I went 7-9 last week. That puts me at 140-100 for the season, which is an overall winning percentage of approximately 58%. (For a comparison, check out the "experts" over at ESPN.)
The following are my picks for the NFL's Week Seventeen:
Saturday, Dec. 30
New York Giants (7-8) at Washington (5-10) - 8:00 pm
The Giants have finally slipped below .500 after having dropped their last two games. However, they are still likely to make it into the postseason with a win Saturday night (depending on how Green Bay does, and the strength-of-victory tiebreaker). The Redskins are just playing for pride, and the chance to be spoilers.
RJ’s Pick – Redskins by 1
Sunday, Dec. 31
Carolina (7-8) at New Orleans (10-5) - 1:00 pm
Carolina becomes a playoff team with a win and a Giants loss plus a Packers loss. New Orleans has already wrapped up the #2 seed in the NFC and has nothing to play for, so they may rest their starters.
RJ’s Pick – Carolina by 3
Cleveland (4-11) at Houston (5-10) - 1:00 pm
Cleveland has dropped three straight. Houston is coming off a shocking win against the Colts last week.
RJ’s Pick – Texans by 4
Detroit (2-13) at Dallas (9-6) - 1:00 pm
This is a sad week for me, as I find myself forced to pick against my beloved Lions. Dallas is still playing for something (the NFC East title), while Detroit would actually be better off losing, so they can get the #1 pick in next year’s draft.
RJ’s Pick – Dallas by 23
Jacksonville (8-7) at Kansas City (8-7) - 1:00 pm
Both teams still have a shot at earning a Wild Card berth, but they both need a win and a lot of help. Jacksonville is an awful away team, so I’ll go with the Chiefs.
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Final Score:
Giants 34, Redskins 28 - RJ 0-1
2 - The Theory
I was on my way home from church this morning and I was like, OMG, I haven't picked yet! Thankfully I had an hour to spare...
Carolina (7-8) at New Orleans (10-5)... Carolina no longer has a chance. I don't see them overcoming New Orleans, resting or no.
Cleveland (4-11) at Houston (5-10)... Who cares? Houston, but only for propriety's sake.
Detroit (2-13) at Dallas (9-6)... Dallas (a no-brainer).
Jacksonville (8-7) at Kansas City (8-7)... Eccch. I feel Jacksonville in this one.
New England (11-4) at Tennessee (8-7)... Tennessee. Partially because of their QB, partially because NE is already in and can't improve their position any.
Oakland (2-13) at New York Jets (9-6)... NYJ.
Pittsburgh (7-8) at Cincinnati (8-7)... Cincinnati. Perhaps if this game was on the Steeler's home turf, I might reconsider... but Cincinnati needs this win too bad to wilt at their house.
Seattle (8-7) at Tampa Bay (4-11)... Sure. RJ's reasoning is sound with this one. Tampa Bay.
Saint Louis (7-8) at Minnesota (6-9)... Minnesota was a weird team this year. There was a point where they were winning games left and right... then all of a sudden something happened and they totally fizzled from view. Well, St Louis should win this one.
Arizona (5-10) at San Diego (13-2)... San Diego.
Atlanta (7-8) at Philadelphia (9-6)... Atlanta's season is now over, and Philadelphia needs a win. They'll get it.
Buffalo (7-8) at Baltimore (12-3)... Baltimore.
Miami (6-9) at Indianapolis (11-4)... Indy... though I think Miami will give them more fits than they will care to admit.
San Francisco (6-9) at Denver (9-6)... Denver. But I'm excited for San Francisco next year.
Green Bay (7-8) at Chicago (13-2)... Green Bay only has the sleightest of slim hopes of making the post season-- I believe they need 9 improbable wins from 9 teams today. Essentially, the post season is a no-go for them. But if this is Favre's last game, then he'll notch it up a step. However, only Favre knows whether that is true. I'll pick Green Bay... however, a Chicago win will not shock me at all.
3 - DOM
New Orleans
Cleveland
Dallas
Jacksonville
Tennessee
N.Y. Jets
Pittsburgh
Seattle
St. Louis
San Diego
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Indianapolis
Denver
Chicago
4 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Jets 23, Oakland 3 - RJ 1-1
5 - RJ Elliott
Oh, and the Lions are winning, in the 4th quarter, on the road, against a good team, and this is the ONLY TIME all season I picked against them...
#$&@!!!
6 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Carolina 31, NO 21 - RJ 2-1
7 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Houston 14, Cleveland 6 - RJ 3-1
8 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Seattle 23, TB 7 - RJ 3-2
9 - RJ Elliott
Lions up by 8 with under three minutes to go...Lord help me...
10 - RJ Elliott
The Bengals just missed a potential game-winning 39-yard field goal with mere second left!!!
11 - RJ Elliott
12 seconds, to be exact...
12 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Rams 41, Vikes 21 - RJ 4-2
13 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Steelers 23, Bengals 17 (in OT) - RJ 5-2 (AND I NAILED THE SPREAD!)
14 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
KC 35, Jags 30 - RJ 6-2 (AND I NAILED THE SPREAD AGAIN!!!)
15 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Detroit 39, Dallas 31 - RJ 6-3
(Holy Balls! I need to pick against the Lions more often! Well, there's always next year...)
16 - RJ Elliott
The Eagles win the NFC East!
17 - RJ Elliott
Mildly-retarded Vince Young is 13-for-33 passing with under two minutes left in the game...
18 - RJ Elliott
And he's been sacked five times, and thrown two INTs...
19 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
NE 40, Titans 23 - RJ 6-4
20 - RJ Elliott
ESPN's NFL "experts" -
Theismann 5-5
Salisbury 7-3
Hoge 5-5
Jaworski 7-3
Schlereth 4-6
Allen 6-4
Mortensen 5-5
Golic 8-2
Accuscore 5-5
21 - RJ Elliott
Ten games into Week 17, I am -
Ahead of five "experts"
Tied with one "expert"
And behind three "experts"
22 - RJ Elliott
I am 146-104 overall...a winning percentage of over 58%.
23 - RJ Elliott
Golic 157-93 - 62.8%
Accuscore 154-96 - 61.6%
Allen 151-99 - 60.4%
Jaworski 150-100 - 60.0%
Theismann 139-95 - 59.4%
Schlereth 148-102 - 59.2%
Salisbury 147-103 - 58.8%
RJ Elliott 146-104 - 58.4%
Hoge (a cheater, and a coward) 144-105 - 57.8%
Mortensen 135-115 - 54.0%
24 - The Theory
I'm pretty sure I'm doing horrible this week... but honestly I don't care. Lions beat the Cowboys... the Eagles back-up players are taking care of Atlanta... tastes like chicken!
25 - RJ Elliott
Final Scores:
SD 27, Arizona 20 - RJ 7-4
SF 26, Denver 23 (in OT) - RJ 7-5
Indy 27, Miami 22 - RJ 8-5
Ravens 19, Bills 7 - RJ 9-5
Philly 24, Atlanta 17 - RJ 10-5