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| Tebow would waste his time praying to be better than Brady. He'll need to focus on scoring points! (Getty) |
Other than a few good late and/or prime time games, most of them seem to have a decided favorite and no one's really sticking their neck out on a huge upset. Several of these games might end up lopsided. Here's the S.O.B. story for Week 15:
Austen (Eight-Point Pick) - @Atlanta over Jacksoville
Austen: Well the Falcons already blew out the Jags so I won't spend too much time on this one. However, the Jags are a complete mess, especially on offense. They simply can't get anything going and as long as Blaine Gabbert is their starting quarterback, it won't get any better this season.
Stally: The Jags did beat the Bucs 41-14 and Maurice Jones-Drew ran for four TDs last week. However, that's more of a reflection of how bad Tampa has become. I agree, one of the league's best home teams (Atlanta) on a short-week against a poor team was an obvious choice.
Stally (Eight-Point Pick) - Green Bay over @Kansas City
Stally: The only reason people really think that this is a trap game is because ESPN's run out of storylines and has decided to build it up as such. Ask yourself this: is there any way you can see Tyler Palko outdueling Aaron Rodgers? (Yeah, I'm laughing out loud right now as well at that notion.)
Austen: Ditto. The Packers could win this game if they started Ryan Grant at quarterback.
Austen (Seven-Point Pick) - New Orleans over @Minnesota
Austen: It is tough taking a road team this high, but the Saints are unstoppable in a dome, home or away. It also doesn't hurt that the Vikings have only won two games all year and I cannot see this being their third.
Stally: I agree that the dome really cancels out any disadvantage for New Orleans. If this were in, say, Chicago or Green Bay, or if the Metrodome caved in and they had to play at the home of the Golden Gophers (like last December for the Vikes), it'd be different. It's not; Saints win big.
Stally (Seven-Point Pick) - New England over @Denver
Stally: Enough about Tebow! Austen and I have said it time and time again that the thing that wins games for the Broncos is the defense. Twice this season, Denver has won games in which they had zero points with three minutes remaining. If that's the case Sunday, it's going to be about 34-0 before they score points. There's no way Denver keeps up with New England's offense; I see a blowout!
Austen: I think Stally is a bit too confident with this pick. The Pats have injuries all over their defense that has been awful with their best players in the lineup, so Tebow might finally get out to a quick start. With Deion Branch out of the game, Broncos shutdown corner will be on Wes Welker all day and they will double team Rob Gronkowski. Tom Brady might have a tougher time putting up a lot of points than Stally thinks, but the Pats should still find a way to win this game. I just think it will be close, and Tebow tends to win close games. This one will be fun to watch.
Stally: Ok. First off, I think you're just bitter that the Jets lost the Broncos. Secondly, do you watch the Patriots? Have you ever seen teams double-team Gronkowski? Yeah, it doesn't work. Better try a triple-team and see if you can stop him (in which case Aaron Hernandez would love to pick up slack).
Austen (Six-Point Pick) - @New York-G over Washington
Austen: This is a must-win game for the Giants who need to keep up with the Cowboys in order to win the division. They also lost to the Redskins in the first week of the season. They couldn't possibly lose to the Redskins twice in one year, could they?
Stally: No. I don't think so. If they lose at home to the Redskins, they're not the team we think they are.
Stally (Six-Point Pick) - Dallas over @Tampa Bay
Stally: I'm writing this Saturday before the game starts. Josh Feldman gave us some great insight into Dallas' recent struggles in our Coin Toss on Friday. I think we all agree they've just had some bad luck and are much better than expected. I can't say the same about a Bucs team that lost 41-14 to the horrific Jags last weekend.
Austen: My biggest mistake this season has been betting on the Bucs. They have been awful in every faze of the game this season and find ways to lose each and every week. They tend to play better at home, but they do not have much of a shot against an angry and motivated Dallas squad.
Stally: And to think that I was ridiculed for saying the Bucs wouldn't be any good this season...*shakes head.*
Austen (Five-Point Pick) - Cincinnati over @St. Louis
Austen: The middle picks seem to be the spot to bet against the awful teams in the league. I'll start it off by betting against a Rams team that has been worse than anyone could have imagined this season. It is shocking that they have won two games this season with how poorly they have played. The Bengals should get their season back on track against the completely unmotivated Rams.
Stally: I agree. What the heck is wrong with the Rams? I really don't know. They took about three steps back this year, maybe more. Could they beat a mediocre Cincy team at home? Sure, maybe. Will they? No, I doubt it.
Stally (Five-Point Pick) - @Arizona over Cleveland
Stally: We've been losing big points on an Arizona team that is better than we thought it was. Colt McCoy should be out with a concussion for the Browns, and they weren't good with him. I can't see Cleveland winning this one.
Austen: Stally follows my lead and bets against one of the worst teams in the NFL. The Browns offense is one of the worst that the NFL has seen in years. Unless they can shut out the Cards, I do not see them winning this game.
Austen (Four-Point Pick) - Tennessee over @Indianapolis
Austen: Can you guess why I am taking this matchup? Yup, the Colts are the worst team in the league and they should stay defeated at least another week. I thought for a second that maybe this would be the week the Colts pulled off an upset, but then I realized that Chris Johnson could have one, just one, run that would be able to break the Colts spirit and give the Titans the win.
Stally: The Titans are sporadically good, but frustratingly inconsistent, just like their star RB Johnson (who tanked my fantasy team in the keeper league). I toyed with the idea of taking the Colts, but that hasn't worked for me before, they're always far worse than I expect they can possibly be.
Stally (Four-Point Pick) - @Houston over Carolina
Stally: T.J. Yates showed us something in the win over a decent Cincinnati team last week. Carolina's more just showing us that they're still awful. The Texans are a complete team and they'll win this home game.
Austen: I am not betting on Carolina on the road, but this could definitely be a trap game for the Texans. Cam Newton is capable of putting up 30+ points every week, and, without Andre Johnson, do you really think T.J. Yates can produce that much offense, even against one of the worst defenses in the league? However, I still see Newton making just enough mistakes with the football to give the win to the Texans.
Austen (Three-Point Pick) - New York-J over @Philadelphia
Austen: The Jets have to win at least two out of the next three games to even have a shot at the playoffs. Michael Vick is not the quarterback we saw last season and the Eagles run defense is atrocious. The Jets should be able to run the ball 40+ times so that Mark Sanchez does not have to do much to win this game.
Stally: Ok, that's not correct, that's just that nervous Jets' fan talking. The Jets currently own the final spot in the playoffs by a full game and their 6-5 conference record is comparable to all teams chasing them. It's perfectly conceivable that they lose to the Eagles, beat the Dolphins and lose to the Giants and still sneak in. If they win two, I'm giving them that final spot without tiebreaker. That said, if they expect to be considered as a playoff team, they need to beat a team like Philly on the road...I've only rambled because I'm not sure who I want to take...The Eagles are 1-5 at home. They owe their fans a win...I see them getting it.
Stally (Three-Point Pick) - Pittsburgh over @San Francisco
Stally: The 49ers are starting to get exposed and have now lost two of three after starting 9-1. This will be a huge benchmark on whether they're elite or not. Here's what I do know: Pittsburgh is elite, so I'll stick with what works.
Austen: There is a solid chance Ben Roethlisberger misses this game and if he manages to play, he will be hobbled. His injury coupled with a long trip across country seems to give the 49ers the edge in this matchup.
Austen (Two-Point Pick) - @Chicago over Seattle
Austen: If the Bears can score 10-14 points, they should win this game. They only put up three on the Chiefs, so that is no guarantee, but they are definitely worth the risk with my second to last pick.
Stally: I think it'll come down to RB Marshawn Lynch. He's about all Seattle has, and, if he can go crazy, the Seahawks can control the clock and force the Bears' Caleb Hanie to play QB (which isn't a good thing). I'll take the Bears at home, though, and expect their defense slows Lynch.
Stally (Two-Point Pick) - @Buffalo over Miami
Stally: Miami didn't look good last week at home with Tony Sparano coaching, and I can't imagine they'll be better in the cold whether without him. Buffalo has definitely turned back into a pumpkin, but they can still win some games against a team like fin-less Miami.
Austen: I've got the Dolphins in this one since Matt Moore is bouncing back from a concussion last week. I think the team will rally behind him as he plays for a starting gig in 2012. The Bills have nothing left to fight for and this is the time of the year that they simply fall apart.
Austen (One-Point Pick) - @San Diego over Baltimore
Austen: The Ravens have gotten a little too confident by beating the Steelers twice this season and having an incredibly easy schedule since their last matchup with the Steel Curtain. Another long trip to the West Coast for another AFC North team again makes me think the home team will have an advantage. Also, the Chargers are unstoppable in the month of December and I think they will keep that trend going in order to keep their very slim playoff hopes alive.
Stally: I have a feeling the Chargers will win as well. I see this being one of those classic Ravens' eggs (like the one against the Jags), where they show up totally unmotivated and you just wonder what happened to the team you've been used to watching dominate the AFC.
Stally (One-Point Pick) - @Oakland over Detroit
Stally: I had no idea who I wanted to take in this one. I actually stopped and had a discussion with Austen about it before deciding to go with Oakland. While the teams have different strengths, they're both very similar in terms of being mediocre, borderline playoff contenders. The Raiders tend to have a home-field advantage, so I decided that I'd go with that edge.
Austen: I thought Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford would be back for the Raiders this week and would be the difference in getting Carson Palmer back on track. Moore looks to be back, but Ford has already been ruled out. With Darrius Heyward-Bey banged up as well, I am going to have to side with the healthy Lions, who look to get back Kevin Smith. Smith gives the Lions some balance on offense and that is something the Raiders defense will not be able to handle, home or away.
Pick 'Em
Jacksonville @ Atlanta - Thurs
Stally: Atlanta
Austen: Atlanta
Dallas @ Tampa Bay - Sat
Stally: Dallas
Austen: Dallas
Miami @ Buffalo - Sun, 1 p.m.
Stally: Buffalo
Austen: Miami
Seattle @ Chicago - Sun, 1 p.m.
Stally: Chicago
Austen: Chicago
Tennessee @ Indianapolis - Sun, 1 p.m.
Stally: Tennessee
Austen: Tennessee
Green Bay @ Kansas City - Sun, 1 p.m.
Stally: Green Bay
Austen: Green Bay
Cincinnati @ St. Louis - Sun, 1 p.m.
Stally: Cincinnati
Austen: Cincinnati
New Orleans @ Minnesota - Sun, 1 p.m.
Stally: New Orleans
Austen: New Orleans
Washington @ New York-G - Sun, 1 p.m.
Stally: New York-G
Austen: New York-G
Carolina @ Houston - Sun, 1 p.m.
Stally: Houston
Austen: Houston
Detroit @ Oakland - Sun, 4:05 p.m.
Stally: Oakland
Austen: Detroit
New England @ Denver - Sun, 4:15 p.m.
Stally: New England
Austen: New England
New York-J @ Philadelphia - Sun, 4:15 p.m.
Stally: Philadelphia
Austen: New York-J
Cleveland @ Arizona - Sun, 4:15 p.m.
Stally: Arizona
Austen: Arizona
Baltimore @ San Diego - Sun, 8:20 p.m.
Stally: San Diego
Austen: San Diego
Pittsburgh @ San Francisco - Mon, 8:30 p.m.
Stally: Pittsburgh
Austen: San Francisco
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