Sunday
Game: Carolina at Atlanta
Pick: Carolina - To put it simply, Carolina has something to play for and Atlanta doesn't. Carolina has a great defense and Atlanta doesn't. I'll go with the Panthers by a pair of scores.
Result: Carolina 21 Atlanta 20
Record: 1-0
Game: Green Bay at Chicago
Pick: Green Bay - I picked Chicago earlier in the week, but said I could very well change my mind if Aaron Rodgers was named the starter for this game. As of this afternoon, that very thing happened, so I'm going to stay true to my word and go with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers over the awful Bears defense. Packers by 4.
Result: Green Bay 33 Chicago 28
Record: 2-0
Game: Baltimore at Cincinnati
Pick: Cincinnati - Both of these teams play much better at home than on the road. Given that and the fact Joe Flacco isn't 100%, I'm going to go with the Bengals by 10.
Result: Cincinnati 34 Baltimore 17
Record: 3-0
Game: Houston at Tennessee
Pick: Tennessee - As a road team and losers of 13 straight, it's hard for me to pick the Texans in this one. Knowing both teams like to play in close games, I wouldn't expect anything less here, but as has been the case the past 13 games, I look for Houston to find yet another way to lose. I'll go with the Titans by a field goal.
Result: Tennessee 16 Houston 10
Record: 4-0
Game: Jacksonville at Indianapolis
Pick: Indianapolis - The Colts got back to running the football in their impressive win over Kansas City. Look for them to continue that against the 4-11 Jaguars, whom are just looking forward to a top 5 draft pick. I'll go with the Colts by a couple of scores.
Result: Indianapolis 30 Jacksonville 10
Record: 5-0
Game: NY Jets at Miami
Pick: NY Jets - The Jets offense played fairly efficiently against the stingy Cleveland Browns defense. Even though they don't have anything to play for but pride, I think Rex Ryan will get his team pumped and ready to end the season on a positive note, with a solid road win in Miami to improve to an even 8-8 - a much better record than most football analysts anticipated at the start of the season. I'll take the Jets by 3.
Result: NY Jets 20 Miami 17
Record: 6-0
Game: Detroit at Minnesota
Pick: Detroit - With Adrian Peterson listed as questionable for Sunday's game, I've decided to go against my better judgment and place some faith in the hapless Lions once again. I'll go with Detroit and their solid run defense against an either less-than-100% Adrian Peterson or his back-up. Lions by 6.
Result: Minnesota 14 Detroit 13
Record: 6-1
Game: Buffalo at New England
Pick: New England - Buffalo could give the Patriots troubles, like they did in the teams' first gathering this season. However, with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs on the line quite potentially, I have to go with Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and company. I think it'll be closer than the experts will likely predict, but I'll take the Pats by a touchdown.
Result: New England 34 Buffalo 20
Record: 7-1
Game: Tampa Bay at New Orleans
Pick: New Orleans - New Orleans has shown that they're a very average, perhaps slightly above average team on the road. At home, however, they're one of the very best. Look for the Saints to improve to 11-5 with a convincing win against the Bucs in this one. I'll take the Saints by 17.
Result: New Orleans 42 Tampa Bay 17
Record: 8-1
Game: Washington at NY Giants
Pick: NY Giants - Even though they had nothing but pride to play for, the New York Giants went into Detroit and beat the 7-7 Lions. Kudos to Tom Coughlin and his team for bouncing back from 0-6 to go 6-3 in their past 9 games. Washington, while they've played better in recent weeks, are still finding ways to lose. They've lost their past two games by a combined two points. Look for these trends to continue, as the Giants close the season 7-3 with a 6-point win against the 'Skins.
Result: NY Giants 20 Washington 6
Record: 9-1
Game: Cleveland at Pittsburgh
Pick: Pittsburgh - While it's still somewhat of a long shot, the Pittsburgh Steelers can still make the playoffs. First thing's first, though - they'll have to win this game. Fortunately for them, they're peaking offensively at the right time and Cleveland, like Washington, seems to find ways to lose week in and week out. I look for the Steelers to do their part with a 10-point win at home in this one. Then they'll need losses by Miami, San Diego, and Baltimore to have a shot at playing beyond this game this season.
Result: Pittsburgh 20 Cleveland 7
Record: 10-1
Game: Denver at Oakland
Pick: Denver - Even when Peyton Manning and the Broncos have a sub-par showing through three quarters of a game, like they did against Houston this past weekend, they still find a way to rack up 37 points. Look for them to rack up 30+ more points in this game and win going away, on their way to home-field advantage through the playoffs.
Result: Denver 34 Oakland 14
Record: 11-1
Game: San Francisco at Arizona
Pick: San Francisco - This was the toughest game for me to pick. I love how Arizona is playing, especially defensively, but Carson Palmer has been too inconsistent and careless with the football at times for me to take them over the surging 49ers, who look like a completely different team offensively with Michael Crabtree back in action. Depending on the injury situation, I could alter this pick before Sunday, but for the time being, I'll go with San Francisco by a field goal.
Result: San Francisco 23 Arizona 20
Record: 12-1
Game: Kansas City at San Diego
Pick: San Diego - With their 5-seed all wrapped up, Kansas City doesn't have much to play for in this game. San Diego, meanwhile, at 8-7, is fighting for the 6-seed in the AFC playoffs. With the game at home and the Chiefs struggling, I look for Philip Rivers to lead his Chargers to a 6-point win in this one.
Result: San Diego 27 Kansas City 24 OT
Record: 13-1
Game: St. Louis at Seattle
Pick: Seattle - Seattle lost their first game at home this past weekend against Arizona. It was Russell Wilson's first loss at home as quarterback of the Seahawks. With those kinds of numbers, the odds say it's very unlikely the Seahawks will lose back-to-back games at home. I'll go with Seattle by 10.
Result: Seattle 27 St. Louis 9
Record: 14-1
Game: Philadelphia at Dallas
Pick: Philadelphia - The Cowboys won the first meeting 17-3 when the Eagles were beaten up at quarterback. Since that time, the Eagles have improved on both sides of the ball and the Cowboys haven't so much. In his first year as head coach of the team, I look for Chip Kelly to lead his Eagles to a victory and a playoff spot as the NFC East Champions. I like the Eagles by 3.
Result: Philadelphia 24 Dallas 22
Record: 15-1
Week 17: 15-1 (.938)
Overall: 163-92-1 (.639)
Game: Carolina at Atlanta
Pick: Carolina - To put it simply, Carolina has something to play for and Atlanta doesn't. Carolina has a great defense and Atlanta doesn't. I'll go with the Panthers by a pair of scores.
Result: Carolina 21 Atlanta 20
Record: 1-0
Game: Green Bay at Chicago
Pick: Green Bay - I picked Chicago earlier in the week, but said I could very well change my mind if Aaron Rodgers was named the starter for this game. As of this afternoon, that very thing happened, so I'm going to stay true to my word and go with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers over the awful Bears defense. Packers by 4.
Result: Green Bay 33 Chicago 28
Record: 2-0
Game: Baltimore at Cincinnati
Pick: Cincinnati - Both of these teams play much better at home than on the road. Given that and the fact Joe Flacco isn't 100%, I'm going to go with the Bengals by 10.
Result: Cincinnati 34 Baltimore 17
Record: 3-0
Game: Houston at Tennessee
Pick: Tennessee - As a road team and losers of 13 straight, it's hard for me to pick the Texans in this one. Knowing both teams like to play in close games, I wouldn't expect anything less here, but as has been the case the past 13 games, I look for Houston to find yet another way to lose. I'll go with the Titans by a field goal.
Result: Tennessee 16 Houston 10
Record: 4-0
Game: Jacksonville at Indianapolis
Pick: Indianapolis - The Colts got back to running the football in their impressive win over Kansas City. Look for them to continue that against the 4-11 Jaguars, whom are just looking forward to a top 5 draft pick. I'll go with the Colts by a couple of scores.
Result: Indianapolis 30 Jacksonville 10
Record: 5-0
Game: NY Jets at Miami
Pick: NY Jets - The Jets offense played fairly efficiently against the stingy Cleveland Browns defense. Even though they don't have anything to play for but pride, I think Rex Ryan will get his team pumped and ready to end the season on a positive note, with a solid road win in Miami to improve to an even 8-8 - a much better record than most football analysts anticipated at the start of the season. I'll take the Jets by 3.
Result: NY Jets 20 Miami 17
Record: 6-0
Game: Detroit at Minnesota
Pick: Detroit - With Adrian Peterson listed as questionable for Sunday's game, I've decided to go against my better judgment and place some faith in the hapless Lions once again. I'll go with Detroit and their solid run defense against an either less-than-100% Adrian Peterson or his back-up. Lions by 6.
Result: Minnesota 14 Detroit 13
Record: 6-1
Game: Buffalo at New England
Pick: New England - Buffalo could give the Patriots troubles, like they did in the teams' first gathering this season. However, with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs on the line quite potentially, I have to go with Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and company. I think it'll be closer than the experts will likely predict, but I'll take the Pats by a touchdown.
Result: New England 34 Buffalo 20
Record: 7-1
Game: Tampa Bay at New Orleans
Pick: New Orleans - New Orleans has shown that they're a very average, perhaps slightly above average team on the road. At home, however, they're one of the very best. Look for the Saints to improve to 11-5 with a convincing win against the Bucs in this one. I'll take the Saints by 17.
Result: New Orleans 42 Tampa Bay 17
Record: 8-1
Game: Washington at NY Giants
Pick: NY Giants - Even though they had nothing but pride to play for, the New York Giants went into Detroit and beat the 7-7 Lions. Kudos to Tom Coughlin and his team for bouncing back from 0-6 to go 6-3 in their past 9 games. Washington, while they've played better in recent weeks, are still finding ways to lose. They've lost their past two games by a combined two points. Look for these trends to continue, as the Giants close the season 7-3 with a 6-point win against the 'Skins.
Result: NY Giants 20 Washington 6
Record: 9-1
Game: Cleveland at Pittsburgh
Pick: Pittsburgh - While it's still somewhat of a long shot, the Pittsburgh Steelers can still make the playoffs. First thing's first, though - they'll have to win this game. Fortunately for them, they're peaking offensively at the right time and Cleveland, like Washington, seems to find ways to lose week in and week out. I look for the Steelers to do their part with a 10-point win at home in this one. Then they'll need losses by Miami, San Diego, and Baltimore to have a shot at playing beyond this game this season.
Result: Pittsburgh 20 Cleveland 7
Record: 10-1
Game: Denver at Oakland
Pick: Denver - Even when Peyton Manning and the Broncos have a sub-par showing through three quarters of a game, like they did against Houston this past weekend, they still find a way to rack up 37 points. Look for them to rack up 30+ more points in this game and win going away, on their way to home-field advantage through the playoffs.
Result: Denver 34 Oakland 14
Record: 11-1
Game: San Francisco at Arizona
Pick: San Francisco - This was the toughest game for me to pick. I love how Arizona is playing, especially defensively, but Carson Palmer has been too inconsistent and careless with the football at times for me to take them over the surging 49ers, who look like a completely different team offensively with Michael Crabtree back in action. Depending on the injury situation, I could alter this pick before Sunday, but for the time being, I'll go with San Francisco by a field goal.
Result: San Francisco 23 Arizona 20
Record: 12-1
Game: Kansas City at San Diego
Pick: San Diego - With their 5-seed all wrapped up, Kansas City doesn't have much to play for in this game. San Diego, meanwhile, at 8-7, is fighting for the 6-seed in the AFC playoffs. With the game at home and the Chiefs struggling, I look for Philip Rivers to lead his Chargers to a 6-point win in this one.
Result: San Diego 27 Kansas City 24 OT
Record: 13-1
Game: St. Louis at Seattle
Pick: Seattle - Seattle lost their first game at home this past weekend against Arizona. It was Russell Wilson's first loss at home as quarterback of the Seahawks. With those kinds of numbers, the odds say it's very unlikely the Seahawks will lose back-to-back games at home. I'll go with Seattle by 10.
Result: Seattle 27 St. Louis 9
Record: 14-1
Game: Philadelphia at Dallas
Pick: Philadelphia - The Cowboys won the first meeting 17-3 when the Eagles were beaten up at quarterback. Since that time, the Eagles have improved on both sides of the ball and the Cowboys haven't so much. In his first year as head coach of the team, I look for Chip Kelly to lead his Eagles to a victory and a playoff spot as the NFC East Champions. I like the Eagles by 3.
Result: Philadelphia 24 Dallas 22
Record: 15-1
Week 17: 15-1 (.938)
Overall: 163-92-1 (.639)
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