Week 13 – Playoff Push!

It’s time to make the playoff push! Whether you have given up on your own team and are only rooting for fantasy purposes is your own decision. Hopefully, you can still make the playoffs in reality and in fantasy-land.

Manwich Matchup of the Week:
Green Bay @ Dallas – I realize the Packers have only lost 1 game, but I get the impression that on both sides of the ball, they can just dominate the Packers. The most interesting question will be how much scoring happens in this game. At least 8 prominent fantasy players are involved in this game.
Pick: Dallas

Upset of the Week:
Jacksonville @ Indy- Indy’s been playing sloppier of late as they have struggled a bit. Jacksonville seems to be playing even better now that Garrard is back. Did you know? Garrard has a QB rating of 103.1 !!! Clearly, it’s not his measly 9 TDs, but rather his 65% completion percentage.
Pick: Jacksonville

Opening Round Playoff Game #4
Buffalo @ Washington – Both teams are 5-6. In the NFC, a 9-7 team (maybe even 8-8?) could make the playoffs. In the AFC it still seems like 10 wins would be needed to get in, though it is possible a 9-7 team could squeak in with enough tiebreakers (read: conference wins). This game involves two teams involved in big losing streaks (Buffalo’s lost 2 in a row; Washington 3 in a row)… someone has to win though. I’m looking at Portis to have a big rushing day.
Pick: Washington

Opening Round Playoff Game #5
Detroit @ Minnesota – Detroit is 6-5 and Minnesota is 5-6. I really feel like this game will go a long way to determining the second wildcard! Minnesota still may not have consistent QB play, but their defense has been picking up the scoring slack.
Pick: Minnesota

Opening Round Playoff Game #6
Houston @ Tennessee – In their first game earlier this season, it was a wild and crazy shootout with the backup QBs. This time, the starting QBs are back, but Tennessee’s still missing Haynesworth, who currently is still an unknown for this game. Is Tennessee’s defense really completely dependent on one man?
Pick: Tennessee

Opening Playoff Game #7
Tampa @ New Orleans- This is more of a play-in game for the Saints. Falling to 5-7 would be a real difficult situation. The problem is though that the Saints can’t play any defense… but just when I should give up on the Saints… Jeff Garcia gets injured and is probably going to miss the game. That wouldn’t be a big loss normally. But word is, Luke McCown is starting! McCown family get-together this weekend is in New Orleans! Always bet against the McCown family. Always! Josh has a career QB rating of 70, but Luke has a career rating of 51.8, with only 6 appearances.
Pick: New Orleans

Unlikely Playoff Contender Game
Cleveland @ Arizona – Now this game is scary for the Browns. Why? Because the Browns are giving up a league-worst 400 yards per game? No. The reason it’s scary… is because Nobody beats the Whizz after he loses to San Francisco! (earlier in the season, the Whizz took his revenge on Seattle in Week 2).
Pick: Arizona

Gus Frerotte Lives
Atl @ St. Louis – Bulger is banged up, and for some reason, I’ve never thought that betting on Gus Frerotte is a good idea.
Pick: Atlanta

NY Jets @ Miami – I don’t ever remember an 0-11 team being favored. Granted, I don't remember any other 0-11 teams. But at this moment, the Miami Dolphins are 1.5 point favorites! And you know what, I too believe they will get their first win. They have been so unlucky, so it really is time. I think Ginn will have a TD this week.
Pick: Miami

San Diego @ KC – Phillip Rivers is the most inconsistent QB in the league. KC has a neat little rookie named Kolby Smith who was probably picked up Sunday afternoon by millions of fantasy players as he rumbled his way to 150 yards in his first start. The question of course is whether his career will turn out more like Barry Word or Larry Johnson.
Pick: San Diego

Seattle @ Philly – Interesting game because the Seahawks haven’t played great, while the Eagles have been playing better but are still only 5-6. A backup Eagles QB who everyone thinks is washed up (AJ Feeley) leading the team to the playoffs isn't unheard of (see 2006: Jeff Garcia).
Pick: Philly

San Fran @ CAR – Just hope no one has to watch this. Frank Gore scored his first touchdown since like labor day last weekend.
Pick: San Fran

Denver @ Oakland – Hooray! The Raiders won a divisional game, after losing their previous 17. Late season fantasy all-star Justin Fargas had a whopping 139 yards for the Raiders which leads me to the question of the day: Is the Raiders O-line damn good? What I do know is now would be a good time to start a new streak for the Raiders...
Pick: Denver

Giants @ Chicago – The Bears can still make the playoffs, as they are one of many 5-6 teams with a chance in the NFC. Watching Eli Manning on the lowlights last week was saddening. Don’t start Eli Manning if he’s on your fantasy team. Not this year or next.
Pick: Chicago

Cincy @ Pitt – The Steelers have been playing pretty awful lately but they still keep winning. The Bengals have all-offense and zero defense as usual, so every game is an adventure.
Pick: Pitt

New England @ Baltimore – If only Baltimore had a chance. Maybe we’ll see Troy Smith finally when the Ravens are down 30 points in the 2nd half.
Pick: New England by four touchdowns

Last Week: 10-6
Season: 112-64 (Note: The Yahoo! Average is also actually 112-64. So while I’m enjoying picking many games correctly, so is everyone else this season!)
Manwich: 9-3 (I actually got Cleveland, New Orleans, and San Diego correct in my three-way mini-manwich week. Just so things stay neat, I’m counting that as one correct Manwich, because none of those games individually were worthy of a Manwich.)
Upset of the Week: 6-6 (Picking the Redskins over Tampa was a mistake. R.I.P. Sean Taylor.).