I don't remember Bill Cower getting ripped like this when he went 4-12 after a good season. Dwight Schrute? Ouch! But that is funny because it is true. But he is still a pretty good coach no matter what those jokers say. Blaming him for all or most of this seasons struggles is short sighted. He can get his share, but don't put the defensive struggles, injuries, or fumbles on his head, and his mistakes are pretty far down the list of things that went wrong. Questionable play calling and conservative scheme worked for him very well last year, so it is hard to imagine that has changed that much when he has a 100 catch WR and a 1200 yard back despite leading the NFL in T.O.s in stead of T.O.P.

The Ravens may actually win this week. The Steelers are sitting Big Ben, and Troy P., they are going to get the 4th seed anyway when SD blows out Oak, so they just want to be healthy for the Jags next week.
The line is pretty realistic, but I will take the Ravens like I have all year (2-14 vs spread I think, not 16-0 like I was picking) I hope no one was taking my Ravens picks to Vegas, but I was so tempted by the preseason over under and SB odds. Just for fun:

Ravens 28 Stlrs 17 Troy Smith makes a case to start next year. I really like the guys poise and arm strength. He has so much more awareness when he scrambles than Boller it is ridiculous. Should be an interesting off season if he plays well.

Pats 35 NYG 14 I think they will put up 4 straight TDs and hang it up early. NY is way too beat up, have to play next week, and are not that good anyway.

Phins over the Bungles. They will be coaching and playing to save some jobs. The Bungles may have plans in Miami right after the game. How many of them won't take the team flight back to Cincy?
Phins 21 Bungles 17

The Cowboy/ Washington game should be very entertaining. If I were coaching the Boys, I would want to crush the playoff hopes of my biggest rival and go into the bye with some extra confidence and satisfaction.
The Skins have been really good recently though and will put up the best fight they can bring, it may not be enough to win, but I think they cover the 9.
Dal 28 Was 21

Pack

Hou I guess.

NO
Ravens
49rs
Finally a game that matters.
Tenn is a really good team and Indy would be smart to knock them out if they can, but I don't think they will be able to. The first game was 22-20 I think, and I expect a close one here also, but I like the Titans to scrap thier way into the playoffs over a Colt team that will not expose Manning to long.
Tenn 28 Indy 17

Vikes 28 Den 21
SD 35 Oak 14
AZ 28 Stl 21
Jets v Cheifs? Does anyone care if they even take the feild? 10-7 game Kornheiser drones though for 3 hours. I would rather watch hoops.

Ravens suck,lose 28-3. Bengals win 28-14, Browns lose 13-7 Titans make the playoffs. Why are Ravens so bitter towards the Bengals when the Ravens are in last place and in need of a extreme makeover?

Because the Bungles have a good offense and we don't I guess. Trade you T- Sizzle for TJ Houshmanzada or whatever his name is, or I would take Ohcho Stinko off your hands for a guy on defense that the Bunglers desparately need. Palmer for Ray Ray?

Can you guys mail me some of the pot that you're smoking. Skins are totally going to beat the 'Boys. Again, it's puff puff give, ok guys.

The Ravens have no excuse not to hire Mike Martz, who will be fired tomorrow as offensive coordinator of the Lions. They need to hire him and give him complete autonomy to run the offense and call plays. He reportedly is being pursued by SF, but if the Ravens miss out on this opportunity, they will make a miserable season even more unacceptable.

Let's look at the Ravens needs realistically, which means what I think are realistic.

COACHING

Billick can stay, but the team's entire offensive philosophy and design MUST be changed. That means bringing in a proven Offensive Coordinator who has his own ideas on what works and telling Billick, much like he's done with the defense to stay 'hands off'.

He's had 9 years to produce something of an offense...the players change, the coaches change, but the dud offense has remained.

Enough is enough.

Next...both the offensive and defensive line coaches, along with the secondary coaches need to be replaced.

The secondary was the defense's Achilles heel all season. It does no good to stop the run, if your opponent consistently can beat your secondary on third and whatever and that was a recurring nightmare all year regardless of who played.

The coaching staff seriously overestimated the quality of their DB reserves and they didn't seem to be able to make the unit cohesive.

The offensive line was the second greatest disaster. Most of the season, they were physically over-matched and/or they looked like they'd just met in pregame warmup.

While the coaching may not make up for physical stature, they should have stayed at practice until they at least all knew each other anyway.

The defensive line lacked any ability to rush the passer. No one seems to have ever worked with Suggs to develop technique other than a speed rush and all season he was just ridden past the QB who could step up since there was no interior pressure from Ngata, Gregg, Bannan.

Gregg and Ngata are both strong enough to be able to push blockers into the backfield but they seldom if ever seem to do it.

That's what coaching is all about.

OFFENSE

They still need more offensive linemen. The jury is still out on Brown, Chester, Grubbs, Terry, Gaither and Yanda.

I'd like to see Brown switched to center and Yanda take that guard position, and I'd like to see a tackle taken early in the draft.

The QB position that everyone seems to want to talk about doesn't need to be fixed until they can be reasonably sure whomever they put there isn't going to get killed.

I'd also like to see them draft a speedy and/or big WR.

DEFENSE

A pass-rushing defensive lineman as early as possible...and as many DB's as they can get.

Poopy you got me. I did not even realise they are 9 point dogs. That is why I don't bet I just like to pick em. I still think I am right though.

The Boys are a much better team, and if I were them, I would knock out Was. They are getting 2 weeks off anyway, and no one wants to lose a rivalry game going into the post season when you may have to face them again.