Avoidance isn't a bad habit for a handicapper to practice.

This season, I've generally wanted to no part of picking against teams led by Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees or Tom Brady. This isn't a hard-and-fast rule, as you'll see below. But unless I have a compelling reason to do so, I'm not going to be looking to pick against a club led by a quarterback who's in top form.

This does not mean I am eager to back those teams, either, for that usually entails laying points, and most of the time, it is more points than I am interested in spotting when handicapping such a competitive league. Only when I perceive value will i even think if picking for or against a club led by one of the game's elite blue-chip quarterbacks. Otherwise, forget it. 

And should I pick against one of those quarterbacks … well, my desk is made of wood for a reason.

Do you hear me knocking?

On to this week's picks:

Baltimore (+7) at New England

You don't pick against the Tom Brady-led Patriots without acknowledging it could end badly, so let's begin that way. I could lose courtesy of a flurry of pinpoint darts from Brady. I believe the Ravens are going to have trouble with TEs Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, and Brady was just outstanding in the divisional round win vs. Denver. This is the best Patriots offense Baltimore has faced since that '07 edition rolled into Baltimore.