Congratulations to HOOKBASSGA, Malicious and murray for being our weekly winners with a 15-1 mark in week 14, winning through the tiebreaker over three others. HOOKBASSGA widened his/her seemingly insurmountable 18-game lead in our seasonal standings with three weeks to play in the regular season. Congratulations to everyone last week for some excellent hognosticating. Thirty-one of the thirty-seven who participated picked 75% or better. As a result, there wasn’t much movement in the seasonal standings. Will this week be any different?
Denver at Houston
Both teams are looking for a win and some help for a chance at the post season. A fun player match-up to watch will be Texan receiver Andre Johnson going against Champ Bailey. Both teams have it tough next week: Denver traveling to San Diego; Houston traveling to Indy. It’s nice to see Mario Williams having a pro-bowl season, while Reggie Bush and Vince Young struggle this season.
Pick – Texans
Cincinnati at San Francisco
Looks like former Maryland Terrapin Shaun Hill, in his 6th season, will get the start, as the 49ers’ injury problems continue. Hill saw action and played decently last week in San Fran’s loss to the Vikings. He’ll see another poor pass defense this week, but won’t be able to out gun Carson Palmer.
Pick – Bengals
Arizona at New Orleans
Each of these 6-7 teams need a win to stay alive in the NFC wildcard chase. The Saints have played better as of late and should win at home. Unfortunately, New Orleans has the second easiest remaining three games of the NFC wildcard contenders, playing teams with a .410 winning percentage. Arizona has the easiest schedule with opponents with a .308 winning percentage.
Pick – Saints
Atlanta at Tampa Bay
The Bucs spanked Bobby Petrino’s Falcons (31-7) in week 11 in Atlanta. Things shouldn’t be any different in Tampa against newly appointed and former defensive coordinator Emmitt Thomas’s Falcons. The Bucs will also welcome Jeff Garcia’s predicted return.
Pick – Bucs
Baltimore at Miami
Against anyone else, Raven players, coaches and fans would need to worry about the loss of both starting corners, Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister. Ray Lewis will bring enough energy to insure that the Ravens aren’t the team to give the Fish their first win of the season.
Pick – Ravens
Buffalo at Cleveland
This is a tough pick. Hard to believe there’s a meaningful game in mid-December for both the Browns and the Bills.
Pick – Browns
Green Bay at St. Louis
With the win, the Packs advance to 12-2 for the first time since their 1966 season in which they won Super Bowl I.
Pick – Packers
Jacksonville at Pittsburgh
The Steelers clinch a playoff birth with the win. It won’t be easy in this great match-up of the Jag’s AFC leading rushing offense against Pittsburgh’s 2nd ranked rushing defense. Both teams pride themselves on their rushing attack and stopping the run. Giving the Steelers’ the edge at home on a cold, sloppy field.
Pick – Steelers
New York Jets at New England
The record setting Patriots set another by receiving an opening line as a 27-point favorite!
Pick – Patriots
Seattle at Carolina
It’s anybody’s guess who is going to start at quarterback for the Panthers this week, as they take on the Seahawks who have won five straight. It won’t make much difference; Carolina is horrible and 1-5 at home this season.
Pick – Seahawks
Tennessee at Kansas City
The Chiefs’ offense is pathetic, while the Titans can at least run the ball and play decent defense. With the win, Tennessee should be in good playoff shape with the Jets next week, followed by the Colts, who could have their seed locked before week 17.
Pick – Titans
Indianapolis at Oakland
The Colts clinch their fifth consecutive AFC South title with the win. Look for Joseph Addai and Peyton Manning to have a big game against the league’s worst rush defense.
Pick – Colts
Detroit at San Diego
Interesting how a team that should have won last week, the Lions, and a team that should have lost, the Chargers meet this week. The Chargers will clinch the AFC West division with this win and a Bronco loss. The Chargers will win their fourth straight, while the Lions drop their sixth in a row.
Pick – Chargers
Philadelphia at Dallas
A pick that makes Redskin fans nauseous.
Pick – Pukes
Washington at New York Giants
Of the 6-7 teams with a shot at the NFC wildcard, the Redskins face by far the stoutest competition with the last three games featuring opponents with a .718 winning percentage. Fortunately, two of the remaining three games are against NFC wildcard hopefuls. A big-win in New York is long overdue. It’ll take a total team effort in all three phases to get it done.
Pick – Redskins
Chicago at Minnesota
The Vikings picked a fine time to start playing good football. Their final three games are against opponents with a .436 winning percentage. Tough season for Bears fans following a year that showed such promise.
Pick – Vikings
Season: 127-65
Edit: This blog was archived in May of 2016 from our original articles database.It was originally posted by Frank Hastings