1:00 PM: GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-2) AT DETROIT LIONS (4-6-1)

Packers' D Waiting on O? Lions Coming Off Big Loss to G-Men

    Jordan Love is the least sacked quarterback in football and has thrown just 7 interceptions all year long. Despite those positive numbers, Green Bay has not recovered a single fumble all season and the team's 7 takeaways are the third fewest in the league! That has put enormous pressure on the offense to, all too often, have to drive the full length of the field as the team rarely gets any short field situations. This is hi-lited by the statistical fact that the Packers have ventured inside the red zone just 44 times, ranking 20th in that category. Of the 10 teams that have entered the red zone fewer than they have, only one team (Pittsburgh) has a winning record! Despite the lack of takeaways, Green Bay still ranks #2 in yards allowed per game (289.6) and is third in scoring defense (20.12)! The Lions were on the cusp of making some serious noise in the NFC as they faced the New York Giants last week. A win would have evened their record at 5-5-1 and moved them ahead of New York in the Wild Card race. But they would drop a close, 27-17, crusher due, mostly, to losing the turnover battle, 3-0, and having Giant edge rusher Brian Burns pick off QB Jared Goff and rumble 63 yards to paydirt!

   Detroit sits with the second worst defense in the NFC allowing 425.45 YPG and cannot allow the Packers to score too many points or run the risk of having the Green Bay defense shut them off. They come in with a -6 turnover margin, but the Packers' inability to get takeaways could, as has been the case recently, keep this one very close indeed. The Lions are 4-0-1 in any game in which tailback Jahmyr Gibbs has rushed for 76 or more yards.

   Final Analysis: Game features two good TEs in Detroits' Sam LaPorta (70-711) and Green Bay's Tucker Kraft (59-545). Both lead their respective teams in receptions. The Packers are having all types of problems scoring due to the above stated long field situations. The Lions are explosive and playing much better ball than when the two teams met in week 1 when the Packers won, 31-21. Green Bay 27-23.

  4:30 PM KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (6-5) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (2-9)

Chiefs' D Not Getting it Done? Pokes Could Be Turkey Day Meal

    They say defense wins championships and, even though they are known for their offensive exploits, the truth is the Kansas City Chiefs have also been very good on defense over the years especially in the pass rush department. Their 43 sacks ranks 16th in the league and the team is yielding a stunning 445.55 YPG and 32.1 PPG and those numbers are really making life difficult in KC. Last week the Chiefs turned the ball over 3 times with QB Patrick Mahomes getting picked off twice and sacked 11 times! One interception was returned for a pick-6 as the team was drubbed by the Indianapolis Colts, 50-29! The club is extremely dangerous to play, but must find a way to play better defense as it is putting pressure on the offense to score and that, in turn, is leading to turnovers and sacks. Dallas would play a ball control style of play and gave the Philadelphia Eagles all they could ask for before bowing, 26-20. HB Javonte Williams rushed for 150 yards on 14 carries, but QB Dak Prescott would be picked off twice, marking the fifth straight game in which he has found the opposing uniform. Prescott has thrown 2 or more picks in four games this year and has done so in three of his last five games.

   Final Analysis: KC should roll here. The main goal has to be to get the D figured out and  get this team heading in the right direction down the stretch of the regular season. Kansas City 30-17.

GAME OF THE WEEK 

8:15 PM-CINCINNATI BENGALS (6-5) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-5-1)

Tensions Rise in Super Tight AFC North: Cinci/Baltimore in Key Matchup

   This is one of those later-in-the-season games that can really matter, and in so many ways to so many teams. The Bengals came all so close to upsetting the Patriots last week before falling, 30-27. Baltimore would be outgunned by the potent Jets, 48-33, setting up this critical meeting. Both teams rank in the top 10 in the league in offensive yards per game and both can score. The offensive edge goes to the Ravens, but the Bengals have been stingy on defense all season long and own a big margin on that side of the ball. Cinci is #2 in the league in scoring defense (19.98 PPG), while Baltimore is ranked 31st (37.03 PPG). In games like this, the team with the better D often comes out on top. 

   The Ravens' offense, obviously, centers around QB Lamar Jackson. However, L-Jax has had a rough campaign, thus far, throwing a league most 17 interceptions. That type of turnover ratio has Baltimore coming in with a -7 margin which is the third worst in football. The bigger problem, of course, is playing against a rugged Cinci defense that, if it gets takeaways, could limit the Baltimore offensive production enough to pull this one out. Thw negative turnover stat looms even larger when one considers that the Bengals own a +7 turnover margin, which ranks as the fourth best in the PFL!

   Final Analysis: Cincinnati enters this clash with the top rated run defense in the league (65.09 YPG) and that could put a serious damper on the running of HB Derrick Henry. If Henry cannot get it going, then Jackson will be forced to the air and, well, bad things can happen. The Bengals have been a bit up and down, but have proven they can beat top tier teams. Cincinnati 30-24.

3:OO PM-CHICAGO BEARS (7-4) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (9-2)

Bears Need to Come Out of Hybernation Now! Eagles Eying Another NFC East Crown

   There is a bit of hand wringing going on in the Windy City these days as the Bears lost their third game out of their last four last week. The team was throttled by the Pittsburgh Steelers who rolled to a 40+ point outburst. Chicago has now surrendered 40+ points in four consecutive games and the defense must step up in a big way this week against a very good Philly squad. The Eagles have not been a prolific scoring machine much of the season, yet they continue to win games utilizing a proven formula for success. Last week, they nipped the Dallas Cowboys, 26-20, sacking Dallas' quarterback Dak Prescott 7 times and picking him off twice. QB Jalen Hurts has been stellar and has been sacked a league low 20 times (Tied with Green Bay's Jordan Love). The inability to get to Hurts combined with the fact the club is the least penalized (33) team in the NFC makes it tough to get them down. 

   Final Analysis:  A huge game in the NFC for both clubs. Chicago has to figure out their defensive woes if they wish to hang in there this week. Philly will try to run the ball and use their balanced approach, while leaning on that defense. Should be a good one. Philadelphia 30-25.

 1:00 PM: LOS ANGELES RAMS (2-9) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-8)  

Rams andd Panthers Suffer Lost Seasons and Seek Answers For Furure

   It has not been a good season for either franchise. The Rams are coming off another loss, 38-28, to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in which they trailed 28-7 entering the fourth quarter. The Panthers still do not have a full time coaching staff and the negative results just keep on coming.

NO LINE

 1:00 PM: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (7-5) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-7-1)

Niners Trying to Hang Onto Playoff Spot

    After stringing together five consecutive wins, and taking control of their playoff destiny, the San Francisco 49ers slipped back. They lost their second game in a row as they were set back by the Carolina Panthers, 42-21. At the ssme time, the New York Giants have regrouped to win two straight and catch the Niners for the 6th seed. They are now a game and a half ahead of the Washington Commanders and still hold the tie breaker over New York due to a week 9 win over Big Blue. Cleveland has been bringing QB Shedeur Sanders along much of the season. While the year may turn out to be a rough one, the team appears to have settled on Sanders as their long term guy.

   Final Analysis: San Fran needs to get back to what was working for them earlier: Offensive balance. They also need to play a bit better defense. Sanders could hurt them this week, but feel the 49ers will bounce back. San Francisco 29-21.

   1:00 PM: ATLANTA FALCONS (1-10) AT NEW YORK JETS (11-0)

Yikes! Falcons Get Second Helping of Top Team Football

    Atlanta just got done playing the current NFC #1 seeded New Orleans Saints. Now they get the current AFC top seeded team in the form of the undefeated New York Jets! New York is the last remaining undefeated club in the PFL and has been near unstoppable on offense. The combination of QB Justin Fields hitting speedy wide receivers and the top running of tailback Breece Hall has been prolific. The Jets are averaging an incredible 41.4 PPG and have exceeded the 40-point plateau an amazing eight times already!

   Final Analysis: This has the makings of a major blowout. The Falcons, though, can run the ball and, at times, get a very good game out of QB Michael Penix. The defense, however, will need to play its best game of the season. New York 40-24.

1:00 PM-HOUSTON TEXANS (3-8) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (4-7)

Can Ponies Make a Run to Playoffs?

    While it might not seem likely, the reality is the Indianapolis Colts are positioned to streak to a playoff berth! Their unexpected, 50-29, rout of the Kansas Cith Chiefs last week may have revived their season and given them a serious lifeline. They have now won two in a row and have a remaining schedule that is filled with winnable games. They have two left with these Texans and two with the Jaguars within the division, and then have the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. If they can win out, a 10-7 final regular season resume stands a very good chance of getting them in!

   Final Analysis: Indy, for obvious reasons, really cannot afford to lose many more, if any, games. But they do have a path here. The team has gone back to powering the ball with HB Jonathan Taylor and that has proven very successful. Taylor has rushed for 136 and 124 yards the past two weeks while toting the rock an incredible 29 amd 27 times. He has, in fact, carried the ball at least 22 times in each of his last four games after doing so just once in the his prior seven games. Indianapolis 26-23.

1:00 PM-ARIZONA CARDINALS (10-1) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (3-8)

Cards Escape Has Them Zeroing In On Top Seed. Bucs Coming off W

   Arizona is closing in on the NFC's top seed. However, they had a real struggle last week against a game Jacksonville Jaguars' team that pushed the Cards to the limit before the Desert Dwellers could pull off the, 24-17, victory. Tampa Bay pulled away from the Rams forging a 28-7 lead after three quarters and held on from there. They remain a dangerous club having lost five games by seven points or less.

   Final Analysis: The Cards have been excellent on pass defense giving up a league low of just 164 YPG while blasting opposing signal callers to the tune of a league best 70 sacks! Both teams, though, do own some of the best turnover margins in football with the Bucs claiming a +13 ratio and Arizona boasting a +7 number. Tampa likes to run the ball, but gets a tough customer in the Arizona run defense. Arizona 30-19.

1:00 PM-NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (10-1) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (8-3)

Are Dolphs Beginning to Hear Footsteps? Halos Blessed in NFC

    At one time, it seemed a near certainty the Miami Dolphins would make the post-season, if not contend for the AFC East title. While they still seem a solid bet to make it in as a wild card entrant, there are some growing concerns in South Florida these days. They have won six of their last seven, yes, but they have games versus these Saints, then the undefeated Jets next week followed by games against the current co-leaders of the AFC North in the form of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals. If that is not worrisome enough, the team then concludes their year against Tampa Bay and the talented New England Patriots. They may have to win a few of those matchups to ensure a seat at the playoff table and that may be much easier said than done. New Orleans, of course, is a Mike Kleinknecht coached team. K-Necht's two teams (The Jets being the other) have a ridiculous 21-1 combined record. The simple truth has been, and remains so, that the odds of beating a Kleinknecht team are about 25-1!  And that number has been steady over the past half-decade or so folks.

   Final Analysis: As stated above, beating a Kleinknecht team is rare and highly unlikley. No coach has been able to diagnose and defend his unique offensive style of football and, until somebody does, his teams will continue to dominate week after week,  month after month, and year after year. New Orleans 41-24.

    1:00 PM- JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (5-6) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (6-5)

Mammoth Confrontation in AFC South!

    This is another one of those monster matchups that begin to arise this time of year. Jacksonville is coming off their bye week after losing a tough one to the Arizona Cardinals, 24-17, two weeks ago. They have gone 4-2 over their last six games after starting their year off going 1-4. The defense is playing better, but the somewhat erratic play of tailback Travis Etienne and, especially, the performance of QB Trevor Lawrence remain concerns. Lawrence threw for 4 touchdowns a few weeks ago against the Houston Texans, but has not tossed a single TD pass in three of his last four game! The Titans, conversely, are on a bit of a roll having won four straight. Their offense has posted 30+ points in six consectuive outings due, mostly, to the excellent play of rookie QB Cam Ward. Ward has compiled a 107 or better QBR in each of his last six games, while throwing for 15 touchdowns and just 1 interception! His completion percentage has taken a dramatic turn for the better as well. Ward has jumped, from a 66% completion rate over his first five starts, to a stunning 76% number over his last half-dozen games!

   Final Analysis: This is the first meeting between the two clubs. They have a week 18 matchup on tap as well that could prove decisive. Both teams need to keep an eye on the Colts as well. Should be a super game, but feel Jacksonville's Lawrence has not been consistent much of the year and, in order to win this one, will really need to step it up. Outside of the Houston game, he has not had an outing where he has thrown for more than 2 touchdowns and that is not likely gonna be enough to win this one. Tennessee 26-22.

4:05 PM-MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-9) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (1-10)

Dismal Season Will Drag On For Loser

    It has been a woeful year for both of these programs. The Vikings are the defending NFC North Champions and have, clearly, not enjoyed the fruits of their success. The Seahawks have been an annual post-season member for several seasons now under HC Steve Dillon, but things have not gone well there as well. Minnesota played a spirited game against the Green Bay Packers last week, but saw a 10-10 tie entering the final quarter get away from them and, ultimately, lead to a ,20-17, loss. The team could not take advantage of two big takeaways that stalled Packer drives. The offense never really got going versus the solid Green Bay defense finishing with just 247 total yards. QB JJ McCarthy would total just 197 yards passing marking the third time over his last five games in which he has failed to throw for over 200 yards. Seattle lost to the Titans, 34-28, but the team is beginning to see some positive results. Rookie QB Jalen Milroe is starting to show some consistency and tailback Kenneth Walker has re-emerged as a force. K-Dub has now rushed for 799 yards over his last six games (133.17 YPG)!

   Final Analysis: Minnesota is yielding an NFC most 135.55 YPG against the run. That could mean a big day from Walker which, in turn, could allow Milroe to have a solid game. Seattle 28-24.

    Yet another huge game in the PFL this week. The Buffalo Bills have stormed back into contention with a remarkable turn-around to their season. They began the year going 0-4-1 folks and have, since then, logged six straight wins to get right back into the fray! QB Josh Allen has been playing well outside of a week 10 hiccup against the Miami Dolphins. He has tossed 17 TD passes and been sacked just 16 time during the run. The offense has tallied 30+ points in five of the six wins and has shown some signs of getting top back James Cook untracked as well. Pittsburgh was enfuego last week as the team blasted the Chicago Bears' defense for 40+ points. It was a huge win for a franchise that had dropped two in a row and three of its last four games including a key loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Aged veteran QB Aaron Rodgers has now thrown for over 300 yards in eight straight games, while throwing just 3 interceptions along the way!

   Final Analysis: This one could get wild. Expect offensive fireworks out of Allen and Rodgers. A big turnover or mistake should decide it. Both teams could use some help out of their running game so Pittsburgh's Jaylen Warren and Buffalo's Cook need to come to the party. Warren, though, has run for 59 or fewer yards in eight of his last nine games. Buffalo 32-30? 

    Time has all but run out for the yo-yo kids who call themselves the Chargers. A loss here would all but eliminate them from serious playoff consideration. They have not won more than two games in a row all year long and are coming off a dreadful, 27-19, loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars as QB Justin Herbert threw 4 interceptions.  Las Vegas, though, has had no such issues this season. They come in on fire, having won four straight and six of their last seven. However, there is just a slight bit of doubt surrounding this team as they have won four of their last six by 3 points or less. The main cog has been, obviously, the play of rookie sensation Ashton Jeanty. The Boise State grad has been blessed to play under HC Gabe ElGuapo, who's run first philosophy has meshed well with the Jeanty. The rookie has now run for over 100 yards in five successive games and six of his last seven. His 1426 yards easily leads the league.

   Final Analysis: LA's rookie HB Omarion Hampton is averaging a whopping 6.8 YPC yet the Chargers always seem to move more to the passing game each week. Vegas has been good at stopping the run, and then getting after the quarterback. They are allowing just 93.73 YPG on the ground and have piled up 54 sacks. The Chargers can keep this one close if they can avoid the turnover and maybe get some running going. See this one as being closer than some may think. Vegas 26-23.

8:15 PM-DENVER BRONCOS (2-9) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (5-6)

Free Falling Broncos Head East to Face Competitive Commanders

   Denver has now lost seven in a row and have collapsed. Washington had won four in a row before losing, 34-27, to the Miami Dolphins. Both teams are coming off their bye weeks. Washington remains without a FT coaching staff.

   NO LINE 

NEW YORK GIANTS (6-6) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-2)

G-Men Trying to Claim Playoff Spot. Pats Coming Off Scare

   The New York Giants are as close to making the playoffs as they are to missing out. At 6-6, they currently hold the 7th seed in the NFC, but are just a half-game ahead of divisional rival Washington. On the other hand, they are also just one game behind the sixth seeded San Francisco 49ers! So, it seems, the G-Men are playing under just a tad bit of pressure these days. They have, though, responded very well to the heat recently and come in having won their last two games that has included an upset over the Green Bay Packers and a big win last week over a Detroit Lions team that was on the verge of catching them! Rookie QB Jaxson Dart has had a fine first season throwing 23 touchdown passes compared to just 4 interceptions. He has been sacked quite a bit (62 times), but his willingness to take the sack rather than force the ball has proven to be, mostly, successful. New York continues to try to run the football under Coach Gabe ElGuapo. That has been a trend under E-Guap for years now.  New England had to rally from a 27-15 deficit heading into the fourth quarter and would storm back with 15 last frame points to edge the Cincinnati Bengals, 30-27! QB Drake Maye did absorb 10 sacks, but he also threw for 460 yards and 3 touchdowns. He now leads the PFL (Along with Kansas City's Patrick Mahomes) with 36 TD passes on the season. 

   Final Analysis: New England has not been overly good at stopping the run (115.58 YPG) and that could allow New York to control the game tempo. The Giants have not been particularly stout at stopping the pass (309.58 YPG) and that could pave the way for another big day from Maye. New York's 30 sacks is a low number as well and if Maye has time he can carve teams up. New York will need to use their patented game formula to limit the Patriots' offense, just not sure they can do it enough.  New England 28-24.

TEAMS ON A BYE