The Sports Mixer is back after taking a couple of weeks off due to the holiday rush and generally not having time in general to get any writing done.
I know, it's weak, but it's the best excuse I can offer up.
After missing the final two weeks of picks, I'm back not only to prepare you for the playoffs, but offer up my picks for the Wildcard round of the playoffs, which could be the most competitive round we've seen in years.
To begin, we'll look at each team that made the playoffs and talk about how they made it, their strengths, their weaknesses, and what chance they have at actually making it to the promised land. Will we see another sixth-seeded wildcard team make the Super Bowl this year? Seems unlikely but in the playoffs, the hottest team wins.
AFC
1. Denver Broncos
How they got in - the Broncos enter the playoffs as the hottest team in football. They won their final eleven games in convincing fashion to literally waltz into the postseason. They vaulted into the top seed thanks to the Texans and Ravens faltering down the stretch and the arm of Peyton Manning, who seems to have lost nothing from his multiple neck surgeries.
Strengths - the arm of Manning and a physical defense that took down even the most stout of offensive lines.
Weaknesses - It's hard to find something that the Broncos weren't good at. If there is a weakness, it's the secondary isn't very deep, but that tends to be true of most teams. There's also the concern of Manning if he gets hit the wrong way given his recent neck issues.
Chances of winning the Super Bowl - Probably the highest of any team, although Manning tends to suffer in the playoffs historically.
2. New England Patriots
How they got in - the Patriots also finished hot, winning 9 of their last 10, and almost made it more by nearly pulling off the improbable comeback against the 49ers. It doesn't seem to matter that Tom Brady is getting older; Bill Belichick's teams always seem to find a way and this year has been no different. He's retooled his defense, put together an impressive array of running backs, and finds players that others toss aside.
Strengths - Brady, Belichick, and the supporting roster. This team has been in the playoffs multiple times and won't have a deer in headlights look to it.
Weaknesses - The secondary can be soft and give up big plays. Also, aside from Danny Woodhead, none of their running backs is exceptionally experienced in posteason play.
Chances of winning the Super Bowl - Up there simply because Brady and Belichick will be ready. The Patriots haven't been to multiple Super Bowls on accident after all.
3. Houston Texans
How they got in - They pretty much backed in by getting hot early in the season, then faltered down the stretch. They lost 3 out of their last four, the lone win coming at home against the Colts. If they want to advance, they'll need to snap out of the funk that dropped them from top seed to the third seed facing the Bengals again in the opening round.
Strengths - Arian Foster and Andre Johnson on offense and JJ Watt on defense. That said, this team hasn't been the same defensively since Brian Cushing went down with a season-ending injury.
Weaknesses - As hard as it is to say this, Matt Schaub is a weakness if the Texans fall behind big. He's just not capable of the quick-strike big play. The linebackers are a liability as well.
Chances of winning the Super Bowl - were dramatically higher earlier in the season. Now they'll be lucky to make it out of the first round.
4. Baltimore Ravens
How they got in - Like Houston, they've backed their way into the playoffs, losing 4 out of 5 and looking very ragged. Things were so bad that Cam Cameron was tanked as offensive coordinator in favor of Jim Caldwell. Things did not improve however and Joe Flacco continues to raise questions if he's an elite quarterback.
Strengths - Ray Rice and if Ray Lewis returns, his energy will give the defense a boost it sorely needs. Torrey Smith needs to re-emerge as a big-play receiver as well.
Weaknesses - As odd as it seems, the defense has become a weakness for the Ravens, especially against the run. Overall, the defensive numbers are way down.
Chances of winning the Super Bowl - This team seems flat right now and if they don't give themselves a jolt, will be watching someone else play. Right now the odds aren't good.
5. Indianapolis Colts
How they got in - On the arm of Andrew Luck and the emotion of the Chuck Pagano story that has riveted the league since it was announced he had leukemia. Now Pagano is back and it can't be overlooked the job that Bruce Arians did in his absence. The Colts may be the story of the year right now no matter what happens.
Strengths - Luck, obviously, and Reggie Wayne lead an overachieving offense that compensates for a porous defense. You can say that coaching has been a strength as well. No team has been more ready to play week in and week out.
Weaknesses - The run defense has been poor all year and the defense in generally can give up some big plays. The offense has overcome a lot of the mistakes though.
Chances of winning the Super Bowl - Not great, but don't be surprised to see them make a run at it.
6. Cincinnati Bengals
How they got in - By winning 7 of their last 8 games with a stout defense and Andy Dalton limiting his mistakes on offense. He was an interception machine at the start of the season, but cut down on the picks and started finding AJ Green on a more consistent basis. Benjarvis Green-Ellis also provided a huge spark in the running game over the last several weeks.
Strengths - Dalton, Green, and a very good defensive line.
Weaknesses - The receiving corp behind Green is suspect and the secondary isn't the greatest either.
Chances of winning the Super Bowl - Six seeds always seem to surprise and this one could do the same if they get past the Texans.
NFC
1. Atlanta Falcons
How they got in - By absolutely controlling the NFC South until it didn't matter and they could coast into the playoffs. Matt Ryan continued to show why he could be considered an elite quarterback, pulling off a couple of comeback wins, but he'll need to win in the playoffs now. The Falcons have a solid defense to compliment a potentially explosive offense.
Strengths - Ryan, Roddy White, and Julio Jones lead an offense that can score quickly, or hold onto the ball with Michael Turner running.
Weaknesses - The defense should be more stout, but it hasn't been consistent. Turner also hasn't shown a ton of consistency.
Chances of winning the Super Bowl - In a stacked NFC? Not as good as the Broncos in the AFC, but Ryan will be trying to prove he can take his team to the promised land.
2. San Francisco
How they got in - By barely controlling a division that was theirs for the taking until it was realized they couldn't win in their own division consistently. They beat the elite teams, but struggled against lesser competition, especially the St. Louis Rams. They get a bye but will likely struggle in their opening game.
Strengths - A physical defense that can dominate the opponent if clicking and Jim Harbaugh seems to work magic with players such as Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick.
Weaknesses - Offensively, if they can't run the ball, things seem to fall apart for the 49ers. Kaepernick has wowed at times, and at other times looked lost on the field. Frank Gore needs to run hard for the 49ers to advance very far.
Chances of winning the Super Bowl - Not very good from this corner. Let's call it watching them look bad at the worst possible times.
3. Green Bay Packers
How they got in - By going 9-2 after starting 2-3, giving them the NFC North title and a home game against the Vikings, who they split two meetings with during the regular season. In any other year, they might be the best in the NFC, which only shows how tough the conference was this year.
Strengths - This one's easy: Aaron Rodgers and his compliment of receivers who catch most anything that comes near them.
Weaknesses - Also easy, it's a defense that improved during the year, but still can spring a leak at inopportune times. The offensive line has also left something to be desired, making Rodgers performances even more impressive.
Chances of winning the Super Bowl - I'd almost give them better odds than the Falcons if their defense was better, but pretty good as is. If Rodgers gets hot, the rest of the NFC can just go home.
4. Washington Redskins
How they got in - RGIII, RGIII, Alfred Morris, and a brilliant coaching job by Mike Shanahan. Oh, and a defense that found itself in the second half of the season. The Redskins went from 3-6 and out of the hunt to 10-6 and winners of the NFC East. Oh, and they beat the Dallas Cowboys to finish the job. Not too shabby.
Strengths - Even hurt, Robert Griffin III is better than most players on the field. If he's managed to heal up some, this is a very dangerous team. Morris came out of the sixth round to rush for more than 1600 yards, far-surpassing any expectations.
Weaknesses - The defense improved, but I'm still not sold on them getting it done in the playoffs.
Chances of winning the Super Bowl - Not great, but I think they'll cause plenty of trouble for anyone they face, including another dark horse in the Seahawks.
5. Seattle Seahawks
How they got in - By being virtually unbeatable at home and picking up a couple wins on the road. Russell Wilson grew up a lot in his rookie season and with Marshawn Lynch running the ball, the defense was able to attack opponents at will, which they did with remarkable precision.
Strengths - The defense is without a doubt the strength of this team, but the offense is catching up quick. Can't overlook the coaching job done by Pete Carroll either.
Weaknesses - Road games. This team was 8-0 at home, but 3-5 on the road where they looked far-less aggressive. If this team had a better seeding, they'd be a virtual lock.
Chances of winning the Super Bowl - As stated before, would be much higher if they were at home, as is, they'll give the Redskins all they can handle.
6. Minnesota Vikings
How they got in - By beating the Packers in their final game behind Adrian Peterson and a competent performance from Christian Ponder. They did just enough to get in, but I can't seem them making much noise this year.
Strengths - Peterson. His run at the rushing record was awe-inspiring, especially when a year ago he was recovering from surgery on his torn ACL.
Weaknesses - Ponder hasn't shown he can consistently perform at this level and while the defense can get after the quarterback, they aren't very good at stopping the run.
Chances of winning the Super Bowl - The only slim-to-none team in the playoffs. Getting past the Packers in Lambeau is going to be very difficult.
And now we get to the picks!
Saturday
Cincinnati (10-6) at Houston (12-4) - 4:30pm NBC
At this point, have the Bengals grown enough to win in the first round? Have they figured out how to beat an elite team on the road? The Bengals haven't won a playoff game since the 80's and would look to be difficult to get that first win against the Texans, who knocked them out of the playoffs last year. Ah, but last year is just that: last year, and this year the Bengals are on a roll heading in. Andy Dalton hasn't always performed well this season, but his play of late has been much better. Benjarvis Green-Ellis isn't healthy, but the Bengals need him to run well against a good Texans defense.
Luckily for the Bengals, the Texans have been struggling going into the playoffs and defensively haven't been very good since Brian Cushing went down earlier in the year. JJ Watt has had an outstanding season, but the if the Bengals can control him, they have a great shot at winning this game. Matt Schaub, Arian Foster, and Andre Johnson have had great years, but if the Texans fall behind, they have trouble catching up.
Pick: Bengals 27, Texans 23
Minnesota (10-6) at Green Bay (11-5) - 8pm NBC
I know the Vikings just beat the Packers behind Adrian Peterson and his run at the rushing record (sorry, couldn't resist that one). He came up 9 yards short, but the Vikings got the win and a trip to the playoffs when a few weeks ago many wondered if they'd finish with a winning record. Christian Ponder won't wow you, but he's been good enough lately to make some plays and keep the Vikings in the game.
Aaron Rodgers is going to want to avenge that final game though. He was rattled by the pressure by the Vikings at times, but still led the Packers to 34 points and a chance at victory. Instead, he watched as the Vikings ran the ball down the field to kick the game winning field goal. This game though is at Lambeau Field, where the Packers don't lose often in the playoffs. The Packers will try to make an early statement.
Pick: Packers 31, Vikings 20
Sunday
Indianapolis (11-5) at Baltimore (10-6) - 1pm CBS
It's not often that a team finishes with a better record than its opponent and is an underdog, but that's just what the Colts are. They've also been a fantastic story from the remarkable turnaround from last year to Chuck Pagano's battle with leukemia. They were 1-3 when he left the team to be treated and all Bruce Arians did was go 9-3 in relief before Pagano returned for the final game. Andrew Luck was as good as advertised and the Colts pulled out several wins that they frankly should've lost.
Unfortunately, luck eventually runs out and if the Ravens can find some inspiration behind Ray Lewis declaring he's retiring after this season, it could be a long day for the Colts in Baltimore. The Ravens were good at home and that will be one advantage they have. Another is Ray Rice against a poor run defense and if Jim Caldwell has any sense, he'll have Joe Flacco hand the ball off repeatedly to Rice. Regardless, this is a game that the Ravens should win.
Pick: Ravens 27, Colts 23
Seattle (11-5) at Washington (10-6) - 4:30pm FOX
This is one of the most unlikely playoff matchups in recent memory. Neither team was expected to make the playoffs, just be better than the previous year. Now here we are, getting ready to watch the Seahawks face the Redskins. The Seahawks have played tremendous defense all year long and Russell Wilson has continued to improve throughout the season to the point that many believe he's a potential superstar. Their problem tends to be playing on the road, which is what they have to do in this matchup.
The Redskins were dead and buried at 3-6 earlier in the season. Then they went 7-0 to finish the season, watching Robert Griffin III grit his teeth through injury to lead the Redskins to the playoffs. Even sweeter was knocking out the Cowboys to win the division. Now RGIII gets his chance to shine on the playoff stage and I don't think he'll disappoint. Coupled with Alfred Morris, this is a dangerous team to face. The Seahawks defense may finally break this week.
Pick: Redskins 20, Seahawks 17
Season: 124-48-1
Friday, January 4, 2013
Friday, December 21, 2012
What's ahead
As we approach the new year, that's usually a good time to evaluate life situations and projects that are going on.
For me, it's pretty simple. We have a child on the way, so much of my energy is going to go towards preparing for that child and the challenge that it will bring. In terms of my online activities, it'll still be simple.
This blog will remain largely unchanged. I've used it mostly to provide picks for the NFL season (and will continue to do so until the season ends), but occasionally I've sprinkled in other topics as well. I have a few ideas floating around in my head that I want to write about, but haven't exactly found a good way to convey those various ideas.
Yes, one of them involves the shooting of elementary kids.
I've tried to think of ways to present my ideas, whether it be in this blog or whether it be something I've put up via my YouTube channel, which has been a small endeavor to this point. Most of the content revolves around Payton, our animals, and my gameplay videos of Minecraft, which has become a favorite hobby of mine.
Yes, I have a channel on YouTube. I don't upload a ton, but I have a decent number of videos up for viewing. The gameplay stuff is still in its infancy, but I've enjoyed it thus far and hope to expand the scope of it to include my console games, not just PC. That said, the tool required to record console gaming isn't terribly expensive, but isn't a priority right now, as is purchasing a better microphone.
As of right now, I don't have any intention of doing a Christmas list like I've done in years past. Simply put, I don't know that I can come up with anything more elaborate than the things I've posted over the last several years and don't want to cheapen the entry by trying to get too cute with it. That thought could change of course, but seeing as it's the 21st, I don't see myself creating time before Christmas. The same could be said about my New Year's Resolution post that I typically do.
In short, the first few months of the new year are going to be hectic and filled with a lot of tasks as we prepare to bring a new life into this world. There are things to plan for, things to buy, and I don't want to spend a ton of time on wasted energy and projects. It's partially why I've kept my gaming time to a minimum. I'm not 18 anymore.
In the meantime, thank goodness the world hasn't ended like so many were worried it was going to, so I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.
For me, it's pretty simple. We have a child on the way, so much of my energy is going to go towards preparing for that child and the challenge that it will bring. In terms of my online activities, it'll still be simple.
This blog will remain largely unchanged. I've used it mostly to provide picks for the NFL season (and will continue to do so until the season ends), but occasionally I've sprinkled in other topics as well. I have a few ideas floating around in my head that I want to write about, but haven't exactly found a good way to convey those various ideas.
Yes, one of them involves the shooting of elementary kids.
I've tried to think of ways to present my ideas, whether it be in this blog or whether it be something I've put up via my YouTube channel, which has been a small endeavor to this point. Most of the content revolves around Payton, our animals, and my gameplay videos of Minecraft, which has become a favorite hobby of mine.
Yes, I have a channel on YouTube. I don't upload a ton, but I have a decent number of videos up for viewing. The gameplay stuff is still in its infancy, but I've enjoyed it thus far and hope to expand the scope of it to include my console games, not just PC. That said, the tool required to record console gaming isn't terribly expensive, but isn't a priority right now, as is purchasing a better microphone.
As of right now, I don't have any intention of doing a Christmas list like I've done in years past. Simply put, I don't know that I can come up with anything more elaborate than the things I've posted over the last several years and don't want to cheapen the entry by trying to get too cute with it. That thought could change of course, but seeing as it's the 21st, I don't see myself creating time before Christmas. The same could be said about my New Year's Resolution post that I typically do.
In short, the first few months of the new year are going to be hectic and filled with a lot of tasks as we prepare to bring a new life into this world. There are things to plan for, things to buy, and I don't want to spend a ton of time on wasted energy and projects. It's partially why I've kept my gaming time to a minimum. I'm not 18 anymore.
In the meantime, thank goodness the world hasn't ended like so many were worried it was going to, so I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
The Sports Mixer - Week 15 picks
The NFL season is coming down the home stretch and several teams still have a chance at a playoff berth, even if the odds are slim. The AFC in particular is intriguing as all four teams from the AFC North are still alive for a berth, although only two will likely make the playoffs.
Last week was a disaster for picks due to several upsets. The Panthers upended the Falcons, and while it was an upset, it was a game you could see coming for a while. The Falcons haven't been very dominant within their division and really should've lost the first meeting as well. Meanwhile, the Bears were falling flat agains the Vikings, the Bengals had several opportunities to put their game with the Cowboys away, the Steelers lost to a Chargers team that had been MIA for weeks, and the Bucs gave up a game-winning touchdown to the Eagles with no time left on the clock.
Speaking of the Steelers and Bengals, if either team misses the playoffs, both will look at week 14 as the reason. The Steelers were at home but were rolled by the Chargers, who had previously last shown signs of offensive life back when they led the Broncos 24-0 at halftime before imploding. The Bengals had chance after chance to put away the Cowboys, but between giving up sacks, interceptions, and dropped passes, they squandered a golden opportunity to put themselves in prime position to make the playoffs. Instead, all these loses keep hope alive for teams like the Jets and Browns, of which I don't think anyone would argue the Browns are the better team at this point.
In any case, the final push for the playoffs starts this week and nothing is guaranteed, especially after the beatdown the Texans received from the Patriots last week. Some teams have locked up a playoff spot, but seeding has to be settled still and the wild card spots in both conferences are wide open.
Hopefully this week shakes out better than last week. It was rough.
Thursday
Cincinnati (7-6) at Philadelphia (4-9) - 8:20pm NFL Network
The Bengals missed out on a big chance to strenghten their playoff positioning, but for some reason struggled against a Cowboys team that wasn't exactly playing inspired football until the fourth quarter. AJ Green had a couple of drops, Andy Dalton threw a bad interception and took a sack late that helped set up a scoring drive for the Cowboys, and what happened to the running game? The Bengals still have a shot at the playoffs, but they need to win and it starts tonight.
The Eagles needed that win, but let's be honest, it wasn't a sparkling performance to say the least. Andy Reid, unimpressed with Bryce Brown, dialed up pass after pass (granted, Brown's penchant for fumbling at the worst possible time could have something to do with it) and Nick Foles did his best against a poor pass defense. Give him credit for putting up big numbers, but more importantly throwing a winning touchdown pass with no time left. Unfortunately for the Eagles, the Bengals defense is better than the Buccaneers.
Pick: Bengals 24, Eagles 13
Sunday
NY Giants (8-5) at Atlanta (11-2) - 1pm FOX
This was a tough game to pick. I like the Giants just because late in the season they always seem to ratchet the intensity up and pick up their play. They also seem to thrive on the road, although that game in Cincinnati would have you fooled. Last week they got a much-needed win, especially with the Redskins and Cowboys nipping at their heels. Eli Manning and company know what the stakes are if they win, but also if they lose.
The Falcons, they just underwhelm me. They've won 11 games, but several have required comebacks or have required they hold off a comeback. They easily could be 9-4 or 8-5, but give them credit where credit is due: they don't stop playing. I thought about giving them the edge with them being at home, but while Julio Jones and Roddy White are terrific receivers, nothing else really scares me about this team.
Pick: Giants 27, Falcons 26
Minnesota (7-6) at St. Louis (6-6-1) - 1pm FOX
If the Vikings make the playoffs, which is a possibility at this point, it will solely be on the shoulders of Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson, but mostly Peterson. You wouldn't know this guy blew out his knee and missed all of last season by the way he's played thus far, and it isn't out of the question him having another big game this week against the Rams. He's simply been on a mission. He simply refused to go down against the Bears, who had no answer for him. Unfortunately, his quarterback has regressed and looks completely lost without Harvin on the field, who's been hurt.
The Rams just won't go away. They still have an outside shot at a playoff berth, but winning out is going to be required to do so. The offense won't wow you, but it has done enough in a couple games to get the win when least expected, especially against the 49ers. I don't think there will be a ton of offense in this game, but the Rams are at home and that should help.
Pick: Rams 23, Vikings 20
Jacksonville (2-11) at Miami (5-8) - 1pm CBS
The Jaguars can't catch a break. They had every opportunity to win their game against the Jets, but couldn't make the plays when they needed to and lost on a miscommunication between quarterback and receiver leading to Chad Henne's final pass being picked off. They hang around, but can't get over the hump. Except when they get blown out. I think they'll fight to the end in this game, but I can't see them pulling a win out.
The Dolphins are a team experiencing growing pains. They've looked promising at times, but at other times, they've looked absolutely awful on both sides of the ball. Ryan Tannehill has been the epitome of this issue, playing great games at one point, but also giving away games with rookie mistakes. His future looks bright, but they need to solidify the roster around him before they can make serious noise in their division. For one more week they'll keep their playoff hopes alive though.
Pick: Dolphins 20, Jaguars 15
Tampa Bay (6-7) at New Orleans (5-8) - 1pm FOX
The Bucs had a chance to solidify their playoff hopes, then promptly squandered it by allowing Nick Foles to throw all over their secondary. Now they have to travel to play the Saints, who are finally seeing the bounty-gate scandal get lifted from their season. It will take a much better performance this week to go into New Orleans and win against an angry Saints team.
Why are they angry? They scored 27 points and were blown out by the Giants. Drew Brees has been throwing interceptions left and right, but what choice does have when the defense is as bad as its been? It's sad to think the Saints could score 30 and lose regularly, but that's what they're facing each and every week. Luckily for Brees, they get to face the worst secondary in football.
Pick: Saints 37, Buccaneers 31
Denver (10-3) at Baltimore (9-4) - 1pm CBS
It wasn't long ago when many figured the Texans were the number one seed and everyone else could fight for the rest of the playoff spots. The Texans losing last week opened the door not just for the Patriots, but for the Broncos. There isn't a team hotter than the Broncos, but they will be the first to tell you they need to get better. Their red zone offense last week wasn't pretty and will have to get better against the Ravens.
The Ravens are close to spiraling out of control. The loss to the Redskins was hard to fathom, especially since they seemed to be controlling the game in the first half. Joe Flacco showed how inconsistent he is though. Brilliant in the first half, miserable in the second, and if it weren't for the Steelers and Bengals stumbling, we'd be talking about them losing the division more. Now they have to fight just to hold onto the fourth seed.
Pick: Broncos 27, Ravens 24
Indianapolis (9-4) at Houston (11-2) - 1pm CBS
The Colts are the story of the year. They have found way after way to win, and while it's easy to say it's because of their quarterback, Andrew Luck's numbers aren't that great. He's played like a rookie. The difference is he makes his mistakes early, then makes the winning play later on. This would be a tremendous game for them to win, but the Texans are going to be mad and will want to prove a point going forward.
The loss to the Patriots stung. There's no other way to look at it. Now they have to face their closest challenger twice in the final three weeks. They are going to want to send the Colts a message and it isn't going to be pleasant. It's almost the time for the Colts to return to the top, but not quite yet.
Pick: Texans 31, Colts 23
Seattle (8-5) at Buffalo (5-8) - 4:05pm FOX
The Seahawks won on the road two weeks ago, then completely dismantled a hapless Cardinals team last week. They get to play the Bills, who suddenly can't score a point when they need to. Needless to say, it could be a long day in Buffalo unless Ryan Fitzpatrick pulls one of those franchise quarterback performances out of his bag of tricks that he's occasionally known for.
Pick: Seahawks 20, Bills 12
Detroit (4-9) at Arizona (4-9) - 4:05pm FOX
The Lions were the talk of the NFL last year with all their come-from-behind wins. Now they can't hold a lead to save their season. Luckily, they play the Cardinals this week who could put an equipment manager at quarterback and not look any worse than have. Remember when they were 4-0? No one else does either.
Pick: Lions 34, Cardinals 6
Carolina (4-9) at San Diego (5-8) - 4:05pm FOX
The Panthers finally saw the Cam Newton from a year ago and look what happened? They rolled the Falcons and finally had a reason to feel good about themselves. That secondary is still a mess though. It might need an exorcism. The Chargers finally won a game and did so in convincing fashion. It won't save Norv Turner his job, but at least he continues to get wins in December. Well, except against the Panthers.
Pick: Panthers 28, Chargers 24
Pittsburgh (7-6) at Dallas (7-6) - 4:25pm FOX
I bet when the schedule makers made this season's schedule out, they saw this as a matchup between two of the best in the AFC and NFC. It'll still be good with both teams fighting for a playoff spot, but some of the luster was lost when the Cowboys decided to play lousy for a few weeks, the Steelers couldn't hang on to the football, and the football gods laughed. The Steelers just don't seem the same as they usually do and the Cowboys have been pulling wins out of thin air. I had a hard time with this one, but something is just off with the Steelers.
Pick: Cowboys 19, Steelers 16
Kansas City (2-11) at Oakland (3-10) - 4:25pm CBS
If the Raiders can't beat the Chiefs, then the whole team should just be thrown off the field and forfeit the rest of the season and start from scratch next season. The Chiefs had a feel-good win after the tragedy that struck, then returned to previous form against the Browns. Brady Quinn is not the answer and Jamaal Charles deserves better. If the Raiders struggle, they should just give Terrelle Pryor a chance and see what happens. It can't possibly be much worse than we've seen.
Pick: Raiders 24, Chiefs 13
San Francisco (9-3-1) at New England (10-3) - 8:20pm NBC
After what I saw the Patriots do to the Texans at home and how the 49ers have looked at times this season, it's hard for me to go against the Patriots. Sure, the 49ers have been dominant at times, especially against upper echelon opponents, but this game has disaster written all over it. Colin Kaepernick's first time against a Bill Belichick defense? That usually isn't a good thing and the Patriots offense is cruising along. The Patriots also want that number one seed badly.
Pick: Patriots 34, 49ers 20
Monday
NY Jets (6-7) at Tennessee (4-9) - 8:30pm ESPN
Ladies and gentlemen, your lowest rated Monday Night game of the year! The Jets stink, the Titans can't play defense, but at least Jake Locker looks all right when he isn't throwing pick-six's from his two yard line. I can't even talk about the Jets though. I don't even know how they scored 17 points last week.
Pick: Titans 13, Jets 6
Browns Game
Washington (7-6) at Cleveland (5-8) - 1pm FOX
Consider this for a moment: two teams who were bad last year meeting up with rookie quarterbacks, both fighting for a playoff spot. I know, the Browns chances are slim at 5-8, but they're in the discussion. Did anyone think this possible when they saw the schedule? Sure, RGIII was going to make his first visit to Cleveland, but did anyone think there'd be a more compelling storyline?
The Browns have won three straight and five of eight. The Redskins have also been on a roll and are one game behind the Giants for the division lead. Brandon Weeden hasn't been spectacular all the time, but he's made plays when needed and has cut back on the bad decisions. Trent Richardson hasn't run for a ton of yards, but he's scored 9 rushing touchdowns. Alfred Morris has been another gem found in the later rounds by Mike Shanahan.
In other words, there's something on the line for both teams and it isn't just a roster spot for next season. This is a good test for both the Browns defense and RGIII, who's thrived against lesser defenses of late. If he gets out and makes plays with his feet, it could be a long day for the Browns. If they can contain him and Morris, the Redskins are in trouble. I think the Browns can do it.
Pick: Browns 27, Redskins 23
Last: 10-6
Overall: 113-43-1
Last week was a disaster for picks due to several upsets. The Panthers upended the Falcons, and while it was an upset, it was a game you could see coming for a while. The Falcons haven't been very dominant within their division and really should've lost the first meeting as well. Meanwhile, the Bears were falling flat agains the Vikings, the Bengals had several opportunities to put their game with the Cowboys away, the Steelers lost to a Chargers team that had been MIA for weeks, and the Bucs gave up a game-winning touchdown to the Eagles with no time left on the clock.
Speaking of the Steelers and Bengals, if either team misses the playoffs, both will look at week 14 as the reason. The Steelers were at home but were rolled by the Chargers, who had previously last shown signs of offensive life back when they led the Broncos 24-0 at halftime before imploding. The Bengals had chance after chance to put away the Cowboys, but between giving up sacks, interceptions, and dropped passes, they squandered a golden opportunity to put themselves in prime position to make the playoffs. Instead, all these loses keep hope alive for teams like the Jets and Browns, of which I don't think anyone would argue the Browns are the better team at this point.
In any case, the final push for the playoffs starts this week and nothing is guaranteed, especially after the beatdown the Texans received from the Patriots last week. Some teams have locked up a playoff spot, but seeding has to be settled still and the wild card spots in both conferences are wide open.
Hopefully this week shakes out better than last week. It was rough.
Thursday
Cincinnati (7-6) at Philadelphia (4-9) - 8:20pm NFL Network
The Bengals missed out on a big chance to strenghten their playoff positioning, but for some reason struggled against a Cowboys team that wasn't exactly playing inspired football until the fourth quarter. AJ Green had a couple of drops, Andy Dalton threw a bad interception and took a sack late that helped set up a scoring drive for the Cowboys, and what happened to the running game? The Bengals still have a shot at the playoffs, but they need to win and it starts tonight.
The Eagles needed that win, but let's be honest, it wasn't a sparkling performance to say the least. Andy Reid, unimpressed with Bryce Brown, dialed up pass after pass (granted, Brown's penchant for fumbling at the worst possible time could have something to do with it) and Nick Foles did his best against a poor pass defense. Give him credit for putting up big numbers, but more importantly throwing a winning touchdown pass with no time left. Unfortunately for the Eagles, the Bengals defense is better than the Buccaneers.
Pick: Bengals 24, Eagles 13
Sunday
NY Giants (8-5) at Atlanta (11-2) - 1pm FOX
This was a tough game to pick. I like the Giants just because late in the season they always seem to ratchet the intensity up and pick up their play. They also seem to thrive on the road, although that game in Cincinnati would have you fooled. Last week they got a much-needed win, especially with the Redskins and Cowboys nipping at their heels. Eli Manning and company know what the stakes are if they win, but also if they lose.
The Falcons, they just underwhelm me. They've won 11 games, but several have required comebacks or have required they hold off a comeback. They easily could be 9-4 or 8-5, but give them credit where credit is due: they don't stop playing. I thought about giving them the edge with them being at home, but while Julio Jones and Roddy White are terrific receivers, nothing else really scares me about this team.
Pick: Giants 27, Falcons 26
Minnesota (7-6) at St. Louis (6-6-1) - 1pm FOX
If the Vikings make the playoffs, which is a possibility at this point, it will solely be on the shoulders of Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson, but mostly Peterson. You wouldn't know this guy blew out his knee and missed all of last season by the way he's played thus far, and it isn't out of the question him having another big game this week against the Rams. He's simply been on a mission. He simply refused to go down against the Bears, who had no answer for him. Unfortunately, his quarterback has regressed and looks completely lost without Harvin on the field, who's been hurt.
The Rams just won't go away. They still have an outside shot at a playoff berth, but winning out is going to be required to do so. The offense won't wow you, but it has done enough in a couple games to get the win when least expected, especially against the 49ers. I don't think there will be a ton of offense in this game, but the Rams are at home and that should help.
Pick: Rams 23, Vikings 20
Jacksonville (2-11) at Miami (5-8) - 1pm CBS
The Jaguars can't catch a break. They had every opportunity to win their game against the Jets, but couldn't make the plays when they needed to and lost on a miscommunication between quarterback and receiver leading to Chad Henne's final pass being picked off. They hang around, but can't get over the hump. Except when they get blown out. I think they'll fight to the end in this game, but I can't see them pulling a win out.
The Dolphins are a team experiencing growing pains. They've looked promising at times, but at other times, they've looked absolutely awful on both sides of the ball. Ryan Tannehill has been the epitome of this issue, playing great games at one point, but also giving away games with rookie mistakes. His future looks bright, but they need to solidify the roster around him before they can make serious noise in their division. For one more week they'll keep their playoff hopes alive though.
Pick: Dolphins 20, Jaguars 15
Tampa Bay (6-7) at New Orleans (5-8) - 1pm FOX
The Bucs had a chance to solidify their playoff hopes, then promptly squandered it by allowing Nick Foles to throw all over their secondary. Now they have to travel to play the Saints, who are finally seeing the bounty-gate scandal get lifted from their season. It will take a much better performance this week to go into New Orleans and win against an angry Saints team.
Why are they angry? They scored 27 points and were blown out by the Giants. Drew Brees has been throwing interceptions left and right, but what choice does have when the defense is as bad as its been? It's sad to think the Saints could score 30 and lose regularly, but that's what they're facing each and every week. Luckily for Brees, they get to face the worst secondary in football.
Pick: Saints 37, Buccaneers 31
Denver (10-3) at Baltimore (9-4) - 1pm CBS
It wasn't long ago when many figured the Texans were the number one seed and everyone else could fight for the rest of the playoff spots. The Texans losing last week opened the door not just for the Patriots, but for the Broncos. There isn't a team hotter than the Broncos, but they will be the first to tell you they need to get better. Their red zone offense last week wasn't pretty and will have to get better against the Ravens.
The Ravens are close to spiraling out of control. The loss to the Redskins was hard to fathom, especially since they seemed to be controlling the game in the first half. Joe Flacco showed how inconsistent he is though. Brilliant in the first half, miserable in the second, and if it weren't for the Steelers and Bengals stumbling, we'd be talking about them losing the division more. Now they have to fight just to hold onto the fourth seed.
Pick: Broncos 27, Ravens 24
Indianapolis (9-4) at Houston (11-2) - 1pm CBS
The Colts are the story of the year. They have found way after way to win, and while it's easy to say it's because of their quarterback, Andrew Luck's numbers aren't that great. He's played like a rookie. The difference is he makes his mistakes early, then makes the winning play later on. This would be a tremendous game for them to win, but the Texans are going to be mad and will want to prove a point going forward.
The loss to the Patriots stung. There's no other way to look at it. Now they have to face their closest challenger twice in the final three weeks. They are going to want to send the Colts a message and it isn't going to be pleasant. It's almost the time for the Colts to return to the top, but not quite yet.
Pick: Texans 31, Colts 23
Seattle (8-5) at Buffalo (5-8) - 4:05pm FOX
The Seahawks won on the road two weeks ago, then completely dismantled a hapless Cardinals team last week. They get to play the Bills, who suddenly can't score a point when they need to. Needless to say, it could be a long day in Buffalo unless Ryan Fitzpatrick pulls one of those franchise quarterback performances out of his bag of tricks that he's occasionally known for.
Pick: Seahawks 20, Bills 12
Detroit (4-9) at Arizona (4-9) - 4:05pm FOX
The Lions were the talk of the NFL last year with all their come-from-behind wins. Now they can't hold a lead to save their season. Luckily, they play the Cardinals this week who could put an equipment manager at quarterback and not look any worse than have. Remember when they were 4-0? No one else does either.
Pick: Lions 34, Cardinals 6
Carolina (4-9) at San Diego (5-8) - 4:05pm FOX
The Panthers finally saw the Cam Newton from a year ago and look what happened? They rolled the Falcons and finally had a reason to feel good about themselves. That secondary is still a mess though. It might need an exorcism. The Chargers finally won a game and did so in convincing fashion. It won't save Norv Turner his job, but at least he continues to get wins in December. Well, except against the Panthers.
Pick: Panthers 28, Chargers 24
Pittsburgh (7-6) at Dallas (7-6) - 4:25pm FOX
I bet when the schedule makers made this season's schedule out, they saw this as a matchup between two of the best in the AFC and NFC. It'll still be good with both teams fighting for a playoff spot, but some of the luster was lost when the Cowboys decided to play lousy for a few weeks, the Steelers couldn't hang on to the football, and the football gods laughed. The Steelers just don't seem the same as they usually do and the Cowboys have been pulling wins out of thin air. I had a hard time with this one, but something is just off with the Steelers.
Pick: Cowboys 19, Steelers 16
Kansas City (2-11) at Oakland (3-10) - 4:25pm CBS
If the Raiders can't beat the Chiefs, then the whole team should just be thrown off the field and forfeit the rest of the season and start from scratch next season. The Chiefs had a feel-good win after the tragedy that struck, then returned to previous form against the Browns. Brady Quinn is not the answer and Jamaal Charles deserves better. If the Raiders struggle, they should just give Terrelle Pryor a chance and see what happens. It can't possibly be much worse than we've seen.
Pick: Raiders 24, Chiefs 13
San Francisco (9-3-1) at New England (10-3) - 8:20pm NBC
After what I saw the Patriots do to the Texans at home and how the 49ers have looked at times this season, it's hard for me to go against the Patriots. Sure, the 49ers have been dominant at times, especially against upper echelon opponents, but this game has disaster written all over it. Colin Kaepernick's first time against a Bill Belichick defense? That usually isn't a good thing and the Patriots offense is cruising along. The Patriots also want that number one seed badly.
Pick: Patriots 34, 49ers 20
Monday
NY Jets (6-7) at Tennessee (4-9) - 8:30pm ESPN
Ladies and gentlemen, your lowest rated Monday Night game of the year! The Jets stink, the Titans can't play defense, but at least Jake Locker looks all right when he isn't throwing pick-six's from his two yard line. I can't even talk about the Jets though. I don't even know how they scored 17 points last week.
Pick: Titans 13, Jets 6
Browns Game
Washington (7-6) at Cleveland (5-8) - 1pm FOX
Consider this for a moment: two teams who were bad last year meeting up with rookie quarterbacks, both fighting for a playoff spot. I know, the Browns chances are slim at 5-8, but they're in the discussion. Did anyone think this possible when they saw the schedule? Sure, RGIII was going to make his first visit to Cleveland, but did anyone think there'd be a more compelling storyline?
The Browns have won three straight and five of eight. The Redskins have also been on a roll and are one game behind the Giants for the division lead. Brandon Weeden hasn't been spectacular all the time, but he's made plays when needed and has cut back on the bad decisions. Trent Richardson hasn't run for a ton of yards, but he's scored 9 rushing touchdowns. Alfred Morris has been another gem found in the later rounds by Mike Shanahan.
In other words, there's something on the line for both teams and it isn't just a roster spot for next season. This is a good test for both the Browns defense and RGIII, who's thrived against lesser defenses of late. If he gets out and makes plays with his feet, it could be a long day for the Browns. If they can contain him and Morris, the Redskins are in trouble. I think the Browns can do it.
Pick: Browns 27, Redskins 23
Last: 10-6
Overall: 113-43-1
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
The Sports Mixer - After further review
Each week the Sports Mixer takes a look back at the previous Browns game, this time a look at the Browns 30-7 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, and discusses what was learned. This intro is never the same, is it?
Jamaal Charles came to play, unfortunately, the rest of the Chiefs took Sunday off. He ripped off an 80-yard touchdown run on the first place from scrimmage, ultimately compiling 165 yards on 18 carries. That 9.1 average is gaudy, and averaging 5 ypc on his other 17 runs is still high, but considering what happened on that first play, the defense did a nice job clamping down on Charles and hitting him hard every time.
Trent Richardson appears to be hurt, but continues to soldier on and has picked up 9 touchdowns for his pain. Montario Hardesty has done a nice job filling in for Richardson from series to series, picking up 52 yards on 10 carries in this game. He could've had a touchdown, but he fumbled at the goal line, which prompted Pat Shurmer to reinsert Richardson to pick up the touchdown. Hardesty was upset, but he had only himself to blame. His fumbling problems in the preseason landed him third on the depth chart early on. That said, he doesn't waste any time in the backfield. He gets the ball, finds the hole, and runs through it quickly.
Josh Gordon continues to impress, not just with his hands, but with how much better his routes have gotten and how much better he sheds defensive backs at the line of scrimmage. Simply put, he's developing into a top-tier wide receiver at an alarming rate and it's not out of the question that he could reach 1,000 yards receiving. The other thing is he had a drop early in a drive that essentially helped stall it out on a slant. It was a good pass, he just dropped it. He made amends by making the grab on the exact same type of route later on to pick up a quick first down. Is he immune from drops? No, but he makes up for it and doesn't seem to become infected with the dropsies that his counterpart has struggled with.
Speaking of Greg Little, he's really come on strong of late. Since the bye week, he's had maybe on drop, made several tough grabs, and has been superb blocking downfield for other receivers and running backs when he's not getting the ball. Toss in a toss play where he lined up as the running back, and it seems like the Browns and Little are finally figuring out how to put it all together. He's been a different player with the emergence of Gordon, and that's a very good thing.
The defensive line has been impressive, this despite getting gashed at times by Charles. Fact is, Charles has gashed a lot of teams but the Browns made the proper adjustment and limited the damage after the first possession. Then they went after Brady Quinn after the Browns took command of the game in the second half, leading to five sacks.
The secondary looks so much better with Joe Haden out there, but it helps having better play from the defensive line and linebackers. It's allowed Sheldon Brown, Buster Skrine, and Dmitri Patterson to play in more comfortable roles. Quinn isn't a very good quarterback, but they didn't allow him to gain much confidence with his passes.
Travis Benjamin may have played his way into lead returner with his 93 yard return on what was supposed to be a punt block play. In the open field, you can see how challenging it is to bring him down. He blew past the first wave of defenders, then essentially ran past everyone, including his escort of blockers that was initially ahead of him. The punter saw Josh Cribbs coming and said no thanks. From there, Benjamin ran the Browns into the lead and possibly showed Cribbs the door after this season.
The offensive line doesn't do a great job of run blocking, but the improvement in the pass game is clear. Sure, Brandon Weeden gets a number of passes knocked down, but some of that is just because the defense isn't getting to Weeden and is jumping up to block passes. Steve Tasker mentioned on the TV broadcast that Weeden could benefit from a pump fake, a move he tried later in the game. It would have been successful if the defender hadn't managed to grab a hold of Weeden's jersey on the way by, preventing Weeden from putting enough on the pass to score an easy touchdown. Overall though, the line has played well.
Weeden has taken his lumps this season, but he's passed for over 3,000 in his rookie season, won five games, hasn't sustained any major injuries, and has managed to lead sustained drives at critical points the last couple of weeks. You'd like to see the batted passes drop and a little better accuracy, but overall, he's done well enough to earn the starting nod next season in this corner.
Pat Shurmer has taken lumps for his decisions, but he's drastically improved over the last few weeks. Some will question his challenge on the Cribbs run, but this observer couldn't tell if the knee was down and Cribbs deserved at least a chance at that score. The timeout wasn't wasted in the long run as the Browns time management was the best it's been all season long. At one point, this corner had realized that it was late in the game and not once had the Browns used a timeout due to the playclock running down. The imagination on offense was a welcome sight as well as the Browns used the wildcat twice, a double-reverse with Benjamin, and Little out of the backfield for nice gains.
It isn't entirely out of the question for the Browns to run the table and finish 8-8, although it's highly unlikely given the level of competition they have coming up. That said, they're in the playoff hunt still and that's something we haven't been able to say in a few years now. The Redskins game may be the most winnable game on the schedule though, seeing as trips to Denver and Pittsburgh follow this final home game. We'll see how far this team has grown over the next three weeks, or if they falter, how far they still have to go.
Finally, the NFL is such an unpredictable league in that few probably saw the Falcons losing to the Panthers, the Steelers getting rolled by the previously lethargic Chargers, the Texans failing to show up against the Patriots, or the Bears getting run over by the Vikings. It was a tough week for picks but that's what makes football great; any team can win any day.
Jamaal Charles came to play, unfortunately, the rest of the Chiefs took Sunday off. He ripped off an 80-yard touchdown run on the first place from scrimmage, ultimately compiling 165 yards on 18 carries. That 9.1 average is gaudy, and averaging 5 ypc on his other 17 runs is still high, but considering what happened on that first play, the defense did a nice job clamping down on Charles and hitting him hard every time.
Trent Richardson appears to be hurt, but continues to soldier on and has picked up 9 touchdowns for his pain. Montario Hardesty has done a nice job filling in for Richardson from series to series, picking up 52 yards on 10 carries in this game. He could've had a touchdown, but he fumbled at the goal line, which prompted Pat Shurmer to reinsert Richardson to pick up the touchdown. Hardesty was upset, but he had only himself to blame. His fumbling problems in the preseason landed him third on the depth chart early on. That said, he doesn't waste any time in the backfield. He gets the ball, finds the hole, and runs through it quickly.
Josh Gordon continues to impress, not just with his hands, but with how much better his routes have gotten and how much better he sheds defensive backs at the line of scrimmage. Simply put, he's developing into a top-tier wide receiver at an alarming rate and it's not out of the question that he could reach 1,000 yards receiving. The other thing is he had a drop early in a drive that essentially helped stall it out on a slant. It was a good pass, he just dropped it. He made amends by making the grab on the exact same type of route later on to pick up a quick first down. Is he immune from drops? No, but he makes up for it and doesn't seem to become infected with the dropsies that his counterpart has struggled with.
Speaking of Greg Little, he's really come on strong of late. Since the bye week, he's had maybe on drop, made several tough grabs, and has been superb blocking downfield for other receivers and running backs when he's not getting the ball. Toss in a toss play where he lined up as the running back, and it seems like the Browns and Little are finally figuring out how to put it all together. He's been a different player with the emergence of Gordon, and that's a very good thing.
The defensive line has been impressive, this despite getting gashed at times by Charles. Fact is, Charles has gashed a lot of teams but the Browns made the proper adjustment and limited the damage after the first possession. Then they went after Brady Quinn after the Browns took command of the game in the second half, leading to five sacks.
The secondary looks so much better with Joe Haden out there, but it helps having better play from the defensive line and linebackers. It's allowed Sheldon Brown, Buster Skrine, and Dmitri Patterson to play in more comfortable roles. Quinn isn't a very good quarterback, but they didn't allow him to gain much confidence with his passes.
Travis Benjamin may have played his way into lead returner with his 93 yard return on what was supposed to be a punt block play. In the open field, you can see how challenging it is to bring him down. He blew past the first wave of defenders, then essentially ran past everyone, including his escort of blockers that was initially ahead of him. The punter saw Josh Cribbs coming and said no thanks. From there, Benjamin ran the Browns into the lead and possibly showed Cribbs the door after this season.
The offensive line doesn't do a great job of run blocking, but the improvement in the pass game is clear. Sure, Brandon Weeden gets a number of passes knocked down, but some of that is just because the defense isn't getting to Weeden and is jumping up to block passes. Steve Tasker mentioned on the TV broadcast that Weeden could benefit from a pump fake, a move he tried later in the game. It would have been successful if the defender hadn't managed to grab a hold of Weeden's jersey on the way by, preventing Weeden from putting enough on the pass to score an easy touchdown. Overall though, the line has played well.
Weeden has taken his lumps this season, but he's passed for over 3,000 in his rookie season, won five games, hasn't sustained any major injuries, and has managed to lead sustained drives at critical points the last couple of weeks. You'd like to see the batted passes drop and a little better accuracy, but overall, he's done well enough to earn the starting nod next season in this corner.
Pat Shurmer has taken lumps for his decisions, but he's drastically improved over the last few weeks. Some will question his challenge on the Cribbs run, but this observer couldn't tell if the knee was down and Cribbs deserved at least a chance at that score. The timeout wasn't wasted in the long run as the Browns time management was the best it's been all season long. At one point, this corner had realized that it was late in the game and not once had the Browns used a timeout due to the playclock running down. The imagination on offense was a welcome sight as well as the Browns used the wildcat twice, a double-reverse with Benjamin, and Little out of the backfield for nice gains.
It isn't entirely out of the question for the Browns to run the table and finish 8-8, although it's highly unlikely given the level of competition they have coming up. That said, they're in the playoff hunt still and that's something we haven't been able to say in a few years now. The Redskins game may be the most winnable game on the schedule though, seeing as trips to Denver and Pittsburgh follow this final home game. We'll see how far this team has grown over the next three weeks, or if they falter, how far they still have to go.
Finally, the NFL is such an unpredictable league in that few probably saw the Falcons losing to the Panthers, the Steelers getting rolled by the previously lethargic Chargers, the Texans failing to show up against the Patriots, or the Bears getting run over by the Vikings. It was a tough week for picks but that's what makes football great; any team can win any day.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
The Sports Mixer - Week 14 time
Just when you think you have a team figured out, they go out and lay a giant egg at the worst time.
I'm looking squarely at the New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, and San Francisco 49ers. For the Giants, it seems Eli Manning is enduring a rough stretch in his career. Discard his big game a week ago, and you see some unflattering numbers going back the last few weeks. Defensively, they've been sound, but the points aren't being scored.
The Ravens had a chance to secure a playoff spot against the Steelers and their third string quarterback, but instead watched Joe Flacco play as poorly as he's played at home ever and completely ignored Ray Rice again, who has to be wondering who he angered on the coaching staff.
The Bears decided that playing defense at the end of a game meant letting Russell Wilson drive down the field, then allow the same in overtime. The 49ers, well, there must be something about the Rams that gives them fits. The game almost ended in a tie, David Akers missed a second potential game-winning field goal, and the Rams were able to get close enough to earn a win.
This week I think the best game, and the toughest to pick, is the Texans-Patriots matchup on Monday Night Football. The Texans are looking to lock up home-field advantage, the Patriots want to secure at least the second seed or better. This could be a fun game. Other than that, there aren't many "I HAVE to watch that game" matchups.
So let's get to it.
Thursday
Denver (9-3) at Oakland (3-9) - 8:20 NFL Network
There were suspicions that the Broncos would be better this year. No one knew what to expect from Peyton Manning, but the thought was if he played anywhere near his previous level, the offense would be explosive. Well, 12 games in, the Broncos have scored 349 points, good for an average of 29 points per game. Manning seems to have complete control over the offense now, and with the defense gelling, this team has become very dangerous.
The Raiders, sadly, have not prospered since trading the farm for Carson Palmer. He hasn't been terrible, but he hasn't been great either. In any case, the real issue has been with the defense. Up until last week's game against the Browns, the Raiders had been historically bad on that side of the ball, and it could've been worse against the Browns if they hadn't picked off Brandon Weeden twice deep in their own end. I want, for a friend's sake, to find reason for the Raiders to win, but it's getting hard. Even if the Broncos rest a bunch of people since the division is already clinched, there's still the possibility of a first round bye on the line for the Broncos.
Pick: Broncos 23, Raiders 21
Sunday
St. Louis (5-6-1) at Buffalo (5-7) - 1pm FOX
The Rams refuse to go away. Every time I try to write them off, they pull off some kind of stunner like they did last week against the 49ers. They're playoff chances are slim at best, but they're still there. They aren't wowing anyone with their performances, but the defense has been gritty when it's needed to be and this week it will need to be so again against the occasionally explosive Bills. Can Sam Bradford and this overachieving bunch pull off another one?
The Bills finally put together a complete performance last week. Keep in mind it came against the Jaguars, but it was still the first time the defense and offense had shown up at the same time. The Bills are fighting injuries on the offensive side though and that could make things more challenging than they should be. I want to think the Bills are going to run away with this game, but I have a feeling it's not going to be that way.
Pick: Bills 20, Rams 17
Tennessee (4-8) at Indianapolis (8-4) - 1pm CBS
The Titans did not have a good time against the Texans last week. Jake Locker had a rough outing and the defense put them in a big hole right from the start. They were down 21-3 at the half and never seriously threatened to come back. This game shouldn't be as rough, but I don't think the Titans are going to go into Indy and find a win.
Andrew Luck and RGIII are pretty much going to take the Rookie of the Year race down to the very end. Of late, both have played spectacularly in leading their team to victories in recent weeks. Luck of course mastered the comeback from 12 down in the final five minutes against the Lions, throwing the winning touchdown pass as time expired and outrunning his receiver into the end zone to celebrate. The Colts now get to play at home, where Luck has been at his best. The Colts defense will give up points, but I expect the Colts to outscore the Titans.
Pick: Colts 27, Titans 23
Chicago (8-4) at Minnesota (6-6) - 1pm FOX
Okay Chicago, we're going to try this again. That game last week? Should've won that game, but you let the Seahawks hang around and now you're in a battle with the Packers for the division, a battle you wouldn't be in if you hadn't laid an egg last week or weeks back against the 49ers. Instead, you have to go on the road and win against your divisional rival Vikings, who are reeling as well. Oh, and do it without Brian Urlacher.
The Vikings can run the ball very well. Unfortunately, Christian Ponder is just not a very good quarterback right now. Percy Harvin being out hurts, but this team wasn't lighting up the passing game prior to that either. It does them no good for Adrian Peterson to run for 150+ yards and them not score or win. Of course, last time I counted them out, they surprised me by beating up the Lions.
Pick: Bears 24, Vikings 20
San Diego (4-8) at Pittsburgh (7-5) - 1pm CBS
Here are some facts for Chargers fans: the last time the Chiefs won, it was week 9 against the Chiefs. Before that, it was week 4 again against the Chiefs. After week 4, they were 3-1 and seemed to be in good shape with how the rest of the division was struggling. Then came the meltdown against the Saints, followed by the historic meltdown against the Broncos (up 24-0 at half, lose 35-24), then the season spiraled from there. It's almost a given that Norv Turner will be fired at the end of the season and a retool is going to begin.
The Steelers surprised a number of people by going into Baltimore and winning behing 37 year-old Charlie Batch. Now news has come out that the Steelers will be starting Ben Roethlisberger this week. This is a must-win for the Steelers. The wildcard scenarios are a mess with so many teams vying for the final two spots, one of them being their AFC North rival Bengals. Last week's performance could be a springboard for them and the Chargers are a good team to keep it going against. Winning this game will complete a perfect 4-0 season for the North against the Chiefs.
Pick: Steelers 20, Chargers 6
Philadelphia (3-9) at Tampa Bay (6-6) - 1pm FOX
There was once a time when people thought the Eagles were destined to become the best team in the NFL. Michael Vick had resurrected his career and was ready to become the quarterback every team feared. The defense was going to be top 10 every year, and with DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy, the offense was going to be explosive. Then a funny thing happened. They got off to a terrible start last year, before finally turning it around. This year, they somehow started 3-1, but the turnover machine that is Vick wouldn't let them win again and now Nick Foles is your starting quarterback. Could it get worse? Yes. They fire their defensive coordinator, then their defensive line coach, and release their sack leader from a year ago.
The Bucs were in position to make a run at a wild card spot until they were blown up by the machine that is Peyton Manning and his rebirth tour with the Broncos. Now they need to get a win just to keep hope alive. Luckily, the aforementioned Eagles are reeling, making this a good time to get that win. As long as Josh Freeman plays a good game anyway.
Pick: Buccaneers 31, Eagles 17
Baltimore (9-3) at Washington (6-6) - 1pm CBS
The Ravens literally laid an egg last week against the wounded Steelers, blowing a chance at securing a playoff birth and strengthening their grip on the division. They'll still win the AFC North, but now it appears there are issues with Ravens that have been uncovered to go along with their road woes, such as their inability to give the ball to Ray Rice at key points in the games they've lost. Also, just what is Joe Flacco's issue? One week he's Joe Montana, the next week he can't complete a pass for the life of him.
I was burned by Robert Griffin III and the Redskins last week. I thought for sure they'd lose to the Giants, given the urgency that the Giants displayed a week prior. Sure, RGIII had dismantled the Cowboys, but the Redskins defense nearly gave that one away so I was not sold on them. I'm still not sold, but the Ravens on the road never seems to end well these days and RGIII has a chance to put their playoff plans on hold for another week.
Pick: Redskins 24, Ravens 20
Atlanta (11-1) at Carolina (3-9) - 1pm FOX
Earlier in the season, the Falcons nearly lost to the Panthers. It took a miraculous fumble by Cam Newton followed by the Panthers secondary apparently ignoring the rule that states you don't let a receiver get behind you with a lead when the opposing team is inside their own five yard line with under a minute to go. The Falcons now look to secure their playoff seeding and remind the Panthers how far they really have to go.
It almost isn't fair for Newton and the Panthers. I figured they had a very reasonable chance to go into Kansas City and win on the road, but then the unfortunate murder-suicide happened, the Chiefs players rallied around each other, played inspired football, and came away with their only impressive win of the season thus far. Now the Panthers have to regroup against the NFC's best. It just isn't right. Oh, and they should've won that first meeting.
Pick: Falcons 21, Panthers 20
NY Jets (5-7) at Jacksonville (2-10) - 1pm CBS
The Jets had to turn to their third string quarterback last week and Greg McElroy did what Mark Sanchez couldn't do, and that's complete a throw to one of his teammates, much less for a touchdown. Simply put, I keep writing about how much of a mess the Jets are and each week they prove it further and further again. Last week's game became the most unwatchable game of the year due to two inept offenses who couldn't move the ball at all. Now the Jets get the Jags, a team they should beat. Should. Sanchez is the starter, but how long is the leash now?
The Jaguars looked decent for a couple weeks with Chad Henne as their quarterback, but last week he ran into his old AFC East foe in the Bills and did not play so well. There just must be something about those AFC East teams that cause him trouble. Still, it was a sobering reminder of how dire the Jags quarterback situation is.
Pick: Jets 15, Jaguars 12
Miami (5-7) at San Francisco (8-3-1) - 4:05pm CBS
Here's what we know about the Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill has some potential, but he needs help, Reggie Bush cannot carry the running back load for more than 5 quarters before he disappears for the next 11, Brian Hartline will give you a monster game once every few weeks, and the defense needs some help. Give Tannehill some more pieces then watch out.
The 49ers...ugh...I can't even talk about them. Colin Kaepernick was a nice story until we were reminded that he is indeed a rookie and rookies make bad mistakes at bad times. also, we now know the 49ers just can't beat the Rams. Anywhere. They should win this game, but the quarterback situation will become a distraction if Kaepernick struggles again.
Pick: 49ers 23, Dolphins 17
New Orleans (5-7) at NY Giants (7-5) - 4:25pm FOX
For a while, it looked the Saints were not only going to defy the odds, but Roger Goodell's attempts at banishing them from the face of the NFL. Drew Brees got hot, the defense was able to get a couple of stops a game (as opposed to none in it's horrific start to the season), and there seemed to be an outside chance that the Saints could make an improbable playoff run. Then Brees started throwing picks, the defense stopped stopping people, and those faint playoff hopes are pretty much gone. How much pride do the Saints have?
The Giants are one of the more frustrating teams under Tom Coughlin. They can look like the best team in football for a few weeks, then suddenly disappear for a couple of weeks losing games they shouldn't lose, before reappearing miraculously again. They repeat this process several times throughout the season, making sure their final hot streak occurs right before the playoffs start. They might want to consider starting early with the Cowboys and Redskins right on their heels.
Pick: Giants 34, Saints 31
Arizona (4-8) at Seattle (7-5) - 4:25pm FOX
The Cardinals stink, their line couldn't protect a quarterback from a pack of snails rushing the quarterback, and the defense is gassed. If they win again this year, I'd be shocked. Heck, they couldn't beat the Jets with the Jets only scoring 7 points. How sad is that?
The Seahawks have surprised me. Russell Wilson has surprised me. Marshawn Lynch does not surprise me. However, the toll that will be taken with half their secondary being suspended for PEDs can't be overlooked. Good thing the Cardinals don't have a passing attack to speak of.
Pick: Seahawks 27, Cardinals 10
Detroit (4-8) at Green Bay (8-4) - 8:20pm NBC
The Lions had a 33-21 lead with less than 5 minutes remaining against the Colts. Their "vaunted" defensive line stopped getting pressure and the Colts scored a touchdown with less than three minutes to go. The Lions didn't need to do much to run out the clock, but weren't able to do anything and a poor punt from Nick Harris allowed the Colts to start from the 25. 1:07 later, the Colts were celebrating and the Lions were trying to figure out how they had blown another fourth quarter lead. They might not have to worry about that though with the Packers.
The Packers have been a strange team. They're 8-4, but feels like they should be 6-6. They haven't really clicked all season long, but Aaron Rodgers keeps throwing touchdown passes and they keep finding a way to win. Now, with the Bears struggling, the Packers have a chance to get the NFC North title. They'd love to take that first step against the struggling Lions.
Pick: Packers 38, Lions 30
Monday
Houston (11-1) at New England (9-3) - 8:30pm ESPN
The Texans have been the most consistent team in football this year. Other than a bad game against the Packers and their defense taking the weekend off against the Jaguars, they've been solid on both sides of the ball in just about every game. Last week's game against the Titans was over before the first quarter was done, and that was with minimal effort. This game won't be so easy.
The Patriots wrapped up the division, but now have their eyes on securing a high seed for their playoff push. This game means more to them than the Texans for that reason alone. That and Bill Belichick will want to make a point that the Patriots aren't that far from the Texans in how good they are. Oh, and it's at Foxboro, thus giving the slight edge to the Patriots.
Pick: Patriots 27, Texans 24
The Browns Game
Kansas City (2-10) at Cleveland (4-8) - 1pm CBS
The Chiefs rallied around each other after the tragedy that fell upon them when it was learned that Jovan Belcher had killed his girlfriend, then killed himself the day before their game against the Panthers. The result was inspired play and an unexpected victory from a team that had underachieved all season long. Now they take their show to Cleveland, who is starting to show signs of growing up. Of course, it wouldn't be a game without stories of Peyton Hillis' return, as well as former coach Romeo Crennel and quarterback Brady Quinn. The Chiefs rode the wave of their emotions last week, can they do it again?
It'll be harder just because the Browns defense is better than the Panthers, especially up front and in the secondary (hard to believe, right). For the first time all season, Dick Jauron is expected to have his entire secondary healthy, which coupled with a healthy front four could make things tough on the Chiefs offense. The Browns offense, which hasn't scored a ton of points, has still moved the ball relatively well of late and should be able to get good yardage against the Chiefs. Hillis may be amped up to face his former team, but Hillis doesn't get a ton of carries to begin with. If the Browns offense can get going early, this game could be over quickly, something we're not accustomed to seeing around here.
Pick: Browns 27, Chiefs 20
Last: 11-5
Overall: 103-37-1
I'm looking squarely at the New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, and San Francisco 49ers. For the Giants, it seems Eli Manning is enduring a rough stretch in his career. Discard his big game a week ago, and you see some unflattering numbers going back the last few weeks. Defensively, they've been sound, but the points aren't being scored.
The Ravens had a chance to secure a playoff spot against the Steelers and their third string quarterback, but instead watched Joe Flacco play as poorly as he's played at home ever and completely ignored Ray Rice again, who has to be wondering who he angered on the coaching staff.
The Bears decided that playing defense at the end of a game meant letting Russell Wilson drive down the field, then allow the same in overtime. The 49ers, well, there must be something about the Rams that gives them fits. The game almost ended in a tie, David Akers missed a second potential game-winning field goal, and the Rams were able to get close enough to earn a win.
This week I think the best game, and the toughest to pick, is the Texans-Patriots matchup on Monday Night Football. The Texans are looking to lock up home-field advantage, the Patriots want to secure at least the second seed or better. This could be a fun game. Other than that, there aren't many "I HAVE to watch that game" matchups.
So let's get to it.
Thursday
Denver (9-3) at Oakland (3-9) - 8:20 NFL Network
There were suspicions that the Broncos would be better this year. No one knew what to expect from Peyton Manning, but the thought was if he played anywhere near his previous level, the offense would be explosive. Well, 12 games in, the Broncos have scored 349 points, good for an average of 29 points per game. Manning seems to have complete control over the offense now, and with the defense gelling, this team has become very dangerous.
The Raiders, sadly, have not prospered since trading the farm for Carson Palmer. He hasn't been terrible, but he hasn't been great either. In any case, the real issue has been with the defense. Up until last week's game against the Browns, the Raiders had been historically bad on that side of the ball, and it could've been worse against the Browns if they hadn't picked off Brandon Weeden twice deep in their own end. I want, for a friend's sake, to find reason for the Raiders to win, but it's getting hard. Even if the Broncos rest a bunch of people since the division is already clinched, there's still the possibility of a first round bye on the line for the Broncos.
Pick: Broncos 23, Raiders 21
Sunday
St. Louis (5-6-1) at Buffalo (5-7) - 1pm FOX
The Rams refuse to go away. Every time I try to write them off, they pull off some kind of stunner like they did last week against the 49ers. They're playoff chances are slim at best, but they're still there. They aren't wowing anyone with their performances, but the defense has been gritty when it's needed to be and this week it will need to be so again against the occasionally explosive Bills. Can Sam Bradford and this overachieving bunch pull off another one?
The Bills finally put together a complete performance last week. Keep in mind it came against the Jaguars, but it was still the first time the defense and offense had shown up at the same time. The Bills are fighting injuries on the offensive side though and that could make things more challenging than they should be. I want to think the Bills are going to run away with this game, but I have a feeling it's not going to be that way.
Pick: Bills 20, Rams 17
Tennessee (4-8) at Indianapolis (8-4) - 1pm CBS
The Titans did not have a good time against the Texans last week. Jake Locker had a rough outing and the defense put them in a big hole right from the start. They were down 21-3 at the half and never seriously threatened to come back. This game shouldn't be as rough, but I don't think the Titans are going to go into Indy and find a win.
Andrew Luck and RGIII are pretty much going to take the Rookie of the Year race down to the very end. Of late, both have played spectacularly in leading their team to victories in recent weeks. Luck of course mastered the comeback from 12 down in the final five minutes against the Lions, throwing the winning touchdown pass as time expired and outrunning his receiver into the end zone to celebrate. The Colts now get to play at home, where Luck has been at his best. The Colts defense will give up points, but I expect the Colts to outscore the Titans.
Pick: Colts 27, Titans 23
Chicago (8-4) at Minnesota (6-6) - 1pm FOX
Okay Chicago, we're going to try this again. That game last week? Should've won that game, but you let the Seahawks hang around and now you're in a battle with the Packers for the division, a battle you wouldn't be in if you hadn't laid an egg last week or weeks back against the 49ers. Instead, you have to go on the road and win against your divisional rival Vikings, who are reeling as well. Oh, and do it without Brian Urlacher.
The Vikings can run the ball very well. Unfortunately, Christian Ponder is just not a very good quarterback right now. Percy Harvin being out hurts, but this team wasn't lighting up the passing game prior to that either. It does them no good for Adrian Peterson to run for 150+ yards and them not score or win. Of course, last time I counted them out, they surprised me by beating up the Lions.
Pick: Bears 24, Vikings 20
San Diego (4-8) at Pittsburgh (7-5) - 1pm CBS
Here are some facts for Chargers fans: the last time the Chiefs won, it was week 9 against the Chiefs. Before that, it was week 4 again against the Chiefs. After week 4, they were 3-1 and seemed to be in good shape with how the rest of the division was struggling. Then came the meltdown against the Saints, followed by the historic meltdown against the Broncos (up 24-0 at half, lose 35-24), then the season spiraled from there. It's almost a given that Norv Turner will be fired at the end of the season and a retool is going to begin.
The Steelers surprised a number of people by going into Baltimore and winning behing 37 year-old Charlie Batch. Now news has come out that the Steelers will be starting Ben Roethlisberger this week. This is a must-win for the Steelers. The wildcard scenarios are a mess with so many teams vying for the final two spots, one of them being their AFC North rival Bengals. Last week's performance could be a springboard for them and the Chargers are a good team to keep it going against. Winning this game will complete a perfect 4-0 season for the North against the Chiefs.
Pick: Steelers 20, Chargers 6
Philadelphia (3-9) at Tampa Bay (6-6) - 1pm FOX
There was once a time when people thought the Eagles were destined to become the best team in the NFL. Michael Vick had resurrected his career and was ready to become the quarterback every team feared. The defense was going to be top 10 every year, and with DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy, the offense was going to be explosive. Then a funny thing happened. They got off to a terrible start last year, before finally turning it around. This year, they somehow started 3-1, but the turnover machine that is Vick wouldn't let them win again and now Nick Foles is your starting quarterback. Could it get worse? Yes. They fire their defensive coordinator, then their defensive line coach, and release their sack leader from a year ago.
The Bucs were in position to make a run at a wild card spot until they were blown up by the machine that is Peyton Manning and his rebirth tour with the Broncos. Now they need to get a win just to keep hope alive. Luckily, the aforementioned Eagles are reeling, making this a good time to get that win. As long as Josh Freeman plays a good game anyway.
Pick: Buccaneers 31, Eagles 17
Baltimore (9-3) at Washington (6-6) - 1pm CBS
The Ravens literally laid an egg last week against the wounded Steelers, blowing a chance at securing a playoff birth and strengthening their grip on the division. They'll still win the AFC North, but now it appears there are issues with Ravens that have been uncovered to go along with their road woes, such as their inability to give the ball to Ray Rice at key points in the games they've lost. Also, just what is Joe Flacco's issue? One week he's Joe Montana, the next week he can't complete a pass for the life of him.
I was burned by Robert Griffin III and the Redskins last week. I thought for sure they'd lose to the Giants, given the urgency that the Giants displayed a week prior. Sure, RGIII had dismantled the Cowboys, but the Redskins defense nearly gave that one away so I was not sold on them. I'm still not sold, but the Ravens on the road never seems to end well these days and RGIII has a chance to put their playoff plans on hold for another week.
Pick: Redskins 24, Ravens 20
Atlanta (11-1) at Carolina (3-9) - 1pm FOX
Earlier in the season, the Falcons nearly lost to the Panthers. It took a miraculous fumble by Cam Newton followed by the Panthers secondary apparently ignoring the rule that states you don't let a receiver get behind you with a lead when the opposing team is inside their own five yard line with under a minute to go. The Falcons now look to secure their playoff seeding and remind the Panthers how far they really have to go.
It almost isn't fair for Newton and the Panthers. I figured they had a very reasonable chance to go into Kansas City and win on the road, but then the unfortunate murder-suicide happened, the Chiefs players rallied around each other, played inspired football, and came away with their only impressive win of the season thus far. Now the Panthers have to regroup against the NFC's best. It just isn't right. Oh, and they should've won that first meeting.
Pick: Falcons 21, Panthers 20
NY Jets (5-7) at Jacksonville (2-10) - 1pm CBS
The Jets had to turn to their third string quarterback last week and Greg McElroy did what Mark Sanchez couldn't do, and that's complete a throw to one of his teammates, much less for a touchdown. Simply put, I keep writing about how much of a mess the Jets are and each week they prove it further and further again. Last week's game became the most unwatchable game of the year due to two inept offenses who couldn't move the ball at all. Now the Jets get the Jags, a team they should beat. Should. Sanchez is the starter, but how long is the leash now?
The Jaguars looked decent for a couple weeks with Chad Henne as their quarterback, but last week he ran into his old AFC East foe in the Bills and did not play so well. There just must be something about those AFC East teams that cause him trouble. Still, it was a sobering reminder of how dire the Jags quarterback situation is.
Pick: Jets 15, Jaguars 12
Miami (5-7) at San Francisco (8-3-1) - 4:05pm CBS
Here's what we know about the Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill has some potential, but he needs help, Reggie Bush cannot carry the running back load for more than 5 quarters before he disappears for the next 11, Brian Hartline will give you a monster game once every few weeks, and the defense needs some help. Give Tannehill some more pieces then watch out.
The 49ers...ugh...I can't even talk about them. Colin Kaepernick was a nice story until we were reminded that he is indeed a rookie and rookies make bad mistakes at bad times. also, we now know the 49ers just can't beat the Rams. Anywhere. They should win this game, but the quarterback situation will become a distraction if Kaepernick struggles again.
Pick: 49ers 23, Dolphins 17
New Orleans (5-7) at NY Giants (7-5) - 4:25pm FOX
For a while, it looked the Saints were not only going to defy the odds, but Roger Goodell's attempts at banishing them from the face of the NFL. Drew Brees got hot, the defense was able to get a couple of stops a game (as opposed to none in it's horrific start to the season), and there seemed to be an outside chance that the Saints could make an improbable playoff run. Then Brees started throwing picks, the defense stopped stopping people, and those faint playoff hopes are pretty much gone. How much pride do the Saints have?
The Giants are one of the more frustrating teams under Tom Coughlin. They can look like the best team in football for a few weeks, then suddenly disappear for a couple of weeks losing games they shouldn't lose, before reappearing miraculously again. They repeat this process several times throughout the season, making sure their final hot streak occurs right before the playoffs start. They might want to consider starting early with the Cowboys and Redskins right on their heels.
Pick: Giants 34, Saints 31
Arizona (4-8) at Seattle (7-5) - 4:25pm FOX
The Cardinals stink, their line couldn't protect a quarterback from a pack of snails rushing the quarterback, and the defense is gassed. If they win again this year, I'd be shocked. Heck, they couldn't beat the Jets with the Jets only scoring 7 points. How sad is that?
The Seahawks have surprised me. Russell Wilson has surprised me. Marshawn Lynch does not surprise me. However, the toll that will be taken with half their secondary being suspended for PEDs can't be overlooked. Good thing the Cardinals don't have a passing attack to speak of.
Pick: Seahawks 27, Cardinals 10
Detroit (4-8) at Green Bay (8-4) - 8:20pm NBC
The Lions had a 33-21 lead with less than 5 minutes remaining against the Colts. Their "vaunted" defensive line stopped getting pressure and the Colts scored a touchdown with less than three minutes to go. The Lions didn't need to do much to run out the clock, but weren't able to do anything and a poor punt from Nick Harris allowed the Colts to start from the 25. 1:07 later, the Colts were celebrating and the Lions were trying to figure out how they had blown another fourth quarter lead. They might not have to worry about that though with the Packers.
The Packers have been a strange team. They're 8-4, but feels like they should be 6-6. They haven't really clicked all season long, but Aaron Rodgers keeps throwing touchdown passes and they keep finding a way to win. Now, with the Bears struggling, the Packers have a chance to get the NFC North title. They'd love to take that first step against the struggling Lions.
Pick: Packers 38, Lions 30
Monday
Houston (11-1) at New England (9-3) - 8:30pm ESPN
The Texans have been the most consistent team in football this year. Other than a bad game against the Packers and their defense taking the weekend off against the Jaguars, they've been solid on both sides of the ball in just about every game. Last week's game against the Titans was over before the first quarter was done, and that was with minimal effort. This game won't be so easy.
The Patriots wrapped up the division, but now have their eyes on securing a high seed for their playoff push. This game means more to them than the Texans for that reason alone. That and Bill Belichick will want to make a point that the Patriots aren't that far from the Texans in how good they are. Oh, and it's at Foxboro, thus giving the slight edge to the Patriots.
Pick: Patriots 27, Texans 24
The Browns Game
Kansas City (2-10) at Cleveland (4-8) - 1pm CBS
The Chiefs rallied around each other after the tragedy that fell upon them when it was learned that Jovan Belcher had killed his girlfriend, then killed himself the day before their game against the Panthers. The result was inspired play and an unexpected victory from a team that had underachieved all season long. Now they take their show to Cleveland, who is starting to show signs of growing up. Of course, it wouldn't be a game without stories of Peyton Hillis' return, as well as former coach Romeo Crennel and quarterback Brady Quinn. The Chiefs rode the wave of their emotions last week, can they do it again?
It'll be harder just because the Browns defense is better than the Panthers, especially up front and in the secondary (hard to believe, right). For the first time all season, Dick Jauron is expected to have his entire secondary healthy, which coupled with a healthy front four could make things tough on the Chiefs offense. The Browns offense, which hasn't scored a ton of points, has still moved the ball relatively well of late and should be able to get good yardage against the Chiefs. Hillis may be amped up to face his former team, but Hillis doesn't get a ton of carries to begin with. If the Browns offense can get going early, this game could be over quickly, something we're not accustomed to seeing around here.
Pick: Browns 27, Chiefs 20
Last: 11-5
Overall: 103-37-1
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
The social network
I took a venture back onto Google+ today.
I had originally joined it last year as a substitute for Facebook since it seemed several people were talking about jumping ship to the shiny new social network that was getting a lot of publicity.
One year after my last post, I went back and took a peek at the site that never quite took off the way Google probably thought it would. I attempted to change my profile picture on there and rediscovered why I abandoned it in the first place. The site, while laid out nicely, is clunky at best. It is nice to be able to link your profile to other Google-affiliated sites such as Youtube and Blogger, but ultimately it's cumbersome to try and do much of anything on the actual site.
It took 15 minutes, several reloads, and an act of God to get my profile picture changed. As of this point, the other sites have not recognized this profile change and are still displaying the old picture.
There are some nice ideas behing Google+. The hangout idea is nice, as is how easy they make it sound to video chat with multiple people. I even like the Your Circle concept that they bring to the table.
Social networking is a funny thing overall though. Myspace was all the rage up until a couple years ago when Facebook found its footing. Now I bet most don't know anyone who regularly uses Myspace, or if you do, it's one sad, lonely individual who just can't let go of the site. This despite how much complaining is done about Facebook and how it operates, especially when it pertains to individual security settings.
For those who complain, it's a social network, not a hide everything you put up because you're embarrassed by what you said, did, or wore. Don't want people to see it? Don't post it. Or, go in, change your settings, and go about your life. Yes, Facebook can frustrate with how slow it can be at times, how often there seem to be hiccups, but complaining about privacy on a social network is silly.
I've resisted the temptation to join Twitter thus far. It's a battle I've gone back and forth on for sometime, partially because while I'm fascinated by the ability to follow athletes, celebrities, and local friends and see what they're all up to, it sounds like a simplified Facebook that's encouraged people to talk like idiots.
I just don't think I could devote time to a social platform when I already tend to ignore Facebook on a regular basis.
But again, the temptation to see what people are saying on Twitter is immense, plus the fact that so many companies are promoting themselves through Twitter and posting contests that are exclusive to that realm.
It's actually amazing to me how many different ways people can express themselves anymore. There are social sites like Facebook and Twitter, blogging sites such as Blogger and Tumblr, picture sites that allow sharing through multiple avenues, and even work networking sites that allow you to connect with coworkers in a social environment.
Additionally, most online stories allow people to comment on them, giving people even more ways to express themselves on whatever they think about, even if it has nothing to do with what the story is about. This has led to things such as trolling (leaving comments simply to incite others that are usually negative or derogatory) and people arguing just because they can.
It allows someone like me an avenue to express my opinion on a number of items, although mine lately have been exclusive to the sporting world.
I could come in here and say the most inflammatory thing and get away with it. It's the beauty of the internet and the social environment we live in now.
Twitter isn't that exciting though. It seems the most outrageous tweets often are deleted within hours of being posted due to backlash caused. Twitter has also led to several parody profiles of various celebritites. Some embrace the idea that it isn't really the celebrity posting, others try to convince it is who they say they are.
In the end, it doesn't matter how you choose to express yourself. Me? I've stuck with this blog, my Facebook page, and occasionally in my Youtube videos that I've posted. Whether I expand or not depends on whether there's an audience for it. I'm sure I could boost my Youtube numbers by posting more on various platforms, but I'm not the self-promoting type.
Today I went back onto Google+, but it doesn't seem likely that I'll be back anytime soon. I'll stick with what I already have.
I had originally joined it last year as a substitute for Facebook since it seemed several people were talking about jumping ship to the shiny new social network that was getting a lot of publicity.
One year after my last post, I went back and took a peek at the site that never quite took off the way Google probably thought it would. I attempted to change my profile picture on there and rediscovered why I abandoned it in the first place. The site, while laid out nicely, is clunky at best. It is nice to be able to link your profile to other Google-affiliated sites such as Youtube and Blogger, but ultimately it's cumbersome to try and do much of anything on the actual site.
It took 15 minutes, several reloads, and an act of God to get my profile picture changed. As of this point, the other sites have not recognized this profile change and are still displaying the old picture.
There are some nice ideas behing Google+. The hangout idea is nice, as is how easy they make it sound to video chat with multiple people. I even like the Your Circle concept that they bring to the table.
Social networking is a funny thing overall though. Myspace was all the rage up until a couple years ago when Facebook found its footing. Now I bet most don't know anyone who regularly uses Myspace, or if you do, it's one sad, lonely individual who just can't let go of the site. This despite how much complaining is done about Facebook and how it operates, especially when it pertains to individual security settings.
For those who complain, it's a social network, not a hide everything you put up because you're embarrassed by what you said, did, or wore. Don't want people to see it? Don't post it. Or, go in, change your settings, and go about your life. Yes, Facebook can frustrate with how slow it can be at times, how often there seem to be hiccups, but complaining about privacy on a social network is silly.
I've resisted the temptation to join Twitter thus far. It's a battle I've gone back and forth on for sometime, partially because while I'm fascinated by the ability to follow athletes, celebrities, and local friends and see what they're all up to, it sounds like a simplified Facebook that's encouraged people to talk like idiots.
I just don't think I could devote time to a social platform when I already tend to ignore Facebook on a regular basis.
But again, the temptation to see what people are saying on Twitter is immense, plus the fact that so many companies are promoting themselves through Twitter and posting contests that are exclusive to that realm.
It's actually amazing to me how many different ways people can express themselves anymore. There are social sites like Facebook and Twitter, blogging sites such as Blogger and Tumblr, picture sites that allow sharing through multiple avenues, and even work networking sites that allow you to connect with coworkers in a social environment.
Additionally, most online stories allow people to comment on them, giving people even more ways to express themselves on whatever they think about, even if it has nothing to do with what the story is about. This has led to things such as trolling (leaving comments simply to incite others that are usually negative or derogatory) and people arguing just because they can.
It allows someone like me an avenue to express my opinion on a number of items, although mine lately have been exclusive to the sporting world.
I could come in here and say the most inflammatory thing and get away with it. It's the beauty of the internet and the social environment we live in now.
Twitter isn't that exciting though. It seems the most outrageous tweets often are deleted within hours of being posted due to backlash caused. Twitter has also led to several parody profiles of various celebritites. Some embrace the idea that it isn't really the celebrity posting, others try to convince it is who they say they are.
In the end, it doesn't matter how you choose to express yourself. Me? I've stuck with this blog, my Facebook page, and occasionally in my Youtube videos that I've posted. Whether I expand or not depends on whether there's an audience for it. I'm sure I could boost my Youtube numbers by posting more on various platforms, but I'm not the self-promoting type.
Today I went back onto Google+, but it doesn't seem likely that I'll be back anytime soon. I'll stick with what I already have.
The Sports Mixer - After further review
Each week I take a look back at the last Browns game and point out the things that stood out to me. The most recent game was a 20-17 win over the Oakland Raiders....sorry Heny.
Brandon Weeden continues to make rookie mistakes, but he reminded fans why the Browns were high on him when he dropped a 44 yard touchdown pass to Josh Gordon that stunned the Raider crowd. Unfortunately, he dropped two picks into the laps of the Raiders when the Browns were driving down the field, removing two potential scoring opportunities. He now has 13 touchdown passes, but the 15 interceptions continue to be a concern.
Trent Richardson runs hard, but it seems like Montario Hardesty hits the hole faster and gets upfield quicker. Richardson doesn't go down easily though and is still likely going to hit 1,000 yards rushing despite missing all of preseason and significant time in other games due to a rib injury.
Josh Gordon has been the surprise of the year for the Browns. Showing a set of hands not seen in these parts in a long time to go with a good burst of speed and good size, the Browns may have found a number one receiver. Add in the sudden improvement shown by Greg Little, and the receiver situation is suddenly ten times better than previously thought.
The defense, well, Buster Skrine, allowed a big play, but otherwise played fairly well. There wasn't a ton of pressure on Carson Palmer, but the coverage was generally good. Sheldon Brown in particular had a solid game, defending three passes and picking off an underthrown pass from Palmer that directly led to the scoring drive that sealed the win.
The team showed tremendous growth on that scoring drive as Weeden threw for a couple of critical first downs and Richardson punched it in from three yards out, something we're becoming accustomed to seeing from him this year. He has seven on the season and it isn't inconceivable that he could pass Jim Brown's rookie record by the end of the season.
For the first time in a long time, Pat Shurmer didn't make any glaring mistakes in coaching. He went for it on fourth down on two different occasions and had Weeden throw the ball deep on several other occasions to keep the Raiders defense honest. Some may point to his lack of a challenge on a bad spot on the final scoring drive that burned a timeout, but in retrospect, that moment had little bearing on the final outcome.
The Browns matched their win total from last season with this win, and it's very possible they could win two more games this season. This week's game against the Chiefs is winnable despite the mini momentum that the Chiefs picked up in their emotional win last week. The following week gives them their first look at Robert Griffin III, then they travel to Denver where it's possible the Broncos could be resting some starters that day. They finish the season in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers could be fighting for their playoff lives.
The growth on this team can't be discounted, even from the most pessimistic of people. Jabaal Sheard's sack numbers are down, but he's been more involved in the steadily improving run defense. Rookie defensive tackles Billy Winn and John Hughes have both shown tremendous promise as part of a rotation that includes last year's rookie Phil Taylor and standout veteran Ahtyba Rubin. The young linebackers have shown growth as well, and despite Skrine's penchant for bad plays at bad times, even he has shown growth on the field. Offensively, Mitchell Schwartz's name is not being called, which is good for an offensive linemen. We've documented Weeden, Gordon, Little, and Richardson, but the offensive line has improved over the course of the season.
Josh Cribbs has complained about his role, but truth is, he's becoming less and less of a factor overall. Aside from being one of the first men down on special teams to make a tackle, his return numbers have been declining and he made one incredibly poor decision to bring a kick out from 9 yards deep. He still is capable of a big return, but it seems less and less likely he's going to break one anytime soon.
Last, but not least, a special shout-out to Phil Dawson, who's consecutive made field goals streak came to a halt, not because of a bad kick, but because of a high snap, treacherous field conditions, and a deflection because of the timing being thrown off. Dawson made two other field goals though and ultimately provided the margin of victory. Dawson has been steady and deserves one final contract before riding out into the sunset.
Brandon Weeden continues to make rookie mistakes, but he reminded fans why the Browns were high on him when he dropped a 44 yard touchdown pass to Josh Gordon that stunned the Raider crowd. Unfortunately, he dropped two picks into the laps of the Raiders when the Browns were driving down the field, removing two potential scoring opportunities. He now has 13 touchdown passes, but the 15 interceptions continue to be a concern.
Trent Richardson runs hard, but it seems like Montario Hardesty hits the hole faster and gets upfield quicker. Richardson doesn't go down easily though and is still likely going to hit 1,000 yards rushing despite missing all of preseason and significant time in other games due to a rib injury.
Josh Gordon has been the surprise of the year for the Browns. Showing a set of hands not seen in these parts in a long time to go with a good burst of speed and good size, the Browns may have found a number one receiver. Add in the sudden improvement shown by Greg Little, and the receiver situation is suddenly ten times better than previously thought.
The defense, well, Buster Skrine, allowed a big play, but otherwise played fairly well. There wasn't a ton of pressure on Carson Palmer, but the coverage was generally good. Sheldon Brown in particular had a solid game, defending three passes and picking off an underthrown pass from Palmer that directly led to the scoring drive that sealed the win.
The team showed tremendous growth on that scoring drive as Weeden threw for a couple of critical first downs and Richardson punched it in from three yards out, something we're becoming accustomed to seeing from him this year. He has seven on the season and it isn't inconceivable that he could pass Jim Brown's rookie record by the end of the season.
For the first time in a long time, Pat Shurmer didn't make any glaring mistakes in coaching. He went for it on fourth down on two different occasions and had Weeden throw the ball deep on several other occasions to keep the Raiders defense honest. Some may point to his lack of a challenge on a bad spot on the final scoring drive that burned a timeout, but in retrospect, that moment had little bearing on the final outcome.
The Browns matched their win total from last season with this win, and it's very possible they could win two more games this season. This week's game against the Chiefs is winnable despite the mini momentum that the Chiefs picked up in their emotional win last week. The following week gives them their first look at Robert Griffin III, then they travel to Denver where it's possible the Broncos could be resting some starters that day. They finish the season in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers could be fighting for their playoff lives.
The growth on this team can't be discounted, even from the most pessimistic of people. Jabaal Sheard's sack numbers are down, but he's been more involved in the steadily improving run defense. Rookie defensive tackles Billy Winn and John Hughes have both shown tremendous promise as part of a rotation that includes last year's rookie Phil Taylor and standout veteran Ahtyba Rubin. The young linebackers have shown growth as well, and despite Skrine's penchant for bad plays at bad times, even he has shown growth on the field. Offensively, Mitchell Schwartz's name is not being called, which is good for an offensive linemen. We've documented Weeden, Gordon, Little, and Richardson, but the offensive line has improved over the course of the season.
Josh Cribbs has complained about his role, but truth is, he's becoming less and less of a factor overall. Aside from being one of the first men down on special teams to make a tackle, his return numbers have been declining and he made one incredibly poor decision to bring a kick out from 9 yards deep. He still is capable of a big return, but it seems less and less likely he's going to break one anytime soon.
Last, but not least, a special shout-out to Phil Dawson, who's consecutive made field goals streak came to a halt, not because of a bad kick, but because of a high snap, treacherous field conditions, and a deflection because of the timing being thrown off. Dawson made two other field goals though and ultimately provided the margin of victory. Dawson has been steady and deserves one final contract before riding out into the sunset.
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