Rice tightens swami race

Here comes Dave. Dave Rice scored an 11-2 mark to win the week and tightened the season’s race.

Dottie Weiner holds onto the lead, but dropped two points, bringing her season total to 71-32. Her week score was 9-4.

Rice moved into a second-place tie with Roger Raymond, who went 9-4. They share a season mark of 69-34. Just one behind them is Don Healy who went 10-3 and moved his season total to 68-35.

Rice takes bold steps this week, standing alone in three choices.

His first choice, Miami traveling to the New York Jets for a win in a crucial AFC East battle. The Jets, at 4-3, are game back of the New England Patriots which has a bye this week.

The Dolphins are 2-4, needing a win to stay in the divisional race, let alone a wild card spot.

“The lack of a good nose tackle will elevate Miami’s running game to control the clock,” Rice says. Miami showed it could score points against NFC South leader New Orleans, even though it lost, 46-34.

Rice is alone, surprisingly, in his choice of 2-4 Jacksonville over 0-6 Tennessee. The swamis just can’t believe that the Titans, who went deep into the playoffs a year ago, can’t win a game.

Not as big a surprise is his choice of 6-1 Minneosta winning at 4-2 Green Bay.

The first time the two met Brett Favre was starting his first game for the Vikings against Green Bay where he had been legendary until the fallout between him and the Packer management.

But none of the swamis talk about the revenge motive for Green Bay, even though the Packer fans are split on forgiveness.

Instead Rice says, “Green Bay’s offensive line will be unable to contain an inspired Viking pass rush.” In the team’s first meeting, the Vikings sacked the Packers quarterback eight times, yet the Pack nearly won at Minnesota.

Rice sides with Healy in choosing 6-0 Denver at 2-3 Baltimore.

“Denver had the bye week so should be rested and ready,” Healy says.

Raymond says, “I still don’t believe,” taking Baltimore, although its defense isn’t as frightening this season.

Rice and Raymond go with Buffalo, hosting Houston.

The Texans, 4-3, are two behind the Colts in the AFC South. No one expects them to catch Indianapolis. What is more of a concern is as the Texans historically reached the half-way mark they went backward.

Raymond takes Philadelphia hosting the New York Giants in a huge NFC East battle. The Eagles are one game back of the Giants and seem to have the healthier quarterback, although both has been hampered in recent weeks. Eagles QB Donovan McNabb has a bothersome rib he broke four weeks ago and Giants QB Eli Manning has an inflammation in his right foot.

“My Giants will win with Eli having a great game, says Weiner.

“Unless the team suddenly gets better, it’s the Giants,” says Healy.

This week’s readers Pigskin Picks winners are Marie Lynn McChesney, Susan Bailey.

MARCO ‘SWAMIS’ PICK THE WEEK’S NFL GAMES

Sunday, Nov. 11

Denver @ Baltimore, 1 p.m.

Miami @ NY Jets, 1 p.m.

NY Giants @ Philadelphia, 1 p.m.

Cleveland @ Chicago, 1 p.m.

St. Louis @ Detroit, 1 p.m.

Seattle @ Dallas, 1 p.m.

San Francisco @ Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

Houston @ Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Oakland @ San Diego, 4:05 p.m.

Jacksonville @ Tennessee, 4:05 p.m.

Minnesota @ Green Bay, 4:15 p.m.

Carolina @ Arizona, 4:15 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 11

Atlanta @ New Orleans, 8:30 p.m.

Standings

Weiner

Baltimore

NY Jets

NY Giants

Chicago

St. Louis

Dallas

Indianapolis

Houston

San Diego

Tennessee

Green Bay

Arizona

New Orleans

9-4

71-32

Healy

Denver

NY Jets

NY Giants

Chicago

Detroit

Dallas

Indianapolis

Houston

San Diego

Tennessee

Green Bay

Arizona

New Orleans

10-3

68-35

Raymond

Baltimore

NY Jets

Philadelphia

Chicago

Detroit

Dallas

Indianapolis

Buffalo

San Diego

Tennessee

Green Bay

Arizona

New Orleans

9-4

69-34

Rice

Denver

Miami

NY Giants

Chicago

Detroit

Dallas

Indianapolis

Buffalo

San Diego

Jacksonville

Minnesota

Arizona

New Orleans

11-2

69-34