It has been a long, tough, road for these two franchises this season. The Falcons have had, arguably, the worst luck of any team in the league this year. Last week they dropped, yet another, close game losing to the Seattle Seahawks, 16-15. They have now lost seven games by four points or less this year! Oddly, the last game, and only game, Atlanta has won this season was a week 1 win over these Buccaneers! Buc running back, Bucky Irving has had a stellar campaign rushing for 1142 yards and nine touchdowns. Falcon back Bijan Robinson has also recorded a solid year running for 1117 yards and seven touchdowns.

   Final analysis: Tough one to call. The two teams are near dead even statistically except in one glaring category: The Falcons come in with a -1 turnover ration, whereas Tampa Bay struts in boasting a very good +11 margin! Tampa Bay 26-23.

  1:00 PM- BALTIMORE RAVENS (7-5-1) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (7-6)

Another Big One in AFC North! Soaring Ravens Seek to Take Control

    The Baltimore Ravens have seized control of their desitiny in the AFC North and can take a major step towards securing, yet another, divisional crown if they can knock off the Bengals in Ohio this weekend. They have won four of their last five including a dominating performance three weeks ago against these Bengals in a, 30-9, win. The improving defense shut off the Cinci ground game and picked off quarterback Joe Burrow twice in the two teams' first meeting. Cinci ended a two game losing skid with a wild, 48-35, victory over the Buffalo Bills as the offense broke out for 529 yards! HB Chase Brown got it going for 160 yards on 29 carries, SS Jordan Battle had a pick-6 of Buffalo QB Josh Allen, and the D rocked Allen for 8 sacks on the day.

   Final Analysis: This is as tense as it gets this time of year folks. The winner will gain the upper hand within the divison. A Ravens' win will give them the sweep of the series versus Cinci as well as the better divisional record. The Bengals can make the race into a 3-game sprint to the finish with a big W here at home. Just feel Baltimore has figured things out just in the nick of time. Baltimore 30-20.

1:00 PM- LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (6-7) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (8-5)

Bolts Still Have a Liitle Juice Left. KC Cannot Afford a Single Loss If It Hope to Catch Raiders in Week 18 Matchup

    Both teams feeling different levels of pressure. The Chargers kept their slim playoff hopes alive last week with a, 23-16, upset of the Philadelphia Eagles. The Chiefs remained two games behind the front running Las Vegas Raiders in the AFC West as they outscored the Houston Texans, 17-0, in the second half to pull away for a much needed, 34-13, win. The Kansas City tight-end tandem of Travis Kelce and Noah Grant combined for 16 receptions, 135 yards, and 3 touchdowns! The Chiefs, though, could not get to Texan quarterback CJ Stroud all game, finishing without a single team sack! Nonetheless, the defense would get 2 interceptions and limit Stroud to a mere 51% (21-41) completion rate and 220 yards passing. The Chargers' offense struggled again with QB Justin Herbert throwing for just 262 yards and 1 touchdown despite completing 76% (29-38) of his attempts. Halfback Omarion Hampton did gain 75 yards on the ground, but on 20 carries (3.8 YPC). Similar to the Chiefs, the LA defense was excellent shutting down Eagle quarterback Jalen Hurts for only 234 yards, while sacking him a season most 6 times. Philly back Saquon Barkley would rush a season low 11 times for just 46 yards on the day.

   Final Analysis: Los Angeles simply has not found a way to put up points. Their 23 points scored last week marked the 11th time this season where they have failed to post 30 or more points in a game! Kansas City has surpassed the 30-point threshold some 10 times on the season. Kansas City 32-18.

1:00 PM-WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (6-7) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (6-7)

Playoff Ramifications in Jersey!

   Big time NFC East rivalry game with big time playoff implications. The winner will have a significantly improved posture as far as making the playoffs is concerned, while the loser will have a bit of a steeper hill to climb. New York has the easier schedule and, to be frank, should win all four of their remaining games and secure no worse than the 6th seed. The Commanders have a brutal stretch that includes two matchups with the Philadelphia Eagles. The G-Men are coming off a late season bye week after losing, 39-28, two weeks back versus the New England Patriots. If they can run out their final four games, they would finish 10-7 and make the post-season party. New York's run defense is still at the top of the ladder in the PFL. 

   Final Analysis: New York has the better overall defense, and should put this one away and take step 1 towards the playoffs. New Yrok 30-19.

 1:00 PM- CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-8-1) AT CHICAGO BEARS (8-5)

Browns Coming in Off Dismal Sanders' Performance. Bears Sky High After Rout of Rival Packers

    The Cleveland Browns have been cultivating quarterback Shedeur Sanders for much of the season with, mostly, positive results. But, last week, the Colorado Buffalo rookie had, arguably, his worst game of his young career as his team lost, 27-20, to the Tennessee Titans. Sanders would throw 2 interceptions, get sacked 8 times, and fumble the ball some 4 times (3 of which were recovered by Tennessee). He now has to confront a Chicago team that snapped a three game losing skid with a demolition of the rival Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, 56-28! The lopsided affair was the worst defeat the Packers have endured in quite a few years as virtually everything clicked for the Windy City bunch. Quarterback Caleb Williams had a career day completing 75% (27-36) of his pass attempts for 359 yards. In addition, Williams threw 6, count 'em folks, touchdowns which was the most in any game this year by any quarterback! To add insult to injury, tailback D'Andre Swift ran for a season best 122 yards on just 15 carries!

   Final Analysis: The Bears were absolutely unstoppable last week ripping one of the better defenses in the PFL to pieces. The Browns have been pretty solid on defense much of the year, but their 19.97 PPG average on offense ranks 31st in the league and will probably not be good enough to stay with the Bears' firepower. Chicago 31-17.

 1:00 PM- NEW YORK JETS (13-0) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (5-8) 

Four to Go For Jets to Complete Undefeated Campaign! Jags Limp in on 3 Game Skid and Big Divisional Defeats

   No team has been able to slow down the Jets this season. They destroyed the Miami Dolphins, 52-10, last week eclipsing the 40+ point plateau for the 10th time this year! Backs Breece Hall and Isaac Guerendo each rushed for over 100 yards in the rout. New York plucked Guerendo off the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad back in week 12. They immediately gave the speedster the rock and, presto-change-o, the 1-year back galloped for 107 yards on 17 carries! The Jags probably saw any playoff hopes doused last week as they lost their third in a row, 39-30, to the Indianapolis Colts. QB Trevor Lawrence would throw 3 interceptions and be sacked 8 times in the defeat, while completing just 47% (18-38) of his throws. Lawrence has now thrown 19 touchdown passes compared to 16 interceptions on the season!

   Final Analysis: Jacksonville is feeling down at the moment. Lawrence and Co. will need to put up some major points to win this one and that has not been the modus operandi in JVille this year. New York 41-20.

   1:00 PM- BUFFALO BILLS (6-6-1) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (11-2)

Bills Suddenly in Playoff Trouble. Pats Trying to Secure 5th Seed

    After winning six straight, Buffalo has lost its last two and, in so doing, have suddenly found themselves battling for their playoff lives. A loss here could do some serious damage to their post-season aspiratations, especially when one considers that they end their year with games against the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets! New England has a rough road ahead of them as well, but their 11 wins have all but ensured a playoff berth. That being said, a win here would just about wrap up the 5th seed.

   Final Analysis: The Patriots destroyed the Bills, 58-6, back in week 5. Buffalo seems just a bit unsettled recently as QB Josh Allen has resembled some past years of himself. He has now thrown 10 picks over his last 5 games and been sacked 14 times over his prior two outings. New England 35-23.

GAME OF THE WEEK

1:00 PM-LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (10-3) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-3) 

Defending Champs Hosting Rising Raiders in Huge Inter-Conference Duel

    What a treat for fans we have here!  The Defending Super Bowl Champion Eagles (and SB entrant last two seasons) playing host to the new gun in town Raiders in a late season test for both teams. The Raiders have taken on all comers this year and silenced critics by winning one close game after another. Philly is coming off a very disappointing, and lackluster, effort last week against the Los Angelese Chargers losing, 23-16. Vegas won its sixth game in a row and is one of the hottest teams in football at the moment. They now hold a commanding 2-game lead over the arch-rival Kansas Cith Chiefs, but the two are set to meet in week 18 and it is wholly possible that one could be for the divisional crown!

   The Raiders, of course, have gotten here on the legs of rookie back Ashton Jeanty. AJ now has accrued 1604 yards rushing. The Eagles have had issues stopping the run this year allowing 127.15 YPG which ranks 29th in the league! If they cannot stop Jeanty it could be a long day for the men in green. On the other hand, Vegas is dead last in the league in passing averaging a paltry 166.08 YPG and, obviously, win games as long as they can sustain the type of football they desire to play. Philly is the more balanced team and is outscoring Vegas by a 33.69 to 25.16 PPG margin. The key to this one will be if the Eagles can get the Raiders out of their style of ball. A low scoring, grind it out affair will likely play right into the hands of the Raiders. If, however, Philly can get some points on the board early and then sustain the edge, they can win. 

   Final Analysis: It has been tough stopping Vegas from their insistance on running the football. A fourth loss for the Eagles could see them tumbling to the 4-seed come playoff time. Las Vegas 27-23.

 1:00 PM- ARIZONA CARDINALS (12-1) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (3-9-1)

Cards Rolling Towards Top Seed? Texans Looking Toward Future

   There has been little resistance to the steamroller that has become the Arizona Cardinals. A vicious defense, powerful running game, and an explosive offense has the Desert Dwellers eying a Super Bowl run. The Texans have gone 0-4-1 over their last five and saw a close half-time game with the Kansas City Chiefs get away from them last week leading to a, 34-13, rout. QB CJ Stroud has endured a miserable season and now has as many interceptions as touchdown passes (15).

   Final Analysis: Do not see this one being close at all. Stroud's disastrous season has really hurt the club's chances and will likely cost them again versus the high flying Cardinals. Arizona 35-15.

4:25 PM- CAROLINA PANTHERS (5-8) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (12-1)

Punchless Panthers Next Up For Blessed Saints

    A tough year in Charlotte, NC. The Panthers have not had a coaching staff in place leading to complete disorganization for a franchise that desperately needs leadership. The Saints are just barreling over folks.

NO LINE

    4:25 PM- INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (5-7-1) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (2-11)

Colts With Life!  Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda-Next Year For Seattle. 

    Seattle has plodded through one heckuva a dreary season. Still, the team has now gone 2-2 over its last four outings after starting the season going 0-9! The Colts  have gone 3-0-1 over their last four and, quite honestly, have a great shot at stringing together four more wins over their final stretch to finish at 9-7-1. That would amount to 9.5 wins and at least force every playoff team to win at least 10 games!  The reality is the Colts will finish up with games versus Seattle (2-11), San Francisco (7-6), Jacksonville (5-8) and Houston (3-9-1) and will be favored in at least three of those games, if not in all four!

   Final Analysis: Indy playing very good ball at the moment and cannot lose a game. They should beat Seattle, but the Seahawks have kept battling all year long and shown improvement of late. Could be closer than one may think. Both teams boast excellent backs in the form of Colt HB Jonathan Taylor and Seahawk tailback Kenneth Walker. How the quarterbacks play should settle it. The 'Hawks have gone with rookie hurler Jalen Milroe, while Indy went back to Anthony Richardson. Seattle's defense, though, has been yielding 135.31 YPG versus the run and that could see Taylor rumbling. Indianapolis, 26-22.

4:25 PM- GREEN BAY PACKERS (10-3) AT DENVER BRONCOS (3-10)

Is Pack Floundering? Denver Tries to Upset Applecart With Upset in Colorado

    Their record seems top notch as does many of their stats but, the truth is the Green Bay Packers have gone just 2-2 over their last four games and, in their three losses this year, have been outscored by a whopping 120-70 margin! They have now gone 2-2 versus teams with an above .500 record and, quite frankly, have played fairly uninspired ball much of the year. The continuing trend of not getting any takeaways was evident again in last week's embarrassing, 56-28, rout at the hands of the rival Chicago Bears. The defense did not record a single takeaway and was ripped to shreds for 6 TD passes by Chicago QB Caleb Williams and 122 yards rushing from HB D'Andre Swift! The half-dozen TD strikes by Williams was the most any quarterback has had in a PFL game this year and Swift's output was the most he has put up all year long! After last week, the Packers are now the lone team in the entire league without a fumble recovery on the season and, as a consequece, now have a -6 turnover ratio that is the fourth worst in the PFL! Denver comes in with the league's #6 rated scoring defense in football (22.41 PPG). They have played much better than their record suggests having lost six games by 5 points or less and another two contests by just 7 points. Their offense, though, has scored 30+ points in a game just once and tallied 20 or fewer points some six times.

   Final Analysis: Green Bay was humiliated last week, but that is becoming something Coach Jeff Beyel and his team is getting used to. Last season, the Minnesota Vikings blasted them three times and now, so it seems, it is Chicago's turn. The confidence level is not high and the inability to get takeways, and at least an occasional short field, combined with the Broncos' defensive capability could see this one heading down to the wire. Green Bay 27-24.

    The AFC South has been, to say the least, historically topsy turvy. This year, though, the Tennessee Titans have gotten their act together, strung six wins in a row, and taken control of the division. They do not tend to blow people out but, rather, just keep finding ways to not lose games. Last week, for example, QB Cam Ward would be sacked 8 times, intercepted 3 times, and fumble the ball another two times, but the defense would step up in a huge way and get 5 takeaways of its own allowing the club to escape with an ugly, but oh so beautiful, 27-20, victory over the Cleveland Browns. They now have a 1.5 lead within the division that includes an excellet 4-1 divisional record. San Francisco, conversely, is coming off a much needed bye week. The team has now lost 3 consecutive games and, as a result, is now clinging to its playoff hopes. They have the Colts, Bears, and Seahawks after this one and a defeat here would mean they would need to win two of their final three games just to finish above .500! Fortunately, the NFC has not had many top tier teams competing for the post-season berths and it is even possible that a below. 500 record could still see the Niners qualifying!

   Final Analysis: Titans are on a roll. Niners are staggering. Tennessee 28-20.

   4:25 PM-DETROIT LIONS (4-8-1) AT LOS ANGELES RAMS (2-11)

Lions Barely Alive But...Rams Have Slipped Off the Cliff

   it is highly improbable that Detroit could make the playoffs. However, if they can win out the rest of the way, they would finish at 8-8-1 and that could be just enough to catch, perhaps, the San Francisco 49ers for the final playoff berth! If they can win this one, they would need to upset both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears as well as the Minneota Vikings. But they have already beaten both Minnesota and Chicago so who knows? LA has had a long year and is really just running out the string.

   Final Analysis: The Lions need to take the ole "One game at a time" mantra. Detroit 30-19. 

8:20 PM-MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-10) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (3-10)

If Bud Grant and Tom Landry Saw This!

    These two proud franchises will need to regroup come this off-season. The defending NFC North Champion Vikings have had a major downward turn following the departure of HC Buck, while the Cowboys have suffered from instabilty with its coaching staff. Dallas, though, has played more competitive recently and is coming off a, 38-33, win over the Detroit Lions. They have played some tight games, of late, losing two weeks ago to the Kansas City Chiefs by 3 points, the Philadelphia Eagles by 6 points the week before that, and by just 7 points three weeks ago to the Las Vegas Raiders!

   Final Analysis: Not much to play forr here, but Dallas has shown it can hang with folks. Dallas 30-21.

8:15 PM-MIAMI DOLPHINS (8-5) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (7-6)

Reeling Dolphs Head North to Face Up and Down Steelers in Meaningful Matchup 

    Not too long ago, Miami was pondering the possibility of winning the AFC East. Last week they suffered their third loss in their last four games getting waxed by the undefeated New York Jets, 52-10! That defeat now has them in serious jeopardy of, perhaps, missing the playoffs unless they can right the ship ASAP. The Steelers have been a yo-yo team much of the season and are coming off a very disappointing, 20-17, white knuckler loss to the rival Baltimore Ravens that saw them slip out first place and the Ravens strut back into their accustomed spot atop the division. They need a win desperately in order to hold out hopes of still winning the division but, more importantly, keeping their playoff hopes alive. A loss could see them plummet right out of the playoffs. while a win could see them take a huge step towards claiming a post-season seat as well as, perhaps, keeping their divisional desires afloat.

   Final Analysis: This is a monster game in the AFC in so many ways. The winner walks awayion good shape. the loser could be in some hot water. The big question is the weather in Pittsburgh and if the Dolphins can play in cold, inclement weather conditions? Pittsburgh 32-30.