NFL Week 15 Picks: Fire On The 1 Line Uptown Local - 30-45 Minute Wait Edition
M.D. Wright
12.10.08
As always, we have Thursday games, so I have to give you the picks early this week. I will be rolling out my spreads and over/unders beginning in the first round of the playoffs in January. Since I was able to get them out without rushing this time, they are aptly named.
Let's see...
New Orleans Saints vs. Chicago Bears
Soldier Field
Chicago, Illinois
The Saints are making a push right now. They've won two of three, both those wins at home. The NFC South teams are INDOMITABLE at home this season. Look it up. However, this game is on the road. With potential snow and definite gusty winds (The Windy City). The Bears are faltering badly. I am picking a "mild" upset here, because the Saints are desperate, while the Bears seem to be just idling.
Call:
New Orleans 27
Chicago 17
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Georgia Dome
Atlanta, Georgia
This is the ultimate pick 'em game. The Bucs got SHREDDED by the Panthers on "Monday Night Football". I haven't seen a running game give them problems like this since Barry Sanders -- everytime they played, basically. With Michael Turner and Jerrious Norwood, they aren't going to catch a break. The Bucs looked semi-explosive offensively at times on Monday, but I think the Falcons will win this one at home.
Call:
Tampa Bay 13
Atlanta 24
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Washington Redskins vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Paul Brown Stadium
Cincinnati, Ohio
Warshington is reeling. Clinton Portis better get healthy ASAP for their sakes. They basically have to win out and still be hoping for the Cowboys, Saints, Eagles and Atlanta to falter. That's asking too much. Personally, regardless of Portis' status, they're not going to win 10, but this is one they are going to win. The Bengals aren't worth mentioning.
Call:
Washington 20
Cincinnati 6
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Seattle Seahawks vs. St. Louis Rams
Edward Jones Dome
St. Louis, Missouri.
Please.
Call:
Seattle 9
St. Louis 6
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San Francisco 49ers vs. Miami Dolphins
Dolphin Stadium
Miami, Florida
This is actually an intriguing game. The 49ers have been playing with spark of late. They ought to be wondering how they would have fared if Shaun Hill had played all season. Eh well, too late. Frank Gore's hurt also. Not sure about his status for this game, but it is very important against a very good Fins defense and More Wildcat. If ONLY for Gore's iffy status, I am picking Miami in this one (and to win the AFC East).
Call:
San Francisco 17
Miami 28
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Buffalo Bills vs. New York Football Jets
Giants Stadium at the New Jersey Meadowlands
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Hmmm... are the Jets swooning? Or was it just a couple of bad games following FIVE great ones? Are the Bills swooning (as they have done every December this decade -- so YES) or are they just done? I think the Bills are done. The Jets may look good record-wise and control their own destiny, but their fans know this team and coach Eric Mangini does not inspire too much hope from them. However, the players play the game. This game is HUGE for the Jets' playoff hopes. Lose, and they are in some serious trouble, needing to win their last game of the season against Miami just to have a shot to make the playoffs. I pick the Jets here.
Call:
Buffalo 10
NY Jets 14
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Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts
Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, Indiana
God bless Rod Marinelli.
Call:
Detroit 13
Indianapolis 38
---
San Diego Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas City, Missouri
The Chiefs are FEISTY. However, they're a few pieces short to be competitive every week. The Chargers need to win out and need the Broncos to lose out, as I said before -- to make the playoffs. I am going to play the "They Need To Win This Game, So They Will" card here and pick the Chargers. I have no basis for this, given how they played the first time (Herm Edwards "playing to win the game" and going for 2 at the end of the game, only to miss and the Chargers win as a result).
Call:
San Diego 31
Kansas City 27
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Green Bay Packers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Stadium
Jacksonville, Florida
The Jags are dead. Fred Taylor is out. MJD has been nicked up all year. Their defense has been declawed. The Packers aren't going to the playoffs, but they are not going to lie down here.
Call:
Green Bay 27
Jacksonville 10
---
Tennessee Titans vs. Houston Texans
Reliant Stadium
Houston, Texas
UPSET ALERT. I don't care what the Titans have done since they lost to the Jets. The Texans are VERY GOOD at home and have one of the highest scoring offences in the NFL. Steve Slaton has been on a MISSION since he's been getting starting-level carries. The Titans aren't exactly worldbeaters against spread offenses. I am going to go with the Texans here.
Call:
Tennessee 14
Houston 24
---
Minnesota Vikings vs. Arizona Cardinals
University of Phoenix Stadium
Glendale, Arizona
BIG GAME. So many playoff implications here. The winner will likely wrap up the "3" seed in the NFC Playoffs. The Vikings' backfield is crazy. The Cards are athletic enough to slow them down, but I do not think they will stop them. The Vikings cannot stop the Cards' offence, either. This is going to come down to turnovers. I think the Cards' offensive line will keep Kurt's jersey white and I think they'll pull this off.
Call:
Minnesota 21
Arizona 30
---
Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers
Bank of America Stadium
Charlotte, North Carolina
The Broncos' defense sucks and they don't travel well. Or, as Jaws likes to say, their defense isn't "portable". The Panthers do NOT lose at home (which is fine by me, because we play them at OUR HOME, not Charlotte in Week 16 hah). That's really simple. The Panthers' running game is going to carry them here.
Call:
Denver 14
Carolina 27
---
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens
M&T Bank Stadium
Baltimore, Maryland
*GAME OF THE WEEK, PT. I*
Good lord I'm salivating over this. The Smashmouth Steelers' offense vs. the Ravens' great defense -- with ballhawk Ed Reed seemingly around every tipped pass, errant throw, fumble, etc. He's going to score in this game, by the way.
The Ravens' fledgling (and very good) offence vs. the Steeeeeeel Cuuuuuhtin defence. This is definitely going to be low-scoring. I don't remember what the O/U is for this game, but if it's anything higher than 30, take the under hah.
Ravens.
Call:
Pittsburgh 13
Baltimore 14
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New England Patriots vs. Oakland Raiders
McAfee Coliseum
Oakland, California
The Patriots are done, as far as playoffs go. God bless (seriously) Matt Cassel and his family. I can't imagine him playing focused football, even though he's from out there in Oakland. The Patriots' injuries are getting to be too much for them right now. I am leaning toward actually picking the Raiders here. The Raiders are actually a step or two above atrocious right now, which isn't saying much. However, their defence is VERY good. They make for good theatre with Nnamdi Asemougha campaigning to be this generation's Deion Sanders. But I'm going to go out on a limb and take them here.
Call:
New England 17
Oakland 20
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New York Football Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys
Texas Stadium
Irving, Texas
*GAME OF THE WEEK, PT. II*
*SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL*
This is going to be a bloodbath. The Giants are upset after losing to a bad team, the Cowboys were dealt a blow to their playoff hopes temporarily with a shocking last-second loss at PIT last week. Both teams will be hungry. Tons of injuries on both sides, but the Cowboys' defence is lacking in the secondary. The Giants' secondary is underrated.
Tony Romo did not play in the first game. He will need great protection, because Steve Spagnuolo will bring the pressure more than he has in the past few weeks. You cannot give Romo time with Owens, Witten and the emerging Martellus Bennett available. Marion Barber is iffy for this game. Jacobs will play, but he will not get the bulk of the carries (in my opinion). If Barber is not 100%(which I don't think he is) they are going to be lacking just a bit. It will be close. The Champs want the Black Cats off their tails with the Homefield Advantage Throughout at stake, still.
Call:
NY Giants 23
Dallas 20
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Cleveland Browns vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Lincoln Financial Field
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
*MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL*
The Browns are done. The Romeo Crennel Watch is on. They've mailed it in. Meanwhile, the Iggles have renewed (but slim) hopes to make the playoffs. They're hungry and they're going to gut the Browns like a fish. Browns on the road = carnage.
In other words, ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...
Call:
Cleveland 12
Philadelphia 33
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More later this week...
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