Previewing the Game of the Year and Week 15 Picks!

Everywhere I went this week I could not escape the hype surrounding the Broncos vs. Patriots game this Sunday. Every time I walked past a restaurant or bar and looked throw the windows, ESPN was on and their was images of Tim Tebow and Tom Brady. Every time I put on NFL Network, there were stats and graphics previewing the game. Everytime I listened to sports talk radio, the announcers were talking about the game. Experts talked about how this is the game of the year, and how this game in the most fascinating in years. You just couldn't get away from it. Trust me, I am not complaining because it is great to see the Broncos relevant again and back in the public eye. My only complaint is that every single analyst said the same exact thing. In different forms of words, the experts said the following: Denver's defense won't be able to stop Tom Brady and his weapons on offense, Bill Belichick will come up with a scheme to stop Tim Tebow, and the Broncos have been winning very close lately, but this week it will come back to haunt them. None of that information is very groundbreaking and all of it is usually backed up with nonsensical arguments. I guess that is what you get when you mix the popularity of the NFL with a million analysts on NFL Network, the entire ESPN brand, sports talk radio, and the internet. You get a million different thoughts but nothing of any substance. The buildup to this game reminded me of a buildup to a playoff game. During a normal playoff week there are only four or maybe as little as two games to break down. There is an overwhelming majority who believe one team will win, then they say the same thing all week, and then by week's end a bunch of analysts jump on the bandwagon of the underdog and give them some support for the upset. The only difference this week is that no one really is actually picking the Broncos. As a Broncos fan, here are my reasons why Denver can win this game outright......

1) We know that Tom Brady is going to move the ball on the Broncos defense. That is a given, but the key for Denver is to get Brady to settle for field goals. If Denver can force field goals instead of giving up touchdowns, then that is a win for the Broncos defense. They are not going to shut down Brady, but if they give up 350 yards through the air and only give up field goals, then they are in good shape to win it late.

2) Forget about Tim Tebow, the Broncos should be able to move the ball with their running game, and they should be able to get their receivers open. After watching the replay of the Bears-Broncos game last week, the Bears have a solid defense, and they have four studs at key spots that really shut down Tebow and the Broncos. Israel Idonije and Julius Peppers are really fantastic ends, and Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher are beasts in the middle. Those four players really stopped Tebow and shut down the Broncos running game. I could care less about what defense Belichick comes up with, the Pats don't have players like that on their defense. I know they have Vince Wilfork, but they don't have edge players like Peppers, and they don't have an interior level like Briggs and Urlacher.

3) NFL games are usually decided by a few plays. Who knows how this game can turn out. If the Broncos get some turnovers or a few breaks, then they sure as hell can win this thing. If they don't, then it is going to be an uphill climb. The fun part is that every week in the NFL is so crazy, and that is why this game can go either way. It is just the way the NFL is.

With all that said, I just can't see Brady and company losing to the Broncos. This game should come down to Brady and Tebow matching score for score in the fourth quarter, but sadly I envision the Pats getting out to an early lead and putting it away late. I would love to be wrong, but I just can't see Denver's magic ride continuing this week.

New England (-7) over DENVER

Final Score: Pats-30 Denver-16

Onto to the rest of the picks for Week 15.........

Last Week's Record: 9-6-1

Overall Record: 85-97-12

(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

NY GIANTS (-6) over Washington: I know that this looks like another Giants letdown game, but after doing it at home to Seattle and Philly already, don't you think the Giants come out and take care of business this week? Eli Manning usually follows up a great performance with a stinkbomb, but this week he comes out and plays great again. This will be close for Giants fans, but it looks like a 27-17 kind of win for the G-Men.

Green Bay (-13) over KANSAS CITY: The Packers will go into their last game at 15-0, and then they will rest their starters at some point in that game. That is my prediction for the Packers and their undefeated hopes. The Pack will roll the Chiefs this week in Arrowhead. The Chiefs fired Todd Haley this week, and now turn the reigns over to Romeo Crennel and Kyle Orton. Talk about a rough one to get excited about in Arrowhead this weekend. By the way, after Haley was fired on Monday, he appeared on a show for ESPN. I finally figured out who Haley looks like: Jason Lee! So now everytime I watch Mallrats, Chasing Amy or Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, I can think of Todd Haley and his miserable term as head coach of the Chiefs.

New Orleans (-7) over MINNESOTA: The Saints look like they are in their "We Are Getting the 2 Seed in the NFC" mode and they will take care of business this week in Minnesota. I still like my Saints pick for 2011 NFC Champions. I wouldn't want to see them if I were the Packers in the playoffs.

Seattle (+3) over CHICAGO: Give Pete Carroll some credit because early on in the season the Seahawks looked like were one of the three worst teams in the league. At 6-7, they have been playing very well, and they are still keeping their NFC wild card hopes alive. It would take a real miracle (or as Mike Francesa would say "An inside straight") for them to make the playoffs, but they are still alive and get a win on the road against the slumping Cutler and Forte-less Bears. Not only do the Bears have to deal with losing three straight, not having Cutler and Forte, watching their playoff hopes disappear, but they had to deal with Sam Hurd and his drug trafficking scandal this week. Not a good time for the Bears right now.

BUFFALO (Pick) over Miami: I feel bad for what has happened to the Bills this year. At 5-2, they looked like the surprise team of the AFC, but since then they have lost six straight and will miss the playoffs for the 11th straight season. This game is tough to call, but I guess the Bills are due for the win at home.

Carolina (+6) over HOUSTON: The Texans are winners of the AFC South, and they deserve it because they had to deal with so many key injuries this season. I do think that they are due for a letdown this week though. The Panthers were burying the Falcons last week, but Carolina and Cam Newton just played awful in the second half. This game will be very close.

Tennessee (-6) over INDY: Tennessee and New Orleans played a really great game last week. It was one of the most enjoyable games of the day and the season so far. If you at the Titans, they have a really good chance of getting to 10-6. After this week they have the Jags and Houston, and the Texans might have everything all wrapped up by then. The Colts got cheap back door covers the last two weeks, but the Titans will put them away early.

Cincy (-7) over ST.LOUIS: The Bengals bounce back from a tough loss at home to Houston and take down the Rams on the road. It looks like Steve Spagnuolo's days in St.Louis might be coming to an end.

OAKLAND (+1) over Detroit: The Lions really need to right the ship the next three weeks to solidify a playoff spot. They need a signature win and they were lucky to hold on against the Vikings last week. This will be a very tough game for the Lions, and the Raiders are due for a big week. Look for Oakland to win this game by a touchdown.

PHILLY (-3) over NY Jets: I just think that the Eagles are going to relish the spoiler role the next three weeks. I am still not convinced that the Jets are back after they barely beat Buffalo at home, survived at Washington, and destroyed Tyler Palko and the Chiefs at home. The Jets will stub their toe at least once the next two weeks, and it might be this one on the road in Philly.

ARIZONA (-6) over Cleveland: The Cardinals are 6-7 and are looking to pull an "inside straight" and run the table to make the playoffs. They get to 7-7 here with a win over the Browns. John Skelton looks better than Kevin Kolb running this Arizona offense. That will be an interesting debate in Arizona in the offseason.

Baltimore (-2) over SAN DIEGO: Flacco! Rivers! It's the game no one on NBC wanted to have on Sunday Night Football! What a disgrace that this game was kept in the SNF slot over Denver-New England. Just an awful job by the NFL. Just for that I hope this game sucks really bad. Hopefully, the Ravens take down the Chargers and put Norv Turner out of his misery. I really don't want the Chargers to win another week.

SAN FRANCISCO (-2) over Pittsburgh: I'm taking the Niners only because of the uncertainty of Ben Roethlisberger's high ankle sprain. Look for a slugfest on Monday Night Football, but the 49ers win it 16-12.