8:20 PM-BUFFALO BILLS (3-4) AT DETROIT LIONS (3-4)          

                      Is It Now Or Never For Bills/Lions?  

   At 3-4 the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions are still very much so in the playoff mix. However, time is beginning to become a factor and, given the competitive situation in both conferences this season, dropping to 3-5 would make the playoffs an unlikely outcome. The Bills were throttled by an ever improving Cleveland Browns' team last week, 37-22, as their old achilles heel returned: QB Josh Allen would be harassed into 4 interceptions and be sacked 6 times. The defense also faltered, allowing Cleveland QB Shedeur Sanders to have, easily, his best game of the year as he finished with his first 100+ QBR outing. The Lions were able to get by the sagging and coachless Vikings, but remain without the key services of tailback Jahmyr Gibbs.

   Final Analysis: See this one as becoming a shootout type game. The Bills should win if they can get back James Cook and QB Josh Allen going but, as has been the case for some time now, that is always a week to week thing. Buffalo 31-24.                                     

                                          1:00 PM-DALLAS COWBOYS (4-3) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (4-4)

                                       Big Time Playoff Implications Loom in Florida

   For each of these two clubs the time to begin a playoff push has arrived. The Cowboys have strung together three straight wins after starting their season in a 1-3 hole. Still, they enter this one dead last in the league in rushing (54.2 YPG) and have been one of the worst at stopping the run (162.14 YPG). The Bucs began their season going 4-2 but have, since then, stubbed their toes with two consecutive losses. The offense has been a bit erratic. To date, Tampa Bay has scored 28.5 PPG in its four wins, while only registering 15.25 PPG in the club's four defeats. The main determinant for succes or failure has been the play of QB Baker Mayfield. In the team's four wins, Mayfield has thrown 7 TD passes compared to 2 interceptions. In his team's four losses, however, he has found the endzone just 4 times with 9 picks!

  Final Analysis: Dallas has not had a single game this season where a back has even run for 60 yards! Jaydon Blue and rookie Le'Veon Moss come into this key game avergaing a pathetic 2.4 and 2.8 YPC respectively! The bankrupt running game has put way too much pressure on rookie QB Diego Pacia to carry the load. Conversely, Tampa Bay's rookie back Nicholas Singleton and 2nd year back Bucky Irving have combined for 817 yards and a very healthy 5.04 YPC resume. Tampa Bay 30-20.

                                  1:00 PM-NEW YORK GIANTS (2-6) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (5-2)

                                   Big Blue Feeling Blue As Washington Mo Builds!

   It has not been a fun season for the Giants thus far. Unlike the past few campaigns, this year the club is losing the close games they almost always found a way to win in the past. A recent mini two game winning streak had raised hopes in the Gotham area only to be doused by a narrow, 24-21, white knuckler loss to the Seattle Seahawks last week. The defense has shown some improvement, but has given up 30+ points in six of its eight games to date. On the other hand, the surging Commanders keep finding ways to win close games. They were able to pull out a hotly contested, 26-21, victory over the Houston Texans last week marking their third win this season by 5 or fewer points. QB Jayden Daniels threw for a season high 372 yards, while also setting new highs for attempts (27) and completions (17).

   Final Analysis: The Giants are very capable of pulling off the upset, but they will need to play solid defense, get their running game going, and maybe get a bit more production from QB Jaxson Dart. Dart is coming off one of his worst outings of the year (60.9 QBR) and has not thrown for more than 217 yards in any game this season! Washington 27-22.

                                  1:00 PM-CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-3) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (4-3)

                         Big Time Inter-Conference Battle in Ohio

  The Carolina Panthers and Cincinnati Bengals find themselves in somewhat unexpected positions. For the Panthers, they are currently sitting alone atop the NFC South. The Bengals, although not in first place in the AFC North, are presently situated as the 6th seed. The ever changing fortunes (or maybe misfortunes?) of Carolina QB Bryce Young continued last week. Young would throw for season highs in yards (349), attempts (55), and completions (29) as the Panthers rallied for an exciting, 29-26, upset of the San Francisco 49ers. However, despite those impressive stats, Young would end up concluding the game with his second lowest QBR rating (55.7) of the season! Cinci, meanwhile, continued its see-saw campaign with a surprising rout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 40-18, last week. HB Najee Harris found his groove and rushed for 106 yards on the day registering his first 100+ yard effort of the season.

   Final Analysis: Another interesting matchup here. Carolina has been a bit erratic in its play relying mostly on defense and running game as the club tries to keep Young out of the mainstream. The Bengals have been up and down all year long but, if they can get a running game going, they might string some wins together. Tough one to call...Carolina 24-20.

                                 1:00 PM- NEW YORK JETS (6-1) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-6)

                                      Jets Now Chasing In AFC! Vikes Woeful Situation Continues

   For the first time in like forever, the New York Jets are no longer the hunted in the AFC. Thanks to an inspired, 30-27, win by the Chicago Bears last week, the Jets fell a game behind the undefeated Indianapolis Colts in the conference. QB Justin Fields suffered a season low completion game (16-37-43.24%) and HB Breece Hall was held to his lowest rush total of the year (12-38) in the loss. The Vikings are the perfect cure for what ails the Jets...

   Final Analysis: Jets get back on track versus leaderless Vikes. NO LINE

                                1:00 PM-INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-0) AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (3-5)

                               1:00 PM-GREEN BAY PACKERS (4-3) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (3-4) 

                                1:00 CLEVELAND BROWNS (4-4) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-7)

                                  Hard Charging Browns To Big Easy 

   The Cleveland Browns are one of the league's upward bound clubs. After having a plethora of early draft picks come on board this off-season, expectations were running high in the Rock and Roll Capital. But the team would lose its first three games of the year and fans were already breaking out their brown paper bags and calling for the head of HC Mike Russo. Since then, though, Cleveland has won four of its last five, including three straight, that has them tied with several other teams in the 7th slot for the playoffs. The Saints seem a tasty morsel for this team to feast upon and keep things rolling. The Saints have played back-to-back spirited games beating the Buccaneers two weeks ago before narrowly losing to the Raiders, 37-34, last week. Their upswing might catch the Browns looking ahead...

   Final Analysis: Cleveland getting better each week. QB Shedeur Sanders had his best game of the year last week in a win over Buffalo and the running game is improving. New Orleans has played well over last two weeks and could spoil here. Cleveland 27-21.

                                4:05 PM-LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (5-3) AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-4)

                                   Crucial Inter-Conference California Matchup

   This tandem of teams has seen their seasons suddenly take a turn for the worst. The Chargers have dropped two in a row and now have virtually lost all of their early season edge over the defending AFC West Champion Raiders and ever looming Chiefs. The Niners were cruising along before they also hit a two game skid and fell off behind the Cardinals, while seeing their playoff hopes come into jeopardy. The Bolts encountered their well documented weakness last week as QB Justin Herbert would toss two critical interceptions (bringing his season total to 5) resulting in a close, 24-18, loss to the Falcons. The 18 points was the fewest scored by Los Angeles all season long. San Francisco could not get their running game going and, even though the defense did come up with 3 interceptions of Panther QB Bryce Young, QB Brock Purdy would be sacked 10 times and throw a pick of his own as the Niners lost, 29-26, to Carolina.

   Final Analysis: Both teams feeling increased pressure and need to respond. San Fran has a knack for getting interceptions and Herbert has a history of providing them. Still, LA plays solid defense and has a powerful running game it can lean on. Los Angeles 24-22.

                              4:15 PM-TENNESSEE TITANS (5-3) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (2-6)

                             Deflated Titans Hope To Rebound VS Steelers' Team Coming Off Huge Upset

   The Titans could not conquer the rival Indianapolis Colts again last week as they lost, 46-38. Winning that game was somewhat imperative as they now stand two games behind the Colts and have lost the series 0-2. They are still solidly in the playoff picture, but really do not need to see a slide start. They now head to Pittsburgh to face a Steelers' team that just pulled off a stunning upset of the Baltimore Ravens, 31-23, that ended their 6 game losing skid and snapped the Ravens' 5 game winning streak. Rookie QB Ty Simpson had a fine day throwing for 329 yards and 3 touchdowns.

   Final Analysis: Neither team has been particularly good on defense and this one could become a high scoring affair as a result. Pittsburgh has won two of the three games in which Simpson has finished with a 100+ QBR, while Tennessee has won four of the five games in which QB Cam Ward has ended his day with a 100+ QBR. Ward has, though, been more consistent. Tennessee 30-23. 

                             4:15 PM-JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-4) AT HOUSTON TEXANS (3-5)

                           Tense Times in Texas: Jags Falling Apart, Texans Running Out of Bullets

   The Houston Texans need a break and the Jags might be the perfect fix. Jacksonville remains without a coaching staff and has fallen to pieces ever since the staff headed for the hills. Houston lost a close, 26-21, decision to the upstart Washington Commanders last week, but are still within striking distance of a playoff berth. QB CJ Stroud will need to continue his recent good play.

   Final Analysis: Houston gets a depressed Jags' team and should get the W. NO LINE

                           4:15 PM-ARIZONA CARDINALS (6-1) AT LOS ANGLES RAMS (0-8)     

                      Yikes!  Winless Rams to Host Powerful Cards...  

   This one has all the makings of a good ole fashioned romp, but ya never know in the unpredictable PFL. 'Zona blanked the punchless Denver Broncos, 31-0, last week as they got back to their normal defensive posture dropping Denver QB Bo Nix 10 times and picking him off twice. LA lost their meeting against Kansas City, 34-21, but saw some serious signs of how good rookie QB Fernando Mendoza can become. Mendoza would suffer three interceptions, but he also threw for 323 yards and 3 touchdowns.

  Final Analysis: The Arizona D should feast on the youth of Mendoza and stop rookie back Jeremiyah Love as well. Long day in LA. Arizona 42-17.               

                                           8:20 PM-LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (4-4) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-6)

                                               Raiders Starting to Gel? Dolphs Swimming South?

   The defending AFC West Champs stumbled out of the gate a bit, but have, since then, recovered nicely and, with the recent demise of the front running LA Chargers, moved right back into divisional contention.  The team barely got by the Saints, 37-34, last week with star HB Ashton Jeanty rushing for 96 yards on 20 carries and Oregon Duck rookie QB Dante Moore having his best game of his young career. Moore would complete a season best 22 passes out of 31 attempts (70.97%) for 296 yards, His completion percentage and 3 TD passes were also new career highs. Miami got by the leaderless Patriots.

   Final Analysis: The developing mix of second year back Jeanty and rookie QB Moore has the league noticing and the duo looks to be a promising future for Raider fans!  Las Vegas 29-21.                                            

                                        PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (5-2) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-2)

Eagles In Battle With Washington In NFC East. Shocked Ravens Look To Right Course

   The Philadelphia Eagles have found themselves in a real tussle within the NFC East as the Washington Commanders keep finding ways to win and the Dallas Cowboys might be finally finding their stride. A loss here in Baltimore could leave them, unexpectedly, looking up, rather than perched, over the division as has been their place the past few years. Baltimore, though, was stunned by the rival Pittsburgh Steelers in a game that saw their 5 game winning streak terminated . QB Lamar Jackson was intercepted 4 times and bulldozing back Derrick Henry was bottled up for just 57 yards on 16 carries in the, 31-23, upset.

   Final Analysis: Philly needs to get out of town with a W or run the serious risk of actually falling behind within the division. Baltimore is in a similarly perilous spot as they now hold a mere 1 game edge over the stubborn Bengals. Jackson is not likely to have nearly as bad a game as he did last week. Still, he has only had two games with a 100+ OVR this season. Hurts has had four straight 100+ QBR outings, but he has also flipped 2 picks in each of his last two games and has absorbed 22 sacks over his last three performances. Philly leads the league with a +11 turnover margin and that could be the difference here. Philadelphia 26-23.

                     TEAMS ON A BYE