NFL: 2008 Week 16 Predictions

Week 15 Performance: 12-4
Overall Performance: 137-86

New York Giants (11-3) @ Carolina Panthers (11-3)

Pick: Panthers

Home field advantage in the playoffs is on the line and this is the best football match-up of the season. The two best teams are playing each other. We will see if this game can live up to the hype.

Outcome: Giants 34 Panthers 28 - Giants beat Panthers in OT to take top spot in NFC.

Prediction/Outcome Note (Jan. 6, 2009): Should the Giants and Panthers win their Division playoff games, this game will have decided home field advantage for the Giants over the Panthers in the 2009 NFC Conference Finals.

Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) @ Tennessee Titans (12-2)

Pick: Steelers

The Steelers have won a lot of tough close games.

Outcome: Titans 31 Steelers 14 - Titans clinch top spot in AFC.

Cincinnati Bengals (2-11-1) @ Cleveland Browns (4-10)

Pick: Browns

If the Bengals lose they will be 0-8 on the road.

Outcome: Bengals 14 Browns 0 - An Ohio brownout.

New Orleans Saints (7-7) @ Detroit Lions (0-14)

Pick: Lions

The Lions have been getting better, while the Saints are now officially a disappointment even if they beat the Lions.

Outcome: Saints 42 Lions 7 - Saints go to Detroit and handily put Lions one loss a way from first 0-16 season in NFL history.

Miami Dolphins (9-5) @ Kansas City Chiefs (2-12)

Pick: Chiefs

This is our upset pick of the week. Somehow I typed the Chiefs when I meant to type the Dolphins and I decided to keep it and roll the dice.

Outcome: Dolphins 38 Chiefs 31 - Dolphins prevail in high scoring game.

Baltimore Ravens (9-5) @ Dallas Cowboys (9-5)

Pick: Cowboys

The Ravens defensive prowess is inflated due to the lackluster offenses they have played against.

Outcome: Ravens 33 Cowboys 24 - Ravens celebrate the end of Texas Stadium.

Arizona Cardinals (8-6) @ New England Patriots (9-5)

Pick: Patriots

The Cardinals called in personal time ever since they clinched a playoff spot; and their defense is terrible.

Outcome: Patriots 47 Cardinals 7 - Cardinals defense is anemic in loss to Pats

Indianapolis Colts (10-4) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (5-9)

Pick: Colts

This game features two teams going in opposite directions. Hey that's pretty good that Shots Heard did not use that clique until the 16th week.

Outcome: Colts 31 Jags 24 - Manning completes his first 17 passes.

San Francisco 49ers (5-9) @ St. Louis Rams (2-12)

Pick: 49ers

The Rams are a semi-pro team.

Outcome: 49ers 17 Rams 16 - Rams blow 13 point lead.

San Diego Chargers (6-8) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5)

Pick: Bucs

The Chargers have looked bad in the face of adversity this year. Playing against the Bucs, who are undefeated at home, does not suit the Chargers. The Chargers need a win and Broncos loss to keep their playoff hopes alive. But the Bucs need a win to keep their playoff hopes burning bright.

Outcome: Chargers 41 Bucs 24 - Chargers set-up winner take all game with Broncos; Bucs take step back.

Buffalo Bills (6-8) @ Denver Broncos (8-6)

Pick: Bills

For some warped reason, the Bills seem to feel happy about their season if they end at .500.

Outcome: Bills 30 Broncos 23 - Broncos unable to seal the deal at home against a team that lost eight of their last ten games.

Houston Texans (7-7) @ Oakland Raiders (3-10)

Pick: Texans

As usual, the Texans are a better second half team.

Outcome: Raiders 27 Texans 16 - Raiders ruin Texans chance of winning season.

New York Jets (9-5) @ Seattle Seahawks (3-11)

Pick: Jets

The Jets have to worry that the Seahawks will be playing for pride and show up.

Outcome: Seahawks 13 Jets 3 - Seahawks give Jets snowy surprise.

Atlanta Falcons (9-5) @ Minnesota Vikings (9-5)

Pick: Vikings

The Vikings control their own fate at home. They could not ask for much more. Unless of course they wanted to be greedy, then they could ask for Jared Allen to be healthy, a good starting quarterback and their first Super Bowl win in franchise history.

Outcome: Falcons 24 Vikings 17 - Falcons do what Vikings cannot do; Lock up a playoff spot.

Philadelphia Eagles (8-5-1) @ Washington Redskins (7-7)

Pick: Eagles

Once upon a time in a Celtics game, with the game on the line, Coach K.C. Jones called a play for Dennis Johnson. Larry Bird replied, “Why don’t you just give me the ball and tell everybody else to get the hell out of the way.”

Jones said, “Larry you play, and I’ll coach." Then Jones said, "Get it to Larry and everybody else get the hell out of the way.”

Their has been a lot of hype about whether Donovan McNabb can lead the Eagles to a playoff birth. But what people should be saying is get Brian Westbrook the ball and everybody else get the hell out of the way, so to speak.

Outcome: Redskins 10 Eagles 3 - Eagles stopped at the one yard line.

Green Bay Packers (5-9) @ Chicago Bears (8-6)

Pick: Bears

A ten loss season for Cheeseheads? Only last year, Favre led this team that he called the best team he's ever played on to a 13-3 season, right? Just checking.

Outcome: Bears 20 Packers 17 - Blocked FG keeps Bears playoff hopes alive.

Picture: A younger Eli Manning tries to evade a Carolina Panther player.