8:15 PM MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-5) AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (3-4)

No Sails in Viking Boats? Re-Charged Bolts Starting to Feel Energy

   HC Buck recently stepped away from his role on the sidelines of Minnesota and the team has, now, been picked up by Coach Mac. It will be hard to pick this one as the Chargers are also another team with a second staff in place. Nonetheless, the teams will compete. Minnesota has terrific talents and can be explosive to say the least, while the Chargers really have not gotten much going this season with a pretty dull offense that lacks creativity.

Final Analysis: Neart impossible to pick a winnner here, but LA has not played well at all and the Vikings have some firepower. Minnesota 30-19?

1:00 PM: NEW YORK JETS (7-0) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (4-3)

Jets Keep Rolling. Bengals Suddenly Slumping?

   The Jets are the last unbeaten in the AFC and are coming off a win over the Carolina Panthers. The Bengals, who started off in a blaze, have hit a snag in their season losing two in a row. Getting the Jets now is not the best medicine for what ails them. Cinci was defeated, 21-13, by the Pittsburgh Steelers last week in a key AFC North matchup. QB Joe Burrow had his second game this season throwing 4 interceptions, one of which would be returned for what would prove to be a decisive pick 6.

   Final Analysis: The Jets are obviously playing at an extremely high level and show no signs of slowing down. Cinci has not been the same since tailback Chase Brown went out with an injury. New York 32-17

  1:00 PM NEW YORK GIANTS (4-3) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (7-0)

Last Gasp for G-Men to Make Run at NFC East. Eagles Lone NFC Unbeaten

   These two teams met in New Jersey less than two weeks ago in a Thursday Night showdown. Philly would win the rugged affair as the Eagles' defense would shut down rookie QB Jaxson Dart holding him to just 136 yards passing enroute to a solid, 26-17, victory. The Giants, however, held a slim 14-13 lead heading into the final quarter of play and showed they could hang with and even beat the Eagles. New York bounced back last week against Denver in another tough battle. The defense would pick off Broncos' QB Bo Nix 4 times to edge Denver, 24-17. However, there are some growing concerns over the play of Dart who had his second straight game where he threw for less than 200 yards.

   Final Analysis: Dart has to play better in this one if Big Blue wants to pull off the upset. It just seems improbable that the running of rookie darling Cam Skattebo is going to be enough. Philadelphia 27-22.

  1:00 PM CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-3-1) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (6-1)

Big Test for Browns! Pats in Growing AFC East Pressure Cooker With Jets and Dolphs

   The up and down Browns were thoroughly whipped by a good Miami Dolphins team last week, 26-10, as they could not get their running game going. Cleveland has now gone 0-2-1 in games in which Sanders has completed less than 60% of his throws for the game. This is not a good trend for the Browns who face a Patriots' defense that is, currently, #2 in the league versus the pass allowing just 210.29 YPG. New England was able to survive a 130 yard outburst by Tennessee Titan RB Tony Pollard as QB Drake Maye threw for 368 yards and 4 touchdowns in the club's, 45-31, win. Maye comes into this one ranked second in the PFL with 20 TD passes!

   Final Analysis: The Patriots can score and have tallied 30+ points on each of its last four games. The Browns have scored 23 or fewer points in six of their seven games this year. New England 30-20.

1:00 PM: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-3) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (2-4)

Niners Beginning to Sense Playoffs? Texans Battling for AFC South Top Rung

    The NFC has a bit of a history where at least one wild card team has a below.500 record or barely above that. As of now, there are seven teams with above .500 resumes and the Niners are one of them. Consequently, thay are a front runner for at least a playoff berth as long as they can take care of business the rest of the way. Following this game, they have just three games left versus teams that, presently, have records above .500 and the Cleveland Browns who are 3-3-1. Houston has benefitted from playing within a division that just cannot seem to shoot straight! No team is above .500 at the time of this writing and, quite frankly, the AFC South is almost certainly going to evolve into a series of late season games filled with tension and suspense yet again. Last week, they pulled off an improbable comeback, over the winless Seattle Seahawks, scoring two very late touchdowns to eke out a, 28-21, victory! Trailing, 21-14, with just 2:16 remaining the Texans got the ball and began a drive that would culminate with HB Joe Mixon taking, what was technically a lateral, swing pass to the right and racing 24 yards to paydirt to tie the game at 21-21. On the ensuing Seattle possession, the Seahawks were facing a critical 3rd and 4 and went to a split back formation. Seattle would then commit the fatal error of sending both backs out into pattern and that led to a blitz sack by Houston with 1:06 left as the Texans used up their final timeout. After a big play to WR Tank Dell moved the ball to the Seattle 40, the Texans would suffer a delay of game penalty and then a sack that pushed them back to their own 48! This left them with a 3rd and 21, the clock running, and without a timeout. The Seahawks would then make another mistake and go man-to-man allowing Dell to, once again, zip across the field and easily beat CB Devon Witherspoon, who had no safety help over the middle. Dell would speed away from Witherspoon for the game winning 52 yard score leaving the stunned Seahawks to ponder what had just happened...

   Final Analysis: Two teams who, at the moment, are very much alive in the playoff picture. San Fran can still catch the Cardinals in the NFC West as they do have a favorable schedule the rest of the way. Houston, as stated, has a clear route to the divisional title if they can just string together some wins here. Both teams still seem to be feeling their way forward, so not sure who will come out on top in this key matchup. San Francisco 26-23?

 1:00 PM: CHICAGO BEARS (5-1) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (3-2-1)

Bears Fall From Unbeatens. Ravens Beginning to Round into Form?

   This is a pretty big game for both teams. The Bears saw their 5-0 start to the season come crashing down last week as they were upended by the New Orleans Saints, 29-20. The loss also ended their string of 30+point games. QB Caleb Williams would complete less than 60% (30/51) of his pass attempts and the running game was stuffed to the tune of just 38 yards. The defense was stout against the Saints' ground game holding them to a mere 37 yards, but the big difference was in the play of Williams, who also threw 2 picks, and Saints' QB Spencer Rattler. Rattler would complete 75.68 % (28/37) of his throws for 373 yards, 3 touchdowns, and zero interceptions.  Baltimore began their season going 0-2-1 and the entire league was burying them as a lost cause. Since then, however, they have ripped off three straight wins nipping the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans by 2 points in each of those two wins before besting the LA Rams two weeks ago, 24-9. They are coming off their bye week and should be well prepared for this encounter. QB Lamar Jackson has thrown for 300+ yards and has had multiple touchdowns in every game this year! Punishing back Derrick Henry has been picking up steam of late rushing for 222 yards on 32 carries (6.93 YPC) over his last two games.

   Final Analysis: Chicago is in the middle of the pack in stopping the run (102.17 YPG). If Henry keeps improving, he could be a big factor in this one. Jackson has had a tendency to give the ball away as his 9 interceptions attest. Tough one to call, but feel Baltimore is starting to gel. Maybe the Bears can squeeze by here, but gonna take the improving Ravens. Baltimore 28-24.

 1:00 PM: BUFFALO BILLS (1-4-1) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-5) 

Tough Times Continue for Charlotte Bunch and Returns to Western New York

   Both franchises have seen this story one too many times. The Bills looked like they had turned the corner making the playoffs each of the prior two seasons with the improved play of QB Josh Allen and the dynamite running of tailback James Cook. While Allen is not getting sacked nearly as much as he used to, he has thrown 10 interceptions on the season and that total is the most in football outside of Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence who has tossed 11! At the same time, Cook has now posted five games of 60 or less yards rushing. Meanwhile, the Panthers continue to struggle with QB Bryce Young. He is, once again, below the 60% threshold throwing the ball (76/133) and was benched two weeks ago in favor of veteran signal caller Andy Dalton. Dalton, though, has not fared any better completing just 58% (29.50) of his passes for just 289 yards (144.5 YPG) in his two starts.

   Final Analysis: Quarterback play has really hurt both of these teams. It remains to be seen who gets the nod for the Panthers, but one has to figure Allen can outduel whoever it may be. Buffalo 26-20.

   1:00 PM: MIAMI DOLPHINS (5-2) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (1-5)

Hot Dolphins Swim to Georgia to Meet Emu-like Falcons

    The Miami Dolphins have a growing history of success no matter who seems to be leading the school. From the legendary late Pete Russo to the present legend Mike Kleinknecht to, now, Steve Dillon Miami just keeps on winning. They won their third game in a row last week as they dumped the Cleveland Browns, 27-10. The play of QB Tua Tagovailoa and the combined running of backs Alexander Mattison and De'Von Achane has proven to be very effective. Explosive WRs Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill have lived up to expectations with Waddle averaging 19.42 YPC and Hill destroying secondaries with an unreal 25.5 YPC number! The Falcons, meanwhile, keep searching for the right mix to unlock their club. HB Bijan Robinson came back from injury, but was held in check by the 49ers last week limiting him to just 36 yards on 15 carries as Atlanta bowed, 20-17. The loss marked the team's fifth in a row and continued a string of frustrating defeats. The Falcons have now lost all five games by a margin of 5 points or less and could just as easily be 6-0 as 1-5!

   Final Analysis: Miami has been tough to run on (AFC best 62.14 YPG) and also leads the conference with 43 sacks. Atlanta is 3rd in the PFL averaging 143.33 YPG rushing and is still one of just two teams with more rushing than passing touchdowns. if the Falcons struggle to run the ball, it could put added pressure on QB Michael Penix. Still, the improving signal caller has not thrown a single interception over his last three games, while also being able to avoid the sack, getting dropped just 7 times over those same three games!  The Falcons have been close in every game this season and might be due to finally crack the winners' circle. Atlanta 27-25.

4:05 PM: TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-5) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (6-1)

Bucs in Gut Check Game vs Saints' Team Eying NFC South Crown

    This is the time of the season when games start to matter a bit more. For the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, desperate times have already come knocking on their door. A loss here in the Big Easy would all but eliminate them from any divisional considerations, but would also severely damage any playoff aspirations. They have lost four of their last five with their lone victory coming over the winless Seattle Seahawks. The Saints had a huge win over the previously undefeated Chicago Bears, 29-20, just one week after they, themselves, were knocked out of the unbeaten ranks by the New England Patriots. QB Spencer Rattler logged his fifth game this season with a QBR above 130 as he tossed three more TD passes. Rattler has now chalked up five games with at least 3 TD passes!

   Final Analysis: New Orleans is averaging an NFC best 37.63 PPG and the Bucs come in allowing 31.4 PPG on defense. New Orleans 32-19.

4:25 PM: TENNESSEE TITANS (2-5) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (2-5)

Titans in Dire Need of a W. Colts' Buck Steps Down

    Long time HC Buck has left the Indy sidelines leaving the franchise in disarray. Tennessee is within a game of first place in the division, but can ill-afford to slip much further behind given how hard it is to get any wins in this league.

NO LINE

 4:25 PM: DALLAS COWBOYS (1-6) AT DENVER BRONCOS (2-5)

Rare Clash Between NFC East and AFC West Foes

   These two teams do not have much history between them. They have never met in a Super Bowl and do not face each other unless the schedule Gods hook them up. The Cowboys lost their first game under new HC Paul "Piggy" Davidson, 21-16, to the rival Washington Commanders last time out and have a ways to go before the staff gets a handle on things. That could allow the Denver Broncos to get a Mile High win this week. Denver has lost three consecutive very tough games to the Philadelphia Eagles (20-17), the New York Jets (42-35), and the New York Giants, 24-17. Those three opponents have a combined 18-3 record! Playing Dallas might be just what the doctor ordered, but time will tell.

   Final Analysis: Hard one to gauge with the new sheriff in Dallas these days and running the show for only the second week. The Broncos have played folks tough and have lost five games by 7 or fewer points. Dallas is likely to still not be quite ready. Denver 28-17.

GAME OF THE WEEK

8:20 PM: GREEN BAY PACKERS (5-1) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-2)

Humiliated Packers Try to Rebound. Steelers Feeling Division is Within Reach

    The shell shock inside the Packers' locker room following their complete domination at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals last week was palpable. HC Luka Livojevic, who used to beat Packer coach Jeff Beyel like a drum when he was the coach of the Chicago Bears, badly outcoached Beyel, yet again, resulting in a lopsided, 40-21, lambasting. Green Bay QB Jordan Love was a disaster tossing 3 interceptions, getting sacked 5 times, absorbing a safety, and having one of his worst games since being equally embarrassed and inept last season at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings! Green Bay totally eskewed the running game as well, as HB Josh jacobs would rush just 4 times all game long! The Steelers, on the other hand, had quite the day versus the Cincinnati Bengals as the defense would pick off Bengal QB Joe Burrow 4 times and Veteran QB Aaron Rodgers would roll up 323 yards passing with a touchdown. Green Bay cannot afford to lose many games and still compete in the rugged NFC North and needs a win here for sure. Pittsburgh is sitting on top of the AFC North and, like Green Bay, does not wish to fall back to the division.

   Final Analysis: The Packers had not faced a team as well coached as the Cardinals and were delivered a serious humbling lesson. They will need to cut down on the amount of errors they committed last week if they wish to hang with the top coaches and teams in the league. Pittsburgh has won four of its last five and is playing very well at the moment. Still, Green Bay has a history of coming back strong after a bad loss. Green Bay 30-22.   

8:15 PM: WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (2-5) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (5-2)

Can DC Gang Get Untracked?  Bad News For League as KC is Finding its Rhythm?

    Heading off to Kansas City is not often a fun experience for most visiting teams. Washington has been a serious up and down club much of the season lacking a full time coaching staff. They have, though, managed to go 2-2 over their last four games and just edged the Dallas Cowboys, with their new staff in place, 21-16. The Chiefs started their season off a bit slow, but have righted themselves and now seem primed to make another run at the AFC. They just recorded their third straight win and they scored 40+ points for the fourth time this season with a, 45-31, clipping of the Vegas Raiders. The victory gave KC sole possession of first place in the AFC West and alleviated, at least for the moment, the notion that the Silver and Black Raiders were going to take over the division. The running game, yet again, was conspiculously missing, but QB Patrick Mahomes would throw for over 400 yards for the fourth time in five games, throw at least 3 touchdown passes for the fifth time, and enters this one with a sparkling 122.33 QBR. Kansas City's 397.71 YPG passing leads the PFL and the club's 38.71 PPG scoring ledger is #2 in the league.

   Final Analysis: It would be a monumental upset if the Commanders could pull this one off. Without a full time staff and facing a white hot Chiefs' team, this one seems a hill too steep to climb.

NO LINE

TEAMS ON A BYE