RECAP - WEEK SIXTEEN

This Week: 10-6 (116-115-8)
Linebusters: 4-1 (40-39-1)
Straight Picks (w/o line): 9-7 (146-90-1)

Now that I've got everything back above .500 with one week to go, I'm feeling pretty confident. The Jets are a disgrace, and since Fins and Jets fans both HATE the Patriots, I think it's only fitting that the Jets beat Miami, allowing the Pats to win the AFC east and get in the playoffs while the Jets and Fins both sit at home!

MVP Talk May Be A Little Much...
Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Line: Colts -6.5
O/U: 44
Linebuster!
My Pick: Colts -6.5. Indy runs away with it 31-14.
Result: Colts 31-24
Yeah, the Colts won their 8th in a row, but they didn't look very impressive. It took some late heroics. I'm not so sure that Peyton is the league's MVP right now, either. After a 3-4 start and no snaps in the preseason, Peyton has them rolling...but no team in the NFL has overperformed more than the Atlanta Falcons, and rookie QB Matt Ryan. It should be a tight race between the two, and I wouldn't be disappointed either way, but Ryan's success, as a rookie, taking into account the state of the franchise when he arrived, ought to give him the edge.

Way to Mess up my playoff scenarios, Baltimore...
Baltimore Ravens @ Dallas Cowboys
Line: Cowboys -4
O/U: 39.5
My Pick: Cowboys -4. Dallas wins it 24-16.
Result: Ravens 33-24
That was a disgraceful end to Texas stadium. The Cowboys do not deserve to be in the playoffs, but every time they screw up, the fates conspire to bail them out. Now they'll need a win over the Eagles to get into the postseason. The Eagles looked AWFUL against the skins, and may have fallen back into their losing ways, so Dallas is likely bound for the playoffs...but again, they don't deserve it...

True #1
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Tennessee Titans
Line: Steelers -2
O/U: 44.5
My Pick: Titans +2. Even with the injuries, the Titans win 17-13.
Result: Titans 31-14
Tennessee earned the #1 seed, plain and simple. No discussion needed. Pittsburgh is a good 2-seed, and unless Indy and/or New England make some noise, the Titans/Steelers rematch for the AFC championship would be a game no true football fan could miss.

Ho-Hum
Miami Dolphins @ Kansas City Chiefs
Line: Dolphins -4
O/U: 40
My Pick: Dolphins -4. Miami keeps the dream alive 27-14.
Result: Dolphins 38-31
It's Miami, so of course they had to play less-than-great, allow KC to stay in the game the whole way, and barely win it late. That's just how Miami plays against lesser opponents. Next week, they'll step it up for the Jets, but I'm not sure it'll be enough. Miami wins, and they're in. They lose, and the Pats, who should beat the Bills (they've had their number for how long now?) would get the division title. It doesn't seem right that the Fins can win, take the division, and potentially keep an 11-5 team, let alone last year's super bowl runners-up, out of the postseason.

Still can't win in the East, can they...
Arizona Cardinals @ New England Patriots
Line: Pats -8
O/U: 45
My Pick: Pats -8. New England pushes the Cards to 0-5 in the East 34-20.
Result: Pats 47-7
My favorite line uttered by a TV commentator this week has to be when the FOX guys were headed to break late in the Pats game and said, with a great deal of disdain and apathy, "We'll be right back...Pats lead by 40!" Yikes! Arizona is in, but it will be interesting to see if they can get a postseason win, even as well as they've played at home. The Pats, unfortunately for them, need a win at Buffalo and a Jets or Ravens loss to get into the postseason. If all 3 win, the Pats are the odd man out.

No...One...Cares
Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns
Line: Browns -3
O/U: 33.5
My Pick: Bengals +3. Cincinnati gets the meaningless W 17-13.
Result: Bengals 14-0
Haha, Cleveland couldn't even score once. Disgusting.

Skip Bayless, you just made my list of things to do today...
Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins
Line: Eagles -5
O/U: 38.5
My Pick: Eagles -5. Philly sets up a pre-playoff playoff game against Dallas in week 17. 27-12.
Result: Skins 10-3
Granted, I would have picked the Eagles anyway, but Skip Bayless rambling on and on all week on ESPN about how the Eagles were the BEST team in the NFL (I know, I know....he really said it though!) had skewed my view of them a bit. I'm surprised, in retrospect, that I didn't call that game a Linebuster. I was starting to believe the hype. I know Skip Bayless isn't the world's foremost authority on, well, anything...but Philly is obviously nothing special. They need to win and get a LOT of help, as the Vikings would have to lose to the Giants (possible, but New York isn't playing for anything...) AND the Bucs would have to lose at home to the Raiders (umm...not likely).

Knew it would be close, but I feel bad for the Rams
San Francisco 49ers @ St. Louis Rams
Line: 49ers -5.5
O/U: 44
My Pick: Rams +5.5. San Fran wins by a field goal, 27-24.
Result: 49ers 17-16
The reason I feel bad for the Rams is due to the way this game folded out. They had it won, but just couldn't hold the 49ers. It'll be interesting to see if Haslett gets the full time gig next year.

They surprise me every time...
Atlanta Falcons @ Minnesota Vikings
Line: Vikings -3
O/U: 44
My Pick: Vikings -3. Minnesota wins 27-20.
Result: Falcons 24-17
Matt Ryan has that team playing so well...I saw their upcoming schedule a few weeks ago, and though they would never make it to the playoffs, having to go through Tampa and Minnesota...but they won both games, and are now guaranteed of a playoff berth. Kudos, Atlanta. You've earned it. They can still win the division, by the way, if they beat the Rams (likely) and the Panthers lose at New Orleans (possible...). Minnesota could still miss the playoffs. They've got to beat the Giants, which is no small task, or they have to hope that the Bears lose at Houston. Considering what could be on the line, I doubt the Bears will lose.

0-16, here we come!
New Orleans Saints @ Detroit Lions
Line: Saints -7
O/U: 50.5
My Pick: Lions +7. Detroit will win one, just to piss me off...21-17.
Result: Saints 42-7
First of all, I knew better. I was just being hopeful. That was Detroit's shot, and now the Lions are destined to go down in history as the only team to go winless for a 16-game NFL season. Ouch.

You Morons
New York Jets @ Seattle Seahawks
Line: Jets -4.5
O/U: 44.5
Linebuster!
My Pick: Jets -4.5. New York finally pulls off a west coast victory 34-17.
Result: Seahawks 13-3
The Seahawks are relevant again! For one week, anyway. The Jets are an absolute disgrace, going out to lowly Seattle and scoring only 3 points. Seriously, what is it with that team and long plane trips? Jets lose, and they're obviously done. They win, and they may be done, too. Either Baltimore or New England would have to lose, and given the importance of those two teams' games, and the weakness of their opposition, it looks like the Jets' "magical" season will end in week 17! Stupid Jets.

See? Every other week...
Houston Texans @ Oakland Raiders
Line: Texans -7
O/U: 44
My Pick: Raiders +7. Houston still wins 24-21.
Result: Raiders 27-16
They stink one week, and are competitive the next. Must be Tom Cable's coaching style. Speaking of people who we will never hear from again...

Haha, Go Bills?
Buffalo Bills @ Denver Broncos
Line: Broncos -7
O/U: 44
Linebuster!
My Pick: Bills +7. Denver wins it late. Classic Buffalo-Denver Battle. 24-22 Broncs.
Result: Bills 30-23
This is the first game I can remember that I was happy about a Buffalo win for reasons other than liking the Bills. I can't wait to see that Broncos/Chargers game for all the marbles next week, especially after Ed Hochuli cost the Chargers round one with his blown call. Or his proper call, and stupid early whistle, depending on how you look at it. Broncos/Chargers, Sunday Night, AFC West on the line. May as well be a playoff game. Awesome.

Of course, two things had to happen to set up the AFC West showdown...
San Diego Chargers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Line: Bucs -3.5
O/U: 42.5
Linebuster!
My Pick: Chargers +3.5. San Diego wins 27-23.
Result: Chargers 41-24
It is hilarious that the Chargers were as bad as they were early in the season, had a very outside chance to make the playoffs a 4-8, and have had everything line up for them to control their own fate. Denver has lost two weeks in a row, San Diego has won 2 in a row. Go Chargers! I like the Bucs, and would still LOVE to see 3 NFC South teams rewarded with playoff spots after how great the conference was all year long. Tampa must win. Dallas must lose. It's that simple.

#1 in the NFC. Was there ever a question?
Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants
Line: Giants -3
O/U: 37.5
Linebuster!
My Pick: Giants -3. New York shows who's boss 31-21.
Result: Giants 30-24 (ot)
They may be back to the Giants of mid-season. Someone is always there to step up and make the plays neccessary to win games. This week, it was Derrick Ward. Amazing. Both teams are in the playoffs, but Carolina could fall to the wild card if they lose to the Saints and the Falcons beat the Rams. The Giants have their much-deserved home field advantage. We'll see if it helps them...New York postseason pressure might be a lot to handle.

Keeping the Dream Alive
Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears
Line: Bears -4
O/U: 41
My Pick: Bears -4. Chicago should win even if the game doesn't matter. Bears 27-20.
Result: Bears 20-17 (ot)
The Bears should have lost that game. I was sure that the moronic horse collar on the kick return late in the game would allow the Packers to hit the field goal and win it, but the Bears, always winning it with defense and special teams, came up with a block. Now they're in a decent spot to make the playoffs, as they play Houston, and Minnesota plays the best team in the NFC, the New York Giants. A win and a Minny loss would give them the division.