Mikey's NFL picks

Last week: 10-6 Season record: 137-103-1 Here we are in Week 17 and it's impossible to tell week to week who is out in Covid protocol or concussion protocol or freakishly injured or what team is healthy but decides not to put up any points (looking at you, Brady).  It's also bizarre that the first Sunday in January isn't the end to the regular season.  I seriously have no idea how the NFL decided to add another week, but they did.  The good news is that the playoff picture (for the most part) changes every week, so there are only like eight teams eliminated from contention.   So let's see what's on tap, with 15 games on Sunday and the last MNF game of the year..... Atlanta at Buffalo --I'm old enough to remember when the Falcons were considered as possibly the worst team in the NFL.  And I'm talking about this season, how they started 0-2 and gave up a combined 80 points to the Eagles and Bucs.  Somehow Arthur Smith, the rookie coach who  was able...

Last week: 9-7 Season record: 127-97-1 Okay so are we going to have more Tuesday games next week?  I doubt it, because the NFL changed its Covid protocols on the fly last week to account for the Omicron virus which is more contagious but less destructive/deadly.  Or something.  All I know is we have games on Christmas which never sucks.  So let's get to it...... San Francisco at Tennessee --For a while there we were wallowing in week to week shitty match ups.  Suddenly that has changed and we are now blessed with great games this week, including this one of two strong contenders.  Niners 23, Titans 21 Cleveland at Green Bay --Great game on Christmas but the Browns are a mess right now.  Hopefully some of their starters clear covid protocol but they still won't beat this scorching Green Bay team in Green Bay.  Packers 27, Browns 13 Indianapolis at Arizona --Another great matchup on Christmas day.....I don't know what to make of the Cards now after ...

Last week: 8-6 Season record: 118-90-1 So the big news this week is that COVID is running rampant throughout the NFL.  This does not bode well for predictions, or for the fantasy playoffs, not to mention the actual games themselves!  So consider these picks with a giant asterisk.   Kansas City at LA Chargers --The two QBs in the league that are right now the most fun to watch will be on the same field.  Giddy up.  Chiefs 34, Chargers 31 Las Vegas at Cleveland --No truth to the rumor that the Browns will let anyone off the street with a vaccine card play QB for them on Saturday.  Raiders 22, Browns 19 New England at Indianapolis --The second of two Saturday games on the NFL Network, and a really good game, assuming the Covid hasn't messed with these rosters too much.  Patriots 30, Colts 24 Carolina at Buffalo --The Bills need this win like I need football on Sundays.  Bills 27, Panthers 13 Arizona at Detroit --The Cards need to rebound from a ...

Last week: 8-6 Season record: 110-84-1 We are already in Week 14, but the good news is that we're still seeing weird upsets and so the parity if off the charts. It's hard to figure who will be the 1 through 7 seeds, much less the 9 through 14 seeds that could still be in it mathematically.  And I'm here for it.  I mean, with no one team dominating (though you could make that argument for the Patriots and Bucs now), things are up in the air and that's great for the sport.  But enough of that.  Let's get to it! Pittsburgh at Minnesota --A rematch of Super Bowl 9 for those of you keeping score.  Vikings 26, Steelers 23 Baltimore at Cleveland --I heard a pundit talking about how the Ravens are 8-4 but could easily be 2-10, they've been lucky and have had timely success this season.  I know that is an overreaction but I also believe in the Bill Parcells "you are what your record is" and I think the Ravens are better than the Browns this season.  Ravens 23, ...

Last week: 9-6 Season record: 102-78-1 It's still weird to think there will be 18 weeks of regular season games.  That's all.  Now on to the picks.... Tampa Bay at Atlanta --The Bucs are already rounding into playoff form, and if they can run the ball with Leonard Fournette like they did last week, it's hard not to like them to repeat as champs.  Bucs 33, Falcons 20 Arizona at Chicago --This is the "they are who we thought they were" Dennis Green memorial bowl.  Cards 28, Bears 17 LA Chargers at Cincinnati --I think Justin Herbert is finding out you can't necessarily turn the spigot on whenever you want.  Bengals 26, Chargers 23 Minnesota at Detroit --Well, at least the Lions won't be 0-17 this year.  Vikings 27, Lions 13 NY Giants at Miami --The Dolphins have quietly climbed back to relevance while no one noticed.  The Giants' offense has continued  to shit the bed while everyone noticed.  Dolphins 16, Giants 6 Philadelphia at NY Jets --I wo...

Last week: 9-6 Season record: 101-78-1 Well, last week was thankfully not as wacky as most games in the previous month were.  Now, with the playoff picture starting to take shape, some teams are pulling ahead; some are dropping out of the race; and some are just trying to wreck some other team's season.   Dallas at New Orleans --This would have been a compelling matchup, if not for the fact that the Saints have a Trevor Siemian sized problem.  And Dallas is pissed after starting the season 6-1, and then losing three of four to fall to 7-4.  The Eagles and WFT are still a ways back in the rear view mirror, but what's that thing they say about objects being closer than they appear?  Cowboys 41, Saints 17