So Patrick has a great week, but falls one game shy (blame it on the 'skins) and finishes the week +3. The season total is Josh up 2...

Dolphins on Patrick. Now we can watch the playoffs in peace. I love you man. Fucking call Shannon and I... we've been calling u

PATRICK vs. JOSH (home team in caps, favoured team in italics)

1. New Orleans vs. CHICAGO
2. HOUSTON vs. Jacksonville
3. Tennessee vs INDIANAPOLIS
4. Carolina vs. TAMPA BAY
5. Minnesota vs. DENVER
6. Dallas vs. WASHINGTON
7. Kansas City vs. NEW YORK JETS

So I have 1 home team and 4 favorites. Shockingly, I stretched a little, down 5 and such.

Man, this is an art and a science when you need to win SO much in a week. Do I take 5 different and pray that I get hot? Or do I start taking 7 or 9, and pick a couple more that I doubt I can win?
I guess we'll just make the picks and then switch later.

Notes: I picked 6 different and feel the urge to switch one...so I chose to switch...to the Titans.

I'll need some luck, but I feel like you deserve this season. You just saw trends before I did.

Good luck, Merry Christmas!

Patriots over Giants
This is a maybe-switch.

Seahawks over Falcons
Another maybe.

Steelers over Ravens
I like Big Ben here.

Saints over Bears
Chicago is 'playing well?' No, my friend. Jon Ryan and Brett Favre choked. That is all.

Browns over 49ers
Oooooh....

Pack over Lions
Yeah. Yeah.

Texans over Jaguars
The Jags will benefit from rest more than anyone here.

Titans over Colts
To make it 7.

Bengals over Dolphins
Yeah...

Eagles over Bills
Cuz it's in Philly.

Panthers over Bucs
Nothing to play for, and, really, overrated, I think.

Cards over Rams
MMMMaybe

Broncos over Vikings
Teams have figures out how to stop the Vikes: 8 or 9 in the box. Jackson isn't the real deal yet.

Chargers over Raiders
Still have something to play for.

Dallas over Washington
This team gets a bye, so I think they'll want a win more than rest.

Chiefs over Jets
Haha wow what a worthless game.

Josh's picks. I've had a -5 week before, so this is not out of the question, and there are a lot of quirks here with evenly-matched teams, and most teams have clinched their seed, so may be resting players. In short: Christ.

New England at NY Giants
Both these teams are in, so I'll call the benching a wash. The Patriots are just so much better. If the Giants starters play the Pats subs, then I'm screwed. But I think Brady will play, at least, the first quarter.

Seattle at Atlanta
This is one where the backups will be playing. But not necessarily... Seattle isn't exactly humming on all cylinders. So I'll take 'em.

Pittsburgh at Baltimore
Another situation where the Steelers are looking past this week. Do you play your aching team? You do, if you have to develop an offence with a new tailback.

New Orleans at Chicago
As a general rule, I am taking teams fighting for a spot against teams that are out. But it's Chicago at home, and they're playing well. This is the exception.

San Francisco at Cleveland
This is not the exception.

Detroit at Green Bay
Another team that has clinched. I think, though, they have to play some of their team: they got demolished last week, and have a bye to heal minor injuries. And it's freakin' late December in Lambeau.

Jacksonville at Houston
Now here's a team going in on a high against a team that's out. These are the tough picks. I just can't bring myself to pick the shittier teams.

Tennessee at Indianapolis
See? Still can't.

Cincinnati at Miami
Both these teams suck so, so much. I'll take the Bengals. It worked last week.

Buffalo at Philadelphia
Of all the teams missing the playoffs, these are two that are hot and might have done some damage. Still, Eagles.

Carolina at Tampa Bay
They're at home, and I know they're in. But still.

St. Louis at Arizona
Moving on...

Minnesota at Denver
Two teams we're sort of familiar with. what's Denver's weakness? It happens to be the Vikings' strength: running. Shit.

San Diego at Oakland
I don't know who they'll play, but the Raiders are hapless. I'd take USC against Oakland.

Dallas at Washington
This is one of those games where I pick the team that has something to play for against the team that doesn't.

Kansas City at NY Jets
Herman Edwards is about to be unemployed. "Suck it up."

So you got the Bengals, surprisingly, I got the Browns, and you took the Saints and I got the Eagles. G'luck.

For the record, I think it's cold that you would take a point if I didn't pick considering you missed half a week last season and went on to win.

Pittsburgh over St. Louis
They're better than this.

Dallas over Carolina
Romo'll bounce back.

Cleveland over Cincinnati
Apparently they're the real deal.

Detroit over Kansas City
Tough, both teams suck, but Detroit has potential.

Indy over Houston
...

Green Bay over Chicago
...

Giants over Buffalo
I hope not, for the Vike's sake, but I doubt it.

Jacksonville over Oakland
Wow.

Philly over New Orleans
That defense doesn't get enough credit. Also, for the Vike's sake.

Tampa over San Fran
...

Arizona over Atlanta
This team is bad.

New England over Miami
Could you imagine?

Seattle over Baltimore
...

Titans over Jets
...

Minnesota over Washington
...

San Diego over Denver
...

Nothing too tough this week. Maybe one different?

Pittsburgh at St. Louis
The Steelers have gone from "Can they win it, can they unseat the Pats?" to 9-5 and on the brink of missing the playoffs. I think they'll pull it together.

Dallas at Carolina
Will Jessica be there?

NY Giants at Buffalo
It'll be gross, gross weather, but I have to hope (at least) that the Giants are starting to get into playoff form. Plus, they're 6-1 away from home. (Only five teams have loss either 1 or 0 games on the road: giants (6-1), Pats (7-0), Colts (7-1), Packers (6-1), and 'Boys (6-0).)

Green Bay at Chicago
Sportsman of the Year? Absolutely. This season will go down as one of the greatest in NFL history, and if he wins the Super Bowl, only 1998 Elway and 1969 Namath would compare.

Cleveland at Cincinnati
These are two teams I have trouble reading, but man the Bengals are looking like the 2002 (2-14) Bengals. But, they're 4-3 at home, where they beat St. Louis and the Titans in their last two games. This may be a risk.
Ps> Carson Palmer, despite the shitty year, has passed for 3,700 yards already. WTF? How can you have a 4000+ yard passer and be 5-9? Because you have no defence? Yes.

Kansas City at Detroit
Man, tough call. Detroit has lost six in a row and their best receiver just went on the IR. Meanwhile, KC has lost seven in a row. Christ. I'll take the lesser of two losing streaks.

Houston at Indianapolis
The Colts, meanwhile, have won five in a row. Make it six at home.

Oakland at Jacksonville
Did you know that Fred Taylor has rushed for 1,000 yards six times, and yet has never been named to the Pro Bowl?

Philadelphia at New Orleans
They've won two in a row, and Philly is coming off a huge win. I don't know why, but I think the Saints can take this, if only because they still have a shot at a spot. (Don't they?)

Atlanta at Arizona
Two teams that I don't care to watch.

Tampa Bay at San Francisco
The Bucs be thumpin'.

Miami at New England
Even if they rest everyone, I don't think it should matter. Miami should start focusing on its scouting to prep for that #1 pick.

Baltimore at Seattle
I think I will have a hard time deciding if I like the 'hawks in the playoffs. I think yes; they're peaking at the right time.

NY Jets at Tennessee
Vince-anity took a bit of a step back this year.

Washington at Minnesota
Can you taste the playoffs?

Denver at San Diego
Ugh. This will be the nail in the coffin. (Well, we're already eliminated, but this is when LT hammers it home.)

Two weeks left. Josh up five.

Just one this week. Go Cleveland!

Denver at Houston
I came very close here. Texans are good at home, and Rosenfels has been playing well. But they're injured, and I am a Bronco fan...

PAT I WILL PICK THE REST FRIDAY

Cincinnati at San Francisco
They're bad, but not as bad as SF.

Seattle at Carolina
Starting to look a little more like NFC West champs.

Buffalo at Cleveland
Browns

Tennessee at Kansas City
They're playing well, and KC seems to be on a bit of a down streak... to put it lightly

Baltimore at Miami
up to 0-14 we go...

NY Jets at New England
The only problem here is if they overlook this week until next... oh wait, that's against the Dolphins. Okay, well unless they unleash a wild Grizzly into the dressing room, I can't imagine how NE won't win this by fewer than 720 points.

Arizona at New Orleans
Tough call. I think they both have injury problems, so it boils down to taking the home team who is underperforming, rather than the visiting team who is overperforming. Perhaps I'm an making a mistake here.

Jacksonville at Pittsburgh
I'm sure Pat hopes this game is in play. I'm going to say that without Smith and Paulamalu, and with Big Ben hurting, that the Jags can pull an upset here. Call me crazy. The Steelers won in Miami 3-0, lost to the Jets, beat the woeful Bengals and got blown out by the Pats. They're not hot. And it wont even be that cold there.

Green Bay at St. Louis
This should be easy. They'll get the 2nd NFC seed.

Atlanta at Tampa Bay
Bucs at home.

Indianapolis at Oakland
Patriots.

Philadelphia at Dallas
Another easy one. This is not a good week for Patrick to be trying to pick upset games.

Detroit at San Diego
Ah, a tougher one. The Chargers have been playing well as of late, and the Lions aren't much good away from home.

Washington at NY Giants
They may be the only team to put an "1" in NE's loss column two weeks from now.

Chicago at Minnesota
I'll take the Vikings at home, and a large fries.

Regarding the playoffs:
I was under the impression that they were NOT included in the bet, same as last year. If you want to include them, that's on you, as it makes you less likely to win. I am making these picks under the assumption that this ends at week 17. I think it would be fun to continue to pick, and if you have any ideas for a side bet or something, I am all ears. So let me know.

Time to start taking some chances!

Week 15.

Broncos over Texans
Almost....Almost took the Texans, but then noticed that the Broncs win in bunches.

Bengals over 49ers
The cats are looking like they have a little scratch left. The 49ers are not.

Seahawks over Panthers
If Minny makes it, it looks like they'll play these 'hawks.

Buccaneers over Falcons
Otherwise, it's these Bucs.

Packers over Rams
Man, where are the close games I can pick upsets on?

Jaguars over Steelers
Here's my upset pick #1.

Saints over Cardinals
This team is the biggest threat to my Vikings.

Bills over Browns
Maybe could be called an upset, but the Browns just got by the Jets, and before that they lost to the Cards, so here it is. I call inexperience on the Browns.

Titans over Chiefs
Man, the Chiefs suck.

Ravens over Dolphins
Sorry, I can't.

Patriots over Jets
Do you rest your starters against the Giants if you're 15-0?

Colts over Raiders
Raiders have shown some life. Colts have also.

Chargers over Lions
The LT show is apparently back.

Cowboys over Eagles
Should be entertaining, at least.

Giants over Redskins
If this week goes as planned, it'll be the Vikes and Saints for that last spot.

Vikings over Bears
AD got 7 touches last week, 15 the week before, and 0 the previous 2. This is a team that can win without him, but he's there if it comes down to it.

So you have the 'skins "terrorizing" the Bears, and I have LT getting shut down in Tennessee.

Another Thursday nighter to watch!

Week 14. Wow thats like not many weeks to go. Better get moving.

Bears over Redskins
Not without Taylor. The Bears stayed with the Giants last week, and this should be easier.

Rams over Bengals
Could be too much of a shootout, but it's still the Bengals.

Cowboys over Lions
Wow the Vikes will have a playoff spot by weeks end.

Packers over Raiders
Raiders, even when playing well, are not this good yet.

Bills over Dolphins
The worst part is, the Dolphins schedule isn't that tough.

Bucs over Texans
Under 'games I won't watch'

Titans over Chargers
With Hanesworth? 7-2. And Rivers will have to win it. Also VY is 5-1 in December.

Jags over Panthers
Man this division is good.

Giants over Eagles
Manning has got to have a good week sometime, right?

Seahawks over Cardinals
Yeeeah the Vikes be goin' UP!

Vikings over 49ers
Fuck superstition, this is a playoff team now.

Patriots over Steelers
If it was in Pittsburgh, we'd have a different story.

Browns over Jets
They need this win, this is for sure.

Broncos over Chiefs
The Chiefs are choking worse.

Colts over Ravens
They've got to be drained after Monday.

Saints over Falcons
The Vike's biggest competition.

Josh's picks.. week... 13? is it?

Chicago @ Washington
I don't know why I think this, but I like them at home. I like them one week removed from the sadness of taylor's death, but still drawing power from it. And I like them to terrorize Chicago.

Miami @ Buffalo
A Miami team in Buffalo in December? Even if the Dolphins weren't terrible, I'd take the Bills.

St. Louis @ Cincinnati
They've been doing well lately.

Carolina @ Jacksonville
Easy call

Dallas @ Detroit
The spread isn't bad here, whcih means some people are picking the Lions. I'm not.

Tampa Bay @ Houston
The Bucs have quietly put a streak together, even though they didn't deserve to win last week. But, neither did the Patriots, and they're still doing OK.

Oakland @ Green Bay
Wow, that's an easy call.

San Diego @ Tennessee
I'll take them. I don't know why.

NYG @ Philly
Yeah, I'll take them here, too. ELIIIIIIIII.

Minny @ San Fran
Adrian's back.

Arizona @ Seattle
They're playing well, and the Cards are terrible on the road.

KC @ Denver
Tough call. I'll take 'em at a snowy home, but this team changes every week.

Pittsburgh @ New England
I'm really tempted. If Pittsburgh was at home, I'd take 'em. But I'll take the Pats in Boston.

Cleveland @ New York Jets
They're bad on the road, but I think they can still beat the Jets.

Indy @ Baltimore
Poor Ravens... Indy and NE back-to-back. They're playing for pride, but I'll bet on Peyton.

New Orleans @ Atlanta