Week 16 NFL Picks 2012

• New Orleans shut-out the Buccaneers 41-0. This was the first time the Saints have shut-out an opponent since 1995. Its too bad all the scandal allegations were only thrown out a couple weeks ago. Makes me wonder what could have come from this team if they could go back and have a “do over” for the season. 
• The Vikings are currently sitting in a NFC Wildcard position after beating St. Louis and Chicago lost to Green Bay. Adrian Peterson had another beast of a day. It looked like they might slow him down early in the game when he had 8 carries for 8 yards, but on that 9th carry he went for 82 yards and a touchdown. From there on this game was over. They couldn’t contain him and he rumbled and bumbled all the way to his 8th consecutive 100 yard game.
• Looks as though the Redskins don’t even need RGIII to win games. Curt Cousins carried them to victory. Nobody is laughing at this team now after they chose to draft two quarterbacks early in the draft. 
• The Broncos are the hottest team in the league right now. They have won 9 in a row and have the longest active winning streak. Peyton Manning is playing lights out as per usual but I think the scary part is for once in his career he has a legitimate defense. When he was part of the Colts they simply played run and gun defense, for turnovers but they also gave up a lot of yards and points. Hoping to get Peyton back on the field as soon as they could. This Broncos defense can be mentioned with the best in the league. It wouldn’t surprise me to see them cruise into the Superbowl this season. 
• The Falcons really shut-up all the critics out there smashing New York right in the mouth 34-0. I think this team is going to start to receive the respect they deserve really soon. Home field advantage throughout is really going to help them come January. 
• The Seahawks scored 50+ points for the second consecutive week. I couldn’t have ever called this. Where does the scoring even come from? They have a scary defense and Russell Wilson looks like he might just turn into a franchise quarterback. Their game this weekend against the 49ners is going to show whether this team is for real. 
• Speaking of the 49ners, the Sunday night game was probably the best all season. It was full of touchdowns, turnovers and was almost capped off with a Tom Brady 4th quarter comeback after going into half-time down 31-3. If only every week we got the treat of seeing a game such as this one
• The Jets are TERRIBLE! I don’t even know what I would do in the GM’s spot. Fire everybody except Cromartie and Revis, begin to rebuild? You have to start somewhere and Sanchez clearly isn’t the answer. They might just have to swallow a large amount of his 14 million dollar contract if they want to get ride of him though. 

GAME 1 – NFC NORTH VS AFC SOUTH 

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (+8) VS HOUSTON TEXANS

ODDS: BET365

In my first pick this weekend I’m saying take the points and the Vikings entering Houston this weekend. 

Adrian Peterson looks to be unstoppable. Houston will be the first real test he has faced in the last couple weeks ranking 5th at run defense. As much as I want him to break the record this is a tough matchup for him. I think he is going to have to put the world on his shoulders in this one. J.J Watt is going to be looking for him all day long and likely the key matchup to follow in this game. 

The other reason I like this matchup is I feel like the Vikings defense is underrated. They have been playing their best football lately, holding opponents to an average of 15 points in their last 4 games. While they are 13th in the league at stopping the rush. Look for them to step their game up and Jared Allen to keep Arian Foster on his back in this game. 

The last reason I like this game is I think the Vikings might just have a little something up their sleeve. This is the most important game all season for them, it comes down to winning and they are in, losing and they are out. Houston has had all week to prepare for Adrian Peterson. I wonder if they really are just planning on handing the ball off to AP or could we see some play action from Ponder downfield. Good chance we will see a little of both.

Most people would call me crazy picking the Vikings to beat Houston this weekend. But hey, does everyone already forget what this same team did in week 3 against San Francisco when they were 11-point underdogs? Oh yeah thats right, they won 24-13 and surprised everybody. 

TRENDS 

MINNESOTA

• 6-0 versus an opponent off a double-digit straight up win 
• 5-1 as road dogs of more than 7 points in weeks 13-16 
• 2-0 straight up and against the spread in two meetings with Houston

• 1-4 in game fifteen

The Bears come into this game with still one of the best defensive teams in the league. They are 2nd in the league with 21 interceptions and 9th overall with 36 sacks. They are good at turning the ball over and it is something that we should see plenty of in this game. The Cardinals have thrown the most interceptions this season (18) while also allowing the most sacks (52). This game is going to be a blowout, not much of a christmas gift for all you Cardinals fans 

Even though Arizona won 38-10 last week, they still haven’t thrown a passing touchdown in 5 weeks. Don’t expect Chicago to be the first opponent to allow that either, they rank 6th in passing defense this season. Bears win big in this one. 

TRENDS 

CHICAGO 

• 5-2 in their last 7 meetings against Arizona 
• 5-0 as favourites of more than 3 points in first of back-to-back road games 
• 8-1 before facing the lions 

• 1-9 in their last 10 games
• 1-4 against the spread in their last 5 games

GAME 4 – NFC WEST DIVISIONAL MATCHUP 

SAN FRANCISCO 49NERS VS SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (-1) 

ODDS: BET365 

This might just be the game of the year. Nobody could have known that Seattle would turn out to be the team they are entering week 16. They have been one nice big surprise this season. 

The Seahawks come into this game still undefeated when playing at home. They have been playing their best football the past 2 weeks, scoring both 58 and 50 points. However we can’t expect them to put up those numbers against this 49ners team.

These two teams are almost identical. Seattle ranks 10th against the rush and 3rd against the pass. While San Francisco is 5th against the pass and 3rd against the rush. Priming this matchup to be a strong defensive outing and battle of defenses. 

The major reason I like Seattle in this matchup is they have the better of the two quarterbacks. Russell Wilson has made a serious case to be considered in rookie of the year honours. He has 21 passing touchdowns, 3 rushing touchdowns and only 9 interceptions on the year. While over the last 6 games he has a incredible average 113 passer rating. He has been the gem from the 2012 draft class and Seattle hit it big drafting him in the 3rd round. Especially after all the flack they took in doing so.

The 49ners won the first meeting between these two, this time around I see Seattle taking home the win and improving too 10-5 on the season. Here are some trends;

TRENDS

SAN FRANCISCO

• 1-7 after scoring more than 28 point and facing a divisional opponent 
• 3-6 in their last 9 games playing in Seattle 
• 1-4 against the spread in the last 5 road games in Seattle  

SEATTLE

• 7-0 against the spread in home games versus divisional opponents the last 2 seasons
• 8-1 against the spread when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons
• 6-0 at home this season 
• 10-4 against the spread this season