NFL: Week 17
It's hard to believe, but it's already the final week of the NFL season, which means we are one week away from the playoffs. This past summer with the lockout, it looked like there would not be any football at all this season. Everything worked out thankfully and fans have been rewared with five months of great football games.
I hate the end of the football season as much as the next guy, but the NFL playoffs are one of the best sporting events of the year, and they can be even better this year if the Bengals can find a way to get in. There are still three playoff spots up for grabs this weekend, division winners from the NFC East and AFC West, and one Wild Card spot in the AFC also remains.
Will it be Giants or Cowboys in the NFC East? Broncos or Raiders out of the AFC West? Or Jets, Titans, or Bengals in the AFC Wild Card? My predictions follow in my final picks for the NFL in 2011.
WEEK 17 (Home team in CAPS)
NEW ENGLAND over Buffalo: Buffalo shocked everyone by beating the Patriots in Week 3, but Tom Brady won't let that happen again. New England clinches home-field advantage throughout the playoffs in the win.
Chicago over MINNESOTA: Bears finish strong with a win, hoping Jay Cutler and Matt Forte come back in full strength for 2012, while Viking fans will be praying that RB Adrian Peterson can return to form after suffering a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee last week.
GREEN BAY over Detroit: The Packers have secured home-field advantage and really have nothing to play for. With that being said, I still think Aaron Rodgers will play most of the game and I think the Packers players want to finish the season 15-1. Green Bay will probably not play their starters the whole game, but they will play long enough to defeat the playoff bound Detroit Lions, can't believe I'm saying that.
HOUSTON over Tennessee: Houston has clinched the number three seed in the AFC playoffs and it really makes no difference if they win or loss, but I think they do enough to up end the Titans, who can clinch a wild-card spot with a win and CIN loss + NYJ win + OAK loss or tie. Or a win + CIN loss + NYJ win + DEN loss or tie. Or a win + CIN loss + NYJ loss or tie + OAK win + DEN win. Whatever way you look at it, I don't see the Titans making the playoffs.
Indianapolis over JACKSONVILLE: The Colts clinch the first pick in the draft with a loss or a win and a win by the St. Louis Rams, but as you will see next, I doubt the Rams will win on Sunday. Which means after starting the season 0-13, the Colts will end the season on a three game winning streak, and will not be taking Andrew Luck with the first pick. Could they still take him with the second pick?
San Francisco over ST. LOUIS: San Francisco clinches a first-round bye with an easy win over the Rams, who with a Colts win, get the first pick in April's draft. They already have invested a lot of money in QB Sam Bradford, so I doubt they take Luck. Who will they take? The Colts at number two, or do the Rams trade the pick? We will have a lot of time to discuss that in the future and trust me, you will be hearing about it a lot.
MIAMI over NY Jets: After losing to the Giants last week, the Jets need some help if they are to clinch the last wild-card spot. First, they must beat the Dolphins, then they need a Bengals loss, a Titans loss or tie, and either a Raiders loss or tie, or Broncos loss or tie to clinch the final wild card spot. However, Miami has won 5 of their last 8 and two of their losses were by a combined 4 points. I like the Dolphins to end the Jets season, which means we won't have to listen to Rex Ryan in the playoffs.
NEW ORLEANS over Carolina: After breaking Dan Marino's single-season passing record last week, some might think Drew Brees and the Saints offense would take a break before starting their playoff run. Well, think again. With a win over Carolina and a loss by the 49ers, the Saints can clinch a first-round bye, so I expect Brees to play, and to play well.
PHILADELPHIA over Washington: The Dream Team's disappointing season ends in a win. I expect the Eagles to be much better next year and they will be Super Bowl contenders if they have a good draft and improve their defense. #boldprediction.
ATLANTA over Tampa Bay: Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris may be coaching his last game on Sunday against Atlanta, as I think the Falcons beat the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers who will end the season on a 10 game losing streak. "C'mon Man."
Pittsburgh over CLEVELAND: The Steelers need a win and a Baltimore loss to clinch the AFC North and a first-round bye, and they should have no problems with the Browns.
DENVER over Kansas City: Tebow and the Broncos need a win over the Chiefs or a Raiders loss to clinch the AFC West and I like Tebow to take care of business at home. After starting the season 1-4, who would have thought that Tim Tebow would lead the Broncos to the playoffs? I'm guessing there was at least one guy and he wears number 15 for the Broncos.
OAKLAND over San Diego: Oakland needs a win and some help to clinch a playoff spot and I think they get the win. However, I don't think they get the help they need to make the playoffs. The acquisition of QB Carson Palmer may not have worked out this year, but the Raiders could be a very good football team in 2012.
Seattle over ARIZONA: Both Seattle and Arizona had better seasons that most anticipated and I think both could contend with the 49ers in the division next season with improvement this offseason. I like the Seahawks to win this one and finish the season 8-8.
NY GIANTS over Dallas: It's a winner take all game in the Big Apple, as the winner of Giants/Cowboys clinches the NFC East. These two teams meet three weeks ago in which the Giants came back and won after trailing by 12 with just under six minutes to go. QB Tony Romo suffered a bruised right hand in last week's loss to the Eagles, so that will be something to keep an eye on. I like how the Giants played last week against the Jets and they had a lot of success in the fourth quarter against Dallas the first time, so I'll take the G-Men to clinch.
BENGALS over Ravens: Playoff's?! You kidding me?! That's right, with a win on Sunday; the Bengals can clinch a wild card spot. Winning, though, will be no easy task. The Baltimore Ravens are one of the league's most physical teams and they have a lot to play for on Sunday as well. With a win, the Ravens clinch the AFC North and a first-round bye, so expect nothing but the best from Baltimore.
The Bengals almost beat the Ravens the first time they meet and that was without WR A.J. Green. This was the game where TE Jermaine Gresham's touchdown, which clearly was a touchdown, was ruled an incomplete pass, and the Bengals had to settle for a field goal. It was also the game where the Bengals had it first and goal late in the fourth quarter and failed to tie up the game, as the offensive line failed to stop a three man pass rush.
With the Bengals coming that close to winning on the road in Baltimore the first time, a healthy A.J. Green, no Anquan Boldin for the Ravens, and a sold out Paul Brown Stadium, I'll like the Bengals to win and clinch their second playoff berth in three years. If the Bengals get a lead, force QB Joe Flacco to throw the football, which usually means abandoning Ray Rice, the Bengals win this football game. Bengals 24, Ravens 21.
Last Week: 10-6
Overall: 153-87
I hate the end of the football season as much as the next guy, but the NFL playoffs are one of the best sporting events of the year, and they can be even better this year if the Bengals can find a way to get in. There are still three playoff spots up for grabs this weekend, division winners from the NFC East and AFC West, and one Wild Card spot in the AFC also remains.
Will it be Giants or Cowboys in the NFC East? Broncos or Raiders out of the AFC West? Or Jets, Titans, or Bengals in the AFC Wild Card? My predictions follow in my final picks for the NFL in 2011.
WEEK 17 (Home team in CAPS)
NEW ENGLAND over Buffalo: Buffalo shocked everyone by beating the Patriots in Week 3, but Tom Brady won't let that happen again. New England clinches home-field advantage throughout the playoffs in the win.
Chicago over MINNESOTA: Bears finish strong with a win, hoping Jay Cutler and Matt Forte come back in full strength for 2012, while Viking fans will be praying that RB Adrian Peterson can return to form after suffering a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee last week.
GREEN BAY over Detroit: The Packers have secured home-field advantage and really have nothing to play for. With that being said, I still think Aaron Rodgers will play most of the game and I think the Packers players want to finish the season 15-1. Green Bay will probably not play their starters the whole game, but they will play long enough to defeat the playoff bound Detroit Lions, can't believe I'm saying that.
HOUSTON over Tennessee: Houston has clinched the number three seed in the AFC playoffs and it really makes no difference if they win or loss, but I think they do enough to up end the Titans, who can clinch a wild-card spot with a win and CIN loss + NYJ win + OAK loss or tie. Or a win + CIN loss + NYJ win + DEN loss or tie. Or a win + CIN loss + NYJ loss or tie + OAK win + DEN win. Whatever way you look at it, I don't see the Titans making the playoffs.
Indianapolis over JACKSONVILLE: The Colts clinch the first pick in the draft with a loss or a win and a win by the St. Louis Rams, but as you will see next, I doubt the Rams will win on Sunday. Which means after starting the season 0-13, the Colts will end the season on a three game winning streak, and will not be taking Andrew Luck with the first pick. Could they still take him with the second pick?
San Francisco over ST. LOUIS: San Francisco clinches a first-round bye with an easy win over the Rams, who with a Colts win, get the first pick in April's draft. They already have invested a lot of money in QB Sam Bradford, so I doubt they take Luck. Who will they take? The Colts at number two, or do the Rams trade the pick? We will have a lot of time to discuss that in the future and trust me, you will be hearing about it a lot.
MIAMI over NY Jets: After losing to the Giants last week, the Jets need some help if they are to clinch the last wild-card spot. First, they must beat the Dolphins, then they need a Bengals loss, a Titans loss or tie, and either a Raiders loss or tie, or Broncos loss or tie to clinch the final wild card spot. However, Miami has won 5 of their last 8 and two of their losses were by a combined 4 points. I like the Dolphins to end the Jets season, which means we won't have to listen to Rex Ryan in the playoffs.
NEW ORLEANS over Carolina: After breaking Dan Marino's single-season passing record last week, some might think Drew Brees and the Saints offense would take a break before starting their playoff run. Well, think again. With a win over Carolina and a loss by the 49ers, the Saints can clinch a first-round bye, so I expect Brees to play, and to play well.
PHILADELPHIA over Washington: The Dream Team's disappointing season ends in a win. I expect the Eagles to be much better next year and they will be Super Bowl contenders if they have a good draft and improve their defense. #boldprediction.
ATLANTA over Tampa Bay: Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris may be coaching his last game on Sunday against Atlanta, as I think the Falcons beat the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers who will end the season on a 10 game losing streak. "C'mon Man."
Pittsburgh over CLEVELAND: The Steelers need a win and a Baltimore loss to clinch the AFC North and a first-round bye, and they should have no problems with the Browns.
DENVER over Kansas City: Tebow and the Broncos need a win over the Chiefs or a Raiders loss to clinch the AFC West and I like Tebow to take care of business at home. After starting the season 1-4, who would have thought that Tim Tebow would lead the Broncos to the playoffs? I'm guessing there was at least one guy and he wears number 15 for the Broncos.
OAKLAND over San Diego: Oakland needs a win and some help to clinch a playoff spot and I think they get the win. However, I don't think they get the help they need to make the playoffs. The acquisition of QB Carson Palmer may not have worked out this year, but the Raiders could be a very good football team in 2012.
Seattle over ARIZONA: Both Seattle and Arizona had better seasons that most anticipated and I think both could contend with the 49ers in the division next season with improvement this offseason. I like the Seahawks to win this one and finish the season 8-8.
NY GIANTS over Dallas: It's a winner take all game in the Big Apple, as the winner of Giants/Cowboys clinches the NFC East. These two teams meet three weeks ago in which the Giants came back and won after trailing by 12 with just under six minutes to go. QB Tony Romo suffered a bruised right hand in last week's loss to the Eagles, so that will be something to keep an eye on. I like how the Giants played last week against the Jets and they had a lot of success in the fourth quarter against Dallas the first time, so I'll take the G-Men to clinch.
BENGALS over Ravens: Playoff's?! You kidding me?! That's right, with a win on Sunday; the Bengals can clinch a wild card spot. Winning, though, will be no easy task. The Baltimore Ravens are one of the league's most physical teams and they have a lot to play for on Sunday as well. With a win, the Ravens clinch the AFC North and a first-round bye, so expect nothing but the best from Baltimore.
The Bengals almost beat the Ravens the first time they meet and that was without WR A.J. Green. This was the game where TE Jermaine Gresham's touchdown, which clearly was a touchdown, was ruled an incomplete pass, and the Bengals had to settle for a field goal. It was also the game where the Bengals had it first and goal late in the fourth quarter and failed to tie up the game, as the offensive line failed to stop a three man pass rush.
With the Bengals coming that close to winning on the road in Baltimore the first time, a healthy A.J. Green, no Anquan Boldin for the Ravens, and a sold out Paul Brown Stadium, I'll like the Bengals to win and clinch their second playoff berth in three years. If the Bengals get a lead, force QB Joe Flacco to throw the football, which usually means abandoning Ray Rice, the Bengals win this football game. Bengals 24, Ravens 21.
Last Week: 10-6
Overall: 153-87
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