NFL 2010 Week 17 Picks

Week 17 of the NFL regular season is here!

I have to say – I’m kind of looking forward to just sitting down and watching football without having to worry about how it affects my fantasy team. (The East Dillon Lions came in second, in case you were wondering, after putting up their lowest point total of the season. Choke job!)

Last week was meh (8-8 week, 118-92 season), so let’s see if I can finish this crazy season on a high note.

CAROLINA @ ATLANTA
Like my friend Jon Foster, a die-hard Falcons fan (who knew there was such a thing?!), said, “If the Falcons can’t win at home against Carolina, they don’t even deserve to go to the playoffs!” (Much less have a #1 seed.)

PITTSBURGH @ CLEVELAND
As feisty and competitive as they looked in the early and midway points of the season, the Browns have looked inept and lifeless to close out the year. Bummer.

MINNESOTA @ DETROIT
Can’t wait to see what sort of weather calamity messes with the Vikings this week. Anyway, I’m going with the Lions, who are on fire! (Lions on fire = three straight wins.)

OAKLAND @ KANSAS CITY
Chiefs coach Todd Haley is just crazy enough to play his guys a little bit too long just so he could win this game. (And finish 2010 with a perfect home record.)

MIAMI @ NEW ENGLAND
My other friend Jared summed up Dolphins QB Chad Henne thusly: *$*O#&@^@!!!! (I think it may be time for some changes in Miami.)

TAMPA BAY @ NEW ORLEANS
I’d love to pick the Baby Bucs, but they simply don’t have enough guys to go into New Orleans and pull this out. The latest casualty was starting rookie WR Arrelious Benn. (Damn, you can tell I’m getting reinvested in the Bucs because I didn’t even have to look up how to spell “Arrelious Benn.”)

BUFFALO @ N.Y. JETS
The Jets are pretty much locked into the sixth seed, so I’m looking for Rex Ryan to give his guys some rest. (Hopefully, the entire team will take a rest from having embarrassing videos/tapes/photos/texts/telegrams about them released.)

CINCINNATI @ BALTIMORE
The Ravens still have a chance to win the division, so I expect them to win a tough game over the Bengals and Carson Palmer, who looked positively giddy after the cancellation of the TOcho show last week.

JACKSONVILLE @ HOUSTON
I know David Garrard and Maurice Jones-Drew are out, but I’m just done with the Texans.

N.Y. GIANTS @ WASHINGTON
I know Rex Grossman is still in, but I’m just done with the Giants.

DALLAS @ PHILADELPHIA
Sorry, I can’t help myself: I had a 1.5 point lead over my opponent in the fantasy finals going into Tuesday night’s game. I had DeSean Jackson, and he had Percy Harvin. With Joe Webb throwing to Harvin (and the Vikings secondary depleted), let’s just say I liked my chances. Thanks for nothing, Eagles! Watch them explode against Dallas.

ARIZONA @ SAN FRANCISCO
Mike Singletary. I’ll miss you and your craziness most of all.

CHICAGO @ GREEN BAY
I know Lovie Smith SAYS he wants to beat the Packers, but risking the health of his team is simply not worth it going into the playoffs. Plus, the Packers look like they’re in ass-kicking mode.

TENNESEE @ INDIANAPOLIS
After all that’s been said and written, would YOU want to face the Colts in the first round of the playoffs?

SAN DIEGO @ DENVER
TEEEEEBBBBOOOOWWW!

ST. LOUIS @ SEATTLE
I don’t love the idea of rookie QB Sam Bradford (pictured, right) going into Seattle and locking up the division for the Rams…but then I remembered the Seahawks are starting the not-quite-immortal Charlie Whitehurst.