Mikey's NFL picks

Last week: 4-2 Season record: 85-39-1 Many people, including yours truly, consider this the best weekend in football.  We've weeded out the lesser playoff teams, and while there are only four games, the matchups feature the best teams in the NFL.  This is when some really good teams go home, and when four teams will be one win from the Super Bowl.  Yeah I know I'm stating the obvious, but I'm just really giddy--not because of the quality of the games, but because my New York Football Giants are still standing.  I did not pick them to win last week but was thrilled that they did.  Now they look to upset the 1-seed Eagles, which is very unlikely but after watching last week, not completely out of the question.  So you're saying there's a chance?  Yes I am.  Let's get to it...... Jacksonville at Kansas City --If anyone knows Andy Reid's coaching tendencies, it's Jags' coach Doug Pederson, who played for Reid and coached under him.  This Jags tea...

Last time (Week 17): 12-3 Season record: 81-37-1 So last week after the Damar Hamlin near-death experience shook the NFL universe, I wasn't exactly in the mood to make my Week 18 predictions.  Thankfully, Damar is out of the hospital and doing really, really well; which is better news than anything from any actual games being played.  What's more, the news kept getting better.  By Sunday afternoon, there were tweets and photos of Damar watching the Bills-Patriots game in his hospital room with his parents, as the Bills' Nyheim Hines ran back the opening kickoff for a touchdown.  That gave everyone in Buffalo and every football fan everywhere a jolt of pure and cathartic elation that we needed more than any of us realized.   And now we gear up for the playoffs, starting with two games tomorrow.  So let's make some picks! Seattle at San Francisco --I think we're going to be reminded that this first weekend of the playoffs usually features lopsided s...

Last week: 12-4 Season record: 69-34-1 Things are getting interesting and exciting and, in some ways, absolutely riveting.  This is when the NFL is must-see TV, vying for playoff berths and positioning.  And at the moment, there are so many teams that are still alive for the postseason, it's even more intriguing.  So let's go..... Dallas at Tennessee --Did anyone else happen to get the license plate of the suck truck that blindsided the Titans over a month ago?  I didn't realize they had lost five in a row until literally just now.  Make that six.  Cowboys 41, Titans 17 Arizona at Atlanta --All this matchup makes we wanna do is yawn.  A lot.  Falcons 20, Cards 16 Chicago at Detroit --The Bears have an outside shot at the #1 overall pick, and of all teams it's the Lions that can help them with that.  Lions 31, Bears 23 Jacksonville at Houston --The division leaders in each South division have losing records at 7-8.  Which begs the qu...

Last week: 10-6 Season record: 57-30-1 There are just three weekends left in the NFL regular season.  They have been talking playoff scenarios for about a month now, and that will ramp up more before and after Christmas this weekend.  Last year the playoffs, especially the divisional round, was one of the best ever, so we are all hoping that we don't get a letdown this time.  Well, we've had some insane endings this month, and if that's an indication of what's to come, as Kramer would say, "GIDDYUP!"   Jacksonville at NY Jets --Just when we start to think the Jets are for real, they remember that they are the Jets.  Jags 17, Jets 16 Atlanta at Baltimore --The Ravens are 9-5 and watching their highlights makes you wonder how they have squeezed out nine wins.  Ravens 20, Falcons 16 Detroit at Carolina --Nothing stops the SOUP train, apparently.  Lions 30, Panthers 17 Buffalo at Chicago --The high temperature on Saturday in Chicago will be 10 degrees...

Last week: 9-4 Season record: 47-24-1 Not only do we get a Saturday with three games this week, but we get a full slate for the first time in several weeks.  Playoff talk and implications are dominating the NFL media landscape as every team has now played 13 games.  As far as I know, Roger Goodell has not yet planned for a game to be played at the North Pole in December.....let's hope he's not reading this!   San Francisco at Seattle --It was kind of hilarious that Tom Brady had to leave tickets for 100 family members and friends in his hometown, only for him to get owned by the Niners' third-string QB, Brock Purdy.  Purdy was born in December of 1999, FOUR MONTHS before Brady was drafted by the Patriots.  Damn.  Niners 23, Seahawks 22 Indianapolis at Minnesota --Remember when Peyton Manning called his kicker Mike Vanderjagt an "idiot kicker"?  Good times.  Vikings 27, Colts 16 Baltimore at Cleveland --DeShaun Watson has made the Browns' offe...

Last week: 10-4-1 Season record: 38-20-1 I really hate the tie rule in the NFL.  Am I happy the Giants didn't lose Sunday?  Yes.  Am I pissed they didn't win Sunday?  Yes.  Ties suck, but they especially suck when your team had so many missed opportunities, plus a taunting penalty on an offensive lineman who was merely celebrating with his receiver after a great catch.  I know they suck for the players and teams, but ties just make fans feel weird.  I would propose that after 10 minutes of overtime, they go to a field goal competition similar to the shootout in hockey.  I guess the only problem with that is that there won't be a W-L-OL standings model, which still confuses me after all this time following the NHL.  But whatever.....they tied and so I tied my pick.  And now, here are the picks for week 14..... Las Vegas at LA Rams --Somehow Vegas at the LA Rams sounds sexier than Oakland at St. Louis, right?  Rams 23, Raiders 20 NY J...