First off, I'd like to apologize to Dylan. After last weekends games were over, I went to give Dylan a post pick handshake, and needless to say I was a bit jazzed up. I went 12-1 to his 9-4 and Dylan had been undefeated going into the picks. I didn't mean to shake his hand so hard and a fight almost ensued. Luckily, Fooch decided not to fine either of us for our actions.
I promise that's the last time I mention "The Handshake." It's safe to say it's been covered a bit. In my defense, it's not my fault that we schedule these picks towards the end of the week. I thought of this stupid joke like four days ago.
Derek's Record Last Week: 12-1
Derek's Overall Record: 65-24 (73%)
Dylan's Record Last Week: 9-4
Dylan's Record Overall: 9-4 (69%)
Check out our picks after the jump, and feel free to post your own picks and make us look stupid.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Cleveland Browns
Derek: The Seahawks have greatly improved the past few weeks, but I don't think they will win on the road against the Browns. The Browns may be without Peyton Hillis, but the Seahawks are very good against the run to begin with. He may not have been a factor anyways. There are selfish reasons for the pick. I'll admit that I would love to see the Seahawks fall to 2-4 so the 49ers can have even more separation in the NFC West.
Winner: Browns
Dylan: This one could go either way really. But with Cleveland without the services of running back Peyton Hillis, I just don't see how they are going to score points. I like Colt McCoy to target tight end Evan Moore quite a bit that game but I think Seattle takes home the road win. Marshawn Lynch and special teams will help the Seahawks get a win.
Winner: Seahawks
Atlanta Falcons vs. Detroit Lions
Derek: After watching the 49ers take on the Lions at home, I am sold on Detroit's crowd. They are insane. It's going to be very tough for the Falcons, who have struggled so far this season, to win on the road. The one thing they do have going for them is Michael Turner, and the Lions have struggled to defend the run. That being said, I don't see the Falcons defense shutting down the Lions like the 49ers did.
Winner: Lions
Dylan: Do I think Detroit is going to lose back to back home games after starting 5-0? No. The 49ers earned every inch in that win they got last week and Atlanta seems pretty inconsistent. I think Detroit bounces back and Calvin Johnson finds the endzone in week 7 after being held without a TD for the first time this season against San Francisco.
Winner: Lions
Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans
Derek: After a nice start, the injury bug has hit the Texans. Both Mario Williams and Andre Johnson are out. Even with that against them, I see the Texans beating the Titans. The Titans defense has been very good, but even without Johnson the Texans can put up points. The Titans will have to stop Arian Foster to have a chance.
Winner: Texans
Dylan: The Houston Texans have been hurting with the loss of star wide receiver Andre Johnson to a hamstring injury. Tennessee is in a similar situation with Kenny Britt going down for the season. Overall, I think the Texans are a more well put together team than the Titans are right now, and think they're good enough to be Tennessee at home.
Winner: Texans
Denver Broncos at Miami Dolphins
Derek: What a barn burner of a game here. Tim Tebow is an interesting angle I guess, but neither of these teams are very good. With the benching of Kyle Orton and the trade of Brandon Lloyd, the Broncos are clearly in rebuild mode. Nice work Josh McDaniels. I'm going to buy into the Tebow hype for now, though I wouldn't really call believing Tebow can beat the Dolphins "buying in."
Winner: Broncos
Dylan: The Miami Dolphins are having their worst season in recent years, yet to win a game this season. Denver is having their share of issues as well but are not in as bad as shape as the Dolphins. Miami has lost their last 8 games, dating back to December of last season and seems to be in the running for the Andrew Luck Sweepstakes.
Winner: Broncos
San Diego Chargers at New York Jets
Derek: Both head coaches took some verbal shots at each other during the week, so that will be the major storyline during the game. As far as football goes, though, I'll go with the Chargers here. The Jets offense just isn't that good with Mark Sanchez at the helm and they have problems in the locker room. Could Rex Ryan be the next fiery coach whose act gets old after a few seasons?
Winner: Chargers
Dylan: Philip Rivers and the Chargers are finding their rhythm on the football field, achieving a winning record so far this season. Meanwhile, I still contest that the New York Jets are half as good as they say they are. They may have won last week by twenty points over Miami, but that offensive performance was ugly. If San Diego shows up, they are capable of running up the score on the Jets.
Winner: Chargers
Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Derek: The Bucs really redeemed themselves after suffering an embarrassing loss to our 49ers. Legarrette Blount may be hurt, but Earnest Graham did a great job filling in. The Bucs have a very young, but very talented defensive line. I see them giving the Bears porous offensive line fits.
Winner: Buccaneers
Dylan: I like the match-up here of Tampa Bay's defensive line to complicate things for the Chicago Bears front five. This game has the feel of a possible travesty for Jay Cutler; a game where he could possibly throw 4 interceptions to one cornerback -- yes, he has done it before. I also think Chicago underestimates LaGarrette Blount's replacement in Earnest Graham.
Winner: Buccaneers
Washington Redskins at Carolina Panthers
Derek: I originally had the Panthers winning this game, but after seeing that Dylan and I once agreed on the winner, I decided I had to change it up. I don't know what's come over me, but I am now a huge John Beck fan. Sure, he's 0-4 as a starter, but what that means to me is he's due. The Panthers will become one of the best 1-6 teams I've seen in awhile after this game.
Winner: Redskins
Dylan: Carolina is hungry and I think they smell blood in the water with the quarterback change in Washington. The Redskins are going to need to put up points if they have any chance of beating Carolina, and their uncertainty at quarterback makes me uncertain they can get it done.
Winner: Panthers
Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders
Derek: Not only do I not like the Carson Palmer trade, I think it's crazy, no insane, to start Palmer already. Yes, they don't have much of a choice since it's either him or Kyle Boller (go Cal!), but Palmer doesn't even have a week to adjust to his own team. The Raiders do have a great running game, but the Chiefs have shown some signs of life lately.
Winner: Chiefs
Dylan: The Raiders really have something going offensively with Darren McFadden and with Carson Palmer added to the mix, Oakland could get scary. Kansas City isn't quite performing up to the level they did last year and it seems the passing game is the only thing that remains. The Raiders are tough so I expect them to come out ahead in this one.
Winner: Raiders
Pittsburgh Steelers at Arizona Cardinals
Derek: Finally, a pick I feel 100% confident about.
Winner: Steelers
Dylan: Kevin Kolb hasn't exactly been the game-changer Arizona thought he would be, but we here at Niners Nation are okay with that, aren't we? Pittsburgh doesn't seem to be the team they have been in the past but the Steelers on a bad day will crush Arizona on a good day.
Winner: Steelers
St. Louis Rams at Dallas Cowboys
Derek: Sam Bradford looks to be a game time decision after spraining his ankle against the Packers. Even if does play, Bradford has really struggled when under duress this season. The Cowboys have this very scary man named DeMarcus Ware who enjoys hitting quarterbacks. The Rams pass defense has been awful this season as well, which the Cowboys are equipped to take advantage of.
Winner: Cowboys
Dylan: Tony Romo needs to collect wins wherever he can get them, so I just don't see him blowing a game to the winless Rams. The Rams shouldn't be able to contain the Cowboys passing attack with Miles Austin and Dez Bryant back to full health and DeMarcus Ware is likely to have Sam Bradford on the ground on most plays.
Winner: Cowboys
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
Derek: Christian Ponder's first start will be against the Packers. That sounds fair.
Winner: Packers
Dylan: Sorry Christian Ponder, but Sunday just won't be your day. I expect an improvement from the Vikings team as a whole, playing hard to compensate for the quarterback change. But let's be real, the Packers are an unstoppable force right now and it begins and ends with Aaron Rodgers. I still believe they could finish this season without a loss and a return trip to the Super Bowl.
Winner: Packers
Indianapolis Colts at New Orleans Saints
Derek: After being upset by the Bucs last week, the Saints are thrown a bone this week against the Colts. What a great Sunday Night football match up. The Colts can't run the ball, they can't really pass the ball save a few big plays for Pierre Garcon. Peyton Manning is the MVP of the decade. Debate over.
Winner: Saints
Dylan: I'll take Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints over Curtis Painter and the Indianapolis Colts every day of the week and twice on Sunday. The Saints can actually make something happen this year and the Colts are just
swimming in their own misery until Peyton Manning can return to action next season.
Winner: Saints
Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars
Derek: Is it safe to say this is the worst pair of prime time NFL games the world has ever seen? Combine that with the 49ers bye and I won't be watching much football this weekend. Lame.
Winner: Ravens
Dylan: Ed Reed. Ray Lewis. Terrell Suggs. Haloti Ngata. Ray Rice. Anquan Boldin.
Joe Flacco. Ed Dickson. Ricky Williams. Michael Oher. Bryant McKinnie.
Torrey Smith. And a Harbaugh.
Winner: Ravens