As a side-note for those of you in Fantasy Leagues, remember that this is the last week for making trades in most leagues. Good luck to all… Here now are this week’s Five Best Bets.

*Home team in CAPS

BROWNS -3 over the Texans- For Cleveland and their fans, this week is one of historic proportions as it is the first time a Browns team has been in first place in the AFC North this late in the season in 20 years! With quarterback Ryan Mallett making his first NFL start for the Texans, we’re surprised the spread is as small as it is especially with a banged up Arian Foster and Jadeveon Clowney.

Falcons (pick) over the PANTHERS- Normally the Falcons aren’t  a good bet when on the road but besides beating the Buccaneers by 10 last Sunday, Atlanta is just a better team than Carolina who is coming off of a 24 point loss to the Eagles on Monday night. Although the Panthers do not play in a dome the trip will be a short one for the Falcons, the weather should not be a factor and the Panthers have a short week. 

SAINTS -7 over the Bengals- What in the world has happened to Andy Dalton? If you saw his inept performance last Thursday night you saw him not only missing his receivers but missing them badly. Saints lost a tough one to the 49ers last week and should return to their typical winning ways at home this week against a Bengals team that appears to be on life-support right now.

#14 Andy Dalton just hasn’t been the same this season & the Furnace says it won’t get any better for him or the Bengals in New Orleans in Week 11. Photo: USA Today Sports Images

PACKERS -6 over the Eagles- This game has all the makings of a good old fashion shootout in Green Bay with both clubs having high potent offenses. Aaron Rodgers is 26-1 in his last 27 at home as a starter when he plays more than a half. Throw out Philadelphia’s 27-13 win at Lambeau last year as Rodgers was injured. The “Sanchise” will face a team quite different from the lame Panthers that he saw in Week 10.

Raiders +10 over the CHARGERS- We’re picking the Raiders here for two reasons; they kept it close and covered the spread when they played the Patriots and the Seahawks and this is a 5-4 Chargers team that got crushed by the Dolphins 37-0 in their last game in Week 9.  

Last week: 3-2