NFL Picks Week 17: Friday Five - the Final Frontier

Well, this is it my friends. The final Friday Five of the season and the contest. Good luck to everyone and a hearty thanks for your consistency in submitting your picks each week. If Stan and Francis get this in time, I just inverted your picks from the week before. If you'd like to submit original picks please do so in the comments section before kick-off of the morning games.

Happy Sunday and a Happy New Year,

Vinny and Marco

         NFL Reader's Choice Awards for Week 17

Name		Most Confident				Least Confident		Total to Date
Maneesh		JAC	OAK	SEA	ATL	WAS		75
Archie		CAR	NYG	MIA	NO	CIN		50
Airin Rodgers		CAR	TB	STL	DEN	PHI		44
Dan P.		IND	CAR	TEN	NO	NE		66
Michael		ARI	DET	BAL	ATL	JAC		61
Jay		ARI	SEA	JAC	NYJ	MIN		46
Cheddar Packs		CIN	MIN	NYJ	WAS	GB		56
Vinny & Marco		CIN	PIT	JAC	NYJ	HOU		60
Cellar Dwellar		CIN	SD	DET	SF	DEN		42
T-Dog		CAR	PIT	SD	NYJ	PHI		47
Stan		KC	JAC	CHI	MIA	CLE		59
Nav		GB	CIN	DEN	PHI	TEN	S	54
Paul		DET	CIN	DEN	PIT	DAL		56

NFL Picks Week 17: Packers vs Bears ATS, Predictions, and More

NFL Picks Week 17: Packers vs Bears ATS, Predictions, and More

The Packers are 3-point road favorites against their division rival Chicago Bears.

By: MaChez, TSZ Expert

Possibly the most enticing matchup of this week’s lineup, we have the 7-7-1 Packers traveling to take on the 8-7 Chicago Bears in a winner-take-all NFC North Championship Game.  Literally everything has gone the Packers way to keep them in the playoff race, and with Rodgers returning we should have a hell of a game this weekend.  I bet NBC is wishing they hadn’t jumped the gun and flexed the Romo-less Cowboys into the night game…

The Spread

The linemakers see the Packers as three point road favorites with Rodgers returning and expect a high scoring affair.  The total is set at 53.

Green Bay Packers

The wait is over! After seven weeks of the Packers proving they learned nothing from the Favre fiasco in 2008, Aaron Rodgers has finally been cleared to play. The Packers went 2-5-1 without Rodgers and those two wins were comeback wins of 1 point.  Somehow, thanks to Jim Schwartz and Mathew Stafford, the Packers have only won two games since October by a total point differential of 2 points yet can still make the playoffs and host a home game.  The NFL really is the best reality show.

Rodgers is returning at a perfect time and might just get lucky enough to get his most versatile weapon, Randall Cobb, back in the mix as well.  Rodgers’ absence has allowed rookie RB Eddie Lacey and the Packers to move up to seventh in the league in rushing, but the defense is the real issue.  Dom Capers’ D has tanked since Rodgers went out and just lost star OLB Clay Matthews (likely for the season).  His loss won’t be as bad as people think, but the secondary will need to learn how to tackle and stop big plays quickly with Chicago’s dangerous trio of receivers on the plate for Sunday.

Chicago Bears

The Bears weren’t immune to their own QB issues this year and have themselves quite the dilemma.  Playing in relief of Jay Cutler, backup QB Josh McCown played admirably but was replaced once Cutler was healthy.  Cutler played well the first game but the Bears offense was atrocious against the Eagles last week, scoring a measly 11  points while the D gave up 54.  The Packers’ D isn’t as good as the Eagles’ but there will be some uproar if receivers Alshon Jeffrey and Brandon Marshall are shut down again with Cutler at the helm.  If they can figure things out Cutler could have a huge day and make himself a lot of money.

Like the Packers, the Bears D is playing absolutely terrible as well, especially against the run where they rank dead last.  They gave up almost 200 yards to the Packers last time out but will fortunately have Lance Briggs back in the mix to slow things down.  Injuries have really ravaged the Bears on the defensive side of the ball and with Rodgers back behind center they will need to hope Cutler can keep pace.

Prediction

Although Rodgers is returning and should provide a boost to this team, both mentally and physically, the real important factors here are Eddie Lacey, James Starks, and Randall Cobb. The first two have developed in to one of the best 1-2 punches in the league over the last month and if Lacey can deal well with his ankle injury they will have a field day against Chicago’s D.  Randall Cobb, who has been out even longer than Rodgers with a broken leg, is that speedy x-factor that can be a RB or WR, taking handoffs, dump-offs or deep crosses over the middle.  If he is close to full speed he gives the ailing Bears D one more weapon to try and account for.

Cutler has also been historically bad against the Packers, going 1-8 against them, including the final game and NFC championship in the 2010 season.  Against Green Bay, Packers cornerbacks and safeties become Bears receivers and that won’t work well against a potentially lethal Packers offense.  He will need to hope Mike Neal doesn’t play well in place of Matthews so he has some time to find the actual Bears receivers.

Packers win 41-34.

Green Bay Packers (-3) at Chicago Bears
OVER 53

NFL Picks Week 17: Locks in Socks and Socks on Fox...

'Twas the week after Christmas and all through the world
NFL fans in fetal positions were curled.
The stock they'd invested in pre-season hopes
Were now - for some teams - as they say "on the ropes."



For others it's seeding, a bye, or home field,
but mostly the teams' fates are already sealed.
Nonetheless we persist and we sort through the mess
And bring yule tide wishes and picks ATS.

Which games are important? Which teams give a shit?
Will Romo or Rodgers start Sunday or sit?
Will teams with no hope like the Falcons and Bucs
come out and play hard or will they just sucks?


"Sounds like a win-win situation to me, Aaron."

And what about those on the post-season brink?
Or the teams like the Texans who chronically stink?
Or teams like the Chiefs who win, lose, or suck
are heading to Indy to play Andrew Luck?

Well my dear gamblers, relax - have no fear.
The answers to all of these questions lie here.
We offer you this with both pride and with moxy -
our Week 17: Sixteen Guaranteed Locksies.



Let's start in Atlanta where Falcons take flight
after showing some heart in SF Monday Night,
The Panthers are coming to town for the day,
but taking the home dog and points is the play.


Pick: ATLANTA FALCONS (+6.5)

The Bears will be hosting the Packers this week,
and Rodgers or not, their prospects looks bleak.
Eddie Lacy will give the Bears all they can handle,
their D has more leaks than a Watergate scandal.


Pick: Green Bay Packers (-3)

The Texans have locked up the Clowney Sweepstakes,
so now they can finally do what it takes
to summon the strength, to rise from the dead,
and do just enough to cover a spread.


Pick: Houston Texans (+7)

It's hard to believe that a Steeler win here
Still holds a slight glimmer of post-season cheer,
We think that they get what they need to get in,
but sadly the teams right above them both win.


Pick: PITTSBURGH STEELERS (-7)

In New York the bad Giants will host the worse 'Skins
as Manning tries hard to repent for his sins.
Twenty-six INTs in a mere fifteen games,
and Sunday will surely see more of the same.


Pick: Washington Redskins (+3.5)

The Bengals will add one more signature stamp
by ending the run of a Super Bowl champ.
They're 7-0 when at home they do play,
and winning this week could keep it that way.


Pick: CINCINNATI BENGALS (-6)

The Colts host the Jags in a meaningless game,
While the Lions and Vikings will do just the same,
and in order to watch them you'll lots of liquor,
please take the points or you'll end up much sicker.


Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars (+11.5)


Pick: Detroit Lions (+3)

The Dolphins at home used to be a bad bet,
but this year they're playing the best they have yet,
and as to the Jets on the road, I'm not sold -
I believe like a card table does they will fold.


Pick: MIAMI DOLPHINS (-6.5)

The NFC East has a treat for us all,
as Dally plays Philly which plays Kelly Ball.
It's for all of the marbles, the whole enchilada,
The Eagles say, "Thanks," and the Boys say, "De nada."


Pick: Philadelphia Eagles (-6.5)

And still farther east to the Patriots home,
that land of the free where the Buffalo roam,
the Bills finish strong like they came out the gate,
losing their season finale by eight.


Pick: Buffalo Bills (+9.5)

Drew Brees and the Saints will be glad to be home,
in the climate-controlled, softy-pants Superdome.
The Bucs will play hard but they won't make our picks,
Losing this game by at least twenty-six.


Pick: NEW ORLEANS -12.5

For Denver, my friends, this game's do or die,
They need the home field and that sweet first round bye,
They'll race to a lead, but won't mail it in -
They'll take both the cover and seed-clinching win.



Pick: Denver Broncos (-12.5)

And life in the NFC West is plain rough
Where winning 10 plus games might not be enough,
to make the post-season it's sad but it's true,
and that is exactly what AZ will do.


Pick: ARIZONA CARDINALS (+1.5)

The Chargers still think it would be oh so cool,
to make a small splash in the post-season pool,
but even if KC rests 53 men,
we still like the Chiefs to stay within ten.


Pick: Kansas City Chiefs (+9.5)

And finally up in the northwestern states
where the fans get real loud and they all knew Bill Gates,
The Seahawks will win but the Rams they will hover,
and Jeff Fisher's mustache will get us the cover.


Pick: St. Louis Rams (+10.5)

And so take these picks with a large grain of salt,
and know if you lose that it isn't our fault.
You may think this poem is plain stupid or funny,
but we hope it brings all of us lots of money.


May the Spreads Be with You All,

Vinny and Marco

Reminders

1. Light up the comments section if you think we're right, wrong, or crazy.

2. If you're interested in our Friday Five confidence picks which have gone 11-3-1 ATS the past three weeks, please hit the Coffee for Vinny and Marco, donate a cup of Joe, then write to us at: vinnyandmarco@gmail.com and let us know you'd like to see our Friday Five.

3. If you're not interested in our Friday Five and just want to buy us a cup of coffee, feel free to do so anytime but also let us know so we can send you a shout out in the next post.

Happy Holidays Everyone