Week 15 - Desperation Time

With only 3 weeks to go, I will try to perform better this week by going with the teams that have more to play for. This will probably backfire, as everything else I touch seems to backfire this season!

Manwich Matchup of the Week
Giants @ Dallas - The Cowboys have to be considered the more desperate team at this point, especially with the Giants already having clinched at least a division title. Next week, the Giants play the Panthers to essentially determine home field anyways. So, because the Cowboys are at home and appear to more desperate, they are the choice.
Pick: Dallas

Upset of the Week
Opening Round Playoff Game #2 (the first one took place back in week 4 when Cleveland took out Cincy)
New Orleans @ Chicago - This matches up two 7-6 teams who both need to win to really have any chance of making the NFC playoffs which will require 10 wins (if not 10 wins and tiebreakers). The Saints have won 3 of 4, including last week's do-or-die against red-hot Atlanta. The early weather report? 45 degrees and a chance of rain. That's probably not a reliable weather report, but it's better than snow, which would kill the Saints chances.
Pick: Saints

Opening Round Playoff Game #3
Tampa @ ATL - Tampa beat Atlanta in week 2. Atlanta already has 4 conference losses, and a 5th would probably knock it out of any tiebreaking scenarios. A win for Tampa would give them 10 wins, which should get them in, as well as giving them a sweep over Atlanta. Basically, a lot is on the line. When all else fails, go with the more desperate team, which also happens to be at home.
Pick: ATL

Opening Round Playoff Game #4 (for playoff seeding)
Denver @ CAR - This game is probably more for playoff seeding, as Denver will get in with any win or any Charger loss the rest of the season, and CAR only needs one more win (if that). However, I think CAR will be more desperate in this game, because they still have to play the Giants and then the Saints, which will both be desperate for wins I'm guessing.
Pick: CAR

Minny @ Arizona - This is not exactly an opening round playoff game, as Arizona is already clinched and Minny is fighting for its life. This game has many intriguing story lines:
1) We can name the game after Dennis Green, as he coached both teams: the "They Are Who We Thought They Were Game!"
2) At the time of my writing this, it's unclear if Gus Frerotte or Tarvaris Jackson will be starting, which is yet another interesting sub-plot. Granted, rallying against the Lions last week, Mr. Jackson, is something that should be expected.
3) If both teams win their divisions, the winner of this game would likely get a #3 seed, as opposed to a #4 seed.
In the end, I think Minnesota has more to lose, and should be more motivated.
Pick: Minny

Green Bay @ Jacksonville - The Pack already lost 5 of 6 to take themselves out of contention. The Jags were out of contention in October, after losing 4 offensive linemen.
Pick: Green Bay

Detroit @ Indy - The quest for perfection continues! In an interesting sub-plot, the two best QBs from 2004 (Peyton and Culpepper) get to have a shootout. If we can call it that, with the Lions.
Pick: Indy

Washington @ Cincy - The Redskins have lost 4 of 5 to fall to 7-6. Portis is banged up, the passing game is nonexistent. At least the Bungals are the opponent, which should keep Washington in contention for one more week.
Pick: Washington

San Fran @ Miami - Even though all of us may have made fun of the 49ers and their silly "interim" coach Mike Singletary, he actually has gotten them to win 3 of 4, including wins over Buffalo and the Jets. Here comes Miami, which is San Fran's 3rd straight AFC East foe. It seems highly improbable for the 49ers to get to knock off all 3 in a row, all in upsets.
Pick: Miami

Seattle @ St. Louis - I think the Rams players already went on vacation and they hired stunt doubles to finish the season for them. Since this game has a few losers in it, I wanted to take this time to talk about another loser... Minnesota Timberwolves GM Kevin McHale. This week, the T-wolves coach Randy Wittman was fired, McHale was named coach of the team that he assembled. I think I've read this story before: GM is hired based on credentials as player, GM runs team into the ground, GM tries to coach team he assembled. The main in the first installment of the story? Isiah Thomas!
Pick: Seattle

San Diego @ KC - San Diego is still mathematically alive, so long as they win out, and Denver loses out. They do play Denver the last week, which could be really exciting.
Pick: San Diego

Buffalo @ Jets - well, the Bills are definitely done now! Hence, I have to choose the Jets now, who are still in contention.
Pick: Jets

Tennessee @ Houston - Tennessee still needs to lock up home field advantage. I wonder if the Houston Texans will be angry this week because the WNBA's Houston Comets were disbanded? Probably not. Apparently, the NBA let some teams become privately owned... and for some reason, the NBA was not rushing in to save the team. The lack of support for women's basketball is probably low though on the list of industries to be bailed out. Call it a hunch.
Pick: Tennessee

Pitt @ Baltimore - My two least favorite teams duking it out. The Ravens have to be the worst 9-4 team ever. The Ravens will actually be tied for first if they win this game! That would make them the more desperate team, but I hate them too much.
Pick: Pitt

New England @ Oakland - I'm half-tempted to say the Super Bowl curse goes into affect for this game! Don't worry... there's still next week against Arizona for the Patriots to mess up and not make the post-season dance.
Pick: New England

Cleveland @ Philly - The Eagles are the more desperate team, clearly, seeing as they are still in contention. But you have to ask yourself - can the Eagles overcome Ken Dorsey, the Browns' undefeated record on Monday Night (2-0) and the Browns amazing road record (3-3)? yes, they can.
Pick: Philly

Last Week: 10-6 (another respectable week)
Season: 117-90-1
Manwich: 8-7 (the weather in Pittsburgh probably didn't help Romo and the Cowboys)
Upset of the Week: 1-13 (Damn Ravens.)