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Over the last four weeks the New England Patriots have looked less like contenders and more like pretenders as they are making their way throughthe NFL campaign. On November 15, New England lost a gamethey should have won to the IndianapolisColtsdue to a terrible decision made by head coachBill Belichick and a display of ineptitude READ MORE

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Oh the gnashing of teeth and pulling of hair! The Pats were within mere ticks of the clock of beating their archrival Colts, not to mention spoiling their hitherto perfect season but they blew it on a failed fourth down conversion. And it s all Bill s fault. Hold on. I agree, it was a helluva risky READ MORE

Clear Thoughts for the Cloudy Minds Check out sports betting community for NFL Power Rankings Week 11 betting tips & picks, free nfl picks at www.betrepublic.com Cincinnati took a big jump in the standings and is now one of the AFC favorites to make it to the Super Bowl, along with New England, and Indianapolis. The Steelers without Polamalu is like a day without sunshine. Gloomy and dark. Your number one team in the NFL is. The New Orleans Saints. No. two, is Peyton Manning and the Colts. They are undefeated unless New England gets them tonight, then the Colts drop two spots, and New England goes up one to two positions. No. three position is held by the Minnesota Vikings ar 8-1. There is no explanation here. They have the third best record in the league against some quality teams. No four are the Cincinnati Bengals. A big win over Pittsburgh, sweeping that series, and a 7-2 record that should in all reality be 8-1. This team is all about the W. Deep breathe here now. Relax. Clear your mind of all barriers and let the truth flow. Hang on not to past dreams, but todayâ's reality. Denver has lost three in a row. Dallas got shut out in Green Bay, who can't beat Tampa Bay. No one else is eligible for this number five spot so welcome back Patriots the the top five of professional football. Fear Bill Belicek and Tom Brady in the playoffs. Currently the New England Patriots are in the number five spot with maybe a 7-2 record if they can knock off no. two Indianapolis. The Colts could fall as low as number five with a loss, or hold steady at number two with a win against New England. No six is the Pittsburgh Steelers at 6-3 for the season. They have to win a few down the stretch now, and see who can trip up the Bengals. A third play-off match up is very interesting. It is very very hard to beat a team three times in one season if they are evenly matched. No. seven are the Arizona Cardinals who keep showing up week after week. Now at 6-3, the offense is explosive with Warner and his receivers. No. eight are the San Diego Chargers who would be oh so much better with a defense. No. nine are the Denver Broncos, now the proud parents of a strapping eight pound three game losing streak and San Diego knocking at the door. No. 10 are the under achieving Dallas Cowboys who get shut out, by the team the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat for their only win. No. 11 belongs to Atlanta, outside looking in at the big boys playing in the yard. This may be a little rough for you, youngsters. Better wait til next year when you are bigger and stronger. The once mighty New York Giants are now in the No. 12 position and needs some wins now, No more excuses, Execute and move up. Struggle and miss the playoffs. Get it together G-Men. Houston is now hovering in that zone of maybe making the playoffs. 5-4 and hope springs eternal. Better get some wins too, Texans or you'll be with the Giants. One game short. The San Francisco Forty-Niners, or the little train that could, are at No. 14. Mike Singletary must get something up his sleeve to get a win in Green Bay. The surprising Jacksonville Jags are at 5-4 and are at an astonishing record for this season so far. They can beat Buffalo and actually be at 6-4. Wow! Good job with the three name dudes. You need some more of those. No. fifteen is your reward. Baltimore who still has some hope for the playoffs, after Cincinnati beat the Steelers is currently in number 16. They should win next week, because they suddenly have to, if the playoffs are to follow this season. The Packers are number 17, and moved up after beating the Cowboys. Next week, can they do it again beating number 14 ranked San Francisco? A big game for both teams motivation for this season. Philadelphia is falling off the charts with this win one, lose one pattern.8-8 will not cut it, guys. Now at number 18 and going to angry Bears that are wounded at home next. The Dolphins are at No. 19 and it does not look good for playoffs to be in Miami's future this season. The Panthers are at 4-5 now and have made a nice recovery from the 0-3 start. No. 20 and number 19 play next week. 5-5 to the winner. The Bears are at No. 21 and really need a miracle to catch anyone to make the playoffs. The Jets are not that much better and need a lot of things to happen, jst to go 8-8 this season. Again, this team will not make the playoffs. No. 22 to the Jets. Tennessee is number 23 now with three wins in a row. Hooray!!! Seattle is at 3-6 and going no where fast. Number 24 to the Seahawks. Washington is the best of the bad teams, beating Denver and staying out of everyone in the NFC East's way, 3-6 and No. 25. Buffalo is also 3-6 and No. 27. Maybe you should put T.O. in your game plaqn, a little more. The man can catch dummies. No 28 is Kansas City who beat the Raiders in Oakland. 2-7 and a brownie point. No 29 are the inept quarterbacked Raiders. Who finally sat Russell, I hope, forever. No. 30 are the Buc's, who are somehow, improving, week by week. Number 31 and slipping fast, are the Detroit Lions, who need another win, next week against....... you guessed it, No. 32, and worst team in the league Cleveland Browns. Oops, I forgot the Rams. I skipped a number after Washington. Ok, Number 31 1/2 to the Rams. Enjoy your week and watch key power match ups next week as No. 11 Giants host the No. 12 Falcons. San Diego at No. eight takes on No. nine Denver in Mile High Stadium. Both teams desperately need to win and this game will rock. Baltimore must find a way to slow down Peyton Manning and the Colts if they want to play in there post season. The Colts travel to Baltimore in firm control of their own playoff destiny. For More Football Betting Tips & Picks and Sports Betting Information at BetRepublic.com.

Originally posted on

A few years from now when Peyton Manning is inducted into the NFL Hall Of Fame there is a good probability that the game the Indianapolis Colts played against the New England Patriots on November 15, 2009 will be brought up. They will talk about how he marched his team repeatedly down the field in READ MORE

Originally posted on

You don't think Peyton Manning is any good? Well here's something from Pete Prisco to make you think otherwise.Manning is, in my opinion, the greatest passer of this decade. I mean the guy is on pace to break the single season records for completion percentage and passing yards with an average offensive line and a depleted receiving corps while calling his own plays.The man is a genius.Meanwhile

It's into the wee hours of Sunday morning here, so I'll keep this short and sweet.

Last week's record: 10-3. Season record: 82-34.

Falcons over Redskins: One of the more obvious locks of the week.

Bears over Cardinals: I'm predicting a nice game from Cutler. Hopefully Forte too.

Ravens over Bengals: Baltimore should build off last weekend's big win against Denver.

Colts over Texans: This one should be pretty close, but I give the edge to Indy.

Patriots over Dolphins: This also should be a good one to watch, but I sense a last-second New England win.

Packers over Bucs: The second really obvious lock of the week.

Chiefs over Jaguars: The "upset" pick of the week, though I don't see it as much of an upset.

Seahawks over Lions: Just what the doctor ordered for my struggling Seahawks.

Saints over Panthers: I really wanted to take Carolina here, but I'll go with Saints in a toss-up.

Giants over Chargers: New York's anxious to turn things around. It starts here.

Titans over 49ers: Last week has given Tennessee some momentum. They keep it going here.

Eagles over Cowboys: I like the Eagles in Philly. The Eagles might be the team to beat in the NFC East.

Broncos over Steelers: I think Denver bounces back at home against Pittsburgh.

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WEEI in Boston is reporting that the Pats have worked out a couple of long snappers and kickers: The Patriots have held workouts for several different free agents, including veteran long snapper Joe Zelenka, kickers Mike Nugent and Connor Barth and punter Tim Masthay.

Divisional matchups have been the order so far this season on Monday Night Football and this week the Atlanta Falcons are in New Orleans to close off the Week 8 NFL betting card. It’s the first meeting of the season for these two NFC South rivals who split the series in 2008 with the home side winning each contest straight-up and against the spread.

The undefeated Saints (6-0) are one of only two remaining team in the league with a perfect record after the Denver Broncos lost on Sunday in Baltimore (Indianapolis (7-0) is also perfect after an 18-14 win vs. San Francisco). You can check all of Sunday’s scores and recaps at ESPN.com

For the sports betting community, if you are looking at betting on an undefeated team this late in the season, it means you’re going to be laying points, probably a lot of them. That is the case in this matchup, as the online sportsbooks pegged the Saints as double-digit favourites.

The Saints have been attracting a lot of the betting action throughout the week, as the line has moved all the way up to -12. Online sportsbook SPORTSBETTING.com reported 78% of all the betting volume on the Monday nighter had come in on New Orleans as of late Sunday night.

NFL Trends: Road favorites in Week 7 were 7-0 SU/ATS including the Patriots at Tampa Bay, even though it was neutral site game, and it wasn’t by small margins that the chalk teams were winning or covering, either. San Diego, Indianapolis, Green Bay and the New York Jets won by a combined margin of 132 points – that’s 30.5 points per game!

Results this Sunday (Week 8) by big home favorites like the Colts and Chargers, who both won straight-up but failed to cover the big spreads, did little to sway bettors away from New Orleans and it could have something to do with the Saints performance last week in Miami.

Trailing 24-3, the Saints offense went to work while the defense stymied the Wildcat and New Orleans made a statement. Starting with a QB Drew Brees rushing TD in the final seconds of the first-half, New Orleans went on a 43-3 run lasting 28 minutes to cement the win and become the first NFL team in history to score 45-plus points in four of their first six games.

Atlanta was in Dallas last week and learned what an explosive offense can do when the Cowboys put up 37 points – the most points the Falcons have allowed in the Mike Smith-Matt Ryan era. Recent success, or lack thereof, by double-digit favorites on Monday Night has done little to sway the tide of bettors from New Orleans, but since Week 6, 2006 there have been 10 double-digit favorites and they are just 2-8 ATS.

This is the seventh divisional Monday Night game of the 2009 season and favorites through the first six games are 4-2 SU but only 2-4 ATS. All six games have gone "Over" the posted total and in fact the only Monday Night game this season that did not land on the high side was Carolina at Dallas in Week 3.

The posted total for Atlanta-New Orleans is one of the highest bettors will see in the NFL but if the Saints keep scoring the way they have been, it could be a sign of things to come.

NFL Picks: Looking at the matchup, I’m going to be taking the big points and hoping the Falcons can keep this one close. Good luck with your bets on the big game.

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There's no way around it – last week was just a horrific week for me pick-wise. I got less than half of the games right (six out of 13). That should never happen. Anyway, you have to move on. I'm looking for a bounceback effort this week.

Last week: 6-7, Season record: 72-31

Texans over Bills: Houston is coming on. I like them in a blowout here.

Bears over Browns: Any team playing the Browns at home should win by 20 points. Easily.

Seahawks over Cowboys: Upset pick of the week. I'm feeling good about this one.

Rams over Lions: Yes, the Rams snap their losing streak. For what it's worth, it should be a close game.

Colts over 49ers: This will be a laugher about midway through the second quarter.

Dolphins over Jets: Miami should have beaten New Orleans. They will beat the Jets.

Broncos over Ravens: This should be a close game, but I see Denver winning another thriller.

Eagles over Giants: Last week's loss to the Cardinals really exposed the Giants. Philly should take this.

Titans over Jaguars: And the Titans are on the board! Really though, it's about time.

Chargers over Raiders: Close your eyes kids, this is going to get ugly.

Vikings over Packers: Favre and the Vikings get back on track with a win in Green Bay.

Cardinals over Panthers: I'll be rooting for the Panthers, but everything points to an Arizona win.

Saints over Falcons: I give the edge to the Saints by virtue of the home-field advantage.

Originally posted on

Lots of little bits and pieces over the past few days that I’ve yet to address… [Tyler Yates was outrighted to Indianapolis, and then he decided he rather be a free agent]. Hooray, no more Flood Gates Yates, right? Maybe. [Neal Huntington said] that “We are in dialogue with Tyler in an attempt to keep him READ MORE