Silver Dragons Week 16 Picks

Merry Christmas to everyone and welcome to the Week 16 Picks.

San Diego has clenched the AFC West and is looking to wrap up Homefield advantage through the playoffs. New England will look to clench the AFC East. Baltimore and Indianapolis have won thier division, but are neck and neck for the second bye-week slot and home field for at least one playoff game.

Chicago is sitting pretty having already sealed the deal with the NFC North division, home field advantage, and first round bye. Dallas has clenched a playoff berth, but is still trying to win the NFC East, Philadelphia is trying to steal it away. New Orleans has the NFC South division, but the NFC West is still open with Seattle hoping to break thier losing streak to hold thier position on top.

Last week my picks went 10-6, a slight backslide from the few weeks before it. My season totals are now 133 of 224 or 133-91 (.594). I'm still just below .600, but I'm looking to over come that hump this week. So lets get on with the Week 16 Picks.

• Thursday Game

Green Bay Packers(6-8) Vs Minnesota Vikings(6-8)
Vikings Pillage a victory
Ok, usually in a closer match up such as this where both teams are 6-8 my first reaction is to take the home team, but the Packers are 2-5 at home this year and 5-5 against NFC opponents. Brett Favre has almost as many interceptions as TDs, and the Vikings defense is currently ranked #7. Favre’s turnovers will cost them a close game.

• Saturday Game

Oakland Raiders(2-12) Vs Kansas City Chiefs(7-7)
Chiefs take the tomahawk to the Raiders
Let’s face it, the Raiders offense is just AWFUL. They are 0-5 in their division and will be 0-6 after the Chiefs walk off the field. The only factor that will keep Oakland in this game is their defense, which is still playing at the NFL level. The Chiefs, desperately trying to hold on to any playoff hopes that they might still have, will see Trent Green put up some modest numbers and Larry Johnson run in a touchdown. That will be enough to win.

• Christmas Eve Early Games

Atlanta Falcons(7-7) VS Carolina Panthers(6-8)
Falcons add to Panthers losing streak
Panthers defense just isn’t stopping anyone and although DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams are decent backs, Chris Weinke just can’t get it done. Michael Vick will return to the Falcons lineup this week, so will John Abraham. This will give the Falcons the little push they need to squeak out this victory.

Buffalo Bills(7-7) Vs Tennessee Titans(7-7)
Titans Top the Bills
After going on a win streak defeating teams the like of Philadelphia, NYG, Indy, and Jacksonville why wouldn’t the Titans defeat the Bills? Vince Young will have a performance like he did against the NYG and Houston. The Titan defense well get a turnover or two from J.P. Losman and repeat their performance over Jacksonville. Another close game, but the Titans prevail.

Cleveland Browns(4-10) Vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers(3-11)
Browns buck Buccaneers
Both teams have been mathematically obliterated from any playoff hopes. Neither team needs to win or will be hurt by a loss. I’m going to give this game to the home team.

Detroit Lions(2-12) Vs Chicago Bears(12-2)
Bears maul the Lions
Two teams with the exact opposite record. This would be a good upset pick. The Bears have the division, have the bye week, and have the home field. Who’s to say they don’t slack off and sit their starters. Traveling to Detroit and with nothing more to gain or lose, an upset could be a possibility, but I doubt it.

Houston Texans(4-10) Vs Indianapolis Colts(11-3)
Colts wrangle the Texans
Colts have locked up their division, but they are still in a fight for home field and first round bye. So Peyton Manning and the Colts will go into Houston prepared to defeat David Carr and the Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars(8-6) Vs New England Patriots(10-4)
Jaguars Pounce on the Patriots
If a team has a winning record, the Jaguars win the match up. If the team has a losing record, the Jaguars lose the match up? Go figure. So Tom Brady and the Patriots have the winning record. Besides that, the Jaguars are 6-1 on their home field. David Garrad has a good game against the Patriots defense and even if Fred Taylor doesn’t get to return from aggravating his right hamstring, Maurice Jones-Drew has proven to be a capable running back.

New York Giants(7-7) Vs New Orleans Saints(9-5)
Saints go marching into New York
Giants are 3-4 at home this year, Saints are 5-2 on the road and 8-2 in the division. Drew Brees will return to form after a letdown game to the Skins. Deuce McAllister will mark another 100+ game, and Reggie Bush will again make his presence know on the field. Tiki Barber will continue to rack up yardage, but the touchdown run will go to Brandon Jacobs. Eli Manning and Plaxico Burress will have trouble connecting against the Saints Defense.

Pittsburgh Steelers(7-7) Vs Baltimore Ravens(11-3)
Raven steal the Steelers last glimmer of a playoff hope
Will Steve McNair be able to return from his hand injury this week? Or will Kyle Boller be the man behind center? Either way I see a Baltimore victory. Derrick Mason will be the touchdown receiver this week, and Jamal Lewis will bunch one in from short yardage, the rest will be the defense holding Ben Roethlisberger to minimal production

St. Louis Rams(6-8) Vs Washington Redskins(5-9)
Redskins give Rams a headache
Jason Campbell has been getting better, and has find Santana Moss and Chris Cooley deep. Ladell Betts has started to find a run that defenses are finding hard to stop, and the Redskins defense has discovered how to shut down an offense. This spells disaster for Marc Bulger and the Rams.

• Christmas Eve Late Games

San Francisco 49ers(6-8) Vs Arizona Cardinals(4-10)
49ers send Cardinals on long flight home
Neither team impresses me in this game. Alex Smith has been able to toss the ball around a bit, but so has Matt Leinart. Frank Gore can run the ball, but so can Edgerrin James. Then there’s Antonio Bryant or Anquan Boldin, both receivers can make the plays down the field. Let’s just chalk this one up to the home team.

Denver Broncos(8-6) Vs Cincinnati Bengals(8-6)
Broncos upset the Bengals
I’m calling this an upset without seeing the spread first, but all I’ve heard is that the Bengals will win. To top it off, Javon Walker has a first degree separation in his shoulder. So how do I think the Broncos will win? Pure want too. Jay Cutler is starting to settle in more every week, and what an arm he has been displaying. Mike Shanahan is starting to let the Rookie throw the ball more, and Cutler found nine different receivers last week. That means the Rookie has got vision down the field, finding his second and third receivers. Denvers defense is going to get back to early season form and give the Bengals a repeat of last week.

Seattle Seahawks(8-6) Vs San Diego Chargers(12-2)
Chargers trample the Seahawks
Does anyone think otherwise? LaDainian Tomlinson isn’t going to slow down this year. He’s on fire. Maybe the Chargers get upset in the playoffs, but not in their last two games of the regular season…unless they sit everyone out. That won’t be this week however as the Chargers look to wrap up home field advantage for the playoffs.

• Christmas Day Monday Night Football

Dallas Cowboys(9-5) Vs Philadelphia Eagles(8-6)
Eagles fly over the Cowboys
Everyone thought the Eagles season was over with the loss of Donovan McNabb, but Jeff Garcia has stepped into his place and the team has all risen to the occasion. Winning their final two games will give the Eagles the division title…I think they’ll get it. Tony Romo is in for a shock, and Terrell Owens will have another reason to spit. Eagles are going to defeat the Cowboys…and it won’t have anything to do with T.O., although I’m sure he’ll find a reason to bring attention to himself.

Miami Dolphins(6-8) Vs New York Jets(8-6)
Dolphins throw wrench into Jets playoff hopes
The Dolphins have served up a shocker to Chicago, Kansas City, and New England this year. Now Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor will be looking to bounce back from their loss to Buffalo and shut down the Jets hopes of a post season. In this divisional rivalry, if Miami can’t go to the playoffs, they don’t want the Jets to go either.

And that concludes my week 16 picks.

Good Luck to everyone, Merry Christmas to you and yours. Or Happy Holidays if Christmas isn't your thing.

Silver Dragon