Happy New Year from the Old Man. Of course, if those damn Mayans are right, this will be the last New Years we’ll have. If that’s the case, at least there’s NFL football! The playoff picture is pretty much set with a couple of big games left to determine the final teams and seeding. The biggest game comes Sunday night when the Cowboys face off against the Giants in a winner-take-all contest. That’s what makes this game so great. Enough small talk, let’s get to the picks!
Washington Redskins (+8.5) at Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are playing their best ball of the season and the Redskins…they’re not. The Eagles will win this game going away. The big question for this team in the offseason will be the return of Andy Reid. Will he back? My gut tells me yes, but if the right coach is available, I can see the Eagles making a move, but it would take a big name coach in my opinion. Either way, Eagles win the last game of the season and go out on a high note.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+12) at Atlanta Falcons
Alex Smith and the Niners have surprised everyone this season.
The Falcons were doing a bunch of whining after Monday night’s loss. Mean old Drew Brees broke the record on them and they didn’t like it. I’ve got some advice for the Falcons, stop him! You really want to make a point, knock the stuffing out of Brees as he’s dropping back to burn your D again. That’s the best statement you can make. This week the hapless Bucs come into town. The Bucs are team in total chaos and I look for them to clean house with the coaching staff. I also wouldn’t be surprised if they put Blount on the trading block. Lot’s of offseason issues face the Bucs. As for the game, Falcons win BIG.
San Francisco 49ers (-10.5) at Saint Louis Rams
With a win the 49ers lock up the number two overall NFC seed. With a loss, and a Colts loss, the Rams lock up the number one pick for next years draft. There’s a lot riding on this game and I think the 49ers will bury the Rams. The question becomes if the Rams do get the number one pick, what will they do with it?
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings (Pick ‘em)
Five weeks ago, the Bears were flying high on their way to the NFC playoffs, then the injuries came along. The Vikings were not playing well all season and last week their best player fell to a serious knee injury. Both teams have serious questions to answer in the offseason. Will the Bears keep Mike Martz, Jerry Angelo, and some of the other coaching staff. Will the Vikings use their high draft pick, third or fourth most likely, to draft a running back in case AP isn’t back. Is Ponder the answer? As for the game, it’s a battle of backups. I’m going to go with the Vikings at home.
Detroit Lions (-3.5) at Green Bay Packers
Yes, the Lions are favored in this contest. I think the though process is the Lions have more to play for than the Packers. Truth is, they do! If the Lions win, then they get the fifth seed and a date in the playoffs with the winner of the Giants and Cowboys. If they drop to the six seed, then it’s a date with the red hot Saints. I’d rather play the Cowboys or Giants. The forecast from nflweather.com is calling for a day in the 30′s and partly sunny. I’m going to go with the Lions to win this one as the Pack will rest and get ready to defend their title.
Carolina Panthers (+8.5) at New Orleans Saints
The Saints need to win to have a chance at catching the 49ers for the number two seed. I think the Saints will win this game but I think they’ll keep the three seed. What will be interesting to see is next season. If these two teams are playing again at the end of the year, it might mean something for both teams. Carolina is an up and coming team and the NFC South will be the conference in the next few seasons. Take the Saints in this one.
Tennessee Titans (-3) at Houston Texans
No matter what happens this weekend, the Texans are the number three seed. The Titans? With a win, and some help, they could lock up the number six seed, which means they would play Houston again the following weekend. If you’re Houston, do you rest up? Do you put the Titans out of contention? Personally, I think the Texans show up and win.
Baltimore Ravens (-2.5) at Cincinnati Bengals
Roethlisberger will try and play with his injured ankle.
This game has a lot of significance. If the Bengals win, they lock up the final wild-card position. If the Ravens win and the Patriots lose, then the Ravens become the number one seed. Can rookie Andy Dalton pull it off? The Ravens are coming off a win against the Browns and, this season, they’ve had lapses after wins. I’m going to go with the upset and take the Bengals in this one.
Pittsburgh Steelers (-7) at Cleveland Browns
The Steelers can get the number two seed with a win and loss by the Ravens. The Steelers are banged up but the visit the lowly Browns who are just playing things out. It is a division game and the Browns will play hard, but the Steelers will win this one and hope the Old Man is right with his Ravens-Bengals pick.
Indianapolis Colts (+3.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars
A friend of the Old Man’s suggested the Jags may roll over in this one so the Colts will not get the number one pick in the draft and that way they wouldn’t face the next coming of Peyton Manning for the next decade or so. Interesting theory. I look for the Colts to lose this one and win the Luck Derby. Both teams face coaching decisions in the offseason and the Jags face the real prospect of being relocated with new ownership. Jags win and those Colts fan’s who have already bought Luck jerseys (there are several) can breathe a sigh of relief.
New York Jets (+2) at Miami Dolphins
The J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets have imploded. They went from being in the drivers seat to hanging on to the back bumper. They are still alive in the playoff race but need a ton of help. The first thing they need to do is beat the Dolphins, and that’s not happening this week. Dolphins put an end to the Jets playoffs this season and the questions about Ryan, Sanchez, and Schottenheimer heat up yet again.
Buffalo Bills (+11) at New England Patriots
Buffalo is coming off a big win over Tebow and the Broncos. They took the Broncos to the woodshed. This week, they’ll be the ones getting the whoopin’! Brady and the Pats can lock up the number one seed and they’ll do so easily. Take that Pats at home.
San Diego Chargers (+3) at Oakland Raiders
The Raiders are still alive in the playoff race but need some help. The simplest path for them is they win and the Broncos lose. However, if the Broncos win and the Raiders win, they’re still alive, but need a ton of help. The problem is, I don’t think the Raiders will win this one. I think the Chargers are playing to completely spoil the Raiders season, and they’ll do it. Upset of the week.
Kansas City Chiefs (+3.5) at Denver Broncos
Tebow will try to lead the Broncos to the playoffs.
It’s Orton versus Tebow. It’s the Broncos at home with a chance two wrap up a division title. It’s Satan Tebowing….wait, that was Bill Maher. I look for the Broncos to win at home and move on as the number four seed in the playoffs where they’ll most likely face the Steelers. Denver will celebrate for one week at least.
Seattle Seahawks (+3) at Arizona Cardinals
In a game for none of the marbles, the 7 and 8 Seahawks visit the 7 and 8 Cardinals. Funny thing is that at this time last year that record in the NFC West would have been good enough for a shot at the title. In a game where most are saying who cares, I’m going with Lynch to rumble over the Cards.
Dallas Cowboys (+3) at New York Giants
The game of the year. Winner is in, loser is out. This could be the final chance for Tony Romo to prove he’s the QB of this franchise. If he loses, then I think the Cowboys will take a serious look at replacing him next season. My advice for Jerry Jones? Start looking. The Cowboys are going to get beat on Sunday night as Eli and company will put up at least 14 more than the Boys. Giants take the east and get a date in the playoffs.
That’s it for week 17. Look for the playoff edition next week!