I went 11-5 last week. That puts me at 150-90 for the season. For a comparison, check out the "experts" over at ESPN.
[Note to readers: This is my final NFL Picks column for the 2007 season. I will not be writing separate articles for the playoffs. However, just like last year, I will be making my playoff picks in the comments section below. Please feel free to follow along throughout the post-season, and to offer your own picks as well, if you'd like. As always, thank you for your loyal readership.]
Here are my picks for the NFL's Week 17:
*Saturday, December 29, 2007*
RJ'S MUST-SEE GAME YOU CAN'T SEE: New England 15-0 at New York Giants 10-5 - 8:15 pm (Sheridan's line: New England by 14)
On the one hand, this is a meaningless game. New England has wrapped up home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, and the New York Giants are locked into the fifth seed in the NFC. On the other hand, this game is destined to go down in the record books regardless of the result. If the Patriots win, their victory here will cap the first 16-0 regular season in NFL history. And if the Giants win, I predict Belichick will become the first NFL head coach to garrote a reporter during a post-game press conference.
RJ's Pick - New England by 22
*Sunday, December 30, 2007*
Buffalo 7-8 at Philadelphia 7-8 - 1:00 pm (Sheridan's line: Philadelphia by 7.5)
One team will finish at .500 and miss the playoffs. The other team will finish below .500 and miss the playoffs. This is Week 17 excitement at its finest!
RJ's Pick - Philadelphia by 3
Carolina 6-9 at Tampa Bay 9-6 - 1:00 pm (Sheridan's line: Carolina by 2.5)
Carolina has been eliminated from playoff contention. Tampa Bay is locked into the fourth seed in the NFC, and is due to play at home against the Giants next week in the Wild Card round, regardless of the outcome of this game. The Buccaneers can finish the regular season 6-0 against division rivals with a win here.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - enjoy
YOU PLAY
TO WIN
THE GAME
2 - Heller
gonna be back next season, right RJ? :)
3 - RJ Elliott
I plan on it, Heller. :-)
4 - alessandro
NE, Philly, TB, Miami (sure, why not?), Cleveland, Washington, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Arizona, Indianapolis, Jets, Atlanta (sure, why not?, Minnesota, Green Bay (clearly this can go either way. gotta give props to Kornheiser who never bought the Kitna/Lions hype. He said they were a 7-9 team 8-8 at best), Jacksonville (if they show up), Chicago (battle of the shoulda, woulda, coulda beens)
5 - YuTang
YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME
BUT NOT COVER THE SPREAD, TAKIN N.Y.G.
6 - YuTang
Minnesota needs a win and a Washington loss in order to make the playoffs as the sixth seed. Denver has lost two straight, and is 0-3 against the NFC North this year.
RJ's Pick - Denver by 6
IS IT JUST ME OR ACCORDING TO YOUR STATS SHOULDN'T WE TAKE MINNESOTA?
7 - RJ Elliott
YuTang,
Yes, you certainly have a point. Especially when one considers that Denver's run defense is awful.
However, Adrian Peterson has rushed for just 108 yards in his last three games, and Tarvaris Jackson can't win games by himself. ALWAYS BET AGAINST TARVARIS JACKSON IN BIG GAMES (see: last week).
8 - joe
I would think Minnesota would defeat Denver especially since you say Minnesota has to win and Denver did poorly against NFC North teams and has lost two straight?
9 - alessandro
New England 16-0.
Now the fun begins. They'll win.
10 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
NE 38, Giants 35 - RJ 1-0
11 - YuTang
RJ et al
Some stats to mull over(can u tell i'm having a hard time with this one)
W/L ATS H A AF AA O/U
Minnesota 8-7 7-6-2 3-4 23.1 19.3 8-7-0
Denver 6-9 4-11-0 4-3 19.9 26.0 11-4-0
Minnesota: Under is 6-2 in MIN last 8 road games.
Under is 15-6 in MIN last 21 games on grass.
Denver: Over is 11-1 in DEN last 12 home games.
Over is 7-1 in DEN last 8 games as an underdog.
DEN are 2-10 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
RJ your right i know but Allday Peterson is due to break out, but your absolutely right about Tarv
Dam hard one, i'm in second in my pool for 5k, so i'm torn on this one.
cheers
12 - YuTang
arrgh sorry stats didn't line up, they did when i submitted, honest. lol
13 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Houston 42, Jaguars 28 - RJ 2-0
14 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Carolina 31, TB 23 - RJ 2-1
15 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Philadelphia 17, Bills 9 - RJ 3-1
16 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
GB 34, Lions 13 - RJ 3-2
17 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Bengals 38, Miami 25 - RJ 4-2
18 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Cleveland 20, SF 7 - RJ 5-2
19 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Bears 33, NO 25 - RJ 5-3
20 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Atlanta 44, Seattle 41 - RJ 5-4
21 - RJ Elliott
How about them Vikings!
;-D
22 - RJ Elliott
And Tarvaris Jackson fumbles the game away in overtime...
Final Score:
Denver 22, Vikings 19 (in OT) - RJ 6-4
23 - RJ Elliott
Final Scores:
SD 30, Oakland 17 - RJ 7-4 (and I nailed the spread!)
Redskins 27, Dallas 6 - RJ 7-5
24 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Arizona 48, Rams 19 - RJ 8-5
25 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Ravens 27, Steelers 21 - RJ 8-6