Your Football Picks for December 17

Thanks to the New York Jets laying an egg against the Bills, I went 3-1 last week. I don’t really have a whole lot to say, except the Jets aren’t who I thought they were. They’re just another underachieving team in the AFC East. Remember those Super Bowl Champ Dolphins? Yeah, that was a good one. I even thought it was a possibility. Oh well, huh? Anyway, here are your picks for Sunday. As always, the line may go up and down by tomorrow morning and you can thank Caesar’s Palace later.

Minnesota -3.5 vs. New York Jets – I didn’t want this to sound like my revenge game, but the Jets become one-dimensional this weekend. Facing a run defense that gives up less than 60 yards a game, I see Chad Pennington throwing a whole lot. That was the game plan of the Lions and Cardinals, and they both lost to the monsters of Minnesota, who are still 6-7 despite their defensive success. Is Kevan Barlow the featured back in Jersey? No? It’s Cedric? No, wait, it’s got to be Leon Washington, right? Well, whoever it is, none of it really matters. Brad Johnson is somewhere in his late 30’s and about to hand the ball over to Tarvaris Jackson next year (maybe this year if Johnson continues to stand around like a statue like Mr. Bledsoe). This game is going to last about 5 hours, so make plans to change the channel on your Direct TV very often. It’s going to be a boring one, but not the worst. That would be Chicago destroying those Bucs, and I’d pick the Bears to cover except you can’t trust ole’ Rex.

New Orleans -9.5 vs. Washington – How does a team with Sean Taylor, Troy Vincent, Carlos Rogers, and Shawn Springs get ranked 24th in the league? Easy. They’re coached by a man who’s been out of the league over 10 years and his defensive assistant has been exposed. Of course, that’s a little harsh when injuries have been hampering the Skins all year. However, they shouldn’t be this bad, and they’re about to face the NFC offensive juggernaut known as the Saints. That’s right, everybody. This is the year 2006, not 1996. The Saints are an amazing team to watch, and that’s coming from a Bucs fan. And it wasn’t even Reggie Bush that saved New Orleans from another disastrous season. Drew Brees was sent packing by the Chargers, and the Dolphins were fixated on Daunte. But it is Brees that has emerged as the only good quarterback in the entire NFC. Sorry, Tony Romo, but what Brees did this year should be commended, as an example that you can come back from a dead shoulder and throw bombs all day long. That’s what’s going to happen here, folks, and I expect about 3 or 4 passing touchdowns by Brees before the end of the day. If they can destroy the media darling Cowboys, they’re going to royally screw up the Redskins.

Green Bay -5.5 vs. Detroit – Why? Because it’s the Lions.

St. Louis +3 at Oakland – So here is the best game of the weekend. One team can’t score, and the other is going back to basics. Those basics are being the Rams of yesteryear, as in not winning every weekend when they were in Anaheim. Oakland’s defense should get an ESPY for dealing with so much crap all season, but it’s hard to sympathize when they never traded Jerry Porter or picked up Matt Leinart in the draft. Michael Huff has done well, but the depth on Oakland’s D would have allowed for some offensive improvement. And I don’t know what’s the problem with the Rams. They’re a lot like the underachievers in the AFC East, except they’re a good team. Losing on a consistent basis seems to be their MO. Oh wait, it’s the defense that sucks. There we go. It sounds like I’m picking Oakland, but this is one of those their rare times where a good defense isn’t going to beat a good offense. Brady Quinn is watching and waiting.

Last week: 3-1

Overall: 3-1