Week 16 picks

Last Week: 8-8

Season: 108-116

Carolina @ Pittsburgh (-14): Is the spread too high, or not high enough? Is Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger healthy enough after 2 days off to run around, after playing the Jets, of all teams? Will the Pittsburgh D rattle young Panthers QB Jimmy Clausen? I think I just found the point in my thought process that tells me, “there’s the rub”. The Steelers will have home field advantage and their D will take advantage of some miscues while stopping Carolina’s running game. Pittsburgh.

Dallas (-7) @ Arizona: Well at least the kids won’t get scared on Christmas. What’s that? Jerry Jones is going to be on TV on Christmas? Hide the children!!! As for the game, Dallas is better on offense since firing Wade Phillips, but the defense can’t stop anyone. Enter another rookie QB into a game, John Skelton. I’m sure the fans in Glendale, AZ will be happy to try and rattle the Cowboys, but I see way too many Rod Tidwell references, and Dallas has too much talent. Dallas.

New England (-8) @ Buffalo: Is it going to snow in Buffalo? Does it matter? New England.

NY Jets @ Chicago (-1): So the Jets beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh without S Troy Polamalu and now they are only 1 pt. ‘dogs in Chicago, with QB Mark Sanchez sporting a busted throwing shoulder and their head coach involved in foot-porn? How is this going to end well? Meanwhile, Da Bears keep chugging along, have revamped their offense into a quick passing game and could have a top 5 defensive front. You can have the point, I’m taking the QB that can play in the cold, Jay Cutler. Chicago.

Baltimore (-3 ½) @ Cleveland: This game can turn a few ways, but bet on seeing an opening montage of Ravens MLB Ray Lewis giving an impassioned pre-game speech. Yawn. I’m not overly impressed by Baltimore, but will state that they have shown quite a bit of intensity lately. Cleveland has been playing over its collective head this year, but has started to fall a little bit flat. Considering that this is the old Browns playing the new’er’ Browns, I’m saying the fans in Cleveland show up. Cleveland.

Washington @ Jacksonville (-7): This could be the highest scoring game of the week. Washington made the QB switch, and held with Dallas, who has a similar crappy pass D like Jacksonville. The Jaguars need this game to even hope to sniff the playoffs. Say here they keep pace. Jacksonville.

Tennessee @ Kansas City (-4 ½): Please, KC, and Chiefs fans, just get this game out of the way. Do not let Tennessee hang around. Kansas City.

Detroit @ Miami (-3 ½): I don’t think the Dolphins or their fans will care about this game. Detroit.

San Francisco @ St. Louis (-2 ½): San Francisco is making yet another QB change. They have 2 awful options, and St. Louis has the most likely Offensive Rookie of the Year in Sam Bradford. At home, with a potential playoff bid in sight, I see one team rising and one team falling-regardless of their Hall of Fame MLB-playing coach. St. Louis.

San Diego (-7 ½) @ Cincinnati: Cincinnati will keep it close for the 1^st quarter. Then the Chargers will remember that they have to win out to stay in the playoff picture. San Diego.

Houston (-3) @ Denver: You have to feel for Denver sports radio-they have to come up with outrageous questions about Tim Tebow and/or continue to complain about the job Josh McDaniels (note to them: calm down, you got what you wanted, he was fired), mostly forgetting that the Broncos defense is horrid. Welcome old friend and Texans head coach Gary Kubiak, a guy I can tell you some Broncos fans wish would be their next head coach. This game is interesting only for fantasy football purposes. Houston.

Indianapolis (-3) @ Oakland: Can Oakland come out and run the ball against one of the smallest defensive fronts in the league? Can they stop Peyton Manning? If Oakland can use RBs Darren McFadden and Michael Bush effectively, this game could be a shocker. I like it. Oakland.

NY Giants @ Green Bay (-3): Aaron Rodgers returns for the Packers, and the Giants are still licking their wounds after Michael Vick bobbed, weaved, ran and threw in a damn impressive comeback. Green Bay.

Seattle @ Tampa Bay (-6 ½): I’m going to, very meekly, say Thank you for this one. Tampa Bay.

Minnesota @ Philadelphia (-14): Minnesota is done. Philly is the most explosive offense in the league. I don’t feel good for Vikings fans, such hope going into this season all to see their dome collapse, yup, a metaphor! The Eagles should be hyped up for the game, as they have a chance to get a playoff bye. Philadelphia.

New Orleans @ Atlanta (-2 ½): A reason to tune into Monday Night Football! A division championship, home field advantage, and to see if Atlanta can get as loud as those Saints fans in the Superdome. Falcons QB has 1 loss in his career at home. New Orleans couldn’t come out and beat Baltimore last week. Atlanta.