Week 15

For some reason, my week 14 picks went missing. I never checked back on them but apparently they didn't post. Arg. Oh well, onward and upward

This week we had a Thursday matchup which I had taken the Falcons (1-0) and a Saturday game in which I took the Cowboys (2-0) so, I'm off to a good start.

Miami Dolphins(4-9)at Buffalo Bills(5-8)- Tony Sparano is out. Even tho the Phins have played hard the last 5 weeks and got beat by a healthy Eagles team they fired him a few weeks early. The same could happen to Gailey if he can't get his Bills off this 6 game slide. New coach, new life. Miami 23-21.

Seattle Seahawks(6-7)at Chicago Bears(7-6)- Have the Bears given away their playoff hopes by not picking up free agent QB Donovan McNabb? Donovan hoped to play in Chicago when he asked to be released by the Vikes but the Bears declined, and so has the play of the team. After being 'Tebowed' last week the Bears look to get back on track against a hot Seattle team that is trying to get to 9-7. I like Bears at home even with no QB or RB. Chicago 17-16.

Tennessee Titans(7-6)at Indianapolis Colts(0-13)- The Colts can lock up the #1 pick with a loss here, and get the Luck vs. Manning story really going. Titans are trying to catch up to the Jets and take that last Wild Card spot. I think Locker is playing and I like him to lead the Titans. Titans 27-21.

Green Bay Packers(13-0)at Kansas City Chiefs(5-8)- Chiefs will now have Romeo Crennell calling the shots at Head Coach, and they can play some defense. They just can't score and the Pack may allow a lot of yards but they get turnovers. Chiefs may hang for a little while but Pack goes 14-0 with a 30-13 win.

Cincinnati Bengals(7-6)at St.Louis Rams(2-11)- What happened to the Bengals? What happened to the Rams? The Bengals have lost their grip on a playoff spot and will need to win today (they'll get help from a certain green NY team that will lose today). I've got a feeling about the Rams getting this upset, and I can't shake it. Rams 26-23.

New Orleans Saints(10-3)at Minnesota Vikings(2-11)- The Saints can grab the #2 seed and get homefield if they can beat the Vikes. The thing is, the Saints kinda have this road upset lose reputation even though they have 10 wins. I don't see it this week. Saints 28-19.

Washington Redskins(4-9)at New York Giants(7-6)- The Giants are now a half game back and need to win to take the top spot back from Dallas. The Skins beat the Giants in Week 1 28-14 and the Giants looked sloppy and played like crap. This week, they are at home and know they have to win out to win the NFC East and have a shot at the playoffs. I don't like picking sweeps in divisional games so I'm taking the Giants in a closer battle than you may think. The Giants offense has been on fire lately, basically scoring at will and Washington is beat up on defense. Giants will go over 30 points again in a 35-27 win.

Carolina Panthers(4-9)at Houston Texans(10-3)- At 10 wins and without their QB the Texans may be a quick out in the playoffs but I like them against the weaker teams they'll be facing these weeks. The Panthers can score some points, but the D isn't great. Meanwhile, the Texans are playing lights out on defense but D Coordinator Wade Phillps is out with surgery. Still, Texans 27-23.

Detroit Lions(8-5)at Oakland Raiders(7-6)- I am shocked by the Raiders losing grip of the AFC West, and what happened to the Lions? They are not playing very smart right now. They bought into their own hype and are playing sloppy,dirty football. Now the Raiders host the new Raiders, the new most penalized team. I like the Raiders at home, I think the Lions are going to have to give 130% to win this one. Things get interesting in the NFC if the Lions lose here and even more interesting with the Broncos playing New England and the Chargers trying to win out to 9-7.
I'm taking things to get VERY interesting with a Raiders 30-27 win.

New England Patriots(10-3)at Denver Broncos(8-5)- I like how this is being pumped up as Brady vs. Tebow. I guess not having the Manning v Brady this year has left us starved (although Eli did fill in that role this year(and won)). The Pats defense is not good, the offense is. The Denver offense is not good, the defense is. This game could be very, very, very interesting. I like Tebow, he is reinventing the QB as we watch. Still, with the chance to get the #1 seed I like Brady to lead his Pats to a very close win. Patriots 23-20.

New York Jets(8-5)at Philadelphia Eagles(5-8)- The Eagles think they can win the NFC East, but they need the Giants to lose today, no matter what Philly does a NY win knocks them out of the playoff picture. I think the Eagles do get to .500 with games against the Jets,Cowboys and Redskins. That's right. Eagles over the Jets, who I don't think have the talent to hang with the Eagles, 30-21.

Cleveland Browns(4-9)at Arizona Cardinals(6-7)- The Cards are also hoping on getting to 9-7 and possibly grabbing the last playoff spot in the NFC. They need a lot of help, but it could happen. It starts here, with a 27-13 win over the Browns.

Baltimore Ravens(10-3)at San Diego Chargers(6-7)- Phillip Rivers is 22-2 in games in December. The Ravens are prone to let downs. History repeats with a 30-24 win for the home team.

Pittsburgh Steelers(10-3)at San Fransisco 49ers(10-3)- If the Ravens lose and Pitt wins they will take over the AFC North and have a shot at the #1 seed. Big Ben is injured and no one knows when he will play, maybe this week, maybe next. Meanwhile the Niners have temporarily lost the 2 seed in the NFC and need to keep pace with New Orleans. They also need to prove they can beat the big teams. I like San Fran to win here in a super tight match up. I think Ben sits out and SF gets a 23-21 win.