Final Analysis: KC should win

1:00 PM- NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-7) AT DETROIT LIONS (4-4)

Suddenly Hot Lions In Playoff Hunt!

   Lions' fans have been patiently waiting for their club to get it going. Last week they evened their record at 4-4 as the offense exploded. QB Jared Goff completed a scintillating 91% (29/32) of his passes for 254 yards and 2 touchdowns and backs David Montgomery and Raheim Sanders jointly ran for 159 yards and 2 scores on 28 carries as the club outscored the Buffalo Bills, 41-34. The win has pushed them to within a game of the hard charging Chicago Bears but, perhaps more significantly, they are now just 1 game out of a playoff spot! The Saints easily played their best game of their season as they white-washed the Cleveland Browns, 29-0, and now have won two of their last three after starting their campaign at 0-6! QB Spencer Rattler played well and the running game was clicking for 151 yards. It was, though, a tremendous defensive effort that shut down an improved Browns' squad holding them to a mere 192 yards of offense.

   Final Analysis: Two clubs that are playing some of their best ball right now meet. The Lions have, though, the better overall resume. Detroit 29-22. 

 1:00 PM-NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-5) AT NEW YORK JETS (7-1)

Pats in Freefall as Jets Stay On Heels Of Colts

   Without a coaching staff in place the Pats have completely fallen apart. New York just keeps winning, but still finds itself chasing the Colts for the top seed in the AFC. 

   Final Analysis: NO LINE

1:00 PM-CINCINNATI BENGALS (5-3) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-5)

Bengals Try To Avenge Earlier Loss to Browns in Key AFC North Showdown

    The Cincinnati Bengals have played solid ball much of the season and are in prime position to secure a playoff spot as well as challenge the Ravens within the division. Cleveland was looking great and then layed a massive goose egg (literally) last week as they were blanked, 29-0, by a Saints' team that entered the game with just 1 win. The offense sputtered all game long finishing with a meager 192 total yards. A huge factor in this one has to be the turnover margins between the two clubs. The Bengals come in with a sparkling +9 ratio (3rd best in football), while the Browns are at a -5 number.

   Final Analysis: Turnovers could be the difference here. Cleveland's offense has to get back in gear ASAP. In the teams' first encounter, Cleveland stuffed the Cinci running game but, since then, HB Chase Brown has run for 312 yards on 51 carries (6.12 YPC) and fellow tailback Najee Harris has rushed for 205 yards on 38 carries (5.4 YPC). Cincinnsti 26-23.

 1:00 PM- ATLANTA FALCONS (4-4) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-4)

No owner in Pantherland

   Final Analysis: Atlanta should win

   1:00 PM- BALTIMORE RAVENS (6-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (9-0)

Colossal Collison in Indy!  

    One of the truly Big-time games of this season is coming to Lucas Oil Stadium this weekend. The Baltimore Ravens have been an AFC North and conference power for some time now, while the Colts are the league's last remaining undefeated team. The Ravens dispatched the Philadelphia Eagles, 26-16, last week with the defense picking off Philly QB Jalen Hurts 3 times and burly back Derrick Henry barreling for 113 yards on 17 carries. Indy continued to have shocking success running the ball with ordinary play calls. Despite losing both their #1 and #2 backs, Jonathan Taylor and DJ Giddens, the team has still had no issues at all running the football. Slothlike and aged back Aaron Jones was taken off the scrapheap and has now rushed for 94 or more yards in four of his five games as a Colt!

   Final Analysis: As stated, nobody has been able to stop the Colts' running game. Baltimore surrendered 137 yards on just 14 carries to Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley and those type numbers do not bode well here. Indianapolis 32-22.

 1:00 PM- LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (6-3) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-7)

Bolts Ended 2-Game Skid With Rout and Now Eye Beached Dolphs

    Any thoughts of the demise of the Chargers were quickly squashed a week ago as the team clobbered the suddenly depressed San Francisco 49ers, 44-7. QB Justin Herbert continued his surprisingly solid year throwing for 3 touchdowns, while completing 80.65% (25/31) of his attempts for 256 yards and zero interceptions. Herbert has come under heavy scrutiny and criticism for his penchant for errant passes having thrown 20 picks a season ago. However, he has just 5 interceptions on the season, thus far, compared to 12 TD passes and currently owns a 104.28 QBR. His QBR is some 11 points better than last season. Backs Omarion Hampton and Zamir White combined for 116 yards on 25 carries to help the cause. The team leads the league with a +11 turnover ratio and also is pacing the AFC allowing just 15.11 PPG on defense. Miami has floundered much of the season. The offense was ok last week, but the defense could not stop the run as the Vegas Raiders rolled up 269 yards on the ground enroute to a convincing, 35-19, win.

   Final Analysis: The Dolphins have given up 288 points (32 PPG) on the season and the Chargers are pretty stingy on defense. LA is third in the PFL in rushing (152.78 YPG), whereas Miami is ceding 137 YPG versus the run. Los Angeles 30-23.

1:00 PM-NEW YORK GIANTS (3-6) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (5-3)

Dangerous Giants Seek to Spoil Surging Pokes in Big D

    Coach Gabe has had Dallas' HC Jeff Beyel's number on recent years. His Giants stunned the Green Bay packers in the first round of the playoffs a few seasons back and beat the Beyel's Packers during regular season clashes as well! A steady pounding running game linked with a good defense and timely passing has proven to be the ticket for the success of New York. That formula was in perfect sync last week as Big Blue whipped the previously hot Washington Commanders, 33-16! The running game was prolific with Cam Skettebo running the ball from both the tailback and fullback spots, Tyrone Tracy adding 61 yards on 15 carries, and the explosive outside dashes of WR Malik Nabers who has been dynamic running the ball out of the backfield. Nabers ripped off several mammoth runs last week for touchdowns concluding his day with a spectacular 238 yards and 3 touchdowns on just 11 carries!  Dallas, meanwhile, reeled off its fourth straight win after starting the season at 1-3. The Cowboys steamrolled to a, 31-3, half-time lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and cruised from there. A trio of backs (Jaydon Blue, LeVeon Moss, and Velus Jones) racked up 227 yards rushing on the day and the defense continued its steady improvement.

   Final Analysis: Coach Gabe and Giants have owned Beyel in recent times and could do it again. New York has already pocketed divisional wins over Washington and Philadlephia. Dallas seems to not be the same team that began the season. A critical game for both clubs. New York 28-20.

   4:05 PM- MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-6) AT BUFFALO BILLS (3-5)

Can Bills Get Herd Back On The Trail?

    Buffalo has really fallen on tough times losing four of their last five. 

   Final Analysis: Vikes, without Leadership, could be cure for what ails the Bills. NO LINE

4:05 PM-LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (5-4) AT LOS ANGELES RAMS (0-9)

Pillaging Raiders Want Repeat AFC West Crown. Rams Just Want a W

    The Vegas Raiders are starting to round into form. And, should the LA Chargers go down this week while they get a win against a winless LA team, they will regain the top spot within the AFC West.  HB Ashton Jeanty returned to the top of the league's rushing board with a tremendous 233 yards in last week's, 35-19, win over the Miami Dolphins. He now leads the league with 899 yards and 8 rushing scores. The Rams are 31st in run defense (161 YPG) and, well, the writing is on the wall folks. Ram rookie back Jeremiyah Love is third in the league with 753 yards as the game features two of the best and youngest backs in the league.

   Final Analysis: Jeanty, Jeanty, and more Jeanty. Las Vegas 35-14.

4:15 PM-ARIZONA CARDINALS (7-1) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (6-2)

It's High Noon in the Pacific Northwest!

    At 12:15 PDT, the Arizona Cardinals will attempt to, essentially, put the Seattle Seahawks away within the NFC West. The two clubs will face each other twice over the next three weeks. The Cards lead the NFC in scoring (36.5 PPG) and are tied atop the league with 26 TD passes. At the same time, it has been near impossible to score against them (14.75 PPG). The team has posted back-to-back shutouts and has three zip jobs on the season. Seattle relies upon the running of top back Kenneth Walker. KW struts into this one second in the PFL with 770 yards and 6 touchdowns, but no back has rushed for more than 91 yards in any game this year versus the 'Zona D.

   Final Analysis: Seattle QB Sam Darnold has thrown 4 of his 6 interceptions and absorbed 10 of his 21 sacks in his team's two defeats.  Arizona thrives more on sacks (45) then takeaways (12). Seattle comes in with a +7 turnover ratio. The Seahawks will need to run the ball well on first and second down if they hope to move the ball and keep up with the hi-octane Cardinals' offense. Arizona 30-21.

    Both teams have cooled off a bit of late. Washington was making major noise in the NFC East, after having won five of their last six, only to have the New York Giants trample them for 361 rushing yards in a, 33-16, romp. Still, the team sits atop the division along with the Eagles and Cowboys and a win here would go a long ways towards helping them stay relevant. San Fran was sitting pretty following ther week 6 win over the Kansas City Chiefs had them at 4-2. Since that win, though, they have stumbled three straight times while scoring less than 10 points in two of those three losses. The D has also given up 44 points in two of its last three games. QB Brock Purdy has thrown 5 interceptions compared to only 3 TD pases during the skid and has also been sacked an unreal 27 times!

   Final Analysis: The sudden sack-fest of Purdy is bringing back bad memories of past season undoings. Washington seems fine and just needs to get right back on the beam here. Washington 27-23.

8:20 PM-PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (5-3) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (5-4)

Philly/Tenn Searching For Answers?

    Not so very long ago, these two franchises were riding high. The Eagles, though, have dropped two of their last three and fallen into a three-way tie with the Washington Commanders and Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East. Tennessee has gone into a major funk and been on the short end of three in a row all but ending their chances of catching the smoking hot Indianapolis Colts, while also jeopardizing their playoff aspirations. The biggest culprit in Tennessee appears to be a defense that just cannot get it done. The Titans have ceded 30+ points in each of their prior four games and allowed 40+ in its last two games. Steeler rookie QB Ty Simpson whipped the ball around Acrisure Stadium for 354 yards and 3 touchdowns as his Steelers pulled out a, 41-31, win last week. The Eagles could not slow down the Baltimore Ravens' offense and QB Jalen Hurts would suffer three interceptions in their, 26-16, defeat.

   Final Analysis: Neither team can really afford a loss here, but somebody has to leave with the L. Philly seems to have the better defense overall. Hurts and back Saquon Barkley should have big days. Philadelphia 31-24.

   Early season suspicions that the Bears might be playing a bit of possum appear to have been true. After hobbling out of the gate going 0-2, Chicago has reeled off three wins in a row and five of its last six to take control of the NFC North, while also positioning themselves, wisely, to avoid the Arizona Cardinals unless the two clubs should meet in the NFC title game. They have scored 30+ points in six of eight games including three outings where they eclipsed the 40 point plateau. In the first meeting between these two teams, then backup QB Kyle McCord would be backed by a powerful running game as the Bears dumped the Packers, 41-24. HB D'Andre Swift would race for 158 yards on 22 carries and stablemate Dameon Pierce would add another 78 yards on 13 carries in the win. Swift was lost for the season in Chicago's week 8 win over the New York Jets. The Bears are coming off their bye week and it will be interesting to see how they adjust to his departure. Green Bay has been up and down virtually every other week. They dropped a tight, 24-20, game to the Atlanta Falcons last week losing the turnover battle 0-2.

   Final Analysis: The Bears keep winning despite a dreadful league worst -14 turnover margin! They lead the NFC in run defense (81.75 YPG) and sacks (47). Green Bay QB Jordan Love has 11 TD passes and 10 picks on the year. Top back Josh Jacobe has just one 100+ yard game and has rushed for 89 or fewer yards in every game except that lone 101 yard effort. Chicago 32-18.

TEAMS ON A BYE