Destiny Whispers

The day to day world is desperate enough without the holidays. But then the holidays come around. People you didn’t know existed are cutting you off for a parking space. Seriously, where did all these people come from? I never see them in April or August. Are they time travelers from the future? Tourists from Canada who think of New England as “south of the border?” Alien beings masquerading as Toyotas? The entire state of Colorado, all of whom are horribly, horribly lost? Why do they call them “holidays” anyway? You’re telling me this isn’t work?

 

The Patriots haven’t lost a second half of the season game in two years and counting. Getting past both the Texans and the 49ers will be difficult even at home so the streak is certainly in danger. A potential AFC Championship preview followed by a potential Super Bowl preview; the odds of sweeping that two game set can’t be good.

Then again, would you be surprised if New England pulls it off? Belichick. Brady. Am I right?

It’s a long road…

Injuries are starting to take their toll across the league. It seems like every contender has suffered losses. Last year the Bears lost Jay Cutler, this year Brian Urlacher will be out down the stretch. Is that fair? Does such a concept apply in any endeavor where grown men encase themselves in armor then hurl themselves at each other at terminal velocity? There’s bound to be collateral damage. As a Patriots fan I feel totally bummed losing Julian Edelman just as he was emerging as a playmaker. Vikings fans are probably apoplectic over the loss of Percy Harvin. And so it goes. Unlikely heroes arise. A pass is tipped and a game turns.

Game-Time Decisions…

Dallas at Cincinnati – Both of these teams are fighting for their playoff lives! They’re clawing at an implacable pigskin ocean, gasping for breath, crying out to a gridiron god who asks you to please leave a message after the tone. If the season ended today, neither of these teams would not be in the playoffs, which will probably be true three weeks from now. Having said that, a win in this game would put the Cowboys back in the playoff hunt for real (with a Giants loss to the Saints, of course); just the kind of game you can count on Dallas to lose.

Bengals 27, Cowboys 23

Chicago at Minnesota – Christian Ponder has been horrible lately and has never been good against the Bears. Granted, small data samples in both cases but I doubt Ponder is starting for any but the most desperate of fantasy football owners this weekend. With Ponder’s recent performance making Minnesota one of the few likely destinations for Mark Sanchez in 2013 and Percy Harvin out for the season the Vikings are down to Adrian Peterson which isn’t too bad but it won’t be enough.

Bears 24, Vikings 16

Philadelphia at Tampa Bay – Schiano smash!

Buccaneers 34, Eagles 6

Baltimore at Washington – Joe Flacco has been the opposite of elite on the road this year. Robert Griffin III is the pigskin pundits and bobbleheads’ consensus “most exciting athlete in the NFL” and yet the Skins have been an underwhelming 3-3-0 at home. Washington could also pull even with New York in the NFC East with a win against Baltimore and a Giants’ loss to the Saints. Not that there aren’t playoff implications for the Ravens as well. They need to keep winning or risk losing the #2 seed to either New England or Denver. Baltimore might wise up and give Ray Rice 30+ opportunities on Sunday.

NY Jets at Jacksonville – Once upon a time not that long ago, there was an annual AFC East debate as to who was the better QB, Mark Sanchez or Chad Henne. This Sunday, the battle is rejoined. Henne is playing for the chance that someone will overpay for his services in 2013, based on the small data sample of the last six games of 2012 rather than consider his disheartening lifetime stats. This is a big game for him. As for Mark Sanchez, I find his spin on his benching interesting. Do any of us believe Mark Sanchez has an extra gear; that his best is yet to come? Do you think he knows he’s auditioning for the Minnesota Vikings?

Jaguars 27, Jets 10

San Diego at Pittsburgh – Ben Roethlisberger is back and the Steelers are starting to look like that team nobody wants to play, another sixth seed run to the Super Bowl. The Chargers are dead men walking. The one thing they’ve got going for them is that many of the Chargers’ players are auditioning for their next job, too. Unfortunately, they still have Norv Turner coaching them. They might’ve had a chance with an interim head coach. Firing the head coach with four or five games to go always seems to result in a 3-1 or 4-1 closing run that seems to promise so much for the following season though it rarely seems to lead to long term success. Who’s their defensive coordinator? John Pagano? Done.

Steelers 41, Chargers 3

Miami at San Francisco – Facing a 5-7-0 Dolphins team at home would be a classic trap game for the 49ers if they weren’t coming off a loss. I expect they’ll be wearing their angry eyes this Sunday. And the math doesn’t look good for their AFC East foes. San Fran beat the Jets 34-0 and the Bills 45-3 earlier in the season in back to back games. I think the Dolphins are better than either the Jets or the Bills but not that much.

49ers 31, Dolphins 17

New Orleans at NY Giants – Once upon a time, this was a possible NFC Championship match up. This is the Saints’ chance to prove they still belong in the conversation – if not the playoffs. After last week’s pant load game, Drew Brees should be looking to prove he still deserves his seat at the Peyton-Brady-Brees-Rodgers table. And he’s had an extra three days to get ready for this game. Besides, don’t you want to see the G-Men, Washington and Dallas in a three way at 7-6-0? Oh, please pigskin gods, make this happen!

Saints 38, Giants 20

Detroit at Green Bay – I’m not sure you really can salvage your pride by winning your fifth game of the season but it certainly feels better than losing your ninth. I’m just not confident the Lions’ players understand the difference. Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers is still really, really good.

Packers 30, Lions 24

Houston at New England – I can hardly wait for this game. I feel like it’s a game where I’m going to learn a lot about the 2012 Patriots. Big stage, their opponent perhaps the most complete team in the league in the Houston Texans, a signature game, a chance to take their own measure as they make yet another run at the Super Bowl. Of course, five minutes after this game ends, however it ends, they’ll start talking about the 49ers.

Patriots 37, Texans 30

Congrats to Tom and Giselle!