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