Upon Further Review.. Week 12

First, just a comment on the Seahawks ridiculous win yesterday. The Giants kicker missed 3 game-winning field goals (one at the end of regulation and two in OT) before Seattle nailed their own game winner. Here's what I wrote Anoymous this morning in regards to gaining some confidence in this team:

Confident? Maybe just a little... 9-2 baby! The only way we don't clinch the division is to lose every remaining game and the Rams to win every remaining one.
Here's our remaining schedule:
@Philly next Monday night (not the same Philly team that started the season, by any means.)
home against San Fran
@ Tennessee
home against Indy (on Christmas Eve... Indy could be 14-0 at that point...)
@ Green Bay (on New Year's Day...)

4-1 is not impossible, although 3-2 is more likely, and that's a nice 12-4 record which has a very good chance of being the #1 seed in the NFC. We now hold the head-to-head tie breaker over the Giants, Dallas, and Atlanta. Hasselbeck and the offense didn't look great yesterday, but the defense got it done when it had to. When was the last time you could say that about a Seahawks defense? How about... never? :P

On to the review...

This week: 10-5 (Monday night game pending…)

Ravens +9.5 over BENGALS
The Bengals may have exposed the Colts defense as not as good as hyped last week. The Ravens kicked the poop out of the Steelers. I don't think the Ravens will win this one, but they might keep it close with solid D. Also, it seems like they might be realizing that Chester Taylor is a better running option than the recently incarcerated Jamal Lewis. Lewis sucks this year. Bengals 26, Ravens 18.

Actual Score: Bengals 42, Ravens 29
So much for that "solid D" from the Ravens. Sheesh. Still, somehow the Ravens managed to put up a decent amount of points and were only 4 points short of covering.

Niners +8.5 over TITANS
The Niners are not as bad as people think. Their defense has some good players up front. And this just in: Steve McNair is still the QB in Tennessee. Doesn't that seem a bit weird? 49ers 23, Titans 20.

Actual Score: Titans 33, Niners 22
Okay, Samichlaus got this one right: "The Niners are as bad as people think." I don't have much more to add. I don't think I even watched this game for a single play, and could you blame anybody for not watching this one?

CARDINALS +3.5 over Jaguars
Kurt Warner looked revitalized last week in St. Louis. Can he bring that back to the desert with him? Maybe, and here's why: he has two absolute studs in receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. He just needs the time to find them. And, I'll repeat, the Jaguars are not blowing out far inferior teams. I'm not going to say the Cardinals win, but I wouldn’t be shocked. Jaguars 24, Cardinals 23.

Actual Score: Jaguars 24, Cardinals 17
Leftwich went down on the first play, so I figured this would be a breeze. Well, Warner never really got time to throw, and the Cardinals running game remains non-existent. I should have really made the connection between Warner's good game last week and the absolutely horrendous Rams defense. Against a halfway decent defense, they're not doing anything offensively.

RAIDERS -7.5 over Dolphins
The Dolphins QB woes have gotten to them. Shutout by the Browns? Yikes It might be time for them to seriously consider becoming a part of the Matt Leinart sweepstakes. Raiders 23, Dolphins 13.

Actual Score: Dolphins 33, Raiders 21
What the?!? Gus Frerotte and Ricky Williams putting up 33 points? So much for that "evaluating new talent" comment...

Packers +4.5 over EAGLES
The Packers keep staying competitive, and keep losing the close games. Without McNabb and Owens, the Eagles offense is pretty bad. Let's say this is another close loss. Eagles 24, Packers 21.

Actual Score: Eagles 19, Packers 14
A point short of covering. I didn't watch much of this game, but from the stats, it looks like turnovers killed the Packers. Paging Mr. Rodgers, paging Mr. Rodgers. Oh, there's an idea for a sign the Samichlauses can take to Lambeau in like 3 years: Mr. Rodgers' Neighborhood.