THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

8:20 PM Cleveland Browns (8-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (7-7)

Gut Check Time in Ohio

    It has come down to one big game in Ohio for these two Buckeye State foes. A win by the Browns would give them a terrific shot at the playoffs, while a loss would have them getting swept in the season series with Cinci and in a dog fight with four to six other clubs for the three Wild Card berths. A win by the Bengals would give them the tie breaker over Cleveland and keep their hopes very much alive, whereas a defeat would sit them with 8 losses and no longer in control of their fate.

   Cleveland was routed by the Chiefs, 39-9, last week as QB DeShaun Watson had one of his worst games of the season. Watson would complete 40.5% (15-37) of his passes for 152 yards and be sacked a season high 14 times. Generally speaking, how he plays is how the Browns go. He gets a Bengals' team that comes in with the league's 29th ranked pass defense (253.6 YPG) and has just 9 takeaways all year long! HB Nick Chubb has been slowed of late as he has averaged 3.3 or less YPC in three of his last four games.

   The Bengals are known for second half playoff runs, but that has not, as of yet, materialized. They saw Titans'  WR Tyler Boyd scorch them for 215 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 7 receptions in the, 38-19, loss to Tennessee last week. Cinci did have WR Tee Higgins haul in a season best 15 balls and TE Mike Gesicki is just 98 yardsa away from 1000 on the year. If and when he achieves that goal, he will join Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase to form a trio of 1000 yard receivers.

   Final Analysis: Kinda see this one as being a bit of a shootout. How the two QBs play will probably determine the outcome. Watson has not had back-to-back bad games all year and should get back in the groove versus the porous Cinci secondary. Cleveland 30-24.

1:00 PM Houston Texans (8-5-1) at Kansas City Chiefs (8-6)

Another opportunity for Texans. Has KC, Now, Found its Rhythm?

    Some questions surround this matchup. The Houston Texans lost, dramatically, to the Miami Dolphins last week, 50-49, in their latest test to see if they are serious contenders or not. Kansas City will win the AFC West, but there remains a huge cloud of doubt about their abiltiy to find the correct mix on offense. This one gives both teams another chance at getting things right, but it will also leave one team in limbo especially should the loser be Houston.

   The Texans allowed Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa to destroy them to the tune of 628 yards passing and 6 touchdowns last week! The Dolphins' pyrotechnics overshadowed an excellent outing from QB CJ Stroud who threw 5 touchdown passes and amassed 527 yards passing of his own. The defense did have 11 sacks, but it got ripped by Miami's "Mikey-ball" offense and simply had no answers to stop the plethora of 1-play touchdowns that included  91, 51, and 42 yard strikes. This could be a major problem versus the Chiefs and QB Patrick Mahomes.

   KC has had all types of problems getting their attack settled this season. Mahomes would be sacked 11 more times and threw an interception in the Chiefs', 39-9, rout of the Cleveland Browns last week, but he also threw for 308 yards. The defense was up to the task, however, sacking Browns' QB DeShaun Watson 14 times and holding him to a season low 40% completion rate. A bit of a tradition in KC seems intact, as the club now leads the PFL with 104 sacks. HB Isiah Pacheco rushed 31 times for 77 yards with much of that workload in clock management mode. 

   Final Analysis: Houston needs to play much better defense while Kansas City needs to play much better on offense. Whichever team can accomplish the needed task should win. The Texans do seem to be playing better on O and might have enough to get past this one. Houston 30-26. 

4:30 PM Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7) at Baltimore Ravens (10-4)

Steelers Need Upset of Rivals? Ravens in Battle for Top Seed

    The Pittsburgh Steelers have played one of the league's toughest schedules and have shown, if nothing else, that they are one resilient bunch. They have played eight games against teams with a .500 record or better and all three of their remaining games will be versus teams that, presently, have .500 or above slates. They have taken care of business within their division recently dumping both the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals before falling to the top team in the league, Philadelphia, last week, 26-14. They now face their arch-rivals in Baltimore in a game that is extremely meaningful to each squad. For the Steelers, a loss would put their playoff odds in serious jeopardy, while the Ravens could lose their grip on the top seed...

   This is a classic duel between clubs that have been winning games in a somewhat different manner. The Steelers have relied upon a rough and tumble defense much of the season while the Ravens have been more offensive minded. Pittsburgh comes in ranked #4 in total defense (275.5 YPG) and are tops in the PFL at stopping the run allowing just 65.7 YPG. Baltimore strolls in averaging 348.8 YPG which is 4th best in the league. Neither team has run the ball very well this season. Pittsburgh is 23rd (77.1 YPG) and Baltimore is 24th (76.9 YPG) so the emphasis will be on which organization can pass the ball better. That would seem to favor the Ravens with QB Lamar Jackson having the edge over the Steelers' Russell Wilson. On the other hand, Baltimore's 95 sacks might not be as impactful against Russell who has been dropped just 57 times all year!

   In their first meeting, Ravens' kicker Justin Tucker booted a season high 5 field goals while Jackson did not turn it over and Wilson gave it away once.The Steelers have scored 15 or fewer points in a game some six times this year going 2-4 in those contests. They have also been involved in six games decided by four or less points going 3-3 in those circumstances. The Ravens have scored 15 or less points in a game just once all year...

   Final Analysis: The numbers suggest the Ravens should be able to score enough to hold off the Steelers. Pittsburgh did a great job shutting off the Baltimore running game the last time these two met (39 yards) and can win this time around if they win or tie the turnover battle and do not let Jackson get hot. Baltimore 25-18.

1:00 PM New York Giants (9-5) at Atlanta Falcons (5-9)

Excitement is Real for G-Men! Falcons Looking Forward to Next Year

   The New York Football Giants are for real folks! Their recent demolitons of the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints was one thing, but now they have a convincing, 28-16, victory over the suddenly vulnerable Baltimore Ravens to add to their growing resume! The amazing play of QB Daniel Jones continued as he threw for 347 yards and three touchdowns. HB Roschon Johnson showed up and carried the ball 10 times for 58 yards after being signed to a contract just this past week! The Falcons were able to show a glimpse of what they expect to be their future norm in their, 23-13, win over the Las Vegas Raiders last week. QB Malik Willis ran for 123 yards on 10 carries and threw for an additional 165 yards while tailback Bijan Robinson rushed for 95 yards on 21 carries. The league's leading reciever, Tyquan Thornton, was yet again featured with 8 receptions for 78 yards. Thornton now has 101 catches for 1316 ytards and 7 touchdowns and has caught at least 7 balls in seven consecutive games!

   NY was able to get a nice blend of run and pass last week going as their defense continued to play well. Edge rushers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux recorded 4 sacks apiece of Baltimore's Lamar Jackson. Thibodeaux now has 23 traps and Burns has 18. They lead a pack of four sack artists that also includes Dexter Lawrence II (15) and rookie Elijah Chatman (12). The Giants' defense ranks #1 in the NFC allowing just 263.2 YPG.

   Atlanta believes they will have the top qurterback in the league in Malik Willis come next season. They do have some evidence to support that boast, but the wins still are not coming, at least not yet, to Falcon-land. They have weapons in Bijan Robinson, TE Kyle Pitts, and WR Tyquan Thornton as well as a solid offensive line and might be a player or two away from being an elite unit. Willis showed his potential last week as he ran for over 100 yards and was extremely effective. He has run at least 9 times in each of his last four games totalling 261 yards (67.75 YPG), but the team has gone just 2-2.

   Final Analysis: The Giants are playing, easily, their best ball of the season and are one of the hottest teams in the league. Atlanta is interesting to view, but they remain somewhat inconsistent. New York 27-18.

1:00 PM New England Patriots (5-9) at Buffalo Bills (6-8)

Bills Still Kickin' !

    The New England Patriots probably saw their chances of making the playoffs go by the wayside, but the Buffalo Bills still have an avenue to the post-season party. That might not sound all that exciting to some, but the Bills have not been in the PFL playoffs in many years and any talk, this late in the season, of a possible berth has Western New Yorkers all fired up. A win here would bring the Bills to within 1 game of .500 and keep their hopes alive...

   QB Josh Allen was able to avoid the turnover bug yet again as Buffalo dumped the Detroit Lions, 23-12. He would get plenty of support from HB James Cook who rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown on a workhorse 39 carries! Buffalo seems to be developing a rhythm and methodology for success. Cook ran 26 times in last week's upset win over the LA Rams and the team has created some running plays for WR Keon Coleman as well! Coleman toted the rock 4 times for 16 yards vs LA and added 5 carries for 38 yards in last week's outing.

   New England's offense was completely shut down by the Arizona Cardinals last week in a disheartening, 27-13, loss. While the defense did pick off Cardinal QB Kyler Murray twice, the unit also allowed him to throw for 326 uards and two touchdowns. 

   Final Analysis: Buffalo has made major strides this season and can keep rolling with a win in this matchup. At the very least, the club has alot to look forward to next season. Buffalo 24-18.

1:00 PM Detroit Lions (2-13) at Chicago Bears (8-6)

Lions to Tangle With Wounded Bears

    It's been, to say the least, a long and frustrating season for the Detroit Lions, but a big upset over the Monster of the Midway Bears would sure feel good and soothe some of the pain. That, though, might be more of a dream than reality as Chicago is coming off a big loss to the Minnesota Vikings and need to win this one in order to keep their week 18 date with the Green Bay Packers for the division crown intact.

   Detroit's offense just has never gotten going and is currently 31st in the league averaging just 255.6 YPG as well as a league worst 154.9 YPG passing. The defense has not been all that much better allowing 343.2 YPG and coming in 29th in the league in sacks with just 59. They are 31st in the PFL on third down converting only 29% of the time and their 30% redzone efficiency rating has them tied for 26th! Obviously, good times would not be a term to describe the situation in Motown these days. Chicago was upset last week, 34-28, by the Vikings and needs to get back on track ASAP. Rookie QB Caleb Williams has been excellent in the second half of the season and has now thrown 19 touchdown passes over his last seven games including six times where he has  had multiple touchdown outings! Rookie WR Rome Odunze and fellow WR DJ Moore each have gone over the 1000 yard plateau and veteran Keenan Allen (941 yards) should be joining them soon.

   Final Analysis: The lone concern for the Bears is their -5 turnover margin, but they had been trending upward until last week's stumble. Expect a big game from the Windy City bunch this week. Chicago 32-15.

1:00 PM Tennessee Titans (8-6) at Indianapolis Colts (8-6)

Another Huge Game in AFC Between South Divison Rivals

    The Colts won the first meeting between these two playoff hoepfuls, 27-21, as HB Jonathan Taylor rushed for 104 yards on 23 carries. He has exceeded the 100-yard plateau just twice all year long. Indy has won six in a row, but has gone just 3-6 against teams with a winning record. The Titans pulled out a major win last week, 38-19, over Cincinnati with WR Tyler Boyd piling up over 200 yards in receptions! Their main worry has to be a running game that is 31st in the league averaging a barely negligible 55.9 YPG. QB Will Levis has played well, but he has also paid the price for the lack of a ground game getting decked 107 times on the season! Indy has just 61 traps as a team which is tied for 26th in the league.

   Final Analysis: The Colts sit at #13 on defense (310 YPG) while Tennessee ranks 21st (325 YPG). Indy has a +4 turnover margin compared to the Titans' -4 ratio...The trends favor Indy, but their record against better competiiton says hang on a second. Tennessee 27-22.

1:00 PM Los Angeles Rams (7-6-1) at New York Jets (6-8)

Slumping Rams Need Big W. Jets Still Have Some fuel Left in Their Tanks

   At one point in time the Rams were 6-1 and looking like a shoo-in for the playoffs, if not the NFC West crown. Since then, however, they have stumbled going 1-5-1 and are now fighting for their playoff lives. They were throttled by the arch-rival 49ers last week, 30-14, with QB Matt Stafford throwing just 8 pass attempts for the game! The Jets are barely alive in the AFC, but a narrow, 24-22, win over the Jacksonville Jaguars has them 2 games outside the playoffs with 3 remaining. Obviously they have to win this one or face elimination.

   Stafford threw a season low 8 times last week and HB Kyren Williams was benched in favor of rookie Blake Corum. Corum would rush 22 times for 71 yards and a touchdown, but little else went right for LA. The division seems to have all but slipped away, however at 7-6-1, they are still just a half-game away from a playoff spot. They will need to upend a Jets' team that has shown it can be competitive on any given Sunday.

  New York snapped a four game losing slide with their win last week. They have gone 5-2 in games in which QB Aaron Rodgers has finished with a QBR of 92 or higher. The Rams have allowed six out of their last seven opposing quarterbacks to end with a 100+ QBR and lost five of those contests...

   Final Analysis: New York can win this game, but they have been very inconsistent. There is a bit of a yellow flag concerning the Rams with the number of passes attempted last week and the benching of Williams. Los Angeles 22-20.

1:00 PM Philadelphia Eagles (12-2) at Washington Commanders (2-12)

Teams With Opposite Records in FedEx

    The Philadelphia Eagles are seen as football's best team and have proven it all season long. Washington appears to have a bright future, but are not quite ready for prime time just yet. Philly has not yet wrapped up the #1 seed and still have the Seattle Seahawks to contend with, but they will be favored in all three games against their fellow NFC East members down the stretch.

   Philadelphia just keeps rolling along. They swept aside a solid Pittsburgh Steelers' team last week and have won six straight since a, 43-24, loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars back in week 9. QB Jalen Hurts has to at least garner some consideration in any MVP talks. Hurts has thrown for 3925 yards, 23 touchdowns, and been intercepted just 9 times. He has added another 411 yards and 5 touchdowns with his legs! Jalen Carter continues his terrific season and is a definite DPOY candidate.

   Washington shocked the New Orleans Saints last week and keep giving hope to Commanders' fans about the future of this proud franchise. They need pieces, but the core seems ready to go, so look out for DC going forward.

  Final Analysis: Philly is the best team around and should brush aside the pesky Commanders. The Eagles won the first meeting, 23-3, as they held rookie QB Jayden Daniels to a season low 116 yards as he posted an 85 QBR. His QBR was his second worst of the year. It seems likely Philly will be able to come close to duplicating their first meeting's numbers. Philadelphia 26-16.

1:00 PM Arizona Cardinals (7-7) at Carolina Panthers (4-10)

Cards Battling for a Playoff Seat. Panthers Evaluating Squad

    The Desert is abuzz these days as the Arizona Cardinals just will not go away. With their recent,27-13, win over the Patriots they are right in the middle of a very crowded NFC playoff grouping and have put themselves into position to claim a Wild Card berth! The Panthers continue to evaluate their team in order to make off-season plans concerning player retention and the draft. While speculation concerning QB Bryce Young's stay in Charlotte swirls, the truth is he has played better in the second half of the season and could very well be playing himself into a longer term deal there.

   The Cards look like a rag tag bunch in many ways, but they keep battling each week and have found themselves alive and well. The backfield of James Conner and Trey Benson is averaging just 3.8 YPC, but the team has gotten incredible plays from rookie sensation Marvin Harrison Jr. and quarterback Kyler Murray at key moments. Harrison is averaging 17.2 YPC and has 9 touchdowns on the season and Murray has a healthy 102.3 QBR. The defense still needs an improved pass rush, but has played pretty solidly much of the year.

   Final Analysis: Carolina could win this game versus a Cardinals' team that has gone 3-3 on the road and jujst 3-6 inside the conference.  Arizona 27-17.

4:05 PM Denver Broncos (4-10) at Los Angeles Chargers (2-12)

Yuck Bowl...

    Two teams running out the proverbial string on their seasons in the AFC West meet. Denver has gotten solid play out of rookie QB Bo Nix (102.7 QBR). The Ex-Oregon Duck has thrown just 4 picks all season long with 23 TD passes and his ability to protect the football is a major plus. Tailback Javonte Williams is an under-rated talent with size and speed. However, he has not recorded a single 100+ yard game on the season and has carried the ball 20+ times in a game just once. The Chargers' Justin Herbert has cut down on his interception rate of late, but not his sack numbers. He has been sqaushed 47 times over his prior 6 games (7.8 per game). Still, Herbert has posted four 100+ QBR games out of his last five to give Bolts' fans some hope going forward.

   Final Analysis: Both teams have had all types of problems, but Denver seems a bit steadier at QB with Nix. Denver 24-20.

4:05 PM Minnesota Vikings (6-7-1) at Seattle Seahawks (11-3)

Vikes Still Alive. Seahawks Licking Wounds and Ready to Rebound?

    The Vikings edged the Chicago Bears last week and the upset win left them with a pulse as far as the playoffs go. Seattle saw their 10 game winning streak halted, emphatically, as the Green Bay Packers blitzed them for 24 fourth quarter points to pull out the, otherwise, tense game, 41-24. Nonetheless, the Seahawks have clinched the NFC West and will be seeking to bounce back this week.

   Minnesota will likely need to pull off another upset in order to stay in the playoff hunt. That may be a tall task since the Vikings do not run the ball well (68.6 YPG) and need to pass the ball more to be effective. At the same time, Seattle ranks 3rd in the NFC defensing the pass (213.8 YPG) and are 5th in the PFL with 98 sacks! Add in the Seahawks' propensity for getting into the backfield and creating TFLs (244!) and this is not gonna be easy. 

   Only the Kansas City Chiefs (286) have more TFLs than Seattle does. Rookie DE Byron Murphy is tied, along with Philadelphia's Jalen Carter, Green Bay's Rashan Gary, Jacksonville's Devin Lloyd, and Houston's Will Anderson, for the league lead in sacks with 24 and the team has had six defensive scores this season. QB Geno Smith has quietly assembled a good campaign coming in with a 106.2 QBR and back-to-back 300+ yard outings. The team has had some problems scoring inside the redzone, though, with a league worst 19% efficency rating. Oddly, the Vikings are just ahead of them with a 31st rated 27% RZ rating!

   Final Analysis: Seattle is very tough when they can stay on track with their winning formula. They need to run the ball effectively with Kenneth Walker Jr. in order to allow Smith to throw without being under much duress. The defense needs to be disruptive and then get after the opposing quarterback. Minnesota is 29th against the run (107.6 YPG) and that should allow the Seahawks to play their game. Seattle 26-20.

4:25 PM Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) at Las Vegas Raiders (4-10)

Rudderless Jags Still Vying for Top Seed. Rudderless Raiders Not so Much

   J-Ville comes limping into the final stretches of the season without a full-time staff and losers of three of their last four games. Despite all the chaos in the Panhandle, the Jags are just one game behind Baltimore for the top seed in the AFC. However, they have this matchup and then face both the Titans and Colts in their final two weekends and will probably have to win out and have the Ravens drop two of three as Baltimore has the better conference record.

   Jacksonville dropped a close, 24-22, game last week to the Jets marking the fourth straight game in which they have scored 22 or less points. The early season MVP play of QB Trevor Lawrence has settled down quite a bit, although he did throw for 344 yards and three touchdowns in the defeat last week. However, he would also suffer a pick-6 that put his team in a hole and proved fatal.

  Vegas could not contain the Atlanta Falcons and QB Malik Willis as they suffered a, 23-13, loss. Willis would pass for only 165 yards, but he also ran for 123 yards and got help from tailback Bijan Robinson who chipped in 95 more yards on 21 carries.

   Final Analysis: Vegas has been tough at times and might catch the sagging Jags at the right time. J-Ville has to get their ship sailing in the right direction again, but that might not be in the offing given the current team's coaching status.  NO LINE

4:25 PM San Francisco 49ers (7-7) at Miami Dolphins (8-5-1)

Niners/Dolphins in Potential Aerial Explosion?

    San Fran kept their playoff hopes alive last week with a crucial, 30-14, win over the divisional rival Rams. The club still threw the ball a ton, but also handed the rock to HB Christian McCaffrey 20 times and that seemed to do the trick. Miami got into a wild shootout with the Houston Texans and then pulled out a miraculous, 50-49, win late. QB Tua Tagovailoa threw for an incredible 628 yards and 6 touchdowns as "Mikey-ball" won the day. Miami has now scored 30+ points in three of their last four games with two of those games resulting in 40+ point totals!

   If the Niners stay true to their MO, they will throw and throw and throw some more. Of course, so will the Dolphins. That means this one has a real chance at being a very high-scoring affair. A main difference, though, is the Dolphins average 100.1 YPG rushing (10th in the PFL), while the Niners average a league worst 42.3 YPG. The inabiltiy to control the clock, since the running game is not a factor,, has hurt San Fran more often than not. QB Brock Purdy has been sacked 112 times (second most in the league) and tossed 14 picks (third most in the PFL) and those numbers could prove fatal against an opportunistic Dolphins' defense. 

   Final Analysis: Miami should be able to control the game with their mix of run and pass. If they can get a few stops of the Niners' offense, they could pull away and then drain the game with their ability to run the football. Miami 35-23.

Game of the Week

8:20 PM Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-4) at Dallas Cowboys (7-7)

Bucs Sailing into Playoffs? Pokes Hoping to Take Big Step

    With their 10th win of the season, a 37-14 romp over the LA Chargers, Tampa Bay has inched to within an eyelash of claiming the NFC South title. The New Orleans Saints (7-7) can still catch the Bucs should they win their next two games, Tampa Bay drops its next two games, and then the Halos win the week 18 clash versus the Buccaneers. That seems an unlikely scenario, but, it is the scenario. Simply put, a Buccaneers' victory here in Dallas would clinch the division and a top 4 seed for the playoffs. Dallas cannot win their division and must find a way into the post-season as a Wild Card entrant. The math says they have an excellent shot at getting in should they win two of their last three games. That would mean, however, that they would need to beat either these Bucs or the Eagles next week.  That being said, at 9-8, Dallas would finish with a 7-5 conference record and probably end up winning any tie-breakers out there!

   Tampa has been led by a well rounded offense and a rugged defense. QB Baker Mayfield has had a stellar campaign coming in with a 108.8 QBR, 32 touchdown passes, 8 interceptions, and has been sacked only 46 times! HB Rachaad White (286-1175-4.1) has been steady and the receiving corps has done its job all year long. Five different Bucs have at least 10 sacks. DL Ya-Ya-Diaby (21 sacks), edge rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (17 sacks), LB Lavonte David (15 sacks), NT Vita Vea (10 sacks), and LB K.J. Britt (10 sacks) are all members of what has been deemed by the local media as the "Tortuga Terror Defense".

   Dallas has not been able to effectively run the football much of the season. Rico Dowdle has become the top dog in the backfield and is coming off a 23 carry, 81 yard effort against the Carolina Panthers. He has had two 100+ yard games, but also has eight games where he has run for 54 or fewer yards. Targets Cee Dee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, and Jake Ferguson all have 78 + receptions, but none have been consistent deep threats. Lamb leads the trio with a 12.9 YPC average, while Cooks and Ferguson are each averaging just 8.9 YPC. The Pokes do have some serious pass rushers however. Edge rusher Micah Parsons and DL Osa Odighizuwa have 22 and 20 sacks respectively and aged veteran DeMarcus Lawrence has chipped in with 13. However, the Cowboys are ranked 26th at stopping the run (101.7 YPG) and are one of seven teams in the league allowing over 100 yards per game. 

   Final Analysis: Tampa Bay is diverse on offense and will probably find a way to move the ball on the Cowboys. Dallas cannot run the ball much and will likely struggle to do so against a very good Buccaneer front 7. That will force QB Dak Prescott to the air where the numbers suggest the Cowboys will not be able to keep moving the chains enough to pull off the upset. Tampa Bay 28-21.

8:15 New Orleans Saints (7-7) at Green Bay Packers (9-5)

Halos to Visit Frigid Lambeau in Key NFC Tilt. Surging Pack Eying Playoff Berth

   The Saints lost a critical game last week to the Washington Commanders, a team that came in with just 1 win on the season. It was the fourth straight defeat for New Orleans and, as a result, the team is now in jeopardy of missing the post-season. Green Bay had been struggling offensively for much of the season, but it seems the team is beginning to find its stride as the season heads down to the wire. They put up 34 points on the Lions two weeks ago and followed that up with a convincing, 41-24, win over a very good Seattle team that had won 10 straight!

   New Orleans plays its best when they can get HB Alvin Kamara going and then mix in some judicious passing from QB Derek Carr. That formula has not been present in most games this season. Kamara has been steady, but Carr has been a turnover machine and that could be huge in this matchup. Green Bay leads all of football with a +13 turnover margin, while New Orleans has a league worst -12 ratio! Obviously, the Saints will need to run the ball effectively. They might be able to do it, too, as the Packers are ranked 23rd against the run allowing 93.6 YPG. If, however, they cannot run the ball, they will then face a daunting task as the Packers are #1 in the NFC at defending the pass (173.7 YPG) and in sacks (103).

   On the other side of the coin, Green Bay's offense seems to suddenly be gelling. HB Brandon Jacobs rushed for 104 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries, QB Jordan Love threw for 270 yards and 2 touchdowns, and the offensive line allowed just 4 sacks and 9 TFLs from one of the game's most disruptive defensive units in the form of Seattle. The defense has been good of late as well. The unit sacked Seahawk QB Geno Smith a season tying 7 times and limited backs Kenneth Walker Jr. and Zach Charbonnet to a combined 62 yards on 21 carries.

   Final Analysis: If the Saints can control the game with their punishing ground game and get a solid outing from Carr, they can win here. The weather could play a factor that could, oddly, favor the Saints. The Packers have been tough at Lambeau (6-1), but the Saints have played well on the road (4-2). Still, if Green Bay keeps evolving and gets their running game going they can be a tough out. Green Bay 26-21.