Football Contest: Week 14

There are just four games left for each team, so the time is now if you want to make the playoffs.

For this week, I had to go back to 2012 Topps Football.  I still haven't finished the base set, so I was hoping to make some progress there.  I promise this is the last 2012 Topps in the regular season.

Just like in Week 9, there were 7 retail packs and 1 rack pack for a grand total of 120 cards.

Unfortunately, I pulled a bunch of the crappiest inserts:

Only 1 point each, because they shouldn't be inserts.

Reprints, ok.  Anyone else wonder what Elway's fingers smell like in that picture? No one?

More QBs...what, is that like the best position or something? Oh, it is? Nevermind then.

Typical unexciting Topps two-man insert.

Finally...the best insert in the set.  3 points for each of these.  Malcolm Floyd sure looks a hell of a lot like Willie McGee.

How about we blow through some games:

DENVER BRONCOS 9, OAKLAND RAIDERS 4
>>> Did the Raiders really think they had a shot in this one?

BUFFALO BILLS 3, ST. LOUIS RAMS 0
>>> The team with the best record coming in to the weeks puts up 0 points.  Congrats Bills. Didn't see that one coming.

CAROLINA PANTHERS 4, ATLANTA FALCONS 2
>>> Panthers jump up and take out the Falcons with 4 base cards.

CINCINNATI BENGALS 8, DALLAS COWBOYS 2
>>> Butt whooping, thanks to that Tallboy Benson.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 5, CLEVELAND BROWNS 2
>>> Another not real close matchup.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 8, TENNESSEE TITANS 5
>>> Poor Titans put up 5 points only to lose.

NEW YORK JETS 11, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 1
>>> 5 base, 3 RCs for the Jets.  1 Base for the Jags.  How does this happen?

MINNESOTA VIKINGS 8, CHICAGO BEARS 5
>>> Apparently Peppers was held at bay this week by a rookie...a gold rookie, that is:


Matt Kalil #/2012

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 10, PITTSBURGH STEELERS 6
>>> The Bolts put up a big number to bring home a much-needed win. 

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 8, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 4
>>> The Bucs continue to surprise me, this time pulling 6 base cards and a rookie.

BALTIMORE RAVENS 9, WASHINGTON REDSKINS 2
>>> Not even an RGIII RC could stand up to this Ravens barrage.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 6, MIAMI DOLPHINS 5
>>> The difference came down to a single base card.

NEW YORK GIANTS 4, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 3
>>> Despite the points discount on the Peak Performer cards, the Giants still pull off the win.  The Giants are starting to put a stranglehold on the NFC East.

ARIZONA CARDINALS 8, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 2
>>> Pink Power!

Michael Floyd #/399

Just as I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked the camo parallels, I am equally disappointed by the pink parallels.  The difference in coloring of the pink border and the pink foil is horrendous.

GREEN BAY PACKERS  8, DETROIT LIONS 7
>>> Don't mess with Bart Starr.

HOUSTON TEXANS 2, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 1
>>> In what should have been an epic matchup two division leaders, the Texans squeak out a win in a lackluster showing.

The updated standings:

There are a heck of a lot of teams in that middle record area (7-6 and 6-7).  We're going to have some really happy owners and really disappointed owners in the next couple of weeks.

With 14 weeks in the books, lets look at the playoff picture:

AFC
1. Broncos (10-3)
2. Patriots (9-4)¹
3. Ravens (9-4)
4. Texans (8-5)
5. Dolphins (8-5)
6. Jaguars (7-6)

¹Patriots def. Ravens in Week 3.

NFC
1. Rams (10-3)²
2. Giants (10-3)
3. Packers (8-5)³
4. Buccaneers (7-6)⁴
5. 49ers (8-5)⁵
6. Lions (8-5)

²Rams are 7-2 in-conference. Giants are 7-3 in-conference.
³Packers def. Lions in Week 11 and Week 14.
⁴Buccaneers def. Falcons in Week 12.
⁵49ers def. Lions in Week 2.