By By James Parziale
The Indianapolis Colts weren’t alone in chasing perfection last week, as Chronicle sports editor Ed Morrone was 15-0 headed into Monday night. He was faced with rooting for his beloved Eagles, or shedding his allegiance in the hopes of personal glory. Fast forward to Week 17, when Colts head coach Tony Dungy could be faced with rewriting the history books or resting his starters if Indy turns out to be 15-0. Quite a conundrum.
Well, things worked out for Ed because Seattle blew out the abysmal Eagles. I rooted for him and will be rooting for the Colts.
GAMES OF THE WEEK
Indianapolis (12-0) -8 at Jacksonville (9-3): This is Indy’s biggest roadblock to that light at the end of the tunnel. This isn’t going on a limb, but the Colts are the class of the NFL this year. If they do run the table en route to Super Bowl XL in Detroit, the Colts would supplant the 1972 Dolphins as the best team in history. First thing’s first. Pick: Colts
Tampa Bay (8-4) +5.5 at Carolina (9-3): The Panthers, who are my pick to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, clawed Mike Vick last week. They should do the same to the Bucs’ Chris Simms, but these are two good teams. Expect a close game. Pick: Bucs
THE SLATE
Chicago (9-3) +5.5 at Pittsburgh (7-5): This missed being a “Game of the Week” by a smidgen, but the Steelers, losers of three straight, are sinking fast. This game looks like an easy pick, but who would have thought the Bears would be the favorites? Pick: Bears
Oakland (4-8) -3 at N.Y. Jets (2-10): Here’s a game plan for the Raiders: score a touchdown and win. The Jets offense couldn’t find the end zone if it was led by a Seeing Eye dog. Gang Green has scored one touchdown in 16 quarters. Pick: Raiders
St. Louis (5-7) +7 at Minnesota (7-5): The Vikings can’t keep winning, can they? Well, I’m not getting off this love boat until it starts treading water. Pick: Vikings
Houston (1-11) +6.5 at Tennessee (3-9): The Texans play in Houston and are hapless. The Titans, the artists formerly known as the Houston Oilers, also couldn’t find a W on an abacus. Move over George W., come April you won’t be the most beloved Bush in Texas history. Pick: Titans
New England (7-5) -3 at Buffalo (4-8): The Patriots are a shell of winters past and will likely be one-and-done come playoff time. The Bills are a feisty home team. Pick: Bills
Cleveland (4-8) +12.5 at Cincinnati (9-3): Bengals WR Chad Johnson had this to say about the dominant team in the AFC North: “It was Pittsburgh for a while, and now it’s Cincinnati.” He’s right. Pick: Bengals
San Francisco (2-10) +16 at Seattle (10-2): I am just waiting for the 49ers to play the Texans on Jan. 1. No, not so they could get a third win. It’s so they could lose and get the Draft tiebreaker and get at USC RB Reggie Bush. Pick: Seahawks
N.Y. Giants -8 (8-4) at Philadelphia (5-7): With their wings clipped, the Eagles have been grounded, yet these teams always bring out each other’s best. Pick: Eagles
Washington (6-6) -3 at Arizona (4-8): This game needs some intrigue. How about blindfolding the quarterbacks, Kurt Warner (Cardinals) and Mark Brunell (Redskins)? At the very least it’ll help their completion percentages. Draft picks ad divisios are up for grabs. Pick: Redskins
Miami (5-7) +13.5 at San Diego (8-4): This copy is devoted to LaDanian Tomlinson, who has 22 touchdowns this season. That’s more than the Jets (15) and 49ers (18) have scored as teams this season. Pick: Chargers
Baltimore (4-8) +14 at Denver (9-3): We know the Ravens have no offense. Kyle Boller should stop wearing the Snickers. Pick: Broncos
Kansas City (8-4) +3 at Dallas (7-5): Larry Johnson’s performance this season may excommunicate Priest Holmes, who is on injured reserve, from Kansas City at year’s end. If the Chiefs win they can re-write the epitaph for the Cowboys season. Pick: Chiefs
Detroit (4-8) +6 at Green Bay (2-10): Echoing the words of an athlete faced with a tough question, “No comment.” Pick: Packers
New Orleans (3-9) +10.5 at Atlanta (7-5): When the Falcons lose, you can spell Mike Vick is the eye of the storm. Four times this season he’s had a quarterback rating of less than 60.0. Last week against the Panthers he had a rating of 39.0. He’s overrated. Pick: Falcons