NFL Week 14: Letters To The Editor

It has come to my attention more and more of you are betting on games using these weekly previews. Now some of you are starting to complain if I get a game wrong and you were stupid enough to bet money on it. If you all don’t cut it out, or if you all keep telling me about it, I’m going to stop writing these previews up. I know I’m insanely good against the spread, but still. I don’t want to be the one responsible for you losing your money if I have a bad week. Slap those records up maestro:
Overall: 120-60 (67%)
Vs. Spread: 103-69-8
AS ALWAYS, THE FOLLOWING SHOULD NOT BE USED AS THE SOLE BASIS FOR ANY REAL WAGERING

THURSDAY
Cleveland Browns (4-8) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-7)(-7)
8:00 p.m. Heinz Field
So, still think these Thursday night games are a great idea? Following the Ravens-Bengals clunker, we get another AFC North crapfest. What was the NFL Network thinking when they scheduled this game? Even if the Steelers were 8-4 like they were supposed to be, the Browns would still be a bad 4-8 team. This couldn’t possibly have been the sexiest matchup in week 14 at the beginning of the season.
Pick: Steelers

SUNDAY
Atlanta Falcons (6-6)(-3.5) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-9)
1:00 p.m. Raymond James Stadium
When I figure the Falcons out, I’ll let you know. Until then, it’s probably wise to bet against Michael Vick when he faces a defense he always struggles with.
Pick: Buccaneers

Baltimore Ravens (9-3) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (7-5)(-2.5)
1:00 p.m. Arrowhead Stadium
A few weeks ago, Sports Illustrated ran a cover story piece on Ray Lewis, calling him “God’s Linebacker” (which incidentally, was plagiarized from a GQ magazine cover a few years ago on Troy Aikman titled “God’s Quarterback”…but I digress). The sappy article said how tough Ray Lewis had it. Tough childhood, tough upbringing, unfairly prosecuted for murder, blah blah blah. It was supposed to make the reader feel sorry for all the things that Lewis has brought upon himself, and that he had magically found redemption in God. He even lightly compares himself to Jesus in the article. Well, the readers of SI weren’t having it. In the Letter to the Editor section last week, the readers overwhelmingly said that the article was a piece of crap and that Lewis is a thug who should be behind bars. In fact, according to SI’s webpage, the article received more responses back than almost any other article in SI’s history. The majority of the responses were negative. I just thought I’d reprint some of the better responses found in the December 4th issue here:

“As a youth minister I have had enough of athletes covering their bad acts and irresponsible decisions by proclaiming to be disciples of God. Lewis is perceived as a villain because of what he has done, not because of some “master plan.” His “trials” are the result of his own arrogance, entitlement and poor decision-making.”
- Michael Bricker, Penn.

“Pity poor Ray Lewis. He lost his street cred for testifying, sort of, against his thug pals but gained no good-citizen points because the web of lies he orchestrated resulted in a not-guilty verdict in a double-murder case. Perhaps he should really open the Bible to Galatians 6:7, ‘…for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’”
- Thomas Moriarty, Conn.

“I wonder how the families of Jacinth Baker and Richard Lollar – the two men whom Lewis was charged with murdering – felt when they saw his picture on the cover of SI?”
- Rob Picciotto, NY

“Lewis appears to be mixed-up: Jesus was persecuted, Ray was prosecuted.”
- Ed Glass, NM

“If Ray Lewis is “God’s Linebacker,” as your cover says he is, then O.J. Simpson is God’s running back.”
- Zack Faris, Ohio

I have to meet these people. These are all great Americans and great sports fans who realize that Lewis should not be celebrated, but incarcerated.
Pick: Chiefs

Minnesota Vikings (5-7) vs. Detroit Lions (2-10)(-2)
1:00 p.m. Ford Field
Yes the Vikings are bad. But the Lions are much worse and should NEVER be favored.
Pick: Vikings

Tennessee Titans (5-7) vs. Houston Texans (4-8)(-1)
1:00 p.m. Reliant Stadium
With both teams playing much better than anyone anticipated, this is a tricky one. My advice would be to steer clear of this game. The Titans are positioned for a letdown after their win over Indy, but Tennessee just seems to be clicking. Never underestimate Jeff Fisher.
Pick: Titans

New York Giants (6-6) vs. Carolina Panthers (6-6)(-3)
1:00 p.m. Bank of America Stadium
Who else is enjoying this Giants collapse? I’m enjoying it so much, I just did a celebratory “jump shot.” The real question is, who had Tom Coughlin being fired after week 14 in the office pool? There’s a great chance it happens. (However, if Chris Weinke starts for Jake Delhomme, consider this pick and my analysis null and void.)
Pick: Panthers

Indianapolis Colts (10-2)(-1.5) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-5)
1:00 p.m. Alltell Stadium
Someone better wake Peyton Manning and tell him the Colts haven’t come to close clinching home field advantage. This isn’t 2005. A week ago, I would have picked Jacksonville here. But the Jags are coming off a road win, and Indy is coming off a tough loss that they sleepwalked through. I don’t see the Colts dropping two in a row.
Pick: Colts

Oakland Raiders (2-10) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (7-5)(-11)
1:00 p.m. Paul Brown Stadium
Is the eleven-point spread for the entire game, or just the first quarter?
Pick: Bengals

New England Patriots (9-3)(-3) vs. Miami Dolphins (5-7)
1:00 p.m. Dolphins Stadium
For whatever reason, the Patriots have been nearly unbeatable on the road this season. They’ve looked terrible at home. Regardless of what happens here, I think we can safely say this will be the Patriots only trip to Miami until next season.
Pick: Patriots

Green Bay Packers (4-8) vs. San Francisco 49ers (5-7)(-5)
4:05 p.m. Monster Park
If you squint really hard, and you really try to imagine it, you can almost pretend that this game still has significance like it did back in the mid-90’s. But once you realize that you’re watching Alex Smith instead of Steve Young, you’ll snap back to reality.
Pick: 49ers

Seattle Seahawks (7-5)(-3) vs. Arizona Cardinals (3-9)
4:05 p.m. University of Phoenix Stadium
Fantasy Update: With my team needing a win this week to make the playoffs, I’m starting Matt Hasselbeck, Shaun Alexander and Larry Fitzgerald. C’mon shootout!
Pick: Seahawks

Buffalo Bills (5-7) vs. New York Jets (7-5)(-4)
4:15 p.m. Giants Stadium
Make fun of the Jets if you want (I know I have), but they’re going to make the playoffs. No one has an easier schedule. What happened to the NFL this season? How are the Jets, who are terrible, going to make the playoffs? How are the Eagles tied for a Wild Card spot? In the immortal words of Vince Lombardi: “What the hell is going on around here?!?”
Pick: Jets

Denver Broncos (7-5) vs. San Diego Chargers (10-2)(-7)
4:15 p.m. Qualcomm Stadium
Boy, does San Diego get to face Denver at the right time. Look, I’m all for Jay Cutler getting a chance to play. But don’t start him when your team is 7-4 and in the middle of the playoff hunt. Why throw away the season when you don’t have to? Jake Plummer could probably manage a 10-6 mark. I’m not sure Cutler can do that. Suffice to say, Mike Shanahan won’t be receiving my vote for coach of the year.
Pick: Chargers

New Orleans Saints (8-4) vs. Dallas Cowboys (8-4)(-7.5)
8:15 p.m. Texas Stadium
Earlier this season, Vegas gave the Saints no play. Even when they were winning, they were always the underdog. They were my safe upset pick every week. Then Vegas finally realized that “Hey, this Saints team is in first place, maybe we shouldn’t favor them.” Since then, I’ve been lost without my favorite underdog team. Well, Vegas had a momentary lapse of reason and decided to throw me a bone for old times sake.
Pick: Saints

MONDAY
Chicago Bears (10-2)(-7) vs. St. Louis Rams (5-7)
8:30 p.m. Edward Jones Dome
Ladies and Gentleman, for my first exhibit on how bad the NFC is, I present the Chicago Bears. They became the first team to officially clinch a playoff spot and their division, and they did so in a game that their quarterback posted a rating lower than an average student’s GPA. Their offense mustered a staggering 78 yards and no touchdowns. Yet, they won the game and their division easily. They’ll probably have home field advantage. Has the NFC given up already and decided to get ready for next season?
Pick: Bears, Rams cover

Later this week, the Redskins try to re-eliminate the Eagles from playoff contention and the Terps face some Eagles of their own.