13 December 2007

nfl weekly predictions: week fifteen [15]

denver at houston

analysis : it looks like the broncos' offense is finally playing like everyone expected them to play like before the season started. still, it is too little, too late. the texans' fans, on the other hand, are still wondering what it's like to have for a running back sometime during the franchise's existence.

the pick : denver

cincinnati at san francisco

analysis : somehow the 49ers were able to hold adrian peterson to 3 yards rushing on 14 rushes. still they lost by 20 points to a team led by tavaris jackson. i don't know whether this is encouraging or discouraging for the 49ers. and in other news, rudi johnson apparently does have a pulse.

the pick : cincinnati

jacksonville at pittsburgh

analysis : as expected, the media made too much of anthony smith's 'guarantee,' which really wasn't even a guarantee if listened closely. after last week's beating, the good news for the steelers is that return to hines heinz field, where they are 7-0 this season.

the pick : pittsburgh

atlanta at tampa bay

analysis : while i can't say that i'm surprised that bobby petrino left the falcons, it is surprising is that he left the falcons with three games left in the season. unsurprisingly, his former players and many members of the media have not been kind to petrino. he has been much maligned and criticized by them, and he deserves every single bit of it. i view his move not only as dishonorable, but it shows that he lacks loyalty and has absolutely NO integrity. he is a quitter in the truest form.

the pick : tampa bay

seattle at carolina

analysis : seeing how the seahawks' fanbase have missed seeing a grown man who weighs 225 pounds crumple into a ball like a piece of paper, they are rejoicing to see shaun alexander back in uniform.

the pick : seattle

green bay at st louis

analysis : brett favre has maintained that he hasn't retired because he loves the game and that he has felt that the packers have a talent and have a chance to win a championship. but i think that the real reason that he hasn chosen not to retire is to pad his consecutive games started streak. he sees that peyton manning has started every game for his entire career, and shows no signs of slowing down. i believe that if manning every does miss a game, brett favre will announce his retirement almost immediately.

the pick : green bay

baltimore at miami

analysis : if playing the patriots was the ravens' super bowl, then terms of preserving nfl history, this game against the dolphins should be their conference championship. i'm sure they don't want to be the team that lost against what potentially is the first 0-16 team ever. hopefully this game leads to bart scott body-slamming [or pile-driving] a referee.

the pick : baltimore

ny jets at new england

analysis : i'm in the group who believes that the final score will be somewhere along the lines of 88-6. what would make this game even better would be eric mangini pleading for mercy sometime in the third quarter and bill belichick responding with, 'sorry, all out of mercy,' just like nicolas cage did in the blockbuster movie ghost rider.

the pick : new england

arizona at new orleans

analysis : with kate kurt warner playing so well [i use that term loosely], i wonder if the cardinals will keep him with matt leinart coming back next year. whoever may start, their offense depends on the health of larry fitzgerald and anquan boldin.

the pick : arizona

buffalo at cleveland

analysis : who knew that bills at browns would be this week's game that has the biggest playoff implications. everyone who says that the afc is strong need to look at this matchup and rethink that position. i expect derek anderson and the browns' offense to have a good game against the bills' defense. the game hinges on whether or not the browns' defense can stop trent edwards and the passing game. [if they don't, then they don't deserve to be in the playoffs. ever.]

the pick : cleveland

tennessee at kansas city

analysis : the key factor whether or not the titans win a game is not vince young, but rather their defense [and most notably the health of albert haynesworth]. the play of their defense is crucial in keeping the score low because the titans are not a team that will blow anyone out; they simply don't have the kind of offense that can put up that many points. fortunately for them, they will be playing the chiefs, who don't even have an offense that can blow out a candle.

the pick : tennessee

indianapolis at oakland

analysis : the injuries that the colts have suffered this year may be a blessing in disguise. it has allowed some of their inexperienced players to gain valuable playing time and in turn improve the team's overall depth. since they are also always mentally prepared, i can't see the colts struggling too much against the raiders.

the pick : indianapolis

detroit at san diego

analysis : this is a game that the lions desperately need to win to keep their playoff hopes alive. they have lost five straight since they were 6-2, and it looks like it their schedule will remain tough for the rest of the season. on the other hand, the chargers seem to have put things together [whatever that means] and all but clinched a playoff spot. with that being said, i still say that the chargers are not that good as their record may suggest.

the pick : detroit

philadelphia at dallas

analysis : the cowboys will continue to steamroll through the nfc by exploiting the eagles' secondary. the eagles do not have enough talent and depth on defense to contend at a high level for four quarters. this game may be close until halftime, but i expect the cowboys to pull away sometime in the third quarter.

the pick : dallas

washington at ny giants

analysis : what looked like a promising season for the redskins has collapsed because of bad breaks/decisions [eg joe gibbs' double timeout versus the bills, failed fourth and goal versus the giants], injuries [eg jason campbell], and tragedy [the death of sean taylor]. in the end it was too much for this team to handle. despite the annual eli manning second half slump and the annual quitting on the coach, the giants will clinch a playoff spot.

the pick : ny giants

chicago at minnesota

analysis : for once and for all, america will get to see battle of the real adrian peterson [minnesota] versus the fake adrian peterson [chicago]. i hope that if the real adrian peterson comes out with some kind of championship belt, and if he loses he has to give up that belt to the fake adrian peterson and lift up his hand like it were some changing of the guard.

the pick : minnesota

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