NFL: Win And You're In...

by Angry Andy

We approach the final week of the season and a lot of the newer fans will be hearing the term “Black Monday” through out the course of the day.

“Black Monday” refers to the amount of head coaches that will get the sack after they have failed to get their team into the postseason. According to reports, Cleveland have already started this process, according to reports, and will fire Pat Shurmur on Monday. You have to hand it to the NFL, they’re so organized with everything and have yearly events (and catchy titles) for hiring and firing people. It wouldn't bode well for Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to own an NFL team!

Other head coaches who may get the sack include Andy Reid, Norv Turner,  Romeo Crennel and, perhaps, Rex Ryan. I refuse to get into detail on a reason why each of these coaches will get fired on the basis that it will require me to talk about the New York Jets. If you read last week’s column, you’d know why!

I have decided, for my Week 17 picks, that I can not pick from games that do not have any relevance to the postseason. Therefore, I’d like to take this time to thank a team that is close to my heart over the past 17 weeks and provided hours of joy and happiness while typing this blog: the Oakland Raiders. Your crappiness makes me happy!

So, with out further adieu, on to the final week’s picks of the Regular Season:

(HOME TEAM in Caps):

VIKINGS (+3.5) over Packers

Green Bay need this victory to solidify the bye week. A loss would mean San Francisco could take the spot with a victory over the Cardinals. If the Niners were to somehow lose, then a Seattle victory over the Rams would mean the Divisional Playoffs would go through Seattle. Who would have thought that a few short weeks ago?

If the Vikings can win this game, it sets up one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history (that could be topped by Manning winning the Superbowl). Adrian Peterson has carried this team from the start of this season. It would be a shame if he was to fall at the last hurdle. Over the last 9 games, Adrian Peterson has more rush yards (1,399) than Christian Ponder has pass yards (1,267). If Peterson has a big game, gets the single season rushing record and Vikings win, lock him down for regular season MVP.

Eagles (+7.0) over GIANTS

There is no mathematical way that the Giants can win the NFC East after yet another loss last week. The Giants were 6-2 after the first 8 weeks - having beaten the Niners, Cowboys and Redskins - and looked set for another Championship run. Then the Monster Squad stole Eli’s powers and stored them in a ball because Eli went on a horrible run since and looked no where near a 2 time Superbowl MVP. The Giants lost FIVE of their next 7 games. The only opportunity that they have in reaching the playoffs is to beat Philadelphia (something they have always had trouble doing, even losing to them already this season) and hoping that the Cowboys lose to the Redskins...

. . . . . And the Vikings lose to the Packers

. . . . . AND Chicago lose to the Lions.

It would be a nice touch for Andy Reid (and Michael Vick, who starts after Nick Foles was put on IR) to go out with a victory over their most hated rivals and put that final nail in the coffin that is the Giants 2012 season.

Unfortunately, it will probably be a tight game and end up with some horrible time management near the end by Reid that costs them the game . . . Kinda like last week!

COLTS (+7.0) over Texans

Chuck Pagano is back as head coach, just in time for the postseason. The Texans could blow their top seed and even a bye week with a loss here but, at home, the emotions will be too strong for the Texans to over come. They already threw away last week's game against the Vikings with a lack of effort in the fourth quarter and have not looked like the formidable force they were once considered since the heavy loss to the Patriots.

Meanwhile, the Colts are going to want to finish this season strong and head in to the postseason with all the momentum in the world. I think New England beats Miami; which leaves the Bengals-Ravens match tonight meaningless and sets up the Colts trip to Baltimore next week. And there is your feel good upset special usually provided by Tim Tebow (Well, I had to mention the guy in some form or another since he couldn’t get the starter job over Pee Wee Herman at this stage in New York).

DOLPHINS (+10.0) over Patriots

While I think the Patriots will win this game, they won’t dominate. They’ll want to win on the hope that the Texans or Broncos slip up so they can grab that bye week but won’t be taking too many risks at this stage of the season over a game that could potentially mean nothing. Interesting note: if the Patriots were to lose this game and Ravens beat the Bengals then that upset special just got a lot more interesting as the Colts-Patriots rivalry in the postseason will be renewed. If Andrew Luck were to some how lead the Colts past the Patriots in the postseason, Peyton Manning could be waiting.

Note: right before posting, I read that Patriots will start Rob Gronkowski. So much for not taking risks, I don’t like this pick already and it’s not even 1pm.

REDSKINS (-3.5) over Cowboys

Tony Romo is 1-5 in win-or-go-home week 17 games. Five times that pressure has been on him and he’s lost the game four times! FOUR! Cowboys travel to the Nation’s Capital with a chance of winning the NFC East. Another improbability after they had the same record as the Eagles (3-5) after the first 9 weeks of the season. A large part of that is due to Dez Bryant being on fire these past few weeks. Having lost at home though last week in a tough over time loss to the Saints, I just feel that momentum is on the side of the RGIII-led Redskins, who have won their last six games in a row!

Each year, there is a story that defines the league. This year, it’s that of the rookie quarterback. If I was a betting man, I’d be picking one of the Redskins, Seahawks or Colts to go all the way . . . . Did I just say if I was a betting man? While writing a column about gambling? Okay. But I’m a bigger 49ers man and can’t see a Colts-49ers Superbowl happening.

The Niners are pretty banged up right now and desperately need that bye week. Kendall Hunter, Kyle Williams, Justin Smith, Mario Manningham and Vernon Davis have all gone down injured over the past few weeks. To get to the Superbowl, the 49ers are going to have to do it the hard way. If Green Bay beat Minnesota and the Niners don't get the bye week, that would mean defeating Bears (or Redskins if both 'Skins and Bears lose), Falcons, then Green Bay/Seattle to get there.

My pick for the Superbowl . . . Still, of course, the San Francisco 49ers who will bounce back after last week’s defeat.

Final Games of the regular season, so many win or go home situations, capped by a tremendous match up between the Redskins and Cowboys for the NFC East crown!

Happy Football People!

Last Week: 2-3

Season: 45-48

Accumulator: 1-16