Okay, it’s crunch time as me, my best friend (despite his lack of social skills and taste) and my son, who picked this week solely on overall record, make the mad dash for the finish line in our picks contest. We’re heading into the home stretch of the NFL season, with Thursday games (we all had Atlanta by the way), Saturday games, and then a slew of Sundays. Fantasy football leagues are headed down to the wire. It’s fun, and it’s maddening.
Eagle One and I had an interesting conversation last night about fantasy football. We both admitted to hating it, and loving it. I said “everyone hates it in December when they’re not in the playoffs, but when it’s August you can’t wait for it to start. It’s a sickness.”
And on top of it all we have one of the most intriguing match-ups of the year this weekend with the Patriots and Broncos battling it out in the Mile High. Can the Pats stop Tebow? Can the Broncos defense slow down Tom Brady? Can the announcers stop gushing? We’ll get to that, but before we do, check out this
Onto the picks, this week EO decided to chime in with some thoughts as well, so this read might be a bit big. His thoughts are in italics, as well as idiotic and half-true.
Dallas at Tampa Bay: Life in the NFL is truly a year-to-year experience. During the 2010 season the Bucs were the darlings and Raheem Morris was the hottest young coach going. Now the Bucs are foundering and Morris is on the chopping block. The Cowboys need this one on Saturday night and Tampa is in freefall, so give me the Cowboys in a rout.
I hate the Cowboys but Tampa is bad so I have to take Dallas.
- Rich Picks: Cowboys
- Matt Picks: Cowboys
- Rye Picks: Cowboys
Miami at Buffalo: Ugly game here. Miami had been rolling, lost one and then they fired Sparono, which I think was a mistake. It seemed like they were figuring it out with the gangsta Head Coach. Now they’ve got an interim and they’re heading to Buffalo on a cold weekend. Miami in the cold is never a good thing, so give me the Bills.
the battle of the Who Cares bowl. I’ll take Buffalo in the cold windy confines of Ralph Wilson Stadium
- Rich Picks: Bills
- Matt Picks: Bills
- Rye Picks: Bills
Seattle at Chicago: Somehow, someway the Seahawks are still in the mix for a playoff spot, and so are the Bears. Both teams need this one, but the Bears quarterback situation is horrible. I like the way that Seattle is playing right now — and I can’t believe i just typed that — so I’m going with Tavaris and company.
Chicago is in rapid free fall with no parachute. Marshawn Lynch is becoming a beast again. Seattle in a mild upset.
- Rich Picks: Seahawks
- Matt Picks: Seahawks
- Rye Picks: Bears
Tennessee at Indianapolis: We could really have a 16-0 and an 0-16 team in the same season. The Colts will do there part in keeping that alive here as the Titans run all over them.
Indy may not score in this one. Titans crush ‘em.
- Rich Picks: Titans
- Matt Picks: Titans
- Rye Picks: Titans
Green Bay at Kansas City: Slam dunk for the Packers here, but going forward potentially losing Greg Jennings for the playoffs (they are saying 2-3 weeks, but we’ll see on that) could be very, very big. Something to keep an eye on.
Green Bay may score 70 points in this one. GB without a doubt.
- Rich Picks: Packers
- Matt Picks: Packers
- Rye Picks: Packers
Cincinnati at St. Louis: Man, those Rams are horrid. Cincy needs it to keep hope alive and wins by a lot.
The Bungals come back from a tough loss and beat a St Louis team that will fire it’s entire coaching staff after the season.
- Rich Picks: Bengals
- Matt Picks: Bengals
- Rye Picks: Bengals
New Orleans at Minnesota: The Saints are fun to watch and they’ll put up Madden-like numbers in that game. The may hit the over number by themselves.
The Saints go marching in to Minny and beat them silly. The Vikings are horrible.
- Rich Picks: Saints
- Matt Picks: Saints
- Rye Picks: Saints
Washington at New York Giants: The G-Men are the Jason Voorhees of the NFL. You think they’re dead and then they go into Dallas and pull off an impressive comeback win. It pains me to admit it, but Eli gets it done at crunch time. This week he won’t have to worry about crunch time because they’ll have the game in hand by then.
I hate to say it, but Eli Manning is becoming a damn fine QB…Giants roll.
- Rich Picks: Giants
- Matt Picks: Giants
- Rye Picks: Giants
Carolina at Houston: TJ Yates, who knew? Yates came through huge last week and somehow, someway the Texans could be your No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. It all seems a little 2001 Patriots-esque down there doesn’t it. Texans romp.
The Texans pulled out a miracle last week. The Panthers are tough. I’m taking Cam Newton and Carolina in a huge upset. Texans clinched their playoff spot and will have a let down.
- Rich Picks: Texans
- Matt Picks: Panthers
- Rye Picks: Texans
Detroit at Oakland: Again a team that needs to win against a team that is struggling. Megatron hasn’t been heard from much in a while, I have a feeling he will be this weekend in a big Lions win.
NDonkeykong Suh may rip someone’s head off this week. I like Detroit to go into Oakland and squeak one out.
- Rich Picks: Lions
- Matt Picks: Lions
- Rye Picks: Lions
New England at Denver: Even Eagle One is coming around on the Tebow Experience. It’s hard for me to root against the guy, but I will this weekend because my loyalty to the Patriots comes first. I have to run to Boston early on Sunday for an errand, but I’m making sure to do so to get back in time for kickoff. I haven’t looked this forward to a regular season game in a while, it’s like a Christmas present come early. Speaking of which, we had our annual early Christmas at mom and dad’s last week. I hit on 2 of the 4 scratch tix they got me, pocketed $125, not bad huh. Oh, Pats win a fun game.
Pats put an end to Tebow-mania and “crucify” the Broncos.
- Rich Picks: Patriots
- Matt Picks: Patrios
- Rye Picks: Patriots
Cleveland at Arizona: Don’t look now, but the Arizona Cardinals aren’t all that bad. John Skelton looks — gulp — pretty good behind center. Cleveland is maybe my least favorite team to watch, they’re about as exciting as their uniforms. The Cards are tough at home and will get the W.
Cards have been playing great football and nothing will change this week against the Turds…I mean Browns.
- Rich Picks: Cardinals
- Matt Picks: Cardinals
- Rye Picks: Cardinals
Baltimore at San Diego: I want to pick Baltimore because they’re better, but I have that funny feeling that this might be one of those games that they don’t show up for. The Ravens lay eggs about once a month, and this could be a prime spot, on the road, going to the west coast. San Diego is still alive in the west, and very well could have gained some ground already if the Pats beat Denver earlier. If I’m going to come back on Mattie I need to pick up a game or two along the way, so I’m gambling and going with the Bolts.
Phillip Rivers has killed me this year in Fantasy Football – why should this week be different against the top defense in football. Ravens win.
- Rich Picks: Chargers
- Matt Picks: Ravens
- Rye Picks: Ravens
Pittsburgh at San Francisco: Man, another game that’s tough to call. In a bubble, or vacuum, or piece of paper, I’d say that the Steelers are the better team and the ones to pick. However, Ben’s got a bum foot and the 49ers can make a statement in this one. With a nod to my boy Easy E out in Cali, who’s a new daddy (congrats buddy, can’t wait to meet you offspring) I’m going with the 49ers.
gonna be low scoring with two really good defenses and some banged up offenses, but I think San Fran gets it done with home field advantage.
- Rich Picks: 49ers
- Matt Picks: 49ers
- Rye Picks: Steelers
The views and opinions in the Enterprise blogs are those of the author and are not neccessarily shared by Falmouth Publishing.
