Week 15 went well, making 3 straight weeks of winners for the come back kid of the season. Follow me, good ol’ Lucky Lester, on the way to my 4th straight week of big winners.Gimmie-Games
Bengals over the Broncos
Bears over the Lions
Chiefs over the Raiders
Colts over the Texans
Ravens over the Steelers
Thursday:
Minnesota Vikings (+3.5) @ Green Bay Packers: What can I say? I’ve been waiting for the Vikings to pull their heads out of their respective asses and bench Brad Johnson for the young and extremely talented Tevares Jackson. They did, and so I’m going to go ahead and shoot for tooting my own horn in my review. The hapless Vikings upset the hapless Packers.
Saturday:
Kansas City Chiefs (-6.5) @ Oakland Raiders: Larry Johnson is running for the Chiefs who have to win or face a sure exit from playoff hopes. Justin Fargas is running for the Raiders, who, ah, are never going to win again this year.
Sunday:
Baltimore Ravens (+3.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers: I know the Steelers are coming on strong of late, but really, do wins over Tampa Bay, Cleveland, and Carolina really count? No. If they beat Baltimore this week, sure, I’ll admit, they’re a force once again, but until they beat a team that isn’t completely useless, there’s no way they beat one of the best squads in the AFC.
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons (-6): The Panthers aren’t nearly the team I’d thought they’d be, and that’s with Jake Delhomme at quarterback. This Chris Weinke guy was made to lose NFL football games, and thus far he’s followed the pattern brilliantly. Despite losing last week, the Falcons are healthy, and playing well, so expect them to tame the Panthers in Atlanta.
Chicago Bears (-4) at Detroit Lions: Is this some kind of sick joke? I know the Bears are the beasts of the NFC, and can’t possibly be caught, but lets be honest, these are the Lions here. The Kevin Jones-less Lions, and no, they won’t be able to hang with half of the Bears, a team that historically tries to win every game down the stretch anyway, and has something yet to work on with consistency on both sides of the ball.
Indianapolis Colts (-9) @ Houston Texans: I have a feeling the Colts are going to get on a hot streak here that will lead them into the 2nd spot in the AFC, and a nice little run to the Super Bowl. They aren’t trying to do things they aren’t good at anymore, that died before the Bengal game, and now they’re ready to just take what defenses give them. Luckily for the Colts, Houston is ready to give them anything they want. Peyton’s only question will be, who to get the ball to, they’ll all be open.
New England Patriots at Jacksonville Jaguars (-2.5): With the Jags in need of a win to stay in the playoff hunt, they’ll play all out against the Patriots. I know Tom Brady and his Pats were back to their old selves last week against Houston, but Jacksonville plays well against tough opponents, and the Jags aren’t the Texans. Look for Jacksonville to outrun New England on way to a very important home win.
New Orleans Saints (+3) at New York Giants: I just don’t see how the Saints are underdogs here. I don’t thin the Giants have a chance to make the playoffs, so it’s not as if they’ll be playing with extra umph. And Drew Brees has been shredding suspect secondaries all season long, and the Giants certainly have one of those. Look for Drew and the Saints to perform well in a bounce back game.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3) at Cleveland Browns: With Tim Rattay getting the starting nod, I actually believe the Buccaneers are a tough team. Cleveland, on the other hand, has also played well since their back up, Derek Anderson, has come in for an injured Charlie Frye, but I like Cadillac Williams to have his best game of the season, Joey Galloway to light up the airways, and a Buccaneer defense to shut down the Browns.
Tennessee Titans at Buffalo Bills (-4.5): Buffalo has been a very good team of late, giving Bill fans something to get excited about next season, and if the cards fall right, this season too. Tennessee’s luck will run out this week in Buffalo, as there’s no way they’ll win with another piss poor offensive performance. Against a finally healthy Bills defense, trouble for the Titans will continue. But how about the YOUNG kid, he’s gonna be something!
Washington Redskins (+2) at St. Louis Rams: Personally, between me and you, I like the Rams as a team much better than I like the Skins. But, Ladell Betts is a terrible match up for the Rams. St. Louis struggles against downhill runners with a knack to break tackles, and Ladell has proven to be that. Steven Jackson will get his, but the young Redskins skill players will be the deciding factor in a Washington win on the road.
Arizona Cardinals @ San Francisco 49ers (-4): The public likes the Niners here, and so do I. With Frank Gore, San Fran will control the ball all day long. Alex Smith is finally playing to his #1 pick potential, something that will be proven again on Sunday against the Cardinals. The 49ers defense has a little pop as well, but if they can’t find a way to stop Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, this game will be a late shootout.
Cincinnati Bengals (+3) at Denver Broncos: I like Jay Culter, but he won’t be able to shred the Bengals defense like Peyton Manning did last Monday Night. And there is no way the Bengals come out as flat as a tire for the second straight week in a row, especially with their playoff lives on the line. This spread is like giving the game away. Thanks for free money, fellas.
San Diego Chargers (-4) at Seattle Seahawks: I’d love to take the Seahawks here, with the belief that they are ready to turn the corner, ready to step up in crunch time, ready to throw that killing punch. But then again, I’d love a perfect record, more money than Bill Gates, and more booty than Jennifer Lopez, but all I got is this computer, a couple hooves to type with, and an editor who claims to be an ex-ultimate fighter extraordinaire. Basically, me and the Hawks are rolling in the same boat. Seattle has proven that they aren’t ready to defend their NFC Title, while the Chargers are destined to get LT a few more touchdowns. Unfortunately for the Hawks, this game still has meaning for SD. What has Seattle done to make me think they could win this game? Win the NFC last year. Key word, last.
Philadelphia Eagles (+7) at Dallas Cowboys: You’ve got to root for Jeff Garcia and the Eagles in this one, right? With TO running his mouth in Dallas, and Jeff Garcia playing like the pro-bowler he was when last tossing to TO, it would be sweet for Philly to win this game. And I’m not a believer in destiny, but an interview with TO after the game that has this question, “So, remember that QB you called Gay? He just smoked your boys in Dallas. Did you thoroughly enjoy them apples?” Yeah, I have to pick the Eagles in this one. Brian Westbrook to the rescue, but Jeff Garcia with the final dagger.
Monday:
New York Jets (+2.5) at Miami Dolphins: This is a tough one, so I’ll go with the Jets, since they still have a shot at post season play. New York has been off and on more times than my power over the last few weeks, but I think their offensive line is coming into their own, and Chad Pennington is back to trusting his receivers down the field. Laveraneus Coles is one of the best the league has to offer, and Chad will get him the ball to win this game in Miami.
This week should be interesting, either the books are about to lose a lot of money, or I’m about to have a huge week.