Cleveland Browns (5-8) at Cinncinnati Bengals (2-11)
Backed by a power running game featuring the surprising Peyton Hillis and a decent passing game with rookie quarterback Colt McCoy, the Browns have turned a miserable start to the 2010 season into what may very well be a mediocre finish. That’s a lot more than can be said for the Bengals, whose star free agent receiver TO has been blaming the coaching staff for their lousy record. The Bengals are done. The Browns still have something to prove. Browns 24, Bengals 17
Washington Redskins (5-8) at Dallas Cowboys (4-9)
The Cowboys have shown they have way too much talent to be as bad as they looked the first six weeks of the season. Sure, they lost to Philadelphia at home last week, but there’s nothing about the Eagles that remotely resembles the bumbling Redskins. Any team that has to bench Donovan McNabb for Rex Grossman is in serious trouble. If the Redskins finish the season any better than 5-11, it would be a minor miracle. Cowboys 28, Redskins 17
Houston Texans (5-8) at Tennessee Titans (5-8)
Both of these teams had promising starts. The Texans took down Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts and the Titans routed the Oakland Raiders. But for the past 5 weeks or so it’s mostly been downhill for these clubs. At this point, neither one is threatening to win the AFC South. The Texans, however, still seem to care about their season. Vince Young is out in Tennessee. Chris Johnson’s quest for 2,500 yards rushing is looking more and more like a bad joke. And in the NFL, rule #213 is this; never bet on Kerry Collins as your starting quarterback. Texans 28, Titans 20
Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5) at Indianapolis Colts (7-6)
Unlike Texans v. Titans, this one is probably for all the marbles in the AFC South. If the Jaguars win, they will likely take the division, given their two game lead and very winnable games in weeks 16 and 17 (vs Washington and at Houston). If the Colts win, however, they hold the tiebreaker over the Jaguars with games at Oakland and vs Tennessee. Unfortunately for the Jags, their not the San Diego Chargers. Manning will pull this one out, but Jacksonville will keep it close. Colts 28, Jaguars 24
Buffalo Bills (3-10) at Miami Dolphins (7-6)
Miami still has a shot at the playoffs (with some help) and it all starts here. Figuring out how to win a game at home would help. The Bills aren’t really as bad as their record would indicate, but they have trouble moving the ball against good defenses. If Chad Henne can have an efficient game, they Dolphins should handle the Bills. If the Bills find a way to win this one, the Dolphins’ playoff hopes are officially ’squished’. Dolphins 20, Bills 17
Philadelphia Eagles (9-4) at New York Giants (9-4)
Okay, this game is one to get excited about. Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson against a stout Giants’ defense with a game lead in the NFC East on the line should be enough to get any football fan jazzed. Both teams will make the playoffs, but this game could mean the difference between a third seed division champion and a sixth seed wild card. If the Giants take this one, they not only grab a one game lead but the tiebreaker as well. The Eagles have extremely winnable games at home against Minnesota and Dallas to finish the season. The Giants still have to go to Green Bay. I think it’s safe to say whomoever wins this game takes the division. The Giant’s will find a way to slow down Vick, but it’s almost a pick ‘em. Giants 27, Eagles 24
Detroit Lions (3-10) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5)
Prediction: The Lions will be good…one day…within the next decade. Given Detroit’s history, I’d say that’s a bold prognostication. Sadly, that doesn’t help them this season. Tampa Bay, though still hard to figure out, is playing well behind quarterback Josh Freeman. Eh, well, at least the Lions will be in good draft position in 2011…again. Buccaneers 28, Lions 20
Arizona Cardinals (4-9) at Carolina Panthers (1-12)
Look, at one time this season, Arizona had some say in the NFC West divisional race. Not anymore. Face it, if you’re not a fan of one of these teams, you really don’t care anyway. Ah, what the hell. Panthers 44, Cardinals 17
New Orleans Saints (10-3) at Baltimore Ravens (9-4)
The Saints have found ways to win on the road and the Ravens have shown that their defense is not as dominating as in seasons past. But it’s still very good. After an incredibly emotional win last Monday night, though, the Ravens will find it difficult to keep up with the New Orleans and a pass-happy Drew Brees. The Saints will find a way to hold off Ray Lewis and the boys, and Joe Flacco will have a tough time with the Big Easy’s defense. But if the Ravens can get their running game going, they could just beat the NFC’s second best team. Saints 24, Ravens 20
Altanta Falcons (11-2) at Seattle Seahawks (6-7)
The NFC’s best team takes on the division leading Seahawks. Too bad that division is the NFC West. Seattle has a beautiful stadium with a great game day atmosphere, lots of crowd noise and Tom Skerrit It won’t be enough. The ‘Hawks will put up a good fight, though…just before they get trounced. Lucky for them, somebody in the NFC West is going to win it with a 7-9 record. Ugh! Falcons 31, Seahawks 17
Denver Broncos (3-10) at Oakland Raiders (6-7)
The AFC West has become a two-horse race, but the Raiders can still make the playoffs if they win out, San Diego loses one of it’s two remaining games and Kansas City loses one of theirs – that’s not including the game the Chiefs would have to lose to Oakland in week 17. Yeah…good luck with all that. Denver is beyond bad and is currently paying TWO head coaches, neither of which actually work for the team anymore. Oh, and Tim Teabow is starting in place of an injured Kyle Orton – they guy who has produced 90% of the Broncos’ touchdowns this season. It won’t be the 59-14 spanking that Oakland laid on Denver back in October, but the Raiders should win this one handily. Raiders 27, Broncos 10
New York Jets (9-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3)
Three weeks ago, this would have been a great game. But the last two weeks the Jets have scored a total of 9 points, and quarterback Matt Sanchez has looked more like a clueless rookie that a franchise player. Pittsburgh’s home-field advantage is just too big. And unless the Jets can figure out a way to win a game without using their coaches to trip opposing players, New York will be sitting at 9-5 by Sunday evening. It won’t be ugly, but it ain’t gonna be very pretty, either. Steelers 24, Jets 17
Chicago Bears (9-4) at Somewhere in Minnesota Vikings (5-8)
Assuming the field is ready, the Vikings will host the Bears to Minnesota’s 9th loss. Brett Favre probably won’t start, but does anyone really care anymore? The streak, and Favre’s career with the Vikings, is over. It is really time they both moved on. In their defense, the Vikings have shown a little fight over the past 5 or 6 weeks, but the 2010 season has been an abyssmal failure for a team that finished 12-4 in ‘09. The Bears are surprisingly good given the fact that most people thought Jay Cutler sucked. Bears 28, Vikings 20
Kansas City Chiefs (8-5) at St. Louis Rams (6-7)
It’s the battle for the Governor’s Cup in the Show-Me-State. That’s Missouri, by the way. I could tell you were wondering. Both teams lead their respective divisions and have been nothing less than pleasant surprises for their fans. Rookie Quarterback Sam Bradford has done wonders for the Rams and Matt Cassel – before his appendectomy – was on a pro-bowl pace, winning AFC Offensive Player of the Month for November. The Rams have played well at home but they’re catching the Chiefs at a bad time – one week after an embarassing shut-out at the hands of the San Diego Chargers. Look for the Chiefs to be focused and get the job done. Of course, if Brodie Croyle is in at quarterback again, all bets are off. The Chiefs will probably win this one, but not by a lot. Chiefs 27, Rams 21
Green Bay Packers (8-5) at New England Patriots (11-2)
Okay, am I the only football fan who is officially sick of the Patriots. It must be nice to draw the Packers at Foxboro just when their starting pro-bowl caliber quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, is out. Green Bay still has a strong defense led by linebacker Clay Matthews, but it probably won’t be enough to beat the home team. Tom Brady continues to look like Superman in a football helmet, leading the league in TD passes with 29 while tossing only 4 picks. It makes me urp up a little to say it, but the Pats will win another one on Sunday. Patriots 31, Packers 24
[Source: Dotsperiod]
