Celebrity/NFL media picks Week 13

Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010 | 8:32 a.m.

Four weeks into this strange NFL season, there was only one unbeaten team remaining -- Kansas City, which was 3-0 and had a bye week.

Still, few people gave the Chiefs much respect.

They haven’t collapsed the way some thought they would, but playing in a weak division, it’s tough to gauge how good they really are. After losing their next two games, then winning two, then losing two, then winning two, the unpredictable Chiefs are 7-4 and still clinging to a one-game lead over the very predictable San Diego Chargers, who are back from their annual September-October vacation and working hard to wrestle away the AFC West crown, as it seems like they do every season.

But forget what San Diego is doing lately -- the Chiefs have found their own lightning bolt in Dwayne Bowe, who has 13 touchdowns in his last seven games -- six more than all of the Carolina Panthers over that stretch.

So are the Chiefs quantifiably good? Debatable, I suppose, but they’re certainly not bad. Whichever category you place them in – there’s one thing that is undeniable. The Chiefs are bringing “cool” back to Kansas City.

They had already stolen a page from Bill Belichick by using linebacker Mike Vrabel on offense to catch a touchdown pass or two, like Vrabel used to do with the Patriots, where quarterback Matt Cassel also played before coming to K.C.

But last week, they went back a little deeper into the NFL archives to revive something that was once all the rage. Back to 1985, to be precise.

The Chicago Bears won the Super Bowl that season, and in the process created a folk hero of sorts in defensive lineman William “The Refrigerator” Perry. Chicago began to use Perry as a fullback in their goal-line offense, and as the season wore on, gave him the ball on occasion for short touchdowns. Perry even scored on a touchdown run in Chicago’s Super Bowl XX victoroy over the Patriots. The great Walter Payton couldn’t even make that claim.

Last week, in the second quarter against Seattle, the Chiefs brought in 325-pound defensive lineman Shawn Smith on offense, and, sure enough, gave him the ball on a 3rd-and-goal play from the 1-yard line and Smith rumbled into the end zone. (NFL rules stipulate any touchdown run registered by a player more than 280 pounds must always be described as “rumbling.”)

Keep an eye on these Chiefs. They might not go far into the postseason, but who knows – you might see a dropkick or a fumblerooski by season’s end.

***

Lance Burton is finding the magic that won the Golden Nerf last year, and another 3-0 week has him surging ahead in his bid to repeat in my battle among local celebrities.

Burton is 21-15, two games ahead of Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman. A whole slew of people are close behind, which is significant only in that it gives me the rare opportunity to use the phrase “whole slew.”

Sal’s picks:A candlestick wee for me – 1-1-1 – puts the season mark at 20-15-1. This week, I’ll try the Packers -10 vs. the 49ers, the Chiefs-Broncos over 48½ and the Colts-Cowboys over 47½.

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The media/celebrity picks:

Lance Burton, master magician (21 15)

Vikings -6 vs. Bills

Buccaneers +3 vs. Falcons

Patriots -3½ vs. Jets

Anthony Crivello, star of "Phantom -- Las Vegas Spectacular" (15-19-2)

Bills +6 at Vikings

Bears -3½ at Lions

Steelers +3 at Ravens

****

Carrot Top, Luxor headliner (16-19-1)

Bears -3½ at Lions

Vikings -6 vs. Bills

Colts-Cowboys over 47½

****

Terry Fator, Mirage headliner (12-24)

Colts -5½ vs. Cowboys

Steelers +3 at Ravens

Vikings -6 vs. Bills

****

Brad Garrett, Tropicana headliner (15-19-2)

Giants -7 vs. Redskins

Falcons -3 at Buccaneers

Colts -5½ vs. Cowboys

****

Oscar Goodman, mayor of Las Vegas (19-17)

Redskins +7 at Giants

Saints -7 at Bengals

Cowboys +5½ at Colts

****

Alicia Jacobs, KVBC entertainment reporter (16-18-2)

Dolphins -4½ vs. Browns

Bears -3½ at Lions

Saints -7 at Bengals

Kevin Janison, KVBC meteorologist (16-19-1)

Packers -10 vs. 49ers

Bills +6 at Vikings

Colts-Cowboys over 47½

Saints -7 at Bengals

****

Wayne Newton, "Mr. Las Vegas" (13-21-2)

Redskins +7 at Giants

Cardinals +3 vs. Rams

Colts – 5½ vs. Cowboys

****

Donny Osmond, Flamingo Las Vegas headliner (16-20)

Packers -10 vs. 49ers

Chargers -13 vs. Raiders

Ravens -3 vs. Steelers

****

Lorena Peril, Vocalist, Fantasy at Luxor (15-21)

Giants -7 vs. Redskins

Saints -7 at Bengals

49ers +10 at Packers

****

Justin Spencer, star of Recycled Percussion at MGM Grand (18-18)

Vikings -6 vs. Bills

Dolphins -4½ vs. Browns

Patriots -3½ vs. Jets

****

Frank Caliendo’s Fantasy Stud of the Week

Matt Cassel, Chiefs

Cassel has taken aim with the accuracy of an archer in recent weeks. But instead of a bow and arrow, he’s using a Bowe and Arrowhead as his marks, to the tune of multiple touchdown passes in seven consecutive games, with Dwayne Bowe catching 13 scores over that span. Cassel threw four TD passes against the Broncos three weeks ago – expect similar success at Arrowhead, which the Chiefs are 5-0 this season.

Last week’s result: FIELD GOAL

Ben Roethlisberger had decent numbers against Buffalo, passing for 246 yards and running for 18 more, but failed to produce any touchdowns for the Steelers.