gpikePicks for Final Week of Season
December 29th 2010 23:39
The final week of the season. Last week had some great moments and now just a few playoff berths are still up for grabs.
Miami at New England: Will the Patriots rest Tom Brady and other key players for this game after locking up home-field advantage over the playoffs? Nobody knows yet, and coach Bill Belchick will likely keep open the chance the guys will play up until Sunday. New England (13-2) will win either way we go here. This game will be the beginning of the end for Chad Henne as Miami's quarterback. The Dolphins need to upgrade this position. Miami (7-8) finish the year on a down note.
Buffalo at New York Jets: Another game where starters may sit down. Jets coach Rex Ryan may elect to sit down starters. Don't expect it as New York (10-5) will be playing on wild card weekend. Buffalo (4-11) don't stand a chance here after the Jets offense finally came to life last week. Despite the key loss to Chicago, 38-34, scoring so many points was huge for the Jets. Now a tune-up for the playoffs here. Jets win with ease.
Oakland at Kansas City: The Chiefs locked up the division last week, now host Oakland who bowed out of the playoff race. Kansas City (10-5) coach Todd Haley noted he will not sit down starters during the week. Oakland (7-8) has the type of team who could give Kansas City a great game to stay ready for the playoffs. In fact the Raiders won the game earlier in week nine, 23-20. Kansas City gets its revenge with the victory here.
Cincinnati at Baltimore: What a difference a year makes. Cincinnati (4-11) was sitting pretty as the probable division champion, now they sit in the basement of the AFC North. Baltimore (11-4) needs the Steelers to lose to Cleveland to win the division. Firstly they need to win here. The Bengals played their best game of the year last week in defeating San Diego. Earlier on in the season, Cincinnati knocked off Baltimore, 15-10. Here Carson Palmer gets rocked around this time around, as the Ravens win and set the bar for Pittsburgh.
Minnesota at Detroit: Brett Favre was ruled out of Tuesday's game versus Philadelphia. Will he play Detroit in his likely final game of his career? I assume he will. Detroit (5-10) all of a sudden has won three straight games. Can the Lions finish with a fourth? Minnesota (6-9) at the beginning of the year was predicted to do so much more then this. Ndamukong Suh and the Lions line come full throttle at Favre and Adrian Peterson. Detroit wins four games in a row!
Tampa Bay at New Orleans: Tampa Bay (9-6) is having an improbable season. Nobody would've assumed the Buccaneers and quarterback Josh Freeman would be this good, so soon. Tampa Bay still has an outside shot at the playoffs. New Orleans (11-4) outlasted Atlanta in a thriller on Monday night, and still have a chance to get home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Drew Brees wins the battle of quarterbacks and the game. The Saints will go to the winner of the NFC West battle between St. Louis and Seattle.
Carolina at Atlanta: The Falcons lost a heart-breaker Monday and now get a gimme here with the NFL's worst team Carolina. Atlanta (12-3) locks up home-field and the division with the win, and send New Orleans to St. Louis for the playoffs. Carolina (3-12) already locked up the top pick in the draft, now the process begins of drafting the right guy.
Pittsburgh at Cleveland: Cleveland (5-10) has got to be one of the most disapointing teams in the league. Three straight losses in games which the team should of won. At least two of the three, versus Buffalo and Cincinnati. The teams solace comes in the form of an angry Pittsburgh Steelers club who couldn't lock up the division last week due to Baltimore winning their game. Pittsburgh (11-4) wins here to finally get the division.
Jacksonville at Houston: Rally's were being set up around Houston calling for the firing of coach Gary Kubiak during the week. The team has regressed this season, making the chance of this happening very likely. Houston (5-10) lost earlier this year to Jacksonville, 31-24. Coach Jack Del Rio's team still have a slim to make the playoffs, but a win here is necessary. Losing to Washington last week did not help matters out at all for Jacksonville (8-7). Will running back Maurice Jones-Drew be available to play here? He missed the Redskins loss. Losing quarterback David Garrard hurts as now both teams are mirror images. Trent Edwards starting in Garrard's place does not bode well for the Jags chances. Houston wins.
New York Giants at Washington: The struggling Giants hope to retain some dignity after a last weeks loss to Green Bay sent them reeling. New York (9-6) have given up 83 points in consecutive losses to the Packers and the Eagles. Now Eli Manning needs a big game. Washington (6-9) earned a win thanks to Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard's late Christmas gift last week. Now Rex Grossman has one more week to wow over coach Mike Shanahan. The Giants win as Grossman struggles.
Arizona at San Francisco: Both teams are playing for next year and to stay out of the NFC West's basement. Arizona (5-10) thanks to Jon Kitna's Christmas gifts and kicker David Buehler missing an extra point, were able to defeat Dallas last week. San Francisco (5-10) lost coach Mike Singletary and the game versus St. Louis. Now the 49ers who were expected to win the NFC West can finish in last place. Don't see it happening, as no way does Arizona win here. Dallas gave last weeks game away, San Francisco just needs to control the ball and avenge Singletary's firing with the win.
San Diego at Denver: The Chargers late season heroics of previous seasons will not happen this year. Instead the team is looking at missing the playoffs for the first time in four years. San Diego (8-7) wins here and at least earns a winning record for the year. Denver (4-11) will be better next year with Tim Tebow as the quarterback. The Chargers are too strong on both sides of the ball to lose another.
Chicago at Green Bay: Green Bay (9-6) needs to win here to clinch the final playoff berth in the NFC. Aaron Rodgers returned and got the big win last week versus the Giants. This game is even bigger. Chicago (11-4) with a win still have a chance at the number one seed in the NFC. Not going to happen as the Packers win a big game.
Dallas at Philadelphia: The Eagles with a win clinch the second seed in the NFC. Philadelphia (10-5) have been a surprise with the emergence of Michael Vick as a possible MVP candidate. Dallas (5-10) is a surprise for just the opposite. How bad they have been, in a year where they were expected to contend for the NFC title and a spot at the Super Bowl. Dallas of course is the site of the upcoming Super Bowl. The Eagles win even without Vick if he sits out.
Tennessee at Indianapolis: Peyton Manning seems to be out of his slump as do the Colts. Tennessee (6-9) doesn't stand a chance here. Indianapolis (9-6) wraps up the AFC South division crown and another playoff berth. Was a little more difficult then expected for the reigning AFC champions, but they are in the playoffs now, likely to face Baltimore in the wildcard round.
St.Louis at Seattle: So it comes down to this in the leagues worst division, a game winner take-all and the NFL made it the showcase game of the week. St.Louis (7-8) held on for a victory over the 49ers last week now quarterback Sam Bradford, a front-runner for NFL rookie of the year, needs one more win. Seattle (6-9) will start quarterback Charlie Whitehurst instead of injured Matt Hasselbeck. After a 4-2 start the Seahawks have lost seven of nine. Their defense ranks amongst the leagues worst, offense not much better. The Rams have a decent defense, one which control the Whitehurst and Seattle here. Where the Seahawks have a chance to make this a game is Leon Washington returning kicks. Washington will have to break one or two for Seattle to win here. Don't think he will do this as the Rams win and get set to host New Orleans next week in the playoffs.
Miami at New England: Will the Patriots rest Tom Brady and other key players for this game after locking up home-field advantage over the playoffs? Nobody knows yet, and coach Bill Belchick will likely keep open the chance the guys will play up until Sunday. New England (13-2) will win either way we go here. This game will be the beginning of the end for Chad Henne as Miami's quarterback. The Dolphins need to upgrade this position. Miami (7-8) finish the year on a down note.
Buffalo at New York Jets: Another game where starters may sit down. Jets coach Rex Ryan may elect to sit down starters. Don't expect it as New York (10-5) will be playing on wild card weekend. Buffalo (4-11) don't stand a chance here after the Jets offense finally came to life last week. Despite the key loss to Chicago, 38-34, scoring so many points was huge for the Jets. Now a tune-up for the playoffs here. Jets win with ease.
Oakland at Kansas City: The Chiefs locked up the division last week, now host Oakland who bowed out of the playoff race. Kansas City (10-5) coach Todd Haley noted he will not sit down starters during the week. Oakland (7-8) has the type of team who could give Kansas City a great game to stay ready for the playoffs. In fact the Raiders won the game earlier in week nine, 23-20. Kansas City gets its revenge with the victory here.
Cincinnati at Baltimore: What a difference a year makes. Cincinnati (4-11) was sitting pretty as the probable division champion, now they sit in the basement of the AFC North. Baltimore (11-4) needs the Steelers to lose to Cleveland to win the division. Firstly they need to win here. The Bengals played their best game of the year last week in defeating San Diego. Earlier on in the season, Cincinnati knocked off Baltimore, 15-10. Here Carson Palmer gets rocked around this time around, as the Ravens win and set the bar for Pittsburgh.
Minnesota at Detroit: Brett Favre was ruled out of Tuesday's game versus Philadelphia. Will he play Detroit in his likely final game of his career? I assume he will. Detroit (5-10) all of a sudden has won three straight games. Can the Lions finish with a fourth? Minnesota (6-9) at the beginning of the year was predicted to do so much more then this. Ndamukong Suh and the Lions line come full throttle at Favre and Adrian Peterson. Detroit wins four games in a row!
Tampa Bay at New Orleans: Tampa Bay (9-6) is having an improbable season. Nobody would've assumed the Buccaneers and quarterback Josh Freeman would be this good, so soon. Tampa Bay still has an outside shot at the playoffs. New Orleans (11-4) outlasted Atlanta in a thriller on Monday night, and still have a chance to get home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Drew Brees wins the battle of quarterbacks and the game. The Saints will go to the winner of the NFC West battle between St. Louis and Seattle.
Carolina at Atlanta: The Falcons lost a heart-breaker Monday and now get a gimme here with the NFL's worst team Carolina. Atlanta (12-3) locks up home-field and the division with the win, and send New Orleans to St. Louis for the playoffs. Carolina (3-12) already locked up the top pick in the draft, now the process begins of drafting the right guy.
Pittsburgh at Cleveland: Cleveland (5-10) has got to be one of the most disapointing teams in the league. Three straight losses in games which the team should of won. At least two of the three, versus Buffalo and Cincinnati. The teams solace comes in the form of an angry Pittsburgh Steelers club who couldn't lock up the division last week due to Baltimore winning their game. Pittsburgh (11-4) wins here to finally get the division.
Jacksonville at Houston: Rally's were being set up around Houston calling for the firing of coach Gary Kubiak during the week. The team has regressed this season, making the chance of this happening very likely. Houston (5-10) lost earlier this year to Jacksonville, 31-24. Coach Jack Del Rio's team still have a slim to make the playoffs, but a win here is necessary. Losing to Washington last week did not help matters out at all for Jacksonville (8-7). Will running back Maurice Jones-Drew be available to play here? He missed the Redskins loss. Losing quarterback David Garrard hurts as now both teams are mirror images. Trent Edwards starting in Garrard's place does not bode well for the Jags chances. Houston wins.
New York Giants at Washington: The struggling Giants hope to retain some dignity after a last weeks loss to Green Bay sent them reeling. New York (9-6) have given up 83 points in consecutive losses to the Packers and the Eagles. Now Eli Manning needs a big game. Washington (6-9) earned a win thanks to Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard's late Christmas gift last week. Now Rex Grossman has one more week to wow over coach Mike Shanahan. The Giants win as Grossman struggles.
Arizona at San Francisco: Both teams are playing for next year and to stay out of the NFC West's basement. Arizona (5-10) thanks to Jon Kitna's Christmas gifts and kicker David Buehler missing an extra point, were able to defeat Dallas last week. San Francisco (5-10) lost coach Mike Singletary and the game versus St. Louis. Now the 49ers who were expected to win the NFC West can finish in last place. Don't see it happening, as no way does Arizona win here. Dallas gave last weeks game away, San Francisco just needs to control the ball and avenge Singletary's firing with the win.
San Diego at Denver: The Chargers late season heroics of previous seasons will not happen this year. Instead the team is looking at missing the playoffs for the first time in four years. San Diego (8-7) wins here and at least earns a winning record for the year. Denver (4-11) will be better next year with Tim Tebow as the quarterback. The Chargers are too strong on both sides of the ball to lose another.
Chicago at Green Bay: Green Bay (9-6) needs to win here to clinch the final playoff berth in the NFC. Aaron Rodgers returned and got the big win last week versus the Giants. This game is even bigger. Chicago (11-4) with a win still have a chance at the number one seed in the NFC. Not going to happen as the Packers win a big game.
Dallas at Philadelphia: The Eagles with a win clinch the second seed in the NFC. Philadelphia (10-5) have been a surprise with the emergence of Michael Vick as a possible MVP candidate. Dallas (5-10) is a surprise for just the opposite. How bad they have been, in a year where they were expected to contend for the NFC title and a spot at the Super Bowl. Dallas of course is the site of the upcoming Super Bowl. The Eagles win even without Vick if he sits out.
Tennessee at Indianapolis: Peyton Manning seems to be out of his slump as do the Colts. Tennessee (6-9) doesn't stand a chance here. Indianapolis (9-6) wraps up the AFC South division crown and another playoff berth. Was a little more difficult then expected for the reigning AFC champions, but they are in the playoffs now, likely to face Baltimore in the wildcard round.
St.Louis at Seattle: So it comes down to this in the leagues worst division, a game winner take-all and the NFL made it the showcase game of the week. St.Louis (7-8) held on for a victory over the 49ers last week now quarterback Sam Bradford, a front-runner for NFL rookie of the year, needs one more win. Seattle (6-9) will start quarterback Charlie Whitehurst instead of injured Matt Hasselbeck. After a 4-2 start the Seahawks have lost seven of nine. Their defense ranks amongst the leagues worst, offense not much better. The Rams have a decent defense, one which control the Whitehurst and Seattle here. Where the Seahawks have a chance to make this a game is Leon Washington returning kicks. Washington will have to break one or two for Seattle to win here. Don't think he will do this as the Rams win and get set to host New Orleans next week in the playoffs.
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