Week 14

For anyone who might still be reading this, can i remind you that I said the Browns/Dolphins game had the greatest chance of being a close one out of any game this season? I think a game winning FG with 4 seconds left counts as close.

11-5 the last two weeks, here are the picks:
NFC (43-28)
GB vs DET- My time expecting the Lions to step up and win a small handfull of games is over. A defense that wouldn't scare a European football team and an offense that has to pass all the time isn't going to do much. Packers win.
NYG vs MIN- Sydney Rice is back to phenomenal, make-something-great-out-of-a-brainless-toss-into-the-air play, and, am I actually saying this, Travaris Jackson might bring some spark back to the offense if Favre doesn't hobble his way onto the field to extend his consecutive games streak. But the Giants are too good of an overall team to get sniped by the Vikings. Giants win.
TB vs WSH- If you plan on making the playoffs without beating any plus .500 teams, you better win games like this. Buccaneers win.
ATL vs CAR- Why bother talking about it? ESPN's #1 vs #32 team.
SEA vs SF- Neither team has any measurable consistency, but again, I like the bigger upside of the 49ers. San Fransisco wins.
STL vs NO- The Rams haven't done any damage against winning teams, like a poor man's Buccaneers, and the Saints are on a roll. I'd look for the outside chance of this being a very interesting game, as Sam Bradford has played great for a rookie quarterback. Saints win.
PHI vs DAL- I don't care how bad one of the teams might be. I don't care that the Cowboys win over the Colts and near victory over the Saints were reliant almost entirely off stupid mistakes by the opponent (and overcoming quite a few of their own). Eagles Cowboys is never a brush off game. What I like is a Micahel Vick who has shown more ability to overcome adversity and bring his best game in the 4th quarter when it matters than Donovan did in his entire career. What I don't like is a Miles Austin that has a knack for tearing apart the Eagles secondary, even with Asante Samuel, and a Dallas defense that seems to be regaining a bit of its swagger from last year. Even though the Eagles are hands down the better team right now, all bets are off in matchups like these. Nevertheless, I'll take the Eagles to win.

AFC (37-31)
IND vs TEN- The Colts have been looking shaky as of late, but the Titans are no threatening opponent either. As long as manning doesn't throw another 4 interceptions, they should be fine.
CLE vs BUF- If this was college football, the Browns would be much higher in the ranks thanks to strength of schedule wins. If they can avoid lowering their play to an inferior team that has been turning a few heads as of late, they keep the positives building to take into next year. Browns win.
CIN vs PIT- How will the Bengals manage to lose this one? Steelers win.
OAK vs JAC- Bigger surprise: Chiefs or Jaguars? I say Jaguars, not because I thought that the Cheifs would be better, but there's no way that I would have thought they'd rise to the top of a division with the Colts and the looking good Texans, not to mention the possible Cinderella Titans, had you asked me in August. I still don't know what kind of play to expect from up and down Raiders, but I'm liking Jacksonville. Jaguars win.
MIA vs NYJ- Good season for the Dolphins, and this is a must win game if they want to get back into the race, but the Jets don't have any intention of losing to another division opponent after an embarrassing beat down by the Patriots. Jets win.
KC vs SD- Wouldn't been a very interesting game, but Matt Cassell is out. If the Chiefs can recreate their week 1 bull crap win with defense, special teams, and a non existent passing game, then they'll deserve all the kudos in the world. But until then, I'm taking the Chargers. Chargers win.
BAL vs HOU- The Texans train has pulled into the station. Season's all but over. All it'll take to say a final farewell to it, is a beating by a much superior Ravens team. Ravens win.

INT (30-24)
DEN vs ARI- Ugg, hate picking games like this. Though at least the Brocos offense has been doing a few good things. Arizona on the other hand hasn't looked all that great. Broncos pick up a rare win.
NE vs CHI- Well if we don't know if the Bears are for real yet, we will after this game. The Patriots offense looks like it could beat anybody right now, and the Bears bring a worthy opponent. If Jay Cutler can get his good side on the field, they'll make this a game, but it's hard to bet against the Patriots right now. Patriots win.