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| So...do Lions like the taste of sushi? |
| Both of these teams are out of the playoff race, but the Dolphins are currently in a battle for the top overall pick with Dallas. That said, they do look miles apart in many ways; Chicago was tied with the Lions until late in the 4th last week, while Miami only managed to get on the board after the mercy rule was applied. I think that trend continues as Detroit looks to continut to battle to get out of the NFC Central basement Detroit 24, Miami 13. |
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| Battle for the Final Chair - Part Uno |
| There are currently 8 teams with a .500 record or better in the AFC; there are 6 playoff spots. Last time I checked my fingers, that left 2 good teams trying to get a Peacock subscription to watch the playoffs rather than participate. Cleveland at the moment is on the wrong side of a H2H from Week 10 against the Colts, so every game holds greater importance going forward. Meanwhile, Green Bay is pretty comfortable in their quest for the playoffs, though the chances for the division are slowly sliding away. I'm tilting ever so slightly Green Bay, as the injured Stafford is still stilting the Brown's offense. Cleveland 17, Green Bay 24 |
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| Battle for the Final Chair - Part Deux |
| Remember last week when I mentioned the Titans were on life support for that final playoff spot? Well, they are are standing by the machine with a banana peel nearby, as they are also on the wrong side of a H2H against Cleveland AND are a game back. What they do have in their favor is a H2H win over the Colts earlier in the season, so this is a game that really matters if they want to sneak in. Buffalo seems to have found their mojo since that upset loss to the Dolphins, and appear to be in playoff mode. Banana peels are dangerous things...just ask Wiley Coyote. Buffalo 24, Tennessee 17 |
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| Battle for the Final Chair - Part Tres |
| New Orleans has been by far, the team doing the most with what they got, and looking at the standings and the schedule, you wonder if it might crash before the end of the season. They have their season rematch with the Jags, and at this point, finishing the season 1-2 could be a great outcome, depending on when that game is. The Jags had to stop a 2 point conversion to win last week, but I doubt the result this week will result in knuckles being chewed on New Orleans 14, Jacksonville 28. |
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| Is Carolina slowly making their move? |
| Looking at the Panthers schedule, they firmly appear to be in the driver's seat for the division; the only score that seems to be out of the ordinary is that Week 8 score, where these two teams managed to put up 89 points, nearly 1000 yards of offense and no seeming defensive stops. So how will this rematch play out? Put me down for the under of 89 points, less than 974 yards of offense...and the Panthers to win by more than 5. Carolina 32, Dallas 21 |
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| Is this finally when the Giants toss off a mighty monkey off their back |
| So no matter how good the Giants have been in recent years, they have always seemed to be blindsided by Rick and his Eagles. This year looks to be one where they can finally wash that scent off their peacoat, but then the Eagles go off with 27 1st quarter points against the Cowboys last week. Is that Aaron Rodgers coming out of a season long haze, or do the Giants stop a losing streak before it starts, after a 5 game winning streak? I'm leaning NYN in this one, though a week has certainly weakened my resolve. Philadelphia 17, New York (N) 20. |
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| Is that a tear in Calvin's eye? |
| Not sure how many of you remember those commercials, where an Indian goes down a littered river, causing a single tear? I can see this week's game against the Vikings might cause one in Calvin's eye, as a loss officially taking Minnesota to a sub-.500 record. Eric has had a rough season overall, and I imagine better days are ahead, while Chicago looks to lock up the top seed in the NFC. Minnesota 14, Chicago 24 |
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| Battle for the Final Chair - Part 4 |
| Now I am running out of fingers and Spanish skills; Indy is currently holding onto the 6th spot, but has the H2H against New Orleans and a favorable schedule. In fact, they COULD possibly take the division in ther Week 16 matchup agains the Bengals. Pittsburgh has played much better this season than their record indicates, so the chance they could make the Colts sweat is very real. Still, Bob is playing well, and there is no reason to suspect the upset here. Pittsburgh 20, Indianapolis 27. |
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| Missed it by that much |
| Las Vegas was done by 17 with just over 7 minutes left in the game, when they stormed back to be down 1 with 29 seconds left. The 2 point try failed, but this game goes to show how a rematch in the playoffs would be quite fun to watch. Atlanta has had some nice games this season, and is hardly a pushover, but this is probably not a game where they get to spread their wings very far. Las Vegas 27, Atlanta 10 |
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| Let the points flow |
| You know, sometimes the best games are the ones where the two teams have nothing to lose; both are rebuilding, but with the defenses being somewhat lacking, scoring tends to be up and a shootout follows. Hey, it could happen? as of now, I go with the 49ers to get the win as they battle for 2nd place in the West. Seattle 21, San Francisco 24 |
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| Can the Chargers start another streak? |
| LAA started out like a firecracker, winning their first 5 games before losing 6 in a row. Last week, they broke the losing streak against Atlanta, and look to make a "charge" for the final playoff spot (get it...charge...Chargers) I'm sure Rudy has mock drafts on most evenings as he thinks about building out that defense and adding to the offense; great for next year but not this week. Los Angeles (A) 26, Denver 21 |
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| Beware of Pirates! |
| Last week's loss against the Cardinals means Andy is holding onto a playoff spot by his bare knuckles, as he faces a Tampa Bay team that his been playing very well lately. The Bucs thoroughly spanked the Vikings, and have beaten my Cardinals as well, so Andy better have his lunch packed for this one. I am going with the upset here, if only to give Andy a boost. Washington 21, Tampa Bay 26 |
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| The Bengals seem to be rolling a bit |
| Beating Seattle is hardly the stuff of legends, but the 38-0 spanking last week that Cincy doled out shows they are back to their early-season form. This week, the Chiefs are coming off their own beatdown against the Steelers, so the logical conclusion would be for the Bengals to win this game handily. Only this season has hardly been logical. Cincinnati 31, Kansas City 17 |
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| The NFC West GOTW |
| The Rams so far this season are being the Rams, and are well positioned to get a bye in the playoffs; indeed, a win this week, and it becomes next to impossible for the Cardinals to catch up. The Redbirds have played Kenny fairly tough in the past, but I know he is great at coaching to get the most out of the talent his has. Carr will have to play lights out to keep pace with Brady, but I won't be predicting it. Arizona 24, Los Angeles (N) 31 |
