So obviously, the Patriots and Colts have both been extremely successful over the past decade, and their match-ups are generally a result of winning their respective divisions. Just as obvious, that won't be the case this season, as the Colts record is currently -10 wins and 21 losses, but you know what? The divisional cycle ensures that these teams will play again next season. Hopefully the game will mean just a little bit more next time around. But will it still be a Tom Brady-Peyton Manning clash? Or are we now in store for Tom Brady-Andrew Luck battles? If last years 31-28 Patriots' victory was the final chapter in the Brady vs. Manning saga, I'd definitely rank it above the end of the Joe Paterno era at Penn St. or the Seinfeld series finale. But not knowing at the time that it was the end is definitely a frustrating feeling. Because today's travesty of a match-up between Tom Brady and Dan Orlovsky is making me sick just thinking about it. Either that or it's the Natty Ice from last night. Maybe a combination of both. On with the picks....
Last Week: 8-7-1
Season: 79-88-9
Locks of the Week: 9-3 (Panthers over Colts in Week 12)
This Week: 0-1
Home team in CAPS
Titans (+1) over BILLS
I laughed at Stevie Johnson's touchdown celebration mocking Plaxico Burress. Great stuff. But if you're gonna talk the talk, walk the walk too dammit. Johnson must have shot himself in the hands in the 4th quarter because those were some inexcusable drops he had, that cost the Bills not only the game, but their season too. Meanwhile, Tennessee has at least a ray of hope in the AFC South at 6-5, two games back of the now TJ Yates-led Texans. A win could even put them in contention for a wild-card spot.
BEARS (-7.5) over Chiefs
Caleb Haine vs. Tyler Palko. Remember in Survivor: Cook Islands there was a tie in the vote at the final four, and the tiebreaker was to see who could start a fire first, Becky or Sundra. You'd think after 38 days in the wild they'd know a thing or ten about starting fires. Welp after 30 minutes had passed, still no fire. Probst gave them matches, and they still couldn't manage it. Finally after 45 minutes Becky prevailed and made it to the final 3, but in such hideous fashion she didn't receive a single vote at the final tribal council. Anyways that's what I'm basing this Haine-Palko duel on. That level of ineptitude. At least the Bears have Urlacher, though.
Raiders (+3.5) over DOLPHINS
Interesting line here. The Raiders are a division leader, after all, with the Dolphins the polar opposite, residing in the basement of the AFC East. Now I know they're a botched snap away from being on a 4-game winning streak, but the Fins are 3-10 at home since the start of the 2010 season. The Raiders themselves have a three game winning streak, and, being the division leader and all, isn't this the kind of game you're supposed to win? I never thought I'd be doing this, but I'm bestowing my Lock of the Week on the Raiders.
STEELERS (-6.5) over Bengals
Amazingly, the Bengals can lose this game and still be in the driver's seat for the second wild-card spot in the AFC. Better conference record than both the Jets and Titans, who look to be their only competition at this juncture. Not to mention the fact they have St. Louis and Arizona still remaining on the schedule.
Ravens (-7) over BROWNS
Ray Lewis or no Ray Lewis, Colt McCoy can't solve the Ravens D. Nor can their fat, strep throated, cursed white running back.
(Sorry just had to vent a little about Peyton Hillis being on the cover of Madden 12. A mockery to the great players who have rocked the cover before him, including Ray Lewis.)
Jets (-3) over REDSKINS
The J-E-T-S are still alive thanks to Stevie Johnson and Mark Sanchez's four-touchdown game last week. Look it up. Mark Sanchez threw for 4 touchdown passes. I'm not making this up.
Falcons (-1.5) over TEXANS
I still think the Texans win up backing into the AFC South title, but any shot of them doing damage in the playoffs went out the window with Matt Leinart's injury. Notice how I didn't even say Schaub's, but Leinart's. Just the way things go in Houston.
Panthers (-1.5) over BUCCANEERS
A realistic goal for the Panthers, who have already scored more points this season than they did all of last season, should be to finish ahead of the Bucs in the standings. Carolina is 3-8, Tampa 4-7 heading into this one. With no Josh Freeman today, it'll be one step closer to accomplishing that goal for Cam Newton and company.
PATRIOTS (-20.5) over Colts
I'd be willing to guess that if you added up, say, the previous 6 lines in Patriots-Colts meetings, you'd get a number right around 20.5. What a difference a Manning makes.
Broncos (PK) over VIKINGS
Do I even need to say it?
49ERS (-14) over Rams
The 49ers, along with the Packers, are the only teams rated 90 or above in Madden currently. But do they honestly feel like the second best team in football? With Alex Smith at quarterback? I'm still not sold, and really the only chance we have to see if they're for real or not before the playoffs is a Monday night showdown with the Steelers on the 19th.
Cowboys (-4.5) over CARDINALS
Here's a new one for the Cowboys: they're flying under the radar. Like, way under the radar. Nobody is talking about them as legitimate contenders, and I understand their hopes rest with Tony Romo. But not once in the Romo era have the 'Boys had a running game this powerful, with DeMarco Murray making a late surge to get some Offensive Rookie of the Year votes. This means Romo will have fewer opportunities to make mistakes, instead just handing the ball off. I'm not saying the Cowboys can beat the Packers yet, but I'm not saying I won't change my mind at some point between now and late January. You know, if Tony Romo has anything to do with it.
Packers (-6.5) over GIANTS
For some reason, 16-0 still holds sentimental value to me. I know it shouldn't; 18-1 is really all that matters in the grand scheme of things. But it'll be tough to see a team pull off not only 16-0, but 19-0 so soon after. Can the Giants be the one to end the streak again? Don't see it. I hate everything.
SAINTS (-9) over Lions
Detroit in major trouble of falling out of the wild-card race. Peter King of Sports Illustrated raised a fantastic point in his Thursday picks column: it's not the loss of Ndamukong Suh that's troubling, it's Matthew Stafford throwing 7 picks in his last two games.
JAGUARS (+3) over Chargers
You think this Monday nighter is bad? Just wait til St. Louis vs. Seattle next week.
No comments:
Post a Comment