Week 12 - It's time to Get Serious

Now that every team has played 10 games, and only 6 remain, there should be some clear trends and some indication as to what the hell is happening out there. Unfortunately, this week has a lot of interesting matchups, so I still have no idea what's going on.

There are 2 servings of Manwich this week - as the top team in each conference takes on a red-hot surprising division leader...

Manwich Matchup of the Week #1
Jets @ Tennessee - I think I genuinely hate both of these teams. In addition, unless there's a tie, everyone will be jumping on the bandwagon of whatever team wins this game. Coach Mangina has found his swagger after somehow surviving last week's Patriots game. Meanwhile, the Titans are completely overachieving. According to a mathematical analysis performed by pro-football-reference.com, this team is supposed to be 8-2, not 10-0. In the end though, I think Favre will throw enough INTs to give away this game. Also? Tennessee plays Detroit next week and I want both to have their perfection streaks going.
Pick: Tenny

Manwich Matchup of the Week #2
Giants @ Arizona - This is a really interesting game. Kurt Warner used to be with the Giants, the tutor to Eli Manning. The Giants are also a team that sacked Kurt Warner like 8 times back in the early part of the decade. Now, short of a disaster, Kurt Warner has the Cardinals on the verge of a division title. Something tells me that even he is not good enough to overcome the defensive line of the Giants. However, what if Brandon Jacobs doesn't play? I'm writing this on Tuesday w/ limited information, so it merits mentioning. The Giants running game is probably in capable hands w/ Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw.
Pick: Giants

Upset of the Week
Buffalo @ KC - Well, the Trent Edwards experiment is falling apart fast. Meanwhile, Tyler Thigpen has been the complete opposite of Trent Edwards - in Thigpen's first 4 appearances, he had 2 TDs and 4 INTs. In his next 4 appearances? 8 TDs and 1 INT.
Pick: KC

Cincy @ Pitt - Cincy will try to tie for two straight weeks, but something tells me they will fail.
Pick: Pitt

Houston @ Cleveland - Last week, I put forth some scathing remarks about the Browns, mainly directed to coach Romeo "I have the shape of a Mott's Applesauce Jar" Crennel and also to the fact that he refuses to play speedy RB Jerome Harrison. A few days later, the Cleveland newspaper, The Plain Dealer, had an article in its Saturday edition stating that Jerome Harrison had stopped going out to dinner because he was sick of everyone asking him "Why don't you play more?" I wish I was joking. Essentially, the entire city knows that Jerome Harrison should be playing more... Don't worry though, Jerome Harrison says he's happy cooking at home. Well, for those who don't know, Harrison ripped off a 70-yard TD run on Monday Night. He still only got 3 carries, and 1 catch for a total of 100 yards. He also now pushed his 7.8 yards per carry to 10.4 yards per carry. In case the Browns needed an extra reason to fire Romeo Crennel, one could argue that he's hurting the local economy by not playing Jerome Harrison as this prevents him from eating at restaurants.
Pick: Cleveland

New England @ Miami - Revenge for the Patriots is probably at the forefront of their minds. However, I still am not sure they have the horses to stop Miami.
Pick: Miami

San Fran @ Dallas - This should be a good game for Romo to get his confidence back. I'm sure Coach Wade Phillips will cue up the "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" for film material.
Pick: Dallas

Tampa Bay @ Detroit - One more week Detroit. Then it's time for you to take down the Titans!
Pick: Tampa

Philly @ Baltimore - I know the Eagles looked like crap last week against the Bungals, but they should be motivated this week. Plus, I hate the Ravens and don't believe in them for a second.
Pick: Philly

Chicago @ St. Louis - Lovie Smith against his old team! Woo.
Pick: Chicago

Minny @ Jacksonville - This is a fun pseudo elimination game for the playoffs among teams that were supposed to be shoe-ins.
Pick: Minny

CAR @ Atl -It seems like a misprint: the Panthers are quietly 8-2 ! The question of course is how good are the Falcons? Can they actually stop the Panthers amazing running game???
Pick: CAR

Oakland @ Denver - Yawn. No DeAngelo Hall to pick on this time for Eddie Royal.
Pick: Denver

Washington @ Seattle- The Redskins get a nice break from their hellacious schedule.
Pick: Washington

Indy @ San Diego - Now that the Chargers are 4-6 and are two games back in the division title chase and in the wild card, the Chargers practically have to win out (unless Denver should stumble). It's been a lot of bad luck for the Chargers, but something tells me they will stave off virtual elimination for another weekend. Philip Rivers also tends to play better in the warm weather at home, where he has a preposterous QB rating of 121 versus his mortal rating of 87.8 on the road.
Pick: San Diego

Green Bay @ New Orleans - Here come the Saints - another pathetic disappointment. At least this game should be entertaining, now that Green Bay's RB, Ryan Grant, is healthy again.
Pick: Green Bay

Last Week: 9-6-1 (ties do exist)
Season: 90-69-1
Manwich: 6-5 (The Cowboys survived against the Redskins)
Upset of the Week: 1-10 (The Bears lost by 34 points. Honestly, I hope everyone goes against me on my "upset" b/c I'm terrible at it.)