# NFL Predictions - Week 14 **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 30, 2000, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377 "2000-11-30T14:59:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377/1 "2000-11-30T14:59:14Z")
A very nice week last time at 11-4, 125-63 for the year which increases the lead over the boys at The Sporting News (tops there is 122-66). Another Thursday game this week which really sucks for us fantasy football players when you have a player or two listed as “Questionable” but have to have your line-up in today. **Lions 24 at Vikings 31** (Hard to believe, but if things fall the right way, the Vikes can clinch the Division Title this week.) **Cardinals 20 at Bengals 24** (I don’t understand this Corey Dillon guy. He runs for miles against tough run defenses like the Broncos and the Steelers, but doesn’t do crap against the Cowboy’s crappy run stoppers. What _is_ a fantasy coach to do with this guy?) **Cowboys 10 at Buccaneers 17** (The Bills had more than twice the offensive yards as the Bucs last week, and the score looks like a Bucs’ blowout? WTF?) **Broncos 21 at Saints 24** (This scoring 21 points in 4th quarter come from behind wins for the Broncos is going to end here.) **Dolphins 17 at Bills 13** (Miami is still banged up, but I think the entire Bills’ defense was injured within about three plays at Tampa Bay last week.) **Giants 17 at Redskins 23** (Okay, the Giants apparently have the Eagles’ number, but who else have they beat?) **Raiders 30 at Steelers 14** (That “mighty” Steeler defense allowed the freakin’ Bungles to explode with 28 points.) **Rams 35 at Panther 20** (Sorry, it might work against the pathetic Packers, but the patchwork offense won’t be able to keep up with Warner and the Rams.) **Seahawks 20 at Falcons 21** (YYYAAAAAAWWWWWWNNNNN!!!) **Titans 14 at Eagles 17** (Never under estimate the damage the turf at the Vet can do to opposing players.) **49ers 24 at Chargers 20** (I am _so_ tempted to pick the Chargers again, but I best not push my luck.) **Colts 20 at Jets 24** (Broadway Joe is predicting another Jets win.) **Browns 6 at Jaguars 27** (Finally the Jags are looking like the team everyone thought they’d be. Too little too late.) **Packers 13 at Bears 14** (After Monday Night’s game, I’m embarrassed to be from Wisconsin.) **Chiefs 28 at Patriots 24** (You know, if this keeps up – teams with losing records playing on Monday – I may have to check out the CBS Monday night line-up. I’m assuming they have one.) Looking back, maybe I should have taken a little more time with the picks this week, there’s a lot of tough calls in there. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377/2 "2000-11-30T15:22:51Z")
> [@](#): > > **Giants 17 at Redskins 23** Thanks a bunch, Gazoo. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Bottle\_of\_Smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bottle_of_Smoke)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377/3 "2000-11-30T15:37:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gazoo \* > **Packers 13 at Bears 14** (After Monday Night’s game, I’m embarrassed to be from Wisconsin.) Ya damn pansy fair weather fan, Gazoo. Now that the Pack has lulled the rest of the NFC into a false sense of security, they can start their surge. 9-7, a wild card, and then the Super Bowl! Whoa. Gotta think about adjusting my medication. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377/4 "2000-11-30T15:40:17Z")
I love you, Gazoo. ---
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377/5 "2000-11-30T15:48:48Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Gazoo \* **Titans 14 at Eagles 17** (Never under estimate the damage the turf at the Vet can do to opposing players.)/QUOTE] Ain’t that the truth. While I hate the Vet and can’t wait for the new stadium(s) to be built, I have to admit that the turf is the 12th defenseman (right, Cade McNown?) and it does intimidate the hell out of visiting teams. (And, damn you for picking the Redskins this week. I need them to beat the Giants!) **Go Eagles!!!** ---
**Author:** ![broccoli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@broccoli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/broccoli)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377/6 "2000-11-30T15:53:02Z")
**Browns 20 at Jaguars 17** (as the Jags falter once more, and the Browns -for once- don’t suck) **Cowboys 13 at Buccaneers 17** (Keyshawn finally gets some passes as the Cowboys force a throwing game, ‘exploiting’ the Bucs weakness) **Broccoli! 0 at His Parent’s 1** (Missing football for the first Sunday this season to visit the folk’s for his Dad’s BDay) punk snot dead, broccoli! ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377/7 "2000-11-30T16:55:48Z")
Hey **Gazoo** , just a few nitpicks > [@](#): > > Lions 24 at Vikings 31 (Hard to believe, but if things fall the right way, the Vikes can clinch the Division Title this week.) I think this’ll be much closer with the Lions possibly squeeking a win out of it. > [@](#): > > Raiders 30 at Steelers 14 (That “mighty” Steeler defense allowed the freakin’ Bungles to explode with 28 points.) Nope, despite a few mediocre years, still one of the best rivalries out there, Raiders by 3. > [@](#): > > 49ers 24 at Chargers 20 (I am so tempted to pick the Chargers again, but I best not push my luck.) Or incur my whinning 😛 Nah, the Niners by at least 10. ---
**Author:** ![Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377/8 "2000-11-30T17:16:47Z")
Hey **stuffinb** , glad you stopped by - have you heard any rumors about Garcia? The guy who has him in our fantasy league says he heard the Niners may only play him for a half. I looked everywhere on-line and didn’t find anything that would even intimate that. Any news out there? Oh, and the Vikings will handle the Lions just fine and I’m more than willing to take any and all bets on this (Sports Illustrated cover jinx be damned!). The Raiders are probably the most underrated team in the league right now. 10-2 and I don’t hear any one talking about them. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377/9 "2000-11-30T18:00:06Z")
**Gazoo** , unless I’ve missed something, you’re now 1-11 on picking Redskins’ games (got Game 1 right, and have an 11-game losing streak since), and are thereby an awesome 124-52 on calling the rest of the league. What’s truly impressive is your ability to sustain the streak, after first calling attention to it [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=806035#post806035). When the Redskins played the Cardinals, my only reason to doubt a Redskins win was that you’d picked 'em. (The Cards were so bad that even the 'Skins had to beat 'em. Yeah, suuuure.) And when they played the Rams, my slender reed of hope was that you’d picked the Rams. Every week you pick the 'Skins, I hope to heaven you’re right, but foreboding grips my heart. Can the Redskins screw up against the Giants? Sure they can; a team that can lose to the Cardinals can lose to any NFC team. Stephen Davis will be back, but so will Brad Johnson, which means the passing game will lose some zip. I foresee a game where the Redskins march up and down between the 20s, and between turnovers, stalled drives, and whatnot, it all goes for naught. [Now, in complete jest (well, _almost_), RT takes it over the top] Of course, that would describe _all_ of the Redskins’ losses this year, but that’s the point. They’ve lost five times, including twice to genuinely bad teams, and every time, they’ve been in the grip of the same forces. If I’m irrational enough to conjecture that voodoo is operating here, should I be so reasonable as to assume that you’re not the witch doctor? C’mon, Gazoo - it’s not too late to change your pick for this week. You know the Redskins can fuck up against anybody, so you know the Giants can win. All you’ve got to do is pick 'em. You’re going to get it wrong anyway, so what does it matter to you? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377/10 "2000-11-30T18:24:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RTFirefly \* > \*\ ***Gazoo** , unless I’ve missed something, you’re now 1-11 on picking Redskins’ games (got Game 1 right, and have an 11-game losing streak since), and are thereby an awesome 124-52 on calling the rest of the league. > \*\* You know, what’s really scary about this whole “Redskins Curse” is that every week except one (the Titans game), I’ve honestly picked the team I _thought_ would win. It’s bizarre. Thinking about it, it makes me wonder if there aren’t a lot of mental errors going on with that team. They seem to lose the games they should win, but are able to focus and win the games that should be close. If that’s the case, 'Skins fans should be very happy that Turner’s leaving. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377/11 "2000-11-30T18:37:21Z")
Speaking as one who watches them every week, the Redskins make mental errors by the truckload. That sort of thing tends to continue to happen only when a coach tolerates it. I will be overjoyed to see Norv go. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377/12 "2000-11-30T20:06:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Hey stuffinb, glad you stopped by - have you heard any rumors about Garcia? The guy who has him in our fantasy league says he heard the Niners may only play him for a half. I looked everywhere on-line and didn’t find anything that would even intimate that. Any news out there? Not unless it’s in this mornings paper, I haven’t heard anything like that either, and can’t think of any reason why. > [@](#): > > Oh, and the Vikings will handle the Lions just fine and I’m more than willing to take any and all bets on this (Sports Illustrated cover jinx be damned!). I’m not that crazy, just optimistic of the Lions chances. > [@](#): > > The Raiders are probably the most underrated team in the league right now. 10-2 and I don’t hear any one talking about them. That’s because everyone forgets their shoddy defense when looking at the standings. Remember the Niners, if not for a blocked field goal would have beaten them. Hey I’m personally waiting to see the Raiders in the playoffs, it’s fun having a team I actively loathe, to root against. ---
**Author:** ![Stuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Stuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stuffy)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377/13 "2000-11-30T21:47:46Z")
Hey **gazoo** I checked and couldn’t find any information saying Garcia wouldn’t be playing Sunday. Owens however is slated to be the third or fourth receiver behing Stokes, Streets and Rice. ---
**Author:** ![Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2000, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377/14 "2000-11-30T22:29:54Z")
Thanks for checking **stuffinb**. I told the guy I didn’t see anything and you hadn’t heard anything, but he’s going to start Brunell anyway (not a bad pick against Cleveland). It doesn’t really matter, he’s sewn up a first-week playoff bye already (riding Garcia’s arm) so this week’s game is pretty meaningless to him. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2000, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377/15 "2000-12-01T12:53:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gazoo \ ***Lions 24 at Vikings 31** (Hard to believe, but if things fall the right way, the Vikes can clinch the Division Title this week.) The Vikes did their part. Now, if the Boys beat the Bucs…_nah._ ---
**Author:** ![Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2000, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377/16 "2000-12-01T16:38:57Z")
> [@](#): > > **Lions 24 at Vikings 31** (Hard to believe, but if things fall the right way, the Vikes can clinch the Division Title this week.) Woo-hoo, 1-0, _and_ I got the margin of victory exact. Yeah, **Rysdad** , I don’t think the division will get sewn up this week, but congrats on clinching a playoff spot. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377/17 "2000-12-02T04:59:09Z")
Finally, some thoughtful analysis of the Redskins’ Lionsesque season! There might be hope after all. This is worth repeating: All their losses have been close, and the games have often turned on incredibly bizarre plays (with the big fumble return by Arizona being Exhibit A). Simply put, there’s absolutely no telling how they’ll do on any week. Too bad about having to predict so early. Why does the NFL schedule so many Thursday games, anyway? Thursday seems to me a weird day for football (especially _last_ Thursday, which wasn’t even a holiday). Whatever happened to the Saturday games? I’m pretty sure the Vikings will win the division. There’s no point in prognosticating about the playoffs with four games to go. Two games, yeah, but not four. Of course, the beautiful thing about the NFL is that after all the predictions and scenarios and possibilities etc., a couple of game days, and boom, it’s all over. My goodness, if I hear “If the playoffs began today” one more time… ---
**Author:** ![Gazoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ce73a5/32.png) [@Gazoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazoo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377/18 "2000-12-02T16:27:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DKW \* > **Too bad about having to predict so early. Why does the NFL schedule so many Thursday games, anyway? Thursday seems to me a weird day for football (especially _last_ Thursday, which wasn’t even a holiday). Whatever happened to the Saturday games?** I have no idea why there was a Thursday game this week. The first Thursday game of the season is in place of the Sunday night game during the MLB World Series. The two on Thanksgiving are traditional. But I see no reason to have one this week. Saturday games will be back once the college teams are done playing on Saturday, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2000, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377/19 "2000-12-02T17:25:13Z")
Thursday night games are also showing up now because the college season doesn’t have anymore, as the NCAA is easing football out, and basketball in. I kinda like a good Thursday night game, especially when _Friends_ is a re-run. ---
**Author:** ![Sledman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@Sledman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sledman)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2000, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377/20 "2000-12-03T04:24:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gazoo \* > \*\* > > **Packers 13 at Bears 14** (After Monday Night’s game, I’m embarrassed to be from Wisconsin.) > > \*\* Not that I am defending our play on Monday but if I had seen this before I saw you last night I would have smacked you in the back of the the head. HERETIC!!! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-predictions-week-14/43377.md?page=2)