Jen continues to be red hot with her... unorthodox picking methodologies, extending her group lead to seven. To quote Adam:
This is a fickle game; one which even the one with the least knowledge may best us all.You can view the group standings here, bearing in mind that Adam has one more point on ESPN than he should. Correct group standings, in addition to how we've all picked in relation to each other, can be seen here.
On a micro level, I took three of five disputed games from Adam last week, not that I needed the extra game as I clinched the column title already. But for Week 17, I wanted to open the forum to the remainder of the coalition, so I invited everyone to send in their picks ahead of time this week. Adam and I were able to recruit our wives this week, while Geoffrey Clark also agreed to send in his picks.
To the group, thank you all for a good season, and good luck! With five people, it's easier to say where there's agreement, and amazingly, we found common ground on two of them. Let's get to the picks!
Sunday, Early Afternoon
Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-1.5)
Lucas: Falcons. I just don't think Tampa should be a favorite, even at home, against the Falcons. Taking the upset.
Adam: Buccaneers. Atlanta has let me down this year. How about one more time, Matty Ice?
Lucas note: To quote Geoffrey, "Death, taxes, and football in Georgia."
Geoffrey: Buccaneers. The Falcons are about to wrap up a real letdown of a season, and I'm sure they just want to go home and forget about it. The Bucs will benefit from this.
Kristen: Buccaneers. Football is stupid.
Jen: Falcons. Taking the top (road) team.
Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills (-3.5)
Lucas: Bills. Reverse Miami Effect; warm weather team heading to a cold weather locale.
Adam: Bills. For pride as this game doesn’t matter. How about this for a twist: have Vontae Davis make an epic return to finish out the last half of the last game?
Lucas note: I like it!
Geoffrey: Dolphins. They're playing their starters, and if the talent advantage isn't enough, them trying to show they'll belong in next year's playoffs will be.
Kristen. Bills. I have a lot of bills; it's relatable.
Jen: Bills. Taking the bottom (home) team.
Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants (-6.5)
Lucas: Cowboys. I feel like this line is broken. I know Dallas is locked into the four seed, but the Giants have nothing to play for either. I'll take the points with that in mind.
Adam: Giants. It’s the starter for the G-Men against the back up for the pansy Cowgirls. Hope the Dallas fan base is happy trading a playoff game for another insufferable year of Jason Garrett.
Lucas note:
Kristen: Cowboys. We can't all be Cowboys. Also, cowboy boots are ugly and stupid.
Lucas note: To quote John Madormo, "We're not all cowboys." It was mainly about country music, but I think it applies more broadly than that.
Jen: Giants. Taking the bottom (home) team).
Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers (-7.5)
Lucas: Packers. I'm reluctant to lay this many points on a not particularly good Green Bay team, even against a last place Lions team, but Week 17's against the Lions tend to work pretty well for the Packers.
Geoffrey: Packers. A bad season not many saw coming will end on a high note as the new punching bag of the NFC North visits Lambeau. Historically, the Lions have not fared well compared to the rest of the division, and they're back where they belong.
Lucas note: Thank you, Geoffrey.
Kristen: Lions. Because cats. Next game.
Jen: Lions. Taking the top (road) team.
New York Jets @ New England Patriots (-13.5)
Lucas: Patriots. The Bills are better than the Jets, and while they barely covered against New England last week, the Pats have a chance still at home field advantage. If the road to the Super Bowl goes through Foxboro, is there any way Brady doesn't make another one? Laying the points.
Adam: Jets. The Pats have this wrapped up already, will most likely rest folks and stroll into the playoffs. Taking the 13.5 hard.
Geoffrey: Patriots. Though they don't seem like the Super Bowl threat they've been, it goes without saying that the talent remains far superior to New York's. They'll do whatever it takes to get that first-round bye.
Kristen: Patriots. I hate them, but I'm picking them because Patriots.
Jen: Patriots. Taking the bottom (home) team.
Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints (-10.5)
Lucas: Panthers. I'm not a huge fan of teams playing twice in three weeks, and this is I think the second time it's happened this year. The Panthers kept things close with the Saints in Carolina, and with a double digit line, I think they could do the same again here.
Adam: Saints. This, on the other hand... even with home field locked up, I see the Saints going off as they usually do and cruising the pitiful Panthers.
Geoffrey: Saints. This will be a curtain call for what has been a fantastic regular season. The road to the Super Bowl runs through New Orleans, and they won't let a divisional opponent that's about to close up shop for the year have its way in the Superdome.
Kristen. Panthers. Duh, black cats.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans (-7.5)
Lucas: Texans. Just move the Jags to London or Mexico City and call it a day.
Adam: Texans. Pride. Oh, and J.J. MF'in Watt too.
Geoffrey: Texans. You've got one team moving on and another on the way down. Houston will win handily and then look to see how it benefited them in playoff seeding.
Kristen: Jaguars. More cats.
Jen: Jaguars. Taking the top (road) team.
Lucas note: I'm beginning to sense a pattern here...
Adam note: Jen began to give me individual game reasons, but it became apparent what all of them were going to be. She went Top, Bottom, Bottom, i.e., Road team, Home team, Home team. At least that is her pattern this week. She indicated she has done everything from blindly picking, having an old neighbor pick and even simply selecting the autofill.
Lucas note: ...HOW ARE WE LOSING TO BLIND/COMPUTER/NEIGHBOR PICKING?!
Sunday, Late Afternoon
Chicago Bears @ Minnesota Vikings (-5.5)
Lucas: Bears. How am I getting points with the Bears? SIGN ME UP!
Adam: Bears. Risky, I know, as the Bears may just lay low and pass on this game to rest players. But this game, the Rams/49ers and the Philly/Washington game all will play on how this ends up. With the possibly of a first round bye, I think the bears play for it. Plus I would prefer Eagles to the Vikes anyway.
Lucas note: Be careful what you wish for...
Geoffrey: Vikings. While the Bears have an outside shot at a first-round bye, Minnesota faces a simple win-and-in situation. These teams will meet again in the wild-card game at Soldier Field next week.
Kristen: Bears. I can Bear-ly get interested in this.
Lucas note: ...
Jen: Vikings. Taking the bottom (home) team.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers (-14.5)
Lucas: Bengals. This is a lot of points to lay, even with the Telenovela that might finally be peaking at the right time. I'll take the points.
Adam: Steelers. And Bell goes off for... another team. So long Le'Veon. ‘Cause what Pitt does not need is more [cow]bell.
Lucas note: Don't fear the reaper, y'all.
Lucas note: I look forward to Marvin Lewis coming back again next year as the Bungles continue in mediocrity.
Kristen: Bengals. Making it 4 for 4 on Cat teams.
Jen: Steelers. Taking the bottom (home) team.
Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens (-6.5)
Lucas: Browns. It's a resounding success of a season for the Browns with a chance for technically a winning season. Add on a possible chance to play spoiler for the Ravens? Sign me up!
Adam: Browns. In a position to significantly have a say in the outcome of the playoff standings, I think we are in for a treat next year for the Browns.
Geoffrey: Ravens. A win here will give them the AFC North title, and it will happen in spite of a Browns team that proved good times are ahead in Cleveland for the first time in awhile.
Lucas note: I shouldn't take potshots at Cleveland, but I'm pretty sure Geoff was the one who introduced me to these and it seemed appropriate. (Note: video does contain some NSFW language)
Jen: Browns. Taking the top (road) team.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Denver Broncos (+6.5)
Lucas: Chargers. Look, I'm not going to start advocating for an overhaul of the playoff system because I like rewarding division winners with a home playoff game, but it's a shame that a potentially 12-4 team could have to play basically the entire postseason on the road.
Adam: Chargers. Playing for a possible first round bye and home field. And only giving 6.5! Easy.
Lucas note: Always remember: it's easy... except when it's not.
Geoffrey: Chargers. They've been overlooked this year despite their record, and to prove they belong in the Super Bowl discussion, they'll keep themselves in contention for the AFC West title for as long as possible.
Kristen: Chargers. Their logo looks like a banana trying to be a lightning bolt... identity crisis!
Lucas note: This reminds me of a story about a vegetable peeler with an inappropriate name...
Jen: Broncos. Taking the bottom (home) team.
Oakland Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs (-13.5)
Lucas: Chiefs. I feel like the Chiefs peaked too early, especially after having dropped their past two even though they're understandable losses. Fortunately they get one more tuneup to make everyone think the Chiefs are favorites before January Andy Reid shows up. (Note: video contains NSFW language)
Geoffrey: Chiefs. Do I really need to explain this one? It will be fun to watch KC literally send the Raiders into oblivion. Any chance NCC can host them next year? The Chargers already play in an MLS stadium, so why not?
Lucas note: YES!!!!!!!!!
Kristen: Chiefs. I got nothing. Next game.
Jen: Chiefs. Taking the bottom (road) team.
San Francisco 49ers @ Los Angeles Rams (-9.5)
Lucas: 49ers. The Niners have played pretty well the last couple weeks, so to lay double digits on a Rams team that's struggling? No thanks.
Adam: 49ers. They played the Bears well, and in their own backyard. I can see this game being very close. The Rams will want to rest some players too and may get a bit greedy by overlooking the 49ers.
Geoffrey: Rams. Take one look at this matchup, and tell me you see it going any other way. The Rams have their fate in their own hands as far as a first-round bye, and they'll only be too happy to take it.
Kristen: Rams. Beat them or be square[d Sevens].
Lucas note: Kristen wanted to make a math joke for obvious reasons. I filled in with inspiration from TMQ.
Jen: 49ers. Taking the top (road) team.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins (+6.5)
Lucas: Eagles. Jolly Old St. Nick(las) Foles / Don't throw the ball away / Don't the Philly Iggles have / Repeating hopes today?
Geoffrey: Eagles. They still have a shot to defend their Super Bowl title, albeit with some help required, so why not go down swinging? Nick Foles will work his magic again.
Kristen: Eagles. Football is stupid.
Jen: Redskins. Taking the bottom (home) team.
Arizona Cardinals @ Seattle Seahawks (-12.5)
Lucas: Seahawks. No one wants to see the Seahawks in the playoffs, especially not me. But then again, I'm biased.
Adam: Cardinals. With Seattle in, they just needs to see who their first playoff opponent will be. I see a late cover as Seattle rests some players.
Geoffrey: Seahawks. Not only are they going to the playoffs, but they're facing a team that would secure the top pick in the draft with a loss. No need to think hard on this one.
Lucas note: I almost went and called this a Tank Bowl and got excited before remembering that the Seahawks aren't tanking. And now I'm sad.
Kristen: Seahawks. See you in Seattle... but probably not.
Jen: Seahawks. Taking the bottom (home) team.
Sunday Night
Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans (+1.5)
Lucas: Colts. Apparently four years without playoff football is enough penance for starting the witch hunt that was Deflategate?
Adam: Colts. By a touchdown. Luck rides again.
Geoffrey: Colts. This is a tough one, but the slightly more experienced Andrew Luck will outplay Marcus Mariota. You could make a case for either of these teams, however.
Kristen: Colts. Because of Colt-y.
Jen: Colts. Taking the top (road) team.
Records So Far
Lucas: 123-117 (11-5 last week)
Adam: 99-141 (10-6 last week)
Geoffrey: 107-133 (7-9 last week)
Joe: 117-123 (6-10 last week)
Aiden: 112-128 (10-6 last week)
Kristen: 120-120 (6-10 last week)
Jen: 130-110 (12-4 last week)
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