NFL Week 17 Picks: Grand Central Terminal - All Passengers Must Depart; Watch The Closing Doors Please Edition
M.D. Wright
12.26.08
We have come to the end of the NFL season! I tell you, without football and college basketball, fall/winter would be unbearable. Now that we've had a full season of the NFL and a good two months of college basketball, we'll have something to get us through until it gets warm outside. Meanwhile, it will be warm inside our TV sets as we ready for the playoffs!
And of course, I would be remiss if I did not pay my annual homage to Jim Mora:
"What's that? Ahhhh... PLAYOFFS?!?! Don't talk about... PLAYOFFS?!?! Ya kidding me... PLAYOFFS?!?! I'm just hoping we can win another game... ANOTHER GAME!"
And with that, let's get it in...
Oakland Raiders vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Raymond James Stadium
Tampa, Florida
Line: TB -12.5
Over/Under: 39
The Bucs picked the wrong time to lose three straight. They need the Bears, Cowboys AND Falcons to lose Sunday to even be in the playoff conversation. This game almost means nothing. The Raiders are like a 2,500-piece jigsaw puzzle whose pieces have been dumped out of a box and you must put it together in an hour. That's what their season has been like.
One word for Jeff Garcia after getting hit by CB Quentin Jammer last week: "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Call:
Oakland 9
Tampa Bay 24
---
Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers
Lambeau Field
Green Bay, Wisconson
Line: GB -10.5
Over/Under: 43
0-16.
Call:
Detroit 17
Green Bay 28
---
Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Lincoln Financial Field
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Line: PHI -1.5
Over/Under: 42.5
The Iggles must win this game to make the playoffs.
The Cowboys must win this game to make the playoffs.
That formula = BLOODBATH. You might see some of everything in this game.
I'm going to go with my gut and take Philly -- homefield non-factor.
Call:
Dallas 26
Philadelphia 31
---
New York Football Giants vs. Minnesota Vikings
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Line: MIN -7
Over/Under: 42
Vegas is giving us 7 points because they figure Coughlin will rest the starters. LOL Well, I dunno how to call this game. My feeling is they will play a half, just to maintain their rhythm, then put the 2nd string in during the 2nd half. The Giants will have a lead and pin back their ears and bring the house at Young Jackson and put 8 in the box against Peterson. Will it be successful? Who knows. They also have Chester Taylor back there. The Giants just need to come out of this game healthy. Minnesota needs to win to ensure they don't have to hope for a STRING of losses from others afterward.
Call:
NY Giants 21
Minnesota 17
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Chicago Bears vs. Houston Texans
Reliant Stadium
Houston, Texas
Line: HOU -2.5
Over/Under: 46.5
I no longer subscribe to the "Team A needs this game desperately" corollary. I've seen so many teams in that position the past few seasons STINK OUT the joint when they "needed to win". I'm going to take the Texans at home because 1) they are very good there (aside from a couple of hiccups) and still in the Top 5 in scoring in the NFL. The Bears haven't proven they can consistently stop the run and Steve Slaton is bringing that at them. Matt Forte won't find much running room against this young and active (and improving) Texans defence. Bye bye, Bears.
Call:
Chicago 17
Houston 28
---
Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints
The Louisiana Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana
Line: CAR -2.5
Over/Under: 51.5
That 51.5 is teasing. I hate half-point O/U, because it almost ALWAYS comes down to that one point on either side of the number in a matchup like this. I see this being a shootout for two reasons: 1) New Orleans cannot stop Carolina's running game -- given that Carolina needs to win to ensure they get the 2 spot and a first-round bye in the playoffs -- so they will be playing all out 2) New Orleans will be passing the ball 50+ times because a) they will be trailing and b) Brees is aiming for Dan Marino's passing yardage record (5,084 yards in 1984). Brees is within reach. The Saints aren't going to be a threat to win, however. Their first home loss hah.
Call:
Carolina 37
New Orleans 31
---
St. Louis Rams vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Georgia Dome
Atlanta, Georgia
Line: ATL -14 (Dear god.)
Over/Under: 44
Good lord. Stay away from this game at ALL costs. There will be a Sacrificing Of The Lambs -- despite the Fulcons having nothing to play for other than to secure the 5 seed (preferable) instead of the 6 seed. Backtracking, that IS something to play for. Dear god. God bless Jim Haslett's career.
Call:
St. Louis 10
Atlanta 34
(Kick, Kick, Push)
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Paul Brown Stadium
Cincinnati, Ohio
Line: CIN -3 (How?)
Over/Under: 38.5
Ugly game of the week. Seems like CIN plays in one of these every other week. Mercifully, both teams seasons are over. They have the Mayflower trucks backed up to their respective stadiums ready to leave at 11 pm. What an awful season for both franchises. Sure doesn't bode well for the ratio of black coaches in the NFL. BOTH these guys could very well be gone after the season.
Call:
Kansas City 20
Cincinnati 10
---
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Baltimore Ravens
M&T Bank Stadium
Baltimore, Maryland
Line: BAL -12.5
Over/Under: 37.5
The Jags are listless. Harbaugh has told us his Ravens are going all out to win this game about 74 times this week. That's enough for me.
Call:
Jacksonville 13
Baltimore 28
---
Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colts
Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, Indiana
Line: TEN -3
Over/Under: 38.5
I would write more about this game, except both teams don't want to do too much more than window dressing as they know their respective playoff positions already. Colts should win, however -- and avenge an earlier loss where they gave the game away.
Call:
Tennessee 14
Indianapolis 24
--
Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Heinz Field
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Line: PIT -11
Over/Under: 34
So long, Romeo Crennel. How briefly we knew ye. Crennel is a nice guy -- and smart enough (ESPN.com says his IQ is like 125 or something on those ads at the bottom of the page). He'll get a better job, hopefully. Cleveland can't get out of its own way even with enough talent to definitely win the division. This will be brutal.
Call:
Cleveland 6
Pittsburgh 30
---
Miami Dolphins vs. New York Football Jets
Giants Stadium at the New Jersey Meadowlands
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Line: NYJ -2.5
Over/Under: 42
Mets... uhhh... Jets fans are nervous. I haven't talked to any of the 11 of them that exist (j/k) who isn't. But seriously, if they don't win this game, there will be turmoil. I can't write up anything differently for these teams. Ya are what ya record says ya are -- says a guy who has played a major role with both teams.
Based off all that I've seen this year (and based off the ending of last year), I'm going to RELUCTANTLY take the Jets here. If Mangini does not run the ball with Jones, the Jets will lose and he will lose his job. Notice you have not heard Mike Tannenbaum talk much this month about Mangini's job -- amidst fan uproar. Hmmm.
Call:
Miami 24
NY Jets 26
---
New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills
Ralph Wilson Stadium
Orchard Park, New York
Line: NE -6
Over/Under: 40
Call me naive, but I am taking the Bills here. Yes, I hate the Patriots and would love nothing more to see them miss the playoffs, but the Bills have come back to life with Trent Edwards back in the lineup. I say they pull out an ugly one. And this will be Matt Cassel's last game in a Patriots' uniform.
Call:
New England 21
Buffalo 24
---
Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals
University of Phoenix Stadium
Glendale, Arizona
Line: ARZ -6.5
Over/Under: 45.5
I don't know why Seattle is getting so many points from Vegas. They've played very well of late. The Cards STINK. Yes, they're at home, but if you look as uninspired as they looked Sunday -- and in all their road games in general -- YOU STINK. They better use this game to work on their flaws or they're going to be one and done AT HOME.
Call:
Seattle 27
Arizona 31
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Washington Redskins vs. San Francisco 49ers
Candlestick Park
San Francisco, California
Line: Pick 'em
Over/Under: 37.5
ZZZZZZZ two teams going in opposite directions, but both looking bad doing so. If that makes sense. Washington is done. Even though they beat Philadelphia last week, they weren't convincing. San Francisco is playing pretty good defence. Washington is making a 2,800-mile trip. I'm taking the Niners.
Call:
Washington 13
San Francisco 24
---
Denver Broncos vs. San Diego Chargers
Qualcomm Stadium
San Diego, California
Line: -8 (I know Vegas is doing this because of the stakes and the number of people wagering -- NO WAY DEN gets this many points all else being equal).
Over/Under: 50.5
The Broncos (or "Bronchoes", as my boy DK calls them), are reeling. I called this matchup in Week 12. You can look in my blog and see. Just on the strength of getting that right -- two bad losses by Denver, three resilient wins by San Diego -- they're at home; Cutler made the Pro Bowl when he shouldn't have -- taking Rivers' spot, effectively. Good day in the morning. Take the Chargers -- WITH THE OVER and leave that SPREAD ALONE!
Call:
Denver 31
San Diego 41
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PLAYOFFS!!!
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