NFL Office Pool Picks - Week 16

Presented by Dale Sims

The Crystal Ball

Just to give me a false sense of security I tallied my best week here this season going 14 – 2.  This brings the season record to 133 – 101; too little too late, but I will take it.  Some of this spilled over into my picks against the spread where I am happy to have gone 12 – 4 this past week which brings my totals for the year there to 114 – 104.  Please do not believe that this means that I have anything figured out about this season; I assure you that I do not.

These are preliminary picks for the week for a pick’em league I participate in; I will make there based on injury reports and other information that comes out later in the week.  (Sometimes good sometimes bad, last week I went 12 – 4 straight up.) These are made without consultation with anyone else at Football Forecasters and represent my best guess at this moment.  They are for amusement value only, no warranty expressed or implied.

Week 16

Minnesota at Green Bay - Minnesota has limited options, is looking toward next season, and seems likely to play or perhaps start Tavaris Jackson at quarterback. Green Bay struggles but will keep playing their regular game, Wisconsin weather may be a factor, Packers win 20 – 14.

Kansas City at Oakland - Kansas City has done well this season given the issues with injuries and replacing offensive tackles. The Oakland defense is not bad but their offense is horrible; hard to imagine them winning this game, Chiefs win 21 – 14.

Baltimore at Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh is a dangerous team despite their record; this is a division rival so they will not go quietly.  They have had problems with protection and have been exploited on defense; this should be a close game, Steelers win 21 – 20.

Carolina at Atlanta – Carolina is fading fast, injuries figure into this but there are also fundamental issues in the offense, particularly in their inability to establish a power running game.  Atlanta can be a dangerous offensive team or not but at home the Falcons win 21 – 14.

Chicago at Detroit – Chicago has already won everything they can in the regular season and will likely rest some of their nicked up players this week.  As bad as Detroit can be this could be enough to allow the upset but likely not, Bears win 24 – 17.

Indianapolis at Houston – Indianapolis has a bad run defense but this week they get an opponent with a mediocre running offense.  Still they will have to tackle someone at some point in the game something they have problems with but Colts win 31 – 21.

New England at Jacksonville – Jacksonville looks great one week and dreadful the next, this week at home they could be in the great mode where their defense has been very good.  New England has had consistency issues, Jaguars win 24 – 21.

New Orleans at N.Y. Giants – Would the real playoff contender here please stand up?  Not likely it appears, New Orleans has an innovative offense and are playing New York as they are starting to get healthy on defense, Giants win 24 – 20.

Tampa Bay at Cleveland – Tampa Bay looked like they had an offense last week with Rattay at the helm but this is still a team that is hurting on both sides of the ball though playing well under the circumstances, which you might also say about Cleveland, Browns win 21 – 17.

Tennessee at Buffalo – These are two very dangerous though not very good teams in terms of their respective all around games.  If either team wins out they actually will have a winning record for the season, who would have expected that, Bills win 21 – 14.

Washington at St. Louis – Washington surprised last weekend by winning on the road at New Orleans.  They are helped in that they are as healthy as they have been all season and that Campbell seems to be coming into his own, Redskins win 28 – 24.

Arizona at San Francisco – Arizona has an effective offense and they can put up points but they are largely one-dimensional.  San Francisco is still in the running to win their division, who would have thought that early in the season, 49ers win 27 – 20.

Cincinnati at Denver – The Cutler experiment started to show some payoff last week but this game may be a rather more formidable test.  The Bengals are trying to get into the playoffs and this game will likely make or break one of these teams, Broncos win 28 – 24.

San Diego at Seattle – This is a critical game for both teams, San Diego is playing for home field advantage throughout the playoffs but a loss could cost them a first round bye.  Seattle would like to win their division just to get to the playoffs, San Diego wins 21 – 20.

Philadelphia at Dallas – Both teams are in control of their own playoff destinies and this game is critical in the division.  Philadelphia is the underdog here but their defense, and ability to get to the quarterback make them very dangerous, Eagles 24 – 23.

N.Y. Jets at Miami – Miami went to Buffalo and literally laid an egg last week but while they are still a good defensive team but their offense is inconsistent.  The New York Jets are still overachieving on the season, Jets win 21 – 17.

Email Dale at: dale "@" footballforecasters.com