Week 8 Performance: 6-7
Overall Performance: 61-55
Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) @ Washington Redskins (6-2)
Pick: Steelers
Remember the 'Simpsons' episode in which Homer was rooting for the Redskins in the Super Bowl? When a beer bum asked Homer, what he had riding on the game, Homer replied, "My little girl." The man comically whistled then replied, "What a gambler!"
For yet another Redskins game, the stakes are very high. This is a bigger match-up then many of you may know. Since 1936 the political party that controls the White House has counted on the Redskins to win their last home game before the presidential election to keep control of the executive branch. Likewise, if the Redskins lost, then the party lost control of the house. Therefore a Washington win means four years of John McCain and a Steelers win means four years of Barrack Obama.
At last check the Redskins are favored by two. But in real life, Barack Obama has a slight (or considerable edge depending on what sources one believes). This is a brain twister.
Outcome: Steelers 23 Redskins 6 - Back-up QB, Byron Leftwich extremely proud of himself; Steelers win a good omen for Barrack Obama
New York Jets (4-3) @ Buffalo Bills (5-2)
Pick: Jets
Shots Heard is not on the 'Favre throws too many interceptions' bandwagon. Favre being gunslinger is part of his greatness. But Favre will want to exercise more prudence, especially when the Jets are on their side of the field. The mistakes are allowing so-so teams to hang in games with them week after week.
Outcome: Jets 26 Bills 17 - Bills lose fourth time in five games; Jets win second in a row
Detroit Lions (0-7) @ Chicago Bears (4-3)
Pick: Bears
It is a good thing they call Detroit Hockey Town, because Football Town would be a laugher.
Outcome: Bears 27 Lions 23 - Lions troubles deepen as Rex Grossman leads comeback to keep Lions winless
Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4) @ Cincinnati Bengals (0-8)
Pick: Jaguars
If only the Bengals and Lions played in Week 17. How fun would it be to watch two teams try to avoid winless seasons? That would be better than 75 percent of the Super Bowls. Do not blame the schedule makers though. They tried. They put the Bengals vs. the Chiefs in the final week. Unfortunately the Broncos terrible defense allowed the Chiefs to eek out a win though.
Outcome: Bengals 21 Jags 19 - Bengals have more 'pride' than Jaguars
Baltimore Ravens (4-3) @ Cleveland Browns (3-4)
Pick: Ravens
The old Browns vs. the new Browns. It will be a brownout alright.
Outcome: Ravens 37 Browns 27 - Rookie QB, Joe Flacco leads Ravens to fifth victory
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-3) @ Kansas City Chiefs (1-6)
Pick: Buccaneers
Chiefs fans still have the fun of tailgating even if it is dampened by near joyless anticipation for the actual game.
Outcome: Bucs 30 Chiefs 27 - Chiefs blow 24-3 lead, lose in OT
Houston Texans (3-4) @ Minnesota Vikings (3-4)
Pick: Vikings
The Vikings would be undefeated in the dome, had they not let the Indy game get away.
Outcome: Vikings 28 Texans 21 - Vikings get back to .500
Arizona Cardinals (4-3) @ St. Louis Rams (2-5)
Pick: Rams
The Rams have turned it around, but we never know which Cardinals team will show up either.
Outcome: Cardinals 34 Rams 13 - Cardinals extend NFC West lead to three games
Green Bay Packers (4-3) @ Tennessee Titans (7-0)
Pick: Packers
Shots Heard has picked the 7-0 Titans in four out of seven games, so you do the math. Will Shots Heard go .5o0 this week on them? In our defense, two of the picks against them were in the first two weeks, when the Titans still were not on the radar.
Outcome: Titans 19 Packers 16 - Packers take the unbeaten Titans to OT then lose
Miami Dolphins (3-4) @ Denver Broncos (4-3)
Pick: Broncos
The Broncos lost 41-7 to the Patriots. The Dophins beat the Patriots 38-13. So the Dolphins should win this game by about 61-3. If the BCS (college football) 'experts' can apply that logic in their rankings then why not here? Oh yea, because it is bunk!
The Broncos are 3-1 at home and have the motivation of going two games up on the Chargers for first place in their division. But that is canceled out by the Dolphins grittiness and need for a win to legitimately stay in the playoff chase. The slight edge goes to the Dolphins.
Outcome: Dolphins 26 Broncos 17 - Brandon Marshall reception-less in Broncos loss
Dallas Cowboys (5-3) @ New York Giants (6-1)
Pick: Giants
Cowboy haters will be happy to see the Giants officially downgrade the Cowboys status to Wild Card contenders.
Outcome: Giants 35 Cowboys 14 - Giants win statement game
Atlanta Falcons (4-3) @ Oakland Raiders (2-5)
Pick: Falcons
Matt Ryan needs to show that he can take the bull by the horns when it comes to mismatches like this.
Outcome: Falcons 24 Raiders 0 - Raiders shutout at home
Philadelphia Eagles (4-3) @ Seattle Seahawks (2-5)
Pick: Eagles
It is not a good idea to pick the Seahawks when they head out east.
Outcome: Eagles 26 Seahawks 7 - Eagles season looking up, Seahawks fading
New England Patriots (5-2) @ Indianapolis Colts (3-4)
Pick: Colts
Shots Heard will take an injury weary Peyton Manning over Matt Cassel in a game at Indy.
Outcome: Colts 18 Pats 15 - Adam Vinatieri show Pats what they already know; that he's clutch as kicker hits game winning 52 yd FG.
Outcome Note (Jan 5, 2009): With the Pats missing the playoffs on a tie-breaker, Vinatieri 's game winner symbolically eliminated the Pats from the playoffs.
Picture 1: Unidentified New England Patriots player
Picture 2: Brett Favre, New York Jets Quarterback
