NFL Pick 'em 2011: Week 17

[Dragon]

Sunday January 1

NYJ @ MIA
SF @ STL
CAR @ NO
TEN @ HOU
WAS @ PHI
DET @ GB
CHI @ MIN
IND @ JAX
BUF @ NE

SEA @ ARI
SD @ OAK
KC @ DEN
TB @ ATL
BAL @ CIN
PIT @ CLE

DAL @ NYG


Holy playoff scenarios, Batman!


Survivor Pool

14: Kyran O'Hurn: BUF, TEN, NO, SD, NYJ, DAL, SF, ATL, GB, NE, CAR, BAL, PIT, ARI, DEN

9: Dragon: ARI, DET, SD, ATL, NO, PIT, DAL, TEN, HOU, PHI, NE, CIN, NO PICK
7: Liam Jinn: SF, DAL, PIT, GB, BUF, NYJ, CAR, NO, NE, BAL, ATL, NO PICK
7: jjwr: HOU, BAL, CHI, NO, PIT, DAL, SF, KC, MIA, SEA, NYJ, ATL, NO PICK
7: Rutabaga: GB, SD, NO, NYG, DAL, SF, OAK, JAX, NE, PIT, NYJ, DEN, CIN, CAR
3 (x2): Ryan Pode: GB, TEN, TB, NYG, NYJ, NO, CAR, SF, MIA, NE, NO PICK, DAL, SEA, CIN, PIT
3: Yog: DEN, PIT, SD, GB, NYG, DET, DAL, SF, PHI, JAX, NO PICK, NYJ, CHI, BAL, TEN, NO
3: Jedi Master Carr: GB, PIT, TB, NYG, JAX, NO PICK
3: Lykaios: PIT, SD, TB, NYG, BAL, DET, OAK, SF, CIN, NE, NO PICK
3: Mu Satach: DET, SD, GB, ARI, BUF, BAL, SF, NO, NO PICK

Seppuku x9
Park Kraken: TB, PHI, HOU, JAX, CAR, STL, ARI, CLE, WAS, SEA, KC, DET, IND, OAK, MIN, CHI

[Figrin D'an]

Sunday January 1

NYJ @ MIA (W)
SF (W) @ STL
CAR @ NO (W)
TEN (W) @ HOU
WAS @ PHI (W)
DET (W) @ GB
CHI @ MIN (W)
IND (W) @ JAX
BUF @ NE (W)

SEA @ ARI (W)
SD @ OAK (W)
KC (W) @ DEN
TB @ ATL (W)
BAL @ CIN (W)
PIT (W) @ CLE

DAL @ NYG (W)

Expect this to be a strange week with certain teams resting key players, and a few upsets just for good measure.

[Morgan Evanar]

NYJ @ MIA WIN - oh please oh please oh please.
WIN SF @ STL - resting starters by SF? I dunno.
WIN CAR @ NO - probably going to rest some starters.
WIN TEN @ HOU - see above. The Texans need a break.
WAS @ PHI WIN -The NFC East can go to hell.
WIN DET @ GB - Starters.
CHI @ MIN WIN - no clue. Dreadful. No AP
WIN IND @ JAX - uhhhhhh
BUF @ NE WIN- NE is locked, but playing for home field? oic.

WIN SEA @ ARI - Beast Mode and his Skittles.
WIN SD @ OAK - Norv is desperate. Probably his last game as a Charger coach.
WIN KC @ DEN - for the LOL
TB @ ATL WIN - erughghgh.
WIN BAL @ CIN - AFCN is a super-tough division. The Ravens need to win.
WIN PIT @ CLE - Same with Pittsburgh.

DAL @ NYG WIN - I hate this putrid division.

[Park Kraken]

Hmm, all Sunday games then?

Sunday January 1

NYJ @ MIA (W)
SF (W) @ STL
CAR @ NO (W)
TEN (W) @ HOU
WAS @ PHI (W)
DET @ GB (W)
CHI (W) @ MIN
IND (W) @ JAX
BUF @ NE (W)

SEA (W) @ ARI
SD (W) @ OAK
KC (W) @ DEN
TB @ ATL (W)
BAL (W) @ CIN
PIT (W) @ CLE

DAL (W) @ NYG

Seppu: CIN

[Kyran O'Hurn]

Nyj W @ Mia
Sf W @ Stl
Car @ No W
Ten @ Hou W
Was @ Phi W
Det @ Gb W
Chi W @ Min
Ind @ Jax W
Buf @ Ne W

Sea W @ Ari
Sd @ Oak W
Kc @ Den W
Tb @ Atl W
Bal W @ Cin
Pit W @ Cle

Dal W @ Nyg

[Dragon]

Hmm, all Sunday games then?

Yup, and all divisional games, too. This is the second year of the NFL's gambit of stocking week 17 with divisional matchups to cut down on meaningless games. I'm not sure if it makes that much of a difference, but it has led to a de facto playoff game in week 17 for the second year in a row - the Seahawks and Rams last year, the Giants and Cowboys this year. Of course, I'm still not a fan of putting yet another NFC East game on national TV this season.

I know there will be upsets this week, but I don't know which ones... so I'm going with the one I really, really want to happen.


Sunday January 1

NYJ WIN @ MIA - The Jets need to win to give the Bengals motivation.
SF WIN @ STL - Even if they rest their starters, SF has a better team.
CAR @ NO WIN - I don't see the Saints letting this one slide at home.
TEN WIN @ HOU - The Texans can't change their playoff fortunes.
WAS @ PHI WIN - Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
DET @ GB WIN - Hard to call, since Green Bay has nothing more to play for, but they don't appear inclined to slack off going into the playoffs.
CHI WIN @ MIN - Best wishes for AP's recovery.
IND @ JAX WIN - I'm really concerned the Colts aren't taking the draft race seriously.
BUF @ NE WIN - The Patriots need a win to clinch homefield. They'll take care of business.

SEA WIN @ ARI - Coin flip between the Seahawks' capable defense and Larry Fitzgerald.
SD @ OAK WIN - Raiders are in with a win and a loss by Denver or Cincy.
KC @ DEN WIN - Denver's in with a win.
TB @ ATL WIN - Atlanta at home against a bad team.
BAL @ CIN WIN - The Bengals need to earn the last wild card spot...
PIT WIN @ CLE - Allowing the Steelers to take the AFC North and first-round bye!

DAL @ NYG WIN - Bleh.

[Yog]

Sunday January 1
NYJ @ MIA (W)
SF (W) @ STL
CAR @ NO (W)
TEN (W) @ HOU
WAS @ PHI (W)
DET @ GB (W)
CHI @ MIN (W)
IND @ JAX (W)
BUF @ NE (W)

SEA @ ARI (W)
SD @ OAK (W)
KC @ DEN (W)
TB @ ATL (W)
BAL @ CIN (W)
PIT (W) @ CLE

DAL (W) @ NYG

Survivor: NE Patriots

[Jedi Master Carr]

W Nyj @ Mia
W Sf @ Stl
Car @ No W
W Ten @ Hou
Was @ Phi W
W Det @ Gb
Chi @ Min W
W Ind @ Jax
Buf @ Ne W

W Sea @ Ari
Sd @ Oak W
W Kc @ Den
Tb @ Atl W
W Bal @ Cin
W Pit @ Cle

Dal @ Nyg W

[Miranda Tarkin]

Sunday January 1

NYJ (W) @ MIA
SF (W) @ STL
CAR @ NO (W)
TEN @ HOU (W)
WAS @ PHI (W)
DET @ GB (W)
CHI (W) @ MIN
IND @ JAX (W)
BUF @ NE (W)

SEA @ ARI (W)
SD @ OAK (W)
KC @ DEN (W)
TB @ ATL (W)
BAL (W) @ CIN
PIT (W) @ CLE

DAL @ NYG (W)

[Nathanial K'cansce]

Nyj @ Mia (w)
(w) Sf @ Stl
Car @ No (w)
(w) Ten @ Hou
Was @ Phi (w)
Det @ Gb (w)
(w) Chi @ Min
Ind @ Jax (w)
Buf @ Ne (w)

Sea @ Ari (w)
Sd @ Oak (w)
Kc @ Den (w)
Tb @ Atl (w)
(w) Bal @ Cin
(w) Pit @ Cle

Dal @ Nyg (w)

[Aurelias Kazaar]

Sunday January 1

NYJ @ MIA W
SF W @ STL
CAR @ NO W
TEN W @ HOU
WAS @ PHI W
DET @ GB W
CHI @ MIN W
IND W @ JAX
BUF @ NE W

SEA W @ ARI
SD @ OAK W
KC @ DEN W
TB @ ATL W
BAL @ CIN W
PIT W @ CLE

DAL @ NYG W (Giants will kill Cows and Jason Garrett (Red Wade) will be fired at halftime).

[jjwr]

Nyj @ Mia (w)
Sf (w) @ Stl
Car @ No (w)
Ten (W) @ Hou
Was @ Phi (w)
Det (w) @ Gb
Chi (w) @ Min
Ind @ Jax (w)
Buf @ Ne (w)

Sea (w) @ Ari
Sd (w) @ Oak
Kc @ Den (w)
Tb @ Atl (w)
Bal @ Cin (w)
Pit (w) @ Cle

Dal @ Nyg (w)

[Rutabaga]

Sometimes the last games of the season are as hard to pick as the first games.

Sunday January 1

NYJ WIN @ MIA
SF WIN @ STL
CAR @ NO WIN
TEN @ HOU WIN
WAS @ PHI WIN
DET @ GB WIN
CHI WIN @ MIN
IND WIN @ JAX
BUF @ NE WIN

SEA WIN @ ARI
SD WIN @ OAK
KC @ DEN WIN
TB @ ATL WIN
BAL WIN @ CIN
PIT WIN @ CLE

DAL @ NYG WIN

Survivor: SEA

[Ryan Pode]

NYJ @ MIA Win
SF Win @ STL
CAR @ NO Win
TEN Win @ HOU
WAS @ PHI Win
DET Win @ GB
CHI @ MIN Win
IND Win @ JAX
BUF @ NE Win

SEA Win @ ARI
SD Win @ OAK
KC @ DEN Win
TB @ ATL Win
BAL Win @ CIN
PIT Win @ CLE

DAL Win @ NYG

[Kyran O'Hurn]

Going to tight between me and jjwr. So far he's got 1 game on me, but there are a few more games that we differ on to come today.

Edit: and yes I realize that we still pick playoff games, but harder to make up points in the playoffs.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Detroit is not beating New Orleans next week with that defense. I see the Saints winning by 30 points. Some important games going out right now. The AFC West and the 6th seed will be decided in these late games.

Edit

Denver gets in by default. Tebow looked awful today. The Steelers will kick crap out of them next week. The Bengals sneak in as well and will play the Texans. They could beat Houston, considering their QB situation. One last playoff spot to be decided.

[Dragon]

Congratulation to Hines Ward, who recorded his 1,000th career reception today against the Cleveland Browns! He's only the eighth player in NFL history to hit a thousand catches, which is all the more impressive when you consider where he plays, and for whom. Ward is the most prolific receiver for a franchise that once had Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, and I do believe his 24 yards today puts him second only to Tony Gonzalez for receiving yards among active players with 12,083. I hope his career doesn't end with this season, but I have to think he's already cemented his place as a future hall-of-famer.

And with the Raiders falling to San Diego, the playoff picture is all set except for the NFC East division:

AFC
1. New England Patriots
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. Houston Texans VS 6. Cincinnati Bengals
4. Denver Broncos VS 5. Pittsburgh Steelers

NFC
1. Green Bay Packers
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. New Orleans Saints VS 6. Detroit Lions
4. NFC East Champs VS 5. Atlanta Falcons


Also, with two 12-4 teams and a 10-6 team, all of them in the playoffs, the AFC North is looking like the best division in football this year. That's worth a high five to Ryan Pode!

[Figrin D'an]

A few early thoughts on the playoffs...

- Pittsburgh is going to miss Rashard Mendenhall at some point in the playoffs. It won't hurt them against Denver, but it will in the second round.

- The Packers bombed Detroit for 6 touchdowns without Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings or James Starks taking a snap. Drew Brees might break every single-game playoff passing record next week against the Lions.

- The Bengals can go on the road and beat the Texans next week.

- Atlanta could go to Dallas and beat the Cowboys. They could also go to New York and beat the Giants. But if I were them, I'd rather play Dallas.

- I don't buy San Fran winning in the playoffs. I think the Saints will boat-race them off the field in the divisional round unless it's a torrential downpour with 40 mph winds at Candlestick.

- I'd be tempted to buy into Baltimore laying an egg in their divisional round game in two weeks. Inconsistent teams generally have issues with bye weeks hurting them more than helping.

[Rutabaga]

I'm too far behind at this point to be competing for the pick 'em title, but c'est la vie...my day has been made by seeing the Raiders and the Cowpies have to pack their bags and go home for the season.

[Jedi Master Carr]

A few early thoughts on the playoffs...

- Pittsburgh is going to miss Rashard Mendenhall at some point in the playoffs. It won't hurt them against Denver, but it will in the second round.

- The Packers bombed Detroit for 6 touchdowns without Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings or James Starks taking a snap. Drew Brees might break every single-game playoff passing record next week against the Lions.

- The Bengals can go on the road and beat the Texans next week.

- Atlanta could go to Dallas and beat the Cowboys. They could also go to New York and beat the Giants. But if I were them, I'd rather play Dallas.

- I don't buy San Fran winning in the playoffs. I think the Saints will boat-race them off the field in the divisional round unless it's a torrential downpour with 40 mph winds at Candlestick.

- I'd be tempted to buy into Baltimore laying an egg in their divisional round game in two weeks. Inconsistent teams generally have issues with bye weeks hurting them more than helping.

I agree with you about San Fran. They have a great defense but they just kick FGs and don't score Tds. I also don't buy Alex Smith as a QB. I still see it being Green Bay and New Orleans in the title game. I am not sure if the Falcons can beat the Giants, but they have a better chance against them than the Saints.