NFL Picks Week 12: Bleacher Report's Expert Consensus Picks

As the stretch run for the NFL playoffs begins, the league gave everyone a very clear reminder in Week 11.

We know nothing.

We didn't know that the Seattle Seahawks would already have lost more games in 2014 than they did all of last year. We certainly didn't know that the giant-killing St. Louis Rams were going to make short work of the AFC champion Denver Broncos.

Those Seahawks are now in desperation mode, preparing to welcome an Arizona Cardinals team with the league's best record, their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.

Will the Seahawks rebound and stay on course for a chance to defend their title? Will the New England Patriots continue backhanding the NFL's best when they face the Detroit Lions Sunday?

The Division Lead and National Lead Writers have the answers to those questions and more with their game picks for Week 12.

Roll Call/Standings

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

OK, so what had happened was...

That's the only thing to say about Week 11. Underdogs ran amok across the National Football League, and that chaos is reflected in last week's picks.

Simply put, it was the worst week of the season for our panel. A full half-dozen writers experienced losing slates, including season leader Chris Simms, who had by far his poorest showing.

NFL National Lead Writer Mike Tanier wasn't shaken by the madness, however, reeling off nine correct picks.

Simms' bad week opened the door a bit for NFC East Lead Writer Brad Gagnon, who closed the gap between the two to zero.

For the first time since everyone started 0-0, Simms shares the lead with another scribe.

Matt Bowen: NFL National Lead Writer 7-7 (98-62)

Gary Davenport: NFL Analyst 7-7 (102-58)

Mike Freeman: NFL National Lead Writer 6-8 (97-63)

Erik Frenz: AFC East Lead Writer 8-6 (93-67)

Brad Gagnon: NFC East Lead Writer 7-7 (105-55)

Andrea Hangst: AFC North Lead Writer 7-7 (92-68)

Christopher Hansen: AFC West Lead Writer 6-8 (91-69)

Zach Kruse: NFC North Lead Writer 6-8 (100-60)

Rivers McCown: AFC South Lead Writer 5-9 (89-71)

Matt Miller: NFL National Lead Writer 7-7 (103-57)

Ty Schalter: NFL National Lead Writer 6-8 (92-68)

Michael Schottey: NFL National Lead Writer 7-7 (102-58)

Chris Simms: Former NFL Quarterback, Video Correspondent 6-8 (105-55)

Brent Sobleski: NFC South Lead Writer 8-6 (99-61)

Mike Tanier: NFL National Lead Writer 9-5 (97-63)

Sean Tomlinson: NFC West Lead Writer 7-7 (82-46)

Aggregate: 7-7 (102-58)

Kansas City Chiefs (7-3) at Oakland Raiders (0-10)

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

The Pick: Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)

Result: Raiders 24, Chiefs 20

NFC East Lead Writer Brad Gagnon must be feeling his oats after finally catching Chris Simms. Gagnon was the only member of our panel to pick the winless Raiders to down a Chiefs team that just moved into a first-place tie in the AFC West:

"

The Raiders aren't as bad as their record and have lost five one-score games. I think they're due, and I don't necessarily think the Chiefs can sustain this. Division games are always a tossup, and Kansas City has to travel on short rest for what looks like a trap game.

"

AFC West Lead Writer Christopher Hansen agrees that this game smells like a trap, but he doesn't agree that the Chiefs will fall for it:

"

This is a classic trap game. The Chiefs are riding a high after beating the Seahawks at Arrowhead and play the Broncos in two weeks for rights to the AFC West. It's also a short week, and they're playing the game on the road against a 0-10 team. Andy Reid and his staff also do a fantastic job coaching and scheming opponents, but that will have to be done on a condensed timeline this week.

A brave person might pick the Raiders to win their first game of the season, but the Chiefs won't look past them for a few reasons. For starters, the Chiefs learned their lesson Week 1 against the Tennessee Titans about not bringing their very best to the table.

It's also a division game that could be of vital importance for tiebreakers. Even if the Chiefs beat the Broncos in two weeks, they'll need to finish with a better overall record, have a better division record or a better record in the AFC.

It very well could be a close game as the Raiders have been able to stick with teams for two to three quarters, but the Chiefs won't look past their struggling rivals.

"

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Chiefs: Bowen, Davenport, Freeman, Frenz, Hangst, Hansen, Kruse, McCown, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Simms, Sobleski, Tanier, Tomlinson

Raiders: Gagnon

Cleveland Browns (6-4) at Atlanta Falcons (4-6)

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Winner: Cleveland Browns (10-6)

This is what it's like to be a Cleveland Browns fan.

They raise your hopes by crushing the hated Pittsburgh Steelers, then dash them by getting waxed by a winless Jacksonville Jaguars team. Raise them by thumping the Cincinnati Bengals, then dash them by getting pasted at home by the Houston Texans.

Well, the yo-yo is headed back up. Week 12 brings with it the return of star wide receiver Josh Gordon from suspension, and Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith told Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com he expects Gordon to play a major role in the Georgia Dome on Sunday:

"

Absolutely I do. They've stated that they want to get him out on the field as quickly as possible. And he's a game-changer. He's a guy that with the ball in his hands, he can make plays. So we're anticipating that we're going to get a full dose of him this week.

"

The majority of our experts predicted that Gordon and the Browns will be too much for the Falcons' beleaguered defense, but NFC South Lead Writer Brent Sobleski isn't feeling it:

"

The Browns' meeting with the Falcons is an example of teams going in opposite directions. The Falcons have won their last two games and return home to the friendly confines of the Georgia Dome. The Browns, meanwhile, were easily handled by the Houston Texans Sunday.

Cleveland wasn't able to apply any pressure on Houston's Ryan Mallett, who was making his first career start. With injuries to Karlos Dansby (knee) and Jabaal Sheard (foot), the Browns' defensive front seven is currently a MASH unit. This should prove to be an opportunity for a talented quarterback like Matt Ryan to shred even the Browns' talented secondary.

"

As a Browns fan, I'll say that I'm not overly confident in picking them this week. Then again, I'm a Cleveland fan; what do I know about confidence?

Browns: Bowen, Davenport, Freeman, Frenz, Hansen, Schalter, Schottey, Simms, Tanier, Tomlinson

Falcons: Gagnon, Hangst, Kruse, McCown, Miller, Sobleski

Tennessee Titans (2-8) at Philadelphia Eagles (7-3)

Frederick Breedon/Associated Press

The Pick: Philadelphia Eagles (16-0)

The Philadelphia Eagles are a bruised football team.

It isn't just that the Eagles lost in Week 11. No, they were Rodgers-ed, blasted 53-20 by the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

The loss didn't sit well with the team. Quarterback Mark Sanchez told Genaro Armas of The Associated Press (via CBS Sports) that "they played outstanding and we played pretty poorly,'' while head coach Chip Kelly simply said, "None of us played where we needed to play against this team.''

However, AFC South Lead Writer Rivers McCown thinks the Birds will get back on track in Week 12 against the floundering Titans:

"

One thing the Chip Kelly offense has failed to do this year is really get going in the run game. Even against the read-option failure kryptonite that is the Dom Capers Packers, with most of the injured offensive line back, the Eagles barely made a dent on the ground.

You may remember the Titans from such films as Le'Veon Bell Gets His Groove Back, and if the Eagles can't establish the run against these guys, it may be time to admit that it's just not going to happen this year.

"

Cue LeSean McCoy's fantasy owners nodding sadly and possibly sobbing a bit.

Titans: This is a drug-free workplace, so, no.

Eagles: Bowen, Davenport, Freeman, Frenz, Gagnon, Hangst, Hansen, Kruse, McCown, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Simms, Sobleski, Tanier, Tomlinson

Detroit Lions (7-3) at New England Patriots (8-2)

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

The Pick: New England Patriots (16-0)

Make no mistake, even after last week's 14-6 setback in the desert, the Detroit Lions are still a very good football team with one of the league's best defenses.

But this week, the Lions draw a New England Patriots team for whom "scorching hot" is a conservative descriptor.

Since getting blown out by the Kansas City Chiefs all the way back in Week 4, the Patriots have ripped off six wins a row, including victories over all three of the other division leaders in the AFC.

NFL National Lead Writer Ty Schalter thinks the New England juggernaut will keep rolling right along at home in Week 12:

"

Brady’s shaky performance against Indianapolis gave the Colts an opening, but the Colts’ poor tackling did them in. The Lions have the defense to both hassle Brady and stop the run, but they can’t get anything going on offense. Hard to pick against the Pats at home in late November, especially when they’re as hot as they’ve been.

"

Not one voter among our experts disagrees.

Lions: If Detroit does drop this game and Green Bay wins, cue the Motor City panic attack.

Patriots: Bowen, Davenport, Freeman, Frenz, Gagnon, Hangst, Hansen, Kruse, McCown, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Simms, Sobleski, Tanier, Tomlinson

Green Bay Packers (7-3) at Minnesota Vikings (4-6)

Mike Roemer/Associated Press

The Pick: Green Bay Packers (16-0)

Speaking of the Green Bay Packers, I think they just scored another touchdown.

Over the past two games, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense have been unstoppable, topping the 50-point mark against both the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles.

Still, Rodgers insisted to the AP's Genaro Armas that those shreddings haven't been as easy as they've looked.

''This is not easy,'' Rodgers said. ''There's a lot of preparation that goes into it. It takes 11 guys to win, to do the job to make something like that happen."

With all due respect, NFC North Lead Writer Zach Kruse isn't exactly buying it:

"

The Packers aren't as explosively dominant away from Lambeau Field, but the Vikings don't appear productive enough on offense to keep pace with any version of Aaron Rodgers. Only a dominant effort from Minnesota's pass rush could keep Green Bay from rolling.

"

Our writers aren't buying it either, with each picking Green Bay to pick up its seventh win in its last eight games.

Packers: Bowen, Davenport, Freeman, Frenz, Gagnon, Hangst, Hansen, Kruse, McCown, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Simms, Sobleski, Tanier, Tomlinson

Vikings: I guess they could give the Packers directions to the new stadium that's under construction and hope they take the bait.

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-9) at Indianapolis Colts (6-4)

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

The Pick:  Indianapolis Colts (16-0)

As if it wasn't bad enough that the Indianapolis Colts got shellacked by the Patriots in Week 11. No, the team also lost a pair of key contributors on offense. Tight end Dwayne Allen sprained his ankle, and running back Ahmad Bradshaw suffered a season-ending leg injury.

Head coach Chuck Pagano didn't sugarcoat things regarding Bradshaw while speaking with Kevin Bowen of the team's website. “It kills you because he’s a warrior…We are going to miss his energy, his passion."

But while the Colts may be reeling from both the loss and injuries, AFC South Lead Writer Rivers McCown believes the team will right the ship Sunday against its divisional rivals from Jacksonville:

"

Society put the Indianapolis Colts on contender timeout for their brutal run defense. But they've paid their debt, and now they're going to get revenge on...the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"

It's a Simpsons reference, for those of you wondering.

Jaguars: I'd tell Jaguars fans to look on the bright side, but the whereabouts of said bright side are currently unknown.

Colts: Bowen, Davenport, Freeman, Frenz, Gagnon, Hangst, Hansen, Kruse, McCown, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Simms, Sobleski, Tanier, Tomlinson

Cincinnati Bengals (6-3-1) at Houston Texans (5-5)

Eric Gay/Associated Press

The Pick: Cincinnati Bengals (11-5)

In many respects, it's surprising that the Cincinnati Bengals were such an overwhelming pick here. After all, they have been all over the place this year. Quarterback Andy Dalton has had arguably both the best and worst games of his NFL career in last week's win over the New Orleans Saints and the home debacle against Cleveland two weeks ago, respectively.

Dalton's also had his share of problems in Houston. In both 2011 and 2012, the Bengals traveled to Houston for playoff games. Both times the Bengals lost.

AFC South Lead Writer Rivers McCown allowed that this game is one that could go either way:

"

This is a game where you try to figure out which one-week improvement meant more in context. Was it Houston's sudden ability to sustain drives in the passing game against the Browns? Or was it Cincinnati's run defense finally slowing someone down after it bottled up Mark Ingram for 67 yards on 23 carries?

Both teams are equipped to take advantage of the other's weaknesses, so this game could go just about anywhere, depending on how sustainable those improvements were.

"

In the eyes of McCown and the panel, that bigger improvement and this week's winners are the visiting Bengals.

Bengals: Bowen, Davenport, Frenz, Gagnon, Kruse, McCown, Miller, Sobleski, Tanier, Tomlinson, Hangst

Texans: Freeman, Schalter, Schottey, Simms, Hansen

New York Jets (2-8) at Buffalo Bills (5-5)

Alex Goodlett/Getty Images

The Pick: Buffalo Bills (14-2)

Sunday's AFC East matchup between the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets pits one team playing for pride against another clinging to its playoff life.

After the Bills dropped two in a row, there have been calls for head coach Doug Marrone to bench Kyle Orton in Buffalo, but Marrone told the team's website, "Right now I'm sticking with Kyle (Orton), we'll go with who gives us the best chance to win."

AFC East Lead Writer Erik Frenz admits that the Bills offense has scuffled but believes the team can ride its formidable front seven to a win at home:

"

The Bills have struggled with the Jets in years past, but if they want to be taken seriously as playoff contenders, this is one game they must win. Kyle Orton has plenty of weapons at his disposal to take advantage of the Jets' depleted secondary, but that depleted secondary kept Ben Roethlisberger in check, so it could be easier said than done for Orton and the Bills. A stifling performance from Buffalo's defense should be enough to pick up the win.

"

With a couple of dissensions, our voters are with Frenz on this one.

Jets: Freeman, McCown

Bills: Bowen, Davenport, Frenz, Gagnon, Hangst, Hansen, Kruse, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Simms, Sobleski, Tanier, Tomlinson

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-8) at Chicago Bears (4-6)

Warren Little/Getty Images

The Pick: Chicago Bears (13-3)

This game is all but certainly going to give Lovie Smith heartburn.

Granted, his Tampa Bay Buccaneers have done plenty of that on their own, although last week's win over the Washington Redskins may have been their best game of the season.

Across the field, Smith's old team hasn't fared much better. The Bears were able to outlast the Minnesota Vikings and secure their first home win of 2014 last week, but head coach Marc Trestman is probably about to join Smith in the Hall of Former Bears Coaches.

The Bears may be bumbling, but NFL National Lead Writer Matt Bowen thinks they can build on last week's win by attacking the Buccaneers vertically:

"

In Lovie Smith's return to Chicago, look for Jay Cutler to take some more shots down the field to Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall versus Cover 2. This Bears offense has underachieved all season, but the deep ball has to be in play for Marc Trestman's team to pick up another win.

"

NFC South Lead Writer Brent Sobleski concurs:

"

When the Bears host the Buccaneers, it will be a joy to watch the team's four wide receivers, all of whom stand 6'3" or taller. Tampa Bay's rookie, Mike Evans, is developing into a star, and no wide receiver in the league has played better over the last three weeks.

However, the Bears finally got back on track against the Minnesota Vikings and still have more overall weapons on offense compared to the Buccaneers.

This could prove to be a shootout, one where Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and former Bears quarterback Josh McCown's play should decide the outcome. As poorly as Cutler has performed this season, he still has an edge over McCown.

"

That win would get the Bears to 5-6, just good enough to give Chicago fans a glimmer of hope that Jay Cutler can then eviscerate in the most traumatic way imaginable.

Happy Holidays, Chicago!

Buccaneers: Freeman, McCown, Simms

Bears: Bowen, Davenport, Frenz, Gagnon, Hangst, Hansen, Kruse, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Sobleski, Tanier, Tomlinson

Arizona Cardinals (9-1) at Seattle Seahawks (6-4)

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

The Pick: Seattle Seahawks (10-6)

Looking for a fistfight disguised as a football game?

For the Seattle Seahawks, it may also be their last gasp. After falling in Kansas City last week, they are 6-4 and three games back of the division-leading Cardinals. Another loss and the Super Bowl champs are going to be hard-pressed to even get back to the playoffs.

As if things weren't bad enough, now the team could be without center Max Unger for the rest of the season. Unger suffered a high ankle sprain against the Chiefs, but head coach Pete Carroll told Stephen Cohen of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer hope remains that Unger's season isn't over:

"

We don’t know that yet. We’ve got to see how he responds. High ankle sprains are all different … Max hasn’t had one of these before. It’s his first time through it, and he’ll have to figure it out as he goes.

"

NFC West Lead Writer Sean Tomlinson expects a desperate Seahawks team to circle the proverbial wagons at home:

"

To win on the road in Seattle the Cardinals need to lean heavily on Andre Ellington, hoping he can expose a Seahawks run defense that was gashed by Jamaal Charles in Week 11 and could become a weakness. But even without Brandon Mebane (hamstring) it's difficult to see the 30th-ranked Cardinals rushing offense getting much push.

"

The panel agrees, although given how the Redbirds have been cranking out wins regardless of the situation, this is a pick that could leave egg on some faces.

Cardinals: Freeman, Frenz, Hangst, Schalter, Schottey, Simms

Seahawks: Bowen, Davenport, Gagnon, Hansen, Kruse, McCown, Miller, Sobleski, Tanier, Tomlinson

St. Louis Rams (4-6) at San Diego Chargers (6-4)

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

The Pick: San Diego Chargers (9-7)

The St. Louis Rams are a hard team to figure out. One week, they're shocking the Seattle Seahawks in St. Louis, only to then fall apart in the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals.

However, there's no denying that last week's 22-7 handling of the Denver Broncos was impressive. 

AFC West Lead Writer Christopher Hansen expects the Rams to build on that big win and stun the Chargers in San Diego this weekend:

"

The bye didn't prove to be an elixir for the Chargers' struggles. Things can change in the NFL in a hurry, but there's not much the Chargers can do about the talent they have on the offensive line.

Last week, Philip Rivers also wasn't on the same page as star wide receiver Keenan Allen, and the Chargers mustered just a 13-6 victory at home over the Raiders. If the lowly Raiders can knock around Rivers as they did last Sunday, the Rams are going to have quite a day.

Meanwhile, the Rams just knocked off the Broncos, beat the Seahawks and 49ers earlier this season and took the Cowboys and Eagles to the wire. This isn't an average 4-6 team even if it is prone to some stinkers while playing on the road. Expect the Rams to give the Chargers all they can handle and come away with a close road victory.

"

NFL National Lead Writer Mike Tanier is also on board:

"

Tre Mason and Aaron Donald are rapidly emerging as difference-makers for the Rams. Both are important: Mason is giving Jeff Fisher and Brian Schottenheimer the power running option they have been trying to manufacture out of Zac Stacy and Isaiah Pead types, while Donald replenishes a depleted front four that was supposed to be the team's biggest strength.

The Rams are not going to pull Broncos-caliber upsets every week, but they are one of the great "headache" teams of the NFL's lower-middle class. Come to think of it, that's what they were last year, too.

"

Their arguments are persuasive, but just over half our voters went with San Diego.

Although at least one of them doesn't feel especially good about it.

Rams: Bowen, Freeman, Hansen, McCown, Simms, Sobleski, Tanier

Chargers: Davenport, Frenz, Gagnon, Hangst, Kruse, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Tomlinson

Miami Dolphins (6-4) at Denver Broncos (7-3)

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

The Pick: Denver Broncos (15-1)

What happened?

That's what the Denver Broncos have to be asking after managing only seven points in last week's loss to the Rams.

Defensive tackle Terrance Knighton didn't mince words when speaking with Andrew Mason of the team's website.

"We've got to tighten the screws up as a team," Knighton said. "We didn't play well on either side of the ball."

AFC North Lead Writer Andrea Hangst expects that tightening to begin this week at home against the Dolphins:

"

It's been a rough couple of weeks for Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos. Luckily, they can retreat to the comforts of their home stadium this week and host for a change. The Miami Dolphins are not an easy out, with an attacking defense and an offense that improves every week.

This could pose a challenge for the Broncos, but unlike the last two weeks, it's one they can face with greater confidence even with a few key pieces on offense sidelined. I like the Broncos to bounce back, even if the Dolphins manage to keep this one close.

"

Only AFC South Lead Writer Rivers McCown disagrees.

Dolphins: McCown

Broncos: Bowen, Davenport, Freeman, Frenz, Gagnon, Hangst, Hansen, Kruse, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Simms, Sobleski, Tanier, Tomlinson

Washington Redskins (3-7) at San Francisco 49ers (6-4)

Rob Carr/Getty Images

The Pick: San Francisco 49ers (16-0)

The Washington Redskins are in full-on implosion mode.

As Matt Lombardo of NJ.com reports, many took Robert Griffin III's postgame comments last week as a shot at his teammates:

"

Great quarterbacks, the Peytons, the Aaron Rodgers, those guys don’t play well if their guys don’t play well. They don’t. We need everybody. I need every one of those guys in that locker room. And I know they’re looking at me saying the same thing. I’ll never quit on them. And I need them to do the same.

"

Head coach Jay Gruden then offered a blistering rebuke of Griffin's play. Wide receiver DeSean Jackson took his beef to Instagram, writing that "You can't do epic (expletive) with basic people."

NFL National Lead Writer Matt Miller doesn't see the collapse slowing this week on the West Coast:

"

The 49ers are coming off a week in which they forced five Eli Manning interceptions but nearly gave the game away to the New York Giants. Against a Washington team struggling both on the field and in the locker room, the 49ers have the physical and mental edge this week. To expect the Washington defense to stop the running attack of the 49ers is betting on a loss.

"

No one on the panel was inclined to argue with him.

Redskins: Maybe a "loser leaves town" cage match would clear the air. Just trying to help.

49ers: Bowen, Davenport, Freeman, Frenz, Gagnon, Hangst, Hansen, Kruse, McCown, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Simms, Sobleski, Tanier, Tomlinson

Dallas Cowboys (7-3) at New York Giants (3-7)

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The Pick: Dallas Cowboys (16-0)

It's come to this for the New York Giants.

After Eli Manning threw five interceptions last week, Dan Graziano of ESPN floated an idea about which the whispers have been growing of late: That Manning's days in the Big Apple could be numbered:

"

Manning accounts for 17 percent of the Giants' salary cap this year. Assuming the cap rises to around $142 million next year, and they do nothing with his contract, he'd take up 14.4 percent of next year's cap. Only the Saints, Cowboys and Broncos are currently scheduled to spend a larger percentage of their cap on their starting quarterbacks in 2015. The Giants may still decide it's worth it for a player whose durability alone keeps them from the cringe-worthy quarterback juggling act you see half the teams in the league go through every year. But with so many other needs still to address, and as they think about what they're going to be on offense in the future, the question of cost looms larger than ever with regard to Eli Manning.

"

The Giants may be floundering, but NFC East Lead Writer Brad Gagnon thinks Big Blue will put up a fight Sunday night:

"

This is the NFC East, where you rarely see anybody blow out anybody. Expect the Giants to put up a fight here because Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning will want to make a statement in prime time at home against a rival. Plus, Big Blue nearly beat San Francisco despite Manning's interception party last week. They're playing decent football right now.

"

Of course, putting up a fight and winning aren't necessarily the same thing.

Cowboys: Bowen, Davenport, Freeman, Frenz, Gagnon, Hangst, Hansen, Kruse, McCown, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Simms, Sobleski, Tanier, Tomlinson

Giants: "The Oakland Raiders have traded the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft to the New York Giants for quarterback Eli Manning."

There, that should give the commenters something to talk about.

Baltimore Ravens (6-4) at New Orleans Saints (4-6)

Rogelio Solis/Associated Press

The Pick: New Orleans Saints (9-7)

The New Orleans Saints would be in huge trouble this year were it not for one saving grace: The NFC South is a dumpster fire.

Despite a 4-6 record, the Saints still find themselves tied for "first" place. Still, after back-to-back home losses, head coach Sean Payton admitted to Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune that his team has plenty of work to do: 

"

You're hoping with what's at stake, you're able to come out with more energy and start fast. We're going to have to this week. Clearly, they, we, us understand we're 4-6 right now. They understand that. They understand that there have been a number of tough losses, close losses. The margin for error at this point in the season becomes that much more slight. We're playing a six-game season right now. Really.

"

NFL National Lead Writer Mike Tanier feels the Saints will come out swinging against the Baltimore Ravens Monday night:

"

This is only the second trip to New Orleans ever for the Ravens. It would be fun to see these teams visit each other more often, just to see one of the most extreme home-field advantage differentials in the NFL swing back and forth. Despite the lopsided Bengals loss, the Saints still look to me like a team that is going to shake this flu off and go on a run one of these weeks.

"

A slight majority is with him. As up and down as the Saints have been in 2014, it's hard to imagine the team dropping three in a row at home.

Of course, a couple of weeks ago it was completely unthinkable.

Ravens: Davenport, Freeman, McCown, Miller, Schalter, Simms, Sobleski

Saints: Bowen, Frenz, Gagnon, Hangst, Hansen, Kruse, Schottey, Tanier, Tomlinson