NFL Pick 'Em, Week 15

[jjwr]

Ravens have a solid shot at the Steelers, their defense is more than good enough for the Steelers Offense(which is as a whole pretty weak) and with Lewis pounding the ball and Boller playing pretty well right now they can pull the win out.

As for the game last night, I don't know if I would call it classy what they did at the end, I would call it smart. With the ball hawkers in that secondary it would have been down-right stupid to throw a pass there, way too much chance for a INT and at that part of the field its not uncommon to have one returned for a TD.

So you kneel and guarantee the win rather than try for a TD and possibly give the game away.

[JMK]

I tend to agree there. It's a move that comes off as classy because your gut reaction is that they WOULD have scored a TD with 4 pokes at the endzone from the 5, but it's more of a smart move to guarantee the win. Manning's reputation could have went straight to the gutter if he had went for the TD and had a pass returned for a TD and somehow the Ravens manage to tie or win the game.

[Ryan Pode]

The Raven's needed to convert on scoring oppertunities. They blew it twice inside the 30. Plus that botched kick... then the four(?) illegal contact penalties in a row. Too many mistakes. Not enough focus.

[jjwr]

Definetly JMK, had the score been say 31-10 with under a minute to go and they kneeled at the 5 that I would call classy, in that situation you could go for it without any real worries, if they get a score...eh who cares you still win by 14.

Ravens played good though, their offense is coming together and Boller is making some great progress this year.

[JMK]

This was almost a costly win for the Colts. The Ravens really did show the rest of the league how to stop Payton Manning. Make sure you don't let Manning complete those killer long passes and you stand a FAR greater chance of beating them.

[Yog]

What a weekend. Some big scores and fun football for sure.

Random thoughts:

- Eli Manning finally started showing what he can do after throwing the ball like a drunk and confused sailor on the mast of a ship on a stormy ocean for several weeks. And it was against the Steelers no less. Maybe all he needs is time and experience. I still say they have a shaky throwing game with not too many great receiving options to rely on. Or maybe its some kind of larger problem with their offensive system. Nonetheless, the way this season ended for the Giants was a letdown. They started so well, and practically gave away their playoffs chances. It looks like they have their mindset on next season allready.

- Speaking of Manning, looks like Peyton will have to wait another week to break Dan Marinos record. I wonder if all this talk about records is affecting his playing. Its only delaying the inevitable though. And no matter what, Peyton has earned himself the MVP award allready.

- This weekend I learned how weather can affect the throwing game. Freezing temperatures, winds gusting to 25 miles per hour and 8 inches of snow. That was in Cleveland yesterday before the game against San Diego. The Chargers with Brees at the helm decided only attempting 6 throws pretty much letting Tomlinson doing all the work. And they won the game running with confidence and great ease. So much for my tactical plugin of putting Chargers WR E. Parker in my fantasy starting lineup. He got a miserable 2 catches for 18 yards. Instead, Vikings Nate Burleson (who I had benched) went doing 134 yards and 2 touchdowns.. double ouch.

- On the note of throwing the ball. What a game by Billy Volek! And what a shootout! 492 yds, 4 TDs + 1 rushing TD for Volek against the Raiders. 371 yds and 5 TDs for Collins. Volek was amazing last week too: 426 yds, 4 TDs. He reminds me of Manning when he plays like this. Of course, those numbers has a lot to do with how he faced some terrible pass defenses. However, its no secret Im happy to have Volek in the fantasy playoffs.

- Detroit losing their game against the Vikings because of a missed PAT. Two jinxed teams, how about that. This time, Vikings got the better end of the deal. They needed it after last weeks horrible adventure of letting Moss throw an interception. A football writer poetically described Detroits loss like this: "Not every Christmas story has a happy ending, you know. Sometimes there really is a lump of coal in the stocking. The horse biscuits under the tree don't always mean there's a pony tied outside."

- Whoever counted on Denvers defense to show up for the game against the Kansas Chiefs, was severily disappointed last night. Broncos defense have not been their usual self lately, and when Kansas decides this is the time to introduce the potential next Priest Holmes in form of Larry Johnson, it has to go wrong for the Broncos. Maybe more surprising was Denvers apparent inability to score. Who would have thought Chiefs would have the better defense for this game. Of course, the other part of the story is Plummer, who just played terrible lately.

- I grinned mischievously when my Jacsonville upset pick went in. I wont pour too much salt in the wounds, only to say my level of confidence towards Packers to do much in the playoffs is near zero. As for who will win the superbowl, I am sure its going to be New England Patriots, this year as last. However, if you ask me who I HOPE will win the superbowl, my answer is Indianapolis.

- New York Jets really got their act together this weekend. Strong defense, good running game, and Pennington was really impressive too. Certainly not a walkover for New England next week. Although, to be perfectly honest, even if they put up a good fight, I expect the Patriots to win Jet again.

- and finally, about Chicagos offense:

[JMK]

It's hard to evaluate Eli Manning's performance so far. Yes, he's 05 or 0-6, but his receivers are LOUSY. Still no TD catches for Giants wide receivers. That's so sad. Payton went 3-13 in his rookie season, and look at how we're talking about him now...

Boy do the Broncos have a real problem. They've been playing horribly lately. They needed a last minute field goal to beat the Dolphins, and they were destroyed against the Chiefs.

Tonight's Monday night matchup could be a blowout. The Dolphins usually keep it close with the Pats, but I think this game is going to be especially brutal. I'm thinking like 28-3, and I'm being generous with Miami's offensive total.

[Jedieb]

I still think it's a classy move because you're talking about a 2 score lead with less than a minute to go. Even if you throw a pic, it's a stretch to think it'll get returned for a TD. To top it off, then they'd have to recover the onside kick and get into FG range with seconds on the clock. If they wanted the record badly enough, they could have gone for it. But the win and getting it the right way was foremost on their mind. Even on Edge's TD, they used Manning and his receivers as decoys to make it that much easier for James to get into the end zone and get a crucial TD. I can think of plenty of players who would have tried to get into the end zone or demanded the ball just to go for the record (Owens, MeShauwn, Favre and Strahan anyone?, etc.) The Ravens could have been jerks at the end as well. We've seen teams take TO's even when the game's been decided. If the Ravens had taken a TO then you might have seen the Colts take a shot at the end zone. And it would have been pretty safe for Manning to take a shot at the record. No passes into double coverage, no throws unless a guy is wide open. It doesn't matter, the record is inevitable. The only question is how far over 50 he may get.

Owens is gone for the season. The earliest he could possibly return is for the Superbowl. Even then, he wouldn't be at 100%. Even at full strength, the Eagles were basically cannon fodder for the AFC in this year's Superbowl. Now the Eagles are ripe for a 4th straight NFC Championship dissapointment. Atlanta, GB, or even the Vikings could sneak into the Superbowl now.

"The knowledge I've gotten from this experience (his NFl career) is priceless." Actually, I can think of a price Ricky. $8.6M. Now shut up, write a check, and go back to hollistic BSing. Putz.

[Figrin D'an]

Looks like Miami is going to pull of the huge upset of New England. Pittsburgh will have a stranglehold on home-field advantage in the AFC.

[Jedieb]

I don't see how the Steelers could blow HF now. They'd have to lose BOTH of their last 2 games because they own the tie breaker against NE. The Jet/Pats rematch is a huge game now. From what Al Michaels said, NE hasn't clinched a bye yet. So either the Jets still have a shot at the division, or the Chargers could get the #2 seed if they win out and the Jets beat the Pats. NE is going to have to fight hard these last 2 weeks now.

Meanwhile, the NFC is sending either an 8-8 or even a 7-9 team to the playoffs. What's even sadder is that with Owens gone, that team will probably have a shot to make it to the Championship game. Uggh.

[JMK]

What a game!!!

Very uncharacteristic mistakes by Brady. It's as if the Pats were looking ahead to next week.

[Jedieb]

It's a Festivus Miracle!!!

[Jedi Master Carr]

Pittsburgh could they have two tough games against the Ravens and the Buffalo which is going to be a war. And besides HF is very overraded last time Pitsburgh had they blew it.

[Ryan Pode]

Pittsburgh will lose next week.

[Yog]

What a delicious upset!

I knew Miami was tougher than everyone thought, but that they would actually pull the upset was surprising. I think New England got nonchalant with all the wins.

If Pittsburg were to knock out New England in the playoffs, it would be even more delicious!

[jjwr]

Miami always plays NE Tough, Brady tried to do too much and it cost the team the win, the 3rd INT was a stupid throw, just eat it and punt, then #4 was also a forced pass into a very poor spot. On 2nd down theres no way he should have thrown that one.

As for the rest...

Steelers can have home field, for them a AFC Championship game at home is as good as a loss!

Pats are currently #2 seed, I'm not 100% sure how it will work out though, Colts play the Bolts this week, so one of them will lose. Pats already beat the Colts so the Colts would have to win their last two and the Pats would have to lose their last two. If the Colts win this week and the Pats win that locks the #2 seed for the Pats as the Colts can't make up the difference and the Bolts will be down a game.

I really could see the Steelers losing the last 2 games though, Ravens play very tough defense and the Steelers O hasn't exactly been great lately, ditto with their D. The same goes for the Bills, with their huge D-Line it will be tough on Bettis and the Secondary won't give Big Ben a free ride, and in this case both those teams are fighting for the Playoffs so they have nothing to lose.

I can't see the Jets beating the Pats at Foxboro, if it was on the road then yeah but not at home especially coming off a loss like this. Should be a great game though.

As for the NFC...at this point who cares, with TO gone the Eagles are paper tigers and could easily lose just about any of their Playoff games. Right now any team in the NFC could win it, if they get in I can see the Vikings making some noise...

[JMK]

I'm sticking with my pick of Green Bay to come out of the NFC, especially now with T.O. out.

I see this Pats loss as a wake up call for them. They won't lose again this year IMO. Pittsburgh's going to lose at some point, and the Colts offense will sputter once the playoffs start.

[jjwr]

Agreed JMK, I can't see the Pats losing again in the regular season, and its not like 12-2 is anything to sneeze at either, with their injuries in the secondary they have done quiet well and will only get better with Ty Law coming back soon(maybe next week!)

[Figrin D'an]

Week 15 Results

Yoghurt: 11-5
Syren Wyssholt: 9-7
Nathanial K'cansce: 10-6
Jedieb: 10-6
JMK: 8-8
Figrin D'an: 10-6
Sarr Koon: 8-8
Ryan Pode: 9-7
Cyrel Annat: 11-5
jjwr: 10-6
Jedi Master Carr: 10-5 (no Pittsburgh/NY Giants pick)



Updated Season Totals

Yoghurt: 152-72
Nathanial K'cansce: 147-77
Cyrel Annat: 147-78
jjwr: 146-78
Jedieb: 145-79
Figrin D'an: 139-86
-----------------------------------------
Syren Wyssholt: 135-89
Jedi Master Carr: 133-76
JMK: 124-87
Ryan Pode: 121-87
Darth McBain: 78-68
Lilaena De'Ville: 64-53
Sarr Koon: 48-28
Darth Sauron: 11-5
Reaperfett: 11-5
Lucian Belial: 11-3

[Jedieb]

The Steelers aren't going to drop both of these last games. A win next week will gaurantee them HF so you know they'll be geared up for it. If they drop a game I'd expect it to be their last game. Will HF mean much to the Steelers? It hasn't gauranteed anything for past Cowher teams. They lost to the underdog Chargers at home the year the Niners slaughtered them (Superbowl IXXX I believe) and I think they have a couple of other big home playoff losses. I've never seen a Cowher team play better so maybe this time will be different.

The Jets played the Pats tight their first time around. Pennington had a great game last week, but you have to wonder if his head butting with the NY beat writers is going to be in his head this week. Losing 2 in a row is not that far fethced for NE, especially if Ty Law isn't back.

While TO is watching his first legit shot at a Superbowl fade away, I wonder if he'll stop and ponder the fact that it was the team with the big star in the middle of their field that broke his leg? What goes around comes around, HA HA! :evil

Picks
Fig, just tag a loss on me for the Houston game. I hate being in that second tier of results.