As for Bolt Notes, I think I will mix it up this week. If you prefer this method, let me know and I'll stick to it for the rest of the season. Normally, I give a wrap up of the Chargers last game, a preview of the Chargers next game, and then throw in my picks at the end. This week, I'm going to bypass the Chargers victory over Dallas and just focus on my picks and give my reasoning for each pick that I make. I will expand more for the Chargers game. After all, this is Bolt Notes, I owe them that. Here we go!
Week 15 Picks!
COLTS @ jaguars
I have said it before, I will not bet against an undefeated team until they prove they can be beaten. Peyton Manning and the Colts continue to pull rabbits out of their hats each week and this one was no different. Finally, I got a Thursday game right!
cowboys @ SAINTS
Alright, I used the same philosophy for this game as I did with the Colts game. Always back an undefeated team (unless they are playing the Chargers). It didn't work out so well this time. Yes, the December challenged Cowboys but a blemish on the previously perfect New Orleans Saints. Mercury Morris and company are breathing a little easier tonight. At least for his sake, there is sure to not be two undefeated teams in the Super Bowl this year.
PATRIOTS @ bills
Watch Tom Brady and Randy Moss intentionally look to blow this one open this week. The Bills don't cover well and Moss wants to prove that he has not quit on his team. Brady went to the media and supported his receiver after last week's embarrassment. Now that Brady has put his own rep on the line for Moss, he will do whatever he can to help Moss get involved early and often. The other side of the story is that the Bills are not very good. That will help the Pats a lot.
CARDINALS @ lions
This is the time of year when some teams are playing meaningful games and others are making reservations and planning fishing trips. The Lions are not exactly in the playoff hunt with a 2-11 record. The Cards, on the other hand, are trying to win the NFC West and earn a home game in the playoffs. Emotion, motivation, and way more talent will help the Cards prevail.
dolphins @ TITANS
This could be the shortest game of the week. Both teams will pound the ball on the ground and throw when necessary. With the emergence of Chris Johnson, the Titans will run, run, run. They may not make the playoffs this year, but they want Johnson to break the all time rushing record. A big day against the Fins will help a lot. Johnson currently has over 1600 yards rushing and over 2000 all purpose yards. All that and the Titans are still 6-7.
BROWNS @ chiefs
It's not often I pick the Browns, especially on the road. However, it appears that the Chiefs may be the worse of two evils in this match up. The Browns are playing better football of late, but they are hardly world beaters. The Chiefs........are just bad.
TEXANS @ rams
I just did the Rams the biggest favor I could do for them. I picked the Texans. I have the incredible ability to almost always get the wrong side of Texans games. I just can't figure them out! Just when I think they are playing some solid ball, they get smoked. Then, just when I give up on them, they beat someone decent. Go figure. The Rams are the Rams and should continue to lose, no matter who I pick.
falcons @ JETS
Honestly, I am not very confident in this pick. The Falcons are banged up at running back and quarterback. That tells me that they are in for a long day. The Jets are at home and they are getting their starting quarterback, Mark Sanchez, back in the lineup. The only thing that worries me is that I'm not sure that the Jets are better off with Sanchez at this point of the season. The shine has fallen off of this star. Still, they should have enough to beat the Falcons practice squad.
raiders @ BRONCOS
I hate this game. I want so badly, as a Chargers fan, to pick the Broncos to lose. However, the Raiders are starting their third string quarterback and the Broncos are a pretty good team that is most likely headed to the playoffs. If the Broncos lose this game, they should forfeit the rest of the season.
niners @ EAGLES
This is another game that I'm not that confident in. Yes, the Eagles are playing very well on offense. Yes, the Eagles are at home. However, the Niners have shown the ability to come up large and play big in big games. I just don't think they will be able to this time while traveling back East and having to outscore the potent Eagles offense.
PACKERS @ steelers
The world champion Steelers are in the middle of a long losing streak. They are not going to make the playoffs and their best player is out (Troy Polamalu). That being said, I must admit that I worry that the pride of a champion may be enough to lift the Steelers over the visiting Packers. However, Aaron Rodgers is a very good QB and should be able to pick apart the porous Steel Curtain defense.
bears @ RAVENS
The Ravens are not an elite team this year, but they're not a bad team either. The Bears are pretty bad. The leader of the Bears, the "Savior" if you will, is quarterback Jay Cutler. Cutler has been horrible this year and has continued to show his inability to play inside the redzone. Cutler turns the ball over more than a breakfast cook turns over pancakes. The Ravens defense should have a great day and force several turnovers on their way to victory at home.
bucs @ SEAHAWKS
The Seahawks are another team that I usually pick wrong. They will score 40 one week and then get destroyed the next. Word around the league is that they are soft. Even their own coach says they need a few "dirt bags" on their team. That is not a good sign. However, sometimes the schedule makers are kind and let you play teams like the Buccaneers. Look for the Saints defense to tally at least three picks.
VIKINGS @ panthers
Panthers are not the most consistent team in the NFL. They are also not the worst team. However, they aren't very good either and tonight's loss by New Orleans will inspire the very talented Vikings to go into Carolina and bury the Panthers.
GIANTS @ redskins
If you had told me 10 weeks ago that I would hesitate to pick the Giants in this game, I would have told you that you were crazy. But, I actually considered picking the Redskins at home this week. Then I remembered that the Giants are trying to make the playoffs. Then I remembered that the Skins are interviewing head coaches, while they still have Jim Zorn at the helm (classless move). The Skins are a mess. Even though they have shown signs of improvement, the end of the season is near and they should fade back to being the poor team that they started out as.
bengals @ CHARGERS
This could prove to be the game of the week! The Bengals trail the Chargers by one game in the race to be the number two seed in the AFC. That is important because the number two seed gets a bye and a home game in the playoffs. That gives teams a chance to get healthy and plan for extra time and gives them a decided advantage.
One sad note going into this game is the passing of Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry. Such a sad situation can't help but take a toll on the entire Bengals team, as well as those who knew him around the league. That being said, the thing we have not seen yet is how it will effect the Bengals on Sunday. The way I see it, one of two things will happen. One, the Bengals will try to play inspired football, but will be distracted and unable to focus on the game. If that happens, look for the Chargers to win and win big.
Two, the Bengals will use this tragedy to raise their level of play and will play in a way that will be reminiscent of the way the Saints played when they reopened to Super Dome. In that case, the Chargers could get bush whacked! Only time will tell.
One side story that people are watching in this game is Chad Ochocinco. Ochocinco says that he hates Shawne Merriman and wants to "beat his head in." Merriman, who has a four inch and 50 pound size advantage on Ochocinco, had traded Tweets with Chad earlier in the year, but lately has laughed it off and said that if Ochocinco tries to fight him, he would just put his hand on Chad's head and let him swing his arms wildly like a little kid.
The latest move by Ochocinco is that he says that he wants to wear Chris Henry's number 15, is honor of his fallen teammate. The league says that he will be fined if you wears any number other than 85. In my opinion, it is a nice idea, but more than that it is just another way for Chad Ochocinco to try to make the story about him, and not the game. His act is getting old in my opinion. I believe the story should be about the Bengals running backs against the questionable Chargers run defense, and the Chargers offense against the stout Bengals defense. Instead, it's about Chad Ochocinco. That being said, I think his antics are usually harmless and he should not be fined as much as he has been.
My guess is that the superior talent of the Chargers will prevail in this game. Yes, the Bengals have two great defensive backs who may well shut down Chargers wideouts Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd. However, I don't see an answer for Antonio Gates, Legadu Nanee, Darren Sproles, and LaDainian Tomlinson. Antother thing you have to consider is the will to win inside one Philip Rivers. Rivers is quickly getting national attention and is actually in MVP talks these days. That says a lot for a West coast player who isn't often talked about in the East.
Final Score:
bengals 17 CHARGERS 31
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