Some of these games could be interesting, but the majority probably won't amount to much, unless you like NFL pre-season games. Still, I'll be watching.
New England @ New York Giants
I expect the Giants to chicken-out and play their bums, letting the Patriots roll right over them. I wouldn't do it if I were Coughlin: his quarterback looks like crap, his defense has been suspect, and he doesn't have much time for his offense to develop consistency without one of their key guys in Jeremy Shockey. In my opinion, they need to play everyone and they need for those guys to play well. Besides, let's go nuts here and suggest they have a chance in hell of winning this game: what better way to go into the playoffs than after upsetting the 15-0 Patriots at home in the final game? No, really, is there a better way? I say no. If the Giants roll their eyes at that, they don't belong in the playoffs. They can't operate under the assumption that there's a team out there they CANNOT beat at home. Imagine, for a second, that the Giants make their way to the Super Bowl: won't real game experience against the Patriots work in their favor if they meet again? I don't know, if I'm Coughlin, I play this game to win from start to finish. If they find themselves down by a few scores in the second half, maybe they pull some guys, but I'm at least taking a shot at pulling the upset. (They're getting killed.)
Patriots over Giants by many, many points
Seattle @ Atlanta
Who'll be shocked if the Seahawks are upset in Atlanta on Sunday? Not this guy. Atlanta has more to play for than Seattle and showed some life against the Cards in week 16. Because I think the Seahawks are totally phony, I'm going to assume the Seahawks coaches think the same thing. If they have the arrogance to sit their starters or take it easy, they'll have done as much to earn the inevitable pounding they'll take in the playoffs as possible. More than any playoff team, the Seahawks have a lot to prove to NFL fans out there, this is another game where I would come out guns blazing and try to put a real hurting on the Falcons. The Seahawks need the boost.
Seahawks over Falcons, 21-13
San Francisco @ Cleveland
If the Browns have one shriveled testicle between the lot of them, they'll win this game by two scores. Seriously, if they can't get their act together long enough to flatten this doormat with their playoff hopes hanging in the balance, they don't deserve to go. They need to get healthy in this game, Derek Anderson needs to show up, and by God, they need a big, big victory. They couldn't have asked for a better team to face in a must-win game: the 49ers are about as bad as NFL teams get. Go Browns!
Browns over 49ers, 27-16
New Orleans @ Chicago
The Saints could lose this game. Chicago is a proud team, a bunch of tough-guys playing in a harsh environment with nothing but pride on the line. They just shelled the Packers, and the Saints ain't the Packers. Unlike the Packers, and working in New Orleans' favor, the Saints have a lot on the line in this game. Their very slim playoff hopes hang on their ability to walk away with a huge road win in the final week. With so much riding on this game, I'm not going to pick against them, and we'll learn a WHOLE LOT about Drew Brees from his performance in this one. He stunk out the joint last Sunday, he needs a rebound.
Saints over Bears, 28-20
Cincinnati @ Miami
The Bengals will probably win. Miami stinks. It could go either way, and either way, I won't be watching, nor will I care.
Bengals over Dolphins, 41-10
Buffalo @ Philadelphia
In all honesty, this is a big game for both franchises. A win for either team gets them to .500, a respectable end to any season. Buffalo will have the all-important road-field advantage, since Philly fans are the biggest bunch of asshole morons in sports, so they could very well pull it out. Because I still think Donovan McNabb is an elite quarterback and Brian Westbrook is terrifying, I'm giving the nod to the Eagles. Yes, even though they're at a significant disadvantage playing in front of a hostile crowd in enemy territory.
Eagles over Bills, 30-17
Carolina @ Tampa Bay
C'mon, Bucs, pull your heads out of your asses and get a win. Carolina stinks, you're not so good that you can overcome consecutive losses to end the season. Put a hurting on the Panthers, in your place, and finish the season with a win.
Bucs over Panthers, 21-10
Detroit @ Green Bay
The Packers need this win, they really do. They got their balls ripped off and fed to 'em by the Bears last Sunday, they're not so good that they can go into the playoffs with that kind of momentum and get a win, even at home. Detroit is a mess, the Packers shouldn't let 'em off the mat. Go Packers!
Packers over Lions, 28-14
Jacksonville @ Houston
The Texans need it more, but the Jags are on a roll! If the Jags play their starters, they should win by a bunch. If they take it easy, the Texans will get to .500 to end the season for the first time in franchise history. Because Del Rio still hasn't convinced me he's not a moron, I think he'll take it easy and give the Texans a chance. I don't know . . . I want the Texans to win, but in the end, I can't pick against the hotter-than-hell Jaguars, even on the road.
Jaguars over Texans, 17-16
Pittsburgh @ Baltimore
Pittsburgh is so much better than Baltimore. The Ravens are utter crap, one of the worst teams in football and easily one of the least likeable. Call me crazy, but isn't the third seed in the AFC playoffs up for grabs? If Pittsburgh loses and San Diego wins, doesn't that give the Chargers the third seed? Does that matter? It does to me, dammit! One thing to watch for in this game: Troy Smith, who against many odds, is suddenly looking like the guy in Baltimore. They'll probably sell him up the river or undermine him at every opportunity, but this guy is a competitor, an athlete, and a winner, and he's been the only guy with a pulse on their offense for weeks. With a few games at the end of this season and a full off-season, he could be an exciting piece for the Ravens in 2008.
Steelers over Ravens, 24-13
Dallas @ Washington
Here it is, Washington's season right here. Of the three teams with any hope of landing the final wild-card in the NFC, Washington is the only team that controls their own destiny and the only team playing at home. They're also the only team playing a division opponent with nothing to play for but the rivalry. I've been to a season-ender against Dallas at FedEx and two season-ending home games against Dallas for the Skins, both were huge for different reasons, but both had one thing in common: the stadium was absolutely NUTS. The first one was the final game at RFK, and it was crazy. The second was Darrell Green's final home game, and the fans were absolutely out of control. Every time anything good happened, the place exploded. We're talking about the NFL's largest stadium, packed to the brim with lunatic fans, against the biggest rival we know, with something huge on the line, at the end of the season. This might be the biggest regular-season finale in Skins history. What does that mean? It means the Redskins should be able to win this game on emotion alone. If they don't turn the ball over too much and make a handful of big plays, the crowd will carry them to victory, that's a promise. No way in HELL am I picking against the Skins under those circumstances.
Redskins over Cowboys, 35-10
St. Louis @ Arizona
Sorry, I blew my wad on that last one, nothing left for this turd.
Cardinals over Rams, 31-24
Minnesota @ Denver
The Vikings are a great running team, the Broncos are a terrible run defense. The Vikings should win, hopefully it won't matter.
Vikings over Broncos, 17-14
San Diego @ Oakland
Oakland showed how much fight it has left in the bloodbath against Jacksonville. San Diego is not as good as Jacksonville, but they're a shit-load better than the Raiders. Here's hoping JaMarcus Russell fares well!
Chargers over Raiders, 24-12
Kansas City @ New York Jets
Worst possible match-up. Hilarious!
Jets by a few points.
Tennessee @ Indianapolis
I do believe the Colts will sit many offensive players, but let's not forget what Indy has done to division foes this season: 5-0, 29.4 ppg, plus Indy has one of the best defenses in football. I expect the Colts to win and keep their division-mates out of the post-season. I also want the Colts to win so the Browns can get in. It's true. By the way, this is a pretty good final regular season game of the year.
Colts over Titans, 24-20
Go Skynards!
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Yeesh. Choke Jobs All Around.
And let's get right to it:
Steelers over Rams, 41-24
My Pick: Steelers over Rams, 27-13
The only interesting part of this game was how the NFL Network spent all week trying to convince viewers this game had any importance at all. True, if the Steelers had lost, they'd be in danger or not reaching the playoffs in Week 17, but was there any chance they'd lose? No. Great game from Ben Roethlisberger. He'll do that from time to time.
Cowboys over Panthers, 20-13
My Pick: Cowboys over Panthers, 31-17
My God, is there even ONE NFC DIVISION WINNER THAT ISN'T BACKING IN TO THE PLAYOFFS? Seriously, this was an ugly game that ought to give Dallas fans a lot to think about. T.O. is hurt, the Dallas defense is now officially the most over-rated thing outside of the Pacific Northwest, and Romo is starting to look like a guy who is mostly the product of the talent around him. They looked like crap on Saturday, they should have won this game by several touchdowns against one of the NFC's crappier teams.
Lions over Chiefs, 25-20
My Pick: Lions over Chiefs, 28-20
There was at least one person shamelessly begging for a late field goal from the Lions: this guy. I almost nailed it! The best the Lions can hope for, at this point, is to finish their season with a little pride. They haven't been this close to .500 in a while.
Colts over Texans, 38-15
My Pick: Colts over Texans, 24-21
Yikes! Indy sure knows what to do against division foes. This was pretty brutal, you know you're in bad shape when Jim Sorgi is playing in the THIRD QUARTER in a late season division contest. He was completing passes to guys I'm pretty sure I've never heard of or seen before. I wouldn't want to play the Colts right now, they aren't even healthy and they look unbeatable.
Jaguars over Raiders, 49-11
My Pick: Jaguars over Raiders, 35-7
When you pick a blow-out, you're generally disappointed, and here's why: if you think one team has no chance, you can be sure nobody else is giving them a chance either, including their opponent. Usually, that means the underdog plays with a chip on their shoulder, while the favorite takes a few minutes to figure out their opponent has a pulse. That was not the case here: the Raiders did not have a pulse. I can't remember the last non-Patriots game I picked as a blow-out but didn't get the margin high enough. The rumor is JaMarcus Russell will get his first NFL start on Sunday, but after the turd he laid in this one, I might reconsider. I'm sure he has a bright future, but he looked like flushed shit against the Jags defense.
Bears over Packers, 35-7
My Pick: Packers over Bears, 20-10
I wish I had more to say about this result, but I don't. Sometimes Brett Favre plays like an asshole, this was one of those times. Sometimes the Bears defense looks like the Bears defense of last season, like Sunday. Mostly, the Bears came out charged and ready to kick the shit out of their division leader, while the Packers came out flat and got punched in the mouth. I don't know, you can't feel too good about your team if you're swept by the division cellar-dweller.
Giants over Bills, 38-21
My Pick: Bills over Giants, 27-18
I said it would be a choke job if the Bills lost this game, and I'm sticking by that statement. Here's why: Eli Manning went 7-15 for 111 yards and 2 picks; that's about as pathetic a stat-line as you're likely to see from a starting quarterback in the NFL. He also fumbled FIVE times and lost two of them. When a road team comes in and loses four turnovers and fails to produce 120 yards in the air, you ought to win by at least, at LEAST two touchdowns. I can't believe the Bills gave up 300 rushing yards at home. That's an epic embarrassment. Trent Edwards was also crap: 9-26 for 161 with 2 scores and 3 picks. He also lost a pair of fumbles. They say this guy is their quarterback: they'd better be sure. He completed just over a third of his passes, averaged a truly disgusting 5 yards per attempt, and threw a third as many picks as he did COMPLETIONS. In a big game at home against a reeling opponent. Yuk.
Eagles over Saints, 38-23
My Pick: Saints over Eagles, 27-21
Another choke job. How bad are Eagles fans? Philly is 2-5 at home, 5-3 on the road, with wins in New Orleans, Dallas, Washington, and Minnesota, and the best effort yet at the Patriots. On the road, they average 23 points per game, at home - 19. Nice job, Eagles fans. Hey, here's a clue: you're supposed to boo the OTHER GUYS. You know you're doing your job as a fan when your players get a bigger boost from a road crowd than at home. Idiots. As for the Saints, way to go, losers. In the end, the Saints were in the driver's seat for the final wild-card: neither the Vikings nor Redskins had a tie-breaker over them and the Saints had only to win two EASY games to end the season and they were in. Now, they need a TON of help. They need both the Skins and Vikings to lose and they need a win. Good luck.
Bengals over Browns, 19-14
My Pick: Browns over Bengals, 37-24
I'm not going to rip the Browns for failing to score three touchdowns against the Bengals terrible defense. I'll go easy on Derek Anderson after he threw four interceptions, almost all of them terrible decisions. I'm going to lay off the Browns coaching staff, who failed to coach their guys to a victory in a must-win situation against a very weak Bengals team. Instead, I'm going to hold out hope that the Browns don't CRUSH their fans by losing to the goddamn 49ers on Sunday. The Browns, unbelievably, need help from the Titans to get to the post-season. How much does that suck? The Titans are playing for their season against a Colts team with nothing to play for, and if they get the win, they're in. GO COLTS! GO BROWNS! GOD DAMN IT!
Cardinals over Falcons, 30-27
My Pick: Cardinals over Falcons, 24-14
Overtime game. Somebody won.
49ers over Bucs, 21-19
My Pick: Bucs over 49ers, 21-10
Forget that Shaun Hill is now 2-0 as the starting quarterback for the 49ers. This is an inexcusable loss for the Bucs, I don't care if Gruden himself was strapped in under center. Seriously, yes, you want to be healthy and rested for the playoffs, but you also want to have a little momentum. Losing to the friggin' TERRIBLE 49ers is about the worst thing you can do for the confidence of your team and your fans. Gross. I have nothing else to say.
Patriots over Dolphins, 28-7
My Pick: Patriots over Dolphins by a lot
I picked a blow-out and it was a blow-out. It wasn't a hideous massacre, but if you're sitting around buying the hype that the Patriots are at anything less than full strength because they only won by three touchdowns, you're a moron.
Seahawks over Ravens, 27-6
My Pick: Seahawks over Ravens, 28-16
Don't believe your eyes or ears when it comes to the Seahawks: they stink. The Ravens are just this bad. ESPN.com dared to suggest that this was the best, most complete game the Seahawks have played all season with a straight face. Holy hell, look who they were facing! The Ravens lost to the DOLPHINS. They're one of the 2 or 3 worst teams in football. If you took the 2005, 2006, and 2007 seasons, lined all 96 teams up in order from worst to first, the Ravens would STILL be in the bottom 5. This is what the Seahawks do: they beat up MISERABLE teams at home. They stink! I hate the Seahawks!
Titans over Jets, 10-6
My Pick: Titans over Jets, 20-14
Yeah, that's a playoff team. How 'bout those Titans, dragging down the quality of the AFC playoff picture with every hideous win. Still, a win is a win.
Redskins over Vikings, 32-21
My Pick: Redskins over Vikings, 35-3
I picked a blow-out, a blow-out is what you got. The final score might seduce you into thinking the Vikings were in this game, but in truth, they weren't. All the Skins had to do to win the game was run the ball enough to set up a few tosses deep and stuff the run defensively. Yeah, that sounds tough, but it really was that simple. The Vikings actually aren't a good pass defense, and as strong as their run defense has been, they were worn down by the fact that the Vikings offense couldn't stay on the field in the first half. The Skins were pretty shameless about loading the box early, and Tarvaris Jackson just couldn't make 'em pay for it. He looked like crap until the game was out of hand. The Skins made every important play early, converting third downs, getting a few timely passes in there, and seeming to come up with a stuff on every defensive third down. Adrian Peterson ain't right, by the way. He had a couple of explosive plays in there, but you can tell he can't cut with confidence and has lost some agility. He's still a terrifying back, but a healthy Adrian Peterson would have done a lot more damage in this game. The Skins control their own destiny now; they're in the playoffs with a win on Sunday.
Chargers over Broncos, 23-3
My Pick: Chargers over Broncos, 28-17
Jay Cutler gave Broncos fans a good reason to hug the toilet for a few hours on Christmas; not only did he look like crap, he looked like a friggin' baby, pouting and whining after every shitty pass in the second half. You know, for a guy who doesn't say much, he sure does have an instinct for when and how to turn vocal: when he's torpedoing his team with terrible play at the end of a lost season, he turns into Ryan Leaf and starts showing up his teammates on the field. Nice job, dick. I went from liking this kid to thinking he's a total turd in one awful blow-out. As for the Broncos, Shanahan accomplished what seemed to be his main goal for the 2007 season: driving down the market value of every back on his team at all costs. Travis Henry went from preseason hype to forgotten junk; Selvin Young had a few bright spots erased by erratic playing-time; Mike Hall keeps the end of the bench clean, etc. The Broncos have gone from a running-back factory to a running-back wasteland this season. If I were either coming out of college or a free-agent, Denver would be at the very bottom of my list of teams I'd be interested in playing for. They're so convinced of their ability to run the ball regardless of who is toting the rock, they now go out of their way to undermine individual players' success. Oh yeah, San Diego won, LT looked great for a half before riding the pine, and Norv Turner even botched the hand-off to second-string players by inserting Billy Volek about 10 minutes too early, while the game could still swing either way with a big turnover. The Broncos got that turnover on Volek's first play, when he doinked a hand-off off of Artoose Pinner's elbow, giving the Broncos the ball in the red-zone. Imagine if the Broncos were competent: they would have scored there, making it a two touchdown game with most of the second half left to play, and Turner would have had to re-insert his starters into the game. Instead, the Broncos are crap, turned the ball over, and lost.
I'm doing picks for the final weekend, even though it's pretty much impossible to know who'll play and for how long on most teams in the NFL. Still, there are three match-ups with huge playoff implications: Browns/49ers, Titans/Colts, Skins/Cowboys. Then there are two match-ups that only matter depending on the outcome of the Skins game: Saints/Bears and Vikings/Broncos. I can't believe the Skins might get in, after all the crap that's gone wrong for them this season. I'm not hoping the Cowboys rest everyone: I'm hoping they bring everything they've got into Washington on Sunday, that's the only way I want the Skins getting in.
Picks later. PEACE!
Steelers over Rams, 41-24
My Pick: Steelers over Rams, 27-13
The only interesting part of this game was how the NFL Network spent all week trying to convince viewers this game had any importance at all. True, if the Steelers had lost, they'd be in danger or not reaching the playoffs in Week 17, but was there any chance they'd lose? No. Great game from Ben Roethlisberger. He'll do that from time to time.
Cowboys over Panthers, 20-13
My Pick: Cowboys over Panthers, 31-17
My God, is there even ONE NFC DIVISION WINNER THAT ISN'T BACKING IN TO THE PLAYOFFS? Seriously, this was an ugly game that ought to give Dallas fans a lot to think about. T.O. is hurt, the Dallas defense is now officially the most over-rated thing outside of the Pacific Northwest, and Romo is starting to look like a guy who is mostly the product of the talent around him. They looked like crap on Saturday, they should have won this game by several touchdowns against one of the NFC's crappier teams.
Lions over Chiefs, 25-20
My Pick: Lions over Chiefs, 28-20
There was at least one person shamelessly begging for a late field goal from the Lions: this guy. I almost nailed it! The best the Lions can hope for, at this point, is to finish their season with a little pride. They haven't been this close to .500 in a while.
Colts over Texans, 38-15
My Pick: Colts over Texans, 24-21
Yikes! Indy sure knows what to do against division foes. This was pretty brutal, you know you're in bad shape when Jim Sorgi is playing in the THIRD QUARTER in a late season division contest. He was completing passes to guys I'm pretty sure I've never heard of or seen before. I wouldn't want to play the Colts right now, they aren't even healthy and they look unbeatable.
Jaguars over Raiders, 49-11
My Pick: Jaguars over Raiders, 35-7
When you pick a blow-out, you're generally disappointed, and here's why: if you think one team has no chance, you can be sure nobody else is giving them a chance either, including their opponent. Usually, that means the underdog plays with a chip on their shoulder, while the favorite takes a few minutes to figure out their opponent has a pulse. That was not the case here: the Raiders did not have a pulse. I can't remember the last non-Patriots game I picked as a blow-out but didn't get the margin high enough. The rumor is JaMarcus Russell will get his first NFL start on Sunday, but after the turd he laid in this one, I might reconsider. I'm sure he has a bright future, but he looked like flushed shit against the Jags defense.
Bears over Packers, 35-7
My Pick: Packers over Bears, 20-10
I wish I had more to say about this result, but I don't. Sometimes Brett Favre plays like an asshole, this was one of those times. Sometimes the Bears defense looks like the Bears defense of last season, like Sunday. Mostly, the Bears came out charged and ready to kick the shit out of their division leader, while the Packers came out flat and got punched in the mouth. I don't know, you can't feel too good about your team if you're swept by the division cellar-dweller.
Giants over Bills, 38-21
My Pick: Bills over Giants, 27-18
I said it would be a choke job if the Bills lost this game, and I'm sticking by that statement. Here's why: Eli Manning went 7-15 for 111 yards and 2 picks; that's about as pathetic a stat-line as you're likely to see from a starting quarterback in the NFL. He also fumbled FIVE times and lost two of them. When a road team comes in and loses four turnovers and fails to produce 120 yards in the air, you ought to win by at least, at LEAST two touchdowns. I can't believe the Bills gave up 300 rushing yards at home. That's an epic embarrassment. Trent Edwards was also crap: 9-26 for 161 with 2 scores and 3 picks. He also lost a pair of fumbles. They say this guy is their quarterback: they'd better be sure. He completed just over a third of his passes, averaged a truly disgusting 5 yards per attempt, and threw a third as many picks as he did COMPLETIONS. In a big game at home against a reeling opponent. Yuk.
Eagles over Saints, 38-23
My Pick: Saints over Eagles, 27-21
Another choke job. How bad are Eagles fans? Philly is 2-5 at home, 5-3 on the road, with wins in New Orleans, Dallas, Washington, and Minnesota, and the best effort yet at the Patriots. On the road, they average 23 points per game, at home - 19. Nice job, Eagles fans. Hey, here's a clue: you're supposed to boo the OTHER GUYS. You know you're doing your job as a fan when your players get a bigger boost from a road crowd than at home. Idiots. As for the Saints, way to go, losers. In the end, the Saints were in the driver's seat for the final wild-card: neither the Vikings nor Redskins had a tie-breaker over them and the Saints had only to win two EASY games to end the season and they were in. Now, they need a TON of help. They need both the Skins and Vikings to lose and they need a win. Good luck.
Bengals over Browns, 19-14
My Pick: Browns over Bengals, 37-24
I'm not going to rip the Browns for failing to score three touchdowns against the Bengals terrible defense. I'll go easy on Derek Anderson after he threw four interceptions, almost all of them terrible decisions. I'm going to lay off the Browns coaching staff, who failed to coach their guys to a victory in a must-win situation against a very weak Bengals team. Instead, I'm going to hold out hope that the Browns don't CRUSH their fans by losing to the goddamn 49ers on Sunday. The Browns, unbelievably, need help from the Titans to get to the post-season. How much does that suck? The Titans are playing for their season against a Colts team with nothing to play for, and if they get the win, they're in. GO COLTS! GO BROWNS! GOD DAMN IT!
Cardinals over Falcons, 30-27
My Pick: Cardinals over Falcons, 24-14
Overtime game. Somebody won.
49ers over Bucs, 21-19
My Pick: Bucs over 49ers, 21-10
Forget that Shaun Hill is now 2-0 as the starting quarterback for the 49ers. This is an inexcusable loss for the Bucs, I don't care if Gruden himself was strapped in under center. Seriously, yes, you want to be healthy and rested for the playoffs, but you also want to have a little momentum. Losing to the friggin' TERRIBLE 49ers is about the worst thing you can do for the confidence of your team and your fans. Gross. I have nothing else to say.
Patriots over Dolphins, 28-7
My Pick: Patriots over Dolphins by a lot
I picked a blow-out and it was a blow-out. It wasn't a hideous massacre, but if you're sitting around buying the hype that the Patriots are at anything less than full strength because they only won by three touchdowns, you're a moron.
Seahawks over Ravens, 27-6
My Pick: Seahawks over Ravens, 28-16
Don't believe your eyes or ears when it comes to the Seahawks: they stink. The Ravens are just this bad. ESPN.com dared to suggest that this was the best, most complete game the Seahawks have played all season with a straight face. Holy hell, look who they were facing! The Ravens lost to the DOLPHINS. They're one of the 2 or 3 worst teams in football. If you took the 2005, 2006, and 2007 seasons, lined all 96 teams up in order from worst to first, the Ravens would STILL be in the bottom 5. This is what the Seahawks do: they beat up MISERABLE teams at home. They stink! I hate the Seahawks!
Titans over Jets, 10-6
My Pick: Titans over Jets, 20-14
Yeah, that's a playoff team. How 'bout those Titans, dragging down the quality of the AFC playoff picture with every hideous win. Still, a win is a win.
Redskins over Vikings, 32-21
My Pick: Redskins over Vikings, 35-3
I picked a blow-out, a blow-out is what you got. The final score might seduce you into thinking the Vikings were in this game, but in truth, they weren't. All the Skins had to do to win the game was run the ball enough to set up a few tosses deep and stuff the run defensively. Yeah, that sounds tough, but it really was that simple. The Vikings actually aren't a good pass defense, and as strong as their run defense has been, they were worn down by the fact that the Vikings offense couldn't stay on the field in the first half. The Skins were pretty shameless about loading the box early, and Tarvaris Jackson just couldn't make 'em pay for it. He looked like crap until the game was out of hand. The Skins made every important play early, converting third downs, getting a few timely passes in there, and seeming to come up with a stuff on every defensive third down. Adrian Peterson ain't right, by the way. He had a couple of explosive plays in there, but you can tell he can't cut with confidence and has lost some agility. He's still a terrifying back, but a healthy Adrian Peterson would have done a lot more damage in this game. The Skins control their own destiny now; they're in the playoffs with a win on Sunday.
Chargers over Broncos, 23-3
My Pick: Chargers over Broncos, 28-17
Jay Cutler gave Broncos fans a good reason to hug the toilet for a few hours on Christmas; not only did he look like crap, he looked like a friggin' baby, pouting and whining after every shitty pass in the second half. You know, for a guy who doesn't say much, he sure does have an instinct for when and how to turn vocal: when he's torpedoing his team with terrible play at the end of a lost season, he turns into Ryan Leaf and starts showing up his teammates on the field. Nice job, dick. I went from liking this kid to thinking he's a total turd in one awful blow-out. As for the Broncos, Shanahan accomplished what seemed to be his main goal for the 2007 season: driving down the market value of every back on his team at all costs. Travis Henry went from preseason hype to forgotten junk; Selvin Young had a few bright spots erased by erratic playing-time; Mike Hall keeps the end of the bench clean, etc. The Broncos have gone from a running-back factory to a running-back wasteland this season. If I were either coming out of college or a free-agent, Denver would be at the very bottom of my list of teams I'd be interested in playing for. They're so convinced of their ability to run the ball regardless of who is toting the rock, they now go out of their way to undermine individual players' success. Oh yeah, San Diego won, LT looked great for a half before riding the pine, and Norv Turner even botched the hand-off to second-string players by inserting Billy Volek about 10 minutes too early, while the game could still swing either way with a big turnover. The Broncos got that turnover on Volek's first play, when he doinked a hand-off off of Artoose Pinner's elbow, giving the Broncos the ball in the red-zone. Imagine if the Broncos were competent: they would have scored there, making it a two touchdown game with most of the second half left to play, and Turner would have had to re-insert his starters into the game. Instead, the Broncos are crap, turned the ball over, and lost.
I'm doing picks for the final weekend, even though it's pretty much impossible to know who'll play and for how long on most teams in the NFL. Still, there are three match-ups with huge playoff implications: Browns/49ers, Titans/Colts, Skins/Cowboys. Then there are two match-ups that only matter depending on the outcome of the Skins game: Saints/Bears and Vikings/Broncos. I can't believe the Skins might get in, after all the crap that's gone wrong for them this season. I'm not hoping the Cowboys rest everyone: I'm hoping they bring everything they've got into Washington on Sunday, that's the only way I want the Skins getting in.
Picks later. PEACE!
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