Oakland (+13) @ Tampa Bay
Preview: How on Earth could Tampa figure to screw this one up any more than they already have? Their storied D-coordinator Monte Kiffin has announced he'll be joining son Lane at the University of Tennesse. They were 9-3, looking like a lock for a playoff spot, and possibly even a divisional championship. Then, they stopped tackling the other team's players, about three weeks ago. Now, they come in to the last week of the season, needing to beat a hapless Oakland Raider team, to just have a shot. For now, expect Tampa to beat Oakland to at least do their part. Minimal as it might be, I'd suspect Jon Gruden would have his team up for this game.
Scott's Pick: Tampa Jordan's Pick: Oakland
Preview: Even though Pittsburgh is heading to the playoffs, this game means nothing to either team. The Browns stink, and were eliminated eons ago. The Steelers on the other hand, with the 31-14 beat down they took last week at top seeded Tennessee, lost out on the AFC's top spot, but still have already earned a 1st round bye and the #2 seed. So this game is one to avoid. Pittsburgh will likely rest some of its starters, and the feel of this game will be more like a preseason game in August. The Steelers may want to fulfill the age old NFL cliches of "staying sharp" and "ending the season on a high note", but my guess is they'll try to "give guys some rest". Expect the Steelers to win, but the Browns to cover.
Scott's Pick: Cleveland Jordan's Pick: Cleveland
Tennessee (-3) @ Indianapolis
Preview: Here's your breakdown of this game. The team favored isn't playing at home, doesn't have much to play for already having locked up home field. The home team, underdog for some reason, has won eight in a row, and is clearly the hottest team in the league. Not that anyone on the planet really knows what QB rating is (higher=better, that's about it), Peyton Manning's has been over 100 the second half of the season. In English, he hasn't thrown a pick in 3 games and he's back to being Peyton Manning again after a rocky start to the season. The Colts have a playoff spot secured, but could move up with a win and some help.
Scott's Pick: Indianapolis Jordan's Pick: Indianapolis
St. Louis (+14) @ Atlanta
Preview: Atlanta has already clinched a playoff spot. They did so with a 24-17 win over the Vikings last Sunday. Now it's about them trying to win the NFC South, much to the dismay of one Scott Spinelli. The Falcons, a doormat a year ago, behind new QB Matt Ryan have answered the bell whenever they've needed to, and expect them to do so in this home date with the pitiful Rams. St. Louis is in complete disarray, and its only concern at the moment is Mel Kiper Jr.'s recent draft board. (The Rams will have the second or third pick next year, and seemingly every year for the next five.) Assuming the Falcons are motivated to win the South, they'll not only win, they'll cover.
Scott's Pick: St. Louis Jordan's Pick: Atlanta
New England (-6) @ Buffalo
Preview: If you truly believed Buffalo would beat Denver last week, in Denver, then you're either A) smarter than I am (not difficult), B) Jordan, or C) any combination of the previous. No matter which way you look at it, divisional championship or simply a playoff spot via the wild card, New England will need help to get into the playoffs. Simply beating this mercurial Buffalo team won't be enough. Then again, if you think Bill Belichick won't have his boys ready to whoop the Bills on the final day of the season, you haven't been watching much football the past six or seven years.
Scott's Pick: New England Jordan's Pick: New England
Detroit (+10.5) @ Green Bay
Preview: One more glorious defeat, and the quest will mercifully end: the Detroit Lions will be the worst team in NFL history, and will be the first to finish 0-16. The Packers better hold up their end of the bargain and win this one. I don't even care if they cover the spread. Green Bay has lost five straight since their manhandling of the Bears November 16th, and you'd figure they'd be motivated to finish the season on a high note. (One side note here: I'm sick of hearing how if the Packers had Brett Favre and not Aaron Rodgers somehow this team would be excellent. Rodgers has been good, and it's not his fault his defense is an atrocity. Give the guy a break.) After tomorrow, I'm getting my T-shirt made: "2008 Detroit Lions, WORST TEAM EVER, 0-16".
Scott's Pick: Green Bay Jordan's Pick: Green Bay
Chicago (+3) @ Houston
Preview: Despite the fact that my uncle says "The Bears are the worst 9-6 team in NFL History" (which he might be right about) Chicago has managed to win three must-win games in a row to put themselves in playoff contention in the final week. They took care of Jacksonville at home three weeks ago, then managed to eek by New Orleans and hated Green Bay thanks to the accurate leg of Robbie "Good as" Gould, and now could make the playoffs a couple of different ways. The most likely scenario would be a win in Houston and a loss by Minnesota against the Giants, which would give them the NFC North crown. But, they could also sneak in if Dallas and Tampa Bay both lose and the Bears win, giving them a wild card berth. Either way, they'll have their hands full this week with a good Texans offense. Somehow though, Lovie Smith gets this team to win in a tight one. (Wouldn't it be so Bears for them to win and they still don't get in?)
Scott's Pick: Houston Jordan's Pick: Chicago
Kansas City (+2.5) @ Cincinnati
Preview: Classic "who gives a crap" matchup in Week 17. The only people that will care about this "game" are fantasy players in their championship. Then again, if you are in the championship of your fantasy football league, there's a high probability you don't have anyone on these two garbage teams. Actually, Herm Edwards will likely care about this game. Not only because he plays to win the games, but also because he could be playing for his job. That said, I've picked against Cincy twice in a row, and they've tricked me twice. Fool me three times? Come come now.
Scott's Pick: Kansas City Jordan's Pick: Cincinnati
New York Giants (+7) @ Minnesota
Preview: This game means absolutely nothing to the Giants, who apparently plan to rest some of their starters. That's not good for me, as a Bears fan, that needs the Giants to win this game. New York has already wrapped up the NFC East and home field advantage throughout the playoffs, and win or lose, the Vikings still make the playoffs if Chicago loses. So this, unlike the game Scott just chronicled, does not fall into the ol' "Who Gives a Crap" category. Minnesota really should win this game given that the Giants have no incentive to win it, but the Vikings often fizzle down the stretch. I'm guessing they will choke again tomorrow, thinking with my heart and not my head.
Scott's Pick: New York Jordan's Pick: New York
Carolina (-2.5) @ New Orleans
Preview: This has nothing to do with the preview, but I've got to take a second to give DeAngelo Williams his props, he deserves it. 18 TDs, in one season for this guy! He had 5 in the previous two. It seems like only yesterday this Carolina team was holding Williams back in favor of DeShaun Foster. Good plan, glad that worked out. Carolina did play tough, despite the loss last week. New Orleans won't have much of anything to play for, and Carolina would like to win and go out on a high note with a bye likely coming. Expect Carolina, with a short spread, to win this one.
Scott's Pick: Carolina Jordan's Pick: Carolina
Washington (+3) @ San Francisco
Preview: Lord. Another one of these? Washington was eliminated in Week 16, San Francisco sometime in 2005. Do you really care who wins this game? You can't possibly.
Scott's Pick: San Francisco Jordan's Pick: Washington
Jacksonville (+11) @ Baltimore
Preview: Baltimore may not need this game, as a product of the flex schedule, but they sure would like to have it. The Ravens could clinch the sixth and final seed in the AFC playoffs if New England falls to Buffalo, by virtue of the fact that the Ravens have a better conference record than the Patriots. But if New England wins, which Baltimore will probably know before the game kicks off, the Ravens will have to win it. Baltimore has been impressive lately, having won 8 of its past 10 games to vault itself into its current spot. They looked very impressive in the final game at Texas Stadium last week, beating the Cowboys 33-24. Look for Jacksonville to cover the spread, but the Ravens to win and lock up a playoff berth. And in my opinion, this is a team that will be very dangerous in the playoffs.
Scott's Pick: Baltimore Jordan's Pick: Jacksonville
Seattle (+6.5) @ Arizona
Preview: Coming off a game in which Kurt Warner (he had a Kobe Bryant day, going 6/18 with 30 points, err, yards) was so bad he was pulled, they've got to be ready to roll here. Just because they clinched their playoff spot seemingly eons ago, it doesn't mean they'll want to go into the playoffs on such a bad note. They've lost 4 of the last 5, and in those losses have allowed at least 5 TDs each. They seem so committed to winning to end the season, they've announced that even though the game is technically meaningless, they'll be playing their starters.
Scott's Pick: Arizona Jordan's Pick: Seattle
Dallas (+1.5) @ Philadelphia
Preview: Dallas wins, they're in. Philly needs help, not really worth getting into here, but, it suffices to say, they can't just win. Dallas has been hard to figure lately. At home against Baltimore, they couldn't close the deal. Prior to that, the G-Men came into town, and they handled them quite nicely. Yet, before that, they played Pittsburgh hard, until late, when they coughed up the lead and the game. Philly has been equally difficult, with a puzzling loss to Washington (no TDs?), a nice win in New York, and, of course, the tie. The line is also, in line with all this difficulty, basically non-existent. So, all I can say is, pick where your heart lies.
Scott's Pick: Philadelphia Jordan's Pick: Philadelphia
Miami (+2.5) @ New York Jets
Preview: What a juicy match up we have here. In fact, this one is probably the best of the day. The Dolphins win the AFC East with a win. Yes, these Dolphins. The Dolphins that went 1-15 a year ago, and the Dolphins that now call Chad Pennington their quarterback. And yes, that Chad Pennington, the one that the Jets left for dead at the beginning of the season to make way for Brett Favre, who has thrown for fewer passing yards than the man he replaced this season. The Jets can make the playoffs with a win over the Dolphins and a loss by the Patriots. In this scenario, the all three teams would be 10-6, but the Jets would win the AFC East by virtue of their better division record than the other two teams. The Jets could win a wild card spot if they win, the Patriots win and the Ravens lose. Either way, not the way we all thought it would go, huh? I like Chadwick to spurn his former team, which has lost 3 of 4, by the way.
Scott's Pick: New York Jordan's Pick: Miami
Denver (+8) @ San Diego
Preview: I would love to analyze this game. I'm glad it was given to me. But, I'm so angry at Denver, for no other reason than that they should have cake walked to a division title, I pray they lose. I pray they get destroyed. This should never have come down to a final game of the season for their playoff chances. I mean, come on already. Denver's had luck (that play against San Diego with the wrong call), come backs (Atlanta, New Orleans, etc.), and even over come injuries (basically every running back). To lose to both Buffalo and Oakland at home, wow. It just makes me so mad. And, I can't repeat enough that I don't root for Denver, never have. They're just so bothersome, I can't do a thing but vent.
Scott's Pick: San Diego Jordan's Pick: Denver
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