It's time to make some game picks. It's time to do some postseason accounting. And it's time for Jimmy Football.
Jimmy Clausen makes his starting debut in Chicago in a game that carries much weight in the playoff race. OK, not for the home team. If the Bears receive the "spark" the Browns didn't get last week from Johnny Manziel and pull off an upset of Detroit, then it is possible the Lions could finish 10-6 -- and out of the playoffs. If Chicago loses, the Cowboys and Seahawks are on the hook to win their games, as Detroit would improve its sterling conference record (tiebreakers, people) to 9-2.
So, this begs the question ...
Any way the Clausen Bears upset the Lions?
— Elliot Harrison (@HarrisonNFL) December 18, 2014
@HarrisonNFL http://ift.tt/13zqfmR
— Luisa F. Toledo (@luisaftoledo) December 18, 2014Coolio. So, maybe not. You know, "Grizzly Adams" was one of the best shows of the '70s. Quite underrated, like the Chiefs-Steelers matchup this weekend at Heinz Field.
Alright, enough dilly-dally -- it's pickin' time! Take a look below and share your thoughts: @HarrisonNFL is the place.
Now, let's get to it!
Elliot Harrison went 14-2 on his predictions for Week 15, giving him a record of 152-71-1 so far this season. How will he fare in Week 16? His picks are below. And listen to the latest edition of the "Dave Dameshek Football Program" for additional analysis on this week's picks.
Teddy Bridgewater has probably been kicking himself after watching the tape from last Sunday, when the Vikes blew several opportunities to earn a quality road win in Detroit, and he missed an easy (but key) throw for an NFL quarterback. We detailed that play in the Power Rankings, a space where we also have monitored the ups and downs of the Dolphins. The 'Fins will win Sunday, ensuring the current regime of a non-losing season, but when they still miss the playoffs, fans will be reminded that mediocrity remains omnipresent in Miami. Look for Ryan Tannehill to play well against a Vikings defense that is improved ... but still falters in key moments versus quality passers. #MINvsMIA
Hey everybody, Johnny Manziel is playing! Ignore the Falcons and Saints squaring off with division-title implications on the line, the Ravens and Texans fighting for a playoff spot or the Seahawks and Cardinals getting embroiled in a slugfest in the desert ... This. Is. Football. You never know, he might lead the Browns to a touchdown and a Billy Cundiff ... err Garrett Hartley ... field-goal attempt (just pray it's not from anywhere beyond 48 yards).
OK, enough mockery. I actually feel Manziel will play much better this week. Unfortunately, he'll feel the heat from a Panthers defense that's finally rounding into form in 2014, having allowed just 269 yards per game and 14-of-37 third-down conversions over the last three weeks. #CLEvsCAR
The temptation here is to call this a high-scoring deal because the two clubs have performed miserably on defense for the balance of this season. As you can see by the score above, I resisted that urge. Sort of. It won't be 46-44. Frankly, I trust Drew Brees to perform in a contest of this magnitude. He was hyper-focused in Chicago, knowing Pittsburgh provided his team an opportunity to take control of the NFC South by handling the Falcons. If the Panthers lose to the Browns, a Saints win here gives New Orleans the division. The major concern in the Big Easy is Matt Ryan, who has fared well against the Saints in the past. And Matty Ice will lean on Julio Jones, who returns to action after getting hurt burning Packers DBs time and again ... and again ... and again. #ATLvsNO
Tampa Bay will keep this game close through two and a half quarters ... then I expect Aaron Rodgers to get pissed off just enough to throw three touchdown passes. While the Bucs' defensive staff can identify what the Bills were able to do to the Packers quarterback last week, they simply don't have the pieces to execute it. It's kind of like when you were a kid and you tried to build your Lego castle three years after your parents bought the set. Half the pieces were in the backyard, under rugs or in the mouth of little Johnny from two doors down. That's been the problem for the Bucs -- when the coverage is there, the pass rush isn't. When the pass rush is present, receivers are running wild and free. Of course, the 30th-ranked offense has been even worse. #GBvsTB
New England steps one foot closer to clinching home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win over its division "rival." In fact, if the Pats win and the Broncos lose at Cincy on Monday night, New England does clinch home-field.
It's hard to consider the Jets rivals when they've beaten the Patriots once in their last seven tries and enter this game with a 3-11 record. Yet, if there is a game where you can throw out records, this is it. New York actually gave the Pats all they could handle last time around, with New England escaping thanks to a blocked field goal. The Jets ran all over Bill Belichick's defense on that October day. We'll see if they can match that 43-carry, 218-yard output. The guess here is no, but remember, Geno Smith played viably that day. The Pats need to load up the box and trust their corners. Easy to do with Darrelle Revis; not so easy if Brandon Browner starts getting flagged. He's been served the yellow hanky of death 13 times this year. By the way, that's kind of a ton. #NEvsNYJ
This is one of the tougher games to pick in Week 16. The Giants have looked solid the past two weeks, with rookie Odell Beckham Jr. continuing his one-man rampage against NFL secondaries. Shaun Hill has no Beckham to play with, and from the looks of last Thursday night, lacks a fastball, too. Perhaps it was merely one of those nights, but the Rams need something from Hill to win Sunday.
I feel the Rams' pass rush will get to Eli Manning six to eight times, forcing enough outs on third down to provide the STL offense with a number of short fields. St. Lou over Big Blue. #NYGvsSTL
Going with Buffalo over the Raiders. Cool. What else should we talk about? What a fun uni matchup this is? You know, the last time the Bills played in Oakland, they got destroyed 38-17. Raiders QB Kerry Collins had a 113.3 passer rating, while LaMont Jordan rushed 28 times for 122 yards and three touchdowns. Kelly Holcomb threw for 159 yards for the Bills. One way to tell two franchises have had exactly zero success over the last decade is to peruse the box score from a past game and not see one name that's still on the roster. Granted, it was a long time ago, but most have been gone for years. At least Oakland is building a potential long-term future at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end and linebacker. And at least Buffalo and its mafia can officially kiss losing football goodbye, as this team will be 9-6 heading into Week 17. #BUFvsOAK
Dan Bailey hits from 53 yards out to win this Super Bowl V rematch. Look for the Dallas defense to get enough situational stops to stay in the game, despite allowing the Colts between 400 and 450 yards of offense. Indy will have trouble stopping the Cowboys' run game, even if it is a Joseph Randle- Lance Dunbar cocktail. Moreover, Tony Romo and Dez Bryant have something special going. Devoid of an elite pass rush, Colts fans might find themselves counting the seconds out loud as Romo chills in the pocket. One unique concern for Dallas is the complete lack of home-field advantage. Cowboys Stadium feels more like a nightclub than anything else. People watch football when there is no one worth talking to, everybody wears their own gear and drinks are way overpriced. Oh, and the Cowboys are 3-4 there this season. #INDvsDAL
Most people simply don't trust the Bengals in big-time, prime-time games. I don't know what they're thinking. Cincy put up 20 points in prime time this year. Of course, that was over two games. The good news is that Cincinnati looked fantastic in Cleveland. The bad news is that Peyton Football is coming to town -- he's a bit different from Johnny Football. And if the Bengals' offense struggled against the Patriots, Colts and Bucs, wait until they face these Broncos, who are allowing the fewest yards per game in the AFC. (Seriously, look it up ... I admit, it's surprising.) #DENvsCIN
ALREADY COMPLETED
With Charlie Whitehurst in tow, I see the Titans playing a nice, safe, checkdown-filled game that doesn't get them killed. Call him Checkdown Charlie (for real). This is not to say Whitehurst can't get the ball deep. The issue will be the lack of pass protection and the absence of a run game. The Titans have allowed 42 sacks and are rushing for a paltry 86.4 yards per game -- both figures rank among the worst in the league. Jacksonville can get after the quarterback, as the Jags are tied for sixth in the NFL with 38 sacks. Maybe the Titans should try a lateral play in the first quarter -- get it to Delanie Walker out in space, where he can almost score. #TENvsJAX
Ahh ... Saturday football. I'll be honest, I kind of like it. Then again, I have been known to watch more "Star Trek" -- the original series, of course -- than college football. Something about Sulu dancing around with a sword and Captain Kirk swashbuckling across the universe with green women ... Speaking of, I'm going green here. I'm aware of the division familiarity and whatnot, but the Redskins' back seven is not good enough in coverage to stop these guys. And the Ryan Kerrigan-led pass rush won't get home enough to disrupt Mark Sanchez. By the way, Washington is allowing opposing passers a 109.9 QB rating. Oh, and per my contract, I am supposed to write a line about RGIII. There it is. #PHIvsWAS
Truthfully, this game could go either way. I am putting faith in Philip Rivers to make plays late and hand the 49ers a fourth straight loss. A lot of said plays could involve Antonio Gates, who should be targeted plenty. While the San Diego offense did not fare well last week vs. Denver, the San Francisco offense has been an infomercial on stalling out. Seriously, the 49ers should be sponsored by the Pontiac Fiero. Over their last 54 drives, the Niners have scored all of five touchdowns. Get excited. Win, lose or draw, nothing takes away from the overall job Jim Harbaugh has done in San Francisco. #SDvsSF
Follow Elliot Harrison on Twitter @HarrisonNFL.
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