Wrap Up - Week 19

My Picks

@Titans -3 Ravens

Give Titans’ running back Chris Johnson the first 100 yard game against the Ravens this year, and give Tennessee the win.

Ravens win this one 13-10. During the first half of this game, I thought this sentence from my preview of this game was going to be prophetic. Then, the Ravens got physical on defense and Chris Johnson disappeared. He was huddled in his parka on the sideline for the entire 2nd half. The Titans dominated this game in total yardage and other statistics, but it was the ability of the Ravens’ defense to force turnovers. Algae Crumpler’s fumble near the goal line was a back-breaker for the Titans.

@Panthers -10 Cardinals

Kurt Warner and company will have no fear. It sounds like Anquan Boldin is going to play. Edgerrin James is happy again. I am starting to feel the Cardinals’ momentum. There is always an exception that proves a rule and a Cardinals’ win will prove that they cannot win on the East Coast.

Cards win this game 33-13. I felt good about this pick on Friday night, but I felt great about the pick when I saw that no one on Fox or CBS picked the Cards. Boldin did not play, but the Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald more than made up for his absence. Kurt Warner played his normal game, but Jake Delhomme was out of sync the whole game. He was awful. Once again, turnovers were the big story of this game and Delhomme had a fumble and five interceptions. A remarkable win for the Cardinals.

@Giants -4 Eagles

The Eagles are the flavor of the month in these NFL playoffs. Forget about it. Forget about the absence of Plaxico Burress. The Giants are going to manhandle these guys.

I am not sure I could have been more wrong about this game. The Eagles won 23-11. Eli Manning played about as well as Jake Delhomme played last night. Manning could not throw into the wind at all. The Eagles’ defensive line played better than the Giants’ offensive line. The Eagles stopped them on short yardage several times in the 4th quarter. Eagles play at the Cardinals next week. Are you kidding me?

@Steelers -6 Chargers

The key match-up in this game is not one player versus another player. The Steelers’ Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau has to find a way to stop Chargers’ running back Darren Sproles. LeBeau only has about 50 years of experience in the NFL, so I believe he will come up with a game plan to stop Sproles.

The Steelers won this game 35-24. I have been watching the NFL for about 25 years and I have never seen a quarter like the 3rd quarter in this game. The Steelers ran every play except one. Sproles was held in check until a long TD pass in garbage time. The Chargers had two turnovers--a muffed punt and an interception. The most valuable player for the Steelers was running back Willie Parker. Parker had over 130 yards rushing. He looked better and healthier in this game than he has looked all season. Next week’s game with the Ravens is going to be fun to watch.


Playoff Picks: 6-2
Regular Season: 134-114-8
Fantasy Player Picks: 90-62-5