Speakeasy NFL predictions
By Speakeasy Sports, Feature
November 29, 2008 | 11:47 a.m.
The Race for the Case standings sit like this:
1. Nick .671
2. Grant .614
3. Zach .605
4. Will .595
5. Justin .594
6. Britton .545
The season isn't close to over, so there's still time for the kid with the foreign country's name to come back. The season is over, however, for the Cleveland Brownouts.
Sunday, Nov. 30
1 p.m.:
San Francisco 49ers @ Buffalo Bills (FOX)
Zach: BUF 27 SF 17 - Can either of these teams play worse on late night?
Britton:
Will: BUF 24 SF 21 - Canada or not, Buffalo shouldn't have any trouble here.
Nick: BUF 31 SF 13- I saw a graphic when my cousins were playing Madden that the NFL had a team fold in 1931, and they had to play the rest of the reason without them. While I doubt it’s legal to force a franchise into folding, I’m in favor of anything that will suspend 49ers games until they are capable of winning the SWAC.
Grant: BUF 31 SF 13 - I’m not buying the Bills resurgence. The Chefs served one up on a silver platter and decided to simply not play defense last week. I do think Buffalo will be decent down the stretch, just not good enough to make the playoffs.
Justin:
Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals (CBS)
Zach: BAL 24 CIN 23 - Baltimore is still not as good as a lot of people think...but Cincy is as bad as people think.
Britton:
Will: BAL 26 CIN 6 - How much longer can the Baltimore D carry the team?
Nick: BAL 29 CIN 20- Cincinnati, Ohio 11/16/08: Third and seven from the Eagle 47, eight minutes left in OT, Bengals with the ball. Of course, the natural thought would be: “You’re 1-8, you have nothing to lose,” but Marvin Lewis interpreted that as “Hey! A tie doesn’t go in the loss column, just like a win!” and ran the ball with Kenny Watson, then punted. Karma will smite them for playing for a tie.
Grant: BAL 23 CIN 7 - I don’t think I’ve ever spelled the Bungals city correctly. It’s probably because it doesn’t matter all that much. In other news, what’s gotten into the Baby Blackbirds? Playoff contenders with a rookie quarterback and coach? Sound familiar, Atlanta?
Justin:
New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (FOX)
Zach: NO 30 TB 27 - Drew Brees is unbelievable, and Tampa's offensive coordinator might be leaving to be an assistant under his son...
Britton:
Will: NO 34 TB 33 - I got nothing against Tampa but for whatever reason I just feel like their due for a heartbreaker.
Nick: TB 24 NO 17- Once again, no one knows what to make of the Saints. I feel more confident in my chances to make the NBA than I do picking New Orleans games.
Grant: NO 31 TB 17 - Reggie’s back, and now it’s time for America’s (Offensive) Team to make a push to the playoffs. They probably need to run the table, but four of their last five are against teams with records above .500. Hey, it could happen. In other news, it's time for me to stop picking the Cardinals...
Justin:
New York Giants @ Washington Redskins (FOX)
Zach: NYG 31 WAS 17 - Every time I have to pick a game with the Bucs in it, I think back to the game they failed to score a point in the first half against the Cleveland Browns at home.
Britton:
Will: WAS 24 NYG 21 - It's time to see just how real the Redskins are, if at all.
Nick:NYG 38 WAS 28- The Giants are great on the road and the ‘Skins are .500 at home. The Giants always pack the heat, too. Let’s hope it doesn’t accidentally go off.
Grant: NYG 24 WAS 10 - Giants = best team in football. Redskins = not so much.
Justin:
Miami Dolphins @ St. Louis Rams (CBS)
Zach: MIA 31 STL 10 - Is Chad Pennington really that good?
Britton:
Will: STL 21 MIA 20 - I love the Wildcat but it's only a matter of time until someone shuts in down completely. Probably won't be the Rams but I'm feeling an upset.
Nick: MIA 20 STL 18- The Dolphins often play down to the level of their competition, but I don’t know if that’s possible this week; the Rams have been outscored by their opponents by 197 points in 11 weeks. It’s difficult to be worse than rock bottom.
Grant: MIA 31 STL 20 - From 1-15 to relevance again at 6-5, Tony Sparano should get a considerable amount of votes for Coach of the Year. If not for anything else, just for the talent-maximizing Wildcat formation.
Justin:
Indianapolis Colts @ Cleveland Browns (CBS)
Zach: CLE 24 IND 23 - Why not? I have nothing to lose, just like the Brownies. Plus, who wouldn't pick D.A. over Peyton Manning?
Britton:
Will: IND 35 CLE 19 - The game couldn't have come at a better time for the Colts.
Nick:IND 34 CLE 19- I look forward to watching this game with a bunch of Browns fans. I’m setting the over/under of how many times a profanity and Derek Anderson’s name are grouped together at 29.
Grant: IND 27 CLE 10 - Vinatieri’s last second field goal gave me a career record for wins in a week (12) and put the Colts back in the playoff picture. For the record, no I don’t think “Derek Anderson, part 3” works out for Mr. Crennel. Coach watch, week 13. How long after the season until the Brownies “reevaluate” Romeo and give him the ax?
Justin:
Carolina Panthers @ Green Bay Packers (FOX)
Zach: GB 27 CAR 20 - Either Brett Favre is good or Aaron Rodgers is overrated. Maybe that sentence should be a "both...and" statement.
Britton:
Will: I think Carolina is the most complete team in the NFC South but stealing a win away from the Pack at Lambeau is another story.
Nick:CAR 33 GB 27- Carolina is a team built for the cold weather, but even if I’m wrong and Green Bay wins, the Panthers players don’t have to spend seven months a year in Wisconsin. Who’s the real winner here?
Grant: CAR 30 GB 21 - The Hack Pack needs this more than Carolina, but the Panther running game is rollin’ and the Swiss Cheesehead defense isn’t going to be able to stop them.
Justin:
4:05 p.m.:
Atlanta Falcons @ San Diego Chargers (FOX)
Zach: ATL 30 SD 27 - I'm calling for a Falcons-Dolphins Super Bowl. Anyone else take that bet?
Britton:
Will: SD 33 ATL 28 - Michael Turner will break out against his old troops but Matt Ryan will struggle in his first trip to the west coast.
Nick:ATL 24 SD 22- I lose almost every game Atlanta plays, so now I’m picking them out of spite. This is just a kiss of death pick.
Grant: ATL 24 SD 23 - See: Ravens, Baltimore (but better).
Justin:
4:15 p.m.:
Denver Broncos @ New York Jets (CBS)
Zach: NYJ 27 DEN 26 - The Broncos are better than how they are playing, but New York is just too good.
Britton:
Will: NYJ 31 DEN 23 - The feel good story of the year is Brett Favre's resurrection of the Jets. It's too hard to root against them.
Nick: NYJ 34 DEN 21- I’m hoping the Jets win the East simply because I want to see Brett’s inevitable four interception playoff game. I can see him unbuckling his chin strap and staring in disbelief already. I can’t wait.
Grant: NYJ 24 DEN 13 - There should be some kind of rule prohibiting any team who loses to the Raiders (by a lot) from making the postseason.
Justin:
Pittsburgh Steelers @ New England Patriots (CBS)
Zach: NE 24 PIT 20 - In honor of the Bobcats' victory over the RedHawks. Poor Big Ben.
Britton:
Will: PIT 24 NE 23 - Really should take the Pats but Pittsburgh's gotta beat them sometime, right?
NE 27 PIT 25- Starting quarterback: out for the year. Starting running back: missed significant time. Best defensive player: missed significant time. Best cornerback: departed in free agency. New England: probably going make the playoffs, AGAIN. I’m pretty sure they’re mocking us.
Grant: PIT 34 NE 12 - ’08 Steel Curtain = time to start a new hand.
Justin:
Kansas City Chiefs @ Oakland Raiders (CBS)
Zach: OAK 17 KC 13 - The Sup-less Bowl.
Britton:
Will: OAK 16 KC 9 - Even for Kansas City standards, the Chiefs are embarrassing.
Nick:OAK 7 KC -5- Can we officially put the “Darren McFadden is Adrian Peterson 2.0” argument to rest? I feel in the mood for a hearty “I told ya so.”
Grant: OAK 7 KC 0 - I’m hoping that this week (the last week of the fantasy regular season) is the week where Thig Life has his off week. That way, he can explode in the next three weeks and win me some caaash.
Justin:
8:15 p.m.:
Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings (NBC)
Zach: MIN 27 CHI 24 - Just a Gus feeling.
Britton:
Will: MIN 28 CHI 20 - Picking the Bears isn't exactly my Forte.
Nick:MIN 30 CHI 28- It never fails to amaze me how bleak the Vikings can make things look. This week, I was excited at the chance we MIGHT be able to sign New England’s backup QB after the season and three of our four best defensive players MIGHT not get suspended. Purple Pride?
Grant: CHI 48 MIN 41 - This was the score the last time these two played. I’m only saying that because I have no idea if either defense is any good. Really.
Justin:
Monday, Nov. 17
8:30 p.m.:
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans (ESPN)
Zach: HOU 20 JAC 17 - What a boring Monday night game.
Britton:
Will: JAC 27 HOU 13 - Thankfully it's about that time for the Texans to embarrass themselves on national television.
Nick:HOU 24 JAC 6- Jacksonville has officially cashed out. Whether you want to interpret that as “The Jaguars are playing half-heartedly” or “Matt Jones is out of drug money” is up to you. Both are applicable.
Grant: JAC 25 HOU 16 - Once again, schedule makers, you do a great job.
Justin: