Sports

Week 11 Patch Pick'Em

Fair Lawn residents Stuart Pace, Steve Brown,Rich Seibel and Zak Koeske make their fantasy football selections for the weekend

Welcome to the weekly Patch NFL Pick 'Em, where Fair Lawn residents and wannabe NFL prognosticators Stuart Pace, Steve Brown, Rich Seibel and Zak Koeske offer up their picks for three games each week and dish out a little fantasy football advice to boot.

If you'd like our opinion on fantasy roster moves, have a fantasy football question you'd like answered or would like to compete against us as a Guest Picker, email Patch NFL Pick 'Em at zak.koeske@patch.com

This week's Pick 'Em games:

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  • Indianapolis Colts (6-3) @ New England Patriots (6-3) -- Sunday, 4:25 p.m.
  • Baltimore Ravens (7-2) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3) -- Sunday, 8:20 p.m.
  • Chicago Bears (7-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (6-2-1) -- Monday, 8:30 p.m.

Click here and scroll to the bottom to see this week's Patch Survivor picks.

Stuart Pace’s Game Picks:

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New England, Baltimore and Chicago

New England Patriots over Indianapolis Colts -- Peyton couldn’t beat the Pats with the Colts, I certainly don’t expect the rookie Luck to fare any better. With the Steelers hurting, the Patriots, sadly, now have the chance to easily be at least the second seed in the AFC. Done. Confidence Level: 3 (most confident)

Baltimore Ravens over Pittsburgh Steelers -- Oh well, Pitt, you had your chances. With Ben injured the Ravens must be thinking it’s an early Christmas present. The Chiefs kept close on MNF and I think they were robbed on some calls. So take the Ravens, call Vegas and tell 'em Stuart sent ya. Confidence Level: 2

Chicago Bears over San Francisco 49ers -- OK, last week I took the position that Houston is a pretty good ball club. This week I think the Bears are the better club. It’s easy to think that the Bears without Cutler are not very good, but their defense is still pretty frickin' awesome. And a bitter defeat at home should be enough to edge them over the Niners. Confidence Level: 1 (least confident)

Upset of the Week

Kansas City Chiefs over Cincinnati Bengals -- Wow, what a game KC played in horrific conditions in Pittsburgh Monday night. If they can get Jamaal, Hillis and Bowe to perform at top level, take the KC Chiefs at home versus a “just wiped the floor with the Giants” Bengals.

Sleeper of the  Week

Marcel Reese, RB (OAK) -- Why not? The guy comes out of nowhere and fills in for D-Mac, and though he doesn’t have tons of yardage, he has over 80 yards of total offense and no one knows who he is. Watch him put some points on the board this week against the Saints.

Bust of the Week

Philip Rivers, QB (SD) --There was a reason Eli didn’t want to play in San Diego. THEY NEVER WIN ANYTHING. Rivers is playing out the string in what I think is his last season in SD and against the Broncos in Denver, I am expecting a lousy performance.

Steve Brown’s Picks:

New England, Baltimore and San Francisco

New England Patriots over Indianapolis Colts -- Tempting to pick this as the passing of the torch game. Pats look very unimpressive especially on the D side, except for a guy whose name I love to say -- Ninkovic. Sounds like a russian insult, doesn’t it?  Davay, NINKOVICH!  But don’t try to get Lucky just yet. Pats at home find a way. Confidence Level: 3 (most confident)

Baltimore Ravens over Pittsburgh Steelers -- Injuries and concussions ruined what could’ve been really great Sunday and Monday night games. Ravens-Steelers are always games you circle on the must-watch calendar, but with Big Ben, Troy Polamalu and Ray Lews all out, this game has lost a lot of its luster. As good as the Steelers are at plugging the next man in and continuing on at a high level, there does come a time when a straw breaks the camel's back and they are now left with Leftwich. So give me the less-wounded Ravens to finish off the steel industry in America. Confidence Level: 2

San Francisco 49ers over Chicago Bears --Dick Butkus used to try to break opponents' legs in the pile ups. Mike Singletary tried to assassinate quartebacks with his eyes. Brian Urlacher high fives them after they pick off his QB. Then he is reported to say he doesn’t give a crap about the fans calling him out on it. This is a perfect example of why football was better in years that started with 19 than it is in years starting with 20. Is the loss of Jay Cutler a bigger blow to the Bears than the loss of Alex Smith is to the Niners? I think it is. Do you take a dynamic Colin Kapernick at home to outplay the seemingly emotionless Jason Campbell on the road? Jason showed no fire or sense of urgency when called upon at home against the Texans, so I sure do. Confidence Level: 1 (least confident)

Upset of the Week

Buffalo Bills over Miami Dolphins -- I'll take the Bills over the Dolphins for the following 5 reasons in order of importance:

  1. This pick will upset Stuart.
  2. The Bills win the Clemson Roster Equation: CJ Spiller + Crezdon Butler > Chris Clemons.
  3. A Buffalo would stomp a Dolphin to death on land and football is played on land.
  4. The Bills actually played well last week. The Dolphins? Nippety nope!
  5. This pick will upset Stuart.

Sleeper of the Week

Greg Olsen, TE (CAR) -- He actually woke up last week, but give me Greg Olsen to continue his productive ways. In the last two weeks he has produced 14 of his total 43 catches and two of his three touchdowns. Cam Newton is clearly growing comfortable with him and will continue to look for him often against the Bucs. Bonus sleeper C.J. Spiller if Fred Jackson's concussion keeps him off the field Thursday.

Bust of the Week

WRs (PIT, PHI, CHI, NYJ, KC) -- Look long and hard at WRs on the following teams: Steelers (Big Ben, Shoulder), Eagles (Michael Vick, Concussion) Bears (Jay Cutler, Concussion), Jets (Mark Sanchez, broken confidence), Chiefs (Matt Cassel, Interceptionitis)

Rich Seibel's Picks:

New England, Pittsburgh and San Francisco

New England Patriots over Indianapolis Colts -- If the Colts were at home I would take them here. But to ask them to beat the Pats this time is too much. Patriots big. Confidence Level: 3 (most confident)

Pittsburgh Steelers over Baltimore Ravens -- I have been picking the Steelers all year. They are at home, banged up and a 3.5-point favorite. Do the bookies know something? Steelers in OT. Confidence Level: 2

San Francisco 49ers over Chicago Bears -- The Bears have traditionally had a very difficult time with the 49ers. The Bears are playing like the Niners played last year, with tough D and turnovers. But the QBs on both sides are hurt. Thankfully for the Niners, Alex Smith stinks so they won't miss him that much. Go Niners, 10-6. Confidence Level: 1 (least confident)

Upset of the Week

Detroit Lions over Green Bay Packers -- Detroit, at home. I can't believe thay are really this bad. They need to show some pride in this Black and Blue division rivalry and tighten this division up.

Sleeper of the Week

Kendall Hunter, RB (SF) -- I have to stay consistent and go with Kendall Hunter. Monday Night they will run the ball. Hard. (Dick's remains on his 49ers kick. Will he ever be right? Stay tuned this week)

Bust of the Week

Mark Sanchez, QB (NYJ) - No explanation necessary.

Zak Koeske's picks:

New England, Baltimore and San Francisco

New England Patriots over Indianapolis Colts --Not sure I'll be saying this in a year, but for now the Patriots have the better quarterback and the better team. The Luck vs. Brady matchup should be a pleasure to watch, but the Patriots are still too much for the Colts to handle. Expect at least a 10-point win for New England. Confidence Level: 3 (most confident)

Baltimore Ravens over Pittsburgh Steelers -- This is a tough pill for me to swallow because I hate the Ravens, but I think they'll pull off a close win on Sunday night. Leftwich and the Steelers running game should be able to keep Pittsburgh close against this un-Raven-like defense, but Baltimore's offense is a little bit too high-powered this year. The Ravens win in a nailbiter. Confidence Level: 1 (least confident)

San Francisco 49ers over Chicago Bears -- I'll say again what I did last week -- the Bears haven't beaten a team with a winning record this year (their Week 1 win over the Colts and Andrew Luck in his first NFL game doesn't count). While I'm worried their defense may just devour the Niners' inexperienced signal caller, I'll put my faith in the home team and hope Kaepernick can limit mistakes. He couldn't be much worse than Alex Smith. Confidence Level: 2 

 Upset of the Week

Arizona Cardinals over Atlanta Falcons -- Arizona snaps its five-game losing streak coming off the bye and wins the Battle of the Birds against an Atlanta team reeling after its first loss last week.

Sleeper of the Week

Darius Heyward-Bey, WR (OAK) -- Carson Palmer is salivating at this matchup and Darius Heyward-Bey is one of the leading candidates to haul in one of Palmer's multiple passing TDs.

Bust of the Week

Michael Turner, RB (ATL) -- Turner continues to struggle -- he's at 3.8ypc on the year -- and the Cardinals D is hungry after a bye week. Expect another lackluster performance from The Slow Burner.

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