Wow, another tough week last weekend, but I still finished on the plus side. However, I got the Ravens game pretty close and if they hadn't scored the finasl TD, I would have almost been dead on (I predicted Ravens 24-23). Either way, it's a win and I'll posting my winning prediction (of course!) on the Ravens-Jaguars game in Sunday's post. For this week's all important playoff-deciding games, as well as the others, here we go:
Atlanta over St. Louis: The Falcons are in but still want to stay sharp and perhaps even grab the #2 seed and a Bye in the first round if Carolina loses. The Rams have been sleep walking through the remainder of the season for a few weeks now and should lay down in Atlanta.
Buffalo over New England: Here it is, my Special Upset Pick of the Week and it's a doozy! The Bills, who have looked pretty good in beating Denver lst week, come home to Buffalo and upset the playoff minded Patriots, who are looking forward to watching our Ravens and forget that the Bills really want to win this game.
Cincinnati over Kansas City: The Bengals are going for a record two in a row and some salvation perhaps for coach Marvin Lewis and company while the Chiefs start looking at personnel and their future.
Green Bay over Detroit: I really wanted to pick the Lions and would have if the game was in Detroit. However, there is no way the Packers are going to be the tag line for Detroit's first win this season, as the Lions make history, although more like infamy!
Indianapolis over Tennessee: The Colts over the Titans in a game that neither team cares too much about, although Indy may need to win this one to give them confidence for when they might meet again in the playoffs.
NY Giants over Minnesota: The Vikings need this game but the Giants do not. Doesn't matter, as the New York reserves will still win this game over the Vike's regulars.
New Orleans over Carolina: The Saints make the Panthers super pissed off as Carolina goes from fighting for the #1 seed in the NFC to a Wild Card when Drew Brees and company take out a season's worth of frustrations on the reeling Panthers.
Pittsburgh over Cleveland: The Steelers have locked down the #2 seed but will still defeat the lowly Browns as Cleveland lines up just another QB under center who will fail as miserably as his predecessors.
Tampa Bay over Oakland: The Bucs are fighting for their playoff lives and are hanging by a thread so there's NFW that they will let a terrible Raiders team come into their crib and punk them again like the Chargers did last week.
Houston over Chicago: The Bears are also going to be watching from their living rooms when the playoffs start after they miss out on a chance to grab the NFC North but fail to do while the Texans moan about what might have been if QB Matt Schaub had stayed healthy all season.
San Francisco over Washington: The Redskins prove again that they can't go west when they lose for a second straight week on the left coast to a 49ers team that looks like they want to play for coach Mike Singletary.
Miami over the NY Jets: The Jets go from division leader to sofa watching for the playoffs as the Brett Favre retirement watch begins for yet another dramatic off season of tears, accusations and indecision.
Philadelphia over Dallas: The Cowboys have fate in their own hands but blow it for the second week in a row as the Eagles do not plan to allow the Cowboys to celebrate on their field.
Arizona over Seattle: The Cardinals desperately need a sign that they can actually win a game and this one bodes well for a rebounding performance against the Seahawks.
San Diego over Denver (Sunday Night Football): The football gods scheduled a great one to end the regular season as this one is for all the marbles of the AFC West and the playoffs. The Broncos have done everything they could have the last two weeks to allow the Chargers back into the hunt after a terrible start to the season and now San Diego is about to thank them in a big way as they thump Denver for the #4 playoff seed.
Last Week: 9-7
Season Record: 142-95-1