New England Patriots -7 @ +7 Detroit Lions
The Pats are finally starting to get everything together after a slow past couple of weeks. The Brady to Welker connection hasn't yet reached the level of productivity that it had the past 2 years, and it may never reach that level again without Randy Moss. But, with the long-awaited addition of a running game to the offense, the undersized white boys (Welker and Woodhead) will have no problem leading the Patriots to a victory by more than 7 points. The Patriots are better than the Lions in every overall aspect of the game.
Pick - New England Patriots -7
New Orleans Saints -4 @ +4 Dallas Cowboys
So the "Boys have been hitting hard the past few weeks, impressively winning both games under interim Head Coach Jason Garrett. In Cowboys history, only two new head coaches have ever started their journey 2-0. This will mark the end of both Garrett's and Kitna's recent luck. The reigning champs don't look anywhere near as powerful as they did last year, but the return of Reggie Bush should provide an additional spark to the Saints already loaded offense.
Pick - New Orleans Saints -4
Cincinnati Bengals +9 @ -9 New York Jets
I can't say enough about how clutch the Jets offense has been in the waning seconds of close games. All this talk between Terrell Owens and Darrelle Revis is the same thing that got Chad Ochocinco absolutely owned last year in the playoffs. The last time these teams met last year, Ochocinco claimed that if Revis shut him out from getting a touchdown, he would change his legal last name back to Johnson. That still hasn't happened and Ochocinco was held to 2 receptions for 28 yards. Notice that Ochocinco hasn't said a word this entire week, probably thrilled that he has Cromartie on him. Revis just started to look like his old self last week by containing Andre Johnson to just 4 catches for 32 yards. This week he will rise to the occasion just like he did last year in the playoffs, and this time to shut TO down. The Jets will win, but I'm not convinced that they will score enough points to win by more than 9 points. It may even come down to the final seconds of the game again for Dirty Sanchez to put the jungle cats away.
Pick - Cincinnati Bengals +9