Houston Texans (4-5) @ New York Jets (7-2), 12 PM CT, CBS
The Line: Jets -7
The Experts: Aside from one lone guy, CBS, Yahoo, and ESPN are all picking the Jets.
The Jets are rolling, the Texans are reeling, and the vast majority of the experts are taking the Jets. Can you blame them? The Texans defense probably couldn't stop the Oregon, Auburn, or Boise State offenses right now. The offense has proven it can handles a top defense (see: the 391 yards and 6 red zone appearances against San Diego), but it won't matter since their defense will make Mark Sanchez look like a Pro Bowler.
The Pick: Jets 27, Texans 17
For more on the Texans, check out Battle Red Blog.
Cleveland Browns (3-6) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4), 12 PM CT, CBS
The Line: Jaguars -1.5
Expert Picks: CBS is split 2-2, Yahoo favors the Brownies 2-1, and ESPN favors Cleveland 5-2.
The Browns beat New Orleans and New England then took the Jets to overtime. Why? Peyton Hillis, a fiesty defense, and removing Jake Delholmme and Seneca Wallace from the field of play. The Jaguars did a Texas Two-Step on the hearts of Dallas and Houston fans. When did this David Garrard guy learn to throw a football? He's flipped a switch of late behind two career-best performances and a hail mary.
The last time they had a thrilling win at home (a 59-yard game-winning field goal against Indianapolis), the Jaguars followed it up with a stinker for the home-crowd. I'm feeling the let down game again, especially against a Cleveland team that is just as physical.
The Pick: Browns 23, Jaguars 20
Washington Redskins (4-5) @ Tennessee Titans (5-4), 12 PM CT, FOX
The Line: Titans -7
Expert Picks: Clean sweep for Tennesse as no one is picking the Redskins.
Hooray for Washington! Thanks to Mike Vick, the Texans are off the hook as the Redskins now own the league's worst defense. The Philadelphia Pulverizing was not the celebration Donovan McNabb was looking for after his mega-contract extension. Tennessee's got their own quarterback story as Vince Young is facing questions after not starting last week due to an injury. Of course, Young did step in during the second half as Tyler Thigpen led Miami to victory.
It's hard to pick the Redskins after that defensive disasterpiece. It's hard to pick the Titans who seem to be falling back to Earth after their hot start. A part of me wants to pick Washington because I think McNabb plays like a man possessed after a week of bad press. However, I just don't trust their defense to slow down the deep ball - a Tennessee trademark.
The Pick: Titans 34, Redskins 30
Indianapolis Colts (6-3) @ New England Patriots (7-2), 3:15 CT, CBS
The Line: Patriots -3
Expert Picks: CBS is 3-1 for New England, Yahoo is backing the Patriots, and 6 of 7 ESPN's experts are taking New England.
It's the renewal of Roger Goodell's favorite rivalry as the Colts and Patriots meet for all of the nation to see. All three of Indy's losses have come on the road while New England's 4-0 at home. Patriots QB Tom Brady is demanding more passion from his team while Peyton Manning is just demanding that his guys stay healthy. Okay, Peyton's not demanding health publicly, but the Colts are still banged up.
Peyton has had back-to-back mediocre games, so three straight doesn't seem possible. However, The Hooded One, Bill Belichick, always seems to find ways to fluster Manning. That's the difference in this game.
The Pick: Patriots 27, Colts 23
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