***SWAMPA CLAUS - HOLIDAY MUCK 5 - WEEK 16***
***ATLANTA FALCONS @ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS***
I have literally no time to post and I apologize for the delayed/brief write-ups today. 'Tis the season to be busy, and wishing a very Happy Holidays from the SwampMan to you and yours! First up, we have round 2 of two potential and likely playoff teams in the NFC South when the Saints host the Falcons today looking to avenge a close loss on TNF a few weeks back where QB Drew Brees threw an interception in the endzone to seal the victory for the Dirty Birds. Saints Rookie RB Alvin Kamara has been a stud this season and went out with an injury early on in that game. He is back and healthy for this one but I'm not reading too much into that. Rather I am looking at the fact that despite the many ups and downs this Falcons team has had post their epic Super Bowl collapse, here they are with the chance to win their Division outright by winning their next two games against the Saints and Panthers. They match up very well with the Saints, and have won the last three meetings between the two. This will be the 18th time I believe that QB Matt Ryan and Drew Brees face off with Brees having the career long edge of a handful more wins over Matty Ice and Atlanta. Needless to say things got pretty chippy last time out, especially when Saints Head Coach signaled the "choke" signal over to Atlanta RB DeVonta Freeman, who looked great last week in Tampa on MNF. Since he's been back form an injury, Freeman has been running with fury and I like that trend to continue today as he looks to stick it to the Saints and get some payback in that regard. Either way, I'm thinking way too many points in this one and it will be another close FG game either way, but I like Atlanta to pull the upset here as they need the game much more and can't afford to put themselves in position where next week's game determines a potential playoff or bust situation. FALCONS+5.5
***DETROIT LIONS @ CINCINNATI BENGALS***
The Lions are in must-win mode here if they have any hopes of making the playoffs through a Wild Card spot. They still need some other stuff to fall in their favor and honestly, this team just has a history of blowing this type of game. While very talented, they have many glaring holes and with a banged up Offensive Line, I believe they may lose outright here on the road in the Jungle, of Cincinnati. The Bengals have probably put together the two worst back to back performances we have seen all year after nearly upsetting their rival the Pittsburgh Steelers a few weeks ago on MNF. Since then, they were stomped on by Chicago and Minnesota. Head Coach Marvin Lewis chose an odd time right before the game last week to announce his likely departure from the team this offseason. I think this threw a wrench in things but now that there has been a week to mull it over and the Coach has had a chance to address the situation and his plan to his team behind closed doors, I think there is potential for the Bengals to play inspired here, with a chance to play spoiler during their last game at home. Cincy has had another incredibly disappointing season, but they remain very talented and dangerous on both sides of the ball if the motivation factor is there, today I believe it will be. Despite probably staying a few seasons too long as the HC, Marvin Lewis is well liked by that organization and his players and I could see them playing hard these last two weeks to send him off right and in a positive light. The Bengals get their defensive leader LB Vontaze Burfict who will clearly be pissed off and looking to redeem himself and his tough guy persona after getting publicly embarrassed (well deserved) in a waht goes around- comes around type of hit by Rookie WR JuJu Smith-Schuster nonetheless that forced him to miss some time. They also get back their Rookie RB Joe Mixon who I believe could be in for a HUGE day against this poor Lions defense. That being said, give me the jungle Cats at home to play spoiler. BENGALS+3
***TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS @ CAROLINA PANTHERS***
Another Divisional game here as the lowly Tampa Bay Bucs head into Carolina to take on the potential playoff bound Panthers. The Bucs typically play the Panthers tough and after the effort I saw firsthand on MNF when we backed them against the Falcons earlier in the week, I like what I saw. I know it was their Super Bowl and today could provide a bit of a letdown situation given that they still lost the game with a missed FG combined with the amount of injuries they have and along with the fact that their is literally nothing to play for other than to be a speed bump in their rival's season because unlike the Falcons who desperately needed the win on MNF, the Panthers would still be alive if they were to drop a game here. The Panthers have been absolutely rolling and have ripped off two HUGE wins at home the against the Vikings and Aaron Rodgers led Packers. That being said, today is a bit of a sandwich game for them after two hard fought games against top competition and now hosting the bottom feeder of their division with a very meaningful road game against the Falcons in Atlanta next week to finish the season. That being said, I could see the Panthers having a bit of a natural letdown here as they look to get out with a win and remain healthy, they don't care by how much. That being said I really like the way Tampa QB Jameis Winston has been playing since returning from an injury and I believe he will play well again today enough to keep the Bucs within the number here as the Panthers are on auto-pilot. BUCS+10
***SEATTLE SEAHAWKS @ DALLAS COWBOYS***
The Seahawks were straight up embarrassed last weekend when their Division rival the Los Angeles Rams came into their house and absolutely destroyed them by a final score of 42-7. Seattle has been without many key pieces, especially on defense where the Legion of Boom looks to finally be coming to an end, which is an extremely sad thought for Seattle fans, but hey, it was a good run. Today they head into Dallas to take on the Cowboys who coincidentally is in the same exact situation, and today's matchup pretty much serves as an elimination game. With hopes of winning out and having some luck go their way, both Seattle and Dallas could still get in, the Seahawks could actually still win the Division if the Rams were to drop their last two, that won't happen but just saying there is reason to believe for both sides here. The Cowboys finally get back their star RB in Ezekiel Elliot after serving his 6 game suspension. Considering what Rams RB Todd Gurley did last weekend to this banged up Seattle defense, it is a given that Zeke is licking his chops to make his return with a big day at home later today. However I think the Seahawks are legitimately pissed off enough to not let that happen here and keep things very close. Dallas has clearly been playing better ball and at home should get it done at first glance, but I'm just thinking that all the negative things swirling around Seattle lately motivates them to fare well in this outing. Safety Earl Thomas and LB Bobby Wagner even started to chirp at each other, things are bad and this team needs somewhere to direct their anger. I'm thinking the Cowboys pose as the perfect target to channel all their frustration today. All I've heard all week was people talking about how many yards Zeke was going for against Seattle in his return and I got to believe the Hawks have been hearing the same. Cowboys are talking too much and I also like QB Russell Wilson against this secondary. I believe he won't hold back and will be looking to throw bombs downfield to his guys against an average Cowboys secondary. Zeke will get his and the Cowboys will put up points I'm sure, which is more of the reason for me to back Wilson here in a potential back and forth to keep things close. I see an exciting game here decided by a FG or less. SEAHAWKS+4
***NEW YORK GIANTS @ ARIZONA CARDINALS***
Ugly game to finish up here as the 2-12 Giants head into Arizona to take on the 6-8 Cardinals. The Giants have been through the mill this season. It's been nothing but controversy all season long that finally peaked with the benching of QB Eli Manning that then resulted in their Head Coach and GM being fired. Since then the GMen have hosted back to back Division home games against the Cowboys and Eagles. Behind Eli Manning, they've played much better since HC Ben McADoo's firing and managed to compete enough to almost pull upsets in each game. They fell short however, losing 4 straight games now and currently sitting wit the number 2 overall pick in the draft behind only the winless Browns. Needless to say, I don't think Big Blue cares much about this meaningless game in the desert after two hard fought divisional battles and another against the Redskins at home next week to finish the season. If there is a game they want to win or even care about slightly out of these last two it's that one at home against the Skins. It's the Holidays and I'm sure the last place they want to be is away from their families and in Arizona, playing a game that would actually hurt them to win by potentially messing up their current golden draft position. The Cardinals on the other hand are awful as well, but they are home and their Head Coach Bruce Arians could be potentially retiring after this season. This is their last home game of the year, and Arians is a player's coach and Arizona is a veteran team led by guys like WR Larry Fitzgerald. I could see them wanting to show up and perform well one last time here at home for the fans to send them off with a feel good holiday gift of a Win. Despite the QB woes, Arizona still boasts a very talented defense and I see them showing up and playing well at home here today. I am no fan of backup QB Drew Stanton and would actually prefer the other backup Blaine Gabbert but again, I don't think it matters as I'm banking on the Giants to be mentally checked out here for this one. Arizona for the Holiday home W. CARDINALS-3
