NFL Schedule - 2014 [Live Thread Week 17]

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[Liberty Valance]

bttt - son!

Robert Earl Keen - Five Pound Bass

[PreciousLiberty]

SD >>> KC

Go Bolts!

(I’ll also take the Panthers over the Falcons...:)

[MHGinTN]

There will be no tie this weekend, Bendy. And I’m going with your picks for week seventeen. Its all I can do to sit still until my Elephants make buckeye butter.

[onyx]

[Rummyfan]

Merry Chirstmas and A Happy New Year to All My Freeper Football Fanatics! Last week of the regular season... Twelve teams will have games left to play after this weekend and the rest go home. Here goes with fearless predictions, Fickle Finger of Fate be damned!

Week 17

Sunday, Dec. 28

Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. One of these two will have a playoff game next week. From a basic talent perspective the Panthers are better and that will out Sunday. Panthers in the Playoffs! (works alliteratively so why not in reality?)

Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. Now that they have just about thrown the playoffs away (with those losses against the Chargers and Texans), the Ravens will win at home against the hapless Browns when it's too late. Weren't we talking about the Browns in the playoffs recently? Seems like a long time ago....Ravens.

Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers, 1 p.m. Lions have had a good December to date, but against the Packers at Lambeau? Packers!

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans, 1 p.m. Texans are on a roll. Jags won last week yes, but the Texans ain't the Titans. JJ Watt and the Texans win!

San Diego Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m. Philip Rivers. Alex Smith. I'll take Philip Rivers. Chargers!

New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. Jets will find a way to lose and send Rex Ryan on to his next job in proper fashion. Phish!

Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. Two teams going in opposite directions so go with the team on the upswing. Interesting to see what happens to Trestman and Cutler following this final game of the season for Da Bears. Vikings.

Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots, 1 p.m. Win or lose the Pats have home-field for the playoffs. Still, Brady and Belichick will squeak it out. Patriots.

Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants, 1 p.m. Poor Iggles, 9 - 3 to 9 - 6.... How could you lose to the redskins? Oh right, Mark Sanchez! OTOH, Eli and Odell B Jr are white hot. In what I think is Tom Coughlin's last game as Giants head coach, they give him a proper send-off. G-Men win.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. Great win by the Bengals last week but I am not ready to get on the Andy Dalton bandwagon yet. Big Ben has been fantastic and pedestrian by turn this year. Sunday I think he is fantastic again. Steelers win, win the division, and get a playoff home game.

New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. The Saints win this one which works out for the Bucs because they'll be able to draft Marcus Mariotta. 'Aints!

Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. C'mon! Not even the good-bad Colts can lose this one. Colts!

Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Redskins, 1 p.m. The Cowboys managed to lose to the woeful 'Skins in Big D. I don't think they make the same mistake again and they have been great on the road. 'Boys!

Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. Raiders have shown signs of life at home. But in Denver no such vitality, and despite Manning's struggles recently they will overcome. Broncos.

Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. Add the 49ers to that list of imploding teams(Ravens, Browns, Eagles, Bills...). Harbaugh's last game too. But...but... the Cards have no 'O'.... And the Niners won't collapse against the Cards like they did against San Diego. Niners win.

St. Louis Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks, 4 p.m. Seahawks are gonna beat the Rams like a rented mule. Like a red-headed stepchild. Like a dirty Persian carpet... Seahawks win and roll into the playoffs as the NFC Number One seed.

[big'ol_freeper]

[lwd]

I googled it:

Dez Bryant has found himself in the end zone a lot in recent seasons. The former Oklahoma State receiver entered this season tied for the league lead in receiving touchdowns since 2012.

And when he scores, you’ll see him throw up the “X” symbol with his arms. What does it mean?

“The X is for all the defenses,” Bryant said recently in an interview with the NFL Network’s Michael Silver. “I’m the guy to watch.”

Bryant went on to say he’s X-ing out “All of the bad, all of the negativity that ever approached me.”

“People don’t understand me; they paint their own pictures of me. I look at them as they’re just negative, they want to bring me down - I’ll show them. The biggest joy I can ever get is me proving a doubter wrong. I love it. I love it.”

The “X” has become so synonymous with Bryant that he’s modeled his apparel business after his touchdown celebration.

http://newsok.com/why-dez-bryant-throws-up-the-x-after-touchdowns/article/5342926

[lwd]

SD >>> KC

You’re probably correct on SD. I like to mix in a few contrarian picks ...KC is one of them this week.

RE my CAR pick: I’m a panthers fan so I’ve gotta go with my team (but I’m also from ATL originally and suffered many years pulling for the falcons before becoming a turncoat and moving north to NC). It was a close game last time and it’s hard to beat the same team twice in a row. I just hope it’s a good game. I heard CARs draft position moves 12 spots (?) based on the outcome of this game. If they lose they’re top 10 (#9 I think), if they win they drop to the back with all the other playoff teams.

[big'ol_freeper]

The Seahawks are such a classy organization

http://www.breitbart.com/sports/2014/12/26/nfl-fines-marshawn-lynch-for-crotch-grab/

The Pete Carroll effect

[SevenofNine]

I hate to say this you are so right

Little a bit of USC Gangstra are taking over the Seabirds

[tanuki]

Nice looking fellow. My sincerest condolences.

[nascarnation]

THANKS!

[Impy]

End of the line already? Why it seems like only yesterday my Bears had lost to Bills in OT in week 1, crushing my hopes for the season. Thanks for the threads, Bendy.

Indy will apparently play their healthy starters. I think even at home the Itty Bitty Titties are too lousy to pull the upset.

Alex Smith is OUT for the Chiefs, good news for the Sex Chargers but I was gonna pick them to win anyway.

Rex Ryan will leave this world the same way he came into it, naked and crying.

While the Pack and Lions play for the division the Bears and Vikes play to see who gets to be in the toilet. BTW little Jimmuh Clausen has a boo boo so he’s baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaccccccckkkk, Suckler. Call me crazy but, the Vikes, while improving and showing heart, still stink, the Bears have been better on the road than at home where they beat the Vikes earlier this year, they get the win here. Not enough to save Trestbot and hopefully GM Emery’s jobs.

How many starters will Bellichek rest? I am tempted to call the upset but Pattie Cakes stay perfect at home.

The pressure is off so Eagles over Diet Manning and the slightly favored Lilliputions, Tom C’s last game in NY?

Ain’ts ain’t at home? Then they win over Lovie’s Somali Salami Smuggling Barbary Coast Bottom Boys, who finish 2-14, 0-8 at home and clinch the #1 pick.

Can the no Skins do it to Dallas again? No way.

Crab City Corvids beat the Browns, but miss the playoffs

Texicans over the Yugos

The NFC Suckth is on the line, zero confidence in this pick but my uncle’s Falcolns over the Fig Newtons at home, no repeat Champs in this division.

Denver should be able to beat the Raiders at home.

The Lions, haven’t won at Lambeau since Dec 15th, 1991. GHW Bush was President of the US, Saddam was President of Iraq. Obama moved to his wife’s hometown of Chicago. The Soviet Union had 10 days left to go. Close to zero % of people had home Internet access. And the # 1 song in America was “Black or White” by Michael Jackson. Packers get the bye.

The awful Linley was supposed to be out, but rookie Logan Thomas sucked so bad in practice that Coach Bruce Changed his mind, the 69ers are broken and stink at home, I know I’m nearly alone here but my Old Chi Cardinals get the W somehow, dagnabit, Harabugh leaves (any chance he doesn’t?) on a sour note. But the Cards still end up with a wild card because....

The defending Champs have no trouble with the Lambs.

And finally, Bungles/Stoolers, Meh, great choice, NBC. The stoolers have lost to THE BUCS (at home), The JETS (road) and the AIN’Ts (home). If they had taken care of business they’d be in the driver’s seat for the #1 seed. And the Bungles, they’re the Bungles. Maybe I’m nuts, Bungles win

IND
SD
MIA
CHI

NE
PHI
NOLA
DAL

BAL
HOU
ATL
DEN

GB
AZ
SEA
CIN

My record through last week 157-82-1

[Impy]

[campaignPete R-CT]

TIEBREAKERS

AFC WILDCARD	MIAMI	BUFF	BALT	PITT	HOUS	KC	SAN DIEGO
MIAMI	.... -	MIA-3	MIA-3 (BA-1)	xxx	HOUS-3	KC-1	MIA-1,3
BUFF	MIA-3	.... -	BALT-4	xxx	HOUS-1,3	KC-1,3	SD-1,3
BALT	MIA-3 (BA-1)	BALT-4	...-	PITT-3	HOUS-1,3	KC-3	SD-1,3
PITT	xxx	xxx	PITT-3	...-	xxx	xxx	PITT-3
HOUS	HOUS-3	HOUS-1,3	HOUS-1,3	xxx	....-	HOUS-3	HOUS-3
KC	KC-1	KC-1,3	KC-3	xxx	HOUS-3	....-	KC-1
SAN DIEGO	MIA-1,3	SD-1,3	SD-1,3	PITT-3	HOUS-3	KC-1	....-

1- ...HEAD-TO-HEAD
2- ...DIV REC
3- ...CONF REC
4- ...COMMON GAMES
READ DOWN a column (or ACROSS).
Example, the CHARGERS have clinched the tiebreaker vs. BALT ( 1 - head-to-head). However, KC has the tiebreaker over both SD & BALT.
PITT has clinched playoffs because of tiebreakers over BALT & SD.
MIAMI & BUFF are eliminated from the playoffs because of the tiebreaker with KC (and BUFF tiebreaker with BALT).

[campaignPete R-CT]

AFC DIVISION TIEBREAKERS for Seeds #2 #3 #4

AFC DIV	DENVER	PITT	INDY
DENVER	.... -	DEN-SOV	DEN-1
PITT	DEN-SOV	....	PITT-1
INDY	DEN-1	PITT-1	....

1- ...HEAD-TO-HEAD
2- ...DIV REC
3- ...CONF REC
4- ...COMMON GAMES
SOV ... Strength of Victory
READ DOWN a column (or ACROSS).
PATS have clinched tiebreaker over DEN. CINN is only team that can still get #2 seed over DENVER. INDY is locked into #4 seed (unless CINN game ends in a tie.)

[advertising guy]

Seahawks lose and Cardinals win

[campaignPete R-CT]

TIEBREAKERS going into final week (week 17)

NFC TIEBREAK	DAL	GB	DET	SEA	ARIZ
DAL	. .-	GB-3	DET-3	DAL-1 SEA-3	AZ-1,3
GB	GB-3	. .-	DET-3	SEA-1,3	gb-L4 AZ-SOV
DET	DET-3	DET-3	. .-	SEA-4	AZ-1
SEA	DAL-1 SEA-3	SEA-1,3	SEA-4	. .-	SEA-1,2
ARIZ	AZ-1,3	gb-L4 AZ-SOV	AZ-1	SEA-1,2	... -

1- ...HEAD-TO-HEAD
2- ...DIV REC
3- ...CONF REC
4- ...COMMON GAMES
SOV = Strength of Victory
XXX = no tie is possible.
explained in detail ELSEWHERE in this thread
The bold ones are clinched tiebreakers.
Also, lower case indicates a lead, but not a clinch.
example GB vs AZ:
gb-L4 AZ-SOV
Means GB leads in Common games. AZ has clinched Strength-of-Victory.
ATL VS N.O.: ATL-1. Atlanta has clinched tiebreaker over Saints due to Head-to-Head victories. (Which is why N.O. is eliminated.) CAR also has tiebreaker over N.O. (CAR-2).
GB would have 12-4 tiebreaker over AZ for #1 seed (GB-4).
AZ would have 11-5 tiebreaker over GB for #5 seed (AZ-SOV).
DAL has 11-5 tiebreaker over SEA (DAL-1) for #2 seed. (If SEA wins DIV with 11-5 record.)

[campaignPete R-CT]

I REMOVED ALL SCENARIOS THAT REQUIRE A TIE! NO TIES HERE!

DALLAS COWBOYS
Dallas can clinch a first-round bye #2 seed with:
4) SEA loss + ARI loss

DETROIT LIONS
Detroit can clinch the NFC North division title AND a first round bye with:
1) DET win

Detroit can clinch home-field advantage (#1 SEED) throughout NFC playoffs with:
1) DET win + SEA loss + ARI loss

GREEN BAY PACKERS
Green Bay can clinch the NFC North division title and a first-round bye with:
1) GB win

Green Bay can clinch home-field advantage (#1 seed) through NFC playoffs with:
1) GB win + SEA loss

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Seattle can clinch the NFC West division title with:
1) SEA win OR
3) ARI loss

Seattle clinches home-field advantage (#1 seed) through NFC playoffs & bye with:
1) SEA win

ARIZONA CARDINALS
Arizona can clinch the NFC West division title and a bye with:
1) ARI win + SEA loss

Arizona can clinch home-field advantage (#1 SEED) throughout NFC playoffs with:
1) ARI win + SEA loss + GB loss

CAROLINA PANTHERS
Carolina can clinch the NFC South division title with:
1) CAR win

ATLANTA FALCONS
Atlanta can clinch the NFC South division title with:
1) ATL win

Because of the tiebreakers AND the fact that TIES are so RARE:
-the Cowboys games is almost meaningless.
-the AZ game is meaningless as soon as SEA is assured of victory over STL.

We are looking at:
AZ#5 at ATL/CAR winner #4 seed.
DET/GB loser #6 at DALLAS #3.

AZ is not going to be the #6 seed!
all of the above assumes no ties. If a tie occurs, updates will be coming.

[campaignPete R-CT]

I removed all scenarios with TIEs. No TIES here.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
New England have clinched home-field advantage (#1 seed)

DENVER BRONCOS
Denver can clinch a first-round bye #2 with:
1) DEN win OR
2) CIN loss TO PITT

CINCINNATI BENGALS
Cincinnati can clinch the AFC North division title #3 with:
1) CIN win over PITT

Cincinnati can clinch a first-round bye #2 with:
1) CIN win + DEN loss to OAK

PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Pittsburgh can clinch the AFC North division title & #3 seed with:
1) PIT win

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
San Diego can clinch a playoff spot (#6) with:
1) SD win

BALTIMORE RAVENS
Baltimore can clinch a playoff spot (#6) with:
2) BAL win + SD loss

HOUSTON TEXANS
Houston can clinch a playoff spot (#6) with:
1) HOU win + BAL loss + SD loss

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Kansas City can clinch a playoff spot (#6) with:
1) KC win + BAL loss + HOU loss

INDY is #4 seed unless there is a tieGame CINN-PIT.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24910011/nfl-playoff-picture-week-17-scenarios-last-chance-to-get-in

Therefore,
-The INDY game is almost meaningless. We are looking at:
likely SD or BALT #6 at CINN/PITT winner #3 (unless DEN loses and CINN gets #2)
PITT/CINN loser #5 at INDY #4.