As Jerry said in that famous Seinfeld episode “will use the honor system.” I didn’t get a chance to post my six-pack last week so you will just have to take my word on the results. If that does not work for you then let me tell you that both my parents are Navy veterans from World War II. I have a feeling that my Mom and Dad were dancing a #### up in heaven last Saturday night when Navy beat Notre Dame in OT. It has been 43 years since that happened. The last time Navy beat Notre Dame gas was .30 cents, stamps were .03 cents, I was one year old, and my younger brother was not even born yet. So HONOR will be my theme this week as I make my picks for Veterans Day, but before I do let me tell you about last week.

I went 4-2 and for the season I am 28-18. I was right with about the Bucs, Saints, Texans, and Lions. I was wrong about the game of the year, or should I say games of the year. I picked the Colts to beat the Pats. I also picked the Seahawks to beat the Browns. The Seattle/Cleveland game played last Sunday at 4:00PM was just as good, if not better, as the big New England/ Indianapolis game. Here in Upstate New York some markets had to carried that game because due to NFL rules. Those football fans got real lucky because there was two great games on last Sunday at 4:00PM. I sure many of you reading this saw Pats/Colts. If you didn’t see Seahawks/Bucs I hope you were smart enough to watch the highlights, or see the replay on NFL Network. New England is on bye this week, but the other three teams that played in the games of the year, play this week. That is where I will start with my picks.

Indianapolis played a great game last week and there is no doubt in my mind that if fully healthy they can go toe to toe with New England. If they meet again in the playoffs that should be some game too. The question is where will it be played. If the Colts want a rematch against the Pats at home then they have to keep winning and hope that New England has a stumbles a along the way. In other words hope that Tom Brady goes down. The Colts travel out to the west coast to play the Chargers this week on Sunday Night Football. This should be a great game too, but in the end I think the Colts will win. Even without Marvin Harrison I just think that the Colts are the better team, and the Chargers are not as good as they were last season.

After seeing the Seahawks lose to the Browns last week in OT I noticed that Seattle is one beat up team. Starting with running back Shaun Alexander who is playing with a cast on his arm. The injuries they have on both sides of the ball caused them to blow the lead against the Browns. Seattle deserves credit for being able to have a good final drive to put the game into OT. They just could not finish the job even after winning the coin flip in overtime. Still, even with losing Seattle has a 500 record and first place in the NFC west. This week they play the 49ers on Monday night football. This is a big game for them because will a win they will be a couple of games up in the division. The Seahawks have two home games back-to-back on a short week. They need this win the most because comes against a division rival. I think they will. Seattle over San Fran is my pick.

The Browns are catching the Steelers at the right time. Pittsburgh is coming off of a short week and a emotional game last week in the rain celebrating Steelers teams of the past. Pittsburgh crushed the Browns in week one, but that was a different Browns team. This is a big game for Cleveland. It is a statement game! Not just for the team, but for their leaders QB Derek Anderson and RB Jamel Lewis. If the Brownies want to prove they are the real deal they must win in Pittsburgh. I think they will and that is my upset of the week.

Are the Lions for real? The next three weeks will tell. Next week they play both the Giants and Packers at home on a short week. If they are for real then they can’t get caught looking ahead. They must win in Arizona today. I think they will and are one of my two road warrior picks. The other is my beloved Buffalo Bills over the Miami Dolphins. The Bills also can’t get caught looking ahead. There is a lot of buzz here in Upstate New York with the Bills-Pats game being flexed to Sunday Night football. Now that JP Losman has his starting job back he does not want to lose it. He wants a start that on National TV. JP and Lee Evans should hook up a few time for big plays and RB Marshawn #### should finish the job. My Bills are the pick as they keep the Dolphins on pace for a perfect season 0-16. An interesting note about the Bills the next two weeks. They play both the worst team in the league and the best team in the league coming off of their byes.

Byes, rain, Miami Dolphins, and statement games all come into play for the Cowboys/Giants game this afternoon in New York. The Giants are coming off their bye after playing the Dolphins in the rain in London. This is a statement divisional game for them too. Just like the Browns today the Giants must win at home if they have any shot at winning the division. This is a now or never game for them. Can they step up? I think they will. The New York football Giants are my pick.

There is an old saying in pro-football. If you want to be in the playoffs at the end of December you must win your games in November. Games that I picked today will prove if the Bills and Lions, are for real. Can they win games that they should win. If the Seahawks and Colts can overcome disappointing loses and injuries. For the Giants and Browns it is put up or shut up time. Both these teams have rebounded nicely after bad starts. Still, those wins don’t mean much if they can’t beat the leaders in their divisions and get a little bit of revenge for week one losses These six teams must play with honor today. Honor for their teams, cities, and fans, and most importantly for themselves. Still, if they don’t meet their challenge then it is not the end of the world. The sun will come up tomorrow and there is always next week. The games today are just that, games. The players today have honor and courage, but nothing like our veterans have. So as your watching pro football today (NFL or CFL-first round of their playoffs start this afternoon) please take a minute to think of all those men and women who have sacrificed so much so we can enjoy our fun and games today. On a personal note after I visit my parents graves (Headstones from the US Navy.) I’m going to have dinner, and watch football of course, with my older brother. A Vietnam veteran…Enjoy the games everyone