NFLFan's Journal: NFL Week 17

The Fan's Six Pack:

1. Do not look now but a certain AFC team is back from the dead. This team had a rough go to part of their season but they are back now beating up on NFC teams and weaker division opponents. They are coming together on both sides of the ball right now. No, I am not talking about New England but rather the Pittsburgh Steelers.

   The Steelers are not in the playoffs right now but it is between them and the Chiefs and too much has to happen for the Chiefs to get in. If you are looking for a dark horse in the playoffs I think the Steelers might be it.

2. To steal from Peter King, Anquan Boldin got snubbed by not being named to the Pro Bowl. Boldin's numbers: 94 catches, 1321 yards, and 7 touchdowns. When I read King's MMQB I thought maybe he was projecting Boldins number's to a full 16 games, Boldin missed two games because of a knee injury but to be truthful I thought he had missed more. That is right, Boldin has only played 13 games.

   Maybe Denny Green is starting to put it together in the desert after all.

3. While I do not think that Larry Johnson is the best running back in football, I do think he is the best runner. It would be interesting to see what he would do behind a more ordinary offensive line.
4. How many people had the Bears as the second seed in the NFC at the beginning of the year? I would be surprised if anyone did. Look for the Bears in the NFC Championship game.
5. What has gotten into Kyle Boller? Look for his good fortunes to continue against the Browns.

   Sounds like Brian Billick and Boller may have saved their jobs for now. Poor Baltimore fans.

6. It has been a week and I still do not know what to write about Tony Dungy's tragedy. Such a shame.

The Picks:
Last week I went 10-6. Overall, I am 156-84 (.650). Something about picking this week's games does not feel right, feels too much like picking pre-season games.

Saturday, Dec. 31
Denver at San Diego 4:30 p.m.
I like the Chargers. The Bronco defense has look vulnerable the past few weeks and I look for that to continue.

N.Y. Giants at Oakland 8:00 p.m.
I like the Giants. The Raiders look lost right now.

Sunday, Jan. 1
Arizona at Indianapolis 1:00 p.m.
I like the Colts. I know the Colts are in something of a regular season tailspin but they are playing the Cardinals.

Baltimore at Cleveland 1:00 p.m.
I like the Ravens. Look at their games from last week; these two teams are going in different directions right now. I must have heard at least a half dozen times that Romeo Crennel really is turning around the Browns this past week; while I think the Browns will be better next year I just do not see the improvement after a very bad 41-0 loss.

Buffalo at N.Y. Jets 1:00 p.m.
I like the Bills. These two teams only exist so that the Patriots can pad their record and look dangerous. The Bills resemble more of a football team right now than the Jets. And Jet I thought the major was a lady sufragette. In case of accidents always bring your mom.

Carolina at Atlanta 1:00 p.m.
I like the Panthers. Can the Panthers win both of their games against the Falcons? Under ordinary circumstances I would say no but the Falcons are too beat up on defense and might be flat now since they know they are not going to the playoffs.

Cincinnati at Kansas City 1:00 p.m.
I like Chiefs. This is just one of those games I am not comfortable picking. What if the Chargers lose the night before and knock the Chiefs out of the playoffs? The Chiefs are the type of team that can give the Bengals real fits because of their power running game.

Detroit at Pittsburgh 1:00 p.m.
I like the Steelers. The Steelers need this win and why should they disappoint?

Miami at New England 1:00 p.m.
I like the Dolphins. What I like about the Dolphins is that they have been winning lately and gave the Patriots a real tough game the last time they played. What I do not like is that the game is at New England; the Dolphins would be close to a sure thing if the game was at Miami.

New Orleans at Tampa Bay 1:00 p.m.
I like the Buccaneers.

Seattle at Green Bay 1:00 p.m.
I like the Seahawks.

Houston at San Francisco 4:05 p.m.
I like the Texans. The Texans are actually the better team.

Tennessee at Jacksonville 4:05 p.m.
I like the Jaguars. I am not crazy about Jacksonville but they need better competition to pick against them. The lack of competition has been the story for most of the Jaguar wins.

Chicago at Minnesota 4:15 p.m.
I like the Bears. The Vikings had a nice little run in the middle of the season but that is over.

Washington at Philadelphia 4:15 p.m.
I like the Redskins. The Eagles have looked surprisingly good at times during the past few weeks but so have the Redskins and they are playing for something.

St. Louis at Dallas 8:30 p.m.
I like the Cowboys. I do not what has happened to the Rams.

I do!

[Shadow Wrought]

I do not what has happened to the Rams.

They suck;-) Actually the problem is that they have Offensive ADD. They are always trying to get the big strike and so end up with a 25+ yard incompletion that just barely missed instead of the 12 yarder for a first down. Because they are only just missing things they are convinced that next time they will hit it. Gambler's Logic, as it were.

At this point I don't care whether Martz returns or not so long as they figure it out right away and get started on next