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NFL Lineman Week 12 picks

Now that Thanksgiving is over, after the turkey we get to the meat of Week 12.

Not bad last week as the Lineman continued to undo some of the damage done by fill in Wichita  Lineman in Week 10.

So keeping with the Thanksgiving theme, no turkeys among this week’s picks.

Record: 33-33. Last week 3-3; Pick of the Week: 9-2

PICK OF THE WEEK

Minnesota Vikings (2-8) at Atlanta Falcons (5-5) (Line Falcons minus-9.5)

Let’s make this simple; no Adrian Peterson equals no chance for the Vikes.

The Lineman: Week Seven NFL Picks

By Steve Keating

That was more like it, a very solid 5-1 effort in Week 6 after a very tough month of average results.

Could we be perfect in lucky Week 7? Feels good.

Record: 19-17. Last week 5-1

Pick of the Week: 5-1

PICK OF THE WEEK

Green Bay Packers (6-0) at Minnesota Vikings (1-5)

The Lineman: Week Three NFL picks

Had a Baltimore Ravens type Sunday last week, going 2-4 after a brilliant (if I do say so) 5-1 start to the season. But like the Ravens, I look for a big bounce back in Week 3.

Record: 7-5. Last week 2-4; Pick of the Week: 2-0

PICK OF THE WEEK Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) at San Diego Chargers (1-1) (Line: Chargers minus-14.5)

The Chargers usually play with about as much energy as a dead battery early in the season but I am not expecting the Bolts will need to dig deep to blow out the dreadful Chiefs, who have been outscored 89-10 in their opening two games. Even on a good day, the Chiefs have not fared well at Qualcomm Stadium, recording just one win in their last seven visits, including a 31-0 pummeling last season. All signs point to another thrashing. A bad season just keeps getting worse for KC, who have already lost All-Pro running back Jamaal Charles and safety Eric Berry to season ending injuries. The Chiefs have been a turnover machine handing over the ball nine times in two games and sit last in scoring and rushing. The Detroit Lions’ Matthew Stafford and St. Louis Rams’ Sam Bradford each shredded the Chiefs secondary for four touchdown passes and now face a quality Chargers offence led by Philip Rivers. The Chargers laboured to a win over the Minnesota Vikings at home in their opener and then turned in a sloppy effort losing to the Patriots but only Tom Brady and super-rookie Cam Newton have tossed for more yards through the first two weeks. The Chargers also tend to play better at home going 12-2 in their last 14 regular season games and I love those powder blue uniforms. Unless Southern California slips into the Pacific this one is a lock. Lightning strikes. Take the Bolts and give up the 14.5. - – - - Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) at Carolina Panthers (0-2) (Line: Panthers minus-3.5) Panthers super rookie Cam Newton could pass for a gazillion yards this season but it will not mean much unless he can produce a few wins. The Panthers triggerman, who has indeed impressed tossing for a rookie record 854 yards in his first two contests, will get a chance on Sunday to prove there is some steak to go along with that sizzle. Newton has played in just two games but compared to Jaguars rookie pivot Blaine Gabbert, who will be making his first career start, he is a grizzled veteran. That stench coming out of Jacksonville is the smell of desperation as coach Jack Del Rio searches for a quarterback. After cutting loose incumbent QB David Garrard just before the season opener, Del Rio needed only two weeks to decide Luke McCown was not the answer. Jacksonville ranks 30th in passing after two games, McCown getting the hook after tossing four interceptions in a 32-3 loss to the New York Jets. The Jaguars have a quality running back Maurice Jones-Drew and … umm, well let us leave it at that. The Panthers have the NFL’s second ranked offense and second ranked passing attack. Wide receiver Steve Smith leads the league in receiving yards with 334. While Newton’s aerial show has been grabbing the headlines, look for the Panthers to try for a more balanced attack with running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart getting work. Playing at home and with Chicago, New Orleans and Atlanta in the on deck circle, I’ve got to believe this is a game the Panthers have had circled for a while. This looks like a purrr-fect spot for Panthers win. Take the Panthers give up the 3.5. - – - - Detroit Lions (2-0) at Minnesota Vikings (0-2) (Line: Lions minus-3.5) Having lived in Detroit the previous four years, including that miserable 0-16 season, I have been slow to jump on the Lions bandwagon. The vibe has not been this upbeat in the Motown since Stevie Wonder and the Supremes were churning out gold records. But now it Ndamukong Suh recording the hits as the Lions bid for their first 3-0 start since 1980. Counting last season and the pre-season games, the Lions are on a nine-game winning streak, including a 48-3 thrashing of the Kansas City Chiefs, and I can see no reason for it to end at the Mall of the Americas. Matthew Stafford to Calvin Johnson are as good as any pass-catch combo in the league. The Lions finally have an offense that has teeth, ranking second in league scoring while Johnson is tied for the lead in touchdown catches with four. Led by Suh, the Lions defence has shown some bite with eight takeaways. About the only thing the Vikings have going for them is the running of Adrian Peterson and history. Peterson ranks fourth in rushing with 218 yards in two games while the Lions have not won in Minny since 1997, a run of 13 straight losses. Fire up the bandwagon – I’m in. Take the Lions and give up the 3.5. - – - - Baltimore Ravens (1-1) at St. Louis Rams (0-2) (Line: Ravens minus-3.5) Of all the letdowns last week this is the one that confused me the most. The Ravens looked liked Super Bowl champs crushing the Steelers in their opener then were just plain Super Bad against a very ordinary Tennessee Titans team. You do not expect that type of letdown from Ray Lewis and company. For that reason alone I am looking for a big bounce back this week from the Ravens when they visit the injury-ravaged Rams. After a big step forward last season the Rams will be desperate to avoid starting the season 0-3 but with workhorse running back Steven Jackson on the limp, gaining mileage against a tough Ravens run defence will be difficult. Baltimore held Tennessee’s Chris Johnson to a measly 53 yards last week but the problem was a leaky pass defence that Matt Hasselbeck was able to exploit. Ravens QB Joe Flacco has been doing a good Jekyll and Hyde impression, throwing for three touchdowns against the Steelers then serving up two interceptions to the Titans. Bottom line. Losing does not sit well with the Ravens. After their last eight defeats, the Ravens have responded with eight big wins. Make that nine. Take the Ravens and give up the 3.5. - – - - New York Giants (1-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) (Line: Eagles minus-7.5) Ok, the $100 million question hanging over this one is will concussed Eagles quarterback Michael Vick play? Nothing has been confirmed but all signs point to Vick being under centre on Sunday when the Giants pay a visit. While the football world has been focused on Vick’s headache, the New Yorkers have bigger problems with an injury list that includes wide receiver Mario Manningham (concussion), receiver and return specialist Domenik Hixon (torn knee ligaments), defensive end Osi Umenyiora (knee), first-round draft pick Prince Amukamara (foot) and tight end Travis Beckum (hamstring). Already out for the season with torn knee ligaments are starting middle linebacker Jonathan Goff, cornerback Terrell Thomas and reserves Clint Sintim and Brian Witherspoon. Second-round draft choice Marvin Austin (torn pectoral muscle), cornerback Bruce Johnson (Achilles) and backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels (illness) are also on injured reserve. OUCH. If Vick is unable to go Mike (who is this gu?y) Kafka is expected to get the start. While Kafka represents a serious drop-off, he will have a full complement of weapons to choose from including big play threats DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin. Eagles wide receiver Steve Smith, who caught passes for the Giants the last four seasons, gets his first crack at his former team. The Giants may have some success running the ball but Eli Manning could be in for a long day against a five-star Eagles pass rush and secondary. The New Yorkers have lost the last six meetings between the longtime rivals and are still stinking from last year’s humiliating defeat when they coughed up 28 points in the last eight minutes allowing the Eagles to comeback and claim an unlikely 38-31 win. Vick or no Vick, the Giants are too banged up to pose too much of problem to the Eagles, who will be looking to bounce back from a tough loss to the Atlanta Falcons last week. The Eagles have landed. Take the Eagles and give up the 7.5. - – - - Atlanta Falcons (1-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1) (Line: Falcons plus 1.5) The Falcons were tipped by a lot of people as Super Bowl material but have yet to display a champions pedigree after being demolished by the Bears in Week 1 and then squeaking past the Eagles in Week 2. It is only Week 3 but it is crunch time for the Falcons as they fly south to take on NFL South rivals Tampa in a key early-season clash. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan finally looked in sync last week firing a career-high four touchdown passes in a comeback win over Philly but success in Tampa is likely to hinge on running back Michael Turner. Only the St. Louis Rams have a worse run defence than the Buccaneers who are giving up an average of 156 yards a game on the ground. Turner is among the NFL’s early rushing leaders ranking sixth with 214 yards. Tampa QB Josh Freeman is the master of the comebacks and did it again last week rallying the Bucs to a win over the Vikings. The Falcons are chasing their fifth straight win at Raymond James Stadium. Games between these two NFC rivals have been traditionally close with the Falcons coming out on top. Getting points is a bonus. The Bucs stop here. Take the Falcons and the 1.5.

The Lineman’s NFL picks — Week 9

That was better, a 4-2 week gets us back on track after a little first half wobble.

Unlike past weeks there were several matchups I liked in Week Nine, in fact it was difficult to settle on the six I liked best.

But this week I am going with teams that are expecting to be Super Bowl contenders and are hitting their stride – or need to – as we head into the second half of the season.

Record: 23-25. Last week 4-2. Pick of the Week: 3-5

PICK OF THE WEEK Arizona Cardinals (3-4) at Minnesota Vikings (2-5) (Line Vikings minus-8.5)

Randy Moss is gone and Brett Favre is fading (I mean how much more punishment can this 41-year-old granddad take) but while the Vikings are down they are not out – not yet.

Tipped to reach the Super Bowl the Vikings have watched their season slip away but can get a grip with a win over the low-flying Cardinals.

The Lineman’s NFL Picks — Week 2

Just like the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers it was a decent if unspectacular start to a new season for the Lineman, who was a respectable 4-2 in Week One.

But still room for improvement so here we go with another Six-Pack for Week Two.

Record: 4-2. Last week 4-2. Pick of the Week: 0-1

PICK OF THE WEEK

Houston Texans (1-0) at Washington Redskins (1-0) (Line Texans minus-2.5): The Washington Redskins continue their Texas two-step start to the season following up a shock Week One win over the Dallas Cowboys with a visit from the Houston Texans.

It seems weird that Houston would represent the tougher game of a Texas doubleheader but there is a power shift going on in the Lone Star state with Dallas on the decline.

The Texans roll into D.C. bristling with confidence after a season-opening win over Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.

Week 11 NFL picks

Well, that was a bruising week but 2-4 still leaves the Lineman above .500.

After the last 2-4 we had a big bounce back week so that’s the game plan again.

I was going to start off by making the Miami Dolphins my Pick of the Week but since that game has been played, well that would be cheating (I think).

Anyway, I get the impression many of you think I would still make the wrong pick – even if the game had been played.

But the Lineman can take a hit and is looking for revenge this week — starting with Pick of the Week.

Lack of direction in Green Bay after Favre return

To understand what the National Football League and the beloved Packers mean to the residents of Green Bay you need only ask for directions.

Chances are that sooner or later you will find yourself on Lombardi Ave or Holmgren Way, or might swing by Brett Favre Pass or find yourself on the newly paved Aaron Rodgers Avenue.

In Green Bay, all roads eventually lead to Lambeau Field but on Sunday, many of the city’s nearly 104,000 residents did not know which way to turn.

Favre was back in town and the famed quarterback who never missed a start during 16 record-smashing seasons in Packers green and gold, returned for the first time wearing Minnesota Vikings purple and walked away with a 38-26 win.

For some in this tight-knit Midwestern town, where many are shareholders in the NFL’s only community-owned team, Favre’s signing with the despised Vikings in August for $25 million was a slap in the face bordering on high treason.

For others, the 40-year-old Favre’s return represented a chance to thank the future Hall of Famer, who led the Packers to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, winning it all in 1997.

Many, like Bob Schaaf, who gave up a weekend elk hunting to take his wife and two sons to a game that attracted worldwide interest, did not know how to react.

Brett Favre: career renaissance at 40?

In one of the most anticipated games of the season, in two rabidly partisan Midwestern states, Brett Favre has gone from beloved icon of the Green Bay Packers to leader of the hated Minnesota Vikings. The dislike reached Hatfield-McCoy proportions Monday night when Favre triumphed 30-23 over the team he proudly represented for sixteen years.

According to the New York Times, the showdown attracted an average of 21.8 million viewers, the biggest audience in the history of cable television, exceeding the 18.6 million who watched the Philadelphia Eagles-Dallas Cowboys game in September 2008 on ESPN.

In an interview to ESPN, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler said Favre is the best quarterback in the NFC North. “[Favre] played really well,” Cutler said. “I think we kind of would have liked to have seen Green Bay beat him to even out the conference a little and give those guys a loss, but he played fabulous from start to finish. It was a good game.”

These days, the aging Cajun plays with the allure of a fine French wine: the older he gets, the better he gets… at least early in the season. Favre who turns 40 on October 10th has a perfect 4-0 record, and his surgically repaired right arm seems to have new life.

A medical team performed surgery on Favre’s biceps last May, cutting the partially torn tendon to alleviate the pain that prompted him to prematurely announce his retirement for a second year in a row before signing with the Vikings.

Last year, Favre’s season with the New York Jets started well; in week four he threw six touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals, a personal best and one fewer than the NFL record. By week 12, the Jets had compiled an 8-3 record, including a win over the previously undefeated Tennessee Titans.

However, the Jets lost four out of the last five games of the season including the final game against the Miami Dolphins, who had acquired Chad Pennington after he was released from the Jets to make room for Favre. In those five games Favre threw eight interceptions and only two touchdown passes, bringing his season total to twenty-two of each.

The Lineman basks in glory, fears the worst

Well, the Lineman got the season off to a perfect start (click the link). Steelers get the win, Titans cover, score one for the Lineman.

We will bask in the glory while it lasts because the Lineman understands this is just the first play in a long season. Let’s hope we are still on the right side of the scoreboard come Tuesday.

Record won-loss: 1-0.

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PICK OF THE WEEK: Minnesota Vikings at Cleveland Browns (plus 3.5): Future Hall of Famer Brett Favre is back (again) and has something to prove. Adrian Peterson is the NFL’s top running back.

The poor Browns aren’t catching any breaks in Week 1 with the NFL allowing Vikings defensive linemen Kevin Williams and Pat Williams (two of the best in the business) to continue to play while their long-running drugs saga works it way through appeals.

Nasty pass-rusher Jared Allen spearheads a Minnesota defence that might be one of the league’s best guaranteeing it will be a long day for the Browns starting quarterback, the not so mighty Brady Quinn.

Favre soap opera is getting a little tired

The Brett Favre saga continued this week when the future Hall of Fame quarterback un-retired yet again to join the Minnesota Vikings.

No one should be able to tell Favre when he should stop playing, but the 39-year-old 10-times Pro Bowler has fumbled his retirement so badly he’s become a national punch line.

His on-again, off-again retreat is greeted with a yawn by some, anger by others, and a laugh by those who stopped listening to him years ago when he first decided to quit.

The last time he retired was just three weeks ago when he told Vikings officials to look elsewhere for a quarterback. So it is no surprise that Number 4 will be in the line-up Friday when Minnesota hosts the Kansas City Chiefs.

He had a Cal Ripken-esque career when he retired following the 2007 season after 16 marvelous years with the Green Bay Packers.

But after a tearful good-bye, Favre decided he wanted to come back. The Packers said it was too late. So he went to the New York Jets for the 2008 season, but when both he and the team faded down the stretch, he decided to call it a career.