NFL picks
Playoff berths and seeding are at stake as NFL teams enter Week 15. Already Thursday, the Chargers got a huge win over the Broncos in Denver, 27-20. San Diego is now 7-7 and right behind the Dolphins and Ravens (7-6) for the sixth and final AFC playoff spot. Denver meanwhile lost its grip on potential home field advantage in the playoffs and fell to 11-3. The Patriots are 10-3 and because they beat Denver, they would get the No. 1 AFC spot if they win out. Last week I went a measly 2-4 and am ow 37-33 on the season. On to the picks!
Bears at Browns, 1 p.m. FOX
The Browns came oh-so-close to upsetting the Patriots on the road last weekend but a furious New England rally won it for Tom Brady and Co. At home this season, the Browns have been decent. Jason Campbell under center has given Cleveland the best chance at wins this season and he played very solidly. The Bears are coming off a demolishing of the Cowboys but are taking out their red-hot backuip QB, Josh McCown, in favor of starter Jay Cutler, who is healthy for the first time in weeks. The Browns defense is pretty strong and playing at home against a rusty Cutler, I can smell a potential upset here.
Browns 28, Bears 26
Patriots at Dolphins, 1 p.m. CBS
New England is 10-3 this season but has had many close calls in wins over the Jets (three points), Falcons (seven points), Bills (three points), Saints (three points), Broncos (three points in OT), Texans (three points), and Browns (one point). Miami has played pretty well at home and has won three of four and hasn't lost by double digits since a 27-17 setback at New England on Oct. 27. I think Miami gets a much-needed victory this weekend at home.
Dolphins 27, Patriots 24
Packers at Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. FOX
Cowboy fans including myself breathed a sigh of relief Friday when the Packers announced QB Aaron Rodgers would miss another game with a separated shoulder. Matt Flynn will again start in his place. GReen Bay is 1-4-1 without Rodgers starting and the win came last week at home over the Falcons. Green Bay can absolutely win this game without Rodgers because the Dallas defense has been very bad this season and made Josh McCown look like a star for the Bears on Monday night. Also, on Friday, linebacker Sean Lee was ruled out for the Cowboys because of a neck injury. Ironically, though, Dallas has played some of its best defense this season without Lee on the field (of course those games were against the Raiders and Giants). I can't really figure that out or know what it means, but it seems to be true. I think the Cowboys will have just enough to beat the Packers in Arlington.
Cowboys 31, Packers 27
Bengals at Steelers, 8:30 p.m. NBC
Last stand for Pittsburgh in its attempt to make the playoffs. Cincinnati has looked too strong and I don't think it will drop this game.
Bengals 24, Steelers 17
Ravens at Lions, 8:30 p.m. Monday night ESPN
Defending champion Baltimore won a wacky game over the Vikings last week at home and have won three in a row to launch themselves into the AFC playoff picture. Currently, the Ravens hold the final playoff spot but the Dolphins and Chargers on hot on their heels. Detroit has been up and down all season, losing the Buccaneers one week at home and the pounding the Packers 40-10 on Thanksgiving. Last week, Detroit could not stop the Eagles' running attack and lost in the snow, 34-20. Back at home, the Lions should find better footing and they usually get their offense going in the dome. Baltimore has been playing solid defense but I think the Lions will get just enough offense to win this one.
Lions 28, Ravens 24
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Virginia soccer
Like the Virginia women last weekend, the Virginia men fell in the NCAA tournament semifinals Friday, 2-1, to Maryland. The men started out their season 1-3 but quickly rebounded, going unbeaten in their next 11 matches with seven victories and four ties. In the end, the Cavaliers could not get over the hump and beat Maryland, which also beat them in the ACC title game. The Terrapins went 2-0-1 against Virginia this season in their last season in the ACC.
Both the men's and women's soccer teams should have great seasons against next year. The men only had two seniors this year while the women has a few seniors graduating but lots of talent returning.
Playoff berths and seeding are at stake as NFL teams enter Week 15. Already Thursday, the Chargers got a huge win over the Broncos in Denver, 27-20. San Diego is now 7-7 and right behind the Dolphins and Ravens (7-6) for the sixth and final AFC playoff spot. Denver meanwhile lost its grip on potential home field advantage in the playoffs and fell to 11-3. The Patriots are 10-3 and because they beat Denver, they would get the No. 1 AFC spot if they win out. Last week I went a measly 2-4 and am ow 37-33 on the season. On to the picks!
Bears at Browns, 1 p.m. FOX
The Browns came oh-so-close to upsetting the Patriots on the road last weekend but a furious New England rally won it for Tom Brady and Co. At home this season, the Browns have been decent. Jason Campbell under center has given Cleveland the best chance at wins this season and he played very solidly. The Bears are coming off a demolishing of the Cowboys but are taking out their red-hot backuip QB, Josh McCown, in favor of starter Jay Cutler, who is healthy for the first time in weeks. The Browns defense is pretty strong and playing at home against a rusty Cutler, I can smell a potential upset here.
Browns 28, Bears 26
Patriots at Dolphins, 1 p.m. CBS
New England is 10-3 this season but has had many close calls in wins over the Jets (three points), Falcons (seven points), Bills (three points), Saints (three points), Broncos (three points in OT), Texans (three points), and Browns (one point). Miami has played pretty well at home and has won three of four and hasn't lost by double digits since a 27-17 setback at New England on Oct. 27. I think Miami gets a much-needed victory this weekend at home.
Dolphins 27, Patriots 24
Packers at Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. FOX
Cowboy fans including myself breathed a sigh of relief Friday when the Packers announced QB Aaron Rodgers would miss another game with a separated shoulder. Matt Flynn will again start in his place. GReen Bay is 1-4-1 without Rodgers starting and the win came last week at home over the Falcons. Green Bay can absolutely win this game without Rodgers because the Dallas defense has been very bad this season and made Josh McCown look like a star for the Bears on Monday night. Also, on Friday, linebacker Sean Lee was ruled out for the Cowboys because of a neck injury. Ironically, though, Dallas has played some of its best defense this season without Lee on the field (of course those games were against the Raiders and Giants). I can't really figure that out or know what it means, but it seems to be true. I think the Cowboys will have just enough to beat the Packers in Arlington.
Cowboys 31, Packers 27
Bengals at Steelers, 8:30 p.m. NBC
Last stand for Pittsburgh in its attempt to make the playoffs. Cincinnati has looked too strong and I don't think it will drop this game.
Bengals 24, Steelers 17
Ravens at Lions, 8:30 p.m. Monday night ESPN
Defending champion Baltimore won a wacky game over the Vikings last week at home and have won three in a row to launch themselves into the AFC playoff picture. Currently, the Ravens hold the final playoff spot but the Dolphins and Chargers on hot on their heels. Detroit has been up and down all season, losing the Buccaneers one week at home and the pounding the Packers 40-10 on Thanksgiving. Last week, Detroit could not stop the Eagles' running attack and lost in the snow, 34-20. Back at home, the Lions should find better footing and they usually get their offense going in the dome. Baltimore has been playing solid defense but I think the Lions will get just enough offense to win this one.
Lions 28, Ravens 24
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Virginia soccer
Like the Virginia women last weekend, the Virginia men fell in the NCAA tournament semifinals Friday, 2-1, to Maryland. The men started out their season 1-3 but quickly rebounded, going unbeaten in their next 11 matches with seven victories and four ties. In the end, the Cavaliers could not get over the hump and beat Maryland, which also beat them in the ACC title game. The Terrapins went 2-0-1 against Virginia this season in their last season in the ACC.
Both the men's and women's soccer teams should have great seasons against next year. The men only had two seniors this year while the women has a few seniors graduating but lots of talent returning.
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