11 Picks For 2010 NFL Week 17, Rams at Seahawks
Published Saturday, January 1, 2011 at 02:00:00 PM
Happy New Year! Let's make this the best year ever. Together.
This is the first time in three years that I've featured a rematch in the same season -- back in week four, I also did Seahawks-Rams. I really didn't want to. But unfortunately the NFL decided not to cooperate and there's only one meaningful matchup for this final weekend of the regular season. And I use meaningful in a VERY loose sense.
The 7-8 Rams are playing the 6-9 Seahawks for a chance to represent the NFL's weakest division in the playoffs. If the Rams in, they make it in as .500 cannon fodder. If the Seahawks win, they cost themselves like 10 spots in the draft (6-10 gets you a MUCH higher draft pick than being one of the 12 playoff teams)... but at least they get to go to the playoffs.
Basically, it's just... something.
The opening line was St. Louis -2.5, but we're all just picking the game straight up.
Edited to add: The Seahawks upset the Rams to become the first sub-.500 team in NFL playoff history.
This list was published on Saturday, January 1, 2011 at 02:00:00 PM under the category NFL Picks.
It currently has View Comments.
Published Saturday, January 1, 2011 at 02:00:00 PM
Happy New Year! Let's make this the best year ever. Together.
This is the first time in three years that I've featured a rematch in the same season -- back in week four, I also did Seahawks-Rams. I really didn't want to. But unfortunately the NFL decided not to cooperate and there's only one meaningful matchup for this final weekend of the regular season. And I use meaningful in a VERY loose sense.
The 7-8 Rams are playing the 6-9 Seahawks for a chance to represent the NFL's weakest division in the playoffs. If the Rams in, they make it in as .500 cannon fodder. If the Seahawks win, they cost themselves like 10 spots in the draft (6-10 gets you a MUCH higher draft pick than being one of the 12 playoff teams)... but at least they get to go to the playoffs.
Basically, it's just... something.
The opening line was St. Louis -2.5, but we're all just picking the game straight up.
Tecmo Super Bowl simulation. (7-9) This was actually a tremendous game between the Los Angeles Rams and the AFC's Seattle Seahawks. The Rams went up big early with their Cleveland Gary/Curt Warner running back tandem. Dave Krieg, at quarterback for Seattle, was having a traditional Dave Krieg game -- more turnovers then you can count. Then, in the second half, he flipped the switch and started leading the Seahawks back.
Unfortunately, they suffered from some 1991-style computer AI -- like calling draw plays late in the fourth quarter when every second was crucial -- and couldn't complete the comeback. The Rams scored again and took it, 35-24.
Madden 11 simulation. (5-11) No, your eyes don't deceive you. That graphic really does say that the Seahawks put up -15 yards of total offense for the game. They're THAT bad.
St. Louis wasn't exactly setting the world on fire either -- if not for dozens of broken tackles by Steven Jackson on a few TD runs, this thing would've gone to a 0-0 overtime. But it was more than enough for the Rams to beat the brutally impotent Seahawks.- Laska, my parents' dog. (9-7) Laska continues her trend of going against the grain as she at the treat that corresponds to the Seahawks. Maybe she can be the 12th man.
Accuscore. (13-3) This season really turned a few weeks ago when the Eagles made their miracle comeback to beat the Giants. Had the Giants won, Accuscore would've fallen back toward the pack and this thing would've been up in the air. But the Eagles won so, as it stands, Accuscore has a three-game lead and should basically walk to the 11 Points crown this year.
As expected, it sees the Rams winning 56 percent of the time, the Seahawks winning 43 percent, and Jerramy Stevens dropping in to ruin everyone's good time the remaining one percent.- ESPN's Sports Guy. (7-9) No surprise, he's going with the Rams -- and says that this game is for the title of "worst division champ in the history of the NFL." Then he compares it to "Wall Street 2". I think.
- 11 Points Reader Battle. (10-6) Once again, all three readers nailed it last week (by picking Kansas City), so all three are back this week...
@typerrino: "Seattle has dropped 3 straight and 7 of their last 9. I can't see them bouncing back with Whitehurst, so I'll take the Rams."
@daisyducky: "To be honest, I don't really care for either of the teams, but I have to go with the Rams. Mainly because Bradford is hotter."
@sarkasticwiz: "Happy New Year 11points fans! An easy one for me this week. Rams have a solid offense and FAR superior defense, and won't lose."
So with all three votes, the Rams are the reader pick for the week.
Internet psychic. (7-9) When I did Rams-Seahawks in week four, I phrased the question as my girlfriend hawking me (see) to change my wooly ram-like hair. He picked the Rams, so I wanted to give him a different seemingly un-football-related question this week. And I also decided to test the limits of what he'll answer...
Our spiritual guide for the season.
"I need to send a message to the local king. What's going to get it there faster -- sending it over the high walls via a carrier seahawk or using a battering ram to knock down the castle door?"
He bought this, apparently -- I'm not sure he understands how America works -- and hey, how about this, he went with the Seahawks.- Randier cheerleaders. (8-8) Last time we did Rams-Seahawks, I compared their preseason cheerleading calendars and noted that the Rams cheerleaders appeared much more ready-to-go than the Sea Gals. Let us see if anything's changed with in-season photos...
Seattle cheerleaders wearing full-body covering body suits and, I kid you not, this photo is from their "Canada Day celebration." Meanwhile...
The St. Louis cheerleaders still look as good-to-go as ever. So the Rams are the pick. - Turnover margin. (9-7) Um... one of these teams really is better than the other one. St. Louis has 20 turnovers and 25 takeaways for a +5 margin... Seattle has a solid 30 turnovers (two per game average) and 21 takeaways for a -9. The pick, again, is the Rams.
- Higher team salary. (9-7) St. Louis has a low-ish payroll this year of $107,763,909, with the biggest salary going to safety O.J. Atogwe. Seattle spends more (but not really for results) -- they dropped $138,180,488 on this rough season with the largest chunk going to Marcus Trufant. The pick is the Seahawks.
- The opposite of my pick. (9-7) Look, St. Louis should win this game. They're obviously better, they deserve the playoff slot ever so slightly more, Seattle fans want the team to tank for the sake of a draft pick... it's a mess. The Rams should take it in a runaway and, therefore, my pick is the Seahawks.
Edited to add: The Seahawks upset the Rams to become the first sub-.500 team in NFL playoff history.
This list was published on Saturday, January 1, 2011 at 02:00:00 PM under the category NFL Picks.
It currently has View Comments.
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It's all written by Sam Greenspan, a Midwest-born, classically-trained journalist who now tries to make a dollar out of 15 cents in Los Angeles. (It's hard to be legit and still pay the rent.)
Read more about 11 Points and Sam here.
For information about reprinting 11 Points content, or for quotes/interviews for your newspaper, magazine, website, TV program, or radio show, contact Sam via e-mail at
