Dave's NFL WILD CARDS of the Week

I couldn't go the week without posting...

Dave's (blam!)
WILD CARDS (clank!)
of the Week (snap!)

Let's do this... Four Games, four mediocre to good teams... onward.

First, in Houston, I'm going Bungles to cover +3 and take the game outright. Upset City!

Next, in the Big Easy of New Orleans, I have the Saints -10.5 in a landslide. In fact, I'm also taking the OVER of 59.0 points. It's going to be a laugher, gents.

Next, in New Jersey, I'm going Falcons to take +3 at the Giants. Two unpredictable teams, but also a situation where the G-Men are expected to win. You know what that means... those mental minded Big Blue will lay an egg.

Lastly, we go to Denver, where the only thing high right now is the altitude for the game. The Broncos have hit on very hard times, and rumors circulated that Brady Quinn could take Tebow's place at quarterback if the game gets out of hand. In light of this, I'm still picking Denver +9.0 in a reasonably low scoring game.

There's your Wild Card picks. Enjoy the games, all.

Dave's LOCKS of the Week: Week 16

From my Christmas travels it's time for

Dave's (plop)
LOCKS (bonk)
of the Week (fwop)

Dave's LOCKS of the Week
Week 16

Again a Merry Christmas to you all! This week, an adbridged LOCKS of the Week to round out the second to last week of the season. You can bet everyone has the holidays on their mind, but let's hope they also have playoffs on their mind too. LOTS of teams still in it for the playoffs. TO THE PICKS!

First, let's do the easy one: Pittsburgh at Balitmore. I don't see how the Ravens lose this game, and to top it off, they get points! Quoth the Ravens "we get points? How did that happen?" The Oddsmakers are pretty smart on this one. They not only factor in the teams but the fans too. Imagine... they're having coffee and say "wow, all those goober Steeler fans must think they're going to run the table now... let's make them a FAVORITE!" No way should the Steelers be favored in this game, but Vegas has played the crowd and made them a 2.5 pt favorite. I want the Steelers to win so badly, but I'm going to use the brain instead and flock to the underdog. I'm going Ravens (+2.5)!

Next to Indianapolis, where the still undefeated Colts are playing the still in it Jets...

STILL the ONE, we're 14-0
STILL the ONE, we barely beat San Francisco
We're still having fun but we're STILL THE ONE.

C'mon, has there ever been a less convincing 14-0 team in NFL history? You gotta be kidding me with all these wins the Colts are pulling out of their pants... Even a magician couldn't pull off half these tricks. I'm not convinced by this team, and furthermore, with everything clinched, I imagine they may not have full intensity for this game. Jets are getting (+5.5). I'm taking the points and taking the Jets out in flyover country.

Finally, we go back in time a couple days to Christmas Day (the last two picks were for Sunday games). The Titans face the Chargers on Thursday Night Football! Yes, I said "Thursday Night Football". YES, they have one. No, I know most people don't get the NFL network... YES, I know Padres cable access baseball gets a bigger audience than NFL network.... I know, I know... ok ok.

Anyway, the Titans are rightfully favored by (-3). One might think that's a mistake, but after the 0-6 start, Tennessee has been doing a marvelous job battling back to about .500 . This team will have a ton to play for, and statistically speaking, the Chargers are due for a loss after 9 straight wins. Not to mention, Chris Johnson leads a Titans running attack that is near the top of the league (2nd overall in YPC). If the Titans are able to exert the runinng attack, it should allow for them to control the clock and minimize Philip Rivers' effectiveness. I'm going BIG, TITAN BIG and I'm going Tennessee (-3) on X-mas day.

I went 1-1-1 last week (yuck) and hope to turn it around this time on

Dave's (dink)
LOCKS (donk)
of the Week (beep beep)

Again, here are the picks: Bal (+2.5) at Pit; NYJ (+5.5) at Indy; TEN (-3) at home

Harrison locked up with a Steel Safe!

It's done! The Steelers lock up Defensive Linebacker James Harrison to a Six Year, $51.7 million deal.

Here are the details from NFL.com:

Harrison will get a guaranteed $20 million, more than any other Steeler outside of Ben Roethlisberger. This also gives Harrison the distinction of being the second highest paid player in team history.

The Contract runs through 2014, however, it is unlikely Harrison will play out the duration of the deal. Harrison will be 31 in the first season of the new deal.

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While it's a rather steep price for one guy, it's only right to give the best defensive player on the team his proper reward. One could consider the contract retribution for his efforts in 2008. Either way, it's a great moment for the Steelers and Steeler fans, which ensures Harrison will remain a Steeler as long as he is a productive player.

It's nice to see the Steelers finally hand out contracts on par with the rest of the league. It wasn't always the case going back, and furthermore, the dividends are paying off. Roethlisberger, offered a lucrative 8 year deal last year, only led the Steelers down the field in a 2 minute drill most players dream of. Down a score late with the Super Bowl on the line, Big Ben Roethlisberger engineered a near length of the field drive that put the Steelers ahead and won them a championship!

Enough of my Steeler bias! The deal is a good one and a refreshing sign of fiscal assertiveness from the Steeler organization.

We did it Steelers... WE DID IT!!!

Congratulations Pittsburgh Steelers! 2008 Super Bowl Champions!!

I have one thing to say, to my friends who are Steelers fans...

Pittsburgh... WE DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Week 17: Dave's Swan Song of the Week

It's time to say goodbye my friends...

to

Dave's (clack)
LOCKS (fwish)
of the Week (creak)

Dave's final LOCKS of the Week this year
Week 17

It's always tough to say goodbye. All those weeks living on every play, butt on the edge of its seat from September to now. Now it's all coming to an end. So sad... But let's finish the season strong! To the picks!!

First, to LAMBEAU FIELD in Green Bay. *This* is a place that should get all the clip shows and tear-filled memoirs. Remember the big hoopla about "Texas Stadium's last year?" Oh please, its Texas Freakin' Stadium!! This is like Three Rivers Stadium closing... the place was a dump. Texas Stadium was sterile, dull, unimaginative, and frankly, boring. Good Riddance!

But here we're at the Frozen Tundra where the Packers are facing the 0-15 Lions. It's a chance at history!! In fact, going in Green Bay's favor is that the Lions haven't won in Green Bay since 1991! Whoof! Thats especially frustrating knowing both teams are in the same division.

But an air of change is afoot. The Packers were so tantalizingly close to finally winning a game in the final minutes but still folded. Look for the Packers to "pack" it in and lay down against the still fightin' Lions. Lions cover the (+9.0) spread EASILY.

Onward, to the Steel City... hahaha, the Steelers don't play in 3 Rivers any more. Instead we're looking LIVE at Heinz Field, the land of ketchup and weirdly constructed sandwiches. On Sunday the Steelers host the lousy Browns in a warmup game before the playoffs begin.

Can you believe the Browns are (+10.5) dogs? That's a mistake! First of all, the weather forecast calls for Rain and Snow with 10 mph wind. Next, the Steelers for all intents and purposes have a first round bye clinched. The result is the Steelers ought to be resting many of their starters. Cleveland will be making this much more of a game than many think. Besides, it's a rivalry game, and rarely are these games blowouts. Browns to cover.

Finally to San Diego, where the Chargers and Broncos play a winner take all duel to determine the Winner of the AFC West, and the right to get pounded by the Colts in the first round! The Chargers are favored by 8.5? Whaaa? You have to think the game will be closer than you think. These two teams are made for each other. The Bolts and Broncos wrote the book on underperforming (or being overrated, if you will). Watch this one decided by a field goal as the Buckin' Broncos Buck the experts and ride those (+8.5) points, cover the spread and keep the game close!

It's been fun, but it all has to come to an end sometime.. That's all for

Dave's (slap!)
LOCKS (clank)
of the Week (fwoosh!)

Aw... thats it for my picks, but stay with us when we roll out the quick PLAYOFF LOCKS of the Week. Enjoy Week 17 everyone!


Recap: Lions (+9.0) cover at Packers; Browns (+10.5) cover at Steelers; Broncos (+8.5) cover at San Diego

Taking one for the team

I couldn't help it. I had to pick against my Steelers last week. It just seemed too delicious not to taste, and look at the results! The Steelers completely dismantled the Patriots, all at Gillette, 33-10.

I know it blew LOCKS of the Week, but man, I was so happy to see the Steelers win one for the Willie! ...Parker, that is.

Poor Willie. He's been out for a good portion of the season, and as a result, the Steelers running game has been shaky at best. Maybe they DO miss Alan Faneca. My, oh my.

Keepin' it in the Family

Terrific news for Steeler fans everywhere. Dan Rooney has agreed to purchase about 80% of the team, thus keeping Steeler majority ownership with the Rooney family.

Its tough to be a major football powerhouse in a small town like Pittsburgh, PA. Did you know Pittsburgh has a population of only 300,000? That's about the same size as my home town, Oxnard, CA, and neighboring Ventura. I hardly consider the tandem a market large enough for an NFL franchise.

The potential debt owed to Dan was raised in another blog. It's an interesting point. With all the money going to other brothers, Dan could potentially have a tough time competing for free agents.

My counterpoint is this: The Steelers aren't usually about signing big free agents, nor keeping them for that matter. Remember when Plaxico Burress left for greater dollars signs about four years ago? The answer? Santonio Holmes, drafted with the 25th pick of the first round. Almost as good, and much cheaper.

The point is, the Steelers avoid going corporate for the short term. It's going to be a struggle for a little whlie, but with their strong core of defense, and ownership group that cares, the Pittsburgh Steelers will still be... The Pittsburgh Steelers.

Steelers: best defense in the NFL! (all precincts reporting)

What's in a defense?

Six sacks
Six points allowed
and one mean flurry of hard hitting tackles!

Imagine that! In a game that determines the election 15 out of 16 times, the Steelers DOMINATED on Defense and didn't look back. They took a team that hadn't thrown an interception in 12 games and forced TWO of them.

If there was any question who had the fiercest defense in the NFL, it was whisked away in an avalanche of Terrible Towels this Monday. What a fantastic performance by the venerable Steelers defense against the Washington Redskins! The Redskins are no slouch either. Going in they allowed the 8th fewest points in the NFL and owned several statistical defensive categories.

The Titans appear to be the best defensively, but while they manage to beat up lousy teams like Kansas City, Houston, and Cincinnati, the Steelers clashed with all the big boys: Philadelphia, New York, and now Washington. In those three games, the Steelers held its opponent to 15, 21, and 6 poitns respectively.

Hard hitting comes with a price, and tonight it could have been the health of Big Ben Roethlisberger. Hopefully, Roethlisberger's shoulder injury isn't serious, but that said, Byron Leftwich did rather well off the bench. The Steelers are poised to make a huge run, and if they do, it will be on the shoulders of their dynamite defense!

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Speaking of elections...

Many of you are familiar with how the Redskins' last home game before a Presidential Election determines the winner. If the 'skins win, the incumbent party wins, Senator John McCain to be exact. If they lose, the other party wins, in this case Senator Barack Obama.

The Obama campaign was sure to set aside its differences and become Steeler fans for a night.

Did anyone get a chance to watch Chris Berman's interview with both candidates at halftime? I thought it was rudimentary, but effective. Berman isn't much of an interviewer, but he asked three basic questions to both men. Both of them gave good answers and gave a touch of their personal side in between.

I think it's important to distinguish these candidates as human beings. Too often we associate a nominee with an ideal or a platform, but we lose sight of the fact that these are people, just like any of us.

Whatever happens, I hope ALL of you make it to the polls tomorrow and cast your vote for President! Don't forget to vote on your local issues and propositions. It is our honor and privilege, earned through the sacrifice of many men and women. Let's do our nation a favor and make a difference. Bottom line: GO VOTE!!

New York City... SUPER GIANTS!

PITTSBURGH-- Who needs a terrible towel when you have a terrific front four?

"3-4 THIS!!!" said the New York Football Giants, crushing the Steelers offensive line when it counted most, during the fourth quarter. The running game was weak for Pittsburgh. Essentially, the Steelers brought a paper knife to a gunfight, and the Giants defeated the Steelers in an odd one, 21-14.

Worse than this, Ben Roethlisberger threw four interceptions, which led to several Giants field goals. Only ONCE, did the Giants score a touchdown. Outside of that, it was the field goals, and a very awkward safety off a bad snap to the punter. The ball fluttered past the "Orlovsky Zone" and went for a safety. It was so baffling, even the computerized box score reported "undefined."

"Baffling" basically sums up Sunday evening. The game had hard hits, lots of turnovers, and was not one for the faint of heart, but wouldn't you know, the Giants' defense carried the G-Men to a win.

Most striking about Sunday's big matchup was that, the game asked more questions than it answered. Just how good are Pittsburgh's special teams? How did the Giants fare so poorly in the Red Zone? Could the Steelers' offensive line be overrated?

Who between these two teams is legitimate? Perhaps neither of them are. After all, it didn't seem like either team executed much offensively. Still, somebody had to win, and on this night it was the New York Giants. Well earned victory for the Giants, and well timed, with some tough games coming up.

It was an exciting moment for football, but the mystery continues: Who are the best teams in the NFL? Tonight's Monday Night Football between Indy and Tennessee will give us some more... revealing clues. Come solve with us, won't you?

NFL Week 2 Brings the Excitement!

Hey everyone! Hope you guys had a good NFL Sunday.

It was a terrific day for football, filled with many close finishes, great plays, and shining moments. I was at Zodos, the only place to be for NFL football (if they knew how to turn on the HD). Anyway, here's my other thoughts on Week 2:

Aaron Rodgers: Like Musicals to My Ears!

Some folks weren't convinced Rodgers could take his good QB skills on the road. Instead, Rodgers impressed everybody out in the Motor City. Over 300 yards passing and 3 touchdown passes! I was impressed, and apparently, so were many fantasy owners.


The Greatest Week 2 Game Ever Played

There may be several candidates to earn the title "Greatest Week 2 Game". Unfortunately, Steelers/Browns is nowhere near the list. That game was kind of sloppy.

Instead, there was a battle of defensive wills over in Minneapolis between the Vikes and Colts.

There was also a terrific show in our nation's capital, perhaps a coming of age for young Jason Campbell.

Let's not forget the "Battle in Seattle" where you *can* get a second chance in life, or in overtime. SF's Joe Nedney misses the game winning field goal in regulation, only to nail it in OT, from the same distance!

Finally, the big shootout in Denver, where the Chargers and Broncos combined to score 77 points. Whoof!


Same Old Patriots

I still get the impression that the Jets are vastly overrated. It's tough to win games with only ten points in normal weather, and the Jets seemed more like a 4-12 team today. The Patriots do what they always do, win games, albeit much uglier and tougher than normal. The Pats have that 9-7 look without a doubt.

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Still to come on Brothers and Sisters Week: the big Monday Night game between the Eagles and Cowboys. It may not amount to much in the end, but this week it will be a lot of fun. I'm looking forawrd to the result, and let's hope we get a better game than we got in Cleveland!