After a two-week hiatus, it’s only hiatus of the season, the crap has inserted itself back into the NFL. Seven whole games did not go the way they should have. That can only mean one thing… the membership was victorious this week. By a score of 11 correct picks to 9, the House fell for the 10th time this season. The Madden 09 Xbox 360 simulation tied the membership and also picked 11 games out of 16 correctly. The House now has 4 weekly wins on the season, to the membership’s 10, with 1 tie… and only two more weeks to go.
The results to-date are:
| * | The House | Madden Sim | Members |
| Week 15: | 9-7 | 11-5 | 11-5 |
| 2008 Overall: | 127-96 | 125-98 | 140.5-82.5 |
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The Challenge
Only two games were disagreed with in week 15, and both were guessed correctly by the membership. The two games featured a pair of teams fighting for wildcard berths, and another pair that lost their shot at the playoffs weeks ago. The House thought the Buccaneers could hold off the Falcons and move two ahead of them in the wildcard chase. Didn’t happen. It was a suckfest of a game that went into overtime, but the Falcons did finally outlast the Bucs to even their records out.
The second game was St. Louis hosting Seattle. Wow, what a barn-burner. The Seahawks never led the game… except when the clock hit 0:00 as an Olindo Mare field goal split the uprights and finally put Seattle on top. Those two teams suck so bad the game should be called a push.
After two weeks of falling to the House, the membership came back on top. So that means prizes are to be awarded. 13 was the lucky number in week 15, and only a single member got that many games correct. Steelers32 gets his choice of either the DVD prize pack or the Nerf Pro Grip Football. Sorry pal, even though the image to the left shows a Pittsburgh ball, we don’t have any more in the prize closet. We’ll send you a Ravens ball instead.
Tune back in on Thursday morning to once again agree or disagree with the House’s NFL week 16 picks and predictions.
The League
The playoff picture is still not much clearer. With only two weeks left to go, only four teams have clinched playoff spots. Three were already clinched coming in to week 15. The Steelers are the only new team on that list. In the AFC, the East is still very much up for grabs as the three-way tie still wasn’t broken amongst the Jets, Dolphins and Pats. They all sit at 9-5 and the sad part is, only one of them may make the post season. The North and South are clinched already, but the AFC West is still up for grabs with the Broncos only holding a 2-game lead over a Charger team that hasn’t been able to do much right all season long.
The Colts control their own playoff destiny with a 10-4 record. Win out and they are definitely in. The other wildcard spot is still up for grabs between the Ravens and the other two teams in the East that can’t manage to win the division. All other teams are out of contention for the two also-ran slots.
The NFC picture is just as tight. The East and West are locked up by the Giants and Cardinals already with the North and South still open. It looks like the Carolina Panthers are very much in control of their division, but the North can still be won by either the Vikings or the Bears with a single game separating the two. Unfortunately for Minnesota, they have a playoff team and a playoff-caliber team as their final two games where the best record of the Bears’ remaining two opponents is 7-7.
The wildcard picture in the NFC is still just as open as the other conference. In control of their destinies are the preseason Superbowl favorite Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Still waiting to pounce on the outskirts are the Falcons, who have the same record as the Bucs, the Philadelphia Eagles and the team who doesn’t win the North. The Eagles and the Cowboys have, by far, the toughest remaining schedules of the wildcard contenders.
No team, in any conference, has locked up home field advantage or even a first round bye yet. Is this the latest into the season that this has ever happened?
Fantasy Land
There is a familiar face amongst the fantasy leaders again this week… Andre Johnson, wide receiver for the Houston Texans. You might not believe it, but Johnson is the highest point-earning non-QB in fantasy leagues this year. In the TMR fantasy league, he is the ninth-highest point earner in 2008. Where was he drafted in your league?
The rest of the top fantasy studs are as follows. There are three virgins this week including a QB who just won his job back over an ancient journeyman:
Andre Johnson
Wide Receiver – Houston Texans
In 13-12 win over the Tennessee Titans
– 11 catches for 207 yards, 1 TD.
Matt Cassel
Quarterback – New England Patriots
In 49-26 win over the Oakland Raiders
– 18/30 for 218 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT.
Dallas Clark
Tight End – Indianapolis Colts
In 31-21 win over the Detroit Lions
– 12 catches for 142 yards, 1 TD.
Pierre Thomas
Running Back – New Orleans Saints
In 27-24 loss to the Chicago Bears
– 22 carries for 87 yards, 1 TD. 7 catches for 59 yards, 1 TD.
Tavaris Jackson
Quarterback – Minnesota Vikings
In 35-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals
– 11/17 for 163 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INT.
To review the Week 15 picks, visit the Beat the House main picks page. The week 16 picks and predictions will be up Thursday morning. Make sure you get your picks in early to move up the leaderboard and get another shot at beating the house. Check in often, the board can drastically change over the. Even if you haven’t played yet, you are still eligible for the weekly prizes.
Stay tuned to see who will be named the Visionman Players of the Week and if any members have won the gaming PC this week. We’ll update you as soon as the players of the week are announced.
For all other NFL and sports updates, check out the TMRzoo Sports Zone.
See you next week.
