Leach's NFL Locks: Week 17 'The Time Is Now To Hitch A Ride On The Bullet Train' Edition
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With the NFL season heating up, so do my NFL picks, which will be here for you each and every week to help you win your pick-em-pool, embarrass your friends and just become a more whole football fan and human being. I will take a look at five games each week with the best value and rate them on a sliding lock of the week 1-10 scale.
As we enter the final week of the regular season, I have been on fire for you all year long and do not expect to slow down anytime soon. And....here....we....go!
DTM Song Of The Week: "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" Bruce Springsteen Live in 2007
This song by the Boss makes you happy no matter what time a year it's played, but it's that much more special during he holiday season. Here is wishing all of you nothing but a happy and healthy year ahead. I'm so grateful you are all a part of my life.
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings 1 p.m. Sunday TV: FOX (Vikings -6.5)
Jay Cutler comes back to the forefront after getting benched last week for Jimmy "Santa" Clausen and because of the Pickle Man getting a concussion at the hands of Ziggy Ansah and the Lions, the Bears $126 million man is back in the fold. He definitely has something to prove and in a game that is meaningless to both teams in Week 17 that is enough for me to back the troubled Bears. Cutler will respond after his truly horrid recent play and the embarrassment of being sat down for a guy that hadn't played a relevant game at quarterback since he was a member of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
5.5 on DTM Lock of the Week Meter – Bears +6.5
San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs 1 p.m. TV: CBS 62 (Chiefs -1.5)
I liked Saint Diego even before Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith became unavailable for this game with a lacerated spleen. Now the Chiefs -- who need to win and get help to qualify as a wildcard in the AFC -- turn to Chase Daniel against a Chargers team who had one of the great comeback in the NFL this season, and just need to win to clinch a wildcard berth. Look for Phillip "Little" Rivers Band and his Bolts to roll and make Ron Burgundy proud by notching a place in the 2014 NFL postseason.
6.5 on DTM Lock of the Week Meter – Super Chargers +1.5
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons 4:25 p.m. TV: FOX (Falcons -3.5)
Nothing better than a "Winner Take All Or Panthers Tie" for the NFL's worst division in decades. Okay, I kid the NFC South, but the bottom line one of these two teams is going to the postseason and it isn't going to be Cam Newton's Panthers. The Falcons have been playing pretty good football for the past month and being home at the Georgia Dome will be just what they need to get off to the good start they need to, never giving Carolina a chance to get any footing. The Dirty Birds will give coach Mike Smith at least one more week as Falcons coach.
7.1 on DTM Lock of the Week Meter – Falcons -3.5
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers 8:30 p.m. TV: NBC (Steelers -3.5)
The all-in game for the AFC North was flexed to Sunday Night Football, much to the chagrin of Detroit Lions fans everywhere, but should be a dandy. I told you last week the Bengals are legit and would win outright as home 'dogs to the Denver Broncos on SNF. This week, they go a step further and not only win their division, but get themselves ready for a potential Super Bowl run with the confidence and balance they have been playing with lately. It won't be easy at times, as Pittsburgh has the weapons on offense to be in this game the whole way, but in the end Cincy will just have too much and will win the North for just the fourth time since 1990.
7.4 on DTM Lock of the Week Meter – Bengals +3.5
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers 4:25 p.m. TV: FOX Radio: 97.1 The Ticket (Packers -7.5)
Regular season games don't get much bigger then this, my friends! I have already called this the biggest regular season game in Detroit sports in the last 30 years and I can't stress enough how much is on the line for the Lions. This is not only for all the marbles in the NFC North, but also for a bye to the NFC Divisional Round and a chance for the Lions to exorcise some very serious demons against the Pack at Lambeau Field.
They have not won there since 1991 when I was still roaming the halls at legendary Warner Middle School. They have not won the division since 1993, which was also the last time they hosted a playoff game. They also have been brutal outdoors in under 40 degree weather, losing 16 in a row and 2-22 overall, until last week's win in Chicago in those same conditions. Throw out all that history cause this year it simply doesn't matter.
This is a different Lions team than in years past and a team that has a chance to be truly special. Having one of the NFL's top defenses is where it starts. Having an offense which has a ton of weapons, but has yet to truly explode for four full quarters is something that will happen at the most opportune time on the frozen tundra at Lambeau Field on Sunday evening.
Detroit has already beaten the Pack this season, which has struggled against teams with top-level defenses like the Lions -- losing to Buffalo just a couple of weeks ago. This isn't 2011, 1999, 1993, or even 1991 -- it's 2014 and this Lions team, while not playing the best football in the NFL, has the type of team that could legitimately go on a magical run and it starts with a win in Green Bay that will be remembered for decades to come. Matt Stafford will turn the tide and rebuke the many that feel he can't win a statement game on the road against a good opponent. Offense comes to play, defenses comes to play... LIONS WIN THE NORTH.... PERIOD!
DETROIT 31 GREEN BAY 24 -- THE TIDE HAS TURNED!
10 (With a bullet---->) on DTM Lock of the Week Meter – Lions +7.5
ODDS TIDBIT----- Lions currently 22-1 to win Super Bowl XLIX (7th overall selection -- Seahawks favorite to repeat at 2.5-1), and are 11-1 to win NFC (4th selection behind Seattle, Green Bay and Dallas)
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DTM'S 2014 Record ATS:50-32-1
