Battle For Ohio

Looks like this chick made her pick, will we be so bold?

Week 10 is upon us, which means everyone has played half of their games at this point in the season.  We are halfway home already.  Here is the playoff picture as it stands now:

AFC:

• New England

• Cincinnati

• Indy

• Denver

• Pittsburgh (Wild Card)

• Houston (Wild Card)

• Baltimore (bubble team)

• New Jersey B (bubble team)

• San Diego (bubble team)

NFC:

• Dallas

• Minnesota

• New Orleans

• Arizona

• Philly (Wild Card)

• Atlanta (Wild Card)

• New Jersey A (bubble team)

• Green Bay (bubble team)

• Chicago (bubble team)

A couple observations.  One, of all those teams I have to honestly say that Cincinnati is the biggest surprise.  Two, would San Francisco be in had they got Kurt Warner in the off-season?  I say yes.  It is a weak division, Arizona is in control with a 5-3 record, the next closest team is 3-5.  Three, the Giants have gone from Super Bowl favorite to a bubble team in 4 weeks straight losses.  And lastly, Baltimore went from AFC Championship game to bubble team in a year, sucks getting old.

Now with all that out-of-the-way, let’s get on to who picked who and why!

Chicago vs San Francisco:

• George:  San Francisco.  If it were three weeks ago I might have picked Chicago, but they have been exposed as a pretender.  I think San Francisco is a pretender too, but I think they have more upside, and I like their coach more.  Singletary will have his team ready to play the team he played for sure.

• Andy:  I went back and forth on this one.  Both teams badly need a win and have similar talent…and both are inconsistent…Both playing on 3 days prep.  This game rides on Cutler.  If he has a big game, the Bears will win.  If he doesn’t, they lose.  I think he’s due and the defense will be up after Vernon Davis calling them out.  Most will pick the 49ers and normally I would too, but you don’t anywhere just picking favorites or home teams every week.  This one will be fun to watch.

• Jesy:  I know my bias on the Bears but I can’t help it I still want to root them on to a win tonight.  Da Bears!

Atlanta vs Carolina:

• George:  Atlanta.  I thought about taking Carolina, but then I heard that DeAngelo Williams is going to be out.  That means the Carolina offense is in the very incapable hands of Jake Delhomme.  That spells disaster for Carolina for sure.  Without Williams this game should be as disastrous as taking a kid with real bad turrets to church.

• Andy:  I have to take some chances if i’ll have a chance at coming back, and this is one of them.  Carolina has come back to respectable in the last few weeks, so maybe Delhomme and the running game are back on track.  Panthers win a close one.

• Jesy:  I am going to get this friggen mascot right this time.  The Falcons versus The Panthers, right?  Okay, I am going to pick the Falcons.  (It only took 10 weeks to get that right!  Better not screw it up next week!)

Tampa Bay vs Miami:

• George:  Miami.  I know Tampa is coming off a big win against their Bay Brother in Green Bay, but that was like beating a dead horse.  Miami’s offensive line is way better and they won’t be able to beat on Pat White, or Chad Henne, who ever they decide to start, like they did to Aaron Rogers.  I hope they start Pat White, and I hope that I can watch this game when I get too pissed about the Bengals game to watch anymore.

• Andy:  Tampa got lucky with a win over Green Bay, but Miami is much better and looking for a win after a tough loss.  Dolphins win.

• Jesy:  Tampa Bay surprised me last week but then again I know that the Dolphins are running some bearcat offense that George likes so I’ll take a chance and pick the Fins.  (I actually laughed out loud!  I think you meant the WILDCAT, the Bearcat is the mascot for the University of Cincinnati.  I love it!)

WAIT! Your about to step on Detroit!

Detroit vs Minnesota:

• George:  Minnesota.  Does this even need an explanation?  Like dog shit on the bottom of their shoe Detroit will just stink and annoy the Vikings until they just wipe them off and forget about them.

• Andy:  Hmmm.  So many factors affecting this game….Detroit will get destroyed in Minnesota.

• Jesy:  OMG, the Vikings are going to destroy the Lions.  This will almost be hilarious.  Can you imagine being a Lions fan for this game?  The announcers are going to be all over how awesome Farve is and seriously what good things can they say about Detroit?  Just to clarify, my pick is with Minnesota.

Jacksonville vs New Jersey B:

• George:  New Jersey B.  The Jets are coming off a bye and Jacksonville is too inconsistent.  I don’t like Jacksonville defense and I think despite the troubles Sanchez has had recently he should rebound fine for Jacksonville.  Look for Jones-Drew to disappear after the first quarter when the Jags start to fall behind.

• Andy:  Now that we know the Jets are overrated, this becomes a closer game, but the Jags are still very, very bad, so this is an easy one for the Jets.

• Jesy:  Not really sure who to pick here, I’m going to pick the Jets.  Just don’t know much about either team.

Cincinnati vs Pittsburgh:

• George:  Pittsburgh.  FML.  This will be a close game until the second half.  The Steelers will make adjustments and the Bengals won’t.  Plus it is at home for Pittsburgh, the crowd will be loud and moronic and they will be waving those yellow diapers for sure.  Pittsburgh and Cincinnati both have been getting better as the season has gone on, but Pittsburgh has the home advantage this game.  Plus Polamalu is healthy this game and Mendenhall has been running wild.  I could do analysis all day on this game, but it all comes down the same way, Pittsburgh by 10.

• Andy:  Cincinnati is 6-0 as the underdog this year and you guessed it, they’re a 7 pt underdog in this game.  But all things come to an end.  This game is in Pittsburgh, the Steelers will be after revenge, and they have Polamolu back, which instantly makes they defense top 5 again.  It doesn’t help that Chris Henry is gone for the year.  Bengals could win this, but the swirling winds of Heinz Field will be too much this time.

• Jesy:  Do I have to pick?  I really want to pick with my heart but if I remember correctly I picked Shittsburgh the last time they played and didn’t go with my heart.  What to do???  What the hell, I’ll pick Cincinnati!  (You’re braver than I am.)

New Orleans vs St. Louis:

• George:  New Orleans.  Again, no explanation is really necessary here.  This will be like playing dodgeball against a kid in a wheel chair.  Drew Brees doesn’t even have to play to win this game, but he will because he loves to crush bad teams.  Steven Jackson is one bad hit away from going all Clinton Portis and just taking himself out of games.

• Andy:  The Rams would lose to the Saints back-ups, so I think the starters will just practice and break a sweat before they realize they have 30 pts already.  Saints roll.

• Jesy:  C’mon Saints!!!  Don’t let me down.

Buffalo vs Tennessee:

• George:  Tennessee.  Buffalo SUCKSSSSSSSSSSS.  Whats worse is that TO is not playing, not that he has contributed a whole hell of a lot this year.  I know because I have him on like three fantasy teams.  Needless to say I haven’t played him since week three.  Chris Johnson should have like 600 all-purpose yards in this one.

• Andy:  The Bills have one of the worst rush defenses in the league and the Titans now have a three-pronged attack on the run with Johnson/White/Young.  Trent Edwards is back, but that’s not saying much.  Titans continue to march.

• Jesy:  I did pretty good picking the Titans last week and I’m going to pick them again to beat Buffalo.

Denver vs Washington:

• George:  Denver.  What’s the best way to get over a two game skid?  Play a terrible team like Washington.  Denver has laid two straight eggs, but they get to get right against a terrible Washington team.  The only question here is, how many pick sixes does Jason Campbell give up?  I am saying at least two!

• Andy:  Denver isn’t as awesome as their first 6 games looked, but they are way better than the Skins and looking to take out their frustration on someone.  Broncos in a low scoring game.

• Jesy:  Wow, Denver really sucked against Ben and the Steelers but I really think they will beat the Redskins.

Kansas City vs Oakland:

• George:  Oakland.  Pretty sad when I pick the team with the owner that belongs in an institution, the quarterback that belongs in Sea World, the running back that belongs in a China cabinet, well you see where I am going with this.  Oakland sucks, but sucks a little less than Kansas City.  Did I just commit a cardinal sin by betting FOR Al Davis?  Probably, look for this to bite me in the ass.

• Andy:  KC is not good.  Oakland is not good.  The sad part is that one of these teams will think they’re pretty good after winning.  The difference between these teams is that KC actually looks like they’re improving.  I think Larry Johnson is addition by subtraction, so KC will get this one.

• Jesy:  This is the week’s Suck vs. Suck game for sure.  I’ll pick the Raiders, let’s see how this pans out.

Seattle vs Arizona:

• George:  Arizona.  Seattle beat Detroit last week, who cares.  Fitzgerald and company should be able to handle Seattle pretty easy.  provided that Kurt Warner plays like he did last week with 5 touchdowns and not like two weeks ago where he had 5 interceptions.  Does Seattle have anyone younger than me (30) on their team?

• Andy:  Two yo-yo teams…yikes.  I’ll take the better QB and the team with less injuries.  Cards will take this one.

• Jesy:  Another toss-up in my opinion, I’d say both are mediocre.  I am probably wrong but I guess I just don’t know much about either team.  I’ll pick Arizona (Cardinals, right?)  (Three for three on mascots, the Bearcat debacles doesn’t count.  One they are college, two she was trying to explain a formation not a mascot, three I have to live with her.  So yeah, I am cutting her slack.)

Yep, that about sums it up.

Dallas vs Green Bay:

• George:  Dallas.  Man I hate doing this too, but after watching Aaron Rodgers get beat like a drum again last week, I have officially lost hope in Green Bay this year.  If you can’t protect your quarterback or block for your running back you are going to lose.  And they will to Dallas.  DeMarcus Ware should have about 8 sacks this game.  Ryan Grant won’t see over 60 yards.

• Andy:  I hate the Cowboys, but they are on a roll and GB has hit a low point, losing to Tampa, while continually giving up sack after sack.  Dallas has a good history playing in Lambeau and clearly have the better defense.  Miles Austin has become the big play receiver that Dallas needed…Dallas wins on the road.

• Jesy:  Green Bay’s quarterback is beat down, I’m picking Dallas to win this one.

Philly vs San Diego:

• George:  Philly.  I know Philly lost last week, but Dallas is a better team than San Diego.  Philly can spread the ball out and confuse San Diego and their “soft” defense.  The Chargers will see success with screens to Sproles, but will have difficulty moving the ball otherwise.

• Andy:  Screw the Eagles.  They look sucky, then like the best team in the world, then sucky again.  Who know what team will show up.  I’m taking the Chargers because I like Rivers and at least I know what I’m getting with them.

• Jesy:  Can the Chargers pull out a win from the Eagles?  I picked the Eagles last week and they lost so I’m picking San Diego this week.

New England vs Indy:

• George:  Indy.  Probably the hardest game I have had to call all year.  Since 2006 the Colts have fared pretty well against the Patriots.  The Patriots defense is old and Peyton should be able to find passing lanes easier than he has in the past.  New England will counter and fight and put some points on the board.  This game will come down to which team can make a defensive stop, just one, and that will be the Colts, not the Patriots.

• Andy:  The Patriots will win this one big time.  The Colts secondary is a MASH unit and not the same without Bob Sanders.  Add to that the Patriots regularly make you use your nickel and dime packages with their 4 and 5 wide sets and it spells doom for the Colts.  The defense is hurt, the WRs are inexperienced after Wayne, and Jim Caldwell is no Dungy.  Pats roll.

• Jesy:  Wow, this will be a great game and I can’t wait to watch this one.  Who to pick?  I’ll stick with Indy!  C’mon Colts!!

Sorry Cleveland, but The Thing has what will be etched on your tombstone.

Baltimore vs Cleveland:

• George:  Baltimore.  Primetime game in Cleveland of all places and no one in Cleveland is going to see it because it is going to get blacked out!  Cleveland was just as bad as Cincinnati last year, how did they get a prime time game again?  Not like it matters, Baltimore is going to chew Cleveland up and spit them out.  Baltimore is on paper-thin ice and they know it.  It’s clobberin’ time.

• Andy:  Bad matchups all around and Quinn making his first start in 5 games means a pretty easy win for the Ravens.  All I can do is root that several Ravens get injured…hopefully Flacco or Reed…that’d be sweet.  Oh, I’m sorry…is that in bad taste?  Screw them…they are the reason that our new expansion Browns even exist.  Now Cincinnatians know why the Bengals are a distant 3rd on the AFC North hate meter.

• Jesy:  Ravens will beat up on the Browns for sure!