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Green Bay 6-3 @ Detroit 4-5 at 1:00 p.m. (Line: PACKERS BY 3.5) Packers LB Clay Matthews is out of the lineup this week with a hamstring injury. The Lions are the only team in the NFC North with a losing record, but they are 2-1 at home this season. ---RJ's Pick: Detroit by 2

President Obama gave an important speech yesterday outlining his deficit-reduction plan. I won't comment here on the specifics of his proposals, partly because there weren't any specifics, but also because I want to focus on a single line in his speech. The president said: "My plan will require us to come together and make up the additional savings with more spending cuts and more spending reductions in the tax code." "Spending reductions in the tax code." It has sort of a nice ring to it, until you realize that what he really means is "higher taxes." So, the president wants...

Tampa Bay 9-6 at New Orleans 11-4 1:00 PM [Line: SAINTS BY 8] If the Saints lose, they are the NFC's #5 seed. If the Saints win and Atlanta wins, they are still the NFC's #5 seed. If the Saints win and Atlanta loses, they win the NFC South and get a playoff bye. If the Saints win and both Atlanta and Chicago lose, they win the NFC South, get a playoff bye, and secure homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. Tampa Bay's only route to the postseason is with a win here and losses by both Green Bay and the...

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23 Carolina 2-12 at Pittsburgh 10-4 8:20 PM [Line: Pittsburgh by 14] Carolina has the worst record in the NFL. If that holds up, they will get the #1 pick in next year's draft. Presumably that pick will be QB Andrew Luck from Stanford. The Panthers already have a pretty solid running game and a decent defense; their disastrous season can be blamed almost solely on awful play at the quarterback position. If Luck is really the next Peyton Manning (as some have suggested), Carolina could be seriously competitive as early as next season. RJ's Pick: Steelers by...

Cleveland 5-8 at Cincinnati 2-11 1:00 PM [Line: Cincinnati by 1.5] The Bengals have lost 10 straight games, the longest streak in the NFL. The "Battle of Ohio" is more of a skirmish this year. RJ's Pick: Cleveland by 3 Washington 5-8 at Dallas 4-9 1:00 PM [Line: Dallas by 6] Tashard Choice asked for Michael Vick's autograph immediately after last week's loss. In related news, Choice is asking for some self respect for Christmas. RJ's Pick: Dallas by 11

*THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9* Indianapolis 6-6 at Tennessee 5-7 @ 8:20 PM [Line: Colts by 3] The Titans have lost five in a row. The Colts have dropped three straight. Indianapolis needs to win this one if they want to have a shot at winning the AFC South and making the playoffs. Over the last five games, Peyton Manning has thrown 9 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions; the Colts have lost four of those five games. RJ's Pick: Colts by 7

*THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2ND* Houston (5-6) at Philadelphia (7-4) - 8:20 PM [Line: Eagles by 8] The Eagles have the NFL's #2 offense (in terms of scoring as well as yards per game). The Texans have the second-worst pass defense in the league. Michael Vick threw his first interception of the season last week. Expect a lot of scoring in this game, and maybe some canine electrocution later this weekend. RJ's Pick: Eagles by 13

Thanks to this handy tool from the New York Times, I was able to turn a projected $418 billion shortfall in 2015 into a $58 billion surplus. I was also able to turn a projected $1.345 trillion dollar deficit in 2030 into a $161 billion surplus. Here's how I did it...

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14 Detroit (2-6) at Buffalo (0-8) - 1:00 PM [LINE: Buffalo by 3] If you're a Detroit Lions fan, the first half of the season has brought some good news and some bad news. The good news: The Lions have been competitive in every game they've played, they can put a lot of points up on the board, and their defensive front four are solid. The bad news: Their franchise quarterback is apparently made out of balsa wood, and their head coach seems to think sending a 307-pound defensive tackle out to try extra points without warming up...

Miami at Baltimore 1:00 PM - LINE: Baltimore by 5 The Dolphins (4-3) are undefeated on the road (yet winless at home). The Ravens (5-2) remain undefeated at home after barely beating the hapless Bills in overtime in their last game. RJ's Pick: Miami by 2 San Diego at Houston 1:00 PM - LINE: San Diego by 3 The Chargers (3-5) remain the best team in the league...at least on paper. The Texans (4-3) have lost two of their last three and are allowing over 400 yards of offense per game. RJ's Pick: San Diego by 8

Jacksonville 3-4 at Dallas 1-5 1:00 PM [ Dallas by 6.5 ] The Jaguars have allowed 72 points in their last two games, both losses. Jon Kitna will be starting at QB for the Cowboys in place of the injured Tony Romo. -RJ's Pick: Dallas by 12

Philadelphia 4-2 at Tennessee 4-2 1:00 PM [Line: Tennessee by 3] The Eagles are undefeated on the road this season. I believe they will remain that way if they can manage to keep Chris Johnson under 100 yards rushing. -RJ's Pick: Philadelphia by 4

Seattle 2-2 at Chicago 4-1 [Bears by 6.5] Bears QB Todd Collins' quarterback rating: 5.9. ---RJ's Pick: Chicago by 2 Tennessee 3-2 at Jacksonville 3-2 [Titans by 3] Vince Young's Wonderlic score: Higher than Todd Collins' quarterback rating. ---RJ's Pick: Jacksonville by 5

Philadelphia 2-2 at San Francisco 0-4 - 8:20 PM [Line: 49ers by 3] Michael Vick injured his ribs last week. He was hurt so bad that when he got home he only had the energy to torture and kill one puppy. ---RJ's Pick: Eagles by 5

Redskins 1-2 @ Eagles 2-1 - 4PM [Eagles by 6.5] Will McNabb get booed? Will Eagles fans pelt him with batteries? If so, what size? I'm thinking "C" or maybe 9-volt. ---RJ's Pick: Eagles by 3

Tennessee 1-1 at New York Giants 1-1 - 1:00 PM [Sheridan's odds: Giants by 3] There are concerns that Vince Young's ever-so-fragile "psyche" was damaged when he was pulled in the 4th quarter last week. My question is: How would you be able to tell? Shiny objects no longer hold his attention? ---RJ's Pick: Tennessee by 2

Philadelphia 0-1 at Detroit 0-1 - 1:00 PM [Sheridan's odds: Philadelphia by 6] Poor Calvin Johnson. The last time someone got screwed that hard was Jodie Foster in the pinball scene from The Accused. In the future, Detroit Lions receivers are advised to hold on to the ball for at least two trimesters, just to be sure. This week, both starting quarterbacks are going to sit. Kevin Kolb is out with brain damage and Matthew Stafford is out because he's always out. So the Eagles will start PETA spokeman Michael Vick, and the Lions will start Shaun Hill, whose numbers...

It's that time again...

Efforts in more than half of the state legislatures to assert state sovereignty under the 10th Amendment to the Constitution and prevent unwanted impositions by the federal government are now running into serious partisan opposition. Most of these bills have been introduced and are supported by Republican legislators and Democrats are doing everything they can to block them and make sure that their states comply with federal mandates issued by a national Congress dominated by their party.

Must-See For Historic Failure: Detroit 0-15 at Green Bay 5-10 - 1:00 PM (Line: Green Bay by 10.5) The Lions are one loss away from the NFL's first "perfect" 0-16 season. The Packers haven't lost to the Lions in Wisconsin since 1991. RJ's Pick: Detroit by 1 Must-See: Carolina 11-4 at New Orleans 8-7 - 1:00 PM (Line: Carolina by 3) Will Carolina win the NFC South and secure a playoff bye? Will Drew Brees break Dan Marino's record for most passing yards in a single season? RJ's Pick: New Orleans by 8 Worth Watching: Oakland 4-11 at Tampa Bay...