Well, we have an action-packed weekend beginning later today, as we launch Year 24 in the HSBT Competition.  As usual, in my role as The Commish, I am obligated to provide you with all the relevant information you will need to make accurate picks as you strive to win the coveted trophy (currently in possession of 2010 Winner and 2011 Winner – yes, he has won the trophy 2 years in a row).

Before submitting your picks for the weekend, as minor as the early games may seem, if you look at last year’s results, there was a total of 12 points difference between 3rd place and 2011 Winner.  Pick wisely!!

Cincinnati Bengals @ Dallas Houston Texans
First time ever in the playoffs for the host team, so the butterflies are in full display, as 3rd string QB T.J. Yates (who?) leads the Texans against the underdog Bungles, who feature a rookie QB of their own (Andy Dalton).  On paper this should be the closest (and sleepiest) game of the weekend, as the Bengals (9-7) limped into the playoffs on the last weekend, and have yet to beat a “good” team this season.  Houston, on the other hand, clinched a playoff spot earlier and then promptly lost starting QB Matt Schaub for the season (quickly followed by backup Matt Linehart) and have had star WR Andre Johnson limping around until just recently.

Houston beat the Bengals in Week 13 by a score of 20-19 and you should expect about a similar score this weekend.  RB Arian Foster, a better-than-publicized D, and the home field advantage will be enough for the Texans to squeak by.

Texans 37, Cincinnati 20

Detroit Lions @ New Orleans Saints
No, this is not a typo – the Lions are actually in the playoffs – for the 1st time in 12 years, when they quickly exited with a 27-13 loss to the Redskins.  For the super (bowl?), red-hot Saints, they will need to be sure they don’t look past this game, as the Lions have a few weapons on offense.

This action-packed game should have enough scoring to keep you up until the end (probably around midnight).  The Saints, led by record-setting QB Drew Brees (15,000+ passing yards this season), have more offensive weapons than the DEA, and have won their last 8 games.  Detroit, on the other hand, has Megatron at wideout and QB Matthew Stafford has found him all season, even if he is quadruple-covered most of the time.  With semi-favorite WR Lance Moore out of this one, look for Brees to hookup often to his other 8 or 9 wideouts for frequent scores.

Saints 44, Lions 24

Atlanta Falcons @ New York Football Giants
This one is really perplexing and will be hard to gauge.  The Falcons underperformed all season and the Giants did the same, until the last few games, when they clinched a playoff spot.  Both teams are mildly solid on D and have the potential for big scores on offense (in particular Giants WR Victor Cruz and Falcons WR Roddy White – with very competent #2 and #3 WR’s).  Expect a see-saw (I hope to see a good game and I saw a mediocre one) battle in this one, with the possibility of OT.

Falcons 23, Giants 21

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos
So, the 12-4 Steelers are the road team against the 8-8 Broncos.  Hmm.  The Steelers are without 3 key players in this one (RB Mendenhall, C Pouncey and DB Clark), plus Big Ben is hobbling around on a gimpy ankle.  Denver is depending on the un-dependable QB Tim Tebow.  Steeler D was overall #1 in the league and Denver has problems putting points on the board.  ‘Nuff said.

Steelers 27, Broncos 6

Fully expect 3 of this weekends winners to be victorious next weekend, too…

Scores this weekend will be updated in near real-time, so stay close to this website to see how you are doing!  Finally, it was noted that 3 participants were pictured together in NYC on December 30, allegedly planning their picks in hopes of winning the trophy.  Collusion?  Maybe.  A good plan?  We will see.