NFL Week 17: Jet-Setting To A Golf Course

With the Redskins preview slated for later this week, we say goodbye to 17 other teams in this post. Last week I was 10-5 overall and 8-7 against the spread. Here are the season stats:

Overall: 154-71 (68%)
Vs. Spread: 120-100-5

SUNDAY

Indianapolis Colts (14-1) vs. Buffalo Bills (5-10)(-8)
1:00 p.m. Ralph Wilson Stadium
Clearly Vegas is under the impression that the Colts won’t play their starters much or at all. I tend to believe they’ll see at least a half of action, especially after last week’s debacle against the Jets. Plus, are the Colts’ backups really that much worse than the Bills’ starters?
Pick: Colts

New Orleans Saints (13-2) vs. Carolina Panthers (7-8)(-7)
1:00 p.m. Bank of America Stadium
Again, Vegas doesn’t have much faith in Sean Peyton playing his starters. But knowing how Peyton likes to coach, I would expect the Saints to actively try to win this game…much more so than the Colts will.
Pick: Saints

Jacksonville Jaguars (7-8) vs. Cleveland Browns (4-11)(-1.5)
1:00 p.m. Cleveland Browns Stadium
Jack Del Rio appears to be on his way out in Jacksonville while Eric Mangini appears to have saved his job in Cleveland with a three-game winning streak. Yes, the Browns have a three-game winning streak. What a bizarre way for them to end the year.
Pick: Jaguars

Chicago Bears (6-9)(-3) vs. Detroit Lions (2-13)
1:00 p.m. Ford Field
Chicago did everyone a favor and helped put another dent in the Brett Favre armor. Other than that, it’s been a dreadful season in the Windy City. They are easily the NFC’s most disappointing team of the year.
Pick: Bears

New England Patriots (10-5) vs. Houston Texans (8-7)(-7.5)
1:00 p.m. Reliant Stadium
The Texans finally lived up to expectations last week with their beat down of the Dolphins in an important game for both teams. Too bad they waited until Week 16 to show up.
Pick: Texans

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7)(-3) vs. Miami Dolphins (7-8)
1:00 p.m. Land Shark Stadium
I don’t pretend to know all the permutations of the AFC playoff picture at this point. I know that Pittsburgh will need some help to get in. I’m willing to bet if they win this game, than either the Ravens or Jets will stumble. The Steelers have a feel of a dangerous playoff team…they just need to get in first.
Pick: Steelers

New York Giants (8-7) vs. Minnesota Vikings (11-4)(-9)
1:00 p.m. Metrodome
We say goodbye to 17 teams and the Redskins this week. But we might as well be saying goodbye to the Vikings as well. This team is dead on its feet right now. I doubt they’d be able to win a playoff game unless it’s against Green Bay. As for the Giants: I hope their fans enjoyed two Monday’s ago. I enjoyed last Sunday.
Pick: Vikings

San Francisco 49ers (7-8)(-7) vs. St. Louis (1-14)
1:00 p.m. Edward Jones Dome
I can’t believe there are plenty of rumors about Mike Singletary’s job security. He’s made a hopeless team somewhat respectable again. I could see if on New Year’s Eve 2010 the 49ers are still barely floating around .500, then Singletary could get the axe. But not this season.
Pick: 49ers

Atlanta Falcons (8-7)(-2) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-12)
1:00 p.m. Raymond James Stadium
As I predicted, the Falcons will finish around .500 and miss the playoffs. But give Atlanta credit. Anyone with a brain could see that they would come down to Earth this season, but they didn’t stagger to a 5-11 or 6-10 finish. This team will be back next year, and may even be the favorite to win the division.
Pick: Falcons

Philadelphia Eagles (11-4) vs. Dallas Cowboys (10-5)(-3)
4:15 p.m. Cowboys Stadium
One of three regular season finales that could be replayed next week in the first round of the playoffs. If Dallas wins, they’ll probably get the Eagles next week at this very stadium. Of course, that would mean they’d have to win a huge January game. In other words: don’t count on it.
Pick: Eagles

Green Bay Packers (10-5) vs. Arizona Cardinals (10-5)(-3)
4:15 p.m. University of Phoenix Stadium
Another matchup that we could next week as well. The Packers are locked into the 5th or 6th seed, so it really doesn’t matter what they do. The Cardinals could still potentially get a first round bye. They’ll be playing their starters, while Green Bay will likely be resting theirs.
Pick: Cardinals

Kansas City Chiefs (3-12) vs. Denver Broncos (8-7)(-13)
4:15 p.m. Mile High Stadium
Yes, the Broncos will win and finish six games better than I expected them to. However, they probably will be on the outside looking in for the playoffs.
Pick: Broncos, Chiefs cover

Baltimore Ravens (8-7)(-10) vs. Oakland Raiders (5-10)
4:15 p.m. Oakland-Alameda Coliseum
So the Ravens will win by 20-27 points. Everyone will start sweating them again, just like they did after crushing Detroit and Chicago. Then they’ll go into the playoffs, commit 10+ penalties and turn the ball over at the most inopportune times. Let’s just get it over with already.
Pick: Ravens

Tennessee Titans (7-8)(-4.5) vs. Seattle Seahawks (5-10)
4:15 p.m. Qwest Field
What, you don’t want to hear more about this game? Really? Alright, your loss.
Pick: Titans

Cincinnati Bengals (10-5) vs. New York Jets (8-7)(-10)
8:20 p.m. Giants Stadium
Oh c’mon…you think the Jets are really going to win this game? My friend who is a Jets fan was so willing to pick against her team, she was going to put considerable money against the Jets. She’s so convinced they are going to blow it, and ruin all the breaks they’ve caught the last few weeks. You know what? She’s right.
Pick: Bengals