QT is chief as K.C. makes Mark sleepless in Seattle

QT Pie clinched her second Picks title in five years when the Seattle Seahawks held off the visiting Kansas City Chiefs 21-18, ending Mark's hopes of a repeat championship.  Mark ended up winning two of four disagreements with QT, but he needed to win all four to tie her for first place.

The 2001 title was up for grabs early Sunday when Mark's teams jumped ahead in all nine games that started at noon.  Victories by the hapless Lions and bumbling Colts pulled him within two games of the top spot, but that's as close as he would get.  He dropped to four games back Sunday night when the incredible Eagles scored two touchdowns in the final minutes to stun the solar-powered Buccaneers 17-13.

D.J. was eliminated from title contention when the Packers beat her Giants, and Blaine was ousted early when his Saints did not generate six late touchdowns to overcome a 38-0 deficit against the 49ers.

Ali closed the season in impressive fashion by going 12-2, nearly setting a record for the best five-week stretch.  The Little Bird went 50-16 to end the year, falling barely short of the all-time five-week mark of 51-16 set by both Blaine and D.J. in 1998.  She also missed tying the four-week record by just a single victory.  Ali was the only person in the final week who picked the victorious Bengals in Tennessee.

Ali gained a massive nine games on her veteran father in the final two weeks to tie him for fourth place.  Nicki finished right behind them in the sixth position.  With their rookie seasons now behind them, the troublesome twins will certainly achieve bigger and better things as they gain Picks experience.