It's pretty amazing to think that there are only 5 weeks left in the NFL season before the playoffs begin. It seems like only yesterday teams like the Eagles were dreaming of the Super Bowl, thinking about the possibilities. So many teams, so many dreams, so many hopes dashed, in some cases as early as the fifth week. A look at the NFL standings shows six teams with 3 wins or less, which means the season is essentially over.
The playoff push begins for many though as 19 teams have at least five wins and a shot at the postseason. That number will certainly decline as the weeks go by, in many cases this week as several teams hovering around .500 play either vastly superior or vastly inferior opponents. Meanwhile, teams like the Ravens, Texans, Falcons, Broncos, and Patriots will be looking to either wrap up or virtually wrap up a playoff spot.
So let's get to the picks!
Thursday
New Orleans (5-6) at Atlanta (10-1) - 8:20pm NFL Network
A few weeks back, these two teams met back in New Orleans when the Falcons were undefeated. The Saints had been on a roll, but still were underdogs in most people's eyes. Not here at the Sports Mixer. Here, it seemed like the perfect opportunity for the Falcons to go down and the Saints delivered a 31-27 victory. Now the Saints get to travel to Atlanta for the rematch coming off a loss to the 49ers last week. The Saints are getting by almost strictly via offensive production, which means when the offense struggles, the team overall loses.
The Falcons have plenty of motivation to win this game. They can lock up a playoff spot and severely damage the Saints faint hopes all in one fell swoop, oh and avenge their only loss as well. Matt Ryan has been solid all season long, especially at home and I think this week the Falcons avenge the loss. The Saints run the last few weeks has been a nice story, but the defense is still pretty bad. Drew Brees is good, but he can't work miracles.
Pick: Falcons 34, Saints 28
Sunday
Jacksonville (2-9) at Buffalo (4-7) - 1pm CBS
Who knew Chad Henne was the answer for the Jaguars all along? A week after replacing an injured Blaine Gabbert and putting up huge numbers against the Texans, he continued his hot touch against the Titans, leading the Jags to a 24-19 win. Can he keep it up against a maligned Bills defense? It's possible, but I have to see it before I'll trust in his ability to consistently lead a team.
The Bills are a wreck. Let's face it. They get a tough win against the Dolphins, then follow it up by losing to the Colts. The offense is clearly struggling right now and it's a question of how much longer will the Bills continue to go with Ryan Fitzpatrick. He just doesn't have the consistency needed in a quarterback. I think being at home will help, but it's going to take another solid performance from the defense to pull off a win, even against the Jags.
Pick: Bills 20, Jaguars 16
Seattle (6-5) at Chicago (8-3) - 1pm FOX
The Seahawks are 5-0 at home, 1-5 on the road. That's really all you need to know. They're going into a tough environment at Soldier Field against a rejuvenated Bears team. This does not have the signs of a happy ending for Russell Wilson, who has performed exceptionally at home, but not so much on the road. Add in the suspensions of two of their cornerbacks, and things just got real dicey.
The Bears suddenly were healthy with the return of Jay Cutler. They didn't do anything remarkable on offense, they just settled down, which was apparently all they needed to do after getting blown out by the 49ers. I don't think they blow out the Seahawks, but they should be able to win comfortably.
Pick: Bears 24, Seahawks 14
Indianapolis (7-4) at Detroit (4-7) - 1pm CBS
Did anyone think the Colts would be 7-4? Did anyone think they'd be in the conversation for a wild card spot? Did anyone expect Andrew Luck to be this good? No, no, and yes. Luck has been as good as advertised, and the Colts have followed his lead with the help of some key veterans such as Reggie Wayne. At this point, 10 wins is a strong possibility as their final games include match-ups with the Titans, Texans (twice), and Chiefs after this week.
The Lions are just not having a good year. Expectations were high, but we hear more about suspensions and fines than plays on the field at this point in time. The lack of a running game has just absolutely killed them all season long, and while the Colts are one of the worst at stopping the run, the Lions aren't much of a threat to run it. I think both times are going to put up points, but the Lions just don't seem to have it this year and the Colts do.
Pick: Colts 27, Lions 24
Minnesota (6-5) at Green Bay (7-4) - 1pm FOX
Just when you think the Packers are set for a playoff push, the offensive line has self-destructed, putting Aaron Rodgers and his mustache in peril. The problems at the line compound things for an offense that has been relying on Rodgers all season long since they still can't run the ball and has been without Greg Jennings most of the year. Hosting Minnesota will be a challenge, but the Packers need this win and I think they'll get it.
The Vikings are the type of team that can't decide if it wants to be good or bad. Three weeks ago, needing a win, they pummeled the Lions to get to 6-4. Then they followed that up by not showing up against a Bears team that had been beat up the week before. Now they travel to Green Bay, and while the Packers are vulnerable, I just can't trust Christian Ponder and this offense. Adrian Peterson will get his numbers, but that will be about it.
Pick: Packers 31, Vikings 20
Houston (10-1) at Tennessee (4-7) - 1pm CBS
This game has upset special written all over it. The Texans have won two straight overtime games, so they have the potential to be slightly drained, but they've also had a couple extra days to prepare as well. They're also going against a defense that frankly hasn't been that good this year, and that's being nice. There's the potential to put up big numbers, but that's what I thought about them going against Jacksonville. They put up the numbers, but needed a spectacular play in overtime to finish the Jags off.
The Titans have shown promise at time with Jake Locker, but the defense has been a problem most of the season. Last week they became the second team to lose to the Jaguars, not a good way to come into this week against the Texans. Locker can put up yards, but will the Titans be able to get stops? I want to say this will be an upset, but the Texans can get that much closer to a division title with a win.
Pick: Texans 34, Titans 30
Carolina (3-8) at Kansas City (1-10) - 1pm FOX
The Panthers finally saw the Cam Newton on Monday Night Football that they were expecting to see all season long and it showed in both the stat line and the win column. Newton is an exceptional athlete, but his head doesn't seem to be in the right place a lot of the time. When he's on though, he's as dangerous as anyone that's ever played the game. The defense is still suspect, but they played better against a maligned Eagles team.
The Chiefs...their quarterback is Brady Quinn. I really can't say anything else. They've lost 10 games, have barely led in any of their games, and their one win seems incredibly flukish at this point in time. I just can't talk about them.
Pick: Panthers 27, Chiefs 13
San Francisco (8-2-1) at St. Louis (4-6-1) - 1pm FOX
Not too long ago, the 49ers hosted the Rams at Candlestick Park in what was thought to be a mismatch. Much to the home crowd's dismay, the Rams showed up to play and the NFL saw its first tie in four years as neither team did much in overtime. Now the rematch takes place with the 49ers starting Colin Kaepernick over Alex Smith as Jim Harbough rides the "hot hand" as he put it. Kaepernick has been remarkable in his two starts though and deserves the opportunity provided.
The Rams have played better since the return of Danny Amendola, but are still suspect when it comes to consistency on offense. Sam Bradford is still trying to prove that he is a worthy starting quarterback, and while Stephen Jackson has continued to run effectively, one has to wonder how much longer the Rams will hold on to him. The Rams have shown some improvement, but still have room to grow. I think it'll be competitive, but the 49ers have a lot at stake and the defense is going to want to atone for its performance earlier in the season.
Pick: 49ers 27, Rams 23
New England (8-3) at Miami (5-6) - 1pm CBS
As much as I don't want to, I have to give the Patriots credit. They overcame a rough stretch early in the season and now are pretty much in control of the AFC East. In fact, Miami is the only team within any kind of shouting distance, which means a win over the Dolphins would all but assure the Patriots of a divisional title. Aaron Hernandez's return last week made the loss of Rob Gronkowski much easier to bear, as did getting to face the Jets.
The Dolphins have a potentially bright future with Ryan Tannehill. He's looked like a rookie at times, but at other times, he's looked like a 10 year veteran with how he led the offense. Unfortunately for him, Bill Belichick has a way of making rookie quarterbacks look bad. Ask Andrew Luck how his first performance against the Patriots went. The Dolphins are feisty, but the Patriots should come away with a win.
Pick: Patriots 34, Dolphins 21
Arizona (4-7) at NY Jets (4-7) - 1pm FOX
At one point, the Cardinals were 4-0 and the talk of the NFL. Then reality hit, hit them again, and kick salt on the wound for good measure. Seven losses and three quarterbacks later, the Cardinals are reeling. But they got Beanie Wells back last week! Yeah, the rest of the season is going to be long for this franchise, which with a few exceptions, has seen this script far too often.
The Jets are a train wreck. They forgot to show up against the Patriots and pretty much punched their ticket to the April draft. In showing no resistance, they surrendered 49 points and the home crowd was cheering for Tim Tebow by halftime despite Mark Sanchez not really having a chance. There's a chance for some redemption this week as they go up against an equally inept team, but it'll be closer than most would like.
Pick: Jets 17, Cardinals 12
Tampa Bay (6-5) at Denver (8-3) - 4:05pm FOX
The Buccaneers are a tough bunch to get past. They fought to the final gun against the Falcons, falling just short in the end. They're in virtually every game and are in position for a playoff spot if they can keep winning. The offense works best when it's in hurry up mode, but it seems Greg Schiano is reluctant to go to it more often. They need this game to keep their playoff hopes alive, but it's going to be tough.
The Broncos have been playing as well as anyone the last several weeks. Peyton Manning has been in complete control since struggling earlier in the season and the defense has stepped up tremendously as well. A win at home will virtually assure them of the divisional crown in a very poor AFC West, but it's almost a given they'll clinch at some point. This could be one of the more exciting games of the week though.
Pick: Broncos 24, Buccaneers 20
Cincinnati (6-5) at San Diego (4-7) - 4:25pm CBS
The Bengals need a win to keep their wild card hopes alive. The Chargers need a win just to remind their fans of what it's like to win a game. Guess what I think is going to happen? The Bengals have been playing well of late and get to play a Chargers team that has just completely fallen apart. If Andy Dalton plays up to his abilities, this will be over by halftime. Then again, the Bengals tend to falter at the worst times.
Pick: Bengals 17, Chargers 10
Pittsburgh (6-5) at Baltimore (9-2) - 4:25pm CBS
The Steelers suffered a big hit to their playoff hopes when they lost to the Browns last week. The excuses came flying from the fanbase, but coach Mike Tomlin made it clear that the problem was obviously turning the ball over 8 times. 5 fumbles and 3 interceptions are hard to overcome, especially when your quarterback is your third stringer. Now they travel to Baltimore where the Ravens are incredibly tough to beat with a less than 50% chance of Ben Roethlisberger playing.
The Ravens are missing pieces on defense, but have managed to get 12 sacks in the last three games. That number figures to rise against a porous and banged up Steelers line that was abused by the Browns front four last week. Now comes news that Ray Lewis may return during the regular season, the growing legend of Ray Rice's run last week, and Terrell Suggs getting healthier.
Philadelphia (3-8) at Dallas (5-6) - 8:20pm NBC
The Eagles' season is officially over. Jason Babin, the sacks leader from a year ago, was released this week. DeSean Jackson has been shut down for the year. The so-called Dream Team, the dynasty that Michael Vick predicted, all the aspirations that the Eagles had after splurging in free agency, none of it matters now. The Eagles may win a game or two down the stretch, but it's hard to imagine when at this point.
The Cowboys are so overrated it isn't even funny. They follow up barely beating the Browns by allowing the Redskins to get a huge lead, then try to fight back but fall just short. Tony Romo is capable of big plays, but he's also capable of big clunkers. However, the Eagles aren't very good.
Pick: Cowboys 26, Eagles 13
Monday
NY Giants (7-4) at Washington (5-6) - 8:30pm ESPN
The Giants suddenly got their mojo back last week, thumping the Packers behind a renewed defensive effort and the return of the elite Eli Manning, who had gone M.I.A. during the recent losing streak. They now travel to Washington, D.C., to face an exciting Redskins team that is still holding out hope for a playoff berth. This could get interesting.
Robert Griffin III has made serious noise in the rookie of the year debate, especially after his performance last week in Dallas. A win at home over the Giants would be a huge boost to his campaign, plus a help to the Redskins playoff chances. Unfortunately, their defense isn't that good and I have a feeling Manning is going to shred them.
Pick: Giants 31, Redskins 27
The Browns Game
Cleveland (3-8) at Oakland (3-8) - 4:25pm CBS
The Browns needed their victory over the Steelers, not just to hold off the naysayers, but to give their morale a boost. It helped that it was against the Steelers, but the win came with plenty of questions as the offensive failed to capitalize on several turnover opportunities. Brandon Weeden threw a touchdown pass, but he was erratic with his throws and ultimately suffered a mild concussion. He's been cleared to play and the Browns will need him to be more accurate this week. It helps going against the porous Raiders defense though.
The Raiders are stumbling, having been blown out two straight weeks. They hope to have Darren McFadden back, but I'm not sure how much that will help given he doesn't play defense, but it may spark the team a bit. Unfortunately, the Raiders are awful on defense. They give up big plays and often seem out of position. If the Browns offense gets going in any way shape or form, it could be a rough day for the Raiders given the improvement the Browns have shown defensively.
Pick: Browns 26, Raiders 17
Last: 11-3
Overall: 92-32-1
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
The Sports Mixer - After further review
A quick look back at the previous Browns game, this time a 20-14 win over the Steelers. Yes, I know I skipped a week.
I didn't get to watch the last game. I know, for shame. Given the spat I'm having with Time Warner and the lack of options at my current apartment (a story for another time), it may be a while before I can catch a game at home at this point. Such is life, right? That said, I followed enough of it during the game online and watched several highlight clips, therefore I'm qualifying myself educated enough to look back at the game.
Brandon Weeden wasn't awful, but he needs to get better fast if he wants to state his case to the new management team that he's the quarterback of the future. Right now, he's on shaky ground. He made a good throw to Jordan Cameron on the touchdown pass, but too often he's off the mark, reminding many of Derek Anderson, another strong-armed quarterback that flamed out quickly.
The receivers are getting better, so you can't pin Weeden's performance on them so much. Greg Little has gotten better with the drops, Josh Gordon has become a viable option, Josh Cooper (when active) has shown the ability to catch the ball, and Cameron has shown he could be an option as well. A good offseason could be the difference between taking a big step forward next year or middling along where they're at.
Trent Richardson gets a lot of flack for dancing in the backfield, but it just seems to me that it's more of an issue with the line not opening up holes for Richardson and the coaching staff not using him correctly (I get running between the tackles, I really do, but where are the pitchouts?). He also didn't have a preseason due to his knee injury and has missed time due to a rib injury as well. Despite that, he's on pace for over 1100 total yards, which isn't too shabby, especially with how inconsistent the offense has been.
The line gave up some sacks, but it has played substantially better since the Philadelphia game when they looked lost as a unit and Weeden had the stuffing beaten out of him. Pittsburgh's defense will cause sacks. They're that good. But for the most part, the protection was there.
The defensive line is starting to look like the strength of the team. Now that Phil Taylor and Ahtyba Rubin are both healthy and part of the rotation, we were able to see the depth the Browns touted at the beginning of the year. Billy Winn and John Hughes have shown tremendous ability and now form a formidable tackle group. In the last two games, the run defense has been tremendous, bringing the Browns to 19th overall against the run, which seems amazing given how bad the run defense has been over the years.
The linebackers, as a result of the defensive line, were able to play free and easy and it showed. D'Qwell Jackson was named defensive player of the week and I have no doubt the play of the defensive line helped him earn that. Yes, he forced a fumble and recovered another, but the line made it possible.
The line also helped the defensive backs, who aside from a bad pass interference penalty on Sheldon Brown at the end of the first half (turn around already; you're a veteran and can't get turned around?), played a pretty solid game. It's remarkable though how much of a difference Joe Haden makes when he's out there though. Brown made up for his gaffe by picking off Charlie Batch, as did Haden later in the game.
The defense forced 8 turnovers overall. There were 5 fumbles, including one by each of the four running backs and three interceptions. If the offense could've taken advantage of the turnovers more, it could've been a blowout, but they still were able to get 17 points off those turnovers. Last week it was a sack-fest, this week it was attack of the turnovers.
Sure, it was Charlie Batch throwing the ball, but a win over the Steelers still counts for something for most Browns fans. It meant something to the players as well, especially veterans who have often been on the wrong end of a beatdown at the hands of the Steelers. Sure, Ben Roethlisberger may have made a difference, but the Browns finally found a way to win and fans will take it.
Finally, the white blow-up towel debate was way overblown by fans and media alike. Look, I get it. It comes across as waving the white flag at your rival, but after seeing the picture of the flag, I can't understand why fans get so riled up. I know we are Cleveland fans and often need to be riled up about something, but this seemed to be a real stretch. I wait for the day when this team is a winner and people are complaining because we only won by 10 and should've won by 20.
No, I'm not talking about coaching this week. I don't think I can add anything that hasn't been said by anyone else.
I didn't get to watch the last game. I know, for shame. Given the spat I'm having with Time Warner and the lack of options at my current apartment (a story for another time), it may be a while before I can catch a game at home at this point. Such is life, right? That said, I followed enough of it during the game online and watched several highlight clips, therefore I'm qualifying myself educated enough to look back at the game.
Brandon Weeden wasn't awful, but he needs to get better fast if he wants to state his case to the new management team that he's the quarterback of the future. Right now, he's on shaky ground. He made a good throw to Jordan Cameron on the touchdown pass, but too often he's off the mark, reminding many of Derek Anderson, another strong-armed quarterback that flamed out quickly.
The receivers are getting better, so you can't pin Weeden's performance on them so much. Greg Little has gotten better with the drops, Josh Gordon has become a viable option, Josh Cooper (when active) has shown the ability to catch the ball, and Cameron has shown he could be an option as well. A good offseason could be the difference between taking a big step forward next year or middling along where they're at.
Trent Richardson gets a lot of flack for dancing in the backfield, but it just seems to me that it's more of an issue with the line not opening up holes for Richardson and the coaching staff not using him correctly (I get running between the tackles, I really do, but where are the pitchouts?). He also didn't have a preseason due to his knee injury and has missed time due to a rib injury as well. Despite that, he's on pace for over 1100 total yards, which isn't too shabby, especially with how inconsistent the offense has been.
The line gave up some sacks, but it has played substantially better since the Philadelphia game when they looked lost as a unit and Weeden had the stuffing beaten out of him. Pittsburgh's defense will cause sacks. They're that good. But for the most part, the protection was there.
The defensive line is starting to look like the strength of the team. Now that Phil Taylor and Ahtyba Rubin are both healthy and part of the rotation, we were able to see the depth the Browns touted at the beginning of the year. Billy Winn and John Hughes have shown tremendous ability and now form a formidable tackle group. In the last two games, the run defense has been tremendous, bringing the Browns to 19th overall against the run, which seems amazing given how bad the run defense has been over the years.
The linebackers, as a result of the defensive line, were able to play free and easy and it showed. D'Qwell Jackson was named defensive player of the week and I have no doubt the play of the defensive line helped him earn that. Yes, he forced a fumble and recovered another, but the line made it possible.
The line also helped the defensive backs, who aside from a bad pass interference penalty on Sheldon Brown at the end of the first half (turn around already; you're a veteran and can't get turned around?), played a pretty solid game. It's remarkable though how much of a difference Joe Haden makes when he's out there though. Brown made up for his gaffe by picking off Charlie Batch, as did Haden later in the game.
The defense forced 8 turnovers overall. There were 5 fumbles, including one by each of the four running backs and three interceptions. If the offense could've taken advantage of the turnovers more, it could've been a blowout, but they still were able to get 17 points off those turnovers. Last week it was a sack-fest, this week it was attack of the turnovers.
Sure, it was Charlie Batch throwing the ball, but a win over the Steelers still counts for something for most Browns fans. It meant something to the players as well, especially veterans who have often been on the wrong end of a beatdown at the hands of the Steelers. Sure, Ben Roethlisberger may have made a difference, but the Browns finally found a way to win and fans will take it.
Finally, the white blow-up towel debate was way overblown by fans and media alike. Look, I get it. It comes across as waving the white flag at your rival, but after seeing the picture of the flag, I can't understand why fans get so riled up. I know we are Cleveland fans and often need to be riled up about something, but this seemed to be a real stretch. I wait for the day when this team is a winner and people are complaining because we only won by 10 and should've won by 20.
No, I'm not talking about coaching this week. I don't think I can add anything that hasn't been said by anyone else.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
The Sports Mixer - It's week 12 already?
Getting the post up late last week cost me a valuable pick-win. It's a mistake that won't (probably will) happen again.
In any case, it was a good week for picks, even if I missed badly on the San Fran game, but really, who saw their back-up quarterback having that kind of performance against the Bears defense? I sure didn't. I expected a low-scoring affair, but give the 49ers some credit for playing exceptionally well.
I also doubt many expected the Colts-Patriots game to get so out of hand as quickly as it did, but Andrew Luck was due to have a clunker. Might as well be at the hands of Bill Belichick, who seems to befuddle rookie quarterbacks more often than not. Luck was also on the receiving end of some bad, uh, luck in the game as well.
I think the most surprising thing was watching Jacksonville take Houston into overtime, hanging with the Texans step for step until the end when Andre Johnson finally broke away with the winning score. A week after the defense was incredible against the Bears, it was broken against the Jaguars and their backup quarterback, Chad Henne.
What will this week bring? Stay tuned and find out.
Thursday
Houston (9-1) at Detroit (4-6) - 12:30pm CBS
The Texans survived a scare at home last week. Matt Schaub and the offense played a spectacular game, but how in the world do you allow the Jaguars to rack up 37 points of offense while being led by their backup quarterback? What does this mean for them going forward? It means they had a bad game and I expect the defense to refocus and get it together with Megatron looming.
The Lions, I thought they were coming around, but then they laid an egg against the Vikings before having to deal with a red-hot Aaron Rodgers last week. Now they get the Texans, the best team in the AFC. Yes, they're at home, but I doubt it will matter much. No one has stepped up to take the pressure off of Calvin Johnson so teams just continue to double team him without worry.
Pick: Texans 27, Lions 17
Washington (4-6) at Dallas (5-5) - 4:15pm FOX
The Redskins are coming off an impressive performance against the Eagles, which really isn't saying much giving that the Eagles are about as competitive as a pop warner team right now (and that's a disservice to pop warner teams everywhere). But you can't deny how stellar Robert Griffin III's performance was in that game. Now he goes up against a better defense, but one that has some holes in it as the Browns showed last week.
Meanwhile, just how good can you feel in Dallas coming off a 23-20 overtime win over the Browns? Tony Romo was sacked seven times and the run game was still non-existent, a problem against better teams. The Redskins aren't a better team, but they'll give the Cowboys a heck of a fight regardless. It'll be interesting to see DeMarcus Ware try and track down RGIII though.
Pick: Cowboys 24, Redskins 21
New England (7-3) at NY Jets (4-6) - 8:20 NBC
The Patriots continue to roll offensively and make just enough plays defensively to be taken seriously as a contender. They're averaging almost 36 points a game, which is bolstered by two 50 point explosions, a 45 point outing, and several 30+ point totals as well. In other words, Tom Brady hasn't lost a step, which is scary for most teams.
The Jets are one of the few that put up a fight this year, surprisingly enough, losing in overtime in week 7. Mark Sanchez didn't play a great game last week, but he was much more efficient as the Jets had a much easier time with the Rams than anticipated in this corner. This matchup figures to be another close one as the Jets always seem to bring their best against the Patriots.
Pick: Patriots 30, Jets 26
Sunday
Minnesota (6-4) at Chicago (7-3) - 1pm FOX
The Vikings righted the ship two weeks ago with a surprisingly easy victory over the Lions, then had a bye week to prepare for the Bears who are suddenly reeling. I'm still not sold on the Vikings being a playoff team however, and I think this game will be a reminder of that fact. Sure, Adrian Peterson could go off, allowing Christian Ponder the time to throw the ball, but the Bears may be slightly testy following their disappearing act last week.
Speaking of the Bears, that was a putrid performance on Monday Night Football. Defensively, they stunk. Offensively, they were worse. Who knew Jay Cutler meant that much to the offense? In all honesty, when you rely on your defense to give you at least one score a game, sometimes more, and that doesn't happen with Jason Campbell running the show instead of Cutler behind that horrific offensive line, what did you expect to happen? The Sports Mixer obviously did not take this into consideration last week and missed on the pick because of that. I just can't see the Vikings pulling this off though. Is anyone on the Bears defense angry?
Pick: Bears 17, Vikings 13
Oakland (3-7) at Cincinnati (5-5) - 1pm CBS
The Raiders are such a mess defensively. Two weeks ago they allowed the Ravens to score at will and hit the 50 point mark, this past week they improved by only allowing 38 points. Carson Palmer hasn't been terrible for the Raiders, but he hasn't shown anything to justify the picks the Raiders gave up to get him either. They've fared well against AFC North opponents in recent years though, so there's a glimmer of hope Raider Nation.
The Bengals looked lost for a while there, losing three games in a row before suddenly coming out and beating down the Giants two weeks ago. Then they got the Chiefs, who are the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to facing other teams. Now they're back in the wild card picture, one game behind the wounded Steelers. While not a gimme, this is a game they should win.
Pick: Bengals 24, Raiders 12
Buffalo (4-6) at Indianapolis (6-4) - 1pm CBS
The Bills finally received the type of performance from their defense that they expected all season long. Mario Williams was a beast on the defensive line and the Bills kept the Dolphins in check from start to finish, although the offense was very lackluster. Ryan Fitzpatrick goes from being Dan Marino one series to Ryan Leaf the next and that has been one of the more frustrating aspects to an otherwise explosive offense.
The Colts and Andrew Luck were bound to have a bad game and the Patriots handed it to them last week. Now we get to see how the rookie quarterback responds to a bad outing against a defense that has been vulnerable at times to good passing offenses. More importantly, can the Colts defense shore up the weakness shown last week? The Colts have a great shot at making the playoffs, but they can't have any more clunkers.
Pick: Colts 34, Bills 30
Denver (7-3) at Kansas City (1-9) - 1pm CBS
Is there any team hotter than the Broncos right now? After spotting the Chargers an early lead, Peyton Manning wrestled the lead back and led the Broncos to a 30-23 victory that solidified their hold on the division. Now comes the divisional doormats, the Chiefs, who can barely hold a lead, much less win a game anymore. A week after playing the Steelers to the bitter end, the Chiefs came out flat against the Bengals and never were in the game.
This game would normally be an upset alert, but the Chiefs have been so bad this year that I can't possibly consider them for that position until they string two semi-positive performances in a row. I don't think this will be that game. In fact, this game could get ugly before the first quarter is over, something I know Chiefs fans hope isn't the case.
Pick: Broncos 34, Chiefs 13
Seattle (6-4) at Miami (4-6) - 1pm FOX
The Seahawks have been the type of team when I pick them, they lose, when I don't, they win. Russel Wilson has been outstanding at home, but hasn't been so good on the road. What makes this game difficult to pick is how bad Miami has looked the last couple of weeks.
They were embarrassed two weeks ago by the Titans, then couldn't get anything going last week against a Bills defense that had underachieved most of the season. This is a big game for Ryan Tannehill and Reggie Bush. They need to get it together and give fans reason to believe that this team is heading in the right direction.
Pick: Seahawks 19, Dolphins 17
Atlanta (9-1) at Tampa Bay (6-4) - 1pm FOX
The Falcons have lived on the edge all season long and I don't see any reason this week will be different against the upstart Buccaneers. Matt Ryan has been good, but the team seems to constantly be playing from behind no matter who they play. Against lesser teams this has been good enough, but at some point it's going to bite them like it did against the Saints.
The Bucs are that scrappy team that no one wants to face right now. Josh Freeman seems to have the ability to play as poorly as possible for a good portion of the game, then suddenly become the best quarterback to ever play the game as he pulls the Bucs from the brink of defeat to win once again. I want to believe that the Bucs can pull the upset, but Ryan and the Falcons just have the poise needed to win close games.
Pick: Falcons 35, Buccaneers 31
Tennessee (4-6) at Jacksonville (1-9) - 1pm CBS
This is the type of game that favors the Titans, a team that has underwhelmed most of the season while attempting to develop Jake Locker. Chris Johnson at times has looked like the guy who ran for over 2,000 yards a few years back, but he's also had games where he's been unable to get anything going. The defense, with one notable exception against Miami, has been awful.
The Jaguars had an offensive explosion last week, but with how their season has gone, is it any surprise that they scored 37 points and lost? Blaine Gabbert is now gone for the season, which for some Jags fans is a sign of mercy. He'd shown little improvement in his second year and the Jags have just not had any consistency on offense. Sure Justin Blackmon has come on of late, but unless he has a moster final 6 games, he will be a disappointment.
Pick: Titans 31, Jaguars 28
Baltimore (8-2) at San Diego (4-6) - 4:05pm CBS
The Ravens won an ugly game against the Steelers last week, a game that featured 23 total points and a knockout of the Steelers' backup, Byron Leftwich. Now the Ravens travel to San Diego where the talented but flawed Chargers wait. Will the Ravens finally unleash Ray Rice and balance the offense? Or will they continue to try and insist on Joe Flacco beating everyone?
The Chargers are beyond lost at this point. Philip Rivers just doesn't seem to be the same guy this year and the team is constantly giving up chunks of yards and points. They can get a lead, but they can't put their opponent away and have yet to recover from their earlier meltdown when they led 24-0, only to lose to the Broncos by ten. This team is going nowhere fast.
Pick: Ravens 27, Chargers 17
San Francisco (7-2-1) at New Orleans (5-5) - 4:25pm FOX
Certainly this is one of the matchups of the week, the 49ers are coming off a stunning beatdown of the Chicago Bears, but now must travel to the Superdome to face the Saints, who have suddenly become the hottest team in the NFL. The 49ers showed a more explosive offense under Colin Kaepernick, who threw the ball well enough to cause their coach to say they might have to play both quarterbacks once Alex Smith is healthy.
The Saints are humming still on offense. Drew Brees and company just put up 38 points on the Raiders, which isn't much considering what the Raiders gave up the week before, but they only allowed 17 points, which is a vast improvement. The defense overall has been somewhat better since the return of Jonathan Vilma. Can they score on the 49ers and slow down the Kaepernick machine? I think so.
Pick: Saints 27, 49ers 24
St. Louis (3-6-1) at Arizona (4-6) - 4:25pm - FOX
The Rams have been such an up and down team. One week after playing the 49ers to a tie on the road, the Rams decide not to show up against the Jets in an uninspiring performance. Now they have to go to Arizona to face another underwhelming team, the Cardinals, who can't decide who's going to get beat up behind their offensive line.
The Cardinals might have the worst offensive line in the history of the NFL. It really doesn't matter who they put behind center; it's almost a guarantee that they're going to get knocked out of the game relatively quickly. I wouldn't be surprised if they were holding auditions by week 14 with all their quarterbacks on injured reserve.
Pick: Rams 17, Cardinals 13
Green Bay (7-3) at NY Giants (6-4) - 8:20 NBC
The Packers are finally playing like most thought they would at the start of the season, racking up points and victories as they attempt to take control of the NFC North. With the Bears dealing with injuries, this is the perfect time for the Packers to take control and move into first place.
The Giants should be angry. Two weeks ago they were 6-2 and being lauded as a top-tier team in the NFC. Now there are questions about how good they really are and if they can even make the playoffs. The Cowboys are now a game behind and a couple of weeks from now, it could be the opposite unless the Giants get it together. This is a tough week to do it in though.
Pick: Packers 34, Giants 20
Monday
Carolina (2-8) at Philadelphia (3-7) - 8:30pm ESPN
The Panthers could easily have won four or five games this season, but have given away a bunch of games due to bad decisions by both players and coaches. Now they travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles, who have become a virtual sideshow in the NFL circus. Nick Foles heard the cries of fans everywhere, and promptly played as poorly as one could play in place of Michael Vick. When the problem is a line that can't pass block, it doesn't matter who's back there. Now if they only had a good running back to take the load off their quarterbacks...Wait.
The Panthers could and should win this game. The Eagles have no business winning this game and are in desperate need of a leader to step up and say enough is enough. I don't see that happening, therefore I don't see a win.
Pick: Panthers 23, Eagles 12
Browns Game
Pittsburgh (6-4) at Cleveland (2-8) - 1pm CBS
The Steelers are coming off a tough loss and are in a difficult spot; trying to win football games with Charlie Batch now that both Ben Roethlisberger and Byron Leftwich are out with injuries. This is one banged up team, but they probably feel solace in that they're facing the Browns, the most dysfunctional team in the NFL at this point. Still, without their top offensive and defensive players, it's going to be hard to come by a win against a team that has fought to the bitter end most weeks.
The Browns are another team that could easily have five or six wins at this point. Instead, they are 2-8 and facing abundant questions about their future in many areas. A win this week would soothe a lot of fans feelings, but it would have to be a convincing win. Trent Richardson needs to stop dancing and run through the hole. Brandon Weeden needs to cut down the mistakes and rediscover the deep ball that has eluded him of late. The defense just needs to stop people. They can do it, but they have to put forth 60 minutes of effort for once.
Pick: Browns 27, Steelers 19
Last week: 11-2
Overall: 81-29-1
In any case, it was a good week for picks, even if I missed badly on the San Fran game, but really, who saw their back-up quarterback having that kind of performance against the Bears defense? I sure didn't. I expected a low-scoring affair, but give the 49ers some credit for playing exceptionally well.
I also doubt many expected the Colts-Patriots game to get so out of hand as quickly as it did, but Andrew Luck was due to have a clunker. Might as well be at the hands of Bill Belichick, who seems to befuddle rookie quarterbacks more often than not. Luck was also on the receiving end of some bad, uh, luck in the game as well.
I think the most surprising thing was watching Jacksonville take Houston into overtime, hanging with the Texans step for step until the end when Andre Johnson finally broke away with the winning score. A week after the defense was incredible against the Bears, it was broken against the Jaguars and their backup quarterback, Chad Henne.
What will this week bring? Stay tuned and find out.
Thursday
Houston (9-1) at Detroit (4-6) - 12:30pm CBS
The Texans survived a scare at home last week. Matt Schaub and the offense played a spectacular game, but how in the world do you allow the Jaguars to rack up 37 points of offense while being led by their backup quarterback? What does this mean for them going forward? It means they had a bad game and I expect the defense to refocus and get it together with Megatron looming.
The Lions, I thought they were coming around, but then they laid an egg against the Vikings before having to deal with a red-hot Aaron Rodgers last week. Now they get the Texans, the best team in the AFC. Yes, they're at home, but I doubt it will matter much. No one has stepped up to take the pressure off of Calvin Johnson so teams just continue to double team him without worry.
Pick: Texans 27, Lions 17
Washington (4-6) at Dallas (5-5) - 4:15pm FOX
The Redskins are coming off an impressive performance against the Eagles, which really isn't saying much giving that the Eagles are about as competitive as a pop warner team right now (and that's a disservice to pop warner teams everywhere). But you can't deny how stellar Robert Griffin III's performance was in that game. Now he goes up against a better defense, but one that has some holes in it as the Browns showed last week.
Meanwhile, just how good can you feel in Dallas coming off a 23-20 overtime win over the Browns? Tony Romo was sacked seven times and the run game was still non-existent, a problem against better teams. The Redskins aren't a better team, but they'll give the Cowboys a heck of a fight regardless. It'll be interesting to see DeMarcus Ware try and track down RGIII though.
Pick: Cowboys 24, Redskins 21
New England (7-3) at NY Jets (4-6) - 8:20 NBC
The Patriots continue to roll offensively and make just enough plays defensively to be taken seriously as a contender. They're averaging almost 36 points a game, which is bolstered by two 50 point explosions, a 45 point outing, and several 30+ point totals as well. In other words, Tom Brady hasn't lost a step, which is scary for most teams.
The Jets are one of the few that put up a fight this year, surprisingly enough, losing in overtime in week 7. Mark Sanchez didn't play a great game last week, but he was much more efficient as the Jets had a much easier time with the Rams than anticipated in this corner. This matchup figures to be another close one as the Jets always seem to bring their best against the Patriots.
Pick: Patriots 30, Jets 26
Sunday
Minnesota (6-4) at Chicago (7-3) - 1pm FOX
The Vikings righted the ship two weeks ago with a surprisingly easy victory over the Lions, then had a bye week to prepare for the Bears who are suddenly reeling. I'm still not sold on the Vikings being a playoff team however, and I think this game will be a reminder of that fact. Sure, Adrian Peterson could go off, allowing Christian Ponder the time to throw the ball, but the Bears may be slightly testy following their disappearing act last week.
Speaking of the Bears, that was a putrid performance on Monday Night Football. Defensively, they stunk. Offensively, they were worse. Who knew Jay Cutler meant that much to the offense? In all honesty, when you rely on your defense to give you at least one score a game, sometimes more, and that doesn't happen with Jason Campbell running the show instead of Cutler behind that horrific offensive line, what did you expect to happen? The Sports Mixer obviously did not take this into consideration last week and missed on the pick because of that. I just can't see the Vikings pulling this off though. Is anyone on the Bears defense angry?
Pick: Bears 17, Vikings 13
Oakland (3-7) at Cincinnati (5-5) - 1pm CBS
The Raiders are such a mess defensively. Two weeks ago they allowed the Ravens to score at will and hit the 50 point mark, this past week they improved by only allowing 38 points. Carson Palmer hasn't been terrible for the Raiders, but he hasn't shown anything to justify the picks the Raiders gave up to get him either. They've fared well against AFC North opponents in recent years though, so there's a glimmer of hope Raider Nation.
The Bengals looked lost for a while there, losing three games in a row before suddenly coming out and beating down the Giants two weeks ago. Then they got the Chiefs, who are the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to facing other teams. Now they're back in the wild card picture, one game behind the wounded Steelers. While not a gimme, this is a game they should win.
Pick: Bengals 24, Raiders 12
Buffalo (4-6) at Indianapolis (6-4) - 1pm CBS
The Bills finally received the type of performance from their defense that they expected all season long. Mario Williams was a beast on the defensive line and the Bills kept the Dolphins in check from start to finish, although the offense was very lackluster. Ryan Fitzpatrick goes from being Dan Marino one series to Ryan Leaf the next and that has been one of the more frustrating aspects to an otherwise explosive offense.
The Colts and Andrew Luck were bound to have a bad game and the Patriots handed it to them last week. Now we get to see how the rookie quarterback responds to a bad outing against a defense that has been vulnerable at times to good passing offenses. More importantly, can the Colts defense shore up the weakness shown last week? The Colts have a great shot at making the playoffs, but they can't have any more clunkers.
Pick: Colts 34, Bills 30
Denver (7-3) at Kansas City (1-9) - 1pm CBS
Is there any team hotter than the Broncos right now? After spotting the Chargers an early lead, Peyton Manning wrestled the lead back and led the Broncos to a 30-23 victory that solidified their hold on the division. Now comes the divisional doormats, the Chiefs, who can barely hold a lead, much less win a game anymore. A week after playing the Steelers to the bitter end, the Chiefs came out flat against the Bengals and never were in the game.
This game would normally be an upset alert, but the Chiefs have been so bad this year that I can't possibly consider them for that position until they string two semi-positive performances in a row. I don't think this will be that game. In fact, this game could get ugly before the first quarter is over, something I know Chiefs fans hope isn't the case.
Pick: Broncos 34, Chiefs 13
Seattle (6-4) at Miami (4-6) - 1pm FOX
The Seahawks have been the type of team when I pick them, they lose, when I don't, they win. Russel Wilson has been outstanding at home, but hasn't been so good on the road. What makes this game difficult to pick is how bad Miami has looked the last couple of weeks.
They were embarrassed two weeks ago by the Titans, then couldn't get anything going last week against a Bills defense that had underachieved most of the season. This is a big game for Ryan Tannehill and Reggie Bush. They need to get it together and give fans reason to believe that this team is heading in the right direction.
Pick: Seahawks 19, Dolphins 17
Atlanta (9-1) at Tampa Bay (6-4) - 1pm FOX
The Falcons have lived on the edge all season long and I don't see any reason this week will be different against the upstart Buccaneers. Matt Ryan has been good, but the team seems to constantly be playing from behind no matter who they play. Against lesser teams this has been good enough, but at some point it's going to bite them like it did against the Saints.
The Bucs are that scrappy team that no one wants to face right now. Josh Freeman seems to have the ability to play as poorly as possible for a good portion of the game, then suddenly become the best quarterback to ever play the game as he pulls the Bucs from the brink of defeat to win once again. I want to believe that the Bucs can pull the upset, but Ryan and the Falcons just have the poise needed to win close games.
Pick: Falcons 35, Buccaneers 31
Tennessee (4-6) at Jacksonville (1-9) - 1pm CBS
This is the type of game that favors the Titans, a team that has underwhelmed most of the season while attempting to develop Jake Locker. Chris Johnson at times has looked like the guy who ran for over 2,000 yards a few years back, but he's also had games where he's been unable to get anything going. The defense, with one notable exception against Miami, has been awful.
The Jaguars had an offensive explosion last week, but with how their season has gone, is it any surprise that they scored 37 points and lost? Blaine Gabbert is now gone for the season, which for some Jags fans is a sign of mercy. He'd shown little improvement in his second year and the Jags have just not had any consistency on offense. Sure Justin Blackmon has come on of late, but unless he has a moster final 6 games, he will be a disappointment.
Pick: Titans 31, Jaguars 28
Baltimore (8-2) at San Diego (4-6) - 4:05pm CBS
The Ravens won an ugly game against the Steelers last week, a game that featured 23 total points and a knockout of the Steelers' backup, Byron Leftwich. Now the Ravens travel to San Diego where the talented but flawed Chargers wait. Will the Ravens finally unleash Ray Rice and balance the offense? Or will they continue to try and insist on Joe Flacco beating everyone?
The Chargers are beyond lost at this point. Philip Rivers just doesn't seem to be the same guy this year and the team is constantly giving up chunks of yards and points. They can get a lead, but they can't put their opponent away and have yet to recover from their earlier meltdown when they led 24-0, only to lose to the Broncos by ten. This team is going nowhere fast.
Pick: Ravens 27, Chargers 17
San Francisco (7-2-1) at New Orleans (5-5) - 4:25pm FOX
Certainly this is one of the matchups of the week, the 49ers are coming off a stunning beatdown of the Chicago Bears, but now must travel to the Superdome to face the Saints, who have suddenly become the hottest team in the NFL. The 49ers showed a more explosive offense under Colin Kaepernick, who threw the ball well enough to cause their coach to say they might have to play both quarterbacks once Alex Smith is healthy.
The Saints are humming still on offense. Drew Brees and company just put up 38 points on the Raiders, which isn't much considering what the Raiders gave up the week before, but they only allowed 17 points, which is a vast improvement. The defense overall has been somewhat better since the return of Jonathan Vilma. Can they score on the 49ers and slow down the Kaepernick machine? I think so.
Pick: Saints 27, 49ers 24
St. Louis (3-6-1) at Arizona (4-6) - 4:25pm - FOX
The Rams have been such an up and down team. One week after playing the 49ers to a tie on the road, the Rams decide not to show up against the Jets in an uninspiring performance. Now they have to go to Arizona to face another underwhelming team, the Cardinals, who can't decide who's going to get beat up behind their offensive line.
The Cardinals might have the worst offensive line in the history of the NFL. It really doesn't matter who they put behind center; it's almost a guarantee that they're going to get knocked out of the game relatively quickly. I wouldn't be surprised if they were holding auditions by week 14 with all their quarterbacks on injured reserve.
Pick: Rams 17, Cardinals 13
Green Bay (7-3) at NY Giants (6-4) - 8:20 NBC
The Packers are finally playing like most thought they would at the start of the season, racking up points and victories as they attempt to take control of the NFC North. With the Bears dealing with injuries, this is the perfect time for the Packers to take control and move into first place.
The Giants should be angry. Two weeks ago they were 6-2 and being lauded as a top-tier team in the NFC. Now there are questions about how good they really are and if they can even make the playoffs. The Cowboys are now a game behind and a couple of weeks from now, it could be the opposite unless the Giants get it together. This is a tough week to do it in though.
Pick: Packers 34, Giants 20
Monday
Carolina (2-8) at Philadelphia (3-7) - 8:30pm ESPN
The Panthers could easily have won four or five games this season, but have given away a bunch of games due to bad decisions by both players and coaches. Now they travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles, who have become a virtual sideshow in the NFL circus. Nick Foles heard the cries of fans everywhere, and promptly played as poorly as one could play in place of Michael Vick. When the problem is a line that can't pass block, it doesn't matter who's back there. Now if they only had a good running back to take the load off their quarterbacks...Wait.
The Panthers could and should win this game. The Eagles have no business winning this game and are in desperate need of a leader to step up and say enough is enough. I don't see that happening, therefore I don't see a win.
Pick: Panthers 23, Eagles 12
Browns Game
Pittsburgh (6-4) at Cleveland (2-8) - 1pm CBS
The Steelers are coming off a tough loss and are in a difficult spot; trying to win football games with Charlie Batch now that both Ben Roethlisberger and Byron Leftwich are out with injuries. This is one banged up team, but they probably feel solace in that they're facing the Browns, the most dysfunctional team in the NFL at this point. Still, without their top offensive and defensive players, it's going to be hard to come by a win against a team that has fought to the bitter end most weeks.
The Browns are another team that could easily have five or six wins at this point. Instead, they are 2-8 and facing abundant questions about their future in many areas. A win this week would soothe a lot of fans feelings, but it would have to be a convincing win. Trent Richardson needs to stop dancing and run through the hole. Brandon Weeden needs to cut down the mistakes and rediscover the deep ball that has eluded him of late. The defense just needs to stop people. They can do it, but they have to put forth 60 minutes of effort for once.
Pick: Browns 27, Steelers 19
Last week: 11-2
Overall: 81-29-1
What are you thankful for?
Thanksgiving is tomorrow.
I know, it seems like it was just Halloween, and prior to that, seemed like it was just summer.
Time has this funny way of flying faster and faster as you get older, something I've learned over the last several years. Before I know it, Christmas will be here and then it will be 2013.
I know I occasionally run special blog posts during the holidays, and this year isn't going to be any different. The length of the posts may not be the same as in the past though. Time has been a tough commodity to come by at times and I've had limited moments in which to write in.
I'm thankful though.
I'm thankful for the job I have and the people I work with on a regular basis. It hasn't always been easy to get this pharmacy up and running, but after two-plus years and tremendous growth over the last year, I think we've done a good job at getting it together here.
I'm thankful that I have a roof over my head, reliable transportation (one way or another), and a rambunctious group of cats that keeps me entertained at almost all hours.
I'm thankful that our dog, while still easily riled up, has improved with the potty training and how she is in public. It's been something else to see how much she's changed since we adopted her earlier this year.
I'm thankful that my mom and sister are doing relatively well, even though my mom seems to think it's fun to constantly hurt herself in various ways. I think she just likes wearing a splint for the sympathy it garners her.
I'm thankful that I'm rarely bored with my life at this point. Between work, the functional fitness class I do three times a week, and the various things going on during the weekend, I'm rarely bored at home.
I'm thankful that I've made it this far with only relatively minor speed bumps and haven't fallen into the situations that so many people seem to find themselves in, whether it be drugs, insane debt, and trust issues.
I'm thankful for the family members who understood where I stood when my dad passed away earlier this year.
I'm thankful that I don't need to spend 6 hours a day, every day, playing a video game to feel like I'm living life.
I'm thankful that I don't need 15 medications a day to get by, that I don't have any serious medical disorders.
Most importantly, I'm thankful for Rachel, Payton, and our future minion that is growing day by day. The world is still not prepared for what's about to be unleashed.
In all seriousness, I can't complain too much about life. There are some things that always pop up, but it's nothing so terrible as to bring me down.
I'm not going to be one of those nuts going out for Black Friday, I promise you that much. While some of the deals I've seen are nice, I'm not fighting the masses over a tv, PS3, or anything else for that matter. If I want something, I'll buy it at a later date, preferrably after the holidays when things go on sale as well.
Yes, you're all nuts for going out in the madness on Friday, and in some cases, Thursday night. The event has become so much of a spectacle anymore that it's laughable to me at this stage. People literally trample other people to get to these "super" deals and to me, getting up at 3am or whenever it is you're lining up outside of retailer's doors is ridiculous and unnecessary, especially the day after you're supposed to give thanks for what you have.
In any case, I hope everyone has a safe holiday and I leave you with this question:
What are you thankful for?
I know, it seems like it was just Halloween, and prior to that, seemed like it was just summer.
Time has this funny way of flying faster and faster as you get older, something I've learned over the last several years. Before I know it, Christmas will be here and then it will be 2013.
I know I occasionally run special blog posts during the holidays, and this year isn't going to be any different. The length of the posts may not be the same as in the past though. Time has been a tough commodity to come by at times and I've had limited moments in which to write in.
I'm thankful though.
I'm thankful for the job I have and the people I work with on a regular basis. It hasn't always been easy to get this pharmacy up and running, but after two-plus years and tremendous growth over the last year, I think we've done a good job at getting it together here.
I'm thankful that I have a roof over my head, reliable transportation (one way or another), and a rambunctious group of cats that keeps me entertained at almost all hours.
I'm thankful that our dog, while still easily riled up, has improved with the potty training and how she is in public. It's been something else to see how much she's changed since we adopted her earlier this year.
I'm thankful that my mom and sister are doing relatively well, even though my mom seems to think it's fun to constantly hurt herself in various ways. I think she just likes wearing a splint for the sympathy it garners her.
I'm thankful that I'm rarely bored with my life at this point. Between work, the functional fitness class I do three times a week, and the various things going on during the weekend, I'm rarely bored at home.
I'm thankful that I've made it this far with only relatively minor speed bumps and haven't fallen into the situations that so many people seem to find themselves in, whether it be drugs, insane debt, and trust issues.
I'm thankful for the family members who understood where I stood when my dad passed away earlier this year.
I'm thankful that I don't need to spend 6 hours a day, every day, playing a video game to feel like I'm living life.
I'm thankful that I don't need 15 medications a day to get by, that I don't have any serious medical disorders.
Most importantly, I'm thankful for Rachel, Payton, and our future minion that is growing day by day. The world is still not prepared for what's about to be unleashed.
In all seriousness, I can't complain too much about life. There are some things that always pop up, but it's nothing so terrible as to bring me down.
I'm not going to be one of those nuts going out for Black Friday, I promise you that much. While some of the deals I've seen are nice, I'm not fighting the masses over a tv, PS3, or anything else for that matter. If I want something, I'll buy it at a later date, preferrably after the holidays when things go on sale as well.
Yes, you're all nuts for going out in the madness on Friday, and in some cases, Thursday night. The event has become so much of a spectacle anymore that it's laughable to me at this stage. People literally trample other people to get to these "super" deals and to me, getting up at 3am or whenever it is you're lining up outside of retailer's doors is ridiculous and unnecessary, especially the day after you're supposed to give thanks for what you have.
In any case, I hope everyone has a safe holiday and I leave you with this question:
What are you thankful for?
Friday, November 16, 2012
The Sports Mixer - Week 11 picks
I know this is a day late, but I forgot to publish the post prior to the Thursday night game. Because of that, I will not count the result of that pick in next week's column.
The NFL is a fun league. Each week there are surprises in how the games turn out. For example, did anything think the Bengals were going to manhandle the Giants, or that the Titans would only allow 3 points? Did anyone think we'd have a tie between the Rams and 49ers? I bet few thought that the Falcons would lose to the Saints (nailed that one).
I bet few predicted those outcomes, but that's what happened. Oh sure, there were expected results, but in some games, the expected results were still mildly surprising, such as the Steelers struggling against the Chiefs, the rain wreaking all kinds of problems in Chicago, and the Raiders losing as badly as they did to a depleted Ravens team.
This week, there are guaranteed to be more surprises, but the trick is picking the right ones. Part of me wanted to pick the Colts to beat the Patriots, but in Foxboro, it was just too hard to go with that one. Likewise with the Ravens/Steelers game. Sure, it's in Pittsburgh, but with Ben Roethlisberger nursing a dangerous rib injury, I think it tilts the game in the favor of the Ravens.
As with each previous week, the picks are purely for fun and are NOT to be taken too seriously.
Thursday
Miami (4-5) at Buffalo (3-6) - 8:20 NFL Network
The Dolphins are about as inconsistent as they came. One week they're throttling the Jets, next thing you know they're getting embarrassed by the Titans, at home no less. Ryan Tannehill has been a rookie at times, and at other times he's looked like a veteran. It's going to be cold in Buffalo, so this automatically favors the Bills, right?
Not so fast though. The Bills are a Heckyll and Jyde type of team. They can put up points, but they can give up a bunch as well. They hung in there with the Patriots last week, but couldn't quite make that play to win. I still don't know what Ryan Fitzpatrick was looking at when he threw the pick to essentially end the game. But, it's at home and the Dolphins are coming off a stinker.
Pick: Bills 24, Dolphins 17
EDIT: This game was a stinker, but the Bills pulled it off, right? Figures a special teams play right at the start was the difference.
Sunday
Arizona (4-5) at Arizona (8-1) - 1pm FOX
Sure seems like a long time ago when the Cardinals were 4-0 and the talk of the NFL. Okay, so they weren't really talked about in a positive light, more like "how the hell are they 4-0 with a win over the Patriots?" Since the 4-0 start, they've lost 5 in a row and have looked abysmal doing so. It doesn't get easier, facing the Falcons, in Atlanta, a week removed from their first loss. I don't know that it will be a blood bath, but it won't be pretty.
The Falcons were overdue for a loss. Much like with the Texans, this could serve as a wake-up, a "we need to refocus" kind of moment. The Falcons haven't exactly been dominant, having to hold off rallies in a couple of wins and come from behind in a few as well. I think this is the perfect opportunity to get out of the gate running and then unleash the pass rush against one of the worst offensive lines in recent memory.
Pick: Falcons 31, Cardinals 12
Green Bay (6-3) at Detroit (4-5) - 1pm FOX
The Packers have begun to look more like the team that ran off 15 wins a year ago. The offense has been clicking of late, and the defense has played reasonably well. Now they get to head to Detroit and try to put some distance between themselves and the Lions, who are desperately trying to stay in the wild-card chase.
Speaking of the Lions, I can't figure this team out. It was starting to look like they were getting it together, were facing a Vikings team that was in a little bit of turmoil, and came out and laid an absolute egg. The Vikings owned them all day and I don't know if they can recover from that.
Pick: Packers 34, Lions 28
Cincinnati (4-5) at Kansas City (1-8) - 1pm CBS
The Bengals rescued their playoff hopes with a big victory at home over the Giants. Andy Dalton played his best game as a pro at the best possible time, and as a bonus, they now get the Chiefs who finally led a game in regulation for the first time last week. Unfortunately, they couldn't hold the lead and couldn't take advantage of the Roethlisberger injury either. The Bengals can beat the Giants, they should be able to handle the Chiefs.
But hold on, against the AFC North, the Chiefs have hung in there. They lost 9-6 to the Ravens and 16-13 to the Steelers, both better teams than the Bengals. So there has to be optimism right? I'd love to say so, but the Chiefs are a mess overall. I just don't see enough talent to win this game, unless Dalton reverts to previous 2012 form and throws at least two picks in this game. The Chiefs could hang in there for a bit, but they'll fall short in the end. The real victim? Matt Cassel. Many of his interceptions/fumbles are not directly his fault.
Pick: Bengals 27, Chiefs 20
NY Jets (3-6) at St. Louis (3-6) - 1pm CBS
The Jets are a soap opera, not a professional football team. If Rex Ryan isn't in the news because of a player poll, it's Tim Tebow (thanks ESPN) being called out by teammates who can't be bothered to be identified. The question as to why Tebow was acquired by the Jets remains a good question. If you weren't going to use him, why pick him up? Mark Sanchez hasn't been good at all, so what do you have to lose?
The Rams have the luck of hosting the Jets this week, who have been particularly bad on the road. The Rams got Danny Amendola back last week and he paid immediate dividends. As a result, the Rams were able to hang with the 49ers all the way through overtime in a game where a tie almost felt like a victory.
Pick: Rams 20, Jets 10
Philadelphia (3-6) at Washington (3-6) - 1pm FOX
I'm done picking the Eagles until they win a game. Granted, I picked them to lose last week, but even so, this so-called "dream team" can't get it together and now has Nick Foles taking over until further notice due to Michael Vick's latest injury. The problem continues to be the same for the Eagles regardless of who's at quarterback. Interceptions, fumbles, and questionable playcalling have plagued this team all season. The defense has taken steps back as well.
The Redskins have a bright future. Now right now, as half their defense seems to be out for the year, but going forward there is the feeling that this team could be a threat. Robert Griffin III has been exactly as advertised, but the real surprise has been how well Alfred Morris has run the ball for the Redskins. The Eagles have had issues with the run of late and this could be a point of emphasis for the Redskins.
Pick: Redskins 24, Eagles 16
Tampa Bay (5-4) at Carolina (2-7) - 1pm FOX
The Buccaneers have come on strong of late, led mostly by the running of rookie Doug Martin, who's been the biggest surprise of the year thus far. Josh Freeman has settled down and while he hasn't been spectacular, he's been efficient and has largely avoided big mistakes. The defense has been opportunistic, but they can be scored upon. Is this a let-down game against the Panthers? Maybe.
The Panthers had a tough task ahead of them last week. Coming off their second week, they had to face Peyton Manning and he predictably shredded the Panther defense with ease. They don't have to worry about the same aerial attack this week, but rather the rushing machine that is Doug Martin. Can Cam Newton turn his team's fortunes around this week? It would be a tall task and Newton hasn't exactly been steady.
Pick: Buccaneers 24, Panthers 15
Jacksonville (1-8) at Houston (8-1) - 1pm CBS
There is no more lopsided matchup this week. The Jaguars have been, bad, bad, and worse all season long. Their lone win was flukish against the Colts and they haven't been in many games since. Blaine Gabbert has shown little growth, Justin Blackmon has been a huge disappointment, and the injury to Maurice Jones-Drew took out the one consistent weapon the Jags had. Oh, and their defense is bad.
The Texans have been cruising and should continue to cruise. The offense suffered last week, but given the weather in Chicago, it wasn't much of a surprise. What also wasn't a surprise was how dominant the Texans defense was. Other than the game against the Packers, the unit has been outstanding all season long and this shouldn't be much of a test.
Pick: Texans 37, Jaguars 10
New Orleans (4-5) at Oakland (3-6) - 4:05pm FOX
The Saints are a dangerous team. After a rough start, they've won a couple of games in a row and the offense appears to be clicking just in time to face the Raiders, who surrendered 55 points a week ago. Drew Brees has three different running backs to hand off to when he doesn't feel like flinging touchdown passes. The rushing attack being potent seems to have opened things up significantly, and while the defense has still be bad, they're at least making a play or two now.
The Raiders...what a disappointing team. Can you blame Carson Palmer for the mess? Not entirely. As my friend Heny pointed out, Palmer wasn't on the defense that gave up 55 points and he's been able to throw the ball reasonably well, but the Raiders just can't get it together. I don't think much changes this week, although the game will likely be a shootout.
Pick: Saints 41, Raiders 34
San Diego (4-5) at Denver (6-3) - 4:25pm CBS
The Chargers need to win this week or they can almost assuredly kiss their postseason chances goodbye. A win keeps them within a game of the Broncos in a very weak AFC West, but they'll need to get it together quickly for that to happen. The defense has been disappointing, but more disturbing is how Philip Rivers, once considered by some to be in the elite class, has seem to have fallen. You're more likely to see him chewing someone out for a mistake than him celebrating a touchdown anymore.
The Broncos are humming along. Peyton Manning has been fantastic the last several weeks, the defense seems to be on a different level than it was earlier this year, and overall the team seems very balanced. This is a good chance to show that this is the Bronco's division to lose. A win would put them three games up on the Chargers, a near-insurmountable lead.
Pick: Broncos 31, Chargers 23
Indianapolis (6-3) at New England (6-3) - 4:25pm CBS
If the Colts play to their current level, this could be the best game of the day. Andrew Luck has been just as good as many thought he'd be, and in some cases he's been better than expected. The poise he has shown is something you just can't teach. It helps to have Reggie Wayne on the receiving end of many of your passes, but Luck has delivered time and time again. A win against the Patriots in Foxboro would be a great legacy builder.
The Patriots are rolling offensively. Defensively, they're desperate, but they can score with the best of them and Tom Brady seems to have recaptured some of the mojo he appeared to temporarily lost earlier in the season. The Colts will give the Patriots fits, but the experience of Brady should win out in the end of this game.
Pick: Patriots 34, Colts 31
Baltimore (7-2) at Pittsburgh (6-3) - 8:20pm NBC
I had a real tough time with this game when I first saw it on the schedule. Then the Steelers went out and barely beat the Chiefs, losing Roethlisberger in the process. This helps the Ravens tremendously, as they are on the road in this game, something they haven't fared well with this year. Joe Flacco has struggled on the road and he may well struggle again in this game, but the margin for error is greater now. A good idea would be to hand the ball to Ray Rice, then spread the Steelers out defensively.
The Steelers have a tough task ahead of them now. Just as they're getting going, Roethlisberger goes down and now Byron Leftwich is left to manage the offense until Roethlisberger can return. The Steelers can still earn a wild-card birth, but it just became more difficult. A win would significantly boost their divisonal chances though.
Pick: Ravens 20, Steelers 17
Monday
Chicago (7-2) at San Francisco (6-2-1) - 8:30 ESPN
The Bears were going to have a tough time with Jay Cutler having to go against another top-tier defense. Now it gets real interesting with Cutler ruled out. That said, the Bears defense has a chance to step up and shine this week. The 49ers have seemed vulnerable of late and against a tough defense, it's very possible that points will be hard to find. Alex Smith, when healthy, hasn't played that well of late. He's not healthy though.
The 49ers are going to need their defense to step up and possibly get a defensive touchdown for them to win, especially with how often the Bears' defense is able to do that. I just don't see as tough a 49ers team right now as I saw earlier in the year, especially after being played to a tie with the Rams.
Pick: Bears 17, 49ers 13
The Browns Game
Cleveland (2-7) at Dallas (4-5) - 1pm CBS
The Browns are coming off a bye week in which several players became healthier (Phil Taylor, Trent Richardson, Ahtyba Rubin) but suddenly have a new issue with Joe Haden (oblique) with Dmitri Patterson still out. Questions continue to be abundant about Pat Shurmer's future, whether Brandon Weeden is a franchise quarterback, and if Greg Little really has had a breakthrough moment. Now Josh Cribbs is complaining again about his offensive role. This team is a never-ending soap opera at this point that we keep hearing is going to get cleaned up.
The Cowboys needed a victory last week and they got it against an underachieving Eagles team. Now they have to repeat their performance and not let a young franchise in the Browns hang around. Is Tony Romo going to play another clean game, or will he throw interceptions in bunches again? That will be the big factor in whether they win or not. Their defensive front had a field day against a bad Eagles line, but the Browns line is better and will be harder to crack.
Pick: Cowboys 27, Browns 23
Bye
Tennessee, Minnesota, NY Giants, Seattle
Last week: 10-3-1
Overall: 70-27-1
The NFL is a fun league. Each week there are surprises in how the games turn out. For example, did anything think the Bengals were going to manhandle the Giants, or that the Titans would only allow 3 points? Did anyone think we'd have a tie between the Rams and 49ers? I bet few thought that the Falcons would lose to the Saints (nailed that one).
I bet few predicted those outcomes, but that's what happened. Oh sure, there were expected results, but in some games, the expected results were still mildly surprising, such as the Steelers struggling against the Chiefs, the rain wreaking all kinds of problems in Chicago, and the Raiders losing as badly as they did to a depleted Ravens team.
This week, there are guaranteed to be more surprises, but the trick is picking the right ones. Part of me wanted to pick the Colts to beat the Patriots, but in Foxboro, it was just too hard to go with that one. Likewise with the Ravens/Steelers game. Sure, it's in Pittsburgh, but with Ben Roethlisberger nursing a dangerous rib injury, I think it tilts the game in the favor of the Ravens.
As with each previous week, the picks are purely for fun and are NOT to be taken too seriously.
Thursday
Miami (4-5) at Buffalo (3-6) - 8:20 NFL Network
The Dolphins are about as inconsistent as they came. One week they're throttling the Jets, next thing you know they're getting embarrassed by the Titans, at home no less. Ryan Tannehill has been a rookie at times, and at other times he's looked like a veteran. It's going to be cold in Buffalo, so this automatically favors the Bills, right?
Not so fast though. The Bills are a Heckyll and Jyde type of team. They can put up points, but they can give up a bunch as well. They hung in there with the Patriots last week, but couldn't quite make that play to win. I still don't know what Ryan Fitzpatrick was looking at when he threw the pick to essentially end the game. But, it's at home and the Dolphins are coming off a stinker.
Pick: Bills 24, Dolphins 17
EDIT: This game was a stinker, but the Bills pulled it off, right? Figures a special teams play right at the start was the difference.
Sunday
Arizona (4-5) at Arizona (8-1) - 1pm FOX
Sure seems like a long time ago when the Cardinals were 4-0 and the talk of the NFL. Okay, so they weren't really talked about in a positive light, more like "how the hell are they 4-0 with a win over the Patriots?" Since the 4-0 start, they've lost 5 in a row and have looked abysmal doing so. It doesn't get easier, facing the Falcons, in Atlanta, a week removed from their first loss. I don't know that it will be a blood bath, but it won't be pretty.
The Falcons were overdue for a loss. Much like with the Texans, this could serve as a wake-up, a "we need to refocus" kind of moment. The Falcons haven't exactly been dominant, having to hold off rallies in a couple of wins and come from behind in a few as well. I think this is the perfect opportunity to get out of the gate running and then unleash the pass rush against one of the worst offensive lines in recent memory.
Pick: Falcons 31, Cardinals 12
Green Bay (6-3) at Detroit (4-5) - 1pm FOX
The Packers have begun to look more like the team that ran off 15 wins a year ago. The offense has been clicking of late, and the defense has played reasonably well. Now they get to head to Detroit and try to put some distance between themselves and the Lions, who are desperately trying to stay in the wild-card chase.
Speaking of the Lions, I can't figure this team out. It was starting to look like they were getting it together, were facing a Vikings team that was in a little bit of turmoil, and came out and laid an absolute egg. The Vikings owned them all day and I don't know if they can recover from that.
Pick: Packers 34, Lions 28
Cincinnati (4-5) at Kansas City (1-8) - 1pm CBS
The Bengals rescued their playoff hopes with a big victory at home over the Giants. Andy Dalton played his best game as a pro at the best possible time, and as a bonus, they now get the Chiefs who finally led a game in regulation for the first time last week. Unfortunately, they couldn't hold the lead and couldn't take advantage of the Roethlisberger injury either. The Bengals can beat the Giants, they should be able to handle the Chiefs.
But hold on, against the AFC North, the Chiefs have hung in there. They lost 9-6 to the Ravens and 16-13 to the Steelers, both better teams than the Bengals. So there has to be optimism right? I'd love to say so, but the Chiefs are a mess overall. I just don't see enough talent to win this game, unless Dalton reverts to previous 2012 form and throws at least two picks in this game. The Chiefs could hang in there for a bit, but they'll fall short in the end. The real victim? Matt Cassel. Many of his interceptions/fumbles are not directly his fault.
Pick: Bengals 27, Chiefs 20
NY Jets (3-6) at St. Louis (3-6) - 1pm CBS
The Jets are a soap opera, not a professional football team. If Rex Ryan isn't in the news because of a player poll, it's Tim Tebow (thanks ESPN) being called out by teammates who can't be bothered to be identified. The question as to why Tebow was acquired by the Jets remains a good question. If you weren't going to use him, why pick him up? Mark Sanchez hasn't been good at all, so what do you have to lose?
The Rams have the luck of hosting the Jets this week, who have been particularly bad on the road. The Rams got Danny Amendola back last week and he paid immediate dividends. As a result, the Rams were able to hang with the 49ers all the way through overtime in a game where a tie almost felt like a victory.
Pick: Rams 20, Jets 10
Philadelphia (3-6) at Washington (3-6) - 1pm FOX
I'm done picking the Eagles until they win a game. Granted, I picked them to lose last week, but even so, this so-called "dream team" can't get it together and now has Nick Foles taking over until further notice due to Michael Vick's latest injury. The problem continues to be the same for the Eagles regardless of who's at quarterback. Interceptions, fumbles, and questionable playcalling have plagued this team all season. The defense has taken steps back as well.
The Redskins have a bright future. Now right now, as half their defense seems to be out for the year, but going forward there is the feeling that this team could be a threat. Robert Griffin III has been exactly as advertised, but the real surprise has been how well Alfred Morris has run the ball for the Redskins. The Eagles have had issues with the run of late and this could be a point of emphasis for the Redskins.
Pick: Redskins 24, Eagles 16
Tampa Bay (5-4) at Carolina (2-7) - 1pm FOX
The Buccaneers have come on strong of late, led mostly by the running of rookie Doug Martin, who's been the biggest surprise of the year thus far. Josh Freeman has settled down and while he hasn't been spectacular, he's been efficient and has largely avoided big mistakes. The defense has been opportunistic, but they can be scored upon. Is this a let-down game against the Panthers? Maybe.
The Panthers had a tough task ahead of them last week. Coming off their second week, they had to face Peyton Manning and he predictably shredded the Panther defense with ease. They don't have to worry about the same aerial attack this week, but rather the rushing machine that is Doug Martin. Can Cam Newton turn his team's fortunes around this week? It would be a tall task and Newton hasn't exactly been steady.
Pick: Buccaneers 24, Panthers 15
Jacksonville (1-8) at Houston (8-1) - 1pm CBS
There is no more lopsided matchup this week. The Jaguars have been, bad, bad, and worse all season long. Their lone win was flukish against the Colts and they haven't been in many games since. Blaine Gabbert has shown little growth, Justin Blackmon has been a huge disappointment, and the injury to Maurice Jones-Drew took out the one consistent weapon the Jags had. Oh, and their defense is bad.
The Texans have been cruising and should continue to cruise. The offense suffered last week, but given the weather in Chicago, it wasn't much of a surprise. What also wasn't a surprise was how dominant the Texans defense was. Other than the game against the Packers, the unit has been outstanding all season long and this shouldn't be much of a test.
Pick: Texans 37, Jaguars 10
New Orleans (4-5) at Oakland (3-6) - 4:05pm FOX
The Saints are a dangerous team. After a rough start, they've won a couple of games in a row and the offense appears to be clicking just in time to face the Raiders, who surrendered 55 points a week ago. Drew Brees has three different running backs to hand off to when he doesn't feel like flinging touchdown passes. The rushing attack being potent seems to have opened things up significantly, and while the defense has still be bad, they're at least making a play or two now.
The Raiders...what a disappointing team. Can you blame Carson Palmer for the mess? Not entirely. As my friend Heny pointed out, Palmer wasn't on the defense that gave up 55 points and he's been able to throw the ball reasonably well, but the Raiders just can't get it together. I don't think much changes this week, although the game will likely be a shootout.
Pick: Saints 41, Raiders 34
San Diego (4-5) at Denver (6-3) - 4:25pm CBS
The Chargers need to win this week or they can almost assuredly kiss their postseason chances goodbye. A win keeps them within a game of the Broncos in a very weak AFC West, but they'll need to get it together quickly for that to happen. The defense has been disappointing, but more disturbing is how Philip Rivers, once considered by some to be in the elite class, has seem to have fallen. You're more likely to see him chewing someone out for a mistake than him celebrating a touchdown anymore.
The Broncos are humming along. Peyton Manning has been fantastic the last several weeks, the defense seems to be on a different level than it was earlier this year, and overall the team seems very balanced. This is a good chance to show that this is the Bronco's division to lose. A win would put them three games up on the Chargers, a near-insurmountable lead.
Pick: Broncos 31, Chargers 23
Indianapolis (6-3) at New England (6-3) - 4:25pm CBS
If the Colts play to their current level, this could be the best game of the day. Andrew Luck has been just as good as many thought he'd be, and in some cases he's been better than expected. The poise he has shown is something you just can't teach. It helps to have Reggie Wayne on the receiving end of many of your passes, but Luck has delivered time and time again. A win against the Patriots in Foxboro would be a great legacy builder.
The Patriots are rolling offensively. Defensively, they're desperate, but they can score with the best of them and Tom Brady seems to have recaptured some of the mojo he appeared to temporarily lost earlier in the season. The Colts will give the Patriots fits, but the experience of Brady should win out in the end of this game.
Pick: Patriots 34, Colts 31
Baltimore (7-2) at Pittsburgh (6-3) - 8:20pm NBC
I had a real tough time with this game when I first saw it on the schedule. Then the Steelers went out and barely beat the Chiefs, losing Roethlisberger in the process. This helps the Ravens tremendously, as they are on the road in this game, something they haven't fared well with this year. Joe Flacco has struggled on the road and he may well struggle again in this game, but the margin for error is greater now. A good idea would be to hand the ball to Ray Rice, then spread the Steelers out defensively.
The Steelers have a tough task ahead of them now. Just as they're getting going, Roethlisberger goes down and now Byron Leftwich is left to manage the offense until Roethlisberger can return. The Steelers can still earn a wild-card birth, but it just became more difficult. A win would significantly boost their divisonal chances though.
Pick: Ravens 20, Steelers 17
Monday
Chicago (7-2) at San Francisco (6-2-1) - 8:30 ESPN
The Bears were going to have a tough time with Jay Cutler having to go against another top-tier defense. Now it gets real interesting with Cutler ruled out. That said, the Bears defense has a chance to step up and shine this week. The 49ers have seemed vulnerable of late and against a tough defense, it's very possible that points will be hard to find. Alex Smith, when healthy, hasn't played that well of late. He's not healthy though.
The 49ers are going to need their defense to step up and possibly get a defensive touchdown for them to win, especially with how often the Bears' defense is able to do that. I just don't see as tough a 49ers team right now as I saw earlier in the year, especially after being played to a tie with the Rams.
Pick: Bears 17, 49ers 13
The Browns Game
Cleveland (2-7) at Dallas (4-5) - 1pm CBS
The Browns are coming off a bye week in which several players became healthier (Phil Taylor, Trent Richardson, Ahtyba Rubin) but suddenly have a new issue with Joe Haden (oblique) with Dmitri Patterson still out. Questions continue to be abundant about Pat Shurmer's future, whether Brandon Weeden is a franchise quarterback, and if Greg Little really has had a breakthrough moment. Now Josh Cribbs is complaining again about his offensive role. This team is a never-ending soap opera at this point that we keep hearing is going to get cleaned up.
The Cowboys needed a victory last week and they got it against an underachieving Eagles team. Now they have to repeat their performance and not let a young franchise in the Browns hang around. Is Tony Romo going to play another clean game, or will he throw interceptions in bunches again? That will be the big factor in whether they win or not. Their defensive front had a field day against a bad Eagles line, but the Browns line is better and will be harder to crack.
Pick: Cowboys 27, Browns 23
Bye
Tennessee, Minnesota, NY Giants, Seattle
Last week: 10-3-1
Overall: 70-27-1
Thursday, November 8, 2012
The Sports Mixer - Week 10 condensed
You have to excuse me this week.
Somehow, I fell behind with my writing, what with work being extra busy and lots going on in the home life, so the picks this week aren't going to be as robust as in previous weeks. In fact, part of me thought about just listing the games, with a pick, and no information what-so-ever.
That would be cheap. I'm going to try and squeeze as much in as possible since the Thursday night game kicks off in about an hour.
So here we go!
Thursday
Indianapolis (5-3) at Jacksonville (1-7) - 8:20pm NFL Network
This is known as the game no one will watch since it's widely assumed the Colts will romp in this one. I don't know if they'll romp, but the Colts are riding high after last week's emotional win and the Jags are riding out the season. What should depress Jags fans is Andrew Luck is leaps and bounds better than Blaine Gabbert, who has a year's experience on Luck.
Pick: Colts 27, Jaguars 10
Sunday
NY Giants (6-3) at Cincinnati (3-5) - 1pm FOX
The Giants are kicking themselves after letting one get away against the Steelers last week. Eli Manning had one of his worst games as a pro, but the Giants go on the road to play a disappointing Bengals team that had an extra week to prepare. I just don't think the Bengals can do it this week. The Giants should be mad and ready to run all over someone.
Pick: Giants 24, Bengals 20
Tennessee (3-6) at Miami (4-4) - 1pm CBS
I'm still trying to figure out how the Titans won 3 games this year. They are so bad on defense, yet they've managed to make most games interesting. Except last week's. That was a disgrace. I'm also trying to figure out how the Dolphins are 4-4. Ryan Tannehill hasn't looked as bad as some thought he'd be. Fins should be 6-2, but have had two tough overtime losses.
Pick: Dolphins 28, Titans 23
Detroit (4-4) at Minnesota (5-4) 1pm - FOX
The Lions are starting to pick up some steam and head to Minnesota at the right time since the Vikings are going the wrong way. Adrian Peterson has been magnificent this year, but Christian Ponder has left Vikings fans wondering how many wins they'd have with a good quarterback. The Lions have that quarterback in Matt Stafford and he's finding his rhythm at the right time.
Pick: Lions 34, Vikings 20
Buffalo (3-5) at New England (5-3) - 1pm CBS
Remember when these two teams met earlier this year? The Bills were looking to gain some serious momentum and the Patriots were soul-searching? The Bills had a 21-7 halftime lead and the northeast was thinking the Pats run was over? A funny thing happened after that. The Patriots stomped the Bills in the second half and have pretty much been rolling since, meanwhile the Bills keep giving up points. Maybe Buffalo will show up this week, but I have my doubts.
Pick: Patriots 31, Bills 24
Atlanta (8-0) at New Orleans (3-5) - 1pm FOX
I keep waiting for the Falcons to stumble and they keep winning. I was waiting for the Saints to start winning, and while it took a bit of time, Drew Brees and the offense is starting to hum a little bit, that Denver game aside. The Saints' defense is still atrocious and could be smashing all kinds of bad records, but if the offense gets rolling, it may not matter. The Falcons have been good, but they have to lose at some point, right?
Pick: Saints 35, Falcons 34
San Diego (4-4) at Tampa Bay (4-4) - 1pm CBS
Did anyone think that the Chargers and Buccaneers would have identical records at this point in the season? The Chargers have lost several games they should've won, while the Bucs have started to show signs that things are getting better in Tampa. Philip Rivers, when he isn't screaming his head off, is a good enough quarterback, but playing on the road against a confident Bucs team spells trouble. As does Doug Martin.
Pick: Buccaneers 23, Chargers 20
Denver (5-3) at Carolina (2-6) - 1pm CBS
Everytime I type "Carolina," I want to type "Caroline" for some reason. But hey! The Panthers won last week against a depleted Redskins team, so there was a one week reprieve from the whining Cam Newton show. However, Peyton Manning is coming to town and no quarterback has been more on fire than him the last few weeks. He may have lost some arm strength, but he can still get it done better than most. I think we get to hear about the suggestion box again next week.
Pick: Broncos 38, Panthers 20
Oakland (3-5) at Baltimore (6-2) - 1pm CBS
Apparently rumors of the Ravens' demise were greatly exaggerated as they pretty much had control of their game against the Browns from start to finish. The defense wasn't great, but it stood up against a young offense and now get to see how they fare against Carson Palmer and the Raiders offense, which goes from dazzling to befuddling in less than five minutes. Oh, and the Ravens are at home.
Pick: Ravens 27, Raiders 12
NY Jets (3-5) at Seattle (5-4) - 4:05 CBS
The Jets are pathetic. Even in their bye week someone finds a way to slam them, this time involving Rex Ryan. Mark Sanchez is in an unfair situation, but he's made a lot of this mess himself, but the Jets didn't help him by trading for the polarizing Tim Tebow, who now gets to hear every week how he should be the starter. Meanwhile, Seattle's defense is really good and no one wins in Seattle. The Jets can't get out of there fast enough.
Pick: Seahawks 24, Jets 9
Dallas (3-5) at Philadelphia (3-5) - 4:25pm FOX
I had a great rant ready about this being the Underachiever Bowl, and how FOX was probably looking for a way to get this game off their schedule, but time constraints limit me sadly. That said, both teams have underachieved terribly. The Eagles, once proclaimed the Dream Team, can't do anything right, and the Cowboys keep coming close to victory, only to watch it get snatched away. Yup, this is going to be a barn-burner. I wonder if Tony Romo threw an interception to Michael Vick, would he immediately fumble? Hypothetically, if Vick played defense?
Pick: Cowboys 27, Eagles 26
St. Louis (3-5) at San Francisco (6-2) - 4:25pm FOX
I feel bad for the Rams. Before Danny Amendola went down, they were a feisty bunch who could give their opponents all kinds of hell before either pulling off the victory or narrowly losing. Last week they played in London, but they apparently didn't leave the plane as they were blasted by the Patriots. Meanwhile, the 49ers had a week off. One team was overseas, another team didn't play. The team that didn't play is at home. Do we see a potential problem for the visitor? Sure do.
Pick: 49ers 34, Rams 10
Houston (7-1) at Chicago (7-1) - 8:20pm NBC
By far the best game of the week, this pits an efficient offense in Houston against the Bears opportunistic defense, and the Texans great defense against a mediocre Bears offense. I don't think the Bears will get a defensive touchdown in this game, which has been their bread and butter this season. Jay Cutler and the offense will need to make some plays against a very good Texans defense and hope that Matt Schaub and Arian Foster have a bad night.
Pick: Texans 20, Bears 17
Monday
Kansas City (1-7) at Pittsburgh (5-3) - 8:30pm ESPN
The Chiefs have yet to lead in regulation. The Steelers are rolling, having beat the Giants in the Meadowlands the previous week. How much more information do you really need to know who should win this game? Oh, and the game is in Pittsburgh.
Pick: Steelers 30, Chiefs 6
Bye week
Cleveland, Green Bay, Arizona, Washington
Last: 10-4
Overall: 60-24
Somehow, I fell behind with my writing, what with work being extra busy and lots going on in the home life, so the picks this week aren't going to be as robust as in previous weeks. In fact, part of me thought about just listing the games, with a pick, and no information what-so-ever.
That would be cheap. I'm going to try and squeeze as much in as possible since the Thursday night game kicks off in about an hour.
So here we go!
Thursday
Indianapolis (5-3) at Jacksonville (1-7) - 8:20pm NFL Network
This is known as the game no one will watch since it's widely assumed the Colts will romp in this one. I don't know if they'll romp, but the Colts are riding high after last week's emotional win and the Jags are riding out the season. What should depress Jags fans is Andrew Luck is leaps and bounds better than Blaine Gabbert, who has a year's experience on Luck.
Pick: Colts 27, Jaguars 10
Sunday
NY Giants (6-3) at Cincinnati (3-5) - 1pm FOX
The Giants are kicking themselves after letting one get away against the Steelers last week. Eli Manning had one of his worst games as a pro, but the Giants go on the road to play a disappointing Bengals team that had an extra week to prepare. I just don't think the Bengals can do it this week. The Giants should be mad and ready to run all over someone.
Pick: Giants 24, Bengals 20
Tennessee (3-6) at Miami (4-4) - 1pm CBS
I'm still trying to figure out how the Titans won 3 games this year. They are so bad on defense, yet they've managed to make most games interesting. Except last week's. That was a disgrace. I'm also trying to figure out how the Dolphins are 4-4. Ryan Tannehill hasn't looked as bad as some thought he'd be. Fins should be 6-2, but have had two tough overtime losses.
Pick: Dolphins 28, Titans 23
Detroit (4-4) at Minnesota (5-4) 1pm - FOX
The Lions are starting to pick up some steam and head to Minnesota at the right time since the Vikings are going the wrong way. Adrian Peterson has been magnificent this year, but Christian Ponder has left Vikings fans wondering how many wins they'd have with a good quarterback. The Lions have that quarterback in Matt Stafford and he's finding his rhythm at the right time.
Pick: Lions 34, Vikings 20
Buffalo (3-5) at New England (5-3) - 1pm CBS
Remember when these two teams met earlier this year? The Bills were looking to gain some serious momentum and the Patriots were soul-searching? The Bills had a 21-7 halftime lead and the northeast was thinking the Pats run was over? A funny thing happened after that. The Patriots stomped the Bills in the second half and have pretty much been rolling since, meanwhile the Bills keep giving up points. Maybe Buffalo will show up this week, but I have my doubts.
Pick: Patriots 31, Bills 24
Atlanta (8-0) at New Orleans (3-5) - 1pm FOX
I keep waiting for the Falcons to stumble and they keep winning. I was waiting for the Saints to start winning, and while it took a bit of time, Drew Brees and the offense is starting to hum a little bit, that Denver game aside. The Saints' defense is still atrocious and could be smashing all kinds of bad records, but if the offense gets rolling, it may not matter. The Falcons have been good, but they have to lose at some point, right?
Pick: Saints 35, Falcons 34
San Diego (4-4) at Tampa Bay (4-4) - 1pm CBS
Did anyone think that the Chargers and Buccaneers would have identical records at this point in the season? The Chargers have lost several games they should've won, while the Bucs have started to show signs that things are getting better in Tampa. Philip Rivers, when he isn't screaming his head off, is a good enough quarterback, but playing on the road against a confident Bucs team spells trouble. As does Doug Martin.
Pick: Buccaneers 23, Chargers 20
Denver (5-3) at Carolina (2-6) - 1pm CBS
Everytime I type "Carolina," I want to type "Caroline" for some reason. But hey! The Panthers won last week against a depleted Redskins team, so there was a one week reprieve from the whining Cam Newton show. However, Peyton Manning is coming to town and no quarterback has been more on fire than him the last few weeks. He may have lost some arm strength, but he can still get it done better than most. I think we get to hear about the suggestion box again next week.
Pick: Broncos 38, Panthers 20
Oakland (3-5) at Baltimore (6-2) - 1pm CBS
Apparently rumors of the Ravens' demise were greatly exaggerated as they pretty much had control of their game against the Browns from start to finish. The defense wasn't great, but it stood up against a young offense and now get to see how they fare against Carson Palmer and the Raiders offense, which goes from dazzling to befuddling in less than five minutes. Oh, and the Ravens are at home.
Pick: Ravens 27, Raiders 12
NY Jets (3-5) at Seattle (5-4) - 4:05 CBS
The Jets are pathetic. Even in their bye week someone finds a way to slam them, this time involving Rex Ryan. Mark Sanchez is in an unfair situation, but he's made a lot of this mess himself, but the Jets didn't help him by trading for the polarizing Tim Tebow, who now gets to hear every week how he should be the starter. Meanwhile, Seattle's defense is really good and no one wins in Seattle. The Jets can't get out of there fast enough.
Pick: Seahawks 24, Jets 9
Dallas (3-5) at Philadelphia (3-5) - 4:25pm FOX
I had a great rant ready about this being the Underachiever Bowl, and how FOX was probably looking for a way to get this game off their schedule, but time constraints limit me sadly. That said, both teams have underachieved terribly. The Eagles, once proclaimed the Dream Team, can't do anything right, and the Cowboys keep coming close to victory, only to watch it get snatched away. Yup, this is going to be a barn-burner. I wonder if Tony Romo threw an interception to Michael Vick, would he immediately fumble? Hypothetically, if Vick played defense?
Pick: Cowboys 27, Eagles 26
St. Louis (3-5) at San Francisco (6-2) - 4:25pm FOX
I feel bad for the Rams. Before Danny Amendola went down, they were a feisty bunch who could give their opponents all kinds of hell before either pulling off the victory or narrowly losing. Last week they played in London, but they apparently didn't leave the plane as they were blasted by the Patriots. Meanwhile, the 49ers had a week off. One team was overseas, another team didn't play. The team that didn't play is at home. Do we see a potential problem for the visitor? Sure do.
Pick: 49ers 34, Rams 10
Houston (7-1) at Chicago (7-1) - 8:20pm NBC
By far the best game of the week, this pits an efficient offense in Houston against the Bears opportunistic defense, and the Texans great defense against a mediocre Bears offense. I don't think the Bears will get a defensive touchdown in this game, which has been their bread and butter this season. Jay Cutler and the offense will need to make some plays against a very good Texans defense and hope that Matt Schaub and Arian Foster have a bad night.
Pick: Texans 20, Bears 17
Monday
Kansas City (1-7) at Pittsburgh (5-3) - 8:30pm ESPN
The Chiefs have yet to lead in regulation. The Steelers are rolling, having beat the Giants in the Meadowlands the previous week. How much more information do you really need to know who should win this game? Oh, and the game is in Pittsburgh.
Pick: Steelers 30, Chiefs 6
Bye week
Cleveland, Green Bay, Arizona, Washington
Last: 10-4
Overall: 60-24
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Allow me to say thanks
The election is over.
I don't think I'm the only one saying thank goodness.
No more political ads, no more stories about how much better/worse we'd be with candidate a/b, no more endorsements, and no more fliers in my mailbox telling me to vote Republican.
Am I an Obama supporter? Yes.
Now some will read that and tell me how much they like the guy, how he deserves four more years, how things are on the upswing, or how he was the lesser of two evils. Others will start ranting about how people are uneducated, how things are going to completely fall apart, and how much of a hole he's going to continue to put the country in.
Some have insinuated that the country will become similar to a third world country, asking how they're going to survive the next four years.
Some have gone out and said that everyone can now quit their jobs and get free handouts for the government, nevermind that it's not as simple as that.
In short, some are acting as if problems never existed before the current President took office, that he created all the current issues, and will only make them worse now that he's earned four more years in office. They say that Mitt Romney was the best way to fix things in this country and we're doomed going forward.
Are we really that senseless? Does anyone really have any solid evidence that Obama is going to make things much worse or better than they already are? Are people that sore of losers that because their guy didn't get elected, they're going to predict doom and gloom rather than do their part to make sure this great country continues to thrive?
I hear a lot of people talk about patriotism, but how patriotic can you be if you refuse to stand by the person elected into office? How patriotic are you if you put your own discontent ahead of the good of the country? The one thing this election reminded me of is how split people really are and how bitter some can be when the person the voted for doesn't make it.
After learning about what the great John Wayne once said, I find it amazing that in 40-50 years we've gone from a country who stands behind its leader to bickering back and forth about the person's merits more than anything else. For those wondering, Wayne essentially stated that while he didn't vote for John F. Kennedy, this was his country and therefore that was his President and he'd stand behind him.
Now we try to get rid of anything we don't like, no matter what his record says.
Now we go around citing facts, justifying our preaching by saying we are "educating" people. We put down those we don't believe in, trump up the person we want elected, and spew facts left and right until we're blue in the face.
I've seen more posts this year talking about "educating" people than in all previous years combined. Just who are you educating? The people who truly don't know who to stand behind? In that case, give them what you believe and let them judge for themselves. Or are you just trying to change the minds of those who don't believe the same things you believe in? In that case, give it a rest.
Just like with religion, I don't like people coming to me telling me how I'm wrong in what I believe. In the case of the election, I did not trust Mittens one bit. Everything I heard from him, everything I saw him propose scared me. Obama didn't exactly make me feel a ton better, but I had seen enough improvement in the economy, enough good ideas to think that four more years wouldn't hurt.
That's my opinion. It's not fact. He could, in fact, burn the whole country down with bad ideas, flawed execution, and overspending. But he may do the opposite.
Hell, I could've been wrong about Mittens. Maybe he wins and everything turns around completely. Jobs continue to show growth, housing situations improve, the economy grows, and everyone lives happily ever after. I don't know for sure though, and neither do you. Instead, we're left to make a vote based upon what we believe based upon what we've seen.
Your opinion is likely going to be different from mine just because we're different people. No one thinks exactly the same. Trying to convince me that my opinion is wrong is the worst way you could go about things though. Telling me "facts" to try and sway my opinion is a bad idea.
You want to debate? Let's debate. But posting on facebook and twitter how dumb people are for not agreeing with you and talking as if the end of the world is upon us isn't the best course of action either. But that's an opinion. It's not up me how you and everyone else reacts to the election.
In the end, it comes down to respect. Do you have respect for other people and what they decide? If you do, why are you blasting people for voting differently? Why are you mocking the people who voted differently? I know I wouldn't be happy if Mittens had won, but whining and complaining about it isn't going to get him removed from office, nor is it going to change the outcome of the election.
I'm not going to get into the facts of the election because in politics, there are no facts, just numbers spun in different ways to make one guy seem better than the other. Both parties do it, both parties try to lift themselves on to a pedestal to sound better than the other, and both parties will try to make the other sound like the most evil thing in the history of mankind.
The one thing I'll say is that Mittens only has himself to blame for this. He may not have meant to blurt about the 47%, but it definitely came back to bite him in the butt. Now I don't think that should've been the main reason people voted against him, but pissing off a portion of the population isn't going to win you many popularity contests. In the end, he said more than a few things that turned people away from him, valuable votes that could've swung the election in his favor.
Is Obama the cure-all? No. No single person is. It takes people working together, something that doesn't happen in a governmental setting. Those bitter about the Romney loss should take comfort that Obama still has a Republican-controlled Congress sitting in front of him, likely to make his passage of anything more difficult than it needs to be. He isn't going to get any love from a lot of Republicans right away, as many will still be bitter over the Romney loss.
What this country needs is a wake-up call. 9/11 was supposed to be that, but the unity showed in the months after that event has long disappeared, replaced with renewed venom between the parties and the people who are represented by those parties. I think most would agree that there is far too much bickering in Washington, that instead of working to get things fixed, they spend time arguing about why their way is better than someone else's.
So I want to say thanks to the people who tried to push their beliefs on other people. Thanks to the politicians who make up lie after lie to get in office, then spend their terms doing the opposite of what they said they'd do.
Without you, people who were undecided wouldn't know who to vote for, and in many cases, the venom was what turned people to vote for the person the venom was supposed to help. In the case of Romney, his 47% rant, his ideas on abortion and women in general, helped steer many people towards Obama. Some went the other way, deciding that four more years was akin to a disaster waiting to happen.
Either way, thanks for clearing the minds of the undecided.
For the record, I've always been partial to the democratic side of things, but I've always believed the right person for the job transcended party lines, meaning if a Republican was a better choice, that's who I'd go for. I've also never believed that I should go and tell people who to vote for. I allow people to make up their own minds. The information is out there, but it isn't up to me to educate others on what to do.
In the end, only time will tell what Obama's legacy will be. Some have already decided what they think it will be and nothing will change that, which is unfortunate. That's the society we live in now though and there isn't anything that can change that at this point.
I look forward to seeing what happens next and hope that some of you soften your stances going forward. This country needs to be together if it's going to continue to be the great country that we've known it to be.
I don't see that happening though.
The election is over, but the fight has probably only just begun sadly.
I don't think I'm the only one saying thank goodness.
No more political ads, no more stories about how much better/worse we'd be with candidate a/b, no more endorsements, and no more fliers in my mailbox telling me to vote Republican.
Am I an Obama supporter? Yes.
Now some will read that and tell me how much they like the guy, how he deserves four more years, how things are on the upswing, or how he was the lesser of two evils. Others will start ranting about how people are uneducated, how things are going to completely fall apart, and how much of a hole he's going to continue to put the country in.
Some have insinuated that the country will become similar to a third world country, asking how they're going to survive the next four years.
Some have gone out and said that everyone can now quit their jobs and get free handouts for the government, nevermind that it's not as simple as that.
In short, some are acting as if problems never existed before the current President took office, that he created all the current issues, and will only make them worse now that he's earned four more years in office. They say that Mitt Romney was the best way to fix things in this country and we're doomed going forward.
Are we really that senseless? Does anyone really have any solid evidence that Obama is going to make things much worse or better than they already are? Are people that sore of losers that because their guy didn't get elected, they're going to predict doom and gloom rather than do their part to make sure this great country continues to thrive?
I hear a lot of people talk about patriotism, but how patriotic can you be if you refuse to stand by the person elected into office? How patriotic are you if you put your own discontent ahead of the good of the country? The one thing this election reminded me of is how split people really are and how bitter some can be when the person the voted for doesn't make it.
After learning about what the great John Wayne once said, I find it amazing that in 40-50 years we've gone from a country who stands behind its leader to bickering back and forth about the person's merits more than anything else. For those wondering, Wayne essentially stated that while he didn't vote for John F. Kennedy, this was his country and therefore that was his President and he'd stand behind him.
Now we try to get rid of anything we don't like, no matter what his record says.
Now we go around citing facts, justifying our preaching by saying we are "educating" people. We put down those we don't believe in, trump up the person we want elected, and spew facts left and right until we're blue in the face.
I've seen more posts this year talking about "educating" people than in all previous years combined. Just who are you educating? The people who truly don't know who to stand behind? In that case, give them what you believe and let them judge for themselves. Or are you just trying to change the minds of those who don't believe the same things you believe in? In that case, give it a rest.
Just like with religion, I don't like people coming to me telling me how I'm wrong in what I believe. In the case of the election, I did not trust Mittens one bit. Everything I heard from him, everything I saw him propose scared me. Obama didn't exactly make me feel a ton better, but I had seen enough improvement in the economy, enough good ideas to think that four more years wouldn't hurt.
That's my opinion. It's not fact. He could, in fact, burn the whole country down with bad ideas, flawed execution, and overspending. But he may do the opposite.
Hell, I could've been wrong about Mittens. Maybe he wins and everything turns around completely. Jobs continue to show growth, housing situations improve, the economy grows, and everyone lives happily ever after. I don't know for sure though, and neither do you. Instead, we're left to make a vote based upon what we believe based upon what we've seen.
Your opinion is likely going to be different from mine just because we're different people. No one thinks exactly the same. Trying to convince me that my opinion is wrong is the worst way you could go about things though. Telling me "facts" to try and sway my opinion is a bad idea.
You want to debate? Let's debate. But posting on facebook and twitter how dumb people are for not agreeing with you and talking as if the end of the world is upon us isn't the best course of action either. But that's an opinion. It's not up me how you and everyone else reacts to the election.
In the end, it comes down to respect. Do you have respect for other people and what they decide? If you do, why are you blasting people for voting differently? Why are you mocking the people who voted differently? I know I wouldn't be happy if Mittens had won, but whining and complaining about it isn't going to get him removed from office, nor is it going to change the outcome of the election.
I'm not going to get into the facts of the election because in politics, there are no facts, just numbers spun in different ways to make one guy seem better than the other. Both parties do it, both parties try to lift themselves on to a pedestal to sound better than the other, and both parties will try to make the other sound like the most evil thing in the history of mankind.
The one thing I'll say is that Mittens only has himself to blame for this. He may not have meant to blurt about the 47%, but it definitely came back to bite him in the butt. Now I don't think that should've been the main reason people voted against him, but pissing off a portion of the population isn't going to win you many popularity contests. In the end, he said more than a few things that turned people away from him, valuable votes that could've swung the election in his favor.
Is Obama the cure-all? No. No single person is. It takes people working together, something that doesn't happen in a governmental setting. Those bitter about the Romney loss should take comfort that Obama still has a Republican-controlled Congress sitting in front of him, likely to make his passage of anything more difficult than it needs to be. He isn't going to get any love from a lot of Republicans right away, as many will still be bitter over the Romney loss.
What this country needs is a wake-up call. 9/11 was supposed to be that, but the unity showed in the months after that event has long disappeared, replaced with renewed venom between the parties and the people who are represented by those parties. I think most would agree that there is far too much bickering in Washington, that instead of working to get things fixed, they spend time arguing about why their way is better than someone else's.
So I want to say thanks to the people who tried to push their beliefs on other people. Thanks to the politicians who make up lie after lie to get in office, then spend their terms doing the opposite of what they said they'd do.
Without you, people who were undecided wouldn't know who to vote for, and in many cases, the venom was what turned people to vote for the person the venom was supposed to help. In the case of Romney, his 47% rant, his ideas on abortion and women in general, helped steer many people towards Obama. Some went the other way, deciding that four more years was akin to a disaster waiting to happen.
Either way, thanks for clearing the minds of the undecided.
For the record, I've always been partial to the democratic side of things, but I've always believed the right person for the job transcended party lines, meaning if a Republican was a better choice, that's who I'd go for. I've also never believed that I should go and tell people who to vote for. I allow people to make up their own minds. The information is out there, but it isn't up to me to educate others on what to do.
In the end, only time will tell what Obama's legacy will be. Some have already decided what they think it will be and nothing will change that, which is unfortunate. That's the society we live in now though and there isn't anything that can change that at this point.
I look forward to seeing what happens next and hope that some of you soften your stances going forward. This country needs to be together if it's going to continue to be the great country that we've known it to be.
I don't see that happening though.
The election is over, but the fight has probably only just begun sadly.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Kids change things
I know.
The title is about as obvious a statement as you can make when it comes to kids and what happens. The thing is, most probably don't realize how true it is.
Let's back up a step though. Being in a relationship changes things. Simple decisions aren't as simple, choices you make can often have unseen repercussions. That simple night out with the boys is now the basis for an argument. That extra hour to play a game means you don't want to spend time with your significant other.
These aren't things that I've necessarily experienced with Rachel, but they are things that happen. People say they're okay with certain things, like video games and the night out, then when it happens, flip out as if you just committed the most awful sin imaginable. Some people have earned the scrutiny that was brought onto them, but sometimes it's just an overreaction that gets taken way too far.
You have to work to manage your time better in a relationship, work to find common ground, and work together to resolve issues that pop up. Relationships, as everyone already knows, require trust to get very far and a little bit of faith as well. If you can't trust the person you're with, then it's bound to fail. If you lack faith, then it can makes more of a struggle, but it can be worked through.
Having a kid adds to the changes.
For a guy, it means less time for you (if you've managed to maintain some of your "me" time) as you now have someone who depends on you and your significant other to raise them, protect them, and feed them. That hour you had before or after work to play your game? That likely won't be there unless the child is sleeping at that desired time.
The nights out? If you'd rather continue going out week after week than spend time with your growing child, then I have to say something is wrong with you. This of course excludes the occasional night out, which I recommend spending with your significant other as she's probably ready to get out away from it all for a little bit before she panics about the well-being of the kid and you end up going home early.
I've already seen how kids can change things. 75% of the tv time is spent on either the HUB or DisneyJR with the rest of the time split between Rachel and myself depending on the day of the week. The living room and Payton's room is a perpetual mess as those are the two main areas she can be found. There's usually at least one mishap a week involving a spill of some sort, the most recent being a glitter explosion in Payton's bedroom.
If you are a neat freak, I would suggest therapy before having kids as you will probably have a mental breakdown. I've resigned myself to the fact that it's inevitable that our apartment will be a mess. You have to pick and choose your spots to clean, just as you have to stay on top of laundry and dishes or before you know it, you're buried.
Just about anything can be disrupted by a child, from a simple trip to the store, to getting food, to bedtime procedures. Things will change, become more complicated, and often leaving you ready to pull your hair out and just sit down and call it quits.
But then you'd be missing the best parts of having a kid around. The hugs, the playing, the fascination with simple things, the endless energy, and the laughter. Sure, they cry too, but they laugh a lot and as they grow, they understand more and more about what's going on around them.
Having an infant around, as we will be introducing next spring, adds a new dimension to things. Until it learns to crawl and eventually walk, it's completely dependent on you to get around, to eat, and stay warm (or cool depending on the time of year). Sleep, already a precious commodity for most, becomes harder to come by. Diapers will be changed several times a day up until the point the child finally decides that potties are useful, and not just for playing.
There will be doctor appointments, check-ups, near heart attacks when the child discovers the joys of power cords and outlets, incidents with the animals, and any number of other things that would cause any person to stop in their tracks and hope to God that their child is okay.
Am I ready for this? I think like a lot of hopeful parents (that is, people who really do want kids, not just the ones who say so), I want to believe that I will be. I want to believe tht I'm ready for the challenge and will rise up and raise a healthy, beautiful child who will eventually rule the world.
Will there be rough spots? Yes. Will there be disputes on what's okay and what isn't okay? More than likely. Will I fold like a cheap lawn chair the first time my child cries? Probably. Will I do my best to not be like a lot of first-time fathers who get walked on? I will, but I can't promise anything. This is one area where I'm definitely heading into the unknown, and while I've been around kids, this will be the first one that is truly of my creation, not the result of dating someone who already had them.
The main thing I feel right now is excitement. I'm ready for this, as much as I can be anyway. I don't think I'm going to falter, I don't think I'm going to be a pushover, but I honestly don't know how it's going to go. I do know I want to be there at every step of the way as much as I can be.
The changes are coming, but it's going to be a blast.
Now get out of the laundry basket, you damn kid!
The title is about as obvious a statement as you can make when it comes to kids and what happens. The thing is, most probably don't realize how true it is.
Let's back up a step though. Being in a relationship changes things. Simple decisions aren't as simple, choices you make can often have unseen repercussions. That simple night out with the boys is now the basis for an argument. That extra hour to play a game means you don't want to spend time with your significant other.
These aren't things that I've necessarily experienced with Rachel, but they are things that happen. People say they're okay with certain things, like video games and the night out, then when it happens, flip out as if you just committed the most awful sin imaginable. Some people have earned the scrutiny that was brought onto them, but sometimes it's just an overreaction that gets taken way too far.
You have to work to manage your time better in a relationship, work to find common ground, and work together to resolve issues that pop up. Relationships, as everyone already knows, require trust to get very far and a little bit of faith as well. If you can't trust the person you're with, then it's bound to fail. If you lack faith, then it can makes more of a struggle, but it can be worked through.
Having a kid adds to the changes.
For a guy, it means less time for you (if you've managed to maintain some of your "me" time) as you now have someone who depends on you and your significant other to raise them, protect them, and feed them. That hour you had before or after work to play your game? That likely won't be there unless the child is sleeping at that desired time.
The nights out? If you'd rather continue going out week after week than spend time with your growing child, then I have to say something is wrong with you. This of course excludes the occasional night out, which I recommend spending with your significant other as she's probably ready to get out away from it all for a little bit before she panics about the well-being of the kid and you end up going home early.
I've already seen how kids can change things. 75% of the tv time is spent on either the HUB or DisneyJR with the rest of the time split between Rachel and myself depending on the day of the week. The living room and Payton's room is a perpetual mess as those are the two main areas she can be found. There's usually at least one mishap a week involving a spill of some sort, the most recent being a glitter explosion in Payton's bedroom.
If you are a neat freak, I would suggest therapy before having kids as you will probably have a mental breakdown. I've resigned myself to the fact that it's inevitable that our apartment will be a mess. You have to pick and choose your spots to clean, just as you have to stay on top of laundry and dishes or before you know it, you're buried.
Just about anything can be disrupted by a child, from a simple trip to the store, to getting food, to bedtime procedures. Things will change, become more complicated, and often leaving you ready to pull your hair out and just sit down and call it quits.
But then you'd be missing the best parts of having a kid around. The hugs, the playing, the fascination with simple things, the endless energy, and the laughter. Sure, they cry too, but they laugh a lot and as they grow, they understand more and more about what's going on around them.
Having an infant around, as we will be introducing next spring, adds a new dimension to things. Until it learns to crawl and eventually walk, it's completely dependent on you to get around, to eat, and stay warm (or cool depending on the time of year). Sleep, already a precious commodity for most, becomes harder to come by. Diapers will be changed several times a day up until the point the child finally decides that potties are useful, and not just for playing.
There will be doctor appointments, check-ups, near heart attacks when the child discovers the joys of power cords and outlets, incidents with the animals, and any number of other things that would cause any person to stop in their tracks and hope to God that their child is okay.
Am I ready for this? I think like a lot of hopeful parents (that is, people who really do want kids, not just the ones who say so), I want to believe that I will be. I want to believe tht I'm ready for the challenge and will rise up and raise a healthy, beautiful child who will eventually rule the world.
Will there be rough spots? Yes. Will there be disputes on what's okay and what isn't okay? More than likely. Will I fold like a cheap lawn chair the first time my child cries? Probably. Will I do my best to not be like a lot of first-time fathers who get walked on? I will, but I can't promise anything. This is one area where I'm definitely heading into the unknown, and while I've been around kids, this will be the first one that is truly of my creation, not the result of dating someone who already had them.
The main thing I feel right now is excitement. I'm ready for this, as much as I can be anyway. I don't think I'm going to falter, I don't think I'm going to be a pushover, but I honestly don't know how it's going to go. I do know I want to be there at every step of the way as much as I can be.
The changes are coming, but it's going to be a blast.
Now get out of the laundry basket, you damn kid!
Thursday, November 1, 2012
The Sports Mixer - After the midway point
Most teams are now halfway through their schedule in the NFL, and the playoff picture will start to become clear in the coming weeks.
What we've been able to discern at the Sports Mixer is that some teams are definite contenders and others are clearly pretenders. Unfortunately, there are still several teams with question marks above them, making it hard to figure if they're pretenders or contenders.
For the most part, teams that made the playoffs last year are in the running this year, meaning the usual high turnover amongst playoff teams from the previous year is potentially going to be bucked this season. What we do know is that the Texans, Bears, Falcons, 49ers, and Giants are the class of the NFL. The Packers are creeping right back up there, the Broncos are coming on strong, the Patriots are scoring again, the Ravens are trying to hold onto their lead, and the Steelers are starting to show their form from previous seasons.
What will we learn this week though?
We'll learn if the Chargers want to make a run, if the Colts or Dolphins are a legitimate playoff contender, if the Bengals will get back in the AFC North race, if the Lions have some life in them still, if the Raiders will continue to play well, if the Cowboys are truly a Super Bowl contending team, if the Eagles have any resolve, if the Vikings can bounce back against a strong defense, and if the Browns will make it two in a row.
Let's make some picks and see what happens, shall we?
Thursday
Kansas City (1-6) at San Diego (3-4) - 8:20pm NFL Network
The Chiefs are a bad football team. Matt Cassel is only starting because Brady Quinn couldn't stay on the field last week and suffered a concussion. Romeo Crennel is now on the hot seat one year after being praised as a savior in KC. The defense has given up some big plays, but for the most part hasn't been the problem. The Chiefs can't stop giving the ball away on offense and it's killed them all season long. It's been so bad, the only time they've led is when they won in overtime against the Saints, and that was when they took the lead to win the game.
The Chargers were in the driver's seat in the AFC West at 3-1. Since then, they've lost three straight games, most recently to the Browns in as ugly a football game as you'll ever see. Philip Rivers is more likely to be seen screaming at teammates on the sidelines than throwing a touchdown pass these days. They ran the ball well last week, but the big plays just haven't been there and head coach Norv Turner is back on the hot seat again. It may be time to blow things up in San Diego, but this is a game they should win.
Just like last week.
Pick: Chargers 24, Chiefs 13
Sunday
Denver (4-3) at Cincinnati (3-4) - 1pm CBS
The Broncos are rolling now behind Peyton Manning, who seems to have found a comfort zone in the offense and with his receivers. The defense has also gotten better in recent weeks, most evident in how they absolutely shut down a high-scoring Saints offense. Did Manning benefit from playing a bad, bad defense last week? Sure, but you still have to make the throws and he did just that. Even tipped balls found their way to the target. Life is good in Denver.
Life isn't so good in Cincy. The Bengals have lost three straight games and this past week head coach Marvin Lewis called out his quarterback, saying he needed to be a louder voice in the huddle. Andy Dalton concurred with his coach's assessment, but it's going to be tough sledding this week. The Bengals have to get a running game going if they want to win, something they haven't done all season.
Pick: Broncos 27, Bengals 24
Arizona (4-4) at Green Bay (5-3) - 1pm FOX
The Cardinals are the worst 4-4 football team ever. They can't run, they can't protect their quarterback, and the defense was shredded last week by the 49ers in their own building. Arguing whether John Skelton is an upgrade over Kevin Kolb is pointless; neither stands a chance until they fix the offensive line, which has been offensive for most of the season. The joke is they're so bad, Skelton is currently getting up from a sack as I write this.
The Packers are a shaky 5-3, but could be 6-2 if not for an infamous blown call a few weeks back. Now the defense gets to go up against a bad line and maybe get its sack numbers up a bit. Clay Matthews, Jr has to be chomping at the bit. Meanwhile Aaron Rodgers appears to have righted the ship, although last week's unconvincing win against the Jaguars shows how far the team still has to go on both sides of the ball.
Pick: Packers 35, Cardinals 17
Chicago (6-1) at Tennessee (3-5) - 1pm FOX
The Bears have a very opportunistic defense. They've scored six touchdowns courtesy of their defense, which has helped an underwhelming offense get by. Jay Cutler shows how good he can be when he gets time in the pocket, unfortunately, he doesn't always get the time needed to make a play. Matt Forte has been good, but not spectacular running the ball, which is why most go back to the defense being the primary reason this team is 6-1.
The Titans lost a heart-breaker last week against the Colts. They didn't get a chance in overtime thanks to the twisting, turning, diving play of Vick Ballard, who took a swing pass that was nearly picked off the distance for a touchdown. The Titans have had several chances to win games, but haven't been able to pull it off. This game will be significantly harder for them though. The Bears defense is tough and while the Titans defense may keep them in the game for a while, it ultimately can't keep up with the Bears.
Pick: Bears 20, Titans 12
Miami (4-3) at Indianapolis (4-3) - 1pm CBS
To the Sports Mixer, this is the best game this week. Two young, overachieving teams meeting with their potential playoff futures on the line, what more could you ask for? The Dolphins are coming off their smackdown of the trash-talking Jets, a game they thoroughly dominated on both sides of the ball, even with Ryan Tannehill getting hurt. Tannehill has practiced this week, but they learned they have a capable back-up in Matt Moore. The defense stifled Mark Sanchez and the Jets offense, which isn't saying much, but hey, they did it.
The Colts are one of the biggest surprises of the year so far. Andrew Luck has met and exceeded most expectations, and while RGIII gets most of the rookie headlines, Luck has been the most consistent of the rookie quarterbacks so far. It helps to have Reggie Wayne on your team of course, plus a little bit of luck. The Colts are better at home than on the road, but I think Luck is due for a hiccup at the hands of the Dolphin defense.
Pick: Dolphins 27, Colts 23
Carolina (1-6) at Washington (3-5) - 1pm FOX
Carolina is not a good team. Much like the Chiefs, expectations were high for this team and Cam Newton coming off a fabulous rookie campaign, and like the Chiefs, the Panthers have failed miserably to meet those expectations. Newton played better last week against the Bears, but still lost. He threw a costly pick-six, but redeemed himself by leading the Panthers down to take the lead late. Unfortunately, there was enough time for the Bears to respond and they did against the weak Panther defense.
Robert Griffin III was bound to have a bad game, and if anyone was going to cause him to have a rough day, it would be a Dick-Lebeau led defense. The Steelers prevented RGIII from finding any running room and made passing the ball difficult as well. I think it was something that needed to happen, if only to remind RGIII it's not always that easy in the NFL. I think the Redskins will bounce back this week against a bad Panthers team. It will be a score-fest though since the Redskins defense is so banged up.
Pick: Redskins 34, Panthers 26
Detroit (3-4) at Jacksonville (1-6) - 1pm FOX
The Lions needed last week's win in the worst way. A playoff team a year ago, it had been a struggle for the Lions and continued to be so for much of the day last Sunday against the Seahawks defense. But Matt Stafford and the Lions prevailed on a late score and now have a chance to get some momentum going into a crucial divisional game against the Vikings, but they need to take care of business on the road in Jacksonville first, which could be trickier than anticipated.
The Jags hung in there against the Packers last week, but ultimately couldn't make enough plays on either side of the ball to get the upset victory. Blaine Gabbert came back from injury and tried to keep the Jags close, but the Jags just lack the weapons that other teams have. For a short period, it appeared that game was going to go down to the wire, but the Jags ran out of steam and the Packers pulled away. Now they get another high-flying offense. This will be too much for them.
Pick: Lions 27, Jaguars 13
Buffalo (3-4) at Houston (6-1) - 1pm CBS
The Bills have been an enigma all season long. They sign Mario Williams to a huge contract to improve the defense, and instead they give up 48 points to the Jets (who can't score on anyone), 52 points to the Patriots (after having a 21-7 lead), 45 points to the 49ers (a good offense, but no juggernaut), and 35 points to the Titans (no comment). When they win, the defense has allowed less than 20 points in each game, but when they lose it's bad. Ryan Fitzpatrick has taken his share of the blame, but the defense has played pathetically in their losses. They need to step up if they want to win in Houston.
The Texans were embarrassed by the Packers a couple weeks back and took that frustration out on the Ravens two weeks ago. Now they've had an extra week to prepare for the Bills and this could be a whitewash if the Texans play to their potential. The Bills front four will not scare Matt Schaub and given the Bills poor run defense, this could be a big day for Arian Foster and Ben Tate.
Pick: Texans 34, Bills 24
Tampa Bay (3-4) at Oakland (3-4) - 4:05pm FOX
The Buccaneers came to play last Thursday night in Minnesota. They ran the ball effectively, shut down the Vikings offense, and kept the effort up for 60 minutes. Now they get to go to the Black Hole in Oakland to see if they can get a second win in a row. It won't be easy, but the Bucs can do it if they continue to run the ball and quarterback Josh Freeman is effective passing.
The Raiders are such a baffling team. They get a big win against the Steelers one week, then get pasted by the Broncos the next. They lost a close one to the Falcons and needed overtime to beat the Jags, but rolled to a relatively easy win over the Chiefs (not difficult to do though). Now they host the Bucs with a chance to get back to .500, stay relatively close to the Broncos, and solidify their chances of at least getting into the playoffs. So naturally, they'll have 17 penalties and Carson Palmer will throw four interceptions. I could be completely wrong though. You never know which Raider team will show up.
Pick: Buccaneers 24, Raiders 17 (Sorry Heny)
Minnesota (5-3) at Seattle (4-4) - 4:05pm FOX
The Vikings had a chance to solidify their playoff chances at home last week. Instead, they upchucked all over themselves on both sides of the ball as Tampa Bay rolled to an easy victory. Now they have to go on the road and play in football's toughest environment against a team that gave away their game last week. This could get ugly in a hurry.
The Seahawks have to be mad at themselves right now. They had every opportunity to beat the Lions last week, but the defense let them down and allowed the Lions to sneak away with the win. They get their chance at redemption this week against an underwhelming offense led by Christian Ponder. Shut down Adrian Peterson and this game gets much easier. They should take a cue from the Bucs and run the ball right at the front four of the Vikings, who offered no resistance a week ago. Marshawn Lynch should have a good game.
Pick: Seahawks 20, Vikings 17
Pittsburgh (4-3) at NY Giants (6-2) - 4:25pm CBS
I had trouble with this game. The Steelers have been playing better, but they haven't done so hot on the road this season. A win coupled with a potential Ravens loss could be the opening they need to regain control of the division though, and this could be a fight to the end against a Giants team that underachieves at home historically. If the Steelers can run the ball, this game will be much easier for them.
The Giants are not the best home team under Eli Manning, but they have a chance to make a statement this week. Beat a perennial power at home and all but lock up the NFC East, but the Giants will have to stop the run, run the ball well, and keep Ben Roethlisberger under control for 60 minutes, not an easy task. Manning also needs to play better than he did against the Cowboys last week.
Pick: Giants 30, Steelers 28
Dallas (3-4) at Atlanta (7-0) - 8:20pm NBC
The Cowboys keep trying to tell everyone they're still contenders, yet they keep playing like they don't want to make the playoffs. They came back from a 23-0 deficit against the Giants, but couldn't finish the job despite a couple of opportunities. Tony Romo certainly puts up numbers, but his inability to win big games continues to be a problem. Dez Bryant keeps coming close to being that number one receiver every team craves, but he continues to be plagued by drops.
The Falcons were due for an upset last week, but instead stomped all over the Eagles in Philly. Now they get to come back home and see how they fare against a Dallas team that should be desperate. Matt Ryan has been able to utilize all the weapons at his disposal and it's hard to see the Cowboys defense stopping both Roddy White and Julio Jones, nevermind the hard running of Michael Turner. The defense has stepped up as well, containing the Eagles a week ago.
Pick: Falcons 27, Cowboys 17
Monday
Philadelphia (3-4) at New Orleans (2-5) - 8:30pm ESPN
Shame on the Eagles, really. Firing Juan Castillo was supposed to be the magic fix that turned around Andy Reid's team's season, instead, they played their worst defensive game of the season. Granted, the Falcons are a talented team, but where was the resolve? Where was the grit? Where was the sense of urgency? Where was the pass-rush? Michael Vick hit the reduction button on his turnover machine, but still couldn't generate any offense. This week they could score a bunch of points against a bad Saints defense, but they have to face Drew Brees in the Superdome a week after the Saints offense was shut down.
The Saints, well, what can be said about them? They can score a ton, but they give up a ton of points as well. We saw how bad this team can look when the offense doesn't score in last week's game against the Broncos, but they have a chance at getting back on the winning side against a faltering Eagles team. Brees will most likely come out firing, looking to erase the memory of last week's stinker.
Pick: Saints 37, Eagles 31
The Browns
Baltimore (5-2) at Cleveland (2-6) - 1pm CBS
The Ravens are a hurting football team coming off their bye week. With no Ray Lewis and Ladarius Webb, the Ravens were torched by the Texans two weeks ago and now go against a Cleveland team whose confidence is growing by the week. A Cleveland team they had to hang on for dear life against earlier in Baltimore. The Ravens will likely try to get Ray Rice going early, but the defense will have to dig deep against an offense that has grown from week to week.
The Browns won an ugly game against the Chargers last week, but it was still a win. Brandon Weeden didn't light the Chargers up, but he played mistake-free and allowed Trent Richardson to control the offense in the rain and win. The defense played its best game of the season, limiting the Chargers to 6 points and coming up with stops when needed most. They'll need to step it up a notch against the Ravens, but they'll be getting Phil Taylor back this week and have Joe Haden back, who missed the first meeting. This game will come down to whether Weeden can continue to grow as a quarterback and if Richardson can pick up chunks of yardage against the Ravens.
Pick: Browns 27, Ravens 23
Bye week
St. Louis, New England, NY Jets, San Francisco
Last: 11-3
Overall: 50-20
What we've been able to discern at the Sports Mixer is that some teams are definite contenders and others are clearly pretenders. Unfortunately, there are still several teams with question marks above them, making it hard to figure if they're pretenders or contenders.
For the most part, teams that made the playoffs last year are in the running this year, meaning the usual high turnover amongst playoff teams from the previous year is potentially going to be bucked this season. What we do know is that the Texans, Bears, Falcons, 49ers, and Giants are the class of the NFL. The Packers are creeping right back up there, the Broncos are coming on strong, the Patriots are scoring again, the Ravens are trying to hold onto their lead, and the Steelers are starting to show their form from previous seasons.
What will we learn this week though?
We'll learn if the Chargers want to make a run, if the Colts or Dolphins are a legitimate playoff contender, if the Bengals will get back in the AFC North race, if the Lions have some life in them still, if the Raiders will continue to play well, if the Cowboys are truly a Super Bowl contending team, if the Eagles have any resolve, if the Vikings can bounce back against a strong defense, and if the Browns will make it two in a row.
Let's make some picks and see what happens, shall we?
Thursday
Kansas City (1-6) at San Diego (3-4) - 8:20pm NFL Network
The Chiefs are a bad football team. Matt Cassel is only starting because Brady Quinn couldn't stay on the field last week and suffered a concussion. Romeo Crennel is now on the hot seat one year after being praised as a savior in KC. The defense has given up some big plays, but for the most part hasn't been the problem. The Chiefs can't stop giving the ball away on offense and it's killed them all season long. It's been so bad, the only time they've led is when they won in overtime against the Saints, and that was when they took the lead to win the game.
The Chargers were in the driver's seat in the AFC West at 3-1. Since then, they've lost three straight games, most recently to the Browns in as ugly a football game as you'll ever see. Philip Rivers is more likely to be seen screaming at teammates on the sidelines than throwing a touchdown pass these days. They ran the ball well last week, but the big plays just haven't been there and head coach Norv Turner is back on the hot seat again. It may be time to blow things up in San Diego, but this is a game they should win.
Just like last week.
Pick: Chargers 24, Chiefs 13
Sunday
Denver (4-3) at Cincinnati (3-4) - 1pm CBS
The Broncos are rolling now behind Peyton Manning, who seems to have found a comfort zone in the offense and with his receivers. The defense has also gotten better in recent weeks, most evident in how they absolutely shut down a high-scoring Saints offense. Did Manning benefit from playing a bad, bad defense last week? Sure, but you still have to make the throws and he did just that. Even tipped balls found their way to the target. Life is good in Denver.
Life isn't so good in Cincy. The Bengals have lost three straight games and this past week head coach Marvin Lewis called out his quarterback, saying he needed to be a louder voice in the huddle. Andy Dalton concurred with his coach's assessment, but it's going to be tough sledding this week. The Bengals have to get a running game going if they want to win, something they haven't done all season.
Pick: Broncos 27, Bengals 24
Arizona (4-4) at Green Bay (5-3) - 1pm FOX
The Cardinals are the worst 4-4 football team ever. They can't run, they can't protect their quarterback, and the defense was shredded last week by the 49ers in their own building. Arguing whether John Skelton is an upgrade over Kevin Kolb is pointless; neither stands a chance until they fix the offensive line, which has been offensive for most of the season. The joke is they're so bad, Skelton is currently getting up from a sack as I write this.
The Packers are a shaky 5-3, but could be 6-2 if not for an infamous blown call a few weeks back. Now the defense gets to go up against a bad line and maybe get its sack numbers up a bit. Clay Matthews, Jr has to be chomping at the bit. Meanwhile Aaron Rodgers appears to have righted the ship, although last week's unconvincing win against the Jaguars shows how far the team still has to go on both sides of the ball.
Pick: Packers 35, Cardinals 17
Chicago (6-1) at Tennessee (3-5) - 1pm FOX
The Bears have a very opportunistic defense. They've scored six touchdowns courtesy of their defense, which has helped an underwhelming offense get by. Jay Cutler shows how good he can be when he gets time in the pocket, unfortunately, he doesn't always get the time needed to make a play. Matt Forte has been good, but not spectacular running the ball, which is why most go back to the defense being the primary reason this team is 6-1.
The Titans lost a heart-breaker last week against the Colts. They didn't get a chance in overtime thanks to the twisting, turning, diving play of Vick Ballard, who took a swing pass that was nearly picked off the distance for a touchdown. The Titans have had several chances to win games, but haven't been able to pull it off. This game will be significantly harder for them though. The Bears defense is tough and while the Titans defense may keep them in the game for a while, it ultimately can't keep up with the Bears.
Pick: Bears 20, Titans 12
Miami (4-3) at Indianapolis (4-3) - 1pm CBS
To the Sports Mixer, this is the best game this week. Two young, overachieving teams meeting with their potential playoff futures on the line, what more could you ask for? The Dolphins are coming off their smackdown of the trash-talking Jets, a game they thoroughly dominated on both sides of the ball, even with Ryan Tannehill getting hurt. Tannehill has practiced this week, but they learned they have a capable back-up in Matt Moore. The defense stifled Mark Sanchez and the Jets offense, which isn't saying much, but hey, they did it.
The Colts are one of the biggest surprises of the year so far. Andrew Luck has met and exceeded most expectations, and while RGIII gets most of the rookie headlines, Luck has been the most consistent of the rookie quarterbacks so far. It helps to have Reggie Wayne on your team of course, plus a little bit of luck. The Colts are better at home than on the road, but I think Luck is due for a hiccup at the hands of the Dolphin defense.
Pick: Dolphins 27, Colts 23
Carolina (1-6) at Washington (3-5) - 1pm FOX
Carolina is not a good team. Much like the Chiefs, expectations were high for this team and Cam Newton coming off a fabulous rookie campaign, and like the Chiefs, the Panthers have failed miserably to meet those expectations. Newton played better last week against the Bears, but still lost. He threw a costly pick-six, but redeemed himself by leading the Panthers down to take the lead late. Unfortunately, there was enough time for the Bears to respond and they did against the weak Panther defense.
Robert Griffin III was bound to have a bad game, and if anyone was going to cause him to have a rough day, it would be a Dick-Lebeau led defense. The Steelers prevented RGIII from finding any running room and made passing the ball difficult as well. I think it was something that needed to happen, if only to remind RGIII it's not always that easy in the NFL. I think the Redskins will bounce back this week against a bad Panthers team. It will be a score-fest though since the Redskins defense is so banged up.
Pick: Redskins 34, Panthers 26
Detroit (3-4) at Jacksonville (1-6) - 1pm FOX
The Lions needed last week's win in the worst way. A playoff team a year ago, it had been a struggle for the Lions and continued to be so for much of the day last Sunday against the Seahawks defense. But Matt Stafford and the Lions prevailed on a late score and now have a chance to get some momentum going into a crucial divisional game against the Vikings, but they need to take care of business on the road in Jacksonville first, which could be trickier than anticipated.
The Jags hung in there against the Packers last week, but ultimately couldn't make enough plays on either side of the ball to get the upset victory. Blaine Gabbert came back from injury and tried to keep the Jags close, but the Jags just lack the weapons that other teams have. For a short period, it appeared that game was going to go down to the wire, but the Jags ran out of steam and the Packers pulled away. Now they get another high-flying offense. This will be too much for them.
Pick: Lions 27, Jaguars 13
Buffalo (3-4) at Houston (6-1) - 1pm CBS
The Bills have been an enigma all season long. They sign Mario Williams to a huge contract to improve the defense, and instead they give up 48 points to the Jets (who can't score on anyone), 52 points to the Patriots (after having a 21-7 lead), 45 points to the 49ers (a good offense, but no juggernaut), and 35 points to the Titans (no comment). When they win, the defense has allowed less than 20 points in each game, but when they lose it's bad. Ryan Fitzpatrick has taken his share of the blame, but the defense has played pathetically in their losses. They need to step up if they want to win in Houston.
The Texans were embarrassed by the Packers a couple weeks back and took that frustration out on the Ravens two weeks ago. Now they've had an extra week to prepare for the Bills and this could be a whitewash if the Texans play to their potential. The Bills front four will not scare Matt Schaub and given the Bills poor run defense, this could be a big day for Arian Foster and Ben Tate.
Pick: Texans 34, Bills 24
Tampa Bay (3-4) at Oakland (3-4) - 4:05pm FOX
The Buccaneers came to play last Thursday night in Minnesota. They ran the ball effectively, shut down the Vikings offense, and kept the effort up for 60 minutes. Now they get to go to the Black Hole in Oakland to see if they can get a second win in a row. It won't be easy, but the Bucs can do it if they continue to run the ball and quarterback Josh Freeman is effective passing.
The Raiders are such a baffling team. They get a big win against the Steelers one week, then get pasted by the Broncos the next. They lost a close one to the Falcons and needed overtime to beat the Jags, but rolled to a relatively easy win over the Chiefs (not difficult to do though). Now they host the Bucs with a chance to get back to .500, stay relatively close to the Broncos, and solidify their chances of at least getting into the playoffs. So naturally, they'll have 17 penalties and Carson Palmer will throw four interceptions. I could be completely wrong though. You never know which Raider team will show up.
Pick: Buccaneers 24, Raiders 17 (Sorry Heny)
Minnesota (5-3) at Seattle (4-4) - 4:05pm FOX
The Vikings had a chance to solidify their playoff chances at home last week. Instead, they upchucked all over themselves on both sides of the ball as Tampa Bay rolled to an easy victory. Now they have to go on the road and play in football's toughest environment against a team that gave away their game last week. This could get ugly in a hurry.
The Seahawks have to be mad at themselves right now. They had every opportunity to beat the Lions last week, but the defense let them down and allowed the Lions to sneak away with the win. They get their chance at redemption this week against an underwhelming offense led by Christian Ponder. Shut down Adrian Peterson and this game gets much easier. They should take a cue from the Bucs and run the ball right at the front four of the Vikings, who offered no resistance a week ago. Marshawn Lynch should have a good game.
Pick: Seahawks 20, Vikings 17
Pittsburgh (4-3) at NY Giants (6-2) - 4:25pm CBS
I had trouble with this game. The Steelers have been playing better, but they haven't done so hot on the road this season. A win coupled with a potential Ravens loss could be the opening they need to regain control of the division though, and this could be a fight to the end against a Giants team that underachieves at home historically. If the Steelers can run the ball, this game will be much easier for them.
The Giants are not the best home team under Eli Manning, but they have a chance to make a statement this week. Beat a perennial power at home and all but lock up the NFC East, but the Giants will have to stop the run, run the ball well, and keep Ben Roethlisberger under control for 60 minutes, not an easy task. Manning also needs to play better than he did against the Cowboys last week.
Pick: Giants 30, Steelers 28
Dallas (3-4) at Atlanta (7-0) - 8:20pm NBC
The Cowboys keep trying to tell everyone they're still contenders, yet they keep playing like they don't want to make the playoffs. They came back from a 23-0 deficit against the Giants, but couldn't finish the job despite a couple of opportunities. Tony Romo certainly puts up numbers, but his inability to win big games continues to be a problem. Dez Bryant keeps coming close to being that number one receiver every team craves, but he continues to be plagued by drops.
The Falcons were due for an upset last week, but instead stomped all over the Eagles in Philly. Now they get to come back home and see how they fare against a Dallas team that should be desperate. Matt Ryan has been able to utilize all the weapons at his disposal and it's hard to see the Cowboys defense stopping both Roddy White and Julio Jones, nevermind the hard running of Michael Turner. The defense has stepped up as well, containing the Eagles a week ago.
Pick: Falcons 27, Cowboys 17
Monday
Philadelphia (3-4) at New Orleans (2-5) - 8:30pm ESPN
Shame on the Eagles, really. Firing Juan Castillo was supposed to be the magic fix that turned around Andy Reid's team's season, instead, they played their worst defensive game of the season. Granted, the Falcons are a talented team, but where was the resolve? Where was the grit? Where was the sense of urgency? Where was the pass-rush? Michael Vick hit the reduction button on his turnover machine, but still couldn't generate any offense. This week they could score a bunch of points against a bad Saints defense, but they have to face Drew Brees in the Superdome a week after the Saints offense was shut down.
The Saints, well, what can be said about them? They can score a ton, but they give up a ton of points as well. We saw how bad this team can look when the offense doesn't score in last week's game against the Broncos, but they have a chance at getting back on the winning side against a faltering Eagles team. Brees will most likely come out firing, looking to erase the memory of last week's stinker.
Pick: Saints 37, Eagles 31
The Browns
Baltimore (5-2) at Cleveland (2-6) - 1pm CBS
The Ravens are a hurting football team coming off their bye week. With no Ray Lewis and Ladarius Webb, the Ravens were torched by the Texans two weeks ago and now go against a Cleveland team whose confidence is growing by the week. A Cleveland team they had to hang on for dear life against earlier in Baltimore. The Ravens will likely try to get Ray Rice going early, but the defense will have to dig deep against an offense that has grown from week to week.
The Browns won an ugly game against the Chargers last week, but it was still a win. Brandon Weeden didn't light the Chargers up, but he played mistake-free and allowed Trent Richardson to control the offense in the rain and win. The defense played its best game of the season, limiting the Chargers to 6 points and coming up with stops when needed most. They'll need to step it up a notch against the Ravens, but they'll be getting Phil Taylor back this week and have Joe Haden back, who missed the first meeting. This game will come down to whether Weeden can continue to grow as a quarterback and if Richardson can pick up chunks of yardage against the Ravens.
Pick: Browns 27, Ravens 23
Bye week
St. Louis, New England, NY Jets, San Francisco
Last: 11-3
Overall: 50-20
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