Borderline Fantastic Sports

Falcons @ Cardinals
Evan: I love the Falcons story and have become a Matt Ryan fan. I know the Cardinals have a big edge at home. What they also have another edge - an EDGErrin James distraction that is! Pick: Falcons
Mike: ESPN had a poll question, ‘What is the most intriguing Wild Card matchup?’ I went with this game. It was way behind the others, only getting about 6%. So many questions. What will Matt Ryan be like in the playoffs? What will Arizona be like having a playoff game at home? Is Kurt Warner still able to win? Do you remember last year’s Falcons team? This is the only game this week I am thinking for more than a second about who to pick. Since I’m going with the road team in the other games and there can’t possibly be 4 road wins, I have to go with the Cardinals.
Matt: Arizona did not play well to close the season, but they are very potent in the passing game and solid on defense. Atlanta comes in pretty hot, and there just seems to be something about this team. I can’t believe I am saying this, but I think I trust Matt Ryan more than Kurt Warner. Crazy, I know. This is a game where I don’t care who advances, because I think Warner is a good story this year and so are the Falcons. I think the Falcons will ride Matty Ice and a strong game from Michael Turner to victory. Pick: Falcons
Ahad: This game is the biggest question mark of the weekend for me. Arizona has looked really bad the last few weeks while the Falcons have played really well. All logic points against the Falcons here. They are on the road with a rookie QB. Arizona will try and get points on the board early in order to force the Falcons into abandoning the running game. Look for Kurt Warner’s experience to lead the Cards to victory. Pick: Cards

Colts @ Chargers
Evan: Both teams come in with a lot of momentum Phillip Rivers has had a great year, and while the Colts have been real hot, I don’t fell like they are winning the way they used to. Pick: Chargers
Mike: I’ll use Evan’s phrase, ‘the Colts have been real hot.’ I think that about does it for me. Pick: Colts
Matt: The Colts are as hot as they come right now, but the Chargers are close behind. It is amazing the Chargers even made the playoffs. The winner of this game should scare the daylights out of either Pittsburgh or Tennessee. I think the winner has a great shot at the Super Bowl. Both QB’s had fantastic seasons, and I have always been a big Peyton Manning fan. This one should be fun to watch. Pick: Colts
Ahad: Both teams on riding high coming into this game. The Chargers have been on fire on the defensive side of the ball since Ron Rivera took over. They are back to being an aggressive attacking defense, even with Merriman. One intriguing aspect of this matchup is that both teams have struggled running the ball this year. LT really misses Lorenzo Neal, but has shown glimpses of being the old LT in recent weeks. If it comes down to which team has a better passing attack, the Colts will win. However, I see LT and Sproles causing some problems for the Colts defense. Pick: Chargers

Ravens @ Dolphins
Evan: Miami hosting a playoff came? crazy. They say that defense wins championships, and rookie quarterbacks do not (save big ben). I’m going with Pennington. Pick: Dolphins
Mike: Even more than remember how bad the Falcons were last year, what about the Dolphins? And they get a home playoff game. Against a rookie QB. Ravens D lives for the playoffs. Pick: Ravens
Matt: Both of these teams were last in their respective divisions last year and turned it around big time behind rookie head coaches. These are two more great stories. I think the Dolphins are going to gear up to shut down the run, putting the game in Flacco’s hands. I think Pennington will play his usual turnover-free, dink and dunk style game. He will have to against Ed Reed and the opportunistic Ravens defense. I like both teams, but I like the Dolphins at home. Pick: Dolphins
Ahad: Neither offense is going to scare anyone, but the Ravens defense is nasty enough to make up for the offense. I expect an ugly defensive struggle. Pick: Ravens

Eagles @ Vikings
Evan: The confluence of circumstances that occurred to put the Eagles in this game are astounding. I think Philly knows that and will not take it for granted. The Eagles need to run the ball at least 30 times to win, because Sal Paolantonio said so. I think Westbrook has a big day. Pick: Eagles
Mike: I thought that Minnesota was a solid place for football, yet they can’t sell out the stadium for a playoff game? I don’t know about running the ball 30 times but I think they need to throw it in there enough, even if they are getting no gains. This Minnesota run defense will be tough. This Eagles D knows exactly what it has to do, stop AP. At least when the D has a job, they get it done. I hope the O gets it done just enough. Pick: Eagles
Matt: I do care who advances in this game, and I will obviously be rooting for the Vikings. Can they get it done? I don’t really know. I believe Tarvaris Jackson will be starting, so the key will be if he can make some plays down the field to take pressure off AP. With all the things going the Eagles way these past few weeks, they have the feel of a team of destiny. I think they take this one before getting ousted next week. Pick: Eagles
Ahad: Playing in a dome is perfect for Andy Reid, but not necessarily for the Eagles. I am concerned that he will try and throw the ball 100 times. However, Tavaris Jackson will be a sitting duck for the Eagles defense which is among the best in the league statistically. Look for big plays in the passing game with Westbrook. Pick: Eagles

Ahad is victorious in this season’s picks. He won by a solid 3 games. Evan will wonder what-if as he finished 4 back after not submitting any picks for Week 15. Evan can hang his hat on winning the group on Ice Cream Helmet. That group includes all games, includes spreads, and wager points. So, while Evan only had 1 more correct pick than Matt and I in the ICH group, thanks to wager points he won by 57. An impressive showing.

I decided I wasn’t through making picks for the NFL season. So I decided to add playoff games to the mix.

You can either make ICH Picks or create a group and invite your friends.

Home team in CAPS. Spreads are from time of this posting and may change before kickoff.

Raiders @ Buccaneers, Sunday 1pm
Ahad: All Eagles fans will be rooting for the Raiders to pull off the upset, but I don’t see it happening. Everything points in favor of the Bucs in this one. Not only is the NFC South a juggernaut at home, but the Raiders won last week. When was the last time the Raiders won two weeks in a row? Pick: Buccaneers
Evan: I completely agree with Ahad. Pick: Raiders
Mike: What about that NFC South home juggernaut last week against the Chargers? Still, I don’t see it happening twice in a row. Pick: Buccaneers
Matt: You have to believe the Buccaneers can pull this one out, right? Teams have been able to run on the Bucs the past few weeks, so look for the Raiders to do more of the same. I don’t think it will be enough, though. Jeff Garcia should make just enough plays to get the Buccaneers over the hump. Pick: Buccaneers

Bears @ Texans, Sunday 1pm
Ahad: The Bears still have a shot at the playoffs and Texans are running out the clock on the season. The Texans are coming off a bad loss to the Raiders; any loss to the Raiders is a bad loss. Pick: Bears
Evan: Texans play the role of spoiler, briefly giving the Eagles fans hope before they flip the channel and see the Bucs stick a game winning field goal. Pick: Texans
Mike: Texans may be a .500 team forever. Just not getting over the hump. Although, you could argue that without the hurricane related troubles early in the season, they might have come close to a playoff spot. I don’t count the Raiders loss against them. They had to go to Oakland and the Raiders have been playing better. Pick: Bears
Matt: Like Mike said, Houston has been hovering around .500 to finish the season the past few years. They need one more win to get there. Chicago is still playing for a playoff spot and division title. I like Houston at home to end Chicago’s playoff run. Pick: Houston

Dolphins @ Jets, Sunday 4:15pm
Ahad: The Division is at stake in this battle. The Dolphins can complete one of the biggest turnarounds in NFL history with a win. I would love to see the Dolphins win this one just because of Chad Pennington. The Jets basically put the blame on him for the team’s recent failures. He is a solid quarterback. It would be amazing to see Pennington come into the Meadowlands and end the Jets season. Pick: Dolphins
Evan: I can’t wait for this game. I’m gonna go with Favre in the cold weather. Pick: Jets
Mike: Farve in cold weather? This won’t be Pennington’s 1st cold weather game. Also, its going to be fairly warm tomorrow, at least until the sun goes down. The Jets have been struggling and the Dolphins are 8-1 in their last 9. Pick: Dolphins
Matt: This should be a good game. It is hard for me to root against either team or either QB. I like them both. I think Pennington has more added incentive to win, and what a turnaround it would be for the Dolphins. You have to like a story like that. The Dolphins are hot, and the Jets are not. Simple as that. Pick: Dolphins

Cowboys @ Eagles, Sunday 4:15pm
Ahad: This game really doesn’t need any other build-up to be an intense battle. Both teams are fighting for playoff spots. These teams are very tough to get a read on. They can look really good and really bad in the same game. This could be the last game in the Reid/McNabb era and it could be Wade Phillips’ last game as head coach. I think this game will be just as exciting as the first matchup. With all of the receivers back, Reggie Brown can go back to being a spectator. He is a bum who won’t be back next year. The crowd should be extremely hostile for this game. I look for turnovers and special teams to be the difference. Pick: Eagles
Evan: I concur. Eagles.
Mike: I’m not sure this is an easy one to pick if it’s meaningless for the Eagles. Had they known the whole week they were out and playing to spoil the Cowboys season, I think its a different story. Of course, it is also the Eagles style to show up when they are just too far out. Pick: Cowboys
Matt: Let me just put it this way. If the Cowboys lose, I am going to lose a lot of faith in them further down the road in future seasons. They have tons of talent…let’s see it show up when they absolutely need a win. Granted, they have been struck by an enormous amount of injuries and drama this season, but good teams are supposed to overcome that. Let’s see if they do. In my opinion, the Cowboys need to ride Tashard Choice to victory. Yeah, that’s right, Tashard Choice. If he gets 25-30 touches, they should end up winning the game. Pick: Cowboys

Broncos @ Chargers, Sunday 8:15pm
Ahad: The Broncos are on the verge of a huge collapse. Granted if Ed didn’t blow the call in the first meeting, this game is meaningless. The Charges are on a hot streak and keep it going all the way into the playoffs. LT finally has an “LT” caliber game. Pick: San Diego
Evan: Ahad has shown to be incredibly intelligent this week. Pick: SD
Mike: The Chargers win in Tampa Bay gave me a little confidence in them. I have none in the Broncos. Pick: Chargers
Matt: Ah, yes, the Ed Hochuli Bowl. It would be great if he were officiating this one. The Chargers are hot and extremely lucky to be in the position they are. Denver could not get the job done in winning the division. San Diego will thank them for their collapse. They will be a tough out in the playoffs. Pick: San Diego

Everyone is very busy these days. Here are last week’s results.

Ravens @ Cowboys, Saturday 8:15pm
Evan: I am benching Romo for this game in favor of Matt Ryan. Ravens defense is too stingy. Also, do you think they’re a little pissed off after that Pittsburgh game? Pick: Ravens
Mike: Wow, a good NFL Net matchup? There is a small chance I’ll check out some of this game. How is Pacman back? How many times has he been done for the year? I think the question is if the Cowboys are clicking or if the Giants are just lousy now. The Ravens came so close to OT. Ravens D: good. Flacco: good. Pick: Ravens
Ahad: The Ravens defense is nasty. They will be fired up after that call against the Steelers last week. Romo will spend much of the evening on the ground. Pick: Ravens
Matt: The Ravens defense may be nasty, but the Cowboys defense has played very well over the past 5 weeks or so. They should continue to play well here. As long as Romo has time in the pocket, he should be able to challenge the Ravens secondary. This is also the last game in Texas Stadium (most likely), so the Cowboys have some extra incentive. I say they get it done again this week. Pick: Cowboys

Steelers @ Titans, Sunday 1pm
Evan: A few weeks ago I said I was going to continue picking against the Titans until they lost. Well, that has happened, and I’m still picking against them. Pick: Steelers
Mike: I talked about how I liked the Steelers this year and add to that the Titans looking like they’ve forgotten how to win. My only concern is that it may be too warm in Tennessee for the Steelers. Pick: Steelers
Ahad: The Titans are missing 2 starting d-linemen and the Steelers can stop the run. Pick: Steelers
Matt: I also like the Steelers in this game, and I am not quite sure why. This will be another grind it out game between two tough defenses. The winner likely gets home field throughout the playoffs. Pick: Steelers

Chargers @ Buccaneers, Sunday 1pm
Evan: I know who we are all rooting for here, and I actually think Phillip Rivers will put on a show. The problem is that the Bucs are too good at home. Pick: Tampa
Mike: Bucs at home, I’ve learned my lesson. The Chargers don’t scare me much either. Pick: Buccaneers
Ahad: NFC South at home, enough said. Pick: Tampa
Matt: Oh boy, this is a tough one. The Chargers can still win the division, so they will come ready to play. It is hard to pick against Tampa Bay at home, but they have been faltering of late. Who knows what you will get with the Chargers? If they play like they do in the 4th quarter, they can win this game. I’d like the Chargers to make things interesting going into their final game against Denver. Pick: Chargers

Falcons @ Vikings, Sunday 4:15pm
Evan: I know who we are all rooting for here, and I actually think Matt Ryan will put on a show. The problem (or good thing) is that the Vikings are home, and, well, I’ve just got a feeling. Pick: Minnesota
Mike: Motivating the Vikings: a division crown. Motivating the Falcons: a playoff spot (assuming they would also beat the Rams). The Vikings haven’t decided on Jackson or Frerotte, but that isn’t too concerning. The Pat Williams injury concerns me for the Vikings. I have the opposite feeling of Evan, Matt Ryan will put on a show and lead his team to a victory. Pick: Falcons
Ahad: Who is playing QB for the Vikings this week? Jackson was impressive last week. Peterson runs wild at home. Pick: Vikings
Matt: Pat Williams missing from the lineup will hurt the Vikings some, but they at least still have the other half of the Williams wall. I think Adrian Peterson outplays Michael Turner, and the Vikings defense forces a few turnovers from Matt Ryan. Pick: Vikings

Panthers @ Giants, Sunday 8:15pm
Evan: I feel like this is a marquee matchup that I’m not real excited about watching. I’ve never liked either of these teams. It will kind of be like watching Ohio State and USC play or The Yankees and Astros. Pick: Giants
Mike: I liked the Panthers because they drafted Kerry Collins. They don’t really cross my mind much these days. What is going on with the Giants? The numbers are fairly even in this game. Take away Burress but add it being in NY still leaves it up in the air. I’ve got to lean on the fact that the Giants aren’t playing well. Pick: Panthers
Ahad: The Giants are struggling. The offensive line is banged up and the Panthers are on a roll. The Panthers are the one team from the NFC South that I can see winning on the road. They will rely on the running game to carry them to victory. Pick: Panthers
Matt: The Giants are reeling a little bit, and the Panthers are hot. If the Panthers can get their running game going, it will be good night for the Giants. I think Delhomme will struggle a bit. However, I somehow feel the Giants will pull this one out. Just call it a gut feeling. Pick: Giants

Browns/Eagles
Mike: The game should not have been that close. I don’t mind the trick plays, but having DeSean Jackson passing inside the 5 is not a bright move. Also, remember when the Eagles couldn’t run the 2-minute drill? Reid would bumble the clock and the offense would wind up with no points. Now we seem to be able to march down the field no problem and then wind up throwing a pick or getting a field goal back. Can we have the old Reid back? I’d rather no points than the other team getting 7 and going into the half with momentum. I’m concerned about the Eagles playoff prospects. Winning out guarantees them the 7th spot, ahead of Dallas. To get in the playoffs they need a loss by Tampa Bay or Atlanta. Thanks to that tie their win over Atlanta doesn’t help them out. Atlanta has the best chance to lost, playing in Minnesota this week. St. Louis in the final week shouldn’t be a huge hurdle. Tampa Bay hosts San Diego and Oakland to finish the season. I don’t see much hope in either of them.
Evan: Did anyone else see Samuel toss the ball before he got in the endzone? WTF is going on with this team? You would think that the coaching staff would have made a big enough deal after DeSean’s incident that the ref would have to pry the football out of the player’s hands every time they scored. I agree with Mike on the playoff issue. I was bummed out when I looked at the Falcons and Bucs schedule. Minnesota beating Atlanta is the only realistic option. I believe I said something about the tie coming back to haunt the Eagles a few weeks ago (not that I was the only one).
Ahad: I came away from this game completely unimpressed with the Birds. This game should have been an even bigger blowout. The redzone production was pathetic. The so-called offense balance they have now is a farce. They really only run the ball after the game is in hand. The next two games will be very tough and the Eagles will have to play a lot better if they are going to win out. Right now, they can’t worry about the teams ahead them losing, they just need to take care of themselves and hope things fall in place.

Steelers
Mike: I have a confession to make. I’m liking the Steelers this year. I’m not sure why exactly. Rothelisburger has been playing hurt and managing to win games I didn’t think they had any business being in. My argument in his early years was that he was not an elite QB. He isn’t in the sense of putting up big numbers like your Mannings (of the Peyton variety) or Bradys. He’s good because he wins with an offensive line that doesn’t seem to want to do their job every week. I also like Tomlin. Something always bothered me about Cowher. It helps that, to me, no other individuals really stand out when watching the game. As long as I don’t see too much Parker, Ward, or Polamalu, I’m ok. I think my half watching approach to the games helps that. It seems horrible to enjoy the Steelers, but who else is there in the AFC? I wanted the Bills to do well, I’ve always like them. I would pull for the Titans in the playoffs, but they seem to be running into trouble. No worries about this spreading. I see no redeeming qualities in any of the NFC East teams.
Ahad: I can’t believe you.
Matt: I do feel that the AFC representative in the Super Bowl will either be the Steelers or Colts. The Steelers are riding on some serious luck the past two weeks, and I don’t think that can continue if they wish to get to the Super Bowl. They are gonna have to generate some more offense than they are now. I am also a fan of Tomlin, but I have also always liked Cowher.

Bills
Ahad: How bad have things gotten for this team? They had that game in hand and somehow found a way to lose it at the end. Why on Earth would you stop running the ball at the end of the game? They were controlling the ground game and would have been able to run out the clock before that terrible call for the play action pass that turned into the game winning TD for the Jets.
Matt: Very bad. Very, very bad. Wow, everyone, including us back in September and October thought the Bills would win the division. How times have changed. They have only won one game since then, and I believe that was against the Chiefs. Hopefully, they can finish what they started this year, next year.

Cowboys
Matt: They were able to really dominate the Giants defensively. Their pass rush has really cranked it up a few notches these past few weeks. They need to just keep playing the way they are defensively and get the offense rolling again as they push for the playoffs. I also could not believe TO called out and bashed Ed Werder for his reports last week. Who knows what to believe out there. All I know is that TO needs to shut up and play (and catch the ball when it is thrown to him). And how about that Tashard Choice?

Buccaneers @ Falcons, Sunday 1pm
Ahad: The home team will prevail yet again in the NFC South. Pick: Falcons
Mike: This one looks like a tossup. A Bucs win puts them in a very nice position to make the playoffs, with their last games being at home against the Chargers and Raiders. My concern with this game is that Garcia is questionable. Pick: Falcons
Matt: The home teams won again in their matchups last week. Can the Buccaneers defense turn it around after the beating they took last week? Most likely. Monte Kiffin will have them ready and playing better this week, but I don’t think it will be enough. Pick: Falcons

Bills @ Jets, Sunday 1pm
Ahad: The Bills are taking on a lot of water. This team is nothing like the one from the beginning of the season. The Jets still have a good chance at winning the division. Pick: Jets
Mike: What happened to both of these teams? The Jets took over as AFC East favorites and then lost to the Broncos and 49ers. I think the Jets at least have some life in them, the Bills appear to have given up. Pick: Jets
Matt: The Bills have not been playing that well at all, and they will have J. P. Losman guiding them this weekend I believe. Brett Favre is going to have to start making plays for the Jets. I think he gets it done here. Pick: Jets

Vikings @ Cardinals, Sunday 4:05pm
Ahad: The Cards have the division wrapped up and the Vikings are in desperate need of wins. The Vikings should be able to run the ball against the Cards defense. Peterson carries his team to victory. Pick: Vikings
Mike: The Cardinals have clinched the NFC West, but that isn’t saying much. They have looked out of it the last few weeks. With their playoff berth assured, I don’t see them getting up for this one. Pick: Vikings
Matt: The Cardinals have been pretty good against the run this year, but they haven’t seen a running back like Adrian Peterson. They have also been tough at home, so it’s hard to call this game. Will Tarvaris Jackson be able to make some plays? Hopefully, he won’t have to. The Vikings need the win to maintain their one game lead over the Bears. Pick: Cardinals

Steelers @ Ravens, Sunday 4:15pm
Ahad: This should be a great defensive game. If you are a fan of great offensive games, don’t bother to watch this one. I predict a low-scoring defensive struggle with some violent collisions. This game will come down to which defense is able to force turnovers and possibly put points on the boards. The Ravens have the edge on special teams, and I believe that could be a big factor in the game. Pick: Ravens
Mike: I don’t understand these east coast 4pm kickoffs. It’s cold enough at 1. I’m enjoying watching the Steelers in these cold games though. They seem to me like early in the season it was just too warm for them to play. Pick: Steelers
Matt: The Ravens had this game back in September before the Steelers came back to force overtime and win. Should be another great game between these two teams that have serious hatred towards each other. Should be a lot of good hittin’ and we shall see if this so-called ‘bounty’ on Hines Ward comes to fruition. I actually think the Ravens are more balanced of a team than the Steelers, and that is why I like them. Pick: Ravens

Giants @ Cowboys, Sunday 8:15pm
Ahad: The Giants are angry after the loss to the Eagles and the Cowboys are in turmoil again. Pick: Giants
Mike: I’ve never seen as many items on the Bottom Line than there were for the Cowboys this week. Between TO’s comments about Romo/Witten, Jerry Jones’ comments about Barber, and Pacman’s injury tit took a few minutes to get through them all. Who would have thought the team with the star player who shot himself would be the team with less drama. Pick: Giants
Matt: Yikes, what a week. It is clearly obvious that ESPN and the media love anything having to do with the Cowboys. Even though everyone seems to be downplaying these reports, there must be some truth to it. What is TO’s deal? Maybe if Romo trusted him to secure a catch in a critical situation, then maybe he would throw to him more. Witten is the more consistent and reliable threat. Anyways, should be a close game. Both teams have their injuries and scandal issues. The Cowboys need to find a way to fight through everything going on around the team. They played tough last week, and should have won the game in a hostile environment. If they play with the same intensity and heart, they should take this game. Pick: Cowboys

Eagles
Mike: This team makes my head hurt thinking about them. Are they going to lose to the Browns now on MNF and blow what they’ve done these past 2 weeks? Can we get rid of David Akers yet? He makes a crazy 51-yarder, making me think he may be back to his old self. Only to show his new self by getting a short field goal blocked. As for Fox, why did we have to get the worst team for this game? I would pay a great deal of money for a TV with a Siragusa mute button. And what was with the cameramen following blowing bags and trash? They even missed a play why they were following a bag. Apparently the Fox cameramen haven’t seen wind before. Or they’ve just lost the will to live after having to listen to that broadcasting team.
Evan: I missed the game entirely, which sucks because I was very much looking forward to watching it, especially since I was the only one to actually pick the eagles! I think the Eagles beat the Browns on Monday night, then beat Redskins, then tie the Cowboys. Chaos will ensue and it will be decided that the wild card tiebreaker will be decided by whosever home state had the highest ranked BCS school.
Ahad: I was rooting for the Eagles, but couldn’t pick them so I would “win” either way. I don’t blame Akers for the blocked kicks. There really isn’t much he can do about it if his blocking sucks. This team is poised for a playoff run. It is good that they basically control their own destiny. This way they won’t back into the playoffs, if they make it. The Siragusa mute button is a fantastic idea. I will gladly pay for that.
Matt: I only was able to watch some of this game before I had to depart to the Seahawks game. I thought the Eagles were fit to pull the upset. On a side note, my pre-game sideline pass put me within a couple feet of guys like Bill Belichick and Randy Moss among others. Belichick maintained his smug face as I shouted obscenities at him. I hope the Cowboys-Eagles game at the end of the season is a winner goes to the playoffs game. It would get pretty ugly.

What is the best division in football?
Ahad: I am hearing a lot of love for the NFC South, but I have to do NFC East. Of course I am a little biased. The teams in the South are playing well, but most of these teams do their damage at home. I seriously doubt any of those teams, except maybe Carolina, can go on the road and win in the playoffs.
Matt: I would say the NFC East as well. First off, the NFC East is 3-0 against teams from the NFC South with one to play. The South has compiled many of their wins against the sad sack AFC West (although, the NFC East has played the NFC West, so no difference really). I was very impressed with what Carolina did to Tampa Bay on Monday Night. I feel like they could go into Giants Stadium next week and beat the Giants if they run like they did Monday Night. I just feel that the NFC East teams are better balanced in all phases of the game than the South.

Eagles @ Giants, Sunday 1pm
Evan: Eagles need it, Giants don’t. Also, when’s the last time the Eagles won a game they weren’t supposed to? They’re due. Pick: Philly
Ahad: Eagles have to win this game. Pick: Giants
Mike: The Eagles took care of Arizona with no problem on Thanksgiving. They were able to shut down a running game that the Cardinals don’t have. Good work. The Giants will have no problem running the ball. The Eagles problems on 3rd & short will continue. Pick: Giants
Matt: The Eagles really do need this game to stay in the playoff hunt. It will be interesting to see if the Giants can continue to play up to their standards amid the media circus surrounding the Plaxico situation. I think the Giants could be vulnerable in this game. The Eagles were just some bad playcalling away from possibly beating the Giants when they met in Philly last month. I still think the Giants will win this game though. Pick: New York

Falcons @ Saints, Sunday 1pm
Evan: I’m on the Matt Ryan bandwagon. Pick: Atlanta
Ahad: I believe the Saints are going to have to deal with suspensions this week. I think NFC South teams have lost at home only twice this year, I am going against that trend. Pick: Atlanta
Mike: I think the suspensions won’t be in effect this weekend after all the appeals. Not that it will change much. I don’t think the Saints can hang. Pick: Falcons
Matt: I keep needing the Falcons to lose, but they just aren’t doing it. New Orleans is back home, and as Ahad mentioned, NFC South teams have been tough at home. The Falcons should be able to run the ball, especially if the suspensions for the Saints take effect. If the Saints can stop the run just enough, I think Brees and their offense will put up enough points to win. Pick: New Orleans

Dolphins @ Bills, Sunday 4:05pm (in Toronto)
Evan: The fish can’t handle the cold waters of Buffalo. Pick: Bills
Ahad: The game is in Toronto. Fans have petitioned to have them open the roof of the former Sky Dome. Pick: Dolphins
Mike: When I was reading about the game in Toronto they said that the goal was to have the roof open as much as possible. I don’t know what to make of this Bills team. They were everyone’s favorite to win the division and since have gone 1-5. Pick: Dolphins
Matt: Miami shouldn’t beat Buffalo at home (even if it is Toronto), but Buffalo lost to San Francisco last week. The Bills’ special teams need to make some plays, unlike last week when they couldn’t make a chip shot field goal. If the special teams make a bunch of plays, I like the Bills. I just don’t think they will make enough. Pick: Miami

Cowboys @ Steelers, Sunday 4:15pm
Evan: I feel like this is the game to watch. Gotta have the Cowboys lose this one. Pick: Pittsburgh
Ahad: Pac-Man coming back doesn’t make a difference. Pick: Steelers
Mike: I’ve heard a lot of talk about how the Cowboys are ‘back.’ Really? Your proof is the Skins, Niners, and Seahawks. No thanks. The Steelers are at the top of the league right now with the Giants. Pick: Steelers
Matt: Best game of the week. I am super excited, except for the fact I am going to miss it. I am going to the Seahawks game (thanks to Bobby Engram) and the game is not airing on Fox because of the stupid rule that when a Seahawks game is on, that can be the only game on, even though they are on separate stations. Hopefully, I can catch it later in the week on NFL Network Replay. The Cowboys’ playoff chances aren’t going to go down the drain if they lose, but it would be a certain confidence booster if they win. If the offensive line can protect Romo, he should be able to pick apart the Steelers secondary. It is supposed to be cold and possibly snowy, so whoever can run the ball better should win the game. The Cowboys just can’t turn the ball over. If they do, the Steelers will win. Gotta go with the my team, though. Pick: Dallas

Buccaneers @ Panthers, Monday 8:30pm
Evan: Can’t pick against the worst 9-3 team in NFL history. Pick: Bucs
Ahad: Panthers are rolling. Maybe Steve Smith will actually get in the end zone this week. Pick: Panthers
Mike: Panthers are rolling. Bucs are pretty hot themselves. Not an especially appealing MNG game on the surface but actually may be one of the best matchups of the year. It looks like a toss-up to me. I trust in Jeff Garcia. Pick: Buccaneers
Matt: Cowboys have the tiebreaker over the Buccaneers, so I will be rooting for the Panthers. Carolina got blown out earlier this season by Tampa Bay, but this game will be much closer. Gotta go with the home team in the NFC South. Pick: Carolina