THE DON'S
Crystal Ball
2009 SEASON
WEEK 12 PICKS
By DonCanabis/TheDon
Analyst/Godfather
Happy Thanksgiving everybody, I’m sorry but this day it’s one of the reason I love Football to make a Family holiday all about football was just one of the smartest moves the NFL made since it started, taking a college and High school football tradition to the pros, was a great reason for its early success. I have to say I just love everything about it, the preparation, the whole family reunion and even the same teams playing every year has made it a tradition in everyone’s home. You can’t talk about thanksgiving without Football and I don’t know any other sport that has the same thing.
Another thing I love about this that Its has become such an important part of everyone’s holiday that fans see these games even if their teams are not playing and even if it doesn’t have anything implication to their team. The addition of a third game was also brilliant give a chance every year to two other teams to play in this day makes more fans enjoy it.
Quick Hits
•It’s funny how a Season changes so fast at this start of this one Rookie Mark Sanchez looked like another Ryan or Flacco and was the poster boy for the NFL while Stafford looked green and inexperienced, well halfway through the season the tables have change and Stafford looked like the real deal last week while Sanchez has shown he has a lot to learn, heck even Ryan and Flacco have suffered from the sophomore slump. The reality it’s that both QB’s are way young and have a long way to go.
• I’ve never thought I would live to be excited again by a Detroit against Cleveland game, the way both franchises have been run in the past decades didn’t made it like a possible scenario but wow what a game it had everything from a blowout to a comeback from behind, to score changes and a dramatic what just happened finish to bad 70% of their fan base didn’t see it.
•I just can’t believe there are officials in the NFL that don’t know the rules, to miss a holding or pass interference call it’s frustrating but you know it’s part of the game but to don’t even know the rules it’s just inexcusable for the second week in a row I’ve seen this happened and in both cases in a Dallas game. Two weeks ago against Green Bay Mike McCarthy called a 3rd challenge during a close game when he didn’t had a challenge left not only it took like 4 minutes for the officials to notice this and say that GB couldn’t review the call but they never charged GB with a 15 yard penalty for calling the challenge and last week against Washington we had to sit for 6-8 minutes while official review a play during the last 2 minutes to decide if Campbell had stepped out of bounce the play hurt both team Washington was ready to kick the FG a 49 yarder when the review was called and the kicker was iced by the official for all this time and Dallas was hurt when they decided it was an incomplete pass and move the FG 10 yards closer what’s worst about this is not the time they took it’s that they reviewed a play that wasn’t reviewable and changed the call of the field just inexcusable.
What’s even funnier it’s that if Washington had made this FG and won the game 9-7 all Dallas would had received Monday would be a “ups Sorry we screw up” in a league that every game counts so much for a team’s chance to make the playoffs the officials can’t be a reason why a team doesn’t make it.
This call reminds me so much about the SF vs NYG playoff game from a few years ago where SF came from behind and took the lead but NY had a chance to win it in the end with a FG and the play broke down and the holder threw a pass to an eligible wr that was tackled while the ball was in the air a clear Pass Interference penalty that everyone saw and they never called it and SF won that game because of this.. And all NYG got after that loss was an ups Sorry… or as Mooch called it “bummer”.
Green Bay at Detroit 10 Ovr/Und 48
What a great win and game by Detroit but a costly one it looks like Stafford and C.J won’t play probably because is a short week so the Lions are in trouble. It’s starting to look like losing to Tampa Bay was the best thing that could happened to Green Bay because now they look like the team I thought it would be before the start of the season… too bad they lost Harris and Kampman for the year that will hurt in the long run.
Straight: GB
Spread: GB
Ovr/Und: Und
Oakland at Dallas -13.5 Ovr/Und 40
I said that the Benching of Russell came 11 weeks to late and as it turns out I was right how different that Oakland team looked against Cincinnati and what a weird ending… The line worries me specially on how Dallas has been playing lately, but Romo is perfect on Thanksgiving games and winning by double digits in everyone of them I do believe the short week and travel will hurt Oakland and be the difference in this game.
Straight: Dal
Spread: Dal
Ovr/Und:Ovr
New York Giants at Denver 6.5 Ovr/Und 42
The Giants almost lost a game they were leading by two scores late in the 4th, Manning played well but there defense still worries me. Denver has self imploded and pending a miracle I don’t see them taking the division back from San Diego it’s this the third year in a row that his has happened? Amazing… Kyle Orton is still not OK and we know Simms just can’t play so take the Giants on this one.
Straight: NYG
Spread: NYG
Ovr/Und: Und
Miami at Buffalo 3 Ovr/Und 39.5
Miami it’s playing really good and as it turns out they didn0t need the WildCat as much as they thought. Buffalo looked better this week and T.O finally showed up take the Dolphins on this one and the Over.
Straight: Mia
Spread: Mia
Ovr/Und: Ovr
Seattle at St.Louis 3 Ovr/Und 42
Both this teams suck right now don’t like either but the Rams will be without Bulger because of an injury so with that I go with Seattle
Straight: Sea
Spread: Sea
Ovr/Und: Und
Carolina at New York Jets -3 Ovr/Und 41.5
The Panthers let me down last week for a team that has one of the best running games in the NFL I don’t know why they try to put the games on the hand of their erratic QB… Twice this season they have completely abandon the run and lost bad. What’s worst it’s that they were running the ball well. Sanchez it’s just playing stupid right now and probably needs to be benched by his coach so he can get his head clear he’s starting to look like Cutler out there.
Straight: Car
Spread: Car
Ovr/Und:Und
Cleveland at Cincinnati -14 Ovr/Und 38.5
I don’t see The Bengals giving away another game after last week especially when they have the chance to make franchise history and sweep the division, Benson might play this week but we’ve seen that his backup can carry the load… the big question here is can Cleveland play good two weeks in a row and make this a game?
Straight:Cin
Spread: Cle
Ovr/Und: Ovr
Indianapolis at Houston 3.5 Ovr/Und 49
For the past 3 weeks we see huge upset that nobody expected well for me this is one of them… I do believe it’s time for Houston to beat Indianapolis they have been very close and the last loss hurt… One thing they know it’s that they can’t leave this game in the hands of their Kicker, guess who’s a free agent next year. Manning keeps winning with all the injuries and problems but playing like that you will eventually lose one.
Straight: Hou
Spread: Hou
Ovr/Und: Ovr
Tampa Bay at Atlanta -12 Ovr/Und 46
Well Atlanta showed some life last week and almost stole the game from the Giants… Tampa Bay is dead so take the Falcons who are still in the fight.
Straight: Atl
Spread: Atl
Ovr/Und: Und
Washington at Philadelphia -9 Ovr/Und 41
Tough two weeks for Washington back 2 back road games against division rivals I like to say this game will be close because Washington has been playing well but they have too many injuries and suffered a though loss last week I don’t see them recover.
Straight:Phi
Spread: Phi
Ovr/Und: Ovr
Kansas City at San Diego -13.5 Ovr/Und 45
San Diego is playing really good like they do at this point of the season Kansas come from a huge victory that could carry to this game I don’t think it’s enough to take the win but I expect them to put a fight… isn’t it funny that Chambers is playing in Kansas like the Chargers always wanted and expected him to play there.
Straight: SD
Spread: KC
Ovr/Und: Ovr
Jacksonville at San Francisco -3.5 Ovr/Und 41.5
Jacksonville is playing really good but I expect them to lose a game they’re supposed to soon just because that’s who they are it surprised me so see San Francisco was the favorite for this game based on how both teams are playing … The 49ers are going in the right direction and Crabtree looks like the playmaker we all expected him to be… Take Jacksonville this week in the upset.
Straight: Jac
Spread: Jac
Ovr/Und: Und
Chicago at Minnesota -11 Ovr/Und 47
I expect Minnesota to win this game because there are playing at another level but I wanted to give the line to Chicago just because I don’t think Cutler can continue to play so bad and he’s due a good game but looking at how bad he missed open receivers last week I just can’t
Straight: Min
Spread: Min
Ovr/Und: Ovr
Arizona at Tennessee -3 Ovr/Und 47
Can it be true? Can we really see the titans going 10-0 and try to get in the playoffs? What a huge turn of events. I like how they’re playing and Chris Johnson is running mad I hate picking against the hot team but I see Arizona having the weapons to stop them and they’re playing crazy on the road.
Straight: Ari
Spread: Ari
Ovr/Und: Ovr
Pittsburgh at Baltimore -2.5 Ovr/Und 39.5
Both Ben and Charlie are hurt though game against a crucial opponent; if the Ravens bring the heat I can see them taking this game just because of the injuries.
Straight: Bal
Spread: Bal
Ovr/Und: Ovr
New England at New Orleans -3 Ovr/Und 56
Can you hear that? Yup I champagne bottle has been opened in Miami because perfection it’s safe for another season. Both teams are playing great and it’s a tough match, the Saints have shown us that they can come back from adversity but how many times in a season can they do it.
Straight: NE
Spread: NE
Ovr/Und: Und
The Why I Keep Doing This to Myself Picks (32-36) 47%
New York Giants (League)
Philadelphia (League)
Green Bay (League)
Houston
Seattle
Atlanta