FiveThirtyEight
(yes, the one run by Nate Silver) with
NFL playoff chances and who you should root for this weekend.
MUST WATCH GAMES
Titans at Jaguars
The
following people will be watching this game:
1.
Compulsive gamblers
2.
Draft watchers
Thursday
night is also the series finale of The
Colbert Report as host Stephen Colbert closes out one era of television and
begins a new one as taking over The Late
Show when David Letterman retires next year.
Eagles at Washington/Chargers at 49ers
Saturday
afternoon features two games with playoff implications. The Eagles can still
win the NFC East by winning their final two games and have some help from
division leading Dallas. Meanwhile the Chargers are still in the playoff race
after their loss to Denver. The Broncos won the AFC West so the Chargers have played
their last home game for the season.
The
49ers are likely heading towards a coaching change. San Francisco's Super Bowl
aspirations ended the same way last season with a loss at Seattle. Since 2011,
the 49ers have won the NFC West twice, played in three consecutive NFC
Championship games, and made a Super Bowl appearance. Coach Jim Harbaugh took a
franchise that last made a playoff appearance in 2002 and their last NFC Title
was in January 1995 when they won Super Bowl XXIX. With the job Harbaugh has
done he might have been given a pass on this season, but the relationship
between the coach and ownership has reportedly turned toxic.
Falcons at Saints
Well…
someone has to win the NFC South.
Browns at Panthers
Johnny
Manziel made his NFL debut on Sunday against the Bengals. As coach Mike Pettine
put it in the
postgame press conference, "He played like a rookie, and looked like a
rookie."
In
Tampa, backup quarterback Derek Anderson led the Panthers to a victory over the
Buccaneers. Earlier in the week before the game against the Buccaneers Panthers
quarterback Cam Newton injured his back in a car accident. Even though Newton returned
to the practice field, the Panthers are mum about whether Newton or
Anderson will start on Sunday. Anderson
did start the season opener against the Buccaneers (a win) and he was the Browns
quarterback from 2006-09. In 2007, Anderson went 10-5 and was named to the Pro
Bowl that season.
Like
the Falcons at Saints, this game will play a role in who will eventually win
the NFC South. Again… someone has to win the NFC South.
Texans at Ravens
"I
see Houston winning 6 games this season, but if they get to .500 it would be
considered a success."
The
Houston Texans have won 7 games and are still in the playoff hunt. It has been
a remarkable season for this team that has resulted in defensive end J.J. Watt
being in the argument for league MVP. Unfortunately the Ravens are in the
playoff hunt as well and are eying the AFC North.
Colts at Cowboys
The
Cowboys continue their streak as road warriors. One place where they haven't
been successful is at home having posted a 3-4 record at home. If the Cowboys
are to make the playoffs, they need to win this game.
The
Colts could end up playing for seeding. The Patriots and Broncos are the top
two seeds in the AFC and the only way the Colts can get a bye week is if one of
those two teams lose their final games and the Colts win out. The Patriots and
Broncos have each defeated the Colts so ending up tied won't help them.
Seahawks at Cardinals
The
Cardinals could have homefield throughout the NFC playoffs and the only time
they could leave Arizona would be for the Super Bowl.
What's
that…? Oh… the Super Bowl is in Arizona this season? Learn something new every
day.
The
Cardinals became the first NFC team to clinch a playoff spot with their win
over the Rams and the Cowboys at Eagles game not ending in a tie. Despite this,
Arizona is down to their third and fourth string quarterbacks.
Since
giving up 24 points in their Week 11 lost at Kansas City, Seattle has won four
games giving up 27 points.
I
am not liking the Cardinals chances of winning the division nor making a deep
playoff run.
Broncos at Bengals
The
Benglas pitched a shutout in their win over in-state and division rival
Cleveland.
Ok,
it was Johnny Manziel's NFL debut.
And
it was against the Browns.
I
don't expect the Bengals to repeat their performance against the Broncos.
Denver has a lot of different weapons at their disposal. As shown in their win
over the Chargers, Peyton Manning threw two touchdown passes bringing his
streak with a touchdown pass to one. Something tells me that this Peyton
Manning fellow with his laser rocket arm will rewrite the NFL record book.
And
now the picks.
Kickoff
times are mountain time, games airing in Denver are noted by (DEN), and picks
are in BOLD.
Me
|
|||
WEEK
15
|
13-3
|
14-2
|
12-4
|
TOTAL
|
157-66-1
|
147-76-1
|
139-84-1
|
THURSDAY NIGHT, NFL 6:15 PM
Titans
at Jaguars
SATURDAY
Eagles at Washington, NFL 2:30 PM (MT)
Chargers at 49ers, CBS
6:30 PM (MT)
CBS 11AM
Chiefs
at Steelers (DEN)
Patriots at Jets
Browns
at Panthers
Vikings
at Dolphins
FOX 11AM
Falcons at Saints (DEN)
Ravens at Texans
Packers at Buccaneers
CBS 2PM
Colts
at Cowboys (DEN)
Bills at Raiders
FOX 2PM
Giants
at Rams
SUNDAY NIGHT, NBC 6:15 PM
Seahawks at Cardinals
MONDAY NIGHT, ESPN 6:15 PM
Broncos at Bengals
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