NFL Office Pool Picks - Week 17

Presented by Dale Sims

The Crystal Ball

Another week mired in mediocrity as we have another week where ten dogs win outright so 8 – 8 is not terrible but no help.  This brings the season record to 144 – 112; nowhere close to my target; even getting to sixty percent will be a challenge.  Against the spread I went a rather more miserable 6-10 bringing my totals for the year there to 120 – 114; here anything over even is a victory of sorts and I do have a chance at getting to fifty-five percent.

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.  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 17

N.Y. Giants at Washington – The Giants have been bad of late but still can probably back into the playoffs with a win here.  Washington would like to ruin somebody else’s season besides their own but they do not match up well here; Giants win 21 – 17.

Carolina at New Orleans – New Orleans is not playing for anything at this point, their playoff position is secure; the same is not true for Carolina who has vague playoff chances.  The question is how long will the New Orleans starters play, does not matter, Saints win 20 – 14.

Cleveland at Houston – Houston is coming off a unique win against the Colts last week while Cleveland was pasted by lowly Tampa Bay.  Hard to believe but Houston is the most talented team at this point in the season, Texans win 20 – 17.

Detroit at Dallas - Dallas did not play with any intensity last weekend and find themselves hosting Detroit who gave away a win against Chicago last weekend.  Dallas could stand to go into the playoffs on an up note and they will, Cowboys win 24 – 10.

Jacksonville at Kansas City – Jacksonville has not traveled well this year and Kansas City plays well at Arrowhead, both teams have theoretical but slim playoff chances at this point.  Both teams can be inconsistent; Arrowhead will be the difference, Chiefs win 24 – 21.

New England at Tennessee – New England seems to be flying a bit below the radar at this point in the season; this game does not count for much going into the post season though.  Tennessee still has slight playoff chances but Patriots win 24 – 17.

Oakland at N.Y. Jets – The Jets can get to the playoffs by simply winning this game remarkable considering their talent level at the beginning of the year.  Oakland has a decent defense but little to field in the way of an offense; Jets win 24 – 10.

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati – Cincinnati still has playoff chances if they win but Pittsburgh would be happy to be the team to keep them at home and it would be a minor victory in a disappointing season.  Cincinnati still has too many weapons, Bengals win 28 – 21.

Seattle at Tampa Bay – Seattle has nothing to play for this weekend though they would likely want to go into the playoffs with a win.  Tampa Bay is playing for next season but there are a number of unanswered questions there yet, Seahawks win 21 – 20.

St. Louis at Minnesota – St Louis has very good offensive weapons but lack of defense and continuity has hurt them throughout the season.  Minnesota has few offensive weapons but a decent defense has kept them in most games, Rams win 24 – 21.

Arizona at San Diego – San Diego can win home field advantage throughout the playoffs and should be able to handle that this week.  The Arizona passing game would have be of some concern but their line issues and Warner’s immobility give the Chargers the win 24 – 10.

Atlanta at Philadelphia – One of the few teams that really is playing well right now would be the Eagles.  They may have a bit of a let down after last weekends big win at Dallas but Atlanta has been so inconsistent it is hard to see them coming back for this one; Eagles win 24 – 17.

Buffalo at Baltimore – Buffalo has overachieved this season but does not have the talent to stay in this race.  Baltimore needs to win to secure a first round bye and will be playing this one for real and Buffalo will not be able to keep up, Ravens win 20 – 10.

Miami at Indianapolis – Indianapolis has to play this game out as they have a slight chance of getting a bye if Baltimore should lose somehow.  Their weakness in the running game is less of an issue against Miami, Colts win 24 – 21.

San Francisco at Denver – Denver won a critical game last week and need to win again to assure a spot in the playoffs.  San Francisco is ending this season on a more promising note than the past few years but still needs some more pieces, Broncos win 28 – 21.

Green Bay at Chicago – Green Bay may or may not be playing for something at the time this game is played their prospects, or lack thereof will be known.  Expect Chicago to pull most of their starters sometime in the third quarter, Bears win 24 – 21.

Email Dale at: dale "@" footballforecasters.com