Week 16: Holiday Picks!

Last week started out pretty miserable. By 4pm alone, I was 5-5. Fortunately for me, the Football Gods were at least tuning in for the late games. My only loss after the 1pm games was picking Pittsburgh over the Jets. I went 9-6 in week 15 upping my total to 112-72, 40 games over .500.  If this were the end of the season, I’d be 20 games over .500, which gets you some extra playing time in most sports. (Baseball= 101-61 and Basketball= 61-21)

Let’s see if I can increase my chances for a first round bye. Here are Week 16 picks:

CAR @ PIT – PIT. I know Carolina got lucky last week with a win over Arizona last week but that win wasn't funny. It’s not funny. People like Derek Anderson take their job very serious and expect to win, but a team like Carolina denied them of that. Big Ben, however, will look to improve their chances of a first round bye with an easy win this week.

DAL @ ARI – DAL. They might be 5-9 and out of playoff contention, but that doesn’t mean they can’t play spoiler to… Arizona?? Never mind, this will probably be a boring game.

WAS @ JAC – JAC. At the beginning of the season, I never would have expected the Jags to be fighting for a playoff spot, but every week it seems to becoming more of a reality. This week could be that deciding factor depending on what Indy does. Jacksonville needs to come out throwing and running especially against a team like Washington who can’t go any further.

DET @ MIA – DET. Buffalo took a shot at MIA last week and killed any chances of the playoffs for the fins. Detroit is also out so this may be more of a pride game. If I were either team I’d lie down and take the draft pick.

SF @ STL – STL. It’s not over in the NFC West, even with the top team being 6-8. If the 49ners will out and the Rams and Seahawks loss out, then the 49ners will move on to the post season.

TEN @ KC – KC. Matt Cassel came to play last week even after recovering from an appendectomy. I’d look for more of the same as they look to lock up the AFC West.

NYJ @ CHI – NYJ. I know that Lovie Smith and Da Bears “SAY” they aren’t going to take it easy this week and fight it out with the Jets but let’s be honest; No team celebrates a division win and expects to fight the rest of the year. They’re going to sit starters and rest the unhealthy. Expect the Jets to win and expand their season.

NE @ BUF – NE. Tom Brady has thrown for more touchdowns over Buffalo, 36, than any other opponent. I wonder what their game plan is going to be this week. Merry Christmas Pats fans, looks like we’ll see a first round bye!

BAL @ CLE – BAL. Cleveland’s chances of the post season are long gone since week 10 but that doesn’t mean they aren’t here to play sleeper. However I think Baltimore isn’t going into this game to lightly. They know they need a win and what better way to celebrate the holidays then with another Division victory.

HOU @ DEN – DEN. Houston is out, Denver is out, but Tim Tebow is in! I can’t wait to see how he beats the Texans this week, a team that has been on struggles since week 8. (They’ve only won 1 game since November 1^st.)

SD @ CIN – SD. Rivers and Company need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, especially with KC leading the division. The sad thing is that every team in the AFC playoff bracket will have double digit wins, while teams in the NFC could be sporting a sub .500 record team.

IND @ OAK – IND. I honestly don’t think Indy has a chance to win but I really love seeing Oakland lose. I picked Oakland last week so this week it’s Indy’s turn. Plus I doubted the injured Colts last week. This week I won’t.

NYG @ GB – GB. This game will probably be the best game of the week. Both teams need a win but obviously only one will leave Lambeau Field with one. I’ll take the home team considering they almost beat New England even without their star quarterback.

SEA @ TB – TB. Josh Freeman let me down last week, but their playoff hopes aren’t crushed just yet. They’re fourth in line for a wild card spot and if things work out in their favor they could jump to the 6ths position by the end of week 17.

MIN @ PHI – PHI. Season’s over Vikings and Philly and fighting strong with an MVP candidate. I’ll take the Eagles.

NO @ ATL – ATL. The Falcons have practically already wrapped up the division since they’ve beat NO already and everyone else in the division. They’re riding an 8 game winning streak and looking to crush the dreams of the defending champs, or at the very least giving them a low playoff position.