gpikeNFL Picks This Week
December 23rd 2010 00:58
Carolina at Pittsburgh: One team is coming off a win, and the other a loss. Looking at the records 2-12 and 10-4, its not easy to see who won or lost. Carolina defeated Arizona last week and the Steelers lost a heart-breaker versus the Jets. Pittsburgh (10-4) will have their hands full with Carolina running back Jonathan Stewart who has been putting up good numbers the last few weeks. Carolina (2-12) needs a great day from Stewart to keep the game close. Carolina quarterback Jimmy Clausen had a decent game against the Cardnials. The vaunted Steeler defense will stop Stewart and force Clausen to play well. Don't see it happening. Pittsburgh with the win.
Dallas at Arizona: The Christmas day festivities will be interrupted by this game. Arizona (4-10) has been awful this season. I'm sure coach Ken Whisenhunt would ask Santa for Kurt Warner back if he could have one gift this Christmas. Dallas (5-9) continues to play well with Jason Garrett as the interim coach. Jon Kitna has had some great games with Garrett as the coach. The Cowboys defense has been their downfall since Garrett has taken over. Four straight weeks of giving up thirty points or more has made Garrett age by the week. Arizona won't put up too much of a fight as Garrett and the Cowboys win a laugher.
New York Jets at Chicago: Both teams are coming off big wins which pushed them to the brink of playoffs or clinching a spot. Chicago dominated Minnesota, 40-14, Monday night pushing the Bears to the NFC North division title. The Jets knocked off the Steelers in the blowing down snow and now with a win here will clinch a playoff spot. NY Jets (10-4) finally got some offensive production against Pittsburgh last week. Another tough defense on the road for the second straight week will be too much for Sanchez and the Jets. Chicago (10-4) wins a low scoring battle with Devin Hester making at least one play to push the Bears overboard for the victory.
New England at Buffalo: Will the Patriots now sitting at 12-2 with homefield advantage all but sewn up, sit their starters for the final two games? Not likely. At least not this one. Maybe next week versus Miami. New England coach Bill Belchick wants it in writing, securing homefield first. Quarterback Tom Brady gets to face Buffalo's quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick who has had a solid year being on such a bad team. Buffalo (4-10) will play hard here and keep the game close for at least a half, before the Patriots pull away. Brady and other stars will sit down next week in preparation for the playoffs.
Detroit at Miami: Which Miami team will show up for this game? The one who beat Oakland so easily two weeks ago, 33-17 or the team who lost last week versus Buffalo? Miami (7-7) was eliminated from playoff contention last week only has their pride to play for now. Miami kicker Dan Carpenter who has been strong for the woeful Dolphins offense this season went 0-4 for the team last week. Detroit (4-10) is on a two game-winning streak, and now has a sense of direction for the first time in years. Three different quarterbacks, with Matt Stafford, Drew Stanton and Shaun Hill have all had multiple 200 yard passing games with the offense this season. The Lions defense has been opportunistic with Ndamukong Suh leading the way. Quarterback Chad Henne will need to keep a watchful eye on Suh. I see an upset here or a mild one at least with Detroit getting the victory.
Washington at Jacksonville: The Jaguars lost a tough game last week with the Colts. Now a team with even more bad luck facing them travels into Jacksonville. Washington (5-9) has already given up on the year starting from the top with Coach Mike Shanahan who benched Donovan McNabb two weeks ago in favor of Rex Grossman. Jacksonville (8-6) will be able to move the ball whichever way they want with David Garrard and Maurice Jones-Drew playing at full bore against the weak Redskins defense. Jacksonville wins.
San Francisco at St. Louis: Who wants to win the NFC West division? Someone step up! Here are two of the teams still up for the crown. St. Louis (6-8) played the Chiefs hard for one half before letting Jamaal Charles run all over them. The 49ers have a rushing attack who can run all over the Rams the same way. One problem being neither Alex Smith or Troy Smith are not in the same class as Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel. San Francisco coach Mike Singletary is on the ropes and does not know who to turn too as at the quarterback spot. The Rams will ride the legs of Steven Jackson and the arm of Sam Bradford to the win taking a step towards becoming the champion for the dreaded NFC West.
Baltimore at Cleveland: The Ravens need a win here to keep pace with the Steelers who most likely already won their game with Carolina. Cleveland (5-9) is fading after a promising stretch. Quarterback Colt McCoy and running back Peyton Hillis will form a solid one-two punch for next season. Baltimore (10-4) has too much at stake to lose here. Quarterback Joe Flacco has a big game for the Ravens.
Tennessee at Kansas City: Kansas City took another step to dethroning San Diego as the four time reigning division champions with a big win last week. Tennessee (6-8) salvaged a little bit of their season by beating the Houston. Kansas City (9-5) have the edge in nearly every statistical category over the Titans. Only way Tennessee can keep the game close is by feeding running back Chris Johnson the ball. Kansas City wins the game and moves closer to the playoffs.
Houston at Denver: The Broncos began the Tim Tebow era last week, not a moment too soon. Denver (3-11) needed a shot in the arm weeks ago. Houston (5-9) doesn't have the defense in place to control Tebow. If quarterback Matt Schaub and the offense can't get going then this will be a long day for Houston. Denver has a terrible defense maybe just as bad or worse then Houston. Even if Denver is a snowy mess this game should be a high scorer. Houston ekes out a win, maybe saving coach Gary Kubiak's job until the end of the season. Tebow produces another good game in the loss.
Indianapolis at Oakland: Now all is right with the world. Indianapolis and quarterback Peyton Manning will likely go the playoffs once again. Oakland (7-7) has a slim chance at the playoffs. This late in the season is saying something for the franchise which has stunk since Rich Gannon was behind the center. Indianapolis (9-5) will put lots of points on the board, to help out their weakend defense once again. Manning and running back Donald Brown continue on to roll with the win. Oakland running back Darren McFadden will keep the Raiders close.
San Diego at Cincinnati: The Chargers have blown out two straight lesser teams after losing a key game to Oakland in week 13. Outscoring Kansas City and San Francisco 65-7 in the last two weeks is nice but losing to the Raiders twice is what will keep the Chargers out of the playoffs this year. San Diego (8-6) will put up their points once again against Cincinnati here. The weather will play a factor as San Diego is not used to the snow yet this season. Cincinnati (3-11) uses the weather to help keep the score close, only to lose in the third quarter as Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers goes wild for the win.
Seattle at Tampa Bay: The Seahawks have nobody to blame but themselves for not winning the NFC West division. A lack of defense has hurt the team. Tampa Bay (8-6) lost a tough game last week to Detroit in overtime. Don't see them losing to Seattle (6-8) who are on the brink of losing in the NFC West race. A key week 17 game has the Seahawks hosting the Rams. I see the Rams holding a one game division lead going into the game. Tampa Bay here wins easily with Josh Freeman and LeGarrette Blount both seeing big games against the week Seahawks defense.
New York Giants at Green Bay: Here's a tough game to predict. Both teams have a lot to play for, just not the will it seems to win. New York (9-5) blew it last week versus Philadelphia, while the Packers don't know if their starter Aaron Rodgers will be able to play or not. He was cleared Wednesday, now will he start? If Matt Flynn starts, Rodgers still may get some time. New York saw their season almost flash out in front of them last week. If they lose here it will be even more on the ropes. The Packers need to rebound from a tough defeat to New England. Will go down to the end, with the Packers winning if Rodgers plays. If not, the Giants.
Minnesota at Philadelphia: BRett Favre's final Sunday night game will be in the City of the Brotherly Love. Philadelphia (10-4) is a team of destiny and I don't see the Vikings, if Favre plays or doesn't stand a chance of winning. Minnesota (5-9) needs Adrian Petersen to play to have a chance of controlling the Eagles offense. They need to play ball control offense to keep the Eagles off the field, which the Giants played perfectly for three and a half quarters last week. Philadelphia wins easily.
New Orleans at Atlanta: The game of the week being played on Monday night. The last time this happened was earlier on this year with the Jets and the Patriots taking center stage. Of course, New England dominated the Jets, 45-3 in this game. Atlanta (12-2) has won eight straight games all the way back to an early season loss to Philadelphia. New Orleans (10-4) lost last week to Baltimore with quarterback Drew Brees continuing his streak of at least one interception in ten straight games this season. He will throw at least one more versus the Falcons here. The Saints won't lose 45-3, but they will lose to Atlanta, thus clinching home-field for the Falcons throughout the playoffs.
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