Last week’s 10-4 performance raised my year-to-date record to 105-56-1 (.651). Let’s see what’s in store for this week–the week with the final 14-game schedule of the season.
NOTE: All games are scheduled for Sunday afternoon unless otherwise noted.
Indianapolis 27, Houston 23 (Thursday night): Even though Houston is at home, the Colts are in much better form these days. But, let’s face facts: the stakes are high for Houston. To fulfill the forecast many of us made at season’s start (including me), the Texans must win this game to have a shot at claiming the AFC South.
Pittsburgh 20, Cincinnati 6: Cincinnati fans have stayed away in droves from Paul Brown Stadium. That’s because of their winless, lifeless Bengals. But a visit from Pittsburgh–and many of its fans–will energize the stadium this week. And those Steelers’ fans will have something to cheer about. Pittsburgh will prevail.
Cleveland 22, Miami 9: All right, folks! You can pick up your jaws from off the ground. I’M PICKING CLEVELAND! The reason is … (drumroll) … Miami. The Browns are at home, too. That gives two reasons to go with what’s otherwise known as ‘my favorite team to lose.’
Oakland 30, New York Jets 17: Will this be a replay of the infamous 1968 Heidi game when CBS pulled the game in the 4th to show the eponymous film instead? No, of course not. That game was played in Oakland, this one’s in New Jersey, and nobody I know wanders mountains tending sheep. Then, again, given the football quality to be shown to the public during this game, it would be a good idea for somebody at CBS to have a finger on the interrupt button–just as someone did 51 years ago.
Detroit 33, Washington 10: It’s hard to believe that these two teams were once in an NFC Championship Game. Together, too. It was at RFK Stadium in 1991, and it was the closest Barry Sanders would ever get to a Super Bowl. The game was a blowout for the Redskins, though, so Barry didn’t get very close. This game at FedEx Field won’t be close, either. This time–and without Barry in uniform–the Lions will turn the tables.
New Orleans 23, Carolina 16: Until last week, the Panthers were getting good quarterback play from Kyle Allen. They had stingy defense and Christian McCaffrey, too. Ok. Ok. But this week, the Saints are at home. And with a wake-up call received courtesy of Atlanta a few weeks ago, the Saints won’t let another one get away.
Philadelphia 30, Seattle 24: This game was flexed out of the Sunday night spot, but it’s sure to be a pretty good game. Seattle is coming off its bye and a big road win at San Francisco. That said, I’ve been waiting for the injury-riddled Eagles to make their push. A conference win like this one would be a good way for Philly to announce that they’ve joined the fight.
New York Giants 24, Chicago 19: How fitting it is–in the NFL’s centennial season–that we’d get an old-school matchup like this. The Giants are coming off a bye, and that should help them clean up their mistakes and beat the slumbering Bears.
Buffalo 20, Denver 10: The Broncos’ Snow Belt road trip continues as they head from Minneapolis to Buffalo. The weather may not bother them, but the Bills’ defense certainly will.
Atlanta 37, Tampa Bay 20: These teams, both at 3-7, are heading in opposite directions. Out of nowhere, the Falcons have won two straight games–on the road and in the division, no less. The Buccaneers, on the other hand, are lost at sea.
New England 27, Dallas 24: If there’s a truism in NFL football, it’s this: many fans hate the Patriots and root for them to lose. But if there’s another truism in NFL football, it’s this: many fans hate the Cowboys and root for them to lose. Those are the folks who’ll be happy this week.
Jacksonville 29, Tennessee 24: Tennessee is at home, coming off its bye, but Jacksonville has the advantage in this one. The Titans are not one of the league’s good teams. Why is that important? The Jaguars, you see, can beat bad and average teams, just not the good ones.
Green Bay 27, San Francisco 23 (Sunday night): The Packers return to action after a week off, and they get immediately thrust into a tough game–one that was flexed into the Sunday night slot. San Francisco, on the other hand, has had trouble since losing to Seattle. The Packers should prevail here, even on the road.
Baltimore 24, Los Angeles Rams 13 (Monday night): A team from Baltimore hasn’t visited LA’s venerable Coliseum since 1975. And a team from Charm City hasn’t won there since 1969. But history isn’t instructive this time. The Rams are going through a tough season after being last year’s Super Bowl runner-up. While they’ve taken a step back, the Ravens have stepped on the gas. Ravens win.
