NFL 2008 Season Week 16 Picks

	Carlos44ec - "If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style." 12/18/2008 @ 07:42:00 AM
Vikings vs Falcons? Someone do the Dirty Bird dance!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	jay6666 - 29 Posts 12/18/2008 @ 08:48:13 AM
I'd like to see Vikings lose..for the Bears sake, Peterson might have a Monster game with the season on the line!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - Ma'am, can you make sure your computer is turned on? 12/19/2008 @ 08:00:24 AM
I might not actually watch the Packer game this week.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Carlos44ec - "The tallest blade of grass is the first to be cut by the lawnmower." 12/19/2008 @ 09:46:01 AM
so what's the playoff picture look like- if the packers beat the bears, what does that mean?		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 12/19/2008 @ 10:20:44 AM
The Vikings win the division if they win a game or the Bears lose a game. If the Vikings win Sunday the Packer/Bears game means nothing to anyone, playoff wise, unless it effects the strength of schedule tiebreaker, or something.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Jeremy messed with this at 12/19/2008 10:22:16 am

	Alex - Who controls the past now controls the future 12/19/2008 @ 01:26:03 PM
Which would only be possible for non-common opponents of the Bears and Packers, meaning Eagles, Rams and Cowboys, Seahawks. So basically it could affect the Cowboys maybe, probably not the Eagles unless some other game in the next 2 weeks ends in a tie so that another team could actually be tied with the Eagles.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - 4671 Posts 12/19/2008 @ 05:39:33 PM
Scott Wrote - Today @ 08:00:24 AM I might not actually watch the Packer game this week. Loyalist Scott is not going to watch the nationally televised (don't have to go to a bar) Packer game?!?!		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 2 times.

	Sarah - How do you use these things? 12/20/2008 @ 08:49:23 PM
Is anyone else watching the Cowboys-Ravens game? Romo should not play in important games, it's embarrassing. You hear so many good things about him and then to actually watch him play, you begin to wonder why there's so much hype.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.

	Alex - 3619 Posts 12/21/2008 @ 03:41:12 PM
No!!! On my ESPN Gridiron Challenge team I have AP, and I demand that the Falcons challenge that TD so AP can run it in from the 1 yard line. Jerks.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - 3619 Posts 12/21/2008 @ 05:53:24 PM
That pass was uncatchable		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	PackOne - 1528 Posts 12/21/2008 @ 06:39:13 PM
I hate when people throw away a Packers' second rounder.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - How do you use these things? 12/21/2008 @ 08:22:18 PM
Not a good week for the picks. And what do you mean PackOne?		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 12/21/2008 @ 09:34:05 PM
The Packers get a 2nd rounder if the Jets make the playoffs, I assume that's what he means.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - 3619 Posts 12/21/2008 @ 10:54:03 PM
Sarah Wrote - Today @ 08:22:18 PM Not a good week for the picks. At a glance, it appears that we collectively did worse than in week 1.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 12/22/2008 @ 07:17:33 AM
Sarah Wrote - 12/19/2008 @ 06:39:33 PM Scott Wrote - 12/19/2008 @ 09:00:24 AM I might not actually watch the Packer game this week. Loyalist Scott is not going to watch the nationally televised (don't have to go to a bar) Packer game?!?! I don't have cable, so I DO have to go to a bar to watch it. That's why I might not go.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - Ma'am, can you make sure your computer is turned on? 12/22/2008 @ 07:19:12 AM
after seeing some of the Vikings-Falcons game, it appears that the Vikings just have no desire to play post-season football. Has anyone ever seen so many fumbles that cost a team so many yards?		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 12/22/2008 @ 09:54:28 AM
Yeah, I wouldn't say desire played a part, but it certainly reached a point of absurdity. There was a lot of positive things to happen. T-Jack ate them alive, Shiancoe played like a man possessed, the Falcons averaged 150 rushing yards per game and the Vikings held them to 98 without Pat Williams, after a shaky start the defense played well. All in all they put the ball on the ground 7 times and still had a chance to tie the game in the end against a team that's still alive for the 2 seed. Really though the list of things to go well really just serve to highlight how sad it was that they couldn't put the season away.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - You're going to have to call your hardware guy. It's not a software issue. 12/22/2008 @ 09:57:23 AM
Exactly. For how many boneheaded plays they made (a season's worth and then some), they were still only 7 points from a tie (I didn't see the end of the game, so I don't know if the score is necessarily indicitave of how close it was).		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - Robots don't say 'ye' 12/22/2008 @ 10:08:45 AM
Yeah, the game really was that close. In fact on the Falcons last TD Matt Ryan fumbled the ball on the one yard line. Darren Sharper tried to pick up the ball in the endzone instead of just falling on it (or knocking it out of the back of the endzone), and two other Vikings batted it around before a Falcon jumped on it for the TD. So not only did the Vikings put the ball on the ground 7 times, the Falcons only fumble actually scored them a TD, and the game still came down to a stalled 2 minute drill. It's hard to be positive but in a weird way this game left me hopeful for the near future. These last couple games were looking to be our toughest of the season, or at the very least a representation of who we'd play in the playoffs, and we really beat up the teams. It's just too bad the Vikings so consistently beat themselves.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Jeremy edited this 2 times, last at 12/22/2008 10:11:55 am

	PackOne - 1528 Posts 12/22/2008 @ 10:35:08 AM
I thought it looked like classic Viking football. That makes me very happy.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 2 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 12/22/2008 @ 09:17:01 PM
The Packers have held the Bears to 48 total yards in the first half. Wow.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Sarah - How do you use these things? 12/22/2008 @ 09:22:30 PM
Scott Wrote - Today @ 09:17:01 PM The Packers have held the Bears to 48 total yards in the first half. Wow. So you're watching it on your computer? Go Bears!		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 2 times.

	Alex - 3619 Posts 12/22/2008 @ 10:37:58 PM
An actual pass play on 3rd and 8 instead of running up the middle for 1 yard to setup the 50 yd FG? I'm so confused!?! Edit: That's more like it. Frickin ardtards		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Alex edited this 2 times, last at 12/22/2008 10:45:41 pm

	Jeremy - Robots don't say 'ye' 12/22/2008 @ 10:48:43 PM
God damn Bears....is there one break they can't catch when their special teams are involved?		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.
Jeremy perfected this at 12/22/2008 10:48:54 pm

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 12/22/2008 @ 10:56:54 PM
Look, I know we could have and should have won it ourselves, but would it be so much to ask for you worthless sacks of shit to not epically collapse with 5 minutes to go EVERY week? Edit: Also, Mason Crosby should light himself on fire and go play in traffic.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.
Jeremy perfected this 2 times, last at 12/22/2008 11:14:22 pm

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 12/22/2008 @ 11:18:39 PM
When you put both of the games this weekend together it's hard not to think the Vikings are just plain and simply cursed. Just give the division to the Bears and let's not get our hopes up.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - If you aren't enough without it, you'll never be enough with it. 12/23/2008 @ 07:13:08 AM
Sarah Wrote - Yesterday @ 10:22:30 PM Scott Wrote - Yesterday @ 10:17:01 PM The Packers have held the Bears to 48 total yards in the first half. Wow. So you're watching it on your computer? Go Bears! I went to the gym at my apartment complex and watched the first half.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 12/23/2008 @ 07:18:03 AM
It seems almost poetic and once again it is most likely the Cardinals that knocked the Vikings out of the playoffs. Unfortunately, this year the Packers aren't the beneficiaries. But the Vikings seemed to have the North all but wrapped up a week ago, and now the Bears need to beat the Texans and the Vikings need to beat the Giants. edit: commentor was on crack at time of comment.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.
Scott screwed with this at 12/23/2008 10:55:42 am

	Scott - 6225 Posts 12/23/2008 @ 07:18:33 AM
Jeremy Wrote - Yesterday @ 11:56:54 PM Look, I know we could have and should have won it ourselves, but would it be so much to ask for you worthless sacks of shit to not epically collapse with 5 minutes to go EVERY week? Edit: Also, Mason Crosby should light himself on fire and go play in traffic. When you can't run the ball, and you can't stop the run, yes, this is WAY too much to ask.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - As Seen On The Internet 12/23/2008 @ 09:40:17 AM
Scott Wrote - Today @ 07:18:03 AM It seems almost poetic and once again it is most likely the Cardinals that knocked the Vikings out of the playoffs. Unfortunately, this year the Packers aren't the beneficiaries. But the Vikings seemed to have the North all but wrapped up a week ago, and now the Bears need to beat the Texans and the Vikings need to beat the Giants. Yes, 35-14 victories have a way of putting the kibosh on your season. I'll assume you mean Falcons, but then that didn't help the Packers, so maybe you did mean Cardinals and just have no idea what you're talking about. Also, couldn't you say "It seems almost poetic and [sic] once again it is most likely the [Team A] that knocked [Team B] out of the playoffs." about pretty much any two teams? I bet you could find one, elimination/turning-point/meaningful-in-hindsight game since you seem to be granting yourself 10 years to make a point. The Falcons have also knocked the Packers out of the playoffs since they ended the Vikings run a decade ago. Three weeks ago the Vikings needed two wins, two Bears losses, or one of each. They are 1-1 in their toughest 3 game stretch and the Bears have narrowly escaped with 2 wins against 2 fairly bad teams. The Vikings now go on to play the #1 seed, reigning Superbowl Champs, who are almost as "famous" for not resting their players in week 17 last year as they were for eventually winning the Superbowl, and the Bears go on to play the Texans. I'm not sure this is/would-be the epic "collapse" you're implying it would be. The Bears also seemed to have it "all sewn up" 4 weeks ago. All it really necessarily implies is the Vikings built a lead while the Bears played tougher games, and now the situation is reversed, except we have to play the Giants and they got Philly. Both the Bears and Vikings lost to the Falcons, beat the Saints, and beat the Packers at home.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Jeremy perfected this 4 times, last at 12/23/2008 9:54:34 am

	Scott - 6225 Posts 12/23/2008 @ 10:50:23 AM
Scott Wrote - Today @ 08:18:03 AM It seems almost poetic and once again it is most likely the Cardinals that knocked the Vikings out of the playoffs. Unfortunately, this year the Packers aren't the beneficiaries. But the Vikings seemed to have the North all but wrapped up a week ago, and now the Bears need to beat the Texans and the Vikings need to beat the Giants. Ok, I have no idea what I was thinking. Feel free to 0 nut me on this comment, because I just completely blanked out thinking that the Vikings played the Cardinals this year. I'll try to make up for it with some extremely witty comments in the coming days and weeks. I didn't mean to imply that the Vikings collapsed this week, and since you put it in quotes ("collapse"), you apparently thought that I actually said it. I was actually trying to pay the Vikings a compliment, in that I thought they were going to win it.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.
Scott screwed with this at 12/23/2008 10:52:41 am

	Jeremy - Always thinking of, but never about, the children. 12/23/2008 @ 11:07:56 AM
The Vikings DID just play the Cardinals, last week, and they kicked the crap out of them.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - 6225 Posts 12/23/2008 @ 11:16:22 AM
Although, to be fair, 7 fumbles is inexcusable regardless of who you are playing.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Scott perfected this at 12/23/2008 11:24:02 am

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 12/23/2008 @ 11:36:32 AM
Dear NFL writers, Next week is the last week of the season. Stop using the word "clinch" in regard to the situations that can play out next week. Thank you.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Matt - Washington Bureau Chief 12/23/2008 @ 12:13:58 PM
Dear Jeremy, Lighten up. Thank you and Merry Christmas.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Alex - I don't need to get steady I know just how I feel 12/23/2008 @ 12:55:46 PM
Jeremy Wrote - Today @ 11:36:32 AM Dear NFL writers, Next week is the last week of the season. Stop using the word "clinch" in regard to the situations that can play out next week. Thank you. I don't get it. What's wrong with the word "clinch"? –verb (used with object) 1. to settle (a matter) decisively		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 12/23/2008 @ 01:13:28 PM
Clinch: to assure the winning of <scored a touchdown to clinch the game> Clinch is used in the process of an on going event to note when someone has an insurmountable lead. As the game is going a touchdown can clinch a victory, after the fact the word clinch is needless, they GOT the win, they didn't "clinch" anything. It's week 17, the Vikings don't "clinch" the NFC North with a win or Chicago loss, they WIN the NFC North with either of those things. It's officially over. The only gray area, I suppose, is that we're talking about something that will be officially over after one remaining increment, but it's still "ongoing" for now. So I suppose an appropriate analogy would be lining up for a field goal with 3 seconds left on the clock, down by 1 or 2. You wouldn't often hear the word "clinch" used, because the matter will be settled, one way or another, even though for the time being the game is ongoing. </NutcanOveranalyzer®>		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Jeremy edited this 5 times, last at 12/23/2008 1:20:48 pm

	Alex - 3619 Posts 12/23/2008 @ 04:06:34 PM
I think you're confusing connotations with actual definitions. It is not grammatically incorrect to use the word after the fact. Otherwise there wouldn't be a past tense of the word. "The team clinched the win when they scored a touchdown in the 4th quarter." Plus, in some of the early games it may still be appropriate with the connotation in that a win for some teams may clinch things regardless of other on-going or not yet started games.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 12/23/2008 @ 04:19:36 PM
The definition is "to assure the winning of." The fact that there's a past tense changes diddly, nor did I imply it did. The fact that other teams can effect your outcome is closer to a situation where it would work, but even then the matter is still settled. If the Vikings played at 3 and the Bears lost at noon that would also win the Vikings the division, though that would be closer to the meaning of the word, I guess, but that's irrelevant because that's not how it's being used. Replace the word with the definition. "The Vikings can assure the winning of the NFC North with a win on Sunday." It's makes sense, it's just not the word you want to use. "The Vikings can win the NFC North with a win on Sunday," is much better. Like many words there are multiple words that COULD work, that aren't flat out wrong, but also aren't the best, most succinct word.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.
Jeremy screwed with this 2 times, last at 12/23/2008 4:25:34 pm

	Alex - You've got to trust your instinct, and let go of regret 12/23/2008 @ 05:38:36 PM
Jeremy Wrote - Today @ 04:19:36 PM Replace the word with the definition. "The Vikings can assure the winning of the NFC North with a win on Sunday." It's makes sense, it's just not the word you want to use. "The Vikings can win the NFC North with a win on Sunday," is much better. It's not the word that you want everyone else to use. Don't tell me what words I want to use At any rate, the only thing the Vikings will be clinching is one more late season collapse to add to their collection.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.

	Alex - 3619 Posts 12/23/2008 @ 06:24:39 PM
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Ditka-to-sub-in-for-Blagojevich-?urn=nfl,131029 Edit: Maybe this will work?		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Alex messed with this 4 times, last at 12/23/2008 6:43:45 pm

	Sarah - How do you use these things? 12/23/2008 @ 06:27:03 PM
404'd!		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Scott - If you aren't enough without it, you'll never be enough with it. 12/23/2008 @ 06:33:32 PM
Jon, feel free to chime in with your disappointment in the level of commentary here.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Matt - 3941 Posts 12/23/2008 @ 11:26:51 PM
Jeremy Wrote - Today @ 01:13:28 PM Clinch: to assure the winning of <scored a touchdown to clinch the game> Of course, other definitions are: 1. to make final or irrefutable; 2. to settle (a matter) decisively. I don't think these are incompatible with how the word is being used. Alex Wrote - Today @ 05:38:36 PM Jeremy Wrote - Today @ 04:19:36 PM Replace the word with the definition. "The Vikings can assure the winning of the NFC North with a win on Sunday." It's makes sense, it's just not the word you want to use. "The Vikings can win the NFC North with a win on Sunday," is much better. It's not the word that you want everyone else to use. Indeed.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 2 times.

	Jeremy - No one's gay for Moleman 12/24/2008 @ 09:57:14 AM
The following is a multiple choice quiz. There may be more than one acceptable answer, choose the answer that works best. 1) Brett Favre has ___ a Superbowl a)accomplished b)won c)clinched d)gained 2) The first team to score in sudden death overtime ___ the game. a) wins b) secures c) conquers d) clinches		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 1 times.

	Scott - Resident Tech Support 12/24/2008 @ 10:58:07 AM
I really don't think you are comparing apples to apples. Maybe there's some middle ground to this discussion, eh Jeremy?		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 2 times.

	Jeremy - 9543 Posts 12/24/2008 @ 12:59:54 PM
Where would the middle ground be exactly? Winch? All words with similar definitions are not always interchangeable, and even when they are there's usually one that fits best into the context in which it's being used. In the sports world "clinch" is a less official event than "win," and the season will be officially over this week. I didn't say these people should be fired, or hanged for their crime against humanity, because they used the word clinch. Jesus people, lighten up indeed.		Rate this comment Yours: Total: Rated 2 times.
Jeremy screwed with this at 12/24/2008 1:02:57 pm