A bad week last week left me at 7-9, so I am 137-88-1 on the season following Atlanta’s 31-18 win over Detroit last night. Here are my week 16 predictions:
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Cincinnati over Pittsburgh–I really liked how the Bengals played in the second half last week against Philadelphia.
Green Bay over Tennessee–The Packers still have something to play for as they are battling San Francisco for the number two seed.
New Orleans over Dallas–In a mild upset, the Saints stop Dallas’s three game winning streak as I’m projecting Drew Brees to have a great day.
Indianapolis over Kansas City–The Chiefs were horrible offensively against the Raiders last week, a team that has given up 44 more points than Indianapolis. (more…)
Two of the best teams in the NFC will battle this weekend as the Seattle Seahawks (9-5) host the San Francisco 49ers (10-3-1).
Both of these teams have played stellar defense all season long and rank 1-2 in the NFL in fewest points allowed. The 49ers have given up 218 points, and the Seahawks have given up 219 points.
However, it is the teams’ offenses that need to be praised just as much. Seattle has scored 108 points the last two games, and San Francisco put up 41 points against New England last week. Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch has had a minimum of 100 yards rushing in 8 games this season.
The Seahawks and 49ers will battle on NBC at 6:00 p.m. Sunday night.
Here are the other games I’ll be watching this weekend:
Saturday–NFL–Atlanta Falcons @ Detroit Lions–ABC–6:30 p.m.–With the NFL deciding not to have a game Christmas Eve, the Monday nighter has moved to Saturday. At 12-2 the Falcons can clinch first place in the NFC with a victory. The Falcons had a major statement game last week as they shut out the New York Giants 34-0. Julio Jones had two touchdown receptions in Atlanta’s win.
Well folks. We are now in the down time of the sports calendar a little bit. My apologies for not writing with a high frequency this past week. I am currently doing a massive project for Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame which has taken up every ounce of energy I have had.
But I’m watching football today because I’m in the quarterfinals of my fantasy football playoffs, the premier fantasy football pool in Calgary. Here are the games I’ll be watching:
Sunday–NFL–San Diego Chargers @ Pittsburgh Steelers–CBS–11am–Big Ben is back in the lineup for the Steelers after a shoulder and a rib injury. At 7-5, the Steelers delivered an impressive road win last week in Baltimore. As for the Chargers, there were reports this week that Norv Turner would be fired with the team currently at 4-8.
Sunday–NFL–Dallas Cowboys @ Cincinnati Bengals–FOX–11am–The Cowboys received a tragedy this week as linebacker Jerry Brown died in a car accident. Defensive lineman Josh Brent was charged with intoxicated manslaughter. The Cowboys are 6-6, while the Bengals are 7-5.
Watch out world. I’m smokin’ hot! Last week I went 13-1 with my only loss coming in the Carolina and Tampa Bay game and went 3-0 on American Thanksgiving. That mean I’m 101-61-1 on the season.
Here are my Sunday Week 12 picks:
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Chicago over Minnesota–Jay Cutler is the difference for the Bears. Their offense drastically improves from last week.
Cincinnati over Oakland–The Bengals defense has been excellent the last two weeks. Last week Geno Atkins had two forced fumbles and a sack in limiting Kansas City to six points.
Pittsburgh over Cleveland–The Steelers aren’t that bad without Big Ben. Byron Leftwich showed some positive signs against the Ravens last week.
Indianapolis over Buffalo–Andrew Luck is really coming into his own as the Colts win a high scoring affair.
I am 59-46 on the season now after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers surprisingly ran all over the Minnesota Vikings Thursday night in a 36-17 upset. Doug Martin had 135 yards rushing, another 79 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
Here are the rest of my week eight picks:
11am
Pittsburgh over Washington–In a close battle, the Steelers defense is experienced enough to stop RG3, just like they did Michael Vick earlier in the season.
Detroit over Seattle–The Seahawks are just not a great road team.
Chicago over Carolina–Julius Peppers continues to look impressive at 32.
New England over Saint Louis–The Rams are moving in one direction, and the Patriots the other.
The Edmonton Eskimos have a chance of clinching a playoff spot on Sunday when they play the Montreal Alouettes. At 7-9 they sit in last place in the Western Division, but will qualify for the postseason in the crossover into the East because they will have a better record than the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
The Eskimos will not have running back Hugh Charles in their lineup. Charles suffered a knee injury in the Eskimos’ 39-19 loss to the B.C. Lions last Friday. The Eskimos then brought back Cory Boyd this past week to backup Jerome Messam.
It was an historic night in the National Football League Sunday as Drew Brees, the quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, set an historic NFL record.
Brees threw a touchdown pass in a NFL record 48th straight game as the New Orleans Saints won their first game of the season by beating the San Diego Chargers 31-24.
Brees’ 40 yard pass to Devery Henderson broke Johnny Unitas’ 47 game streak set in 1960. Brees went on to throw three more touchdowns in the game to Marques Colston.
Henderson and Colston both received added looks due to the hamstring injury of Lance Moore.
This is currently one of the most exciting times in Canadian tennis. Milos Raonic of Thornhill, Ontario achieved greatness again Friday night when he defeated U.S. Open and Olympic champion Andy Murray of Great Britain in three sets, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 at the Japan Open in Tokyo.
Raonic saved off two match points in the third set and was able to break Murray back after being down 4-1 in the final set.
Raonic also performed admirably while not serving in the third set, something he has struggled with in his career. He will now face Japan’s Kei Nishikori in tonight’s final (11pm, Sportsnet One). Raonic is also seeking his third title of the season, having won in Chennai and San Jose earlier in the year.
The 39th Ryder Cup is currently taking place just outside of Chicago. On Day 1, the Americans took an early 5-3 lead on Europe thanks to some brilliant shot making by Keegan Bradley, Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson and Jason Dufner.
On day two (Saturday, NBC, 7am), there will be four foursome matches in the morning, followed by four fourball matches in the afternoon. The best morning matchup will be Bradley and Mickelson against England’s Lee Westwood and Luke Donald. An interesting morning omission by Davis Love III is Tiger Woods, who played much better in the afternoon on Friday in four ball action than he did in the foursome with partner Steve Stricker in the morning.
Another golfer to watch out for on Saturday is Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts, who will be teamed with Spain’s Sergio Garcia against Americans Zach Johnson and Jason Dufner. Colsaerts had eight birdies and an eagle on Friday afternoon.
The Ryder Cup will then conclude Sunday with singles play (NBC, 10am).
On Wednesday, the NFL came down hard on players directly involved in the cash-for-hit bounty system the Saints have had in recent years.
Linebacker Jonathan Vilma was suspended for the entire season, defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove was suspended eight games, defensive end Will Smith was suspended four games and linebacker Scott Fujita was suspended three games. Hargrove is now playing for the Green Bay Packers and Fujita is now playing for the Cleveland Browns.
In March, the NFL suspended Saints Head Coach Sean Payton the full season, defensive co-ordinator Gregg Williams indefinitely, General Manager Mickey Loomis for eight games and Assistant Coach Joe Vitt for six games.
This week on 15MOF we discuss the latest news surrounding Oilers forward Taylor Hall, as well as another story that has left the team a bit red in the face. Also on the show – we discuss whether the Toronto Maple Leafs will be the next NHL team to fire a GM and we look at the latest “bounty” news from the NFL.
In the GABBYs: the Norfolk Admirals, Jamie Moyer, Sidney Crosby, Colin Clark, Reebok & March Madness. The Punchline this week is Beach Volleyball!
This week on the show we’re discussing the latest big suspension from the NHL and some of the major playoff races – who’s in and who’s out? Meanwhile, in the NFL, the league comes down hard on the New Orleans Saints over the team’s bounty program and the Denver Broncos win the Peyton Manning sweepstakes!
In the GABBYs: Kevin Love, Leo Messi, Fernando Torres, Ben Eager, Wayne Rooney and Joba Chamberlain. The Punchline this week is a Tim Tebow inspired drink!
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