Last week, dear friend and loyal reader Chad from New York had this to say about my most recent picks column, where I excoriated the media (and specifically, sub-amateur philosopher Peter King) for its typical serial short-sightedness: “While reading your column I found myself going ‘Oooohhhhh!’, as though watching a vicious yet deserved beating of an idiot who had been blatantly begging for one.” I consider this the highest of praise, and couldn’t resist sharing it.
After the events of the past week involving NFL players, and the resulting media response, I was ready to dish out some serious written beat-downs this week. As the week went on, I got more and more upset. By the time I heard that murder victim Kasandra Perkins’s funeral was being held on December 6th (a very special day here in Canada when we pause to remember 14 women murdered at a university in Montreal), I was ready to unleash a serious stream of righteous anger on the NFL, the sports media, the NRA, gun culture, and anything else that was in my path.
Then, a funny thing happened; my internet, cable, and phone went out. I was unplugged.
I was too busy, with work and other things, to do much about my sudden lack of connectivity. As a result, I was forced into a kind of remove from the situations that were aggravating me. To be honest, it was liberating. I had already consumed too much information this week from people and organizations having some kind of agenda to promote. My only agenda is truth. In the NFL, the games, the playing of the games, is the truth. So, I’m limiting my focus, just for this week, to the games.
Now, before we get to the picks, here’s a little interactive for you:
The State of California plays host to three NFL teams, as does Florida. Ohio, Texas, Missouri, and Pennsylvania can each lay claim to two NFL franchises. There are only two other states which can honestly say that two teams play their home games there. What are the two states? (Hint: I thought of this when I noticed that one team was playing a road game in the same state, a mere 52 km down the highway from their home stadium.) Answers should be submitted as comments on the column, and all correct answerers get a shout-out in next week’s Best Picks Column in the World.
Falcons at Panthers
Atlanta will continue to roll towards securing the number one seed in the NFC this week, earning a first-round playoff bye, and thus delaying their inevitable playoff defeat by a week. Winner: Falcons
Bears at Vikings
This is the first of two matchups this week between NFC North rivals in which a banged-up top contender faces a divisional also-ran. With all their injuries, especially on defence, this is a bad time for the Bears to have to deal with Adrian Peterson. This will be closer than it should be. Winner: Bears
Jets at Jaguars
The Jets may have no shot at the playoffs, but they still beat teams like the Jags. You bet your ass they do, right Sanchez? Winner: Jets
Titans at Colts
The Colts should be able to score a bunch of points against the Titans’ defence, especially with how much they like the throw. The Titans won’t be able to keep pace on offence. Winner: Colts
Chargers at Steelers
Say what you want about the Steelers, but they keep on winning, despite a seemingly endless parade of key players to the injury report. Not too many observers thought they had much of a chance against the Ravens last week without Ben Roethlisberger, but they pulled it out. I don’t like the Chargers, but I love watching them play, because they stink, and I love seeing Philip Rivers make that pissy-pants face. Winner: Steelers
Chiefs at Browns
In a week full of games that don’t mean much, this one means the least much. Look for the Browns’ defence to smother the Chiefs. Winner: Browns
Ravens at Washington (D.C.)
The Ravens’ defence gets to experience the terror that is trying to stop RGIII, possibly without Terrell Suggs. I’ve made no secret of the fact that I have no faith in Joe Flacco. Winner: Washington (D.C.)
Eagles at Buccaneers
The Bucs are still in the playoff hunt, while the Eagles are in the hunt for a high draft pick next year. I don’t see how Philly’s offence keeps pace in this one. Winner: Buccaneers
Cowboys at Bengals
The Bengals have put together a nice winning streak to salvage their playoff hopes, but with the Steelers facing an easier schedule to end the season, Cincy can’t afford to falter now. The Bengals’ dynamic pass rushers need to get after Tony Romo, while the rest of the defence needs to be patient and avoid big plays, especially from a hot Dez Bryant. And, on a personal note, another week of hearing from a bunch of blowhard commentators about the heroes who led their team to victory through tragedy would be more than I could stand. Please win this one for my sanity, Cincinnati. Winner: Bengals
Rams at Bills
Two more teams going nowhere this season, but the Bills’ weapons on offence will help them prevail in this one. Winner: Bills
Dolphins at 49ers
After his dynamic debut against the Bears, ‘niners’ QB Colin Kaepernick made some costly rookie errors last week against the Rams. With the Dolphins’ anaemic offence facing San Fran’s tough defence, Kaepernick shouldn’t have to do much to prevail in this one. Winner: 49ers
Cardinals at Seahawks
As the season progresses, this steadily improving Seattle team is becoming tougher to beat. Rookie QB Russell Wilson seems to have all the tools, and he is gaining confidence every week. In this game, their defence should have little difficulty containing what passes for offence by the Cards. Winner: Seahawks
Saints at Giants
Hmmmm… Let’s see… December… Dallas and Washington (D.C.) nipping at their heels… coming off a tough divisional loss on Monday night… facing Drew Brees and the explosive Saints offence… That’s a lot of pressure for one team to handle. Sounds about right to me. Winner: Giants
Lions at Packers
If the Packers don’t start getting healthy soon, they’re not going to go very far come playoff time. Significant losses on the defensive side of the ball should ensure a high offensive output by the pass-happy Lions. It’s hard to pick against Aaron Rodgers, though, when he’s facing the Lions’ secondary, no matter who he’s throwing to. I’ll be continuing my close observation of Ndamukong Suh in this one. I have some theories that I’m exploring regarding his behaviour. I think there’s something seriously wrong with him. Winner: Packers
Monday Night
Texans at Patriots
This is easily the most intriguing matchup of the week. The Texans look like the best, most balanced team in the AFC, highly efficient on both sides of the ball. The Patriots, to no one’s surprise, have the most potent offence in the league, which includes, to the surprise of many, an effective running game. This game will be a huge measuring stick for each team. It’s also represents the best chance the Pats have at gaining ground in the race for the number one seed in the AFC. My main concerns for this game are how banged up the Patriots are, particularly on defence, and how well the Pats deal with JJ Watt, arguably the most disruptive defensive player in the NFL. This is a tough call. Winner: Patriots
After the events of the past week involving NFL players, and the resulting media response, I was ready to dish out some serious written beat-downs this week. As the week went on, I got more and more upset. By the time I heard that murder victim Kasandra Perkins’s funeral was being held on December 6th (a very special day here in Canada when we pause to remember 14 women murdered at a university in Montreal), I was ready to unleash a serious stream of righteous anger on the NFL, the sports media, the NRA, gun culture, and anything else that was in my path.
Then, a funny thing happened; my internet, cable, and phone went out. I was unplugged.
I was too busy, with work and other things, to do much about my sudden lack of connectivity. As a result, I was forced into a kind of remove from the situations that were aggravating me. To be honest, it was liberating. I had already consumed too much information this week from people and organizations having some kind of agenda to promote. My only agenda is truth. In the NFL, the games, the playing of the games, is the truth. So, I’m limiting my focus, just for this week, to the games.
Now, before we get to the picks, here’s a little interactive for you:
The State of California plays host to three NFL teams, as does Florida. Ohio, Texas, Missouri, and Pennsylvania can each lay claim to two NFL franchises. There are only two other states which can honestly say that two teams play their home games there. What are the two states? (Hint: I thought of this when I noticed that one team was playing a road game in the same state, a mere 52 km down the highway from their home stadium.) Answers should be submitted as comments on the column, and all correct answerers get a shout-out in next week’s Best Picks Column in the World.
Falcons at Panthers
Atlanta will continue to roll towards securing the number one seed in the NFC this week, earning a first-round playoff bye, and thus delaying their inevitable playoff defeat by a week. Winner: Falcons
Bears at Vikings
This is the first of two matchups this week between NFC North rivals in which a banged-up top contender faces a divisional also-ran. With all their injuries, especially on defence, this is a bad time for the Bears to have to deal with Adrian Peterson. This will be closer than it should be. Winner: Bears
Jets at Jaguars
The Jets may have no shot at the playoffs, but they still beat teams like the Jags. You bet your ass they do, right Sanchez? Winner: Jets
Titans at Colts
The Colts should be able to score a bunch of points against the Titans’ defence, especially with how much they like the throw. The Titans won’t be able to keep pace on offence. Winner: Colts
Chargers at Steelers
Say what you want about the Steelers, but they keep on winning, despite a seemingly endless parade of key players to the injury report. Not too many observers thought they had much of a chance against the Ravens last week without Ben Roethlisberger, but they pulled it out. I don’t like the Chargers, but I love watching them play, because they stink, and I love seeing Philip Rivers make that pissy-pants face. Winner: Steelers
Chiefs at Browns
In a week full of games that don’t mean much, this one means the least much. Look for the Browns’ defence to smother the Chiefs. Winner: Browns
Ravens at Washington (D.C.)
The Ravens’ defence gets to experience the terror that is trying to stop RGIII, possibly without Terrell Suggs. I’ve made no secret of the fact that I have no faith in Joe Flacco. Winner: Washington (D.C.)
Eagles at Buccaneers
The Bucs are still in the playoff hunt, while the Eagles are in the hunt for a high draft pick next year. I don’t see how Philly’s offence keeps pace in this one. Winner: Buccaneers
Cowboys at Bengals
The Bengals have put together a nice winning streak to salvage their playoff hopes, but with the Steelers facing an easier schedule to end the season, Cincy can’t afford to falter now. The Bengals’ dynamic pass rushers need to get after Tony Romo, while the rest of the defence needs to be patient and avoid big plays, especially from a hot Dez Bryant. And, on a personal note, another week of hearing from a bunch of blowhard commentators about the heroes who led their team to victory through tragedy would be more than I could stand. Please win this one for my sanity, Cincinnati. Winner: Bengals
Rams at Bills
Two more teams going nowhere this season, but the Bills’ weapons on offence will help them prevail in this one. Winner: Bills
Dolphins at 49ers
After his dynamic debut against the Bears, ‘niners’ QB Colin Kaepernick made some costly rookie errors last week against the Rams. With the Dolphins’ anaemic offence facing San Fran’s tough defence, Kaepernick shouldn’t have to do much to prevail in this one. Winner: 49ers
Cardinals at Seahawks
As the season progresses, this steadily improving Seattle team is becoming tougher to beat. Rookie QB Russell Wilson seems to have all the tools, and he is gaining confidence every week. In this game, their defence should have little difficulty containing what passes for offence by the Cards. Winner: Seahawks
Saints at Giants
Hmmmm… Let’s see… December… Dallas and Washington (D.C.) nipping at their heels… coming off a tough divisional loss on Monday night… facing Drew Brees and the explosive Saints offence… That’s a lot of pressure for one team to handle. Sounds about right to me. Winner: Giants
Lions at Packers
If the Packers don’t start getting healthy soon, they’re not going to go very far come playoff time. Significant losses on the defensive side of the ball should ensure a high offensive output by the pass-happy Lions. It’s hard to pick against Aaron Rodgers, though, when he’s facing the Lions’ secondary, no matter who he’s throwing to. I’ll be continuing my close observation of Ndamukong Suh in this one. I have some theories that I’m exploring regarding his behaviour. I think there’s something seriously wrong with him. Winner: Packers
Monday Night
Texans at Patriots
This is easily the most intriguing matchup of the week. The Texans look like the best, most balanced team in the AFC, highly efficient on both sides of the ball. The Patriots, to no one’s surprise, have the most potent offence in the league, which includes, to the surprise of many, an effective running game. This game will be a huge measuring stick for each team. It’s also represents the best chance the Pats have at gaining ground in the race for the number one seed in the AFC. My main concerns for this game are how banged up the Patriots are, particularly on defence, and how well the Pats deal with JJ Watt, arguably the most disruptive defensive player in the NFL. This is a tough call. Winner: Patriots
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