Dan Shouse
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Hard to believe that the regular season is already about to come to an end, but there are still several teams fighting for a shot at the playoffs. Here are the final regular season picks for 2009.
Texans 28 Patriots 24
This game means a lot more to the Texans than it does to New England. Add it that the Patriots will likely rest a few guys, and the Texans get the nod.
Bills 16 Colts 10
Speaking of resting players, if the Colts were willing to lay down the way they did last week, why even make Peyton Manning and the rest of the starters fly to Buffalo this week? Bills get the win, as the Colts do not even try. Wouldn't it be great to see this back fire on the Colts and have them lose in their first playoff game? Could it be the Patriots and Colts in the divisional round?
Steelers 24 Dolphins 21
The Steelers continue to make a late season push towards the playoffs, but it will not be enough to get in. Too much has to happen for the Steelers to make it. There will be no back to back championships this year.
Cowboys 31 Eagles 28
So much for Tony Romo not getting the job done when it counts the most. Romo and the Cowboys get the division title, and likely set up a rematch against the Eagles in the first round of the playoffs.
Vikings 34 Giants 16
The Vikings will finally secure the second seed in the NFC. The Giants, who have nothing to play for, will not put up much of a fight.
Panthers 26 Saints 20
With Drew Brees getting a rest, and the top seed locked up, the Saints will be resting players. Make it 3 losses in a row for New Orleans.
Jaguars 38 Browns 7
The playoffs are a real long shot, but the Jags still have something to play for. The Browns are playing for a high draft pick.
Bears 28 Lions 21
Jay Cutler decided to finally show up this year, looking great last week against the Vikings. Now he will look great against the Lions. Too bad it means nothing.
Broncos 14 Chiefs 10
Brandon Marshall has been suspended, but the Broncos should still have enough to get past the hapless Chiefs. It may still not be enough to get Denver to the postseason however.
Packers 31 Cardinals 30
Much like the Philly and Dallas game, this could be a preview of a wild card weekend playoff game. The Cards have just been too inconsistent and prone to mistakes to think they can beat the Pack, even at home. Give Green Bay the win, and the chance to face the Cards again next week.
Ravens 21 Raiders 3
The Ravens let a golden opportunity slip away last week. It will not happen again. Baltimore will dominate from start to finish and punch a ticket to the playoffs.
Titans 22 Seahawks 6
The only drama in this one is if Chris Johnson can reach 2000 yards rushing for the year. He need 123 yards to get there.
49ers 31 Rams 10
It is in the best interest of the Rams to lose. With a loss, they will clinch the top pick in next years draft.
Falcons 26 Buccaneers 17
The Falcons will have back to back winning seasons for the first time in franchise history. Too bad it won't mean a spot in the post season.
Chargers 38 Redskins 6
Even with most of their starters resting, the Chargers will still blow out the Redskins in Jim Zorn's final game as head coach.
Jets 17 Bengals 13
Rex Ryan and the Jets punch their ticket to the playoffs, and to a very interesting match up against the Patriots in the wild card weekend.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Should the Patriots get some rest or go all out in Houston?
By Chad Garner
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Start or sit?
That's the million dollar question.
Should New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick start or sit his starters in the final regular season game?
I say start, but then sit.
Yes, this game does have some meaning. I said some, but it's not a desperate do-or-die situation, either.
If the Pats beat the Houston Texans on the road, they clinch the No. 3 seed in playoffs. If they lose and the Bengals beat the Jets, then the Bengals gets the No. 3 seed and the Pats get No. 4.
So either way, with the No. 3 or 4 seed, the Pats and Bengals will play at home in the wild-card round next week.
It's always nice to win, so playing the starters is fine with me. I'm more concerned with the timing of the offense, especially after last week's blowout win vs. the Jags. It sure feels to me like the Pats are hitting their stride offensively, so it would be a shame to sit them and risk the chance of them coming out flat next week in the playoffs because they didn't see any game action and are stale.
So in a perfect world, I'd like to see the starters play at least the half and continue to build on a great offensive performance last week. But the key is all staying healthy, so it's fine with me to pull them at the half, too, so we don't see one of our go-to players (Brady, Moss, Welker) go down with an injury and risk missing the playoff game.
As for the Houston-New England game, the Texans are still alive for the playoffs, although it's a long shot considering they need to win and need a lot of help with teams popping the Ravens, Jets and Broncos.
But they have a chance and they're going to play this like it's the Super Bowl.
The Texans are impressive to me on offense, with Matt Schaub airing it out on just about every snap. He's got almost 4,500 yards with 27 TDs and 14 INTs. He's got a live arm and one of the best wideouts in Andre Johnson (95 receptions, 1,504 yards, 9 TDs) to throw to.
Johnson and Schaub make this offense go. Make no mistake, the Texans can't run and they even know it. So they use the short 3-yard pass just like a running play, but they know the talent they have revolves around the passing game.
This game is a great postseason tune-up game for the Pats, having to face a talented QB and one of the best WRs in all of football.
The Pats can also throw it, too. The Texans have had issues defending the pass all season long, so expect Brady to get some good work in against a questionable secondary.
I'm expecting to see an air show with Schaub and Brady going toe-to-toe, unless Brady and Co. sits at any point to rest a tad for next week.
Chad's Take: Even if the Pats play everyone for the entire game, I think this is a very close game with both offenses stealing the show. But I just would find it hard to believe that Belichick would play his starters for four quarters, knowing they don't have the luxury of a bye next week to rest and have to play in the wild-card round.
I think this game will be extremely entertaining for a half, but it'll go downhill for Patriots fans in the second half with the starters taking a two-quarter breather on the sidelines. The Texans will do their job by getting a win and finishing 9-7, but there's no way two of the three teams they need to lose -- Ravens, Jets and Broncos -- all lose.
The Pats will play next week and the Texans will be watching that game on television.
Prediction: Texans, 27-17
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