After a mediocre Week 16 from both of us – a pair of 9-7 records – it all comes down to the season’s final week. I remain four games back of Stella, so I obviously need a massive week to come out with a win.
In fact, since we differ on just six games, my only opportunity to actually win this thing outright is to be right on all of them. If I go five for six, we finish in a tie. Anything less than that and Stella marks her third triumph in four years of Kibbles and Picks.
We’ll start with Carolina/Tampa Bay. I’ve got Tampa Bay here – mostly because they’re still technically in the hunt for the postseason, though the list of things that need to happen for them to make it is kind of ridiculous. Even without Doug Martin, I like the Bucs to get it done. Stella thinks the Panthers are going to want to close out the season strong; she expects us to see one of Cam Newton’s best efforts of the entire year here. Even on the road, she likes Carolina.
Remember when I picked the Jaguars to win the AFC South? I’m clearly an idiot, but I’m still going to pick Jacksonville to go into Indianapolis and take down the Colts. Why? I’m not really sure – gluttony for punishment? Stella’s no Colts fan, but she thinks that Andrew Luck and the ageless Frank Gore will do more than enough to finish out the year with a win against the hapless Jags.
In another meaningless matchup, I’m picking the Bills to beat the Jets. Even though Buffalo has benched their QB and fired their coach, I still think they’ve got enough to triumph against the Jets; expect a big day from LeSean McCoy and the Buffalo running game. Stella’s picking the Jets to win on their home turf; she’s no fan of what’s happening in New York, but she thinks the surging Bilal Powell and the rest of the Jets offense will be sufficient to take down the reeling, rudderless Bills.
Washington still has hope for a playoff spot; they’ll need some help, but they definitely need to pull out a win against the Giants. Stella thinks they’ll do their part – not only is the postseason on the line, but QB Kirk Cousins is playing to get paid. Against a Giants team that has clinched a postseason berth, she thinks that’s enough. Frankly, I’m not so sure she’s wrong, but for me to have any kind of shot at this thing, I need some opposition picks – hence, I’m going with the Giants.
Thanks to the Derek Carr injury, the Raiders journey to the playoffs now feels more like a dead man walking scenario. For them to try and win a game against the Broncos in Denver with a backup QB seems like a tall order; I like the Broncos D to effectively shut down an Oakland attack that will probably struggle to get in sync. Stella, on the other hand, isn’t sold on Denver and thinks the Raiders will rally around their new quarterback and – thanks to a stout rushing performance – will take out the Broncos.
And finally, in one of the most significant games of the week, I’ve got Detroit getting it done on their home field and finding their way into the playoffs. Matthew Stafford and company will get it done against Green Bay’s defense and win the division for the first time in decades. Stella, while by no means counting out the Lions for the postseason, thinks they’ll wind up backing in if they make it. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers have won five in a row; Stella’s convinced that they’ll move the ball well against the Lions and continue that winning streak.
So we’ve reached the end of Year Four of our little man-versus-beast experiment. Let’s see if I wind up balancing the all-time ledger or – more likely – losing to Stella for the third time in those four years.
Thanks for reading.
(winners in caps)
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ALLEN’S PICKS
Sunday, Jan. 1
BALTIMORE at Cincinnati
Houston at TENNESSEE
Carolina at TAMPA BAY
JACKSONVILLE at Indianapolis
NEW ENGLAND at Miami
Chicago at MINNESOTA
BUFFALO at NY Jets
DALLAS at Philadelphia
Cleveland at PITTSBURGH
New Orleans at ATLANTA
NY GIANTS at Washington
ARIZONA at Los Angeles
Oakland at DENVER
KANSAS CITY at San Diego
SEATTLE at San Francisco
Green Bay at DETROIT
Week 16 record: 9-7
Season record: 141-97-2
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STELLA’S PICKS
Sunday, Jan. 1
BALTIMORE at Cincinnati
Houston at TENNESSEE
CAROLINA at Tampa Bay
Jacksonville at INDIANAPOLIS
NEW ENGLAND at Miami
Chicago at MINNESOTA
Buffalo at NY JETS
DALLAS at Philadelphia
Cleveland at PITTSBURGH
New Orleans at ATLANTA
NY Giants at WASHINGTON
ARIZONA at Los Angeles
OAKLAND at Denver
KANSAS CITY at San Diego
SEATTLE at San Francisco
GREEN BAY at Detroit
Week 16 record: 9-7
Season record: 145-93-2
