Alrighty, here we go! It's week 14, or as I like to call it, the best f*ckin weeks of f*ckin football in all of f*uckin mankind. It's when the games get better, the fans get more rowdier (unless you teams suck), when analysts over-analize, and when Drew Brees becomes Drew Brees-ier (or at least he better as my starting fantasy QB in the playoffs). It also coincides with the holiday season, so that ends up being pretty well. It's also the part of the season of the season where basically if your team in is a playoff chase, there's basically two options: win or die, which is kind of fun to watch unfolding as an NFL fan.
It's also the time to look forward and back as we are approaching the end of the NFL season. Here are some quick things you need to know:
- For the first time since the AFL-NFL merger, two teams are 12-0 at the same time of the season. While the Colts being one of them is not shocking, what is shocking is the fact that the Saints are still undefeated as well. Especially considering that the Redskins had multiple chances of winning the game last week.
- Current Playoff Pictures:
NFC
Division Leaders:
1. Saints (12-0)- clinched division and playoff spot
2. Vikings (10-2)
3. Cardinals (8-4)
4. Cowboys (8-4)
Wild Card Leaders:
5. Eagles (8-4)
6. Packers (8-4)
In the Hunt:
Giants (7-5)
Falcons (6-6)
Panthers, 49ers, Bears, Seahawks (5-7)
AFC
Division Leaders:
1. Colts (12-0) - clinched division and playoff spot
2. Chargers (9-3)
3. Bengals (9-3)
4. Patriots (7-5)
Wild Card Leaders:
5. Broncos (8-4)
6. Jaguars (7-5)
In The Hunt:
Ravens (6-6)
Dolphins (6-6)
Jets (6-6)
Steelers (6-6)
Titans and Texans (5-7)
- MVP Watch (in no particular order):
Drew Brees- QB (Saints)
Peyton Manning- QB (Colts)
Brett Favre- QB (Vikings)
Chris Johnson- RB (Titans)
Phillip Rivers- QB (Chargers)
- No winless team through 12 games like the last two seasons. Instead, we have an equally interesting battle for the number one pick in the draft. At the moment, the Bucs, the Browns, and the Rams each are tied with the worst record in the NFL with a 1-10 record each. Either way, I wish I were Ndamukong Suh right now. He must be licking his teeth of the possibility of playing for these great teams.
- Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Chris Johnson, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are leading the league in fantasy points according to ESPN.com Also, if you took Johnson, Ray Rice, Matt Schaub, or Ricky Williams, then you deserve to win your league, period.
- It's been over a month since Gus Johnson has last screamed like a madman on the TV screen. Can someone please send this guy to a good game this week? Al Michaels, Jim Nantz, Joe Buck and Mike Tirico are basically the same way they always have been. And finally, Jon Gruden has replaced Den Dierdorf as the guy with the most obvious and most over analying analyst in the broadcasting business. And good news folks, he signed a contract extension with ESPN! So, we'll have many more years of : "Let me tell you something about (insert players name) over here. THIS GUY CAN (insert main objective of players position on the field)."
And now, onto the picks! Last week, I asked if week 13 was going to be a lucky week for me. Well, the good news is that I finished 10-6. The bad news is that I finished 10-6. And I tied my old man with the same record, which is never good. However, like I always say in this type of situation, it's a whole new week with with sixteen news games to pick. The following picks are mine.
Let's begin (note: all game times are based on the Central time zone):
Pittsburgh Steelers (-10) vs. Cleveland Browns: Thursday- 7:20 p.m.
mj15's pick: Pittsburgh
Okay, Steelers, so your plan to "raise hell in December" did not start well. In fact, it went horrible as you basically choked in a game that should have been easy for you. Seriously, Bruce Gradkowski?! (more on him later) The guy who couldn't score a touchdown the last two times he played you?! On the plus side, at least you're not the Browns, who's only chance of a successful season is winning a coin flip against the Rams in February for the first pick in the NFL draft. Therefore, I expect you to have a rebound week and defeat hte Browns. If not, well, at least you can play the rest of the season without worrying about the stupid "playoffs."
mj50's pick: Cleveland
New Orleans Saints (-10) vs. Atlanta Falcons: Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: New Orleans
Alright, so I'm pretty sure that if the Saints win this game, they will end up 16-0. If they can win against the Falcons, a good wild card team, on the road then they will have the Cowboys at home (W, considering the Cowboys woes in December), the Bucs at home (W) and Carolina in Charlotte (very close W). So, can they do it? Yes, because if there's one thing that the Falcons are bad at is with their defensive secondary. And I'm pretty sure Drew Brees, who already threw for 300+ yards the last time they played this season, Sean Payton and the Saints offense will find a way to use that in their advantage.
mj50's pick: Atlanta
Green Bay Packers (-3) vs. Chicago Bears: Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Chicago
for old times sake. Also, I still have a good feeling whenever Chicago faces the Packers in December at cold Soldier Field (it's supposed to be 33 degrees and partly cloudy). The formula has worked the last two years, right? Therefore, I'm sticking with it.
mj50's pick: Chicago
Denver Broncos vs. Indianapolis Colts (-7): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Indianapolis
I made a pledge two weeks ago that I won't pick against the Colts the rest of the regular season because they're just too unpredictable. I'm sticking with that pledge this week. Also, Denver is more unpredictable than Hershel Walker. I just can't pick them in any game this season.
mj50's pick: Indianapolis
Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs (EVEN): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Kansas City
Hey, KC, thanks for making me look like an idiot for picking you in my upset pick of the week. I mean, not only did they lose, but they lost 44-13. Just embarrassing for me. Ah, but I still forgivve them. After all, I picked them this week didn't I (they're playing at home, which should be the only reason to pick a team this week)?
mj50's pick: Kansas City
New York Jets (-3) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: New York
Wow, this game was surprisingly tough to pick! While it just seems automatically that the Jets are going to win easily, you have to remember the fact that they're playing at Tampa with Josh Freeman playing for the Bucs (as is more superior as a QB than Kellen Clemens) and an equal running game and wide receiving core. So how did I end up with the Jets, you ask? D- Fence, people, D- Fence.
mj50's pick: New York
Miami Dolphins vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (-3): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Miami
Oh boy. OHHH BOY. This literally took me twice the amount the previous record for longest time to make a pick was. I seriously could not choose. Each team looks like they could win, and there's really no significant factor to give a team the early advantage. So, for the first time ever, I flipped a coin. It went for Miami. The ultimate "I'm Not Sure" pick went in favor of the road team, so there you go.
mj50's pick: Jacksonville
Detroit Lions vs. Baltimore Ravens (-13): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Baltimore
This is just one of those games Baltimore has that they are really looking forward to. They just lost to the Packers that featured 23 penalties (second most in NFL history) in a game that featured bad calls and execution by everyone. And now, they get the woeful Detroit Lions. Ravens win... BIG.
mj50's pick: Baltimore
Seattle Seahawks vs. Houston Texans (-6): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Houston
From now on, we should consider how the Texans play horribly in the second half as an art form. They could have easliy won their last three games, but they still found a way to give the other team the win, whether it was a Kris Brown missed filed goal, or a Matt Schaub fumble, or even poor coaching moves. And that is why they won't make the playoffs this season and why I have officially given up on them. At least until next week, that is. Seattle is the most boring team in the NFL. They're also a West Coast team playing in a 12:00 game, and as you may have already realized, it does not go well for the West Coast team and I like to use this a lot. To summarize, I'm taking the Texans to win... BIG.
mj50's pick: Houston
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Minnesota Vikings (-7): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: Minnesota
Alright, this is what I'm talking about! Two of the top teams in the NFL squaring off in a game that could prove which team looks better heading into the playoffs. But, first, I'm going to talk about the Vikings- Cardinals game last Sunday night. So, Brett Favre and the Vikings weren't in tip-top shape against Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals. And by not in tip-top shape, I mean were inferior in every way. I'll talk more about the Cardinals in just a few paragraphs, but they really looked like the Super Bowl team they were last season and the Vikings, well did not. Also, as Yahoo Sports writes, may have shown a little weakness in the team's passing game.
However, even though they have another tough game on their schedule against AFC North leader Cincinnati, I see this as a better game played then the one on Sunday. After all, they are playing in the Metrodome, where they haven't lost a game yet this season. And, as predicted, everyone plays better there, from Favre (who has the best passer rating at home in the entire NFL) to the defense. I expect this one to go to Minnesota, even though I also expect this to be a close one all the way.
mj50's pick: Minnesota
Carolina Panthers vs. New England Patriots (-13.5): Sunday- 12:00 p.m.
mj15's pick: New England
The Patriots, as weak and panicking as they are right now, are too good to lose three games in a row. Especially when they're facing the guy with the league's second most INTs and struggling even more then they are at home in snowy/ cold conditions. As the Vince McMahon ring entrance song goes, the Panthers have "No chance, No chance in hell."
mj50's pick: New England
St. Louis Rams vs. Tennessee Titans (-13): Sunday- 3:05 p.m.
mj15's pick: Tennessee
Dammit, I had a very snarky, Deadspin type comment about the Titans losing to the Colts and pretty much losing any chance of making it to the playoffs unless a lot of thing go their way. But, I forgot it. Usually, I write my thoughts down but this particular time, I didn't. Now I know how Paul Kinsey felt on "Mad Men." Anyways, I'm still picking Tennessee in this one. And I'm picking them to win... BIG.
mj50's pick: Tennessee
Washington Redskins (-1) vs. Oakland Raiders: Sunday- 3:05 p.m.
mj15's pick: Oakland
BRRRRRUUUUUCCCCCEEEEEE GRAAAADDDDKKKOOOOWWWSKKIIII!!! And so, the legend of the Polish Rifle continues. First, it was beatinng the Bengals with two terrific drives (well, the second one was just about setting up Sebastian Janikowski for that game winning fiel goal) to give the Raiders a shocking win against the Bengals, and now it's throwing for three TDs in the 4th quarter to give the Raiders a win over the Steelers. He's like last year's Tyler Thigpen, only he actually wins the games instead of putting up surprising fantasy numbers. Jamarcus Russell? He's probably eating some late night feast at Denny's by himself.
And guess what? Not only does he and the Raiders win tow out of the last three games, but I expect them to go three of four after this week. Face it, they're at home against a team worse then they are (which makes it weird why they are the favorites heading into this game). That is, unless Al Davis makes some crazy, last minute substitution (I'm betting* 12-1 odds on that happening) and Jason Campbell has that incredible fantasy week all his owners have wanted when their starter had a BYE.
mj50's pick: Oakland
San Diego Chargers vs. Dallas Cowboys (-3): Sunday- 3:15 p.m.
mj15's pick: San Diego
Whew! I put all my energy in a short paragraph talking about some guy who will likely be released after the season, I completely forgot that there will be a much more interesting game happening in the late afternoon between the Chargers and the Cowboys (IN 3D, if you haven't heard). The way I see it, this game will be won by the Chargers because of two simple reasons, and that's that:
1. The Chargers are the hottest team in the league right now. In fact, I even think that they are the best team in the AFC.
2. The Cowboys just turn off the switch after December 1st. Sure, they might win at least one game this month, but most of the time they just are a let down. Take last week's game as an example.
That is all.
mj50's pick: Dallas
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants (-1): Sunday- 7: 20 p.m.
mj15's pick: Philadelphia
According to my pick of the Chargers, this game will decide who will be first in the NFC East. As you already see, I think it will be the Eagles. Why you ask? Because lately, they have owned the Giants the same way that Abed has owned Donald Glover's character on "Community." They always find a way to win since they last lost to them in October 2008. Also, I don't trust Eli Manning in cold weather games. I just don't.
mj50's pick: New York
Arizona Cardinals (-3.5) vs. San Fransisco 49ers: Monday- 7:30 p.m.
mj15's pick: Arizona
Ladies and gentleman, the Arizona Cardinals are back! Everything about them last week against the Vikings looked unstoppable. Kurt Warner looked like the one from January, the defense was spot on, allowing only 19 yards of rushing by Adrian Peterson, the wide receiving core is still great, and even Neil Rackers was perfect on the night. If they continue this groove, then you can expect them to go far in January, which makes me look very stupid for picking the Seahawks to win the division. And that includes this Monday night, which I think they will do.
mj50's pick: Arizona
RECAP
The Undertaker at "WrestleMania" "Lock of the Week":
Tennessee over St. Louis
The Buster Douglas over Mike Tyson "Upset of the Week":
Chicago over Green Bay
The Greatest Movie Ever Ultimate "I'm Not Sure" Pick:
Miami over Jacksonville
Week 14 recap (wow, has it really been that many weeks!) and my picks for the week before Christmas week coming up next Wednesday. Now, normally, I would say "Enjoy your weekend of football, everyone." However, we are now at weekend of sports where both the college and high school seasons are over. So, instead, I'm just going to say to have a nice week shoveling snow. And if you're not shoveling, then enjoy the week indoors wherever you are.
Sincerely,
Your pal: mj15
If you have any opinions on the week fourteen predictions or anything else on this post, or if you have any suggestions to mj15 on his next blog entry, e-mail him at: mj1599@aol.com. Your e-mail might be addressed on a future post.
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