Playoff Post Schedule

The playoff field is set and the fantasy football season has ended. Through the end of the season, The Art of Creative Misfortune will feature playoff power rankings on Thursdays and game predictions on Fridays until the week of the Super Bowl.

Happy New Year!

Regular Season system Prediction Results (2013)

The regular season has come to an end and the Creative Misfortune prediction systems had one of their best weeks all year predicting games.

The Vegas Lines Formula system won Week 17 by picking a near-perfect 15 out of 16 games correctly for a 93.8% accuracy.

Creative Misfortune's Overall PPY formula did almost as well, picking 13 out of 16 games correctly for an impressive 81.3% accuracy.

Creative Misfortune's Home/Away PPY formula and the blind Best Record Wins system both had solid, above-average weeks picking 12 of the 16 games correctly (75.0%).

The blind Home Team Wins formula finished last as it only picked 10 of the 16 games correctly for an average 62.5% accuracy.

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Overall for the season, the Vegas Lines Formula system was the most accurate, picking 175 out of 256 games correctly for 68.4% accuracy.

The second best system of the season goes to Creative Misfortune's new Home/Away PPY formula, which predicted 164 out of 256 games correctly for 64.1% accuracy.

The blind Best Record Wins formula and Creative Misfortune's Overall PPY formula also topped the 60% accuracy mark for the season by picking 156 and 155 games correctly for just under 61% accuracy.

Finishing the season in last - but still exceeding expectations - the blind Home Team Wins formula ended the year picking 153 out of 256 games correctly for 59.8% accuracy. Typically NFL home teams win about 57% of their games, regardless of record.


Check back later this week for Creative Misfortune's final regular season power rankings, which will be posted on Thursday, January 2nd and Wild Card game predictions, which will will be posted on Friday, January 3rd.

Predictions of Creative Misfortune - Week 17 (2013)

The final push for the playoffs have all come down to this. 13 of the league's Week 17 games have playoff implications. Enjoy!

Sunday Game Predictions:

Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Carolina Panthers by 15
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Carolina Panthers by 3
     Vegas Lines Pick: Carolina Panthers by 6. Panthers by 5.5, Over/Under 45.5
     Best Record Wins Pick: Carolina Panthers by 3. Panthers better at 11-4
     Home Team Wins Pick: Atlanta Falcons by 3

Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Green Bay Packers by 1
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Chicago Bears by 4
     Vegas Lines Pick: Green Bay Packers by 3. Packers by 3, Over/Under 53
     Best Record Wins Pick: Chicago Bears by 3. Bears better at 8-7
     Home Team Wins Pick: Chicago Bears by 3

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Cincinnati Bengals by 8
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Cincinnati Bengals by 11
     Vegas Lines Pick: Cincinnati Bengals by 6. Bengals by 6, Over/Under 44.5
     Best Record Wins Pick: Cincinnati Bengals by 3. Bengals better at 10-5
     Home Team Wins Pick: Cincinnati Bengals by 3

Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Indianapolis Colts by 15
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Indianapolis Colts by 5
     Vegas Lines Pick: Indianapolis Colts by 11. Colts by 11, Over/Under 45
     Best Record Wins Pick: Indianapolis Colts by 3. Colts better at 10-5
     Home Team Wins Pick: Indianapolis Colts by 3

New York Jets at Miami Dolphins
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Miami Dolphins by 7
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Miami Dolphins by 9
     Vegas Lines Pick: Miami Dolphins by 6. Dolphins by 5.5, Over/Under 41.5
     Best Record Wins Pick: Miami Dolphins by 3. Dolphins better at 8-7
     Home Team Wins Pick: Miami Dolphins by 3

Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Detroit Lions by 7
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Minnesota Vikings by 1
     Vegas Lines Pick: Minnesota Vikings by 3. Vikings by 3, Over/Under 51.5
     Best Record Wins Pick: Detroit Lions by 3. Lions better at 7-8
     Home Team Wins Pick: Minnesota Vikings by 3

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: New Orleans Saints by 11
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: New Orleans Saints by 13
     Vegas Lines Pick: New Orleans Saints by 13. Saints by 12.5, Over/Under 47.5
     Best Record Wins Pick: New Orleans Saints by 3. Saints better at 10-5
     Home Team Wins Pick: New Orleans Saints by 3

Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: New England Patriots by 8
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: New England Patriots by 9
     Vegas Lines Pick: New England Patriots by 9. Patriots by 8.5, Over/Under 47
     Best Record Wins Pick: New England Patriots by 3. Patriots better at 11-4
     Home Team Wins Pick: New England Patriots by 3

Washington Redskins at New York Giants
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: New York Giants by 1
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: New York Giants by 2
     Vegas Lines Pick: New York Giants by 4. Giants by 3.5, Over/Under 45.5
     Best Record Wins Pick: New York Giants by 3. Giants better at 6-9
     Home Team Wins Pick: New York Giants by 3

Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Tennessee Titans by 8
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Tennessee Titans by 6
     Vegas Lines Pick: Tennessee Titans by 7. Titans by 7, Over/Under 43.5
     Best Record Wins Pick: Tennessee Titans by 3. Titans better at 6-9
     Home Team Wins Pick: Tennessee Titans by 3

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers by 5
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers by 5
     Vegas Lines Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers by 7. Steelers by 7, Over/Under 44
     Best Record Wins Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers by 3. Steelers better at 7-8
     Home Team Wins Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers by 3

San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: San Francisco 49ers by 5
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: San Francisco 49ers by 1
     Vegas Lines Pick: San Francisco 49ers by 1. 49ers by 1, Over/Under 42
     Best Record Wins Pick: San Francisco 49ers by 3. 49ers better at 11-4
     Home Team Wins Pick: Arizona Cardinals by 3

Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Denver Broncos by 20
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Denver Broncos by 7
     Vegas Lines Pick: Denver Broncos by 12. Broncos by 12, Over/Under 53.5
     Best Record Wins Pick: Denver Broncos by 3. Broncos better at 12-3
     Home Team Wins Pick: Oakland Raiders by 3

Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Kansas City Chiefs by 6
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Kansas City Chiefs by 5
     Vegas Lines Pick: San Diego Chargers by 9. Chargers by 9, Over/Under 44.5
     Best Record Wins Pick: Kansas City Chiefs by 3. Chiefs better at 11-4
     Home Team Wins Pick: San Diego Chargers by 3

St. Louis Rams at Seattle Seahawks
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Seattle Seahawks by 11
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Seattle Seahawks by 9
     Vegas Lines Pick: Seattle Seahawks by 11. Seahawks by 11, Over/Under 43
     Best Record Wins Pick: Seattle Seahawks by 3. Seahawks better at 12-3
     Home Team Wins Pick: Seattle Seahawks by 3

Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Philadelphia Eagles by 3
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Dallas Cowboys by 2
     Vegas Lines Pick: Philadelphia Eagles by 7. Eagles by 6.5, Over/Under 52.5
     Best Record Wins Pick: Philadelphia Eagles by 3. Eagles better at 9-6
     Home Team Wins Pick: Dallas Cowboys by 3

Check back next week for a recap of the regular season system prediction results, final regular season power rankings and predictions for next weekend's Wild Card games.

Creative Misfortune Power Rankings ~ Week 16 (2013)

Creative Misfortune Power Rankings are based on a complicated formula that takes into account, among other things, a team's projected ability to score an Offensive Fumble Recovery TD. All power rankings guaranteed to be less accurate than real NFL team abilities on any given Sunday and are subject to change on a weekly basis.

When it comes to Creative Misfortune Power Rankings, production is combined with potential to determine a team's true strength compared to the rest of the league. Winning isn't the only factor, but it is one of the most important components of the rating. I don't believe teams can be powerful if they consistently lose, even to other great teams.

The Forked Few~
     Abandon hope and fortune all ye who rank here

     # 32 - Houston Texans (previous: 32)
                    The Texans have the inside track on the #1 draft pick for 2014.

     # 31 - Washington Redskins (previous: 31)
                    The Redskins may possibly have a shot at the #1 draft pick in 2014, if the Texans win and they lose this weekend.

     # 30 - Jacksonville Jaguars (previous: 30)
                    No chance at the #1 draft pick or the playoffs. The Jaguars can impact the playoffs by beating the Colts and preventing them from trying to sneak into the playoffs with a first-round bye.

     # 29 - Oakland Raiders (previous: 29)
                    No chance at the #1 draft pick or the playoffs. The Raiders can keep home-field advantage out of Denver's hands if they can pull off the upset to end the season.

     # 28 - Cleveland Browns (previous: 27)
                    No chance at the #1 draft pick or the playoffs. The Browns have a great opportunity to eliminate the Steelers from playoff consideration.



The Creatively Challenged~
     Folly remains ever their mistress

     # 27 - Atlanta Falcons (previous: 26)
                    No chance at the #1 draft pick or the playoffs. The Falcons are playing just to mess up Carolina's path to the Super Bowl.

     # 26 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (previous: 28)
                    No chance at the #1 draft pick or the playoffs. The Buccaneers can upset the shaky playoff seeding hopes of the Saints with a big win this weekend.

     # 25 - Minnesota Vikings (previous: 25)
                    No chance at the #1 draft pick or the playoffs. The Vikings take on Detroit this week in a meaningless NFC North game.

     # 24 - New York Giants (previous: 24)
                    Out of the playoffs, the Giants finish the season with a meaningless NFC East game against the Redskins.

     # 23 - Buffalo Bills (previous: 23)
                    Out of the playoffs, the Bills can still send the Patriots stumbling into the playoffs without a first-round bye.

     # 22 - Tennessee Titans (previous: 22)
                    Out of the playoffs, The Titans have a virtually meaningless game left against the Texans

     # 21 - New York Jets (previous: 21)
                    Out of the playoffs, the Jets still have a say in the AFC Wild Card picture when they take on the Miami Dolphins.



The Remarkably Average~
     Dancing the fine line between misfortune and glory

     # 20 - Detroit Lions (previous: 15)
                    Out of the playoffs, the Lions take on Minnesota this week in a meaningless NFC North game.

     # 19 - St. Louis Rams (previous: 19)
                    Out of the playoffs, the Rams have an excellent opportunity to finish the season at .500 and mess with Seattle's playoff seeding if they can pull off the week 17 upset.

     # 18 - Pittsburgh Steelers (previous: 20)
                    The Steelers are in the playoffs as a wild card if they can win and Miami, Baltimore and San Diego all lose.

     # 17 - Green Bay Packers (previous: 17)
                    The playoff picture for the Packers is very simple - beat the Bears to win the NFC North or lose and go home.

     # 16 - Chicago Bears (previous: 12)
                    The playoff picture for the Bears is very simple - beat the Packers to win the NFC North or lose and go home.

     # 15 - Dallas Cowboys (previous: 18)
                    The playoff picture for the Cowboys is very simple - beat the Eagles to win the NFC East or lose and go home to an offseason full of the same old questions.

     # 14 - San Diego Chargers (previous: 16)
                    The Chargers can sneak into the playoffs as a wild card if they win and Miami and Baltimore both lose.

     # 13 - Baltimore Ravens (previous: 13)
                    The Ravens can sneak into the playoffs as a wild card if they win and Miami or San Diego loses.



The Fortunate Seven~
     The best of those not yet elite

     # 12 - Miami Dolphins (previous: 11)
                    The Dolphins can sneak into the playoffs as a wild card if they win and Baltimore loses or if they win and the Chargers win.

     # 11 - Philadelphia Eagles (previous: 14)
                    The playoff picture for the Eagles is very simple - beat the Cowboys to win the NFC East or lose and go home.

     # 10 - Arizona Cardinals (previous: 10)
                    The Cardinals are in the playoffs as a wild card if they win and the Saints lose.

     # 9 - Indianapolis Colts (previous: 9)
                    The Colts have clinched the AFC South and can clinch a first-round bye if they win and the Patriots and Bengals both lose.

     # 8 - New Orleans Saints (previous: 5)
                    The Saints need a win or a loss by the Cardinals to get into the playoffs… if they win, they can still take the NFC South division and a first-round bye if Carolina also loses.

     # 7 - Cincinnati Bengals (previous: 8)
                    The Bengals have clinched the AFC North. They can gain a first-round bye if they win and the Patriots lose this weekend.

     # 6 - Kansas City Chiefs (previous: 3)
                    The Kansas City Chiefs are locked into the AFC's #1 Wild Card spot and will be seeded 5th when the playoffs start, no matter what happens this week.



The Creative Elite~
     Wielding misfortune at its finest

     # 5 - San Francisco 49ers (previous: 4)
                    The 49ers are in the playoffs… they can steal a first-round bye if they win and the Seahawks lose. If they win and both Seattle and Carolina lose, the 49ers will become the NFC's top seed in the playoffs.

     # 4 - Carolina Panthers (previous: 6)
                    The Panthers take the NFC South with a win or a Saints loss… they can take home-field advantage throughout the playoffs if they win and Seattle loses and San Francisco wins.

     # 3 - New England Patriots (previous: 7)
                    The Patriots are in the playoffs as the AFC East champion. They can clinch a first-round bye with a win or with losses by Cincinnati and Indianapolis. They can clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a win and a Denver loss this weekend.

     # 2 - Seattle Seahawks (previous: 1)
                    If the Seahawks win this weekend, they clinch the division and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs… a loss to the Rams and the Seahawks could fall as far as the NFC's 5th seed.

     # 1 - Denver Broncos (previous: 2)
                    The Broncos have clinched the AFC West division and a first-round bye. A win this week or a loss by the Patriots gives them home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.



Week 16 Power Ranking Awards:

The Free Fallers - Detroit Lions (-5), Chicago Bears (-4), Kansas City Chiefs (-3), New Orleans Saints (-3), Seattle Seahawks (-1)

The Biggest Movers - New England Patriots (+4), Philadelphia Eagles (+3), Dallas Cowboys (+3), Carolina Panthers (+2), San Diego Chargers (+2)

Maintaining The Status Quo - Indianapolis Colts (9), Arizona Cardinals (10), Baltimore Ravens (13), Green Bay Packers (17), St. Louis Rams (19), New York Jets (21), Tennessee Titans (22), Buffalo Bills (23), New York Giants (24), Minnesota Vikings (25), Oakland Raiders (29), Jacksonville Jaguars (30), Washington Redskins (31), Houston Texans (32)

Creative Misfortune Super Bowl XLVIII Favorite ~ After Week 16

 Denver Broncos

Check back tomorrow for week 17 predictions.

Creative Misfortune's Fantasy Bowl III Results (2013) ~ "If Real Football Used Fantasy Scoring..."

Merry Christmas, Everybody!

Creative Misfortune's third "If Real Football Used Fantasy Scoring..." season has come to an end.

While the NFC Champion Chicago Bears saw their real-life playoff hopes take a major hit when they were crushed 54-11 by the Philadelphia Eagles, the AFC Champion New England Patriots rolled to a 41-7 victory over the defending Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens. Victory for the Patriots in Fantasy Bowl III may seem like a foregone conclusion, but in fantasy football, a team can lose in real life and still be victorious if the numbers add up properly.

CREATIVE MISFORTUNE'S FANTASY BOWL III ~

New England Patriots (10-3)
                    (AFC #2 playing at Baltimore Ravens)

            vs

Chicago Bears (10-4)
                    (NFC #6 playing at Philadelphia Eagles)

Complete Fantasy Bowl III Scoreboard Result ~

New England Patriots	pts				pts	Chicago Bears
Tom Brady	10		QB		13	Jay Cutler
LeGarrette Blount	19		RB1		4	Matt Forte
Shane Vereen	6		RB2		2	Michael Bush
Julian Edelman	7		WR1		9	Brandon Marshall
Danny Amendola	4		WR2		7	Alshon Jeffery
Aaron Dobson	2		WR3		3	Earl Bennett
Matthew Mulligan	0		TE		8	Martellus Bennett
Stephen Gostkowski	13		K		5	Robbie Gould
Defense	28		DEF		-6	Defense
Total	89		<<<		45	Total

Congratulations to the New England Patriots, 2013's Creative Misfortune "If Real Football Used Fantasy Scoring..." Champions! Now we will see if their fantasy success translates into true Super Bowl glory!

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Creative Misfortune Fantasy Playoff Seeds and Prior Week Results


AFC Seeds

Division Champions ~
1. Denver Broncos (8-3, 1178 pts)
2. New England Patriots (8-3, 884 pts)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (8-3, 850 pts)
4. Indianapolis Colts (6-5, 802 pts)

Wild Cards ~
5. Kansas City Chiefs (7-4, 825 pts)
6. Miami Dolphins (6-5, 734 pts)

NFC Seeds

Division Champions ~
1. New Orleans Saints (9-2, 958 pts)
2. Seattle Seahawks (9-2, 883 pts)
3. Green Bay Packers (7-4, 904 pts)
4. Philadelphia Eagles (6-5, 877 points)

Wild Cards ~
5. Detroit Lions (7-4, 899 pts)
6. Chicago Bears (7-4, 874 pts)


Wild Card Game Results - Week 13

AFC #6 Miami Dolphins (playing at New York Jets) at
     AFC #3 Cincinnati Bengals (playing at San Diego Chargers)
     Fantasy Score: Miami Dolphins 101, Cincinnati Bengals 66
     Miami's Key Performers: Ryan Tannehill (21), Brian Hartline (18), Defense (17)
     Cincinnati's Key Performers: A.J. Green (14), BenJarvus Green-Ellis (13), Defense (12)

AFC #5 Kansas City Chiefs (playing vs Denver Broncos) at
     AFC #4 Indianapolis Colts (playing vs Tennessee Titans)
     Fantasy Score: Kansas City Chiefs 81, Indianapolis Colts 69
     Kansas City's Key Performers: Alex Smith (21), Jamaal Charles (17), Junior Hemingway (10)
     Indianapolis' Key Performers: Adam Vinatieri (20), Donald Brown (12), Andrew Luck (10)

NFC #6 Chicago Bears (playing at Minnesota Vikings) at
     NFC #3 Green Bay Packers (playing at Detroit Lions)
     Fantasy Score: Chicago Bears 93, Green Bay Packers 24
     Chicago's Key Performers: Alshon Jeffrey (36), Josh McCown (22), Matt Forte (15)
     Green Bay's Key Performers: Defense (8), James Jones (7), Mason Crosby (6)

NFC #5 Detroit Lions (playing vs Green Bay Packers) at
     NFC #4 Philadelphia Eagles (playing vs Arizona Cardinals)
     Fantasy Score: Detroit Lions 118, Philadelphia Eagles 77
     Detroit's Key Performers: Reggie Bush (21), Matthew Stafford (19), Defense (19)
     Philadelphia's Key Performers: Nick Foles (23), Zach Ertz (18), Defense (11)

Top Seeds Playing for Bye-Week Advantage*

AFC #1 - Denver Broncos (playing at Kansas City Chiefs)
     Fantasy Score: Denver Broncos 114
     Denver's Key Performers: Eric Decker (41), Peyton Manning (32), Knowshon Moreno (14)
     Divisional Matchup Bye-Week Advantage: 114/4 = 28.5 = +28 points

AFC #2 - New England Patriots (playing at Houston Texans)
     Fantasy Score: New England Patriots 88
     New England's Key Performers: Tom Brady (20), Rob Gronkowski (18), Stephen Gostkowski (13)
     Divisional Matchup Bye-Week Advantage: 88/4 = 22.0 = +22 points

NFC #1 - New Orleans Saints (playing at Seattle Seahawks)
     Fantasy Score: New Orleans Saints 24
     New Orleans' Key Performers: Jimmy Graham (10), Drew Brees (7), Darren Sproles (4)
     Divisional Matchup Bye-Week Advantage: 24/4 = 6.0 = +6 points

NFC #2 - Seattle Seahawks (playing vs New Orleans Saints)
     Fantasy Score: Seattle Seahawks 96
     Seattle's Key Performers: Russell Wilson (28), Zach Miller (14), Doug Baldwin (13)
     Divisional Matchup Bye-Week Advantage: 96/4 = 24.0 = +24 points

*Bye-week Advantage - To reflect the benefit gained by the top 2 seeds in each conference getting a bye week before they host Divisional Playoff games, the four teams who earn these bye weeks in the fantasy standings will play Week 13 to gain bonus points that will be added to their score in the Divisional Playoff round. For every 4 points they score in their Week 13 game, they will receive 1 bonus point in their Divisional round matchup.

Since there are no bye weeks between the Divisional games and the Championship Games, bonus points will only be a factor in the Divisional playoff games.


Divisional Game Results - Week 14

AFC #6 Miami Dolphins (playing at Pittsburgh Steelers) at
     AFC #1 Denver Broncos (BWA*: +28) (playing vs Tennessee Titans)
     Fantasy Score: Denver Broncos 160, Miami Dolphins 85
     Miami's Key Performers: Ryan Tannehill (23), Charles Clay (21), Daniel Thomas (16)
     Denver's Key Performers: Peyton Manning (31), Bye-Week Advantage (28), Eric Decker (17), Matt Prater (17)


AFC #5 Kansas City Chiefs (playing at Washington Redskins) at
     AFC #2 New England Patriots (BWA*: +22) (playing vs Cleveland Browns)
     Fantasy Score: New England Patriots 111, Kansas City Chiefs 107
     Kansas City's Key Performers: Jamaal Charles (27), Defense (26), Alex Smith (13)
     New England's Key Performers: Tom Brady (22), Bye-Week Advantage (22), Shane Vereen (21), Julian Edelman (14)


NFC #6 Chicago Bears (playing vs Dallas cCwboys) at
     NFC #1 New Orleans Saints (BWA*: +6) (playing vs Carolina Panthers)
     Fantasy Score: Chicago Bears 119, New Orleans Saints 104
     Chicago's Key Performers: Josh McCown (38), Matt Forte (23), Alshon Jeffery (14)
     New Orleans' Key Performers: Drew Brees (28), Marques Colston (24), Jimmy Graham (17), Bye-Week Advantage (6)


NFC #5 Detroit Lions (playing at Philadelphia Eagles) at
     NFC #2 Seattle Seahawks (BWA*: +24) (playing at San Francsico 49ers)
     Fantasy Score: Seattle Seahawks 79, Detroit Lions 49
     Detroit's Key Performers: Joique Bell (15), Jeremy Rose (12), Defense (10)
     Seattle's Key Performers: Bye-Week Advantage (24), Marshawn Lynch (13), Luke Wilson (13), Russell Wilson (9)


Conference Championship Game Results - Week 15

AFC #2 New England Patriots (playing at Miami Dolphins) at
     AFC #1 Denver Broncos (playing vs San Diego Chargers)
     Fantasy Score: New England Patriots 82, Denver Broncos 64
     New England's Key Performers: Tom Brady (20), Julian Edelman (19), Danny Amendola (13)
     Denver's Key Performers: Peyton Manning (17), Andre Caldwell (17), Matt Prater (9)

NFC #6 Chicago Bears (playing at Cleveland Browns) at
     NFC #2 Seattle Seahawks (playing at New York Giants)
     Fantasy Score: Chicago Bears 96, Seattle Seahawks 91
     Chicago' Key Performers: Jay Cutler (19), Brandon Marshall (15), Alshon Jeffrey (13)
     Seattle's Key Performers: Defense (24), Marshawn Lynch (17), Russell Wilson (15)

Tomorrow, The Art of Creative Misfortune Power Rankings.

Predictions of Creative Misfortune - MNF - Week 16 (2013)

With one game remaining in week 16, the sixteenth week of predictions ended up being an average week of predictions for most systems, despite the inclement weather and teams fighting xtra hard for playoff positioning.\.

The blind Best record Wins system won this week by picking an above-average 10 out of 15 games correctly for a 66.7% accuracy.

Creative Misfortune's Overall PPY formula and the Vegas Lines formula did almost as well, picking 9 out of 15 games correctly for an average 60% accuracy.

Creative Misfortune's Home/Away PPY formula and the blind Home Team Wins system fell short of the other formulas, with the Home/Away PPY formula picking 8 of the 15 games correctly (53.3%) and the Home Team Wins formula picking 7 of the 15 games correctly for a below average 46.7% accuracy.

All systems favor the 49ers in tonight's Monday Night matchup.

Monday Night Game Prediction:

Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: San Francisco 49ers by 15
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: San Francisco 49ers by 7
     Vegas Lines Pick: San Francisco 49ers by 13. 49ers by 12.5, Over/Under 45
     Best Record Wins Pick: San Francisco 49ers by 3. 49ers better at 10-4
     Home Team Wins Pick: San Francisco 49ers by 3


Creative Misfortune's "If Real Football Used Fantasy Scoring..." champion will be declared on Christmas Day. Will the Chicago Bears or the New England Patriots emerge victorious?

Predictions of Creative Misfortune - Week 16 (2013)

Make or break time for the NFL playoffs...

Sunday Game Predictions:

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Miami Dolphins by 5
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Miami Dolphins by 1
     Vegas Lines Pick: Miami Dolphins by 3. Dolphins by 3, Over/Under 43
     Best Record Wins Pick: Miami Dolphins by 3. Dolphins better at 8-6
     Home Team Wins Pick: Buffalo Bills by 3

New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Carolina Panthers by 3
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Carolina Panthers by 10
     Vegas Lines Pick: Carolina Panthers by 3. Panthers by 3, Over/Under 46.5
     Best Record Wins Pick: Carolina Panthers by 3. Both teams at 10-4, home team wins
     Home Team Wins Pick: Carolina Panthers by 3

Minnesota Vikings at Cincinnati Bengals
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Cincinnati Bengals by 10
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Cincinnati Bengals by 12
     Vegas Lines Pick: Cincinnati Bengals by 7. Bengals by 7, Over/Under 48
     Best Record Wins Pick: Cincinnati Bengals by 3. Bengals better at 9-5
     Home Team Wins Pick: Cincinnati Bengals by 3

Denver Broncos at Houston Texans
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Denver Broncos by 21
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Denver Broncos by 5
     Vegas Lines Pick: Denver Broncos by 11. Broncos by 10.5, Over/Under 52
     Best Record Wins Pick: Denver Broncos by 3. Broncos better at 11-3
     Home Team Wins Pick: Houston Texans by 3

Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Tennessee Titans by 11
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Tennessee Titans by 7
     Vegas Lines Pick: Tennessee Titans by 6. Titans by 5.5, Over/Under 44
     Best Record Wins Pick: Tennessee Titans by 3. Titans better at 5-9
     Home Team Wins Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars by 3

Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Kansas City Chiefs by 9
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Kansas City Chiefs by 2
     Vegas Lines Pick: Kansas City Chiefs by 7. Chiefs by 7, Over/Under 44.5
     Best Record Wins Pick: Kansas City Chiefs by 3. Chiefs better at 11-3
     Home Team Wins Pick: Kansas City Chiefs by 3

Cleveland Browns at New York Jets
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Cleveland Browns by 4
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: New York Jets by 4
     Vegas Lines Pick: New York Jets by 3. Jets by 2.5, Over/Under 40.5
     Best Record Wins Pick: New York Jets by 3. Jets better at 6-8
     Home Team Wins Pick: New York Jets by 3

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at St. Louis Rams
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: St. Louis Rams by 4
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: St. Louis Rams by 5
     Vegas Lines Pick: St. Louis Rams by 5. Rams by 5, Over/Under 43
     Best Record Wins Pick: St. Louis Rams by 3. Rams better at 6-8
     Home Team Wins Pick: St. Louis Rams by 3

Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Dallas Cowboys by 10
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Dallas Cowboys by 2
     Vegas Lines Pick: Dallas Cowboys by 3. Cowboys by 2.5, Over/Under 53.5
     Best Record Wins Pick: Dallas Cowboys by 3. Cowboys better at 7-7
     Home Team Wins Pick: Washington Redskins by 3

New York Giants at Detroit Lions
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Detroit Lions by 10
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Detroit Lions by 9
     Vegas Lines Pick: Detroit Lions by 10. Lions by 9.5, Over/Under 48.5
     Best Record Wins Pick: Detroit Lions by 3. Lions better at 7-7
     Home Team Wins Pick: Detroit Lions by 3

Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Seattle Seahawks by 9
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Seattle Seahawks by 11
     Vegas Lines Pick: Seattle Seahawks by 11. Seahawks by 10.5, Over/Under 43
     Best Record Wins Pick: Seattle Seahawks by 3. Seahawks better at 12-2
     Home Team Wins Pick: Seattle Seahawks by 3

Pittsburgh Steelers at Green Bay Packers
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Green Bay Packers by 1
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Green Bay Packers by 3
     Vegas Lines Pick: Green Bay Packers by 7. Packers by 7, Over/Under 40
     Best Record Wins Pick: Green Bay Packers by 3. Packers better at 7-6-1
     Home Team Wins Pick: Green Bay Packers by 3

Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: San Diego Chargers by 10
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: San Diego Chargers by 6
     Vegas Lines Pick: San Diego Chargers by 10. Chargers by 10, Over/Under 50.5
     Best Record Wins Pick: San Diego Chargers by 3. Chargers better at 7-7
     Home Team Wins Pick: San Diego Chargers by 3

New England Patriots at Baltimore Ravens
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: New England Patriots by 2
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Baltimore Ravens by 5
     Vegas Lines Pick: Baltimore Ravens by 1. Ravens by 1, Over/Under 44.5
     Best Record Wins Pick: New England Patriots by 3. Patriots better at 10-4
     Home Team Wins Pick: Baltimore Ravens by 3

Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles
     Overall Points Per Yard Pick: Philadelphia Eagles by 1
     Home/Away Points Per Yard Pick: Chicago Bears by 1
     Vegas Lines Pick: Philadelphia Eagles by 3. Eagles by 2.5, Over/Under 55.5
     Best Record Wins Pick: Philadelphia Eagles by 3. Both teams at 8-6, home team wins
     Home Team Wins Pick: Philadelphia Eagles by 3

Check back next week for Monday Night's prediction.

Creative Misfortune Power Rankings ~ Week 15 (2013)

Creative Misfortune Power Rankings are based on a complicated formula that takes into account, among other things, a team's projected ability to score an Offensive Fumble Recovery TD. All power rankings guaranteed to be less accurate than real NFL team abilities on any given Sunday and are subject to change on a weekly basis.

When it comes to Creative Misfortune Power Rankings, production is combined with potential to determine a team's true strength compared to the rest of the league. Winning isn't the only factor, but it is one of the most important components of the rating. I don't believe teams can be powerful if they consistently lose, even to other great teams.

The Forked Few~
     Abandon hope and fortune all ye who rank here

     # 32 - Houston Texans (previous: 32)
                    The Texans have shut things down and are just playing for 2014 at this point.

     # 31 - Washington Redskins (previous: 31)
                    Kirk Cousins showed some promise, but RG III is still the future of this team, whether Mike Shanahan likes it or not.

     # 30 - Jacksonville Jaguars (previous: 26)
                    After an impressive 3-game winning streak, the Jaguars have fallen back down to earth.

     # 29 - Oakland Raiders (previous: 27)
                    It's never a good thing to allow 5 TDs to another team, let alone another player.

     # 28 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (previous: 25)
                    The Buccaneers were simply no match for the 49ers and will be hard pressed to compete with any of the elite NFC teams.



The Creatively Challenged~
     Folly remains ever their mistress

     # 27 - Cleveland Browns (previous: 24)
                    You keep expecting the Browns to win with their defense, but they somehow keep losing games.

     # 26 - Atlanta Falcons (previous: 30)
                    Only two more weeks and Atlanta can put this miserable season behind them.

     # 25 - Minnesota Vikings (previous: 29)
                    Who needs Adrian Peterson?

     # 24 - New York Giants (previous: 23)
                    What is going on with Eli Manning? 5 INTs is too many, even for him. Not that the Giants have anything really to play for, but with the division still up for grabs and both the Eagles and Cowboys struggling, you'd think they could have scored at least 1 point.

     # 23 - Buffalo Bills (previous: 28)
                    As bad as the year has gone for the Bills, at least they seem to have found their starting quarterback for the future in EJ Manuel.

     # 22 - Tennessee Titans (previous: 20)
                    A great comeback falls just short… kind of the story of Tennessee's 2013 season.

     # 21 - New York Jets (previous: 19)
                    The Jets have been eliminated from the playoffs for the third straight year… now they need to focus on building an offense that can compete in the AFC East.



The Remarkably Average~
     Dancing the fine line between misfortune and glory

     # 20 - Pittsburgh Steelers (previous: 22)
                    Huge win by the Steelers on Sunday night. The playoffs are still an outside possibility, but a lot will have to go their way the final two weeks of the season.

     # 19 - St. Louis Rams (previous: 21)
                    The Rams won't make the playoffs this year, but they are certainly putting the pieces in place for a run in 2014.

     # 18 - Dallas Cowboys (previous: 15)
                    Enough cannot be said about the Cowboys collapse to the Packers at home last Sunday. They still control their own destiny in the division, but that's about all they seem to be in control of these days.

     # 17 - Green Bay Packers (previous: 18)
                    The Packers are doing everything they possibly can to keep the light on until Rodgers is ready to come back and play.

     # 16 - San Diego Chargers (previous: 17)
                    The Chargers are doing their best to make the AFC West a three-playoff team division this year.

     # 15 - Detroit Lions (previous: 12)
                    The Lions have had the division in their hands for weeks now, but they've let it slip almost completely through their fingers.

     # 14 - Philadelphia Eagles (previous: 9)
                    Just when you think the Eagles are ready to take that next huge step forward they go into a place like Minnesota and get shellacked by the underwhelming Vikings playing without their superstar.

     # 13 - Baltimore Ravens (previous: 16)
                    JUSTIN TUCKER! As clutch as any kicker has ever been in the regular season. He just might kick the Ravens into the playoffs.



The Fortunate Seven~
     The best of those not yet elite

     # 12 - Chicago Bears (previous: 13)
                    And now the division is theirs to win or lose with two weeks remaining.

     # 11 - Miami Dolphins (previous: 14)
                    Outstanding win by the Dolphins over the Patriots last weekend. Now that they know they can beat the Patriots, who knows how far they can go… if they can just make the playoffs.

     # 10 - Arizona Cardinals (previous: 10)
                    Despite the scare over the weekend, the Cardinals are right in the middle of the NFC Wild Card chase.

     # 9 - Indianapolis Colts (previous: 11)
                    The Colts have clinched the division, but who knows if they will be able to win their first round game against any of the possible AFC Wild Card teams.

     # 8 - Cincinnati Bengals (previous: 8)
                    A rough night in Pittsburgh has the Bengals suddenly scrambling to maintain control of a division that seemed in the bag just a few short weeks ago.

     # 7 - New England Patriots (previous: 5)
                    The division is still theirs, but two straight losses and two wins by the Dolphins could have the Patriots limping into the playoffs as a Wild Card team.

     # 6 - Carolina Panthers (previous: 6)
                    If they want the division, they have to beat New Orleans this weekend.



The Creative Elite~
     Wielding misfortune at its finest

     # 5 - New Orleans Saints (previous: 3)
                    If they want the division, they have to beat Carolina this weekend.

     # 4 - San Francisco 49ers (previous: 7)
                    The 49ers are quietly picking up steam as they march towards the playoffs…

     # 3 - Kansas City Chiefs (previous: 4)
                    JAMAAL CHARLES! Simultaneous wrecker and creator of fantasy football playoff hopes and dreams.

     # 2 - Denver Broncos (previous: 1)
                    Did San Diego give the rest of the league a blueprint on how to stop Denver's nigh unstoppable offense?

     # 1 - Seattle Seahawks (previous: 2)
                    Seattle is winning with solid, all-around good football… but that loss to San Francisco a few weeks ago has created some doubt about their ability to make the Super Bowl. Clinching home-field advantage throughout the playoffs will certainly help their cause.


Week 15 Power Ranking Awards:

The Free Fallers - Philadelphia Eagles (-5), Jacksonville Jaguars (-4), Detroit Lions (-3), Dallas Cowboys (-3), Cleveland Browns (-3)

The Biggest Movers - Buffalo Bills (+5), Minnesota Vikings (+4), Atlanta Falcons (+4), San Francisco 49ers (+3), Miami Dolphins (+3)

Maintaining The Status Quo - Carolina Panthers (6), Cincinnati Bengals (8), Arizona Cardinals (10), Washington Redskins (31), Houston Texans (32)

Creative Misfortune Super Bowl XLVIII Favorite ~ After Week 15

 Seattle Seahawks

 

Check back tomorrow for week 16 predictions.

Week 15 - Championship Round Results (2013) ~ "If Real Football Used Fantasy Scoring..."

This holiday weekend, the AFC champion New England Patriots will square off against the surprising NFC Champion Chicago Bears to determine the third ever "If Real Football Used Fantasy Scoring..." championship. Will these two teams, each making their first appearance in the Fantasy Bowl, face off in Super Bowl XLVIII come February 2014? I guess it will depend if Chicago can actually make the real NFL playoffs...

CREATIVE MISFORTUNE'S FANTASY BOWL III ~

New England Patriots (10-3)
                    (AFC #2 playing at Baltimore Ravens)

            vs

Chicago Bears (10-4)
                    (NFC #6 playing at Philadelphia Eagles)


Misfortune Bowl III Preview:

The Chicago Bears stumbled into the fantasy playoffs as the lowest seeded of the NFC teams and entered the fantasy playoffs with a 7-4 regular season record. The Bears have since turned on the fantasy scoring and crushed the Green bay Packers in their Wild Card game by 69 points, winning 93-24. Next up they faced the top-seeded New Orleans Saints in the Divisional round and New Orleans' minimal 6-point bye-week advantage. The Bears hit the century mark in that contest and easily overcame the Saints' high-powered offense and their bye-week advantage to claim a 119-104 victory. Chicago, rolling with the sudden emergence of their offense, came into the championship game against the Seattle Seahawks confident they could advance to their first ever Fantasy Bowl. When the dust settled, the contest ended up being very close as the 6th-seeded Bears knocked off the Seahawks 96-91. Chicago heads into Fantasy Bowl III averaging 102 points in the playoffs, but they will have to play lights out this weekend if they hope to win the title. Chicago's championship aspirations, both in the Fantasy Bowl and in real-life, hinge on how well they perform next week against the Philadelphia Eagles in Philly.

While the Bears didn't exactly fly into the fantasy playoffs, the New England Patriots head into the championship game with a solid 10-3 overall record and victories over two AFC West teams- the Kansas City Chiefs and the nigh unstoppable Denver Broncos.

The Patriots gained an impressive 22-point bye-week advantage for their Divisional round matchup against the Chiefs and they needed almost every single one of those points as they barely won the game by the score of 111-107. New England won a surprising defensive struggle in the AFC Championship game against the Denver Broncos as the Broncos struggled in real-life against their division rival, the San Diego Chargers. Not only did the Chargers create some questions about Denver's run to the Super Bowl, they ended Denver's fantasy hopes as well by only allowing the Broncos to rack up 64 fantasy points. The Patriots also fell in real-life to their division rivals, the Miami Dolphins, but managed to score enough points in that loss to defeat Denver as these two great AFC fantasy teams battled to a final score of 82-64. New England will be making their first appearance in the Fantasy Bowl.

Tough, real-life road battles await both the Fantasy Bowl participants when they take the field this Sunday. The New England Patriots will be traveling to Baltimore to play a game with huge playoff implications against the Ravens while the Chicago Bears travel to Philadelphia to take on the high-flying Eagles...

Check back next Wednesday, Christmas Day, to find out who will be crowned Creative Misfortune's 2013 Fantasy Football champion!


Championship Game awards:

High score of Championship weekend goes to the Chicago Bears, who scored 96 fantasy points.

Low score falls to the Denver Broncos at 64 fantasy points.

Closest Game of the Week: The 6th-seeded Bears barely upset the 2nd-seeded Seahawks by 5 points to punch their ticket to the Fantasy Bowl.

Fantasy Star of the Week: Seattle Seahawks Defense, 24 points. The Seattle defenders shut-out the New York Giants over the weekend in an outstanding effort to propel their team into the Fantasy Bowl, but the offense, led by Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch, couldn't generate enough yards and touchdowns to guarantee the Seahawks a victory.


Conference Championship Game Results - Week 15

AFC #2 New England Patriots (playing at Miami Dolphins) at
     AFC #1 Denver Broncos (playing vs San Diego Chargers)
     Fantasy Score: New England Patriots 82, Denver Broncos 64
     New England's Key Performers: Tom Brady (20), Julian Edelman (19), Danny Amendola (13)
     Denver's Key Performers: Peyton Manning (17), Andre Caldwell (17), Matt Prater (9)

NFC #6 Chicago Bears (playing at Cleveland Browns) at
     NFC #2 Seattle Seahawks (playing at New York Giants)
     Fantasy Score: Chicago Bears 96, Seattle Seahawks 91
     Chicago' Key Performers: Jay Cutler (19), Brandon Marshall (15), Alshon Jeffrey (13)
     Seattle's Key Performers: Defense (24), Marshawn Lynch (17), Russell Wilson (15)

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Creative Misfortune Fantasy Playoff Seeds and Prior Week Results

AFC Seeds

Division Champions ~
1. Denver Broncos (8-3, 1178 pts)
2. New England Patriots (8-3, 884 pts)
3. Cincinnati Bengals (8-3, 850 pts)
4. Indianapolis Colts (6-5, 802 pts)

Wild Cards ~
5. Kansas City Chiefs (7-4, 825 pts)
6. Miami Dolphins (6-5, 734 pts)

NFC Seeds

Division Champions ~
1. New Orleans Saints (9-2, 958 pts)
2. Seattle Seahawks (9-2, 883 pts)
3. Green Bay Packers (7-4, 904 pts)
4. Philadelphia Eagles (6-5, 877 points)

Wild Cards ~
5. Detroit Lions (7-4, 899 pts)
6. Chicago Bears (7-4, 874 pts)


Wild Card Game Results - Week 13

AFC #6 Miami Dolphins (playing at New York Jets) at
     AFC #3 Cincinnati Bengals (playing at San Diego Chargers)
     Fantasy Score: Miami Dolphins 101, Cincinnati Bengals 66
     Miami's Key Performers: Ryan Tannehill (21), Brian Hartline (18), Defense (17)
     Cincinnati's Key Performers: A.J. Green (14), BenJarvus Green-Ellis (13), Defense (12)

AFC #5 Kansas City Chiefs (playing vs Denver Broncos) at
     AFC #4 Indianapolis Colts (playing vs Tennessee Titans)
     Fantasy Score: Kansas City Chiefs 81, Indianapolis Colts 69
     Kansas City's Key Performers: Alex Smith (21), Jamaal Charles (17), Junior Hemingway (10)
     Indianapolis' Key Performers: Adam Vinatieri (20), Donald Brown (12), Andrew Luck (10)

NFC #6 Chicago Bears (playing at Minnesota Vikings) at
     NFC #3 Green Bay Packers (playing at Detroit Lions)
     Fantasy Score: Chicago Bears 93, Green Bay Packers 24
     Chicago's Key Performers: Alshon Jeffrey (36), Josh McCown (22), Matt Forte (15)
     Green Bay's Key Performers: Defense (8), James Jones (7), Mason Crosby (6)

NFC #5 Detroit Lions (playing vs Green Bay Packers) at
     NFC #4 Philadelphia Eagles (playing vs Arizona Cardinals)
     Fantasy Score: Detroit Lions 118, Philadelphia Eagles 77
     Detroit's Key Performers: Reggie Bush (21), Matthew Stafford (19), Defense (19)
     Philadelphia's Key Performers: Nick Foles (23), Zach Ertz (18), Defense (11)

Top Seeds Playing for Bye-Week Advantage*

AFC #1 - Denver Broncos (playing at Kansas City Chiefs)
     Fantasy Score: Denver Broncos 114
     Denver's Key Performers: Eric Decker (41), Peyton Manning (32), Knowshon Moreno (14)
     Divisional Matchup Bye-Week Advantage: 114/4 = 28.5 = +28 points

AFC #2 - New England Patriots (playing at Houston Texans)
     Fantasy Score: New England Patriots 88
     New England's Key Performers: Tom Brady (20), Rob Gronkowski (18), Stephen Gostkowski (13)
     Divisional Matchup Bye-Week Advantage: 88/4 = 22.0 = +22 points

NFC #1 - New Orleans Saints (playing at Seattle Seahawks)
     Fantasy Score: New Orleans Saints 24
     New Orleans' Key Performers: Jimmy Graham (10), Drew Brees (7), Darren Sproles (4)
     Divisional Matchup Bye-Week Advantage: 24/4 = 6.0 = +6 points

NFC #2 - Seattle Seahawks (playing vs New Orleans Saints)
     Fantasy Score: Seattle Seahawks 96
     Seattle's Key Performers: Russell Wilson (28), Zach Miller (14), Doug Baldwin (13)
     Divisional Matchup Bye-Week Advantage: 96/4 = 24.0 = +24 points

*Bye-week Advantage - To reflect the benefit gained by the top 2 seeds in each conference getting a bye week before they host Divisional Playoff games, the four teams who earn these bye weeks in the fantasy standings will play Week 13 to gain bonus points that will be added to their score in the Divisional Playoff round. For every 4 points they score in their Week 13 game, they will receive 1 bonus point in their Divisional round matchup.

Since there are no bye weeks between the Divisional games and the Championship Games, bonus points will only be a factor in the Divisional playoff games.


Divisional Game Results - Week 14

AFC #6 Miami Dolphins (playing at Pittsburgh Steelers) at
     AFC #1 Denver Broncos (BWA*: +28) (playing vs Tennessee Titans)
     Fantasy Score: Denver Broncos 160, Miami Dolphins 85
     Miami's Key Performers: Ryan Tannehill (23), Charles Clay (21), Daniel Thomas (16)
     Denver's Key Performers: Peyton Manning (31), Bye-Week Advantage (28), Eric Decker (17), Matt Prater (17)


AFC #5 Kansas City Chiefs (playing at Washington Redskins) at
     AFC #2 New England Patriots (BWA*: +22) (playing vs Cleveland Browns)
     Fantasy Score: New England Patriots 111, Kansas City Chiefs 107
     Kansas City's Key Performers: Jamaal Charles (27), Defense (26), Alex Smith (13)
     New England's Key Performers: Tom Brady (22), Bye-Week Advantage (22), Shane Vereen (21), Julian Edelman (14)


NFC #6 Chicago Bears (playing vs Dallas cCwboys) at
     NFC #1 New Orleans Saints (BWA*: +6) (playing vs Carolina Panthers)
     Fantasy Score: Chicago Bears 119, New Orleans Saints 104
     Chicago's Key Performers: Josh McCown (38), Matt Forte (23), Alshon Jeffery (14)
     New Orleans' Key Performers: Drew Brees (28), Marques Colston (24), Jimmy Graham (17), Bye-Week Advantage (6)


NFC #5 Detroit Lions (playing at Philadelphia Eagles) at
     NFC #2 Seattle Seahawks (BWA*: +24) (playing at San Francsico 49ers)
     Fantasy Score: Seattle Seahawks 79, Detroit Lions 49
     Detroit's Key Performers: Joique Bell (15), Jeremy Rose (12), Defense (10)
     Seattle's Key Performers: Bye-Week Advantage (24), Marshawn Lynch (13), Luke Wilson (13), Russell Wilson (9)


Tomorrow, The Art of Creative Misfortune Power Rankings.