***SWAMPY SUNDAY - MUCK 5 - WEEK 17***
***CLEVELAND BROWNS @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS***
Well, well, well, week 17 here we are! I can't believe it, this season has flown by. It hasn't been the best year in the Swamp with lots of ups and lots of downs, but looking to close out 2017 strong here in the final week! As always, there are many chaotic scenarios taking place in week 17, and for the sake of time I will try to keep things short. First up we have the typically winless Cleveland Browns sitting at 0-15 with one more game in the chamber before making history next to the 2008 Detroit Lions with a winless season. They have one more to go while they head across the Division to it's leader and big brother, the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, with Pittsburgh pretty much locked in at the second seed in the AFC playoff picture barring a huge and unlikely upset with the Jets beating the Pats today, they have nothing to play for and are sitting some key guys. It has just been confirmed that he Killer B's are indeed out, QB Ben Rothlisberger, RB Le'Veon Bell, and WR Antonio Brown won't be suiting up today. That being said, the Browns could not be asking for any more help to avoid the embarassment and get the unlikely upset win on the road today in their last chance. I know if you have ever backed the Browns this season, it has most likely left you with a terrible taste in your mouth and saying "never again." However, this is their last shot to get a win, there's no more "we'll get 'em next week" comforting left, and against some backup players I actually like their chances. In many games, the Browns have played well and been competittive before inevitably shooting themselves in the foot and basically finding new ways to hand the W and the cover over to their opponent in the fourth quarter. I think just for today, that they put it all together and ride the coat tails of the freakish WR Josh Gordon to have himself a day and close out the year on a positive note. Head Coach Hue Jackson will be jumping in Lake Erie either way due to a statement he made earlier this year, and I could see it turning into more of a celebration after finally getting off the schneid. It's now or never, and at the least I think they should keep it close enough to get the cover. BROWNS+6
***GREEN BAY PACKERS @ DETROIT LIONS***
The Lions had their playoff bubble burst last week on the road in Cincinnati with a loss to the lowly Bengals. Cincy already had nothing to play for other than putting forth an effort to send their long time Head Coach Marvin Lewis off on a high note in what was likely his last home game. Needless to say, this type of loss is demoralizing for a team like Detroit and especially a week before the final game of the season where there is no longer anything to play for, I think they have a bit of a letdown here. The Packers had their bubble burst two weeks ago when they won just enough games to get their fearless leader QB Aaron Rodgers back from injury in an attempt to run the table, but failed miserably in his first game back. They then headed back to Green Bay to host the NFC North first place Vikings, and got shutout with the entire world watching two nights before Christmas. For some reason, backup QB Brett Hundley has played better on the road than he has at home, maybe it has something to do with the weather and slick surface. Today, he is in a dome in Detroit and surely with a chip on his shoulder after his last performance. He knows he is putting tape out there to keep his job in GB or for other teams to potentially come get him, or even want him I should say. Any way, long story short the Packers have too much pride to go out without a fight and after last week's drubbing and up against a Divisional rival that is now at the same rock bottom that they were a week ago, I think they smell blood and make this a game. Close result either way, so I'll take the points. PACKERS+7
***WASHINGTON REDSKINS @ NEW YORK GIANTS***
Like the Browns, the Giants have had an abysmal season. They currently sit at 2-13, and likely will end up with the 2nd pick in the Draft. They've now lost 5 straight and end the season by hosting another rival with nothing to play for at this point, in the 7-8 Washington Redskins. Before last weekend, the GMEn showed life while hosting their divisional opponents back to back in the Cowboys and Eagles. They were in both games until the fourth quarter and were unable to come out wit the W. Last week on Christmas Eve, the Giants had nothing to play for as they headed across the Country and went into the desert in Arizona. They were shutout 23-0 and understandably as we were on the Red Birds last week knowing the Giants probably could not care any less about that game, especially away from their families on the holiday, we knew there would be little focus. Now their new GM Dave Gettleman and he has waisted zero time with shaking the organization up. He has fired the Head Scout and also Offensive Tackle Bobby Hart once he saw his bags were already packed for the offseason! Clearly, he is quickly establishing a zero tolerance policy for any BS and going to improve that team and locker room by any means necessary. With a guy like this, nobody is safe and you better believe the rest of the team straightened up immediately and probably hid their own bags that they packed so they wouldn't suffer the same fate. I think with it being potentially QB Eli Manning's last game as a Giant and at home against the Redskins, that they will show up here. While I'm sure the Redskins want to finish the season .500, Head Coach Jay Gruden I believe was informed that his job is safe, and other than QB Kirk Cousins trying to break a few personal records, I think this team may be checked out a bit for this one, or let's just say- not much more motivate than the Giants. I think if Big Blue comes to play in this cold weather, that the Skins will pack it in early and want no part of it. Last season the Giants spoiled the Redskins playoff hopes in week 17 in Washington when they didn't need to last season and that left a sour taste in Washington's mouths for sure, but they already avenged that bitter loss on Thanksgiving night, so the slate is clean and I like Eli Manning to perform well here after being shutout last week. GMen attempt to end the season on a good note as guys try to hold onto their jobs and show their worth while hoping to impress their new GM. I think they keep it close at the least bit and it is decided by a FG either way. GIANTS+5
***NEW ORLEANS SAINTS @ TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS***
The Saints sit currently at the top of the NFC South with an 11-4 record but at the same time find themselves in a peculiar position. Their rival Carolina Panthers also have an 11-4 record and can leap frog them for the division crown with a win over Atlanta today coupled with a Saints loss. The Saints also share an 11-4 record currently with the Los Angeles Rams who are a spot ahead of them in the playoff picture at the moment with the 3rd seed while the Saints sit in the 4th slot. Rumors have swirled that the teams are jocking for that 4th seed so that they could face off against the number one seeded Eagles without their QB in the Divisional round instead of going into dreaded number 2 seeded Minnesota and facing their stout defense. While it is clear that both teams would much rather face Philly than Minny, especially with the Rams going ahead and benching key starters in the game today, but it remains unclear however, what the Saints plan of attack is and then of course, what the Panthers and Falcons end up doing. However what I do know is that the Saints are in no matter what, and they are pretty banged up while most likely looking ahead to the playoffs with their eyes on the big picture . Meanwhile, the Bucs despite losing 5 games in a row now, have been playing much better lately and remain competitive giving both the Falcons and Panthers a run for their money during the last two games. QB Jameis Winston has been great since returning from injury and I like them to do so again to finish the season strong. Tampa remains winless in the Division, and with one more to go I expect another maximum effort to try and steal the last one at home. They have returned some key guys on defense in DT Gerald McCoy and LB Levonte David and I think they accept the challenge to try and stifle the dominant rushing attack of New Orleans. If you remember the last time these two teams played in New Orleans, there were some scuffles and there usually is plenty of friction between these any way. Tampa Head Coach Dirk Koetter has been informed that his job is safe after some whispers of a possible John Gruden reemergence this offseason so the pressure should be off Koetter to coach freely and do his thing to try and win this one and start the offseason off on a positive note. Either way, I like them to keep it close and cover the number here. BUCCANEERS+6
***ARIZONA CARDINALS @ SEATTLE SEAHAWKS***
A big divisional game takes place in Seattle to close out the afternoon when the 9-6 Seahawks host the 7-8 Cardinals. Seattle still has a glimmer of hope for a postseason berth, they need to win today and get a little help from Carolina. If Atlanta is able to defeat Carolina, the result of the Seahawks game is irrelevant as they need Carolina to send the Falcons home packing. It is an unlikely scenario since Atlanta is home and in must win mode but it's not like we haven't seen this team choke in a big time spot already before am I right? Heheh. First things first however Seattle has to take care of business at home versus the Cardinals who have nothing to play for, and haven't for awhile now. Arizona has not given up however and unlike most teams in their position, it is clear that they are still fighting to the end and recently is looks like the fuel behind that competitive fire has been Head Coach Bruce Arians. Arians has come out and said that retirement is a high possibility after this season concludes. I know he has had some health issues so maybe that is the reasoning behind that, or maybe he has something else up his sleeve, we don't know yet. What we do know is that he is a players coach and these guys will want to send him off with a spoiler type upset against a rival on the road while simultaneously granting him his 50th win as the Head Coach in Arizona which is also the most by any HC in Zona yet. Arians is currently tied with Ken Wisenhunt at 49 wins. Will they get it done? Probably not, as I am no fan of QB Drew Stanton and believe he is highly inaccurate throwing down the field and would much rather have Gabbert get the start here but the Seattle defense is still without some major key players here and the Cardinals still have some pretty dangerous weapons in the passing game. Judging by their previous meeting back in week 10 in which Stanton started, in my opinion the Cardinals could've and should've won that game outright and because of an excusable amount of dropped passes to wide open WRs among some other bonehead mistakes coupled with the usual backyard Houdini act by Seattle QB Russell Wilson, they gave the game away. I think the Cards will be fired up here to play spoiler and win in Seattle, a place where they actually fare pretty well, winning their last two trips straight up. Lately, the Arizona defense has been looking more like the unit we all knew they could be and were used to seeing them as when the season started. That said, they are no stranger to playing against Russell Wilson and his ad-libbing and I believe they will be amped up to shut him down today. The Seahawks pulled off an impressive upset win on the road in Dallas last weekend, ruining the Cowboys postseason chances but the offense really was unimpressive and the Hawks were able to capitalize on the Cowboys imploding and good field position. Bruce Arians was quoted telling his team that "Seattle is their field and they're going to kick their asses" or something of that sort after they shutout the Giants last week. It leaked out and I'm sure the Hawks are pissed, Arizona better come ready for an intense battle, and I think will. In a nutshell, I think this will be a good one, AKA within the number. Gimme the points. CARDINALS+8
