AFC Divisional Round, Saturday

Baltimore at Denver (-9)

It doesn’t get much better than Divisional Round Playoff Football!  This weekend features the eight best teams vying for a chance to play in their conference championship game.  Again we’re treated with a two-pack of games on Saturday AND Sunday.  God bless!

Other than The Silverbacks face palming of Richard Sherman, the Wild Card Round was a snoozefest…..(that doesn’t mean we didn’t enjoy every minute of it and slam beers until the clock read 00:00).  This weekend features a promising platter of tasty matchups that will surely excite the senses.  However, the guys in Vegas are none to impressed with the AFC matchups this weekend as both visiting teams are 9 point dogs (both NFC visiting teams are 2.5 point dogs).

The Ravens were able to parlay home field advantage and the emotional return of Ray Lewis into a 24-9 win over the Colts…..who were starting a rookie QB….and who went 2-14 the previous year with almost the same roster.  But hey, we’ll give credit to the Ravens because they took care of business, but it was ugly.  Ray Rice put the ball on the ground, twice.  Flacco only played good ball for 2 quarters.  The Colts offensive line was overmatched and they failed to capitalize in the redzone (0 TDs in three chances).  So again, the Ravens did what they had to do, but they won’t get away with that kind of sloppy football against Sheriff Manning.

The Broncos have the longest current streak in the NFL at 11. Further, they won 7 of those games by a double-digit margin.  Sure, Manning is going to garner all the discussion and praise, but the defense has been nasty too!  They are allowing an AFC low 17 points-per-game-against.  Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil are bringing the heat from the edges (29.5 combined sacks), forcing quick (and often poor) decisions by the opposing quarterback.  The rest of the defense is flying to the ball and capitalizing on those mistakes.

Much has been made this week that Peyton Manning is 0-3 in playoff games under 40-degrees (weather outlook at kickoff: 19 degrees, snow).  It sounds like an odd stat that is gaining way too much traction this week; in other words, something here stinks.  The Machine did a little internet research of our own and found that two of those games where against Brady-Belichick (in New England) and the other was a beat down at the hands of the Jets, 11 years ago!  Nothing to see here folks!

The Machine doesn’t trust Joe Flacco, or the Ravens receivers (Anquan meet Champ, Champ meet Anquan), or whomever is calling the plays, or the ageless defense, or these bogus weather stats……and neither does Vegas!  Make it 12 in a row.

Denver 27, Baltimore 16

 

 

Week 16 Staff Picks – ATS

Games Roid Rage Ginger King Results
Last week (Year to date):
11-5-0 (62-53-3)
9-7 (63-52-3)
 
Atlanta (-4) @ Detroit Atlanta  Atlanta  Atlanta by 13
San Diego @ NYJ (-1) San Diego  San Diego  SD by 10
Minnesota @ Houston (-9) Houston  Minnesota  Minny by 17
STL @ Tampa Bay (-3) St. Louis  St. Louis  STL by 15
New Orleans @ Dallas (-1) New Orleans  Dallas  NO by 3
Washington (-7) @ Philadelphia Washington  Philadelphia  Wash by 7
Indianapolis (-7) @ Kansas City Indy  Indy  Indy by 7
New England (-14.5) @ Jacksonville Jacksonville  New England  NE by 7
Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh (-3.5) Cincy  Cincy  Cincy by 3
Buffalo @ Miami (-4.5) Buffalo  Miami  Miami by 14
Oakland @ Carolina (-9.5) Carolina  Oakland  Carolina by 11
Tennessee @ Green Bay (-13) GB  Tennessee  GB by 48
Cleveland @ Denver (-13.5) Cleveland  Cleveland  Denver by 22
NYG (-1) @ Baltimore NYG  NYG  Baltimore by 19
Chicago (-5.5) @ Arizona Chicago  Chicago  Chicago by 15
San Francisco @ Seattle (PK) SF  Seattle  Seattle by 29
 
Lock & Load!
RR: NYG (-1), Buffalo (4.5), Chicago (-5.5)
GK: San Diego (+1), NYG (-1), Minnesota (+9)

Tuesday Teabag, December 18, 2012 – Jerry Jones & The Dallas Cowboys….

…because what’s one without the other, right Jerry?! The Machine has refrained from handing out this award to Jerry in the past.  God knows he could have racked up a handful of TT awards; be it his late game sideline pace, despicable draft selections, shameless self promotion or preseason cackling.  This crusty old dimwitted bastard deserves all the scorn and ill-will directed his way.  The only reason he hasn’t received this award is because we’d rather not feed the flame of his ego.  You know damn well that the guy with the biggest stadium, biggest jumbotron, biggest “personality” in sports, has the biggest trophy shelf.  And since the Cowboys haven’t won shit in the last decade, Jerrah will take any and every award he can get his oily little hands on.  So with great reluctance we present you this award, because we just can’t hold back any longer.

Pay attention kids, this is a story on how not to show brevity, honor, respect and leadership during a difficult situation.  On December 8th, at 2 am (a mere 32 hours before kickoff of the Cowboys-Bengals game) after a heavy night of drinking, Josh Brent lost control of his vehicle, allegedly hitting a curb at high-speed causing his car to flip at least once.  His passenger, practice squad player and close friend Jerry Brown, died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.  An eyewitness report claims that Josh Brent sat roadside, watching his flipped vehicle burn while cries of help from his trapped friend went unregistered.  Only after repeated and forceful pleas from the eyewitness did Josh pulled his friend from the burning wreckage before it was completely engulfed in flames.  It’s a horrific scene and all too frequent tragedy that claimed such a young (25) and promising life.

The Cowboys, undoubtedly playing with heavy hearts and cloudy minds, beat the Cincinnati Bengals on December 9th.  In his post game press conference, “Head Coach” Jason Garrett spoke candidly and frank about the difficulties and emotions his team was battling.  He shared some of his memories of Jerry – what kind of player and person he was and what he meant to the team.  The Machine was rubbed the wrong way when Garrett found a way to slid in that his team “found a way to win”.  Coach, when one of your players dies on Saturday, it’s not about winning or losing on Sunday.  It’s not about football at all.  You could honor Jerry’s life just the same had you not beaten the god damn Cincinnati Bengals.  But in light of the situation we give you a free pass on that one.

But we sure as hell aren’t giving you a free pass for the debacle this past weekend.  Apparently, Josh Brent didn’t have anything better to do on a Sunday afternoon (well, the clubs weren’t open yet and church is for suckers) so doesn’t dear old Josh decide to show up to the Cowboys game…On. The. Sideline. WHAT?!  The only thing more despicable than Brent showing up is the fact that nobody stopped him!  Nobody.  Did not the guard at the front gate, or the kid stocking the nacho warmer, or an usher, or maybe like a fucking team executive, stop to think that maybe, just maybe it wouldn’t be such a great idea to let big ol’ Brent roam the facilities?!

After receiving the equivalent of a social media kick to the groin, the Cowboys brain trust went into full damage control.  Initially they reported that they had no idea that Brent was on the sidelines until pre-game warm-ups, at which point the impending game was too important than the 300 pound (alleged) felon who just killed a fellow teammate less than ten days prior.  Of course this claim was a boldface lie, as later reports indicate that dozens of players had talked with Brent and encouraged and supported him to join them at the game.  I’m willing to bet some of Jerry Jones monopoly money that he knew Brent was going to be at the game.  Hell, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Jones himself was the driving force behind the appearance.  Think about it.  You’re the Owner.  You have FULL and unyielding control of everything.  Everything!  If you want your coach to wear a wig and a clown nose, so be it.  Want to see a punt on second down, pick up the phone.  Want your son-in-law to clean your glasses for you because you can’t be bothered?  Your wish is your command.  Having Brent on the sideline was going generate press and show everyone that the Cowboys were a united team!

As public (negative) pressure mounted – the CBS crew absolutely crushed the Cowboys – Jerry and crew hatched what they considered a fool-proof cover.  At his Monday presser, Jerry’s favorite puppet explained that the Cowboys were simply following the wishes of the Jerry Brown’s mother, Stacey Jackson, who wanted the team to support Josh and keep him involved as much as possible.  Okay.  Our sympathies’ are with Ms. Jackson and all, but we aren’t buying this.  Not one bit.  You mean to tell me that a billion dollar corporation, financed largely by television revenue and the millions of weekly consumers tuning in, is going to let the mother of a deceased employee call the shots and dictate their policy?!  Sorry, but we call bullshit on that.  And we call bullshit to the fact that Jerry and his cronies are hiding behind the victim’s mother.  The whole thing stinks!   In fact, the stench must have been unbearable at JerryWorld, because today the Cowboys announced that Josh Brent will no longer be allowed at the facilities.  A day late, ‘boys.

RIP ‘Decal 53’…you deserve better.

Week 14 Staff Picks – ATS

Games Roid Rage Ginger King Results
Last week (Year to date):
10-5-1 (45-40-2)
5-10-1 (46-39-2)
Denver (-10) @ Oakland  Denver  Denver
Philadelphia @ Tampa Bay (-9)  TB  PHIL
Dallas @ Cincinnati (-3)  Cincy  Dallas
San Diego @ Pittsburgh (-7)  Pitt  Pitt
St. Louis @ Buffalo (-3)  Buffalo  Buffalo
Atlanta (-3.5) @ Carolina  Carolina  Atlanta
Chicago (-2.5) @ Minnesota  Minnesota  Chicago
KC @ Cleveland (-7)  Cleveland  Cleveland
Baltimore @ Washington (-1.5)  Baltimore  Baltimore
Tennessee @ Indianapolis (-5)  Indy  Indy
NYJ (-2.5) @ Jacksonville  Jax  Jax
Miami @ San Francisco (-11.5)  Miami  San Fran
Arizona @ Seattle (-11.5)  Seattle  Seattle
New Orleans @ NYG (-4.5)  NYG  NYG
Detroit @ Green Bay (-7)  GB  GB
Houston @ New England (-3.5)  Houston  New England
*Odds courtesy of 5dimes, Thursday afternoon
Lock & Load!
RR: Cleveland (-7), GB (-7), Carolina (+3.5)
GK:  Indy (-5), Dallas (+3), Pittsburgh (-7)Fun with numbers: In the last five weeks….

  • Ginger King is 5-0 in picking the correct outcome of the Oakland Raider games (6-0 if you count Thursday nights beat down)!  The King is also 4-1 in picking the Cincinnati Bengals games.
  • The Machine is a combined 5-11 in games with double-digit spreads.  However, in games with spreads two points or less, The Machine is a combined 19-13.
  • In games that Roid Rage and Ginger King pick the same winner: 21-18-2
  • Roid Rage has correctly predicted the last 4 San Diego Chargers games and is 4-1 in the last 5 Carolina Panthers games.

Homer Report: In the last 5 weeks…..

  • Ginger King is 0-4 in picking the NY Giants games (dude, it’s okay to take off the Eli jersey and wash it every once in a while).
  • Roid Rage is 3-2 in picking the Buffalo Bills games.

 

 

 

 

Week 13 Staff Picks – ATS

Games Roid Rage Ginger King Results
Last week (Year to date): 7-8-1 (35-35-1) 7-8-1 (41-29-1)  
New Orleans @ Atlanta (-3.5)  New Orleans  New Orleans  Atlanta by 10
Seattle @ Chicago (-3.5)  Chicago  Chicago  Seattle by 6
Houston (-7) @ Tennessee  Houston  Houston  Houston by 14
New England (-9) @ Miami  Miami  NE  NE by 7
Jacksonville @ Buffalo (-7)  Buffalo  Jacksonville  Buffalo by 16
Indianapolis @ Detroit (-5)  Indy  Indy  Indy by 2
Carolina (-3) @ Kansas City  KC  Carolina  KC by 6
Arizona @ NYJ (-4.5)  NYJ  Arizona  NYJ by 1
San Francisco (-8) @ St. Louis  San Fran  San Fran  STL by 3
Minnesota @ Green Bay (-9.5)  Minny  Green Bay  GB by 9
Tampa Bay @ Denver (-8)  Denver  Denver  Denver by 8
Cleveland @ Oakland (N/A)  Cleveland  Cleveland  Cleveland by 3
Cincinnati @ San Diego (PK)  Cincy  Cincy  Cincy by 7
Pittsburgh @ Baltimore (-6.5)  Baltimore  Baltimore  Pitt by 3
Philadelphia @ Dallas (-11)  Philly  Dallas  Dallas by 5
NYG (-2) @ Washington  Washington  NYG  Wash by 1
Lock & Load!
RR: Chicago (-3.5), Cincy (PK), NYJ (+4.5)
GK:  Baltimore (-6.5), NE (-9), Carolina (-3)

WEEK 12 Staff Picks – ATS

Games Roid Rage Ginger King Results
Last week (Year to date):
7-7 (28-27)
7-7 (34-21)
 
 Houston (-3) @ Detroit Houston  Houston Houston by 3
 Washington @ Dallas (-3) Dallas  Dallas Wash by 7
 New England (-7) @ NYJ NYJ  NE NE by 30
 Denver (-10.5) @ Kansas City Denver  Denver  Denver by 8
 Tennessee (-3) @ Jacksonville Tennessee  Jacksonville  Jax by 5
 Buffalo @ Indianapolis (-3) Buffalo  Indy  Indy by 7
 Oakland @ Cincinnati (-9.5) Oakland  Cincy  Cincy by 24
Minnesota @ Chicago (N/A) Chicago  Minnesota  Chicago by 18
 Pittsburgh (-1) @ Cleveland Pitt  Pitt  Cleveland by 6
 Seattle (-3) @ Miami Miami  Seattle  Miami by 3
 Atlanta @ Tampa Bay (PK) Atlanta  Atlanta  Atlanta by 1
Baltimore (-1) @ San Diego Baltimore  Baltimore  Baltimore by 3
 St. Louis @ Arizona (-1) St. Louis  Arizona  STL by 14
 San Francisco @ New Orleans (PK) San Fran  New Orleans  San Fran by 10
 Green Bay @ NYG (-2.5) Green Bay  Green Bay  NYG by 28
 Carolina (-3) @ Philadelphia Carolina  Carolina  Carolina by 8
 
Lock & Load…..and give thanks!  
RR: Baltimore (-1), Carolina (-3), St. Louis (+1)
GK: Denver (-10.5), Baltimore (-1), Indy (-3)
 

Tuesday Teabag, November 20, 2012 – Alex Smith v. Colin Kaepernick

This weeks’ Tuesday Teabag is up for grabs.  There’s currently a quarterback controversy brewing in Brokeback Mountain, as the 49ers decide between Alex “Game Manager” Smith and the young gun, Colin “Captain Hip” Kaepernick.  Who will win the starting job and (more importantly) who will win the Tuesday Teabag?  Let’s just say tensions are running high in San Francisco.  The Machine was able to get this exclusive audio (transcribed below) from Tuesday morning’s quarterback meeting.  Read on.

Put me in coach

A. Smith: [sipping bottled water] Ok Coach, just finished watching the game tape on New Orleans.  Doc’s cleared me to play, my head feels good, and I’m ready to go.  Can’t wait to get back out there.  Just one question:  how come I haven’t received the playbook yet?  I’m guessing it got misplaced.  No big deal, I can get it from you now.

**door flies open**

Hey laaaadies!

C. Kaepernick: C-Kap is in the house biotch! HOLLA! [slams Redbull] What’s poppin’ coach?! Yo, Andy, what hurt more: the head shot that knocked your silly ass out last week or losing your job this week?! You’ll be needing this [hands Alex a clipboard].

Ball so hard baby, that’s the name of the game!  70% completion percentage and 2 TDs against the best defense in the league not named the 49ers.  When is the last time you completed 70% of your passes Mr. 59% career passer rating?  The scary part is that I didn’t even run, which might be an even bigger asset than my cannon arm.  Hell, coach didn’t scale back the gameplan, in fact they expanded the playbook to include more deep balls.  You’re limited brah, plain and simple.  Let’s face it, Harbaugh inherited you when he was hired; they targeted me and traded 3 draft picks to move up and get me.  The future is now!  As in crushing the Bears, now!  As in doin’ my thang against the Saints, now!  As in leading this team to the Superbowl, now!  You had you chance last year and we know how that turned out, EPIC FAIL!

Don’t worry brah, you’ve always got that “first pick in the draft” and that “one win against the Saints” to hang your hat on.

A. Smith:  You can’t be serious?  You win one game, and all of a sudden you’re Joe Fucking Montana?  That’s adorable.  And stop talking like some skater punk…you know you were born in Milwaukee, right BRO!

What you young kids don’t appreciate is respect for the game.  The 49ers have a long and storied history of quarterback greatness.  Guess who holds the record for fewest ints in a season, most 4th quarter comebacks in a season, and most consecutive pass attempts without an interception?  ALEX SMITH!!!  And I did all that shit last year, while leading the niners to a 13-3 record and within seconds of the Superbowl.  Epic fail my ass…take that bullshit to Kyle “how the fuck is he still on this team” Williams.  I did my job.

And now it’s time for you to do your job as my backup.  And let me let you in on a little secret.  You’ll never make it in this league as a starter.  You’re a poor man’s Kordell Stewart.  So you can run, too?  Wow…that’s impressive.  But you know what you young, immature, me first, disrespectful “new school” players don’t get?  Your success is as long as your attention span.  Defenses catch up to you quicker than your inevitable child support payments.  How’s Tebow doing this year?  Or how about Cam Newton?

You’re a one hit wonder.  You’re the Macarena.  Soon people will realize you’re actually dumber than those tattoos make you look.  So take your iPod, your love of the X-games and Twitter, and step aside.

C. Kaepernick: Andy, Andy, Andy, calm down.  No need for a ‘get off my lawn’ moment, old man.  BTW, you ain’t no where near reaching your pre-concussion ‘baseline’ if you think you’re part of the 49ers “storied history of quarterbacks.”  Paaalease!  The only reason you had any kind of success last year was because Coach Harbaugh was able to squeeze every last ounce humanly possible from you.  BTW, we wouldn’t be having this conversation if the niners didn’t fuck up and draft Rodgers instead of your broke ass; or even if Coach landed that even older QB that went to Denver.

Sure, some old school loser coach like Norval would probably trot your noodle arm out there while banging on the “you can’t lose your job from an injury” drum.  But hello, our coach is a fucking maniac and doesn’t give a shit about anything or anyone!  He knows this golden arm [flexs] is his meal ticket to the big dance.  The question isn’t who the starter is; the real question is on what team and whom are you going to be backing up next year?

Welcome to the Kaepernick Era!  I like the sounds of that; that will make some good ink!  Are we done here, I’ve got a Black Ops mission on pause.  Peace!!

A. Smith [doing the Macarena]:  I can’t believe I have to go through this shit again.  First, Shaun Hill tried to start a quarterback controversy in ’09.  How’s he doing this year, btw?  What UFL team is he playing for?  Then, Peyton Manning.  Now you?  And Aaron Rodgers, you mean the Aaron Rodgers I schooled in Week 1 this year (211/2/0).  Discount Double-check, bitch.  Point is, me and my newly signed $24 million contract aren’t going anywhere.  HEEEEYYY, MACARENA!!!

************************************************************************************************************

Well, there you have it!!  It doesn’t get anymore exclusive than that!  So how do you handicap this horse race? We’ll put this Teabag Award on hold (in a remote, secure location) until this plays itself out!  Stay tuned.

WEEK 11 Staff Picks – ATS

Games Roid Rage Ginger King Results
Last week (Year to date):
3-11 (21-20)
9-5 (27-14)
 
Miami @ Buffalo (-2.5)  Buffalo  Buffalo Buffalo by 5
Cleveland @ Dallas (-8)  Cleveland  Dallas Dallas by 3
Jacksonville @ Houston (-15)  Jacksonville  Jacksonville Houston by 6
NYJ @ St. Louis (-3.5)  St. Louis  St. Louis NYJ by 14
Tampa Bay (-1.5) @ Carolina  Carolina  Tampa Tampa by 6
Arizona @ Atlanta (-9.5)  Atlanta  Arizona Atlanta by 4
Green Bay (-3.5) @ Detroit  GB  Green Bay GB by 4
Philadelphia @ Washington (-3.5)  Philly  Washington Washington by 25
Cincinnati (-3.5) @Kansas City  Cincy  Cincy Cincy by 22
New Orleans (-4.5) @ Oakland  New Orleans  New Orleans NO by 21
Indianapolis @ New England (-9)  Indy  Indy NE by 35
San Diego @ Denver (-7.5)  San Diego  Denver Denver by 7
Baltimore (-3.5) @ Pittsburgh  Baltimore  Baltimore Baltimore by 3
Chicago @ San Francisco (-7)  San Fran  Chicago SF by 25
       
Top 3 Can’t Miss Picks:  
RR: Baltimore (-3.5), New Orleans (-4.5), Green Bay (-3.5)
GK: Cincy (-3.5), Tampa (-1.5), Green Bay (-3.5)

Week 10 – Sleepers

Last week at this time we gave you Cecil “Too” Shorts (the third!) who had a 3/56 (8.5 points ppr) line and then backed it up with a monster Thursday night going 6/105/1 (22.5 pts) and Joique Bell who dropped 109 yards, 3 receptions and a TD (20 pts).  Sure, we may have pimped Domenik Hixon, but how did we know that Brother Eli was suffering from “dead arm” (is that the equivalent of a pornstar suffering from limp dick?!); we thought that prognosis was exclusively reserved as an excuse for Archie’s 5 INT performance at the Annual Manning Family Thanksgiving Day Pigskin Classic!

Anyways, the point is that even our crystal ball needs some polishing from time to time.  The players listed are merely some bottom of the barrel flex-type desparation plays that have some potential upside.  Let’s scour the waiver wire, shall we:

 1. Jake Locker, QB (16% Y!) – Locker is excepted to draw the start in Miami today.  This one won’t be pretty, the Titans offense has been all over the board this year and in Locker’s brief appearance this year (Week’s 1-3) he has 4 turnovers (2 INTs, 2 FUMs).  However, the Titans do have some weapons on the offensive side of the ball (Johnson, Britt, Wright) and Locker has developed some mojo with Nate Washington.  Chances are that the Titans will be playing from behind, and thus forced to chuck the rock, as they have allowed a league leading 308 points this season (fyi – no other team as allowed 250 points yet this year….not even the Bills, Redskins or Saints!).

2. Taiwan Jones, RB (14% Y!) – Jones certainly fits the bill as a desparation play with some upside potential.  With Run DMC and Mike Goodson nursing ankle injuries, Jones is the de facto starting tailback for the black and silver.  The former 2011 4-rounder is more of an ideal change-of-pace back, and he should share the load with FB Marcel Reece, however Jones has blazing speed (why else would the Raiders draft him) and could cetainly make a dent on the stat sheet with 10-12 touches.

3. Jacquizz Rodgers, RB (36% Y!) – If there was ever a week that ‘Qizz was going to crack your starting line-up (PPR only!) it’s this week as the Falcons travel to divisional rival New Orleans for what should be a bonanza of fantasy points.  Perennial plodder Mike Turner (4.0 ypc) is firmly entrenched as the Falcons bell cow.  However, Qizz has been getting more and more involved as a change-of-pace and third down back, as evident by his 9 rec/133 yards totaled in the last two weeks.  If he can get the ball in open space against this porous defense a dirtybird dance may soon follow!

4. Emmanuel Sanders, WR (23% Y!) – Don’t be fooled by the string of 100-yard rushing games but up by Dwyer and Redman, the foundation of the Steelers offense is Big Ben and the passing game.  With Antonio Brown expected to miss this tasty match-up against the Romeo Rules Kansas City Chiefs, look for Sanders to get a few extra looks.  Heath Miller and Mike Wallace will probably gobble up any additional extra red zone and long ball opportunities respectively, Brown could post a 5/55 type of line.  You could do worse as a flex WR.

Others for consideration: Tannehill, QB (13% Y!), Chandler, TE (33% Y!), Broyles, WR (17% Y!), D. Alexander, WR (2% Y!) [That’s right, a 2% owned player! Only at The Machine!]