NFL picks--Week 17

Last week: 12-4
Season record: 149-75

Well, it's come to this.  Week 17 and just a few playoff spots and seedings up for grabs, which is both good and bad.  Good because there are still some spots being played for.  Bad because it's going to render most of these games a snooze fest.  They are all on Sunday this week, and it's always fun watching Andrew Siciliano talk over all those split screens, which now include three across in which you can't see any of the action on the field.  Let's have a look at the slate....

Cleveland at Baltimore--The Ravens are still alive but do not control their own destiny.  I think the Browns are a sack away from starting me or you at QB.  Ravens 23, Browns 10

Dallas at Washington--I believe the Cowboys have an outside shot at a 2-seed.  So don't expect them to let off the gas here.  Yes, the Skins have always had their number but this Dallas team is steamrolling everyone.  Cowboys 27, Redskins 17

Indianapolis at Tennessee--The Colts have been exposed as a bit of a fraud so they need to have positive momentum by beating up on the NFL's biggest doormat.  Colts 31, Titans 17

New Orleans at Tampa Bay--How the mighty Saints, considered by many as a Super Bowl team, have fallen.  It's kind of breathtaking.  And it continues on Sunday.  Bucs 22, Saints 20

Philadelphia at NY Giants--The Eagles were eliminated with a shocking loss to the Skins on Saturday, and the Giants just keep winning and ruining their draft position for 2015.  Say what you will about Tom Coughlin, he plays every game to win.  Giants 30, Eagles 20

Buffalo at New England--The Patriots are literally playing for nothing as they have the 1-seed locked up, but don't think for a minute that they won't go all out here.  Patriots 29, Bills 16

Jacksonville at Houston--It's been a pretty good rebound year for Houston under Bill O'Brien.  Texans 23, Jaguars 10

San Diego at Kansas City--I think this is one of the few games with playoff implications for both teams.  The Chargers win and they are in and the Chiefs can win and get in with help.  I think.  Chiefs 24, Chargers 23

NY Jets at Miami--This is likely a curtain call for Rex Ryan.  Joe Philbin is still safe but the Dolphins will once again miss the playoffs.  Jets 19, Dolphins 16

Chicago at Minnesota--The Bears are in a horrible downward spiral.  Vikings 22, Bears 17

Oakland at Denver--The first of five (yes five!) late afternoon games.  Broncos 37, Raiders 10

Arizona at San Francisco--Likely the last of Jim Harbaugh's games coaching the disappointing Niners.  The Cards still have a shot at the 1-seed and they won't let up off the gas.  Cards 17, Niners 14

Detroit at Green Bay--This is no layup for the Pack, but in Week 17 at Lambeau they are about as safe a bet as any to win.  And this is for the division crown.  Packers 23, Lions 20

St. Louis at Seattle--There is no way Jeff Fisher's dirty...errrr, chippy Rams win in Seattle with the number 1 seed in the Hawks sights.  Seahawks 23, Rams 6

Carolina at Atlanta--This one is for the NFC South crown, with the winner being under .500 as a division champ and hosting a playoff game a la the 2011 Seahawks.  And the team getting shafted by this playoff format?  The Eagles, who may finish 10-6 and watch a team with a losing record take the 4-seed.  I'm a Giants fan, and this pleases me immensely.  Panthers 27, Falcons 24

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh--Both of these teams are flawed but dangerous.  And both are playing well, but I have to take the home team and Mike Tomlin, one of my favorite NFL coaches, to win the AFC North.  Steelers 22, Bengals 19

NFL picks--Week 16

Last week: 10-6
Last night: 1-0
Season record: 138-71

The playoff picture is becoming clearer and it's both exciting and strange.  Exciting because your favorites of Seattle, Green Bay, New England and Denver are all looking really strong, and strange because it's likely the Saints, Panthers or Falcons will win the NFC South (and host a playoff game) with 6 or 7 or 8 wins.  The Niners are out.  The Bills are still alive.  Arizona will likely win the NFC West while the Niners are already eliminated.  But hey, it only means we have to watch.  Except for games like last night's Jax vs. Tennessee.  We have to draw the line somewhere.

Philadelphia at Washington--Last season Saturday football is back!  But these two games are kind of yawn-inducing.  There needs to be season long prime time flexing or something.  Eagles 34, Redskins 20

San Diego at San Francisco--With each passing day, Jim Harbaugh appears to be on his way out.  The Niners are out of the playoffs after reaching the NFC title game three straight times.  The Chargers are likely going to miss the playoffs too after losing two in a row.  They're still alive so they have more to play for.  Chargers 24, Niners 22

Minnesota at Miami--Hey, a rematch of Super Bowl 8!  I know none of these players were born yet, but I wonder if some of the coaches even weren't born yet.  Dolphins 20, Vikings 13

Baltimore at Houston--The other Harbaugh, John, always seems to have his Ravens in the hunt.  They are sneaky good even when they are not very good.  I'm waiting for my phone to ring any day now to play QB for the Texans if Case Keenum's second tour doesn't work out.  Ravens 27, Texans 16

Detroit at Chicago--The Bears are about as dysfunctional as a franchise can be right now.  There is a losing culture, yes, but benching your 15 million dollar QB is sending a message.  Of course, no one knows what that message is.  Lions 30, Bears 14

Cleveland at Carolina--The Browns are 7-7 and quite respectable, but with that record they now sit in last place in the AFC North with three 9-win teams above them.  Johnny who?  Panthers 21, Browns 14

Atlanta at New Orleans--It's amazing to think that the upset of the Saints by the Falcons in Week 1 would loom large in a playoff race among teams with losing records.  Saints 45, Falcons 31

Green Bay at Tampa Bay--A classic NFC Central division rivalry.  The whole world just went "HUH?"  Packers 24, Bucs 19

Kansas City at Pittsburgh--You would think Pittsburgh in December is a very unfriendly place to play, but Andy Reid always seems to have his team in position to win games anywhere, anytime.  But he won't win this one.  Steelers 28, Chiefs 20

New England at NY Jets--Can you imagine how badly Rex wants to win this game?  It's likely his last home game and his last game against the Pats as coach of the Jets.  Patriots 31, Jets 12

NY Giants at St. Louis--After games against the Jags, Titans and Redskins, the Giants are facing a Rams team that is going to have the appearance of the Seahawks.  And it'll be really tough for the Giants to score at all against them.  Rams 16, Giants 9

Buffalo at Oakland--This is surely a game the Bills should win but may not.  Raiders 23, Bills 20

Indianapolis at Dallas--Here is a mighty intriguing game.  The Cowboys are leading the NFC East at 10-4 and the Colts have that same record leading the AFC South.  I really want Dallas to choke here but I doubt they will.  Cowboys 37, Colts 35

Seattle at Arizona--So SNF flexed into a beauty here.  The Cards lead the NFC West at 11-3 while the Seahawks trail by one game at 10-4.  This is for the division, more or less.  Seahawks 20, Cards 17

Denver at Cincinnati--Hey, what do you know?  Even a blind squirrel finds and acorn sometimes.  Monday Night Football has a meaningful game in Week 16!   Bengals 26, Broncos 23

NFL picks--Thursday Night Football Week 16

Last week: 10-6
Season record: 137-71

Tennessee at Jacksonville--Woo hoo!  A real barn burner for Thursday night.  They really have a knack for picking crappy games to air on TNF, don't they?  Jim Nantz and Phil Simms would never work a game like this on a Sunday-- instead, CBS would go to its thirteenth string of announcers like a monkey and a former NFL punter.  At least this is legitimately a game that could determine the number 1 pick in the 2015 NFL draft, so there's that.  And the Jags are 2-5 at home which gives them a slight edge (I mean, I can't believe I just wrote that).  So yeah, just wake me up when it's over.  Jaguars 19, Titans 16

NFL picks--Week 15

Last week: 10-6
Season record: 127-65

Week 15.  Dang.....I was in one fantasy league and I'm out of the playoffs.  Despite having the third highest point total, I went 5-9 because I had the third most points against.  I hate that stupid game sometimes.  Meanwhile, the season is barreling by, so we have to enjoy it while it's still here.  Let's check out this full slate of games....

Arizona at St. Louis--First of all, Jeff Fisher has balls of titanium.  Sending the six players the Rams drafted in the RG3 trade for the coin flip last weekend was breathtakingly ballsy, and I loved it.  I bet Dan Snyder didn't love it.  Or Robert Griffin.  The Rams also have beat their last two opponents 76-0.  Sure, it was against Oakland and Washington but that team is scary and will be really scary next season.  Meanwhile, everyone is off the Cardinals bandwagon.  They should win this game, but they probably won't.  Rams 17, Cards 16

Pittsburgh at Atlanta--I'm glad I don't make my living doing this, because it's impossible to figure this league out from week to week this season and here are two teams that are all over the place.  Steelers 38, Falcons 34

Washington at NY Giants--Despite my Giants looking mighty dysfunctional, they don't compare in that category to the Skins.  Yikes, what a clown show that has become.  The Giants have actually looked pretty good in many of their games before shitting the bed too often.  Sunday will not be one of those days.  Giants 30, Redskins 23

Miami at New England--The Patriots almost never lose in December and/or at home, so yeah, I feel confident with this pick.  Patriots 27, Dolphins 17

Oakland at Kansas City--The Chiefs are on the outside looking in to the playoff picture, and despite the Raiders playing well of late, including a win against KC a few weeks ago, they won't repeat that result here.  Chiefs 20, Raiders 10

Houston at Indianapolis--The Texans, much improved, are also on the outside looking in.  And all anyone says is that they have never won in Indy.  So no reason to believe that streak is snapped Sunday.  Colts 37, Texans 24

Cincinnati at Cleveland--All eyes on Johnny Manziel for his first NFL start, but the Bengals are seeking revenge from that Thursday night thrashing.  Cleveland sports teams have a way of disappointing their fans, but this is different.  The team is exciting and very close to being for real.  Browns 24, Bengals 23

Jacksonville at Baltimore--Yeah, no.  Ravens 26, Jags 3

Green Bay at Buffalo--Well if it's a blizzard it's not like the Packers won't feel at home.  But it's supposed to be 40 degrees.  Packers 33, Bills 26

Tampa Bay at Carolina--Cam Newton feels lucky to be alive after a pretty bad car accident two days ago.  Derek Anderson will start in his place Sunday and it's hard to imagine them not riding a wave of emotion to a win.  Panthers 21, Bucs 17

NY Jets at Tennessee--Somehow I don't think the Jets will hang 36 on the Titans like the Giants did last week.  Titans 20, Jets 17

Denver at San Diego--As good as Denver is, they are 3-3 on the road this year, and the Chargers 5-2 at home.  Philip Rivers is almost unbeatable in December too, so I'm calling the upset.  Chargers 30, Broncos 27

Minnesota at Detroit--This could be a trap game for the Lions, but I think they hang on for their tenth win.  Lions 22, Vikings 19

San Francisco at Seattle--The Niners are reeling, bad.  If the Hawks held them to 3 points on Thanksgiving night in San Fran, there is no reason to expect a different outcome here.  Seahawks 27, Niners 13

Dallas at Philadelphia--Another Thanksgiving Day rematch, and another that should have a similar result.  Eagles 38, Cowboys 31

New Orleans at Chicago--Though not the clunker other Monday nighters have been, ESPN just has a problem picking games every NFL fan wants to watch.  Saints 30, Bears 20

NFL picks--rest of Week 14

Last week: 7-9
Last night: 1-0
Season record: 118-59

Let's get to the rest of the picks and hopefully build on last night's success....


Pittsburgh at Cincinnati--The AFC North is pretty remarkable in that each team is above .500.  I can't figure out who will rise up and take the division, can you?  Bengals 26, Steelers 20

St. Louis at Washington--Jeff Fisher has his Rams playing really well.  We knew they had a killer D but raise your hand if you saw 52 points against the Raiders coming.  That's what I thought.  Redskins 19, Rams 16

NY Giants at Tennessee--In the big scheme, the Giants have kind of stooped to the bottom of the barrel after being upset by Jacksonville.  I think they have a better team than their record, but I can't pick them until they prove me wrong.  Titans 20, Giants 17

Carolina at New Orleans--Cam is just a shell of himself, isn't he?  The Saints smell blood and will take that crappy division.  Saints 38, Panthers 17

NY Jets at Minnesota--I think this Vikings team has the potential to be scary with Bridgewater and if he comes back, Adrian Peterson.  But meanwhile, they'll lose a lot of games while being fun to watch.  You can't say that for the Jets.  Vikings 22, Jets 16

Baltimore at Miami--Two teams fighting for their playoff lives, so expect a dogfight.  (sorry, Mike Vick!).  Ravens 23, Dolphins 20

Indianapolis at Cleveland--I'm not sure if  Brian Hoyer will respond to keeping his gig for now, or if he will hear the pitter patter of Johnny Football's footsteps.  I wanna pick the Browns but I think the Colts are just too good.  Colts 31, Browns 23

Tampa Bay at Detroit--There is just no way the Lions lose this game.  They are vying for the division against a talented Green Bay team and vying for a wild card too among some more great teams in Dallas, Philly, Seattle and Arizona.  This is a lay-up they can't flub.  Lions 27, Bucs 10

Houston at Jacksonville--The Texans are still in it at 6-6 but there are too many 7-5 teams to jump over.  But they have already overachieved based on last year in Bill O'Brien's first year.  Texans 28, Jags 20

Buffalo at Denver--Don't look now, the Bills are one of those aforementioned 7-5 teams.  But they are just going to be outclassed here.  Broncos 42, Bills 20

Kansas City at Arizona--The Cards have looked mortal losing two straight, but look for a rebound at home against a reeling Chiefs' squad.  Cards 19, Chiefs 16

Seattle at Philadelphia--One of the week's best games, and the Eagles can just about punch their ticket to January football if they win Sunday.  The Hawks are just 3-3 on the road while the Eagles are 6-0 at home.  That kind of gives a good indication.  Eagles 30, Seahawks 27

San Francisco at Oakland--Wow, four games in the 4pm ET hour!  Last week there were two and Red Zone showed two punts at once.  Seriously, they need balance in the weekly schedule.  Niners 37, Raiders 10

New England at San Diego--I credit Rich Eisen for this amazing stat--Tom Brady has the second best winning percentage in NFL history in December at 40-8.  But Philip Rivers is ranked first, with a 29-3 record in December.  Holy crap.  Patriots 27, Chargers 26

Atlanta at Green Bay--The Packers are 6-0 at home, and the Falcons are a fraud of a first place team.  That will be evident Monday night.  Oh and once again, what a crappy MNF matchup!  Packers 45, Falcons 21

NFL picks--Week 14 TNF

Last week: 7-9
Season record: 117-59

Um, 7-9?  Me?  That's not good.  That's not what you've come to expect from this amateur prognosticator, is it?  Well let's do something about that.....we have a full slate of games again this week but we're just going to pick the game tonight and do the rest tomorrow. 

Dallas at Chicago--The Cowboys took a step backward last week on Turkey Day and now everyone is thinking that Tony Romo's annual swoon has commenced.  Of course, the Bears have been in the tank mode most of the entire season.  Cowboys 27, Bears 20