Fire from the Hip: Thoughts on Sports & Real Life

RECORD

Last Week: 8-8
Overall: 101 - 74

Week 15 has arrived and with it, despair or faint hope for football fans around the country. Fans in Pittsburgh, Minnesota, and Carolina, whose teams are on life support for the 2006 playoffs, are already trying to calculate what needs to happen over the next three weeks for the teams to qualify for a wild card spot. Hope, coupled with anticipation abound for fans in Arizona, Tennessee, and Buffalo. Out of contention weeks ago for the 2006 season, optimism for the 2007 season has been bolstered by strong performances from each team over the last month. Strong play by rookie QBs Matt Leinart and Vince Young in Arizona and Tennessee has reinvigorated both franchises faithful, and instilled confidence in both team's front offices for their decisions in last April's draft. Then, you have other teams who offer only the offseason as a gift. It is a sort of reprieve from brutal week-to-week frustration. Fans in Detroit, Cleveland, and Oakland know of what I speak. Week 15 and not an ounce of excitement to be drummed up for fans in these respective cities. With that abbreviated look at fan perspectives for the 2006 and 2007 season, let's get to this week's games, shall we?

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks - Seahawks

A young team on the road in primetime against last year's NFC champion who has a chance to clinch the division, I like the home team. The 49ers have really shown some fight this year but are realistically a year away from competing against the upper-echelon teams of the NFC on the road. We saw what happened to San Francisco in Chicago. It certainly won't be a repeat of that demolition but I suspect the Seahawks to win going away. I have in my mind right now an image of that stereotypical division-clinching game that isn't all that pretty to watch. And while seeing highlights of the game, you realize the newly-crowned division champion are going to have their hands full in the playoffs. Something along those lines.

Dallas Cowboys at Atlanta Falcons - Cowboys

Despite the poor performance last week against New Orleans, the Cowboys remain one of the stronger teams in the mediocre NFC. The Falcons are a team meandering towards a final week disappointment in terms of a playoff spot. Inconsistent play on defense and poor execution on offense has doomed the 2006 Falcons and maybe, Jim Mora Jr. who has received anything but a vote of confidence from owner Arthur Blank.

Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens - Ravens

The thing that is so amazing about the Browns is their inability to consistently compete week in and week out. Every third week, they assure their fans a pathetic performance. The Cardinals, Texans, and other teams are bad but nobody seems to perform as poorly as the Browns do once every several weeks or so. Thursday night in Pittsburgh was awful as was the Cincinnati game two weeks before that. It really is amazing that this team has any fans left.

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills - Bills

I am really proud to take the Bills in this game. For most of my life, they have been my second favorite team. A team that plays outdoors in a city near the Lake Erie shore, they were also pretty good during my impressionable years, which made it easy to be a fan. Miami rarely plays well in Buffalo and the Bills have been playing well recently. I think Buffalo finds a way to win in a close, defensive struggle.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans - Jaguars

The Jeckyl and Hyde of the NFL travel to Tennessee where they meet the red hot Titans. This game is a tough one because the Jaguars have proved themselves adept at losing games at the most inopportune times. Besides that, the Titans have been playing inspired football for the last month. But I think the running attack of the Jaguars will wear down the Titan defense as Jacksonville escapes Tennessee with a hard-fought win.

Tampa Bay Bucs at Chicago Bears - Bears

So the Bears have pretty much hosted every rookie or second-year quarterback in the NFL this season at Soldier Field. Today, they get Bruce Gradkowski. On Saturday, a good friend of mine made quite a spirited case as to why the Bears should have my respect. But despite his best efforts, I just can't do it. Bears big over the Bucs in a boring one.

New York Jets at Minnesota Vikings - Vikings

A game between two teams that I don't like, this is a tough one because I think each team is capable of playing horrendously on any given occasion. I'll take the Vikings at home because the Metrodome is a tough place to win on the road. I am not sure that Pennington can win this game through the air. Although the Vikings have been susceptible through the air, I think they manage to control the clock and win this game.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers - Steelers

Some thought this a possible Super Bowl matchup at the beginning of the season. Both teams now find themselves essentially out of the playoff hunt. I thought about taking the Panthers but I heard rumors that Chris Weinke might be starting for Carolina. After much thought, I like the Steelers to win this game. Overall, they are playing much better than the Panthers much to my chagrin.

Houston Texans at New England Patriots - Patriots

The Texans have really dropped off my radar in terms of surprising teams. They haven't played as well as I thought they would down the stretch. New England will handle them with ease at Foxboro on Sunday. The Texans are kind of like the Browns in that they often get manhandled once a month or so.

Washington Redskins at New Orleans Saints - Saints

The Redskins travel to New Orleans where they meet the Drew Brees-led Saints. It is amazing the hype a good week gets you in the NFL. Following his five touchdown game against the Cowboys last week, ESPN commentators are clamoring for Brees to receive MVP consideration over Ladainian Tomlinson. Let's be serious. Anyway, it will be a close vote. I am not done with this whole gushing after players after one good week. Everybody this week was debating who the rookie of the year should be after fantastic weeks by Maurice Jones-Drew and Devin Hester of Jacksonville and Chicago respectively. I found that irritating.

Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers - Packers

It's hard to drum up any interest in this game. Now, imagine if Brett Favre wasn't playing in this game with a shot at some of Dan Marino's passing records. Just imagine. I am not sure this game would even be mentioned in pre-game shows or receive highlights on Sportscenter on Sunday night. That's how meaningless this game is at Lambeau Field today. Unless you're a Favre or Lion fan.

St. Louis Rams at Oakland Raiders - Rams

Wow, and I thought the previous game was bad. Strike that. Somebody should just tell the Raiders they don't have to play their final three games. It would avoid some injuries and perhaps, embarrassment. This game will be superbly awful as the Raiders have a good enough defense to keep this game low-scoring. As a result, two teams that are playing out the string won't score very many points. I wonder what commentating team received the privilege of calling this game.

Denver Broncos at Arizona Cardinals - Cardinals

I know what you are thinking...why on Earth would he take the Cards? Well, I am starting Matt Leinart ahead of Eli Manning in fantasy football this week despite the solid Bronco defenes. It's a high risk/reward play. I am desperate and Eli isn't going to get it done against the Philly defense. Maybe, Arizona's talented receiving corps can get behind the Broncos secondary for some big plays. I know that I am reaching here. But with a record as good as mine, you can afford to lose one here and there. Right? And what if for some odd reason, the Cardinals win?

Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants - Giants

I wish I could go back to the beginning of the season when Eli Manning and the Giants had my complete confidence. After the last two months, they are a soap opera that I don't care to watch. For me, the game rests on the play of the quarterbacks. Manning managed last week's game in Carolina well and the Eagles have Jeff Garcia. Garcia is a hot-headed, brash quarterback who is good for a couple of mistakes a game. The most shocking stat about his play in recent weeks is that he is yet to throw a pick. That changes Sunday. Give me the Giants and call it one final grasp on my part for the innocent days of September.

Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers - Chargers

So the big news this week about this contest was the comment by LT that the Chiefs disrespected the Chargers, badmouthing them following their win last month at Arrowhead. Hmm, that was the last time the Chargers lost. San Diego has to find a reason to motivate themselves for this game following last week's division-clinching win. Although they are still playing for homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. For that, I like the Chargers to win a physical game. Essentially, Larry Johnson versus Ladainian Tomlinson. I take LT because the Chargers have a better defense.

Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts - Colts

Yeah, the Colts got hammered last week in Jacksonville. This week, they are at home and know they need a win to keep pace with the Chargers and Ravens in the race for homefield in the AFC. I feel like the Bengals are a younger version of the Colts two or three years back. And when teacher meets student, I like the teacher in the first couple of contests. Carson Palmer is certainly the student to the teacher, Peyton Manning. So I take the Colts in a high-scoring affair. I am not 100% convinced that it will be a track meet but scoring will be plentiful. Anyway, Colts win by a field goal 34-31.