NFL Weekly Picks: Week 16

So, the NFL playoff race is winding down on the NFC side, but just getting started on the AFC half. It is sure to be one of the wildest last two weeks of the season in terms of who's in and who's out. Here all of my predictions for this week. By the way, I won last night's game, having pciker the Cahrgers 23-13.

Last Week: 10-6
Season: 146-79


Atlanta 17 Buffalo 7
Prepare yourselves, we're going to have a Brian Brohm sighting this week as he starts at QB for the Bills. That alone should tell you who to pick for this game. Meaningless to the playoff race, the Falcons will play hard anyway and overcome the Bills at home.


Cincinnati 37 Kansas City 14
Not even a questin of who wins this one, the Bengals have simply too much on the line and being upset here could, believe it or not, be the loss that boots them OUT of playoff contention. They won't lose to a Chief team that looks worse and worse every week though. Chalk up a W and the AFC North for Cincy.


Oakland 17 Cleveland 14
Yay for meaningless games between terrible teams! The Raiders run defense is much better (if you can believe it) than Kansas City and Jerome Harrison will not repeat last week. Oakland played solid football in upsetting Denver last week and should have a handle on the Brownies.


Green Bay 31 Seattle 7
The Seahawks essentially quit on the season and their coach Jim Mora last week. If they lose to Tampa Bay, what makes you think they'll show up in a crucial game for the Packers at Lambeau Field. Exactly, they won't. A big rout and wild card spot for Green Bay guarenteed here.


Miami 27 Houston 24
A huge game between two 7-7 teams. The question that remains, as quoted by Jadakiss "Who's real, who's not?" I jumped off of the Texans bandwagon last week and I will stay that way after an underwhleming win over the Rams. Give the Dolphins credit for playing hard through December and the win to go to 8-7.


NY Giants 23 Carolina 17
Beware Giants fans, you might have destroyed the Redskins last week, but the Panthers played exceptinal football against Minnesota and this week will not be so easy. This game will be much closer than people will think, but the must win mentality will catch up to the G-Men and give them the edge to win.


New England 35 Jacksonville 13
This score is a little harsh, but I can see the PAtriots waking up and smelling the coffee in a game they must win to avoid a must-win NEXT week. The Jaguars have been specatacualr at times, terrible at others, and playing in Foxboro will be there demise. The Pats will cruise and tak the AFC East, while the Jags get thrown into a bad spot going into the final week.


New Orleans 45 Tampa Bay 10
The Saints have been playing inconsistent football the last few weeks and it finally caught up to them last Saturday. That being said, a 13-1 team at home against a 2-12 should yield a blowout without question. It will happen thsi week, the Saints clicnh home field and destory the young Bucs.


Baltimore 20 Pittsburgh 10
Some people thik the Steelers turned a corner after that huge win over Green Bay last week. I say they got really lucky the Packers gave them the game and that they'll get theirs against a much hungrier Raven team. It won't be easy for Baltimore, this will be a test for Joe Flacco that will prove how good of a leader he is. But ultimately, he passes and the Ravens solidify wild card position.


Arizona 31 St. Louis 14
How long will the Cardinals play their starters? Until they go up 31-0 on St. Louis, then Matt Leinart will throw picks and Keith Null will slice through the Cardinal backups and make this score seem like it's close. Trust me, 31-14 is overly generous, it;ll be all Arizona in this one.


San Francisco 27 Detroit 17
Yay for another meaningless game, this one will be closer than people think. The 49ers have essentially quit on their season and the Lions will keep this one tight. However, Frank Gore shold have no issues against the Lions joke of a run defense and he is the difference maker as San Fran prevails.


Indianapolis 21 NY Jets 17
I want the Colts to play their starters, I don't want to see them go 16-0 but I want to at least see them TRY. Going against a Jet team in a must-win situation, this has all the aroma of an upset here. That being said, Indy will find a way to pull out a win and all but end the Jets hopes of a wild card berth.


Denver 27 Philadelphia 21 - UPSET PICK
More of wishful thinking than an upset pick, but I do not believe in the Eagles. Maybe it's my Dallas bias getting in the way, but Philadelphia is a wildly inconsistent team. Then again, so is Denver and winning in Philly is very difficult. But somehow, the Broncos find a way to pull this out in a huge playoff implication game for them.


Dallas 34 Washington 14
I'm worried about this game. Seriosuly. Last season Dallas would pull off a week 15 upset and then lose out to miss the playoffs. Will it happen this year? I don't think so...but last year still sticks in my head like a butcher's knife. Still, this is the Redskins, and the way Washington is disshuffled right now, I can't see them competing in this one, even though it's a rivalry game and their at home. The Cowboys actually keep playing well for once and cruise here to set up a rematch for the NFC East against the Eagles at Jerryland week 17.


Minnesota 31 Chicago 13
The real question here is whether the Vikings truly put all of the drama from the past couple weeks behind them. I'm not quite sure that they will, but when your playing a team as atrocious as the Bears, it really doesn't make a difference. The Vikings will cruise and clinch a bye in the first round.