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NFL Week 16 Christmas Lineman picks

By Steve Keating

Well, after two weeks of 4-2 the Lineman is still searching for that perfect Christmas gift and hopes he has found it with this six-pack of holiday picks.

Keeping in the spirit of the holiday season, the Lineman offers you all the best and may all your picks be winners HO HO HO.

Record: 47-43. Last week 4-2; Pick of the Week: 13-2

PICK OF THE WEEK

Denver Broncos (8-6) at Buffalo Bills (5-9) (Line Broncos minus-2.5)

You do not need to be one of the Three Wise Men to know this has the look of a Christmas Special.

The Lineman’s NFL playoff picks — Saints march on

Well, the Lineman sneaks into the playoffs with a solid but unspectacular finish to the regular season. OK, so we were not the New England Patriots of predictions but neither were we the Seattle Seahawks.

But this is the start of the real season, when things really count. Super Bowl here we come.

Regular Season Record: 53-49

Last week: 4-2. Pick of the Week: 9-8

PICK OF THE WEEK:

New Orleans Saints (11-5) at Seattle Seahawks (7-9) (Line Saints minus-10.5): Picking this one was the Big Easy. The defending Super Bowl champs roll into Seattle to face the first ever NFL team with a losing record to qualify for the post-season.

Qwest Field can be a hostile place for visitors and the Seahawks received a bit of good news on Thursday learning that banged up QB Matt Hasselbeck is fit enough to get the start.

Bengals can be Christmas Grinch says Lineman

Tis the season so, the Lineman is getting a little help from his friends this week.

Ms. Lineman, who has her bookie on speed dial and is a sparkling 5-1 the last two weeks, is willing to share her secrets (this one time only, she claims) while the G-Man has been eagerly waiting for the chance to atone for his dismal 1-5 showing filling in for the Lineman last season.

The Fine Tooner, aka the Wichita Lineman, who stepped in for the Lineman for one week this season and posted a very respectable 4-2, returns bearing gifts.

The Fine Tooner will go to extreme lengths to get the inside story and for those who need proof, check out Dr. Fine’s expose on Olympic speed skating suits and the affect they have on performance.

Simon Evans, who takes an unconventional look each week at the NFL from a European point of view in his Left Field blog ‘Unnecessary Roughness’, promises to be gentle as he makes his first ever contribution to this corner.

Rounding out the list of dazzling prognosticators is “the Bark”, whose picks are often much worse than his bite.

So, Happy Holidays from all of us here at Team Lineman and may all your picks be winners.

The Lineman’s NFL picks – Week 15

Being the holiday season there have been a few gifts from the odds-makers the last two weeks and they helped the Lineman to a couple of nice 4-2 Sundays.

There were no presents this week but settle in for what should be an intriguing Sunday, loaded with matchups that have major playoff implications. Record: 43-41. Last week: 4-2. Pick of the Week: 7-7

PICK OF THE WEEK: Denver Broncos (3-10) at Oakland Raiders (6-7) (Line Raiders minus 6.5)

In a week jam-packed with mouth-watering matchups, this is not one of them. The Raiders playoff hopes are on life support and the Broncos have been dead and buried for months. Only in the minds of those deranged residents of the Black Hole, do they actually believe the Raiders are a Super Bowl team but compared to the Broncos – they are. Denver fired coach Josh McDaniels last week but the move failed to inspire the Broncos, who were spanked 43-13 by the punchless Arizona Cardinals, losing for the eighth time in nine games. QB Kyle Orton started the season looking like the second coming of John Elway but more recently has reminded everyone why the Chicago Bears gave up on him.  I’m not expecting a repeat of the 59-14 drubbing Oakland laid on the Broncos at Mile High stadium in October but it could be nearly as ugly with the Raiders getting healthy at just the right time. Running back Darren McFadden, who rumbled for four-touchdowns in the Mile High nightmare, could be in for another big day against a soft Denver defence that is ranked 31st against the run. Back in Black. Take the Raiders and give up the 6.5. - – - - Green Bay Packers (8-5) at New England Patriots (11-2) (Line Patriots minus-7.5) For a moment, I was considering making this my Pick of Week – but being a Cheesehead at heart, I just could not do it. But loyalty will only take you so far and the Packers are in BIG trouble this week, venturing into the Dead Zone known as Foxborough, needing a win and probably having to do it without concussed quarterback Aaron Rodgers. If Rodgers is unable to go then the Pack will turn to backup Matt Flynn and rely on the league’s top ranked defence that has allowed an average of just 14.5 points per game and a measly 8.8 points their last six. But even an inspired Green Bay defence might not be able to keep QB Tom Brady and the Patriots top ranked offence from lighting them up like a Christmas tree. Brady has thrown 268 passes without an interception shredding some of the NFL’s elite defences on their current five game winning streak, putting 45 points on the Jets, 39 on the Steelers and last week 36 on the Bears before stepping off the gas. Brady has won an NFL record 26 consecutive home games and with a win on Sunday, coupled with a Jets loss, can clinch the AFC East title and a first round.

The Pack defence may be able to keep Brady from turning them into a pinata but without Rodgers they will still take a beating. No Rodgers. No hope. Rodgers and out. Take the Pats and give up the 7.5. - – - - Chicago Bears (9-4) at Minnesota Vikings (5-8) (Lines Bears minus-1.5) Remember when the Vikings quarterback debate was Brett Favre or Tarvaris Jackson. Well this week the talk in Minny is whether to start rookie Joe Webb or journeyman Patrick Ramsey. But with Favre sidelined with a bum shoulder and Jackson hobbled by a toe injury, that’s what it has come down to for the Vikings, a raw rookie or a veteran, who has not played a down of football since 2008. The Bears had a five game winning streak end with crushing 36-7 loss to the Patriots last week but can lock up NFC North title with a victory over the Vikings and a Green Bay loss in New England. Chicago has the NFL’s third ranked defence giving up an average of 17. ppg and is second best against the run yielding just 87 ypg. Without Favre or Jackson calling plays, the Vikings are likely to rely on running back Adrian Peterson, who has seen his production drop off in recent weeks but is still the NFL’s fifth leading rusher with 1,149-yards.     The game will be played outdoors at the University of Minnesota while repairs are made to the Metrodome roof that was damaged in last week’s snowstorm. You have to feel for the Vikings who have endured a season from Hell. The Favre fiasco, the Randy Moss nightmare, coach Brad Childress sacked, the Metrodome collapsing, it has been a season to forget in Minny. Moosejaw, Miami or Minnesota, you have to believe the Vikings just want this to be over. Take the Bears, give up the 1.5 and get out of town.    - – - - Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5) at Indianapolis Colts (7-6) (Line Colts minus-4.5) A year ago, the Colts came into Week 15 with a perfect record. This year they are fighting for their playoff lives.  How bad are things in Indy, a Jacksonville victory would cap a stunning turnaround for the Jaguars, who would go from finishing last in the division a year ago to capturing their first AFC South title in 11 seasons and all but eliminate the Colts. As always, the Colts playoff chances ride on the arm of QB Peyton Manning, now the NFL’s quarterback Ironman at 205 games after Brett Favre’s record streak of 297 consecutive starts ended on Monday, while the Jaguars rely on a punishing ground game and the running of Maurice Jones-Drew. Manning leads the NFL with 4,028 passing yards while Jones-Drew is second in rushing with 1,278. Jacksonville defence ranks 28th against the pass while the Colts are 29th against the run. Something has to give. Take the Colts and give up the 4.5  - – - - Washington Redskins (5-8) at Dallas Cowboys (4-9) (Line Cowboys minus-6.5) One of my few rules is, never pick any game that has two teams playing out the string and nothing to play for. But I just could not ignore this one. It called to me, “take me, take me”.  Sad to see that this great rivalry has been reduced to playing for nothing more than pride and the Cowboys have shown a lot more of it in recent weeks than the Redskins. The Cowboys have played with energy since Wade Philips was sacked going 3-2 under interim coach Jason Garrett – and those two losses were both by just three points to Eagles and Saints. The Redskins, meanwhile, are in a mess winning just once in their last six. The game is the Cowboys last at home this season and I expect them to ride into the sunset with a big win over their biggest rival. Cowboy up. Take Dallas and give up the 6.5. - – - - Philadelphia Eagles (9-4) at New York Giants (9-4) (Line Giants minus-2.5) Eagles QB Michael Vick said he wants dog as pet one day. Eagles fans want a win, the Giants want revenge and I want to win the lottery. It’s crunch time in the NFC East, where 9-4 co-leaders the Eagles and Giants set to square off in New Jersey with the winner earning the inside track to a possible playoff bye or home field advantage in the first round. This is almost certain to be a close game but the Giant have been on roll winning three straight since falling 27-17 to the Eagles. The Giants will lean on the double-barreled running threat of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw while the Eagles offence revolves around Vick, who sure to be in the cross-hairs of a New York defence that leads the NFL in sacks. This one is more of hunch than a homerun. But sometimes you have to go down swinging. Giant win. Take the G-Men and give up the 2.5.

The Lineman’s NFL picks — week 11

Big pat on the back for the ‘Wichita’ Lineman, who came in off the bench last week and produced a solid 4-2 that got our overall record back to .500.

So, as the ‘Wichita’ Lineman says, let’s look into the crystal pigskin and see where Week 11 leads us.

Record: 30-30. Last week: 4-2. Pick of the Week: 4-6

PICK OF THE WEEK:

Washington Redskins (4-5) at Tennessee Titans (5-4) (Line Titans minus-6.5): If you are still having trouble forgetting about that Monday Night massacre think how the Redskins are feeling after the record whooping they took from the Eagles.

The Titans did not do all that much better losing to the Dolphins last week leaving us with two teams looking to make amends.

Tennessee has dropped two straight road games and now return home needing a win to keep pace in a very tough AFC South race that includes the Indy Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans.

“Wichita” Lineman’s NFL picks — week 10

With the esteemed Lineman licking some wounds in his bye week after a tough first half of the season, cousin ‘Wichita’ Lineman has strapped on the pads to join the fray for Week 10.

The crystal pigskin reveals that a couple of underdogs will have bite, dysfunctional quarterback situations produce opposite results and brotherly love will be sorely tested on the gridiron this weekend.

Record: 26-28. Last week: 3-3. Pick of the Week: 3-6

PICK OF THE WEEK:

New York Jets (6-2) at Cleveland Browns (3-5) (Line Jets minus-3): New York head coach Rex Ryan donned a long-haired wig this week to spoof twin brother Rob Ryan, defensive coordinator of the Browns, but this game is no joke to the Jets, whose course to a possible Super Bowl landing could be at stake.

AFC East co-leading Jets have squeaked through to wins in their last two games against the underwhelming Denver Broncos and Detroit Lions while the Browns bounced back from a rotten start to register back-to-back upsets over playoff-bound Saints and Patriots.

Motivation is also high for Cleveland head-coach Eric Mangini, who was fired from New York two years ago to make way for Rex Ryan, and his coach Ryan found ways to neutralise QBs named Brees and Brady in the Browns’ previous two games.

The Lineman’s NFL picks — Week 8

Another tough week for the Lineman, who is feeling a bit like Tony Romo and Brett Favre — beat up. But as bad as Week Seven was, it was still a move in the right direction so we look forward to an even better Week Eight.

 Record: 19-23. Last week 2-4. Pick of the Week: 3-4

PICK OF THE WEEK

Buffalo Bills (0-6) at Kansas City Chiefs (4-2) (Line Chiefs minus-7.5)

Sure, I know what you’re thinking: it’s easy to bet against the NFL’s only winless team.

But there is more to this pick than the obvious, like the fact the Chiefs are the NFL’s best rushing team and the Bills are the worst defending against the run giving up more than 174 yards per game (ypg).

KC quarterback Matt Cassel will never be mistaken for Peyton Manning or Tom Brady but why throw the ball when you can simply hand it to Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles with the Chiefs averaging 176.5 yards per game on the ground.

The Lineman’s NFL picks — Week 5

The Lineman is back baby, 5-1 in Week Four and if not for the Bengals’ surrender in the Battle of Ohio we would have pulled a Kansas City Chiefs – PERFECT. While the Chiefs’ perfect season ends this week in Indy the Lineman gets his shot at perfection in what is a head-scratching Week Five.

Record: 14-10. Last week 5-1. Pick of the Week: 2-2

PICK OF THE WEEK:

Green Bay Packers (3-1) at Washington Redskins (2-2) (Line Packers minus-2.5): After self-destructing against the Chicago Bears and hanging on to tame the winless Detroit Lions it is time for the Packers to step up and play like the Super Bowl contenders they claim to be.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was hearing plenty of MVP talk in the pre-season, has been more MIA in Green Bay’s opening four games (completing just 12 passes last week against the Lions) but will be licking his chops at the prospect of going up against the NFL’s second worst pass defense.

With running back Ryan Grant out for the season, Green Bay is averaging less than 100 yards a game on the ground but the Redskins ground attack also suffered a blow with Clinton Portis on the shelf with a groin injury.

Skins QB Donovan McNabb is still coming to grips with the Washington offense looking great one weekend and shaky the next.

The Lineman’s NFL picks: week 3

That was a hard earned 3-3 in Week Two that could have very easily been 5-1. Really, it could have. The Eagles failing to cover by .5 and the Raiders happy to give up a score at the death against St. Louis were gut-wrenchers. But then the Texans did come back from the brink to beat the Redskins so, I guess it all evens out in the end. Sort of.

Record: 7-5. Last week 3-3

Pick of the Week: 1-1

PICK OF THE WEEK Green Bay Packers (2-0) at Chicago Bears (2-0) (Line Packers minus-2.5)

The battle for bragging rights in the NFC North was suppose to be between the Packers and the Vikings not Green Bay and the Bears. But Vikes Brett Favre is looking old and after last season’s flop Bears Jay Cutler has been reborn in the Windy City with the help of offensive mastermind Mike Martz, the man who produced the Greatest Show on Turf when the Rams were Super Bowl champions.

Cutler threw up an NFL high 26 interceptions last season but two weeks into the new campaign he is the league’s top rated passer. I’m not buying it, at least not yet.

Bears eked out a season-opening win against the Detroit Lions and then went into Dallas and were impressive dumping the hugely over-rated Cowboys. The Packers, meanwhile, come as advertised – legit Super Bowl contenders.

The Lineman’s NFL picks: Week 1

The Lineman is back for another season of Pick Six that will end with the Green Bay Packers winning the Super Bowl. Yes, the Lineman likes the Pack baby. In fact so does Ms. Lineman and some out of work Octopus.

So, let’s have some fun. Here we go Week One.

PICK OF THE WEEK:

San Diego Chargers (0-0) at Kansas City Chiefs (0-0) (Line Chargers minus-4.5): The Chargers have been slow out of the blocks under coach Norv Turner but that will not happen this season.

Unless quarterback Philip Rivers breaks both legs or Southern California slips into the Pacific the Bolts should get off to a lightning quick start thanks to a mushy soft schedule that will see them face just one playoff team (Arizona) from last season in their opening six contests.

Things are not quite as sunny as the weather in San Diego with Pro Bowl wide receiver Vincent Jackson grumbling over a contract and All-Pro left tackle Marcus McNeil missing from the lineup but the Chargers are by far and away the class of a weak AFC West and a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

Rivers ranks among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks and rookie running back Ryan Mathews should make Chargers faithful forget about former NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson, who has landed with the Jets.