NFL Picks: We were better, but not great. It's on to Week 11.

Last week we went 11-3 and that's a step in the right direction. However, we had only three of those weeks out of the first 10, so we will not get cocky.

Granted, we ARE getting smarter. We took only two upsets last week and both tanked, of course, so this week, no upsets at all. None. And no more Detroit Lions either.

Here are some of the things we're at closely this week:

(a) With a victory Sunday over Jacksonville, the Tennessee Titans will move to 10-0. Prior to this season, 23 teams had posted 9-0 records and five of them lost Game No. 10. Of the 23, only four finished the regular season undefeated and untied – the 1934 and 1942 Chicago Bears, 1972 Miami Dolphins and 2007 New England Patriots. Amazingly, this marks the fourth consecutive season in which at least one team has reached the 9-0 benchmark – the longest such streak in NFL history.

(b) The four NFC South teams have a combined home record of 17-1 (.944) in 2008. If Carolina (5-0), Tampa Bay (4-0), Atlanta (4-0), and New Orleans (4-1) maintain this pace, the 2008 NFC South will surpass the 2003 NFC West (.813) for the highest combined home winning percentage of any division since 1970. With 14 NFC South home games remaining, the division must combine for 10 wins in those contests to set the record at .844 (27-5).

(c) This bit of info from the league is really amazing: Both the Atlanta Falcons and Baltimore Ravens have posted 6-3 (.667) records this season with a rookie head coach and rookie quarterback leading the way. Atlanta hired head coach Mike Smith early this year and then picked Matt Ryan with the No. 3 overall choice in the 2008 NFL Draft, while Baltimore selected Joe Flacco at No. 18 after naming John Harbaugh head coach.

OK, let's take a close look at Week 11…

THURSDAY NIGHT

New York Jets (6-3) at New England Patriots (6-3)

The Pats are banged up with Rodney Harrison, Adalius Thomas, Lawrence Maroney and Tom Brady all watching from the sideline (or on TV). Still, they're the Pats and they're at home. This could be the Game of the Week. 

Take New England

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Denver Broncos (5-4) at Atlanta Falcons (6-3)

Mat Ryan is the real deal. He's NFC rookie of the year hands down and he's 4-0 at the Georgia Dome. 

Take Atlanta

Detroit Lions (0-9) at Carolina Panthers (7-2) 

Call 9-1-1!! Call 9-1-1!! Daunte Culpepper could get killed this week.

Take Carolina

Philadelphia Eagles (5-4) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-8)

Philly has fallen into last place in the NFC East and is only 2-2 on the road, but the Eagles are better than the Bungles.

Take Philadelphia 

New Orleans Saints (4-5) at Kansas City Chiefs (1-8)

How does Herman Edwards keep a gig? He destroyed the Jets and now he's destroyed the Chiefs. I don't get it. New Orleans gets its first road win. 

Take New Orleans

Baltimore Ravens (6-3) at New York Giants (8-1)

This should be a great football game. Just to see what Eli Manning does against that great Ravens defence will be a treat in itself. The Giants go to 6-0 at home.

Take NY Giants

Minnesota Vikings (5-4) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3) 

Tampa is 4-0 at home while the Vikings are 1-3 on the road. If Minnesota had any kind of quarterback at all, they'd win by two touchdowns, but Gus Frerotte is horrible.

Take Tampa Bay

Oakland Raiders (2-7) at Miami Dolphins (5-4)

The "Wildcat Offence" is for real and how about Ricky Williams (105 yards and a TD) last week? Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano have made the Dolphins fun again. Meanwhile, the Raiders have scored only nine touchdowns in nine games this season.

Take Miami

Chicago Bears (5-4) at Green Bay Packers (4-5)

The Packers offence was awful last week and the Bears lost at home to Tennessee. It's hard not to like Aaron Rodgers against Rex Grossman.

Take Green Bay

Houston Texans (3-6) at Indianapolis Colts (5-4)

Last week's victory in Pittsburgh was a statement by Peyton Manning and the Colts. Indy is back. 

Take Indianapolis 

St. Louis Rams (2-7) at San Francisco 49ers (2-7)

Whatever. Take the wild-eyed, pants-down Mike Singletary's Niners at home.

Take San Francisco 

Arizona Cardinals (6-3) at Seattle Seahawks (3-6)

Arizona is a legitimate playoff contender. Seattle is lucky to have three wins.

Take Arizona

Tennessee Titans (9-0) at Jacksonville Jaguars (4-5)

The Titans run might have more to do with the brilliance of Jeff Fisher than anything else. Despite its win in Detroit last week, the Jags are a fraud.

Take Tennessee 

San Diego Chargers (4-5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (6-3)

San Diego is a good football team that is badly coached. They barely beat dog-ass K.C. at home last week. The Steelers have a tough schedule and they're banged up, but they'll still beat anything Norv Turner does.

Take Pittsburgh

SUNDAY NIGHT

Dallas Cowboys (5-4) at Washington Redskins (6-3)

A terrific NFC East rivalry, but with the Cowboys nicked all over and Jason Campbell playing well, it's hard not to like the Redskins. 

Take Washington

MONDAY NIGHT 

Cleveland Browns (3-6) at Buffalo Bills (5-4)

Buffalo is better and they're at home, but Cleveland isn't traveling far and Brady Quinn has the goods. Still…

Take Buffalo 

Last week: 11-3

Season: 81-63