It’s the Friday before Christmas and The Cover 4 is giving away free gifts. Yup, we are giving you the weekly dosage of NFL picks. While some of us have been in the money, others (cough Long Island Sound cough cough) lost his whole trust fund after a disastrous week 15. Thats why I love football because anyone can win any week; I think I say that all the time.

I am sad that the NFL regular season will be over and we won’t be bringing you all of the NFL picks and predictions BUT we will be coming out with a number of awesome articles. We want to be different and we are going to show you why The Cover 4 is different!

This weeks Cover 4: PIT, KC, WASH, NYG 

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Atlanta Falcons (-3½) @ Detroit Lions

General Peppers – DET +3½ – With the NFC South locked up, and the 49ers two games back, I see no reason for Atlanta to go all in like they did against the Giants.

Jesse– DET (ML)  – I’ll take the home-dog on Saturday night. Detroit coming off an embarrassing loss (right, Kake?) will bounce back in a big way vs. #1 seed in the NFC. Detroit wins outright.

Long Island Sound – ATL -3½ – DET makng too many mistakes and ATL looking to finalize at home.

Plumb – ATL -3½ – Atlanta proven they’re a top tier team this year, why not show it in a blow out over Det.

James – ATL –3½ – I bet against ATL last week and for DET. Both moves making me look ridiculous thus I am taking ATL. 

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Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers (- 3½) 

General Peppers – PIT -3½ – Simple: both teams have to win this game. Pittsburgh is a better team.

Jesse – PIT -3½ – This was a tough game to handicap. I just don’t see Cincy getting over the hump, and Pittsburgh wins their 6th straight meeting.

Long Island Sound – PIT -3½ – Now or never for the Steelers.

Plumb – PIT +3½ – Love PIT especially when they have their backs against the wall. Cincy will be tough but Steelers have won 72% of the time against the Bengals and control their destiny at home. Numbers say Bengals but can’t go against the home team with everything on the line. Caution Big Ben at work.

James – PIT -3½ – The ½ point scares me as this game may be a three point game but I really think the Steelers take care of business here.

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New Orleans Saints @ Dallas Cowboys (-3)

General Peppers – DAL -3 – Dallas is making the playoffs and winning the NFC East. Their playoff run starts here.

Jesse – NO +3 – Dallas finally has momentum heading into a must win game. If you can trust this team, good luck.

Long Island Sound – DAL -3 – Porous D veruss offense with all the potential.

Plumb – NO +3 – My trap game of the week. Saints play spoiler in this one.

James – DAL -3 – I usually bet against the Dallas in any big game but the Saints have struggled plenty this year. Dallas getting hot at the right now.

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Tennessee Titans @ Green Bay Packers (-12½) 

General Peppers – GB -12½ – Green Bay getting healthy at the right time. Hello Jennings/Matthews/Nelson.

Jesse – TEN +12½ – Green Bay, after battling hated division rival Chicago last week, must get ready for a bad Titans team who needed 5 turnovers to beat the spiraling Jets. Following this week’s game, Packers must game plan to try to stop AP and his record breaking mentality in Minnesota. What does all this mean? Your classic sandwich game.

Long Island Sound – TEN +12½ – NFL and that many points? CJ will be able to work veruss the Packer D.

Plumb – TEN +12½ – I honestly hate NFL spreads over 10 pts. However, GB gets Matthews back which is a huge defensive boost, but they don’t have anything to play for so Titans in this one.

James – TEN +12½ – The Packers have all the weapons and will probably win but they have clinched the division. Expect Tennessee to cover.

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Indianapolis Colts (-7) @ Kansas City Chiefs

General Peppers – KC +7 – Indianapolis is a mediocre road team.

Jesse – KC +7 – Andrew Luck has 18 INTs on the year, 13 of which came on the road. I expect both teams to make mistakes and the Chiefs to cover the TD.

Long Island Sound – KC +7 – Andrew Luck away.

Plumb – KC +7 – Andrew luck has really proven his worth this year but 7 is a lot of points to lay on the road. Numbers say this is a 5 point game. KC pulls the backdoor cover in this one.

James – KC +7 – Shall I even echo what everyone else is saying? Luck has to prove he can play well on the road; tough environment in Arrowhead.

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Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins (-4½) 

General Peppers – BUF +4½ – Miami is in a free fall and looking more for a higher draft pick. Buffalo better than you think.

Jesse – MIA -4½ – Miami, who beat Seattle at home 4 weeks ago, will contain C.J. Spiller and cover the spread.

Long Island Sound – MIA -4½ – Buffalo D is horrible. 

Plumb – MIA -4½ – Miami is in win or go home mode. They have a slim chance to make the playoffs but there is a chance which can make them dangerous, and what a better team to push around than the volatile Bills. Tannehill gets it done in this one and fins too tough at home.

James – BUF (ML) – How many times will I get Miami wrong. At this point, I’m going Buff ML on the road. Dumb? Maybe but I am taking a risk.

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San Diego Chargers @ New York Jets (-2½) 

General Peppers – SD +2½ – Greg McIlory. That is all.

Jesse – SD +2½ – Well the Jets benched Mark Sanchez; that should solve all their problems. I don’t have a strong lean but this Jets team is bad and favored.

Long Island Sound – SD +2½ – Charger seem to go against conventional wisdom with traveling across the country.

Plumb – SD +2½ – Man do I hate the Jets this season. One week they look good, the next Sanchez throws 4 INTs. McElroy get the start which means Christmas comes early for the Chargers. My Game of the week.

James – SD +2½ – Too many unknowns for the Jets and their qb situation for me to take them this week.

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Washington Redskins (-6½) @ Philadelphia Eagles

General Peppers – WAS -6½ – Philly has no need to win. Washington must win.

Jesse – WAS -6½ – RGIII fully participated in practice and is expected to start & I’m not betting against him.

Long Island Sound – WAS -6½ – The Eagles gained steam 2 weeks ago in TV, but lost it all last week.

Plumb – PHI +6½ – Nick Foles is proving to me that he can play QB in the NFL on a team that has given up. I might be the only one who hasn’t given up on the Eagles this season. Skins win with RGIII back but I think Philly can cover.

James – WAS -6½ – Like I said last week, RGIII is the key to the Redskins playoff hopes. They take care of business.

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St. Louis Rams @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3)

General Peppers – TB -3 – Tampa Bay elite run defense shuts down Steven Jackson leaving the Rams offense stagnant.

Jesse – STL +3 – I wouldn’t bet this game with your money, but if I had to pick a side, I’ll take the points. Tampa Bay has lost 4 straight and is now a home favorite.

Long Island Sound – STL (ML) – Rams will keep this close.

Plumb – STL +3 – Tampa is allowing 300+ passing yards a game this year and with Bradford coming off a career game last week, I don’t expect anything less from him in this one. St. Louis has something to play for in this game while the Bucs do not. Rams get back on track and getting points only sweetens the pot.

James –  TB -3 – The Buccs need to rebound and this week they will get it done at home.

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Oakland Raiders @ Carolina Panthers (-8½) 

General Peppers – OAK +8½ – Bad teams with spreads over 7 = bad idea. Garbage time TDs will cover for Oakland.

Jesse – CAR -8½ – I know laying more than a TD with a 5-win team seems ludicrous, but I don’t trust Oakland traveling across country to play an early game.

Long Island Sound – OAK +8½ – Carolina doesn’t put teams away.

Plumb – OAK +8½ – Carolina has been hot as of late looking for their 3rd straight win. Oakland has been a rollercoaster of a team this year but with McFadden healthy and coming off a decent week, I see him keeping it close against Carolina. Also from my point of view, spreads over 7 for teams with mediocre offenses always favors the dog.

James – OAK +8½ – Im with Bru on this one. I think garbage time allows this team to cover the spread.
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New England Patriots (-14½)  @ Jacksonville Jaguars

General Peppers – JAX +14½ – I refuse to take a spread this big.

Jesse – NE -14½ – Man, I feel sorry for Jacksonville this week.

Long Island Sound – JAX +14½ – Too many points.

Plumb – JAX +14½ – As hard as it is for me to write this analysis, 14 points is a lot for a road team to give even if they are the #1 offense in the NFL. This spread scares me but I think NE overlooks JAX as they did MIA a few weeks ago.

James – NE -14½ – A lot of points here but NE knows how to step on the gas.
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Minnesota Vikings @ Houston Texans (-7½) 

General Peppers – MIN +7½ – Purple Jesus is determined to run for 150 on everyone. Keeps this game close single-handedly.

Jesse– MIN +7½ – I made the mistake of betting against AP last week.

Long Island Sound – MIN +7½ – Ponder wil be key with attention focused on AP.

Plumb – MIN +7½ – AP has been lights out and goes against a tough Houston front 4. However, if Vick Ballard can do it, AP should have a field day in this one.

James – HOU -7½ – I have been on the AP train more than anyone lately but I am taking Houston this week.

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Cleveland Browns @ Denver Broncos (-13)

General Peppers – CLE +13 – Cleveland better than you think. Denver not as good as you think.

Jesse – DEN -13 – Denver is just much more well-rounded & still playing for a first round bye.

Long Island Sound – CLE +13 – Sneaky decent team.

Plumb – CLE +13 – Being from Pittsburgh, this hurts me to say, Browns actually look good. After that being said, I still hate the Browns but their defense keeps this game close. Denver giving too much in this one.

James – CLE +13 – The Browns won’t quit in this one.

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Chicago Bears (-5½) @ Arizona Cardinals

General Peppers – ARI +5½ – Bears keep free-falling. Battered offensive line gets pressured by blitzing Cardinal defense.

Jesse – CHI -5½ – Bears will create turnovers and take advantage of Cardinals, who finally won a game last week (right, Kake?).

Long Island Sound – CHI -5½ – Bears force turnovers and the Cardinals turn the ball over.

Plumb – CHI -5½ – Chicago offense has been abysmal and facing a decent Arizona defense (minus the Seattle game). Arizona might be able to slow down the Bears, however I feel Chicago needs this game and will look to run it up.

James – CHI -5½ – Last week AZ made me look dumb. Two weeks in a row? Not happening.

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New York Giants (-2½) @ Baltimore Ravens

General Peppers – NYG -2½ – Ravens too banged up. Joe Flacco too average and Giants still elite team.

Jesse – NYG -2½ – In this virtual pick’em game, it came down to one thing for me: Which team do I trust more? I also fully expect this game to be a shootout, so I’ll sprinkle a little cheese on OVER 47½.

Long Island Sound – NYG -2½ – Must win for the Giants.

Plumb – BAL +2½ – This is an even match-up here. Baltimore needs to show some life going into the playoffs, and I feel this is the game that will get them back on track.

James – NYG -2½ – Ravens in free fall and the inconsistent Giants know how and when to turn it on. Winners this week.

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San Francisco 49ers (-1) @ Seattle Seahawks

General Peppers – SEA +1 – Seattle is unbeatable at home. Russell Wilson is Rookie of the Year.

Jesse – SF -1 – The last team to go up to Seattle and come away with a victory? Yeah, shoulda been the Packers, but it wasn’t. You guessed it, the Niners.

Long Island Sound – SEA +1 – Seahawks at home.

Plumb – SF -1 – Seattle is lights out at home this season but Harbaugh has unfinished business with Pete Carroll stemming back from the Stanford days. SF will look to run it up.

James – SEA +1 – Best home team in the league.

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James Kaikis
Chief Sports Activist for The Cover 4
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