I went 7-7 last week. That puts me at 91-53 for the season. For a comparison, check out the “experts” over at ESPN.

Here are my picks for the NFL’s Week Eleven:

*Sunday, November 18, 2007*

Arizona 4-5 at Cincinnati 3-6 – 1:00 pm (Sheridan’s Line: Bengals by 3)

Arizona beat the Lions last week. They are just 1-4 on the road this year. DE Bertrand Berry is done for the season with a torn left tricep. The Bengals won in Baltimore last week, 21-7. All their scoring in that game came on field goals – seven of them. They have allowed the third-most points in the league.

RJ’s Pick – Cincinnati by 1

Carolina 4-5 at Green Bay 8-1 – 1:00 pm (Sheridan’s Line: Packers by 10)

Carolina lost at home to Atlanta last week, for their third straight defeat. RB DeShaun Foster injured his toe in the game, and is questionable for Week 11. The Panthers still haven’t won a home game this season, although they are 4-1 on the road. QB Vinny Testaverde turned 44 this week. To put that in perspective, he’s the same age as Chris Jim Everett, who retired a decade ago. Green Bay shut out the Vikings last week, 34-0. They’ve scored the second-most points in the NFC, and have won four in a row. RB Ryan Grant has performed very well in two of his last three games, so it looks like the Packers may have a running game after all.

RJ’s Pick – Green Bay by 14

Cleveland 5-4 at Baltimore 4-5 – 1:00 pm (Sheridan’s Line: Browns by 3)

Cleveland lost a close one to Pittsburgh last week. The Browns have scored the fourth-most points in the NFL. They are just 1-3 on the road this season. The Ravens lost to Cincinnati last week, for their first home loss of the season. They have dropped three straight after starting the season 4-2. Baltimore has scored the second-fewest points in the AFC. QB Steve McNair looked awful in his last two starts, but he is going to be out for the next two-to-three weeks with a dislocated shoulder. That means Kyle Boller, who has been only marginally more effective than McNair this season, will be starting.

RJ’s Pick – Cleveland by 6

Kansas City 4-5 at Indianapolis 7-2 – 1:00 pm (Sheridan’s Line: Colts by 14½)

The Chiefs lost at home to Denver last week. QB Damon Huard was injured in the second half against Denver and was replaced by Brodie Croyle, who will start this week’s game. RB Larry Johnson has been ruled out for this week. Kansas City has scored the fewest points in the AFC. Indianapolis lost to San Diego on SNF last week in a bizarre game where QB Peyton Manning threw a career-high six interceptions, and kicker “Automatic” Adam Vinatieri missed a go-ahead 29-yard field goal attempt with under two minutes left. The Colts have lost two in a row, and their offense is all kinds of banged up. Now DE Dwight Freeney is on injured reserve and out for the year.

RJ’s Pick – Indianapolis by 8

Miami 0-9 at Philadelphia 4-5 – 1:00 pm (Sheridan’s Line: Eagles by 10½)

The Dolphins lost to Buffalo last week, 13-10. That was the second game in a row they’ve lost by that exact score. RB Jesse Chatman had another solid performance in a losing effort. DE Jason Taylor injured his ankle and may not be able to play this week. Miami has allowed the second-most points in the league. The Eagles won at Washington last week. They are just 1-3 at home this season; that lone victory was a 56-21 drubbing of the Detroit Lions way back in Week Three. The mainstream sports media is abuzz with talk that “the Eagles are back” and such. I don’t buy it, but they should at least get back to .500 with a victory over the winless Dolphins.

RJ’s Pick – Philadelphia by 7

New Orleans 4-5 at Houston 4-5 – 1:00 pm (Sheridan’s Line: Saints by 1)

The Saints were shocked at home by the previously-winless Rams last week. RB Reggie Bush suffered a mild concussion in the game, but is expected to play this week. New Orleans is ranked 29th in the league in passing yards allowed per game. Houston had a bye last week. It is presently unknown who will start at quarterback for the Texans this Sunday: the healed and rested Matt Schaub, or All-American Hebrew Superhero Sage Rosenfels. But what is known, is that all decent human beings are rooting for the latter.

RJ’s Pick – New Orleans by 4

RJ’S GAME OF THE WEEK: New York Giants 6-3 at Detroit 6-3 – 1:00 pm (Sheridan’s Line: Giants by 2½)

The Giants lost to Dallas last week, so they can pretty much kiss any chance of winning the NFC East goodbye. RB Brandon Jacobs is having a superb season, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. WR Plaxico Burress has been ineffective his last three games. QB Eli Manning has thrown at least one interception in eight of nine games this season. The Lions died in the desert lost at Arizona last week. Attention Mike “Offensive Genius” Martz: negative 18 yards rushing on eight attempts isn’t going to cut it. Not unless you want your team to lose the rest of their games, and cause Jon Kitna to lose his religion. Detroit remains unbeaten at home. RB Kevin Jones might sit out this week in order to rest his foot for the Thanksgiving Day game. If that’s the case, T. J. Duckett would likely start in his place. Also, Kitna is suffering from a back injury, and CB Fernando Bryant injured his ankle against the Cardinals.

RJ’s Pick – Detroit by 3

Oakland 2-7 at Minnesota 3-6 – 1:00 pm (Sheridan’s Line: Vikings by 6)

Oakland lost at home to the Bears last week, for their fifth loss in a row. I have nothing else worthwhile to say about the team. The Vikings were crushed by Green Bay last week. Worse than the loss, though, was the knee injury suffered by rookie superstar running back Adrian Peterson. His lateral collateral ligament is torn in his right knee, so he is expected to never walk again miss a few games. And even worse than that for Vikings fans, Tarvaris Jackson is expected to start under center this week.

RJ’s Pick – Oakland by 2

San Diego 5-4 at Jacksonville 6-3 – 1:00 pm (Sheridan’s Line: Jaguars by 3)

San Diego beat the Colts last week. (No, wait – that doesn’t sound like an accurate description of the game. “San Diego somehow managed to not end up with fewer points on the board when time mercifully expired last week in a game against the Colts.” There, that’s much better.) It’s not every week that a team commits six turnovers on the road, yet still controls time-of-possession by a wide margin and almost wins. Nor is it a frequent occurrence that a team goes up 23-0 in the second quarter, yet finishes the game with just 177 total yards. Norv Turner is a bigger natural disaster in Southern California than the wildfires or the earthquakes. I’m thinking he needs to be un-hired before rioting breaks out. Also, the Chargers are just 1-3 on the road this season. Jacksonville beat the Titans last week, in Nashville. They are 4-1 on the road, but just 2-2 at home. QB David Garrard is expected to be able to play this week, but it’s unknown at this time whether or not he’ll start.

RJ’s Pick – Jacksonville by 1

Tampa Bay 5-4 at Atlanta 3-6 – 1:00 pm (Sheridan’s Line: Buccaneers by 3)

Tampa Bay had a bye last week. They have given up the fourth-fewest points in the league. They are just 1-3 on the road this season. The Falcons beat Carolina last week, 20-13. That was their second win in a row. So far this year, Atlanta’s record at home is 2-2. They have scored the second-fewest points in the NFC. I expect a very low-scoring game, like 14-12 or 12-10.

RJ’s Pick – Atlanta by 2

Pittsburgh 7-2 at New York Jets 1-8 – 4:05 pm (Sheridan’s Line: Steelers by 9)

The Steelers edged Cleveland last week, 31-28. QB Ben Roethlisberger is quietly having a great year, with a quarterback rating currently at 110.2. Pittsburgh has given up the fewest points in the league. They have won three straight, but are just 2-2 on the road. The Jets had a bye last week. They have dropped six straight games. Simply put, they are a very bad team. It will be interesting to see if they are the underdogs when they travel to currently-winless Miami in Week 13.

RJ’s Pick – Pittsburgh by 20

Chicago 4-5 at Seattle 5-4 – 4:15 pm (Sheridan’s Line: Seahawks by 6)

Da Bears won at Oakland last week, 17-6. RB Cedric Benson gained just 76 yards on 29 carries, which is approximately 2.6 yards per attempt (which is pathetic). Three-toed sloths run with more of a burst than Benson does. Rex Grossman took over late in the second quarter after starting QB Brian Griese left the game with an injured shoulder. Grossman managed to toss a long touchdown pass to WR Bernard Berrian, but was otherwise largely ineffective. It’s not known yet who will be the starter at quarterback this week. Chicago is 3-2 on the road this season. The Seahawks whipped the 49ers on MNF last week, 24-0. They’ve given up the second-fewest points in the NFL. Seattle’s remaining seven games are all against teams with a 4-5 record or worse. They are 4-1 at home. RB Shaun Alexander sat out last week with assorted minor injuries, and might not play this week either.

RJ’s Pick – Seattle by 3

RJ’S LAME-GAME OF THE WEEK: St. Louis 1-8 at San Francisco 2-7 – 4:15 pm (Sheridan’s Line: Rams by 3)

The Rams beat New Orleans last week, 37-29. QB Marc Bulger had his best game of the season by far, completing 27 of 33 passes for 302 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions. WR Isaac Bruce injured his hamstring again, so he may be out for a couple games. San Francisco lost to Seattle last week on MNF. They’ve now lost seven straight. They have scored the fewest points in the NFL.

RJ’s Pick – St. Louis Rams by 5

Washington 5-4 at Dallas 8-1 – 4:15 pm (Sheridan’s Line: Cowboys by 10½)

The Redskins lost at home to the Eagles last week, 33-25. In the five games they’ve played since crushing the Detroit Lions back in Week Five, they have lost three games, barely beaten the 4-5 Cardinals at home, and barely beaten the 1-8 Jets in overtime. Now WR James Thrash is out with a high ankle sprain, and safety Sean Taylor is out for at least two weeks with a knee sprain. Dallas beat the Giants last week, 31-20. They’ve won three in a row, and have the second-highest scoring offense in the league. QB Tony Romo might just be the most popular figure in professional football right now, with all the glowing praise and attention he’s been getting in the media this season.

RJ’s Pick – Dallas by 16

New England 9-0 at Buffalo 5-4 – 8:15 pm (Sheridan’s Line: Patriots by 14½)

New England had a bye last week, but Tom Brady still threw for 400 yards and five touchdowns. (I’m kidding. I think.) The only question for the Patriots now is, will they head into the playoffs undefeated, or with a loss or two? This week they go on the road to face a team that could realistically pull off an upset…but probably won’t. The Bills beat Miami last week, but barely; the final score was 13-10. Still, they’ve won four in a row, and suddenly have a decent shot at a Wild Card spot. However, RB Marshawn Lynch, TE Robert Royal, and CB Kiwaukee Thomas were all injured last week, and it is uncertain if they will be able to play this Sunday. The potential loss of Lynch is most worrisome, as the Bills offense is struggling as it is.

RJ’s Pick – New England by 12

*Monday, November 19, 2007*

Tennessee 6-3 at Denver 4-5 – 8:30 pm (Sheridan’s Line: Broncos by 2½)

Tennessee lost a crucial game to Jacksonville last week, 28-13. Ironically, it was arguably the best passing performance of Vince Young’s career: 24 completions on 41 attempts, for 257 yards and a touchdown. He also threw two interceptions, however. DE Travis LaBoy (who has possibly the gayest name ever…but don’t tell him I said that!) suffered a concussion and might not start this week. CB Nick Harper and WR Brandon Jones also sustained concussions last week. This merely proves the old adage that the Jacksonville Jaguars enjoy inflicting bodily harm upon the Tennessee Titans. The Broncos beat the Chiefs last week, in Kansas City. They are just 2-3 at home this season, and have allowed the fourth-most points in the AFC. WR Javon Walker might be ready to come back and play this week, after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his knee earlier this year. MNF games in Denver are always enjoyable to watch, and I suspect this one won’t be any different.

RJ’s Pick – Denver by 5

Recap

RJ’s Week 11 Picks: BENGALS, PACKERS, BROWNS, COLTS, EAGLES, SAINTS, LIONS, RAIDERS, JAGUARS, FALCONS, STEELERS, SEAHAWKS, RAMS, COWBOYS, PATRIOTS, BRONCOS

- I picked ten Home teams and six Away teams

- I picked thirteen Favorites and three Underdogs

(If you’re interested, you can check out the full list of Danny Sheridan’s Odds and ESPN’s NFL “Expert” Picks.)

2007 Weekly Results
Week One – 11-5
Week Two – 9-7
Week Three – 10-6
Week Four – 7-7
Week Five – 9-5
Week Six – 10-3
Week Seven – 9-5
Week Eight – 10-3
Week Nine – 9-5
Week Ten – 7-7