Week 16 Paradise Pick’ em

This week is a tough one to call given the injuries and clinched playoff spots, but I’ll call em like I see em:

Vikings outduel the Packers
Chiefs arrow the Raiders
Broncos brawl with the Titans
Saints shock the Falcons
Lions den-t the Bears
Bengals take advantage of the Giants
Bills skin the 49ers
Seahawks survive the Cardinals
Redskins pound the Cowboys
Steelers redeem the Ravens
Jaguars escape the Texans
Colts light up the Bolts
Patriots turn around the Jets
Panthers stuck the Buccs
Dolphins splash the Browns
Rams TkO the Eagles

Fantasy Nightmare

Just when you figure you can do no wrong in Fantasy Football, the shocking reality of poor performances, injuries, ill advised manager decisions, and plain obscurities hit your lineup. No better example comes to mind than the one my team endured this past Sunday. My lineup features a starting roster of 1QB, 2RB, 2WR, 1TE, 1RB/WR, 1K, 3IDP. At quarterback, I feature both Griese and Pennington; my running backs include Tomlinson, Dillon, McGahee, and D. Davis; my wide receivers include C. Johnson, D. Jackson, Muhammad, R. Smith, and Fitzgerald; my tight end is Shockey; my kicker is Stover; my defensemen include Trotter, Vilma, Harrison, and the injured Z. Thomas. From this lineup I decided to start the following players:
QB: Griese
RB: Tomlinson
RB: Dillon
WR: C. Johnson
WR: R. Smith
TE: Shockey
RB/WR: McGahee
K: Stover
D: Trotter
D: Vilma
D: Harrison

Thus, my first rant has to deal with poor performances, namely C. Johnson’s. With a stat line of 2 receptions for 10 yards, I don’t know what to think of this so called stud. Clearly unacceptable considering he plays his best games against the toughest match ups such as Champ Bailey and Chris McAllister who he burned this year.
Second, the injury by McGahee could not have been timed any worse, since it happened during the playoffs. He has played so well up till now that he is also a part of the reason most teams made it to the playoffs, but against the Bengals, one of the worst rush defenses just hurts so much more.
The ill advised manager decisions have to deal with me not consistently leaving Muhammad in the lineup, but R. Smith going against K.C. and knowing they are horrible against the pass while Atlanta being very stingy at home against the pass made so much sense. However, logic continues to mean nothing for the N.F.L. as we look at the last category of plain obscurities.
Someone explain to me how Griese, one of the hottest passers this year, puts up a stat line of 118 yards 1TD 1Int against the worst defense this century has seen? The Saints almost let you score at will, it was a match up made in heaven, but not when you have a fantasy nightmare week, it happens to all of us. To add insult to injury, most of my starters were outscored by their counterparts on the bench including Pennington, D. Davis, Muhammad, and Fitzgerald.

Well, now since I have vented and seen my fantasy championship game wash away, the fantasy nightmare well be left to haunt another team come next Sunday. Feel free to comment on this story or write on a similar story about your fantasy nightmare.

Week 15 Paradise Pick’ em

This week’s pick’ em has some teams who can clinch their division or a playoff spot, check it out:

Steelers rumble thru the Giants
Redskins devour the 49ers
Falcons a bit better than the Panthers
Bills take down the Bengals
Eagles too good for the Cowboys
Chiefs get by the Broncos
Texans shoot down some Bears
Vikings survive the Lions
Chargers light up the Browns
Jets fly by the Seahawks
Buccs burry the Saints
Rams stumble past the Cards
Packers ice the Jaguars
Titans sink the Raiders
Colts pluck the Ravens
Patriots show up the Dolphins

Week 14 Paradise Pick’ em

In this weeks pick’ em, we call it home sweet home except for one big upset:

Jaguars feast on the Bears
Patriots hunt down the Bengals
Bills blank the Browns
Colts in a shootout against the Texans
Cowboys lasso the Saints
Ravens stomp on the Giants
Falcons soar over the Raiders
Vikings spoil the Seahawks
Broncos freeze the Dolphins
Jets upset the Steelers
Packers tame the Lions
Cardinals trip up the 49ers
Panthers roar the Rams
Chargers bolt up the Buccaneers
Eagles control the Redskins
Chiefs dance around the Titans

NFL Playoffs Part II (NFC)

NFC East
The playoff hunt in the NFC has become musical chairs where only a non factor such as the music coming to an end and whoever is nearest to the chair determines who ends up with a spot. We will first dissect the NFC by taking a look at the NFC East. Within this division, only one thing is certain that the Eagles are in the playoffs. Another certainty perhaps is that the New York Football Giants will not make the playoffs and are content with allowing Eli face a rough schedule in order to only make him a better QB of the future. As for Dallas, you can pretty much write them off too, however, their star is shining brighter than most with the resurgence in the running game by J.J. Washington is out of contention, but poses to be a dangerous spoiler for their defense can keep them in the game.

NFC North
The NFC North division is the only division that can still be won by any of the four teams. Rationally the favorite here are the Packers. A devastating loss to the Eagles will not keep the Pack from making the playoffs. A weak heart might keep the Vikings out of the playoffs. They better not leave the decision to the last game of the year again this year because I am certain they will not win at Washington, but a two game lead now is a good cushion for them getting in the playoffs. Detroit and Chicago will continue to be inconsistent and are promising future contenders.

NFC South
The NFC South should have three teams making the playoffs, but one team will end up just short. The Falcons will clinch the division this week when the Raiders come to town, and they should not play Vick again until the playoffs roll around. I have to see him play the Eagles if that match up ever materializes and he is too much of a risk to run around on the field until then. I really like the next two teams. If it wasn’t for their head to head match up in Week 16, they both would make the playoffs. The Buccaneers have a tougher schedule in that they play at San Diego this week, I really would like to see them win that game but they do not have good protection on the o-line and Griese will get sacked several times because the run game will be tough against the Chargers. For that reason, I see the Panthers coming out of nowhere and finishing strong to make the playoffs. It’s all about confidence and if the Buccs lose to the Chargers, they won’t be able to beat Carolina who has their number thanks in part to Gramatica, even though he’s been released. As for the Saints, the only thing they are good for is providing good fantasy numbers for their opponents.

NFC West
Wow, has this division taken a turn for the worst as the contenders continue to be pretenders. Nobody wants to win this division so they should just give up their right to a playoff spot. Since things don’t work that way in the NFL, the decision is really simple in saying that the Rams will win the division. They both might finish tied when all is said and done but that tiebreaker is with the Rams. Seattle never really did recover from the comeback of the year by the Rams, but the interesting thing is, neither did the Rams. Arizona is too young to make a move. Finally, the 49ers, I think everyone is happy to see them in last after all their glory years at the top.

Divisional Winners: Philadelphia, Green Bay, Atlanta, St. Louis
Wildcard: Minnesota, Carolina

NFL Playoffs Part I (AFC)

AFC East
As the playoffs approach, two things are apparent. For one the AFC is further dividing between good and bad teams. Secondly, the NFC continues to clutter with just about any team having a chance to make the playoffs except for the 49ers. Let’s take a look at the AFC first by starting with the AFC East. This division features three tough teams who all have stout defenses. The division should belong to the Patriots barring any setbacks. The match up against the Jets in Week 16 will be crucial at the Meadowlands, but New England has no other challenges on their schedule. The Jets are a solid Wildcard contender. The Bills might have an outside chance for the last spot with both the Ravens and Broncos losing last week. The Dolphins, better luck next year.

AFC North
The AFC North has one contender worthy of noting, the Steelers. Listening to analysts and announcers every week about how finally Roethlisberger will lose that given week is getting annoying. They should just give it up; he is the real deal showing poise and patience that rookie QB’s generally lack. Hats off to Brian Billick for another contending season with no offense, however, that loss to the Bengals last week was ill afforded. The Bengals are too inconsistent themselves and the Browns, see the Dolphins note above.

AFC South
The AFC South is starting to get decided with Peyton Manning’s arm, embarrassing opposing secondaries while making defensive coordinators’ lives hell. I still believe in Jacksonville, but they have to turn it around starting next week. Their window of opportunity is limited. Houston was a disappointment this year, much like the Bengals they seem like they are still a year away from being contenders. The Titans and the McNair era seem to be coming to an end, the Volek era seems bleak.

AFC West
Gotta love this division, no matter how horrible a team does in this division, they always step it up when they play a divisional game. San Diego is supercharging their way to a divisional title. The Broncos are doing exactly what I predicted, blowing it again with Plummer at QB. How many more years are they going to fool themselves with him at the helm, he just doesn’t have what it takes. The Chiefs and the Raiders are the underachievers this year, so much talent so little heart. Stepping it up once every few games will not cut it in the NFL.

Divisional Winners: New England, Pittsburg, Indianapolis, San Diego
Wildcard: New York Jets, Jacksonville
Stay tuned for Part II (NFC)

Week 13 Paradise Pick' em

In the weekly pick' em, I see some potential money makers for you parlay fans out there, check it out:

Lions over Cards in an ugly game
Buccs upset the Falcons
Bills run thru the Dolphins
Saints wake up at home against the Panthers
Ravens too much D for Cincy
Jets hold off the Texans
Vikings a possession better than the Bears
New England babysits the Browns
Rams annihilate the 49ers
Colts pass by the Titans
San Diego supercharges the Broncos
Raiders a blocked extra point better than the Chiefs
Packers a 4th and 26 better than the Eagles
Redskins sleep past the Giants
Jaguars harass the Steelers
Seahawks buck the Cowboys

McGahee’s Homecoming

As if it wasn’t enough that LB Zach Thomas will be injured this week, Buffalo Bills RB Willis McGahee will make his homecoming in Miami to face the Dolphins in a divisional match up. McGahee bought over a hundred tickets for family and friends so they can see the stud he has become in the NFL. Coming into the game McGahee already has five 100-yard games in six career starts; the only non 100-yarder was in Foxboro against the nasty defense of the Patriots.

Miami, on the other hand just won their second game of the year to perhaps the worst team in the league (the forty whiners). Things can not be going any worse for the Dolphins since they might have given up the number one pick overall in the draft by winning when they are not supposed to win. Playing at home will be the only reason to possibly conceive of a close game in this one, but there won’t be any home field advantage for the Dolphins as the real homecoming belongs to the new kid on the block, Willis McGahee.

The Bills have resurrected their season thanks in part to the resurgence of the running game and have won 4 out of their last 5 games. Bledsoe should be indebted to McGahee considering he has calmed the critics about his potential benching. Gotta love the call last week as Bledsoe faked the QB sneak on 4th and 1 to toss the football outside to McGahee and let him scamper in on his third out of his career high forth touchdown on the day. With that kind of play calling on offense and the stingy hard hitting defense, Buffalo poses tough match up problems and will play spoilers for some teams trying to make it to the playoffs. Now with Travis Henry out indefinitely with a leg injury, McGahee stands tall as the lone RB in Buffalo. Is it just me, or has there been a stud sighting in Buffalo? Run McGahee run!