Mother’s Day is this coming Sunday and while I know all the Digital Dads reading this have everything already covered for the mom’s in their life, our friends at AT&T also wanted to celebrate moms with a fun, shareable video e-card. It is a special edition of the popular “It’s Not Complicated” campaign.

In the new commercial that will air Friday through Sunday, mediator Beck Bennett strays from his usual “what’s better, bigger or smaller?” and instead asks, “who gives the best hugs?” to a unanimous response – mom does.

Now you can add some Mother’s Day swag to Mom’s inbox, Facebook, or Twitter by creating a video e-card from the kids. Hop on over to ATTMothersDay.com and make your own personalized version of the “It’s Not Complicated, Moms are the Best” video for free courtesy of AT&T.

Disclosure: I received a free HTC First smartphone in exchange for promoting AT&T’s Mother’s Day e-card that is part of the “It’s Not Complicated’ campaign.

Photo credit: ralph and jenny on Flickr

As I discussed in this space last week, we’ve been trying to incorporate a number of meatless dishes into our weekly meal plan. Recently, Manwich asked me to come up with an original recipe using their products for their Case of the Mandays campaign to help promote family meal time, so I decided to see if I could create a Meatless Manday.

It was definitely a risk, as one does not typically associate a meatless dish with Manwich, but it definitely worked out great. Craving chili I went with my gut and decided to see how I could transform it into a meatless dish using Manwich Thick and Chunky as a base ingredient.

For the longest time I’ve been making my wife a curried lentil stew for her to take to work for lunch. And the first thing I did when learning to prepare meatless dishes was to expand my lentil repertoire, as they are hearty and chocked full of protein. So, working from lentils as a substitute for the standard ground beef, I set out to make what would become my lentil and kale chili.

It came out rich, hearty, and flavorful. I garnished the bowl of chili with some shredded cheddar cheese and some thinly sliced scallions to add both a different color to the plate and texture to the meal. Surprisingly, it was even a moderate hit with our children.

To encourage consumption by our two children under the age of five, I did tone down the level of spice in this chili to make it a little more family friendly.  So if your kids are older, or more accustomed to spicier fare, you’ll probably want to make some adjustments to suit your families’ taste.

Overall, this lentil and kale chili was a crowd pleaser and will become part of the regular rotation at our family dinner table. As if that wasn’t enough, there are three other reasons why this dish makes for a great weeknight meal:

First, it is a one pot deal, so clean up is a cinch. Even though I do the cooking while my wife does the cleaning, I do whatever I can to limit the mess I make. This way we have more time between dinner and the bath time struggle to spend together as a family.

Second, a single batch makes roughly eight to ten servings, so depending on how big your family is you can scale it to make more, or be ready with several meals in advance. You could have dinner for multiple nights already prepared, or, since it freezes well, have a single meal you can grab whenever you need a lunch in a pinch.

Finally, it was very economical. All of the ingredients to make a single batch cost me less than $15, or $1.88 per serving based on eight servings.

Manwich would like to help you get over your Case of the Mandays and get your family together at the dinner table. After the recipe below you can enter to win a Manwich Manday Survival Kit, which includes:

• 1 Calphalon skillet ($80 value)
• 4 Manwich bibs
• 1 wooden spoon
• 1 mini canister of handiwipes
• $50 grocery gift card
• Manwich product

This great prize pack is worth more than $150, so enter from now through March 25, 2013. And, for even more Manwich Mandays ideas, be sure to check out all the entries in the Case of the Mandays campaign.

Lentil and Kale Chili with Manwich

Software

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 3 bell peppers, finely chopped
• 4-6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 6oz can Hunt’s tomato paste
• 2 cups brown lentils
• 2 15oz cans Manwich Thick and Chunky
• 1 10oz can Rotel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chiles
• 4 cups veggie stock
• 2 cups water
• 1 bunch kale, sliced into ribbons
• salt and pepper, to taste
• scallions, thinly sliced (for garnish)
• shredded cheddar cheese (for garnish)

Assemblage

1. In a large saucepan or dutch oven heat the olive oil, then add the chopped onion and a pinch of salt and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, or until translucent
2. Stir in the garlic, cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, then add the chopped green bell peppers
3. Add the chili power, cumin, oregano, and paprika, then stir to coat the vegetables
4. Mix in the tomato paste and cook for three or four minutes until the paste turns a deeper shade of red
5. Add the lentils and stir to combine, then add the can of Rotel and both cans of Manwich
6. Lightly season with salt and pepper, then cover the mixture with the vegetable stock and water and bring to a boil
7. Once boiling reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the lentils are at the desired tenderness
8. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, if necessary
9. Ladle the chili out into a bowl, garnish with cheese and thinly sliced scallions, serve and enjoy

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I am a compensated Weeknight Meal Expert for Manwich. Also, I was provided Manwich products to develop my recipe, as well as a prize pack similar to the one being given away. The recipe, ideas and opinions expressed in this blog post are my own.

With a field that does not include the slowly surging Tiger Woods or dominant Rory McIlroy, the Tampa Bay Championship at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, FL turns its eyes to Sergio Garcia to win the course. The 17th ranked golfer sure could use this win to climb up the ranks early in the season. Yet, with only one top ten finish this year, is Garcia still a player to be feared on the course? With so many of the top players not putting down tees this weekend, perhaps this is a solid chance for Garcia to move into the top ten.

Garcia has some history on this course. He’s finished in the top 20 in his last two starts here, and is playing with a chip on his shoulder right now. He’s ready to serve up a strong challenge to the younger players on the course. With 12 straight top 25 finishes, there really is no reason to doubt that Garcia can win this weekend. I mean, save for defending course champion Luke Donald.

Donald is ranked 3rd in the world right now, only behind Woods and McIlroy, yet the attention is clearly on the other two. There is no reason not to think that Donald won’t finish in the top ten this weekend – at least. Frankly, there is no reason to not think that he and Garcia will be paired up on Sunday as number two and one respectively. Copperhead isn’t a course with many surprise, so the key is going to be getting down the fairways quickly and saving a stroke for the traps and possible windy conditions.

While these two might be fighting for the lead on Sunday, don’t count out Adam Scott. Personally, he’s one of my favorite golfers and I like to watch this guy play. He’s got a smooth swing and already has two top ten finishes and two top 25 finishes this season. Its early in the season, but I bet Scott would really love a win. Again, with the top two players out, and if he’s able to push out Donald and Garcia, Scott has a serious chance to pull off a win here. He’s definitely going to be in the top ten, and we’ll see by the end of Saturday how he’s looking for the last 18 holes.

With all stops on the tour, you always try to find that dark horse in the field. There is always a player out there that we haven’t seen much from that will rise up during the four days and play amazing. This weekend, I’m looking at young Ryo Ishikawa to step up. He’s been playing for par lately, and needs to fire up his game before we really see what he has to offer. But at only 22 years old, Ishikawa needs to seize an opportunity to make a name for himself, and this weekend would be the perfect opportunity for it. He hasn’t done well in his last three appearances, tying for 39th, missing the cut and tying for 61st.

No matter who wins this weekend, it’s a chance for a player who is not Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy to get their name in the headlines for at least a day or two.

The Tampa Bay Championship at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, FL runs Thursday – Sunday.

If the name Cabo conjures of image of consuming cerveza during college spring break at joints with names like El Squid Roe, it’s time to re-boot. Cabo is cool. Or more accurately, it’s hot, as temperatures this time of year average around 80 degrees during the day. The climate is ideal for taking full advantage of the splendid beaches, water sports and the many resorts that offer stunning views of the Baja coastline.

Just a part of Cabo’s natural appeal is its unusual and striking geology – it’s officially a tropical desert climate – formed by the juxtaposition of the desert with the Sea of Cortes. True, it has become a tourist mecca, but if you know how to navigate you will doubtless find diversions and delicacies to delight you.

Here are eight ways to enjoy a Cabo vacation.

EAT WELL
1. Flora’s Field Kitchen in San José del Cabo is not particularly easy to get to. You might even find the driving directions somewhat intimidating (“fourth traffic circle…cement plant…dirt road up the hill…). It can also be challenging to get a reservation in peak season. However, the easy solution is to book early and hire a taxi, because Flora’s is so worth the trip.

The restaurant is situated on the very farm from which it sources its ripe ingredients. The chefs cook what they harvest, so everything changes by season. It doesn’t get any more “eat local” than this. Not only is the freshest food perfectly prepared, it is served professionally in a magical outdoor setting that has a relaxed but lively vibe. Yes, that’s Ray Romano and crew at the next table, and George Clooney was here the night before with Jennifer Aniston — but you don’t go to Flora because it has been discovered by the Hollywood elite. You go for glorious homemade food in a charming, outdoor locale.

You might begin with an inventive seasonal cocktail, perhaps a martini infused with house-made lavender bitters, or a beet-ginger margarita that sounds odd but works well. Crostini — one with chicken liver pâté and pickles, one with caponata and ricotta — were sublime starters. The arugula salad with red onion, candied pecan, and goat cheese was dressed with a sprightly vinaigrette, a savory composition of taste and textures — and do not miss the wood-fired pizzas. Our version was made with mozzarella topped by a mound of the freshest arugula dressed lightly with a lemony vinaigrette and Parmesan. Main courses include daily specials (spaghetti and spicy meatballs with homemade marinara, perhaps, and an ever-changing the fish of the day), as well as an oven-roasted pork chop or half organic chicken (bred on the farm), both tender and succulent. Dinners come family-style, with a fabulous array of vegetables. Creamed greens, old-fashioned mashed potatoes, and oven-roasted root vegetables all satisfy deeply. Save room for dessert, too. You won’t be disappointed by the coconut cream pie, the chocolate cake, or any of the others. All in all, I can’t say enough about Flora’s. This is beautiful eating.

2. Mi Casa, in San José del Cabo’s art district, serves authentic regional Mexican cuisine in a casual open-air courtyard, heated by gas lamps, if necessary. Don’t be put off the strolling Mexican trio playing “Guantanamera.” Your meal will be mighty tasty. It might begin with the queso fundido, a small vat of melted Monterrey cheese mixed with pico de gallo and perked up by a splash of tequila. Of course there are all manner of ceviches, tacos, tostadas, enchiladas, and the like, as well as the classic soups of Mexico, like the sopa de tortilla or frijoles negros, otherwise known as black beans.

The grilled foods are well-seasoned and skillfully prepared. La sabana de pollo al carbón, pounded and grilled chicken breast, was flavorful for such a simple piece of protein, and my grilled rabbit, on the evening’s list of specials, was as good as any I can recall. The classic cochinita pibil of shredded pork was exemplary and you can’t get hurt by camarones jumbos — jumbo shrimp — however they’re prepared. The pastel de tres leches (“three-milk cake”) is a sweet ending.

3. Located well off the tourist routes in Cabo San Lucas, La Fonda also cooks up the Mexican classics. But this is not your typical local establishment. Starting with a strong margarita, you’ll recognize many of the usual standards of the Mexican kitchen, such as enchiladas and tacos, but executed at a high level. This is a real opportunity, though, for the more daring eaters to sample chapulines and gusanos, i.e., grasshoppers and worms, respectively. Or huitlacoche, known to us gringos as corn fungus. If that’s not to your taste, there’s no need to worry; the chef is dishing out genuine gastronomy. The 48-ingredient mole was a textbook example of the genre, enriched by ground nuts and cocoa, served with your choice of either chicken or pork. The lobster in soft tacos did not disappoint. From savory soups and sandwiches to serious sauces, this is the kind of excellent Mexican restaurant you wish you had in your own town.

La Fonda
Miguel Hidalgo Matamoros 23410
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico‎
+52 624 143 6926

PLAY WELL
4. Swim with the dolphins. If you’ve ever dreamt of cavorting with Flipper, there are two operations around Cabo where they’l take you for a ride. Literally. Get your wetsuit on and get in the water with these absolutely remarkable mammals. You spend an hour playing with them and they’ll take you for a spin around the water. The constant smiles on the kids’ faces made it worth the price. You have two options: one is Cabo Dolphins in downtown Cabo and the other is Ocean Riders in San Jose del Cabo. Cabo Dolphins felt a bit more “packaged”, and takes place in a huge pool, whereas Ocean Riders runs a more intimate experience from an enclosed area in the sea.

5. If you prefer to stay dry, you might appreciate a few hours whale watching, also offered by the aforementioned Ocean Riders in San Jose del Cabo. There is something uniquely spectacular about jetting around on a zippy, rubberized boat (that seats about 15) while chasing 50-foot long, 20-ton whales on a beautiful day at sea. Of course the payoff is when you behold these immense sea creatures doing their thing. For the less motion-inclined, there are also lovely sailboats and larger motorized vessels that offer similar sightings.

6. Speaking of motorized, get me on an ATV scooting and pouncing around the desert and I’m a happy camper. There are undoubtedly closer-by options, but we opted for the 45-minute ride to Motosol. In a word, wow. Be ready for a bumpy, yet beautiful 2-hour guided ride through the Baja that culminates with a glorious spin on the shoreline. Yes, there is a small element of potential danger involved, and a modicum of skill required, but if you’re feeling adventurous, this is the real deal.

SLEEP WELL
7. You can find every major hotel chain in this part of the world, but if you’re among the fortunate who are feeling flush, you might consider lodging in luxury at one of the full-service resorts. The Esperanza offers sweeping views that overlook the dramatic coastline. Comfortable and spacious rooms include all the usual high-end amenities. Some even come with their own pools, but most guests congregate at one of the three large ones on the property, one of which is reserved for adults only. A stunning vista is the featured highlight throughout, from a bountiful breakfast buffet to outdoor cocktails and dinner at sunset…even making s’mores on the shore by night. Of course, with fine restaurants, a very well-equipped gym and spa, and helpful service, you can find any number of ways to revel in the splendor.

8. The One & Only Palmilla is special. Recognized by Conde Nast Traveler as the top resort in the region, some accommodations come with your own infinity pool…as well as your own butler. Think of it as a personal concierge. With a ratio of two employees for every guest, it’s clear they take their hospitality seriously. To say that the surroundings are lush and magnificent is an understatement. Whether you choose to fall asleep on a hammock implanted on the beach, enjoy a round of golf on their Jack Nicklaus designed 27-hole layout or just grab an ice cold cocktail at your seat in the pool, The One & Only is every bit about your leisurely pleasure. Three restaurants serve fine cuisine and libations; the gym and well-appointed spa can be used to compensate. Or better yet, lounge on the pristine sand under the Mexican sun as the pelicans fly above and contemplate the good fortune of your existence.

Photo Credit: The Los Cabos Convention and Visitors Bureau

Roasted Cauliflower Coconut Bisque

adapted from a recipe at the PBS Fresh Tastes blog

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• 1 medium head cauliflower
• olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 1 medium onion, roughly chopped
• 1 medium leek, roughly chopped
• 1 jalapeño, roughly chopped and seeded
• 1 2″ chunk ginger root, roughly chopped
• 3-4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 bunch cilantro, roughly chopped
• 2 stalks lemongrass, halved and bruised
• zest and juice of one lime
• 2-3 cups vegetable stock, unsalted
• splash of rice wine vinegar
• 1 can coconut milk
• scallions, for garnish
• chili spiced cashews, for garnish
• Maldon sea salt, for garnish
• olive oil, for garnish

Assemblage

1. Break down the head of cauliflower, place in an oven safe roasting pan, drizzle with olive oil, add salt and pepper, then place in 350 degree oven for 40-45 minutes, or until golden brown
2. While cauliflower is roasting, sauté onions in a heavy bottomed pan for 5 to 6 minutes, or until translucent
3. Add leek, jalapeño, ginger and garlic, and continue to cook for another 3 to 5 minutes
4. When cauliflower is finished roasting, add to the heavy bottomed pan along with the cilantro, lemongrass, lime zest and juice and two cups of the vegetable stock
5. Bring soup base to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 35 to 40 minutes
6. Remove the bay leaf and lemongrass and discard
7. Transfer the soup base to a blender in batches (you may need to add some of the remaining cup of veggie stock to thin things out).
8. If desired, run through a fine mesh strainer
9. Bring the blended and strained base back up to a low boil in the heavy bottomed pan and add the coconut milk and cook for 5 to 10 minutes
10. Taste and adjust seasoning, as necessary
11. Ladle the finished bisque into bowls and garnish with thinly sliced scallions, crushed chili spiced cashews, a pinch of Maldon sea salt, and olive oil
12. Serve with some crusty bread and enjoy

Thankfully, my wife and I have never celebrated Valentine’s Day.

But, I know that we are not most couples and there is a good chance that you are on the hook to do something special tomorrow. I want to help you with that.

First off, unless this is your first Valentine’s together or you are younger than 18, skip the flowers, stuffed animals or chocolates. If you have to give in to the same old same old then can I at least suggest you go big and get something from Epiphany Chocolates or Vermont Teddy Bears? At least than, it shows you put a little thought into it.

Oh and while we are talking about the basics, we should discuss the card. There are so many different philosophies when it comes to buying a card. Personally I find them to be a waste of money, but every woman I’ve ever been involved with loved them. Don’t skip buying one. You know your companion better than I do. Be smart if you go the humor route because you don’t want to offend. Overly sappy can be creepy if it is a new relationship. When it doubt go simple and classic.

Now, what are you going to get here since you waited until now to think about it. Here are some ideas for you:

• Take her out to dinner.
  Try giving OpenTable a whirl to see what around you actually has openings left. You might get lucky and get an early or late dinner. If you strike out call around and plead your case. 
• Pampering is a great go to.
  You are guaranteed to have a spa of some sort around you. Buy a gift card that will cover a variety of personal pampering. Some even offer massage card programs so you can give her six months of massages. Many women won’t take the time to pamper themselves, but when it is a gift how can they say no?
• A framed picture of you two.
  Preferably a funny or special moment between you two. Look up where the nearest Kodak Kiosk (or something similar) and get a nice print done. You can buy a frame at your local art store or Target. Don’t skimp on the frame and take your time in picking out a great one that compliments the photo.
• Something she has been talking about wanting.
  You have been listening right? We all drop clues about things we’d love to get for gifts. Hopefully it is something you can run out and buy. A gift that they want is perfect unless it is something over practical. Give her that new vacuum or iron she mentioned and you won’t be having a fun night.

I know those are only a couple of items, but with only a few hours what did you expect? You should have planned better.

If after all this you still drop the ball or my singular advice ends in your special someone not being too happy with you then you should watch this video from Ze Frank as you prepare for battle.

Hope Valentine’s Day goes great for both of you.

Well, this is it kids. The final NFL column of the season here at Digital Dads. While there is plenty that happens during the offseason (like where Tebow will end up) it’s not worth writing about until next season, as I don’t paid like all those know-it-alls at ESPN and CBS Sports. That being said, I do have a couple post-season predictions that I’d like to get out of the way.

First is that Alex Smith will end up in Arizona. The Niners have already said they aren’t bringing him back next season, so he’ll be taking his talents elsewhere. I’m thinking he’ll stay in the division. I think Vick will be playing for Jets, Sanchez will be backing up somewhere, maybe starting in Oakland, and Tebow will land in Jacksonville. Aside from that, I expect that there won’t be any surprises in the draft, besides who takes Manti Te’o and his imaginary girlfriend. The kid can play, I hope this doesn’t prevent him from going in the first round.

Then, days before the Superbowl it comes out that Ray Lewis was using performance enhancing drugs. There’s a fucking surprise. I wonder if it was cause God told him to? The guy drags God into every other conversation, so clearly God must have sanctioned this as well. Either way, a sore point going into the Harbaugh bowl.

Baltimore at San Francisco – February 3, 2013, 6:30 PM ET – 47.0 O/U -3.5

At first, this was easy for me in my head. I picked the Niners and I’ve been picking them solid all week. I even predicted a Harbaugh bowl a year ago. But then I started looking at the teams and specifically their last couple of wins. The Niners beat a struggling Packers team, then beat the Falcons – probably their strongest opponent in the last month of the season, but certainly with their own issues. It was a defensive stand that gave them the win there, and was impressive. Yet, the Ravens solidly beat a very good Denver team and Peyton Manning on the road, then beat Tom Brady on the road as well. Flacco was outstanding in both games, hitting his stride late and making those deep passes.

The threat of Kaepernik running the read option is there, but the Falcons showed that you can bottle that up. Gore took over the running load, but that wasn’t enough to beat the Falcons. Came down to defense. I think the Ravens defensive game plan will take the read option into consideration. I also think that the Niners receivers will be shut down by the Ravens corners, who have stepped up in the last couple weeks (if you can stop Welker from catching a ball, you can stop anyone.) They hit hard, and that rattles receivers with fear.

As for the Niners defense, they don’t have a read option to worry about, just being able to stop Ray Rice from winding a path through the gauntlet. The Niners defense needs to quickly pressure Flacco. Giving him time to throw the ball down field will not end well for them. I think they apply pressure, but Rice is right there to get the outlet pass and run away. The running game should be interesting. And I’m tired of the argument against defense winning championships. Both these teams are top defensive teams and the Niners got here because of a defensive play. Defense wins championships.

I expect a mid range scoring game, 24-23 final score with the Ravens on top. Look, I think the Niners are a great, young team and will be right back in the big game soon. I just don’t think it’s going to be this year. Also, Randy Moss, shut the hell up. You are no Jerry Rice. See you next season.

About six months ago I wrote about AT&T’s It Can Wait campaign to help prevent people, especially teens, from texting while driving. The campaign has been a tremendous success with over one million pledges and counting since the start.

While the progress has been good, the need to spread the word is only really just beginning. AT&T would like your help by taking the pledge yourself either through the It Can Wait website. From there you can take the pledge on the site, or through their Facebook app that is linked up in the header.

And, as a thank you to you for helping to spread the word, AT&T has generously given us a really cool prize pack you could win, which includes:

• A Samsung Galaxy SIII
• An “It Can Wait” branded case for the GSIII
• Two thumb bands
• Two “It Can Wait” stickers
• A t-shirt
• And a promo code for one large device SkinIt

To win just leave us a comment telling us that you’ve taken the pledge and shared it with your friends and family to encourage them to do the same. You can also enter by telling us a texting while driving story that you’ve experienced.

The winner of the prize pack will be chosen using Random.org based on all comments received through midnight on Monday, February 4, 2013.

So, please, take the pledge (if you haven’t already) and help get the word out over your social networks. It really can wait, and, if it can’t, then pull over and remember it is not just your life at risk. We don’t need anymore things like this happening:

Disclosure: I received the same prize pack that the winner of this contest will receive from AT&T as a thank you for helping them spread the word about the “It Can Wait” campaign. All opinions, however, are my own.

Well, I was right on about every game last week – except for Denver. That’s three out of four again. Look, the Broncos should have won that game – just like the Colts should have won the week before. Except the Broncos really fucked up. They had the single worst defensive play of the season when they gave up that TD with 30 seconds to go. Where did you think the pass was going to go? Why was a safety not standing on the goal line? They fucked that up, then in OT Peyton got pushed around and finally made a fatal error. I opined last week about Peyton’s ability to play in cold weather in the playoffs, and while I picked him to win I kind of knew that he wasn’t going to.

Both the Patriots and the Niners dominated, but only the Niners looked like a playoff team. Harbaugh held that read option look until the playoffs and it worked. The Falcons might be prepared for it, but I doubt that they’ll be fully prepared for it. The Packers are struggling lately in the playoffs, and that game made a strong case for the importance of a running game in a pass heavy league. They couldn’t establish a play action. Meanwhile the Patriots just keep scoring, no matter who Brady is throwing to. Doesn’t matter. While Joe Montana might have had Jerry Rice all those years, Brady doesn’t need just one guy, he can make any guy a star.

So this is the second to last column of the year, then a hiatus until the season kicks back up again. So you should be full of sadness. Me, I’m going to go cuddle with my guns before they are taken away. Just kidding. I don’t cuddle.

San Francisco at Atlanta – January 20, 2013, 3:00 PM ET +3.0 49.0 O/U
The first game kicks off in the Georgia Dome, which sucks for the Niners. I think they have that energy at home which really helps the team and Atlanta gets super lucky at home. Like last week, when they nearly gave the game away and just beat the Seahawks. Frankly, I’d love to pick the Falcons to win this game and I think they can, and might. But I have to put more value on Colin Kaepernik than one should put on a human being. The guy is a good pocket passer, has the patience of a veteran and makes RGIII look like a chicken with his head cut off. Whether it’s a designed run or a snap decision, the kid has his head on straight. Now, Harbaugh busted out the read option against the Packers who have no run defense and play a classic smash on the line. The Falcons also play a smash, but in preparing for either the Seahawks or Redskins with that week off, they prepared for a running QB. Their secondary just didn’t prepare for the deep ball. So that’s what it comes down to, if the Falcons can contain Kaepernik, and I don’t think they do. At least not for a whole game. He won’t peel off 181 against them, but he’ll get a couple runs, extending plays. For that, I’m taking the Niners to just edge out the Falcons, though I wouldn’t mind being proven wrong.

Baltimore at New England – January 20, 2013, 6:30 PM ET -8.5 51.0 O/U
In this rematch of last years AFC Championship game, not much has changed. Of course the Patriots are favored, but the Ravens are playing with some sort of fire, and you can credit Ray Lewis for that. The now cyborg ex-con is a locker room preacher and gets a team fired up. Joe Flacco, who played amazing last week to little or no fanfare, is still the key to the offense. The kid has a fantastic arm and uses it. The Patriots secondary will not be able to stop the deep ball, and this game will certainly come down to who can score the most points. The Patriots front seven and the defense will have to be on the ball this week, no flip flopping like they’ve done all season. Belichick always finds a way to win, or at least compete in these types of games. The real key for the Pats though is Welker. If he can continue to David Copperfield opponents, then a win is nearly guaranteed. I’m not too worried about Gronk being out, as Hernandez can carry that load and there will be plenty of tricks up the sleeve of the Hoodie. Patriots to win.

Now, for your entertainment, Bad Lip Reading does the NFL. Hilarious!

Golf is a young man’s game.

There was a time when that statement wouldn’t even be a consideration among golf affectionados. That’s not to say that golf, specifically the PGA Tour, would be considered an old man’s game – just an experienced man’s game. Players like Ernie Els, Jim Furyk and Phil Mickelson fit into the traditional mold of professional golfers – in the combination of years played and tournaments won. However, there is a new crop of 20-something players that is giving them a run for their money and taking over as the face of the sport. Where Tiger Woods once stood alone as a young superstar, these young men have taken charge and at least one of them may be the next great golf superstar.

Dustin Johnson

The 28 year old has yet to win a major championship, but his athleticism and swing has serious potential. In fact, he is one of the longest drivers on the tour, ranking in the top five for distance every year he’s been on the PGA tour. That hasn’t translated into wins, but once he solidifies his short game – the wins will come.

Rickie Fowler

The 23 year old only missed three cuts in 2012, won one tournament and finished in the top ten six times out of 23. That’s not too shabby for a guy with endless swagger on the course. With a killer stroke with a 9-iron, the key for Fowler is going to be containing that swagger on the course and finishing the game on the green.

John Huh

Not the strongest driver, Huh relies on pinpoint accuracy to win on the fairways. A rookie on the 2012 tour, the 22 year old finished 28th on the money list. He hasn’t found the star power yet, but his short game and general attitude about the game has his poised to be a star.

Ryo Ishikawa

At only 20 years old, Ryo has few flaws and a bright future ahead of him. At the end of 2008 he was the youngest player ever to reach the top 100 of the World Gold rankings. His nickname “”Hanikami Ōji” means bashful prince, but there is nothing bashful about his swing or the rest of his game.

Webb Simpson

There are power players and then there are finesse players. Simpson is a little bit of both. He understands the nuances and details of the game and is solid off the fairways and on the fairways. The trick for Webb is to power out of his consistent play and finesse his way onto the top of the leaderboard.

Rory McIlroy

Two majors by the age of 23, four wins overall. The Northern Ireland golfer has certainly made an impact on the PGA tour. He’s confident, he’s cocky and he sees the course like no other young player around him. Both those major wins were on completely different courses, and he’s proven that he’s up to the challenge no matter the hazard.

Kyle Stanley

With a huge swing, the 24 year old missed 10 cuts this past season. Part of that has to do with the swing, part of it has to do with an almost bi-polar approach to the game. When he is on, he is on. Conversely, when he is off, he’s off. Thankfully, when he is on he’s a serious factor for the other players making the top 25 eight times in 27 starts. With a win in the Waste Management Phoenix Open he found out that when he is in fact on – he can do great things.

Keegan Bradley

With a 2011 PGA Championship win, Keegan let the golf world see what he could do. With a propensity for eying the ball more than many other players, this 2011 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year is on the way up. The trick is getting his tee-to-green game to a solid place where we can count on him always being competitive. Plus, how can we forget his pure excitement during team play at the 2012 Ryder Cup? The 26 year old still needs to solid up his singles game – losing to Rory – but he’s got the energy for the challenge.

Anthony Kim

Recovering from Achilles surgery, Kim is yet to match his success from 2008 when he pulled out two tour victories. However, even he has admitted he didn’t always respect the game, thinking his talent would help him rise above it all. Hopefully the surgery humbled him, and we’ll see him back in the game fighting for a spot on the leaderboard.

The bottom line is that the game of golf is changing. These young players are a prime example of that. In a field once dominated by household names, the above players are changing the sport. They are bringing in younger viewers, they are bringing a fresh energy to the PGA Tour that had been severely lacking since Woods dropped off the leaderboards. Now with Woods rising back up to lead this group of rising stars, the PGA Tour will find itself soon competing with Nascar for weekend fans.

So last week I went a respectable three out of four. I really did not expect the Colts to give it away like they did. Their front offensive line pretty much helped make it open season on young Andrew Luck. I really wanted the Colts to win because I like what they’ve been able to do this season and I really don’t like the Ravens. What I didn’t count on was Ray Lewis coming back, and getting like nine tackles. Without Ray Lewis, the Colts may have won that game. When I wrote the column last week, I didn’t know he was going to be back in.

So I’m writing this from a Starbucks in Planet Hollywood in Vegas where I finally have good WiFi. I’m here for CES and probably won’t even get to the convention floor. Meetings, meetings, meetings. I mean, meetings with the Roulette table. Oh yeah baby. So as I’m writing this, the guy next to me is having a sex chat with his girl via Skype. I can tell cause she’s wearing little, they went from verbal to typing and every time I glance over it’s like watching one of those porn videos people talk about. Thankfully, he’s keeping it classy by not unzipping right here.

Anyway, I better get this written up, I have a meeting in a few minutes at some hotel that I’ll probably get lost in. Actually, I want to ditch the meeting cause after researching the company it seems really super mega boring and I don’t want to do super mega boring right now. At least I’m not having ACL, MCL and every other CL surgery like RG3 right now. And at least I’m not fired like a shit ton of coaches, including now Rob Ryan, who will most likely not be working in NY with his brother. And at least I’m not Peyton Manning, who knows damn well he’s going to have to play in the cold against the Patriots next week. It’s inevitable.

Baltimore at Denver -9.5
The Ravens pose an interesting challenge for the Denver offensive line, can they control the speed and toughness of a recharged and pumped up defense? That’s the only key to this game. People are questioning Manning’s resolve, whether or not he can handle the week off and the cold weather, I think that isn’t a problem this week. I think the Broncos get an early lead and pound out the rest of the game, leaving Manning able to avoid the rush and save himself for next week, in the cold again, against the Patriots. The Ravens got lucky last week, with Lewis coming back, I don’t think they have the same energy this week, at least not after the first quarter. Broncos to win.

Green Bay at San Francisco -3.0
The big question for this game is how do the Packers contain Frank Gore? Earlier this year, he ripped off over 100 yards against the Packers, then watched as Adrian Peterson did it to the Packers in the last game of the season. However, the very next week the Packers figured something out as they held Peterson in check and were too much for the Vikings without their star running back. I think we could see them show the same defensive fronts against the Niners this week, the only x-factor being Colin Kaepernik. That kid can run, and unlike RG3, he’s got a much stronger physicality to him. He’s not going to twist an ankle getting tackled, and he’s going to use the read and spread option to confuse the defense because he can actually pass the ball. So the Niners then have to worry about Rodgers just lighting up their secondary in the nice weather in San Fran. Sure, he plays well in the cold, but he plays better when he’s comfortable and his receivers have warm hands. This game really could go either way, but I’m taking the Niners by a nose.

Seattle at Atlanta -1.0
The Seahawks were impressive last week, but it is not going to matter against the stronger offense of the Falcons. The Seahawks defense has been lights out against the run, and their secondary has been more than competent. The thing is, Matt Ryan and his top flight receivers in Julio Jones and Roddy White can do things that most teams cannot defend against. Those back shoulder throws, and getting the ball up high enough so that only those tall receivers can get it are just a few. Add to that the constant threat of play action and the arsenal of weapons at his disposal and the Falcons offense will be hard to beat. Of course, we know how the Falcons tend to choke in the post-season, so we’ll see if they do. But for now, I’m sticking with the Falcons to finally get that sweet post-season victory.

Houston at New England -9.5
Clearly you have noticed the trend here, I’m picking all home teams, and I’ve already picked the Patriots in the opening paragraph. So, as well as the Texans have done this season, defensively or otherwise, the Patriots are built for the playoffs and that’s why they are going to win. Patriots to win, with little discussion.

The first week of the playoffs is here, which means that the word count of this column shrinks considerably. I’m sure you are wondering how I did on my picks this year, I came in around 66% or better most of the time, only having two losing weeks. I think. Frankly, I didn’t keep very good track this year. It’s been a busy year. A lot of transitions, got laid off, got a new job, still trying to find a place where I can be a creative for a living, a writer, whatever. This cubicle shit is killing me. I’m better than that. Working on it.

So, as for the picks this week. I was wrong about the Bears, they didn’t make the playoffs. The Cowboys choked (as expected) and the Giants were unable to make it in. And then all the coaches started getting fired. The only one who didn’t deserve it was Lovie Smith. The rest were bums guilty of bad decision making and scapegoating. Then there are the Jets, who fired the GM but allowed Rex Ryan to keep his job. Which is a joke. The guy clearly proved this year that he has no fucking clue what he’s doing with the tools provided him.

Here’s some additional predictions for the offseason. Mark Sanchez to the Raiders. Tebow to the Jags. Alex Smith to the Cardinals. Vick to the Jets. I also predict, assuming they get a coach worth his salt, the Browns will be a playoff team next year. Mark the fucking tape.

Cincinnati at Houston -4.5
Coming into the playoffs after a loss, Houston has got to be wondering what went wrong against the Colts, because the Bengals will be watching that tape for sure. The Bengals are coming in off a high, having to win their last couple games to get into the show. So they have a pretty stout opponent in Houston, and with Law Firm most likely out after a leg injury, they will have to rely on the passing game to get things going. Look for AJ Green to have a career day against corners that seemed a bit on the lazy side this week. Of course, this is the playoffs and players tend to step it up. Plus, statistics favor the home team in these situations. This one is tough though, as the Bengals defense is one of the most underrated in the league. I don’t think they stop Foster though, he’s AP lite. Houston to win at home.

Minnesota at Green Bay -9.5
I don’t think the Vikings beat the Packers two weeks in a row. Not at Lambeau field, and not in the playoffs. Adrian Peterson came within 9 yards of breaking the single season rushing record, yet after the game was humble enough to not acknowledge that fact and concentrate on the win. I think AP shreds Green Bay again, but not enough to win. Ponder needs to step up his game if AP is to be effective again. The play action has to work, the Packers need to be afraid of Ponder’s arm. I think they surprised the Packers last week, I don’t think it happens this week. And with Jordy Nelson back and running the team (you see him pick up the red challenge flag and school the coach) the Packers should move on to the next round. Packers to win.

Indianapolis at Baltimore -6.5
The Colts went from worst in the league last year, to the playoffs this year. That’s a hell of a turnaround, and here’s why. Anticipating the return of Manning, the Colts made sure that the offensive line was beefed up to previous standards. Last year, it didn’t matter cause the QB’s sucked. This year, with Andrew Luck, that beefed up offensive line gave him the chance to succeed, and that he did. Ballard came on strong later in the year, thanks to that offensive line, and TY Hilton is defining himself as an elite receiver. The defense has had their problems, but the run defense is stout, and it’s going to have to be against Rice and the Ravens. But I still don’t think they can fully succeed without Ray Lewis leading the defense. I think the Colts come out firing, build up a lead and force Flacco to throw the ball, which can sometimes be good or bad. First upset of the playoffs right here. Colts to win.

Seattle at Washington +3.0
This was actually the easiest game for me to pick. The Seahawks are defensively, not to be messed with. This game matches up two QB’s with similar styles, and two running backs (Lynch & Morris) with similar styles. It’ll be interesting to see who breaks off more yards. It’ll be Lynch. The Redskins offense, with RG3, relies on the zone-read option, which brings in the safeties and gives RG3 either a passing lane or a running lane. This only works if he’s 100% healthy, and he’s not. If there is no threat of him breaking off a huge run, then the zone-read is useless. The Cowboys defense was no test of this, the Seahawks defense will be. They’ll be running a contain and will be after RG3 like crazy. Seahawks to win.

Well, the final week of the regular season is upon us. That means that most of you are done with your fantasy football season. I have one more game, the second half of the final, which I’ll probably lose as I’m going in down by 51 points. I lost my other final too, so that means second place in two leagues this year. Lame, but the good news is that I get double my money back and had some fun along the way. Next year, I’m winning them all.

In other news, the playoffs are just about set – in the AFC. The NFC is still waiting for the East to get their shit together, and the North to figure out a wild-card, which could come from the East as well. The Giants and Cowboys are at 8-7, Washington is at 9-7 which means it comes down to the final game of the weekend to decide that division and who gets into the playoffs, though that decision could be made before then if the Giants lose to the Eagles and the Bears and Vikings lose, or something like that. Or reverse. Whatever happens, I bet the Giants will find a way to sneak into the playoffs again. We’ll keep it quick this week, so you can go back to finding after Christmas sales and watching porn. Don’t lie. That’s exactly what you’re doing.

Tampa Bay at Atlanta -0.0
Atlanta has already clinched home-field advantage and will be benching starters in the second half. The Bucs have played well this season, to a fault. I’m still taking the Falcons at home. FYI: if they win, I was totally right about their record.

NY Jets at Buffalo -3.0
Who cares? Um… Bills to win.

Baltimore at Cincinnati -3.0
Nothing to play for here as the Ravens have the division and both teams have made the playoffs. I gather this will be a slow game, none of the players looking to get hurt. Sucks for the product sometimes, but I get it. Bengals to win.

Chicago at Detroit +3.0
The Lions, who have had a forgettable season with an undisciplined defensive line, have a chance to play spoiler here. The Bears have not yet made the playoffs, but a win here gets them in unless the Vikings also win, and then I’m not sure what happens. They are 1-1 on the season, though the Vikings have more division wins. So that must be the tiebreaker right? Either way, the Bears have to win, so expect them to come out attacking the Lions secondary, who will almost certainly be sleeping on the job this week. Bears to win.

Jacksonville at Tennessee -4.0
If the Jags fuck up getting Tebow for next season, then they are roasted as a franchise. They will lose whatever fans they have left. TEBOW TEBOW TEBOW TEBOW. Titans to win at home cause that Jake Locker kid is actually not as bad as he looks.

Houston at Indianapolis +7.0
Houston and Indy have both clinched the playoffs, Houston has the division but probably wants this win to lock up home-field advantage. So they’ll be playing to win. Great defensive season for them, hopefully TJ Yates stays on the sidelines in the playoffs. The Colts went from worst to the playoffs in a season, with a little Luck and a tenacious defense. That, and four games against the Titans and Jags. They can rest starters, they can’t change their position. Texans to win.

Carolina at New Orleans -5.5
I’m surprised that Carolina won 6 games. Saints to win at home, by like a billion points just for one last blowout party of the year.

Philadelphia at NY Giants -7.0
The Giants have to win this game if they want to get that longshot chance at the playoffs, and they couldn’t ask for a better divisional match-up this year. Even better for the Giants, there is early word that Vick might start, which is yet another in a long line of dumbass decisions by Andy Reid this season. Why in the fuck would you start Vick? Chances are he’s gone next season, now is the perfect time to keep Foles in and evaluate him against a strong Giants team. Whatever. Eagles are terrible. I was wrong about them though, predicted they would go 8-8. And I was 100% wrong about the Redskins. Who knew?

Cleveland at Pittsburgh -0.0
The Steelers are out of the playoffs for the first time in a long time. Last year they got Tebow’ed, this year they get to finish the season on a low note against the Browns. The Browns have had nothing to play for since like week 4, so they will be going full steam this week just to try to beat the Steelers twice in a season since… probably ever. I’m taking the Browns to win.

Kansas City at Denver -16.0
Ha ha. Denver to win and cruise into the playoffs. Here’s the question though, can Manning win after getting a week off in the playoffs? Hmmm???

Green Bay at Minnesota +3.0
The Vikings absolutely have to win if they want to get into the playoffs. The Packers have sealed up the division and would probably like to ensure they have a 1st round bye. So they’ll be on their game this week, which is bad news for the Vikings secondary. And no weather to fuck with Rodgers passing game? Yeah. Packers to win.

Miami at New England -10.0
Patriots are right where they should be. Coasting into the playoffs and if you think they will be resting starters, you are nuts. Miami to lose. Bad.

Oakland at San Diego -0.0
I wonder if Oakland kept the receipt for Palmer? Chargers to win.

Arizona at San Francisco -16.5 AND St. Louis at Seattle -10.5
May as well run this division all at once. The Rams and Cardinals have had crummy seasons, the highlight for the Rams was beating the Niners in overtime and forcing a stupid tie in their other game. The highlight for the Cardinals was… was… nothing. The Seahawks have been on fire, but that running up the score shit and passing late will come back to haunt them in the playoffs. They need a win this week to get the division, if the Niners lose. I think. I have no idea what the tie breaker is here either. So confusing. Someone read the rules. Either way, Niners and Seahawks to win, to make it super confusing.

Dallas at Washington -3.0
And the big meaningful game for the NFC East. Know what? The Cowboys aren’t going to win this game. The Redskins are playing too good, rushing too good and RGIII has been a quality rookie surprise. I’m taking the Redskins to win, but to lose in the first round of the playoffs.

I was at my home in the middle of work when I had heard of the children and adults that were killed and survived, and immediately turned on my television for clarity. I watched and listened to these news anchors reporting as quickly as possible, with welled up stares toward each other in order to complete a job, but with a look of wanting to abandon the post after compounding layers and layers of indescribable grief and pain. My attention turned immediately on my son and made arrangements to go pick him up from school. In times like these, a parent struggles with what to say, how to say it, or which way is the right foot forward to take. That evening, I brought my son home, and then immediately went to my room alone – and cried.

There is some insight for all parents in this, but first I have to comment as a fellow human among our culture. As a therapist I wondered how long it would be before there would be a “copycat” that would then seek to raise the bar in infamy after the sensationalized horrifying event that took the lives of those during the opening of movie. With the marketing of war video game fantasy, access to guns, greater acceptance and sensationalism of intolerance and personal political divisions in family relationships, and a culture that shames men in seeking mental/emotional support while undermining and positioning women to a “weaker” social ladder for being emotional and seeking common support…I wondered as to how long would it be for an individual who may feel socially fractured to lash out.

Indeed, I vented, “I’m sick and tired of individuals blaming others for what has been done wrong to them in life, then acting out revenge on the innocent. Individuals need to take courage to seek help for themselves vs taking this route of cowardliness.” I look back at my comment with sadness as a member or our own society, knowing as to how many men, women, teens, and children actually do try to seek help and support, while mostly receiving judgmental comments, eyeing services out of financial reach, feeling the blame, shame, and receiving hostility by others that willingly provide with social encouragement. Certainly, the finger can be pointed toward anyone, but the most influence in society we can provide is in the change of our own attitudes – to recognize that when others are effected, so are we; that when we improve and strengthen ourselves, give ourselves the priority of self-respect and health, that we improve our families, community, and society as a whole.

In short, the goal, then, would be to become one’s best self while in the service of others. An individualistic society aims the individual to feed its own ego to the belittling of others by focusing on who’s better, whereas a more community focused recognizes the individual as an appendage to the community and part of the fabric of others, and does not ignore the value and needs others require as part of one’s own community and future environment. Perhaps, most parents recognize this change in attitude when one feels this almost internal evolutionary shift to protect the child at all cost – our future society.

So where to go now as parents? Please read the following sites. They provide a brief and straightforward outline of reactions to this event, and other events in one’s life that occur that are anxiety provoking, stressful, and/or traumatic. As parent’s, we don’t always know what is right, or even give ourselves the grace to falter, but this quick read will hopefully provide comfort in how to speak with your children, what to look out for, what to do, and how to give oneself some grace. Be mindful.

Helping Your Family Cope with Anxiety and Stress by the Parent Encouragement Program:
http://www.pepparent.org/pubs/Advice_from_PEP_School_Shootings.pdf

Managing traumatic stress: Tips for recovering from disasters and other traumatic events:
http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/recovering-disasters.aspx

Peace to you and your family and our children’s tender souls. – Joe

For my latest assignment as a FiOS Ambassador, they asked me to share some of my favorite holiday movies and shows.

They are currently running a contest in conjunction with ABC Family: 25 Days of Christmas which is showing a ton of holiday classic programming.

Don’t we all remember when we were growing up and some of the same shows we watched every single year even though we could recite some of them from memory? I sure do.

Over the years the list has been added to and thankfully Verizon FiOS shows a lot of these every year so I can find them when I need a fix.

Here are some of my current favorites that we watch as a family every year:

• Elf – How can you not love Buddy and all the crazy things he does?
• A Charlie Brown Christmas – A TRUE classic. When Linus gives his big speech it officially starts feeling like Christmas to me.
• A Christmas Story – Fra, ra, ra, la, la and the leg lamp. What more do you need?
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas – Dr. Seuss is my all time favorite author, so this is an obvious one. We only consider the original cartoon version the real one.

We watch a ton of other holiday specials and movies, but these ones are must watch or the holidays are not complete.

What are some of your favorite movies and shows that make the holidays what they are?

Disclosure – I am a compensated member of the FiOS Ambassador Program. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For the first time ever, I’m in the final in two of three fantasy football leagues. That’s nuts. How did I do it this year? It all comes down to drafting well and choosing reliable players. There was no one on my team who ever hit the IR, so I was never struggling to replace a spot. Every week I went with the match-ups and picked players that were going to perform, regardless of whether or not I thought their team was going to win. When Vick Ballard was the starter in Indy due to injury to Brown, I picked up Ballard. Why? I knew he’d get all the carries, regardless of if he even hit the end zone. You get points for RB’s over 100 yards. Besides that, Matty Ice and the Atlanta defense were awesome this year. Good call me. However, there is one more game to go and in one league I’m up against Aaron Rodgers, so we’ll see. Second place is the first loser after all.

The NFC East is crap. Everyone thinks they are elite, knotted up at 8-6 (save for the Eagles) but c’mon, that’s either parity or they all are just blowing it. The Giants getting rocked last week, the Redskins beating the Browns? All three teams are fighting for the division. With the Vikings and Bears also at 8-6, and Seattle at 9-5, chances are only one of those NFC East teams are going to make the playoffs, the winner of the division. Right now, the Skins hold the tiebreaker, but there is still a little infighting. The Redskins have the Eagles this week, so there’s a win. They could very well be in the playoffs.

In other news, pending the end of the world tomorrow, there are only two weeks of the regular season left and then the playoffs. So that means that it’s almost time to ignore the pro-bowl. Not to be ignored, Adrian Peterson, who ran for a billion yards against the Rams (the Rams!) last week. MVP? Comeback player of the year? I’m still voting for Peyton. As for the picks, this time of year I start breaking down what went wrong, and next week I start ignoring the losers.

Atlanta at Detroit +3.0
Atlanta is heading to the playoffs, and hopefully Matty Ice keeps throwing. The Falcons have done everything right this year, let’s hope they don’t choke in the first round again. What went wrong in Detroit? This team was plagued by a terrible secondary all year long, double coverage on Johnson and WR injuries and bad time management by Swartz. The Lions were no where near where they were last year. Plus, their defense just loves spreading bad game karma (Suh). Falcons to win.

New Orleans at Dallas -1.0
Obviously, a must win for the Cowboys. We know what went wrong with the Saints this year. Losing a good coach can do that to a team that needs coaching. However, in the past couple weeks the Saints have woken the fuck up and every offensive player has become a defensive nightmare. Speaking about defensive nightmares, the Cowboys have not been terribly impressive on either side of the ball, much less the defense. I have the Saints knocking the Cowboys out of the playoff hunt.

Tennessee at Green Bay -11.5
What went wrong in Tennessee? CJ2K got that mad money, then forgot how to run. Jake Locker showed his growing pains and the defense lost a leader in Finnegan. The Packers, well, nothing went wrong. They just kind of were chilling the first half of the season. Packers to win by a good margin.

Indianapolis at Kansas City +6.0
The Colts are going to benefit from only six teams in the AFC having a winning record, as they seek a playoff berth. It’s going to be wild-card, but that’ll do. That’ll do. The Chiefs have had a terrible season, finally resorting to poor Brady Quinn who has managed to validate the Browns letting him go. You know you suck when the Browns feel good about losing you. The Chiefs would do well to lose out, as they are now competing with Jacksonville for 1st pick in the draft. Colts to win.

Buffalo at Miami -4.5 CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK!!
It’s like the Bills, Jets & Dolphins got together mid-season and said “let’s make sure the Patriots have an easy six games this year, and lets not win that much so they can make the playoffs.” Does Toronto even want the Bills playing there once a year? Poor Toronto. Dolphins to win. Who cares.

San Diego at NY Jets -1.0
What went wrong in San Diego? Easy. Norv Turner once again proved he’s a terrible late game play caller and the defense was just shredded in too many games late in the game. They got tired way too quick and Rivers just looked pissed all season. The Jets. Whoo boy. What else needs to be said? Sanchez is finally benched, but it’s too little too late. And why in the fuck did Rex Ryan take Sanchez out last week for a dumbass Tebow play when Sanchez was actually on a hot streak? Fire Rex. Fire Sanchez. Let Tebow go play in Jacksonville where he can be a star. For this game, Chargers to win.

Washington at Philadelphia +5.5
The Eagles. Another team where everything that could go wrong, did. Andy Reid made bullheaded decisions, fired people that were doing fine jobs to use as scapegoats and inexplicably kept starting Vick. That’ll be over soon as the Redskins, who have surprisingly done everything right this year, will beat the pants off them, prompting fans to run Reid out of town for good. Skins to win.

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh -4.0 UPSET SPECIAL!!
The Bengals have one game up on the Steelers, but still need to win one of two to make the playoffs. The Bengals are in a great spot, but it would be better if they won both games. That shitty loss to Dallas two weeks ago did not leave them in the best sort. So their destiny is truly in their hands and they get to play rival Pittsburgh to decide it. If they lose here, then next week is a must win for both teams if one of them wants to get in the playoffs. I predicted the Bengals rise up a few weeks ago, and I’m sticking with them. Dalton turns the ball over a lot less than the Steelers have been lately, and the Bengals defense has been lights out. Bengals to upset.

St. Louis at Tampa Bay -3.0
I predicted six wins this season for the Bucs and they are at six wins. The Rams are also at six wins, so I can see them winning this game. Both of these teams underperformed this year, but at least the Rams looked like their players and coach were trying harder. Schiano is a scumbag and that scumbag karma has come back and kicked him in the ass. The Rams have some offensive power, but they have to stifle Doug Martin otherwise he’ll do to them what Peterson did last week. I’m taking the Rams to win, but only if they stop the run.

Oakland at Carolina -9.5
I was honestly surprised at how bad the Panthers were this year. Their win/loss record does not mesh with Cam Newtons ego. Oh, could that have something to do with it? Don’t do the fucking Superman dance if you are losing dipshit. Just score, hand the ball to a ref and go back to work. You rookie fuckers could learn something from Tom Brady and other elite quarterbacks, something you’ll never be if you keep acting like egotistical asspricks. The Raiders blow. Carson Palmer will most likely retire in shame. Panthers to win.

New England at Jacksonville +14.5
The Jags really should have made a stronger play for Tebow. I don’t even know where to start with this team. Will they ever compete again? Who the hell knows. If the Patriots don’t put 50+ on ‘em I’ll be surprised. Pats to win.

Minnesota at Houston -9.5
The Vikings need a win to get lucky and land in the playoffs. The Texans need a win to secure a bye week. This should be an interesting game, because everyone was lauding AP last week for his huge day against the hapless Rams. Let’s see if he can do it against a defense worth their salt, especially against the run. J.J. Watt has a taste for QB blood, so Ponder better throw that ball quick. I’m taking the Texans to win at home and get that bye.

Cleveland at Denver -13.0
I don’t even have to talk about what went wrong with the Browns, they are the Browns. Us Browns fans know what went wrong, they exist. Ugh. Richardson was the one standout this year, but I don’t see him racking up the yards against a stout Denver defense. And now that Peyton has got his shit together with the O-line, forget it. I do foresee the Browns getting at least one or two picks off Manning, who has made a few bad throws this year. Broncos to win.

Chicago at Arizona +5.5
The Bears road to the playoffs goes through Arizona, who after getting trounced by the Seahawks beat up on the Lions. Go figure. The Arizona defense hasn’t been too shoddy, but the roundtable at QB has been a shame. The Bears couldn’t ask for a better match-up to grab a playoff spot though, if they lose this game they don’t deserve the playoffs. Bears to win.

New York at Baltimore +1.0
Baltimore has already clinched a spot in the playoffs, but would love to hold the Bengals at bay and take the division. The Giants are going to once again wait until the last minute to get into the playoffs and probably end up in the Superbowl. Eli seems to play better under pressure, and the wild-card round fares well for the Giants. Unlike his brother, who usually gets too much time off without facing a loss and then loses in the first round of the playoffs. The networks and everyone else is rooting for a Manning v Manning Superbowl, but that ain’t gonna happen. The Giants win here though, just cause I really hate the Ravens and Cowboys.

San Francisco at Seattle +1.0 GAME OF THE WEEK!!
And finally, the game of the week. Why? Because if the Seahawks win this game, they have a shot at the division, but that would mean the Niners would have to lose next week. Who do they play next week? The Cardinals. And the Seahawks have the Rams. So really, the winner of this game really matters for the division. Even though the Niners made the Patriots look bad at home last week, the Seahawks are coming in hot. Another big win, yes, over a struggling Bills team, but still a big win last week. They are scoring points and running up the score. That can be bad karma though, and the Niners have all the weapons and the number one defense. Come crunch time, it’s the Niners. Niners to win.

About a month ago my wife and I met up with a friend for dinner at a restaurant over in the arts district of Charlotte. This is one of my favorite areas of town because it has tons of great restaurants, and, more importantly, several of the great microbreweries that have popped up over the last three years.

One of the appetizers at this particular restaurant was “blasted brussel sprouts” and both of my dinner companions were eager to try them. These sprouts were roasted, then tossed with an arugula and walnut pesto, which I thought was a solid way to make them more palatable.

Veggies and I have a very sordid history. It’s only been recently that I’ve started taking to certain vegetables, and most of the time I eat them reluctantly. However, since having these “blasted” veggies my food processor has been working over time making pesto. Coating cruciferous vegetables with essentially pureed vegetables is a flavorful revelation for someone that generally cannot stand them.

For some, cruciferous vegetables can taste quite bitter. To others, they are virtually tasteless. This is due to compounds in them that some are genetically inclined to taste, whereas others are not. I definitely fall into the majority who finds cruciferous vegetables, which include kale, bok choy, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage amongst others, quite bitter unless roasted for a long time and flavored with other things. Like bacon.

Over the past few weeks I’ve made pesto blasted cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and broccoli for dinner and served them the likes of grilled chicken, pork cutlets, and pan seared New York strips. While the cauliflower has been my clear favorite, I’ve enjoyed eating all three. I’ve even gone back for seconds.

We haven’t had much traction in getting the kids to eat these, but my wife is happy that I’ve become more enthusiastic about eating vegetables at dinner time. Aside from setting a good example for my kids, cruciferous vegetables are considered to be quite healthy for you, as they are high in vitamin c, soluble fiber, and contain multiple nutrients and phytochemicals with potential anticancer properties.

Lastly, they are super easy to prepare. After washing and breaking down your cruciferous vegetable of choice, all you have to do is heat up a pan until it is super hot, add some canola or other neutral cooking oil that holds up well to high heat, caramelize them, season with a little salt and pepper, then turn down the heat and cook until they reach the doneness you desire. We tend to like ours on the crunchier side, so I cook them for about 15 to 20 minutes. Brussel sprouts need about 30 to 40.

Finally, after removing them from the heat, allow them to cool slightly in a bowl before spooning a few tablespoons of the arugula and walnut pesto, or a pesto of your choosing, on top and tossing until well coated. These pesto blasted cruciferous vegetables can be served with a number of different proteins, or some nice pan roasted potatoes if you’re trying to keep your meal vegetarian.

What is your favorite way to “hide” your vegetables to make them more palatable to eat?

Books for adult friends with a sense of humor:

1. Can you think of even one single man who wouldn’t be thrilled to receive a book entitled
How to Live With a Huge Penis? I can’t. Buy.com.

2. Who says coloring is for kids only? Here is Coloring for Grown-Ups: The Adult Activity Book. Amazon.com.

3. For those particularly obsessed by breasts, fear not. There’s Color My Boobs!: A Titillating Coloring Book for Adults. Amazon.com.

4. A young, free-range chicken… a dominating, ravenous chef… 50 recipes to make every dinner a turn-on… Yes, it’s here, so go ahead and dominate dinner with 50 Shades of Chicken. Fiftyshadesofchicken.com.

For New York-lovers:

5. All types of items — onesies, messenger bags, doggie hoodies — that say NY hearts ME. Get ‘em here.

6. All about New York [*Caveat: Most of these have to purchased in person]. FlavorWire.com.

7. Yo Brooklyn: A hip neighborhood type map for your hipster peeps. Etsy.com.

For foodies:

8. Cool looking stainless steel spice rack, $89. Emmohome.com.

9. I LOVE this kitchen knife set with unique holder. See why it’s also known as “The EX” ($130). Ricsb.com

For those with a passion for coffee and bacon:

10. What would you do with coffee syrup? Pour it over ice cream and into drinks… DavesCoffeeStore.com.

11. High end bacon and stuff. Food52.com.

12. Funky glassware. Uncommongoods.com.

13. Even More Gifts for Food Lovers, according to the Village Voice, from books and accessories to lobster and booze. VillageVoice.com.

For parents of toddlers:

14. The “onesie” that says 9 Months Ago My Mommy Read 50 Shades of Grey. Etsy.

For the 1 percent:

15. Got $28,000 to spare? Might be time for that new spiral wine cellar… TheFancy.com.

Shop away!

Not to brag too much, but I picked two big upsets last week, the Chargers over the Steelers and the Redskins over the Ravens. Now, I don’t think I can do it again this week because I also missed some picks last week that made sense to me, liking picking the Eagles and Jets to lose. Those wins made sure that the coaches and quarterbacks in question have jobs next year, securing their place in mediocrity for at least another year. So enjoy that Eagles and Jets fans!

Week 15 means fantasy playoffs are in full swing, which means that if you are basing start/sit decisions on this column, you are out of your fucking mind. Though, some of these match-ups bode well for some fantasy players. I’ve got to decide if I want to play Matt Ryan or Andy Dalton, one at home against a strong defense, and one on the road against a shitty defense. Flip a coin. I think on the fantasy team that has AJ Green, I play Dalton, the one that has Gonzalez, I play Ryan. Yes, I have two fantasy teams in the playoffs. Go me.

With only three games left in the season, there is still a lot of clinching to be done. Last week sucked for a lot of teams, such as the Ravens, who needed to win to either clinch divisions or playoffs. The losses opened the door for other teams, though I’m really disappointed by the Bengals loss as they are the team I picked to make a strong run to the playoffs. Many teams are not mathematically out, though this week should tie up all those loose playoff ends. So let’s see who the winners and losers are going to be…

Cincinnati at Philadelphia +4.0
In a year where everyone is talking about rookie QB’s RGIII, Wilson, Tannehill and Luck, no one has mentioned Foles at all – until now. The rookie QB has replaced Vick for the rest of the season, and already has two wins. He’s not a master at the game, and runs really slow, but he may just be what this struggling franchise and Andy Reid need. A win this week would be huge. However, after a shitty loss to the Cowboys, the Bengals need to win. The Eagles could play spoiler, but I don’t think they do. Bengals to win.

New York at Atlanta -1.0
This game is huge – for me. And for the Giants who need to win to keep the Redskins and Cowboys at bay. A win here and both those other teams losing clinches and sends the Giants back to the playoffs. A loss here and both those teams have a chance to steal the division. Getting wild. Meanwhile, Atlanta got the fuck off Carolina’s field last week, after getting trounced. Since they have clinched division and playoffs, have they gotten complacent? The defense seemed to be coasting last week, they’ll need to be on their best behavior this week. This game could be tight, but for the sake of the dome and the fact Eli can’t run like Newton, I’m taking the Falcons. If they don’t win, then they really can’t close out the big games.

Green Bay at Chicago +3.0 GAME OF THE WEEK!
The NFC North is probably the best battleground in football when these two teams are playing at a high level. Rodgers is the definition of an elite QB, and he had some big shoes to fill. Chicago needs this win to continue to fight for the division, at only one game behind. There was a point where it looked like Chicago would be dominating this division for the entire year, but at some point they faltered. Directly related to Cutler going out of the game last week. Cutler should be back this week, so this should be a great snow battle. I’m taking the Packers to win, just cause.

Washington at Cleveland -0.0
Interesting zero line on this game after the Redskins upset the Ravens in overtime. Could this have anything to do with yet another rookie, Cousins, getting to start due to RGIII’s minor knee injury? Possibly. Also, if RGIII was your fantasy QB, Cousins might be an okay pick, if the Cleveland defense is sleeping. But three straight wins and a crappy AFC have actually kept the Browns mathematically in the playoff race. Seriously. If the Steelers, Ravens, Jets, Dolphins, Chargers and Bills continue to lose and the Browns win out, then it’s possible. The Browns defense has been playing solid football, and the offense is starting to show some serious life. I’m gunning for the Browns at home this week, so I’m picking them.

Minnesota at St. Louis -2.5
Also still in the hunt are the Vikings, who visit a Rams team still stoked over a late win against the Bills, after an OT win against the Niners. The Rams receiving core have been awesome, so it’s up to the corners of the Vikings to shut them out. It really doesn’t matter though. Hand Peterson the ball 25-35 times, win the game. Done. But wait, the Rams held Frank Gore to 58 yards, can they contain Peterson? I smell upset, so I’m picking it. Rams to upset. Oh wait, the Rams are favored. So, Rams to win.

Jacksonville at Miami -7.5 CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK!!
While Miami is technically not ruled out for the playoffs, at 5-8 they may as well be. The Jags are depressing. They sold out this past weekend because Tim Tebow was standing on the sidelines. Imagine if they had actually signed the guy, they’d sell out every game and maybe have more than two wins. Ugh. Miami to win.

Tampa Bay at New Orleans -4.5
The Bucs blew it last week, they really did. Against a struggling Eagles team they managed to give it up in the end, and got seriously fucked. Now, at 6-7 instead of 7-6, the hill to climb to the playoffs is nearly insurmountable. Plus, they have to play in the Superdome this week against a team that just got unsuspended. No more bountygate, no more stress around that situation. The Saints will be playing revitalized and ready to fuck shit up. Saints to win.

Denver at Baltimore +2.5
Denver is their division winner already. The Ravens, at 9-4 are not. They have to win this week in order to clinch the division. But can they do it against a Denver team that has only lost to top tier teams? Are the Ravens top tier? Not since injuries ravaged their defensive front. While Ray Rice can cut through most lines, the 5th rated rush defense of the Broncos is going to give him problems. And Manning vs. a depleted Ravens secondary? Forget it. The Ravens are giving up major yards in the secondary. Just look a what the Redskins managed last week. Gave up nearly 300 yards passing, over 150 rushing. I’m taking the Broncos to win here, giving the Bengals another shot.

Indianapolis at Houston -9.5 UPSET SPECIAL!!
Indy is going to make the playoffs. The only teams in the AFC with better records are the division leaders. A win here would be significant, but the Colts are huge underdogs. My hope is that they spent this week watching tape of Brady dismantling the Houston secondary. The Colts have a strong offensive line, and can easily open up similar passing lanes for Luck. He’s no Brady – yet, but he can power a game. The Texans meanwhile may already be in playoff mode, which was evident on defense and offense. Their line made the Patriots low ranked defensive front look pretty damn good. Does it happen again this week? Do the Texans lose? I think they do, in overtime. Colts to upset.

Seattle at Buffalo +5.5
The Bills just love throwing away late leads don’t they? What a terrible team right now. Just sad to watch. The Seahawks will follow in the Rams footsteps this week, though wait – even though Pete Carroll pulled his starters in the romp last week, he still kept calling passing plays late in the game to roll up the score. Karma is a bitch Pete. Though lets be serious, no matter how much the football gods influence the game, it won’t be with a loss to the Bills. Hawks to win on the road.

Detroit at Arizona +6.0
The Lions have lost five in a row and finish the season against the Falcons and the Bears. This is their last chance for another win, a fifth win. What a terrible season. They haven’t been plagued by injury, instead they’ve been plagued by a coach who can’t manage certain defensive players who act like spoiled little bastards and haven’t done anything special besides kick people in the nuts and draw attention to themselves. Lacking a serious running game, unable to get Johnson out of double coverage (yet, he still might get the receiving record) the Lions have been shit. This week they win, only cause if they are shit, Arizona is whatever they are shitting in.

Carolina at San Diego -3.0
Another team mathematically still in it are the Chargers, but let’s be real here. Even with a win over the Steelers, the Chargers are still not going to make the playoffs. The thing is, with that win, Norv Turner will most likely get to keep his job. Thanks to some great receiver play from Alexander and Rivers actually looking all grown-up and shit. However, the Chargers welcome the unpredictable Panthers to town, who at 4-9 have nothing to lose by going batshit down the stretch. Big runs from Cam, big passes as well. Panthers to upset.

Pittsburgh at Dallas +1.0
This is an interesting game, like the schedule was written with knowledge of the future. Both teams at 7-6, both teams coming off a surprising game, one which saw a home loss and one which saw a road upset. The Cowboys, at home, are pretty terrible, but Romo shows those signs of greatness. With Dez Bryant out and a running game that is nearly non-existent this season, the Cowboys will have a tough time against the Steelers corners. Big Ben is back, probably wearing a shit ton of body armor, limiting mobility. I’m taking the Cowboys to win here, not sure why, just a gut feeling.

Kansas City at Oakland -1.5 CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK!! #2
Five wins combined, turnover city for both teams… yeah, who gives a shit. Oakland fans, are you as disappointed as KC fans? You should be. What a dump.

San Francisco at New England -3.0
Is there any question the Patriots have the best offense in the league? And their defense didn’t look too shabby holding the Texans to 14 points on Monday night. Now another night game against another supposedly elite team. The Niners want to win if they want to keep the Seahawks at bay. But an away game, in the possible snow, no way – the Patriots got this one man. I like that Kaepernick kid, but I don’t think it was wise to just bench Smith for no reason, that kid can win too. I think they’ll need his experience against the Pats. Regardless, the Pats score at will, so Pats to win. By more than three.

NY Jets at Tennessee -1.0
And finally this week we come to the 4-9 Titans at home against a Jets team that just can’t seem to go away. They don’t completely suck, but they have certain moments of suck. Which team am I talking about? Both of them. The Titans win, Johnson finally runs for 200 yards, 2 touchdowns and Jake Locker goes for 400 in the air. Final score, 56-12.

The holidays are approaching, so it is time to flex the creative muscles a little bit and come up with little twists on entertaining classics. One of my personal favorites is the deviled egg. Unfortunately, they rank very high on my wife’s list of things that she will not eat under any circumstances, so I rarely get an opportunity to make them.

This past week, however, my inlaws came into town to celebrate Christmas early, as my wife has to work this year. Since they are open to just about anything, I took the opportunity to make some deviled eggs replacing the mayonnaise and mustard in the traditional recipe with my smokey pancetta aioli.

I didn’t deviate too far the standard script, using a recipe I found at Serious Eats as the basis for mine. The only other thing I replaced was the hot sauce for a little liquid smoke and I added some shallots in for a little texture and flavor.

They came out amazingly good, creamy with a nice smokey flavor from the liquid smoke, paprika and, of course, the bacon. I garnished them with finely chopped bacon and chives, a touch of Maldon sea salt, and a light drizzle of extra virgin olive oil before dusting them with more smoked Spanish paprika.

And the best part of doing all of this was that I had plenty of aioli left over to make my favorite tuna sandwich of all time. Since I’ve never been successful in using either my food processor or an immersion blender to prepare an aioli, I only do it by hand and it takes far too long to do it as often as I’d like. Also, since I tend to overstuff my egg white halves, I usually have four to six leftover that need to be put to good use.

After mixing the leftover egg whites, the tuna, and the aioli, I dressed a handful of baby arugula with some lemon juice, olive oil and a pinch of kosher salt and made my family all a nice lunch. Plus we had a nice snack all ready for later when we exchanged our presents later that evening.

What are your favorite holiday entertaining recipes?

Smokey Bacon Deviled Eggs

Software

• 1 dozen eggs3 tablespoons smokey pancetta aioli
• 1 small shallot, finely minced
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon smoked spanish paprika, half reserved or garnish
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard powder
• 1-2 drops liquid smoke (optional)
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, equally divided
• salt and pepper, to taste
• chives
• crunchy sea salt (i.e., Maldon)

Assemblage

1. Place eggs in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water.
2. Put the saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil, then cover, remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes
3. Drain the saucepan and peel the eggs under cold running water
4. Split the hard boiled eggs in half, reserving the 18 best looking egg white halves
5. Put egg yolks to a food processor, then add aioli, mustard, shallot pickled in the vinegar, liquid smoke (if desired), spanish paprika, and mustard powder.
6. Pulse until smooth, occasionally stopping to scrape down the sides.
7. With food processor running, drizzle 2 tablespoons of the olive oil.
8. Taste, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
9. Scrape mixture into a zip top bag, cut off a corner and pipe the yolk mixture into the reserved egg white halves.
10. Drizzle with remaining olive oil and garnish with chives, sea salt, chopped bacon, and smoked spanish paprika, if desired.

PJ’s Smokey Bacon Tuna Sandwich

Software

• 1 can Bumble Bee Tonno in Oil
• 2-3 tablespoons smokey pancetta aioli
• 3-4 halves hard boil egg whites, chopped
• Baby arugula
• Lemon juice
• Olive oil
• Bread of choice

Assemblage

1. Crumble tuna in a medium sized bowl, then add the aioli and chopped egg whites and stir until combined
2. Spoon tuna mixture onto bread of choice, then top with baby arugula dressed in olive oil and freshly squeezed lemon juice

Disclosure: As part of the Bee Squad I receive product information and samples and Bumble Bee sponsored my attendance at the 2012 Type A Parent conference. I was not compensated in any other way, nor was I offered or promised anything else in exchange or my review of their products, recipes or BeeWell For Life program. All opinions contained herein are my own.

Only a few more weeks left in the NFL season and I just realized that my playoffs in both fantasy leagues don’t start til next week, though I believe I have clinched both, or at least one. But enough about me, how are you doing? Meh, I really don’t care, let’s talk about football.

This week we’ve got some seriously good match-ups, with playoff implications. Of course any team with a winning record has the playoffs on the mind. Already Atlanta, Houston, Denver and the Patriots have clinched, and it’s only week 14. Which means what, they’ll be resting their starters? Hardly, especially in the case of the Patriots, who will be playing their starters until they are knocked out of the playoffs, or win the Superbowl.

So, I don’t really have much else to say on a general front, so let’s get right into the picks for week 14. I’ll try to wrap this up quick so you can go back to whatever you were trying to avoid doing.

Denver at Oakland +10.5
Let’s see, already clinched the playoffs, have Peyton Manning or the team that just lost to Cleveland? Obviously, Denver to win. Here’s the rub with Manning though – is he winning too much? With the Colts, the break in-between winning the division & the second round of the playoffs seemed to take the air out of Manning, will this happen again this year? We’ll just have to wait and see.

St. Louis at Buffalo -3.0 CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK!!
The Rams were 29 seconds away from tying the Niners again this season. That would have been nuts eh? These two teams have moments of explosiveness, the Rams on defense, the Bills on offense, but I’m wondering if they will ever be playoff caliber teams. Already ruled out, they are just playing for contracts at this point. I can’t imagine Fisher is on the hot seat, but I know Gailey is. I have to take the Bills in weather though, as the Rams do tend to suffer from plays-in-dome-itis.

Dallas at Cincinnati -3.0
The Bengals are on a tear lately, solid running game and overall defense. The Chargers really didn’t stand much of a chance. And honestly, neither will Dallas. I know, you Cowboys fans think highly of your team and Romo tends to do better in the winter months, but just watch, the Benagals are going to slaughter the Cowboys in the turnover department. Not to mention the Cowboys corners tend to give up a lot in the middle. I’m taking the Bengals, and not just cause A.J. Green is on my fantasy team.

Kansas City at Cleveland -6.5
I think this is the first time all season that I’ve seen Cleveland favored. Regardless, the Chiefs may have pulled out a win last week, but for both these teams any win now is too little too late. The Browns have been coming strong all season, just finding a way to lose games late. I think this week they find a way to win one handily against the struggling Chiefs, which will be nice for a franchise that is already coach shopping.

Tennessee at Indianapolis -5.5
The Colts no longer need figurative luck, the have real Luck and this kid is the real deal. His final drive against the Lions last week, and that final play to win the game was seriously legit and I can’t wait to see this kid and this newly dynamic team in the playoffs. They should have no problem handing the Titans this week, who are generally too busy shooting themselves in the foot to win any games. And Chris Johnson? Yeah, how’s that money working out for ya? Colts to win.

Chicago at Minnesota +3.0
Don’t fret! The Bears are still legit. The Seahawks are just unpredictable. Russel Wilson is the real deal and can move, the Bears weren’t prepared for that. They will be prepared for the leagues best rushing in Adrian Peterson, but I can see the Vikings putting some unexpected points on the Bears this weekend. I’m not saying don’t play the Bears D in fantasy, I’m just saying don’t expect a blowout. A great divisional match-up, I think the dome makes a difference. Cutler will be majestic. Bears to win.

San Diego at Pittsburgh -0.0
It sounds weird, but Philip Rivers reminds me of Charlie Batch. Or is it the other way around? Anyway, Batch got a win for the first time on the road without Big Ben, but I don’t see them doing it this week. I know, the Steelers defense has been amazing, especially blocking the pass, and the Chargers don’t have any running game to speak of, but for some reason, after giving up eight turnovers to the Browns in week 12, I somehow see the San Diego defense turning the tide. I’d pick this as an upset special, but the line is zero. Chargers to win.

Philadelphia at Tampa Bay -7.5
The Eagles suck. Fire everyone. Bucs to win.

Baltimore at Washington -2.5
This is an interesting game. After beating the Giants, the Skins are 6-6 and only one game behind in the division. That’s how crummy the NFC is this year. The Ravens, at 9-3 are trying to hold off the Steelers and the surging Bengals, both at 7-5. So this game is a must-win for both teams here. So who wins? The Ravens rush Rice as much as possible, the Ravens win. RGIII keeps his head on against a terrific defensive front, the Skins win. After seeing his poise under pressure last week, and the fact that unlike Vick, RGIII can actually pass while running, I’m taking the Redskins at home.

Atlanta at Carolina +3.5
Atlanta has been in a lot of tight games this season and has received a lot of criticism for not being a legit playoff team, having faced many opponents with losing records. Perhaps the critics are right, but we’ll see come the playoffs. This week, another losing record comes to town, bringing with them an unpredictable offense. Will Cam stay patient and throw to Steve Smith? Will he run? Thankfully, unlike RGIII, Cam hasn’t learned that patience that running QB’s need to have. Atlanta and the Falcons defense to win on the road.

NY Jets at Jacksonville +2.5 UPSET SPECIAL!!
The Jets have announced that Sanchez will be starting this week against the Jags, even though their season is hopeless and Rex Ryan is clearly in denial. Should have started Tebow when they had the chance. There is hope for the future, as rookie McElroy got the win last week. So wait, why isn’t he starting over the listless Sanchez? Because Rex Ryan has lost his fucking mind. Remember that denial thing? He’s in it. Deep. The Jets aren’t going to want to play at home again this season after inexplicably losing to the Jags this weekend.

Miami at San Francisco -10.0
The Niners, at one point a lock for the playoffs now look like they could be watching from the outside. Losing to the Rams in overtime didn’t help. The Dolphins aren’t statistically ruled out for the playoffs, but a lot of other teams would have to suck pretty hard. I like the Fins, but I don’t think they win 3000 miles from home. Niners to win. And gash the Dolphins on the ground.

New Orleans at NY Giants -5.0
The Giants can’t afford to lose another game, but you know what – they can. Sneaking into the playoffs at 9-7 last year, they won the Superbowl. They could do the same thing this year as crummy as the NFC is. Or is it parity? Whatever. The Saints still are having trouble in the secondary, just seeming confused on anything outside the zone. Eli should be able to take advantage of that. Certainly, if you have any Giants receivers, start ‘em. Giants to win at home.

Arizona at Seattle -10.0
At 5-8, the Cards join the Lions, Panthers and Eagles as teams that are definitely going to miss the playoffs this year. The Cardinals looked terrible last week, not knowing if they actually wanted to keep the ball. The Hawks beat the Bears and are on a tear, looking to steal the division from the Niners. Easy choice in the loudest stadium in the NFL. Hawks to win.

Detroit at Green Bay -7.0
Lambeau field in the winter? Yeah, Packers to win. I wonder who that dirtbag Suh is going to kick in the balls this week? Money says Aaron Rodgers gets into it with him.

Houston at New England -4.0 GAME OF THE WEEK!!
Tell you why this is my game of the week, because even though both teams have clinched the playoffs and their respective divisions, neither has clinched top seed. Well, that isn’t as important anymore, except the Patriots certainly play better at home. They are 9-3, the Texans are 11-1 so they have to win this game, and I think they do. I like the Texans and they have a fantastic running game, powerful air attack and great defense. The Patriots have, well, Tom Brady. Even without Gronk, the Patriots still score at will, and I think they score more than the Texans this week. Plus, this will be a high scoring game, so that should be fun to watch. Pats to win.

It’s been just over a week since Thanksgiving and I’m just about recovered from 17 hours of cooking over three days for thirty minutes of consumption. Clearly I have issues, but once again, it was totally worth it and I hope that you and yours had a fantastic day, however you chose to spend it.

Last year I tried my hand at preparing turkey three ways by going all Dexter on my turkey. It was so well received that my wife asked if I could make this our family Thanksgiving tradition after over five years of major overhauls to the holiday menu. I agreed in principle to prepare turkey three ways, but being me I couldn’t leave well enough alone.

Thanksgiving in our house is an intimate affair, as I usually only have four to six people to feed. So, it gives me the ability to go a little insane, culinarily speaking. If I had to cook for more than that, I would in all likelihood revert to a more traditional, family style meal.

The madness started a month or two before Thanksgiving. I wanted to keep the same three ways I prepared the turkey, but I wanted to be a little more playful in how I presented the meal. I decided that my three preparations would be presented to my family as breakfast (turkey sausage served on a waffle with a cranberry maple syrup), lunch (turkey confit with a roasted beet salad and a pumpkin seed vinaigrette), and dinner (turkey wellington served with green beans, duck fat fingerling potatoes, and, of course, cranberry sauce).

I bought new plates just for the day. I labored over every detail, every ingredient. I wrote a game plan covering the three days of preparation it would require to make every element of every dish from scratch. Finally, I made a list, checked it twice and then spent the GDP of a small island nation at Whole Paycheck.

It was a crazy idea, crazy delicious. I’ll probably never do anything like that again, but it was so worth it just to hear to oohs and aahs as I presented everyone with their dinner plates that night.

And, of the three presentations, my clear favorite was lunch. I’ve recently become enamored with beets and combined with the turkey confit, pumpkin seed vinaigrette, and pomegranate seeds it was a wonderfully flavorful and playful dish that I will likely make again all on its own.

It is a little time consuming to prepare, but this is something you can prepare in advance for a crowd or make a lot of and have as leftovers a few times.

If you’re looking for something new and interesting, I hope you’ll consider giving this a try.

Turkey Confit with Roasted Beet Salad

Software

Cure (about 6 turkey legs and wings)

• 1 cup kosher salt
• 25 black peppercorns, crushed
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons ground white pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3 bay leaves, crushed
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme

Confit

• Cured turkey legs and wings
• 6 to 8 cloves garlic, smashed
• 1/2 tablespoon cracked black peppercorns
• 4 to 5 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• Turkey stock, to cover

Beet Preparation

• 2 bunches of red beets (about six in total)
• 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
• 2 tablespoons shallots, roughly chopped
• zest and juice of one orange
• kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
• olive oil

Pumpkin Seed Vinaigrette

• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 tablespoons shallot, finely minced
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 2/3 cup canola oil
• 2 tablespoons pumpkin seed oil
• 2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds

Assemblage

1. Mix the cure ingredients together and set aside; wash the turkey legs and wings and pat dry
2. Liberally apply the cure, wrap tightly in plastic, then refrigerate overnight, or up to 12 hours
3. Remove from refrigerator, unwrap and wash off cure under cold water
4. Place the turkey in a cooking vessel large enough to hold them, then add garlic, cracked peppercorns, sprigs of thyme, and bay leaves; cover with turkey stock (or, if you want to be more traditional, use canola oil)
5. Put in 300 degree oven for about 3 hours until cooked through and falling apart
6. While turkey confit is in the oven, begin prepping the beets. Scrub the beets clean, cut off the tops and bottoms so they sit flat and arrange on a sheet of aluminum foil.
7. Drizzle olive oil over the beets; add the garlic, shallots, orange zest and juice, and salt and pepper, then wrap them up in the aluminum foil and put them in the oven for about one and half to two hours, or until fork tender
8. In a nonreactive bowl, add the honey, kosher salt, shallot, garlic, orange juice, and white wine vinegar and whisk to combine.
9. Begin drizzling in the canola oil and whisk rapidly until an emulsion is achieved, then add the pumpkin seed oil, and finally the pumpkin seeds
10. Set the dressing aside until ready to dress the beets (the dressing will separate, simply whisk back together before using it)
11. When the turkey is done, remove it from the liquid, separate the meat from the fat and bone. Shred the meat with two forks, just as you would do with pulled pork; add a few tablespoons of the hot liquid to the shredded meat, cover with foil, and set aside
12. Allow the beets to cool slightly, then while running them under cold water remove the outer layer and dice (gloves are a good idea, as your hands will turn purplish red otherwise)
13. After the diced beets have cooled slightly, dress them with some of the pumpkin seed vinaigrette; let the roasted beet salad rest for 10-15 minutes, then taste and dress again with the vinaigrette, if necessary, to taste
14. Plate this by spooning a serving of beets onto the middle of a plate, then arrange some of the confit on top of the beets and garnish, if desired, with pomegranate seeds

It is week 13 in the NFL which means that we know damn well who the winners and losers are and who has an outside chance of rising up and making the playoffs. There is one team that I’m looking at (even going so far as to backing their players in fantasy football) that is going to rise up and steal a playoff spot. More on that in a second. Speaking about fantasy though, it is week 13 which means for many, it is the last week before playoffs begin.

This year, I have clinched the playoffs in one league on the back of Phil Dawson, Matt Ryan and AJ Green. The other league I have AJ Green and Ryan in is a defense plays league, and I did not make the playoffs there and actually just traded Green for Jimmy Graham and Cecil Shorts. The third league, I’m in fourth at the moment, but really need a win this week to clinch a playoff spot. That team is also led by Matt Ryan (who has not done me so well the last two weeks), with Calvin Johnson as the primary receiver. Not a lot of TD’s, but a lot of yards.

This week though, in the league I’ve already clinched, I’m going with Andy Dalton over Ryan and the Bengals Defense. While the Saints give up the most fantasy points to opposing QB’s, I’m liking the way Cincinnati is playing right now and I suggest that you do what you can to grab any Cincinnati players before the trade deadline. Also, my primary RB in all leagues is Green-Ellis. I’ve found that synching all my teams makes more a better fantasy season all around.

So in real football news, that’s the team that I think is going to rise up and steal a playoff spot – the Bengals. They are playing fast and strong and their schedule over the next few weeks puts their fate strongly in their hands. The playoffs is theirs to lose. As for the losers, the Eagles top that list. What a shit shack. Next on that list are the Jets, also a supreme disappointment. I’d put the Browns, Rams, Cardinals, etc., on that list, but we expected them to lose. So after skipping last week (turkey hangover bitches) lets get to picking some games.

New Orleans at Atlanta -3.0
Big game for the Saints if they hope to make a run for the playoffs. To their advantage, outside of Atlanta, the NFC is wide freaking open. Those wild card spots will be highly contested and probably come down to the last game. Even the Rams have an outside chance. Of course, the Saints are going to have to win out, and I don’t think they do that. Their defense is giving up too many points, and the offense just isn’t keeping up. Defenses are aware of Graham now, and Brees doesn’t seem to have the weapons he used to have, especially in the running game. While Ivory has impressed, it hasn’t been enough. Speaking about running game, the Falcons have made it to 10-1 pretty much without using Turner that much, sticking to more swing routes and pitches to the faster running Rodgers. Keep in mind the Saints handed the Falcons their only loss this season. Regardless, back at home, I’m taking the Falcons.

Jacksonville at Buffalo -7.0 UPSET SPECIAL!!
The AFC picture is a little bit clearer when it comes to the playoffs, and neither of these teams are in it. Henne has been better for the Jags than Gabbert, but it’s too little too late. The highlight here is watching rising stars Sheets and Blackmon make names for themselves, in the hopes they get to play somewhere else next season. The Bills can score points, but they can also turn the ball over a lot. I’m going out on a limb here and taking the Jags to win. Even at 2-9, they still have a shot at not completely looking like jackasses. Jags on the road to upset.

Seattle at Chicago -3.0
One second the Hawks look playoff caliber, the next second they look weak. Doesn’t really matter. Chicago is playing some inspired football. Tough too. Last week was great when Cutler got pushed out of bounds, then flipped the ball at a Vikings player. That’s the chippy Cutler that we all know and love. He got flagged for 15 yards, but it was totally worth it. The Bears aren’t going to lay down at home for a team like the Seahawks, they are going to pummel them. Bears to win.

Indianapolis at Detroit -3.5
I bet you want to pick an upset here don’t you? Well, the Lions are still having trouble closing out games, and with Johnson unable to find open space to run, they are having trouble scoring with the long ball as well. Losing three in a row hasn’t helped them rebound this season at all. Stafford is getting shoved, hurried and sacked way too often. That line has got to protect. The Indy pass rush isn’t much of a threat, but Luck and TY Hilton might be. Close game here, but I think the Lions edge out at home. I could be wrong though, this is one I see could go either way.

Minnesota at Green Bay -9.0
The Vikings are down Harvin, and seem to forget they have the leagues #1 rusher on their team. Field goals from 4th and one against the division leading Bears? Are you shitting me? Peterson averages like four yards a carry and you are taking pussy points? The Vikings have given up, I’d say that makes them dangerous, and against the Packers non-existent rushing defense that’d be even more true, but the Packers have that Rodgers guy. Protect him and win the game. Packers at home.

Houston at Tennessee +5.5
The Titans are 0-3 in the division and welcome division leader Houston to town. Yeah, Arian Foster is gonna be like “hey Chris Johnson, this is how it’s done now.” The Titans are going to get shredded. They’ll put up a valiant fight, but the Houston D-Line will crush Locker. Texans to win.

Carolina at Kansas City +2.5 CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK!!
Boy, here’s your who gives a shit game of the week. You’d think this would be on Monday Night Football the way those games have been. After beating the hapless Eagles, now the Panthers get the Chiefs. Too bad the Panthers are 3-8. Panthers to win. But no one will be watching.

San Francisco at St. Louis +6.5
The Niners have a rare QB problem. That is, both of them are winners. Alex Smith is probably the most dogged QB in the history of the franchise. My guess, he’s out at the end of the year, playing in KC or something. Which is a mistake. He’s got the arm and the game smarts to be great. Dunno why he can’t get his due in SF. Fuck ‘em. Kaepernik gives them just as much chance to win, though they could start Randy Moss at QB this week and win. Niners to win. Of course, keep in mind they did tie last time they played the Rams.

New England at Miami +9.0
Miami has an outside chance of getting to the playoffs, but this is the week to make that leap. This is a must win game, against a team that seems to just score and score and score but wait! No Gronk? Out with a broken arm thanks to an idiotic decision to keep him in the game, the Patriots are down their leading scorer. So, I suppose that’s a slight advantage for Miami. Tough game for the Fins, as they’ll fall behind quick and never seem to catch up. Patriots to win, but the Dolphins keep it close. Mostly cause the Pats secondary is non-existent.

Arizona at NY Jets -4.5
The Cardinals have Wells back, which should put some more depth in the running game, something the Jets can’t seem to stop. Sure the rookie QB in Arizona isn’t that great yet, and the Jets home crowd hates the Jets more than the visiting team, but the Cards have a chance here. The Jets are not going to even come close to the playoffs, and they are getting primed to clean house. Watch. Cards to win.

Tampa Bay at Denver -7.0
The Bucs are another NFC team that must win this week in order to make a run for the playoffs. Sadly, they travel to the thin air of Denver to face Peyton and the Broncos. While the Bucs gave the Falcons all they could handle, I don’t think they get that lucky against the Broncos, who are playing tighter and tighter every week. I’m sticking with the Denver Mannings to win this game and to continue into the playoffs.

Cleveland at Oakland -1.5
The Browns forced – get this – eight fucking turnovers against the Steelers. The Steelers! If the defense plays the same, they’ll win again this week easy, because Oakland doesn’t wait for forced turnovers, they just give the fucking ball away. Shurmer might be a shit coach, but even he can see that if he just keeps the pressure on Palmer, he’ll win. Browns to win.

Cincinnati at San Diego +2.0 GAME OF THE WEEK!!
This is it for both these teams. A win here and the Bengals will most likely pass the Steelers in the division, edging closer to a playoff spot. A loss for the Chargers likely means that at least Norv Turner is toast, as his poor decision making and clock management will have finally caught up to him. Additionally, Rivers is playing for his life right now, at 4-7, he’s not looking like the price they paid. Bengals to win.

Pittsburgh at Baltimore -0.0
The Steelers are hurting. Literally. charlie Batch was less than impressive against the Browns, the whole team looked like a mess. Without Big Ben, I’m writing them off. If he doesn’t slap on some Kevlar and come back, they are done. The Ravens are going to win this division, if they can beat the Steelers here and keep the Bengals at bay. The next few weeks should be interesting. Either way, Ravens win at home.

Philadelphia at Dallas -9.0
That sound is the sound of Eagles fans holding back the tears. Nick Foles is quickly cementing his place in the hall of perennial backups and he’s only a rookie. You gotta win son. You had your chance against the Panthers, now you are probably headed back to the bench so that Vick can come in and look just as shitty. Bryce Brown was impressive, but needs to learn how to carry the fucking ball. Did you see him swinging it out there? A good fantasy pick if you don’t get penalized for fumbles. Dallas isn’t that great of a team, but have a strong rushing attack going at times, and other times a coach who can’t seem to read the giant digital clock. Regardless, the Eagles aren’t going to win another game this year. Cowboys at home.

New York at Washington +2.5
And we come to the other half the NFC East. The surprisingly dominant Giants against the not to be underrated Redskins. The Skins keep showing that spark that winning teams have, which can mostly be attributed to RGIII. A win at home, against the Giants would be fucking huge for RGIII and the Redskins, who have won two in a row and have a good shot at the playoffs – if they can continue to win in the division. In consecutive weeks they’ve beaten the Eagles and Cowboys, yet lost to the Giants earlier this year. They have two more against the Eagles and Cowboys, so this game is huge for them. The Giants rolled Green Bay, and coming off that win are hard to discount or pick an upset against. Going with the numbers here and picking the Giants to win.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THANKSGIVING

OK, in preparation for Thanksgiving I’ve reviewed hundreds of recipes, ideas, tips, how-to’s, help lines and more. Here are the links that you might find useful.

RECIPES
– A whole lotta menus for 2 to 20 peeps (Gourmet)

– Overall Thanksgiving Guide includes Vegetarian and Gluten Free (The Daily Meal)

– Recipes you can make ahead (Saveur)

– Food & Wine’s Ultimate Holiday Guide

– Every Stuffing Recipe You’ll Ever Need (The Daily Meal)

– Except this one

– Veganizing Thanksgiving (FOOD 52)

– Gluten Free Ideas

– One more cranberry

– The Easy Thanksgiving Menu (Chow)

– Wait, you need even more recipes? (Foodista)

– Sweet Potatoes with Bourbon and Maple (Bon Appetit)

– Bryan Voltaggio’s go-to cranberry sauce (TastingTable)

– Sweet-Potato Casserole

– Good looking dessert: Apple Crostata with Spiced Caramel Sauce LINK

HOW-TO
– A FREE downloadable digital guide with a lot of helpful how-to’s here (Tasting Table)

– Sam Sifton’s Thanksgiving Rules, an excellent video

– The Dry-Brined Turkey (Food 52)

– How To Carve (A Chicken, But It’s The Same for a) Turkey. Video

– Why You Should Spatchcock Your Turkey (CHOW)

– The Truth About Brining Turkey (Serious Eats)

– Steam the turkey? The best TV chef instructor in history does. How?

– Table setting ideas (The Daily Meal)

– The Thanksgiving Timeline, a stress free step-by-step checklist (Epicurious)

– A complete guide to roasting the perfect bird (Epicurious)

– Thanksgiving Help Line (NY Times)

– The Thanksgiving-erator, an interactive thingie (NY Times)

– Wine: 4 Top Viogniers for Roast Turkey

– There’s an APP for that…

– Recipes, music ideas, wine & more…

>>> I think this is THE perfect gift.

Anyone else need a nap already?

And were they really “exclusively crafted” to your specifications as you claim in your promotional video?

Did panic grip your soul as you stared into the whirling hypno wheel of “culinary/lifestyle products that are full of both function and style?”

When you saw the Exclusive Tattoo Art imprinted on your multicolored, plastic Magnetic Bag Clips, did your mind touch the void for a minute? And can it really be that “all the clips have assorted tattoo patterns drawn by your personal tattoo artist?”

Were you struck by how very far from home your product was produced? Are you aware of the working conditions in the Chinese factory in which they were made? Is it possible that your Magnetic Bag Clips were actually produced by child labor?

Did you discern any potential for danger that these clips might cause if they got into the wrong hands? Had you considered for even a moment that they could be used as pretty nasty nipple clips?

Did you even write that copy on the package that has your signature assigned to it? If so, what exactly about your Magnetic Bag Clips makes them (a) “rock” (b) “look cool” (c) “feel great in your hands” or (d) “makes cookin’ up real deal meals even easier”, in any meaningful sense?

Has anyone ever mentioned that your bear no resemblance at all to Emily Dickinson?

When you have a second, Mr. Fieri, would you see what happened to the missing third clip that was supposed to have come on the package?

Who decided on the color scheme of the clips that glow like nuclear waste? Is the entire package just a very cheap piece of conceptual art? And why does the pink one taste like fish? Is this how you roll in Flavor Town?

Hey, are you concerned that the egregious discounting of your Magnetic Bag Clips at Home Goods might harm the Guy Fieri brand image? What is going on at that online shop of yours, really?
Tell me, though, how much would you like to clip a pair of these things onto Pete Wells’s testicles?

Thanks.

Guy Fieri’s Magnetic Bag Clips
Meh
AVAILABLE Here
ATMOSPHERE Fine, if you like red, gray and pink
SERVICE One clip missing
SOUND LEVEL Loud clipping sound
RECOMMENDED For bags of Doritos and potato chips, not nipples
PRICES $7.95, but egregiously discounted at Home Goods
RESERVATIONS Made in China<a

Terrible week last week, for my picks and for QB injuries. Vick went out with a concussion (though I suspect it’s not as such and he was pulled cause he’s terrible) as well as Jay Cutler. Big Ben went down with a shoulder injury. The Steelers were the only team not to lose after losing their QB, though in all honestly the Eagles suck and the Steelers were playing the Chiefs. Turnovers sunk the Bears, as their offense couldn’t manage to hang on to the ball. You don’t think defense wins championships? Just take a look at that Bears v. Texans game.

In other football type news, there was a tie this week, which is like taking your mom to prom. Fucking weak. The worst part is that it was a tie in the NFC West division, which is going to be hotly contested anyway when it comes down to it. At the point, the Seahawks are smiling like crazy after their win. The biggest surprise for me this weekend wasn’t the Fins getting blown out, or the Falcons losing to the Saints or the Eagles just totally blowing it against the Cowboys, it was the Giants losing to the Bengals. I did not see that one coming.

One of the most dynamic QB/WR combos this year has been that of Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. They started it last year and continue this year. Tack on the rest of the WR core on this team, and they have a potent passing attack that is hard to stop. Almost as many weapons on offense as the Falcons. They also have a pretty competent run game too. I’m surprised by this Bengals team and think they can make a run at the Ravens, as long as they aren’t playing in Baltimore.

Anyway, since this is the time of year that I start to get the sinking feeling that nobody actually reads this column besides me, CC and my boys Brett & Mikey, I’m just gonna get on with the picks.

Miami at Buffalo -1.0
So after playing some bizarre football last week, these two struggling AFC East teams meet up in the cold to decide which one won’t be hanging with the Jets in the basement. The Dolphins are playing hot & cold football, while the Bills are just cold. They always play the Pats tight, because the Pats let ‘em. This week I have the Bills, because Miami never seems to win in the cold. Man I love this time of year for football. Weather rules.

Arizona at Atlanta -9.5
The Falcons lost not because they were outplayed or outmatched, but because they were evenly matched on offense. Their defense didn’t make the moves they had been making all season to keep a good scoring margin. Regardless, back at home this week, they get back to winning. Falcons at home. What? Say something about the Cardinals? They are terrible and the play calling is the worst and most timid I’ve seen all year. Is that enough?

Cleveland at Dallas -7.0 UPSET SPECIAL!!
Ok, I might be going out on a limb here. The Cowboys are still a mess. They are locking Jerry Jones out of the locker room, they are turning over the ball too much and Romo is playing like he doesn’t want to get his dress dirty. Sure they bea the Eagles, but the Eagles are equally fucked up. Here’s the deal, the Browns, at only two wins are coming on strong and need to finish the season in the “hopeful” column. Their defense has been playing well at times, even though ranked near the bottom. Really, it’s the 29th ranked Cowboys run defense that is the difference maker here. I say Trent runs all over them. Browns to surprise upset the Boys and make Jerry Jones cry.

Green Bay at Detroit +3.5
The Packers are back this week, back with Nelson and perhaps anyone else who was injured. The Lions are limping after getting beat pretty handily by the Vikings, and now they get the Packers. Johnson has scored two touchdowns this season and the Lions secondary appears to be sleeping on the job. Packers to win.

Cincinnati at Kansas City +3.0
Like I said earlier, the Bengals are surprising me, and the Chiefs are flat out shitty. They can’t establish a run, they can’t keep the QB in the pocket and yeah, they did sack Big Ben, but everyone gets lucky sometimes. Bengals to win.

NY Jets at St. Louis -3.5
Apparently, Jets players are bashing Tim Tebow behind his back, even though he’s not contributed much this season, of no fault of his own. And, not to mention if he was to start for the team in place of mistake prone Sanchez, he’d play his fucking heart out for them, regardless of them being absolute dicks in the locker room. Clearly, the Jets have problems. Here’s my message to the Jets players bashing Tebow – fuck you. The guy, given the chance, plays to fucking win – no matter the cost. He plays with positivity, sportsmanship and heart. Clearly that’s too difficult for you selfish pricks to understand so hope you enjoy losing. Jets lose again this week, as the Rams proved they are not to be completely underestimated. If you’ve got Jackson in your league, start him. Jets run defense is like wet toilet paper. If Tebow starts however, I may change my pick.

Philadelphia at Washington -3.5 CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK!!
It seems to me that everyone calling for Andy Reid’s head seem to forget how many wins & playoff appearances he’s got under his belt. However, fire him. His decision making has turned to dementia and firing his D coordinator has only made the defense worse. Keeping Vick in the game in any aspect is tanking their season. Foles will probably get the start this week, but it doesn’t matter. The Skins, while not looking like a playoff team, are at least looking a bit more concise on offense. RGIII though needs to give his receivers an extra second before he starts running around. Skins to win at home.

Tampa Bay at Carolina +1.0
The last two games for the Bucs have not only been crucial wins, but have been offensively and special teams impressive. I’m serious, and you know how much of a Bucs hater I am. I think they keep it up on the road against a quickly falling Panthers team plagued by line troubles. I dunno. I expected so much more from Cam. Sorry dude, you are like Vince Young, but you have better potential. Bucs to win.

Jacksonville at Houston -15.5
After beating the Bears at their own game, I don’t think the Texans sink low enough to play the Jags on their level. This will be like an SEC season opener. They should pay the Jags to come and get destroyed. Texans to win.

New Orleans at Oakland +4.5
The Saints are looking like The Saints once again, but considering they are playing against a team that can’t even snap the ball right the entire game, that shouldn’t be an issue. Sure the black hole is a tough place to play sometimes, but the Raiders can’t stay out of their own way long enough to win a game. Saints to win.

San Diego at Denver -7.5
Another team that loves stepping on its own toes is the Chargers. From bad Rivers decisions, to an inability to establish a strong run, to Norv Turner not knowing how to tell time, the Chargers are running out of it. Can Rivers beat Manning and the Colts, in Denver with the offense on a roll? Doubtful. Broncos to win.

Indianapolis at New England -9.5 GAME OF THE WEEK!!
While the Steelers/Ravens night game is going to be fantastic, this one intrigues me the most. The Patriots have been giving up major points this year again, and Andrew Luck is playing like he’s done this before. However, the Colts have not come up against a team that scores at will like the Patriots do. Their losses were surprising, to the Jets and Jags (Bears not so much) and their wins have been too, beating the Packers and Vikings. They looked vulnerable against the Browns and Titans, but smashed the Fins and Jags. But the Patriots do score at will. In order for the Colts to win, they have to go up big and quick, but the Patriots score at will. Pats to win.

Baltimore at Pittsburgh +4.5
I wrote every other pick before this one, even the bye week ones. This is tough. Do I go with the Ravens, who are hurting on run defense, but still good on pass defense, or the Steelers, who have been playing amazing defense once again, especially in the secondary and who are establishing a run game with who-dat players? The Ravens are favored, but why? Because of Big Ben being injured? Look, until I know if he’s playing, I can’t make a pick here. Leftwich ain’t gonna win this game for the Steelers. I’m not picking this game. Should be a good one though.

Chicago at San Francisco -5.0
Probably the best Monday night match-up this season, period. ESPN got lucky with this one I suppose, since they usually get stinkers on Monday night and NBC gets the good game on Sunday night. Either way, the Bears have got to be reeling after that loss, giving away the ball like they did. Cutler may not play as well. Marshall and Campbell just don’t have the same connection. So, who ya got? I’ve got the Bears, just cause the Niners left a bad taste in my mouth after that tie with the hapless Rams.

Bye week at Minnesota
The Vikings probably wish they didn’t have a bye so they could keep winning.

Bye week at N.Y. Giants
The Giants are wondering how in the fuck they lost in Cincinnati.

Bye week at Seattle
Seattle also wishes they didn’t have to take a bye so they could keep winning.

Bye week at Tennessee
The Titans are just confused. Blown out one week, blowing out the next. Too much blowing.

I love a challenge, especially in the kitchen. So, when Bumble Bee asked me to participate in a Holiday Recipe Challenge, I knew I had opportunity to do something really fun and creative. Cooking this time of year, with all the great fall flavors, is easily my favorite.

Immediately I began thinking about something that would look great on a holiday party table and that was representative of the season. Still, I wasn’t quite sure how I could get bring in tuna as a protein until my mother reminded me of a dish she used to make for dinner parties for guests that didn’t care for red meat. It was essentially tuna mixed with a number of other ingredients then baked in a biscuit dough. Taking this idea one step further, my wife suggested making it in the shape of a wreath, similar to a recipe she had seen done at a Pampered Chef party.

With these ideas in mind I began plotting out the tuna filling portion of this, filling it with as many fall oriented ingredients like sage, pecans, dried cranberries, and orange zest. I also decided to toss in red and green bell peppers to keep things festive. Finally, I thought that making a sweet potato biscuit dough would bring the whole thing together.

The filling for this sweet potato and tuna holiday wreath is very simple and easy to prepare. The biscuit dough was a little more time consuming, as I had to roast the sweet potatoes, make the dough, and then refrigerate it before rolling it out and cutting it into triangular shapes to create the foundation for the wreath.

If you didn’t want to take the time to make the biscuit dough yourself, the crescent roll dough you can buy in stores would really speed up the assembly process and give you a great result as well. This is especially important if you’ve already got a bunch of other holiday baking to get through.

All in all this was a lot of fun to make, and quite tasty. I will most certainly be making a few more of these to serve to our guests throughout the holiday season.

Sweet Potato & Tuna Holiday Wreath from PJ Mullen on Vimeo.

Sweet Potato & Tuna Holiday Wreath

Software

• Sweet potato biscuit dough
• 2 cans Bumble Bee Tonno in Olive Oil
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup fennel, finely diced
• 1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
• 1/4 cup green bell pepper, diced
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1 tablespoon fresh sage, finely chopped
• zest of one orange
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 8 whole pecans (for garnish)
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Assemblage

1. Assemble the biscuit dough according to the Chow recipe, then refrigerate to firm up
2. In a medium size mixing bowl, break up the two cans of tuna, then stir in the mayonnaise until combined
3. Then, mix in the red and green bell pepper, fennel, cranberries, pecans, sage and orange zest
4. Taste, then season with salt and pepper accordingly
5. Roll out the dough approximately 1/4″ thick, then cut into triangles with the longest side approximately 6″ long
6. Arrange the triangles in a star like pattern, overlapping the corners of the shortest side (see video for a visual)
7. Scoop and place the filling around the inside of the biscuit dough, then fold over the long edge over the filling and tuck inside the middle of the ring
8. Garnish the wreath with whole pecans (if desired), brush with melted butter, and bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until biscuit is golden brown

Disclosure: As part of the Bee Squad I receive product information and samples and Bumble Bee sponsored my attendance at the 2012 Type A Parent conference. I was not compensated in any other way, nor was I offered or promised anything else in exchange or my review of their products, recipes or BeeWell For Life program. All opinions contained herein are my own.

Well, I have to gloat this week. I went 12-2 last week, which I think is my best ratio all season. I’ve had a couple ten win weeks, but this one is definitely the best. That being said, I think I’m still running at about 69%, which is regardless of my picks. Get it? Hahahaha.

I’d like to break from the NFL for a second to talk about two things that aren’t related to the NFL. The first is the NHL. That’s right, hockey. Now, I understand a lot of football fans are not hockey fans, and that’s just the way it is. I am a hockey fan, loyal to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The fact that the NHL season has already been cancelled through November, including the Winter Classic, sucks. This labor dispute is about millionaires wanting more money from billionaires. I’ll admit, many hockey players are not in the million dollar range when it comes to annual salaries, and these guys at the league minimum are losing money. They want to get out there and play and earn their paychecks. It’s the superstars, arguing for a percentage point more of the gate that are holding the game back, and it’s the NHL not giving it to them causing casual fans to just not give a shit. This is not good for the NHL, which is obvious, but unlike the NFL, fans won’t just come flocking back. The NHL needs to resolve this dispute now, before coming back to crickets.

The second thing is the Presidential Election. Most years when I go to the ballot box, I’m torn. This year was easy. Mitt Romney is so out of touch with reality and living in happy religious rich white man world that the choice was easy. As for Colorado and other states legalizing recreational weed – awesome. Even more important, congrats to the states approving marriage equality. Everyone, gay, straight, lesbian, made out of matchbooks, should have the right to suffer through marriage and pay out the nose for divorce.

In other NFL news, it appears that Andy Reid has fired Juan Castillo again, because the Eagles defense was once again just as terrible as their QB who got sacked seven times. More on that in a second. So now that we’re nearing the home stretch of the season (oh man, already?) who do you have as the best rookie standout this season? Can’t say RGIII has truly impressed, while Andrew Luck is setting records left and right. Who ya got? I’ve got Week 10 picks.

Indianapolis at Jacksonville +3.0
Andrew Luck is setting all kinds of rookie records, making his start in Indy more spectacular than Peyton. There is a pretty good chance the Colts are headed to the playoffs as a Wild Card, thanks to the AFC East being meh and parity in the NFL. No parity here, the Jags are terrible on both sides of the ball. If you have any Colts offensive players, I’d suggest starting them. I’d start Luck over Matt Ryan, but c’mon, it’s Matt Ryan. Colts to win.

New York at Cincinnati +6.0
Once again, the Bengals season is hanging by a thread. At 3-5 and getting lit up by Denver last week, the Bengals need a serious rebound. Perhaps the reeling Giants? Perhaps not. The Giants find a way to grind out a win, even though they didn’t do so against the Steelers. The Bengals allow a lot of passing yards, and another Manning should deliver another loss. Giants on the road.

Tennessee at Miami -6.0
Finally Johnson broke out last week. Too bad it was late in a rout. Fantasy owners who actually started him were happy. Too little, too late. The truth is, against an aggressive line, the Titans can’t get a running game going. Apply pressure, and the Titans will turn over the ball. The Dolphins, at 4-4 are looking to catch up to the Pats. A win here at home will help. Fins to win.

Detroit at Minnesota +1.0 UPSET SPECIAL!!
This is as close as I could get to an upset special this week, a one point line. The Lions finally looked like themselves last week, with the passing game in full swing. But the were playing the Jags, who basically rolled over and played dead for three quarters. This week, they play division rival Vikings who are not playing dead. They are running well, and defending tough against the run. I think they eke out a win at home against the Lions, winning the turnover game.

Buffalo at New England -11.0
Surprisingly enough, the Bills stayed in the game through three against the Texans last week, but we all knew what was going to happen. Once again, timid and ill-timed play calling killed them in the late stages, and will kill them again this week. I don’t smell an upset here. The Patriots, while 28th in total defense, are still stronger than the Bills by far. Pats to win.

Atlanta at New Orleans +2.5
Again, another team finally comes on strong, but against a far inferior team. Drew Brees looked like his old self on that TD pass to Graham, but coaching and play calling is still a problem. This is the chance for the Saints to play spoiler, but I think they’ve already given up on their season at 3-5, which is ridiculous in the NFC. The return of Vilma helped the defense a lot, and I expect them to give Ryan a tough time passing the ball, but the Falcons have too many weapons to be ignored. Falcons to win.

San Diego at Tampa Bay -3.0
How about Martin for the Bucs? Setting a rookie record, blasting for four touchdowns – against the Raiders. Who have the run defense of a wet paper bag full of pineapples. Look, it’s a great accomplishment but hold on, the Bucs don’t play someone with a bad run defense every week… or do they? The Chargers come to town with the 4th ranked rush defense… oh. These two 4-4 teams are very hopeful. One has a coach that makes terrible late game calls (Norv) and the other has a weasel coach who plays like a dick. I’m rooting for San Diego, but the Bucs win this game.

Denver at Carolina +3.0
The Panthers rank middle of the road on just about everything, and they play like it. Last weeks win was no indication of anything as far as I’m concerned. Newton has settled down a bit, but still isn’t finding Steve Smith. Give Smith the ball, let him make the plays. These running QB’s think they need to make all the plays. How’s that working out for Vince Young and Vick? Forget it. Manning shreds them through the air. Broncos to win.

Oakland at Baltimore -7.5
Well, the Ravens D proved something last week, that even without Ray Lewis they can sink down to the Browns level and play like shit. They almost gave that game away. Thankfully, the Raiders and their 30th ranked rushing offense shouldn’t crack the 27th ranked rush defense of the Ravens. 27th? Are you serious? The Raiders can spark at times, but it won’t be enough against the Ravens at home. Ravens to win.

NY Jets at Seattle -5.5
The Jets were on a bye last week, did anyone notice? Didn’t think so. Every time they put Tebow in, I wince. No one is falling for the trick plays, the running game is nonexistent and Sanchez is still mistake prone. The only bright spot is the secondary. The Seahawks are on a tear though, and I don’t think the Jets, in the loudest stadium in the league, are going to stop them. Hawks at home.

Dallas at Philadelphia +2.0 CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK!!
Vick was sacked seven times last week. Romo played like he was made of fine china. These two QB’s are a constant disappointment to their franchises, yet are lauded as heroes. Why? I can’t figure it out. Bench both of them, see what happens. The Eagles are a joke right now, and losing at home to rival Cowboys should cause more than one riot. I’m looking forward to it. Cowboys to win.

St. Louis at San Francisco -11.0
The Rams, coming off a bye, are another disappointment. They won’t be a challenge for the Niners, who should be able to pass at will against them. The run might get stuffed a bit, for the first quarter. Niners at home.

Houston at Chicago -1.0 GAME OF THE WEEK!!
The 7-1 Texans against the 7-1 Bears. Both teams have exceptional offense. Both teams have exceptional defense, with the Bears edging the Texans a bit in that department. Seven TD’s already this season by the Bears defense. While Schaub is not that mistake prone, the Bears D plays for turnovers. Forte and Foster might get stuffed a bit in this one. Should be a hell of a good game. The only factor is weather, as the Texans play in that dome and the Bears play in the fucking snow. I’m taking the home team. Bears to win by like one point. Maybe in overtime.

Kansas City at Pittsburgh -11.5
Yeah, Steelers to win. Do I even need to say much more than that? KC is horrible. No passing game, a rushing game that by all accounts should be fantastic and a QB that loves to throw to the other team. Steelers by a bunch.

Bye week at Arizona
The golf course beckons. Don’t worry guys, you’ll be there soon.

Bye week at Green Bay
A much needed bye week for some injuries that need healing. Then it’s back to ass kicking.

Bye week at Washington
Once again, bad late game play calling and quarterback impatience ruined the game.

Bye week at Cleveland
For a team that sucks as bad as this one, they have a really positive social media team.

For the last long while, we’ve hosted every year. It makes sense when you combine us having a large enough house with my love of cooking. Plus, holidays are always better when you are surrounded by your family and I look forward to it every year.

As part of the FiOS Ambassador Program, they’ve asked me to share a contest they are running and to share who is my personal Thanksgiving Meal Hero.

She may be the easy answer, but honestly my wife is my meal hero when it comes to Thanksgiving for one simple reason. She stays out of the kitchen while I’m cooking and then does all the dishes.

This may seem like a small thing, but I’m not known for keeping the kitchen clean when I cook and with all the family over that leads to plenty of pots, pans and dishes.

While I get to plop down in front of the TV and watch football after our feast, she is always in the kitchen doing the dishes and to me that is being a huge hero!

Laura, I love you and thank you for being my hero every Thanksgiving.

Now, for the business side of this post, a great contest and a way to help give back this Thanksgiving.

Verizon FiOS has partnered with the Food Network to promote the Thanksgiving Meal Hero Campaign in association with Share Our Strength / No Kid Left Behind to donate up to 150,000 meals this Thanksgiving season.

By participating you can win a chance to tour the Food Network Studios in NYC!

The contest will work like this:

• You submit a 75 – 200 word story and photo about who makes your Thanksgiving meal special (their Hero) and how they stay connected with them via TV, Internet and Phone throughout the year.
• Share your story with your social networks and ask them to rate it
• The top 25 rated entries will go before a panel from Verizon and Food Network to determine the ultimate winner
• By rating stories, Verizon and the Food Network will donate up to 150,000 meals to hungry kids in the U.S. through Share Our Strength/No Kid Behind
• By registering to vote you will also be entered into the weekly sweepstakes where a random selection will determine who receives a package of Food Network cookbooks/supplies and a tablet device.
• You can enter daily by coming back to the site and rating at least one story.

In addition to this there will be a Thanksgiving Live airing on Sunday, November 18th at noon eastern on the Food Network.

Disclosure – I am a compensated member of the FiOS Ambassador Program. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Early last week one of my best friends reached out to me and asked if I’d like to help him in a chili cook off competition. Even though I’m not terribly passionate about chili, I thought it would be a fun time. Plus, the event was a fundraiser for the local Ronald McDonald House.

Considering that neither of us had a battled tested recipe at our disposal, it also provided us with an opportunity to do some research into the various styles of chili one could make. My friend took the lead in developing the recipe, while I offered up my opinion on things as the competition approached.

As my wife got home from work that Friday, I grabbed my overnight bag, said goodbye to my family, and headed out the door. Making the five-ish hour trek to Charlottesville, I arrived at my friend’s house just in time to taste the test batch he had been working on in advance of the cook off.

My buddy had chosen to keep the chili old school, sticking to the mantra that “if you know beans about chili, you know that chili has no beans”. He decided to bring the heat by toasting and grinding his own mix of chili peppers to be used in the spice mix and forgo the addition of any freshly diced chile peppers during the cooking process. We also decided to run with a mix of three different cuts of beef for our chili meat, a even blend between chuck, brisket and short rib. And, just for good measure, we added the tiniest bit of bacon to the grind to round things out.

Saturday morning we packed up his car and made our way to the competition. I’ve never participated in anything like this before, and we were very diligent about complying with the various Board of Health rules and regulations to enable us to participate. We finished setting up, got inspected, and a few minutes later were the proud owners of a temporary food establishment permit.

It was the first year that this competition was being held and there were only five other competitors in the cook off. We had dubbed ourselves “The Rookies”, however, roughly half the field had never competed before, so we felt both relieved by that fact and emboldened by our chances.

Due to the simplicity of our recipe we were sitting back enjoying a few brews about 45 minutes into the allotted three hours of prep and cooking time. Other than stirring, constantly adjusting the fickle gas burner, tasting and occasionally re-seasoning, we didn’t have a whole lot to do until it was time to prepare our garnish and serve our chili.

As the taste test portion of the competition started we eagerly awaited feedback on our creation. We felt it was a rather complex concoction with a moderate amount of heat and a nice texture from the meat blend we had chosen. In serving our chili, we offered those tasting it the options of adding freshly grated monterrey jack cheese and thinly sliced scallions as a garnish.

The people that came to the cook off received a spoon, dixie cups and a gold coin, which they were to use to vote for their favorite chili after sampling everyone’s wares. In surveying our competition we were the only entry that did not have beans, which gave us a little bit of pause, but soon the gold coins started to roll in.

When it was all over we finished third, one gold coin away from a three way tie for first place and the ability to participate in a final “taste off” that determined the winner. We felt it was a respectable finish given that our chili recipe was barely a week old and the only batch ever made was done the night before the contest with no real time or ability to make any major changes to the game plan.

We had a lot of fun doing it, met some great people, and, of course, helped to support a great cause. My buddy and I are already thinking about next year and what we might do different. I even managed to catch the “chili bug”, as I brought the leftovers home with me for further analysis.

Are you passionate about chili? What do you think makes a perfect batch? Is it a secret ingredient or just perfect execution of a time honored recipe?

At this point in the season I usually reveal my season percentage. Sadly, I haven’t been keeping real good track of my week to week record. I guess I could go back and add it all up, but I really don’t feel like doing that. You are welcome to do so though, last week I was 9-5 so you can tack that on to the previous weeks. If it helps, when I’m wrong – I’m royally wrong.

Well, the Cardinals did not upset the Niners last week, which means I didn’t get to look like a genius. In fact, Alex Smith looked like a playoff QB as he picked apart the Cardinals. Manning got a lot of praise as well as he picked apart the Saints secondary, and Tom Brady, well, he had the Rams in London. That game was pretty much a given for the Patriots. Then there was my boys, the Browns. The Browns beat the listless Chargers 7-6. Note the Browns tend to win or lose by single digits. They sink other teams right on down to their level. That’s why they are hard to pick. Wheedon isn’t looking half bad though.

I’ll tell you who is looking bad, Cam Newton. Last year he was on fire. His rookie year. People didn’t know what to expect. This year, his bag of tricks is all used up and he’s still making rookie mistakes, which are unforgivable at this point. He needs to buck up and start making better decisions. Speaking about better decisions, Vick didn’t turn over the ball at all this week and still managed to lose the game, even mentioning after the game that Reid might replace him at QB. Though the real loser was the Philly defense, who were working under a new coordinator. How’d that work out for you Reid? The Philly faithful are calling for his firing. I think it’s time.

In other news, those of you on the East Coast reading this, well, I hope you are reading this and not without power or stranded somewhere surrounded by shitty water. The rest of you can donate to Red Cross if you want to help. Don’t send food or clothes, just cash. In other, other news, it appears as if all games will be played this weekend, haven’t heard otherwise. So munch down on your kids Halloween candy and get ready for Week 9 picks!

Kansas City at San Diego -9.0
I don’t think there is a team worse than the Chiefs right now. The Chiefs are not playing inspired football. Quinn didn’t help, as went down with a head injury. Cassel made Carson Palmer look like John Elway. What a contrast. Meanwhile the Chargers are probably the most lethargic team in the league with that kind of offensive talent. What is going on there? I think they win this week, but hell, they aren’t going to catch the Broncos.

Denver at Cincinnati +3.5
Speaking about the Broncos, they looked great on Monday night as Manning systematically dismantled the New Orleans secondary. I don’t think he was pressured all night. If you don’t pressure Manning, he’ll kill you. I think the Bengals bring a shit ton of pressure on Manning and make this an exciting and close game, but I’m taking the Broncos. You’ll notice a lot of road teams are favored this week as well, but you have to be careful as statistics favor the home team.

Baltimore at Cleveland +3.5
Statistics in this match-up don’t favor the home team sadly. The Browns can never seem to beat the ex-Browns, at home or away. So is this the week? Should I put “upset special” up there? As much as I want the Browns to win, even with a depleted defense the Ravens are still offensively better than the Browns defense. However, I expect this to be another sickeningly slow, mistake prone close game. Ravens by a nose.

Arizona at Green Bay -11.0
After the Cardinals beat the Giants earlier in the season, and the Packers were losing I might have said that this could be a major upset. Since then, the Packers are back to dominating form and the Cardinals are pretty shitty. Skelton doesn’t have that star power, know what I mean? Packers are down a couple of receivers, but it doesn’t matter. Pack to win.

Chicago at Tennessee +3.5
The Bears had a tough game last week against the Panthers, and frankly, I was a bit surprised. They travel to visit the Titans, who blew it in overtime against the Colts. The Titans defense is terrible, I think losing Finnegan has hurt the secondary. Either way, the Cutler to Marshall connection can’t be beat right now, and Forte is earning his money, unlike Johnson, who will get stuffed by the Bears run defense. Bears to win.

Miami at Indianapolis +2.5
Well, a bit of Luck and the Colts are looking like they could challenge the Texans for the division. Maybe. Probably not. No fucking way. A late win against the Titans does not a division winner make, though Luck is showing great poise in the late stages of the game. Last week I said the Dolphins are playing with passion, and their whipping of the Jets proved that. With Tannehill questionable, and Moore bruised up, I still think the Dolphins win this game, just on defense alone.

Carolina at Washington -3.5
The Panthers are terrible right now. They showed some spark against the Bears, but that’s all it was. It wasn’t electricity. The Redskins have a little bit of that, but I still wonder if RG3 has that lasting power. He makes good, non rookie decisions, but still tends to run a bit too much. This should be interesting, with two running QB’s, but I’m taking the home team.

Detroit at Jacksonville +4.0
I immediately regretted picking the Seahawks to win last week, knowing that the Lions would pull of another last second win. Stafford is getting better at that. The Madden curse is strong for Calvin Johnson, now limping a bit after last week. He’s been a ghost this season, struggling with the double team and getting open. But just throw him the ball! However, this has opened up other lanes for Stafford. Adding Mike Thomas (in a trade with the Jags) this week will give Stafford even more options. Detroit wins this game, cause the Jags really do suck.

Buffalo at Houston -11.0
The Bills are a constant disappointment of bad play calling and timid defense. The Texans are going to kill them. The Bills need to be cleaned out from top to bottom. This organization has been sitting in the corner wearing the dunce cap for far too long. Texans to destroy them.

Tampa Bay at Oakland -0.0 CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK!!
The 3-4 Bucs meet the 3-4 Raiders in a re-match of what I call “The Gruden Bowl.” Good thing he’s not calling this shit bag of a game. The Bucs are hot one minute, not the next. This week they were hot against the Vikings on the road, the receivers standing up and making Freeman look real good. The Raiders looked good (by comparison) against the Chiefs, but still turned over the ball too much. That’s the key here, turnovers, and the Bucs get ‘em. Bucs to win on the road.

Minnesota at Seattle -5.0
Tough call here. Can I call a friend? Actual stat from NFL.com: “Christian Ponder has never played a game in the Pacific Time Zone in either college or the NFL.” This stat was tweeted by @scotthanson at the exact moment I was writing this paragraph. No bullshit. So what does that stat mean? It means he’s due. Maybe. The Hawks are playing tough, and Pete Carroll has shown he’s not afraid to take risks. It wasn’t enough against the Lions last week, but I think that Russel Wilson is better than Ponder, as far as poise and decision making. This game could be tough, they both play in loud stadiums, but this is a loud outdoor stadium. I’m taking the Hawks at home.

Pittsburgh at NY Giants -3.0 UPSET SPECIAL!!
This is one of my favorite match-ups of the year. These two teams are tough on defense and unforgiving. The Steelers have a running game problem, but their back-up Dwyer ran strong last week, and like Bradshaw can hit holes hard and low. That sounded dirty. The key is going to be the Steelers defensive secondary. Can they stop Manning and his receivers? Probably not, but the Giants will have trouble with Big Ben as he thrives under pressure where Eli doesn’t. Pressure Eli, win the game. Also, get turnovers. I’m taking the Steelers to upset.

Dallas at Atlanta -4.0 GAME OF THE WEEK!!
Game of the week for two reasons. The first being that the Falcons are currently 7-0 and could go 8-0, the second being that the Cowboys are going to get exposed. Sure, they came back against the Giants last week, but six fucking turnovers by the Cowboys, four by Romo, should have led to an ass whupping, yet the Boys hung in there. Why? Cause the Giants let them. They toyed with them, gave Eli the ball and won the game. The Cowboys can’t do that. Matt Ryan can. Atlanta wins this game, because the Cowboys will not have fixed their turnover or Romo problem.

Philadelphia at New Orleans -3.0
Hey, how about that – Vick had no turnovers last week and still played like shit. The whole team did. The defense was terrible. Good thing they fired their coordinator. The Saints have no direction with no coach. Someone needs to step up and be a leader. Home in the dome, the Eagles in town and threatening any hope of a winning season, it’s now or never Saints. Do it. Saints to win.

Bye week at N.Y. Jets
Consistently proving they have no idea what they are doing. The NY Jets.

Bye week at St. Louis
For once, giving up is an option in the NFC West.

Bye week at San Francisco
Watch out Niners, the Hawks are looking tough.

Bye week at New England
Tom Brady has majestic hair.

So yeah, when I tweeted out that I was looking at three fantasy football losses this past weekend due to my lack of Matt Ryan, the NFL’s official twitter replied to me, asking if I was leaning too much on Matty Ice. You are damn straight I was. I’m 5-2, 4-3 & 3-4 in my fantasy leagues. Matty Ice is the only reason I have any wins as it is. Between him and A.J. Green. And in the league that plays defensive players, the Atlanta D has been lights out. I’ve lost by close points, just bad match-ups on hot weekends by key players. The difference this year, is I’m not playing against myself. Most of my team is the same in all three leagues.

So this past weekend I was in transit from Chicago to Atlanta to Sarasota. I was only able to watch a bit of the Giants v. Redskins game and both of the 4pm games. That’s about it. Missed the Sunday night game, but I heard it was boring as shit. I was right on about that Patriots v. Jets game, with the Pats trying to lose the game via penalties and the Jets finally just giving up in overtime, as the offensive line just kind of stood there as the Pats front rushed by to cause the game winning fumble.

That Raiders game was ugly wasn’t it? I mean, Chad Henne and the Jaguars offense was bad enough without MJD in the game, but Carson Palmer was just terrible. Fumbles, throwing the ball around like a confused elderly patient… terrible. Tell you one thing though, that guy can take a hit. Thankfully, after a few years of being a glass doll, so can Matt Stafford. And he certainly got hit on Monday night against the Bears. So much so that it started a delightful meme, which is highlighted in the picture at top.

So needless to say, since I only watched three game really, missed NFL RedZone, this weeks picks are going to be a bit light in substance. I think. Who the hell knows when I get down there. On with the picks!

Tampa Bay at Minnesota -6.5
The Bucs almost stole that game from the Saints, or the Saints stole it from them. A smart defensive play to negate the tying TD was the difference maker. Meanwhile, I have no idea what the Vikings did, but I’m taking them again this week since they are looking stronger and stronger. Vikings to win.

Carolina at Chicago -9.0
Well, I was wrong about the Panthers this year, it appears they are terrible. That’s what they get for letting Cam Newton’s ego get out of hand. The Bears are tough. Watch out Carolina, you’re gonna get crushed. Bears to win.

San Diego at Cleveland +2.5 CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK!! UPSET SPECIAL!!
Someone asked me why I pick the Browns as my crapfest of the week so often. Uh, cause they suck? This week I’m picking them – again – to upset. Why do I keep doing this to myself? They get so close, yet suck so bad. But this year, so do the Chargers. Browns at home.

Seattle at Detroit -1.0
The Detroit defense shouldn’t leave the field, because the offense is terrible. You have to establish a run game to open up the pass, and they aren’t doing that and Stafford is getting crushed. The Seahawks are not out of the NFC playoff race, not by a long shot. I dunno who to pick here really. Flip a coin. Seahawks.

Jacksonville at Green Bay -13.0
Yeah, Packers have woken the fuck up. Good luck stopping Rodgers. Packers to win by like a billion.

Indianapolis at Tennessee -3.5
Neither of these teams is playing lights out football, but there is one thing that the Titans have that may change their season – a re-energized Chris Johnson. Yes, he was up against a terrible Bills run defense, but that may have been the boost he needed. The Colts aren’t much better in that department. Titans to win.

New England at St. Louis +7.0
Well hell, there is finally a leading team in the AFC East. It’s the Patriots, who have chosen once again to not play defense. Finally the offense snapped into position against the Jets, looking sharp in the 4th quarter. They’ll continue that this week as they pick apart the Rams. Pats to win.

Miami at NY Jets -1.0
Sanchez is terrible. I’m sticking by that. He gives up, his offensive line gives up and their trick plays are shit. Absolute shit. Miami wins this game because they look like they are trying to fucking win a game.

Atlanta at Philadelphia -1.0 GAME OF THE WEEK!!
How in the balls are the Eagles favored in this game? Even by one point. They have the most offensive turnovers, inexplicably fired their defensive coordinator because of it, and have a QB who is simply terrible. Meanwhile, the Falcons are undefeated and killing it. Yeah. Falcons to win.

Washington at Pittsburgh -4.5
RGIII is playing well, but by no means the greatest QB in the game right now. Pundits are eating his shit like it’s fucking gold mousse. Well Eli and the Giants showed RGIII what a game winning drive looked like last week, and now Big Ben is going to show him again. You have a lot to learn yet young buck. Steelers to win.

Oakland at Kansas City -1.0
Who cares? The Chiefs to win just to keep these teams out of contention for the division.

New York at Dallas +2.0
So just when I was writing off Dallas, they beat the Panthers. Well, they barely beat the Panthers. The Cowboys are still a mess and the Giants have never lost in that monstrosity of a stadium in Dallas. Giants to win.

New Orleans at Denver -6.0
Manning and crew are starting to get a system going here folks. Watch out. They are 3-3 and getting ready to blast off. They are so close, I can feel it. Fox has got to let Manning run the game though, and the offensive line has got to pay attention. The running game is fantastic. I think they beat the Saints this week, no bubbles no troubles.

San Francisco at Arizona +7.0
The Cardinals started out looking like the team to beat, but then the season started. At the same time, the Niners also fell from grace. While the Niners have recovered a bit, this is still a close race in the NFC West. There is only one losing record! This game is important for the Cards, as they can’t hope to win the division if they can’t beat the Niners at home. You know what? I’m taking the Cardinals to surprise upset the Niners. I might be wrong, but if I’m right, I look like a genius.

Bye Week at Baltimore
Ravens defense has taken too many injuries for this team to make the playoffs this year. Sorry Flacco.

Bye Week at Buffalo
What run defense?

Bye Week at Cincinnati
That loss to the Steelers hurts. A lot.

Bye Week at Houston
Trust me, this team does not want a bye week, not with the stretch of wins they’ve been on.

We’re entering the seventh week of the NFL season and it has truly been a case of “any given sunday” this year. From the replacement officials impacting the outcome of games to normally stout teams like the Steelers and Saints limping out of the gate to a four way tie for first place in the AFC East there is a real feeling that anything could happen when the games start.

What hasn’t changed, however, is the typical game day routine. For me that means my favorite jersey, a growler of my favorite local brew, and some food to help fuel me through all four quarters. Although, with the maddeningly inconsistent performance of my team so far this season I haven’t had much of an appetite during the games thus far.

Still, when I have friends over for the game, I do my best to have something around to snack on so we can either celebrate the victory or comfort ourselves in defeat. Since I’m working on eating better I’ve tried to stay away from typical game day snacks to avoid mindlessly eating an excessive amount of calories and processed foods.

After watching the Bee Well for Life video “Game Day” featuring Chef Scott Leibfried it dawned on me that I could make a fun, healthy snack to have during the game that would be a welcome departure from the norm. In the video Chef Scott fashions two dishes you can prepare relatively quickly that are a much better alternative to a giant bowl of chips and a vat of dip.

Using Chef Scott’s ideas I fashioned a finger food type snack using Bumble Bee Tonno in Olive Oil, a little bit of homemade aioli, a chopped hard boiled egg, and some diced tomatoes, scallions, and celery. I mixed all of these items up in a bowl and portioned it out into the phyllo cups you can find in your grocery stores’ freezer section. They were a quick, fun way to get a quick bite in between yelling at the bad calls that even the real officials seemed to make with alarming regularity.

What types of things do you like to serve on game day?

Tuna Phyllo Cups

Software

• 1 can Bumble Bee Tonno in Olive Oil
• 1/4 cup aioli (or mayonnaise of choice)
• 1 hard boiled egg, diced
• 1 roma tomato, diced
• 1 rib celery, finely diced
• 1 scallion, finely diced
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon chives, finely sliced
• 1 package frozen phyllo cups

Assemblage

1. Combined the first six ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and stir to combine
2. Season with salt and pepper to taste
3. Spoon mixture into phyllo cups, sprinkle on chives for garnish, and serve

Disclosure: As part of the Bee Squad I receive product information and samples and Bumble Bee sponsored my attendance at the 2012 Type A Parent conference. I was not compensated in any other way, nor was I offered or promised anything else in exchange or my review of their products, recipes or BeeWell For Life program. All opinions contained herein are my own.

Photo credit: vtravelled.com

7-7. That was my record last week. The good news is that I got wins in all three of my fantasy leagues. Go figure. While I picked two upsets (Bills and Lions) I totally got the Niners, Texans and Patriots wrong. But really, who saw that Patriots loss coming besides Seahawks fans? Great game for them though, and it looks like the first time in a long time there might actually be a fight for the division lead in the NFC West, and more than one winning record.

While there are some clear winners and losers in the NFL this year, there is a lot of parity, especially within divisions. Take the AFC East for example. It’s completely up in the air. All four teams are 3-3. That’s gotta be some sort of anomaly. The NFC East is also another division that is close, which is saying a lot because the Eagles are terrible. And they just fired their defensive coordinator, in the middle of the season, even though it’s the offense that is fucked up. The NFC North is close, but it’s the NFC West that is the biggest surprise. Arizona, Seattle and San Fran are tied at 4-2, with the Rams at 3-3. Totally up for grabs.

There is only one undefeated team left, and that’s the Falcons, who are on a bye this week. That means I have to revamp my whole fantasy team or just take a loss. Matt Ryan is my bread and butter. Well, him and AJ Green. I suppose I’ll start Dalton in that league… In other news, Holmgren is out in Cleveland at the end of the year. His term was more than disappointing. They also got a new owner, who apparently likes to buy things and watch them die.

Only 13 games this week, as the bye weeks jump to six teams. Let’s see what Week 7 holds for the NFL. On with the picks!

Seattle at San Francisco -7.0
Both teams at 4-2, both teams surprised this past weekend. The Seahawks showed they were for real by beating the Patriots in dramatic fashion. Meanwhile, the Niners took a very acute turn for the suck with a beat down at the hands of the visiting Giants. Are we seeing a shift in power in this division? Will the Niners come back strong and beat the Hawks? I think so. Niners to win at home.

Tennessee at Buffalo -3.0
Well, the Titans are loading up for a disappointing season… but wait, what’s this? The Titans beat the Steelers? Some weird flip-side shit there. I watched most of that game (like every game) and neither team looked impressive. I’d say the Titans did a good job protecting the run, but the Steelers just don’t have a running game. The Bills are better offensively than the Steelers. Bills to win.

Cleveland at Indianapolis -3.0
I saw a sign in the crowd during the Cleveland game that said “First Step to 11-5″ or something like that. The 11-5 bit was on there. Well, the Browns are now 1-5 and really haven’t improved all that much save for Wheedon and Gordon finally getting a groove. So much so that I picked Gordon up for my fantasy team as a replacement WR. The Cleveland defense is playing good right now, so much so that I picked them up to replace the Atlanta defense. I was going to start Luck in place of Matt Ryan in fantasy, but I don’t like to bet against myself since I’m picking the Browns to win.

Green Bay at St. Louis +5.5
Well, the Packers finally woke the fuck up against the Texans. The Packers seemed to be winging it this season, but came into the Texans game with a serious game plan. Also, consider this: Rodgers is just as good as he was last year. 16 TD’s and 4 interceptions. The Rams are a seriously meh team, but still have a solid shot at the division if they can keep their running game healthy, which it is not. Packers to win.

Arizona at Minnesota -6.0
The Cards are hurting. Feely hits a 61 yarder, then misses a 38 yarder (maybe his foot hurt) then after the game we learned Kolb separated some ribs. Well, he’s out for a while, which means Skelton, who cannot run at all, will be in at QB. Expect the Cards to pump up the running game. Considering that the Vikings were out rushed by RGIII alone last week, I think this is a good week for the running game. But I don’t think Skelton can compliment with the pass against the Vikings pass rush. Vikings to win.

Washington at NY Giants -6.0
The Giants are not to be underestimated. I think they’ll have a better record than last year, but might have trouble in the playoffs. That’s thinking too far ahead. The Redskins are still an up and down team, but the play calling is getting better. Like Vick, RGIII can’t seem to stay in the pocket very long. That’s due to poor pass protection though, rather than his urge to run. Unlike Vick, RGIII can pass worth a shit and doesn’t put the ball on the ground. He ran all over the Vikings last week, he doesn’t get so lucky against the Giants D. Giants to win.

New Orleans at Tampa Bay +3.0
I can’t believe how terrible the Saints are playing of late. They certainly needed the bye week. Even with Vilma back, the lack of coaching and terrible play calling is haunting this team. This season is a wash. Just write it off now. The Bucs are surprising at times with their offense, at other times just a disaster. I think they cap the Saints this week. Bucs to win.

Dallas at Carolina +2.5
I’m not a Cowboys fan, but even I was yelling at the TV on Sunday as they showed some terrible time management and play calling at the end of the game. One timeout and you are killing clock to try a game winning 51 yarder instead of grinding for more yards? Weak. I’m taking the Panthers to win this week because I am just disgusted at the way the Cowboys have approached the game, from their monstrosity of a stadium with cheerleaders on stripper poles, to their former player coach who doesn’t seem to know what he’s doing.

Baltimore at Houston -7.0
The 5-1 Texans welcoming the 5-1 Ravens to Houston? This sounds like a fantastic game! It should be the game of the week! But it’s not. Why isn’t it? Because the Ravens are hurting on defense, like seriously hurting. Ray Lewis is out for the season, most likely ending his career. Webb is out for the season, and Suggs might not be ready to come back yet. Who is going to step up to replace the leadership of Ray Lewis? Someone better do it quick otherwise this defense will fall apart. The Texans secondary played well against the Packers, just were no match for the accuracy of Rodgers. I think with an offensive push against a torn up Ravens front, the Texans will win.

Jacksonville at Oakland -5.0
Oakland came to play last week! The Oakland D was on point, picking off Matt Ryan three times. It wasn’t enough in the end though, but a valiant effort from a team that people have already written off. I’ve written them off, but the Jags are still much worse. The Jags have trouble stopping the run, protecting the run and the list goes on. I’m taking the Raiders.

NY Jets at New England -10.5 UPSET SPECIAL!! GAME OF THE WEEK!! CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK!!
This game is special. With the entire division at 3-3, both Brady and Sanchez aren’t playing to their potential. Brady isn’t nearly as bad as Sanchez, who is posting the worst QB numbers in the league as far as passer rating. Brady got picked off late against Seattle to seal the loss there, while the Jets looked surprisingly good as they beat up on the Colts. I expect this game to be a comedy of errors on both sides of the ball for both teams. That’s why it’s the crapfest. The winner of this game takes the division lead (pending the results of the Bills game) and I think the winner is going to be the Jets in a crazy, wild and painful to watch upset.

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati +1.0
Well, I called the Bungles loss last week. It was bound to happen, the Browns winning that is. Too bad for the Bungles that’s a divisional loss. Tell you what though, Dalton is turning into a hell of a passer, when he’s on target. The offense had a hard time keeping the turnover ratio in their favor, hence the loss. AJ Green has been solid for my fantasy team this year, and I’m starting Dalton this week as replacement QB. The Steelers are vulnerable, perhaps not with ease, but I think the Bengals come back strong this week in the passing game. This one is going to go back and forth, perhaps one point deciding the victor, which will be the Bengals.

Detroit at Chicago -6.0
The Lions are saying that their spark is back, that they are tough again. We’ll see about that. Calvin Johnson didn’t have long to wait in his career before being given the Randy Moss treatment of double coverage, but he still pulls balls out of the air. The Bears are killer on defense this year, and are running the ball pretty well. Brandon Marshall has become nothing short of a beast. I’m taking the Bears this week. Solid.

Atlanta at Bye Week
6-0. Matt Ryan is on fire. This team still needs to get the running game back on track.

Denver at Bye Week
Never count Manning out in the second half. I’m thinking he went into the locker room and told the team it was “Tebow Time.”

Kansas City at Bye Week
The Chiefs week to week need to read a refresher course on running the damn ball.

Miami at Bye Week
The Dolphins, at 3-3 are tied for the AFC East lead. With every other AFC East team.

Philadelphia at Bye Week
Vick is terrible, Andy Reid is shifting blame and firing the wrong people. This season is over.

San Diego at Bye Week
Did the Chargers forget that there are two halves of football to be played? It was like the offense gave up in the second half Monday night.

There isn’t a guy on this planet who doesn’t wish they were in better shape.

Even when we find a healthy lifestyle and get in shape, it is important to stay active and find new ways to challenge outselves. But, balancing that with the hectic live most of us live makes it hard to get to a gym on a regular basis. Plus, when you add in the cost of joining a gym, it isn’t always possible.

This is why the new “My City is My Gym” campaign from Gillette caught our attention.

With the bootcamp and CrossFit style of fitness gaining popularity, they wanted to encourage men to take their exercise routines outdoors and put Gillette’s Odor Shield Anti-perspirant/Deodorant to the test.

Harnessing this growing trend of outdoor physical activity, Gillette is partnering with three hometown professional athletes to create pop-up outdoor “My City is My Gym” fitness sites across the country.

On October 4th, hockey star Patrick Sharp was in Chicago, on October 18th, former pro football star Dhani Jones will be in New York City, and on November 8th, football legend Jerry Rice will be in San Francisco to challenge locals to expand their fitness regimes outdoors.

The outdoor fitness stations were designed by the nation’s top fitness experts and capitalize on common urban surroundings, like bus shelters, construction scaffolding, city greenways, park benches, and even newsstands, to create the ultimate all-around workout.

“Gillette has a rich sports heritage and continuously aims to tap men’s key passion points. This, of course, includes daily workout and fitness,” said Jason Partin, Brand Manager at Proceter & Gamble. “The ‘My City is My Gym’ campaign is designed to show men they can count on Gillette Odor Shield during any rigorous activity, including outdoor exercise.”

Men can visit Gillette Odor Shield’s “My City is My Gym” pop-up outdoor fitness sites in each city to meet the professional athletes on the first day, get in an urban workout, or simply pick up some outdoor fitness tips. Local urban training maps and outdoor exercise guides can also be found at www.mycitymygym.com.

We love this idea, but are left asking one major question:

When are they coming to Boston??

Another ten win week last week for me. This paired with two out of three fantasy losses, mostly because I had Reggie Wayne on the bench in both those leagues, and he happened to have a career day. Well, can’t win ‘em all I suppose. It seems that either my game picks are really good, or I win in Fantasy. I can’t have it both ways it appears. Which kind of sucks, because I really like being right, and I really like winning. So there’s that.

The big news this week is that Drew Brees broke Johnny Unitas’ record of consecutive games with a TD pass. Good for Brees. The funny thing about Brees is that if he was drafted now, in the current atmosphere, he’d be out of the league before he would be given a chance to develop. I still feel that a lot of rookie QB’s aren’t given the chance to properly develop before being thrown to the wolves. Some excel under that kind of pressure, like Russell Wilson, while some are generally terrible. But that’s the NFL for ya.

Other big news is the Dolphins won last week. Surprise surprise. Additionally, Brady still owns Manning, and I’m pretty sure I’d like to change any predictions I made about the Green Bay Packers. What is going on there? The Packers aren’t looking much better than the Lions. NFC North – up for grabs. On with Week 6!

Pittsburgh at Tennessee +6.0
It’s been a tough season so far for the Titans. Not only is Chris Johnson not worth the huge contract they gave him, but Locker went down with a shoulder injury. Not that Hasselbeck isn’t good, but he does seem to have entered his football twilight years. The Titans are back home this week, against a Steelers team that is still struggling to find their footing. The running game isn’t what it should be for either team. I’m taking the Steelers to win.

Oakland at Atlanta -9.0
Atlanta is undefeated and looking pretty damn good as an early Superbowl favorite on the NFC side. The only holes in this team is… is… none. The running game is great, Matt Ryan is spot-on with his receivers and the defense is doing exactly what I surmised they’d do. Conversely, the Raiders are the exact opposite. The only bright spot on this team is the glare from the silver on their uniforms. Falcons to win at home.

Cincinnati at Cleveland +1.0 CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK!
The Bengals drop a crappy game to the Dolphins and suddenly aren’t looking so fucking hot. They are only one point favorites against the Browns, a team who can’t seem to get their late game shit together. After rolling to a 14 point lead against the Giants, they then rolled right on over for the Giants to lay down the beating. 4th quarter defense was non-existent. However, the Browns have been playing strong and again are the best looking shittiest team in the league. I’m taking them to win this week.

St. Louis at Miami -3.5
Ok, I didn’t pick either of these teams to win last week. The Rams showed up against the Cards and totally beat them on defense. The Dolphins, well, I think they just got lucky, taking advantage of a Bengals team that was playing like shit. Their run defense was pretty solid too. I’m sticking with the Dolphins here, as Tannehill and Hartline have become quite the pair.

Indianapolis at NY Jets -3.0
The Jets are terrible. Sure, they are three point favorites here and aren’t as bad as the Browns, but Sanchez looked like absolute shit last week. They can’t figure out what to do with Tebow, and it’s obvious as hell what they are doing when they use him. Another loss and Tebow has got to be moved to the starter. Does his miraculous playoff run last year in Denver count for nothing? Colts to win on the road, beating Green Bay was just the start.

Detroit at Philadelphia -5.0 UPSET SPECIAL!!
Vick is a fucking fraud. Fumbled in the end zone last week, can’t complete anything outside a long bomb or a pitch and run. It’s only a matter of time before Vick becomes road kill. The Lions aren’t playing like a playoff team, they are back to sucking. But the defense is still just as hostile as the environment they are going into. I’m taking the Lions to upset and force Vick to turn over the ball no less than three times.

Kansas City at Tampa Bay -4.0 UPSET SPECIAL #2!!
The 1-4 Chiefs vs. the 1-3 Bucs. It’s a showdown of crap. Brady Quinn will be starting for the Chiefs, finally getting his chance to shine not in a Browns uniform. The Chiefs have the #2 rushing offense in the league, yet only have one win. The Bucs have the 4th ranked rushing defense. This should be fun. Both of them are in the bottom third when it comes to passing offense and defense. However, I think the Chiefs run crack the Bucs defense. Chiefs to upset.

Dallas at Baltimore -3.5
The Ravens defense is going to eat Tony Romo alive. They are going to break off his arms, break off his legs and make Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray watch as they devour him and a ton of turf at the same time. I hope it’s raining on Sunday so they have something to wash him down with. Ravens to win.

Buffalo at Arizona -4.5 UPSET SPECIAL #3!!
The Bills have been smacked around like little bitches since C.J. Spiller went out. It’s like they lost their mojo after losing the #1 rusher. That beating at the hands of the Niners last week, in which the back-up guys were handing it to the Bills in the 4th quarter, has got to wake this team up. The Cardinals come in with a moderate rushing game, and the Bills have proven they can’t stop that. Their best bet is to pressure Kolb, hope he fucks up and rely on the defense to win the game. I think they do. On the road. Upset special number three. Crazy. Bills to upset.

New England at Seattle +3.5
For a second there, I thought that the Broncos might actually come back against the Pats last week. For a second. The Patriots continued their dominance over Peyton Manning, but still looked flawed. I really think the Seahawks, who are playing hot right now, have a valid chance at a win here, but I think the Pats pull it off last minute drive style. Stay tuned for some drama in this one. Pats to win.

New York at San Francisco -4.5
The Niners are looking nearly unstoppable right now. While not undefeated, they are close enough. They put a smacking on the AFC East the past couple weeks and now face the NY Giants, who beat them in the playoffs last year. This game is revenge city, USA. The Niners are going to come out running, play that pistol offense and beat the Giants. Eli is the current king of 4th quarter comebacks, but not this time. Niners to win.

Minnesota at Washington -0.0
Another win for the Vikings means they are a team to watch out for. I like the way their defense is playing and while Ponder isn’t exactly pro-bowl material, he’s getting a lot better managing games. Rolling into a hostile environment of D.C. would normally be a tough game, but the locals are pretty hostile towards their team if they don’t come out winning – and they won’t. RG3 has the drive, but he just doesn’t have the game yet. Give him time. He’ll be what Vick was supposed to be. Vikings to win.

Green Bay at Houston -3.5 GAME OF THE WEEK!!
This is my game of the week for two reasons. The first is the Green Bay Packers record, which sucks. The offense is not clicking, Rodgers seems rushed and the run defense is like wet cardboard. This is their last shot to prove they are still a strong team before the Bears and Vikings leave them behind. The other reason is the Texans are undefeated! Holy shit! Superbowl – Falcons vs. Texans? It’s possible. Think about it. Texans to win.

Denver at San Diego -1.0
Well, the Chargers coughed it up last week. I didn’t watch the entire game, so I can’t give a synopsis of how they ended up losing after being ahead, but I’m guessing it’s cause they suck somehow. Anyway, I can’t pick against Manning two weeks in a row, so Broncos to win.

Chicago at Bye Week
Chicago will win the NFC North.

New Orleans at Bye Week
New Orleans will not win the NFC South.

Carolina at Bye Week
Carolina will not win the NFC South.

Jacksonville at Bye Week
Fire everyone.

Whew. With the regular refs back I was able to find some solace in the consistency of the games this past weekend, going a pleasurable 10-5. I knew I shouldn’t have picked the Bucs to win a goddamn thing, and the Falcons cut it close, but all in all a good week to be picking games. The best was Monday night, when the Bears totally destroyed the Cowboys and then some. That was fantastic.

So there’s not too much to talk about this week. I’m going to keep it short and sweet, since the Presidential Debates are on soon (I write this column on Wednesday nights if you haven’t figured that out yet after all these years). I can’t tell who won from the debates, since I haven’t watched the debates yet even though you are reading this after the debates. We still have to vote though, not like it matters. The whole douchebag vs. a turd argument. It doesn’t matter. They are both dirty politicians out to protect the corporations and their financial interests, rather than the good of the people. On with the picks!

Arizona at St. Louis +1.0
I’ve seen better Thursday night games. A year ago this would be a hotly contested battle between two teams that weren’t going to win shit. This year, the Cardinals are undefeated and the Rams are coming off an upset win over the Hawks. The Cards have a tough road ahead of them, but the Rams shouldn’t pose much of a challenge. Their defense stepped up last week, but with only a few days rest and facing a very potent set of receivers, I’m sticking with the Cards in this one.

Miami at Cincinnati -3.5
The Dolphins are hilariously bad this season. Yet they hung in with the Cardinals last week… no fucking way. The Bengals are going to destroy the Dolphins on both sides of the ball. If you have a fantasy league in which you play defensive players, pick up every Bengals LB, CB and so on. Bengals to win.

Green Bay at Indianapolis +7.0
The Colts needed a week off to relax, work on some patterns and prepare for the Packers, a team looking to reassert themselves. The Colts could steal this game, because the Packers running game is still trying to find its legs. Regardless, the Colts defense is nothing to be proud of at this point, and allows a shit ton of rushing yards. Packers to win.

Baltimore at Kansas City +7.0
The Chiefs didn’t fare so well last week, biting it hard to the Chargers. This week, another road team rolls into KC looking for a pushover team. The Ravens have holes, the Browns exploited them for most of the game. Press coverage and flushing out the QB. Can KC pull that off? This is a game where I’d love to call a home team upset, but I just can’t. The Ravens defense is too good.

Cleveland at NY Giants -13.0 CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK!
I guess if there is any solace for the winless Browns, it’s that the Saints are also win-less. Though after this week, I’m thinking only the Browns will be win-less. Giants to win.

Philadelphia at Pittsburgh -2.5 GAME OF THE WEEK!
Always a fun game, this in-state rivalry is never without a little violence. The Steelers defense has one mission and one mission only – destroy Michael Vick. I’m pissed that the Eagles beat the Giants, that was bullshit. Vick isn’t any good, he just gets lucky. Harrison, smash! Steelers to win.

Atlanta at Washington +3.0
The Redskins played a close game against the Bucs, who had the win in hand then fucked it up. They are looking moderately okay, as long as the offense stays healthy. They still don’t have much of a running game. The Falcons, well, they are going to be near unstoppable this year. I smell an upset though, but I have to stick with the Falcons to win.

Seattle at Carolina -2.0
I guess I better start picking some home teams to win. Statistics demand it. The Panthers came on strong against the Falcons, but Cam Newton and his dumb fucking touchdown dance pissed off the football gods and they were handed a last second defeat, after a Cam Newton fumble. That’s right Superman. How’s that stupid fucking dance working out for you now? Regardless, the Panthers are offensively playing stronger than the Seahawks are playing defensively. Panthers to win.

Chicago at Jacksonville +6.0
No upset brewing here. Cutler and crew calmly destroyed the Cowboys on Monday night, handling Romo with ease, with five interceptions, two returned for TD’s. This veteran defense is playing amazing. The Jags have no chance. No chance. Bears to win.

Tennessee at Minnesota -5.5
At this point, after beating two good teams in a row (respectively good that is) the Vikings cannot be ignored. Their defense is playing amazing, at both the run defense and the secondary. Special teams play has also been great, with the runners finding the gaps and exploiting weak special teams defenses. The Titans have a weak everything. Vikings to win.

Denver at New England -6.5
Manning looked like his old self against the Raiders, but the Raiders defense blows chunks. I still think that Manning hasn’t clicked with his offensive line, and going into a hostile environment against a team that has a deadly offense will be trouble for Manning. He’ll be playing from behind, communication will be a problem. The key for Denver is taking the crowd out of it as quickly as possible, which means scoring first. This game could really go either way, if it was being played in Denver. Patriots to win at home.

Buffalo at San Francisco -8.0
For two quarters it looked like the Bills were going to pull off the upset last week, then they didn’t. They got beat and beat hard. Alex Smith makes better decisions though, so shouldn’t make as many mistakes. The Niners are up and down this year, and having trouble establishing any kind of solid rhythm. Last week, with the pistol offense, that was pure genius. A rout of the Jets was just what this team needed to get back on track. A rout of the Bills will help as well. Niners to win.

San Diego at New Orleans -3.5
The Chargers came alive last week while the Saints took another knife to the chest. But is any of this for real? A Saints fan pointed out the Saints could still finish 12-4, but with no competent coaching and a defense that appears to be asleep at the wheel, is that possible? As for the Chargers, they tend to appear in a win, better than they are. The Saints are going to wake up this week and win. That’s not a guarantee, but close to it.

Houston at NY Jets +9.0
The Jets have become my no-pick team this year. TEBOW! TEBOW! Houston to win.

Tampa Bay at Bye Week
Hmm… didn’t pick any upsets this week. In that case, the Bucs have a bad bye week.

Oakland at Bye Week
The Raiders, no high draft picks until like 2014… how’s that Carson Palmer trade working out for ya?

Dallas at Bye Week
When are they going to stop thinking Romo is any better than one of those tennis ball machines?

Detroit at Bye Week
Good. Megatron needs to rest up. All that running and no catching a tired receiver makes.

What is the first thing you think about when someone mentions sweet potatoes? If you’re like me, you probably think of that syrupy sweet concoction with finely mashed sweet potatoes that have been covered in a layer of marshmallows, then baked until they are nice and caramelized on top.

As rich and decadent as that all sounds for a vegetable, I’ve never really been a fan. Despite having an at times out of control sweet tooth it just all seemed way too sweet to me when paired with the rest of Thanksgiving dinner. Besides, I’d rather have second helping of cranberry sauce to balance out the savory.

When C.C. asked me if I had any sweet potato recipes I could write about to help support the ONE campaign to get sweet potatoes on the menu I had a few that came to mind, but I want to take a more savory slant on the venerable sweet potato. My wife loves them and they were practically all our son would eat the first few months he was on solids, so I have a little experience with working them into the meal plan.

Sweet potatoes are a great, inexpensive way to incorporate nutrition into your diet. They are loaded with vitamins and nutrients, so much so that just one cup of sweet potatoes has nearly four times the daily recommended amount of Vitamin A and 15% of your required daily fiber intake all while being low in calories. At the risk of sounding like Bubba Blue, there also are so many ways to prepare sweet potatoes like mashed, roasted, or grilled sweet potatoes, sweet potato soup, and last, but certainly not least, sweet potato pancakes.

To show Digital Dads support for the ONE campaign to help combat global child malnutrition I made my curried sweet potato pancakes that are not only very tasty, but subtle enough in flavor that they can either be paired with a protein or enjoyed all on their own. I chose to pair them with some oil poached chicken, a little creme fraiche topped with finely chopped chives, and some blistered grape tomatoes.

All in all a very easy dish to prepare and quite economical. I made six servings of this dish for right around $3.25 per serving.

As parents we are obviously very concerned about the health and well being of our children. Malnutrition, especially among children, is a huge concern in the world’s poorest countries and we need to act to help create a better future for us all. If you would like to get involved in supporting the ONE campaign to put sweet potatoes on the menu and nutrition on the global agenda there are plenty of things you can to help.

The easiest way to get involved is to sign the nutrition petition. Then you can sign up to attend a World Food Day event, “Like” ONE on Facebook to keep informed, post a photo of a sweet potato dish on Instagram with the hashtag #recipes4change, or submit a recipe to ONE’s “Recipe for Change” cookbook.

I hope you’ll consider joining us in supporting the ONE campaign to help change the tide on global child malnutrition in any way you can between now and World Food Day on October 16, 2012.

Curried Sweet Potato Pancakes

Software

• 2 sweet potatoes, coarsely grated1 leek, washed and finely shredded
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 2 teaspoons ginger, finely minced
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 teaspoons sweet curry powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2-3 large eggs (add one at a time)
• salt and pepper, to taste
• creme fraiche (or sour cream)
• chives, finely diced
• canola or vegetable oil, for pan frying

Assemblage

1. Add the first seven ingredients in a large bowl and mix to combine
2. Incorporate the eggs one at a time until you squeeze a ball of the mixture together with your hand and it stays together
3. Using a scoop or medium sized spoon, drop equal sized portions of the batter into a pan of hot oil
4. Cook on one side until the sweet potato pancake is brown and crispy, and has firmed up so that it won’t fall apart when flipped
5. Finish cooking on the second side, remove from oil and place on a plate lined with paper towels to wick away excess oil
6. Season finished pancakes to taste, then serve either with a dollop of creme fraiche (or sour cream) and chives, or along side the protein of your choice

Let’s put my personal record aside for a moment. How can I pick games properly when the replacement refs are clearly affecting the outcome? You might not think so, and I don’t fully blame the replacements as they are doing their best in a very tough situation, but the NFL has to realize that their product is being devalued right? They do, they just don’t care because we’re not going to stop watching. No matter how many coaches and players complain (mostly on the losing end) the NFL isn’t going to just give in to the refs, because there is money involved.

Here’s the deal, not only is the quality of the game being affected by blown calls and terrible pacing, but the players and coaches are getting a bit out of control. The replacements are unable to control the game, from keeping the pace to keeping the players and coaches in line. It’s a cluster fuck. Monday nights game was the tipping point for a lot of players and fans. There is a harsh truth about that Packers loss, that doesn’t fall solely on the backs of the refs. More on that in a minute.

So what can be done to fix this problem? Even if an agreement is reached, getting the refs back into the game would take at least two weeks with uniform re-fits and standard medical testing. But the NFL needs these guys back in the game now to keep this season from becoming one big joke. Again, the NFL really doesn’t give a shit unless revenue is affected. Do I think the real refs deserve everything they are asking for, like a pension plan? No, I don’t. They aren’t subject to the same physical punishment as the players. They don’t need a pension. Do I think the NFL should cave and give them whatever they want to maintain the integrity of the game? Hell yes. Let’s end this fuckery and get the NFL back. It’s bad enough we may not have any hockey as well.

As of this writing there are conflicting reports about the refs coming to a tentative agreement with the NFL owners. I don’t buy it, but we’ll see if something comes of it. The money of this should come to note, as apparently each owner would have to cough up around 100k to make this deal happen. I don’t know if that’s true, or if that’s a per season cost but I can’t imagine it’s much more than that anyway. I’d love to see the refs back on Thursday night, since you know that game is going to suck anyway. Even if they strike a deal tonight there is no way that they’ll be ready in time since the league switched from Reebok to Nike and fielding refs in Reebok gear would probably violate some other money making agreement, regardless of the safety issues. To the NFL, money is much more important than player safety. I think they’ve made that much clear.

UPDATE: They struck a deal. Regular refs will be back starting with tonight’s game. About fucking time.

Cleveland at Baltimore -12.5
There was one moment last week where I thought the Browns could pull it off and win against the Bills. That moment quickly passed and I wrote it off as gas. The Ravens finally got some revenge against the Patriots, but how much did the refs really have to do with that win? Well, there were some blown calls, some time management issues and yeah, the Ravens had some help. Regardless, they stayed close enough to beat out the Pats in the end. Ravens to win this week with relative ease.

Carolina at Atlanta -6.0
Only six points? The Falcons offense is shredding opponents. Last week my boy Ryan (my fantasy starter) went for 275 passing yards and three TD’s against the Chargers. Ok, the Chargers aren’t that great on defense. Whatever. The point is, the Falcons are probably the best in the NFC right now, and could face the undefeated Cardinals later this year. Carolina is tons of meh. Teams figured out Newton pretty damn quick and exposed him for the poor pocket passer he is. Falcons at home.

New England at Buffalo +4.5
The Patriots own the Bills. I mean, like property. The Bills have no chance, any season, no matter how good they are on offense. With Spiller out, there is no way Tashard Choice carries this team the rest of the way. I’m putting a fork in them. Their rushing game was all they had. Just skating by the Browns isn’t bolstering any confidence in the rest of the offense. Pats to win.

Minnesota at Detroit -0.0
When the Vikings went for it on 4th down early in the game I smelled upset. Sure, I picked the Niners to win – who didn’t? And that upset brewed and was served up nice and delicious. Sucks for the Niners. The Vikings suddenly looked like a playoff caliber team, even if Ponder was still a bit shaky and relied mostly on pitches and the running game. The Detroit defense is just as tough as the Niner defense, but are more likely to show up this week after a heartbreaking loss in over time last week to the Titans. I’m taking Detroit at home.

San Diego at Kansas City +1.0
Yeah, I’m not sold on the Chargers this year. They started off a little bit hot, then certainly fizzled. The Chiefs have done the opposite of that, starting off with two losses then a crazy overtime win against the falling Saints. The Chargers have not found a good running game, while the Chiefs have found a really good running game. I don’t think the Chargers fare well this week and I’m taking the Chiefs to surprise them.

Seattle at St. Louis +3.0
This has been one batshit crazy season hasn’t it? Last week was one of my worst ever for picks, with three overtime games that I got wrong. Not to mention games are 15% longer due to the crappy officiating. One thing is for sure though, the Seahawks are surprising the crap out of everyone. That was a shit win, but a win nonetheless and the Seahawks are looking to take the division lead. They’ll have to pray Arizona loses first. This week, they face a Rams team that isn’t ready to give up, even though they got whipped by Chicago. There is a lot of parity in the league this year, and I’m taking the Rams to rebound this week and put the Hawks in their place.

San Francisco at NY Jets +3.0
In probably one of the cleanest games (as far as officiating is concerned) this weekend, the Jets pulled out an overtime win. That’s because both the Jets and Dolphins sucked for 4 1/2 quarters. I thought it was going to be a tie. The Jets kept trotting out Tebow like some fucking novelty, which never paid off. C’mon, just start him at tight end already. The Niners shouldn’t have too much of an issue with the Jets terrible offense, even though their defense showed some major holes last week. Niners to win.

Tennessee at Houston -10.5
The Titans got their first win of the season, 44 points and Jake Locker was their leading rusher. That speaks more to how much the Lions were sucking it rather than the Titans being awesome. This week, at Houston, who is scary dominant and undefeated the Titans will see if Schaub still remembers how to pass after the whack he took last week. Regardless, even if he’s forgotten, they can just give the ball to Foster all day. Texans to win.

Oakland at Denver -5.5 CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK!!
Who ever thought that Peyton would be in a game I’m calling a crapfest? He’s been terrible this year, and it’s his fault. Here’s why – he expects his Denver line to play just like his Colts line did all those years. But that relationship took time to develop, with all his quirks. He won’t get that synergy with this line. So he’ll continue to be terrible. The Raiders are coming off their most violent game of the season, so that should make this one fun to watch. Denver to win.

Miami at Arizona -6.0
I can’t see the Dolphins winning much more than a bowling trophy this year. The Cardinals are coming off another huge win, Kolb cock smacking Andy Reid and the Eagles like a bitch. The undefeated Cardinals are going to punish the Dolphins right in the blowhole. Cards to win.

Cincinnati at Jacksonville +1.0
I think by some stroke of luck, the Jags got lucky. Oh wait, they did. Wait, that sentence is redundant. Either way, a nice game ending 80 yard pass to who-dat Cecil Shorts was all the Jags needed to win their first game of the season. The Bengals, well, they shoved the Redskins around like playground bullies, on defense and offense. Bengals to win.

New Orleans at Green Bay -5.0
Headlines are blaming the refs for the Packers loss at Seattle, in which the Packers scored a terrible 12 points. Rodgers averages 28 points per game, highest of any QB and you are going to blame the refs? If the Packers were up by 30 the last play of the game wouldn’t matter, that would have been a garbage touchdown. Sure, that call at the end was crap, but so fucking what? The Packers offense was stinking the whole game. Blame the offense. Blame McCarthy for playing like a pussy with a 12-6 lead for most of the game. Blame the Packers receivers for not getting open. After the game Rodgers said “We shouldn’t have been in that position.” Damn straight. You should have been up by 3 TD’s at that point. Plus, that was bad defense by the Packers. A pass up in the end zone like that – you knock it down. You don’t try to catch. Knock it down! Yes, the refs missed a clear offensive pass interference call, but it doesn’t matter. The bottom line is to that point, the Packers played like shit on offense and didn’t deserve to win that game. Had Jennings punched that ball out of the air, or Tate’s reach instead of fighting for the catch, we wouldn’t even be having this convo. Or if the refs had flagged Tate for shoving Shields to the ground. Regardless, bad call or not, the Packers played like shit the whole game and deserve to be 1-2. Regardless, the 0-3 Saints are lost, drifting like non-pressure treated wood in the aftermath of Katrina. Too soon? Packers to win.

Washington at Tampa Bay -3.0
The city of Tampa sports bobbleheads think because the Bucs held Romo in check most of the game last week that they are ready to bust out of their shell and become a quality team. Whatever. The Bucs are not going to blast off into the playoffs. But they are going to beat the Redskins, who are struggling to figure out if they have a running game outside of RG3, who is going to get killed this week. Bucs to win.

New York at Philadelphia -1.0 GAME OF THE WEEK!!
This is the game of the week, to me, because I think this is the game where the Eagles get put away for good this season. Sure, it would only drop them to 2-2, but they were exposed for the shit offense they are last week as the Cardinals just tore them up. Vick is a fraud and will be either out injured or benched after this game. Giants to win.

Chicago at Dallas -3.5 UPSET SPECIAL!!
Sure the Bears are on the road, but the Cowboys are nothing spectacular right now. The Bears can halt the run with relative ease and Culter is finding great rhythm with his receivers. I’ve got the Bears mauling the Cowboys, even if the game is in that monstrosity of a stadium in Dallas.

Indianapolis at Bye Week
The Colts have got to work on getting Luck to not overthrow his receivers. That’s some rookie shit that he’s got to overcome.

Pittsburgh at Bye Week
The Steelers are getting old. That is all.

From 9-7 week one to 7-9 week two, you can only assume that this week I’ll go 5-11. Not sure where I went wrong, I picked the Carolina upset, but put too much faith in the Bears and the RedSkins. Not to mention the Cowboys losing and the Broncos losing in spectacular fashion. Pretty sure that this tear of bad allergies I’ve been on lately has clouded my vision when it comes to picking these games. I don’t think in my decade of doing this I’ve ever started out this bad. That makes me 50% on the season so far and that sucks major sack.

Speaking about sacks, the Bills grew a pair and slaughtered the Chiefs in Buffalo. Then Vick won again, this time against the Ravens. I’m telling you, this guy is a fraud and he will be outed as a fraud soon enough. It’s tough to say week two who the winners and losers are really going to be. We have some surprising 2-0 teams and some really surprising 0-2 teams. Then we have standout rookie QB’s and mostly non-standout rookie QB’s. There isn’t a split there. Then we have the Patriots, who I predicted to go 16-0. Then we have the Browns, who are 0-2, but scrappy as hell still. Then we have… nevermind, it’s a mess.

So while DigitalDads glorious leader CC Chapman is off in Spain speaking at some conference about something related to something or other, the rest of us schulbs get to stay here and not eat cool food. But, we get to watch football. So take that CC! Either way, the picks are in, my mind is set (not really) and here comes week three, starting with another Thursday night game. Damn deadlines. Last weeks column was a lengthy 2500 words, I’ll be keeping that count lower going forward. At least, I hope. Seems like I’m losing you all after the open. On with the picks!

New York at Carolina +2.5 UPSET SPECIAL!!
How close the Giants were to going 0-2, but Eli is a professional and took control late in the game once again to beat the Bucs. This week, Bradshaw is sidelined which means the running game might struggle a little bit. Carolina surprised the Saints last week, and looked good doing it. They did it on the ground, which goes against defensive gameplans when playing against Cam Newton. That is, he didn’t run everything. I’m taking the Panthers to upset.

St. Louis at Chicago -7.0
Last week I underestimated the Rams and over estimated the Bears. The Rams won on a late field goal miss by the Redskins, but were with them the whole game. I wouldn’t say Bradford looked sharp for once, cause he didn’t, but the defense looked a whole hell of a lot better. Cutler is already under fire from Bears fans and talking heads, for what? Losing against Green Bay? Give me a break. Bears are solid. Bears to win at home.

Buffalo at Cleveland +3.0 CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK!!
Pretty much every Browns game will be the crapfest of the week. This team is plucky, but they aren’t going to get the wins by staying in the game. If anything, the thing that has kept them in the game has been opposition defense. The Bills defense isn’t as great as beating the Chiefs would make them seem. That was all Bills offense. This after a week in which Fitzy threw like 100 interceptions. Expect him to throw more against Cleveland. This game could go either way, and even though I predicted the Browns to go 1-15, I’m taking them to win this week.

Tampa Bay at Dallas -9.0
That line is really deceiving. The Bucs defense is strong and made Eli Manning look like a rookie last week. Meanwhile, the Cowboys took a drubbing at the hands of the Seahawks. I didn’t see many highlights from this game on the Cowboys side. I expect the Bucs to stay in the game, maybe get damn close to winning it, but I’m taking the Cowboys to bounce back this week with a home win.

Detroit at Tennessee +4.0
So far this season Calvin Johnson isn’t really living up being my first round pick in many fantasy leagues. Instead, the Lions are relying on the ground game of Smith and a lot of tight end involvement. Ok, I can dig on that. The Titans are hurting, taking another beating this past week. Locker is back in the game, but he’s not any good yet. Of course that offensive line isn’t helping much. Detroit should send the Titans to 0-3.

Jacksonville at Indianapolis -3.5
Another beating last week were the Jags at the hands of the Texans. They just couldn’t stop the run to save their lives. While the Colts don’t have the strongest running game, their defense is starting to mesh a little bit and they held Peterson to 60 yards last week. Luck is syncing with his receivers and I’m telling you, this team is going to surprise you. Colts to win.

NY Jets at Miami +3.0
Yet another ass whipping last week, but the Dolphins were on the winning side of it. Who knew? Reggie Bush rushed for 172 yards in one fucking game! If you thought he was done, he ain’t. Bush faces a stingy run defense, but a secondary that gives up a lot of yards. Tannehill is going to have to come out of his rookie shell a bit if he hopes to beat the Jets. Sanchez isn’t the best QB, but he can find the holes in a crappy secondary just as good as any other QB. Jets to win.

San Francisco at Minnesota +6.0
This is pretty easy to pick. The Vikings aren’t that good at all. Ponder is going to find himself backing up Tannehill next year if he doesn’t get it going with his receivers. The defense is terrible, the offensive line is shaky… the Niners are going to tear them a new one. Niners to win.

Kansas City at New Orleans -9.5
The Saints are the best 0-2 team. I hate writing that. That’s so cliche. What a flaming pile of turd. Sadly, they are. The Chiefs by no account should be able to handle the Saints, and the Saints were bested by better teams, I think. Anyway, the Chiefs are having trouble getting any offense going this season and the Saints really, really need a win. Saints at home.

Cincinnati at Washington -2.0
Oh man, the Redskins were so close to starting off the season 2-0, but a late missed field goal kept them from the win. Other than that, this is the best this team has looked in years. They finally have a franchise QB and while he doesn’t quite have the receiver core he’s going to need for the future, RGIII is looking good. The Bengals almost lost to the Browns, so, Redskins to win.

Philadelphia at Arizona +5.5
Ugh. I dislike both these teams. Vick is a piece of shit and has gotten lucky the past two weeks to go 2-0. Both times, he should have lost. The Cardinals surprised everyone last week with their pretty clean win against the Patriots. It wasn’t a blowout, they nearly lost save for the Patriots taking too many late penalties. The Cardinals aren’t ready for the basement in the NFC West this year. Cards to win at home and surprise the Eagles.

Atlanta at San Diego -3.0
Does Philip Rivers have a new favorite tight end? Dante Rosario with two touchdowns last week, Antonio Gates with zero. How many of you have Rosario on your fantasy team? So many teams are running dual TE sets right now, it’s hard to pick just one and stick with him. I suggest going with the match-ups and picking one up off waivers. Basically, whomever is playing the Browns. I’d pick the Chargers any other day, but the Falcons defense made Manning look like a chump last week. They are playing great across the middle of the field, where Rivers likes to throw. I’m taking the Falcons to win. Not just cause I have Ryan, Falcons D & Tony Gonzalez on my fantasy team.

Houston at Denver +1.0
As much as I want to pick Denver to win this game, as much as I want to see Peyton do well in Denver, the Texans have one of the best past rushes and the best running games in the league. Foster is going to shred the Denver defense, who then will be shredded in the air. The only hope for Denver is that Peyton gets his communication with the offensive line straightened out because they were a mess last week. He’s bringing years of chicken calling at the line to a line that isn’t used to it. Houston to win on the road.

Pittsburgh at Oakland +3.0
Carson Palmer threw for nearly 400 yards against the Dolphins, yet still looked like shit. There was no running game, and that was against a mediocre defense. How do you think they are going to do against a good rush defense in the Steelers? Not so well. Eventually the Steelers have to play the Ravens twice, but not this week. Steelers to win on the road.

New England at Baltimore -3.0 GAME OF THE WEEK!!
I was screaming at the television as Flacco, with nearly two minutes left in the game against the Eagles, kept flinging the ball to short yardage or outlet receivers, or going for it deep, rather than just get it to Rice. Rice was tearing up the Eagles all game, they couldn’t handle him. He didn’t touch the ball but once on an outlet pass in that final possession. So the Eagles won and the Ravens looked like tools. Same thing for New England, they had a final chance to drive for a field goal and win it, but penalties and Brady flinging the ball around like a wild man kept them from it. It made no sense. Seemed like panic coaching. Both coming off a loss, this game is a replay of the AFC Championship last year, in which the Ravens should have won. So I’m picking them to win this week instead. I know, I predicted the Pats to go 16-0, obviously that’s not going to happen.

Green Bay at Seattle +6.0
Wow. All I have to say is wow about the Seahawks. I mean, who saw that coming? The whole team came together and Russell Wilson looked damn good for a rookie QB. He was making smart decisions and picking apart that Cowboys secondary for first downs. But it was the veteran Lynch that really put the Cowboys away. Green Bay though is coming off a week and a half rest, a re-energized defense. They still don’t have much of a running game, but they are the stronger team. I’m sticking with the Packers on this one.

One of our biggest challenges is getting our kids to eat more vegetables. I’ve tried a number of ways to get my son to eat veggies, even if he didn’t know they were in his food. For instance, I’ve hidden squash in macaroni and cheese and stuffed ziti with asparagus just to sneak some nutrition in his mouth. Sometimes it has worked, other times it has blown up in my face and wrecked dinner.

So, as the summer months began to wane, I decided to try a more straight forward tactic: I took him to a farmers stand and had him pick out a vegetable that we would cook together for dinner that night. After surveying the various colorful fruits and vegetables, and explaining to him that an orange isn’t a veggie, he settled on an eggplant of all things.

When we got home I laid out my plan with him and he was excited to help me put dinner together. While he went out with his mother to ride his bike I started assembling the elements of what would become a twist on an eggplant parmigiana. I knew we didn’t have the time to make one like my grandmother used to, so I took the essential elements – eggplant, tomatoes, cheese – and broke it down a little differently. By the time he had come back inside I had sliced up the eggplant into rounds, made a tomato puree using a quick confit of tomatoes and garlic, as well as a garlic-herb vinaigrette.

Together we put together a breading station of flour, eggs and a mixture of panko breadcrumbs and pecorino romano cheese. He had a lot of fun dipping the eggplant rounds into each bowl and when we were all done we popped them into the oven to bake. After quick flip at the half way mark, we were ready to build our eggplant parm towers after about 20 minutes.

My son helped me with each layer as we topped the eggplant cutlets with tomato slices, the tomato puree and fresh mozzarella cheese. With the third and final layer complete, we topped off our creation with some of the garlic-herb vinaigrette and a small pinch of malden sea salt to finish things up.

As much fun as he had being involved in selecting what was for dinner and helping to prepare it, the real test would be in how well he would receive the final dish. In retrospect it was rather complex in terms of differing flavors. And while he wasn’t terrible fond of the acidity from the vinaigrette and will only consume a tomato in ketchup form, he did manage to gobble down the eggplant without fuss.

It was a great experience for both of us and I’ve used this direct approach more regularly as we continue to try to expand his horizons. I’m even happy to report that I no longer have to hide his asparagus.

How have you faced the challenge of introducing different vegetables to a picky eater?

Baked Eggplant Parmigiana Towers

Software

for tomato confit

• 6 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 cup grape tomatoes
• canola oil, to cover

for the garlic-herb vinaigrette

• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 1/2 cups olive oil
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon chives, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons thyme
• 2 teaspoons basil
• salt and fresh ground black pepper

for the eggplant cutlets

• 1 medium eggplant
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup pecorino romano
• 3 eggs, whisked
• olive oil or cooking spray

for assembly

• 2 beefsteak tomatoes, sliced
• 2 balls fresh mozzarella, sliced

Assemblage

1. Put grape tomatoes and garlic cloves in a sauce pan and cover with canola oil (or vegetable oil), cook on low for 30 to 45 minutes
2. Make garlic-herb vinaigrette using three of the six garlic cloves in with the tomato confit, then set aside
3. While tomatoes are poaching, slice and salt the rounds of eggplant and allow to drain for about 20 minutes
4. Pat the eggplant slices dry using a clean paper towel, then dredge first in flour, then egg and finally a mixture of the panko breadcrumbs and pecorino romano cheese
5. Place the breaded eggplant cutlets on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, lightly spray with olive oil or cooking spray, then bake at 400 degree for 10-12 minutes
6. Flip the eggplant cutlets over, again lightly spray with olive oil or cooking spray, then put them back in the oven for another 10-12 minutes
7. While the cutlets are finishing baking, combine the grape tomatoes and remaining three garlic cloves in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth
8. Pour tomato puree through a fine mesh sieve to remove any seeds or lumps
9. When cutlets have cooled slightly, begin assembling the stack: spoon some of the vinaigrette onto the plate as the base, then layer the eggplant, beefsteak tomato slices, a spoonful of the tomato puree, and the fresh mozzarella to the desired height (2 is good if begin served as an appetizer, 3 is good if this is to be a main course)
10. Drizzle a little of the vinaigrette on top and, if desired, a light sprinkle of sea salt to finish the dish

Terrible first week by my standards. I went a horrible 9-7. I don’t think I’ve done that bad since some time last year. I can’t believe that I picked the Chiefs over the Falcons. What was I thinking in that one? I must have been on drugs or something. I wasn’t, but man my head must not have been in the right place. I did say the Niners could upset, but I picked Green Bay and fuck the Cowboys.

So now that we’ve gotten a regular season look at all the teams (if you have NFL RedZone that is) what do we think? We think that the Niners are going to be near unstoppable, the Panthers looked flat and RGIII was very solid in his debut while the other rookie QB’s were a bag of suck. We learned that Manning didn’t lose a step and the Browns and Bills organizations apparently don’t know that they play football. We also learned that the replacement refs make the same stupid mistakes that the regular refs do, with only some time management issues being the glaring mistakes.

So now we’re on to week 2, which starts tonight as the Bears meet the Packers. That’s not too much rest for either of these teams, so we’ll see how they do. Wait, that bit should be in the prediction. I’m aiming for a better week this week, something in the 11 or 12 win range. So without any further fanfare (unlike an Apple press event) on with the picks!

Chicago at Green Bay -4.0
Well, Brandon Marshall was simply amazing. I really regret not drafting him on my fantasy team. Speaking of that, two out of three fantasy team wins this past weekend. Not too shabby. I’m having a little trouble in the league that scores defensive players individually, as I don’t think I picked the right ones. May have to do a trade or something. Anyway, the Bears coasted to an easy win over the Colts, who still looked like they don’t have Peyton Manning. Marshall was there at every turn, giving Cutler a reliable target. I liked the steady pace of the Bears offense, you could tell that Mike Martz was no longer doing shit to muck it up. The Packers NFC dominance is over. I’m calling it. Code! Crash cart! In fact, at this point I’d like to change my prediction and pick the Bears to win the division. I’m going to start here, Bears win on the road.

Kansas City at Buffalo -3.0
Memo to Bills staff: “Considering the state of our organization and the fact that we haven’t won any playoff game in 11 years, we will be cancelling Hawaiian shirt Friday. This may come as a shock to most of you in the front office, but aside from the fact that Chan refuses to button the top three buttons of his shirt, we have no choice but to pick this particular activity to cancel. There will also be no more free cupcakes on Thursdays in the break room, and you’ll have to bring in your own coffee filters. We are also holding open tryouts for the following football positions: QB, WR, LB, OT, DE, TE, SS, CB, RB, K, P, DT. Please apply with Maggie in HR. That is all.” Chiefs to win on the road.

Cleveland at Cincinnati -7.0
The Bengals running game was the only bright spot last week, which is good considering they were playing the Ravens. Green was basically shut down for most of the game and the defense was unable to contain anything including their lunches. The drubbing by the Ravens exposed a lot about this team, mostly that Marvin Lewis (as expected) is a big hairy pussy. There is no will to win in his coaching style. The Browns face a similar situation in Shurmur, just no will to win. The defense was stellar against the Eagles, but that might have been a fluke. The Browns will lose this week, Wheedon will get sacked and hurried and rushed a lot, but I think we’ll learn how bad these two teams are gonna suck this year. Bengals at home.

Minnesota at Indianapolis +5.0
Do I have to pick this game? Does it seem like more teams suck this year than are stellar? I can’t decide if this game is going to be worse than the one above it or the one below it. I’m so confused. The Colts were meh as they were completely outmatched by the Bears. Bright spots; Luck looked okay, Donald Brown looked great on the ground. Brown and his production is going to be the key to this team getting their shit together. The secondary needs to step up if they want to compete against premiere quarterbacks. That’s a real hurt on this team. Marshall smoked them, sometimes in double coverage. The Vikings roll in, fresh off a lucky OT win over the hapless Jags. Ponder looked like warm crap on your tire, but somehow pulled it off by going to the TE route and Peterson as often as possible. I’m going out on a limb here and taking the Colts to upset, again, cause I want to see Luck get his first win.

Oakland at Miami +3.0 CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK!!
Something you don’t ever want to hear in professional football: “bring in the back-up long snapper!” That was doom for the Raiders as kicking mistakes handed the Chargers an easy win. If not for that, the Raiders might have had a chance to come into Miami with a win. As it is, both these teams are looking for their first win, but I don’t think the Dolphins are up to the task. Tannehill was atrocious, probably the worst rookie performance on Sunday. I dunno. I didn’t look at the stats, he just looked bad. The Dolphins are really having trouble adjusting to a new defensive pattern, missing coverages and tackles all over the place. I expect the Raiders to come in with a thirst for blood and I expect them to find some for slurping. Raiders to win on the road.

Arizona at New England -13.0
After last week, do I really have to pick another New England game? I predicted them at 16-0 so I suppose I can save some typing and just say Patriots to win. However, the Cardinals should give them some trouble, if they take Tom Brady’s parking spot. The Cardinals saw Skelton go down and Kolb take over to lead the team past the Seahawks last week, a slight feat considering that division. A two touchdown line is generous. Pats to win. I already said that. Pats to win all season.

Tampa Bay at NY Giants -9.0
What can I say about the team that I hate the most? The Bucs were surprisingly good last week, both on defense and on the ground. Not to mention the rush defense which stifled the Panthers. I did not see that coming. Regardless, now they face a team that has tons of weapons on offense, which will really test the Bucs defense. I think the Bucs defense has made a good turnaround and looks like they could seal some games for the lackluster offense this year, but I’m not placing any major bets. Eli and the Giants are too good for that. But wait, the Giants lost to the Cowboys last week! How did that happen? Well, it happened with bad secondary coverage and Romo looking like the quarterback everyone seems to think he is. The Bucs don’t have that kind of passing game to severely threaten the Giants secondary, but they need to be on their game. Giants to win.

Baltimore at Philadelphia -1.0
Are you kidding me with this fucking line? Did Flacco sustain a head injury that we don’t know about? The Ravens trashed the Bengals last week, while the Eagles struggled against one of the worst teams in the league. Are you oddsmakers telling me that you think Vick will throw any less interceptions against the Ravens superior defense than he did against the Browns? Vick was lucky to get out of there with a win and all his freaking ribs. This is a joke. Ray Rice is a beast and crushed it last week. There is no way that the Eagles defensive line is any better than the Browns. This is a gross miscalculation. Ravens to win.

New Orleans at Carolina +6.5 UPSET SPECIAL!!
I didn’t think that I’d see an 0-1 Saints team meeting up with an 0-1 Panthers team. The Saints were completely surprised by the abject accuracy of RGIII and the lack of Will Smith and Vilma on defense showed. Not to mention the lack of leadership in not having a coach on the field. This team is hurting right now and it was apparent last week. Meanwhile, the Panthers took it in the tailpipe from the Bucs, especially when it came to the running game. The good news for them is that Jonathan Stewart will play against the Saints. This is a tough one to call, but I’m thinking the Panthers are going to rebound before the Saints do. Cam knows what to do. Panthers to upset.

Houston at Jacksonville +7.0
Forget it. Arian Foster proved why he was the top fantasy pick in so many leagues, or if not the top – the first picked running back. When he sees the opportunity to shred a lousy team for tons of yards and touchdowns he does, and he did against the Fins last week. Then you tack on the Shaub to Johnson connection and you can’t beat this team on offense. The Jags defense won’t be able to keep up, even though they contained the game against the Vikings. The Jags are still looking for their offense to click, MJD and Jennings are sharing carries and neither looks like they showed up for training camp. Florida teams are in for a bad year and it sucks to say that the Bucs are the best of the three of them. Texans to win on the road.

Washington at St. Louis +3.0
Bradford found himself in too much trouble last week to really consider his performance. While he was able to rally the team to keep in the game against the Lions, he was rushed way too much to be able to keep the score up. The Redskins found their offense, finally, after all these years of bad quarterbacks, bad ownership and bad coaching. RGIII is the real deal and was terribly accurate the entire game, finding his way out of pressure and making the right connections. Helu got back into the game, looking better than he has in a few seasons. And did you know, the kids aren’t Tebowing anymore, they are RGIII’ing or something like that. You know when he sat down and raised his hands after that long touchdown pass to Garcon, that. The bad news is Garcon went out after that, not sure if he’s back in this week. Shouldn’t matter, should still be a win. The Redskins are gonna make the NFC East interesting this year. Skins to win on the road.

Dallas at Seattle +5.0
Dallas. Look, Russell Wilson actually looked pretty good against the Cardinals last week, I mean, compared to Wheedon. He made some passes, Sidney Rice caught some balls and they still lost the game. The Seahawks are held together with that clear plastic tape that doesn’t work well for boxes. The Cowboys roll in, fresh off a win over the reigning Super Bowl champs. That’s enough for me. The Cowboys defense was strong, their running game was tight and Romo looked like a bon-a-fide QB. I may have underestimated the Cowboys this season. If they blowout the Hawks, I may have to change my thinking on this team.

NY Jets at Pittsburgh -6.0
It’s really hard to judge the Jets at this point because the Bills are horrible. A win was a no-brainer. Sanchez was passing to every receiver that he had on the field and every time either him or Tebow lined up out of the QB position I grumbled a little bit because it was pretty damn obvious what they were doing. I do like how Tebow came out on the hands team on that Buffalo onside kick and got the ball, that was amusing. Every time the two of them were on the field I just wanted to laugh. I thought I was watching playground football. I didn’t see much of the Pittsburgh loss, I was doing something else, I always am during the Sunday night game, kind of on in the background. All I know is that a quality QB smoked their secondary and an aging RB smoked their run defense. The Jets could be trouble for the Steelers, but I think the Steelers rebound on this one at home and sneak by the Jets. Steelers to win.

Tennessee at San Diego -6.0
Well, Jake Locker was another rookie Qb with another less than stellar debut. He ended up leaving the game a bit early, injured and Hasselbeck came into the game. To that point, it didn’t really matter as they were up against the best offensive team in the league. This week, they come to sunny San Diego, where Rivers and crew is feeling the pinch without a prime reciever after Jackson left. The only reason the Chargers won as because of messed up kicking by the Raiders. So you have the Titans, who aren’t too bad on the run defense and the Chargers who aren’t too great on the run. This is a toss up for me, but I’m taking the home team, Chargers to win.

Detroit at San Francisco -7.0 GAME OF THE WEEK!!
This is my game of the week because while winning over Green Bay was pretty impressive, the Niners need to do it two weeks in a row for me to really crown them the new kings of the NFC. The Packers looked like they hadn’t played football in a while, and if you think about it – their defense hasn’t. Their defense was coasting all year last year because of the offense. Well, the offense sputtered against the Niners and the defense wasn’t ready to step up. The Lions defense is always stepped up, at least for the last year. They have to be. Kevin Smith had a killer game last week, just tearing it up on the ground. I like this guy at RB. But the Niners defense is the bestest! He’ll have trouble finding the holes this week. I’d like to see the Lions make a game of it, but I think the Niners are just too damn good right now. Even Moss is scoring touchdowns. Niners at home.

Denver at Atlanta -3.5
I made a mistake last week picking the Chiefs to beat the Falcons. I don’t know what I was thinking. Matt Ryan is my starting fantasy QB. He had four fucking touchdowns. Four! You can’t bet against that. And now they get their first home game against the Denver Mannings? I dunno. I don’t know how I can pick against Manning. I mean, he played like he had just taken a week off to fold umbrellas or something. He hasn’t lost a step, ran the offense and took care of business against a high class defense. The Falcons defense is good, but I dunno if they are Manning good. This is going to be an offensive shootout. There has got to be some stat about Manning on Monday night, so I’m running with it. Denver to upset.

Two weeks ago my wife was at the end of a seven day stretch of third shift. By day six I was running ideas of what to do with the kids so she could sleep in peace when she arrived home at 8am. We’d run out of errands to do, we’d played at the pool a couple of times and we’d visited playground outside our general area. We had pretty much done it all and I’d run the kids pretty ragged all week, but I still had two more mornings to keep them occupied and out of the house.

Then, just as I had resigned myself to a day at the house letting them consume movies by the bushel, I got an email letting me know that the next day would be the first “pick your own” day for apples at a local orchard. And while I knew it would be early for any apple worth biting into, I figured I could find enough things to do with them that it would be worth the trip.

Here in North Carolina the apple harvest has been hit hard by the weather this year. It got warm early, then a frost really did some damage as a good deal of the crop in Hendersonville, a major producer of apples, was lost. As a result, I kept my expectations low and decided to just have some fun with the kids.

They had fun roaming the orchard, looking for apples that looked red enough to pick, running from the chickens and pigs native to the adjacent farm, and, of course, eating the first apple cider donuts of the season. The farm even had a little homemade hard apple cider for the adults, which was consumed while the kids were fast asleep after a very long week.

But what of the apples? Well, to be blunt, they weren’t very good. My son remarked that they reminded him more of lemons than apples, and I couldn’t disagree. They were very tangy and acidic, so I tried storing them in a brown paper bag with a few bananas to see if I could speed up the ripening process some. After a few days they got a little better, but not enough where the kids had any interest in eating them.

Some friends of ours and their kids came apple picking with us, which left us with quite a bit of apples that were generally inedible. So, I did the only thing I know how to do with a giant bag of apples that weren’t going to be eaten before they go bad – make apple butter. This time around I decided to mix things up and add some maple syrup into the batch after the apples had cooked down some. It was a nice, albeit subtle addition, to the recipe that I think helped round out some of the overt tartness.

After the apple butter was done I still had a handful of apples that I didn’t know what to do with. Some of them made it into an apple crisp that we brought to a cook out we were invited to, while I took the rest of the apples in a different direction: I pickled them.

Pickling apples in something that I’ve wanted to try for some time and just never got around to trying. Well, now seemed like as good a time as ever, so I dug up the link I’d been saving and got to work making Honey Ginger Pickled Apple Rings. They were very easy to prepare, just a handful of ingredients brought to a boil, then poured over a jar full of apples.

After a few days getting happy in the refrigerator we were more than happy with the results. They were tangy, sweet, acidic, and very refreshing thanks to the ginger. My wife even speculated that they would be really good with a pile of pulled pork, which has me playing around with pickled apple slaw ideas as I write this.

If you’re adventurous enough, I’d highly recommend giving these pickled apple rings a shot. If not, then you could always try your hand at some maple apple butter if you’ve got more apples than eager consumers on hand.

Honey Ginger Pickled Apple Rings

recipe by Chef Peter McCarthy of EVOO in Cambridge, MA

Software

• 1 quart water
• 3/4 cup honey
• 3/4 cup cane sugar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup sherry vinegar
• 2 inch piece of fresh ginger, thinly sliced
• 3 star anise
• 1/2 cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon allspice berries
• zest of one lemon
• 10 sweet-tart apples, peeled, cored and sliced into rings (or cut into wedges, if you prefer)

Assemblage

1. Combine everything but the apples in a saucepan, bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes
2. Put the rings (or wedges) into four one quart jars and ladle the hot liquid over the apples
3. Add the ginger slices and star anise, if desired
4. Screw on lids to jars and refrigerate for up to 3 months, or process to preserve longer

Maple Apple Butter

Software

• 4-5 pounds apples, peeled, cored and diced (or shredded)
• 1 1/2 cups apple cider
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Zest of one lemon
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
• 1 cup cane sugar
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon Malden sea salt

Assemblage

1. Combine apples, lemon juice and zest, apple cider, water, cinnamon sticks and vanilla is a dutch oven
2. Bring to a boil on the stovetop and then place in a 300 degree oven for 2 to 3 hours
3. Remove cinnamon sticks, puree with immersion blender, strain through a fine sieve and return to dutch oven
4. Add sugar, salt and maple syrup and bring up to a simmer on the cooktop, then cook at 300 degrees for 4 to 5 more hours, or until it reaches desired thickness
5. Funnel into sterilized mason jars, seal and refrigerate, or process to preserve for longer

The first column of the season is always the hardest to write. Once the preview columns are done, then it’s time to get to the week to week and this early, it’s hard to tell who is going to do what week to week. Can’t say that my first week record is very good. Of course, I’m not going to go back and add it up either. So just take my word for it.

If you’ve never read this column, it’s like this, I predict a winner for the upcoming games by looking at the previous week, babbling about my fantasy team and speculating on things I may have heard, read or made up. Frankly, the whole thing is a crap shoot. I generally end the season with around a 65% success rate, so if you are using this column for gambling purposes – you’re a moron. While that is a good pick percentage, chances are you have a gambling problem and are losing money anyway. I don’t want to be involved in your losses. Take your addiction somewhere else buddy.

I already picked last nights game earlier in the week, so I’m going to skip that one. Hell, when I wrote this the game hadn’t even been played yet. So, I’ll just say the [INSERT TEAM HERE] won. Go team!

Indianapolis at Chicago -9.0 UPSET SPECIAL!!
Yeah, I think I just gave away this pick. Look, I think Cutler and the Bears have been playing well the past couple seasons, but with Urlacher coming back from an injury and Forte getting his huge contract, I don’t think they are going to come out of the gate firing. The Colts looked great in preseason, and I know, it’s just preseason but I like this Luck kid and I think that he’s going to start off the season surprising the hell out of the Bears. Unlike Manning, Luck does pretty well in the outdoors and the weather is still nice in Chicago. If this were a later season game I might look at it a different way. As confident as I am, I’m starting Luck in all my fantasy leagues. Colts to upset on the road.

Philadelphia at Cleveland +6.5 CRAPFEST OF THE WEEK!
The Browns are terrible. While I’d love to predict a win for them at some point this season, I don’t see it happening. And now with Haden suspended for three games, their defense has taken a huge hit. The only positive in this game is hoping the Browns put some damage on Vick. They won’t be able to cover the receivers without Haden playing dirty out there in the secondary and their run defense is suspect. The Eagles are going to light them up in the air. If you have any Eagles players on your fantasy team, make sure you start them this week.

St. Louis at Detroit -9.0
The Rams are getting some hype right now, new coach, new system, new offensive plan. I’m not sold. I think Stephen Jackson will have a solid season, but I don’t think that Bradford will get hit any less. They still have problems on the lines and Detroit will exploit them, especially when the Lions are on defense. The Rams might make a contest out of it, but Stafford is a much more bon-a-fide QB than Bradford, and he’s proven it. The Lions are a team to no longer take lightly. Lions to win at home, with the points.

New England at Tennessee +7.0
What a test for Jake Locker right out of the gate, and Chris Johnson. The Patriots roll in, fresh off a Superbowl loss, looking to redeem themselves by making it back this year. Considering I predicted the Pats to go 16-0, clearly I can’t pick them to lose. This game will be interesting though, as we’ll see if the Pats defense has improved since last year, when they were absolutely terrible. An improved defense, with that offense, they’ll be unstoppable. I’m hoping that losing this game won’t destroy Jake Locker for the season. If you have Rob Bironas on your fantasy team – start him. Pats to win on the road.

Atlanta at Kansas City +1.0
I’m a bit surprised at this line. I guess the Chiefs gained a couple points by playing at home, and Atlanta dropped a couple not playing in the dome. The key to this game for the Chiefs is the running game. Can they get Johnson and Hillis past the Falcons front D-line? Probably. The Falcons aren’t the greatest on run defense. The Chiefs will have to press them on offense and press Ryan on defense. He’s got too many weapons to not pressure him out of the box on a regular basis. I’m taking the home team on this one though, just because of home team statistics during week one. Chiefs to win.

Jacksonville at Minnesota -4.5
The Jags are going to have a rough year. Even though MJD has shown up, it’s still a question of whether he is going to “show up”. It could go either way. Meanwhile the Vikings aren’t exactly playoff bound, but the Jags are a good opponent for young Ponder to show us that he’s been studying in the off season. Late game mistakes killed this kid last season, and I’m going to guess we’ll see a bit more maturity out of him this time around. I like the Vikings at home, just cause the Jags suck worse.

Washington at New Orleans -8.5
What a fun test for RGIII. Too bad he didn’t get the Bucs to start off the season. Instead he gets the lights out secondary of the Saints and his defense gets to get smoked by the Saints offense. The Saints are going to win this game, it’s just a question of by how much. I’m thinking by at least two touchdowns. The Skins need to take advantage of the Saints run defense, which isn’t all there thanks to suspensions. RGIII isn’t really a running QB though, but he’s got mobility. That should open up enough time to get a pass off. And unlike Vick, he can take a hit. Saints to win at home.

Buffalo at NY Jets -6.0
I read one column last night predicting the Bills to make the playoffs. Yeah, I’m not buying it. I like the Bills, but they don’t have the winning spirit, whatever that is. Chan Gailey just doesn’t take enough chances. The Jets are going to be fun to watch this year. How long before Sanchez makes a mistake and the crowd starts chanting for Tebow? Not long. I expect it by the third quarter of this game. Rex Ryan knows what he’s doing and he knows that Sanchez is not as electric as some think he is. I expect Tebow time to start early this year. Jets to win at home.

Miami at Houston -6.5
The Dolphins are coming in with a revamped defense, only because they have a new coordinator, and a rookie QB. Meanwhile, the Texans are without Mario Williams for the first time since he entered the league. How will this affect their defense this year? Against the Fins, shouldn’t change anything. We’ll have to wait until they play a strong offensive unit. Speaking of offense, Foster is going to shred the Dolphins on the ground. There is no doubt about that. I’m putting him at over 100 yards for this game for sure. Texans to win at home.

San Francisco at Green Bay -7.0 GAME OF THE WEEK!
This is a great match-up with playoff implications. As in, these teams will most likely see each other again in the playoffs. You have the best defense in the Niners against the best passing offense in the Packers, in my estimation. The Packers won’t be able to run against the Niners, but they’ll try. Alex Smith has some new weapons to play with on offense, while Rodgers is gunning with pretty much the same guys, which means he’s already got the cadence down pat. I’m taking the Packers to win at home, but this is going to be a back and forth affair with a chance that the Niners upset.

Seattle at Arizona +1.0
I guess it is too early in the season for me to not give a shit about the Cardinals. Actually, this whole division is just crap save for the Niners. An in-division match-up like this, it may as well be week 17 and both these teams are 6-9. The Hawks haven’t been the same since letting Hasselbeck leave, even though he had at least a year left in him as a starter, as he proved in Tennessee. The Cardinals are starting Skelton over Kolb, who cares? Both of these guys will be floating around the league as backups after this season for the rest of their careers. Meh. Cardinals to win just cause they are home.

Carolina at Tampa Bay +3.0
As with the Cardinals, it’s too early for me not to give a shit about the Bucs. I don’t think they will do as well as some people (mostly people here in Tampa) seem to think they will do. I think they are going to suck hard nuts. This first game will be a huge indicator for that. Will they be able to put the brakes on Cam Newton as they were unable to do last year? I highly doubt it. Newton is a fucking pro. That kid can run, jump and pass. The Bucs won’t be able to defend him – again. They might be able to contain him a bit. And I don’t even know about the Bucs offense. I can see them forcing the ball to Jackson just cause of the price they paid. Panthers to win on the road.

Pittsburgh at Denver -1.5
Without Tebow, this doesn’t seem like much of a rematch. Without Tebow, but with Manning, the Broncos are favored in this game. The Steelers don’t perform well in Denver, that much is clear. Regardless, the match-up of the Denver Mannings vs. the Steelers defense is going to be a good one. This, like many games, is an early test for the QB. If there is one team that is going to bring the pressure and the hits, it’s going to be the Steelers. For that reason, and that I don’t think Manning has got his system in place 100% just yet, I’m taking the Steelers to win.

Cincinnati at Baltimore -7.0
Most pundits, including me, are saying that A.J. Green is going to be one of the premier receivers in the league this year. Go ahead and dispute that. The Dalton to Green connection is hot and will lead the Bengals to more than a few wins. But this week, they travel to Baltimore and the Ravens lights out defense. The Ravens are one team that I can say has a really good secondary backed by a pretty good offense. The Ravens are playoff bound and are going to start the season off by roughing up the Bengals a bit. Don’t expect the Bengals to sit this one out though, they’ll be in the game. Ravens to win at home.

San Diego at Oakland -1.0
And finally we come to the Raiders. While I have them winning a few games, it’s going to be awhile before they get on any kind of track. This season is the last chance for Norv Turner with the Chargers, and maybe for Rivers as well. They have got to make something happen with this team. Starting off with a road win in the black hole will bode well for them. Plus, the Chargers generally get off to a hot start. Chargers to win on the road.

And this brings us to the end of the NFL preview columns. Which means that the weekly predictions begin this week, because the season begins this week. Around the nation, millions of football fans will lock themselves in front of the television, some of them lucky enough to have the NFL Network or NFL Redzone, some of them having to watch the games with commercials on CBS or FOX. I feel sorry for that bunch. I mean, think about it. The most you have is one hour of action right? So what’s the other two hours? Players standing around and commercials. How is that fun? NFL RedZone is the way to go man. Get it.

Disclaimer: NFL RedZone is not paying me to blow smoke up their ass. I just really love that freaking channel.

So we come down to the AFC South. In my head I keep thinking I already wrote about the AFC South because I already wrote about Peyton Manning. Boy, that’s going to be a weird adjustment and I’m not even a Colts fan. Good news for Colts fans – Andrew Luck is dialed in! I drafted him in all my fantasy leagues. How could I not? The kid is going to be the best rookie since Big Ben or Eli. I am guaranteeing that right now. Well, I mean I’m saying that. I have nothing to really back it up.

More on Luck in a minute. On a sour note, I’d like to thank the Browns for sucking so bad this preseason that I predicted them with one win this season. I apologize in advance to fellow Browns fans. I’d also like to point out that while DigitalDads fearless leader C.C. Chapman lives in Boston, he’s a Dolphins fan. And while I live in Tampa, I am NOT a Bucs fan. Get that through your thick skulls. I hate the Bucs. Just cause we live in the town a certain team plays in, does not automatic fans it makes. Or something like that.

AFC South

Houston Texans
Somehow improbably and on the arm of young T.J. Yates, the Texans were able to make the playoffs for the first time last season. Of course, a 7-3 start with Matt Schaub kind of helped set up Yates for moderate success. I’m not even going to mention Leinhart, damn, I just did. The Texans are looking to repeat this year, and are probably thinking that with Peyton out of the division, they might have a better chance.

Johnathan Joseph is the key to the secondary. While other teams were hunting Asomugha last season, the Texans wisely picked up Joseph. I’ll say one thing about defensive coordinator, he’s a terrible head coach. But the guy knows defense and really, that is the key to the Texans gameplan. Mario Williams is gone, and that is really going to hurt the pass rush. I’m kind of wary about the run defense as well, as they’ll be up against some strong runners in their division.

The offense is once again bolstered by a steady Matt Schaub. In the last year of his contract, it’s now or never for Schaub. I’d like to predict now, but I’m more likely to go with never. The problem isn’t going to be with Shaub, but with the receiving core. Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter and that’s really about it. There are a couple other draft picks on the depth chart, but up against a good secondary, they could easily be nullified. The Texans are going to have to hope someone steps up into the role.

Predicted Finish: 7-9

Tennessee Titans
This just in – another rookie QB has been given the start! Well, technically this is Locker’s second year in the league. He was drafted after Cam Newton, in QB order, last year. Jake Locker backed up Hasselbeck, who will now be backing up Locker. Could this be another one of those “veteran saves the team” situations or will Locker have a good year? Find out this and more next time on the NFL!

I think that Locker will have a good season. Kenny Britt comes back to the team after injury, and rookie Kendall Wright should add some spark to the receiving core, giving Locker valid targets. The key to the offense of course is Chris Johnson. Last year, he fizzled real quick and had a very human season. This year, he’s apparently reconditioned himself and is in top flight condition. We’ll see. The first game out of the gate will be the indicator. If he doesn’t rush for 100 yards you’ll see him get dropped from fantasy teams.

So how about the secondary now that Chris Pope and Courtland Finnegan are gone? Well, with their first game against the Patriots, we’ll see if there is anything to be said for the secondary. I think we’ll see some shifting on defense over the first couple games as the Titans work in some rookie secondary players and try to get the matchups they want. Last year the Titans went 9-7 without much fanfare, this without Chris Johnson. I think with Chris Johnson the Titans will be surprising this year.

Predicted Finish: 11-5

Jacksonville Jaguars
Well, not much to say about this team. They won a few games last year, thanks to the Colts sucking a big fat egg. Their defense had an amazing turnaround, going from dead last in defensive efficiency in 2011 to number five overall. The defense was good against the pass and the rush and not much has changed on defense. So the Jags have that going for them. Unfortunately, while defense wins championships, offense gets you there and the Jags have a slight problem there.

Mike Mularkey comes in as head coach and he’s pretty much stripped down and replaced most of the coaching staff as well. Which means new offensive schemes for young Blaine Gabbart to learn. Gee, good thing he’s got Chad Henne backing him up (insert laugh here). MJD finally reported to camp, which is good news for the Jaguars cause he’ll be playing his ass off for a new contract.

The offense is going to feature Jones-Drew, which means he’s going to get hit a lot. Henne and Gabbart are back-ups who have found themselves as the possible starters for a team. Lucky them? Gabbart won’t last the season, neither will Henne. Maybe Carson Palmer will retire again.

Predicted Finish: 4-12

Indianapolis Colts
This is a while new Colts team. Chuck Pagano is the new head coach. Jim Caldwell is the new offensive coordinator. Greg Manusky is the new defensive coordinator. Marwan Maalouf is the new special teams coordinator. Manning is gone. Piere Garcon, Dallas Clark, Jeff Saturday and Joseph Addai are gone. All staples of a Colts team passed. This team is truly in year one of their rebuilding phase, so how will they fare with all this change?

Most experts are predicting the Colts might get lucky with a win or two this season. I’m thinking they might get a few more than that. Joining Andrew Luck is TE Coby Fleener, his favorite target from college. Reggie Wayne is still in the house, joined by Donnie Avery and Austin Collie. No matter which way you spin it, this team is starting from scratch. Though I think having Mewelde Moore in the backfield with Ronald Brown can’t hurt. Addai was getting old. I think he’s already been cut by the Patriots.

I think the Colts are going to do better than people think. I think the Colts are going to rack up a few surprising last second wins on the arm and professional play of Andrew Luck. I think he’s going to do for the Colts what Andy Dalton did for the Bengals last year. I think the Colts are going to surprise the fuck out of everyone and take the division. You heard it here first folks.

Predicted Finish: 11-5

NFL Week One Predictions Part One

There is one game this week, before Sunday, that I suppose I shouldn’t ignore since my column is posted on Thursday. Well, the regular column. Obviously this was posted on Tuesday.

Dallas Cowboys at NY Giants

Kicking off the season the Cowboys get to travel to face the Giants on a Wednesday night. What a weird day to start the season. The Giants will be raising some flags after their Superbowl win, so expect some pomp and circumstance before the game and probably at halftime. I’d like to say that the Cowboys can pull out a surprising win here, but I’d be lying. The Giants will be playing for another Superbowl win here, starting off the season with a win over the Cowboys will be a good step. Giants to win.

Related posts:

1. Digital Dads NFL Pre-Game 2012: NFC South Preview
2. Digital Dads NFL Pre-Game 2012: NFC East Preview
3. Digital Dads NFL Pre-Game 2012: AFC West Preview

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