The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter 

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

New Orleans Saints at

Atlanta Falcons

Sports are just better when people don’t like each other. I recognise that’s something we don’t want to teach kids no matter how true it is. The backdrop for this game is perfect with the Saints players completely dismissing the Falcons as rivals.

Saints linebacker Scott Shanle called the Falcons “little brothers” after handing Atlanta its first loss of the season in Week 10.

Saints fullback Jed Collins told reporters that New Orleans has been the Falcons’ “kryptonite.” Would you really give Matty Ice, Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez and Julio Jones this much bulletin board material if your secondary has been under construction longer than the New Providence Road Improvement Project?

FALCONS over Saints

Carolina Panthers at

Kansas City Chiefs

Cam has his swagger back, and the Chiefs media are being treated to awe inspiring “Elvis Grbac isn’t walking through that door folks” speeches at press conferences.

PANTHERS over Chiefs

San Francisco 49ers at

St Louis Rams

Even in a completely mistake-filled game Colin “Willie Beamon” Kaepernick looked comfortable and did enough to keep the starting job heading into week 13. Can we finally do away with the “you can’t lose your job to injury” line? It’s one of the greatest lies in sports...right up there with there’s no “I” in team, college football and basketball players at major DI schools are amateurs, and players signing a contract for “the love of the game.”

49ers over Rams

New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins

I’m not going to think myself out of it, I’m just going to do it.

DOLPHINS over Patriots

Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans

When a team that has had to suffer through the David Carr era has a chance to clinch a playoff spot this early, they take it. 

TEXANS over Titans

Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears

I’m worried about Jay Cutler just two weeks removed from a concussion and playing against a defense led by the century’s biggest defensive backfield who just happens to be appealing suspensions for violating league substance abuse policy. Then again, it’s hard to have confidence in a team that just loss to the Dolphins.

BEARS over Seahawks

Indianapolis Colts at Detroit Lions

After you come up short in a “nobody believes in us, but we’re going to give it our all to play spoiler in primetime” game...there’s nothing left.

COLTS over Lions

Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers

The Packers shrunk from the moment last week in a primetime matchup against the Giants. I know what Aaron Rodgers does in these situations but I have no idea what Chritian Ponder does. Is this Joe Webb’s Wille Beamon moment?

PACKERS over Vikings

Arizona Cardinals at New York Jets

The Cardinals may be the only team with a worse quarterback situation than the Jets. Also, they play in Arizona which can’t be good for morale.

JETS over Cardinals

Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills

I loathe Chad Henne’s success. Really? You couldn’t do this in three years at Miami? Now you’re a saviour? And you’re doing it with Cecil Short!?

BILLS over Jaguars

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Denver Broncos

I think Peyton takes it personally when he plays against young quarterbacks like Josh Freeman. Twenty years from now he’ll be showing up at high school practices out throwing people just for the fun of it. Showoff.

BRONCOS over Bucs

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens

I have no idea who’s playing quarterback for the Steelers. Injuries have watered down this rivalry so much, it’s like watching Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson run in 2012.

RAVENS over Steelers

Cleveland Browns at Oakland Raiders

It’s about time for the Carson Palmer era to be done and the Raiders to take their shot at the Willie Beamon model of modern quarterbacking - athletic, minority quarterback with a “rags to riches” story enters game for injured experienced veteran...enter Terrelle Pryor.

RAIDERS over Browns

Cincinnati Bengals at San Diego Chargers

At this point the Chargers are just playing for the end of the Norv Turner era. The football gods need this to happen.

BENGALS over Chargers

Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys

If the Cowboys can’t beat Nick Foles...shouldn’t the NFL just award Cowboys Stadium to the Super Bowl winner every year. I feel like the people in Dallas deserve better (but I’m enjoying this while it’s happening).

COWBOYS over Eagles

New York Giants at Washington Redskins

We’ve reached the point in the season where the ashes of Eli rises over the Meadowlands like a confused Manning-faced phoenix. The season really begins now.

GIANTS over Redskins

SANNIE’S PICKS

FALCONS over Saints

“If you read the column you would know Atlanta is a staple for me. No matter who they play.”

PANTHERS over Chiefs

“I may not know much about football but I do know the Chiefs suck. There is no way I’m picking them.”

49ers over Rams

“I’m really mad that no one told me how sexy Colin Karpernick is. No seriously. I am really mad.

DOLPHINS over Patriots

“Reggie Bush needs me. I won’t desert him like Kim did.”

(Reggie Bush actually dumped Kim K)

TEXANS over Titans

“I feel bad for Matt Schaub after being kicked in the groin last week. That must’ve really hurt.”

BEARS over Seahawks

“Bears RB Matt Forte gave laptops to an entire inner city Chicago football team. That was so sweet. He gets my vote”

COLTS over Lions

“Ndamukong Suh is just so scary and he plays so dirty. I don’t like him very much.”

PACKERS over Vikings

“I just can’t pick the Vikings so any team they play I’m for.” (Sannie has picked the Vikings three times this year, all wins)

JETS over Cardinals

“You just have to love Tebow. He is too sexy.”

(Tim Tebow will continue to sit out with a rib injury)

BILLS over Jaguars

“I just like Buffalo, mainly because of the wings but hey, that strategy has worked for me before.”

(It hasn’t, the Bills are actually 1-4 in the last 5 games Sannie has picked them)

BUCS over Broncos

“Peyton Manning may not be a looker but he is so cool. I really like him.”

RAVENS over Steelers

“Must we go through this every week. I’m a Ravens girl. All the way.”

BROWNS over Raiders

“Two teams I vowed to never pick. Guess I’m going to have to go with my namesake and pray they don’t disappoint me.”

(All three Browns wins this season have come on weeks when Sannie didn’t pick them)

BENGALS over Chargers

“I don’t think I’ve given the Bengals a fair chance because I don’t like their name. So I’ll choose them this week, just to be fair I guess.”

(It’s because she thought the team’s name was “Bangles,” like the jewellery, until about week 10)

COWBOYS over Eagles

“Eagles just have way too many injuries for my liking. First Vick and now that delectable specimen DeSean Jackson. Some bad karma over there.” 

GIANTS over Redskins

“I just don’t like the Redskins, no real reason. I just don’t like them.

(The real reason is RG3’s hair)

FISHER’S PICKS

FALCONS over Saints

PANTHERS over Chiefs

49ers over rams

PATRIOTS over Dolphins

TEXANS over Titans

BEARS over SeaHawks

LIONS over Colts

PACKERS over Vikings

CARDINALS over Jets

JAGUARS over Bills

BUCS over Broncos

RAVENS over Steelers

BROWNs over Raiders

BENGALS over Chargers

EAGLES over Cowboys

REDSKINS over Giants

Week 12 RESULTS

Sannie: 9-7

Fisher: 7-9

Ramblings: 12-4

SEASON STANDINGS

Ramblings: 117-58-1

Fisher: 111-64-1

Sannie: 106-69-1