NFL Week Sixteen predictions


Dec. 21, 2006, midnight | By Phillip Allen, Abe Schwadron, Josh Zipin | 17 years, 2 months ago

Division rivalries clear up a foggy playoff picture


Happy Holidays!

Overall

Josh 130-93
Abe 129-94
Pia 139-84
Phil 131-92

Last Week

Josh 10-6
Abe 10-6
Pia 9-7
Phil 9-7

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Minnesota Vikings (6-8) at Green Bay Packers (6-8)

Josh's Pick Abe's Pick Pia's Pick Phil's Pick
Green Bay Green Bay Green Bay Green Bay

Josh says: Has anyone ever heard of Tavaris Jackson? Last week was beginner's luck.

Abe says: If there is any chance of snow, this game is a no-brainer. If not, it's only an obvious one.

Pia says: For him, and for us, the fans who remember the good old days, let's hope that this is Brett Favre's last game at Lambeau Field. Retire in peace, buddy.

Phil says: Favre doesn't lose in this weather.

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Kansas City Chiefs (7-7) at Oakland Raiders (2-12)

Josh's Pick Abe's Pick Pia's Pick Phil's Pick
Kansas City Kansas City Kansas City Kansas City

Josh says: I wonder if the Raiders have decided who they want as the number one pick. Al Davis is so old he looks like he was born in B.C.

Abe says: What happened to Damon Huard? Trent Green has played terribly since being re-inserted to the starting spot at QB, and the Chiefs are on a mini-skid. I never thought I would ever in a million years say this, but, um, Bring back Damon!

Pia says: After being beat up by one AFC West rival (San Diego) and their superhero running back, the Chiefs look to beat up on Oakland and their super…lameness.

Phil says: KC seals a playoff spot against the lowly Raiders.

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Baltimore Ravens (11-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7)

Josh's Pick Abe's Pick Pia's Pick Phil's Pick
Baltimore Baltimore Pittsburgh Baltimore

Josh says: Steve McNair is a true warrior and he'll get the purple birds another win.

Abe says: At least the Steelers never give up. Oh, and Fast Willie Parker is kinda fast.

Pia says: The Pittsburgh Steelers are the bona fide Comeback Kids and, boy, are they surging. They won the Super Bowl last year after barely snatching up the sixth place playoff spot and are still holding on to the slim chance they can get one this year. Either way, the Ravens' record may be deceptively formidable.

Phil says: Ray Lewis will smear Hines over RoethlisBurger and have a feast.

Carolina Panthers (6-8) at Atlanta Falcons (7-7)

Josh's Pick Abe's Pick Pia's Pick Phil's Pick
Atlanta Atlanta Atlanta Atlanta

Josh says: Carolina is playing like they don't care, and the Falcons care enough to keep Jim Mora's job. Plus the Falcons have some Vick character.

Abe says: Vick on turf is like Pia in weekly picks: utterly ridiculous.

Pia says: Nothing like a little bird-flipping to get your team riled up for a victory.

Phil says: The Panthers prove to be this year's biggest disappointment as Vick gets the Falcons back into flight.

Chicago Bears (12-2) at Detroit Lions (2-12)

Josh's Pick Abe's Pick Pia's Pick Phil's Pick
Chicago Chicago Chicago Chicago

Josh says: Rex is back to playing mediocre, which spells trouble for the rest of the NFL, and also the Lions.

Abe says: I feel like I say this every week, but the Bears just have a way of finding a way to win that no other NFC team has. And so they will once again.

Pia says: This was about as tough as choosing between a double scoop of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream and a root canal.

Phil says: Rex finally not Gross-ing us out. Man is doing all the Bears need him to. Not sucking.

Indianapolis Colts (11-4) at Houston Texans (4-10)

Josh's Pick Abe's Pick Pia's Pick Phil's Pick
Indianapolis Indianapolis Indianapolis Indianapolis

Josh says: Indy has never lost to Houston and they won't start now.

Abe says: This is a joke, right? And on a side note, how dumb have the Texans got to be feeling about passing up on Reggie Bush?

Pia says: Okay, okay. So Indianapolis might not suck. And even if last week was a fluke, no one's fluky enough to lose to Houston.

Phil says: Last week they Dungy truly impressed me. After giving up three straight weeks of highway width running lanes to opposing running backs they managed to stop the prolific Rudy Johnson in his tracks. Houston shouldn't be trouble.

New England Patriots (10-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6)

Josh's Pick Abe's Pick Pia's Pick Phil's Pick
New England Jacksonville New England Jacksonville

Josh says: Tom Brady is not going to the Pro Bowl and Phillip Rivers is. That is a traveshamockery.

Abe says: Apparently the Pats have problems playing in Florida, and I won't abandon my Super Bowl pick until they're out of it.

Pia says: The Patriots bounced back nicely from their loss to the Dolphins two weeks ago, with a thorough beating of the Texans last week. They hope to use this week to secure their fourth straight division title, and with shaky Jacksonville, it seems quite likely.

Phil says: It's a big game and we know the deal with Jacksonville. The bigger the game the better they play.

New Orleans Saints (9-5) at New York Giants (7-7)

Josh's Pick Abe's Pick Pia's Pick Phil's Pick
New York New Orleans New York New Orleans

Josh says: Once you lose to the Redskins, I just can't pick you to win. Who can you beat?

Abe says: I'm a little nervous about agreeing with Phil so much, but I have a funny feeling the Saints will rebound big against the still-reeling G-men.

Pia says: The Saints lost to the Redskins…

Phil says: Drew Brees won't have two straight games like last week.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-11) at Cleveland Browns (4-10)

Josh's Pick Abe's Pick Pia's Pick Phil's Pick
Cleveland Cleveland Tampa Bay Tampa Bay

Josh says: To all those naysayers out there—you're right both of these teams suck. Cleveland sucks less.

Abe says: I would only watch this game if the Bucs decided to rock their orange throwback unis.

Pia says: With both teams being one of the few who have been completely eliminated from playoff contention, no one really cares about this game. Still I have to pick and I say Tampa Bay because at least Tampa Bay knows which quarterback they are playing. Never mind that it's their third starting quarterback of the year.

Phil says: Who cares? No, honestly, comment if you care and ill send u a detailed game analysis. Otherwise go watch a real game.

Tennessee Titans (7-7) at Buffalo Bills (7-7)

Josh's Pick Abe's Pick Pia's Pick Phil's Pick
Buffalo Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee

Josh says: Each team was supposed to be horrendous, but they have young quarterbacks who are maturing fast and leading their team's to victories. More than anything, I think it's just time for the Titans to lose.

Abe says: The Titans play with energy and enthusiasm. The youngest team in the league, they have fun and play hard every week. Buffalo is a weird team that only plays well at home. This one comes down to the quarterback position, and unfortunately for the Bills I'm not a fan of J.P. Losman.

Pia says: Shoot, after last week's game, I should have drafted Tennessee for my fantasy defense. With three defensive touchdowns, the Titans were able to overcome their struggling defense for a 24-17 win against division rival Jacksonville. A replication of that and Tennessee might even start thinking about playoff implications…

Phil says: Vince Young continues his run towards rookie honors. This match-up would be much more captivating if the Titians had started him all year.

Washington Redskins (5-9) at St. Louis Rams (6-8)

Josh's Pick Abe's Pick Pia's Pick Phil's Pick
St. Louis Washington Washington St. Louis

Josh says: This is for a higher draft pick. I don't want to see anything I saw last week (ie hustle, good execution etc).

Abe says: Last week the 'Skins beat a team with an awesome aerial attack in a game played in a dome. I've seen this movie already.

Pia says: Two in a row! Two in a row!

Phil says: I did a little research and in picking Redskins games this year I have been right twice. This 2-12 record with one team is by far my worst and this is the team that I am most knowledgeable about and interested in. I'm considering retirement or maybe I'll just start picking against my gut.

Arizona Cardinals (4-10) at San Francisco 49ers (6-8)

Josh's Pick Abe's Pick Pia's Pick Phil's Pick
San Francisco San Francisco San Francisco San Francisco

Josh says: Frank Gore should make the Cardinals defense look like Swiss cheese. He'll just find the biggest holes and go right through them.

Abe says: It would be bad word choice to call this game a "shootout," but I don't envision much D being played.

Pia says: What a sad, boring game.

Phil says: Frank Gore is quietly having a top-five running back season.

Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) at Denver Broncos (8-6)

Josh's Pick Abe's Pick Pia's Pick Phil's Pick
Denver Cincinnati Cincinnati Cincinnati

Josh says: A big game for both teams. I give the edge to the Broncs at Mile High.

Abe says: I don't care how many Bengals are currently in jail…

Pia says: Six weeks ago I would have expected very different results from this game. But after Denver lost five of its last six games while Cincinnati won four of its last six, it seems like the Bengals will use this week's game to pave their way to a wildcard spot.

Phil says: The Bengals will recover from Monday night's disaster and Marvin Lewis will send eight guys at Cutler all day.

San Diego Chargers (10-2) at Seattle Seahawks (8-6)

Josh's Pick Abe's Pick Pia's Pick Phil's Pick
San Diego San Diego San Diego San Diego

Josh says: God>LT>mankind.

Abe says: I'd like tyo take this opportunity to give praise to a guy who gets none of the credit but does much of the leg work for the spectacular LT: fullback Lorenzo Neal. The guy is a beast of a man, and for all his blocking, he gets only the occasional carry. LT can thank Neal for holes the size of Wyoming on Sundays.

Pia says: Move over Shaun Alexander, LT is in the house!

Phil says: New debate: Is the LT best running back ever?

Monday, December 25, 2006

Philadelphia Eagles (8-6) at Dallas Cowboys (9-5)

Josh's Pick Abe's Pick Pia's Pick Phil's Pick
Dallas Dallas Dallas Dallas

Josh says: Even with TO spouting off at the mouth (see 35,000 fine and slob on DeAngelo Hall's face), the Cowboys are the better team here.

Abe says: No one has mentioned the most intriguing part of this matchup—what will happen between Jeff Garcia and Terrell Owens, who claimed Garcia was gay…and horrid at football.

Pia says: So apparently this Christmas Day showdown between Philly and Dallas will be the first time in NFL history that two Hispanic quarterbacks, Jeff Garcia and Tony Romo, will face each other. Since Cowboys QB Romo is also Superman, it'll mean one happy St. Nick's for Dallas fans.

Phil says: At home the Boys' D will be suffocating.

New York Jets (8-6) at Miami Dolphins (6-8)

Josh's Pick Abe's Pick Pia's Pick Phil's Pick
New York New York Miami Miami

Josh says: I just really want my favorite head coach to make the playoffs: Eric "I didn't know these even existed but I guess you can call me a" Mangini.

Abe says: Joey Harrington's passer rating last week= 0.00. The End.

Pia says: Both of these teams are pretty mediocre and trying to squeeze their way into the last AFC playoff spot. So uh…Miami because they're at home?

Phil says: I just have no respect for the Jets. No team with that bad of a turnover ratio and average yards per carry should win.




Phillip Allen. Phillip Allen is a CAP junior who basically is a fascinating kid. Though he possesses little writing ability he was accepted to both the Communication Arts Program and now Silver Chips Online. He follows the Washington Redskins, Wizards and Nationals religiously. He plays soccer (for … More »

Abe Schwadron. Abe is a huge basketball, baseball, and football fan that likes to read up on sports in SLAM, Sports Illustrated, and ESPN magazines. Hobbies include streetball, poker and film-making. A sneaker addict, Abe likes to keep his kicks fresh. Abe likes reggae and hip-hop music, … More »

Josh Zipin. Josh Zipin has trouble paying attention for more than three seconds at a time... More »

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