UTTQ Preseason Predictions

With a slightly muted buzz and a snap, crackle, and pop or two, UTTQ has returned just in time for the 2012 NFL season! But before I get into some NFL predictions, I must make notice of several unfortunate circumstances that are about to befall all of you loyal readers. UTTQ will be scaling back it's content a lot this year. I probably won't have time to do week-by-week game predictions like last year. That's probably for the best, since most of the content may end up being editorials and the like, which is more interesting anyway. Second, these editorials may be few and far between, like once a month or so, unless I have free time and have nothing better to do. Third, we probably won't finish the "list"articles (Greatest Teams, #1 Draft Picks, etc.) in the foreseeable future. However, they aren't fully closed content, so I may be interested in doing them again later.

So without further ado, here are UTTQ's Preseason NFL Predictions (due to time constraints, I'm just gonna make this short and sweet):

AFC NORTH

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (2)

2. Baltimore Ravens (WC)

3. Cincinnati Bengals

4. Cleveland Browns

AFC SOUTH

1. Houston Texans (3)

2. Indianapolis Colts

3. Jacksonville Jaguars

4. Tennessee Titans

AFC EAST

1. New England Patriots (1)

2. Buffalo Bills (WC)

3. New York Jets

4. Miami Dolphins

AFC WEST

1. Denver Broncos (4)

2. San Diego Chargers

3. Oakland Raiders

4. Kansas City Chiefs

NFC NORTH

1. Green Bay Packers (1)

2. Chicago Bears (WC)

3. Detroit Lions

4. Minnesota Vikings

NFC SOUTH

1. Atlanta Falcons (4)

2. New Orleans Saints

3. Carolina Panthers

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC EAST

1. New York Giants (3)

2. Dallas Cowboys (WC)

3. Philadelphia Eagles

4. Washington Redskins

NFC WEST

1. San Francisco 49ers (2)

2. Seattle Seahawks

3. St. Louis Rams

4. Arizona Cardinals

WILD CARD ROUND

Bills over Texans

Ravens over Broncos

Giants over Cowboys

Bears over Falcons

DIVISIONAL ROUND

New England over Buffalo

Pittsburgh over Baltimore

Green Bay over Chicago

San Francisco over New York

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Pittsburgh over New England

Green Bay over San Francisco

SUPER BOWL XLVII

Pittsburgh over Green Bay

Super Bowl XLVI Prediction

Well folks here we are, the Super Bowl. The NFL season which began with 32 teams 22 weeks ago now culminates with the Giants and Patriots clashing in Indianapolis in a repeat of Super Bowl XLII. So who's going to win this time around?

NEW YORK GIANTS
The Giants have transformed from a team based on a strong running game and dominating defense into one predicated on a strong passing attack. Eli Manning has emerged this season as one of the NFL's elites with his receiving crew of Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz are one of the most talented. New York has continually sported a dominating pass rush in recent memory and this season's team was no different with Jason Pierre-Paul leading a dominating and deep group that also includes Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora. For the most part, the Giants flew under the radar through the season with the majority of the focus in the NFC West being on the "Dream Team" Philadelphia Eagles and the polarizing Dallas Cowboys. Now on the big stage for the second time in Eli Manning's tenure, if the Giants hope to take home another Lombardi Trophy, Manning must play a near flawless game with the defense getting plenty of pressure on Tom Brady. Should these two keys happen, Big Blue will be on top of the football world.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
It was business as usual for the Patriots and Tom Brady, racking up 14 regular season wins despite sporting one of the worst defenses in the league. Needless to say, New England is a team based on over-powering displays of offense with the major play makers being Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. With impressive playoff wins over the Broncos and Ravens already under their belts, the Pats seem to be ready for anything the Giants can throw at them. However, it could be said that the Patriots were also heavily favored the last time these two played for the Lombardi Trophy. If the Patriots' young defense can hold the New York passing attack off just enough, and Brady's own offense can be effective and efficient, New England could return to the peak of the NFL summit after a seven year absence.

THE VERDICT
With the lack of a clear favorite for this year's Super Bowl, the stage is set for an incredible game that could come down to the final moments of the fourth quarter. I don't expect either team to pull away at any point throughout the evening and we could all be in for a shootout. A side note that may end up being inconsequential in the outcome of the game, but the Patriots released backup wide receiver Tiquan Underwood on the eve of the Super Bowl. The timing of this move is just inexplicable and I think it casts a cloud of potential bad karma over New England. Hey, I'm not one to buy into any kind of mumbo-jumbo but in a match up this even, I'll take anything that helps to make my choice and easier. My gut says Giants with Eli winning another MVP award.

NEW YORK GIANTS 35, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOT 32

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.

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.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 16

MINNESOTA 14, WASHINGTON 24
In one of the more shocking upsets of the season, the Redskins not only beat - but embarrassed the Giants. With the struggling Vikings coming into town as a follow up, Washington's confidence should be high against a Minnesota team that suddenly has a realistic shot at the top overall pick for the 2012 Draft. Hail to the Redskins.

TAMPA BAY 21, CAROLINA 30
The Panthers finally held a lead last week in their surprising victory over the Texans. With a disappointing Bucs team on tap, things look good for Cam Newton and company to continue the win streak.

CLEVELAND 13, BALTIMORE 27
This game poses a serious threat to a Ravens team that took one on the chin against the Chargers. On multiple occasions this season, Baltimore has struggled mightily against lesser opponents and the Browns certainly qualify as one. However, Cleveland is a fairly poor team that doesn't seem to have the firepower to score big against the Ravens D like San Diego did.

SAN DIEGO 33, DETROIT 3o
If you want lots of offense and subpar defense, this is the game for you. A win here coupled with a Denver loss make the AFC West incredibly interesting going into Week 17.

PHILADELPHIA 27 , DALLAS 24
In a similar fashion, this game means everything to the Eagles who somehow still have an outside shot of the postseason. Earlier in the season, Philly absolutely carved up Dallas. I see this happening again though with much more resistance from the explosive Cowboys offense.

SAN FRANCISCO 35, SEATTLE 14
With a late season resurgence, the Seahawks sit at .500 and have grown fairly explosive. With the No. 2 seed in the NFC still very much up in the air, don't expect the 49ers to falter in this game.

CHICAGO 14, GREEN BAY 35
With the Josh McCown era beginning on the North Side of Chicago, things look great for a Packers team that suffered it's first loss of the season last week. The Bears just don't have the weapons to keep up with Green Bay.

ATLANTA 28, NEW ORLEANS 30
The last time these two teams met, Mike Smith made a very controversial decision to have his team go for it on fourth down on their own side of the 50. This game should be just as entertaining as that one and could very well come down to a crucial coaching decision to decide the outcome.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 16

Only two more weeks in the NFL season? How can it be so? In any case, these last few weeks is do-or-die time for multiple teams in the league, including those that are playoff bound, and those that are preparing for next year. What sorts of exciting action will Week 16 bring? Without further adieu, here's UTTQ's 100th post (with hundreds more hopefully on the way):

HOUSTON 23, INDIANAPOLIS 17

Indy finally got off the schnide and will avoid an infamous 0-16 season. Much to the delight of Colts fans, they still possess the first pick in the draft. It's hard to force a team to intentionally lose games, but if the Colts manage to upset the Texans, it could possibly throw a major wrench in their draft positioning. The Texans looked week against the Panthers last weak, but they have managed to keep a consistent gameplan against opponents. If Andre Johnson is brought back into the fold, a Texans win is certainly a must here.

OAKLAND 24, KANSAS CITY 17
So Kansas City just beat the undefeated Green Bay Packers, who were riding a 19 game winning streak. Talk about luck huh? Actually, Kansas City played good enough football to keep the Packers' high-flying offense from getting off the ground. Oakland plays a different type of ball game, and will be looking to try keep their playoff hopes (and respectable start to the season) alive.

JACKSONVILLE 20, TENNESSEE 27
Tennessee fell flat on its face last week against the winless Colts, and now get to face another disappointing AFC South team in the Jaguars. The Jags have relied on rattled rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert, and the strong legs of Maurice Jones-Drew. But even that may not be enough to beat Tennessee.

MIAMI 20, NEW ENGLAND 34
The Patriots wrote another chapter in their rivalry with Denver by thoroughly demolishing the Broncos. Miami has quietly been doing some good things this season, despite their record. However, the talent level between the Dolphins and Patriots is still a gap as wide as the distance between Boston and Miami.

ARIZONA 20, CINCINNATI 23
Arizona has been effective this season, but only found their late season success behind quarterback John Skelton. The Bengals have certainly performed well in many games this season, and although they'll end up on the outside looking in, they could certainly be a formidable AFC North for years to come (sounds like people talking about the '07 Browns). In any case, this game is certainly a toss-up, so I'll take Cincy just for kicks.

DENVER 27, BUFFALO 23
Tebowmania rolls into Buffalo this week, and after a disappointing loss to the mighty patriots, the Bills could be just what Denver needs to get back on track. The Bills have fallen hard in recent weeks, and will try to play spoiler to the AFC West leading Broncos. It will be interesting to see whether Tebow and company can rebound from last week, or if their season too was nothing more than a fluke.

ST. LOUIS 14, PITTSBURGH 31
The Steelers were humbled in San Francisco, and their bid to make the top seed in the AFC was seriously threatened. Fortunately, with a few games against cupcake teams on the immediate horizon, the Steelers can ease back players like Ben Roethlisberger and Maurkice Pouncey back into the fold slowly.

NEW YORK GIANTS 23, NEW YORK JETS 30
Quite possibly the game of the week, each team is fighting for a spot in the playoffs. Both teams were embarrassed by weaker opponents last week (You think the Eagles are a strong team? Then why aren't they a lock for the playoffs yet?), and the pressure is certainly on, as both coaches can attest. A loss would certainly hurt Ryan's ego, but a loss for the G-Men could result in Coughlin's job. The Giants cannot afford another late season collapse...unfortunately, it seems all-to-expected.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 15

CAROLINA 24, HOUSTON 17
The Texans could be in trouble soon. The loss of many versatile players and personnel that could very much influence Houston's chances in the playoffs. The Texans, having just clinched the AFC South, could take cruise control on this one in order to avoid further injury. The Panthers won't be taking this one easy either, and look for them to steal this one.

WASHINGTON 23, NEW YORK GIANTS 31
The Giants are rolling, while the Redskins are reeling. Washington has shown glimmers of hope this season, but this game will be all about the Giants exacting their Week 1 revenge on their hopeless foes.

DETROIT 38, OAKLAND 20
Two of the most penalized teams in the NFL get together for a good old fashioned scrap. Both of these teams will try to finish strong after slumping in recent weeks. The return of Ndamukong Suh should allow Detroit more flexibility in their defensive schemes.

NEW ENGLAND 35, DENVER 24
The Brady Bunch rolls into Tebowland in a much-anticipated matchup. New England's offense may be able to handle the Broncos' D, but the Pats' D is another story. They tend to slack off in the later quarters while Tim Tebow starts to work his magic. By then, New England should be ahead by enough points to make any possible Tebow comeback improbable.

NEW YORK JETS 23, PHILADELPHIA 17
Philly may have beaten the Dolphins last week, but if not for a key injury to Matt Moore, the game may have been different. The Jets are looking for a postseason berth and need to take advantage of every opportunity.

CLEVELAND 17, ARIZONA 28
A couple of weeks ago, this would have been a matchup of too hopeless franchises. But as the Browns have continued to falter, the Cardinals have actually found a footing. And that's with both Kevin Kolb and John Skelton at quarterback. The emergence of young players like Patrick Peterson makes this team hopeful for the future.

BALTIMORE 30, SAN DIEGO 27
San Diego is slowly starting to regain their previous forms, but they are too late in trying to retake the AFC West. Baltimore tends to play incredibly inconsistently, but the fight for the top spot in the AFC North is too hard to ignore.

PITTSBURGH 20, SAN FRANCISCO 30
With some key injuries on offense, the Steelers may not be all that they can be against the Niners. The Niners may have slept against the Cards, but one late season loss will surely force Jim Harbaugh to remind his players of the bigger picture. If Roethlisberger can't play, don't expect Charlie Batch to match up well against a tough Niners D.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 14

It's Week 14, and the NFL season is slowly winding down. With only a few more weeks left to the playoffs, the playoff push is on for several teams. Others simply look to the future (ie. the NFL Draft) as they try to play spoiler for several playoff bound franchises.

CLEVELAND 13, PITTSBURGH 38
These two teams are going in very different directions. The Browns have shown no competitiveness all year long, as opposed to the Steelers, who are coming off a demolishing of Cincinnati. Pittsburgh should easily shut down all facets of the Browns game.

KANSAS CITY 17, NEW YORK JETS 28
It's time for the Jets to make their traditional late season surge. But to do that, they must not take even the gimme games lightly. The Chiefs managed a surprising victory against the Bears in a low scoring affair. As long as the Jets don't let the Chiefs defense keep it close, this one should result in a win for New York.

TAMPA BAY 27, JACKSONVILLE 13
Every game for the Jaguars seems to start off with the Jags fighting valiantly, only to lose grasp of momentum and control of the game. The Jags have a tough matchup against a yungry Bucs team looking to reverse a losing trend. Jacksonville looked sloppy on Monday night, and the fact that they lost to a defenseless Chargers team is even more worrisome to the development of their supposed quarterback of the future.

NEW ENGLAND 37, WASHINGTON 16
The Patriots looked dominant against the Colts for the better part of the game, but did ease up in the second half a bit. They will have to baton down the hatches against a topsy-turvy Redskins squad who just barely beat Seattle two weeks ago, and managed to keep up with the Jets for 3 quarters last week. Unfortunately for the 'Skins, the Patriots are way better than both of those teams.

ATLANTA 28, CAROLINA 24
Cam Newton has shown brilliant promise all year, and has certainly been worthy of his number one overall selection. The Panthers have remained competitive throughout the season, but have been inconsistent as well. The Falcons have not looked like a playoff team in that they have not beaten a quality opponent yet. A win against the Panthers would be nice, but the Falcons need to improve fast if they want to make the playoffs.

INDIANAPOLIS 27, BALTIMORE 30
The old Baltimore team visits the new one once again, although this rivalry will be markedly un-trivial this year. The Colts have blown way too many chances to even be competitive in this one, but then again Baltimore has let their guard down before. I think this one will be close, but Baltimore will squeak out a win.

PHILADELPHIA 27, MIAMI 17
Miami has been rising while Philly has been following. These teams could not be going in more opposite directions. That said, I smell an upset alert coming. With Michael Vick coming back, perhaps he can provide a spark to an inept Eagles offense. If not, then how many more games must the Eagles lose before everyone concedes that they will not make the playoffs?

MINNESOTA 20, DETROIT 30
Detroit has been reeling, but Minnesota has been surprisingly feisty. Last week they put up an epic fight against the Denver Tebows, but unfortunately fell flat on the final drive. The Lions got killed in New Orleans, but mostly due to their own mistakes. If the Lions can get their act together and take advantage of playing on their home turf, then they should be able to pull this one out. It's almost certainly a do-or-die game for the Lions, with games against the Raiders, Chargers, and Packers coming up.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 13

It's already Week 13 in the 2011 NFL season. With the playoff picture starting to clear up (and the chance for several teams to clinch playoff berths this weekend), here are my picks for this week's games:

ATLANTA 38, HOUSTON 24
Houston could be in for some big trouble. They have already lost the perennial Matt Schaub, and his backup Matt Leinart (who didn't look too bad in his brief action against the Jags). TJ Yates will presumably be the signal-caller for the rest of the season, with Kellen Clemens and/or Jake Delhomme providing assistance when needed. Unfortunately, Yates faces a tough playoff-caliber opponent in the Falcons as his first test. I still think that Houston will make the playoffs, but they will need Yates to develop first to beat tough teams like Atlanta.


NEW YORK JETS 28, WASHINGTON 23
Washington got a surprising win against Seattle last week, with Rex Grossman seemingly returning to his old ways. But the Redskins face a new challenge against the Jets, a team that has suffered many highs and lows this season. Although they may not be Super Bowl bound anymore, they should be able to beat a team like the Redskins.

BALTIMORE 20, CLEVELAND 27
The old Browns face the new Browns in a classic AFC North rivalry game. The Ravens have been incredibly inconsistent all year and may not have the fortitude to endure a playoff run. But a game against Cleveland should be an easy win. Of course, anyone who has followed the Ravens this year knows that they have followed up tough wins with disappointing losses on the road against teams they should be able to beat. I'll go with the upset in this one.

DALLAS 28, ARIZONA 17
The 'Boys are riding a 4 game winning streak, and are looking to get back into the groove of things after two close games against the 'Skins and the 'Phins. The Cards may have found a new superstar in return man Patrick Peterson, but overall this team has struggled to compete. Dallas should be able to win this game easily.

GREEN BAY 31, NEW YORK GIANTS 38
The Packers are without a doubt the number one team in football, and their long Thanksgiving rest should give way to an impressive win over the sweltering Giants. However, something tells me I should be on upset alert for this one. The Giants have certainly disappointed, but let's not forget that no one expected them to even make an attempt at the playoffs this year. The Packers may have eaten a little too much turkey before this one.

ST. LOUIS 10, SAN FRANCISCO 42
The best meets the worst in the tumultuous NFC Western division. The 49ers are coming off against a tough loss to the Ravens and are looking to keep a dominant lead in the NFC. Meanwhile, the hapless Rams are on the verge of losing their head coach and perhaps another starting player in a very disappointing season. This one should be no contest.

DETROIT 24, NEW ORLEANS 38
The Saints are absolute beasts at home. After their most recent shellacking of the New York Giants, the Saints will look to continue their winning ways against the spiraling Lions. The loss of Ndamukong Suh is big both on and off the field, in that it will surely hamper the Lions D-line rush while also causing a distraction in the locker room. Questions about Schwartz's competence as head coach are sure to arise after letting the great start to the season get out of control.

SAN DIEGO 23, JACKSONVILLE 21
The second Jaguars Monday Night Football appearance features a pair of downtrodden franchises. The Jags have looked inept as usual, while the Chargers have been surprisingly sputtering as of late. Of course, the main storylines will focus on the recent turn of events in Jacksonville, from the firing of coach Jack Del Rio to the notion that Wayne Weaver will be selling the team. With so many distractions, it's hard to see the Jags winning this one. But the Chargers have also found ways to lose close games this year, and I think this one may be closer than most people imagine.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 13

With only about a month left in the season, most teams fates have been decided already. This week's Thursday night match up features a pair of teams that have disappointed this season.

PHILADELPHIA 24, SEATTLE 17
The now mathematically eliminated "Dream Team" comes into Seattle as one of the most disappointing teams of all-time. The Seahawks have also been mediocre following a 2010 season that saw them take the NFC West crown. With the recent news of Sidney Rice going on IR, this match up comes down to which team's skill players can be more impactful. Philly may be a bad team, but they still have a world of talent even without Mike Vick and Jeremy Maclin. It should be enough to get the "W", which don't seem to matter as much anymore.

TENNESSEE 27, BUFFALO 21
Similar to their 2008 edition, the Bills are in absolute free fall following their loss to the Jets on Sunday. Ryan Fitzpatrick just isn't anywhere near as impressive as he was earlier in the season and the loss of Fred Jackson is devastating. Did I also mention that CJ2K just had a huge 190 yrd effort against the Bucs this past week? Things don't look good for Buffalo again this week and one can only wonder where it all went wrong.

KANSAS CITY 14, CHICAGO 28
Lost in the shuffle of the Bears loss to the Raiders on Sunday is that Caleb Hanie actually wasn't that bad. After three early INTs, Hanie seemed to settle down and do a fine job apart from the huge brain fart on the final play. The Bears may be seeing old friend Kyle Orton on Sunday though he won't make a difference. The Chiefs are another team that was hot at one point this season but has fizzled as of late. Chicago gets back to its winning ways come Sunday.

OAKLAND 23, MIAMI 18
Speaking of team's being red hot, the Dolphins were on a three game win streak before losing on a last second Dan Bailey FG in Dallas on Thanksgiving. Reggie Bush seems to have found his niche in the Miami offense while Matt Moore is playing great football. However, the Raiders are a very confident team with Carson Palmer seeming to have found his groove. At this point, Oakland controls it's own destiny in the AFC West with Denver coming on hot. This game could easily go either way though I think that the experience of Palmer will lead the Silver and Black to victory.

DENVER 18, MINNESOTA 12
Tim Tebow is 5-1 as a starter this season. Let that soak in for a second. I have yet to buy into the Bronco's new option attack which has conquered the Jets, Chargers and Raiders in past weeks. That being said, I do think that Tebow and company get the win in Minnesota this weekend. Christian Ponder has performed well above expectations but without Adrian Peterson, the Vikings just don't have a very dynamic offense.

INDIANAPOLIS 10, NEW ENGLAND 35
The Colts have made the move from Curtis Painter who's 0-8 as a starter this season to Dan Orlovsky, who quarterbacked the 2008 Lions to an 0-16 record. Needless to say, things look great for the Pats this weekend.

CINCINNATI 20, PITTSBURGH 30
The last time these two teams met, the Bengals had plenty of chances to take the lead but couldn't. Cincinnati has struggled in the past couple weeks with losses to the aforementioned Steelers and Ravens and near loss last week against the hapless Browns. Much like Ponder, Andy Dalton has also been quite impressive to this point in the season with AJ Green attributing much to that success. On the other hand, Pittsburgh has quietly been one of the best teams in the AFC despite being swept by Baltimore this season. When it comes down to it, the Steelers beat Cincy in Cincy and they'll beat em in the 'Burg.

CAROLINA 21, TAMPA BAY 23
With a five game losing steak on their hands, the Bucs can't be having too much fun. On the other hand, despite a 3-8 record, the Panthers seem to be having lots of it. Cam Newton has been nothing short of marvelous thus far and if Carolina can improve their defense through the draft and free agency, 2012 will look mighty fine. Tampa is also looking forward to next season with injuries and subpar play having marred 2011. Another match up that could easily fall either way, I say the Bucs break their streak on a game-winning drive by Josh Freeman and crew.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 12

TAMPA BAY 24, TENNESEE 17

In a disappointing 2011 campaign, the Bucs have still managed to have some bright spots including last week’s near comeback against the Packers. The young Bucs have also been hurt big time by the injury bug . Opposite them, the Titans have had their own problems headlined by Chris Johnson’s ineffectiveness and their quick start to the season has vanished. With Matt Hasselbeck ailing, this game could potentially be Jake Locker’s first career start. Locker was fairly successful in his NFL debut against the Falcons last Sunday though the Titans lack any true playmakers on offense. Tampa Bay does and this Josh Freeman-led offense should get the job done.

CAROLINA 30, INDIANAPOLIS 12

Has Peyton Manning ever looked more valuable to the Colts than this season? It’s hard to believe that the perennial 10+ win Colts have yet to walk into one even without Manning this season however they haven’t and look like the strong favorite to “win” the top draft pick for the 2012 draft. Cam Newton has hit a bit of a wall in prior weeks including a 4-INT game against the Lions last week (though the Panthers did almost pull that one out). Newton is just a special player regardless and things look good for the Panthers in the future and for this weekend. Just a sidenote, how bad is Dan Orlovsky? It’s an utter mystery to me as to why Curtis Painter is still under center for the Colts. Unless of course they are in fact trying to “Suck for Luck”, then it makes perfect sense.

CHICAGO 24, OAKLAND 20

Just when the Bears seemed to be one of the dominant teams in the NFC, Jay Cutler breaks his thumb and looks to be out for the rest of the regular season. Now, Chicago must turn to Caleb Hanie who was actually fairly effective against the Packers in last season’s NFC Championship game. The Raiders seem to have found stability at QB with Carson Palmer having found his Pro Bowl form in the past few weeks. The Bears still have one of the shutdown defenses in the league and they will have to lean on it even more without Cutler. A heavy dose of Matt Forte combined with a strong showing by the D should lead the Bears to victory.

WASHINGTON 16, SEATTLE 18

In a match up of two disappointing teams, the Redskins come into Seattle on a seven-game losing streak. The Seahawks have followed up their first place NFC West finish in 2010 poorly though they are surely in better shape than Washington. In a game that could easily go either way, Seattle’s playmakers on offense should be the differnce in extending the ‘Skins streak to eight.

NEW ENGLAND 28, PHILADELPHIA 24

Is the “Dream Team” back? Most likely not. After pulling a surprising upset of the Giants on Sunday Night, Vince Young and company get an even tougher task in trying to unseat the Patriots. Tom Brady seems to have bounced back from a rocky period a few games back and a strong performance by the QB should extinguish the final playoff hopes for the Eagles.

DENVER 14, SAN DIEGO 31

Who would’ve thought that Tim Tebow would be 4-1 as a starter while Philip Rivers would be two games under .500 after eleven games. The Tebow led Broncos offense isn’t pretty by any means but its been getting the job done. It’s also become apparent in recent weeks that the Chargers just aren’t that great a team. However, San Diego is still alive in an AFC West that lacks a dominant team. They need this game badly to have any postseason hope and I say they get it.

PITTSBURGH 35, KANSAS CITY 13

Without Matt Cassel, the Chiefs just aren’t a playoff team. The Steelers on the other hand, come off their bye at 7-3 and looking strong. This has all the makings of a blowout judging from KC’s loss big loss to the Pats on Monday Night. Kansas City was a good early season schedule after coming back from an 0-3 start to the season but the injury bug has hit them too hard and they shouldn’t be much of a factor from here on out.

NEW YORK GIANTS 21, NEW ORLEANS 30

Now in tie for first place in the NFC East, the Giants took a big step back with their loss to Philly on Sunday Night. With a trip to the Superdome on tap for this weekend, things aren’t looking great for the G-Men. Drew Brees is well on his way to setting the all-time mark for passing yards in a season and should have a big game on Monday Night. Unless Eli Manning can get back to managing his turnovers, look for a relatively easy win for the Saints.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 12

Happy Turkey Day everyone! This year's Thanksgiving games feature some truly great matchups. So warm up the turducken, set the table, and turn on that TV. What better way to enjoy a day with the family then watching some awesome NFL action?

GREEN BAY 35, DETROIT 31
The Packers are like LSU: an undisputed number 1 team in the win-loss column. That said, on the field f play they may not be a clear cut number 1. Sure, their offense has been great and very efficient. Their defense is a different story, however, as they sometimes can get rattled. Detroit has been fighting their demons of previous years, and trying to preserve their strong start. Although this may not have as much hype as it did 10 or so weeks ago, this will still be one of the more interesting Lions Thanksgiving Classics.

MIAMI 28, DALLAS 24
The chances of this being a repeat of the memorable 1993 Thanksgiving classic are nearly nil, but this game has gotten a lot more interesting in recent weeks. Miami is surging in a midseason win streak that has erased those thoughts of a number 1 overall pick. Dallas is continuing to build steady and methodical wins. Miami's Matt Moore has been particularly impressive, and considering that Dallas's pass D has been underwhelming at times, look for Miami to possibly upset.

SAN FRANCISCO 30, BALTIMORE 27
The Harbaugh bowl has certainly become much more than that, as Baltimore looks to continue its fight for a playoff berth, whilst the 49ers continue to dominate the NFC (apart from the Packers). Its fitting that a battle between two brothers not named Manning would come on Thanksgiving, and what a game it should be. Although Baltimore has slowly been improving over the last few weeks, they are still keeping too many teams close at the end. However, the 49ers should win this one, if by the closest of margins.

BUFFALO 20, NEW YORK JETS 27
An old school, black and blue AFC East rivalry will be between these two New York teams. After a disappointing loss to the Almighty Tebow (and his band of wenches and fools), the Jets are regressing. The Bills, on the other hand, are simply depressing. A strong start to the season has all but been erased in a futile effort to keep a lead in the AFC East. With a loss to the Dolphins last week, the Bills had better hope that their luck turns around soon. Otherwise, the win over New England early in the year came to represent nothing but pure luck.

CLEVELAND 13, CINCINNATI 31
A couple of years ago, this rivalry usually resulted in epic shootouts. This year, the matchup is far more tempered. Both franchises feature relatively young playmakers, but both have also been going in opposite directions since the start of the season. The Browns, thought to be once again on the right track, have lost their star back in Peyton Hillis, who has suffered numerous injury and humiliation due to the Madden Curse. The Bengals, once thought to be dead without Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco, have risen admirably due to the talents of their young skill position players. It is therefore assumed that Cincinnati will take this one, but not in the form of a shootout.

HOUSTON 31, JACKSONVILLE 20
Jacksonville couldn't pull together to force a win against the Browns. Now, they face a much better team in the Texans. Good thing Matt Schaub can afford to miss this game.

MINNESOTA 23, ATLANTA 34
The Vikings may have lost their most dangerous weapon for a game, but that won't stop their attack. Unfortunately, they face the Falcons this week. Atlanta has been a curious team, but they still manage to do what counts when it matters. Against the Vikings, they should be on upset alert (especially with Houston on the horizon), but they should definitely take care of business in this gimme game.

ARIZONA 23, ST. LOUIS 14
Both of these teams are as bad as they come, with the Rams losing in an awful showing against Seattle, and the Cards getting beaten by their own mistakes against the Niners. This contest should surely conjure bad memories for St. Louis from their loss to the Cards a few weeks ago. Patrick Peterson and Larry Fitzgerald are sure to wreck havoc again on a sinking franchise. It goes to show that the team with the better playmakers, and not the better overall talent, will surely win this one.

UTTQ Predictions: Week 11

Another week, another slew of upsets that ruined my picks. This week, hopefully things will return to form. But with my luck, there will be a few big upsets in the following late games:

CINCINNATI 24, BALTIMORE 27
Baltimore has been the definition of inconsistency this year, following up huge wins with depressing losses. The loss to Seattle last week was particularly disappointing, since they seemed to have no rhythm early in the game. Cincinnati beat the Seahawks earlier this season, so the transitive property should result in a Bengals win in Baltimore. This one could be a toss-up, but I'll go with the Ravens.

ARIZONA 17, SAN FRANCISCO 30
The 49ers are the real deal this year, by sticking to the fundamentals and playing to player strengths. Arizona has had their highs and lows this season, but they are no match for a tough Niners team in the bay. Kevin Kolb's health is in doubt once again, so John Skelton will try (and fail) to win his 3rd straight start.

SEATTLE 27, ST. LOUIS 13
Seattle got an upset win last week, but Baltimore has been one of the most inconsistent teams all around. Yet, the Seahawks have managed to have their own inconsistency as well, including big wins over the Giants and Ravens, and disappointing losses to the Falcons and Browns. The Rams have not played well all season (except against New Orleans), and with even more injury concerns on an already decimated roster, look for them to be overmatched by their Northwest rivals.

TENNESSEE 23, ATLANTA 34
Tennessee surprised some people with the blowout of the Panthers, but they were playing a sloppy Carolina D and a surprisingly overwhelmed Cam Newton. This week, they face a tough Atlanta team who took New Orleans to the final bell. A questionable call last week will hopefully not deter Mike Smith and company from opening the playbook. In any case, Atlanta will look to put last week behind them.

SAN DIEGO 23, CHICAGO 31
San Diego is determined not to lose their division, but a tough road trip against Chicago may put them out of the race for the playoffs even more. The Chargers have been uncharacteristically disappointing at this point in the season. It's hard to imagine them making a late playoff push against the Raiders and the Tebow-led Broncos...then again, anything can happen in a tight AFC West.

PHILADELPHIA 21, NEW YORK GIANTS 37
The Giants are coming off a tough loss against the 49ers. The Eagles are coming off a tougher loss against the Cardinals, that has surely eliminated them from playoff contention. If they are to have any chance at the postseason, they must beat Eli and company this week. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), they may have to do that without Michael Vick, who is nursing a rib injury.

KANSAS CITY 24, NEW ENGLAND 31
Kansas City faces a massive disadvantage going forth in a tight AFC West race. With Matt Cassel out for an extended period of time, Tyler Palko will try to drive the KC offense. Unfortunately, with a tough test coming against New England, we'll get to see if the Chiefs can get by without Cassel or not. We'll also get to see whether the Patriots can keep their foot on the pedal.