With the playoff picture, it is becoming clear and somewhat less clear on which teams will eke out a spot. After last week's festivities ended, 5 teams punched their ticket to January, while 7 teams still seek to get into their respected spots. Jacksonville gets a playoff berth after 10 years of futility, while the New England Patriots win the AFC East, the Minnesota Vikings win the NFC North and the Green Bay Packers will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2008 (Aaron Rodgers first season as the starter). Here's the playoff picture right now:
AFC:
#1: Patriots (11-3)
#2: Steelers (11-3)
#3: Jaguars (10-4)
#4: Chiefs (8-6)
#5: Titans (8-6)
#6: Bills (8-6)
Wild card:
Bills @ Jaguars
Titans @ Chiefs
In the hunt:
Baltimore (8-6), LA Chargers (7-7), Oakland (6-8), Miami (6-8)
Eliminated:
NY Jets (5-9), Cincinnati (5-9), Denver (5-9), Houston (4-10), Indianapolis (3-11), Cleveland (0-14)
NFC:
#1: Eagles (12-2)
#2: Vikings (11-3)
#3: Rams (10-4)
#4: Saints (10-4)
#5: Panthers (10-4)
#6: Falcons (9-5)
Wild card:
Falcons @ Rams
Panthers @ Saints
In the hunt:
Detroit (8-6), Seattle (8-6), Dallas (8-6)
Eliminated:
Green Bay (7-7), Washington (6-8), Arizona (6-8), Tampa Bay (4-10), San Francisco (4-10), Chicago (4-10), NY Giants (2-12)
To find more on the playoff picture and scenarios check out: CBS Sports - NFL Playoff Picture
This week, as well as every other week, I have been in a "Bragging Rights" competition with my roommate, Cardinal Viking, in a fun, debacle over who is more of a bad picker. The week that was could solidify one's position in the overall record. When I wrote last week's column the overall record had a 1-game advantage, to Cardinal Viking. Here's last week's results:
Cardinal Viking:
13-3 (Only three losses were: Colts over Broncos, Titans over 49ers and Cards over Redskins)
My record:
14-2 (only losses were the Saturday games, Bears over Lions and Chargers over Chiefs)
The Christmas season is nearly at an end, where the climax will be held over next Sunday and Monday by opening gifts, eating food with friends/family, and watching television while staying warm. As far as Christmas music goes, there are many favorites of mine, but if I had to choose one that exemplifies Christmas, it would be this:
Keeping in the theme of Christmas, there are many teams during the NFL season who are less fortunate from those who usually get the best. With 32 teams in the National Football League there are going to be at least 20 teams who won't move past Week 17. While some of them have been good, there are some of them that have been naughty. Here is the list of what possibly each team will get for Christmas this year:
Arizona Cardinals: A new running back that won't get injured, but you'll have to wait until next season to use it.
Atlanta Falcons: You won't get the butt of all 28-3 lead jokes, but you'll get a gift card to use whenever you want to use your potent offense.
Baltimore Ravens: A brand new receiving corp! With a fruit cake!
Buffalo Bills: brand new tables for your dumb fans to break!
Carolina Panthers: new threads for Cam Newton to wear, while a playoff berth!
Chicago Bears: a lump of coal for Virginia McCaskey for ruining the Bears francise, while some bubble wrap for Mitch Trubisky.
Cincinnati Bengals: a gift certificate to use on a brand new head coach!
Cleveland Browns: lump of coal for Jimmy Haslem, while all the 0-16 jokes abundant!
Dallas Cowboys: a lump of coal for Jerry Jones for being a hypocrite, and nothing else.
Denver Broncos: A brand new QB because you have 20 QB's already, WHY NOT MORE!
Detroit Lions: a brand new version of Matt Stafford because you can't win without him.
Green Bay Packers: a brand new Defensive coordinator, and possibly a new head coach!
Houston Texans: A fixed version of Deshaun Watson and an injury free season for JJ Watt next year.
Indianapolis Colts: A gift card to fix the whole team! Its true.
Jacksonville Jaguars: A better barber for your owner and a rabbits foot for Blake Bortles.
Kansas City Chiefs: A walrus pet for Andy Reid and maybe some snake bite antidote for those nasty snake bites in the playoffs.
Los Angeles Rams: some sunscreen for Sean McVay and sandals for the team!
Los Angeles Chargers: a lump of coal for Dean Spanos and some moving trucks (maybe) to San Diego, standing by.
Miami Dolphins: a pack of cigarettes and a Pitbull concert.
Minnesota Vikings: a non-choking hazard signs all over US Bank Stadium and this song:
New England Patriots: A lease on life for Tom Brady and maybe a better defense. AH CLAM CHOWDA!
New Orleans Saints: A rebuilt New Orleans, gumbo for the team, and more gum for Sean Payton.
New York Giants: a broadway musical tickets, and some new QB to possibly replace Eli Manning.
New York Jets: a toupee for Fireman Ed and you get to spank the people that thought you would go 0-16. ENJOY.
Oakland Raiders: a robot Derek Carr.
Philadelphia Eagles: a Philly Cheese steak with healing properties for Carson Wentz. Maybe a Lombardi trophy.
Pittsburgh Steelers: A fixed up Ryan Shazier and water proof Terrible towels
San Francisco 49ers: Jed York gets a lump of coal and bubble wrap for Jimmy Garoppolo.
Seattle Seahawks: Fish from the fish market and "Fail Mary" posters all over, and this picture from Packer fans to you:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A new defense and new eyesight for Jameis Winston so that he doesn't throw INT's.
Tennessee Titans: a new receiving corp and defense so that Marcus Mariota can function.
Washington Redskins: a lump of coal for Dan Snyder and maybe a heartwarming letter to Kirk Cousins, begging him to stay.
Week 16 of the NFL Season starts at Baltimore, Maryland, and ends in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There are two games on Saturday, 9 early games on Sunday, 3 late games, and 2 games on Monday. FOX will have the double header, while CBS will have the Single game. There are no teams on bye week. Let the picks, commence:
Indianapolis @ Baltimore: Ravens. The Colts lost to the Broncos, while the Ravens won against the Browns. As much as I feel bad for the Colts this season, the Ravens will win it, because they're probably the more hungry team than the Colts and the Colts don't seem to have the drive to cause an upset.
Minnesota @ Green Bay: Packers. The Vikings beat the Bengals last week while the Packers lost to the Panthers. As much as the Vikings will probably romp on the Packers in the game, I won't pick for the Purple and Gold. Not for a rivalry game. Fuck the Vikings.
Atlanta @ New Orleans: Saints. Both teams won last week as the Saints beat the Jets and the Falcons beat the Buccaneers. The game will hinge upon whether if the Falcons offense which has been inept most of the season, can play their best game of the season. I don't trust the Falcons, but I'll take the Saints.
Buffalo @ New England: Patriots. The two teams picked up wins as the Bills beat the Dolphins and the Patriots beat the Steelers. The Bills seem like a decent pick to go with, if they weren't playing the Patriots. Tom Brady & Company could possibly take the win and a 1st round bye.
Cleveland @ Chicago: Bears. Both teams took losses last week as the Bears lost to the Lions and the Browns to the Ravens. At the time last season on Christmas Eve, the Browns picked up their first win of the season and their only one. However this year won't happen, the Bears got this... maybe.
Denver @ Washington: Redskins. Both teams picked up wins last week as the Redskins beat the Cardinals and the Broncos beat the Colts. The difference between these two teams is that the Redskins have a better quarterback than possibly any QB that the Broncos have, HTTR!
Detroit @ Cincinnati: Lions. Detroit took a win against the Bears and the Bengals lost to the Vikings. The game will be close but as far as I can say, the Bengals will be ending up as the loser in this game. It will also be Marvin Lewis of the Bengals last game at home as head coach. What a remarkable run "/sarcasm".
LA Chargers @ NY Jets: Chargers. Both teams took losses last week as the Chargers lost to the Chiefs and the Jets to the Saints. The game will be decided by which offense shows up. As much as I like the feel-good story of the Jets, I'll take the more hungry Chargers to get their 8th win.
LA Rams @ Tennessee: Rams. The Rams beat the Sehawks last week and the Titans lost to the 49ers. The Rams have the better team than the Titans. Marcus Mariota will have a long day against the LA defense. Hate to say it but a loss is a loss and it could be a blow to the Titans playoff chances.
Miami @ Kansas City: Chiefs. The Dolphins lost to the Bills and the Chiefs beat the Chargers last week. The Dolphins have been bad most of the season and the fact that Jay Cutler is still on the team is preposterous. Say goodbye to the Chiefs if they lose to the Dolphins, I'll LOL.
Tampa Bay @ Carolina: Panthers. The Buccaneers lost to the Falcons and the Panthers beat the Packers last week. The Panthers are the more built team and don't have the injury troubles that the Buccaneers have. Gotta keep that NFC South race very exciting.
Jacksonville @ San Francisco: Jaguars. Both teams picked up a win last week as the Jaguars beat the Texans and the 49ers beat the Titans. The bandwagon hopping of the 49ers ends this week as the Niners take on the Jaguars. The team by the bay seem to be looking at a 4-11 record at the end of the game, I just feel the Jags seem to be more well-rounded.
NY Giants @ Arizona: Giants. Both teams took losses last week as the Giants lost to the Eagles and the Cardinals to the Redskins. If the Giants offense played as well as they did against the Eagles, this game will be close, maybe a 10-point margin game. I don't trust the Cardinals offense anymore than I do with the Giants, but I'll go for the upset.
Seattle @ Dallas: Cowboys. The Cowboys took a win against the Raiders and the Seahawks lost to the Rams. Ezekiel Elliot of the Cowboys returns after his 6-game suspension and the Cowboys actually have a decent shot still to make the postseason. I'm taking the Cowboys because they seem to be less of distractions than the Seahawks. As well as Zeke Elliot is rested. Which doesn't bode well.
Pittsburgh @ Houston: Steelers. Both teams took losses as the Steelers lost to the Patriots and the Texans to the Jaguars. The Monday slate starts with the Steelers-Texans. The game would be closer if Deshaun Watson was still playing as QB, the game won't be close. If the Steelers triplets stay on task and do what they do, Steelers win.
Oakland @ Philadelphia: Eagles. The Eagles beat the Giants and the Raiders lost to the Cowboys last week. The week finishes off in Philly as the regular season finale of Monday Night Football with an intriguing matchup. The Eagles will be without Carson Wentz but Nick Foles seems to fit the bill just fine. I'll take the Eagles but it will be a close game, I sense.
Local TV Schedule (subject to change, via 506sports.com)
CBS Single:
Buffalo @ New England
Buffalo @ New England
Jim Nantz, Tony Romo
FOX Early:
Atlanta @ New Orleans
Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis
FOX Late:
Seattle @ Dallas
Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
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
Week 15: 14-2
Overall: 144-80
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
Week 15: 13-3
Overall: 144-80
See you guys next week, and Happy Holidays/Merry Christmas!
-Tom
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