Journal NFLFan's Journal: NFL Week 16 3
The Fan's Six Pack:
- Well, the Colts finally lost. I always thought they would lose at least one game but I also thought they were good enough to win them all. The Colts sat Simon and Mathis and lost the game. Mathis might not get much mention but he is probably more a sack machine than Freeney is right now.
Good job by San Diego of getting after Manning. That Colts never seem to give up more than one sack and San Diego had 4!
- I had these thoughts while watching the Tampa Bay at New England game:
- David Givens is the receiver that makes things go in the passing game for the Patriots. I know the Branch is the guy with the speed, yards, and Super Bowl MVP but Givens is the guy running the good routes and making the tough catches that just make that passing game so hard to defend. No wonder the Patriots offense looked vulnerable when Givens missed a few games earlier this year.
- Sometime in the third or fourth quarter when the network broadcasters started talking about Belichick sending a message to the rest of the AFC, I started to wonder why. Why keep those starters in there and run up the score? What kind of a "genius" would he be had one of his better players gotten hurt? Brady is already a little more nicked up than usual, Dillon just came back from a variety of leg injuries, and Seymour is just now rounding back into his usual form following a knee injury. Belichick was known as a very poor loser while in Cleveland, everybody got a good glimpse of that again with his temper tantrums and refusing to take a knee in the Colts game this year, and when given the chance he has proven to be just as poor of a winner.
I do not understand this talk of this year being Belichick's best coaching job or how he should win the "Coach of the Year" award. What about Tony Dungy? If not Dungy, there are still more deserving candidates: Marvin Lewis, Lovie Smith, Tom Coughlin, and Mike Holmgren. I understand that the best coach, or coach of the best team, does not aways win the award; almost everybody loves an underdog, or the idea of recognizing or finding that diamond in the rough, but Belichick is just a dog.
- Getting back to a theme I started a few weeks ago, I just cannot trust Jon Gruden and Chris Simms. Shame on me for forgetting this. I was fooled into believing in the Bucs because they have been playing good defense that brought them wins lately. Makes me wonder about that NFC South.
So the Patriots beat a warm weather team that traveled up North in December who have looked very good and very bad so far this season. Still not sold on the Patriots and now they will not be tested until the playoffs.
- I know the Ravens won big on Monday but it occurred to me that the Ravens probably have the most disappointing trio of over-valued and under-performing players in: Todd Heap, Jamal Lewis, and Ray Lewis.
- Just to echo what I have read elsewhere, how happy is CBS to have the AFC playoffs?
- There seems to be a lot Pro Bowl selections that I do not seem to agree with. Jonathan Ogden, Chris Chambers, Joey Porter, Jeff Hartings, and Michael Vick really are not playing at what I would call a Pro Bowl level; interesting that most of the undeserved selections came from the AFC.
- Just read that Tony Dungy's son James was found dead in Tampa Bay. Football cannot be too important to him right now.
The Picks:
Last week I went 8-8. Overall, I am 146-78 (.652).
Saturday, Dec. 24
Atlanta at Tampa Bay 1:00 p.m.
I like the Buccaneers. I want to pick the Falcons but they are just too beat up right now. The Buccaneers find a way to rebound after their poor showing last week, just don't ask how.
Buffalo at Cincinnati 1:00 p.m.
I like the Bengals. Well the Patriots steamrolled the Bills so the Bengals should too.
Dallas at Carolina 1:00 p.m.
I like the Panthers. The Cowboys just have not been the same since they lost that Thanksgiving game. Guess Parcells is on a four-year plan there.
Detroit at New Orleans (San Antonio, TX) 1:00 p.m.
I like the Lions! I don't know why.
Jacksonville at Houston 1:00 p.m.
I like the Jaguars. The Texans have shown some life lately and the Jaguars barely beat the 49ers but I just cannot pick the Texans.
N.Y. Giants at Washington 1:00 p.m.
I like the Giants. The Redskins looked really good last week, too good. The Giants need to finish the job.
Pittsburgh at Cleveland 1:00 p.m.
I like the Steelers. This could be a surprisingly tough game for the Steelers but they need to win so they will find a way.
San Diego at Kansas City 1:00 p.m.
I like the Chiefs. Arrowhead is a tough place to play at, the Chiefs are more desperate, and the Chargers are bound to come off of the high of beating the Colts.
San Francisco at St. Louis 1:00 p.m.
I like the Rams. The Rams broke my heart last week but they cannot lose to the 49ers can they?
Tennessee at Miami 1:00 p.m.
I like the Dolphins. The Dolphins have been playing some inspired football lately-- which is what they need to win because...
Philadelphia at Arizona 4:05 p.m.
I like the Eagles.
Indianapolis at Seattle 4:15 p.m.
I like the Seahawks. The Seahawks still need to win whereas the Colts do not. Possible Super Bowl match up?
Oakland at Denver 4:15 p.m.
I like the Broncos. I understand the Broncos looked vulnerable in their pass defense and they did upset the Broncos in Denver last year but
Sunday, Dec. 25
Chicago at Green Bay 5:00 p.m.
I like the Bears. I don't know how people in Chicago celebrate but they will be doing whatever it is they do after this game.
Minnesota at Baltimore 8:30 p.m.
I like the Vikings. The Vikings keep the NFC playoff race interesting a little longer.
Monday, Dec. 26
New England at N.Y. Jets 9:00 p.m.
I like the Patriots. This has nothing to do with the Patriots, besides them not being the Raiders, this pick has to do with the Jets. And Jet I thought the only lonely place was on the moon.
Joey (Score:2)
Because Joey Harrington is starting?
I'm not expecting much out of that game. The only benefit is that because the Lions are playing a Southern team, they *may* be on my TV this week.
...they cannot lose to the 49ers can they? (Score:2)
I lost to the niners on GC, also. *sigh* *sigh*
My prediction by quarter:
1st Quarter
Rams - 21
9ers - 3
2nd Quarter
Rams - 21
9ers - 9
3rd Quarter
Rams - 21
9ers - 16
4th Quarter
Rams - 21
9ers - 22*
*sigh* *sigh* *sigh*
*missed 2-point conversion wIth 4:34 minutes left.
Re:...they cannot lose to the 49ers can they? (Score:1)
Surprising how close you were on the score.