Site Editor Matt Loede’s NFL Picks for week 11

Last Week: 9-4
Season: 82-60

Oakland at Pittsburgh – The Raiders look like legit AFC West contenders after two wins and a bye, while many think the Steelers are headed for another collapse like last season. The injured Steelers will have to find a way to stop the Raiders attack, and there offense also needs to get something going. Why do I see a repeat of the game at Heinz from last season? Oakland 27 Pittsburgh 21

Cleveland at Jacksonville – After three emotional weeks in which they went 2-1 against three of the leagues best, the Browns travel to play the 5-4 Jags. Last week the Jags won on a last play Hail Mary, but this week they won’t need it, taking advantage of a beat up Browns team. Jacksonville 21 Cleveland 18

Washington at Tennessee – Albert Haynesworth goes back to Tennessee this weekend, and if the Skins are lucky, they can leave him there. Washington was awful last week, going down 35-0 8 seconds into the second quarter. The Titans will rebound vs a Skins team that is reeling after getting crushed on Monday night by the Eagles. Tennessee 27 Washington 16

Houston at New York Jets – The Jets were lucky to walk out of Cleveland without a tie last week, but that’s what good teams do. Now they take on a Texans team that can’t get out of their own way, and saw their starting QB sit a night in the hospital this week. The Jets D should lower the boom on Matt Schaub and the Texans. New York Jets 17 Houston 6

Baltimore at Carolina – Brian St.Pierre vs the Ravens D? I think very little needs to be said here, as if this game is even close in the fourth quarter, the Ravens should take a long look in the mirror. Baltimore 31 Carolina 0

Green Bay at Minnesota – The last gasp for the Vikings, who will be trying to ride Brett Favre’s arm one more time against his former team. Won’t matter. The Packers, despite being banged up, are the better team, and need to keep winning to stay with the Bears in the NFC North. Look for the Pack to pick on the Vikings secondary and walk out of the Twin Cities with a sweep over their rivals. Green Bay 35 Minnesota 24

Arizona at Kansas City – The Cards were beaten up by the Seahawks at home last week, and now play a Chiefs team coming off the bye after they were beat in OT the week before by Oakland. KC is a team that seems to still be growing, and they should be able to make it a long day for Derek Anderson and the Cards. Kansas City 26 Arizona 14

Detroit at Dallas – The Cowboys were a new team last week with Jason Garrett running the show, and against a Lions team that couldn’t even beat Buffalo on the road last week, the Cowboys will step up for their new coach at home and win their second in a row. Dallas 27 Detroit 20

Buffalo at Cincinnati – Two bad teams do battle here in Cincy, where the Bengals couldn’t sell out for the first time in 57 games. Buffalo has been competitive for the last few weeks, and there’s no doubt with the Bengals playing like team ready for new coach and high draft pick, they will hang here till the end. Cincinnati 14 Buffalo 13

Seattle at New Orleans – The Hawks won on the road last week, but that was in Arizona, not the Superdome vs a good Saints team that had the bye last week and will be well prepared for the Hawks here. Matt Hasselebeck should be back, but Drew Brees and the Saints offense will be more than enough to overcome Seattle and send them to 5-5. New Orleans 34 Seattle 21

Tampa Bay at San Francisco – Suddenly the Niners are looking like a team that has found themselves, and why not – they have the talent to get the job done here at home, and they should. Tampa Bay crushed the Panthers, but it’ll be a long road trip vs a Niners team that is feeling good about how they have played. The Niners outphysical the Bucs for their fourth win. San Francisco 28 Tampa Bay 13

Atlanta at St.Louis – The Falcons appear in quite a few areas to be the best team in the NFC, and on the road they have to make sure not to have a slip up against a gritty Rams team. They should have a good showing on offense vs the Rams, who need to have a good day from Steven Jackson to hold the Falcons in check. Won’t happen, as Roddy White and Matt Ryan both play at a high level. Atlanta 29 St.Louis 23

Indianapolis at New England – The best rivalry in the NFL, bar none. Peyton Manning vs Tom Brady, always a classic. The Pats showed quite a bit of heart going to Pittsburgh last week to pound the Steelers, and they are now back on top in the AFC. The Colts continue to be banged up, as they will have to have Donald Brown as the feature back again this week. The Pats will once again be inspired against Manning, pulling out a big win. New England 31 Indianapolis 27

New York Giants at Philadelphia – Two big boys in the NFC East, and this game will come down to if Mike Vick can continue his high level of play vs the G-Men. The Giants have to contain him, and also watch for the long balls from Vick to his wide outs. Look for the Giants to try and use Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs to run the ball, but in Philly, it won’t go so well. Philadelphia 23 New York Giants 13

Monday Night:

Denver at San Diego – An AFC West showdown on Monday night, the Broncos put on offensive fireworks last week vs KC, and hope that carries over vs the Chargers. San Diego is 4-5, but with Philip Rivers and the offense clicking despite all the injuries, it’s hard to imagine the Chargers losing at home to a Denver team that has been up and down all year. San Diego 33 Denver 21