NFL Week 16 Preview & BRB Pick 'Em League Update

I'll be honest, I've had quite a busy week the past week. I almost forgot to write this up, but, luckily, I've had some time to kill in airports. Hopefully, this is correct, but I'll apologize in advance if I missed a name or record.

I guess it was fortunate that I've been able to avoid Houston Texans news because there's just not anything good out there, eh? I can't even think of much to write as Houston heads to Denver to take on Tim Tebow and the Broncos. There are lots of Tebow, Gary Kubiak, and Denver South jokes to make, but both franchises would rather just move on to the NFL Draft. Oh well, I can hope Gus Johnson calls the game, right?

After 16 weeks, you know the order: Jump. NFL Preview. BRB Pick 'Em League Update.

 

Carolina Panthers (2-12) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) (Thursday 12/23 at 7:20 pm CST)
(crickets) Steelers win 31-3.

Dallas Cowboys (5-9) @ Arizona Cardinals (4-10) (Saturday 12/25 at 6:30 pm CST)
(crickets) Cowboys win 34-13.

New England Patriots (12-2) @ Buffalo Bills (4-10) (Sunday 12/26 at Noon CST)
(more crickets) Patriots win 37-13.

Baltimore Ravens (10-4) @ Cleveland Browns (5-9)
I'm tempted to take the Browns since they always pull out a shocker against a playoff team in December, but I really like Ray Rice's chances against the Cleveland D. Ravens win 23-15.

New York Jets (10-4) @ Chicago Bears (10-4)
I know the Jets just pulled out a tough one against a similar-minded Pittsburgh team, but I like Chicago's defense against Mark Sanchez. I also think New York may have a let-down game. Bears win 30-16.

Washington Redskins (5-9) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6)
If Rex Grossman continues to air it out, he should beat a beatable Jaguar secondary. Redskins win 33-24.

Tennessee Titans (6-8) @ Kansas City Chiefs (9-5)
I hope Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones run for 250 yards. The Chiefs should dominate this one. Chiefs win 27-13.

Detroit Lions (4-10) @ Miami Dolphins (7-7)
The Dolphins are punchless lately, while the Lions will continue to win in Florida and slide back in the draft. Lions win 23-20.

San Francisco 49ers (5-9) @ St. Louis Rams (6-8)
With a win, the 49ers would control their NFC West destiny. I'm as stunned as you are. For chaos' sake...49ers win 23-17.

Houston Texans (5-9) @ Denver Broncos (3-11) (Sunday 12/26 at 3:05 pm CST)
Please let's win this one against a team with an equally bad defense and Tim Tebow? Texans win 27-18.

Indianapolis Colts (8-6) @ Oakland Raiders (7-7)
The Raiders will stick with the run thanks to Michael Bush and Darren McFadden. I think they'll cause some chaos at home. Raiders win 23-17.

New York Giants (9-5) @ Green Bay Packers (8-6) (Sunday 12/26 at 3:15 pm CST)
Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs should run all over the frozen tundra, and the Giants front-four could knock out Aaron Rodgers or Matt Flynn. Giants win 26-16.

Seattle Seahawks (6-8) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)
Tampa Bay taking on a losing West Coast team making the cross-country flight? Buccaneers win 27-17.

Minnesota Vikings (5-9) @ Philadelphia Eagles (10-4) (Sunday 12/26 at 7:20 pm CST)
(Crickets return for Minnesota's third-straight prime-time game) Eagles win 48-16.

New Orleans Saints (10-4) @ Atlanta Falcons (12-2) (Monday 12/27 at 7:30 pm CST)
I've been saying that I don't buy into the Falcons, and this game will show why. I really think New Orleans is the better team, and I feel like they will roll here - especially if Drew Brees picks on Dunta Robinson. Saints win 34-23.


BRB Pick 'Em League Update
This Pick 'Em League had a topsy-turvey week with a lot of games tripping people up. Shake had the best record, but he finished mired in the middle with points. I finished with the same record as Texanmaniac, but he was last in points while I was eighth. Still, despite the tough week, the BRB Pick 'Em League sees its first three-time winner in the Week 15 winner of the Andre Johnson Award for Ass-Kicking and Excellence - SATexan.

I could do a song-and-dance, but SATexan's the leader in record (148-76), points (1291), and week wins (3). SATexan has been in the overall lead since Week One and hasn't relinquished his lead despite people cutting into it. What more can one say than SATexan has consistently kicked the competition's ass on a weekly basis?

Let's all congratulate and raise an ice cold beer to the Week 15 BRB Pick 'Em Winner of the Andre Johnson Award for Ass-Kicking and Excellence - SATexan.

"Should've Put Money On It" Game of the Week: 41 out of 41 pickers chose Oakland over Denver.

"We Know Nothing" Game of the Week: USMC_Texas was the only person who chose Tennessee. The rest? Knew nothing.

Sippin' on Battle Red Drank: Sixteen people put maximum points on the Texans. Given the loss to Tennessee, I'm not going to kick those 16 while they are down.

Hidin' Out In the Back of the Meeting Hall: USMC_Texas, as said earlier.

The Rex Grossman "F**k It, I'm Goin' Deep" Award: cubic threw down 11 points on 6-point underdog Detroit to break their record streak of road losses. Big time points on a big underdog with major history concerns. Kudos.

The David Carr Misguided Faith Award: southpaw70 and CowboyH8ter both chose against nine-point favorite San Diego. Why? Who knows?

The Charley Casserly Decision Making Award: Texanmaniac doesn't have the worst record (8-8), but those 47 points are pretty Charley-esque.

BRBer with the best weekly record: Shake (Black Salami) 11-5.
BRBer with the most weekly points: SATexan (Cake) 102 points.
Overall best record: SATexan (Cake) 148-76 leads by 2 games over riversmccown (Glover Quin Never Allows TD's).
Overall points leader: SATexan (Cake) 1291 points leads by 22 points over riversmccown (Glover Quin Never Allows TD's).

Top-Five BRB Pick 'Em League (by record)
1. SATexan (Cake) 148-76; 1291 points (1st) - 3 wins.
2. riversmccown (Glover Quin Never Allows TD's) 146-78; 1269 points (2nd) - 1 win.
t-3. bigfatdrunk (Feces Flingers) 140-84; 1206 points (4th).
t-3. USMC_Texas (USMC) 140-84; 1099 points (19th) - 1 win.
t-5. Oiler-Texan Diehard (oiler-texan diehard) 139-85; 1215 points (3rd).
t-5. BigTexBD (BigTexBD) 139-85; 1198 points (5th).
t-5. do (do) 139-85; 1168 points (9th).

Don't forget to submit your picks for Thursday's game and the rest by Saturday/Sunday, BRB Pickers. Congrats once again to SATexan! Enjoy this weekend's slate of football and GO TEXANS! Merry Christmas!