This Video Will Make You Punch Your Unborn Son in Uncontrolled Excitement

In anticipation of tomorrow's Winter Classic and the imminent Gregorian Calendar Year-End Cutoff Celebration, I present you folks this montage.

Commence batshit madness in three, two, one....NOW:

Week 15

An abbreviated version of the Week 15 picks in the league where they play...for pay...

San Francisco 49ers @ San Diego Chargers - Chargers keep pressure on Chiefs with a win here. Pick: SAN DIEGO

Kansas City Chiefs @ St. Louis Rams - Chiefs win a low scoring affair. Pick: KANSAS CITY

Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins - Miami guts one out over a game Bills team. Pick: MIAMI

Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals - Cleveland keeps playing tough and Cincinnati finds more ways to blow it. Pick: CLEVELAND

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts - I should know better than to keep picking against Peyton Manning; however, I just think that Jags are the more complete team right now. Pick: JACKSONVILLE

Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans - I think the Titans have quit on Jeff Fisher, who will be dismissed at the end of the year because Titans owner Bud Adams prefers Vince Young. Texans showed heart coming back against Baltimore last week, and will do so here. Pick: HOUSTON

Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys - Is it me or do good coaches forget how to coach once Daniel Snyder hires them to coach the Redskins? Cowboys continue to play well for Jason Garrett. Pick: DALLAS

Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants - "Let's go out there like a bunch of crazed dogs and have some fun!" Giants defense will follow the great Lawrence Taylor's advice as they'll continue to bottle up Michael Vick. Pick: NEW YORK GIANTS

Arizona Cardinals @ Carolina Panthers - Who cares? Pick: ARIZONA

Detroit Lions @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers - The Bucs beat inferior competition, and while the Lions are building a solid core, they appear to be inferior to the Bucs. Pick: TAMPA BAY

New Orleans Saints @ Baltimore Ravens - This should be a great game between a couple of heavyweights. I'll take the Saints in a close one. Pick: NEW ORLEANS

Atlanta Falcons @ Seattle Seahawks - Seattle better be rooting hard for Kansas City to knock off St. Louis because there is no way Atlanta leaves without a win. Pick: ATLANTA

New York Jets @ Pittsburgh Steelers - Troy Polamalu is out for the Steelers, but the Jets and their fans are reeling after 2 straight losses. Better hope for help in other games, Jets fans, because the Steelers are taking this one. Pick: PITTSBURGH

Denver Broncos @ Oakland Raiders - Tim Tebow is not the second coming of Jesus and he's not the second coming of John Elway. Pick: OAKLAND

Green Bay Packers @ New England Patriots - If Aaron Rodgers isn't playing, the Packers have no shot at beating the Pats. Pick: NEW ENGLAND

Monday

Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings @ University of Minnesota - Bulls...Bulls...Bulls...Bears...Bears...Bears...Ditka...Polish sausage...Ditka...Bears...Bears...Bears...Bears.... Pick: CHICAGO

Week 14 Review

One more thing on the Jets. Throughout this season, until the last two weeks, the Jets, Rex Ryan, and Mark Sanchez have been receiving more than their fair share of laurels and the Giants, Tom Coughlin, and Eli Manning have been receiving the darts. First, I think it's ridiculous that if a team wins a few games in a row, they are suddenly the best team in the game, the coach is a genius, and the quarterback is the next great thing; meanwhile, if a team loses a couple games, they suck, the coach has to be fired, and the quarterback should be benched. That said, I'm still shocked that anyone could suggest that Rex Ryan is better than Tom Coughlin or Mark Sanchez is better than Eli Manning; I do understand, though I disagree with, the argument that the Jets are better than the Giants, however.

As far as the rest of the week 14 goes...

Most importantly, my picks went 9-5 and with 2 games remaining for the week my streak of 3 straight weeks of 12-4 will be broken. So far, I've lost with the Jets, Packers, Broncos, Seahawks, and Browns and I have the Giants and Ravens as my winners tonight.

Once Aaron Rodgers was knocked out of the game in the first half against the Lions the writing was on the wall that the Packers were in trouble. It's tough for any team to succeed without their #1 starting quarterback, and the Packers are no different. Without Rodgers, who is questionable for next week with a concussion, the Packers playoff chances take a severe hit. The Lions are going to be good in the next couple seasons if Matthew Stafford could stay on the field because their defense looks like it is going to be a very good one.

The Giants-Vikings game was postponed until tonight, but the video of the roof caving in at the Metrodome was awesome. Watching the snow fall through the roof and crash unto the field reminded me of the scene in Ghostbusters when the molten Stay Puft Marshmallow Man rains down on the roof and street below.

Week 14 Review - Jets

The snow that postponed the Giants-Vikings game and moved it to Detroit tonight apparently grounded the New York Jets as well. For the second week in a row the Jets offense didn't show up and nobody was running around pretending to be an airplane, although Santonio Holmes had a chance to. Trailing 10-0 with just under 5 minutes to go in the 2nd quarter and the Jets deep in Miami territory Holmes dropped a ball that even Luis Castillo would have caught. The Jets were forced to settle for a field goal to make it 10-3 and the offense lost any momentum it was building.

While the defense kept them in the game, the offense looked anemic. The running tandem of LaDainian Tomlinson and Shonn Green gained 66 yards on 27 carries. Prior to their week 7 bye, Tomlinson had only 1 game in which he averaged less than 4 yards per carry and made GM Mike Tannenbaum look smart for picking him up off the scrap heap from San Diego. However, since that time, Tomlinson has averaged under 4 yards per carry in each game except once and had only 2.6 yards per carry yesterday against Miami. Maybe Chargers GM AJ Smith knew what he was doing when he didn't resign the aging Tomlinson after all.

Mark Sanchez was completely ineffective for the second week in a row. While he did drop a perfectly thrown ball into Holmes' hands that should have been caught for a touchdown, for most of the afternoon Sanchez looked like a young quarterback. Sanchez was 17-44 for 216 yards, an interception, and 4 fumbles, 1 of which was lost. Sure, Sanchez should have had a touchdown pass to Holmes, but he easily could have been intercepted 3 or 4 times as well. After not throwing an interception in the first 5 games of the season, Sanchez has now thrown an interception in 8 straight games, an alarming trend that needs correcting. As bad as Sanchez has looked in the last two weeks, he has also shown a lot of cojones in clutch situations in his young career and it would seem that the Jets do have a quarterback they'll be able to count on for a long time.

Perhaps the worst part of yesterday's game was when Dolphins CB Nolan Carroll was tripped by the Jets strength and conditioning coach, Sal Alosi, along the sideline during a punt late in the 3rd quarter. As Rex Ryan said in the preseason on Hard Knocks there is a difference between having fun and acting like a jackass. Right now the Jets are acting like a bunch of jackasses and this display by Alosi further illustrates that.

After losing 2 straight and falling to 9-4 with trips to Pittsburgh and Chicago looming the Jets have reached a crisis point. I still think that the Jets are one of the 4 best teams in the AFC and I expect them to be playing at New England or Pittsburgh in the 2nd week of the playoffs, but right now they sure look like the same old Jets...

Week 14 Picks

My apologies for the lack of updates to the blog over the past week and a half. I've missed an awful lot in such a short period of time, including the escalation of the arms race in the American League East; the Red Sox have acquired Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford and the Yankees are going after Cliff Lee as hard as they can. The Jets got embarrassed in New England, but if you ask me, and you haven't, they'll still have a huge say in who wins the AFC. The Giants remain tied with the Eagles in the NFC East and still remain in a tight race for their division and an NFC wild card spot. My football picks went 12-4 for the third straight week to bring the season record to 120-72, but, alas, not good enough to win the pool. So, we move onward and hopefully upward as I give you the picks for week 14 in the league where they play...for pay...

Thursday

Indianapolis Colts (6-6) @ Tennessee Titans (5-7) - Both teams come into this one looking to jumpstart their seasons for one final push at the AFC South title and a spot in the playoffs. The Titans come in losers of 5 in a row and a loss tonight to the Colts pretty much buries them for the season. The Colts, losers of 3 in a row, sit 1 game back of division leading Jacksonville and are in desperate need of a victory tonight. Peyton Manning has thrown 11 interceptions in the last 3 games for Indianapolis as teams can sit back and flood the passing lanes on a Colts offense that cannot run the ball and lacks some very important pass catchers. It's hard to feel confident about either team in this one, but I'll trust that a very prideful Peyton Manning shows up and leads the Colts to victory and keeps them alive in the AFC South. Pick: INDIANAPOLIS

Sunday

New England Patriots (10-2) @ Chicago Bears (9-3) - After the Pats blew out the Jets on Monday night it looks like the Patriots are the new "best team in the NFL" contest. However, after beating the Jets, are the Patriots ready to take on another one of the better teams in the NFL? If they had anyone else at coach and quarterback, I would look for a letdown, but it's hard to see Belichick or Brady allowing that to happen here. The Bears are usually able to generate an excellent pass rush, but that ability is going to be tested against an offensive line that has kept Tom Brady upright and his jersey clean all year. I also think that Jay Cutler is certainly capable of turning the ball over a few times, perhaps even to Devin McCourty, the rookie CB from Rutgers. Pick: NEW ENGLAND

Cleveland Browns (5-7) @ Buffalo Bills (2-10) - A matchup featuring two teams that have not given up despite their sub-.500 records. The Browns have somehow found a way to get victory away from the jaws of defeat while the Bills have stolen defeat from the jaws of victory. I would expect this one to be an even game, and the Browns close out the victory behind RB Peyton Hillis. Pick: CLEVELAND

Cincinnati Bengals (2-10) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) - What a disappointment the Bengals have been this season, especially Carson Palmer, who continues to turn the ball over way too much. And you may not like him, but Terrell Owens has been very productive this year, so you can't blame him for this team's terrible performance. As for this one against the Steelers, who won a hard fought battle with Baltimore last week, I think the Bengals will show up and play the Steelers tough, perhaps in the neighborhood of 17-14 or 20-17, but Palmer will make a critical turnover in the 4th quarter to give the Steelers another victory. Pick: PITTSBURGH

Oakland Raiders (6-6) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (7-5) - The Raiders came up with a big effort last week in San Diego against the Chargers to level their record at 6-6, and while they most likely will miss the playoffs, there is reason to be optimistic about the Raiders going forward. This week they face another daunting challenge, traveling across the country to face the Jacksonville Jaguars, who lead the AFC South. It would not be a shock if the Raiders won this one, but I think the combination of traveling across the country and facing a Jacksonville team that senses an opportunity to win the division will be too much for the Raiders; Oakland is 2-4 on the road and the Jaguars are 4-2 at home. The running backs on both sides should have a big say in how this one ends up. Pick: JACKSONVILLE

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5) @ Washington Redskins (5-7) - The Bucs have to be smarting after last week's loss against Atlanta at home. Leading in the 4th quarter, the Bucs could not close the Falcons out and, as a result, now sit 1 game out of the playoffs with 4 to play. Washington could have helped the Bucs out last week, but they didn't even show up against the Giants in New York. As far as this one goes, I'm sticking with the trend that has held true all season: the Bucs don't lose against teams that are worse than they are...they also don't beat the teams that are better either. Pick: TAMPA BAY

Green Bay Packers (8-4) @ Detroit Lions (2-10) - The Lions continue to play hard, which you have to respect, but it is not translating into victories. Unfortunately, for the Lions, I don't see them getting a victory here either. The Lions nearly pulled off a miracle comeback in the first meeting between these two up at Lambeau Field, and I would expect the Lions to make the Packers sweat a bit here too; however, I think Green Bay is one of the better teams in the NFC and they should come away with the win. Aaron Rodgers is the real deal at quarterback and the Packers defense is one of the best in the league. Pick: GREEN BAY

New York Giants (8-4) @ Minnesota Vikings (5-7) - Last week the pressure was on the Giants to keep pace with the Eagles, who had won earlier in the week; this week the Giants can put that pressure on the Eagles, who play Sunday night. There has been a lot of discussion about whether or not Brett Favre will start, but I don't buy for a second that he won't be starting. He is agonizingly close to 300 consecutive starts and, let's face it, he didn't come out of retirement to hold a clipboard. So, while I think he will start, I also think he will be running for his life as the Giant pass rush chases him down all afternoon. The Giants are also starting to get healthy as WRs Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks and LT David Diehl are all practicing, and OLs Shaun O'Hara and Shawn Andrews could be back next week. Pick: NEW YORK GIANTS

Atlanta Falcons (10-2) @ Carolina Panthers (1-11) - Talk about a real chance to fatten up and get the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs; the Falcons get to face the lowly Panthers twice in the season's last 4 weeks. In addition to facing the Panthers this week in Carolina, the Falcons will play at Seattle in week 15, home against New Orleans in week 16, and finish at home against Carolina in week 17. And while the Saints are nipping at the Falcons' heels, their last 4 are a bit tougher. In addition to the Falcons in week 16, they have the Rams this week, then go to Baltimore, and they finish at home against Tampa Bay. But, as for this game, I'm taking the Falcons. Pick: ATLANTA

St. Louis Rams (6-6) @ New Orleans Saints (9-3) - On its face, this one looks like an easy one for the Saints; however, I would urge you to have more respect for Steve Spagnuolo's Rams. They may not have the fire power to equal the Saints, but they are a hard-nosed team that will play tough defensively. However, that just means I don't think that the Rams will get blown out. This one is at New Orleans, a traditionally tough place to play, and the Saints are getting healthy in the backfield as well. Pick: NEW ORLEANS

Seattle Seahawks (6-6) @ San Francisco 49ers (4-8) - Talk about an awful division, the NFC West is so bad that even the 3-9 Cardinals are still technically in the playoff hunt, as are the 49ers, who seemed to be everybody's preseason pick. Now, as bad as this division is, I still like the idea that a division winner gets to host a playoff game against a wild card, even if the wild card has a better record. I don't want to hear this nonsense that it's not fair to the team that won more games to have to go on the road to play an inferior team in the playoffs. Silencio! Any team that wins its division deserves to host a playoff game. If home field means so much to you, then you should have won your own division. Now quit crying, and go play on the road! I have not heard the Saints do any of this crying, but I have heard it from others elsewhere, and I suspect as the season draws to a close we will hear it more, especially if the NFC West winner has a sub-.500 record. Pick: SEATTLE

Miami Dolphins (6-6) @ New York Jets (9-3) - The Jets were embarrassed by the Patriots on Monday night and now they look to take it out on the Dolphins. It's not going to be that easy. Miami is a much better team on the road, although that usually doesn't translate for Miami late in the season when they come north. But, they have a secret weapon on their side! That's right, the New York Giants, who will let the Dolphins practice in their facility prior to the game so the Dolphins can get acclimated to the conditions. However, while the Dolphins will use the Giants facility, they will be practicing in the Giants' practice bubble, and, last I had heard, the new Giants Stadium does not have a dome. So, how this will aid the Dolphins and why it's such a big deal is beyond me. After getting punched in the mouth...repeatedly, the Jets are hitting the panic button just a bit. Rex Ryan has said he'll take the ball first if the Jets win the coin toss instead of letting his defense go out and set the tone early. And, for the first time in Ryan's tenure, the Jets have been relatively quiet in the media. The Jets were certainly humbled by Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, and the rest of the New England Patriots last week, but they should still be able to beat Miami this week. The Jets defense shuts down the run very effectively, the Dolphins are not a big time passing team, and Mark Sanchez and the offense were playing very well until last week. If the Dolphins do knock off the Jets, then it's time to...PANIC!!!!!!!! Pick: NEW YORK JETS

Denver Broncos (3-9) @ Arizona Cardinals (3-9) - The Broncos are hoping that what worked for the Cowboys and Vikings will work for them. After firing their head coaches the Cowboys and Vikings both won the next week. Well, the Broncos fired Josh McDaniels this week, and they'll look to get interim coach Eric Studesville his first win as head coach. I picked Denver, but I have little conviction about this pick. More importantly, regardless of who coaches the Broncos next year, they will be paying 3 coaches next season. They still owe Mike Shanahan, who now coaches in Washington, the recently deposed McDaniels, and McDaniels' replacement. While I have no idea who Denver will target, it will be interesting to see if they go for a cheaper, lesser known commodity, or if they go after a coach with a proven track record, like Brian Billick, Jon Gruden, et al. Pick: DENVER

Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) @ San Diego Chargers (6-6) - The Kansas City Chiefs can thank the Oakland Raiders for potentially winning the AFC West for them. Last week the Chargers attempt to make another late season run at the AFC West took a major hit when the Chargers lost at home to the Raiders. Instead of being 7-5, 1 game back, and a chance to draw even this week, the Chargers, 6-6 and 2 games back, face a must win game this week against the Chiefs. If Kansas City wins, they will have a 3 game lead with 3 to play and the division all but locked up. In order to win, though, they're most likely going to have to do so without QB Matt Cassel, who underwent an appendectomy this week and is most likely out. The Chargers, meanwhile, will have their elite QB, Phillip Rivers, at the controls and I would expect San Diego to get back on track and win this week and win out to keep the pressure on Kansas City. Pick: SAN DIEGO

Philadelphia Eagles (8-4) @ Dallas Cowboys (4-8) - After sleepwalking through much of the season and getting their coach fired, the Cowboys now appear to be playing up to their talent level. They have won 3 of 4 under interim coach Jason Garrett, and, let's be honest, if it weren't for Roy Williams' fumble late against New Orleans, it would be 4 of 4. They beat a 1 dimensional Indianapolis team last week, forcing Peyton Manning into 4 interceptions. This week they will face a much tougher challenge in Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles. I would expect this one to be another high scoring affair like the Cowboys-Colts game was last week (38-35, OT), as the Eagles' defense just does not seem to be as good under Sean McDermott as it was under the deceased Jim Johnson. Pick: PHILADELPHIA

Monday

Baltimore Ravens (8-4) @ Houston Texans (5-7) - The Ravens were hard luck losers against the Steelers last Sunday night, but I would expect them to bounce back in a big way against the Texans this week. Houston lost a tough one to Philadelphia, but they will be facing one of the best defenses in the NFL this week and Matt Schaub and the offense will have a much tougher time moving the ball this week. Conversely, Joe Flacco and his Ravens offense should put up more than the 10 points they put on the Steelers on a very weak Houston defense. Pick: BALTIMORE and 41 points.

Pearl Harbor Day

President Franklin D. Roosevelt: Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our secretary of state a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

My apologies for not getting this speech posted earlier today. Video and audio of the speech can be heard here. As we all should know, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor thrust the United States of America into what became World War II, which the allied forces of the United States, England, and Russia would win; however, victory was not without the cost of millions of lives.

Week 13 Picks

Hopefully everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving, but now it's time for the stretch run in the NFL season. It's hard to believe, but there are only 5 weeks to go in the season, which also means there are only 5 opportunities left to win the weekly football pool. Last week, for the 2nd week in a row, I went 12-4 to run the season's record to 108-68; however, it was still not good enough. And now the picks for week number 13 in the league where they play...for pay...

Thursday

Houston Texans (5-6) @ Philadelphia Eagles (7-4) - The Texans ended their 4 game losing streak last week when they shut out the Tennessee Titans and in doing so they stayed alive, unbelievably, in the AFC South race, as Jacksonville and Indianapolis both lost. Houston is fortunate that WR Andre Johnson will not miss tonight's game after getting into a fight with Tennesse DB Cortland Finnegan. However, even with Johnson in the lineup, I don't think that Houston is good enough to go into Philadelphia and get a victory against an Eagles team smarting after a loss to Chicago last week. I'd expect Michael Vick and the birds to put up a big number on the Texans defense, which, despite the shutout last week, is not very good. Pick: PHILADELPHIA

Sunday

Buffalo Bills (2-9) @ Minnesota Vikings (4-7) - The Bills literally let a chance to knock off Pittsburgh and get a third straight win slide through their fingertips last week as Ryan Fitzpatrick's pass to Stevie Johnson fell harmlessly into the Pittsburgh endzone in overtime. I know I've said it a lot about Buffalo, and Detroit for that matter, that they are not as bad as their record indicates; however, they're still 2-9. The Vikings continued this season's latest trend, getting a W for an interim coach in his first game as they beat Washington for coach Leslie Frazier's first win. Now, will they be able to duplicate that "success" against the Bills this week? I think so. I think playing in the dome helps, as does having a reliable rushing attack. Pick: MINNESOTA

Cleveland Browns (4-7) @ Miami Dolphins (6-5) - Big effort by the Dolphins last week to go into Oakland and come out with a victory. Cleveland also won last week, albeit in very unimpressive fashion. They were ahead of the Panthers 21-7 midway through the 2nd quarter and at that point you figured the Panthers would just mail it in. But, give the Panthers credit, they came all the way back, even taking the lead 23-21, only to fall 24-23 as their last second field goal attempt hit the upright and was no good. As for this week, with Chad Henne back at QB for the Dolphins and Colt McCoy still out for the Browns, I'll take Miami, even if they are at home. Pick: MIAMI

Jacksonville Jaguars (6-5) @ Tennessee Titans (5-6) - The Titans were embarrassing last week against Houston, getting shut out 20-0; meanwhile, the Jags could not hold onto a double digit lead over the Giants and fell back to the pack in the AFC South, a division no team seems to want to win. I think after blowing that lead to New York last week, the Jags come out on top this week, but it won't be by much. Pick: JACKSONVILLE

Denver Broncos (3-8) @ Kansas City Chiefs (7-4) - If the Chiefs aren't motivated to get revenge in this one after Denver blew them out a few weeks ago in Denver, then San Diego is going to have no problem winning this division. I don't think that Denver is very good, first of all, and while Kansas City is 2-2 over their last 4, I still think that home field advantage and being the superior team overall is enough to get the job done. Pick: KANSAS CITY

Washington Redskins (5-6) @ New York Giants (7-4) - The Giants got a huge boost last week with their come from behind victory over Jacksonville, and losses by Tampa Bay, Green Bay, and, most importantly, Philadelphia, which gives the Giants two roads to the playoffs (division championship or wild card). I have not seen the Redskins yet this season, but they do have Donovan McNabb at QB, and he seems to have some of his better games against the Giants. However, I think he may be running for his life during much of the game with the way the Giants pass rush is able to terrorize quarterbacks. Pick: NEW YORK GIANTS

Chicago Bears (8-3) @ Detroit Lions (2-9) - The Lions had the Bears dead to rights in week 1 when Calvin Johnson caught a touchdown pass in the game's waning moments, but then he lost control of the ball as he was going to celebrate and the pass was ruled incomplete, and the Lions lost. The Lions have been one of those teams that have fought hard all year and I really think they could be pretty good in the next few years; I mean, did you see the game that Ndamukong Suh played on Thanksgiving Day? I still think the Bears will win, but the Lions would be smart to go take a look at what the Giants defensive line did to the Bears offensive line and replicate that. Pick: CHICAGO

San Francisco 49ers (4-7) @ Green Bay Packers (7-4) - Oddly enough, both teams are a game out of 1st place in their respective divisions, but that's where the similarities end. San Francisco has picked up the pace a bit after their horrendous start, but Green Bay's defense is first in the league in points against, so I think it will be a struggle for the niners to find the endzone in this one. On the other side of the ball, the Packers have Aaron Rodgers, who has become an elite QB in the league and has also made the Packer backers forget about #4. Pick: GREEN BAY

Atlanta Falcons (9-2) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-4) - Both teams faced tough tests in their games last week. The Falcons won at home against Green Bay on a last second field goal after the Packers had tied it up in the final minutes; it was very similar to their victory over Baltimore a few weeks ago. The Bucs went north to Baltimore and fell 17-10. Again, the Bucs can beat the teams with sub-.500 records, but, while they have had a good year, against the good teams they can't get the job done. Pick: ATLANTA

New Orleans Saints (8-3) @ Cincinnati Bengals (2-9) - After blowing a 17-0 lead to the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, the Saints can thank DB Malcolm Jenkins for their 30-27 victory. Jenkins ripped the ball from Roy Williams as Williams was racing toward the New Orleans endzone, recovered the ball, and then Drew Brees led the Saints down the field for the winning score. In the Thanksgiving nightcap, the Bengals showed up for the first half, and then fell asleep in the second half, losing 26-10. Pick: NEW ORLEANS

Oakland Raiders (5-6) @ San Diego Chargers (6-5) - After all the feel good stories about the Raiders resurgence a few weeks ago, the story can now be on the Chargers, who are making yet another second half run at a division championship. Phillip Rivers is playing like a serious MVP candidate. Pick: SAN DIEGO

Dallas Cowboys (3-8) @ Indianapolis Colts (6-5) - Peyton Manning and the Colts did not look sharp last Sunday night against the Chargers, and Manning, like his younger brother, has turned the ball over a lot. However, he's still one of the best players in the league, if not the best, and the Colts are at home. Pick: INDIANAPOLIS

St. Louis Rams (5-6) @ Arizona Cardinals (3-8) - The Rams got a well earned victory in Mile High last week, and the Cardinals got blown out on Monday night. The Cardinals play terrible defense, the Rams have an average defense and a very good young quarterback. Pick: ST. LOUIS

Carolina Panthers (1-10) @ Seattle Seahawks (5-6) - This one's in Seattle so I'll take the Seahawks. Pick: SEATTLE

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) @ Baltimore Ravens (8-3) - The first of two titanic matchups to end Week 13, and hopefully at least one of these games lives up to the hype. In this one you have a young elite quarterback on both sides going up against one of the league's top defenses, and both defenses are ferocious. This is going to be one of those low-scoring, tight defensive battles that comes down to the last few minutes. I am going with Baltimore in this one, mainly because they're home, but there is no clear favorite in this one at all. Pick: BALTIMORE

Monday

New York Jets (9-2) @ New England Patriots (9-2) - Again, another rivalry game. The Jets are going to Foxborough looking to prove that they are as good as their record says they are. Now, when you win 9 and lose 2, you're pretty damn good, and I think that Rex Ryan and co. deserve all the respect in the world. However, will their defense be able to get to Tom Brady? All year long the Pats offensive line has kept Brady well protected and, as a result, the Pats offense has clicked. In fact, I think that in this matchup it's the two offenses that have the advantage over the opposing defense. While the Patriot defense has improved, there is no question that Mark Sanchez is feeling comfortable with the offense and can make the big plays when they need it most. Pick: NEW ENGLAND and 48 points for the tie breaker

Worst Idea Ever

The Mets had two reliable left handed relievers last year in Hisanori Takahashi and Pedro Feliciano; however, after Feliciano declined the team's offer of salary arbitration, it appears that neither will be with the club in 2011; per the terms of his contract, the Mets lost the right to sign Takahashi before 2011 if a deal was not in place by October 31. So, what is a team that needs lefties in the bullpen to do? Well, Andy Martino of the New York Daily News seems to think he has a solution, and, it's not one that most fans are going to like...Make Oliver Perez the team's lefty reliever in 2011. Yes, that Oliver Perez.

Why does Martino think the Mets should do this? I'll tell you why. Perez will make $12 million this year, which is guaranteed, so they may as well get something for him. After struggling early, Perez has pitched very well recently in the Mexican winter league. Lefties hit only hit .215 against him last year. Ollie's not really lazy, and despite knowing the team wouldn't be using him, he still worked his butt off in the bullpen. There are no obvious replacements for Takahashi or Feliciano in the Mets' farm system. And, if Perez does struggle in spring training, they can release him before the season anyway.

Alright, let's go through these reasons 1 by 1.

If he struggles in spring training, they can release him anyway. Spring training is a time to give players a chance, I agree; however, haven't we seen enough from Ollie to know what he is? But, if the team wants to use the Grapefruit League to give him a chance, I can't go too crazy because those games don't count anyway.

Lefties only hit .215 against Perez. This point is actually fairly solid, and if Perez could duplicate this result over and over again during the course of the year, I'd be willing to, perhaps, let him try being the lefty specialist. However, when has Ollie actually showed any consistency that would give you any reason to trust him, especially in a big spot. I mean, do you really want Ollie on the mound in a tight game in Citizens Bank Park with Ryan Howard and Chase Utley up and the tying and/or go ahead runs on base? I definitely don't.

Ollie is not lazy. Look, I can't dispute this one at all because I'm not around the team ever. If Perez works as hard as everyone says, then I have to take their word for it.

There are no obvious replacements for Takahashi or Feliciano, so why not use Ollie? Again, I don't trust Perez, and I don't want him facing Howard and Utley in the scenario I described above. I'd be fine with letting a prospect cut his teeth at the major league level and learn what it takes to get big league hitters out, and, who knows, maybe the Mets will catch lightning in a bottle.

Ollie is now pitching very well in the Mexican League. I must have missed something, since when did getting hitters out in the Mexican League equate with success at the Major League level? Kei Igawa set the franchise record for victories for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre AAA franchise, yet the Yankees have him buried in AAA with no intention of calling him up.

Perez will make the $12 million anyway, so they should get something for him. No. In the 2 prior years of his 3 year deal, which expires, thankfully, after this year, he has not given any indication that he is going to give them any production this year either. Some guys can't pitch in New York, and Oliver Perez appears to be one of them. In this case, the best course for the team would be addition by subtraction. Let Perez go finish out his career playing in a city where they don't care and won't be bothered by the fact that Perez is a godawful pitcher.

So, how would I fill the voids left by Feliciano and Takahashi? I would give some of the young lefties in the team's farm system a chance because, as I said earlier, they may catch lightning in a bottle. I would also explore the scrap heap for lefty relievers--maybe Jesse Orosco can still pitch--because relievers are up and down from year to year anyway. I definitely would not fill the voids with an even bigger void, however.