Nurse the Hate: Hate Late Season NFL

It has been a joyous time around the hearth and giant flat screen TV as I was all over the Chargers on Xmas and USC yesterday. There's only one thing to do now. Time to give it all back in Week 16 NFL action. The problem with the NFL this late in the season is there are some teams that have packed it in, while others are playing their asses off for the playoffs, jobs next year, pride, or whatever motivates these dinosaurs. The trick becomes in finding the group of guys that are already packed for Aruba and are playing not to get hurt. It's not like they print that up in the paper either... Buffalo Bills Looking Forward To Off Season of Chasing Skirts, Drunken Behavior... Tampa Bay Defense Hopes To "Not Get Too Banged Up" This Week...... Russell, Raiders Hope Cleveland "Not Too Cold, Don't Want To Get Sick Before Vacation".

I usually avoid any game without two teams playing to get into the playoffs at this point in the season, unless someone has clearly packed it in. Hence, let's look at the Miami v Houston game. Miami is playing their usual scrappy, never give up football that is the usual bill of fare for a Parcells run team. Houston, as usual, has failed to meet expectations and needs a win on the road to stay alive. Miami at home? Houston after having lost 4 straight to playoff bound teams? I'll take Miami.

New England hosts Jacksonville in an interesting game. Jacksonville has been flying under the radar all season, while the general public waits for the Patriots to "flip the switch". The problem in New England is there is no switch to flip. The defense is old. The team cannot run consistently. They win games, but never big. You're giving the Jags ten? Yes please. The Pats have covered a ten point spread once since Halloween (and that was against the shitty Jets and ex-boy wonder Mark Sanchez). While you never know what the hell you are going to get with Jacksonville, at least they hang in there. I'm taking the points and will white knuckle it at the end.

Want to violate my cardinal late season betting rules? (After all, I have proven that a tree sloth knows more than I do when it comes to predicting thee games.) Someone gutsier than me would take Kansas City +13.5 since Cincy doesn't blow anyone out. That same person would also take Oakland +3.5 since Derek Anderson can't complete short passes and Oakland has the best cornerback in the NFL in Asomugha. That means Cle will run early/often, and eat up plenty of clock. Take the under 37.5 while you're at it. I'm not, but you should...