Marshall named Pro Bowl MVP; Future of Game Uncertain

The 2012 Pro Bowl started off slow, but it provided plenty of excitement and great plays as the AFC beat the NFC 59-41. Early on, the NFC built a sizable lead behind Larry Fitzgerald's two touchdown receptions. But the AFC stormed back, tying the game at the half and then pulling away in the 4th quarter. Despite multiple trick plays (including onside kicks, reverses, fake punts, laterals, and a drop kick attempt), the NFC could not outdo Brandon Marshall's multiple circus catch touchdowns, including one where he caught the ball on a bounce on his back. Marshall also recorded 4 touchdown receptions, the most of any Pro Bowl player in a game since Jimmy Smith's 3 touchdown performance almost a decade ago. Of course, the big question now will be whether the Pro Bowl remains in Hawaii in forthcoming years, now that the contract Hawaii has with the NFL is officially up. A lot of players would like the game to stay in the islands, which would probably be the best case scenario. Assuming Hawaii governor Neil Abercrombie doesn't screw up negotiations, this process should be an easy one logistically. Unlike the 3 other major sports, the Pro Bowl always takes place at the end of the year, in the same city. Moving the Pro Bowl to the Super Bowl city would be Plan B, but that move would be unpopular with many players. Who would want to play in Houston or Jacksonville when an AFC South player has already been to those cities during the year. The Hawaii aspect of the game offers a unique chance for players to enjoy the island hospitality while feeling a sense of reward for a good season. It also allows the state to make money from tourism. The Pro Bowl could become even more of a sham if it is constantly on the move in cold-weather cities, with many players deciding not to go and attendances dropping, so it would be ideal to keep it in Hawaii for the foreseeable future.

NFC Championship Prediction

The year is 2002, during NFC Wild-Card Weekend. The score is SF 39, NYG 38. The Giants have a chance to win the game on a 41 yard field goal with 6 seconds left. Giants long snapper Trey Junkin, on the final play of a solid career, botches the snap. Punter and holder Matt Allen can't get the snap down for kicker Matt Bryant, and runs to the right before throwing up a desperation lob as time expires. The pass falls incomplete, and the 49ers go away victorious, after coming back from a 38-14 deficit late in the third. However, Giants fans still steam at a missed call on the final play of the game, where eligible receiver Rich Seubert seems to be the victim of pass interference. The NFL eventually acknowledged the mistake, but the score was not changed. This year, with the two storied franchises meeting for the first time since that 2002 wild wild-card game, with the Giants wanting to avenge their 2002 counterparts. The 49ers, however, seem to be on a quest for destiny as they move one step closer to making it back to the big game. With so many bases to cover and storylines to play out, this one could be very exciting.

First, let's look at New York. Sitting at .500 and almost certainly out of the playoff picture, the G-Men have managed to recapture the magic of their 2007 team with a stifling defense and re-found offense. The Giants got two big wins against the rival Cowboys to advance back into the playoffs. With masterful wins against the Falcons and 15-1 Packers, the Giants come to San Francisco better than they were earlier in the season when they lost to the Niners. Eli Manning has proven himself to be an exemplary quarterback. Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham, and Hakeem Nicks have blossomed into a receiving trio that rivals that of any other in the league. And the ground game of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw perfectly complements the passing attack. The defense, of course, is a big story as well, with a penetrating defensive line featuring the likes of Justin Tuck, Chris Canty, and Osi Umenyiora. The linebackers and corners all provide support to the tremendous pressure. These Giants always seem to play exceptionally well come playoff time. They certainly are road warriors, but they do face a tremendous test in San Francisco.

Everyone says the NFC West sucks, but let's not forget that, for the past 12 Super Bowls, the division has averaged at least one representative in the big game every 3 years or so (St. Louis in 1999 and 2001, Seattle in 2005, and Arizona in 2008). This year, the Niners can continue that trend with a victory at home against a tough opponent. The Niners played their hearts out last week and won an epic against the Saints, and now face an even tougher opponent in the Giants. The Niners have been solid in all phases of the game, literally: offense, defense, and special teams have been astounding. The offense is led by the resurgent Alex Smith, who has shown more confidence and accuracy with the football. Smith has a workhorse in Frank Gore at tailback, and also has some receiving threats, most notably in tight end Vernon Davis. The Niners D has been no slouch either, led by standout players Justin Smith, Navorro Bowman, Patrick Willis, and Donte Whitner, with rookie Aldon Smith providing outstanding assistance up front. On special teams, the Niners have been nearly perfect behind the legs of punter Andy Lee and kicker David Akers. Overall, the Niners are a very talented football team. They have the willpower to succeed, especially under coach Jim Harbaugh. They believe, and that is a very strong advantage in itself.

So who will go away victorious? It may just come down to whoever plays better that day. The question of "Who wants it more?" could not be more appropriate in this situation. I'll give the Niners the edge at home.

SAN FRANCISCO 38, NEW YORK 31

AFC Championship Prediction

The AFC Championship Game features a contest between the top two teams in the AFC. Baltimore and New England are old rivals. The Pats are built on offense, the Ravens are built on big D. These two teams have always been pretty dominant, and now they are meeting for the chance to make it back to the big game. But who will prevail?

First let's look at the Patriots. New England can survive solely on Tom Brady's back alone. The defense have been atrocious for most of the year (although they managed to look competent against Denver). Brady thrives and the inside threats, with the ever shifty Wes Welker and the manipulative tight end duo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. The Patriots offense is essentially built around these four men. With a tough offensive line and enough protection, Brady has enough firepower to expose any defense. Speaking of defense, the Patriots D has been pretty terrible for most of the year. The D-line has frequently overpursued, the linebackers have been immobile, and the secondary has been beaten. Of course, stars like Vince Wilfork, who remains a constant bull up front, and Brandon Spikes, a tackling machine at middle linebacker, can surely keep a stylistically inept Baltimore offense at bay. But the defense will definitely have to step up.

Baltimore will need all the help they can get to defeat the Patriots. The Baltimore offense will definitely have to keep up with the Pats scoring-wise, but they also have one consistent thing that New England doesn't: a consistent runner in Ray Rice. Joe Flacco can be off and on, but Rice can be incredibly consistent. Rice can certainly keep the Patriots' offense on the sidelines, but Flacco will definitely have to stretch the field every so often. He could do that against the Pats. Of course, Baltimore's defense will be the real story. Ray Lewis is as great as ever, Ed Reed is superhuman, and Haloti Ngata is a man-beast. And that's not even half of it. The Ravens defense is what will keep them in this game. If the stars can shine and the defense can penetrate, the pressure will eventually get to Brady. Brady has never looked comfortable under duress, which was especially evident four years ago in Super Bowl XLII. The Ravens are also masters at gang-tackling, which is essential to any team making a title run.

Defense wins championships, and the Ravens are certainly winners in that category. But the Patriots are an offensive juggernaut. If they stick to the same gameplan that they used against the Broncos, they will outscore the Ravens before Baltimore even has time to catch their breath. Unless the Ravens can get pressure on Brady and force turnovers, I don't know if I can trust Joe Flacco and company to win this game. It's possible, but things must go the Ravens' way. In Foxborough. With the forecast calling for a possibility of freezing rain, this one may turn out to be wet n' wild.

NEW ENGLAND 37, BALTIMORE 30

UTTQ Predictions: Championship Sunday

Well here we are, the last weekend of NFL football before the holy grail of sporting events, the Super Bowl. By Sunday's end both tickets to the biggest of games will be punched and an epic clash will await in Indianapolis.

BALTIMORE 30, NEW ENGLAND 27
In an epic clash of strength vs. strength, the vaunted Ravens D comes into Foxboro with aspirations of shutting down the Patriots high-powered offense. The Ravens have been one of, if not the most unpredictable team from week to week, as they've turned in dominant performances against the likes of the Steelers and 49ers while falling victim to the Jaguars and Seahawks. In four losses this season, the entire team played down to their competition and if they hope to win on Sunday, everyone has to be ready to go. The Patriots on the other hand looked very sharp in their blow out win over the Broncos last weekend though New England fans beware, teams that have scored 40+ pts in the postseason tend to struggle the following round. The match up ultimately comes down to which weakness can be most effective. The Pats D is atrocious and one of the worst in the NFL, while the Ravens O apart from Ray Rice has been pedestrian. Should the New England step up and get multiple crucial stops, the Pats should walk away victorious. However, if the Ravens D can play to its full potential and shut down the Patriots just enough for Joe Flacco to get a lead, John Harbaugh's guys will be Indianapolis bound.

NEW YORK GIANTS 20, SAN FRANCISCO 27
Coming off a simply epic victory over the Saints, how will the 49ers follow it up? And let's not forget that New York upended the defending Super Bowl champs in dominant fashion. Both teams sport punishing defenses, with San Francisco's having the edge in linebacker and defensive back play and New York sporting a slightly better D line. The Giants offense has a decisively more explosive passing game, while SF has a slightly better ground attack. I expect this game to be a very physical affair as neither team is supremely better than the other. This Sunday night showdown should be competitive throughout with the outcome being decided late in the 4th quarter. San Francisco has been consistently better than the Giants throughout the season, though New York has shown the ability to turn in unexpected dominating performances. When the dust settles though, an all-Harbaugh Super Bowl will be set when alls said and done.

UTTQ Predictions: Divisional Round

NEW ORLEANS 21, SAN FRANCISCO 24
In a true clash of strengths, the Drew Brees and the Saints bring their high powered offense into the Bay Area to face off against the vaulted 49ers D. The match up that should define the game though is when Alex Smith is under center. San Francisco has struggled throughout the season at scoring TDs over Field Goals and they'll need to get into the endzone to have a chance at winning this one. New Orleans will score but SF should be able to contain Drew Brees just enough to pull it out.

DENVER 30, NEW ENGLAND 27
The last time these two teams clashed, the Patriots won in blow out fashion. Denver now comes into this game confident after beating the Steelers in overtime propelled by a strong showing from Tim Tebow. The big test for the much maligned Pats D will be to contain the big plays down that field that doomed the Pittsburgh D. Tom Brady and co. will score some points but I just can't bet against Tebow in a game as big as this one.

NEW YORK GIANTS 35, GREEN BAY, 32
The Giants just may be the hottest and most dangerous team in the playoffs. The matchup between these two during the regular season went down to the wire so the Giants already know that they can beat the Packers. This game conjures up memories of the NFC Championship game in 2007 with Eli Manning and co. upending Brett Farve and the Packers on a cold day in Lambeau. History will repeat itself.

HOUSTON 14, BALTIMORE 24
If the good Ravens team shows up to play, this game won't be more than a walk in the park. Baltimore is built to shut down running games which the Texans' offense is predicated on which should force TJ Yates to become the focal point of the offense. Should that be the case, the Ravens will expose him for the rookie QB that he is.

UTTQ Predictions: Divisional Round

The Wild-Card weekend came and went, and I'm already down by a game. Looks like God isn't on my side. Here's hoping this week turns out for the better.

DENVER 24, NEW ENGLAND 31
Tebow and the Broncos managed to get an impressive win against a suddenly reeling Pittsburgh franchise. But Pittsburgh's problems are to be analyzed later...right now the question is whether the Broncos can have similar success at New England. These two teams have met before, but the outcome was greatly in the Patriots' favor. However, it's no secret that the Pats' defense sucks. Tebow and company can surely exploit that now, especially with Tebow's sudden confidence to throw in tight spaces and Demaryius Thomas blossoming as a receiving threat. The Patriots are offensively still better than Denver as long as Tom Brady is around, although they have been slow out of the gate the last few weeks. However, I cannot see Denver upsetting this time...I will not allow myself to believe it.

HOUSTON 17, BALTIMORE 27
Houston was very impressive against Cincinnati, but the Ravens will certainly be a whole different story. The Bengals could not get a rhythm going, while Houston certainly held the momentum for most of the game. The Ravens have a stifling defense and above average offense, which is all they need. Houston will need to develop something early, since it seems to take Yates a while to develop with Johnson and company. Of course, this Baltimore team is infamous of inconsistency, which means that Houston could pull one out, depending on which Ravens team shows up. Either way, neither of these teams really stand a chance against whoever wins the other AFC game....

NEW YORK 28, GREEN BAY 31
The 2007 NFC Championship Game was one of the better ones in recent memory, featuring these two teams on the frozen tundra. Who can forget Tom Coughlin's face? Or Brett Favre's Eli-esque shoulder slump after throwing a game sealing interception? This game should be an exciting one as well, featuring two contrasting styles: one team based on pressure defense and one team based on pass-happy offense. The Giants better hope their defense is good enough to force a few Packer punts, because their offense does not have the firepower to make big plays on every series. The Packers better hope they haven't rested too long, or they may be in for another defeat on their home turf.

NEW ORLEANS 17, SAN FRANCISCO 23
The Saints started off slow against the Lions but managed to find their form in the second half, scoring on almost every possession. The Lions D became worn down as the game went on. The Niners have a much better defense, thanks in part to players like Aldon Smith, Navarro Bowman, and the ever efficient Patrick Willis. They have the personnel to slow Drew Brees down. The Niners' offense is a different story. They typically run the ball and control the clock. If they Saints want to stop the run, they will have to react to the shifty Niners backs. Blitzing on every down may set up the perfect play-action for Alex Smith. Playing it safe may be the only way to stop this Niners' O. The Saints aren't comfortable on the road, either, so it will be quite a shock if they can score as many points as they did last week.

The First Pick: 1941-1945

We continue our look at the earliest NFL Draft picks by looking at the WWII years, when football players and military servicemen were undoubtedly intertwined.

1941: TOM HARMON (HB, Michigan)

Arguably the greatest player ever to don the Maize and Blue, Harmon won the Heisman in 1940 after a stellar college career at Michigan. While listed as a halfback, he performed many other duties including passing, kicking, punting, and even intercepting the football. One of the great "60 minute men" of the era, he was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1941 but opted to play for the New York Americans of the American Football League. After a short war service as a pilot for the Army Air Corps, he returned to the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams in 1946, but his career was hampered by his war service. He retired in 1947 with 9 touchdowns and a respectable 5.1 yard rushing average.


1942: BILL DUDLEY (HB, Virginia)

"Bullet" Bill Dudley finished a superb college career at Virginia by being drafted number one overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1942. Dudley immediately impressed, leading the league in rushing en route to an All-Pro nomination. The war quickly interrupted his career by calling him to service between 1943-45. Dudley continued his winning ways by leading the Army football team to a 12-0 record in 1944. In 1945 Dudley returned to the Steelers, playing only four games but ending the season as Pittsburgh's top scorer. 1946 saw another great year for Dudley, in which he lead the league in rushing, interceptions, and punt returns en route to a league MVP and All-Pro selection. Dudley played for the Detroit Lions from 1947-1949 and with the Redskins from 1950-1953, leading the team in scoring in most of those seasons. For his efforts as an effortless touchdown-maker, he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966, the first of our number one overall picks to receive the honor.


1943: FRANK SINKWICH (HB, Georgia)

The 1942 Heisman Trophy winner, Sinkwich became the first football player from the Southeastern Conference to receive the honor. After amassing several rushing records with the Bulldogs, Sinkwich was selected first overall in the 1943 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. He excelled in his two years in Detroit, earning the NFL MVP in 1944. A knee injury suffered during his service in 1945 severely limited his playing ability, and he played for three more years with the AAFC's New York Yankees and Baltimore Colts before calling it quits.


1944: ANGELO BERTELLI (QB, Notre Dame)

Bertelli was the 1943 Heisman winner and quarterback for the Fighting Irish. Bertelli excelled in coach Frank Leahy's new T-formation that led Notre Dame to an impressive streak of wins. Bertelli was drafted by the Boston Yanks in 1944 but elected to serve, nearly losing his life in the Battle of Iwo Jima. Bertelli eventually signed with the Los Angeles Dons of the AAFC in 1946, and eventually went on to play two years with the Chicago Rockets of the AAFC. A largely unremarkable pro career ended in 1949 due to multiple knee injuries he had amassed.


1945: CHARLEY TRIPPI (HB, Georgia)

Trippi played alongside Frank Sinkwich in Athens, but managed to have a much better career professionally than Sinkwich ever had. Drafted by the Chicago Cardinals, Trippi spent 8 years with the team, managing a career filled with 2 Pro Bowl selections, 3 All-Pro selections, and 1 1940s All Decade selection. Arguably, however, his biggest accomplishment stems from his performance in the 1947 NFL Championship Game, in which Trippi scored 2 touchdowns while gaining 206 yards rushing. Trippi, who also occasionally played quarterback, is also the only player in the Hall of Fame to have 1000 yards receiving, 1000 yards passing, and 1000 yards rushing.


Best pick of 1941-1945: BILL DUDLEY (1942)

Dudley and Trippi were without a doubt the two best picks of the half-decade. However, Dudley managed to score more points than Trippi ever did, despite Trippi's longer career and championship ring. Dudley was a touchdown machine and had it not been for the war he may have endured a very long career as one of the top football players of all time.

UTTQ Predictions: Wild Card Weekend

CINCINNATI 27, HOUSTON 24
The last time these two teams got together, the Texans pulled out the win with a last second TD toss by TJ Yates. Fast-forward to Sunday and Yates' status is iffy after leaving last weekend's loss to the Titans. Houston has been shaky throughout the second half of the season following Matt Schaub's injury and have held the ship together through strong performances by Arian Foster and Wade Phillip's defense. On the other side, Cincy has been steady throughout 2011 with Andy Dalton having impressed most everyone. In a showdown between rookie Quarterbacks, this game should come down to which signal caller can manage his team most effectively and efficiently. My money is on the man that's been the starter all season in Dalton with the Bengals pulling this one out in the fourth.

PITTSBURGH 17, DENVER 20
For any other playoff team but Denver, this match up looks juicy with Rashard Mendenhall and Maurkice Pouncey sidelined and Big Ben slowed by a bum ankle. However, the Broncos have been terrible over the past month, embodied by the struggling Tim Tebow. Roethlisberger and company still must face a tough Denver D that has held strong for the most part despite the immense ineptitude of the offense. If Tebow can right the ship and turn in a good performance, Denver has a shot to pull the upset. I'm gonna take a chance here and say they pull off the biggest surprise of the Wild Card round.

ATLANTA 30, NEW YORK GIANTS 33
The Giants have looked scary good in wins over the Jets and Cowboys, as have the Falcons apart from a blowout loss at New Orleans. With both Matt Ryan and Eli Manning having their best professional seasons, this showdown could come down to which D can step up in the crucial moments. New York has just been so dominant as of late, it's hard to pick against them so I'll say that the G-Men get the last laugh in this potential shootout.







DETROIT 40, NEW ORLEANS 45
If you hate high-scoring affairs, then avoid this game at all costs. Drew Brees and Matt Stafford both threw for over 5000 yrds and 40 TDs in stellar 2011 campaigns, and a shootout is all but guaranteed. Neither team can run the ball all the effectively especially with the loss of Mark Ingram for the Saints. The Lions have been a great story this season but their Cinderella run ends tomorrow night.

UTTQ Predictions: Wild Card Weekend

A compelling comeback attempt in the second half of the season was not enough for me to reaffirm my grip on the regular season predictions, and Insider Access managed to escape with a one game lead. Now it's a whole new ballgame, with the wild-card weekend starting. And wild card weekend can certainly be wild. I have a feeling that at least one big upset is coming. But we'll see...for now, here's my picks for the first weekend of the 2011 NFL playoffs.

CINCINNATI 24, HOUSTON 23

A battle of two rookie quarterbacks will be, more importantly, a battle of two relatively new playoff teams. The Texans have made the playoffs for the first time in NFL history. The Bengals last made the playoffs 2 years ago, but the team features an influx of relatively new, young talent. Which team will step up to the plate? The Texans have the benefit of playing at home, but have been on a losing streak as of late. Three disappointing losses to the Panthers, Colts, and Titans have really put in question Houston's chances at making a run. The Bengals have managed to play tough in close games for most of the season. I'd really like to see both of these teams make it to the next round, but one team has to lose. Unfortunately for the Texans, it was a nice run while it lasted.

PITTSBURGH 20, DENVER 17
Up front, this matchup may seem like the most uneven wild-card game of the week. Look closely, though, and it could be a very tight game. First, let's start with the preeminent favorite, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Black & Gold haven't been so dominant as of late. Despite only 1 loss in the last 7 weeks, many of their games have featured sloppy offensive gameplay. The loss of Rashard Mendenhall cannot be underestimated, especially with Ben Roethlisberger still nursing his ankle injury. Luckily the defense manages to keep them in games. On the other sideline, the Denver Tebows have struggled as of late as well, with 3 straight losses to end the season. Quarterback Tim Tebow and the offense have been particularly ineffective. If the Denver D can keep them in the game, this one may be closer than we think. Then again, would you rather trust the Steelers offense vs. the Denver defense, or vice versa? Yeah, thought so.

ATLANTA 27, NEW YORK 31
New York may just be warming up at the right time. The Giants got a signature win against NFC East foe Dallas last week, and will look to continue their rejuvenation process against the Falcons. The Falcons are a curious team that can turn it on when needed but tends to play somewhat sporadically. The tough call on this game will depend on what the Falcons bring to the table, and not necessarily what the Giants bring. The G-Men have the defense to handle the Falcons and the offense to keep them honest. Do the Falcons have the tools to survive? Let's not forget this team has not beaten a contender since Week 7 against Detroit (or, alternatively, Week 10 against the Titans). They certainly have the weapons, but the Giants will use their tried-and-true ground and pound formula to keep Atlanta at bay. One big play can certainly swing the score in this game.

DETROIT 31, NEW ORLEANS 49
Everyone expects this one to be a shootout. Who can't when you have two premier offenses facing off against each other? Two 5,000 yard, 40-touchdown passers in Matthew Stafford and Drew Brees will face off in a rematch of a regular season game, coincidentally in the same stadium that another prominent football rematch will take place two days later. Brees and company have been absolutely unbeatable in the Dome, and will look to take on the upstart Lions franchise hungry for a playoff victory. If any team this weekend has a chance against the Saints, it's this Lions team. They want it, and they know it. An entire city (a la New Orleans of 2009) is on their backs. The key to this game will be minimizing mistakes. If the Lions can capitalize on the Saints mistakes (however rare they may be), and can keep pace with Drew Brees and his army of offensive weapons, then they have a chance to stay in it. Unfortunately, as evidenced last week against the Packers, Detroit still has a few unpolished elements on their team, and needs a miracle surge to win in this one.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 17

And so another NFL season ends in both excitement and disappointment. Week 17 could arguably be the toughest week to predict, with many teams opting to lay down rather than step up, and vice versa. And so, with a one game separation between myself and Insider Access, here is my attempt at prediction the final half of the final slate of NFL games (until the playoffs, that is).

SAN FRANCISCO 31, ST. LOUIS 3
The Niners have become one of the most dominant teams in football, thanks to a stout defense and tough running game. On the other end of the NFC West spectrum, the Rams have continued their losing ways, forcing the removal of yet another coach and a reshuffling of the organization. The scenario for this game is simple: a 49ers win gives them a first round bye in the playoffs, and a loss by the Rams gives them a chance at the first overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft (assuming the Colts beat the Jaguars). An Indy win may prevent a shutout.

SEATTLE 24, ARIZONA 20
These two teams started to get hot as the season went on, but unfortunately could not keep that momentum going long enough. The Hawks and Cards could certainly be contenders in the future, and a threeway logjam for the NFC West title could be the outlook for next year. For now, however, these two franchises will have to duke it out in an old-fashioned rivalry game.

TAMPA BAY 17, ATLANTA 31
Atlanta lost the NFC South to New Orleans on Monday in historic fashion, and will now have to await the fate of who they will face in the playoffs. A lot of Atlanta fans will be rooting for Green Bay to beat Detroit on Sunday, which would mean that a win by Atlanta is all that is needed to avoid facing the Saints a third time this season and instead face a struggling Cowboys/Giants team. If Green Bay lays down and loses to Detroit, Atlanta will have to face Drew Brees and company regardless. Look for Atlanta to win either way, and try to keep that momentum going into the playoffs. A loss by Tampa could certainly seal the fate of Raheem Morris as well.

BALTIMORE 26, CINCINNATI 27
This will certainly be an interesting one, with a win-and-in scenario playing out in Cincinnati. Unfortunately for the upstart Bengals, the Ravens look to fulfill plans of their own: shoring up a first round playoff bye with a win. The Ravens have been the definition of inconsistent all year, so a win is not guaranteed. Both of these teams have a lot to play for, but with the Bengals playing at home, I'll give this one to them.

PITTSBURGH 30, CLEVELAND 14
The Steelers will have to play their final game tough to try and assert their dominance of the AFC North. Unfortunately, the Baltimore Ravens have the upper hand here, needing only a Pittsburgh loss to clinch the division. The Steelers won't let that happen, especially against the lowly Browns. Perhaps both teams will play their backup quarterbacks in this one.

KANSAS CITY 14, DENVER 24
The Denver Tebows have taken a step backwards as of late, due partly to their quarterback, but also to their once stifling defense disappearing during games. The Broncos get home-field with a tough game against Kansas City and a playoff berth on the line. The Chiefs have been no slouches either, recently ending the Packers' perfect season hopes. Kansas City can certainly play tough against teams like Denver, but the Broncos won't let their season die so easily. Plus, I'm sure Elway and co. would hate to see Kyle Orton beat them at home.

SAN DIEGO 20, OAKLAND 23
The Raiders find themselves in the position to make the playoffs, but they must first beat the Chargers. San Diego was a hot team only a few weeks ago, but dropped one against the Lions. The Raiders may be under divine intervention, but they will need to play the Chargers hard in order to win this one. No one would have thought this game would mean more for the Raiders and nothing for the Chargers at the beginning of the season.

DALLAS 23, NEW YORK GIANTS 24
Ah, nothing like ending the regular season with a win-and-in playoff matchup. Back in the beginning of the season, I picked the Cowboys to sneak into the playoffs (with the forlorn Eagles winning the division). The Cowboys have been pretty sloppy as of recent, but in typical Cowboys fashion they find themselves on a teeter-totter of late season anticipation as to whether or not they'll make the playoffs or stay on the outside looking in. The Giants have been just as inconsistent, but seem to have a better formula at winning football games. The Giants are thus slight favorites in this one. I like them too. As much as I should stick with the Cowboys for picking them in the first place, I should go with the Giants in order to preserve my imperfect preseason predictions (plus, I have a picture of a Giants player in each of my last three posts).

UTTQ Predictions: Week 17

Well folks, here we are at the last week of the regular season. Its been a fun ride along the way though we still have one very important piece of business that must be completed this weekend; the pick 'em competition between League Beat Writer and Insider Access whom are only separated by a game. So without further adieu, the last regular season picks of 2011.

DETROIT 20, GREEN BAY 21
With teams having locked up playoff bids already, each team's starters should get a few series in before yielding to the reserves to avoid injuries. Of course this makes this game incredibly tricky to call though the Packers have alluded to Aaron Rodgers getting some playing time which I think is enough to give Green Bay the advantage.

NEW YORK JETS 24, MIAMI 21
The Jets still have an outside shot at the postseason though they need a lot of help to pull it off. Miami will be without starting tailback Reggie Bush which I think should give the Jets the advantage, though the Dolphins have spoiled many a picks for me throughout the season. Regardless, New York should win this game, though my gut says it won't be enough to make it to playoff football.

CHICAGO 13, MINNESOTA 20
With nothing to play for but pride, this game could easily slide either way. The Bears showed some life against the Packers despite the final tally while the Vikings seemed to spark behind Joe Webb once again. Chicago's offense just straight stinks enough for Minnesota to extend it's streak to two straight wins.

BUFFALO 14, NEW ENGLAND 28
The Bills shocked the world by winning the first match up between these teams. Even without Tom Brady playing the whole game in all likelihood, it won't happen again.

CAROLINA 28, NEW ORLEANS 30
With the second seed in the NFC still up for grabs, the Saints will approach this game like any other. The Panthers have looked very good as of late behind Cam Newton and should give New Orleans all they can handle.

WASHINGTON 17, PHILADELPHIA 42
What a team Philly could have been this season if the injury bug hadn't struck. In the past weeks we've gotten a glimpse of what the team can really do and they look like a force going forward into 2012. Expect the dominate play to continue as the Eagles look to salvage a .500 season.

INDIANAPOLIS 17, JACKSONVILLE 14
The Colts sit in a very awkward situation with this game. Lose and secure the first overall pick; easy enough right? Well try convince a professional player to throw a game and see how that goes. Indy is the better team on Sunday and when the dust settles, I think they'll come out on top.

TENNESSEE 13, HOUSTON 18
In a seemingly meaningless game for the Texans, the team desperately needs a win to get some momentum going into the postseason.