Week 13 Predictions

Hello sports fans. Its that time of the week again where I predict the results of this weeks games and keep a running count of how well my predictions match up with those made by ESPN. Only this week, I've decided to make a change that allows me to get through this post quicker and also cuts right to the chase. I will no longer post score predictions for these games, only the winner that I project and the winner that ESPN projects. I do this because of the near impossibility of trying to guess a game score, something that I liken to guessing a woman's age (which is never a good idea, because you'll always be wrong, and there's no real way to win there anyways).  Also, instead of offering an explanation as to why either team will win, a generic offering that bares a striking similarity to a holiday fruitcake that gets re-gifted, I'm going to try and spice up the post in other ways. So, without further ado, enjoy.

Running Score:
ESPN: 119-53
Committed Fan: 113-59


Chicago vs. Kansas City
ESPN: Chicago
Committed Fan: Chicago


Tampa Bay vs. Carolina
ESPN Pick: Tampa Bay
Committed Fan : Carolina

Buffalo vs. Tennessee
ESPN: Tennessee
Committed Fan: Tennessee

Oakland vs. Miami
ESPN: Miami
Committed Fan: Oakland

Denver vs. Minnesota
ESPN: Denver
Committed Fan Pick: Minnesota

Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh
ESPN: Pittsburgh
Committed Fan: Pittsburgh

New England vs. Indianapolis
ESPN: New England
Committed Fan: New England

New York Jets vs. Washington
ESPN: New York 
Committed Fan Pick: New York Jets

Houston vs. Atlanta
ESPN Pick: Atlanta
Committed Fan Pick: Houston

Baltimore vs. Cleveland
ESPN Pick: Baltimore
Committed Fan: Baltimore

Green Bay vs. New York Giants
ESPN: Green Bay
Committed Fan: Green Bay

Dallas vs. Arizona
ESPN:Dallas
Committed Fan: Dallas

San Francisco vs. St.Louis
ESPN: San Francisco
Committed Fan: San Francisco

San Diego vs. Jacksonville
ESPN: San Diego
Committed Fan: Jacksonville

Philadelphia vs. Seattle
ESPN: Seattle
Committed Fan: Philadelphia

New Orleans vs. Detroit
ESPN: New Orleans
Committed Fan: New Orleans



Awful Decision of the Week: A tie, between Detroit Lions DT Ndamukong Suh curb stomping a downed Green Bay Packer or Bills WR Stevie Johnson mimicing a Plaxico Burress self inflicted gunshot wound to the leg before flying a "jet" and crashing it into the ground as part of an elaborate touchdown celebration.

Player of the Week: Drew Brees, quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, after completing 24 of 38 passes for 363 yards and 4 touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown, as he turned a game against the Giants into a rout.



In the Huddle: In this section, I'll pick an issue that is being openly discussed or something that has struck me personally as worth discussing. In this post, I will speak about NFL coaches and the revolving door that is head coaching in the league.


Jack Del Rio was fired this week, ending his tenure as coach of the Jaguars in a short, merciless maneuver. Del Rio is one of only two men to ever coach the Jaguars, and had led them to just a few games under .500 (69-73) during his tenure. What I don't understand is not why Del Rio was fired, but why he ran the team the way he did this season, knowing full well his job rested on winning. Team owner  Wayne Weaver told Del Rio at the start of the season that if the team missed the playoffs this season, he was done. Why then, knowing his job rested precariously on this season, did Del Rio cut his talented (albeit inconsistent) starter David Garrard just days before the season began and then turn the reigns over to career backup Luke McCown? Why, after that call did not work out in Del Rio's favor, did he then decide to go with an untested rookie QB Blaine Gabbert? Gabbert has been awful as a starter for the Jags, but has been given the run of the team week in and week out.  Del Rio definitely earned his firing, and it seems that it was time, because he was losing it if he thought either one of those guys could save his job.

We still have a few more weeks to go in the season, and there are several coaches that are still on the hot seat, such as Jim Caldwell in Indianapolis and Steve Spanguolo in St. Louis. Lets just hope those two have the common sense to try and save their jobs, and have the common sense not to give Ryan Leaf or Eric Couch a call.