Sunday
Game: Miami at Buffalo
Pick: Buffalo - While both teams have been difficult to figure out this year, I like how Buffalo matches up with Miami at home. Miami's offensive line has struggled all year, and with the Bills solid pass rush, Ryan Tannehill may feel the need to force a few balls into coverage, which could very well result in turnovers. In the likely cold Buffalo weather and their superior rushing attack, I give them the edge at home, far, far away from the 75-degree temperatures in Miami. Buffalo by 4.
Result: Buffalo 19 Miami 0
Record: 1-0
Game: Minnesota at Cincinnati
Pick: Cincinnati - Minnesota's performance against the Eagles was an aberration. They'll face a much tougher defense on the road against the Bengals in this one. Also, while Cincinnati has been very average on the road, they've excelled at home, as they're unbeaten there. I like the Bengals in this one by a couple of scores.
Result: Cincinnati 42 Minnesota 14
Record: 2-0
Game: Indianapolis at Kansas City
Pick: Kansas City - With Kansas City's offense showing new life again and the game at home, I give the Chiefs the definite edge in this one. It may be a long day behind center for Andrew Luck. I'll go with the Chiefs at Arrowhead by a couple of scores.
Result: Indianapolis 23 Kansas City 7
Record: 2-1
Game: Tampa Bay at St. Louis
Pick: Tampa Bay - I find St. Louis to be one of the most unpredictable teams in all of football. There are times when the team fails to show up on either side of the ball, and then there are others when they dominate a 10-3 New Orleans Saints team at home. While Tampa Bay fell apart in the 4th quarter against San Francisco this past week, I like how they've been playing football over the past six weeks of the season and think their defense will give Kellen Clemens and company fits. Also, with spark-plug Tavon Austin listed as questionable for the game, it's unlikely even if he plays, that he'll be at full speed, which is another bonus for the Bucs. I'll go with Tampa by 3.
Result: St. Louis 23 Tampa Bay 13
Record: 2-2
Game: Cleveland at NY Jets
Pick: NY Jets - Living in Ohio, I just have to face reality - the Cleveland Browns find ways to lose. It doesn't seem to matter how large their lead is going into or midway through the 4th quarter, there's an 80% chance they'll lose that lead by game's end. Playing on the road against a stingy New York Jets defense, I have to give the edge to Rex Ryan's group. I'll go with the Jets by 6.
Result: NY Jets 24 Cleveland 13
Record: 3-2
Game: Dallas at Washington
Pick: Dallas - I'm having trouble picking either team right now. Even when Washington plays their best game in a while, they find a way to lose, and even when Dallas leads by 23 points at halftime, they find a way to choke as well. In any case, I have to imagine Dallas is extremely angry about blowing the big lead against Green Bay this past Sunday, and with their playoff lives on the line, feel they'll rise to the challenge, enough to beat the 3-11 Redskins anyway... I'll go with the Cowboys by a touchdown.
Result: Dallas 24 Washington 23
Record: 4-2
Game: New Orleans at Carolina
Pick: Carolina - New Orleans just isn't the same team on the road as they are at home, as they showcased this past weekend against St. Louis, and not too long ago at Seattle. I don't look for this game to be as lopsided as those other two, but still give a home-field edge to the Panthers. I'll go with Carolina by 6.
Result: Carolina 17 New Orleans 13
Record: 5-2
Game: Tennessee at Jacksonville
Pick: Tennessee - Recently, Tennessee has been losing all the close games and Jacksonville has been winning most of theirs. Still, though, I think the Titans have the better team and unless they throw the game away with turnovers, I'll pick them to win by a field goal.
Result: Tennessee 20 Jacksonville 16
Record: 6-2
Game: Denver at Houston
Pick: Denver - Houston's lost 12 straight. Need I say any more? I'll go with Denver by a couple of touchdowns.
Result: Denver 37 Houston 13
Record: 7-2
Game: NY Giants at Detroit
Pick: Detroit - The Lions are a much better team at home than on the road and the New York Giants appear to have all but given up since they're now out of playoff contention. I'll take the Lions by 10.
Result: NY Giants 23 Detroit 20 OT
Record: 7-3
Game: Arizona at Seattle
Pick: Seattle - If this game were at Arizona, I might have gone with the upset. However, Seattle is almost unbeatable at home and unfortunately for the Cardinals, this loss could put them out of the playoff race. I'll go with the Seahawks by 10.
Result: Arizona 17 Seattle 10
Record: 7-4
Game: Pittsburgh at Green Bay
Pick: Pittsburgh - As I've been saying for a while, if Aaron Rodgers is cleared to play in this game and is seen as 100%, I could very well change my pick. However, he's yet to be cleared by the team's physician, so at least for the time being, I'm going to have to go with the Steelers, whom are coming off a big Sunday night win against the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals. Pittsburgh's offense has been playing much better in recent weeks, and their defense, while not nearly as dominant as they have been in recent years, have played better of late as well. I'll go with the Steelers by a touchdown.
Result: Pittsburgh 38 Green Bay 31
Record: 8-4
Game: Oakland at San Diego
Pick: San Diego - As unpredictable as San Diego has been this season, I feel their big Thursday night win against Denver will vault them to a dominating win at home in this one and improve them to 8-7, fighting for that final Wild Card spot. I'll go with the Chargers by three scores.
Result: San Diego 26 Oakland 13
Record: 9-4
Game: New England at Baltimore
Pick: Baltimore - On the health front, these two teams are going in opposite directions. New England is banged up at the worst time of the season and Baltimore is getting healthy at just the right time. Coming off a big Monday night road win in Detroit and riding a 4-game win streak, I look for the suddenly playoff-worthy appearing Ravens to improve to 9-6 with another big win at home. I'll go with Baltimore by 4.
Result: New England 41 Baltimore 7
Record: 9-5
Game: Chicago at Philadelphia
Pick: Philadelphia - With neither defense seeming to show up many weeks, this game will likely all come down to turnovers. Unfortunately for the Bears, Jay Cutler is known to get careless with the football at times, while the Eagles' Nick Foles has thrown only two interceptions all year. Another number to consider - Chicago is ranked dead last in rush defense. Philly standout tailback LeSean McCoy has to be licking his chops at that. I'll go with the Eagles by a field goal.
Result: Philadelphia 54 Chicago 11
Record: 10-5
Monday
Game: Atlanta at San Francisco
Pick: San Francisco - The good news for Atlanta? They finally won this past Sunday, getting past Washington 27-26. The bad news for Atlanta? Playing on the road against 10-4 San Francisco is a whole lot tougher than against 3-11 Washington. I'll go with the Niners by at least two scores.
Result: San Francisco 34 Atlanta 24
Record: 11-5
Week 16: 11-5 (.688)
Overall: 148-91-1 (.619)
Game: Miami at Buffalo
Pick: Buffalo - While both teams have been difficult to figure out this year, I like how Buffalo matches up with Miami at home. Miami's offensive line has struggled all year, and with the Bills solid pass rush, Ryan Tannehill may feel the need to force a few balls into coverage, which could very well result in turnovers. In the likely cold Buffalo weather and their superior rushing attack, I give them the edge at home, far, far away from the 75-degree temperatures in Miami. Buffalo by 4.
Result: Buffalo 19 Miami 0
Record: 1-0
Game: Minnesota at Cincinnati
Pick: Cincinnati - Minnesota's performance against the Eagles was an aberration. They'll face a much tougher defense on the road against the Bengals in this one. Also, while Cincinnati has been very average on the road, they've excelled at home, as they're unbeaten there. I like the Bengals in this one by a couple of scores.
Result: Cincinnati 42 Minnesota 14
Record: 2-0
Game: Indianapolis at Kansas City
Pick: Kansas City - With Kansas City's offense showing new life again and the game at home, I give the Chiefs the definite edge in this one. It may be a long day behind center for Andrew Luck. I'll go with the Chiefs at Arrowhead by a couple of scores.
Result: Indianapolis 23 Kansas City 7
Record: 2-1
Game: Tampa Bay at St. Louis
Pick: Tampa Bay - I find St. Louis to be one of the most unpredictable teams in all of football. There are times when the team fails to show up on either side of the ball, and then there are others when they dominate a 10-3 New Orleans Saints team at home. While Tampa Bay fell apart in the 4th quarter against San Francisco this past week, I like how they've been playing football over the past six weeks of the season and think their defense will give Kellen Clemens and company fits. Also, with spark-plug Tavon Austin listed as questionable for the game, it's unlikely even if he plays, that he'll be at full speed, which is another bonus for the Bucs. I'll go with Tampa by 3.
Result: St. Louis 23 Tampa Bay 13
Record: 2-2
Game: Cleveland at NY Jets
Pick: NY Jets - Living in Ohio, I just have to face reality - the Cleveland Browns find ways to lose. It doesn't seem to matter how large their lead is going into or midway through the 4th quarter, there's an 80% chance they'll lose that lead by game's end. Playing on the road against a stingy New York Jets defense, I have to give the edge to Rex Ryan's group. I'll go with the Jets by 6.
Result: NY Jets 24 Cleveland 13
Record: 3-2
Game: Dallas at Washington
Pick: Dallas - I'm having trouble picking either team right now. Even when Washington plays their best game in a while, they find a way to lose, and even when Dallas leads by 23 points at halftime, they find a way to choke as well. In any case, I have to imagine Dallas is extremely angry about blowing the big lead against Green Bay this past Sunday, and with their playoff lives on the line, feel they'll rise to the challenge, enough to beat the 3-11 Redskins anyway... I'll go with the Cowboys by a touchdown.
Result: Dallas 24 Washington 23
Record: 4-2
Game: New Orleans at Carolina
Pick: Carolina - New Orleans just isn't the same team on the road as they are at home, as they showcased this past weekend against St. Louis, and not too long ago at Seattle. I don't look for this game to be as lopsided as those other two, but still give a home-field edge to the Panthers. I'll go with Carolina by 6.
Result: Carolina 17 New Orleans 13
Record: 5-2
Game: Tennessee at Jacksonville
Pick: Tennessee - Recently, Tennessee has been losing all the close games and Jacksonville has been winning most of theirs. Still, though, I think the Titans have the better team and unless they throw the game away with turnovers, I'll pick them to win by a field goal.
Result: Tennessee 20 Jacksonville 16
Record: 6-2
Game: Denver at Houston
Pick: Denver - Houston's lost 12 straight. Need I say any more? I'll go with Denver by a couple of touchdowns.
Result: Denver 37 Houston 13
Record: 7-2
Game: NY Giants at Detroit
Pick: Detroit - The Lions are a much better team at home than on the road and the New York Giants appear to have all but given up since they're now out of playoff contention. I'll take the Lions by 10.
Result: NY Giants 23 Detroit 20 OT
Record: 7-3
Game: Arizona at Seattle
Pick: Seattle - If this game were at Arizona, I might have gone with the upset. However, Seattle is almost unbeatable at home and unfortunately for the Cardinals, this loss could put them out of the playoff race. I'll go with the Seahawks by 10.
Result: Arizona 17 Seattle 10
Record: 7-4
Game: Pittsburgh at Green Bay
Pick: Pittsburgh - As I've been saying for a while, if Aaron Rodgers is cleared to play in this game and is seen as 100%, I could very well change my pick. However, he's yet to be cleared by the team's physician, so at least for the time being, I'm going to have to go with the Steelers, whom are coming off a big Sunday night win against the AFC North-leading Cincinnati Bengals. Pittsburgh's offense has been playing much better in recent weeks, and their defense, while not nearly as dominant as they have been in recent years, have played better of late as well. I'll go with the Steelers by a touchdown.
Result: Pittsburgh 38 Green Bay 31
Record: 8-4
Game: Oakland at San Diego
Pick: San Diego - As unpredictable as San Diego has been this season, I feel their big Thursday night win against Denver will vault them to a dominating win at home in this one and improve them to 8-7, fighting for that final Wild Card spot. I'll go with the Chargers by three scores.
Result: San Diego 26 Oakland 13
Record: 9-4
Game: New England at Baltimore
Pick: Baltimore - On the health front, these two teams are going in opposite directions. New England is banged up at the worst time of the season and Baltimore is getting healthy at just the right time. Coming off a big Monday night road win in Detroit and riding a 4-game win streak, I look for the suddenly playoff-worthy appearing Ravens to improve to 9-6 with another big win at home. I'll go with Baltimore by 4.
Result: New England 41 Baltimore 7
Record: 9-5
Game: Chicago at Philadelphia
Pick: Philadelphia - With neither defense seeming to show up many weeks, this game will likely all come down to turnovers. Unfortunately for the Bears, Jay Cutler is known to get careless with the football at times, while the Eagles' Nick Foles has thrown only two interceptions all year. Another number to consider - Chicago is ranked dead last in rush defense. Philly standout tailback LeSean McCoy has to be licking his chops at that. I'll go with the Eagles by a field goal.
Result: Philadelphia 54 Chicago 11
Record: 10-5
Monday
Game: Atlanta at San Francisco
Pick: San Francisco - The good news for Atlanta? They finally won this past Sunday, getting past Washington 27-26. The bad news for Atlanta? Playing on the road against 10-4 San Francisco is a whole lot tougher than against 3-11 Washington. I'll go with the Niners by at least two scores.
Result: San Francisco 34 Atlanta 24
Record: 11-5
Week 16: 11-5 (.688)
Overall: 148-91-1 (.619)
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