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NFL WEEK 15; AULD (AND NEW) ENEMIES EDITION
WEEK 15; AULD (AND NEW) ENEMIES EDITION
Hello all, we are careering towards the end of the season and there are some positively huge match-ups today, with many of your favourite and mine, PLAY-OFF IMPLICATIONS. Let's get right to it.
SKY SPORTS, 6PM
GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-4) @ CHICAGO BEARS (8-5)
The oldest rivalry of them all takes centre stage this afternoon and it will determine a lot for the season. Green Bay won this in week two at Lambeau, but that didn't do too much to unsettle Da Bears at the time. Looking back though, it's actually not that surprising they went to 7 and 1. Look at the teams they beat in the first 8 weeks; Indianapolis (who are much improved now, but it was Luck's first day), St. Louis, Dallas, Jacksonville, Detroit, Carolina (just) and Tennessee. No wonder they looked so dominant at the time, I could look dominant against those teams. It may have been a coincidence Jay Cutler got injured right around the time they played anyone good, but the Bears got to 7 and 1 on dominating defence. But then they got found out by two highly balanced teams in Houston and San Francisco (and later Seattle and Minnesota) and they've been miserable ever since. The Packers however somehow keep finding guys from the stands to come down and catch perfectly thrown Aaron Rodgers passes (fan ownership huh?) when everyone keeps getting injured in the process. Chicago will probably get in the playoffs anyway, but it will be tight after losing 5 of the last 6, but they desperately need a win today for morale if nothing else. The Packers just look too hot. (GB by 3)
SKY SPORTS, 9:25PM
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (7-6) @ DALLAS COWBOYS (7-6)
Honestly, these two games are about as vintage as it gets. Two of the most storied and successful franchises in pro football (other than Green Bay) come ahead in what is effectively a play-off game. Given surrounding pressure from their respective divisions and conferences, this is essentially win or go home time for one of these guys, a tie is not enough either. It's a difficult one to predict too; After an impressive comeback victory deep in enemy Baltimore territory two weeks ago, Pittsburgh go ahead and lose to the already doomed San Diego, at home, for the first time in either franchises' history. Dallas however have run into a bit of form they've been due for a while after some unlucky losses earlier in the season (including Baltimore, again), so it's going to a tough one to call. Pittsburgh need to keep pace with Cincy who already won on Thursday Night Football, whereas the Cowboys need to keep with pretty much everyone in a highly packed NFC middle-order. It really depends who shows up on the day, but I just feel Pittsburgh have a slightly stronger nerve out of the two, though it pains me to say it. (PIT by 3)
SUNDAY/MONDAY, 1:20am, CHANNEL 4
SAN FRANCISCO 49ers (9-3-1) @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-3)
And as if those two games weren't enough, our collective footballing hard-ons will reach some kind of dropping point here. Massive game this, as New England are now chasing home-field advantage after stamping their authority against Houston last week, in what will be a fairly emotional Foxborough given recent tragic events. The Niners however need to stay ahead of the ever-chasing Seattle Seahawks who are now only a game behind and who face off next weekend. At the moment, it's difficult to see past the Patriots marching all the way to the big game after the last couple weeks, they have been phenomenal on both sides of the ball. While the Quaterback conundrum continues in the Bay Area, but right now it looks impossible for any QB to take on the PATS right now. Whoevery plays, they need touchdowns in them, and lots of them. (NE by 4-5)
MONDAY/TUESDAY, 1:30am, BBC RED BUTTON
NEW YORK JETS (6-7) @ TENNESSEE TITANS (4-9)
...WAIT WHAT? You've gotta be shitting me. I'm not even given this the time of day. (TEN by 3)
THE ACTUALLY IMPORTANT GAMES:
NEW YORK (8-5) @ ATLANTA (11-2) - Atlanta are wobbling, but it seems to be mostly to teams in their division. But, the Georgia Dome remains impenetrable, but if anyone's likely to do it (it's Green Bay) but maybe also the Giants who are unpredictable but often great on the road. That and they've got Washington and Dallas snapping at their heels, while this will be the only winning record team Atlanta will face all year before their inevitable first play-off game exit. (NY by 3)
DENVER (10-3) @ BALTIMORE (9-4) - What a terrible, awful couple weeks its been for (my) Baltimore. Two weeks ago the Ravens were going into a home game against a depleted Pittsburgh have already beaten them on their turf two weeks earlier, with the chance to confirm play-offs and win the division. Instead, they fell apart at the last hurdle because they couldn't put the game away, and then did the same in a local rivalry against Washington. As a result, Baltimore have gone from a comfortable number 2 seed to number 4, either side of Denver. Many would argue this is where Baltimore always deserved to be this year anyway, and it's hard to argue against them; we've had flashes of brilliance interspersed with a lot of lucky breaks or just doing enough and it's only lasting so long. So it would be an understatement to say this isn't a HUGE game for both teams, but more Baltimore. Since New England's emergence over the past couple, this game has actually taken a bit of a knock in significance as they look certain to take the bye week, but Denver are only a game behind Houston too (more on them shortly) and so will have their own aspirations in playing a play-off game (or 2) at Mile High. Even more worryingly, a Baltimore loss would see them only one game ahead of Cincinnati, whose final two games are Pittsburgh and then Baltimore, so the division could still be theirs, so a win here is absolutely crucial. It's hard to know what happens here too, Joe Flacco's Ravens hadn't lost at home for 2 years, and believe it or not, until last week, he had never lost two games in a row his whole professional career. So the bounce-back is even more important today. Yes, we are still dominant at home, and yes we responded by firing Cam Cameron as offensive coordinator, but after the last couple weeks (and to be honest, some time before that) it's understandable that the super-hot Denver Broncos must be licking their lips at the potential to put a game break between us. Peyton Manning too has a particularly excellent record against the Ravens, as the head of the franchise that the city of Baltimore is still fairly sore about, it just all depends on how we respond. Right now though, Denver certainly look the more dominant team. (DEN by 3)
INDIANAPOLIS (9-4) @ HOUSTON (11-2)
What a season for Andrew Luck. They're not the best team by any means, but his leadership skills coupled with the sense of togetherness these guys have been playing at this year has been crucial to their success, and a win today would confirm their playoff status and make it all worth it. Houston are suddenly looking very exposed too, so it's either the best or worst time to face them. Houston have still got a lot to play for with New England and Denver chasing however, and I can't see them sitting idly by after the season they've had. Likely to be a shoot-out though. (HOU by 3)
WASHINGTON (7-6) @ CLEVELAND (5-8)
RG3 is OUT for today's game against Cleveland. That's not necessarily a terrible thing, Kirk Cousins was a fantastic closer last week against Baltimore, but closing and starting are two widely different things. One can understand not wanting to risk further injury to their starter when against inferior opposition, but Cleveland (albeit too late, like every year) are the other in form team right now through a powerful D. Could be very difficult for Washington away from home and without their starter, but they're sitting one spot away from Playoffs, which should be enough to spur them on (WAS by 3)
THE REST:
Jacksonville (2-11) @ Miami (5-8) - I hate Florida. (MIA by 7)
Tampa Bay (6-7) @ New Orleans (5-8) - Both saw their seasons slip away last weekend, Saints to seal the deal (by 7)
Minnesota (7-6) @ St. Louis (6-6-1) - Minnie are still alive after an impressive victory against Chicago, but St. Louis will probably put a stop to that, cancelling them both out. (StL by 3)
LATER
Detroit (4-9) @ Arizona (4-9) - Well one of these teams look like they realistically could win again in 2012, and they sure don't play in Cardinal Red. (DET by 4-5)
Seattle (8-5) @ Buffalo (5-8) - SEA! They're real. (SEA by 7)
Carolina (4-9) @ San Diego (5-8) - San Diego's inevitable march towards keeping Norv keeps marchin' on. (SD by 4-5)
THAT YER LOT. Enjoy yourselves, I'm probably going to miss all of this due to Christmas partying reasons; to be honest my heart can't take watching another agonising Baltimore game. How are YOU feeling about it though?