A 9-7 Week 14 only boosted my record to 127-80-1 (.613) for the year. The regular season is coming to a close (bye weeks are done, the Thursday games are over following this week), and it’s time for me to step up my game.
(NOTE: All games on Sunday afternoon unless otherwise noted)
Baltimore 33, New York Jets 13 (Thursday night): The Ravens probably won’t wear black jerseys for this one, which is the season’s final Thursday-night game. But when the Jets traveled to Charm City for a 2011 Sunday-nighter, they did and watched now-deceased Jets returner Joe McKnight run back a kickoff for a touchdown. That was then. This year, the Ravens need just four points to set a new team single-season record.
New England 40, Cincinnati 16: Five years ago, Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick said, “On to Cincinnati,” after a loss to Kansas City. It’s on to Cincinnati and out of town with a win.
Philadelphia 23, Washington 13: When traveling the Interstate 95 corridor, most of us can only limp along in traffic–just like these two I-95 teams. But at least the Eagles have something to play for.
Houston 24, Tennessee 20: When I covered the Canadian Football League in 1994 and ’95, the league sometimes had teams play twice within a three-week span, or occasionally in back-to-back weeks. The NFL is starting to go that way, with the Texans and Titans meeting for only the first time this season. This game in Nashville will be one of the most closely-watched and closely-played, in the AFC.
Seattle 27, Carolina 16: This used to be one of the NFL’s best matchups, but the Panthers have fallen off and made a coaching change last week. The Seahawks still have to do the traveling here, but they are so much better than the Panthers, hat it won’t matter much.
Tampa Bay 20, Detroit 17: If this game had been scheduled for earlier in the season, I’d call it the “Potential Bowl,” as both teams had offensive units that could have primed them to make an upward move. But turnovers and defensive lapses have hurt both squads, so I’ll go with the team with the healthier quarterback.
Green Bay 30, Chicago 17: I’m well aware that Detroit holds down a traditional Thanksgiving afternoon home-game spot, but these two–authors of the best, longest-lasting, and most vitriolic archrivalry in the game–should have played on the holiday. They play this Sunday instead. Oh, well. Packers win.
Kansas City 31, Denver 20: If this game were played a month ago, I’d tab the Broncos to keep it close. They often do no matter who they’re playing. But it’s December, time for the egg nog – the cream, that is – to rise to the top. The Chiefs desperately want to overtake Baltimore, a team over which they hold a tiebreaker for the AFC’s #2 seed.
New York Giants 17, Miami 10: The Giants are at home for this one, and they have turned back to Eli Manning at quarterback. It’s time for Daniel Jones to sit down and learn from guys like Manning and Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Arizona 29, Cleveland 19: There’s not much to talk about in this game (AZ wins), so let me say a few words about yesteryear. When these two teams met on a wet, muddy field in Cleveland in the early 1980s, Browns tight end Ozzie Newsome hurdled a defender – long before it became fashionable to do so – and landed in the end zone to score an overtime game-winning touchdown.
Dallas 23, Los Angeles Rams 17: Last season’s Cowboys saw playoff hopes die in the Divisional round in a game played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. This game will be in Dallas, and the Cowboys need to win this game badly, but LAR is desperate, too. I’ll go with the home team.
San Francisco 34, Atlanta 17: Before the 2002 realignment, the Falcons and ‘Niners were boh in the NFC West– an oddity, considering where Atlanta is located–and these teams had many great battles. In one game, the Falcons won on a Hail Mary. The Falcons will need several of those to stay close against a 49er team that’s happy to be home…at last.
Oakland 27, Jacksonville 10: Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew was one of the shooting stars earlier this season. He lit up the sky for a while, then faded. Well, he’s back. But I don’t think lightning will strike twice for him or his team. Oakland is at home, and Derek Carr has the experience edge.
Minnesota 27, Los Angeles Chargers 13: This was supposed to be the Sunday-night game, but got flexed to the late-afternoon window. Years back, Adrian Peterson set the NFL’s single-game rushing record against the Chargers with 296 yards – breaking Jamal Lewis’ record by one. The Chargers would have to bring back Keith Lincoln (kids, ask your parents) or LaDanian Tomlinson to have a chance here.
Pittsburgh 17, Buffalo 16 (Sunday night): It made perfect sense to flex this game from 1 p.m. to the Sunday-night slot. It features tough, Rust Belt-based teams that hold both AFC wild-card spots. It’s also December in Pittsburgh. A prime-time game with the possibility of snow is quite appealing to many TV-watching fans.
New Orleans 31, Indianapolis 24 (Monday night): Will Saints head coach Sean Payton called a surprise onside kick at the start of the second half? Will Tracy Porter make a game-clinching interception that he runs back all the way? Nah! This isn’t a Super Bowl 44 rematch. The reality now is that NO would like to win, and the Colts need to win. ‘Would’ trumps ‘need’ in this one.
