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Friday, December 30, 2011

Who I like this weekend

It should be a very interesting weekend in the NFL with all but a handful of games being meaningful in some way, shape or form.

Of course, here in Pittsburgh, the games everyone will be keeping an eye on will be at 4:15 p.m.

That's when Cleveland will host the Steelers, Cincinnati hosts Baltimore, Denver hosts Kansas City and Oakland hosts San Diego.

The Steelers will be as healthy as they've been in quite some time with only LaMarr Woodley sitting this one out.

Pittsburgh should be plenty motivated and the Browns are, let's face it, not very good. Cleveland will be inspired by the idea of helping to put a bump in Pittsburgh's playoff road, but the Browns are 4-11 for a reason - they earned it.

Take the Steelers, who are favored by 7, 23-13.

In Cincinnati, Marvin Lewis owns a 10-7 record against the Ravens as the Bengals' head coach and they probably would have won the game in Baltimore if not for the league's silly rule about receptions in the end zone.

The Bengals match up well against the Ravens and will have a full house for only the second time this season. The other was in a seven-point loss to the Steelers when they were driving late before being stopped by Pittsburgh.

Baltimore is a 3-point favorite but is just 3-4 on the road.

I like Cincinnati, 21-17

In Denver, Kyle Orton returns and will exact some revenge on the Broncos for cutting him to go with Tim Tebow.

The Chiefs also seem to be inspired to play for interim coach Romeo Crennel.

Kansas City is getting three points and I like the Chiefs to win, 16-14

Finally, the Raiders can win the AFC West with a win and a Denver loss.

They are three-point favorites over San Diego, which will be playing what is surely the last game of the Norv Turner era.

I like the home team in this one, 24-20.

That will leave the AFC playoff seeds as so: 1. New England 2. Pittsburgh 3. Houston 4. Oakland 5. Baltimore 6. Cincinnati

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wont that be a kick in the ravens mouth if they dont win the North... LOL But that being said, the Steelers WILL have to face them again this year, lets hope we are ready for it this time!!!

I guess I am a Bengals fan for a few hours now!!

adamg said...

If you scenario plays out, that sends Carson Palmer and Oak to Balt in the first round.

Anonymous said...

No, that would send Baltimore to Oakland since Oakland would be a division winner.

~sbk

adamg said...

LOL, my bad. Still ironic that Carson Palmer would be facing an old nemesis.

Skinley said...

Sale - I sure do hope the scenario you mentions plays out or even more specifically the part about us winning and the Ratburds losing. I don't trust this team on the road, let alone in the playoffs.

Anonymous said...

If this scenario plays out and buffalo wins, does that put the steelers at #1?

adamg said...

Yes, Steelers would win the head-to-head tie breaker against NE.

adamg said...

Wow, 21-0 Bills, still in the 1st qtr. Of course, NE could still come back, but so far, so good.

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