Week 17
I know, I haven't posted picks in quite a while and I'm not sure why. We have some really big games this week, mostly in the AFC where everything is still open. There still isn't a 1 or 2 seed in the AFC, that could be the Pats or the Ravens. There is no winner of the North or West. The NFC has 3 out of 4 divisions won already but the seeding is still to be determined. The Packers have the 1 seed locked and right now the Niners are holding the 2 but could lose it to New Orleans. There is no winner of the East yet, and the Lions and Falcons have locked the Wild Card spots but we don't know which is 5 and which is 6.
I am only posting the games that mean something today, I don't really care about Philly/Washington or Colts/Jags those are meaningless games.
Detroit Lions(10-5)at Green Bay Packers(14-1)- Now, this game is somewhat meaningful. Do the Lions really care if they play the 3 or 4 seed team next week? I think they do. The 3 seed right now is New Orleans and the 4 will either be NY or Dallas, I'm 100% sure the Lions would rather go to Dallas than New Orleans. Will the Packers go all out? They know they'll have a week off already so how long do they keep Rodgers in? Do they want to stick it to Detroit and make sure they have to get beat down by the Saints next week? Is there hate between these teams like when last season ended with Bears/Packers? I don't know, but I do know that I like the Lions to get some revenge on the Pack for coming into Detroit on Thanksgiving and embarrassing them. The problem with the Lions is, they have all the skills of the elite teams but they're stupid and young. They make a lot of mistakes and stupid penalties but if they pull it together (which they have lately) they can be unstoppable. I'm taking Lions to get lucky with some Packers resting. Lions 27-21.
San Francisco 49ers(12-3)at St.Louis Rams(2-13)- The Niners need to just win this game to lock up the 2 seed and get a week off. I don't see the Rams giving that much resistance. San Fran may struggle a bit on offense but they'll get it done. SF 23-16.
New York Jets(8-7)at Miami Dolphins(5-10)- The Jets are pretty much out of the playoffs. They need to win this game and have Cinci,Tenn and Oakland all lose. They won't get past the first step. Sorry Rex, but your team isn't very good and the Phins are playing great lately. Miami 24-21.
Buffalo Bills(6-9)at New England Patriots(12-3)- I thought this would be a big game 8 weeks ago, but the Bills have fallen apart. The Pats have gotten by with a horrible defense thanks to Brady and Welker. Pats lock up the 1 seed and get home field throughout the playoffs. Patriots 33-24.
Carolina Panthers(6-9)at New Orleans Saints(12-3)- The Panthers have to be happy. They have exceeded all expectations by winning more than 2 games. Cam Newton has looked good and the Panthers can score some points, but what about that defense? The Saints average 30 points at home and it won't change here. The Saints get to 13 wins and don't get a bye, that's how good the good teams have been this season. Saints 34-28.
Tennessee Titans(8-7)at Houston Texans(10-5)- Here's a good game. The Titans can make the playoffs if they beat the Texans and the Bengals lose to the Ravens. Before the Texans lost their QB I thought they could win the AFC and go on to Indy to face the Packers, but now they have Jake Delhomme and TJ Yates....yikes. I think with the 3 seed locked they rest some players. This game means nothing to the Texans, they are the 3 seed and cannot move up or down, but to the Titans this is everything. I like Locker, I like the Titans defense against a bad Texans offense. Titans get the win(and maybe something more) 26-17.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers(4-11)at Atlanta Falcons(9-6)- Oh how the mighty have fallen. The Falcons are a wild card team but the same thing plagues them as does the Lions. Do they want that 6 seed and be in New Orleans next week? I think the Falcons would actually love to be in NO, but they still don't want to lose to the Bucs. I don't think they rest anyone, they go at Tampa full force until the game is out of reach. I like the Falcons to win but still get the 6 seed because the Lions beat the Pack.
Falcons win in a close match 24-20.
Baltimore Ravens(11-4)at Cincinnati Bengals(9-6)- Okay, here is the Ravens problem. They lead the North, but the Steelers are playing the Browns and are also 11-4. The Ravens have beaten Pitt twice this year and right now are holding the 2 seed and a bye week. If they lose to the Bengals and Pitt wins the Ravens go from a home playoff game with a week off to playing in Denver/Oakland as a Wild Card. That would be a huge and devastating drop. Meanwhile, the Bengals control their own playoff destiny and need to win to get in. If they lose...they better hope the Jets, Titans and Raiders all lose too. I really think the Titans are going to be the last Wild Card team and the Ravens will win the AFC North en route to a AFC title (yes, I'm going back to Baltimore for my AFC winner). Ravens cannot let this game get away from them, this may be the best game of the week (better than NY/Dallas) Ravens win 23-17.
Pittsburgh Steelers(11-4)at Cleveland Browns(4-11)- The Steelers are a wild card as of now. They are the 5 team and will travel to Denver/Oakland next week unless...well, I just went through this already. I don't see the Browns being an issue. Steelers 31-20.
Kansas City Chiefs(6-9)at Denver Broncos(8-7)- A Tebow win makes the improbable Broncos the winners of the AFC West, they can still win it with a loss but the Raiders would have to lose too. The Chiefs have Kyle Orton at the helm and I'm sure he'd love to stick it to the Broncos in Denver and show them what they missed. I like it. Just, I'm not sure who I like to win, so for the first time ever I'm not picking a winner I'm picking a 23-23 OT tie. I know, I suck...nah, just kidding. I'm drinking the Tebow juice and taking the Broncos to win 26-23 in OT.
San Diego Chargers(7-8)at Oakland Raiders(8-7)- In Norv Turners last game as Head Coach of the San Diego Chargers, he could end the Raiders playoff hopes. If Oakland wins (and Denver wins) they could still be a Wild Card if the Bengals and Titans both lose. They have a tie breaker over the Jets so that game means nothing to them. I'm taking the Raiders, they'll get to 9 wins but won't get the playoff spot because the Titans will. Raiders 28-24.
Dallas Cowboys(8-7)at New York Giants(8-7)- Hard to believe that the NFC East has been just as bad as the AFC West. The Giants are 2-5 in their last 7 games and can win the division and be hosting the Falcons/Lions next week. Stunner. I don't think they have a chance, I think the Cowboys dominate this game from start to finish. Why you ask? I have picked to Giants to win 10 times this year and they have won 4 of those games. I'm not picking them anymore, ever. Also, the Giants are horrible at home and they are horrible against the Cowboys at home every year. They would have a better shot of winning if it was in Dallas. Cowboys win the game and the NFC East with a 34-21 win.
I am only posting the games that mean something today, I don't really care about Philly/Washington or Colts/Jags those are meaningless games.
Detroit Lions(10-5)at Green Bay Packers(14-1)- Now, this game is somewhat meaningful. Do the Lions really care if they play the 3 or 4 seed team next week? I think they do. The 3 seed right now is New Orleans and the 4 will either be NY or Dallas, I'm 100% sure the Lions would rather go to Dallas than New Orleans. Will the Packers go all out? They know they'll have a week off already so how long do they keep Rodgers in? Do they want to stick it to Detroit and make sure they have to get beat down by the Saints next week? Is there hate between these teams like when last season ended with Bears/Packers? I don't know, but I do know that I like the Lions to get some revenge on the Pack for coming into Detroit on Thanksgiving and embarrassing them. The problem with the Lions is, they have all the skills of the elite teams but they're stupid and young. They make a lot of mistakes and stupid penalties but if they pull it together (which they have lately) they can be unstoppable. I'm taking Lions to get lucky with some Packers resting. Lions 27-21.
San Francisco 49ers(12-3)at St.Louis Rams(2-13)- The Niners need to just win this game to lock up the 2 seed and get a week off. I don't see the Rams giving that much resistance. San Fran may struggle a bit on offense but they'll get it done. SF 23-16.
New York Jets(8-7)at Miami Dolphins(5-10)- The Jets are pretty much out of the playoffs. They need to win this game and have Cinci,Tenn and Oakland all lose. They won't get past the first step. Sorry Rex, but your team isn't very good and the Phins are playing great lately. Miami 24-21.
Buffalo Bills(6-9)at New England Patriots(12-3)- I thought this would be a big game 8 weeks ago, but the Bills have fallen apart. The Pats have gotten by with a horrible defense thanks to Brady and Welker. Pats lock up the 1 seed and get home field throughout the playoffs. Patriots 33-24.
Carolina Panthers(6-9)at New Orleans Saints(12-3)- The Panthers have to be happy. They have exceeded all expectations by winning more than 2 games. Cam Newton has looked good and the Panthers can score some points, but what about that defense? The Saints average 30 points at home and it won't change here. The Saints get to 13 wins and don't get a bye, that's how good the good teams have been this season. Saints 34-28.
Tennessee Titans(8-7)at Houston Texans(10-5)- Here's a good game. The Titans can make the playoffs if they beat the Texans and the Bengals lose to the Ravens. Before the Texans lost their QB I thought they could win the AFC and go on to Indy to face the Packers, but now they have Jake Delhomme and TJ Yates....yikes. I think with the 3 seed locked they rest some players. This game means nothing to the Texans, they are the 3 seed and cannot move up or down, but to the Titans this is everything. I like Locker, I like the Titans defense against a bad Texans offense. Titans get the win(and maybe something more) 26-17.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers(4-11)at Atlanta Falcons(9-6)- Oh how the mighty have fallen. The Falcons are a wild card team but the same thing plagues them as does the Lions. Do they want that 6 seed and be in New Orleans next week? I think the Falcons would actually love to be in NO, but they still don't want to lose to the Bucs. I don't think they rest anyone, they go at Tampa full force until the game is out of reach. I like the Falcons to win but still get the 6 seed because the Lions beat the Pack.
Falcons win in a close match 24-20.
Baltimore Ravens(11-4)at Cincinnati Bengals(9-6)- Okay, here is the Ravens problem. They lead the North, but the Steelers are playing the Browns and are also 11-4. The Ravens have beaten Pitt twice this year and right now are holding the 2 seed and a bye week. If they lose to the Bengals and Pitt wins the Ravens go from a home playoff game with a week off to playing in Denver/Oakland as a Wild Card. That would be a huge and devastating drop. Meanwhile, the Bengals control their own playoff destiny and need to win to get in. If they lose...they better hope the Jets, Titans and Raiders all lose too. I really think the Titans are going to be the last Wild Card team and the Ravens will win the AFC North en route to a AFC title (yes, I'm going back to Baltimore for my AFC winner). Ravens cannot let this game get away from them, this may be the best game of the week (better than NY/Dallas) Ravens win 23-17.
Pittsburgh Steelers(11-4)at Cleveland Browns(4-11)- The Steelers are a wild card as of now. They are the 5 team and will travel to Denver/Oakland next week unless...well, I just went through this already. I don't see the Browns being an issue. Steelers 31-20.
Kansas City Chiefs(6-9)at Denver Broncos(8-7)- A Tebow win makes the improbable Broncos the winners of the AFC West, they can still win it with a loss but the Raiders would have to lose too. The Chiefs have Kyle Orton at the helm and I'm sure he'd love to stick it to the Broncos in Denver and show them what they missed. I like it. Just, I'm not sure who I like to win, so for the first time ever I'm not picking a winner I'm picking a 23-23 OT tie. I know, I suck...nah, just kidding. I'm drinking the Tebow juice and taking the Broncos to win 26-23 in OT.
San Diego Chargers(7-8)at Oakland Raiders(8-7)- In Norv Turners last game as Head Coach of the San Diego Chargers, he could end the Raiders playoff hopes. If Oakland wins (and Denver wins) they could still be a Wild Card if the Bengals and Titans both lose. They have a tie breaker over the Jets so that game means nothing to them. I'm taking the Raiders, they'll get to 9 wins but won't get the playoff spot because the Titans will. Raiders 28-24.
Dallas Cowboys(8-7)at New York Giants(8-7)- Hard to believe that the NFC East has been just as bad as the AFC West. The Giants are 2-5 in their last 7 games and can win the division and be hosting the Falcons/Lions next week. Stunner. I don't think they have a chance, I think the Cowboys dominate this game from start to finish. Why you ask? I have picked to Giants to win 10 times this year and they have won 4 of those games. I'm not picking them anymore, ever. Also, the Giants are horrible at home and they are horrible against the Cowboys at home every year. They would have a better shot of winning if it was in Dallas. Cowboys win the game and the NFC East with a 34-21 win.
posted by The Red Mosquito at
7:17 AM
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