Week 17 Picks

Well, I'm down a mere three games going into this final Week 17.  We've been close all season although Joe has held the lead since Week 2. Joe's largest lead has been +5.

Thoughts on the Browns: Same as always. I hate that. Cleveland has had four playoff wins in my lifetime, none in past 20 years, and a lone fluke playoff appearance 12 years ago ending in a heartbreaking loss to Pittsburgh. The glory days of the franchise happened before I was born, a short tantalizing run in the 80s is famous only for the unfathomable losses. The owner and his croney moved the team, croney conspiring the whole time to land his own franchise which was inherited by his son whose first love was another sport on another continent. The Browns are sold to Steeler shareholder from a family of Tennessee republicans, who within a year is under federal investigation for fraud. Their hometown quarterbacks haven't won and the silver-spooned, coke-snorting Heisman midget they brought in will have less success than Tim Tebow with zero of Tebow's personality. It will be a miracle if the Browns win a playoff game anytime in the next five years.

All Sunday Games:
Cleveland at Baltimore (-13.5)
Mike: CLE. I'm assuming there will be some members of the Browns who will be trying.

Joe: BAL. Hilariously typical finish to another Browns season. Ravens, 31-8.
Final: BAL 20-10. Somehow, the Browns held them for the first three quarters. If the Browns don't sign a veteran quarterback and don't draft one, we're looking at a Manziel/Shaw showdown in training camp. I'm rooting for whatever's best for the Browns and I don't think it's Manziel.

Detroit at Green Bay (-7.5)
Mike: GB. Lions never fair well in bad weather.

Joe: GB. Rodgers = MVP. Packers, 34-20.
Final: GB 30-20. But Aaron Rodgers is hurt. Sucks for the Packers.

Jacksonville at Houston (-8.5)
Mike: HOU. Will JJ Watt win the MVP? He was probably the first half MVP.

Joe: JAX. Is Tom Savage the Houston QB? Texans, 20-17.
Final: HOU 23-17. The Jags returned a pick six to cover the spread.

Indianapolis (-7.5) at Tennessee
Mike: IND. I see a trend here of a lot of games that are totally meaningless.

Joe: TEN. The Colts are locked in & resting players. Their subs are still better than the Titans. Colts, 19-16.
Final: IND 27-10.  You were right but not quite as right as you needed to be.

Buffalo at New England (-5.5)
Mike: NE. I helped support Tom Brady by buying a pair of Uggs for the Mrs. for Christmas.

Joe: BUF. With New England locked as #1 seed, Buffalo wins to screw the Browns even more. Bills, 24-23.
Final: BUF 17-9. Kyle Orton, getting it done.

NY Jets at Miami (-6.5)
Mike: NYJ. Let's see Rex go out with a win, or at least covering the spread.

Joe: NYJ. Jets play hard for their coach just like the Browns used to. Dolphins 23-17.
Final: NYJ 37-24. At least the Jets got to go out with a trip to Florida. Lucky guys in Florida ...

Carolina at Atlanta (-2.5)
Mike: ATL. The Falcons had the division in hand this entire time. I hope they go to the Big Game.

Joe: ATL. Of all the terrible NFC South teams, Atlanta is the least terrible. Falcons 34-24.
Final: CAR 34-3. Wow, the Falcons just laid a giant egg at home. Time to fire Mike Smith.

Chicago at Minnesota (-6.5)
Mike: MIN. It's my last opportunity to pick Chicago. Part of me feels I should do it.

Joe: MIN. Man, I wish the Browns had Bridgewater. Hell, I'd take Cutler next year 100%. Vikings, 27-26.
Final: MIN 13-9.  And the Bears screw me over one final time. They were the Cardinals of 2014.

San Diego at Kansas City (-1.5)
Mike: SD. They had an amazing comeback last week to stay alive. Alex Smith is out.

Joe: SD. Rivers > Chase Daniel. Chargers, 27-17.
Final: KC 19-7. Classic Chargers. Win and they're in to the backup quarterback. Stay Class... ah, forget it.

Philadelphia at NY Giants (-2.5)
Mike: NYGiants. That Odell kid is pretty good.

Joe: NYG. Coughin moves to front office & Chip Kelly needs to find a QB. Giants, 28-20.
Final: PHI 34-26. Eagle are the Best of the Rest, only team to finish 10-6 and miss playoffs.

Dallas (-4.5) at Washington
Mike: DAL. One of the few bright spots this season has been watching Dan Snyder's team collapse.

Joe: DAL. Not sure I'd want RGIII on my team. Cowboys 34-21.
Final: DAL 44-17. Tony Romo getting it done. I'm guessing. I didn't actually see it.

New Orleans (-5.5) at Tampa Bay
Mike: NO. Surely the Bucs won't squander the 2015 #1 pick they've worked so hard to earn.

Joe: TB. The window for the Saints is next year at the most. If Tampa finds a QB, they'll win the division next year. Saints, 28-27.
Final: NO 23-20. Yeah, that division is out there for a young team to claim. I want to see you pick the Bucs to win division in the 2015 Preseason Post.

St. Louis at Seattle (-11.5)
Mike: STL. I don't know why but I think the Rams keep it close.

Joe: STL. Stupidly think the Rams D can cover this spread. Seahawks, 23-13.
Final: SEA 20-6. We were both stupid and both missed our pick. We should hire a researcher to find all the games where we distinctly go against our gut and lose.

Arizona at San Francisco (-6.5)
Mike: SF. I think it would be hilarious if Harbaugh sticks around for another year. Hey media, shut up!

Joe: ARI. Harbaugh is already at the school up North. Cardinals, 24-23.
Final: SF 20-17. Fortunately, we'll be seeing less of Jim Harbaugh now on Sundays. Unfortunately, we'll be seeing him more on Saturdays.

Oakland at Denver (-14.5)
Mike: OAK. Denver will be among the worst 12-4 teams ever after this win. They're not as good as you think they are.
Joe: OAK. Almost rather be Oakland than the Browns right now. Carr is going to be good. Broncos, 30-24.
Final: DEN 47-14. Hey, them Broncos ain't so bad...

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (-3.5)
Mike: CIN. A totally meaningless game that I hope has terrible weather and all the players get pneumonia.

Joe: PIT. Just to rub it in, the other 3 division members make the playoffs. Steelers 31-27.

Final: PIT 27-17. Once again, the Browns are the poor ugly kids not invited to the party.

Final:
Mike: 5-11
Joe: 8-8