These two clubs desire to remain being seen as top contenders within their respective divisions as well as the AFC overall. While a loss would not be devastating, a lopsided defeat would put some serious doubt into the notion that the loser is a contender. To that end, the Titans are coming off a wild, 42-36, victory over the Cincinnati Bengals as they got a much needed 115 yards rushing out of little known back Tyjae Spears. Spears has been admirably filling in for the injured Tony Pollard. On a downside, Tennessee did allow Bengal QB Joe Burrow to throw for 409 yards and 3 touchdowns. Second year left-edge Oluwafemi Oladejo has recorded a sack in all six games this season! The Ravens are coming off their bye week and roll in on a four game winning streak. They narrowly got by an improving Cleveland Browns' team their last time out, 30-27, as the running game remained a but iffy. Bulldozing back Derrick Henry has rushed for over 100 yards just once, thus far, and has run for less than 50 yards in three of five outings.

   Final Analysis: Baltimore will probably need Henry to contribute more if continued success is to be sustained. Tennesee is getting great play from of QB Cam Ward and the club's 23.5 sacks and 9 interceptions is impressive. Tennessee 26-23.

1:00 PM- NEW YORK GIANTS (1-5) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4-1)

G-Men Off the Schneid! Is Philly Beginning to Hear Footsteps?

    Finally, after a demoralizing start to their season, the sun came out in Jersey again! The Giants upset the Green Bay Packers, 45-27, behind a rugged pass defense and a solid return to their normal power running offense. The defense would intercept Packer QB Jordan Love twice while holding him to a 15 for 29 (51%) and 45.1 QBR day. Backs Tyrone Tracy and Cam Skattebo would tandem for 172 yards on 19 carries. Those numbers were sorely needed in order to overshadow the 3 picks QB Jaxson Dart had. The Eagles seem pretty confident these days, but the division is improving, and a loss here could suddenly see them in a real battle within the NFC East. QB Jalen Hurts has completed less than 60% (80-137) of his passes on the season, but has been effective nonetheless. HB Saquon Barkley has toted the rock 21 or more times in four of five games and has two 100+ games under his belt. The truth is, it has been the talent of the defense that has carried this team more often than not. The D is allowing just 20 PPG, has piled up 24 sacks, and  has 15 takeaways! Hurts and Co. have been solid at game management and not turning it over (Just 2 TOs all year!) while awaiting for opportunities to pounce.

   Final Analysis: If New York can run the ball effectively and keep the game close, then Dart will not be forced to throw the ball under duress. Outside of his interceptions, the G-Men have turned it over just once. The Eagles have 78 TFLs (15.6 TFLPG!) and should be able to contain the Giants' running. Philadelphia 27-18.

1:00 PM- MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-4) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (2-4)

Vikes Remain Without Staff. Texans Coming Off Tough Loss

   Houston would lose a close one, 17-13, to the surging Cleveland Browns last week as QB CJ Stroud would go down with an in-game injury and backup Gunner Stockton could not quite get it done. On a promising note, the defense played well once again and HB Joe Mixon would run for 105 yards on 16 carries marking his second 100+ yard game out of his last three outings.. The Vikings still do not have a FT staff in place, but still managed to ease past the Atlanta Falcons, 30-20, last week.

   Final Analysis: The Texans seem a bit snake bitten thus far. They have played well enough to win games, but something always seems to pop up and drag them down. If they can get Stroud and Mixon on the same page, and the defense can continue to play well, the wins will come. Houston 29-20.

1:00 PM-CLEVELAND BROWNS (2-4) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (1-5)

Bitter Midwest Rivals Tangle in PA.

    The Browns and Steelers are not known to be friends by any stretch of the imagination. Cleveland, though, appears to be an ascending franchise, whereas Pittsburgh has lost five in a row and cannot get over the hump in close games. The Browns are still wallowing with a mundane running game with HB Dylan Thompson averaging 2.67 YPC and fellow ball carrier Quinshon Judkins lugging in a 1.76 YPC resume. The Steelers have not been able to get rookie QB Ty Simpson untracked, as of yet, as he has completed 60% or less of his throws in four of six starts. HB Jaylen Warren has played pretty well, but he has not been given the ball much. His 14 carries in last week's, 17-14, loss to the Commanders marked his season high.

   Final Analysis: Neither team has been very successful running the football. Both Ty Simpson and Cleveland's Shedeur Sanders have had ups and downs all year long. Not sure who comes out on top, but it feels like the Browns are playing a bit better ball right now. Cleveland 20-17.

 1:00 PM- LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (5-1) AT NEW YORK JETS (5-0)

Bolts Next Up to Challenge Mighty Jets!

    The LA Chargers were able to push aside the defending AFC West Champion Vegas Raiders last week, 27-6, behind a punishing defense and a determined offense. The D would would pick off 3 Raider QB Dante Moore throws and sack him 8 times, while holding him to just a 50% (19-38) completion percentage. Top Raider back Ashton Jeanty would be taken out of the game and held to a mere 33 yards rushing. At the same time, the Bolts got a big jolt from reserve rookie back Darius Taylor who came up with some impressive runs and finished with 126 yards on 8 carries. The Jets, of course, are seen as near invincible and have now won 24 of their last 25 games! QB Justin Fields has completed 70% (123-175) of his attempts and enters this one with 10 TD passes compared to just 2 interceptions. The defense has been stellar allowing only 16.6 PPG and lead the league versus the run ceding a meager 62.8 YPG! LA has been the league's top scoring defense with teams mustering a mere 11.83 PPG against them so far!

   Final Analysis: The Chargers will likely struggle to run the ball and that could mean turnover and sack prone QB Justin Herbert might have to throw more than desired. Both teams have solid turnover margins (+10 for LA and +5 for NY). Legendary coach Mike Kleinknecht is known to play possum and is probably doing just that again this season. New York 28-18.

 1:00 PM- JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-2) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (3-3)

Jags Lose Coaching Staff. Has Dallas Emerged?

    Jacksonville no longer has a steady coaching staff leaving the future of their season up in the air. The Cowboys shocked the PFL as they stopped the high flying Arizona Cardinals, 43-28, last week and may have saved their year at the same time. Dallas entered the game with the league's worst run defense, but would swarm to the ball all game long and check backs Trey Benson and Rachaad White for 14 yards on 10 carries. The secondary would bend a bit, but came up with 3 interceptions of QB Kyler Murray. DB Deron Bland would have two picks including one taken back to the house, earning him DPOW honors, and rookie sensation MLB Arvelle Reese would snag another. 

   Final Anslysis: Hard to figure the Jags out now. The Cowboys could be a one-trick pony or on their way to contending in the NFC East, but the jury is very much so still out. NO LINE

   1:00 PM- NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (0-6) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (4-2)

Saints' Woes Continue. Bucs' Ship Sailing Along!

    The Saints' season of misery continued last week as they were dominated, 38-9, by a merciless Chicago Bears' team. QB Spencer Rattler did not have a TD pass for the third time this year and would be sacked 6 times. The Bucs, though, came away with a roller-coaster, 40-35, win over the game Detroit Lions. Tampa Bay would have two backs (Josh Williams and Bucky Irving) broadside the Lions for 100 yards rushing each and QB Baker Mayfield came up with a number of big plays down the stretch to secure the W. The pass defense, though, had issues as Lions' QB Jared Goff got into a rhythm and riddled the Bucs for 438 yards and 5 touchdowns!

   Final Analysis: The Saints are a mess right now. The Bucs are now seen as favorites in the NFC South and finding ways to win games. Tampa Bay 32-16.

 4:05 PM- LOS ANGELES RAMS (0-6) AT DENVER BRONCOS (2-4)

Rams' Horns Clipped? Broncos Suddenly on Upswing?

   It has been a horrific year for the Rams. With the top two picks in the draft they tabbed QB Fernando Mendoza and HB Jeremiyah Love and optimism was high. That optimism has long since left town as Mendoza has struggled and Love has been out with an injury. The Broncos' season seemed headed on a similar trejectory until they upended the, then, unbeatend Seattle Seahawks two weeks ago and followed that up with another solid effort last week as they dumped the saggging Miami Dolphins, 37-11. The defense has played well all year long, but now QB Bo Nix has put together back-to-back excellent efforts and HB JK Dobbins just had his best game of the year (19-109) as the offense is begiining to gel.

   Final Analysis: Rams get Denver at worst time. Broncos on the verge of entering into the playoff discussion if they can just keep things moving along. Denver 31-16.

 4:05 PM- SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-2) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4-2)

Have Niners Struck It Rich? See-Saw 'Hawks Need This One Badly

   A Monster game in the NFC West and Conference. San Fran has been the league's most talked about team of late as they have strung together three straight impressive wins. QB Brock Purdy was outstanding again last week completing a season best 75% (22-29) his pass attempts for 294 yards and 2 touchdowns as his Niners rocked the Kansas City Chiefs, 26-3. Purdy has not thrown a single pick during the team's 3-game streak! Additionally, the defense continued to play extremely well shutting down the KC offense and intercepting QB Patrick Mahomes twice. Seattle got by the Rams last week, but the team has had problems in games in which HB Kenneth Walker cannot get going. They have won three of four games where he has run for over 100 yards, but saw his streak ended by the Denver Broncos two weeks ago leading to an upset loss.

   Final Analysis: SF enters this one with 15 takeaways while Seattle has considerably fewer. San Fran has not been prolific at stopping the run (102 YPG) so this one could get down to Seattle's ability to run the ball or not. Have a feeling this one gonna be tense. Seattle 22-20.   

4:15 PM-CAROLINA PANTHERS (3-2) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (3-3)

Surprising Carolina to Lambeau to Face Unsteady Packers' Team

    The Panthers are right in the mix for NFC South honors and the playoffs. The Packers are in the very same boat within the NFC North. However, Carolina looks to be somewhat of a surprise, whereas the Packers' situation, while not dire, is reflective of a team that did not take advantage when it needed to. The Panthers are coming off their bye week. Green Bay was stunned by a winless New York Giants' team, 45-27, as the defense could not stop the run, the offense could not run the ball, and QB Jordan Love was, well, less than average.

   Final Analysis: The Packers have let the early demise of the Bears get away and now find themselves fighting for their playoff lives. The inconsistent running game has, all too often, put the offense in bad situations. Perhaps a bigger concern is the defensive deficiency of last week. Carolina is hungry and in a position to maybe steal the NFC South! Kinda feel Pack should win, but...Carolina 23-20.

8:20 PM-CHICAGO BEARS (3-3) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-5)

Chicago Looking Ready to Take Control in NFC North. Fish Fried?

    No team in the NFC North took advantage of the Bears' slow start to their season and, now, the division is looking more and more like it will be claimed by the Windy City team again. Chitown has won three of its last four games and has scored 30+ points in each of those three wins. QB Caleb Williams, who had been drifting, easily had his best game of the year last week completing 77.27 % (34-44) of his attempts for 382 yards and a season best 4 TDs. Williams has now thrown 41 or more passes in a game in four of his five starts!  The Dolphins look more and more like a club on borrowed time. They were thoroughly drubbed by the Denver Broncos last week, 37-11, as the defense was sievelike ceding 318 yards passing and 134 yards rushing. The offense was not good, either, passing for just 169 yards and running for only 55 yards!

   Final Analysis: The Bears' offense is #3 in the PFL in scoring averaging a hefty 32.5 PPG. Miami is last in the AFC in scoring defense surrendering 30.33 PPG. Expect the Monsters of the Midway to be just that this week. Chicago 36-17.

8:30 PM- NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-3) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (6-0)

Pats' Staff Resigns! Colts to Kick Up Hooves Again?

    The floundering New England Patriots had their staff resign this week opening the door for an Indy rout. The Colts ran for over 200 yards again last week and remained undefeated with their, 37-31, win over a Jacksonville squad.

   Final Analysis: See no way the Pats win without a coaching staff in place. NO LINE

TEAMS ON A BYE