RJ's Week 16 NFL Picks
Published December 21, 2004
A quick glance at the NFL standings indicates that three good AFC teams will miss the post-season, while at least one poor NFC team won't. Food for thought...
So, after an ugly 9-7 week, I'm ready to get back on track. Here goes:
Friday Game
Green Bay 8-6 at Minnesota 8-6:
THIRD-BEST GAME OF THE WEEK! I almost want to call this one a tie. But I'll give it to GB by a nose. PACKERS BY 1
Saturday Games
Oakland 5-9 at Kansas City 6-8:
KC is on a roll. THE CHIEFS BY 10
Denver 8-6 at Tennessee 4-10:
I picked Denver as a Wild Card team earlier, and I'll stick by that. They need to win this game to prove me correct. BRONCOS BY 6
Sunday Early Afternoon Games
Atlanta 11-3 at New Orleans 6-8:
NO is hot, but Atlanta is just plain better. FALCONS BY 3
Baltimore 8-6 at Pittsburgh 13-1:
I know the Ravens are good. And I know the Steelers are due to slip up at some point, after having won 12 straight. But I still think Pittsburgh is going to win easily here. STEELERS BY 15
Chicago 5-9 at Detroit 5-9:
Disturbingly, neither team has yet been eliminated from playoff contention in the pathetic NFC. I gotta go with my heart here. LIONS BY 8
Houston 6-8 at Jacksonville 8-6:
Jacksonville has won two in a row. And, playing at home while fighting for a playoff spot will motivate them enough to make that three. JAGS BY 4
N.Y. Giants 5-9 at Cincinnati 6-8:
Eli Manning will play well, in yet another losing effort. BENGALS BY 7
San Diego 11-3 at Indianapolis 11-3:
GAME OF THE WEEK! Eighty total points scored by these two teams is not unthinkable here. Peyton will get his record in this game, and then some. COLTS BY 11
Sunday Late Afternoon Games
Buffalo 8-6 at San Francisco 2-12:
The Bills have won 5 straight. The 49ers are arguably the worst team in the NFL. This one is a no-brainer. BILLS BY 13
New England 12-2 at N.Y. Jets 10-4:
SECOND-BEST GAME OF THE WEEK! New England is reeling from their shocking loss to Miami on Monday night. And the Jets will not collapse (yet). JETS BY 3
Arizona 5-9 at Seattle 7-7:
Seattle isn't a good team, but they're better than Arizona, especially playing at home. SEATTLE BY 9
Carolina 6-8 at Tampa Bay 5-9:
Carolina could have practically sewn up a Wild Card spot with a win last week. But they lost. Tampa Bay is horrible on the road, but pretty tough at home. BUCS BY 5
Washington 5-9 at Dallas 5-9:
Both teams suck. And both teams are still (mathematically) in the hunt for the NFC's final playoff spot. COWBOYS BY 7
Sunday Night Game
Cleveland 3-11 at Miami 3-11:
WORST GAME OF THE WEEK! Miami has been playing better of late. Just ask the Patriots. DOLPHINS BY 14
Monday Night Game
Philadelphia 13-1 at St. Louis 6-8:
Without TO in the lineup, this one could actually be interesting. But Philly will still win. EAGLES BY 10
RJ Elliott is a graduate student studying Criminal Justice at the University Of Central Florida. His likes include nature, sports, and pierced blondes. He dislikes daytime television, left-wing dictators, and lead-tainted Chinese imports. He is ambivalent about Angelina Jolie.
- RJ's Week 16 NFL Picks
- Published: December 21, 2004
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Sports
- Part of a feature: NFL Picks
- Writer: RJ Elliott
- RJ Elliott's BC Writer page
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Comments on this articleComments
I didn't realize there was a Friday game on, and a good one at that. Looks like I'll be having to sneak away in search of a TV whilst over at the in-laws...
I'm completely torn up by this season as a lifelong NY Giants fan. On the one hand, Eli Manning has shown small flashes of brilliance and poise this season, but on the other, they threw away a perfectly plausible run at a playoff spot (especially in the crappy NFC, as you mention) with the change at starter. Obviously, Warner was going to bomb out at some point, I suppose, and maybe Coughlin knew something we didn't (at least, he better hope so).
Eric Berlin
Dumpster Bust: Miracles from Mind Trash
http://dumpsterbust.blogspot.com
I can't remember a Friday game in my lifetime. OK, here goes with Friday and Saturday games:
Vikings over Packers by 3. This is such a coin toss. The Vikings are so talented. The Packers are so injured. The Vikings find remarkable ways to lose at home. The Packers gut out games they have no business winning. I have no idea who will show up.
Chiefs over Raiders by 6. Looks like another shootout waiting to happen. Should be a fun, if meaningless, game.
Broncos over Titans by 9. Broncos should put it together well enough to get into the playoffs. If McNair were playing, I'd put the Titans up by one at home.
Sunday picks later...
Yep. I did miss your picks post.
I'm watching basketball tomorrow.
Oh and I hope you're right about Seattle. You can't predict them - they play down to the level of the competition and its aggravating as all get out.
Merry Christmas (although Happy Holidays or Season's greetings works for me until about Dec. 15 or so. Because Christmas isn't the day after Thanksgivng, which is also a holiday).
Well, I lost that coin toss on the Vikings. Here are my Sunday & Monday picks:
Falcons over Saints by 6
Steelers over Ravens by 9
Bears over Lions by 2
Jaguars over Texans by 8
Giants over Bengals by 4
Colts over Chargers by 13
Bills over 49ers by 11
Patriots over Jets by 3
Seahawks over Cardinals by 4
Bucs over Panthers by 3
Redskins over Cowboys by 7
Dolphins by 4 over Browns
Eagles over Rams by 6
I'm really looking forward to that Colts-Chargers game. I'm hoping Manning gets that record behind him in the first quarter.
Did you hear about Reggie White dying of a heart attack early this morning? That's pretty bad he was like 43.
I liked it a lot. I didn't think there would be any upstart of the violence - and there wasn't. Still - a relief and a good, if slightly sloppy game. Thanks for asking.
The second game was even better, though I was sick at the idea of the Lakers winning. Of course, i always am regardless. :) And then they didn't win.
Wow. Awful returns on my picks so far. 2-1 yesterday, 5-6 today with a lousy game tonight and the Monday nighter to follow.
Oh well, at least the Colts won and Manning got his record.
RJ's Pick: PACKERS BY 1
Result: Packers by 3
RJ's Pick: THE CHIEFS BY 10
Result: Chiefs by 1
RJ's Pick: BRONCOS BY 6
Result: Broncos by 21
RJ's Pick: FALCONS BY 3
Result: NO by 13!!!
RJ's Pick: STEELERS BY 15 (21-6)
Result: Steelers by 13 (20-7)
RJ's Pick: LIONS BY 8
Result: Lions by 6
RJ's Pick: JAGS BY 4
Result: Houston by 21!!!
RJ's Pick: BENGALS BY 7
Result: Bengals by 1
RJ's Pick: COLTS BY 11
Result: Colts by 3
RJ's Pick: BILLS BY 13
Result: Bills by 34
RJ's Pick: JETS BY 3
Result: NE by 16!!!
RJ's Pick: SEATTLE BY 9
Result: Seattle by 3
RJ's Pick: BUCS BY 5
Result: Carolina by 17!!!
RJ's Pick: COWBOYS BY 7
Result: Dallas by 3
RJ's Pick: DOLPHINS BY 14
Result: Dolphins by 3
RJ's score so far: 11-4
Not outstanding, but quite good...
;-)
RJ, I'd take your results in a heartbeat! At least the Fish bumped me up to 8-7.
The Bears got screwed, that was touchdown.
MCH:
I want as many people to be involved in this as possible. Why not make your own picks in my soon-to-come Week 17 post?
MK:
You've had a rough two weeks. But you're still with me for Week 17, right?
And then of course we get to break down the various playoff matchups... :)
Sure, RJ. I'll still be making picks. I couldn't do much worse, could I?
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/23514)
Hey, ya'll! The first game starts in a matter of hours. Let's get pickin'!
(Additional, more precise, prediction: Pittsburgh 21, Baltimore 6)