With the playoffs just a mere four weeks away the playoff picture is still just as jumbled as ever. One team gets into the picture, then they lose, thus falling out of the picture for the time being. One such team is the Baltimore Ravens who pretty much controlled their own destiny in the wild card, lost to the Steelers while Buffalo retakes their place. New England's loss to the Miami Dolphins on Monday night was a crucial loss as the Steelers take the #1 seed away from the Patriots for the time being. Everything will decide when the Steelers and Patriots play on Sunday. Perhaps the game of the year. Here is the playoff picture:
AFC:
#1: Steelers (11-2) (Clinched AFC North)
#2: Patriots (10-3)
#3: Jaguars (9-4)
#4: Chiefs (7-6)
#5: Titans (8-5)
#6: Bills (7-6)
Wild card:
Bills @ Jaguars
Titans @ Chiefs
Still In The Hunt:
Baltimore (7-6), LA Chargers (7-6), Oakland (6-7), Miami (6-7), NY Jets (5-8), Cincinnati (5-8)
Eliminated:
Houston (4-9), Denver (4-9), Indianapolis (3-10), Cleveland (0-13)
NFC:
#1: Eagles (11-2) (Clinched NFC East)
#2: Vikings (10-3)
#3: Rams (9-4)
#4: Saints (9-4)
#5: Panthers (9-4)
#6: Falcons (8-5)
Wild card:
Falcons @ LA Rams
Panthers @ Saints
In The Hunt:
Seattle (8-5), Detroit (7-6), Green Bay (7-6), Dallas (7-6), Arizona (6-7)
Eliminated:
Washington (5-8), Tampa Bay (4-9), Chicago (4-9), San Francisco (3-10), NY Giants (2-11)
The last time I did a column for picks/predictions I had been put into a tie with my roommate, Cardinal Viking, in terms of overall record through Week 13. The picks last week were rather close. Perhaps a bit too close. Let's take a look:
My record:
8-8 (FU JETS and PATS)
Cardinal Viking's record:
9-7 (Picked the Pats as well and the biggest difference was that he picked the Lions to beat the Bucs)
With only 12 days left until the Christmas rush is through (11 days for me because my family usually opens gifts on Christmas Eve) the home stretch is on. When I was a kid, I tended to think the holiday was all about the gifts and not all about the charity, decoration and certainly the music. This week's cool video is probably the biggest reason for the season (other than that Jesus Christ was born which is obviously the most important reason) and that is giving back to your fellow man. Hope this video helps you have the motivation to give back!
Week 15 of the NFL regular season will feature a Thursday night game, two Saturday games (only on NFL Network), eight early games, three late games, and a Sunday night game, and a Monday night game. There are no teams on bye this week. CBS will have the double-header this week as FOX will handle the single game. The starts off in Indianapolis, Indiana and ends in Tampa, Florida. So just like DeShone Kizer on a bad day, here come the picks:
Denver @ Indianapolis: Broncos. The Broncos picked up a win against the Jets and the Colts lost to the Bills (and the snow). The week starts off with probably a snore fest. Both teams have been bad throughout most of the season. The Broncos seem to be the more complete team than the Colts (which isn't saying much). Who will be starting quarterback for the Broncos? Probably your uncle.
Chicago @ Detroit: Bears. Both teams picked up wins last week as the Bears demolished the Bengals and the Lions beat the Buccaneers. The first of two Saturday games on NFL network pits the Bears against the Lions. The Lions seem to be the more hungry team looking to get into the playoffs for consecutive seasons, however the question if Matthew Stafford will start looms. I don't trust either team but I'll take DA BEARS!
LA Chargers @ Kansas City: Chargers. The Chiefs and Chargers picked up wins last week as they beat the Raiders and Redskins respectively. The game might've sounded off at the beginning of the season when the Chiefs were riding high and the Chargers were looking at a disastrous start to the season. Now it seems like a polar opposite. The game could have ramifications in the AFC West division race. The Chargers seem to be the more hungry team and the Chiefs look like a team that got out of a steep hole.
Arizona @ Washington: Cardinals. The Cardinals beat the Titans and the Redskins lost to the Chargers last week. The game pits one team that's out of the playoffs and another team that is trying to get in. The game features two good offenses and while the Redskins have a decent defense, the Cardinals hold the cards on defense (no pun intended).
Baltimore @ Cleveland: Ravens. Both teams picked up losses last week as the Browns lost to the Packers (took them to overtime) and the Ravens lost to the Steelers. The Purple Browns and the New Browns face off again and unless the stars come falling down, the Browns will be looking at a 0-14 record at the end of this game. You can't have that 0-16 parade if you win, right? :-)
Cincinnati @ Minnesota: Vikings. The Purple People Eaters picked up a loss to the Panthers and the Bengals got blown out by the Bears (c'mon man). The Bengals lost to the freaking Bears with the score 33-7. You're going to try to convince me that the Bengals have a shot against the Vikings. You'll have to convince me very hard. Still if they lose it would make me somewhat happy. If they win... I get a pick right. Win-win.
Green Bay @ Carolina: Panthers. Both teams picked up a win last week as the Packers beat the Browns and the Panthers beat the Vikings. The talk of the week is that Aaron Rodgers was cleared by doctors to possibly play. Does this mean that he will get the start for the Packers. You have to think of the future when it comes to it. As a Packer fan I wouldn't mind if Rodgers hung up the towel for the season. The guy can still play for quite a few more seasons. Sorry Packers but you can't risk it.
Houston @ Jacksonville: Jaguars. The Jaguars picked up a win against the Seahawks and the Texans lost to the 49ers (c'mon man). The Jaguars could possibly lock up the division title by winning this game and the Texans are without Deshaun Watson so this probably won't be a game. JAG!
Miami @ Buffalo: Bills. Both teams picked up wins last week as the Bills beat the Colts (in the snow!) and the Dolphins beat the Patriots. The weather this week in Buffalo will be much clearer this Sunday than last week as the snow reduced much visibility of the game. The fun part was that its a snow game. The high for this Sunday's game is 34 degrees Fahrenheit. I'll take the cold weather advantage of the Bills in this one.
NY Jets @ New Orleans: Saints. The two teams picked up losses last week as the Jets lost to the Broncos and the Saints lost to the Falcons. Last week's loss to the Falcons was a fluke, the Saints will lockdown on the Jets and make the SuperDome a no-fly zone. The Jets defense is weak and the Drew Brees train keeps on rolling.
Philadelphia @ NY Giants: Eagles. The Eagles picked up a win against the Rams and the Giants lost to the Cowboys. The loss of local North Dakota boy Carson Wentz of the Eagles will be a stinger for sure but the Eagles have a proven winner in Nick Foles who can lead the Eagles past the G-men on the road. The Giants seem to want this season to end.
LA Rams @ Seattle: Rams. The two teams lost last week as the Rams lost to the Eagles and the Seahawks lost to the Jaguars. The game will be a deciding factor if the Rams can beat their division rival. They can beat some of the better teams in the league, if they can't beat the Seahawks then they'll still look like a meager team in the playoffs that could possibly still go out in the first round. Don't let me down!
New England @ Pittsburgh: Patriots. The Pats lost to the Dolphins and the Steelers beat the Ravens. The loss of Ryan Shazier of the Steelers will be a major factor in the game as the Steelers seem to play down to their competition. If anything this game could very well get to the 40 point range for both teams as both defenses aren't really legit good.
Tennessee @ San Francisco: 49ers. The Niners got their 3rd win of the season beating the Texans and the Titans lost to the Cardinals. I'll go with the Niners since they seem to be the gut feeling team. The Titans don't sit well with my gut. Still Marcus Mariota could make it a game.
Dallas @ Oakland: Cowboys. The Cowboys beat the Giants last week and the Raiders lost to the Chiefs. The Cowboys will be without Zeke again for another game but will be available next week against Seattle. The Raiders seem to be a legit pick as well but I can't trust them. Even if the Cowboys destroyed the Giants team.
Atlanta @ Tampa Bay: Falcons. The Falcons got a win against the Saints and the Bucs lost to the Lions. The week ends in warm Tampa, Florida. The game will be determining factor if the Falcons do what they do best on offense and play solid defense and they should win the game. The Buccaneers looked good early in the season, but that's in the past. Get that win Hotlanta!
Local TV Schedule (subject to change, via 506sports.com)
FOX Single:
Green Bay @ Carolina
Green Bay @ Carolina
Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
CBS Early:
Cincinnati @ Minnesota
Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts
CBS Late:
New England @ Pittsburgh
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo
For more info on which game will be playing in your area, check out: NFL Maps, Week 15
Record:
Week 1: 10-5
Week 2: 10-6
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 11-5
Week 5: 7-7
Week 6: 7-7
Week 7: 8-7
Week 8: 12-1
Week 9: 6-7
Week 10: 9-5
Week 11: 8-6
Week 12: 14-2
Week 13: 12-4
Week 14: 8-8
Overall: 130-78
Cardinal Viking, my roommates record:
Week 1: 7-8
Week 1: 7-8
Week 2: 13-3
Week 3: 8-8
Week 4: 11-5
Week 5: 4-10
Week 6: 7-7
Week 7: 10-5
Week 8: 11-2
Week 9: 7-6
Week 10: 9-5
Week 11: 12-2
Week 12: 13-3
Week 13: 10-6
Week 14: 9-7
Overall: 131-77
See you guys next week!
-Tom
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