San Francisco at Jacksonville looks to be one of the best games of the week.
No lumps of coal in my stocking! I bounced back from a tough Week 15 to go 11-5, to boost my year-to-date record to 137-87 (.611).
This week several playoff spots need to be sorted out. And are a few already-eliminated teams are admirably playing like professionals and not “tanking.”
With a full tank and optimistic about the mileage, we press on.
NOTE: All games will be played on Sunday afternoon unless otherwise noted.
Baltimore 26, Indianapolis 13 (Saturday afternoon): There won’t be the playoff-like electricity that filled M&T Bank Stadium for the 2006 Divisional game between these two teams. But the Ravens–almost fully-healthy and as explosive on offense as they have been in recent years–should take another step towards the postseason.
Minnesota 30, Green Bay 20 (Saturday night): There’s nothing like a good NFC North Division rivalry, but the Packers–thanks, in part, to Aaron Rodgers’ collarbone injury–are having a rare down season. I usually never pick against them when they play at Lambeau Field, but this is the Vikings’ year.
Carolina 36, Tampa Bay 17: At season’s start many observers (including yours truly) made the Buccaneers an NFC sleeper pick. But Carolina’s resurgence and New Orleans’ hot streak helped relegate Tampa Bay to also-ran status. This one shouldn’t be close, though, especially with the Bucs coming off a short week.
Chicago 20, Cleveland 16: The Bears should complete an unlikely sweep of the AFC North Division. They’ll also be the next team to embarrass the winless Browns.
Detroit 31, Cincinnati 7: Last Saturday the Lions looked sharp as they tried to salvage their season against Chicago. This week they should be able to go on the road and annihilate a patently disinterested Bengals team. Will Cincinnati rally around outgoing head coach Marvin Lewis? That’s doubtful.
Kansas City 24, Miami 13: These teams played the longest game in modern-day NFL history–a Christmas Day 1971 playoff game that went to double overtime in old Municipal Stadium. It’s Yuletide season again and the Chiefs seem to have shaken off a midseason slump. Miami, on the other hand, is on the fringes of the playoff race. A loss in this game should end its hopes.
New England 34, Buffalo 20: Buffalo hasn’t been to the playoffs since the last millennium (1999) when it lost in “The Music City Miracle.” This year represented their best chance, but quarterback shuffling and ill-placed injuries have held them back. Now they get a road trip to New England. Good luck with that, guys.
New Orleans 27, Atlanta 23: The Falcons will be coming off a short week and they’ll play a second straight road division game against the NFC South’s hottest team. That combo doesn’t sound like a formula for success. But nonetheless, Atlanta’s win over Dallas earlier this year should be enough to get them back into the playoffs.
Los Angeles Chargers 20, New York Jets 10: The Chargers defied logic earlier this year by coming east and beating the Giants at MetLife Stadium. For a time, at least, NYJ created a great Cinderella story. But midnight has arrived. I think LAC will complete the Big Apple sweep.
Los Angeles Rams 40, Tennessee 13: The Titans’ tightrope walk finally resulted in a Wallenda-type fall at San Francisco last week. They are back home this week, but they play one of the league’s most dangerous offensive teams. The Rams had no problems winning in a usually-tough environment in Seattle, so why should they have trouble in Nashville?
Denver 27, Washington 6: The Broncos should be applauded for winning two games in a five-day span–one at home and one on the road–something I didn’t think was possible. Obviously, they don’t believe in throwing in the towel. Washington seems well-practiced at that.
Jacksonville 23, San Francisco 16: This is, quite unexpectedly, one of the week’s best games–given Jimmy Garoppolo’s emergence during San Francisco’s three-game winning streak. But Jacksonville’s league-leading pass rush should remind him that he is, basically, a rookie.
New York Giants 22, Arizona 15: In their long history (since 1925), one of the Giants’ best moments came in Arizona when they stopped New England’s bid for an unbeaten season in Super Bowl XLII–one year before the Cardinals took Pittsburgh down to the wire in the Big Game. It’s hard to believe those games were roughly a decade ago. So much has changed for these teams…and not for the better, either.
Dallas 31, Seattle 13: I stand by my theory: the Cowboys were hurt more by the absence of left tackle Tyron Smith (who had to leave last week’s win in Oakland) than by Ezekiel Elliott’s suspension. Elliott returns this week from his forced six-game hiatus. He’ll play in the Cowboys’ final home game of the year against a beaten-down Seahawks squad. Dallas might not need Smith for this one.
Pittsburgh 29, Houston 17 (Christmas afternoon): As much as people love football they love Christmas more. Many fans are resentful when their favorite team has to play on the holiday. It’s even worse when the game is on the road because it keeps many families apart. Both apply to the Steelers this year; it’s Pittsburgh’s second straight Christmas Day game. The good news is that it won’t have nearly the suspense of last year’s home win over the Ravens did.
Philadelphia 23, Oakland 17 (Christmas night): I’m sure some smart-aleck media outlet will bill this as a Super Bowl XV rematch because they don’t play each other that often. But Jim Plunkett and Ron Jaworski won’t be quarterbacking these teams. It’ll be Derek Carr and Nick Foles instead. The Eagles are at home with an infinitely brighter future than the Raiders.
