Celebrity/media NFL picks Week 16

By Sal DeFilippo

Friday, Dec. 24, 2010 | 4:29 p.m.

In this time of year where we focus our attention on that which emanates from the North Pole, it’s also a good time to look the polarity between some teams in the NFL.

On Sunday, we watched the Eagles showed off their explosive offense in dramatic fashion, scoring 28 points in the final eight minutes to stun the Giants.

Four touchdowns in eight minutes, to win a game. In the NFL, that’s a mighty impressive feat.

Four days later, we got to see the precise opposite of the Philadelphia offense, courtesy of the Carolina Panthers.

The Panthers failed to find the end zone against the Pittsburgh Steelers. That in itself isn’t such a feat – many teams struggle against the vaunted Steelers defense. But it continued a body of work that is remarkable in its own way.

Sixteen touchdowns in 900 minutes. In the NFL, that’s a mighty impressive feat.

The Panthers have 16 touchdowns all season, in 15 games. By comparison, from Nov. 21-Dec. 6, the New England Patriots scored 16 touchdowns -- in three games.

Furthermore, Carolina has shown admirable consistency with its ineptitude. The Panthers have not scored more than two touchdowns in any game this season and have a chance to be the first team to go box-to-wire without a three-TD performance since the 1992 Seahawks.

The only thing standing in Carolina’s way is the 12-2 Atlanta Falcons. Then, Carolina can finally open its Christmas present, albeit it a little late – the first pick in the 2011 draft.

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Master magician Lance Burton has a comfortable cushion with a three-game lead and only two weeks remaining in the battle for the most coveted holiday treat, the Golden Nerf. Recycled Percussion’s Justin Spencer is three games off the pace and Carrot Top, KVBC’s Kevin Janison and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman are still in the hunt.

Sal’s picks:Back to back 1-2 week have me limping to the finish line, albeit at a respectable 24-20-1 overall. This week, I’ll take the Jets +1 at the Bears, the Buccaneers-Seahawks under 44 and the Saints +2½ at the Falcons.

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The media/celebrity picks:

Lance Burton, master magician (27-18)

Bears -1 vs. Jets

Dolphins -3½ vs. Lions

Falcons -2½ vs. Saints

Anthony Crivello, star of "Phantom -- Las Vegas Spectacular" (19-24-2)

Rams -2½ vs. 49ers

Bears -1 vs. Jets

Falcons -2½ vs. Saints

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Carrot Top, Luxor headliner (23-21-1)

Buccaneers -6 vs. Seahawks

Patriots -8 at Bills

Ravens -3½ at Browns

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Terry Fator, Mirage headliner (17-28)

Cardinals +6 ½ vs. Cowboys

Patriots -8 at Bills

Bears -1 vs. Jets

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Brad Garrett, Tropicana headliner (21-22-2)

Dolphins -3½ vs. Lions

Redskins +7 at Jaguars

Saints +2½ at Falcons

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Oscar Goodman, mayor of Las Vegas (23-22)

Chiefs -5 vs. Titans

Colts -3 at Raiders

Chargers -7½ at Bengals

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Alicia Jacobs, KVBC entertainment reporter (20-23-2)

Patriots -8 at Bills

Cowboys -6 ½ at Cardinals

Colts -3 at Raiders

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Kevin Janison, KVBC meteorologist (23-21-1)

Broncos-Texans over 48

Colts-Raiders over 47

Falcons-Saints over 48½

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Wayne Newton, "Mr. Las Vegas" (16-27-2)

Redskins +7 at Jaguars

Cardinals +6½ vs. Cowboys

Colts -3 at Raiders

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Donny Osmond, Flamingo Las Vegas headliner (21-24)

Cowboys -6½ at Cardinals

Ravens -3½ at Browns

Colts -3 at Raiders

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Lorena Peril, Vocalist, Fantasy at Luxor (17-28)

Cardinals +6½ at Cowboys

49ers +2½ at Rams

Bengals +7½ vs. Chargers

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Justin Spencer, star of Recycled Percussion at Tropicana (24-21)

Patriots -8 at Bills

Ravens -3½ at Browns

Rams -2½ vs. 49ers

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Frank Caliendo’s Fantasy Stud of the Week

DeSean Jackson, Eagles

Until that absolutely ridiculous game-winning punt return last week, the Eagles’ DeSean Jackson had been held in check, with only two catches, and a fumble to his credit. Against a weaker Minnesota pass defense, except the speedster to exercise some Philadelphia freedom this week and put up some big numbers.

Last week’s result: TOUCHDOWN

Jonathan Stewart didn’t find the end zone against the Cardinals, but he did find 137 rushing yards on 27 carries. We’ll take that any week.