Week 17 Picks

Last week:
Gabe: 5-10-1
Dave: 6-9-1

Season:
Gabe: 128-107-3
Dave: 114-121-3

Indianapolis (+8) at Buffalo


Dave: Indy - Even with most of the starters only playing a smidge, I don't think Buffalo has enough offense to really stick it to a depleted Colts D.

Gabe: Buffalo

New Orleans (+7) at Carolina


Dave: Carolina - If you're a Panthers fan, you have to wonder what this season would be like if John Fox pulls the plug on the Jake Delhomme Turnover Machine a few weeks early and goes with Matt Moore instead. The Saints talked about possibly making Drew Brees the #3 to keep him fresh for the playoffs, which means we get to see Old Man River, Mark Brunell, against a suddenly hot Panthers team and a suddenly awake Julius Peppers.

Gabe: Carolina

Jacksonville (+1.5) at Cleveland


Dave: Jaguars - Speaking of sudden motivation, the Browns apparently needed three months to warm up to coach Eric Mangini, who has at least a puncher's chance of lasting until next season(at least until Mike Holmgren gets the coaching itch and comes down from the front office to man the sidelines). Jacksonville's playoff chances are a bit bleak and, let's face it, this team gave up on Jack Del Rio a long time ago, but I still like them for one last charge.

Gabe: Jacksonville


Philadelphia (+3) at Dallas


Dave: Dallas - Because the karma gods like screwing with me, I can totally see the Cowboys pulling out the win here and taking the NFC East title after months of me ripping them and their fans for a multitude of reasons that made the criticism well deserved. Last time these two met at the end of the year was a year ago and Philly bent Dallas over on route to making the playoffs, but I just have a gut feeling here that Dallas suddenly puts it together.

Gabe: Philadelphia

Chicago (-3) at Detroit

Dave: Bears - Because it's the Lions and the Bears know that every win moves the Broncos further down the draft order.

Gabe: Chicago

New England (+7) at Houston


Dave: Texans - $280 rides on Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson playing like Johnny Moxon and Tweeter in Varsity Blues today and the Pats really have nothing to play for here unless Belichick feels the need to be a dick and play spoiler for Houston.

Gabe: Houston

Pittsburgh (-3) at Miami

Dave: Pittsburgh - If the Steelers make the playoffs, I think their the 2nd best team in the AFC. They have great balance on offense and, once Troy Polamalu comes back, the D will have some identity again. As for today against the Phins? I like Big Ben to exploit Miami's green secondary and make things painful for Ricky Williams on the other side of the ball.

Gabe: Miami


New York Giants (+7.5) at Minnesota


Dave: Giants - The picks are coming with games in progress so my initial thinking that the Giants would exploit a suddenly weak Vikings O-Line and Brett Favre continuing to struggle in December now looks ridiculous since the score is currently 31-0 Vikings. And now you know why I'm 14 games behind Gabe.

Gabe: Vikings


Cincinnati (+9.5) at New York Jets


Dave: Bengals - The Jets are a sneaky enough team that, if they make the playoffs, they can really piss off the ratings department by making a run. Luckily, I don't see that happening. I think Ochocinco plays most of the game to play up the showdown with Darrelle Revis and Mark Sanchez(who sucks in cold weather) continues to crap the bed.

Gabe: New York

San Francisco (-8) at St. Louis

Dave: 49ers - Really, if you're St. Louis, why blow a chance at the # 1 pick by doing the Win One For The Gipper routine?

Gabe: San Francisco

Atlanta (-1.5) Tampa Bay

Dave: Falcons - Bucs might be on a win streak but I don't think the Falcons let their season end by losing to one of the worst teams in football.

Gabe: Tampa Bay

Green Bay (+3) at Arizona

Dave: Cardinals - Alot rides on what happens in the early games(and, as of right now, the Vikes have the 2 seed locked up), but if the Cards find themselves not having a reason to go hard, I think both teams break out the reserves early since they'll probably be playing this one over a week from now in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.

Gabe: Arizona

Kansas City (+13) at Denver

Dave: Kansas City - No Eddie Royal. No Brandon Marshall. No Tony Scheffler. That's your three top weapons in a division game that will mean a little more to the Chiefs, even if it lacks significance other than draft position. Broncos rolled over KC last time they played. Don't think Todd Haley has forgotten about that.

Gabe: Kansas City

Baltimore (-10.5) at Oakland

Dave: Raiders - It's hard to co-sign JaMarcus Russell but nearly 11 points is too much for a Ravens team playing a Raiders team that always turns the games that should be blowouts into close losses or upsets. Joe Flacco has taken a step back as a young QB and, eventhough the Ravens need this one, I can see Oakland making it tough for the Ravens.

Gabe: Oakland


Washington (+3) at San Diego


Dave: Redskins - I made this pick before finding out that Jim Zorn will be fired on Monday. Who fires their coach BEFORE kickoff of his last game? What possible motivation does Zorn have to win this one? Still, what's fair is fair, and eventhough I can now see Billy Volek carving the D.C. Tank Squad(Side note: You can't tell me that the Redskins players, knowing Dan Snyder is a star fucker and would do whatever it takes to bring in a big name no matter what position, didn't mail this season in as soon as it became remotely likely that Mike Shanahan or Bill Cowher or Jon Gruden could be coming to town. You just can't tell me different.) and the Chargers remain hot going into the playoffs.

Gabe: San Diego

Tennessee (-6) at Seattle

Dave: Titans - Again, $280 on the line that my fantasy MVP, Chris Johnson, continues to take over the football world as we know it and, if the Redskins mailed it in weeks ago, they just narrowly missed the Seahawks at the Post Office.

Gabe: Tennessee