Simmering: Leslie Frazier, Todd Haley
Both these coaches teams are doing OK performance and/or record wise, but I don't get the feeling the front offices are all the way behind them. They should be able to make it through the season unscathed, but their future will ride on a good start next year.
Char-Broiling: Andy Reid, Ken Whisenhunt
You don't hear a lot of buzz about these two guys getting fired but I think they both should be in danger. While Reid's record over the years is much better than Jeff Fisher's was, he has had a lot more talent and things might be getting similarly stale. Whisenhunt might get another year but his fate is tied to Kevin Kolb. If Kolb continues to flop, Whisenhunt will be gone.
Sizzling: Steve Spagnuolo, Jack Del Rio
Spagnuolo can point to injuries as an excuse, but it's such a regular problem for the Rams that at some point, as with Everton and Newcastle in the other football, you have to start pointing fingers at the training staff. New ownership might lack the patience to allow him to continue building the roster after this years pathetic performances. As for Del Rio, I listen to all the Jacksonville radio shows and get the feeling that general manager Gene Smith doesn't think a lot of him. Smith turned down a contract extension last week, and i think he is setting up a him or me situation. Smith is one of the smartest personnel men in the league, so it's an easy choice. Del Rio will go on to a long and fruitful TV career so we won't feel too bad for him.
Blazing: Norv Turner, Jim Caldwell
If the Chargers fail to make the play-offs, there is no way that Turner can keep his job and there is no reason whatsoever that A.J. Smith should keep his either. From 14-2 under Marty Schottenheimer with an as yet undeveloped Philip Rivers, they have gotten worse every year. Caldwell meanwhile, no one in that fanbase likes him as a coach. He doesn't seem to have a clue and only got the job because of nepotism, much like their current general manager. It's like a crumbling mafia family at this point.
It's Gonna Blow!!: Tony Sparano
He's ok, but he's not sexy enough for J-Lo.
Picks after the jump.
Key:
Home Team listed in CAPS
(*) = Line Differential
Raiders (+7) at CHARGERS
Jaguars (-3) at COLTS
Saints (PK) at FALCONS
Steelers (-3) at BENGALS
Rams (+3) at BROWNS
Bills (+5.5) at COWBOYS
Broncos (+3) at CHIEFS
Cardinals (+13) at EAGLES
Texans (-3) at BUCCANEERS
Titans (+3.5) at PANTHERS
Redskins (+4) at DOLPHINS
Ravens (-7) at SEAHAWKS
Lions (+3) at BEARS
Giants (+3.5) at 49ERS
Patriots (+1.5) at JETS
Vikings (+13.5) at PACKERS
Chris picks: Raiders, Colts, Falcons, Bengals, Rams, Bills, Chiefs, Eagles, Buccaneers, Titans, Dolphins, Seahawks, Lions, 49ers, Jets, Packers
I pick: Raiders, Jaguars, Falcons, Bengals, Rams, Cowboys, Broncos, Eagles, Buccaneers, Titans, Dolphins, Seahawks, Bears, Giants, Patriots, Vikings
As mentioned, I didn't get a chance to review all the info available to me this week; perhaps that's for the best as I won't overthink it all. I didn't believe the Chargers would be able to run on the Raiders the way the Broncos and Chiefs could and it proved so. They are trending down dangerously fast. I could very easily see the Jaguars blowing this one, they frequently do stuff like that but i can't pick in favor of the Colts at this point. It may be in a dome, but the Saints haven't performed on the road recently. The Falcons will get their run game going and should throttle their rivals. If you pick home dogs you generally do pretty well, and the Bengals feel undervalued here. They have sneaky good talent and this game will mean more to them.
I say it every week, there is nothing about the Browns that impresses me. It's equally hard finding things to like about St. Louis but such is my disdain for this Cleveland team. The Bills are stuttering a little now, last week was a bad matchup but going on the road here could compound that. I am worried about how good the Cowboys really are though. Denver needs to keep putting Tebow in situations where he can perform rather than setting him up with third and longs to attempt to throw on where he is sure to fail. Against the Chiefs, even on the road i think they can manhandle them on the ground. The Cardinals are real terrible also o even though it's a short week, they'll be home and the Eagles will prove definitively how much they fleeced Rod Graves.
I still don't believe in the Texans despite a couple of solid wins in a row. Tampa is a difficult team to play and they could stumble here easily. Carolina is probably better than Tennessee overall but they just go out and lose every week. I can't pick that, this should really be the game where Chris Johnson gets healthy. The Redskins are truly awful now. Back in '06, Shanahan kicked out Jake Plummer and put Cutler in for the first time in Denver, this year is like the bizarro terrible version of that. The Ravens haven't shown a propensity for going on the road and winning big against respectable defenses, against the best home-field advantage in the league, this will be tougher than they expect.
After a quick start, the Lions have had a little trouble against the good teams. Outside in that cold, they will come a cropper in Chicago. This next pick makes no sense on my part but I jsut have a feeling that this is the exact kind of game no one will expect Eli and the Giants to pull out and they always do. We are in second half of the season territory however... Damnit! Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in! The Pats may have lost two in a row, but three? In a huge one like this, no way. C'mon Brady & Belichick, don't let these douchenozzles take control of your division. On Monday night, the Vikes have been competitive and against a division rival will be fired up. Rodgers & co. probably have too much firepower to lose outright but it will be closer than 14.
Last Week:
Chris: 6-8
Me: 10-4
Season:
Chris: 65-59-6
Me: 68-56-6
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