Sportandfashion-news's Ten NFL Free Agency Things to Watch

National Football League's offseason is set to have another kickoff with free agency getting underway at 3:00 pm Central Standard Time or 4:00 pm for those out East or 1:00 pm for the Pacific folks. Basically, Twitter is probably going to collapse with players already signed to new deals with new teams which is weird seeing as free agency just began. Yet regardless, there will be guys with new deals before you know it. People will love to give out the 'Championships are not won in March' quote which is very true, but here are some of the things I will be keeping an eye on in the coming weeks.

1. Will Darrelle Revis get cut and what will be the interest level - First of all, Tampa Bay would be foolish to release arguably the best corner in the game. Sure, there could be some constraints in Lovie Smith's Cover 2, but to pass on that sort of talent seems foolish. New England and San Francisco could be interested suitors which should terrify the rest of the league. Honestly, I have to think to the Bucs are not this stupid of a franchise to just give up on Revis after one year of having him on the roster.

2. It sounds like James Jones and Evan Dietrich-Smith have played their last games in Green Bay - By the grace of Vincent Lombardi, something could change, but it appears like the Packers are set to lose a couple offensive weapons. We will not go into what the loss could mean for the team rather talk about their addition to the rumored teams. Jones is being looked at by Detroit and New York Jets right now. He could really help both teams and if Detroit gets Jones along with another receiver in the first three rounds, they become downright nightmarish on offense. EDS sounds like he might make a move to New York with the Giants to help rebuild that offensive line.  

3. Who wins Lamarr Houston in the NFC North?  - One of the free agents I mentioned when rumors began about Green Bay wanting free agents was Lamarr Houston. Packers apparently agreed with me, and they had discussions about bringing him into the fold.  Chicago Bears have the same idea, and since they are likely getting rid of Julius Peppers plus not being able to get Michael Bennett, Houston might be the play for Chicago. The thing that worries me is despite Green Bay having more money, Houston spent most of his time playing in a 4-3 system making Chicago have more an alluring destination than Green Bay. But what the hell do I really know

4. Byrd is not really the word - No one has any idea where Jairus Byrd is going. Like virtually none. There are rumors of 'mystery team' (WAIT A SECOND, FOOTBALL, STOP TAKING BASEBALL'S WORDS) giving him somewhere in the nine million dollar range at safety. We know it will probably not be Buffalo so who comes out winning the Byrd sweepstakes?  My assumption is T.J. Ward will want him to make up his mind quickly to set the pace for safeties. If the football media has more sources than JSTOR are not making guesses on Byrd, I probably should not either.

5. How much will Philadelphia makeover their defense? - Eagles are known for making some splashes in free agency in the past decade, and while they improved over the last couple of weeks, Philadelphia still needs to make their defense into something else. They could definitely get some help in the defensive secondary, and they could probably use another pass rusher. Philadelphia could stay put and hope some of their young guys pan out better with another year although Eagles management usually takes the approach of making a strike early instead of playing the wait and see.

6. What contender gets Steve Smith - There are all sorts of rumors flying around about Smith possibly not being in a Carolina uniform come next season, and if that does occur, many teams will be interested in Smith, all with likely Super Bowl aspirations. What if Denver decided to ditch Eric Decker and take Smith for less money, could you imagine Smith in the slot with Peyton Manning?  Or how about Seattle who lacks receiving talent and could use another badass on their roster?  If Smith really wants to get back at Carolina, he goes Favre and takes probably a smaller deal to play for New Orleans which once again is an offensive orgasm. Smith might not be a great receiver anymore, but the guy can still ball out.

7. Will Washington pull a Washington? - Let's face it, it was kind of boring last offseason not having Daniel Snyder making some outrageous contract offer. It is time for Danny boy to make something happen. Whether Washington is giving a ton of money to Aqib Talib, or Arthur Jones gets a pay day from this team, we need something drastic from Washington to know that I am officially alive. If we do not get something of this nature, I expect a Robert Griffin subtweet or this whole offseason is pointless.

8. Hakeem Nicks.... The most interesting man in Free Agency - As a fantasy owner with high expectations, I can tell you firsthand how bad of a season Nicks had for the Giants in a contract year. He hand-delivered a bag of shit to me by the end of it. Many people swear Nicks has number one wide receiver talent and will not get the money from New York so where will it come from?  Oakland?  Maybe Carolina? What about Cleveland to pair him with Josh Gordon?  Buffalo is another option worth thinking about it. I do not know if Nicks will get number one money, but he is an interesting study.

9. Who takes a chance at Michael Vick? - This is another real interesting player in the free agency market. My assumption is Vick will have some options to sign with teams as a starter versus being a backup yet I do think some would pay the price to have him being a solid number two.  Even though they have Terrelle Pryor, Oakland would be a great fit for Vick. Just seems to fit him perfectly like Mike Vick would be beloved and take full advantage of the situation. I also do not hate the idea of him playing for Tampa Bay with Lovie Smith. He will have some suitors.

10. Who delivered the 'holy shit' moment of the offseason - San Francisco and there is no doubt in my mind about it. The thing is the Niners know they need to keep up with the Jones which includes a crowded neighborhood of Seattle plus growing Arizona and St. Louis. They also have an awkward situation with their head coach and the front office. They need to throw off the scent for a little awhile meaning a splash will come and sound like a thunderous boom.

Charlie.

Fail Mary Forgiveness.

My good buddy Doz told me at the bar in December he asked for a Russell Wilson shirt jersey for Christmas. Doz is as big of a Wisconsin Badgers fan as you will meet in the state of Wisconsin. But I scoffed at the idea. I could not believe he chose to support a team had a hand in screwing over Green Bay out of a win which could have affected the playoffs that year. Yes I still felt some bitterness towards that game. Some might call it over-the-top, and others might call it reasonable as I think all Packers fans can say they hope no other team goes through that fiasco.

Usually, I try to be a person who does not have a great deal of grudges because I feel like life is easier that way versus being mad at certain people, certain things for stupid reasons. Yet I harbored a grudge towards Seattle because the Fail Mary loss will forever and always be the most heartbreaking regular season loss until Green Bay loses out of a playoff spot on a last second drive (Sorry Chicago).  After nearly 17 months, I am finally over the game. All is forgiven and I will be cheering for Seattle in the upcoming Super Bowl. Honestly, I probably should be thanking San Francisco for beating Green Bay twice in the last two playoffs.

When Seattle-San Francisco met, it was obviously going to be a great game, but I usually like to pick a team 'I want to see win.' Only real case I could see where I would probably not do that is if two NFC North team played for the NFC title that were not Green Bay and if that happened, my life would probably be at sports rock bottom. San Francisco caused me more strife in the last couple years as a fan versus Seattle where one bad play went against Green Bay in the third game of the season in 2012. It is a long time to keep thinking about a loss, but really when you think about it, what's not to love about Seattle?

Let's start with the obvious answer of Richard Sherman, the man of the hour still 30 hours later. Hell I got fired up at the gym Monday watching the highlights of his final play and his comments afterwards. There is something great about a male or female athlete telling the world they are the best. He is an asshole on the field. But it seems like he is a nice guy off it and in my world, that's perfectly fine. If he was an all-around asshole, that's fine too. People are not perfect. Sooner we can let go of this bullshit notion that 'athletes need to be role models', the better our society will be as a whole. Sherman is a hell of a football player. People need to start acting like he is one of the best instead of just a guy that runs his mouth because he is much more than that.

The fact the entire Seattle Secondary are a group of six feet and over guys looking like MonSTARS on the football field is a revelation. People will try to create their own version of a Legion of Doom for years to come. Kam Chancellor is a complete force, and the fact he watches Sean Taylor highlights before each and every game makes me like him that much more.  Additionally, we have discussed Sherman and Chancellor before mentioning Earl Thomas, a player definitely on the right route to be one of the best players in the National Football League.

Admitting now, Pete Carroll really pissed me off during the Fail Mary game. But I loved Carroll in college. Forever, he was my number one 'I want to have a beer with this guy.' I still do. My dad and I talk about how great it would be to sit down and drink beers with Carroll. He just seems like a fun guy taking life one step at a time. The Seattle coach pisses people off because he gets overly excited on the field plus Carroll running away from USC amid a scandal. Sometimes in life, people need to snake it until they make it which is exactly what Carroll did in his life. Carroll is not even a snake rather a man taking advantage of an opportunity to get out before shit hits the fan.

As I spend the whole year watching Eddie Lacy bully his way through defenders, it makes you respect and watch Marshawn Lynch in different light too. Lynch defines the "Beast Mode" nickname perfectly. Seattle deserves a ton of credit for rebuilding his career after a tumultuous end in Buffalo to make him a great player for Seattle and a top five to seven running back in this league. Lynch is a bruiser and nothing is more fun than watching him bulldoze a couple members of the secondary as he heads into the end zone where Skittles are raining from the sky.

There is the one elephant in the likability of Seattle for some people and it is their weird PED accusations with Sherman and others getting in trouble for substances that were all 'Adderall.' Many people do not believe that too be true. I personally do not either. I have the belief that many NFL players are doing PEDs of some form, and people are burying the head in the sand. This is the steroid era of baseball all over again. I do not care honestly, just wish people would figure it out sooner rather than later. Seattle can pump themselves with PED's because I feel every other team is doing it in some form. While I have no basis for this theory, it is pretty clear what's going on.

The funniest part of Seattle is with all of the unlikable characters, they might have the most likable quarterback in the NFL. There are not many people saying bad words about Wilson the person. I might criticize how he plays, but even I am in a minority there.  I am actually surprised no one came down from a higher power to tell me I could not do it. With this team, it feels like they should have a Johnny Manziel at quarterback with his demeanor, but at least with Russ, people can say 'Man I hate all these Seahawks players but I LOVE RUSSELL WILSON.'  That's a common thing, and maybe it is a good thing. Cannot have a team being 100 percent hateable.

There you have it. I am done trying to hate Seattle. This is a likable team in my eyes. Ryan Braun's ruling really changed my option on sports figures and teams. Embracing the so-called 'bad guys' is fun as hell. It is much funner than believing in a morality code and some faux thing called 'class in sports.' Go Hawks, sorry it took me a Sherman outburst and a game against San Francisco for me to see the light. Cannot wait for Green Bay to take down Seattle in Fall 2014, it will be great.

Charlie.

Seattle Seahawks: Say Hello to the Bad Guys

Rivalries are great when they are unexpected. Three years ago if I were to tell you, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers are going to be the fiercest rivals in the National Football League by 2013-2014, I would have been met with weird looks. NFC West used to be the laughingstock of the league, and now it plays host to the top billing of the NFL's scorecard.  Seattle added another chapter beating San Francisco 23-17 to earn a trip to New Jersey for the 48th Super Bowl.    

It is really easy to throw around statements full of hyperbole, but the second half of San Francisco-Seattle felt like the best football of the entire year. It had everything you wanted from a football game including a dramatic conclusion to the game. San Francisco started to drive the ball down with under four minutes left in the game and found themselves on Seattle's 30 yard line with under a minute left. Heartbreak was on its way for one of these teams, and when they needed it the most Seattle's defense stood big with their best player on the defense making an excellent play. 

Earlier in the week, we noted Colin Kaepernick appears to have a problem with vertical routes and
underthrowing them. We saw in both games against Seattle this season in the regular season that Kaepernick had this problem. He once again to the vertical route to win this football game, and Richard Sherman batted the ball away from Michael Crabtree leading to Malcolm Smith picking off the pass ending the game and clinching Seattle's first Super Bowl appearance since 2005-2006 season. Sherman made a stunning play leading to him bumping Crabtree afterwards and gesturing a choke signal to Kaepernick basically another day in the life of Sherman.  

Everyone now probably has an opinion on the former Stanford cornerback. Many people did before today. I said it when he started making the gestures that 'He is such a prick but dammit if I don't respect him.'  I still think he acts like a dick, but that's totally okay because that's his personality on the field. I doubt he acts that way off it.  Sherman's post game reaction drew all sorts of criticism, but this man is an animal. Crabtree and Sherman hate each other where this means so goddamn much to him. I find it hard to believe just yelling into a camera can classify a guy as a 'thug.'  What a world we live in. Sherman made the play of the year, and people still found a way to shit all over it. The fact Sherman is not a robot is the exact reason why you should love him. Sports is not supposed to be an uptight thing. We have fun watching sports, and Sherman is having a blast out there not giving one single f--k about any of you, remember that when you reach to type something dumb on social media.   

Enough about Sherman though, it was one play in a fantastic football game. Russell Wilson is a player I have been critical of in the last couple of weeks given his recent struggles. It seemed like once again Wilson could not make a play in this game minus this ridiculous scramble for a 53-yard gain to Doug Baldwin. The narrative appeared to be shifting and First Take desk was ready to deliver some #HotTakes about Wilson until he benefited from a free play as San Francisco jumped offsides. The former 'Pack full of Badgers' delivered a beautiful pass to Jermaine Kearse for the touchdown to give Seattle their first lead of the game again. Wilson made plays when Seattle needed it the most.  That's what good quarterbacks do, and it will be great to see him on the biggest stage in two weeks. 

Marshawn Lynch did not disappoint either in this game. He deserves a ton of credit for being the spark plug of this Seattle offense at the start of the second half. Seahawks did nothing in the first half, and it felt like San Francisco had out-matched them on both sides of the ball. Lynch really did not make his presence felt until busting out for a big 40 yard run for a touchdown. Mr. Skittles finished 109 yards on 22 carries giving him exactly a five yard average.  One thing is becoming clear in this rivalry whether they are playing in Seattle or San Francisco, Lynch finds a way to rush for a big number against the usually strong Niners rush defense, and that's a problem they need to solve in the coming years.  

Even though he played in a Super Bowl last year, can we all agree the big moment suffocated Kaepernick? He played great in the first half tearing up Seattle for 100 yards on the ground, he made a Favre-like pass for the touchdown to Anquan Boldin yet his fourth quarter was a complete disaster. It started with a strip sack as he rolled out near his own end zone holding the ball loosely only to have Seahawks linebacker Cliff Avril swat the ball out of Kaepernick's hands leading to Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett making the recovery. Thankfully for the third-year quarterback, no harm happened from that turnover as Seattle could not get points on the following drive. But it kept getting worse for Kaepernick as he underthrew a ball on the sidelines leading to Kam Chancellor picking it off. Basically it was the same play Micah Hyde did not make two weeks ago. Excuse me while I drink cyanide.  We all know the last interception too. Three turnovers in 15 minutes is complete hell for any quarterback. People completely forget how well you played for the first 45. 

Seattle heads to the Super Bowl which is something people believed they would do in late November. Everyone about Seattle makes them the enemy to popular culture. They are brash, mouthy and everything Denver is not. It sets up beautiful for two weeks of great trash-talking fun. It should be tremendous. Related, I cannot wait until Seattle and San Francisco meet again. 

Charlie. 

Tapping The Keg Podcast Episode 71

Mitch Pratt and Charlie Tritschler taped yet another podcast where this week we talk about the density of people using social media, preview both Championship games starting with New England-Denver and then San Francisco-Seattle. We move on to discuss Joel Embiid who is the new 'pop star' of college basketball as Charlie likes to call him. It continues on to a Milwaukee Bucks hypothetical and then a conversation about Larry Sanders which includes why Milwaukeeans need to get behind him. We finish up the podcast talking about the Clayton Kershaw deal which somehow leads us to some quick words on Australian weather. Enjoy!

Charlie.

Divisional Round Recap: San Francisco Talks the Talk.

There are people who love to watch games where both teams are chirping throughout the entire game. Other people get all crotchety about it. There is no real in-between with people. I am part of the former meaning I loved watching San Francisco-Carolina where each team was jawing throughout the game, but Niners got the final word winning this game in dominating fashion, 23-10 with the Panthers failing at the goal line, Anquan Boldin's big day and San Francisco's run defense returns to form.

Carolina could have won this football game or at least put themselves in better position to win this game. They found themselves on the goal line twice in the first half, and Panthers only came away with three points. In a game where scoring is valued like a Honus Wagner baseball card, not getting a touchdown is crushing to a team's chances. Much of the blame can fall on offensive coordinator Mike Shula. I felt like he became tight around the goal line with the play calling. It seemed like Carolina had no creation as everything was between the tackles rather than trying to spread out San Francisco's defense. It made no sense. I still defend going for it on fourth and goal as they got the ball back and scored a subsequent touchdown, but the creativity was like a gargoyle coached the offense. I do not know if Carolina wins the game with two touchdowns in those situations, but it at least would give them a chance in the second half. 

You could make an argument San Francisco getting Anquan Boldin for a sixth-round pick is the best trade in the last five years. Baltimore thought he was washed up after winning the Super Bowl, and dropped him to San Francisco. He is a big game player without question. Boldin lives for the playoffs, and added another feather in his hat with a big 136 yard performance with eight catches and a touchdown averaging 17 yards a catch. This is another notch in the belt for Boldin's impressive season with his first 1,000-plus season since 2009 as well as having seven touchdowns which was the combined total of 2011 and 2012 season. To think, San Francisco basically picked this guy up for a bag of football is stunning. Boldin has been great this season, and will be in for a tough game against the Seattle defense next week.

After Eddie Lacy's big performance last week, people started to question if San Francisco's run defense might not be what it was throughout the year. They stepped up in a major way. Cam Newton was the leading rusher with only 10 carries and 54 yards. That worked two-fold as Newton did not really slide leaving his exposed to the hard-hitting Niners defense which I think affected him in the second half, and they also shut him down from being a game-changer with his legs. DeAngelo Williams and Mike Tolbert were quiet as well getting a big day from the likes of Justin Smith and Navarro Bowman. With the trend in the playoffs being running the football, it is important San Francisco's rush defense looks like the best out of the bunch.

Even with how good Colin Kaepernick has been in the last two years, he struggles at Seattle more so than any other stadium. It seems like this is the place that makes him the most normal versus any other place in the NFL. We will talk more about this as the week moves on, but Kaepernick needs to step up in the moment before the narrative gets bigger. It is just one of many storylines with these two rivals in arguably the best NFL rivalry fight for the right to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

Charlie. 

Divisional Round Playoff Picks

Everyone knows the dream matchup for the following Sunday... It would be Seattle-San Francisco and Denver-New England. This would make any casual fan of the NFL go from six to midnight. I could not even begin to fathom the ratings for each of these games so then here lies the questions, 'Who is the team that royally screws this thing up?'  That is the question I have been wondering all week. I cannot just put my
finger on who it will be honestly.

Saturday
New Orleans at Seattle 3:30 pm FOX - Here is the first case where I think our dream matchup could get ruined and no one thinks this is possible. People will point to the unreal secondary of Seattle and for good reason, they are one of the best ever. New Orleans predicates an offense off passing, passing and a random Mark Ingram appearance like a wild Snorlax appearing out of nowhere. It seems like the Saints are pissed off people believe they cannot win on the road.  They already won in Philly, but no one thinks New Orleans can do it again. Head coach Sean Payton is certainly going down with a fight blowing out speakers to emulate the sound and having a Seahawks logo in their practice facility.  New Orleans needs to limit mistakes if they want to win this game. It bite them hard in the game against Seattle the first time around, and if they stay composed New Orleans can win this game.

Seattle on the other hand comes in fresh. Bye weeks have not been the best thing for teams in the last couple of years, but with how physical the Seahawks play, a week off could be useful. Even though Percy Harvin will be back this week, people are forgetting how bad Russell Wilson has been as the season closed out. Harvin might help him, but since the New Orleans game, Wilson has been less than stellar. Also remember Seattle's offensive line is one of the worst in the NFL in terms of pass-blocking and this Saints team can get to Wilson. I am taking the Saints. Maybe I am looking too much into this one, but Seattle seems ripe for the upset. NO 23-21

Indianapolis at New England (-7.5) 7:15 pm CBS - This is a game where I could see things either being a complete blowout by New England or getting really weird. The reason for the blowout is Indianapolis' defense is goddamn awful. They do not have much going for them besides Robert Mathis. It is like a band with a good lead singer and just a bunch of mediocre guitarists and drums. Even with the bad weather, Tom Brady and their three-headed rushing attack could have a big day.

 It could get weird because Indianapolis since Andrew Luck has been their quarterback only seems to win in the most bizarre fashion. It is never a clear cut victory; something crazy always has to happen. This would be a defining win for Luck's career if he is able to take down Brady in the playoffs.  He will need to be perfect. New England's defense might not be great, but their offense cannot get extra opportunities. When I look at this game, I think we are getting an Indianapolis team that will be 'just happy to be there' and not really believing they can win this game. Patriots in a big way. NE 38-20

Sunday
San Francisco (-3) at Carolina 12:00 pm FOX - You want to see some hitting?  This is your game. Colin Kaepernick struggled their last meeting with only throwing for 99 yards and a couple turnovers. He will have to deal with a jacked up Carolina crowd, but he at least gets Michael Crabtree this time around which should be fun against these Carolina. Kaepernick always seems to have a little extra for the playoffs, and I think he rectifies the poor start from earlier in this season. One thing that would worry me if I were San Fran would be Frank Gore. He could be wearing down, and while Carolina's stout rush defense is tough to get through, Niners still need some Gore yards.

As for the Panthers, they are a team with many people experiencing the playoffs for the first time. It is extremely vital Carolina comes out in the first quarter, and just plays Panthers football. If they come out tight, let San Francisco get the early advantage, it might be curtains for this team. Cam Newton will have the largest microscope on him, and he needs not to force anything. One thing that will help is the fired up fanbase of Carolina. These folks have not seen a playoff game in quite some time, and they will be ready to help out the team as much as they can.  I like San Francisco in this one. It seems like the Niners are the hottest team in the league, and I will ride them to another round. SF 16-14

San Diego at Denver (-10) 3:30 pm CBS - Ever think sometimes the criticism is so severe on the guy that he will say 'F--- it, let's give them something else to talk about.'? That's how I feel about Peyton Manning. I cannot remember a time where he received so much shit for not winning the postseason. I mean it is well-documented, but at the same time, this seems a bit excessive. I have a feeling this will be an iconic Manning performance. Even though San Diego seemed to improved defensively in the last couple weeks, I still think this is a below average secondary that Manning can exploit. The reason Denver loses this game will not be Manning rather the defense therefore I expect a close game, but seriously, Manning is going to put everyone on notice. DEN 34-30

Charlie.

Tapping The Keg Podcast Episode 70

Tapping The Keg podcast returns from a two-week holiday break. We had a fun show as Mitch and I (Charlie) missed each other. We recap New Year's Eve a bit as we spent it together and why it might be a sign we are getting old. Sports get started as we talk about the Green Bay Packers in terms of the San Francisco game as well as talk about the future of this team. We preview all of the divisional round games and why no one is trustworthy. We head back to Wisconsin sports chatting about what's left for Wisconsin sports fans since Green Bay is done.  The podcast finishes talking about Jameis Winston, Loul Deng and all sorts of other conversations.

Charlie.

Wild Card Recap: Packers Grasp at Destiny Falls Short

Green Bay Packers' theme song going into the Wild Card weekend should have been 'Cinderella Man' by Eminem solely for the first couple lines in the song when Em says 'Technically, I am not really supposed to be right here so fuck it, let's make the most of it." Green Bay had no business being in the playoffs. Absolutely none. They did not have their franchise quarterback for half the year, their defense looked like Swiss cheese more than times than not and they had more injuries than a M.A.S.H. unit yet they still ended up winning the division finding themselves in a home playoff game against San Francisco. Packers came very close to pulling off the upset yet it was not meant to be with old problems haunting the team along with an old nemesis dominating Green Bay again.

Sometimes in the final loss of the season, the demons of the team reared their ugly head once again. This happened with Green Bay's offense as they failed to get off to a fast start, and they struggled to score on the goal line. Packers started off the game with only six yards of offense. It seems like it might be the script is too conservative to start the game more times than not. Three straight runs to begin the game is not really what is expected when Aaron Rodgers is behind center. Mike McCarthy is really hard coach to criticize because the times you want him to be like Ted Cruz, he acts like a hippie and the times you want him to be free as a bird, he goes all Rick Santorum.  But Green Bay getting off to a slow start did not help things, and the team was very fortunate San Francisco only had six points on the board thanks to the true meaning of a bend not break defense. 

Goal line demon did not rear its ugly head until the fourth quarter, probably the worst time for it to happen. For the year, Green Bay is only 50 percent at red zone efficiency which is way down from years past. Granted some of that can be blamed on not having Rodgers, yet this was a major problem when this team had a 6-2 record.  Packers found themselves on on the 10 yard line going in with what could have been their second straight touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.  Green Bay moved the ball down there with a steady dose of short passing and Eddie Lacy bullying the usually tough San Francisco rush defense.  When they went to goal line, it seems what got Green Bay down there went out the window. First down was a short-side zone read run to Randall Cobb and a five-wide set that went nowhere. Second down, the coverage forced Rodgers to throw it away and on third down, Rodgers could only gain two yards on the ground causing Green Bay to tie the game versus putting them ahead. The play calling was mind-boggling in the situation with Lacy bruising and beating up this San Francisco defense for him not to touch the ball once is maddening. Goal line play calling needs to be better next season, no question about it. 

While many people will rush to point the finger at defensive coordinator Dom Capers, he really did call a good game for what he had out there. Losing Sam Shields and Mike Neal right away felt like a death sentence for this defense yet they remained tall out there. They lost another linebacker in Andy Mulumba and Capers made a quick switch to running a 4-3 defense for a couple plays which virtually unheard from the Packers coach. I have no idea if this will be his last game as Packers defensive coordinator despite what the armchair general managers want, but if it is, this is a hell of a way to go out. He did the most with limited amount of pieces out there. The only real compliant from this defense is the inability, for the third straight time, to stop The Angry Ostrich.  

Colin Kaepernick kept his ownership over Green Bay and will continue to give this defense nightmares well into the 2014 year. Once again, Kaepernick did it with his arm and legs being very efficient with his passes, and he also found a way to make it work on the ground nearly running for 100 yards, his second-highest for his career. For the second straight year, there was no contain on Kaepernick letting him run wild and he only made one bad decision all game, an interception to Tramon Williams in the early stages of the game. If Green Bay wants to head back to the Super Bowl, they need to figure out Kaepernick because it is likely they will need to go through San Francisco in order to get there again. 

That leads me to wonder whether San Francisco is the new Dallas in terms of the one team Green Bay just cannot beat in any scenario. For as good as Brett Favre was for his career, he only beat Dallas once and it was a cold game in Lambeau Field post Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer. Aaron Rodgers record against Jim Harbaugh's San Francisco is now 0-4. They will not meet again in the regular season next year, but a postseason affair could definitely happen again whether it be again at Lambeau or a meeting at new Levi Stadium set to open next season. Either way, Green Bay needs to start beating the 49ers before Kaepernick is the new age Troy Aikman for fans. 

2013 season is now in the books. It will be one where people wonder 'what if' ranging from all the injuries to what things might have been like had Rodgers stayed healthy all year. But at the end of the day, this is still a Super Bowl contender for 2014 and they will make moves to better themselves for the upcoming year. 

Charlie. 

Sportandfashion-news NFL Wild Card Picks: Blackouts, Weather and Scoring... Oh My!

It is time to make my NFL picks for the weekend. This was my first season where I tried to bet with Las Vegas. I do not have any experience and think I did slightly below average going 14 games under .500 with a couple pushes thrown in there. I realize how bad it would be actually sports gamble, but I feel like if my money is right, why not? At least try it out and see what happens. As for straight up, it was a successful season once again winning over 160 games. Let's hope the straight up trend continues for the playoffs.

SATURDAY 
Kansas City at Indianapolis 3:35 pm NBC - Is it weird I think this could be the best non-Packer game of the weekend?  I am introducing a new Sportandfashion-news theory for this game called the 'Arizona Theory.'  It is based off Arizona Cardinals 2009 team that got crushed by Green Bay Packers in the final game of the season only to beat the same team in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Kansas City suffered an embarrassing home defeat to Indianapolis 23-7 earlier this month, but remember, Chiefs had locked up the fifth seed and they knew there was a chance they could be seeing Indianapolis in this round of the playoffs. This means they could be showing all sorts of shit Indianapolis did not see the first time around.

Andy Reid has not been to the playoffs since 2010, and he did not win a playoff game since 2008. Same goes for Kansas City with their team not having a playoff win since 1994. But this game will come down to which star shines the brightest... Jamaal Charles or Andrew Luck. Indianapolis boasts one of the worst rushing defenses in the NFL meaning Charles could have a huge game on the fast track at Lucas Oil. Last three games are not really indicative of what the Colts have done against ground. Tennessee's second game they rushed for 162 as a team, Cincinnati rushed for 155 yards and Arizona rushed for 120. Charles might be the difference maker.

But that's not to say Luck could not have the same day with the Colts. Kansas City's secondary have become their biggest problem of their comeback season. While the Chiefs have not faced a ton of great quarterbacks this season, but when they have, results are not the greatest. Luck seemed to move the ball better in the last couple of games without forcing the ball as he only has one interception in the last four games

Indianapolis seems to beat giants this season. They always seem to play up to their opponent. Alex Smith on the road and winning seems to mix like oil and water. Indy in a close one. Indianapolis 34 Kansas City 29 

New Orleans at Philadelphia 7:10 pm NBC - These are two of my favorite teams to watch this season so this game should be a delight to watch. I really would be surprised if we see a blowout even though the odds might be against New Orleans. I really think this is a game where I would be nervous as an Eagles fan.

Many people have already pushed the narrative about Saints not being a good road team as well as how much dome teams suffer in cold weather playoff teams. It almost reminds me a bit of Atlanta in 2002 with Green Bay. A little different elements, but no one gave Atlanta a chance, no one. I feel like some of that is happening with New Orleans. Drew Brees will be able to move the ball against this defense, but they will need to run the ball to create some balance. Saints have a big problem not involving their run game more, and that needs to happen on Saturday night.

Philadelphia is the bandwagon team of the playoffs. They are a fun offense with likable players such as Nick Foles, DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy. People go head over heels to tell you how great Chip Kelly has been this season. This might have to be a Shady game for Philadelphia because New Orleans ranks second in pass defense. They really have not allowed many gaudy numbers against the pass. They do not force many turnovers, but it seems like New Orleans does not give up the big play as much as other teams taking away one of Philadelphia's big parts of their offense.

This is a game that applies to the logic 'Until you can do it, I don't believe you can do it.' I cannot take New Orleans on the road in a big game until they prove they can win one of these games. I BELIEVE YOU NARRATIVES. Philadelphia 27 New Orleans 21

SUNDAY
San Diego at Cincinnati 12:05 pm CBS - There are two people I have came around to liking in 2013, Jason Dufner and Phillip Rivers.  There are more people out there whom I have come to like, but in sports, Duf and Rivers are guys I choose to like versus disliking. Rivers being a crybaby is somewhat annoying, but the guy is just so quirky, it works perfectly for me. He is an oddball unlike some of the other robotic-like quarterbacks I have to respect it.

Rivers will be up against it on Sunday with Cincinnati having one of the best pass defenses in the NFL. They also force turnovers which is a problem for Rivers at times. San Diego quarterback will need to be in control if they want to win the game, and see if their rushing attack can at least give them something because they will need to keep their defense off the field as much as possible.

Andy Dalton is sixth in the NFL at passing the football. That is incredible because I do not consider him that good in any sort of scenario.  But one thing the Red Rocket does well is take advantage of bad pass defenses this year except for San Diego. Dalton really struggled on the road this season facing the Chargers in a game I think many people forgot about. Just a mirage or something to keep an eye on? Like Rivers, Dalton needs to limit his turnovers as much as possible.

This is the third straight playoff appearence for Cincinnati, their fourth in five years. They still have not won a playoff game since 1990. I think that changes with a spirited performances at one of the toughest places to play this season. CIN 24-21

San Francisco at Green Bay 3:35 pm FOX - I made a pick as well as a full breakdown of this game earlier today. Check it out. 

Charlie.

Sportandfashion-news Packers Preview: San Francisco vs. Green Bay

There is a chance the season could end like it began with Green Bay losing to San Francisco. This is the fourth time in the last two years Green Bay and San Francisco have played each other with the Niners taking all three games. It is not officially a rivalry renewed (Remember how many times they played in the 1990's) until Green Bay can win a football game against this generation's San Francisco team.

It is really hard to point to anything from the first game and say 'Well that's going to be the difference in this one.' When they played in September, I sweated out a horrible hangover after a fun guys weekend in Green Bay, and it was about 75 degrees in Wisconsin with the same sort of weather in San Francisco. Now, it has a chance to be the coldest game in the NFL history. Weather is not the only difference. People are back from injury, people are injured that were not in September. It is a completely different game. 

Colin Kaepernick is a player whom currently has ownership over Green Bay. The numbers are silly in the last two games when he faced Green Bay plus he is coming on strong as of late with the addition of Michael Crabtree. Kaepernick never really dealt with this kind of weather yet in his career, and when he does play in colder weather games, it is inconsistent at best.  Green Bay will need to be better in terms of contain as this has been a problem that burned them in the past with Kaepernick as well as running backs like Frank Gore from bouncing it to the outside. If Green Bay can bottle up Kaepenrick and Gore, it will probably result in a good day for them. 

It is probably assumed Gore will eat on Sunday against a weak Packers defense. Seeing what Matt Forte did means Gore could have a massive day on Sunday. Now he is bothered by a knee injury and one thing I found interesting just looking his logs this year is he strings together three or four big games then he struggles for a couple. This would also be called inconsistency friends as well as grasping for straws with a shitty defense. Gore only had 14 yards albeit against a tough as nails Arizona's defense. I cannot help, but think this is just a wonky statistic thing meaning Gore will likely have over 80 yards of rushing. More importantly is not what Green Bay does against Gore, but the others who will run the football comparable to when you let a basketball star beat you and not his or her teammates. 

As for the other quarterback, it will be the second game back for Aaron Rodgers. He did not play well in his first game back. If we were to do a Packers Classroom, it was a C performance for Aaron. But this could be a game where he comes up with a big performance. I realize it will be colder than a beautiful girl when I try to talk to her, but hear me out with this out. Matt Ryan had 348 yards against San Francisco's pass defense two weeks ago completing 37 passes with only eleven incompletions. Carson Palmer had 407 yards last week and nobody is panicking about how San Francisco will stop Rodgers?  Even with the cold, no one should be shocked if Rodgers comes up with a big day on Sunday. 

While it seems like passing through heavy winds might not be the best idea, it could be the only one. Green Bay is running the ball well, but San Francisco's rush defense will lock most teams down. They need to have some creativity with their running game. The short side toss did not work against Chicago and it will certainly most not work against a fast San Francisco defense. Now do I believe the sweep will work because San Francisco's defense is very aggressive meaning they can get caught up in something like a sweep play yet it needs to be with the field. Please I cannot take many more short-side tosses in my life because I am pretty sure I will jump directly out of my window. 

Before I make my pick, let me address a couple things... I hate to sound like a Packers elitist, but here we go. Everyone needs to stop bitching about Troy Aikman and Joe Buck. They do not hate your team, I promise. Look I love Cris Collinsworth, but does he sometimes say things I disagree with? Absolutely. Announcers are not always accurate just like we in life are not always accurate at our jobs. Seeing this petition against Aikman is embarrassing to Packers fans. It is up there with 'Best Fans in Baseball' type bullshit we see from St. Louis.  Also embarrassing was Packer fans getting on Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for taking San Francisco over Green Bay... HOW DARE THE PACKER BEAT WRITER PICK AGAINST THE TEAM... U ARE NOT DOING YOUR JOB, TELL ME NICE THINGS, NOT BAD THINGS.  

Well I am going to disagree with Dunne. It is probably because I am a homer but I also truly believe Green Bay can win this game. They will need to force a couple turnovers as well as play close to mistake-free football as possible. Rodgers always shows up for San Francisco, and that will happen on Sunday plus Eddie Lacy has one of the best days on the ground against San Fran's defense. Green Bay's defense holds Kaepernick in check while Gore has a big day. This is another nail-biter but Packers pull it out. 

Green Bay 28 San Francisco 23 

Charlie. 

Sportandfashion-news NFL Picks Week 17: To the End of the Road

My picks page comes to an end and it has been a hard one. I have to figure out a way to get these out

quicker and also do them ahead of time. One of my NYE resolutions is to get Sportandfashion-news up quicker and a more furious pace. Hope you enjoyed these this season, always fun writing them even though it takes forever.  

Carolina (11-4) (-7) at Atlanta (4-11) 12:00 pm FOX - What a difference a year makes for both teams. I doubt the Panthers will choke in this one against a Falcons team who put up more fight than I expected on Monday night. Cam Newton has another good performance, and Carolina's defense holds strong against Matt Ryan. CAR 30-13

Baltimore (8-7) at Cincinnati (10-5) (-6.5) 12:00 pm CBS - For whatever reason, Cincinnati likes to puke on their shoes around this time. We are heading toward the time-honored tradition of seeing the Bengals play at 3:30 on Wild Card Saturday. Baltimore made the playoffs in the last five years, and need to win on the road for only the third time of the year with a banged up Joe Flacco. I cannot see that happening. Baltimore looked horrible last week, and I think Flacco might be more hurt than the Ravens are leading on and Cincinnati gets a clutch win... Finally. CIN 28-24

Houston (2-13) at Tennessee (6-9) (-7) 12:00 pm CBS - There are a couple 'Last Resort' games this week and this is one of them. I think it would take me about 250 dollars to watch this game. People expected Mike Munchak to get the pink slip. Houston's coach is already gone and the Texans will likely tank this one to preserve that number one spot. TENN 28-9

Jacksonville (4-11) at Indianapolis (10-5) (-11) 12:00 pm CBS - Colts can still become a three seed if they win and Cincinnati loses on Sunday meaning they would avoid Kansas City, a team I do not think they want to see even though they beat them two weeks ago (I will explain this if the two meet next Friday). Jacksonville had a 'Good job, good effort' season, and while I think the future is bright, they will struggle against a better looking Indianapolis team. IND 27-14

New York Jets (7-8) at Miami (8-7) (-6) 12:00 pm CBS - In the last 11 years, Miami only has one playoff appearance. For a storied franchise, this is a fairly significant game as they have struggled throughout this decade. I do not think it is a big day for Ryan Tannehill because he has years to write his story, but I do think some media types might give him some shit if Miami were lose against New York. I do not see it happening. Jets might want to fight for Rex, but Geno Smith is not a good road quarterback whatsoever. He only has five touchdowns on the road and has been sacked 27 times with 13 interceptions. Miami will win their way to a playoff spot. MIA 23-14.

Detroit (7-8) at Minnesota (4-10-1) (-3) 12:00 pm FOX - Both coaches might be out of a job and I will probably watch a little bit of this game to just get to see Jim Schwartz's sourpuss face one more time this season. I find it hard to believe Detroit will lose out to end the year. I realize Minnesota is playing better, but I have to think the Lions will try to fight for Schwartz even if he is cleaning out his office come Monday. Nonetheless I expect a ton of high scoring in this one. DET 34-30

Washington (3-12) at New York Giants (6-9) (-3.5) 12:00 pm FOX - This is a 'Last Resort' game for me. I want none of this one. The only reason to watch is to see if Eli Manning can get to 30 interceptions which would take four picks from Washington's defense. I wonder whether Washington wants to win so St. Louis does not get the second pick overall, but I have no idea if they really give a shit. Giants win this football game because Washington is so goddamn bad. NYG 35-17

Cleveland (4-11) at Pittsburgh (7-8) (-7) 12:00 pm CBS - I am happy for my friend and sometimes Sportandfashion-news writer Nolan winning 40 bucks as he bet the Browns would lose out the season a couple weeks ago. Ben Roethlisberger has personal ownership over Cleveland plus they need this win badly. Bet the house on Pittsburgh. PITT 30-6

Green Bay (7-7-1) (-2.5) at Chicago (8-7) 3:25 pm FOX - See my preview for this game and my nervous level is already at a three. It's only Friday.  

Denver (12-3) (-12) at Oakland (4-11) 3:25 pm CBS - Sleep your hangover off if this is your game from CBS. This will be a boat race. DEN 38-20

Buffalo (6-9) at New England (11-4) (-9) 3:25 pm CBS - Even with all their injuries, I think New England is the favorite in the AFC to begin the playoffs. I will probably not be convinced otherwise unless they find a way to lose to Buffalo. I do not think it happens though. They should be able to handle Buffalo. NE 28-21

Tampa Bay (4-11) at New Orleans (10-5) (-13) 3:25 pm FOX - I find it hard to believe New Orleans has a chance to either miss the playoffs or get a bye is incredible. They do not lose at home except against Tampa Bay. The Bucs have a couple wins in the Superdome in the last week of the season which is weird but also meaningless for Sunday's game. Drew Brees does not seem like a quarterback whom would let his team lose, but for some reason, I think it will be closer than expected. NO 24-21

San Francisco (11-4) (-1) at Arizona (10-5) 3:25 pm FOX - As I said on Tuesday, I feel terrible for Arizona that they might miss the playoffs with an 11-5 record while Green Bay or Chicago sneaks in with either nine or eight wins. I do honestly think these are two of the best teams right now especially Arizona's defense. I will be interested to see how the emerging Colin Kaepernick handles them on Sunday. Am I making too much of Matt Ryan throwing 350 yards against San Francisco's pass defense?  Do I think Carson Palmer could do the same thing?  Yes I do. But like what happened on Monday, San Francisco's defense makes a big play when needed. SF 28-24

Kansas City (11-4) at San Diego (8-7) (-9.5) 3:25 pm CBS - Kansas City has nothing to play for whatsoever while San Diego has everything to play for. Easy betting here. SD 31-14

St. Louis (7-8) at Seattle (12-3) (-11) - Alright I will get this out of the way, I think Seattle wins this football game rather easily, but I want to point out last three games for Russell Wilson which have not been good at all. In those three games, his passing yards are as followed 199, 208 and 108. The quarterback rating in those games... 81.9, 86.3 and 40.7. Further going from about completing 10 yards per pass to four against Arizona is not great either. Once again, Seattle wins going away but I'm a bit worried about Russell Wilson. SEA 30-10

Philadelphia (9-6) (-7) at Dallas (8-7) 7:30 pm NBC - Would it be the most Tony Romo thing for Dallas to win this football game and be in the playoffs preserving Jason Garrett's job with Kyle Orton at quarterback?  The answer is yes, and the ridiculousness that would come with it, I could not handle it. But Philadelphia is a great team and one of the hottest in football. Their defense does enough to keep this from being a shootout and their offense has a major day against a weak Dallas defense. PHI 41-28

Straight Up: 144-79-1

ATS: 100-115-4

Charlie.

Sportandfashion-news NFL Picks Week 16: Check Scoreboard Sunday

Honestly, it is never a bad idea to be at Lambeau for a Packer game, but this week will be tough with all the different playoff scenarios possible plus myself in the fantasy championship in one of my five leagues (20 percent, live the dream!) I am really expecting to be the usual NFL earthquake where people are picking up the pieces by Tuesday.

Miami (8-6) at Buffalo (5-9) 12:00 pm CBS - This is one of the most important games on the late for young Charles. If Miami wins this football game, they knock Pittsburgh out of the playoffs. Many would worry about the Dolphins heading north to Buffalo yet Miami handled the snow just fine in two weeks ago therefore I am not as worried. Thad Lewis will be starting for Buffalo as E.J. Manuel is out with yet another knee injury. Buffalo's offense seems to only be cooking when they face bad defenses, and sadly for them, Miami is not one of them. Dolphins take control of this one in the second half and win this game. MIA 27-16

Minnesota (4-9-1) at Cincinnati (9-5) 12:00 pm FOX - How about the Vikings? They are on complete fire led by Matt Cassel and a true island of misfits with Adrian Peterson out with injury. They face their toughest task of their current unbeaten streak facing Cincinnati, a team who has not lost at home. Bengals are trying to recover from a beatdown by Pittsburgh last Sunday night. Cassel should be able to move the ball against a banged up Cincinnati secondary meaning he will be successful once again. But I feel like this is a career-defining game for Andy Dalton. They need this win for the division, possibly a one-seed, just have to win this one. I like Cincy in a close one CIN 31-27

Indianapolis (9-5) at Kansas City (11-3) 12:00 pm CBS - I feel like this game would have been more fun had it been played a month ago. Both teams have playoff spots now it is just a matter of jostling for position. Indy played well against Houston, but I think every team can say that this season. Kansas City's defense looked less than stellar against Oakland, but people will forget that because of Jamaal Charles' performance. He should have a nice encore against a weak Indianapolis defense. This should be a shootout, and most of the time I would take Andrew Luck in those scenarios yet I still cannot trust this team yet especially on the road. KC 34-30

Tampa Bay (4-10) at St. Louis (6-8) 12:00 pm FOX - Two teams that I think a lot of people and their fanbases expected more from the 2013 NFL season. St. Louis is a bizarre football team because I think if Zac Stacy started all year and Sam Bradford stayed healthy, they might be contending for a playoff position. We also talked about Mike Glennon's impact on this team a couple weeks ago and how Tampa would have been much better off.  Although this could be a rough one for Glennon as he faces a top notch defensive line. Rams will win again meaning Jeff Fisher is going to continue his dream of being the .500 coach. STL 20-14

Cleveland (4-10) at New York Jets (6-8) 12:00 pm CBS - This is the 'Last Resort' game of the week. If this was the only game you could watch in the NFL slate, how much money would it take to solely watch this and nothing else?  I would say a good 150 dollars for this one. It's going to be brutal. Geno Smith is bound to struggle against an above average Cleveland secondary and Jason Campbell will not be much better going up against the Jets front line. I will take the home team, but I have no real basis on why they should win this football game. NYJ 14-10

Dallas (7-7) at Washington (3-11) 12:00 pm FOX -  Last time these two played at FedEx Field, the game was for the NFC East. This time we have Kirk Cousins versus a much criticized Cowboys team. Cousins should be able to move the ball against a weak Dallas secondary, but I cannot really see anyone from Washington stopping Tony Romo and the Cowboys offense. The only way Dallas loses this football game is if they have quit entirely as a team on head coach Jason Garrett. While I feel like his job is at risk I do not think Dallas lays down. DAL 35-27

New Orleans (10-4) at Carolina (10-4) 12:00 pm FOX - People are close to hitting the panic button for thebSaints if they were to fall to Carolina. I cannot believe there is chance New Orleans could miss the playoffs if they were to lose their last two games. They head into hostile Carolina where they had some struggles in the past decade. Carolina bounced back last week after getting their asses handed to them by this very Saints team. Carolina knows the door is open for them to get a bye and a home playoff game for the first time since 2008 when they were 12-4. I do not think Cam Newton nor the Carolina defense shits the bed here. Panthers win with a big fourth quarter.  CAR 27-17  

Tennessee (5-9) at Jacksonville (4-10) 12:00 pm CBS - Before Jacksonville went on a run, Tennessee was their whipping boy. Knowing that I think Tennessee might have had their last gasp after they come back against Arizona only to lose in overtime. Jacksonville's defense is a little shaky, but I think they will be able to get a victory here. JAX 27-21  

Denver (11-3) at Houston (2-12) 12:00 pm CBS - There are not many games where I would call them 'Sleep off your hangover' like I do in college football, but this is one of them. Denver puts up some big points early on and Peyton Manning will be resting during the fourth quarter. DEN 45-14

New York Giants (5-9) at Detroit (7-7) 3:05 pm FOX - Hmmmm.... This one is interesting. Lions seem like they could be a team that mails it in, and just ends it for Jim Schwartz. But then again, New York has been complete shit for the last two games against San Diego and Seattle. I have to think Detroit responds to all the criticism and wins this football game. Additionally, they still have a chance at the NFC North if they win this game obviously they need some help though. New York's defense is so bad meaning Matthew Stafford could have an error-free game. Ah who am I kidding, I know he will throw at least one or two picks. Lions will still win this one, but it will be close. DET 20-17  

Arizona (9-5) at Seattle (12-2) 3:05 pm FOX - I really have enjoyed Arizona's bounce back year. No matter what happens, it has been fun to watch this team play football. Although this might be the end of it for the Cardinals unless some teams ahead of them fall as well. I cannot see them going into Seattle and winning this football game even if Seattle has pretty much locked up homefield advantage . I would not take the Seahawks to cover, but I would not pick against them in this one. They still need this victory, and if they get it then Week 17 is a wash. SEA 21-16

Pittsburgh (6-8) at Green Bay (7-6-1) 3:25 pm CBS - Preview will be coming along a little later today. I wanted to wait on the Rodgers news before I published anything.

Oakland (4-10) at San Diego (7-7) 3:25 pm CBS - With how weird San Diego has been all year, this would be a game they would lose and everyone would wonder 'Huh?' But there are some things going against Chargers being quirky in this one... First, Oakland's defense regressed like a person in rehab on a five-day bender. Second, San Diego had some time off with playing on Thursday plus Phillip Rivers is a God in December. Chargers roll in this one. SD 30-14  

New England (10-4) at Baltimore (8-6) 3:25 pm CBS - This has been a great rivalry in the last couple of years. I have no idea if people are talking about this as a rivalry, but it is. Terrell Suggs hates Tom Brady. Like I think they were in the same room, one person would have to leave unless they want a ton of tension. Baltimore is doing some quirky shit again, and it seems like we are headed to Ravens sneaking into the playoffs being as lethal, but can they score?  Justin Tucker is great, but six field goals will probably not cut it. I think we are going to see a vintage Tom Brady performance, and he will carry this club in a major victory for the Pats. NE 24-23

Chicago (8-6) at Philadelphia (8-6) 7:30 pm NBC - Am I the only one who does not get the whole notion of Philadelphia resting their players if Dallas beats Washington? I mean I get they are playing with house money, but why would they want to lose two straight heading into Dallas which is a road game. Obviously, they could play a vanilla offense not showing the Cowboys much, but at the same time, they play to win the game. Chicago needs this one badly and could possibly clinch the NFC North if things break the right way. This will come down to whose defense makes a stop?  Both teams are destined to allow some points, but in the end, I am going with Philly. I think LeSean McCoy will be a huge problem for this Bears defense even if Lance Briggs comes back. PHI 45-42

Atlanta (4-10) at San Francisco (10-4) 7:30 pm ESPN - This is another sleep off your hangover game. Last game at Candlestick for San Francisco and Atlanta has nothing to play for but a higher draft position. San Francisco rolls in this one. SF 37-13

Charlie.