NFL Week 11: Overloaded Bicycles

For anyone who has spent any appreciable amount of time in China, this image will be of no surprise - and will feel common. We're talking about how the Chinese love to carry cargo on their bicycles on public streets. And when I mean cargo, I mean 4 or 5 bike-loads of stuff all tied together in one load.

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For whatever reason, styrofoam is a common cargo for these bikes. This is a typical bike we see on the    street on any given morning. Some enterprising man is collecting used blocks of styrofoam to be "returned" to God-knows-where in exchange for a small fee. So - the more you can cram on the bike, the larger the fee! These guys must think it's a big lego puzzle to do this.

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Never mind that he can't see anywhere to the side or behind him- that's your problem to worry about. The traffic laws in China are kind of like "every man for himself" - if you crash into someone, it's your fault since you didn't move. That's why the streets seem chaotic, but it all works somehow.
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Back to the cargo - besides styrofoam, other "loads" of goodies that are hauled away by these bicycle Santas:
- Cardboard ; all folded up and attached in a similar method to the bike. I thought I had a picture of this, too, but I can't find it at the moment. I'll attach if I do.
- Water cooler bottles! Again, each one is worth something, so you better attach as many as you can. In this case, the bottles are attached laterally, so a bike is wider than some cars as they try to get 4-wide with the jugs.
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Life is a bit like this for me at the moment; traveling right now to finish up transition of my role here in preparation for the move home, but so many things to do at home to get ready. Trying to handle a mortgage application from China is excruciating. All of the Vegas crew is getting ready for Vegas in February and comparing travel itineraries; I can't see past January 1 at the moment.
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But a Browns win this week will help that! My goodness - I am scared that we are going to lay an egg here against a rested Texans. And we never do well vs. a rookie quarterback. (I think this started way back in 1993, when a young Scott Mitchell replaced an injured Dan Marino and tore us up; Detroit then signed him to an enormous, undeserved contract). Mallett will pas for 350 and then sign with teh Jets in teh off-season, where he will lead the Jets to numerous 5-11 seasons.
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On to the games:
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Min 26, Chi 23. What more needs to be said about the Bears? Can teh Vikes exploit the swiss cheese secondary?
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KC 20, Sea 17. I don't like Seattle's chances of scoring at Arrowhead.
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Car 20, Atl 17. Just a hunch; I think Atlanta is overrated and does nto play well on the road- and this is their 5th week away from Atlanta.
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NO 31, Cin 20. The Saints are desperate and need this win and will take it out on the weak Bengals defense.
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Was 27, TB 24. Washington should not be favored by this much over anybody. I like the McCown-to-Evans connection for the Bucs.
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Den 27, StL 23. Another game where we will see plenty of trick plays from the Rams. 3rd straight road game for Denver.
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NYG 23, SF 20. I really don't like how Kapernick looks this year. Yes, yes, they won last week, but they got lucky to send it into overtime.
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GB 31, Phi 20. Motivation for the Pack? How about if the playoffs started today, the Browns would host a game and the Pack would be out???
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SD 28, Oak 24. Why do I irrationally like Derek Carr?
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Az 24, Det 17. Yes, The lions D is excellent, but does anyone notice that they have problems scoring, even with Megatron?
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NE 23, Ind 20. I can't see Belicheck letting this turn into a shootout in Indy. Take the under, and I like my chances with Belicheck in a close game.

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Pit 27, Ten 17. The Titans will be amped up (a little) for this game, but the Steelers will force themselves to concentrate here and not stumble again. 
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Best bets: 15 of them. Last week: 7-6; overall: 60-78-3

Min +2 1/2

GB -6

Car +1 1/2

Atl/Car under 47

NO -7

TB +7

TB/Was over 45 1/2

StL +9 1/2

NYG +4

Oak +10

SD/Oak over 44 1/2

Az -1

NE +3

NE/Ind under 57

Pit -6 1/2

Supercontest: Last week: 3-2; overall: 28-22

Az - 2 1/2
NO -7

StL +9 1/2

TB +7

NE +3