Brett Favre will always be known as one of the most resilient quarterbacks in NFL history. He is the “iron man” of professional football. He played QB in 273 consecutive NFL football games (not including post-season games) from 1991 to 2008.

Brett Favre played college football at Southern Mississippi. He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round, and 33rd pick, of the 1991 NFL Football Draft.  He played for the Green Bay Packers from 1992 to 2007 and then played for the New York Jets in 2008.

But throughout his career Favre was known for a less impressive statistic - throwing too many interceptions.  In fact, he has thrown more interceptions than any other QB in history. While throwing 464 regular season TDs, he also has thrown 310 Interceptions in the regular season. And in his final three games of the 2008 season as a New York Jet, he threw 2 TD passes and 9 interceptions.

NFL football sportscasters should coin the phrase “throwing up a Favre” anytime a QB throws up a pass for anyone to grab.  “The Favre” can be defined as throwing a desperation pass, anytime during a game, where the defense has a better chance to catch it then his receivers.  The interesting thing about “the Favre” it is not only thrown in the waning minutes of a football game.  Time after time, Brett Favre has thrown his lollipop pass in every imaginable situation - in the first quarter, when the team is winning and when the down.

So the next time you see a Pee Wee Football, High School, College and NFL quarterback” throw one up for grabs”, yell out - “Oh no, not a Favre”.  Get ready! You might even have a chance to catch it in the stands!

Here is it. The last Sunday NFL game in the 2008 regular season. The Denver Broncos play the San Diego Chargers for the AFC West Championship.  John Madden and Al Michaels will be in the booth for the game.

GAME INFO
Date: Sunday, Dec 28, 2008
Kickoff:  8:15 PM ET
Teams: Denver Broncos vs San Diego Chargers
Location: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego California
TV: NBC

THE LINE (subject to change)
The Chargers are favorite by 8 points (-7).  The Under/Over is 49

THE MATCHUP
The winner is the champion of the AFC West. The loser goes home.
Denver is 8-7 overall and 4-3 on the road. They are 3-2 in the AFC West and 5-6 in the AFC
San Diego is 7-8 overall and 4-3 at home. They are 4-1 in the AFC West and 6-5 in the AFC
AGAINST THE SPREAD (ATS)
The Broncos are 5-10 overall ATS. They are 4-3 ATS away, 4-2 ATS underdog and 3-2 ATS as an away underdog.

The Chargers are 6-9 overall ATS.  They are 3-4 ATS at home, 4-8 ATS as the favorite and 3-4 ATS as home favorite

PREVIEW
Philip Rivers is on a serious roll and he is averaging 270 yards with 2.2 TDs vs just 0.5 interceptions for a simulation passer rating of 114. With Jay Cutler mustering just an 82 rating the Chargers are heavy 84 percent favorites. The Broncos lost 2 more RBs to injury and Tatum Bell and recently signed Cory Boyd are averaging well under 4 ypc. The Broncos have relied solely on the passing offense to win games this year. To pull off the upset they not only need a huge 3 TD performance from Jay Cutler, they also need the defense to sack Rivers twice and have at least 2 Chargers turnovers. In these simulations the Broncos pull even with an average simulation score of 30-30.
 
PREDICTION (ATS)
San Diego Chargers 35   Denver Broncos 14
Phillip Rivers will lead the Chargers into the Post season.  The Denver Broncos will not be able to overcome 2 more injuries to their running backs. Expect a high scoring affair - at least for the Chargers.

The Detroit Lions have the distinction of being the first team in NFL history to go 0-15.  Will they lose their last game and end up a perfect 0-16?  They play the Packers in Green Bay, where they haven’t won a game in 17 years.

before the 2008 NFL season started there were such high hopes for the Lions in Motown. They had a perfect pre-season record, going 4-0. Now that the season has one week left, they are selling T-Shirts that read “2008 Pre-Season Champions”.

Believe it or not, if the Lions lose to the Packers, they won’t be the first team to go without a victory in an NFL season.  Back in 1976, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 0-14.  In one of the classic lines of that dreadful season, coach John McKay was asked what he thought of his team’s execution, he replied, I’m in favor of it.”

Are the Lions cursed? Is all of Michigan cursed? Nothing positive seems to happen up there.

The Lions last won a title in 1957.  Since then things have gone from bad to worse.  They have gotten the top draft pick consistently over the years but none of them have lived up to expectations. And injuries and bad luck have compounded their misfortune.

The Lions fans seem to be taking things in stride - or not. A great gift for Detroit Lions fans is a Lions Jersey that reads “Owen” with the number “16″ under it.

I hear there is a petition going around Michigan to rename the team the Detroit Lemons - because they just really suck!