Football Survivor Picks, Week 15 | December 12, 2008 |
Whoa, 15 weeks. I hope you are in the same boat as Gerri Attrics in our original survivor pool: Still alive and haven’t used the Indianapolis Colts yet. The Colts host the Lions this week so G.A. looks to be in great shape to advance to Week 16. As for the other three alive entries, myself included, the options are not looking very good. Still, I have to pick someone, so lets get to work.
1. Indianapolis Colts vs. Detroit Lions – I don’t even need much commentary for this one, do I? The Lions are winless. The Colts have won 6 in a row. The Colts are still not guaranteed anything at this point, other than they are guaranteed not to win their division. QB Daunte Culpepper is injured for the Lions, meaning Dan Orlovsky or maybe even Drew Stanton could get the call. From a planning ahead perspective, which I don’t like to do a lot of in survivor pools but it’s warranted here, the Colts face the Jaguars next week and follow it up against Tennessee. Although the Jags are bad, they are a divison rival that has historically done well against the Colts. If you still have Indy, then you want to use them here, for certain.
2. New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills – While it was an odd feeling, being such a football junkie and not going to a rare NFL football game played in my hometown of Toronto, I’m really glad I saved my money last week on the Bills debacle at the Rogers Center. Not only were the tickets prices obscene, so was the product on the field presented by the Bills. And that continued on from the prior week.
Admittedly, the Jets are looking pitiful in their own right these last couple weeks. After an excellent win over the then undefeated Tennessee Titans in Tennessee, the Jets dropped back-to-back games to the Broncos at home and 49ers last week in San Fran. What the heck is going on? As mentioned last week, San Fran is not a gimme, especially with an east coast team travelling there. That doen’t really excuse the Jets, but 1-for-10 on 3rd downs, over twice the penalties and giving double the time of possession to the 49ers, the Jets were clearly not playing up to par in all phases of the game.
That changes this week. Back at home in a division game, where the Jets all of a sudden can’t stop hearing how they don’t control their own playoff fate anymore. The Bills are a lost cause right now, with rumblings the coaching staff is on its way out of town. Statistically and emotionally, this one points to the Jets.
Those are my top 2 picks for this week. Now as luck, otherwise known as poor planning, would have it, along with the Colts I can’t pick the Jets for my survivor pick either. Right now I’ve got the Redskins over the Bengals, but I’m not enamored with this choice. The Redskins didn’t just lose one OT last week, but very likely both. LT Chris Samuels is definitely out, and RT Jon Jansen is doubtful. I know its the Bengals, but they are at home, and with these key player losses, the Bengals could come prepared and win this game. I’m worried, and I still may change my pick before Sunday if I can get comfortable with something else.
The Eagles looks like a good play over the Browns on Monday night. The Browns have only won 4 games this year… but note 2 of those were on Monday night. The Eagles are playing very well though and need to keep it up to keep their playoff hopes alive. I’d pick the Eagles after the Jets but before the Redskins. Yep, you guessed it, I’ve already used the Eagles too.
The Patriots at the Raiders is a potential wild-card result, not only with back-to-back games by the Patriots on the west coast (and they barely survived last week), but QB Matt Cassel’s Dad died this week, so Cassel isn’t sure to play and certainly isn’t sure to play well. The Dolphins hosting the 49ers is a decent possibility, now with the 49ers travelling across the country. I still think San Fran is dangerous though, and the Dolphins didn’t blow away the Bills, although it was their biggest margin of victory in the 6 wins earned in their past 7 games.
Titans at the Texans? Nah, I think the Texans might actually win that game. Might. I’m not picking them either, and I’ve used the Titans.
