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Jared Allen will make Orlando Pace a human turnstile on Sunday afternoon.

Survivor Poolers have been waiting for a week like last one all season.  The week to clear the flotsam and narrow the leagues down to the final stretch.  Injuries played large roles in the losses for both Cincinnati and Pittsburgh but it’s hard to believe that either team would have lost had they been at home.  Let this be a lesson to stick with home teams whenever possible in Survivor Pool play.  Without point spreads home field still counts. 

There are way too many easy games this week.  Pick strategically to save the best matchups for later. 

Locks:

Dallas over Oakland:  The Cowboys offense has stalled that last two weeks.  I’m not concerned this week.  The Cowboys have lit up three straight turkey day opponents and Bruce Gradkowski on the road doesn’t inspire the least bit of fear from me.  The Cowboys get back on track and win going away to cap off the most boring afternoon of football ever.  I hope you are drunk by the time this game kicks off.

Green Bay over Detroit:  Just look at what Brady Quinn did to the Lions last week.  Aaron Rodgers should throw for 8 TD’s in this game.  Fears about injuries to the Green Bay defense should be lessened by word that Matt Stafford will most likely miss the game with a separated shoulder and Calvin Johnson is questionable.

Atlanta over Tampa Bay:  The Bucs recent spasm of competence seems to have been short lived after getting flogged by the Saints last week.  Coach Raheem Morris responded by firing his defensive coordinator making him probably the only coach ever to fire both of his coordinators during a season.  Throw in the fact that Morris is a first year coach and you have a completely dysfunctional organization on your hands.  Jason Snelling filled in admirably for Michael Turner last week and Matty Ice had his best game in a month.  Take the Dirty Birds if you haven’t already.  

Cincinnati over Cleveland:  Benson is back, the Bengals are pissed, and the Browns offense blew their load last week.  This one should be ugly.  The only reason not to use the Bengals this week is if you are saving them for next week and a home game against the Lions. 

Minnesota over Chicago:  The Bears are a complete mess.  Their best player may be kicker Robbie Gould.  The Vikings present a matchup that is a nightmare for the Bears.  If Jay Cutler isn’t in a wheelchair by the end of the game it should be considered a victory.  The Vikes win 35-10. 

San Diego over Kansas City:  The Chiefs still aren’t good and this version of the Chargers doesn’t seem to play down to it’s competition like recent versions.  This feels like a safe play this week.  The Chargers play at Cleveland next week if you have the luxury of saving them. 

Caution:

Philadelphia over Washington:  The Bears are not good but had the ball with a chance to win on Sunday night despite Jay Cutler looking like an unholy hybrid of all Rex Grossman and Johnathon Quinn.  This Eagles are average and no better.  They should beat the Redskins but there are better options this week. 

Balls of Steel:

Miami over Buffalo:  The Dolphins are better team as evidenced by their 38-10 heavy sack beating of the Bills in Miami in Week 3, but I don’t trust the Dolphins in a Week 12 road game.  Tony Sparano is a terrible game coach.  This was in full view on Thursday night against the Panthers and a couple of weeks earlier against the Jets when they went for 2 in a situation that could have cost them.  The Bills showed a little more life in the first week without Deadwood Dick Jauron and even managed to get Terrell Owens prominently involved.  The Bills offense was better earlier in the year with Fred Jackson as the feature back and it looks like he will be back in that role this week as Marshawn Lynch may miss the game.  Miami should win but you would need Balls of Steel to take them now. 

Avoid like canned Cranberry Sauce:

NY Giants at Denver, Seattle at St. Louis, Carolina at NY Jets, Indy at Houston, Jacksonville at SF, Arizona at Tennessee, Pittsburgh at Baltimore, New England at New Orleans