2009 NFL Football Week Sixteen Preview and Picks

Last week, I got off to a pretty hot start with my straight up picks winning eight out of the first ten games. Then the wheels came off a bit in the late games when I lost four out of the final six games.

For the week, it wasn't a bad record at 10-6, but nothing really to write home about.

It was not quite so good against the spread. All the double digit lines combined with a week of more than the average upsets led to a 7-8-1 record for the week against the casinos.

Speaking of upsets, the Cowboys shocked the world by beating the previously undefeated Saints Saturday night. Which, of course, means they are in a great position to decide their own playoff fate.All they need to do is win out and they are the NFC champs

It also means they are due for a bad loss in a game they should win, as is the Cowboy's recent tradition. Admittedly, the Redskins are a mess right now and that could cancel it out, Dallas never does things the easy way.

In the other big upset, the Carolina Panthers exposed the Vikings suddenly leaky offensive line. Then Brett Favre exposed to the world who really runs the show in Minnesota by refusing Brad Childress' attempt to bench him in the third quarter.

Things could just be starting to unravel for the Vikings after it was revealed that there has been a behind the scenes feud brewing between Childress and Favre. Plus Minnesota is suddenly in danger of losing the No. 2 seed to the Eagles.

I doubt Jay Cutler will avoid his customary three turnover game to pin another loss on the Vikings. However, with the Giants coming to town in week 17 and likely needing a win to get in the playoffs, it's a very real possibility that Coach Favre and co. will be playing in the wildcard round.

So, for the season my record now stands at 138-83 straight up and 113-107-3 against the spread.

I hope you are having a Merry Christmas and I'll see ya next year!

In the meantime, please check out my recent articles on my blog (Anarchy in the Endzone) which is syndicated through Bleacher Report. My most recent article, "DeSean Jackson is for the Eagles Everything Terrell Owens Could Have Been and More," was picked as one of the lead stories and featured on the main page.