So that’s it, it’s all in the books. 20 teams are heading home, and the eleven best and the Jets are on their way to the post-season.

But never mind that, who won the season’s predictions and how did we do overall?

What We Got Right

Indianapolis Colts @ Buffalo Bills

A – The Colts are sure to rest players as they literally have nothing to play for.
C – Bills are at home too, and will be looking to finish strong so i’m going for a home win.
G – The Bills will be looking for a win here as Fewell looks for a good ending for his impressive stint as head coach.

As expected, the Colts fielded a good second side but the Bills were good enough to take advantage.

New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers

A – The Panthers have been showing us all what a good team they can be, and I think I fancy them to continue that here.
C – I’m going for a Panthers win this week.
G – I think the Saints will look to steady the ship with a win here.

The Saints go into the post-season on the back of three losses. Hopefully they’ll be able to turn it on when they need to.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Cleveland Browns

A – I expect the Browns to finish the stronger of the two teams.
C – Browns all the way. They’ve looked good the last few weeks so i can’t vote against them.
G – I think the Browns should just edge it.

The Browns can play, and they showed us again this week.

Chicago Bears @ Detroit Lions

A – The Lions have also shown us a lot this year; they’ve played well, battled for every game and kept their morale and unity. But I think the Bears will see them off here.
C – I’m going for a Chicago win. Last weeks win against the Vikings would have done wonders for them
G – This game will mean as much to the Lions as any other this year and I think that will make them the hungrier of the two teams. Lions win.

The Bears, though expecting a lot of off-season churn, remain a team to watch next year. The Lions end with the #2 pick to look to build on what was a good 2009 all things considered.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Miami Dolphins

A – It’s all over for the Dolphins though, and I expect the Steelers to finish strongly here.
C – I think the Steelers will edge this one. They want to and need to finish strong.
G – For the reasons above it should end up being a good even game. Dolphins win.

The Champion Steelers fall short again.

San Francisco 49ers @ St. Louis Rams

A – There are worse ways to end the season that by visiting St. Louis…49ers to win.
C – I reckon they’ll [49ers] finish strong and destroy the Rams.
G – Yes, I had high hopes for the 49ers this year and to be fair they have improved. I kind of hope we get to see them at Wembley in 2010! In fact that is my tip Oh, and a win this week too.

The Rams are that bad that a really average 49ers team can come to town and take the win. The Rams end up with the #1 pick.

Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals

A – A very hard game to predict, but I like the Packers more so will pick them here.
C – This week (as most weeks) i’m going for a Packers win.
G – The Cardinals at home are always tough to beat and for that reason alone I am backing them.

Green Bay takes the early advantage agains the Cards. We’ll see how important that momentum is the repeat fixture!

Baltimore Ravens @ Oakland Raiders

A – I have to think the Ravens will be motivated – and ultimately too good – for the Raiders.
C – Ravens all the way baby
G – I am backing Baltimore here.

The Ravens win, and head to New England next week.

Washington Redskins @ San Diego Chargers

A – But who cares! I’m not going to catch Graham and this is my team. So Redskins to win.
C – The Skins have indeed been battling hard but it won’t be enough.
G – I can’t really see the Skins upsetting the Chargers here. Chargers win.

So close…

Tennessee Titans @ Seattle Seahawks

A – Hard to say which team will be more up for this, but maybe Chris Johnson only 128 yards from 2000 will be enough to fire the Titans past the ‘Hawks.
C – Titans win and CJ to get the 2000 yards to top his fantastic second year.
G – Titans should have more than enough here.

Go CJ, go. Getting 2000 yards can be a bit of curse, so let’s keep our eye on him next year. But it’s been a great one for Chris Johnson, if not for the Titans.

Cincinnati Bengals @ New York Jets

A – I think it’s more likely they’ll look to finish strongly against a team that could well be visiting them next week. Bengals to win.
C – Jets win. The Bengals have been dire lately where-as the Jets have played hard and looked pretty good.
G – The Jets will be riding a high after last week. I can see them picking up a win here. Jets win.

Mmm… The Jets are perhaps the least deserving playoff bound team in a while. As the Jets visit Cincinnati next week, let’s hope the Bengals haven’t given up an early advantage here.

What We Got Wrong

New England Patriots @ Houston Texans

A – The pundit in me – such as it is – says the Patriots will win this one.
C – …I’m going for a Pats win.
G – Both teams have actually been hard to call this year. I expected one thing and they both delivered something else. I am backing the Texans.

The Texans had enough to get a winning record, but not enough to make it into the post-season. None of us begrudge them this win, and they remain a favourite team of ours to watch.

New York Giants @ Minnesota Vikings

A – Giants to win this one as the Vikings coast into the playoffs.
C – I’m expecting a battle. I think the Giants will come out on top.
G – Vikings win for me.

Well, there was a team that quit early.

Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A – Coming off two wins, it’s easy to fancy them [Bucs] for this game but I think Atlanta will have enough to see them off.
C – I fancy Tampa to win this week too.
G – Tampa have really been turning it on. I fancy them at home this week.

Atlanta close out an anti-climatic season with a business-like win against the Bucs, who’ve continued to struggle despite making strides across the board.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys

A – I think they’re [The Eagles] a better team than the Cowboys, so will pick them but this one could really go either way.
C – Definitely a hard game to call. However, my gut is telling me an Eagles win so that’s what i’m going for.
G – Hard game to call, but I am going with the Cowboys.

Ouch. In a complete turnaround from last year, the Cowboys took this one with ease. Like with two other games, these two teams meet again next week in what look like some interesting match-ups.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos

A – I think they’ll have enough to get past the Chiefs.
C – I can’t look past the Broncos here. Everything to play for so expect a full assault on the Chiefs.
G – Broncos for me too.

Oh dear. Another team that quit. Let’s hope McDaniels hasn’t lost the team for good.

Final Standings

Graham and I disagreed on 10 matches and split them down the middle for 10-6 each. Craig did slightly better with 11-5 and that’s the season.

Our final records are respectable, if unspectacular. None of us managed a perfect week, but Craig’s 15-1 in week 14 is the best single performance. Like-for-like, he posted the best record overall.

Graham has the dubious honour of having the only losing week (6-7 in week 8), but only just! My two 7-7s in weeks 5 and 6 hurt my end numbers.

We’ll be back later in the week with out thoughts on the wildcard games, and also seeing how the season played out based on what we thought before it started.

	Andrew	Graham	Craig	Guest(s)
Week 1	11-5	13-3	N/A	Chloe: 11-5
Week 2	9-7	10-6	N/A	N/A
Week 3	11-5	11-5	N/A	N/A
Week 4	10-4	9-5	N/A	John: 10-4
Week 5	7-7	9-5	N/A	N/A
Week 6	7-7	10-4	N/A	Lawrence: 8-6 Brian: 9-5
Week 7	10-3	11-2	9-4	N/A
Week 8	8-5	6-7	N/A	N/A
Week 9	9-4	7-6	N/A	N/A
Week 10	12-3	10-5	N/A	N/A
Week 11	12-4	11-5	11-5	N/A
Week 12	9-7	11-5	12-4	N/A
Week 13	10-6	12-4	9-7	N/A
Week 14	13-3	14-2	15-1	N/A
Week 15	10-6	10-6	12-4	N/A
Week 16	10-6	9-7	10-6	N/A
Week 17	10-6	10-6	11-5	N/A
Total	168-88	173-83	89-35	38-19
Total %	66 %	68 %	72 %	68 %

Image Credit: Skaines