SHMUCKS PICKS

NEW YORK JETS (-1) vs. ARIZONA CARDINALS -

I can’t believe the Jets are still considered a favorite. We Jet fans hope they won’t be as bad as their Monday night debacle but optimism is not part of our vocabulary. The Jets need to make sure they keep Arizona’s offense off the field. Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are considered the best wide receiver tandem in all of the NFL and that’s a lot of pressure for the young cornerbacks. They also need to bring the pressure, throw more blitz. Something they did little of against the Chargers and it showed as Rivers picked them apart. Arizona needs to play their game. If they can control the clock with the run and their short slant patterns they should have no problem wearing out the Jets D and running out of the Meadowlands with a big win. I think their offense is too much for the Jets to handle and they win this one by a field goal.

Arizona 27 Jets 20



CAROLINA PANTHERS (-6.5) vs. ATLANTA FALCONS –

The Panthers are coming off a tough loss to the Minnesota Vikings (I can’t believe Gus Frerote is still alive). Is Steve Smith becoming a distraction? They were playing better as a team when he was suspended, could be interesting. Still, I like their chances against the Falcons. Surprisingly Atlanta has played well this season with the huge impact of their running game led by Michael Turner. He is making fantasy owners everywhere very proud. But those monster games of his came against the Lions and the Chiefs, the two worst run defenses in the NFL. Carolina is a much better team defensively and they will cover the spread and win at home.

Carolina 31 Atlanta 17