Dec. 20, 2007 Coach Stapes
Start'em or Sit'em NFL Week 16 Defenses

 

Yardage Lock
Packers (vs CHI)	The Packers are good at defending both the run and the pass and Orton showed that no matter who the Bears choose, they just plain stink!

Points Lock
Patriots (vs MIA)	The Dolphins put up 28 garbage points on the Patriots last time they met, it won't happen again as the Pats flirt with a shutout!

Sack Lock
Titans (vs NYJ)	The Titans are middle of the road at getting to the QB, but the Jets have allowed the 4th most sacks in the NFL. Combine the two and you have a winner!

Turnovers Lock
Buccaneers (vs SF)	The Bucs will put pressure on the young 49er QB and definitely force him into some TO's. This is an easy pick, literally...

Touchdown Lock
Arizona (vs ATL)	I know the Cards are banged up, but the Falcons have quit on 2007. They will serve up a TD to this opposing unit for sure!

Rank	Team	Rush Def	Opp Rush Off	Pass Def	Opp Pass Off	Notes
1	Patriots  (vs MIA)	10	20	5	24	This Dolphins team is playing with a bunch of rejects while the Pats are nearing perfection. Miami will be lucky to find the endzone at all.
2	Buccaneers  (at SF)	14	27	2	32	Sacks, turnovers, defensive scores, you name it, and the Bucs will get it. They are a superb start against an inept offensive unit. They are neck and neck with the Patriots for the start of the week!
3	Titans (vs NYJ)	7	19	9	25	The Titans face an offense that is in the bottom half of the NFL in every statistical category with their playoff lives on the line. They will still be playing for something so look for a spirited effort.
4	Jaguars   (vs OAK)	5	5	21	31	The Jags matchup just perfectly enough to be a complete nightmare for the Oakland offense. The Jaguars should hold the Raiders to below 14 points and be in the opposing backfield all afternoon.
5	Packers (at CHI)	15	32	14	14	Orton looked horrible against the Vikes and the Packers have a more solid all around defense. This will be a long day for the Bears as their disappointing season continues.
6	Steelers   (at STL)	3	21	3	16	The Steelers will be grumpy after the Jags exploited their highly ranked defense. The Rams however, have continued to get healthier and could present some matchup problems.
7	Vikings   (vs WAS)	1	11	32	15	Several fantasy pundits have the Vikes as their start of the week. I don't buy it. The Vikes have been solid down the stretch, but their last ranked pass defense against an eager Collins, will prove to be problematic. This is a playoff game so both teams will be going all out!
8	Giants (at BUF)	12	16	11	29	The Bills were shut out last week... OK. So the weather had something to do with that. But the Giants are still in search of the playoffs while the Bills are going home. It should be a solid outing from the Giants.
9	Seahawks (vs BAL)	13	18	20	21	This is just a nice matchup against a poor offense. The Ravens are demoralized after losing to Miami last week and the Hawks have been a solid defensive unit down the stretch. Don't expect the world out of them, but it should be a solid effort..
10	Cowboys   (at CAR)	4	15	15	28	The Panthers offense is terrible, so despite the Cowboys struggles, they are an average play.
11	Colts  (vs HOU)	18	22	1	9	The Colts are an average play at best as they face a solid Houston offense led by a QB, Sage Rosenfels, who is auditioning for a job next season.
12	Cardinals  (vs ATL)	11	25	27	20	If the Cards were playing any other team, they would be a definite bust, but the Falcons have given up. Look for several peripheral stats from this unit (sacks, TO, TD, etc).
13	Ravens   (at SEA)	2	24	23	8	I would advise you to stay away from a Ravens team that cannot stop the pass and faces a full passing club...
14	Chargers (vs DEN)	16	8	22	12	The Chargers held the Broncos to just 3 points the last time they played, don't expect that again as Cutler and Co. have improved monumentally since their first matchup.