Week 16 Picks, cont.

Dave's Dallas Cowboys-esque December slide continued last week and now has him under .500 for the season. Gabe is looking more like the San Diego Chargers with his end of the year dominance. He credits this to taking a meeting with Jim Fassel four weeks ago, who then came out and guaranteed that Gabe will win this season picks series.


Last Week:
Gabe: 8-7-1
Dave: 3-12-1
(The Patriots-Bills game was a push.)

Season:
Gabe: 123-97-2
Dave: 108-112-2

This Week, so far:
Gabe: 0-1
Dave: 1-0

Now for the rest of week 16...

Seattle (+14) at Green Bay

Gabe: Green Bay - My inclination here is to say that 14 is too big of a number. I think Seattle has definitely packed it in for the season. I think they would love to play the spoiler, but just don't have it in them. Green Bay by 17.

Dave: Packers - Packers are angry after losing a heart breaker last week and they need this one bad. Seahawks showed last week they've mailed it in. December in Lambeau usually means snow which usually means the better run game wins. Seattle doesn't have a run game so give me Pack by 17

Oakland (+3) at Cleveland

Gabe: Cleveland - Earlier this week I was watching "Top Ten" on the NFL Network. The show was featuring NFL traditions and one of them was the tradition of "groups" of fans. Cleveland's "Dawg Pound" was mentioned and Oakland's "Black Hole" was deemed the nuttiest group of fans. This game is in Cleveland and I think the Dawgs come out. Cleveland by a touchdown.

Dave: Raiders - I'm not buying the Browns newfound love for coach Eric Mangini. Raiders are better defensively and Cleveland's big breakout star Jerome Harrison is hurt. Raiders by 6.

Kansas City (+13) at Cincinnati

Gabe: Cincinnati - The Bengals aren't going to be as distracted this week, and Kansas City just lost to the Browns by a touchdown. Cincy by 17.

Dave: Bengals - The Bengals would like to wrap up the North. Chiefs just want to end the season. I'm not feeling the spread but it's hard picking KC this season. Cincy by 20

Buffalo (+9) at Atlanta

Gabe: Buffalo - Atlanta is still banged up. Buffalo, despite their record, have a good running game with Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch, and a great secondary, even without rookie Jairus Byrd and his league lead in interceptions. I think the Bills can control the clock and keep things close.

Dave: Falcons - Your starting QB for your Buffalo Bills? Brian Brohm. Yeah, I like Atlanta here. Big

Houston (+3) at Miami

Gabe: Houston - Both of these teams are desperately clinging to their playoff hopes. Both teams need a win badly in this spot. Miami's strength is running the ball. Unless they are playing Chris Johnson Houston's defense is one of the best at stopping the run. I'll give Houston the edge because of their passing game.

Dave: Dolphins - I can't trust Houston to beat a team like Miami that can hit them back in the mouth, though, for fantasy purposes, I hope I'm wrong

Carolina (+7) at New York Giants

Gabe: New York - Speaking of teams needing a win for the playoffs. The Giants need to keep winning and hope Dallas loses. I don't think Matt Moore is going to be able to handle the swirling Meadowlands wins, not that Eli really can but he's at least been there before. Giants by 10.

Dave: Giants - The Panthers generated some nice spoiler buzz after last week's upset which, if this season taught us anything, means they'll shit the bed here. Giants need to stay alive and Panthers are down DeAngelo Williams. Giants by 9.

Tampa Bay (+14) at New Orleans

Gabe: New Orleans - Despite the loss to Dallas I think the Saints are going to still play hard. I think they are going to try to get momentum for the playoffs. Plus, I have starting Pierre Thomas and a certain NO quarterback in the fantasy league I haven't shut up about this season. Drew Breeeeeeees and the Saints win by 21.

Dave: Saints - The Saints are very good. Tampa Bay is not. Sometimes, sports are that easy. Saints by 21


Jacksonville (+8) at New England

Gabe: New England - Jacksonville can't stop anyone, and are caught in middle of the AFC. New England needs a win to make sure they stay ahead of the mess of teams at 7-7. New England by 10.

Dave: Pats - The Pats do their best work at home and, like Cincy, would like to wrap up the division. Meanwhile, Jags are looking at heart specialists for Urban Meyer next season. Pats by 10


Baltimore (+3) at Pittsburgh

Gabe: Pittsburgh - Baltimore is going to be without Ed Reed and some other starters in the secondary. Pittsburgh will want to avenge their loss to the Ravens from earlier this year. Steelers by 7.

Dave: Ravens - Desperation game for both teams but Pitt's D sucks out loud as does the O-Line. I'm leery of Flacco on the road but I'll take Ravens by 3.

Denver (+7) at Philadelphia

Gabe: Philadelphia - Fourteen games in and I still can't figure out the Broncos. I do know this though, Philly is playing great and they have all of their offensive starters back. Plus, Philly is one of the toughest places to play on the road.

Dave: Eagles - The Eagles, offensively, are more explosive than they ever been, which will make it hard for an anemic Broncos attack to keep up. Eagles by 13

St. Louis (+14) at Arizona

Gabe: St. Louis - Again, 14 just seems like too many points. Arizona has all of the weapons to dominate this game, but this is also the kind of game in which they usually lay an egg. I'll take St. Louis and that pile of points.

Dave: Cards - The Cards always play down to their competition, making a two touchdown spread tough to take with confidence. Still, if anyone can buck that trend, it's the battered Rams.

Detroit (+13) at San Francisco

Gabe: San Francisco - Detroit still stinks. San Fran plays really well at home. 49er's by a touchdown.

Dave: 49ers - No Kevin Smith, no Matt Stafford, the Lions are pretty much packing it in. I'll take San Fran here.

New York Jets (+5.5) at Indianapolis

Gabe: New York - This is a very dangerous game for the Colts. They have said repeatedly that they are going to treat this game like the 3rd pre-season game and that winning a Super Bowl is more important than 16-0. That means Peyton Manning won't see the second half. If Indy is up big at halftime they will cover this spread, but the Jets have a great defense, so the Colts won't be up big. I actually think the Jets might win this game outright. So....I'll take the Jets in my....wait for it....Upset Special!

Dave: Colts - I know Indy might rest their starters by halftime, but still, less than a touchdown favorite to a Jets team that got handled by Atlanta last week? Makes no sense. Colts by 10

Dallas (-7) at Washington

Gabe: Washington - In a battle of the two teams who can't be motivated, I honestly don't know who to pick. In games when these teams absolutely need to win, they lose. Dallas needs this game to stay ahead of the Giants in the playoff race, so I think they'll flat-out lose. Redskins by 3.

Dave: Redskins - The Redskins are finished, as shown by that pathetic showing on Monday night. That being said, this team played to a 7-6 finish with Frank Francisco notching the 5-out save for Dallas. So eventhough Washington sucks, I think they keep it close

Minnesota (-7) at Chicago

Gabe: Minnesota - Chicago stinks. Minnesota could be locked into a playoff position by the time this game is played, but they'll still roll. The Vikings win huge.

Dave: Vikings - I have to admit, I thought that the Favre-Minny marriage would implode from either an injury or Favre's trademark turnover string. Instead, Favre reached into his purse for the Diva card early. I like them to disembowel lowly Chicago here, but what a powder keg this Favre fiasco will be down the stretch. I LOVE IT!