Will this be THE weekend?

It's saturday night. As I watch the weather forecast, my love of football and dislike of the Patriots have my head swirling. Will this finally be the week the Pats lose? On a weekend where my beloved team, the Buccaneers, are giving the most points (13.5) of any home team on the vegas line, perhaps anything could happen. In reality, Monday morning we'll pick up the sports page and the Bucs will have clinched thier division in a 6 point win and the Patriots will have dispatched with the J_E_T_S JETS JETS JETS handily. AH yes, but one can dream. Imagine how sweet it would be for the Pats to lose to the team which created the whole spygate scandal this season. The Jets exposed the spygate scandal at the start of the season, and should rightly be credited with creating the juggernaut which is the Patriots. For 10 weeks they resembled a Caterpillar D3 bulldozer while their opponents looked like a broken down Kia Sedona on the shoulder of the interstate.
I try not to let my emotions interfere with my weekly picks for football. However, this weekend, I believe, is the best opportunity for the Pats to lose a regular season game. Blizzard conditions. 16 degree gametime temps, ice and snow. Mangini vs the Hoodie. The Pats are averaging 425 yds of offense per game versus the Jets at slightly under 300 ypg. I believe the wildcard in this game will be the Jets defense and their ability to stop the Pats running game. You put the Pats in a perfect weather scenerio and their pass happy spread offense is unstoppable. I feel that the Jets and the inclement weather are the last obstacle in their path to the unbeaten regular season. Next week, the Pats play the happless Miami Mullets, (which are reportedly as of today up for sale along with all the other property here in Florida) The final week of the season, the Pats play the Giants, which at that point in the season, the Giants will have clinched a wildcard spot and will be resting their starters by atleast halftime. Won't suprise me though to see Brady still in the game, pulling a play action pass at their own 6 yard line, up by 29 with 6:30 to go in the 4th. Go hoodie go. Jets 19 Pats 13 Brady has 4 ints.

Some other random football thoughts for the weekend.
Buffalo at Cleveland. Does the calender really read 2007? How long has it been since a matchup between these two teams had playoff implications in week 15 of the season? I am a big Romeo Crennel fan and can't be happier for the Cleveland fans this year. They really deserve to be treated to some post season football. I also have some ties to Buffalo and I have some family members which had to endure the same losing seasons we had to here in Tampa with the Bucs. Now there is talk about moving some of the Bills home games to Toronto. I'm not too happy about that.
Cleveland drafted Brady Quinn, while their starting quarterback was third sting at the start of the season. Derek Anderson is going to get alot of attention in the free agent market during the offseason this year. So the Brownies must wonder- you have a proven quarterback in Anderson for this season. You have alot of money wrapped up in Brady Quinn (Who is doing Subway commercials. Why does he have any endorsement deals? Never played a down in the NFL?)
In another cold weather game, Cleveland prevails 24-20.

Tampa bay vs the coachless Falcons. Ah yes, as this is a divsional game and I cant become emotionally involved while making my pick. I have to say, I'm enjoying watching the Falcons emplode. I feel for Arthur Blank, but Rich McKay isnt the creator he was made out to be and he should be held accountable. McKay created a salary cap hell for the Bucs before he moved on to Atlanta and he has created the same situation in Atlanta. Bucs win 30-24 on a late touchdown score.

Seattle/Carolina- Seattle has won 4 straight games. Carolina has asked Jim Plunkett to come in for QB tryouts this weekend. Seattle wins this game by 2 touchdowns.

Packers/Rams- Interesting setup. Rams play great football at home, Bulger will be back. Farve doesn't play so well on turf and in domes. Picking an upset here. Rams 31-27

Ravens/Mullets- Ravens win 22-13 Ravens kick 5 FG's and return an interception for a td.

Arizona/Last years Americas team- The Saints pass defense is horrible. The quarterback of the Cardinals has been horrible in the past few weeks. This week however, he lights up the secondary of the saints for 400 yards 3tds and cards win 35-20

Jax/Pitts This is a really great football game that the majority of the football fans around the country will never see. Two physical football teams. Jacksonvilles qb has only thrown one interception this year. Fred Taylor, in his 10th season, isnt slowing down. He's on pace to be over 1000 yards again this season and has three consecutive 100 yd games the past three weeks. Pittsburg is tough at home but they are feeling a hangover from last week at New England. Jacksonville wins on a late FG 31-28

Tenn/KC- Tennessee runs away with this game. KC is in disarray and most likely couldn't beat LSU. Tennessee wins 41-14

Indy/Oak- As a Bucs fan, I feel for Lane Kiffin, son of Monte. I also feel nothing for Al Davis, the crypt keeper of the league. Al has a hatred for the Bucs but we gave them a kings ransom for our coach. But we kicked you a** in the SuperBowl didn't we Al? You lose this game big too. Indy wins 38-13

Detroit/SD LT will run for over 140 yds and 3 tds on this detroit team which has folded quicker than a snakeoil salesman getting served with a supeona. San Diego wins 34-17

Crackheads/Giants. This is always a good game, regardless of schedules or standings. Todd Collins looked great last week against the Bears. The Giants have the best DL in the NFL leading in sacks. Collins moves around in the pocket as quickly as the moon orbits the earth. This game is a tossup in my mind but I'm going with the G-Men since its a home game, low scoring, 20-17

Cowpokes/Buzzards- Another great matchup from the old NFC East. Buzzards are undergoing some issues this year. Cowpokes might be on cruise control here, might be a classic trap game. Buzzards win 31-30.

Monday night-
My god, how many monday night games have just sucked over the past few years? Almost all of them. This week will be no different. And this game will be no different. Minnesota walks away at home in this one 27-10.

Finally,
Arkansas fans, don't think Bobby Petrino will stay longer than one season.
Ohio State, get ready for another beat down from an SEC opponent in the championship game.
As a Florida State supporter, I have no confidence in Jimbo Fischer. Then again, who do you replace the legend of Bobby Bowden with?
I see today that the Tampa Bay Devil Rays have reportedly signed Cliff Floyd, and the annual payroll is nearing 35 million. Whoo Hooo! You're making some moves but, signing a 35 year old outfielder isn't making me want to come to the Trop, or any other venue you want.
You want to build a new stadium downtown, how about putting a team on the field which might win 80 games a year. Reality is, the only way the Rays will ever make the playoffs is as a wildcard team and that is years in advance. You're trying to build this team's pitching but these youngsters are going to get schooled by the hitters from the Yankees, Red Sox and all the others in our division.

My sunday predictions for the Bucs, Garcia 16-28 228 yds 2 tds. Galloway 5 catches 102 yds 1 td Graham 30 carries 118 yds rushing 42 yds rec 1 td.