| I just wanted to take a second to wish
| |
| | been one of the best and most underrated
|
| all of you a happy, fun, safe, bizarre,
| |
| | safeties in the league for several years.
|
| victory-laden holiday season over the
| |
| |
|
| next 10 days. And with that, here's a
| |
| | 7) New England (9-5) - New England has
|
| thumbnail sketch of some intriguing games
| |
| | won its last 20 games when the
|
| taking place in Week 16:New York at
| |
| | temperature was less than 40 degrees.
|
| Washington (-3), 1 p.m. on Saturday
| |
| | Also, they're 20-1 since 1993 when the
|
| For the second straight week, Washington
| |
| | kickoff temperature is 34 degrees or
|
| finds itself locked in a classic NFC East
| |
| | below.
|
| rivalry game with huge playoff
| |
| | 8) Carolina (10-4) - The Panthers have
|
| implications. The Redskins are clinging
| |
| | scored 111 points in the fourth quarter
|
| to the final NFC slot while New York is
| |
| | this season, the third most in the
|
| trying to lock up the division title and
| |
| | league.
|
| secure a pair of January home games.The
| |
| | 9) New York Giants (10-4) - The Giants,
|
| Giants hammered the Redskins 36-0 back in
| |
| | along with the Colts and Panthers, are
|
| Week 8 in the Meadowlands, but were
| |
| | the only teams with 10 wins against the
|
| crushed 31-7 last December in the
| |
| | spread this season.
|
| nation's capital. New York's struggles on
| |
| | 10) Jacksonville (10-4) - In the four
|
| the road (9-13 since 2003) have been well
| |
| | games before Byron Leftwich was injured
|
| documented, and I think they still have a
| |
| | the Jags were averaging 26 points per
|
| lot to prove. Their patchwork offensive
| |
| | game. In the four since he's been gone
|
| line was outstanding last week, but I
| |
| | it's dipped to 18 per game.
|
| believe they'll be overwhelmed by a rabid
| |
| | 11) San Diego (9-5) - The Chargers have
|
| Redskins defense.Washington is currently
| |
| | the league's fourth-toughest schedule
|
| in control of their playoff destiny.
| |
| | (opp. win percentage of .531). They
|
| They've won three of their last four and
| |
| | haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 16
|
| can earn their first winning season since
| |
| | games - the league's longest active
|
| 1999 with a victory. The Redskins have
| |
| | streak - but face Larry Johnson and his
|
| only allowed three touchdowns in their
| |
| | string of seven straight 100+ games.
|
| last three games, and are 8-2 ATS in
| |
| | 12) Tampa Bay (9-5) - How huge is that
|
| their last 10 games before facing the
| |
| | Week 10 two-point conversion to beat
|
| Eagles (they go to Philly in Week
| |
| | Washington right now? Jon Gruden had Joey
|
| 17).Atlanta at Tampa Bay (-3), 1 p.m. on
| |
| | Galloway simulating Mike Vick this week
|
| Saturday
| |
| | in practice.
|
| Since their Sunday night thrashing at
| |
| | 13) Washington (8-6) - Not good times
|
| the hands of Chicago, the mood around
| |
| | when you're running a story about
|
| Atlanta has been melancholy and
| |
| | starting the Oldest Lineman in NFL
|
| shell-shocked. Falcons owner Arthur Blank
| |
| | History (43-year-old Ray Brown), while
|
| issued a statement in the Atlanta
| |
| | your opponent is running a story about
|
| Journal-Constitution on Tuesday saying
| |
| | sending two defensive linemen to the Pro
|
| that he will consider this season a
| |
| | Bowl.
|
| success even if the team doesn't make the
| |
| | 14) Dallas (8-6) - Early reports are
|
| playoffs. That seemed like waving the
| |
| | that Marco Rivera will not play this
|
| white flag to me, and is something that
| |
| | weekend against Carolina. Also, middle
|
| could've waited until after the season.
| |
| | linebacker Michael Barrow - signed to
|
| Instead it's almost like Blank has given
| |
| | replace Dat Nguyen - was placed on IR
|
| the team the OK to pack it in.Tampa Bay
| |
| | with a torn quad.
|
| is coming off an equally embarrassing
| |
| | 15) Kansas City (8-6) - Over the last
|
| loss in New England last weekend.
| |
| | decade, Kansas City has outscored San
|
| However, they still have the inside track
| |
| | Diego by an average of 29-14 at
|
| to a playoff slot and will have a rowdy
| |
| | Arrowhead. However, nine of the last 10
|
| home crowd backing them. The key match up
| |
| | overall meetings between these two teams
|
| here is the Bucs' third-ranked rushing
| |
| | have been decided by 10 points or less.
|
| defense (3.4-yard average) versus
| |
| | 16) Atlanta (8-6) - The loss of
|
| Atlanta's top-ranked rushing offense.
| |
| | defensive end Brady Smith has crippled
|
| Tampa Bay is 12-2-1 ATS recently when
| |
| | this team's front seven. Smith's
|
| they win straight up against a divisional
| |
| | playmaking ability kept the double teams
|
| opponent.Dallas at Carolina (-5), 1 p.m.
| |
| | of Patrick Kearney, who's been a no-show
|
| on Saturday
| |
| | for about four weeks.
|
| If the desperate team usually wins in
| |
| | 17) Minnesota (8-6) - The Vikings began
|
| the NFL, the Cowboys could take this one
| |
| | this week as 1.5-point favorites, but by
|
| in a cakewalk. Dallas has dropped three
| |
| | Wednesday the line had already swung to
|
| of its last four games and its playoff
| |
| | them as 2.5-point dogs. If they win out,
|
| hopes are on life support. Unfortunately
| |
| | they could still win the NFC North title.
|
| for the Boys, Carolina still has a shot
| |
| | 18) Miami (7-7) - The Dolphins are
|
| at the NFC's No. 2 seed and is looking to
| |
| | looking for five wins in a row for the
|
| salt away the South title.I expect a huge
| |
| | first time since 1999. The team they beat
|
| day out of the Carolina defense on
| |
| | in '99 for their fifth win? The Titans.
|
| Saturday. The Panthers possess the
| |
| | Expect to see Sage Rosenfels. Gus
|
| league's third-rated unit; yet saw only
| |
| | Frerotte hasn't practiced because of a
|
| one member (Julius Peppers) selected to
| |
| | sore finger.
|
| the Pro Bowl. Watch for their overlooked
| |
| | 19) Cleveland (5-9) - Five of the
|
| front seven to ravage a very vulnerable
| |
| | Browns' losses have been by seven points
|
| Dallas offensive line. Carolina is a
| |
| | or less. Cleveland is No. 1 in the AFC in
|
| sultry 16-5-1 ATS in its last 22
| |
| | red zone defense (45.2 percent end in
|
| contests.Drew Bledsoe was also snubbed
| |
| | TD's).
|
| when it came to a Pro Bowl bid. His play
| |
| | 20) Philadelphia (6-8) - The Eagles have
|
| has tailed as of late (5.8 yards per
| |
| | the fourth-lowest payroll in the NFL.
|
| attempt over the last five games) but his
| |
| | Don't feel too bad for how this season
|
| numbers still blow away those of Ron
| |
| | has gone because they're going to come
|
| Mexico. In the Cowboys' eight wins
| |
| | back even stronger next year.
|
| Bledsoe has a quarterback rating of 107.
| |
| | 21) St. Louis (5-9) - Interim coach Joe
|
| In their six losses his rating is just
| |
| | Vitt called his offensive line "soft"
|
| 61. Dallas has won the last four regular
| |
| | earlier this week during a tantrum to the
|
| season meetings between these two clubs
| |
| | press. I expect the line to respond, if
|
| by seven points or less.Indianapolis at
| |
| | only because they're facing a far
|
| Seattle (-10), 4:15 on Saturday
| |
| | inferior opponent.
|
| On the surface this looks like a
| |
| | 22) Oakland (4-10) - I'm sure that
|
| thrilling match up of the NFL's top two
| |
| | LaMont Jordan is real upset that he isn't
|
| teams. However, with the specter of Jim
| |
| | playing this week. The Raiders are 27th
|
| Sorgi and Dominic Rhodes leading the way
| |
| | in the league in time of possession
|
| for Indianapolis, this one could be the
| |
| | (28:35).
|
| equivalent of a preseason dud.Seattle is
| |
| | 24) Baltimore (5-9) - The Ravens have
|
| a double-digit favorite merely because it
| |
| | won five of six at home. In his last
|
| still has something to play for. A
| |
| | three starts against the NFC, Kyle Boller
|
| victory will seal home-field advantage in
| |
| | has posted a quarterback rating of 117.2.
|
| the NFC, and would mark a new franchise
| |
| |
|
| record for wins in a season. But don't
| |
| | 26) Tennessee (4-10) - The Titans are
|
| expect a total gimme game. I think Indy
| |
| | just 2-7 against the spread in their last
|
| will come out firing in the first half,
| |
| | nine games on the road.
|
| but if Seattle can withstand the initial
| |
| | 23) Buffalo (4-10) - Last week I said
|
| burst they should be able to pacify Indy
| |
| | that the fans would be storming the field
|
| as the game wears on.Tony Dungy is 24-7
| |
| | at Saturday's game. Well, police made 22
|
| on the road with the Colts. He has stated
| |
| | arrests, and the stadium security manager
|
| that he won't limit his playbook and that
| |
| | said that he saw more fans "falling,
|
| the starters will play "as long as they
| |
| | fighting, and puking" than he ever had.
|
| need to." I don't imagine that will be
| |
| | 25) Green Bay (3-11) - This rivalry game
|
| longer than the first half for Manning,
| |
| | against Chicago is the Packers' Super
|
| Edge, and Harrison. However, don't be
| |
| | Bowl, so I expect an all-out assault.
|
| surprised if they do bring their A-game
| |
| | They've won 13 of 14 December divisional
|
| for that first half.Without further ado,
| |
| | games, including nine in a row at home.
|
| here is my Week 16 Power Rankings:1)
| |
| | 27) Arizona (4-10) - It had to be tough
|
| Indianapolis (13-1) - Peyton Manning is
| |
| | for Pro Bowl voters to select Larry
|
| quickly becoming the NFL equivalent of
| |
| | Fitzgerald over Anquan Boldin, seeing
|
| A-Rod. When his team is up, he's
| |
| | that both are in the top five in the
|
| superhuman. When they need him in the
| |
| | league in both receptions and yards.
|
| clutch, he's subhuman.
| |
| | 28) New Orleans (3-11) - New Orleans is
|
| 2) Denver (11-3) - The Broncos have won
| |
| | 29-5 under Jim Haslett when they enter
|
| four of their last five against Oakland,
| |
| | halftime with the lead. Do you think he
|
| and Mike Shanahan is 16-5 against his
| |
| | broke out that stat when he went to the
|
| former team. Yet, the Raiders have been
| |
| | owner and demanded a five-year extension?
|
| victorious in two of their last three
| |
| |
|
| trips to Mile High.
| |
| | 29) Detroit (4-10) - I bet the guy
|
| 3) Seattle (12-2) - As of right now,
| |
| | printing the "Fire Millen!" T-shirts is
|
| Seattle has the lowest strength of
| |
| | having a merry Christmas.
|
| schedule in the league with an opponents
| |
| | 30) New York Jets (3-11) - No beer at
|
| winning percentage of just .398.
| |
| | the stadium? I know the Jets play like a
|
| 4) Cincinnati (11-3) - Buffalo has
| |
| | college team, but do they have to start
|
| beaten Cincy seven straight times dating
| |
| | adopting their rules as well?
|
| back to 1988. The Bengals have yet to
| |
| | 31) San Francisco (2-12) - Alex Smith
|
| turn the ball over more times in a game
| |
| | versus Ryan Fitzpatrick. And they're
|
| than their opponent.
| |
| | charging money to see it.
|
| 5) Pittsburgh (9-5) - The word is that
| |
| | 32) Houston (2-12) - It's amazing how
|
| Ben can't throw the ball with any control
| |
| | players can execute when they know that
|
| over 20 yards, not 40 yards as was
| |
| | their job, and their family's livelihood,
|
| reported in the mainstream media. Ben was
| |
| | is on the line. Houston actually swept
|
| 3-0 against Charlie Frye when the two
| |
| | Jacksonville last year and with an upset
|
| squared off in college.
| |
| | could actually play a key role in the
|
| 6) Chicago (10-4) - I'm very happy that
| |
| | 2005 season.Questions or comments for
|
| Mike Brown got the Pro Bowl nod. He's
| |
| | Robert?
|
