I went a fairly impressive 11-5 last week. That puts me at 149-91 overall, for a winning percentage of over 62%.
This is the final week of the regular season. Only one playoff spot is still undecided in the AFC, and three are up for grabs in the NFC. In the AFC, either Pittsburgh or Kansas City will join Jacksonville, Cincinnati, New England, Denver, and Indianapolis in the postseason. Over in the NFC, Chicago, Seattle, and the New York Giants have already clinched playoff berths. The remaining spots will go to three of the following four teams: Dallas, Washington, Carolina, and Tampa Bay.
Now, on to my picks for the NFL's Week Seventeen:
Saturday, Dec. 31
Denver 12-3 at San Diego 9-6 - 4:30 p.m.
Neither team has anything to play for, other than pride. Denver has already locked up their division and a first round bye. San Diego has already been eliminated from playoff contention. I'm guessing Denver will rest some key players. That, coupled with the home-field advantage, should give the Chargers the edge in this one. SAN DIEGO BY 9
N.Y. Giants 10-5 at Oakland 4-11 - 8:00 p.m.
The Giants are in the playoffs, but they have not wrapped up their division yet. That fact should be motivation enough for them to give a full effort against Oakland. GIANTS BY 10
Sunday, Jan. 1
Arizona 5-10 at Indianapolis 13-2 - 1:00 p.m.
I'm certain Dungy would like to rest his starters, but he does not want to head into the playoffs on a three game skid. I believe he will play his starters early, and once they get ahead of Arizona by a comfortable margin, he'll unleash the second stringers. COLTS BY 13
Baltimore 6-9 at Cleveland 5-10 - 1:00 p.m.
Baltimore has won two in a row, and Boller is starting to impress. But the Ravens are winless on the road this season. The Browns got shutout by the Steelers 41-0 last week. I think Cleveland will bounce back from that humiliation and win this meaningless game. BROWNS BY 3
Buffalo 5-10 at N.Y. Jets 3-12 - 1:00 p.m.
Buffalo shocked the Bengals last week, 37-27. The Jets got whipped by New England 31-21 on ABC's final telecast of MNF. The Bills aren't very good, but they are better than the sorry Jets. BUFFALO BY 6
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - RJ Elliott
Week 17's picks are up!
2 - Bennett
Broncos - I'm less than impressed with San Diego's performace in the second half of the season, and I think Denver is too diciplined to let this game slip away.
Giants.
Colts. What RJ said.
Baltimore - Boller wants to end the year on a high note.
Bills.
Panthers.
Bengals - playing the spoiler card.
Steelers.
Pats - Brady likes to win, and he's tasted WAY too many losses this year already.
Bucs - FEMA says it's on the way... Too late for N.O., as usual.
Niners - What RJ said. In the rain at Candlestick, it won't be pretty.
Jags.
Bears - Time to get tough.
Redskins.
Cowboys.
3 - RJ Elliott
Thanks for the quick picks, Bennett! But you missed the Seattle-Green Bay game...
4 - Bennett
Ah! Thanks.... Seahawks!
Your picks are good, and the reasoning was interesting, again.
Let the games begin!
5 - RJ Elliott
Temple!
Suss!
Theory!
Emerson?
Bob A. Booey?
You've got less than 24 hours to make your picks! It's just me and Bennett so far...
6 - Matthew T. Sussman
I have nothing funny to say here, unless you count me picking the Texans.
Broncos
Giants
Colts
Ravens
Jets
Panthers
Bears
Bengals
Steelers
Patriots
Bucs
Texans
Jaguars
Seahawks
Redskins
Cowboys
7 - The Theory
oi vey, this week has flown... doesn't help that our computer is in the shop, limiting my e-access. But at least I'm in time to pick... which is all that really matters.
Denver 12-3 at San Diego 9-6... heh, RJ's reasoning sounds as solid as possible before the game. Sand Iego.
N.Y. Giants 10-5 at Oakland 4-11... Ahhhrgh! Yeah, I think the Giants will take this one. Oi. This is a hard week.
Arizona 5-10 at Indianapolis 13-2... Pffft. Yeah, what better week to start winning again than once you're in the playoffs? Arizona.
Baltimore 6-9 at Cleveland 5-10... Cleveland. Just to show the team that they used to be that they're no better than themselves.
Buffalo 5-10 at N.Y. Jets 3-12... Buffalo.
Carolina 10-5 at Atlanta 8-7... Carolina. And let me take this oppertounity to say that I am so glad Atlanta is not in the playoffs. That just tickles me pink.
Cincinnati 11-4 at Kansas City 9-6... KC. Cincy who?
Detroit 5-10 at Pittsburgh 10-5... Steelers. Detroit isn't going to win another one all year.
Miami 8-7 at New England 10-5... This is a hard one. But I think the patriots will pull this one out. Especially in New England.
New Orleans 3-12 at Tampa Bay 10-5... TB.
Seattle 13-2 at Green Bay 3-12... Yeah, Seattle won't give even 50%... but 50% of seattle is still better than GB. Seattle in a close one.
Houston 2-13 at San Francisco 3-12... SanFran. For the reasons RJ gave.
Tennessee 4-11 at Jacksonville 11-4... Oooo. I'm tired, but not so out of my mind that I think TN has a chance. Jacksonville.
Chicago 11-4 at Minnesota 8-7... Chicago may have clinched a spot in the playoffs, but they got a quarterback in there who played his first game last week. I think they'll play him again to try and get the game slowed down farther for him, despite his stellar effort last week. Thus I predict a chicago win.
Washington 9-6 at Philadelphia 6-9... I'll pick Washington, but I'll root Philly. because if there is one team I don't want to see make the playoffs, it's Washington.
St. Louis 5-10 at Dallas 9-6... Dallas.
8 - Temple Stark
the only differences i would have would be Bengals over Kansas City
SEattle over Green Bay - 14 would be the most win Holmgren ha ever had' Alexander and the whle team wants him to get the single-season record. I was just up in Seattle, took a tour around (as in perimeter) of Seahawks Stadium I was ASTOUNDED about how much everyone is taking SuperBowl; usually that's something teams shy away from.
Wow Texans and 49ers - who would have figured on that bottom of the barrel match-up to end the season. 49ers proved they want to win last week.
And I think the Eagles wil suprise the Redskins.
Other than that I'm in agreement with RJ. This week is a lot easier to pick than last week.
9 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Denver 23, SD 7 - RJ 0-1...
10 - RJ Elliott
BC.org pickers:
RJ 0-1
Bennett 1-0
Theory 0-1
Suss 1-0
Temple 0-1
11 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Giants 30, Oakland 21 - RJ 1-1
12 - RJ Elliott
BC.org pickers:
RJ 1-1
Bennett 2-0
Theory 1-1
Suss 2-0
Temple 1-1
13 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Pittsburgh 35, Lions 21 - RJ 2-1
14 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Jets 30, Bills 26 - RJ 2-2
15 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Dolphins 28, NE 26 - RJ 2-3
16 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Packers 23, Seattle 17 - RJ 3-3
17 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
KC 37, Bengals 3 - RJ 4-3
18 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Indy 17, Arizona 13 - RJ 5-3
19 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Bucs 27, Saints 13 - RJ 6-3
20 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Carolina 44, Atlanta 11 - RJ 7-3
21 - Bennett
Bennett 3-4, gad it sucks when the team you pick plays all second stringers from the second quarter onward.
And NE damn near tied it up in the last few seconds! A missed 2 point try with NO time left on the clock kept the game from going into overtime.
btw, Doug Flutie came in for one play and drop kicked an extra point, the first in the NFL since 1941...
NE would have mopped the floor with the Fins had they played their starters.
22 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Browns 20, Ravens 16 - RJ 8-3
23 - Bennett
Now I'm 6-4
24 - Bennett
make that 6-5
25 - RJ Elliott
Here is where the BC.org pickers stand after 11 games:
RJ 8-3
Bennett 6-5
Suss 7-4
Theory 6-5
Temple 6-5