To begin this week, let’s cast our memories back a few seasons.

A team, bolstered by a 6-0 record against one mediocre and two awful divisional opponents, finished 9-7, easily won their division, qualified for the playoffs over several teams with equal or better records, and secured a home playoff game in the first round. I remember there was some discussion about whether this team “deserved” to be in the playoffs, hosting an 11-5 team to boot. The playoff seeding system needed to be overhauled to keep teams like this out and reward better teams, obviously. It was an absolute travesty. Pity flowed freely for poor teams like the 11-5 New England Patriots who were shut out of the postseason. Of course, this same team beat the 11-5 Atlanta Falcons in the first round, went all the way to the Super Bowl, and came within seconds of becoming champs. Also, they were as exciting as hell.

I mean, does anyone remember the 2009 Arizona Cardinals, featuring Kurt Warner and the nigh unstoppable Larry Fitzgerald? I know I do.

I only bring this up because here we are again, with one week left before the playoffs, and not much has changed. The Cardinals could win this week, finishing at 11-5, and still miss the playoffs. Meanwhile, a 10-6 or 9-7 team will win the NFC East, and a 9-7 or 8-7-1 team will win the NFC North. There’s been a lot of talk this week about the poor Cards, and how unfair the playoff seeding system is. It’s a very common narrative that the media loves to trot out to make it seem like they’re doing their due diligence by criticizing the league that they spend most of their time glorifying. With injuries, scheduling quirks, weather anomalies, and other unforeseen circumstances, won-loss records don’t always give an accurate representation of which are the better teams. Don’t believe me? Three years after the Arizona Cardinals became the first 9-7 team to make the Super Bowl, the 9-7 New York Giants, who qualified for the playoffs on the last day of the season, beat the Pats to become Super Bowl champs. I won’t shed too many tears for the teams that don’t make the postseason this year. It’s the NFL; there are always good teams that get left out. If anything, it’s an indicator of the quality of the teams in the league. As a fan of the game, I’m happy about that.

Jaguars at Colts

You have to love the Jags. They demonstrate the pride and quality of the type of player who is good enough to make it all the way to the NFL. They played this season with determination and a will not finish in last place, as many expected. I’m waiting for the early-season Colts to return, the giant-slayers who, over a 4-week period, beat the 49ers, Seahawks, and Broncos. They looked good against the Chiefs last week, hopefully a sign of things to come. Winner: Colts

Lions at Vikings

This is a “who cares” game. The Vikes go without Adrian Peterson. I love the Lions. They make me look like a friggin’ genius regularly through their ineptitude. I’m of two minds when it comes to Head Coach Jim Schwartz; he should be fired, because he is terrible, but I hope they keep him, because he’s terrible. Tie

Browns at Steelers

Did you know that the 7-8 Steelers still have a shot, albeit slim, at the playoffs? They’ll play hard. Winner: Steelers

Panthers at Falcons

With their huge win over the Saints last week, Carolina has a shot at a division title and a first-round bye. All they have to do is take care of their own business. Winner: Panthers

Washington at Giants

Completely meaningless game. I can’t even guess at any motivation for the players. Note to the Giants’ organization: fire Coughlin at your peril. Tie

Texans at Titans

A Houston loss will secure for them the number one pick in next year’s draft. As they’ve screwed everything else up this season… Winner: Texans

Ravens at Bengals

The Ravens need to win to have a shot at the playoffs. It’s that simple. However, don’t overlook the Bengals’ motivations in this one. Cincy still has a shot at a first-round bye. That aside, I’d be willing to bet that the prospect of ending Baltimore’s season is all the extra motivation that the Bengals need. Winner: Bengals

Jets at Dolphins

I’m sure that the Jets would love nothing more at this point than to play playoff spoilers, but Miami’s pass rush will be enough to snuff that notion. Winner: Dolphins

Buccaneers at Saints

In theory, the Bucs have the chance to knock the Saints out of the playoffs. I expect New Orleans to prevail at home, though. Winner: Saints

Chiefs at Chargers

The Chargers still have an outside shot at the postseason, while the Chiefs’ playoff seeding is set. San Diego is the obvious choice here. Funny thing about the NFL though: even second-stringers don’t just roll over, and pressure doesn’t always make diamonds. Winner: Chiefs

Rams at Seahawks

Opponents’ defence troubles Seattle, but there’s not much trouble here. Winner: Seahawks

49ers at Cardinals

I thought that the Cards would lose in Seattle last week, based on the fact that Carson Palmer would turn the ball over too many times. I was right about the turnovers, but the Cards’ defence rendered that moot. I don’t like Colin Kaepernick against a really good defence, and I doubt that will change anytime soon. Winner: Cardinals

Broncos at Raiders

Winner: Broncos

Packers at Bears

While I’m testing your memory, do you remember the Packers’ most recent Super Bowl campaign? Aaron Rodgers was forced to sit out a couple of games due to his second concussion of the season, and the Packers needed to win their final two games of the season just to qualify as the 6th seed. Their Week 17 opponent that year: Da’ Bears. For this game, Rodgers is making his first appearance since he suffered a broken clavicle in Week 9. Fortunately for Rodgers, the Packers’ run game should be enough to secure a victory here. Winner: Packers

Bills at Patriots

The Pats are properly motivated here, with a first-round bye at stake. Winner: Patriots















Eagles at Cowboys

I’d have picked the Eagles anyway, with or without Romo, because of the absence of Sean Lee. Winner: Eagles

Stay tuned for my playoff preview later this week.

It’s American Thanksgiving once again. If you watch any amount of TV from the states, you know that this holiday means a lot to our neighbours to the south. It’s that special day when they give thanks for the opportunity to stuff themselves with food until they almost burst, then prepare for the orgy of crass consumerism known as “Black Friday.”

Oh, America. You know I love you. I kid because I love.

For me, and the thousands of Canadians like me (as well as a lot of Americans too), American Thanksgiving means Football with an upper-case “F!”

Now, before I get to my picks, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my favourite game from week 12: the Buccaneers at Detroit. In my column last weekend, I wrote:


I find it hard to trust the Lions anyway, but as divisional frontrunners, with so much at stake, they’re bound to screw up somehow. Winner: Buccaneers

So, did you watch the game? I did, and I loved every exquisite minute of it. I know that I said that the Lions would find a way to screw up, but I couldn’t have imagined it would be so epic. Matt Stafford threw 4 INTs (including a deadly pick-6 at the end of the first half), and the Lions also had a punt blocked and a weird fumble in the 4th quarter to basically hand the game to the Bucs. Tampa let them hang around, though, refusing to put them away, missing two field goals in the 4th, and allowing Detroit one last drive to tie or win it. And down the field went the Lions, moving into field goal range, but still hoping to keep the drive alive by converting a long 3rd down. So there’s Stafford, under pressure, backpedaling, throwing up a prayer (like he’s done so many times before) to the unstoppable Megatron… and… HE MAKES THE CATCH FOR THE FIRST DOWN!!!

Then he fumbles. The best receiver in the NFL fumbles.

Game over.

The Detroit Lions.

There’s probably not a team in the league I like to root against more. I’ve written about it many times before. Their head coach is dumb, and possibly mentally unbalanced (apparently I’m not the only one who has negative opinions of the guy). Their defensive coordinator is a jerk, and he presides over a collection of the most undisciplined players in the league. And, not to belabour the point (anyone who reads me regularly should know what I think), Ndamukong Suh is a legitimately dangerous individual who may very well have some sort of personality disorder.

The Detroit Lions. There’s no love. I’m not kidding.

Which brings us to:

Packers at Lions

It’s week 13, and the Detroit Lions are the very embodiment of that number; bad luck for themselves, and bad luck for any player who runs afoul of their idiotic defensive front four. Hell, they even have a player, Nate Burleson, who wears number 13. Here they are, with another chance to seize control over the NFC North, against a Green Bay team without Aaron Rodgers. I’m not worried about the Packers’ ability to move the ball on offence; Matt Flynn proved last week that he’s still a capable QB, and he’s back in a familiar system where he has had success in the past. Also, Green Bay’s wonderful rookie RB Eddie Lacy has had an impressive campaign thus far. I’m a bit more worried about Green Bay’s ability to stop the Lions’ offence, especially Calvin Johnson. On paper, this looks like a Detroit victory. I’m basing this pick a bit on hope and a bit on expectation. I hope that the Packers can hang around long enough to get Rodgers back, because it would be a shame to have the league’s best QB sitting at home during the playoffs. I expect the Lions to screw up. Is it too much to ask them to do it so epically three weeks in a row (I didn’t forget the Steelers’ fiasco)? Probably. Still… Winner: Packers

Raiders at Cowboys

I have much less to say about this game. The Cowboys, for all their struggles, are clearly the better team, are playing at home, and are in the thick of the NFC East race. Winner: Cowboys

Steelers at Ravens

Baltimore wins at home, loses on the road. That’s been the pattern. However, with a rivalry like Steelers/Ravens, you can toss that out the window. The Ravens’ offence is bad, particularly the running game. The Steelers, despite a bad start to the season, have turned themselves around and, though not elite, are competitive every week. Right now, Pittsburgh is the better team, and they should be able to grind out a victory to remain in the playoff picture. Winner: Steelers


Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American family, friends, and readers.