A Chicken Is Not Pillage

Really tough games played last weekend, and I read all about them.  Because of work schedule (I worked both days last weekend)  The only game I got to watch was Tampa Bay and Dallas.  Truly a worthwhile game.  To be honest, that entire Dallas offensive line should be Pro-Bowl bound.  They are that good.

I've gone back over some history past, and it's actually a rare thing that so few teams have clinched playoff births going into week 16.  The only 'ins' are the Patriots (for the 8th time in a row), the Raiders (for the first time since 2002), the Cowboys (still tied for the best record in the league with rookies at the two skill positions), and the Seahawks.  Only New England and Seattle have actually clinched their divisions.  New England, as impressive as they've been, still hasn't clinched home-field in the AFC.  This kind of competition is really 'un-presidented'.  The Giants can clinch tonight with a win over Philly, and I think they will.  The Raiders are still in trouble if Carr can't line up under center, and I really think that Del Rio should consider benching him with a playoff spot locked up.  No, that opinion is not based on the fact that my Broncos have to win out, the last game hosting Oakland,  and get help to even make January play.  There will be a ton of tough games this weekend, and I like that only two games will be played on Christmas, both important divisional matchups.  On with the picks.

Thursday:

New York Giants (10-4) at Philadelphia (5-9) - Giants

The confidence coming from that NY defense is frightening.

Saturday:

Minnesota (7-7) at Green Bay (8-6) - Packers

The Vikings got blown out by the Colts.  The COLTS.

Tennessee (8-6) at Jacksonville (2-12) - Titans

The Titans are looking really good for the 6th playoff spot.

New York Jets (4-10) at New England (12-2) - Hatriots

Whatever.

San Diego (5-9) at Cleveland (0-14) - Chargers

I really don't think Cleveland will win a game this year.

Washington (7-6-1) at Chicago (3-11) - Taterskins

The Bears are playing tough so this might be the upset pick of the week.

Atlanta (9-5) at Carolina (6-8) - Falcons

Atlanta could earn a playoff birth this week if a few other things happen.

Miami (9-5) at Buffalo (7-7) - Dolphins

Risky pick of the week, but I think the Fish are inspired right now.

Indianapolis (7-7) at Oakland (11-3) - Raiders

Kahlil Mack devours Andrew Luck.

San Francisco (1-13) at Los Angeles (4-10) - Rams

The Kelly coaching death watch continues.

Arizona (5-8-1) at Seattle (9-4-1) - Seahawks

Not much to say.  The Cardinals haven't been for shit.

Tampa Bay (8-6) at New Orleans (6-8) - Saints

I really would like Tampa to make the playoffs, but I favor the upset in the Super Dooper Dome.

Cincinnati (5-8-1) at Houston (8-6) - Bengals

If ever a pick is "I don't know why" this is it.  I favor the Bengals here.

Sunday, Christmas Day:

Baltimore (8-6) at Pittsburgh (9-5) - Steelers

LeVeon Bell is some kind of God or savior.  Hallelujah Noel.

Sunday Night:

Denver (8-6) at Kansas City (10-4) - Chiefs

And Denver is out.  It would take a Christmas miracle ...

Monday Night:

Detroit ( 9-5) at Dallas (12-2) - Cowboys.

It's time for the 'Boys to seal the deal.

Last Week's Score:  13 - 3,  81%   Overall:  142 - 82,  63%

Strangely I just don't have much to say before this week's picks, save that I am thankful the Jeff Fisher coaching death watch is over.  He was correct when he told his team that they have too much talent to be a 7-9 club.  So if the Ram's problems aren't from the players ...

Also, for the first time in history, a team has to close out the last 3 games of the season against opponents who are a combined 31 - 8.  I don't think the Broncos are making the playoffs.

 Thursday:

Los Angeles (4-9) at Seattle (8-4-1) - Seahawks (3-24, 'Hawks)

No miracle upsets this year without a head coach.

Saturday:

Miami (8-5) at New York Jets (4-9) - Dolphins (34-13, Dolphins)

Picking the Dolphins is like trying to hit a pendulum weight with a spitwad.

Sunday:

Tennessee (7-6) at Kansas City (10-3) - Chiefs (19-17, Titans)

KCs offense is not as anemic as Denver's.

Pittsburgh (8-5) at Cincinnati (5-7-1) - Steelers (24-20, Steelers)

Actually a risky pick.  But, Big Ben always plays the Bengals tough and LeVeon Bell is tearing up the field.

Detroit (9-4) at New York Giants (9-4) - Giants (6-17, G-Men)

This is the game of the week.  And I'm thinking New York is all like 2011 again.

Indianapolis (6-7) at Minnesota (7-6) - Vikings (34-6, Colts)

Andrew Luck cannot win alone.

Jacksonville (2-11) at Houston (7-6) - Texans (20-21, Texans)

Snooze of the week.

Green Bay (7-6) at Chicago (3-10) - Packers (30-27, Packers)

In fits and starts, the Green and Gold are starting to get in a groove.

Cleveland (0-13) at Buffalo (6-7) - Bills (13-33, Bills)

I am resigned to Cleveland joining Detroit in the 0-16 club.

Philadelphia (5-8) at Baltimore (0-0) - Ravens (26-27, Ravens)

Home field and better defense.

San Francisco (1-12) at Atlanta (8-5) - Falcons (13-41, Falcons)

Now that Fisher is gone, won't you all join me in the Chip Kelly coaching death watch?

New Orleans (5-8) at Arizona (5-7-1) - Saints (48-41, Saints)

I have no idea what is going on with the Cardinals.  Neither does anyone else.

Oakland (10-3) at San Diego (5-8) - Raiders (19-16, Raiders)

One caveat:  The Raiders remain in serious trouble if Derek Carr cannot line up under center.

New England (0-0) at Denver (8-5) - Hatriots (16-3, Hatriots)

Whatever.

Sunday Night:

Tampa Bay (8-5) at Dallas (11-3) - Cowboys (20-26, Cowboys)

Who in their right mind is calling for Tony Romo?  Trump voters?

Monday Night:

Carolina (5-8) at Washington (7-5-1) - Taterskins (26-15, Panthers)

I'll have some faith in the Panthers when they show a tough win on the road.

Last Week's Score:  9 - 7,  56%   Overall:  129 - 79,  62%

Still a wild year in the NFL.  Viewership is down, injuries are still the story of our favorite players, and some folks are getting worried about the future of professional football.  They probably should be.  I am.  But I love what I'm seeing on the field.

Last year, the Cowboys were last in their division., worst in their conference.  This year, behind the play of two rookies, they are the best team in the league.  This year, they are the first team to clinch a playoff berth.  This year pundits are already predicting the Cowboys failure in the playoffs, despite their likely number one seeding.  A loose attempt to generate drama in my opinion.  These Cowboys are for real.  Between Ezekiel Elliot and Dak Prescott it is not at all unlikely that one will be MVP and the other Rookie of the Year, or perhaps Offensive Player of the Year.  Unlike last years Panthers, who played with Swagger that the press is so in love with, this year's Cowboys play with heart, determination and teamwork.  It's basic football, and a thing of beauty.

What the hell is it when the AFC West plays the NFC South?  Three weeks ago, the Saints came back to tie the Broncos with mere moments left on the clock.  All they had to do was kick an extra point and the win would be theirs.  A Rookie jumped the line and blocked the kick.  Another rookie ran that kick back for 2 points, Broncos win.  In THE fantastic finish of this week's games, the Falcons came back to lead by a point over the Kansas City Chiefs.   They went for 2, as most teams would playing to prevent a field goal win.  Eric Berry intercepts the ball and runs it back for two points, giving KC the win by 1.  Under the new extra point rules as of last year, these are the things that happen, and they are fantastic.  Kicking in the NFL is truly under fire which in my mind is one of the things ailing the game.   People like the excitement and tense drama of the longer extra point, even if it makes things less certain.  They like the tries for two point conversions.  Who in the name of sweet fanny adams really supports getting rid of the extra point try, except among sports writers?  In fairness, most of the kicking in the NFL this year has been awful.  Many want kick attempts done away with.   Fools.  I just want better kickers.

Angry Tommy now has the most wins of any NFL QB, at 201.  Many are trying to use that to again make the case that he is undeniably the GOAT.  I deny it.  I do so because not one of those who use the argument of the Rings, or point to wins can show me that it wasn't the system and coach who made Brady great.  In 2008, without Brady, the Hatriots went 11-5.  That was with QB Matt Cassell, a guy who has flopped in every other system.  In 2011 without Peyton Manning before posting his best season ever (the best for any quarterback ever) the Colts went 2-12.  Anyone who wishes to explain that anomaly might actually sway me, but no one will rise to such a challenge.  And they never will.  No, Angry Tommy is a great quarterback and a certain Hall of Famer.  But the GOAT?  No.  It's still Montana or probably Manning.

YAY!!!! No more damned byes.

Thursday:

Oakland (10-2) at Kansas City (9-3) - Chiefs (13-21, Chiefs)

KC has the most to play for and home field.

Notice, all the Chief's points came in the second quarter.  But you have to wonder, can Oakland win if Carr can't go under center?

Sunday:

Pittsburgh (7-5) at Buffalo (6-6) - Steelers  (27-20, Steelers)

Even MORE LeVeon Bell

All the rediculousness aside, Bell for MVP.

Denver (8-4) at Tennessee (6-6) - Broncos (10-13, Titans)

It will interesting to see what Forsett brings.

Didn't that suck?  And I will be extremely disappointed in the league if they don't suspend Douglas.  That wasn't just a "cheap shot".  It was a career ending launch at an opponent's knee.   Does Goodell give one shit about safety or not?

Washington (6-5-1) at Philadelphia (5-7) - Taterskins (27-22, Taterskins)

Wentz played well last week, but he's not getting help.

As I said.

Arizona (6-5-1) at Miami (7-5) - Cardinals (23-26, Dolphins)

When the Dolphins come back to Earth, they hit hard.

Apparently, Bumbles bounce.

Minnesota (6-6) at Jacksonville (2-10) - Vikings (25-16, Vikings)

Defense rules.

Yup.

Houston (6-6) at Indianapolis (6-6) - Colts (22-17, Texans)

Offense rules.

Didn't I just say that defense rules?

San Diego (5-7) at Carolina (4-8) - Chargers (16-28, Panthers)

The Chargers are only one or two injuries away from contention.

Too bad we had to wait all season to see this team.

Cincinnati (4-7-1) at Cleveland (0-12) - Bengals (23 -10, Bengals)

RGIII starts for Cleveland.  I don't think that will help.

The Browns are still fun to watch.

Chicago (3-9) at Detroit (8-4) - Lions (17-20, Lions)

The Lions defensive performance last week was impressive.

This team looks like a true contender.

New York Jets (3-9) at San Francisco (1-11) - Niners (23-17, Jets)

The Jets appear to just have fallen apart.

But still better than the 49ers in front of no audience at all.

New Orleans (5-7) at Tampa Bay (7-5) - Buccaneers  (11-16, Bucs)

The Bucs are actually contenders.

And they roll.

Atlanta (7-5) at Los Angeles (4-8) - Falcons (42-14, Falcons)

Of all the awful inexplicable things that have happened in 2016, Jeff Fisher's contract extension is the most mind-boggling.

Was this i doubt?  The Falcons just scored more touchdowns in LA this season than the Rams have.

Seattle (8-3-1) at Green Bay (6-6) - Seahawks (10-38, Packers)

The closer we get to the playoffs, the hungrier the Hawks look.

There is life on the frozen tundra.

Sunday Night:

Dallas (11-1) at New York Giants (8-4) - Cowboys (7-10, Giants)

Tempted to pick G-Men at home, but no.

I should have gone with the home team.  Dallas' record in now 11 - Giants

Monday Night:

Baltimore (7-5) at New England (10-2) - Hatriots

Whatever.

Last Week's Score:  11 - 4,  73%   Overall:  120 - 72,  63%