OK, we’ll just forget last week’s semi-disaster. You can’t pick ‘em all right, although obviously a lot of people have gone 16-0 in Sport Select’s Pools lottery this season (and yes, it’s a lottery).
Romeo Crennel Enjoys the Chiefs Win Over Green Bay
Last week, the Green Bay Packers lost, the Indianapolis Colts won, Carolina went into Houston and whipped the Texans, Washington went into New Jersey and massacred the Giants and the San Francisco 49ers taught the Pittsburgh Steelers a lesson.
But that was then, this is now. It’s Week 16 in the NFL and it starts Thursday night with Houston at Indianapolis. Then there are 13 games on Saturday, including some good ones: Miami at New England, Denver at Buffalo, Oakland at Kansas City, the Giants at the Jets, San Diego at Detroit where the Lions can clinch a playoff berth, Philadelphia at Dallas and San Francisco at Seattle.
Does Caleb Hanie Have a Sunday Night Miracle in Him?
There is one game Sunday night as Chicago plays at Green Bay and one game on Monday as Atlanta plays at New Orleans in what could be the biggest game of the week. It’s time for a bit of redemption before we head into the playoffs.
With two weeks to go in the season, there are seven teams already bound for the playoffs: New England, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Houston in the AFC and Green Bay, New Orleans and San Francisco in the NFC.
Last week the Doc was 10-6 (142-81) and 11-5 (121-102) against the spread. The Coach went 9-7 straight up (149-74) and 9-7 against the spread (123-100). It wasn’t great, but it got better as the weekend went on.
As always, Dr. Football writes our briefs while I wear my briefs and take shots at his picks.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Houston Texans (10-4) at Indianapolis Colts (1-13)
Line: Texans by 6
Can the Colts mess up getting Andrew Luck by winning again? I can’t see that happening. I see the Texans shaking off last week with a home victory.
DR FOOTBALL: TEXANS TO WIN AND COVER.
THE COACH: TEXANS TO WIN AND COVER
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Kyle Orton, last week's big winner.
Oakland Raiders (7-7) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-8)
Line: Chiefs by 2
The Chiefs, in their first game under interim coach Romeo Crennel, shockingly defeated the previously undefeated Packers last week in a performance that can be described as dominant. And many times you see strong performances in the first game of an interim coach’s tenure but often that emotion does not last, and I think it runs out on Saturday.
DR FOOTBALL: RAIDERS TO WIN.
THE COACH: CHIEFS TO WIN AND COVER
Denver Broncos (8-6) at Buffalo Bills (5-9)
Line: Broncos by 3
The Bills are currently on a 7 game losing streak while the Broncos currently have a 1 game lead in the AFC West race. A victory on Saturday would eliminate the Chiefs and put pressure on the Chargers and Raiders to win or be eliminated. Insert your own tasteless Tim Tebow/Jesus/Christmas joke here…but what isn’t a joke is that Denver will win this one.
DR FOOTBALL: BRONCOS TO WIN AND COVER.
THE COACH: BRONCOS TO WIN AND COVER.
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-10) at Tennessee Titans (7-7)
Line: Titans by 7
You wouldn’t know it from last week’s debacle, but the Titans are a much better team than the Jaguars and are still in the playoff race. As poor as they played last week, I can’t see that happening again in front of their own fans.
DR FOOTBALL: TITANS TO WIN AND COVER.
THE COACH: TITANS TO WIN AND COVER.
Larry Fitzgerald
Arizona Cardinals (7-7) at Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)
Line: Bengals by 4
Both teams are battling for the last Wild Card spot in their conferences. A victory is needed for the Cards or else they are eliminated, if the Bengals lose they still could get a playoff spot but would need the Jets to lose. Both teams are evenly matched so I’ll go with the home team. (Coach sez: The Bengals will win this one if they shut down Larry Fitzgerald. And as the Cleveland Browns found out last week, it’s not as easy as it sounds.)
DR FOOTBALL: BENGALS TO WIN AND COVER
THE COACH: BENGALS TO WIN AND COVER.
Miami Dolphins (5-9) at New England Patriots (11-3)
Line: Patriots by 9.5
This is my “game of the week”. New England is on a six game winning streak while the Dolphins have won five of their past seven games. Miami proved they can win in the cold/snow with last week’s victory over the Bills, but the Patriots are not the Bills. The Dolphins do not have the bodies in their secondary to match against the Patriots, and I expect Tom Brady to have another game like he had in Week one when he torched the Fish for 517 yards and 4 touchdowns. Miami’s offense has drastically improved since then, but Matt Moore is no Tom Brady. The game will be closer than Week 1, but the same team will win.
DR FOOTBALL: PATRIOTS TO WIN BUT NOT COVER
THE COACH: PATRIOTS TO WIN AND COVER.
Colt McCoy's Only Hope: Handing it to Peyton Hillis.
Cleveland Browns (4-10) at Baltimore Ravens (10-4)
Line: Ravens by 13
There is no love lost between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens. As time passes, many may forget that Art Modell took the Browns to Baltimore, but the Browns never forget. I just don’t get this year’s Ravens squad. At times they look like the top club in the AFC, at others they look like the worst. Joe Flacco has been very erratic in 2011 thus far and the offense has to rely on Ray Rice, which will be this week’s key to success.
DR FOOTBALL: RAVENS TO WIN BUT NOT COVER.
THE COACH: RAVENS TO WIN AND COVER.
Plaxico Burress
New York Giants (7-7) at New York Jets (8-6)
Line: Jets by 3
No game this week in the NFL may be more important than this one, the “Jersey Bowl”. The Jets need the win to solidify their position for a wild card slot in the AFC while the Giants need the win to solidify their lead in the NFC East over the Cowboys. Both teams have struggled on defense this year, but look for Eli Manning to be the difference in this one, he knows how to win the big one.
DR FOOTBALL: GIANTS TO WIN.
THE COACH: GIANTS TO WIN.
Minnesota Vikings (2-12) at Washington Redskins (5-9)
Line: Redskins by 6.5
The Redskins victory over the Giants last week was probably more a result of the Giants falling asleep and just playing poorly. I’m feeling the Vikings here to get a nice win as they try to put the close on a horrible season. (Coach sez: Until Leslie Frazier decides to go with Joe Webb as his starting quarterback, he will continue to lose. Christian Ponder is a fraud. Webb is the future of the team but he won’t be and until the Vikings come to their senses, they will continue to be big losers).
DR FOOTBALL: VIKINGS TO WIN
THE COACH: REDSKINS TO WIN AND COVER.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-10) at Carolina Panthers (5-9)
Line: Panthers by 7.5
Carolina’s defense really stepped up against the Texans run game last week, and this week they will have no problem putting the pressure on Bucs QB Josh Freeman, but may struggle a bit shutting down RB LeGarrette Blount. Even with a bit of struggling against Blount, the Bucs defense won’t be able to keep up with Panthers QB Cam Newton.
DR FOOTBALL: PANTHERS TO WIN BUT NOT COVER
THE COACH: PANTHERS TO WIN AND COVER.
Sam Bradford
St. Louis Rams (2-12) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
Line: Steelers by 14.5
This is a Christmas gift to the Steelers from the football gods. Pittsburgh could play 63 year old Terry Bradshaw at QB and win this one. How do the Rams even have 2 wins? (Coach sez: The only reason the Steelers won’t cover is if they don’t score enough points. Which is worth being concerned about).
DR FOOTBALL: STEELERS TO WIN AND COVER.
THE COACH: STEELERS TO WIN BUT NOT COVER.
San Diego Chargers (7-7) at Detroit Lions (9-5)
Line: Lions by 2.5
The Lions really need this victory with being only a win away from the playoffs and they don’t want to have to go into Lambeau on New Year’s Day needing to win. The Chargers have thrust themselves into the wild AFC West race and need a victory to have a chance. But I think the Lions really saved their season with that come from behind win against the Raiders last week and I think that win will give them the momentum they need.
DR FOOTBALL: LIONS TO WIN AND COVER.
THE COACH: LIONS TO WIN AND COVER.
San Francisco 49ers (11-3) at Seattle Seahawks (7-7)
Line: 49ers by 2
The 49ers are playing for the #2 Seed in the NFC. I think the fact the that they were able to shut down the Steelers so convincingly on Monday night they should have and problem doing the same in this one.
DR FOOTBALL: 49ers TO WIN AND COVER.
THE COACH: 49ers TO WIN AND COVER.
LeSean McCoy
Philadelphia Eagles (6-8) at Dallas Cowboys (8-6)
Line: Cowboys by 1.5
Philly’s back on track with Michael Vick back at the helm and scoring a lot of points. This week, they face a Cowboys defense that dominates against the run. While Vick’s run game will be slowed down this week, this game will be a shoot-out, a game the Eagles are better at. (Coach sez: The Eagles have awakened and will massacre a Cowboys team that has failed miserably in recent weeks. LeSean McCoy will run wild this week. At least, when Michael Vick isn’t running wild. Eagles by two touchdowns in Dallas is not out of the question).
DR FOOTBALL: EAGLES TO WIN.
THE COACH: EAGLES TO WIN.
CHRISTMAS NIGHT
Chicago Bears (7-7) at Green Bay Packers (13-1)
Line: Packers by 13.5
Now with the pressure of an undefeated season off their backs, the Pack can now they can concentrate on locking up home field throughout the playoffs. Injuries have turned Chicago into the Bad News Bears and they won’t even have the motivation of trying to stop 16-0.
DR FOOTBALL: PACKERS TO WIN AND COVER
THE COACH: PACKERS TO WIN AND COVER.
MONDAY NIGHT
Drew Brees might be the NFC MVP.
Atlanta Falcons (9-5) at New Orleans Saints (11-3)
Line: Saints by 6.5
Is there anything better to watch than Drew Brees and his offense playing at home? Didn’t think so. The Falcons are no push over, but I believe we will be seeing either the Packers or the Saints in the Super Bowl in February, and the Falcons aren’t gonna stand in the way of the Saints in this one.
DR FOOTBALL: SAINTS TO WIN AND COVER
THE COACH: SAINTS TO WIN AND COVER