These are the picks for the 2005 season. Bold represents the team selected to win. Games in red represent the Upset of the Week. At the bottom, The weekly and overall records for the season appear at the bottom. These picks are based purely on winners and losers with no consideration from the spread. The spread is only used to determine upsets for the Upset of the Week.
Maybe Dre Bly is right. The Detroit Lions cornerback was asked why Steve Mariucci was fired Monday. He did not miss on where to lay the blame.
"If we'd had production on offense, in particular the quarterback position, Mooch wouldn't have been fired. If Jeff Garcia hadn't gotten hurt, we wouldn't be in this position today. Mooch wouldn't have gotten fired.
"We're all at fault, but I just feel like Joey's been here four years, and being the number three pick in the draft, he hasn't given us anything. He hasn't given us what the third pick in the draft should give us."
Spot on, Bly! Yes, it's the quarterback's fault. Forget the defense that ranked no higher than 14th in the league over the past three years. A defense you're a part of. And no, injuries didn't play a part. Wide receiver Charles Rogers has played in 12 out of 43 games since his rookie year, going on injured reserve in consecutive years for broken collarbones in his first two years. Add a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy and Rogers couldn't even make the Jackson 5 because he wasn't there for the Motown Lions.
There's countless reasons why Detroit never played to the expectations set by general manager Matt Millen. The players deserve some of the fault. Mariucci earned the majority of the blame, as he should. After a nationally televised debacle, Millen had the proof needed to jettison his hand-picked coach of the Lions. If anyone asked why, all Millen had to do was point down to the action on the field.
But much like his perch way above the Ford Field field turf, Millen seems above fault. Why is that? It was his coach leading the players Millen gave him. Shouldn't Millen's performance be called into question? Yes, hindsight is 20/20, but you pay for your past mistakes in the present.
Millen and the scouting department produced eleven starters, five second stringers, and a third string running back between the 2001-2004 drafts. But the success rate is top-heavy. Only three players drafted on the second day from the first three drafts are still with the team.
Past drafts have also been heavy on offensive skill players. Harrington and Rogers were no-brainers. But they could had selected a top flight corner (DeAngelo Hall, Dunta Robinson) or linebacker (Jonathan Vilma) instead of Roy Williams in 2004. And it was a surprise to virtually everyone when they took Mike Williams when the defense ranked 22nd the year before.
Offensive linemen were also quite absent from selections. Millen drafted just one during his tenure. Tackle Victor Rogers is a back-up on the right side. The two guards were free agents: Damien Woody and Kyle Kosier started six this season. The other two, center Dominic Raiola and left tackle Jeff Backus were drafted in the first and second rounds in 2001. The unit is on pace to allow 39 sacks.
The only thing the dismissal of Mariucci has done is eliminate a possible cause why the Lions are underachieving. If Harrington has another chance to prove himself, this could be his last with Detroit. If Harrington and the team improves dramatically, then coaching was holding him and the team back. If Harrington falls flat on his face and the team continues to disappoint, then the players may not be good enough. If the latter is the case, then the blame lies on Millen because these are his players and he did a poor job of putting the team together. And, maybe, the next person to go is Millen himself.
I'm not going anywhere. A 10-6 week is worth the staying power. But the season don't stop.
Houston at Baltimore - L
The Texans gave up a 21-point lead to a rookie quarterback who never took a snap in a game. If they could get any lead against Baltimore, even a one-point lead, it would be safe. But the hard part will be getting ahead. The Texans will never get ahead of the Ravens.
Atlanta at Carolina - L
Atlanta had an extra two days to prepare for this game against division rival Carolina. Unfortunately the time was spent recovering from the holiday hangover. With the tryptophan out of their system, the Falcons carve the Panthers.
Green Bay at Chicago - W
OK, I'm finally sold on da Bears. They remind me of the 2001 Ravens who won it all with a suffocating defense and just enough offense. If the Packers were healthy, I'd give them a chance for the upset. But without key players, the Bears run their streak to seven straight wins.
Jacksonville at Cleveland - W
The sun will always rise, the government will always tax, and Byron Leftwich will get injured. It seems one of the constants in the world. David Garrard will take snaps in place of the franchise quarterback who will miss 4-6 weeks with a broken ankle. With Garrard, the Jaguars won't lose a step.
Minnesota at Detroit - W
The timing of this couldn't had been better for the Vikings. Taking on a Lions team falling apart is a ideal situation that couldn't be better even if Vikes set it up. Heck, makes you wonder if they put the bug in Detroit general manager Matt Millen's ear. I hear a Vikings win.
Tennessee at Indianapolis - W
Titans QB Steve McNair had a Peyton Manning-esque game, throwing for 343 yards and three scores. But replica performances don't match the original. Manning and the Colts cut the Titans secondary down to size.
Buffalo at Miami - W
Before the season started, there was all this talk about Miami trading running back Ricky Williams. The logic was sound, since the Dolphins drafted Ronnie Brown, the second pick overall, to be the franchise running back. People also questioned Williams' desire. Any questions now? The proof is in the performance and Williams makes believers out of the Bills as the Dolphins wear out Buffalo.
Tampa Bay at New Orleans - W
Head coach Jim Haslet denied commissioner Paul Tagliabue from speaking with his Saints players, who want to know where they will call home next year. Being N.O.-mads is wearing on the team and the players want to plan for the future. It's been a distraction all year, which is why their wins all came on the road. The Buccaneers keep N'Orleans' misery going.
Dallas at New York Giants - L
The Giants were penalized 16 times. They possibly could had two more for unsportsmanlike conduct: Premature celebrations on two of the three missed field goals. Don't count your chickens, kid. You know the rest. Y'all won't have reasons to cheer as the Cowboys put New York in their place from the beginning for the Upset of the Week.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh - L
It's about time Ben Roethlisberger lost to somebody not name Brady. At least the Pittsburgh QB can lay to claim that he lost to the best passers in the league. Cincy's Carson Palmer will belong in that group if he keeps performing at this level for the next five years and beats Pittsburgh. For now, he's a notch below. Palmer has the numbers, but he will fall short against the Steelers.
Washington at St. Louis - W
This looks like a bad recipe for the Redskins. They've given up 10-point or greater leads in the fourth quarter in the past four? games and now they play the Rams who came back from 21 down to win. This time around though, the Redskins defense steps it up and holds back the late-charging Rams.
Arizona at San Francisco - W
San Fran announced first pick overall quarterback Alex Smith will finish the rest of the season as the starter. But shouldn't they include, "health permitting"? The 49ers pocket has been as safe as a mine field. Smith survives the health scare, but the Cardinals find new life.
Denver at Kansas City - L
No Mistake Jake's streak of passes without a pick ended on Thanksgiving. Fortunately, his Broncos team did win on turkey day. Now it's on to bigger fish to fry. The Chiefs are surging at the right time, but their momentum hits the wall against the Broncos.
New York Jets at New England - W
Welcome back, Ty Law. The former Patriots corner returns to the team where he got his three championship rings. New England will be especially happy if they are able to throw for a score or two on Law, who isn't fully healed from his foot injury. He'll be a step slow and Law and the Jets won't catch the Patriots.
Oakland at San Diego - W
It's not how you start, but how you finish. S.D. began 0-2 while getting running back LaDanian Tomlinson 19 rushes in each game. In their last four games, the Chargers are undefeated with L.T. running downhill, including 118 rushing yards in the fourth quarter and overtime of their last game. It's gonna be hard for the Raiders to stop a rolling snowball and they will fail freezing the Chargers.
Seattle at Philadelphia - Monday Night - W
If Seattle changed their names, they should be the Cyber Catz. First off, Seattle is the home of Microsoft. Also, after surviving three missed field goals that would had won the game, the 'Catz would be down the six lives left. Those six would stay intact no matter their name, but the Seahawks stay alive.
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Super Bowl XL