NFL WEEK ELEVEN


The Fall of the Mighty Horseheads?

This week the death of most beloved horse in the UK, Desert Orchid foreshadows the demise of the last NFL unbeaten team, the Indy Colts.

BALTIMORE (-3½) vs. Atlanta - Ravens Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis was a guest coach and motivational speaker at the Poets' early evening practice as a result of a winning essay written by Dunbar senior James Bailey. Bailey entered a writing contest sponsored by the company that makes vitaminwater, an enhanced-water drink, in which he had to describe, in 52 words or fewer, how his high school team would benefit from a visit by Lewis. Now Lewis is out for this game due to back surgery. You do the maths. Pick: Falcons.

HOUSTON (-2) vs. Buffalo - One Read QB JP Losman has started 17 games in his career for the Bills and is 4-13 in those starts. Pick: Houston.

Chicago (-4) vs. N.Y. JETS - The Bears are among the league leaders in point differential (272-120), while New York has somehow given up substantially more (207) than it's scored (177) through nine weeks, even with a winning record. Pick: Bears

NEW ORLEANS (-3½) vs. Cincinnati - Coach Marvin Lewis locked Bengals players out of the Paul Brown Stadium players' lounge Monday because the room was not cleaned. Lewis re-opened the door Wednesday. Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh said he would clean it, Lewis said, but didn't. "So we locked it," Lewis said. The room is furnished with a large-screen TV, a couch and several over-sized reclining chairs. It also has video games, two poker tables and a pool table. Pick, Bengals.

DALLAS (E) vs. Indianapolis - Peyton Manning was named the league's most marketable player in a survey conducted by Sports Business Journal, and The Indianapolis Star reported his "Q" score — measuring name identification and receptiveness — ranks higher than popular NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. in several marketing polls. Even so, Manning has been criticized for overexposure. Pick: Cowboys.

MIAMI (-3½) vs. Minnesota - Daunte Culpepper says his heart and soul are willing, so he would love to play Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. But the Dolphins' quarterback is out for Sunday's game against his former team because his surgically repaired right knee won't allow it. Pick: Dolphins.

New England (-6) vs. GREEN BAY - This is the Patriots first visit to Lambeau Field in 27 years and they are 21-3 in games when the temperature at kickoff is 34 degrees or colder. Forecast for Sunday: Mostly cloudy during the morning then becoming mostly sunny. Highs around 40. Pick: Packers.

KANSAS CITY (-10) vs. Oakland - Trent Green is back as Kansas City's starting quarterback, 10 weeks after a brutal head-snapping hit knocked him unconscious with a severe concussion. Since being knocked out by Cincinnati's Robert Geathers on Sept. 10, the 36-year-old Green slowly has worked his way back. Initially, he could not even drive a car, but several weeks ago he was allowed to resume limited practice. Pick: Raiders.

Pittsburgh (-3) vs. CLEVELAND - Since returning in 1999, the Browns are 1-6 vs. the Steelers in Cleveland and were embarrassed last year, 41-0. Pick: Steelers.

CAROLINA (-6) vs. St. Louis - As he addressed the team Monday after a bitterly disappointing loss to Seattle, coach Scott Linehan took a survey. "If anybody in this room had a perfect game, you can get up and walk out," Linehan said. "If any of you feel like you did everything perfect, that gave us the perfect chance to win the game, then you don't need to be in this room." Wow, what a motivator. Pick: Panthers.

PHILADELPHIA (-12½) vs. Tennessee - The Eagles will be collecting cans of non-perishable food at the game Sunday. Bins will be set up at entrance gates throughout Lincoln Financial Field. Members of the Philadelphia Eagles Woman's Association also will be on hand to collect financial donations. All food and money collected will be turned over to Philabundance, an organization that works to overcome hunger and malnutrition in the Philadelphia area. Pick: Titans.

TAMPA BAY (-2½) vs. Washington - Jason Campbell wore No. 17 during his years at Auburn. When drafted by the Redskins, the quarterback wanted to continue wearing his number. Small problem, though: Doug Williams wore No. 17 when he led the Redskins to a Super Bowl title. So, before asking the equipment manager for the No. 17 jersey, Campbell first placed a call to Mr. Williams. "It's just a matter of respect, because this guy has done it, won it all here in D.C.," Campbell said. "I just wanted to ask Doug and make sure it was cool to wear his number. (Now) it's an opportunity to wear 17 and carry on that tradition.". Pick: Bucs

ARIZONA (-1½) vs. Detroit - The 1-8 Cardinals are currently No. 1 on the NFL's board for the 2007 draft and the 2-7 Lions are at No. 2. The Cardinals have had one winning season since they moved to Arizona in 1988, but they've never been this bad since they arrived in the desert. Their 1-8 record is their worst start to a season since 1978, and they haven't gone 1-9 since World War II. Pick: Detroit.

Seattle (-4½) vs. SAN FRANCISCO - Jerry Rice will get his own video tribute of honour at halftime of this game and teammates from Rice's three championship teams are expected to be on hand, including Brent Jones, Roger Craig, Steve Young and possibly, Joe Montana. Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh, who disclosed last week he is battling leukemia, also hopes to attend. Pick: Seattle.

DENVER (-3) vs. San Diego - "To be honest with you, one thing I can say about Coach Schottenheimer is that he philosophizes and uses his diagrams correctly and his quotes," Bronco Kennard Lang remembered about Chargers coach Marty Shottenheimer. "There's no telling what he might say. There's one thing I remember the most that he said -- 'Before you make a decision, you control it, but once you make it, it controls you.' Pick: Chargers.

Monday night

JACKSONVILLE -3 vs. N.Y. Giants - Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich will undergo surgery on his injured left ankle on Tuesday. Pick: Giants.

Last week 8-8
Season to date: 66-73-4