Week 15 Picks

Thursday Night Football
CIN @ PHI (+3.5)
Mike: CIN. It would simply be too good to be true for the mathematical possibilities to fall into place for the Browns. Let's watch Cincinnati run the table and destroy all hopes. The Eagles are down and out.
Joe: PHI. Nick Foles leads a late game charge to keep the Browns in the hunt. Can the Eagles really lose when Ron Jaworski in an official captain?? Probably...
Final: CIN by 21. Looking bleak for the Browns. They need to win the final three and hope the Bengals drop their final two. But you know, if the Browns don't secure a playoff spot, I hope it goes to our ugly half-sister in Cincinnati.

Sunday Football
NYG @ ATL (-1.5)
Mike: NYG. This is the time of the season when the Giants start getting down to business.
Joe: ATL. I've spent weeks doubting and picking against the Falcons which hasn't worked as the best strategy so while I still doubt them ill take them today at home. Just not in the playoffs.
Final: ATL 34-0. OK, it's *next* week when the Giants decide to start playing.

GB @ CHI (+2.5)
Mike: CHI. Sure, I pick the Vikings to beat the Bears, and the Bears to beat the Packers. This makes no sense. Yet, this is the NFL.
Joe: GB. Aren't the Packers due for a 40 point game? With Mathews & Woodson suiting up, it might happen.
Final: GB 21-13. Not quite 40 points but enough to knock off the Bearse.

WASH @ CLE (-1.5)
Mike: WASH. I'm not being disloyal. Browns 24, Redskins 23.
Joe: CLE. No RGIII, just RGI as a backup. (Rex Grossman) it's going to be a long afternoon for Kirk Cousins against the now strong Browns D. It's even stranger that the Browns could be the league's healthiest team.
Final: WASH 38-21. Browns might be the healthiest but they're also the youngest team in the NFL. Despite the poor showing, there are still bright times ahead for these Browns. I will say it was nice to watch them on local TV from the comfort of my recliner -- at least the first half, anyway.

MIN @ STL (-2.5)
Mike: MIN. In a way, I hope the Redskins keep winning so that the future #1 picks they chose from Washington instead of Cleveland's, are worth less. Stupid Rams.
Joe: STL. The Rams are stupid but they are going to win because Ponder is terrible. Stat of the day: Peterson's yards per carry is higher than Ponder's yards per attempt.
Final: MIN 36-22. Ponder with 131 passing. Peterson with 212 rushing. Whatever floats your Viking boat.

JAX @ MIA (-7.5)
Mike: JAX. The Battle of Florida. How did that state ever end up with three teams? And man, what a terrible game.
Joe: JAX. Yeah, all true. The Dolphins shouldn't be favored by a touchdown over anyone, even the Jags. Plus the Chad Henne revenge factor!!!
Final: MIA 24-3. I figured the Dolphins would win but I didn't figure it would be by three scores. As bad as the Browns seem to be, there are definitely a handful of teams that are much worse.

TB @ NO (-3.5)
Mike: TB. What will happen first? Sean Payton leaving New Orleans after his reinstatement or Roger Goodell getting the boot as Commissioner.
Joe: TB. Payton leaving. Goodell has 20 years left, as much as the players hate him the owners (his bosses) love him.
Final: NO 41-0. The Saints are a weird team to figure out.

DEN @ BAL (+2.5)
Mike: DEN. If Jimmy Haslam had bought the team a year earlier, do you think he could have pursuaded Peyton Manning to save the Browns?
Joe: DEN. Is Weeden older than Peyton?? Are we still asking if Flacco is elite? Do the Ravens pass out steroids in the locker room? Is there another Harbaugh the Browns can hire?
Final: DEN 34-17. If Ray Lewis watches his buddies kill a person in the woods, will anybody hear it?

IND @ HOU (-7.5)
Mike: IND. Bound to be a high scoring game that comes down to a final drive.
Joe: HOU. Probably, which is why I'm picking the Texans in a blowout.
Final: HOU 29-17. You make no sense.

SEA @ BUF (+5.5)
Mike: SEA. I think this might be the second time this year I've picked Seattle. But coming off a 58-0 win, they should beat the Bills handily.
Joe: SEA. Is that a pick of a west coast team coming east?? Maybe it's ok because it's a 4pm game.
Final: SEA 50-17. Another 50 on the scoreboard for the Seahawks? (Of course, it's been against the Cardinals and Bills. But still.)

DET @ AZ (+5.5)
Mike: DET. I can't believe both these teams are 4-9. I figured the Lions would be 9-4 at this point.
Joe: DET. I really want to see more Ryan Lindly or whatever it is. And I want to see a team start 4-0 and finish 4-12.
Final: AZ 38-10. Ain't gonna happen. But we'll always have Detroit's 0-16. Hahahaha Lions!!

CAR @ SD (-2.5)
Mike: CAR. The Panthers will eventually figure out how to win. The Chargers are only getting worser and worser.
Joe: CAR. This should be a pick'em game because neither team should ever be favored.
Final: CAR 31-7. Let's just hope and pray Norv doesn't find a job in Cleveland.

PIT @ DAL (+1.5)
Mike: DAL. Bold prediction: Pittsburgh loses out to finish 7-9 this year, then goes 6-10 next year, then 5-11 the following year, etc., until 2019 when they finally go 0-18.
Joe: DAL. One of the best predictions I've ever read. Somewhere in there they hire Shurmer too.
Final: DAL 27-24. A Steeler loss is a distant consolation to a Browns loss.

KC @ OAK (-2.5)
Mike: OAK. Here's my idea to replace the Pro Bowl. Have the worst two teams play each other with the winning team getting the number one pick and the losing team executed at midfield. (The Chiefs will be exempt this year.)
Joe: OAK. Lets not say the word executed ever again.
Final: OAK 15-0. Time for me to enroll into sensitivity training.

SF @ NE (-5.5)
Mike: NE. Seven wins in a row for the Patriots and counting, and 10 out of 13 games they've scored 29 points or more. They're incredible. I don't know how they do it.
Joe: SF. Will McDaniel's be able to get Weeden to run that offense next year as Browns HC??
Final: SF 41-34. SF blows 28 point lead but wins in the end.

Monday Night Football
NYJ @ TEN (-1.5)
Mike: TEN. Instead of watching, I think I'll read about this one on Tuesday morning.
Joe: NYJ. Please let there be another butt-fumble!!!
Final: TEN 14-10. Jets finally put out to pasture.

Mike 9-7, Joe 9-7