Jesse: BEST WORST PICK OF LAST WEEK:“This is a defensive matchup. It should be low scoring also. Forte is out, but in all reality I place a lot more faith in Pissy Pants Cutler than I do in Wilson.” – Clint (Seahawks 23, Bears 17 in OT thanks to a game-winning TD pass from Russell Wilson)
Robert Griffin III is awesome. Can we all agree on that? Is there anyone out there still unimpressed by this guy after the last few weeks? The skills, speed and elusiveness, combined with pinpoint accuracy and remarkable arm strength, is breathtaking to behold. It’s a privilege to watch this guy play, and it’s not a stretch to say that he is the next evolution in the quarterback position. Of course, there is a dark side to the thrilling RG3 saga: Griffin’s irreplaceable talents are in the service of Daniel Snyder, one of the lousiest humans to ever own an NFL franchise. Snyder’s loathsome depths have been reported on frequently before, and his ridiculous free-agent spending led to such fiascos as The Albert Haynesworth Era, which set a new standard for laziness. Now, after years and years of sucking, the former ruiner of Six Flags has the most exciting football player to have entered the league since Michael Vick, and as long as RG3 remains healthy, the franchise is set to be competitive for years to come. It couldn’t have happened to a worse guy.
Hitpoints
- An overview of the Jovan Belcher tragedy. Horrible. (Kansas City Star)
- A look at the important games left in this season’s playoff race. (Grantland)
- Jim Harbaugh once played Screech’s cousin on Saved By The Bell. I will think about this every time I see him now. (YouTube)
- With James Starks out for the season, the Packers turn to their old friend Ryan Grant. (National Football Post)
- Chuck Pagano concludes his final round of chemotherapy, and could possibly be coaching the Colts in the playoffs. (Indy Star)
Thursday, December 6 2012
Denver Bronco(9-3) vs. Oakland Raiders(3-9)
Clint: The Broncos are hot. The Raiders are not.
Broncos
Tom: Prediction: Peyton Manning sends entire Oakland team Papa John pizzas with goat cheese post-game. “Wow, what a nice guy…GOAT CHEESE? WTF?”
Broncos
Sunday December 9, 2012
Atlanta Falcons(11-1) vs. Carolina Panthers(3-9)
Tom: One more week, one more divisional game for the Falcons. Now that they’ve won the NFC South, will they slack off and rest the starters? Not bloody likely vs. the Panthers, as they’ve become a pretty good rival to Atlanta in the recent past. Turner finally got on track last week after the Falcons realized they didn’t run the ball enough the first time. The Panthers are on again and off again every week, and this game is in Charlotte. I think that makes it close, but the Falcons just have more talent.
Falcons
Clint: The Falcons finally looked dominant in their last win against the Saints. Maybe the naysayers will back down. Maybe not. I still think they have it in them to lose one more game by the end of the season. After an extended amount of downtime? Not likely. I really don’t think it is going to be this week.
Falcons
Baltimore Ravens(9-3) vs. Washington Redskins(6-6)
Clint: I am going with my crazy pick of the week. The Redskins surprised everyone last week by beating the Giants. Ray Rice disrepected the towel. You don’t do that. Superstition says the whole team suffers. I am going to believe in voodoo and the karma that goes from crapping on an item created to help children with special needs.
Redskins
Tom: The Ravens, much like one of my FFL teams, started out strong and now don’t look so strong. Especially after losing to the 3rd string QB Steelers last week. I’ll take the Redskins as well. If RGIII can confuse the Giants defense, the Ravens I think will be clueless.
Redskins
Chicago Bears(8-4) vs.Minnesota Vikings(6-6)
Tom: The Vikings made a game of it last week with Peterson running all over the Packers. Unlikely he’ll do that against the Bears, but he did run for 100+ last time they played. Unfortunately, Christian Ponder will probably have to throw the ball at some point, and thus the Vikings will be doomed. His confidence has been shaken, and it may require an entire off-season to get it back (unless they trade for Tebow–then the whole team is screwed). Cutler looked good vs. the Seahawks, even with the loss. They will get back on the winning track here in this NFC Norris division showdown.
Bears
Clint: I personally think the Bears are showing they can be beat easier than they appeared earlier in the season. The Seahawks? Really? I don’t have to “Ponder” the outcome of this matchup though. The Vikings are as one dimensional as any team in the NFL. Their defense is about as strong as pleather and they only have one real offensive leader.
Bears
Dallas Cowboys(6-6) vs. Cincinnati Bengals(7-5)
Clint: The Cowboys barely won over the Eagles. The Eagles can barely get on the field. The Bengals have a strong desire to stay in the playoff hunt. I don’t see them giving up here to a lesser team.
Bengals
Tom: The Bengals continue to put pressure on the Steelers and Ravens and the Cowboys continue to put pressure on themselves. Come on Andy Dalton…I need ya in the FFL playoffs, baby.
Bengals
Kansas City Chiefs(2-10) vs. Cleveland Browns(4-8)
Tom: I can’t even speak to how awful the situation in Kansas City was last week…the team persevered and they pulled out their 2nd win of the season. Will that emotion carry over to this game? Probably not. And the Browns defense is good, and if those WRs could start carrying the load, they might have something going…but maybe not before the new owner cleans house when the season is over. I can’t believe I’m picking them again…
Browns
Clint: The Browns are what I call a good bad team. They can’t figure out how to win and close out games, normally. They have a lot of rookie talent on the offensive side of the ball, but their defense is the major strength they need to rest on. I know that the Chiefs have had a really shitty year. I kind of wish them good luck, but I don’t see them putting up any type of offense.
Browns
New York Jets(5-7) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars(2-10)
Clint: The battle of the Mr Yuck inspired green teams. Neither of these teams have anything to play for. I think the days of Ryan, Tebow and Sanchez as a menage a trois are over.
Jaguars
Tom: Had the Jets decided to really cut the cord and stick with McElroy, I would have given them a chance. But screw them and Rex Ryan. He wins you the game and you push him back to 3rd string again? Whatever. Plus, the Jags are at home! That means something, right? A note from a Jags fan on the boards—Andrew Luck has now won more games in his rookie season than Jacksonville has in the past 30 games. Yikes.
Jaguars
Philadelphia Eagles(3-9) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers(6-6)
Tom: The only bright spot for the Eagles offense has been Bryce Brown, even though he’s the reason they’re in the games, and also the reason they’re losing the games with his fumbling. Here come the Bucs and their rush defense. Foles is improving, but not enough to win this game…although I think this might be a shoot out similar to the Dallas game last week.
Buccaneers
Clint: Tom has a lot more faith in the now one dimensional Eagles than I do. If Brown can’t run, this game won’t even be close.
Buccaneers
San Diego Chargers(4-8) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers(7-5)
Clint: A team that knows how to lose at the last minute against a team fighting tooth and nail to stay in the game until they can win. I go for the hungrier team easily this week.
Steelers
Tom: So, I’m back to picking the Steelers in games…until they lose. Then I’ll go back to picking against. This is very complicated pontificating here, folks.
Steelers
St. Louis Rams(5-6-1) vs. Buffalo Bills(5-7)
Tom: Apparently the Rams have the number of the 49ers, but only if they go to overtime. However, I think their defense is much better than Jacksonville’s…but this game is in the elements of Buffalo and it is December. I’m going with one of my patented “if…then” picks.
Rams (if the weather holds up)
Bills (if the weather is terrible)
Clint: Tom is going with his maybe picks again. I can do one of those too, right?
Rams (if they lead at the end of the fourth quarter)
Bills (if they lead at the end of the fourth quarter)
Rams (if they make it into overtime)
Tennessee Titans(4-8) vs. Indianapolis Colts(8-4)
Clint: The ending of the last Colts game was awesome. Luck is the real deal. The Titans have what? Not much, and not enough to win.
Colts
Tom: The Colts won’t need last second heroics to win this one. How good can you feel as a Colts fan? First you pick right in the Leaf vs. Manning sweepstakes, and then you get Andrew Luck when Manning is gone. I’d love to see how he does in the playoffs.
Colts
Miami Dolphins(5-7) vs. San Francisco 49ers(8-5-1)
Tom: Oh Dolphins…you hung in there with the mighty Pats, but penalties and turnovers sealed your fate. Now you go from playing the “all offense” team to the “all defense” team. And that ain’t good for Miami. Why would I not be shocked if this one went to OT as well.
49ers
Clint: I think Miami has lost all their momentum. Before their game last week, they were being talked about as a possible wildcard contender. With both the Steelers and Bengals winning and them losing it has really put them back out of the talk. San Fran is going to be mad about their loss last week, and will likely make the Dolphins pay for it.
49ers
Arizona Cardinals(4-8) vs. Seattle Seahawks(7-5)
Clint: The Seahawks took one away from the Bears last week. Arizona is still mediocre at best. I expect a defensive game that ends up with one bloody song bird.
Seahawks
Tom: At Seattle, vs. an anemic Cardinals offense, Seattle all the way.
Seahawks
New Orleans Saints(5-7) vs. New York Giants(7-5)
Tom: The Giants…well, the Giants were embarrassed on the biggest of stages when they couldn’t find an answer for RGIII. Brees is not going to give them the same problems that the (most likely) rookie of the year did last week, but he’s still an elite QB, and they have a ton of weapons. They do NOT have a decent defense. So apparently I have traded in an unwillingness to pick Cleveland to an unwillingness to pick New Orleans. Sorry Clint.
Giants
Clint: No apology needed. I am not going with the Saints this week. I gave them some extra benefit last week because they were playing within their division. The Giants are going to start their uncanny ramp up to the playoffs by using the Saints as a demonstration that they are still the defending champs.
Giants
Detroit Lions(4-8) vs. Green Bay Packers(8-4)
Clint: I am the Detroit Kitty Kats. I roar like a big cat, but roll over anytime someone makes a loud noise. I have lost all the ability to face anything that may take planning or skill, but I know how to use a scratching board to waste some time. This week, I run from vengeful hardened milk getting revenge for all the milk I have drank. @detroitlions #StaffordIsClueless
Packers
Tom: The Lions have to still be reeling after that finish last week. And now they have to go to Green Bay AND on Sunday Night Football. John Gruden will have to wear a bib with all the QB talent on the field in this game. Greg Jennings is back, and apparently so is James Starks. Meanwhile, the Detroit defense takes their own kick to the crotch. Just make sure you pass a few TDs to Megatron (can you tell we’re entering the FFL Playoffs? But seriously, make it happen, Stafford. Need the W this week.)
Packers
Monday December 10, 2012
Houston Texans(11-1) vs. New England Patriots(9-3)
Tom: This should be another great Monday Night game. Who really is the best in the AFC? The Texans smashed the Ravens a few weeks back, and New England struggled with a mediocre Miami team that yields a pretty good defense. If this were at Houston, I’d lay them down as an ice cold lock…but the Pats always seem to struggle with teams that have decent defenses The real question is, will Houston’s defense show up? I think they will, but this will be a close one.
Texans
Clint: I am personally on the Texans bandwagon, at least as much as a die hard Steelers fan who wishes everyone else in the AFC would just give up and lose every game for the next 3 weeks can. I just think they look extremely tough, and the Pats normally lose these games during the regular season. If this were the playoffs, I might have reversed my call.
Texans
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