Week 17 Results
- Atlanta over Carolina (31-10) Win: This is how you lock-up home-field advantage. You jump out to a 21-0 lead and crush your opponent from the outset, leaving nothing to chance. Congrats to the Falcons . . .
- Pittsburgh over Cleveland (41-9) Win: Considering how poorly things have gone for Eric Mangini lately, it seems almost sadistic to schedule the Pittsburgh Steelers as the Brown's final opponent of the season. Ben Roethlisberger threw two TDs; Rashard Mendenhall rushed for two TDs; and by halftime the Steelers were ahead 31-3. Congrats to the Steelers on yet another division title . . .
- Detroit over Minnesota (20-13) Win: Go Lions! Yesterday they won their fourth straight game, defeating a Vikings team that was coming-off an upset victory over the NFC East Champion Philadelphia Eagles. Let's hope the Lions improvement continues next season . . .
- Oakland over Kansas City (31-10) Win: The Raiders become the first team since the NFL-AFL merger to go undefeated in their division but not make the playoffs. Too bad . . . Sure the Chiefs playoff position was set prior to yesterday's game, but that is no excuse for being blown out at home by 21 points . . .
- New England over Miami (38-7) Win: New England is in better shape today entering the playoffs than they were in 2007 when their team was undefeated in the regular season . . .
- Tampa over New Orleans (23-13) Loss: Even though the Saints had little to play for once it was evident that the Falcons would top the Panthers, don't minimize the Buccaneers' victory. New Orleans is still the defending champion and the Superdome is still a tough place to win. Congrats to the Bucs on a fine season, even though it ended once the Packers and Giants won . . .
- NY Jets over Buffalo (38-7) Win: Strong win for the Jets who outgain the Bills in total yardage 388 - 162 despite resting several players, including Mark Sanchez who ran nine plays without throwing a pass. If Jets defense emerges NY can be a force in the playoffs . . .
- Baltimore over Cincinnati (13-7) Win: It wasn't pretty, but it didn't need to be. Thirteen points was more than enough to defeat the hapless Bengals . . . Baltimore will exit the playoffs quickly if its offense throws up a stinker like yesterday. . .
- San Diego over Denver (33-28) Win: In a game of little interest to anyone, San Diego defeated Denver despite surrendering 21 points in the second half to the Broncos. Philip Rivers threw for 313 yards, but was intercepted and failed to throw a TD. Chargers RB Ryan Mathews was the game's star, rushing for 120 yards and three TDs . . .
- Green Bay over Chicago (10-3) Win: Great defensive battle. A late Aaron Rodgers TD secures the final NFC playoff spot for Green Bay. Congrats to the Pack . . .
- Indianapolis over Tennessee (23-20) Win: Ho-hum. Another game-winning drive by Peyton Manning; another game-winning Adam Vinatieri field goal. Congrats to the Colts on another playoff appearance . . .
- Dallas over Philadelphia (14-13) Loss: Andy Reid has to be concerned. Three weeks ago his team fell behind by 21 points to the Giants before NY's defense collapsed in the fourth quarter. Since then they have lost back-to-back games at home to the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys--two teams that each had only five wins prior to beating Philadelphia. I smell a riot brewing in Philly . . .
- San Francisco over Arizona (38-7) Win: Good season finale for the Niners as Alex Smith tosses two TDs and the San Fran defense forces two turnovers . . .
- NY Giants over Washington (17-14) Win: The Giants did what they needed to; unfortunately, the Bears didn't. Eli Manning threw his 31st TD of the season--the first Giants QB to do that since Y.A. Tittle; Brandon Jacobs rushed for a TD; and the Giants defense forced four turnovers. Nevertheless, with the Packers victory over the Bears, the Giants season has ended. Three games ago the Giants were eight minutes away from winning the NFC East. Now they are 10-6 and going home until next year. It is poetic justice for a team that gave away several wins this season . . .
- Houston over Jacksonville (34-17) Loss: A Jaguars win and a Colts loss would have given Jacksonville the AFC South. And up until the final seconds of Indy-Tennessee, a Colts loss was very possible. Yet, despite knowing this, Jacksonville's defense surrendered 34 points, 497 total yards, and 244 rushing yards. A pathetic performance by Jack Del Rio's club--and neither he nor his team can blame it on David Garrard's absence . . .
- Seattle over St. Louis (16-6) Loss: Dropped passes. Overly-conservative offensive play calling. Pathetic run defense. All three added-up to a disappointing performance by the St. Louis Rams. I expected more from Spagnuolo's club, and I'm sure Spagnuolo did also. Congrats to Pete Carroll and the Seahawks for becoming the first NFL team in history to win a division title with a sub-.500 record (7-9) . . .
My Week 17 picks were 12-4, raising my final record for the season to 155-101 . . .
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