NFL Predictions: Week Fourteen

I'm 86ing the traditional, long-winded predictions this week and instead focusing on one long-winded prediction. And that prediction is that Drew Brees will take his place among top NFL quarterbacks in the public eye several months after he should have...which is now. You may be asking why should I care about Drew Brees, as Brees seems to be asking that himself here:

Brees has shown himself to be a phenomenal leader to his team and in complete control of his offense when ahead by 20 or losing by 45--though that doesn't happen much anymore. Brees paid his dues in San Diego years ago and was at one point considered another draft pick bust--though not a common criminal. And even after his unexpected breakout year, he went and got his elbow dislocated in what is basically a two-hand touch football game--otherwise known as the NFL Pro Bowl. Bam. Chargers pick up Phil Rivers from the Giants, and Brees got shipped off to the Saints--who were at one point more likely to collectively catch syphilis than a football.

I'm not going to go so far as to say Brees built up the team by himself, but I'd say his influence is comparable to Peyton Manning joining the Colts in the late 90s. Like Manning, and every other great quarterback, Brees just needed a running back behind him. Go figure the Saints got one (or three); and go figure again, they're 12-0.

On a personal level, Brees had the professional gumption to reject his mother's demands to be his agent--at the cost of becoming somewhat estranged from her. Brees relationship with his mother remained appropriately ambiguous to outsiders even up to her suicide earlier this season. And, if unexpected but still admirable, Brees has done more than his fair share trying to rebuild his adopted city after Katrina.

And even though Brees has put up numbers consistently rivaling the top tier QBs, he is never on magazine covers, clothes commercials, SNL or Entourage. Perhaps this is because he isn't dating C-celebrities, getting in motorcycle accidents, making large donations to Fred Thompson or perpetually retiring. Whatever the reasoning, he'll be MVP some day; and if there was a way to put money on that, I would.

Also, in case people need reasons to bet on games this week...

Cincinnati at Minnesota (-7.5)
The Bengals are as good as they were earlier this season. Incidentally gamblers didn't, and apparently still don't, think that was impressive. Cincinnati beats the spread.

San Diego at Dallas (-3.5)
San Diego winning 7 games in a row is the best kept secret in the NFL right now. Also, Dallas goes cold in December. San Diego beats the spread (and the Cowboys).

Philadelphia at New York (Giants) (-1.5)
The coin landed on heads. Eagles.