I got my Weekly JaMarcus prediction correct for the first time last week! Although picking JayMaurcus Cutler against the Baltimore defense was not the most difficult decision I have ever had to make. It kind of looked like a gimme…but I will damn sure take it after the year I have had.
Cutler’s stat line was pretty impressive, though: 10-27 for 94 yards, 0 TDs, 3 INTs, 2 SCKs, 7.9 QB Rating. You read that correctly, folks: 7.9!
Kind of pressed for time this week. Thank you so much for all of the not-so-subtle reminders this morning, by the way. I appreciate all of you for helping me realize that I had not posted my weekly picks column. I do not know what I would do without you. In all seriousness, though. Thank you for reading, thank you for caring, and thank you for helping us spread the word. We have tried to be different from the beginning, providing something of a much higher analytical quality that some of the other sports blogs, but still be at least mildly entertaining. Anyway, call it me getting sentimental as we prepare for the passing of another year, but thanks everyone for reading this year, and stay tuned. We have some very cool stuff planned for 2010, including the long-promised live web show and the even-longer-promised podcasts. Hope everyone has a happy and healthy 2010!
OK, without further attempts at sucking up to the readers, let’s get on to this week’s picks. As always, home team in ALL CAPS.
San Diego (-5) over TENNESSEE. I predicted San Diego would cover, but I never expected it to be as easy as it was. The Chargers are for real…and I absolutely LOVE what the Chargers are doing to Colts fans. The Colts keep squeezing out narrow victories, often more due to the opponent choking that the Colts doing anything special, while the Chargers are going on the road and clobbering teams. After knocking them out of the playoffs each of the last 2 years, the Chargers are totally in the heads of Colts fans, and I love it.
Buffalo (+8) over Atlanta. I just have a feeling that Buffalo might just take this one outright. That is about all the analysis this one deserves. If the past several weeks are any indication (lots of good, tight games between 2 horrible teams), this might be one of the most exciting games of the week. But I wouldn’t count on it.
CINCINNATI (-14) over Kansas City. I think that Cincy is easily 14 points better than Kansas City, on average…but Todd Haley has actually had his team play some pretty feisty football and hand around in games you would think they didn’t have a chance to hang around. Although most of those games have been in Kansas City…that’s why I like Cincy to cover the big number here, even in damn cold weather.
CLEVELAND (-3) over Oakland. I will take Brady Quinn over JaMarcus Russell. Kind of like someone should have back in 2007…not with Quinn first overall, just Quinn coming off the board after Russell I thought was a huge mistake at the time, just made a hell of a lot worse by the fact that it was the first overall and it was another chapter in the Al Davis Oakland train wreck.
GREEN BAY (-14) over Seattle. I really like the Pack at home in this one. They should be fired up and ready to beat a bad team coming off a week in which they lost to a horrible team. Think the guys dreaming up the salary cap every thought that some owners would still be cheaper than all the other owners and keep their fans wonder why they even bother? I am not saying that Seattle has done that to their fans…I think they have just been guessing REALLY wrong on the free agent pickups of the last few years…but it seemed like a good time to reail against the salary cap. Then again, when is it NOT a good time to rail on the salary cap?
Houston (+2) over MIAMI. I think Houston is going to win this one. They are probably both done for as playoff contenders, needing a fair amount of help to sneak in at 9-7. But I think Houston is the slightly better team right now. With Kubiak and Sparano, we have the opportunity to watch two great football minds operate at high efficiency to the end of the game. Hopefully you recognize the sarcasm because either you know my writing style or you know that Kubiak and Sparano are both horrible at keeping themselves and their teams focused at the end of games.
Jacksonville (+10) over NEW ENGLAND. I don’t think New England is 10 points better than Jacksonville right now. Just a hunch. The Jags, for some unknown reason, seem to like playing for Jack Del Rio (maybe it was the Paul Bunyan act a couple years ago). I think they will make a good game of this one.
NEW ORLEANS (-14) over Tampa Bay. The Bucs pay for what the Cowboys did to the Saints. Simple as that.
Carolina (+9) over NY GIANTS. I think the Giants are going to come down to earth a little bit after the great performance on Monday night. Even though the Jags have something to play for and the Panthers do not, the situations are similar in that the Panthers love to play for John Fox, for some reason. They may even have a chance to take this game outright.
Baltimore (+3) over PITTSBURGH. I just love picking road dogs, don’t I? This one has the potential to be another great down-to-the-wire game involving the Steelers this year. Roethlisberger is straight up nasty at crunch time, and I am starting to think he is a special quarterback. There, I said it. Let’s talk about something else before I puke.
St. Louis (+15) over ARIZONA. St. Louis has played some tough games in the division this year, and Arizona seem schizophrenic. I’ll take my chances with another road dog here. Yes, I know that means I am riding a quarterback named Null. Yes, I know what “null” means.
Detroit (+14) over SAN FRANCISCO. Detroit has played some teams tough, and when you have to opportunity to choose Drew Stanton over Alex Smith, you have to do it, right?
INDIANAPOLIS (-5) over NY Jets. I am trying once again for a reverse jinx by picking the Colts to cover, even though they rarely do.
Denver (+7) over PHILADELPHIA. Not just me picking another road dog. I really like Denver in this game. Denver’s style of play should match up well with what Philadelphia tries to do on both sides of the ball.
WASHINGTON (+7) over Dallas. I think that Dallas will have to give Washington lots of help with turnovers to lose this one outright, but Washington should keep this thing close, for at least 3 quarters, maybe until the very end. If this week is the week that Romo starts turning the ball over again, then all bets are off.
Minnesota (-7) over CHICAGO. I can’t wait to see how old and frail The All-time Interception Leader looks as the winds are whipping off the lake through Soldier Field. I don’t think it makes one bit of difference in the game, but I still am giddy with anticipation to see that.
WEEKLY JAMARCUS. Josh Freeman. The Saints defense got absolutely pimp-slapped by the Dallas offense on about 70% of the plays. I think they are going to playing possessed, and Freeman has shown that he is not quite ready for that kind of pressure yet. I like the kid, so I am cheering for him to make me regret this pick, but I just don’t see it.
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