2015 TransGriot NFL Picks- Week 13

Down goes New England!  Down goes New England!   The Patriots traveled to Denver and tumbled from the unbeaten ranks in this Sunday night clash thanks to the Broncos knocking them off in overtime 30-24.

That leaves the Carolina Panthers as the only unbeaten team left in the NFL, and they have a stranglehold for now as the top seed in the NFC playoff race..  

The Texans for the first time in this 2015 NFL season are now above .500 after winning their fourth straight game and playing their way back into the NFL playoff picture with their 24-6 win over the New Orleans Saints..  They are unfortunately still tied with the Colts and have a Week 15 showdown for the AFC South tittle in Indianapolis

Eli's streak of four straight weeks in which he has either won or tied for weekly top honors came to a screeching halt as this time his upset specials failed him.   It was Mike and I tying for Week 12 honors with 11-5 records as he maintained his two game lead on me.

So yeah, need to make up two games and running out of weeks to do it since he has led from wire to wire so far in this 2015 prognostication contest.   But do have 16 more games to pick and attempt to get that perfect week..

So let's get to it.

Week 12 Results                                          2015 Season Record.
TransGriot    11-5                                        TransGriot      111-65
Mike             11-5                                        Mike               113-63
Eli                   8-8                                        Eli                   107-69
.

NFL Week 13   (Home teams in CAPS)

Thursday Night
Packers over LIONS

Sunday Noon
Texans over BILLS
Ravens over DOLPHINS
Bengals over BROWNS
BEARS over 49ers
Jaguars over TITANS
Seahawks over VIKINGS
Jets over GIANTS
Cardinals over RAMS
BUCCANEERS over Falcons

Sunday Afternoon
Broncos over CHARGERS
Chiefs over RAIDERS
Panthers over SAINTS
PATRIOTS over Eagles

Sunday Night
STEELERS over Colts

Monday Night 
WASHINGTON over Cowboys

2015 TransGriot NFL Picks- Week 12

It's Thanksgiving Day and in addition to us scarfing up turkey in a few hours, we'll get to start NFL Week 12 with a Thursday NFL football feast.  

Three games are on the menu highlighted by the clash at Jerry World between the unbeaten Carolina Panthers and the Arlington Cowchips who just got Tony Romo back. The Philadelphia Eagles will take on the suddenly surging Detroit Lions in the early Turkey Day game and the nightcap game features the Green Bay Packers hosting another NFC North Division hatefest between themselves and the Chicago Bears

As for our prognostication contest, it's tight going into the last five weeks of the season with me and Eli closing fast behind defending champ Mike.

Eli and I tied for Week 11 honors thanks to me listening to my football intuition and reversing my Dolphins-Cowboys pick before I posted it as Mike halted his losing streak.  

Meanwhile, the hot streak Eli is on continued with him either winning or tying for weekly honors for now four straight weeks.  He's back in contention for the 2015 TransGriot NFL Prognostication title that Mike is trying to become the first person to win in back-to-back seasons.

With the bye weeks over, we're back to picking 16 games for the remainder of the 2015 NFL season, and those next five weeks will determine which teams are playoff bound, which ones may be Super Bowl bound, and which one will be picking first in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Time to get busy with my Week 12 picks
 


Week 11 Results                                          2015 Season Record.
TransGriot    11-3                                        TransGriot      100-60
Mike             10-4                                        Mike               102-58
Eli                 11-3                                        Eli                    99-61


NFL Week 12 (Home team in CAPS)

Thanksgiving Day
LIONS over Eagles
Panthers over COWBOYS
PACKERS over Bears

Sunday Noon
TEXANS over Saints
CHIEFS over Bills
BENGALS over Rams
Chargers over JAGUARS
JETS over Dolphins
FALCONS over Vikings
Giants over WASHINGTON
Raiders over TITANS

Sunday Afternoon
Cardinals over 49ERS
SEAHAWKS over Steelers

Sunday Night
Patriots over BRONCOS

Monday Night
Ravens over BROWNS

2015 TransGriot NFL Picks- Week 11

The 2015 NFL season keeps rolling along in addition to our prognostication contest, and Week 10 played havoc with our predictions as it was a Sunday chock full of upsets.

One of those upsets was my hometown NFL ballers knocking off in the glare of the Monday Night Football spotlights the previously unbeaten Cincinnati Bengals 10-6 in their building with T J Yates at quarterback.

Surprise surprise, as a result of improbable win, the Texans are now in a first place tie with the Colts in the putrid this year AFC South with a 4-5 record.

And because of all the NFL Week 10 upsets, we all of ended up below .500  in our Week 10 picks and yours truly tied my records for my worst ever prognostication week.   If I end up falling short in my quest to win this 2015 NFL Prognostication title, this week will probably be the reason I lost it.

But despite the putrid week for all of us, like the AFC South, somebody had to win Week 10.    Eli managed to keep his momentum going by taking his third straight week with a best of the worst 6-8 record and has gotten back in the running for the 2015 title.

This is also the final contest week we will be picking only 14 games because this is the last week of NFL teams getting their bye week,  Those teams finally getting their opportunity to watch everyone else play on Sunday are the Browns, Saints, Steelers and Giants.

 

Week 10 Results                                          2015 Season Record.
TransGriot    4-10                                        TransGriot      89-57
Mike             5-9                                          Mike               92-54
Eli                 6-8                                          Eli                   88-56

NFL Week 11  (Home Team In CAPS)

Thursday Night
Titans over JAGUARS

Sunday Noon
|RAVENS over Rams
PANTHERS over Washington
Broncos over BEARS
Cowboys over DOLPHINS
Raiders over LIONS
TEXANS over Jets
Colts over FALCONS
EAGLES over Buccaneers

Sunday Afternoon
Packers over VIKINGS
SEAHAWKS over 49ers
Chiefs over CHARGERS

Sunday Night
CARDINALS over Bengals

Monday Night
PATRIOTS over Bills

2015 TransGriot NFL Picks- Week 10

We're now in the second half of the 2015 NFL season as the race for playoff spots starts to take shape.  Believe it or not, thanks to the putrid state of the AFC South this year, the Texans are still a half game out of first place despite a 3-5 record.

If it weren't for Denver's 4th quarter meltdown versus Indianapolis to drop them from the ranks of the unbeaten teams, the Texans would be in first place going into their Monday night game against the undefeated Bengals.

While New England is not a surprise survivor in the ranks of the NFL unbeatens, the Cincinnati Bengals and Carolina Panthers are.  With the Panthers win over Green Bay Sunday in Charlotte, they are the lone NFC unbeaten squad and have seized control of the NFC South, the race for the NFC's number one seed and home field throughout the NFC playoff bracket.  

But there is still a lot of football left to play.

Speaking of races, the race for the 2015 TransGriot NFL Prognostication title just got a little tighter after defending champ Mike stumbled to a 6-7 record as 2013 champ Eli had another solid week thanks to him correctly picking both of his Week 9 upset specials to win this week..

Eli has a little momentum after winning two straight weeks, but can he keep it up?

It's now Week 10.  Only seven weeks left in the regular season.  Teams on byes this week are the Falcons, Colts, Chargers and 49ers, so that means only 14 games to pick this week.



Week 9 Results                                          2015 Season Record.
TransGriot    7-6                                         TransGriot      85-47
Mike             6-7                                         Mike               87-45
Eli                 9-4                                         Eli                   82-50

NFL Week 10  (Home Team In CAPS)

Thursday Night
JETS over Bills

Sunday Noon 
RAVENS over Jaguars
STEELERS over Browns
RAMS over Bears
Panthers over TITANS
PACKERS over Lions
Cowboys over BUCCANEERS
EAGLES over Dolphins
Saints over WASHINGTON

Sunday Afternoon
Vikings over RAIDERS
BRONCOS over Chiefs
Patriots over GIANTS

Sunday Night
SEAHAWKS over Cardinals

Monday Night 
BENGALS over Texans

2015 TransGriot NFL Picks Week 9

The calendar page turns to November, and the second half of the NFL season starts with the Week 9 NFL schedule of games.  And believe it or not my Texans go into the bye week tied for first place in the AFC South with Indianapolis thanks to their 20-6 win over the Tennessee Traitors and the Colts Monday night overtime loss to Carolina.

The defense finally woke up.  Let's just hope they stay awake for the rest of the season.

And interestingly enough we ended up in a three way tie for Week 8 honors.  But that doesn't help me erase that three game deficit I have with Mike  

There are six teams including the Texans who are on their bye week and getting to watch everybody else play.  Arizona, Baltimore, Detroit, Kansas City and Seattle are the others.

That means only 13 games to pick this week, which can be a good or bad thing depending on which way the picks go.

Week 8 Results                               2015 Season Record.
TransGriot   11-3                                 TransGriot      78-41
Mike            11-3                                 Mike                81-38
Eli                11-3                                 Eli                   73- 46

NFL Week 9   (Home Team in CAPS)

Thursday Night 
BENGALS over Browns

Sunday Noon 
Dolphins over BILLS
Packers over PANTHERS
JETS over Jaguars
VIKINGS over Rams
PATRIOTS over Washington
SAINTS over Titans
STEELERS over Raiders

Sunday Afternoon
Giants over BUCCANEERS
Falcons over 49ERS
Broncos over COLTS

Sunday Night
Eagles over COWBOYS

Monday Night
CHARGERS over Bears

2015 TransGriot NFL Picks-Week 8

Been a week of drama for my fave NFL team.   First owner Bob McNair asked for his $10,000 check back that he gave to the anti-HERO forces, then they got their behinds kicked by the Miami Dolphins for the first time ever in franchise history.  JJ Watt missed that game with a back injury, and Ryan Mallett missed the team charter flight and was subsequently cut from the team..

They resigned TJ Yates, who after Matt Schaub got hurt led them to their first playoff berth, and to the AFC Divisional round of the playoffs to back up Brian Hoyer.

Bob McNair says the season isn't over, but if they drop this game to the Tennessee Traitors it probably is, even as weak as the AFC South has been.

We are now at the halfway point of the 2015 NFL season, and still have time to make my prognostication championship dreams happen.  But got to do better and that starts now.

14 more games with one more international one from London.

Teams on their bye week in Week 8 are Buffalo, Jacksonville, Philadelphia and Washington.

Week 7 Results                                         2015 Season Record.
TransGriot   8-6                                         TransGriot       67-38
Mike            9-5                                         Mike                70-35
Eli                8-6                                         Eli                    62-43


NFL Week 8 (Home team in CAPS)

Thursday Night
PATRIOTS over Dolphins

Sunday Noon
CHIEFS over Lions (from London)
RAVENS over Chargers
Cardinals over BROWNS
Vikings over BEARS
Bengals over STEELERS
TEXANS over Titans
Giants over SAINTS
RAMS over 49ers
FALCONS over Buccaneers

Sunday Afternoon
Jets over RAIDERS
Seahawks over COWBOYS

Sunday Night
Packers over BRONCOS

Monday Night
PANTHERS over Colts

2015 TransGriot NFL Picks-Week 7

I'm up here in P-town deep in the heart of Patriots country for Fantasia Fair, and the NFL season is almost near the midseason point. Yeah, the Patriot fans are talking trash since their team is unbeaten and calling this season `The Tom Brady Revenge Tour`

But we all remember what happened the last time the Patriots were chasing perfection don't we?

Week 6 was one in which I didn't listen to my football intuition and paid dearly for it.  I changed two of my picks in the Lions-Bears and Seahawks-Panthers games and ended up with two losses, an 8-6 record, and now trail Mike by two games as a result.

Arrgh.  I need to not repeat that error this week.  I must get back to having double digit wins to stay in contact with Mike and not let him get a massive lead to insulate him against my tendency to have late season runs.

Another 14 games with the Bears, Bengals, Broncos and Packers watching everybody else play.



Week 6 Results                                         2015 Season Record.
TransGriot    8-6                                       TransGriot        59-32
Mike             9-5                                       Mike                 61-30
Eli                8-6                                        Eli                     54-37

NFL Week 7  (Home team in CAPS)

Thursday Night
Seahawks over 49ERS

Sunday Noon
Bills over JAGUARS (from London)
RAMS over Browns
LIONS over Vikings
Texans over DOLPHINS
COLTS over Saints
STEELERS over Chiefs
PATRIOTS over Jets
Buccaneers over WASHINGTON
Falcons over TITANS

Sunday Afternoon
CHARGERS over Raiders
GIANTS over Cowboys

Sunday Night
PANTHERS over Eagles

Monday Night
CARDINALS over Ravens

2015 TransGriot NFL Picks- Week 6

I've won for the second straight week without having to share it with somebody thanks to the Steelers win over the Chargers as time expired in that game. 

The 11-3 week was the third straight week I've either shared or won outright after stumbling out of the gate this season with a 17-15 start, and I'm going to need more of those weekly wins to reclaim the TransGriot NFL Prognostication title for the first time since 2012. Even more satisfying to me was it not only was my third straight double digit winning prognostication week, it also cut into that three game lead Mr Watts seized on me when I stumbled out of the gate. 

Unfortunately the Texans aren't handling their NFL business properly, but they do have the Jaguars on the schedule this week.  Something else the Texans aren't handling properly is donating money to the anti-HERO forces.

Back to my NFL prognostication business.   I'm eager to get this Week 6 NFL prognostication party started and keep the positive forward momentum going.   Only 14 games to pick since the Cowboys, Raiders, Rams and Buccaneers are on their bye week.

.    
Week 5 Results                                               2015 Season Record.
TransGriot     11-3                                          TransGriot        51-26
Mike             10-4                                           Mike                 52-25
Eli                   9-5                                           Eli                     47-30
   
NFL Week 6  (Home team in CAPS)

Thursday Night
Falcons over SAINTS

Sunday Noon
Texans over JAGUARS
Bengals over BILLS
Broncos over BROWNS
JETS over Washington
Bears over LIONS
TITANS over Dolphins
Cardinals over STEELERS
Chiefs over VIKINGS

Sunday Afternoon
SEAHAWKS over Panthers
49ERS over Ravens
PACKERS over Chargers

Sunday Night
Patriots over COLTS

Monday Night
EAGLES over Giants
                                   

2015 TransGriot NFL Picks - Week 5

Short week for the Texans after they got spanked in the ATL on Sunday.  They now get their first AFC South game in NRG Stadium against the Indianapolis Colts.

Unlike my fave NFL team, I had another great week picking game after stumbling out of the gate once again on Thursday for the second straight week to win for the second straight week..

The folks in Detroit are probably cussing up a storm after getting screwed in their Monday night game at CenturyLink versus the Seahawks that we all were on the right side of picking thanks to that officials brain fart.

But I am now solidly in second place in this 2015 NFL prognostication contest, so let's get to NFL Week 5.  Four teams on their bye week in the Panthers, Vikings, Dolphins and Jets, so only 14 games to select winners from.

And I need to cut into Mike's three game lead.  Time to get started on that.

Week 4 Results                             2015 Season Record

TransGriot    10-5                          TransGriot     40-23
Mike              9-6                           Mike              42-21
Eli                 9-6                            Eli                 38-25

NFL Week 5 (Home Team In CAPS)

Thursday Night
Colts over TEXANS

Sunday Noon
Bills over TITANS
RAVENS over Browns
CHIEFS over Bears
Seahawks over BENGALS
PACKERS over Rams
BUCCANEERS over Jaguars
EAGLES over Saints
FALCONS over Washington

Sunday Afternoon
Cardinals over LIONS
Patriots over COWBOYS
Broncos over RAIDERS

Sunday Night
GIANTS over 49ers

Monday Night
CHARGERS over Steelers

2015 TransGriot NFL Picks-Week 4

I rebounded from stumbling out of the gate to having a fab 13-3 week picking games, but that was only good enough to share weekly honors with the defending champ.

Arrgh.   But at least the Texans won their first game of the season, the Cowboys lost and I'm no longer bringing up the rear in this 2015 NFL prognostication contest.

Let's get right to the Week 4 NFL contests.   We've turned the calendar page to October, and we have only fifteen of 256 regular season games to predict with one being played in London (Jets-Dolphins).

It's also another opportunity to get that elusive perfect week and try to solidify my hold on second place.



Week 3 Results                 2015 Season Record

TransGriot    13-3              TransGriot     30-18
Mike             13-3               Mike             33-15
Eli                 11-5               Eli                 29-19

NFL Week 4 (Home team in CAPS)

Thursday Night
STEELERS over Ravens

Sunday Noon
Jets over DOLPHINS (in London)
BILLS over Giants
Panthers over BUCCANEERS
Raiders over BEARS
BENGALS over Chiefs
FALCONS over Texans
COLTS over Jaguars
Eagles over WASHINGTON

Sunday Afternoon
CHARGERS over Browns
BRONCOS over Vikings
Packers over 49ERS
CARDINALS over Rams

Sunday Night
Cowboys over SAINTS

Monday Night
SEAHAWKS over Lions

2015 TransGriot NFL Picks - Week 3

It takes a few weeks to sort out which teams in any given season are going to be contenders and which ones will be pretenders.  

But I'm still not liking my slow start out of the NFL prognostication gate  Neither am I liking the slow starts of my fave NFL team.   The last two weeks they have put themselves in a hole, then start playing hard in the second half only to lose by a touchdown.   They came within 20 yards an a overthrown Ryan Mallet pass to DeAndre Hopkins of tying the game against the Panthers. .

But close only counts with horseshoes, hand grenades and nuclear weapons, and the Texans find themselves along with the Cols on the wrong end of the AFC South division race with an 0-2 record looking up at the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Traitors.

Like my fave NFL footballers. I'm on the wrong end of this prognostication competition, and it's time to straighten that out.     Mike and Eli tied for Week 2 honors.   Have another sixteen games to get that right and try to win a week.



Week 2 Results                      2015 Season Record        

TransGriot       8-8                   TransGriot    17-15
Mike                9-7                   Mike             20-12
Eli                    8-8                   Eli                 18-14

NFL Week 3  (Home team in CAPS)  

Thursday Night
Washington over GIANTS

Sunday Noon
Bengals over RAVENS
BROWNS over Raiders
PANTHERS over Saints
Falcons over COWBOYS
TEXANS over Buccaneers
Colts over TITANS
PATRIOTS over Jaguars
VIKINGS over Chargers
JETS over Eagles
Steelers over RAMS

Sunday Afternoon
CARDINALS over 49ers
Bills over DOLPHINS
SEAHAWKS over Bears

Sunday Night 
Broncos over LIONS

Monday Night 
PACKERS over Chiefs

2015 TransGriot NFL Picks- Week 2

The opening weekend of the 2015 NFL season is over and I had a good news-bad news start to this year's NFL prognostication contest.  

The good news was I got off to an above .500 start.   The bad news was not only did the Texans lose, I went 9-7,   Not good enough when the defending champ jumps out to an 11-5 opening week.

Mike's bid to make TransGriot prognostication history and be the first ever repeat champ has gotten off to a great start with 2013 champ Eli right on his heels at 10-6.

But I can't be too upset.  It's way early, I got past the first week, and now we move into NFL Week Two.  Another sixteen games.   Another .opportunity to take this contest one week at a time and have no sub .500 weeks.  

Week 1 Results                2015 Season Record

TransGriot    9-7               TransGriot    9-7
Mike            11-5               Mike           11-5
Eli                10-6               Eli               10-6


NFL Week 2    (Home team in CAPS)

Thursday Night
Broncos over CHIEFS

Sunday Noon
Patriots over BILLS
Titans over BROWNS
PANTHERS over Texans
Cardinals over BEARS
BENGALS over Chargers
Lions over VIKINGS
SAINTS over Buccaneers
Falcons over GIANTS
49ers over STEELERS
Rams over WASHINGTON

Sunday Afternoon
Ravens over RAIDERS
Dolphins over JAGUARS
EAGLES over Cowboys

Sunday Night
PACKERS over Seahawks

Monday Night
COLTS over Jets

2015 TransGriot NFL Picks-Week 1

It's my favorite time of the year TransGriot sport fans, and the 2015 NFL season will be kicking off  with the first Thursday night game of the year in hours.

And my Texans open up their what we hope will be a playoff season on Sunday at NRG Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs.

As usual, myself, Mike and Eli will be battling it out for regular season NFL prognostication glory.  Mike as defending champion is trying to do something that no one has done in the history of this TransGriot prognostication contest that started in 2011: repeat as champ

Week One is always a crapshoot.  With all the changes, vets moving to new teams via trades or free agency, season ending injuries, training camp injuries and rookies who made the final rosters, it's hard to predict until about the fourth week with certainty which NFL teams will be pretenders and which ones will be contenders.

As to which teams I'm predicting will be in the Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco, I like New England and Seattle.   Well see how accurate that prediction is in February.

Rules of the contest.  We're just picking the team we think will win, no spread.  Person with best record at end of regular season will be crowned champ.  Picks need to be up no later than 10 minutes before the kickoff of the week's scheduled Thursday game.

And yeah Mr. Watts, I want my NFL prognostication title back.   The road to 2015 glory starts today.

Final 2014 Standings
TransGriot     170-85-1
Eli                  162-93-1
*Mike            177-78-1

NFL Week One
Thursday Night 
Patriots over Steelers

Sunday Noon
Colts over Bills
Browns over Jets
Panthers over Jaguars
Packers over Bears
Texans over Chiefs
Dolphins over Washington
Seahawks over Rams

Sunday Afternoon
Saints over Cardinals
Chargers over Lions
Broncos over Ravens
Bengals over Raiders
Buccaneers over Titans

Sunday Night
Cowboys over Giants

Monday Night
Eagles over Falcons
49ers over Vikings

TransGriot 2014 NFL Picks-Super Bowl XLIX Sunday

Well peeps, Super Bowl XLIX will be kicking off tomorrow between the New England Cheatriots Patriots and the defending NFL champion Seattle Seahawks, and I will be standing by with my snacks watching all the action along with my esteemed prognostication partners Eli and 2014 regular season champion Mike . 

Had a blast as usual competing with these two gentlemen in picking NFL games during the 2014 season, and look forward to doing so when the season cranks up again in September 2015.

I've gone 8-2 in the 2014-15 NFL postseason, and was perfec on Championship Sunday.

But it's time to pick who I  believe will be the winner of Super Bowl XLIX in Glendale. AZ.

One the surface, it looks like it's the New England offense versus the Seattle defense.    But you'd be surprised to know that the Seahawks actually had the number nine ranked offense in the league while the Patriots despite the media hype is only ranked 11th.

It's also no surprise the Seahawks thanks to Marshawn Lynch have the league's number one ranked rushing attack. We also know Seattle has the NFL's number one ranked defense that is capable of making Tom Brady have a very bad day.   Tom Terrific doesn't like it when he tastes turf on a regular basis or he has to move from his comfortable throwing spot in the pocket.  

Now New England's defense, while good, isn't at Seattle's game changing level.  It will be fun to see if they can keep Marshawn Lynch from going into beast mode or Russell Wilson from taking off on one of those backbreaking scrambles that tend to come at critical points in the game. 

Speaking of Wilson, he has a chance to make some history.  If the Seahawks win, Wilson would become the first African-American NFL QB to lead his team to back to back Super Bowl titles.

And yep, Glendale is a much closer trip for the 12th Man than it is for the Patriot fanbase.  Translation:  The Patriots may find themselves having to run silent counts to combat the noise generated by the 12th Man.

So who is going to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy when this game is over on Sunday? 

I'm picking the Seattle Seahawks to repeat as NFL champion

TransGriot 2014 NFL Picks-Championship Sunday

I had an identical 3-1 record picking games during the Divisional Round, and just like last weekend, I benefited from a controversial call in a Dallas Cowboy playoff game in compiling my 6-2 playoff prognostication record.

This time (snicker snicker), the controversial call didn't benefit the Cowboys to the consternation of their fans and their legions of bandwagon riders.  

Oh well, the karmic NFL officiating wheel rolls that way sometimes, but now Cowboy Nation don't wanna hear that or get over it.

Life has moved on, and the NFL playoffs are in the Championship Sunday round.   Four teams battling to see who will face off in Glendale, AZ for the NFL title February 1.

And one of them ain't the Dallas Cowboys.

So now that I've gleefully gotten my hate on for the Cowchips, time to get serious and get back to NFL prognosticating.   I'll be predicting who will be the two teams you see fighting for NFL supremacy during Super Bowl XLIX.


NFC Championship
Green Bay Packers (13-4) vs Seattle Seahawks (13-4)

The early game on Championship Sunday is a rematch of the September 4 season opener at CenturyLink Field in which the Seahawks raised their Super Bowl championship banner and subsequently smacked the Packers 36-16.

But this one is for a trip to the Super Bowl.  I don't think the game will be a blowout, or Aaron Rodgers will be 'scurred' to throw to Richard Sherman's side of the field like they were earlier this season.

But Rodgers is basically playing this game on one leg, and while he got away with that against the Cowchips, the NFL number one ranked Seahawk defense is light years better.   If the Green Bay offensive line doesn't protect Rodgers or open holes for Eddie Lacy to run through, it's going to be another long day for the Cheeseheads in the Pacific Northwest.

The 12th Man will be very happy after this game.   Seahawks to win the George Halas Trophy


AFC Championship
Indianapolis Colts (13-5) vs New England Patriots (13-4)

The nightcap features the New England Patriots, who were expected to be here against the precocious Indianapolis Colts, who knocked off the Denver Broncos last week to get another crack at the Patriots.

It's Tom Brady vs my Houston homeboy Andrew Luck, who I get to hate on twice a year as the Texans biggest AFC South rival.

The Colts got drilled at Lucas Oil Stadium 42-20 back on November 16 as Jonas Gray ran over, through and around the Colts defense for 199 yards and four touchdowns.. 

Nobody gives the Colts a chance at beating the Brady Bunch (myself included) except for people inside the Indianapolis metro area, and even they are probably hedging their bets.   But an interesting stat to throw out there in that the Colts are 12-0 in rematch games.  

But this one is being played in Foxborough, the Patriots are 13-3 in home playoff games, and the Colts aren't the Baltimore Ravens. 

We'll see if the Colts pull off another upset, but I doubt it.  This is their fourth straight AFC title game appearance, and the Patriot fans at Gillette Stadium will finally get to see Tom Terriffic hoist the Lamar Hunt Trophy.

Patriots to win this game.

TransGriot 2014 NFL Picks-Divisional Round

Went 3-1 on my Wildcard weekend round picks thanks to an assist from the refs in the Detroit-Dallas game.

Now we move on to the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs in which all of the road teams have the formidable task of trying to oust teams that went a combined 15-2 at home.

How is this weekend going to shake out according to Moni?   Let's get busy.

Saturday Divisional Round Games

Baltimore Ravens 11-6 vs New England Patriots 12-4

Once more with feeling as the Ravens and Patriots battle at Gillette Stadium to see who advances on the AFC side of the playoff bracket.   The Patriots are a formidable 12-3 in home playoff games, but two of those lasses are to guess who?   The Ravens go up to Foxborough with the confidence of having beaten them there multiple times and Good Joe Flacco showing up and showing out as they dispatched their AFC North rivals the Steelers in convincing fashion at Heinz Field.

But the Patriots come into the game knowing this may be their best chance to get to another Super Bowl with Tom Brady at quarterback and if they can take down their playoff nemesis it will be a huge confidence boost.   And yeah, Darrelle Revis works for them now while the secondary has been the weak spot for the Ravens for much of the season.

While the Ravens have been on a roll and are motivated to as Terrell Suggs said "to ruin everybody's plans', the only plans getting ruined today are theirs.

Patriots to advance to AFC Championship game.

Carolina Panthers 8-8-1 vs Seattle Seahawks 12-4

The Panthers head to Seattle to take on the defending NFL champions at CenturyLink Field and the 12th Man will definitely crank up the decibel levels for this game.   Something else that has been cranked up lately is the Seattle defense.   They won their last six games to capture the NFC West and homefield advantage for the NFC playoffs, and were the Number one ranked defense in the NFL.

But the Panthers are no slouches in that department either, holding the Arizona Cardinals to a record low 78 yards in their 27-16 playoff win last week.   The Panthers are probably the team in the NFC closest to the philosophy of the Seahawks in term of having a defensive minded mentality, and the last time they faced each other it was a low scoring affair.  Carolina has also been playing must win games for a month just to get to the NFL playoff party, so they are already used to playing win or else football.

The difference in this game however is Carolina won't be playing at home against a third string quarterback, they will be facing Russell Wilson and a team that wants to repeat as Super Bowl champs.

And they will be playing the NFC title game in Seattle next week.    Seahawks to win this game

Sunday Divisional Round Games

Dallas Cowboys 13-4 vs Green Bay Packers 12-4

In the early Sunday game you have the first playoff matchup of these teams at Lambeau Field since the 1967 Ice Bowl game.   While it won't be as cold in Green Bay tomorrow as it was for that game, temp will be cold enough at 16 degrees. 

It also has the interesting angle of the 8-0 at home Packers facing the 8-0 road warriors in the Cowboys.   Something's gotta give there, and Green Bay fans are worried about Aaron Rodgers strained calf that might affect his mobility.   The Green Bay defense's task will be to ensure that Wisconsin homeboy Tony Romo gets introduced to the turf early and often. 

This game may come down to special teams, and Green Bay has had a league high seven kicks blocked while Dallas was one of eight NFL teams that didn't block one this season.

Picking the Packers in this one only because it's being played at Lambeau

Indianapolis Colts 12-5 vs  Denver Broncos 12-4

It's the first playoff matchup between Peyton Manning and the QB who replaced him in Indy in Andrew Luck..    It's also a matchup of the number three (Indy) and number four ranked offenses in the league.   The Broncos and Colts opened the season against each other in Denver with the Broncos delivering a 31-24 nationally televised spanking to the Colts that we gleefully enjoyed in H-town.

Denver has lately gone to more power running to complement the third ranked defense in the NFL and excel at stopping the run.   In this case they don't have to worry about the run since Indy sucks at it and it will allow the Denver front seven to tee off on Andrew Luck.

But they can't forget as they try to turn Andrew Luck into a pinata that Indy has the number one passing offense in the NFL, and will have to keep an eye and bodies on TY Hilton. 

But alas, Indy's season will end the way it started, with a loss in Denver.   Broncos to advance to the AFC Championship game.

TransGriot 2014 NFL Picks-Wildcard Weekend

The regular NFL season is over, and I fell short of my goal of walking away with another prognostication title.   That's headed to Denver.

To make it worse, I have to hear it from the Harris County Cowboy Bandwagon Riders about their team finally making the playoffs after three consecutive 8-8 seasons.

Well, if JJ Watt wins the NFL MVP, I'll feel somewhat better about this 2014 season and finishing second in the prognostication contest.

But while I'm killing time waiting for the 2015 NFL season to start, time to use the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs to hone my prognostication skills.

Saturday NFL Wildcard Weekend Games

Arizona Cardinals 11-5 vs Carolina Panthers 7-8-1

This is the Saturday early game.  The Cardinals were the hot team early in the season until the injury bug started decimating their roster and especially at quarterback.   The Panthers had all kinds of drama and adversity early and slumped to a 3-8-1 record at one point, but won their last four games to become the first team to repeat as NFC South champions despite the below .500  record.

But don't let that record fool you.   Carolina has momentum and is peaking at the right time of the year, while Arizona peaked too soon.   Doesn't help the Cards either they are on their fourth quarterback and playing this game in Charlotte after having the best record in the league at one point.

Arizona also has problems defending mobile quarterbacks, and Carolina has Cam Newton on their side and in uniform for this wild card game.

Picking the Panthers in this one.
 
Baltimore Ravens 10-6 vs Pittsburgh Steelers 11-5

The nightcap is the rubber match for these longtime AFC North rivals, and true to the nature of this series, they split the 2014 regular season series.   The Ravens beat the Steelers in Baltimore 26-6 during Week 2 while the Steelers returned the favor in Week 9 and thumped the Ravens 43-23 at Heinz Field.

The playoff game is at Heinz Field, and the AFC North champion Steelers come into it winning their last four games.   The Ravens won three of four down the stretch, but those games were to Miami, Jacksonville and Cleveland , and the loss was to the Texans. 

The Ravens chances to advance depend on which Joe Flacco shows up to play.  I'm betting it's bad Joe Flacco.    Steelers to win

Sunday NFL Wildcard Weekend Games

Cincinnati Bengals 10-5-1 vs Indianapolis Colts 11-5

This is a battle of Houston area high school quarterbacks in Katy's Andy Dalton and Stratford's Andrew Luck.  It's a rematch of a Week 7 game in which the Colts over the Bengals 27-0 at Lucas Oil Stadium.   They rolled up 506 yards of offense in that shutout and held the Bengals to 135 yards of total offense and 32 yards rushing..

This trip to Lucas Oil Stadium will be different.  Dalton and his teammates will have to hear ad nauseum on that bus ride up I-74 the factoid that the Bengals last playoff win was against the Oilers in 1991, while the Colts may have a slight chip on their shoulder about pundits saying they play in the 'soft'.AFC South.

Indianapolis went 5-2 down the stretch, but both losses were to the Patriots and Cowboys.  So did the Bengals, with both losses being to their AFC North nemesis the Steelers.

Over the last few weeks the Bengals have been using a devastating rushing attack anchored by rookie RB Jeremy Hill.    That will be their key to the Bengals finally getting that playoff monkey off their backs   The health of AJ Green will also be a factor because he still hasn't been cleared to play after suffering a concussion in the Steelers loss and he also missed the Week 7 game.  

The Colts will lean on Andrew Luck to carry them to another playoff win, but he has no running game to help him out and has been turnover prone this year.

If the Bengals can control the clock, force some turnovers and AJ Green can play, they have a shot.   But this game is at Lucas Oil, and the Colts don't lose many there. 

Colts to win this one.

Detroit Lions 11-5 vs Dallas Cowboys 12-4

In the nightcap the Detroit Lions head to Jerryworld for their NFC wild card game against the (yuck) NFC East champions.  Matthew Stafford played his high school ball in the Dallas area at Highland Park HS, where he led the Scots to the 2005 Texas Class 4A Division I title.

But it's NFL titles he's chasing now, and the Lions will have a tall task in stopping the Cowboy trio of Dez Bryant, NFL rushing champ Demarco Murray and Tony Romo.   Having Ndamukong Suh on the field will help the NFL's Number one rushing offense, since he won his appeal and got the one game suspension reduced to a $70K fine instead.

The Lions have a playoff history monkey to get off their backs as well.  They have only won two playoff games in the Super Bowl era, and their last win came in 1992

The opponent they defeated?   The Dallas Cowboys.

This playoff game will be Dallas' offense vs. Detroit's defense.   Only one will prevail, and if the Cowboys get to play ball control like they have all season, they will win.   If Detroit shuts down that rushing attack and forces that weak Dallas defense to play extended minutes, could be a very happy day for Matthew Stafford.

Naah..Dallas to win this one.

The 2014 NFL Prognostication Winner Is...

Mike Watts.

We were co-champs in 2011, and his 2012 and 2013 season ended in furious late season finishing kicks that came up just short.   

This year he made sure there would be no agonizing contest over the last few weeks of the NFL season by taking control at the season's midpoint and running away from me and Eli despite my late season 37-11 finishing kick over the last three weeks of the season

Defending champ Eli did strike a what might have been blow to close out our prognostication season by taking the final week with a stellar 14-2 record to edge me for final week honors..

But all hail our 2014 prognostication champion.    And yep, I'm definitely planning to do it again next year..  

Week 17 Results

TransGriot    13-3
Eli                 14-2
Mike             10-6

Final 2014 NFL Season Record


TransGriot     170-85-1
Eli                  162-93-1
*Mike            177-78-1

TransGriot 2014 NFL Picks Week 17

The games aren't happening until Sunday, but might as well get the picks for the final week of the 2014 NFL regular season up so y'all have something to read on those new tablets, laptops and cellphones some of y'all got for Christmas. 

The last 16 games of the 256 regular season NFL contests are all going down on Sunday, and I'm pretty much locked into second place despite winning my second consecutive week. 

Mike has been taking a victory lap since he opened up that big lead on both me and Eli that neither of us have been able to overcome,

As for Eli, after winning the 2013 title in his rookie season, he has fallen victim to the Prognostication Championship Hangover I suffered from last year.

Let's talk about my fave NFL squad for a moment.   Was very happy to see them beat the Ravens 25-13 and get Case Keenum his first NFL win as a starting QB at the same time after going 0-8 in that horrid 2-14 season last year..

The Texans because of that win still have faint hopes of qualifying for the2014 NFL playoffs, but it will take a holiday miracle for it to happen

It starts with them handling their NFL business and winning their final home game at NRG Stadium versus the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Baltimore and San Diego losing.

Good luck with all that happening.  While I believe in sporting miracles, as a longsuffering Houston sports fans, frustration and buzzard's luck is the order of the day, and not expecting this one to happen.

Well, let me get these picks up so you can get back to your holiday merriment.   They will be as usual in underlined bold print.

Week 16 Results

TransGriot    10-6
Eli                  9-7
Mike              10-6

2014 NFL Season Record

TransGriot     157-82-1
Eli                  148-91-1
Mike              167-72-1

NFL Week 17

Sunday Early Games
Carolina over Atlanta
Baltimore over Cleveland
Dallas over Washington
Houston over Jacksonville
Indianapolis over Tennessee
New Orleans over Tampa Bay
Green Bay over Detroit
San Diego over Kansas City
Miami over NY Jets
Minnesota over Chicago
New England over Buffalo
Philadelphia over NY Giants

Sunday Afternoon Games
San Francisco over Arizona
Denver over Oakland
Seattle over St.Louis

Sunday Night Game
Pittsburgh over Cincinnati

TransGriot 2014 NFL Picks Week 16

Aww yeah, I had a fantastic Week 15 in which I not only won the week, but did so with a 14-2 record. 

But my counterparts went 13-3 and 12-4.   While I solidified my hold on second place, I only gained one game on Mike despite that stellar week with two weeks to go. 

There's two weeks left in the NFL regular season, and the playoff picture that was fuzzy last week is in much sharper focus after several teams clinched playoff spots last Sunday.

Meanwhile the Texans still have a shot, but their odds got longer after they lost Ryan Fitzpatrick to a season ending injury and Tom Savage to a hyperextended knee in the loss to Indianapolis that extended their 0-for Indy streak to 13 games.  

Because they lost two QB, that opened the door for Case Keenum to come back to H-town off the Rams practice squad, and he's already working hard trying to get the starting nod for the upcoming home game against the Ravens.    Here's hoping he gets that first NFL win and gets to stick around a lot longer this time.

Looks like Mike is definitely going to win this 2014 NFL prognostication title, just a matter of the final margin.

Week 15 Results

TransGriot    14-2
Eli                 12-4
Mike             13-3

2014 NFL Season Record

TransGriot     147-76-1
Eli                  139-84-1
Mike              157-66-1

Speaking of games, let's get to them.   Every one of them is important in determining whether a team will get a playoff spot or 2015 NFL draft positioning,   We also have two Saturday NFL contests in addition to the Thursday one in which the Tennessee Titans Traitors will be battling the Jaguars for draft positioning.

My picks are in underlined bold print.

NFL Week 16

Thursday Night Game
Tennessee over Jacksonville

Saturday Games
Philadelphia over Washington
San Diego over San Francisco

Sunday Early Games
Baltimore over Houston
Miami over Minnesota
Detroit over Chicago
Carolina over Cleveland
New Orleans over Atlanta
Green Bay over Tampa Bay
Pittsburgh over Kansas City
New England over NY Jets

Sunday Afternoon Games
NY Giants over St Louis
Buffalo over Oakland
Dallas over Indianapolis

Sunday Night Game
Seattle over Arizona

Monday Night Game
Denver over Cincinnati