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| Despite how lowly Atlanta and Carolina have played, the miserable NFC South is still up for grabs between the two. (Getty) |
In real football, many divisions are on the line this weekend, so it should be a great week to be a football fan. All 16 games will be played on Sunday, so pull up a chair and make a day out of it!
Here's who we're picking:
Austen's Eight-Point Pick
Dallas over @Washington
Austen: I might have surprised Stally with this one, but I still think the Cowboys are one of the best teams in the league (and might be the best road team in the league). The Redskins are anything but, and they already used up their upset last time these two played. It is not going to happen again when the Cowboys have the opportunity to get a first-round bye in the playoffs.
Stally: Yes, the Cowboys are the best road team in the league as proven by their 7-0 record. (The Bengals at 5-2 are the only other team to have lost two or fewer.) I was surprised this was the first pick, but don't disagree with the premise.
@Denver over Oakland
Stally: The Broncos have a lot to play for this week. A win gives them the number two seed in the AFC, which means that they have a first-round bye and will host a Divisional Round game. A loss opens to the door for Cincinnati to steal all that good stuff with a win at Pittsburgh. With a 4-4 road record, Denver really can't afford to go on the road too often in the playoffs. The Broncos should win this one big.
Austen: Truthfully, I did not think the Broncos were in danger of losing the first-round bye, but I guess that is because I always penciled in this game as a win. Either way, if the Broncos play their starters throughout this game, it should be a massacre.
Austen's Seven-Point Pick
@Houston over Jacksonville
Austen: The Texans are hanging onto their playoff hopes by a string. They have to win this game and get some help with losses for the Chargers and Ravens. I think their A game will be shown in this game even if they do not make it to the playoffs. That should be more than enough to take care of business at home against one of the worst teams in the league.
Stally: The Texans could show off their C+ game and still beat the Jags at home. Jacksonville is garbage.
Stally's Seven-Point Pick
@Seattle over St. Louis
Stally: Fare thee well, St. Louis! After jumping on the bandwagon after back-to-back shutout wins, I'm out. Seattle is nearly impossible to beat at home and with the top seed in the NFC on the line, the Seahawks certainly won't let up in this one.
Austen: This is another case like the Redskins where the underdog has already pulled off their upset of the year. Seattle is back to being the best team in the league, and if they win this game, they get home-field advantage throughout. If they lose this game, they might have to enter the playoffs as a wild card team. That is an insurmountable difference and Pete Carroll will have his team geared up this week so they can sleep in next week.
Austen's Six-Point Pick
Indianapolis over @Tennessee
Austen: Admittedly, I have classified a lot of teams as "worst team in the NFL." However, the Titans have ridden that list longer than anyone else and they have been there for at least the last month if not longer. Even the Colts backups could dispose of a hapless Titans team.
Stally: Yes, the Titans are the worst team in the league.
Stally's Six-Point Pick
@New England over Buffalo
Stally: This game is tougher to call than it looks. The Patriots seem like the heavy favorite on paper, but it seems unlikely that Tom Brady will play much, if at all, in this meaningless game. With the top seed in the AFC locked up, the Patriots will rest many of their starters, so that gives Buffalo a chance. Then again, the Bills are out of playoff contention, so they don't have much to play for either. Stick with the Pats, they're clearly the better team.
Austen: I've seen the Patriots' backups beat the Bills before and I would not be surprised to see it again. Actually, I'm counting on it. How sad will it be that this Bills team could beat the Packers and the Patriots and still not make the playoffs? That's what happens when you lose to the Raiders. Even the Jets didn't do that!
Austen's Five-Point Pick
@Baltimore over Cleveland
Austen: The Browns are starting their other rookie quarterback. Yup, undrafted Connor Shaw. He was a very good college player, but Johnny Football was a once in a lifetime college football player and was horrendous with this Browns team. Josh Gordon is suspended for this game. So basically the Browns have zero chance in this one.
Stally: Zero. zilch, small potatoes, no potatoes. Zizeroni (that's not a thing).
Stally's Five-Point Pick
@Green Bay over Detroit
Stally: The Packers are 7-0 at Lambeau this season and have gone 6-1 since a bye in early November. It's unlikely they let the division get away from them against a Detroit team that's served the little brother role to them for years.
Austen: I was so close to taking the Lions in this one, but I just couldn't do it. This is going to be a great game and I cannot wait to watch it. When it comes down to it, I just trust Aaron Rodgers against a great defense over Matthew Stafford against a mediocre one.
Austen's Four-Point Pick
@Miami over New York Jets
Austen: This will be closer than people think, but the Jets have played a lot of close games and lost all of them. Their inability to finish is why Rex Ryan will be unemployed tomorrow.
Stally: It's sad to see Rex Ryan on his way out. He's a passionate coach that motivates his players to get after it. But, I agree with everything Austen said.
Stally's Four-Point Pick
@Minnesota over Chicago
Stally: Chicago never should have fired Lovie Smith. Two years later, they're going to again be in the market for a new head coach.
Austen: Vote Lovie! That being said, Lovie is leading the team with the worst record in the league in the worst division in football. Either way, I think Cutler comes out hucking the ball around and puts a good game together. I have the Bears in this one, but not with a ton of confidence (I'm not totally crazy).
Austen's Three-Point Pick
Philadelphia over @New York Giants
Austen: Really? The Eagles are the underdog in this game? Why? The Giants are terrible. Yes, Mark Sanchez is not a good quarterback, but everything else about this team is great. They have a top-10 defense and their running back duo is the best in the league. Throw in all their amazing pass catchers and you have what looks like a blow out. Odell Beckham Jr. might need another three-touchdown game for the Giants to even stay close in this one.
Stally: The Giants are on a three-game winning streak and the Eagles are on a three-game losing streak, so that gives me some pause on this one. That said, Philly is 9-6 and New York is 6-9, so it's clear which team is better.
Stally's Three-Point Pick
@San Francisco over Arizona
Stally: Arizona QB Ryan Lindley has zero touchdowns and 11 turnovers in eight career games. Give me the team he's playing against.
Austen: Say what you want about Lindley (he is terrible), but he is backed by a great team. The 49ers have given up on their season and their coach. I will ride with the Cards in this one, despite the fact I do not think Lindley breaks his touchdown drought (by which I mean he has never scored one in his career).
Austen's Two-Point Pick
New Orleans over @Tampa Bay
Austen: I hate taking this game so high, but I really do not have any confidence in any of these games, so why not continue to go down with the sinking Saints. If they cannot beat the two-win Bucs, I am going to have to assume that this entire season has been a big joke and I am being punk'd by Ashton Kutcher.
Stally: Austen picked the Saints to go 15-1 this season. They're missing the playoffs in what might be the worst division in the history of the league. I'm going with the Bucs just to prove a point that the Saints are bad enough to lose to a 2-13 team.
Stally's Two-Point Pick
@Atlanta over Carolina
Stally: The Falcons are usually good at home, and while that hasn't been the case this year (3-4), they have the advantage. Their offense is more explosive and playing at the Georgia Dome will give the home team the edge.
Austen: The Panthers have the better record and the better team. Jonathan Stewart has led the league in rushing over the last four weeks (no, that is not a misprint) and their defense is coming along. The Falcons' defense is incapable of stopping anyone aside from the Saints, so I'll side with the hot hand.
Austen's One-Point Pick
San Diego over @Kansas City
Austen: Philip Rivers might mean more to his team than any other player in the NFL. That does not mean he is the best player in the league, but just think about where this team would be with even a slightly less talented and tough quarterback. This would be a four-win team thanks to all of their injuries (which are too numerous to name). Rivers put them in a situation where all they need to do is win this game against the Chiefs' backup quarterback in order to get into the playoffs. That is amazing. I believe they win what is realistically their first playoff game of 2014.
Stally: Chiefs QB Alex Smith hasn't thrown a touchdown pass to a WR all season, so why would his injury affect the outcome? Because he's a caretaker of the offense that knows when and how to distribute the ball. His absence reverses my small confidence in the Chiefs over to the Chargers.
Stally's One-Point Pick
Cincinnati over @Pittsburgh
Stally: The AFC North is notorious for these even matchups, whether it's the Bengals or the Steelers or the Ravens, these games could go either way. I like the way Cincy has played recently, having gone 5-1 in its last six, although the loss was a 42-21 drubbing by these same Steelers. I think the Bengals even the season series and claim the division.
Austen: The Bengals have the better defense, but the Steelers have the better quarterback and offense. This could go either way, but I'll side with the home team that can beat you with the run or the pass. Also, an injury to AJ Green might be a big difference maker in this one.
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