Smashmouth Football League Articles

Giants @ Raiders

This is a tough game to figure out. The Raiders looked like one of the best teams in the league at one point this season and a lock for the playoffs, but after losing 5 in a row - capped off with a loss to the Broncos last week - they enter Week 17 with nothing to play for. The Giants, meanwhile, are playing to lock up the #1 seed after having lost 3 in a row themselves. Which team will stop their skid? I am actually going to go with the Raiders here, even with nothing to play for. Their defense has been excellent and I think Schaub could continue to struggle.

The Pick:

Panthers @ Falcons

The Panthers come into this game having won six out of their last seven, while the Falcons have dropped four of their last five. The Panthers also crushed Atlanta 31-3 just a few weeks back. Pretty easy call, right? Well, not so fast. The Falcons boast one of the league's most explosive offensive attacks, and the Panthers just lost perhaps their best cornerback Gary Baxter for the rest of the season. You can throw just about everything else out the window as it all comes down to Week 17 for the division. Still, I think I have to roll with the Panthers here. They have been too hot lately and Mark Brunell has been on fire since they traded off-season acquisition Kerry Collins. Give me the Panthers in a shootout.

The Pick:

Ravens @ Browns

Here we have one of the testiest, and perhaps pettiest, rivalries in the entire league, featuring Norbert's Ravens versus Tom Collins' Browns. The Ravens aren't playing for much while the Browns are playing for everything. There was some talk that the Ravens might go back to their veteran QB Jeff Blake just for this match-up, but it appears they are sticking with the youngster Charlie Frye. The Browns have been teetering on the edge of sanity all year and throwing everything they have at finding success, so I have to imagine they will be ready to go for this one, as they can stay off the hotseat no matter what happens elsewhere. If not, it could be another crazy off-season in Cleveland.

The Pick:

Bengals @ Chiefs

The Chiefs could have been potentially playing for a playoff spot this week, but after their loss to the Chargers in Week 16 that leaves just the Bengals who are fighting for a potential first round bye. There was some that thought they might turn to Garrard to keep Kitna healthy for the playoffs and the former some experience, but they appear to be gunning for that #2 seed. The Chiefs still have something to prove with a rookie GM, but I think the experience and motivation of the Bengals will be too much for them in this one.

The Pick:

Bears @ Vikings

The Vikings have been one of the best teams in the league this year, but were a bit handcuffed down the stretch. First they lost Culpepper for a few games and then they found out they would be without their star HB Eddie George the remainder of the year. They still have only lost one out of their last 5, but with the surprising Lions in the same division they will need a win and help to get anything but a wildcard spot. The Vikings are one of the most focused teams in the league and I think they will take care of their own business and let whatever happens elsewhere happen. I'll take the Vikings in a game that won't be particularly close.

The Pick:

Bills @ Jets

The Jets are locked into the #5 Wildcard spot while Bills GM Brandon Lindgren is fighting for his job in Week 17. It looks like the Jets are still going to play the vast majority of their starters for this one, although second year QB B.J. Symons will get the nod over Plummer. That alone is a huge help for the Bills who have a veteran QB in Steve McNair, but will it be enough for them to shake their struggles? Unfortunately, I don't see it. This is a team that has dropped 7 out of their last 8, and is playing on the road against a team that beat them by 26 last time. The Jets are also perhaps the team best suited in the entire league to winning with a young QB, as you know they are still going to pound the rock and play smothering defensive football.

The Pick:

Lions @ Steelers

The Lions are playing for a potential first round bye, while the Steelers are already locked into a Top 10 pick. The Lions are also the better team in all but the turnover department. The Steelers do have home-field advantage, but they haven't won a game in Pittsburgh since Week 8. I think you can book it that Michael Vick and Detroit will take care of business today and potentially earn the #1 seed in the NFC.

The Pick:

Titans @ Jaguars

Thanks to an unlikely series of events involving 3 different AFC teams, the Titans managed to lock down their playoff spot last no matter what happens in this divisional showdown. But they are still playing for a first round bye should the Bengals slip up, and I don't see them taking their foot off the pedal here. The Jaguars, however, are looking to get their ship back on course as they have really struggled down the stretch. They also should be the more desperate team as they could be on the outside looking in with a loss. Despite taking a shellacking in Tennessee in Week 11, I think Jags GM Jason Arnold will have his team in top form this week and Jacksonville will win a very close game to win the AFC South.

The Pick:

Seahawks @ Packers

At first glance the Seahawks have everything to play for while the Packers should be ready to call it a season. But Green Bay legend Brett Favre has already announced this will be his last game, and he's playing in front of a Lambeau home crowd. Emotions will be running high, and I think Seattle has to be a little bit drained after their historic shootout against the Colts last week. Seattle has more to play for on paper, but I can't see Favre going out on a low note. Green Bay in a game that will be decided in the 4th quarter.

The Pick:

Redskins @ Eagles

In the second hot seat game where a GM is fighting for his job, we have Leo and Rob Johnson hoping to muster up one more win to keep his gig for at least one more season. Bryan Mellon and the Redskins don't have much to play for other than draft position, and apparently individual stats. There was some talk during their friendly scrimmages open to the media last night that the Redskins might change up their gameplan from what has seen them win 3 straight, but after lackluster performances in the exhibition games they apparently decided against that. Their lineup remains the same other than star LB Lavar Arrington being moved to the #2 MLB spot (will we see a 3-4?), so there will be no advantages for the Eagles to be found there. In the end if the Redskins do end up sticking to their guns I think they are simply the better team and that it will be tough for the Eagles to pull out another magical Rob Johnson victory. It's a shame as Leo faced some really bad luck this season and looked much better than expected with Rob Johnson at the helm. But these are two teams headed in two different directions - Redskins in a defensive battle.

The Pick:

Rams @ Cowboys

The Rams still have a shot at the wildcard spot, and a pretty good one at that. They are in with a win and a Seattle loss. Unfortunately for them, I think the biggest question mark in that equation is going to be what Seattle does, because I can't see them faltering for the second week in a row against a Cowboys team that would be more than thrilled to end up with the first overall pick. Drew Brees and the Rams win this one convincingly.

The Pick:


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