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This could very well be our make or break week!

We are coming towards the end of the season. Every possible point is critical! This week will go a long way in determining how your standings will lay out. Looking at the schedule, the majority of the games this week could be very close with very close match-ups. In the games where there is a big difference in record, the better team is on the road.

So let’s put that strangle hold on the top spot for good!

Week 13 – HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN ALL CAPS)

16 – NEW ENGLAND over Philadelphia – Tom and Bill lose – Tom and Bill mad – Tom and Bill take out frustrations on next opponent.

15 – CHICAGO over San Francisco – Yes, it’s a 31 point confidence pool turnaround for the Bears from last week to this week. I guess winning in Lambeau then hosting San Francisco will do that for you.

14 – Carolina over NEW ORLEANS – The Panthers defense made Tony Romo feel like his broken collarbone was the best part of his Thanksgiving. The Saints offense isn’t what it used to be and won’t be able to do any real damage. This week’s BOLD PREDICTION is that THE PANTHERS WILL FINISH THE SEASON UNDEFEATED!

13 – PITTSBURGH over Indianapolis – I can see Antonio Brown having another huge game in this one. The Colts won’t have the fire power to keep up.

12 – Cincinnati over CLEVELAND – The Browns couldn’t even beat a depleted Ravens team last week at home, how can you even think they’ll be able to tame the Bengals?

11 – MINNESOTA over Seattle – The Vikings loss to the Packers a couple weeks ago was all due to their mental mistakes – they have corrected those and seem to be more focused than ever.

10 – BUFFALO over Houston – We saw last week the offensive weapons that the Bills have to utilize with big games from LeSean McCoy and Sammy Watkins. With a playoff spot in sights, look for Buffalo to keep the excitement level high.

9 – OAKLAND over Kansas City – The Raiders are up with another “must-win” game this week – they seem to do better at home with those.

8 – TAMPA BAY over Atlanta – Jamies Winston is doing what he can to sneak the Rookie of the Year award away from Todd Gurley. Lucky for him the Falcons are also doing what they can to hand games away.

7 – Arizona over ST LOUIS – Another divisional road game for the Cardinals. This will be tougher than it was in the bay, but the outcome should be the same.

6 – NEW YORK GIANTS over New York Jets – This is a game that the Giants will utilize their home field advantage to propel them to victory! … … … wait a minute … … …

5 – Green Bay over DETROIT – Can anyone figure out these Packers? The only think I can think of is that they will be playing mad tonight after losing to these Lions at home a few weeks back.

4 – Denver over SAN DIEGO – After handing the Patriots their first lost you would think the Broncos would be higher on this list. There’s just something about road division games that gets me a little worried.

3 – WASHINGTON over Dallas – The Cowboys are now without Tony Romo at quarterback again – we’ve all seen how this story goes.

2 – MIAMI over Baltimore – Well this looked like a great late-season matchup in August! Now, not so much. The Dolphins are at home so they get to win.

1 – Jacksonville over TENNESSEE – I put my faith in the Jags and they have let me down so far. Lucky for them they get a chance at redemption by playing the lowly Titans.

The Fantasy Football playoff season has begun!

Which could very well mean that your fantasy football season is over! Sorry, but you know it’s a fact. There is still time to salvage something from this season though. Let’s start the final stretch of the season in a positive way!

Week 14 – HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN ALL CAPS)

16 – CAROLINA over Atlanta – If you don’t have Cam Newton down as your MVP this season, you’re doing it wrong.

15 – DENVER over Oakland – The Raiders have proved over the last month that they are still steps away from being a playoff contender – which will bode well for the resurgent Broncos.

14 – NEW YORK JETS over Tennessee – Marcus Mariota has been a beast the last few weeks. I see things slowing down for the rookie against the Jets defense though.

13 – GREEN BAY over Dallas – Well the game doesn’t exactly have the same allure as their playoff matchup did this past January but the outcome should be the same.

12 – ARIZONA over Minnesota – The Viking showed last week that they may not have what it takes to run with the top of the conference just yet.

11 – KANSAS CITY over San Diego – Don’t worry Charger fans…the season will end soon!

10 – Seattle over BALTIMORE – Shame on you for sleeping on the Seahawks! (yes I know I picked against them last week!) Seattle is a second half of the season team and the Ravens are a waiting for next season team.

9 – TAMPA BAY over New Orleans – In the first third of the season the Rookie of the Year award was set to go to Amari Cooper. In the second third Todd Gurley snuck into the top spot. In the final third it seems like Jameis Winston may lay claim to the award.

8 – ST LOUIS over Detroit – Oh the Lions will apparently always be the Lions! I see their offense just shutting down this game – something the Rams’ defense will be sure to help with.

7 – CINCINNATI over Pittsburgh – While this divisional road game will be tougher than last week in Cleveland, the Bengals are on too good a roll to stop.

6 – New England over HOUSTON – There is a legit chance that the Patriots could lose three games in a row…it won’t happen…but there is indeed a chance!

5 – JACKSONVILLE over Indianapolis – The Jags almost won in Indy when Andrew Luck was at quarterback, they should be able to handle the Colts at home.

4 – CHICAGO over Washington – Ugh…just ugh…

3 – New York Giants over MIAMI – I feel that the Giants offense is ready to just explode. My BOLD PREDICTION for this week is that THE GIANTS WILL PUT UP AT LEAST 40 POINTS AGAINST THE DOLPHINS THIS WEEK.

2 – Buffalo over PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles shocked the world in Foxboro last week. It’s really hard for me to think that they can put together two consecutive solid performances though.

1 – CLEVELAND over San Francisco – I think the Browns will win this week…would you put them higher than the one point line?

Another strong week to help with our own “playoff push” in confidence pools!

The stories are starting to pop up now about whether the Panthers will rest players or not during the last three weeks of the season. This is something you need to keep in mind when making your picks as well. If you think that Cam Newton, Greg Olsen and the majority of Carolina starters will spend most of the game on the bench, you probably don’t want the Panthers too high on your sheet.

Week 15 – HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN ALL CAPS)

16 – NEW ENGLAND over Tennessee – The Pats are back after a strong showing in Houston. Their reward is the late season equivalent of a bye week.

15 – SEATTLE over Cleveland – Some teams seem to rest at the end of the year to prepare for the playoffs, but it seems like Seattle rests at the beginning of the season and dominates at the end for momentum into the playoffs. Looks like that is their strategy yet again this year.

14 – MINNESOTA over Chicago – The Vikings need to get back on track before the playoffs start. Lucky for them they get a confusing Bears team that are coming off of losses against the “mighty” Redskins and 49ers.

13 – Cincinnati over SAN FRANCISCO – Cincy is on their backup quarterback as they make their playoff run – that’s a small negative. They get to play the Niners this week – that’s a major plus!

12 – NEW ORLEANS over Detroit – This was a playoff game just a few years ago. I’ll go out on a limb and say it won’t be a playoff matchup this year.

11 – PITTSBURGH over Denver – Yes, it’s odd to see Denver this high on the list on the losing side, but the Steelers seem to be running on all cylinders at the right time.

10 – Kansas City over BALTIMORE – Justin Houston may be out for the Chiefs, but against this depleted of a Ravens’ offense, you don’t really need to play 11 guys on defense to win.

9 – Carolina over NEW YORK GIANTS – If the Panthers start to sit players for the playoffs, it won’t be this week. Sorry Giants!

8 – Arizona over PHILADELPHIA – The dysfunctional Eagles team can handle a home game against the Bills, but not the Cardinals.

7 – New York Jets over DALLAS – The Cowboys are still eligible to win their division AND are still eligible for the #1 pick in the draft! This week will show they are closer to the latter.

6 – OAKLAND over Green Bay – By the time you finish reading this, Khalil Mack will have another sack! Watch out Aaron!

5 – ST LOUIS over Tampa Bay – I’d have something intelligent to say about this game, but I am just WAY too distracted by the uniforms these teams plan on wearing!

4 – WASHINGTON over Buffalo – The Skins seem to be the lesser of four evils in the NFC East this year. This week’s BOLD PREDICTION is that THE REDSKINS WILL WIN THE NFC EAST.

3 – SAN DIEGO over Miami – In August, this game was viewed as potentially huge in the race for the wild card in the AFC. Now its viewed…by nobody outside of San Diego and Miami.

2 – INDIANAPOLIS over Houston – Even after three months of disappointment the Texans and Colts will still battle for control of the division. Colts take this one because they are at home.

1 – JACKSONVILLE over Atlanta – It’s hard to argue that the Falcons have thrown in the flag on the 2015 season. That’s good news for Jacksonville’s division hopes.

Happy New Year everyone!

In our last push to get that full season championship, we get a week of divisional match-ups with almost no playoff scenarios finalized – that is a Christmas present in itself. We don’t need to worry about the Panthers benching their starters – they are still playing for home-field advantage thanks to the Falcons. The Redskins have their playoff opening week set, but they play a depleted Dallas team, so no real need to think too much about that game.

It has been another exciting year of football. I think we can all agree that the biggest takeaway from 2015 to take into 2016…the Raiders will win Super Bowl 51!

Week 17 – HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!!

(HOME TEAM IN ALL CAPS)

16 – CAROLINA over Tampa Bay – Remember how I said that the Panthers still have something to play for? That’s bad news for the Bucs.

15 – CINCINNATI over Baltimore – Baltimore just needs to look towards 2016 and the Bengals will be more than willing to help them put an end to a bad 2015.

14 – DENVER over San Diego – The Broncos always seemed to find ways to win a game in 2015…and the Chargers always seemed to find ways to lose a game.

13 – New England over MIAMI – Simply put, the Dolphins were a joke this year. Tom Brady and friends get to put the final punch line in Miami this season.

12 – Pittsburgh over CLEVELAND – In the spirit of the college bowl season, the Steelers get to play the equivalent of a mid-major college team.

11 – ARIZONA over Seattle – Wow the Cardinals are good! With such an explosive offense and a potentially dominating defense, the Panthers in the Super Bowl may not be a sure thing.

10 – INDIANAPOLIS over Tennessee – To say the season has been a letdown for the Colts would be an understatement. They can still sneak in the playoffs with a win and a Houston loss. They’ll do their part and …

9 – HOUSTON over Jacksonville – …well it won’t matter. Houston has been looking solid the last few weeks and should be able to wrap up the dreadful AFC South title.

8 – KANSAS CITY over Oakland – These two teams could very well rekindle their storied rivalry over the next few years. As for this year, the Chiefs look too strong.

7 – NEW YORK GIANTS over Philadelphia – At least the Eagles get to look forward to a non-Chip Kelly led team next year.

6 – New York Jets over Buffalo – The Jets have been a very pleasant surprise this season. A win here and some help will give them a seemingly improbably playoff berth.

5 – GREEN BAY over Minnesota – The regular season ends in Lambeau. The winner of this one wins the NFC North and hosts Seattle in the Wild Card round … the loser gets to play Washington … hhmmm …

4 – St Louis over San Francisco – Cheer up 9er fans – with the way the draft order is playing out, Jared Goff should be there for you to snatch up.

3 – Washington over Dallas – Kirk Cousins probably won’t play the whole game … shouldn’t matter against whoever is left to play for the Cowboys.

2 – Detroit over Chicago – The Bears have been horrible on the lakefront this year – why should this week be any different for them?

1 – ATLANTA over New Orleans – How the mighty have fallen! This game could have been an NFC Championship preview the last few years. My final BOLD PREDICTION of the season is that DREW BREES WILL NOT BE THE STARTING QUARTERBACK FOR THE SAINTS IN WEEK 1 NEXT SEASON.