 1 and you couldn't pick a better time to visit Western NY.

Pick: Giants +12. For a preview from the Giants' perspective, please visit Super Bowl preview.

Pick: San Diego +13. San Diego surprised me last week in Indy, and while I think beating NE will be tough considering their injury situation, I still expect a very competitive game. San Diego believes they can win.

Pick: Giants +7. Figure the brutal weather and good defenses to keep this game low scoring, and close.

Pick: Seattle +7. Green Bay has earned my respect by year's end, but Seattle won't be easy pickings. Take the points.

Pick: Jacksonville +13. I remember two years ago when the Jags played in New England. I was very impressed the way the Jags' DL controlled the line of scrimmage. Problem was, their QB was Byron Leftwich who was completely ineffective, and the Jacksonville defense eventually tired. Here's hoping David Gerrard has a better showing, and I think he will.

Pick: Indy -7. Who doesn't want to see an Indy/New England rematch? Look for Indy to keep their part of the deal.

Pick: Giants +7. Dallas has struggled over the last five weeks or so, and the Giants are peaking at the perfect time. Look for a close game between these two NFC East rivals, and a Giants' cover.

Pick: Seattle -3.5. I just don't think the Redskins are good enough to go into Seattle, one of the toughest places to play, and keep pace with Seattle.

Pick: Jacksonville -2. The Steelers are banged up and the Jags have that look of a team that is built for a playoff run.

Pick: Giants +3.5. I see this game as being very close, and the + 3.5 as a bonus.

Pick: Tennessee +9.5. Sure the Titans are banged up, but they've been my team all year. Plus I look for the Chargers to "press" again as they look for that first playoff win since 1995.

Pick: Kansas City +6.5.The Jets aren't 6.5 better than anyone this season...

Pick: Dallas +8.5. I know the starters won't play much for Dallas and Washington has to have the game, but it will still be close.

Pick: Denver +3.5. Minny has been exposed the last few weeks offensively, and the Broncos will surely attack that suspect Vikings' pass defense.

Pick: Cleveland -2.5.The theme for this week is teams in need. Cleveland needs to maintain their spot in the wildcard race while Cincy looks about ready to pack it in for the season.

Pick: New Orleans -3.5. The Eagles played their Superbowl last week versus Dallas. The Saints want to get into the real tournament and need a win.

Pick: Houston +7.5.The Texans can play for their first over .500 season in team history, while the Colts have absolutely nothing to play for with their post season secure.

Pick: New Orleans -4.5. Both teams are in the hunt for a wildcard, and home field will be the difference in this one.

Pick: Buffalo +5.5. Again, both teams are battling for a wildcard, and expect a close game either way.

Pick: Giants -4.5. The Giants can clinch a wildcard with a win. With a road game in Buffalo next week followed by the Patriots in Week 17, this would be the week to do it.

Pick: Pittsburgh +11.5. New England has shown some vulnerability the last two weeks, and Pittsburgh is the perfect team to exploit it.

Pick: Miami +6.5. Another three point loss for the Dolphins, another cover (and that's the important thing).

Pick: Cleveland -3.5. While I am reluctant to lay points again on the road with the Brownies after last week, this is a must game for them. Lay'em.

Pick: Jacksonville +7.5. This is divisional revenge, and the Jags always play the Colts tough in Indy. Look for a close game, and a cover.

Pick: Tennessee -4.5. Tennessee needs the win desperately to stop their free fall. The Texans will be just what the doctor ordered.

Pick: Cleveland -1.5. The Browns are this year's feel good team. No one expected anything, and they have given a lot.

Pick: Indy - 11.5. Since many people will be traveling for the holiday, it seems right to go with three road favorites. The Colts have hit a tough lull, losing two of three, and it was nearly three in a row last week against KC. I can't see Atlanta doing much against the Colts defense and I expect Peyton Manning to break out of his mini slump.

Pick: Tennessee -1. Tennessee has been my team all season, and I am sticking with them again this week. They aren't going to lose three in a row, especially to a bad Cincy team, and laying the point on the road won't be a factor.

Pick: New Orleans -2.5. See a trend here? Yes take the Saints (again) and lay the 2.5. The Panthers aren't going anywhere due to their QB situation, and if New Orleans can't win this game their playoff chances are just about finished.

Pick: Washington +9.5. The Cowboys proved last week they are the best team in the NFC East. This will be their third straight divisional game, and have hung up 30+ points versus Philly and New York. Will they do that again? They are due for a "down" week. Despite this being the Cowboys' arch rival, the Skins come in down and out which makes them a live dog.

Pick: Tennessee +2.5. Back on Tennessee's bandwagon! After a loss to Jacksonville, they travel to Denver on Monday. Expect a big time bounce back game.

Pick: New Orleans +1. The Saints got themselves back into the playoff hunt, but then stumbled against the then winless Rams. Drew Brees and company will find a way to rebound in Texas.

Pick: Cleveland +9.5. The theme for this week is revenge and dogs. The Steelers embarrassed the Brownies in Week 1. Cleveland has really turned things around and should make a game of it in this interstate rivalry.

Pick: Jacksonville +4.5. I've picked the Titans quite a bit this season, but this is big time revenge on the part of the Jaguars. The Titans ran all over them in Week 1, and coach Jack Del Rio certainly will remind his team in the days leading up to the game.

Pick: Giants +1.5. Yet a third Week 1, divisional matchup. Dallas put 45 on the Giants that first week. The Giants are improved, but by how much? I expect home field, and crowd noise, to help out the Giants' pass rush and possibly be the difference.

Pick: Tennessee -4.5. I seem to go with the Titans a lot. I like the coach, and I like their defense. They failed me last week versus Oakland. They rebound this week against a fading Carolina team.

Pick: Kansas City -2.5. Curious line. Green Bay is clearly having the better year. But they are coming off an emotional OT win in Denver on Monday night. A second road game in a row will tag them with their second loss of the season.

Pick: Houston +3.5. I wonder about this line too. It tells me the two teams are even, with Oakland getting the nod due to home field advantage. However, I think the Texans are the better team and this is a very winnable game for them.

I've plunged to the .500 mark after eight weeks. November and December define not only football teams, but prognosticators as well.

Pick: Tennessee -6.5. The Titans are one of those teams in the AFC that gets overlooked because of the big two, New England and Indy. Their defense, very good, should keep Oakland to a low point total and cover as a home favorite.

Pick: Pittsburgh -3.5. This line is a bit low, as Pittsburgh much like Tennessee is just a notch below the two big guns in the AFC. Pittsburgh will control the ball, and the game.

Pick: Washington +16.5. And how can I resist 16.5 points? Washington has a pretty good defense, and New England has gotta be due to score only in the 20's one game!

Another half point loss, this time with Kansas City, kept me below .500 for the weekend.

Pick: Seattle -8.5. The Seahawks will be smarting from their home loss last week against the Saints, which is bad news for the winless Rams.

Pick: Kansas City +2.5. After watching HBO's Hard Knocks, it looked to me KC would be one of the worst teams in the league. And they were. But they are starting to put things together, and when a team like this gets their confidence, they can get some momentum. I look for more momentum in Oakland.

Pick: Atlanta +8.5. What gives you ask? Last week, I touted the Saints. But that was as a road dog. With Atlanta making a QB change (and I am no huge Byron Letwich fan), I expect it to give the Falcons some life, and cover this high number.

Only a half point loss in the Tennessee game kept me from my second perfect week.

Pick: Green Bay -2.5. This is a make or break week for the Pack. Last week, they fell into their old habits versus the Bears. If they lose, I could see their season begin to spiral downward. They win by a FG, and more importantly, cover the spread.

Pick: New Orleans +6.5. They have to win a game sooner or later. They're due. And the 6.5 is too attractive to pass up. Could still see them losing a close one, though.

Pick: Tennessee +2.5. The Bucs are banged up, and I love the Titan defense. Expect it to be close, and Vince Young wins it late.

Only the Chargers' blowout saved me from 0-3.

Pick: New Orleans -3.5. New Orleans is desperate for a win. David Carr is QB'ing the Panthers, Dree Brees the Saints. I like that matchup.

Pick: Seattle +6.5. I'll ride Seattle for the second straight week as a road doggie.

Pick: San Diego +1.5. San Diego can't continue to play this bad, can they? It's a divisional game, and I expect it to be close.

Just win baby.........

Pick: Arizona +5.5. The Steelers go cross country to take on a team which has a few of their ex-coaches, including former offensive coordinator Tim Whisenhut, who is now the top dog in Arizona.

Pick: Seattle -1.5. I'll lay the points, as this is a double revenge for Seattle who was beaten twice by San Fran last season.

Pick: Indy -9.5. It's a lot of points, by Denver has been destroyed on its last three trips to Indy and I expect the trend to continue.

No comment. Early weeks in a new season are the toughest to handicap, as I have clearly demonstrated.

Pick: San Diego - 4. I usually don't like to lay points on the road, but this is a must win for the Chargers. They don't want to fall to 1-2, nor lose two straight. I've seen every snap from the Packers' last two games and despite being 2-0, I an not overly impressed with their offense. San Diego will put the clamps on Bret Favre and Tomlinson will break out of his mini slump.

Pick: Carolina -4.5. Again, laying points on the road isn't my thing, but the Falcons appear awful. Plus Jake Delhomme appears to be off to a good start, and the Panthers' D will want to reassert itself against a Joey Harrington led offense.

Pick: San Fran +9.5. Both teams are 2-0. Don't expect the visitors to beat the Steelers, but they'll keep it close. Mike Nolan is building something pretty good out in San Fran and they aren't there yet, but this is a young team that should keep getting better and be in every game this season. 9.5 is too attractive to pass up.

Washington (straight up winner) and Tennessee brought home the money, while Buffalo was completely overwhelmed by the Steelers in my only loss.

Pick: Tennesse +6. I love home dogs, and while I think Vince Young is going to struggle some this season, his offense can run the ball and keep it away from Peyton and company.

Pick: Buffalo + 9.5. Buffalo lost a heart breaker to Denver last week, and combined with the horrible injury suffered by Kevin Everett things were looking bleak. But it now appears Everett has made a dramatic recovery, and I expect the Bills to play an inspired game keeping it within touchdown.

Pick: Washington +7. See a trend here? Okay, admittedly I hate Philly, but this is the NFC East and the games are usually close. Plus the 'Skins will try to run it, keep running it, and run it even if it doesn't work early and that will give the Eagles problems, and more importantly, keep the score close.

Green Bay was a great start, but the Jets were no match for New England (was there a real reason behind that?). That left me at 1-1 going into the Sunday nite finale with the Jints. If you told me they'd score 35 points I would have been counting my winnings already, but alas, this is the NFL and it is called gambling.

Pick: Green Bay +3. The Eagles have owned Green Bay, particularly at The Linc. But this game is in Green Bay and I expect them to play an inspired opener.

Pick: NY Jets +6. New England to me is clearly the better team, but it's a division game and we all know how those go. Usually decided by a field goal.

Pick: Giants +6. Dallas comes in with some key injuries and I expect the Giants to make an impression to the national TV audience.