Last Week
Dave: 9-7
Gabe: 8-8
Season
Dave: 98-118-6
Gabe: 108-108-6
(Editor's Note: Gabe was away for the weekend, so he never got his picks in. While I'd love to be a greedy prick and give him the L for all 16 games and crown myself champion, I will choose to just not count Week 17 and defer the regular season to him. Anyway, so that we didn't go completely blank for the regular season finale, here's MY picks).
Dave: Chiefs - Kansas City doesn't lose late season home games at Arrowhead, and they will go into this finale with intentions to both lock down the 3 seed and seek revenge from their loss to Oakland early in the year. The Raiders, meanwhile, have nothing to play for other than the opportunity to save face and put some gloss on their surprisingly decent season by sweeping the division champs. I see Oakland going in the tank here, Kansas City building a decent lead and then taking the foot off the gas just enough to only win by 6.
Giants (-3.5) at Redskins
Dave: Redskins - Maybe Mike Shanahan wasn't completely out of his tree by benching Donovan McNabb and opting for "The Sex Cannon"(as my friend Adam now refers to Rex Grossman). Grossman has been solid in a near-comeback win against Dallas and a nice upset of the Jags last week. The Giants, however, threw in the flag right around the time DeSean Jackson zipped past them for the game-winning score on the punt return TD that capped a 28-point comeback two weeks ago. There's no fight left in Gabe's Big Blue Man Group. Coughlin's a goner and the Redskins are feisty enough to make this a game. I'll put my money on The Sex Cannon....just because it's fun to say, er, type.
Jaguars (+3) at Texans
Dave: Texans - With their season over and their head coach pretty much done for, can't you see Houston just mailing it in here and getting drubbed by Jacksonville? The problem with that theory is the Jags will be without QB David Garrard and RB Maurice Jones-Drew and, eventhough the Texans have always found new ways to lose, I can't bank on an offense led by Trent Edwards and Rashad Jennings. With no real star power(Andre Johnson expected to be out for the Texans), I see a sloppy, hard-to-watch game with Arian Foster giving Houston the edge by 7.
Bears (+10) at Packers
Dave: Bears - Reverse jinx obviously in effect here with my Packers pretty much in a "win and their in" situation, but also, it's hard to take Green Bay by double digits when the cold, wintery winds of Lambeau is going to at least somewhat limit their bread and butter: the passing game. Chicago loses this one simply because they don't want to risk losing any key guys in a physical battle with a hungry, aggressive Packers squad on the frozen tundra, but I say the Packers win this one by 9.
Cardinals (+6) at 49ers
Dave: Cardinals - The 49ers this year remind me of the Chiefs a couple years ago. A young, talented team that is just a good front office/coaching staff and a piece here and there from being solid. Unfortunately, that's going to have to wait til next year for fans of the San Francisco treat. The Cardinals suck every bit as much as the Niners do, but they have the better coaching staff and, with the notoriously cheap Bidwells still running things, I think they fight a little harder to avoid the higher draft spot. Cardinals with the "upset" by 10.
Cowboys (+3) at Eagles
Dave: Cowboys - The Eagles will have most, if not all, of their starters sitting by halftime(or earlier) as they rest up for the playoffs. The Cowboys want to do what they can to help Jason Garrett keep his job, so I can see them going all out against a disinterested Philly team. Last game in a Cowboys uniform probably for Roy Williams, so expect a TD or two from him. Cowboys by 13.
Chargers (-3.5) at Broncos
Dave: Broncos - I know I'm going to regret this pick, but if the Chargers are smart, they tank this game. A loss here has to put Norv Turner out of his misery in San Diego, right? As good as this team has been under Norv, they aren't going deep into the playoffs with him at the helm. This season has been a unmitigated disaster, thanks to some foolish tough talk by GM A.J. Smith and Turner failing to get the team to overachieve while undermanned. Tim Tebow is playing like a guy who wants to lock down that starting spot next year and I think he has a decent night against San Diego. Donkeys by 3.
Dave: Steelers - This isn't the same feisty Browns team that beat New England a few weeks ago and gave the Jets all they could handle. Peyton Hillis is banged up and the Steelers have visions of locking down a first round bye dancing in their head. Browns played Pittsburgh tough the last time they squared off, but I see Big Ben having a field day in his backyard of Ohio. Steelers by 16.
Bills (+1) at Jets
Dave: Jets - Gang Green has their playoff spot locked up, so the starters will probably sit most of the game against a crappy Bills team. The question becomes "Can a inferior Buffalo team beat the Jets' B team?". My thinking is "No.". Rex Ryan isn't going to let his backups play dead in front of the home crowd and it's in the Bills' best interest to just take a dive here and move up a spot or two in the Draft. Jets by 9.
Dolphins (+5.5) at Patriots
Dave: Dolphins - The frustrating part of picking Week 17 games involving teams that have their postseason card punched is trying to guage just how much effort the contenders are going to put in with nothing to play for. Last year, New England played the starters and lost Wes Welker to a torn ACL, which pretty much killed their season. I can't see Belichick being dumb enough to do that two years in a row. Miami's fighting to keep Tony Sparano's job and a nice W against the best team in the NFL, albeit a Patriots team giving little effort, is a nice way to close the season. Phins by 6.
Panthers (+14.5) at Falcons
Dave: Falcons - I don't think this spread can be high enough. If I'm John Fox, why am I even boarding the plane for this game? You've already been given your walking papers. You won't be around to reap the benefits from whoever the Panthers take with the #1 pick and you're facing a Falcons team that has to at least try a little bit to hold on to the #1 seed(just incase Chicago beats Green Bay). Just stay in the locker room like Coach Kilmer in "Varsity Blues". The only thing keeping Jimmy Clausen from a spot on the bench next season is Andrew Luck leaning toward staying at Stanford. Regardless, I see Atlanta shutting out Carolina and putting Fox out of his misery. Falcons by 21.
Bengals (+9.5) at Ravens
Dave: Bengals - Is it crazy to think that the only thing that kept Carson Palmer from being slightly better than mediocre this season was the fact he had to throw to two Pro Bowl WRs all year? Who would have thought not having T.O. and Ocho Cinco would make Palmer BETTER? Either way, the T.Ocho Show is over in Cincy and, if Palmer wants to avoid joining them, he'll repeat his performance from last week and help the Bengals put up a fight against a Ravens team that has a shot at a first round bye. Bengals beat the Ravens earlier in the year and 9.5 is a bit high for a Ravens team that hasn't beaten the Bengals in a year and a half. Ravens get the W, but only by 6.
Bucs (+7.5) at Saints
Dave: Saints - I want to give huge props to Josh Freeman for his 5 TD performance that locked down two wins in big money fantasy football championships last week. That being said, Mr. Freeman, your boys are about to get steamrolled. If there's a team that I absolutely do not want to face in these playoffs(even more so than New England), it's the Saints. They're the defending champs. They have the experience and they're hot at the right time(Plus, they get the Seahawks-Rams winner to start things off in the playoffs). The only thing that keeps the Bucs in this game is if the Saints take the foot off the gas. Colston's probably going to sit, which means we'll see a lot of Lance Moore and maybe a Jeremy Shockey sighting or two. I like the Saints to win this one and....early postseason prediction alert....the NFC.
Titans (+9.5) at Colts
Dave: Titans - I'm not sure if Jeff Fisher's unwillingness to utilize Randy Moss is him doing his best to get himself canned or just my own delusion keeping from realizing Moss is finished as a legit deep threat. Regardless, the Moss Era in Tennessee may be more confusing than the Moss Era Part II in Minnesota. Tennessee managed to sneak back into their last showdown with Indy and cover with a couple garbage time TDs. I don't think they have a shot of beating an Indy team that still needs a win to claim the division, but I can see them sneaking in again with a heavy dose of Chris Johnson to only lose by 4.
Rams (-3) at Seahawks
Dave: Rams - It's sad that one of these two teams will be hosting a playoff game while a team like the Bucs or Packers or Giants will be sitting on the sidelines come next week. Even sadder is the fact that this turd of a game will be nationally televised. The Seahawks should be commended for at least still having a shot at the division at season's end, but they've been plain terrible the last few weeks. The Rams are the better team and I can see them punching themselves out trying to beat Seattle and then hosting New Orleans next week and getting their clock cleaned. Rams by 6.
Vikings (+3) at Lions
Dave: Vikings - Be prepared, America. Be prepared for non-stop coverage of Brett Favre's every last breath during this game. Be prepared for ESPN to spend the first 50 minutes of Sportscenter analyzing Favre's finale. Be prepared for this game to be re-aired on NFL Network 100 times. Be prepared for Favre Fatigue Overload like you've never witnessed before. They might even bring John Madden out of retirement to slurp Favre on the bench just for ol' times sake. As for the game, Joe Webb is going to milk these 15 minutes for a just a little longer. Ndomukong Suh will lock up the Defensive Rookie of the Year award and the world will sit and wait as every network wastes airtime on a meaningless 14-10 Vikings victory. Don't say you weren't warned.
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