Jim Ducibella of the Virginian-Pilot has approximately six regular season games remaining as a Redskins beat reporter. Ol' Duce is taking the buyout at year's end.

And if he continues his hot streak in picking games, he will stride into book-writing land as a two-time winner of the El Gaucho Bowl.

I believe for the first time this season, Duce is in the lead thanks to his 12-4 week (I went 9-7).

Here are this week's picks:

Redskins at Tampa Bay
Duce: Redskins.
Ryan: Tampa Bay. I can easily see the Redskins winning. But to mix it up, I took Tampa Bay.

Carolina at New Orleans
Duce: Carolina.
Ryan: New Orleans. Reggie Bush is showing why he won't be a No. 1 running back. But the Panthers are starting Vinny, the Saints are starting Drew. Edge to the Saints.

Tennessee at Cincinnati
Duce: Cincinnati.
Ryan: Tennessee. A short week following a Monday night road game is usually a recipe for disaster. But the Bengals, according to a person who observed their loss to Arizona in-person, have already quit on Marvin Lewis.

Houston at Cleveland
Duce: Cleveland.
Ryan: Cleveland. A personal note -- one of my closest friends is a Browns season ticket holder and was scheduled to attend the game. But his father had a massive heart attack Tuesday, underwent triple bypass surgery Wednesday. The good news -- he could return home as early as Monday. Therefore, for Joe Reedy, A1 page designer for the Cincinnati Enquirer, I will pick the Browns and root like all-get-out for them.

Buffalo at Jacksonville
Duce: Jacksonville.
Ryan: Buffalo. My upset special in Friday's paper. No real reason other than the Jags have to be due for a collapse sooner or later.

Oakland at Kansas City
Duce: Kansas City.
Ryan: Kansas City. Priest Holmes retired this week but, in his second start, Brodie Croyle will be better than whomever the Raiders start at QB.

Seattle at St. Louis
Duce: Seattle.
Ryan: St. Louis. I'll go with the home team on this one. If the Redskins win on Sunday, my guess is that they end up in Seattle for the Opening Round playoff game. As Dan Daly said two years ago, "It's easier to get to Bulgaria than Seattle."

San Francisco at Arizona
Duce: Arizona.
Ryan: Arizona. If Seattle loses, the Cardinals have a chance at winning the NFC West.

Baltimore at San Diego
Duce: San Diego.
Ryan: San Diego. Poor Ed Lee. He covered the Redskins in 2004-05 for the Baltimore Sun. He's covered the Ravens the last two years. Translation: He holds the record for Most Boring Games Seen In Person.

Philadelphia at New England
Duce: New England.
Ryan: New England. It's not a matter of if the Patriots will win the Super Bowl, just whom they will pummel.

Miami at Pittsburgh
Duce: Pittsburgh.
Ryan: Pittsburgh. Have no interest (again) in this Monday game. A 7 a.m. flight in Tampa means I'll be unconscious by 9 p.m. The Steelers need to win to stay a game behind the Colts for the No. 2 seed (and avoid playing the Pats until the AFC title game).

Records
Duce: 12-4 last week, 104-54 season
Ryan: 9-7 last week, 101-57 season