New England still does not have ownership. The Lions were edged, 18-17, by the Miami Dolphins last week putting their season in serious jeopardy.

   Final Analysis: Lions should win this one.  NO LINE

1:00 PM-CINCINNATI BENGALS (7-4) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-7)

Reverse Records Meet in Pitt

   Cinci's past has often been linked to second half season runs to the playoffs. This season is shaping up as another chapter in the franchise's history. The Bengals have won four of their last five, including a stirring 15-10, upset of the Baltimore Ravens two weeks ago. The defense has made major strides holding four of its last five foes to 18 or fewer points. Unfortunately, the same history cannot be linked to the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the Steelers have been on a roll themselves coming up on the winning side in three of their prior four outings after starting their season going a dreadful 1-6! Rookie QB Ty Simpson appears to be settling in, finally, and has posted three 100+ QBR games in the three wins.

   Final Analysis: Both teams playing well at the moment. The clubs are pretty evenly matched except the Bengals look a bit more balanced. Cincinnati 26-23.

  1:00 PM-CLEVELAND BROWNS (6-6) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (6-5)

Major Playoff Implications for Both Combatants!

    These two teams are immersed in a hotly contested wild card playoff race between themselves and a few other AFC clubs. The winner leaves in good shape, while the loser will be in a really tough spot as the season winds down, especially since neither team has a viable route to winning their division. The game is a classic matchup between two teams that are diametrical opposites in terms of how they win games. Tennessee leans on an offense that is averaging 30 PPG led by the arm of QB Cam Ward. Cleveland is paced by a defense that gets after the quarterback. The Browns have piled up 50 sacks (5th most in the league). Two linebackers, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Carson Schwesinger, are 1 and 2 in tackles in the league with 143 and 139 respectively! The gap. though, between the two clubs offensively is rather large. Cleveland is averaging just 22.3 PPG and the Titans have failed to exceed that number just once all year long.

   Final Analysis: Ward has been sacked the second most time in football (54), but has still compiled MVP-like numbers. If he can be effective, despite absorbing sacks, the advantage leans heavily towards the Titans. Tennessee 30-22.

1:00 PM-CHICAGO BEARS (8-3) AT DETOIT LIONS (5-6)

Bears, as Expected, Right On Top Along With Cards. Lions Fighting for Playoff Lives 

   For some time now, there have been suspicions that the Bears and Cardinals might be rooting for each other to finish 1 and 2 in the NFC in order to avoid playing each other untll the NFC title game.  That scenario  seems to be playing itself out beautifully for the two clubs. Chicago started out slowly, but has been rolling of late winning six straight and eight of its last nine!  QB Caleb Williams is right behind Cardinal QB Kyler Murray in the NFC. Williams is leading an offense that ranks #2 in football (34.4 PPG) behind coach Matej Orazem's other club, the Colts (37.4 PPG)! Detroit has been up and down all season long, but they remain on the outer rim of the playoffs and still have a shot. A win here would go miles towards sending them on their way to the post-season, whereas another loss would dim the lights considerably in Motown.

   Final Analysis: The Bears can, obviously, score. Their defense can be vulnerable to the pass, but the unit also leads the league versus the run (72.55 YPG) and is second in sacks (65) behind, you guessed it, Orazem's Colts (77). The game plan is pretty simple: Stuff the run and force teams into passing situations and then get after the QB. Long day in Detroit. Chicago 35-17.

DALLAS COWBOYS (7-4) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (7-4)

Arch-enemy Rivals Clash in Monster Mash

   Just two weeks ago the Cowboys were in a similar situation facing the rival Washington Commanders in a game for first within the division. Washington would annihilate Dallas, 48-30, trampling the porous Cowboy run defense for 284 yards! The Eagles would hold off the Commanders last week, 27-25, to put all three teams in a tie atop the NFC East. Washington is slated for a probable cakewalk over the Jacksonville Jaguars this week ensuring they stay at least tied. The winner here is in great shape, while the loser is in a real bind and could be headed, at best, for the #7 seed slot and a near certainty to have to face the Bears or Cardinals in the first round followed by having to play (if won) one of those same two teams in the next round!  The Eagles won the first meeting between these two clubs, 20-6, in a game dominated by the Philadelphia defense. The Cowboys were shut down everywhere with the woeful running game producing a meager 31 yards. Dallas' running back, Jaydon Blue has finally gotten over the 4 YPC hump and now is averaging 4.1 YPC. Philly tailback Saquon Barkley ripped the Dallas' D for 106 yards in the initial encounter and should have another banner day versus one of the worst run defenses in football. 

   Final Analysis: The Cowboys were able to hang in the division battle with a, 33-23, upset of the Titans last week. Although Blue did run for 110 yards, Titans' QB Cam Ward scrambled for a team high 67 yards. That stat is not good against Eagle QB Jalen Hurts who can kill teams if he is allowed to move outside the pocket. Really see no way the Cowboys can run effectively and rookie QB Diego Pavia has not shown the ability to carry the team on his back. Philadelphia 31-20.

    Neither team is in good shape for making the playoffs. However, both teams still remain within striking distance since this season is starting to look like the final wild card entrant might barely have a .500 record! Both clubs have really struggled to score points with the Giants ranked 29th (19.9 PPG) and the Texans sitting at 30th (17.9 PPG). The defenses have not been great either particularly in the takeaway department. New York has 11 takeaways compared to Houston's 10 and the Giants are the only team in football without a single fumble recovery!

   Final Analysis: New York wants to run the ball and might be able to stay true to its personality as long as Houston does not start putting up some points. The Texans have scored 30+ points in a game just once, while being held to 15 or fewer points six times including being limited to just 6 and then 7 points in each of their last two outings! New York 26-18.

1:00 PM-DENVER BRONCOS (4-7) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-8) 

Ownerless Franchises Battle for Respectability

1:00 PM-WASHINGTON COMMNANDERS 07-4) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-7)

Wounded Commanders Get "Breather" Before Brutal Stretch Run

4:05 PM-BUFFALO BILLS (5-6) AT MIAMI DOLPHINS (4-8)

Bills On the Edge. Dolphs Likely Cooked

    Buffalo is still in the playoff hunt and may have salvaged their season with a, 37-34, comeback victory last week over the LA Chargers as Charger kicker Cam Dicker missed a last play field goal attempt. The Bills were able to keep QB Josh Allen upright, although his individual heroics were the main reason for his success, as he often broke away from sacks and made big plays downfield. Miami just could not find the endzone against the Packers last week until the second half. The drought led to a, 28-14, defeat that may have sunk their playoff ship. 

   Final Analysis: Buffalo goes as Allen goes. The Dolphins are near the bottom of the AFC in sacks (33) and that could mean a solid day for Allen. This one could be high scoring indeed since Miami is last in the AFC in points allowed (29.42 PPG) and Buffalo is right behind them (29.27 PPG). Miami will go on their bye next week and then come back and play these same Bills again. Buffalo 33-30. 

4:15 PM-SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (7-4) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (6-5)

Lost Opportunities Lead to New Opportunity? 

   A big inter-conference clash in Vegas. Each team is coming off losses to top tier clubs that offered them chances to make some serious noise. Seattle played a second tension filled game versus the Arizona Cardinals before falling just short, 21-14. Vegas came off their bye week and had their modest 3-game winning streak halted, 31-3, by the Jets. While Seattle's odds of winning the NFC West are probably all but gone, they are in a solid position to claim the #5 seed as long as they take care of business the rest of the way. The Raiders remain right on the heels of a slumping Chargers' squad that has lost three of its last five games opening the door, a few times now, for Vegas to reclaim the top spot. Now, they have this one versus Seattle followed by a meeting with a good Titans' team, the rematch with the Chargers, and then the Chiefs and Cardinals...Both teams want to run the football. Vegas is led by the league leading running of Ashton Jeanty (1062 yards and 9 TDs), while Seattle relies upon the #3 rusher in the PFL, Kenneth Walker (907 yards and 7 TDs), to power their attack. So, this one could get down to the play of the two teams' quarterbacks. In truth, neither has put up stats that instill fear with Seattle signal caller Sam Darnold coming in with 15 TD passes and 7 picks compared to Vegas QB Dante Moore and his 13 touchdown passes and 9 interceptions.

   Final Analysis: A game for those who love old fashioned football. Both teams will almost certainly try to run the ball, avoid mistakes, and lean on their defenses. As long as the game stays tight, it is a good bet both will run out the string and hope to come out on top late. Seattle leads the NFC with 17 interceptions and is second in scoring defense (20.82 PPG). They are also the better team at shutting down the run. Seattle 24-21.

BALTIMORE RAVENS (8-3) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (6-5)

Can Bucs Seize Big W and Gain in NFC South? 

    Tampa Bay is in a tight race in the NFC South with the Atlanta Falcons and can ill-afford to lose the division and still hope to get in as a wild card. That makes this matchup a golden opportunity to make some hay. They have won back-to-back sim wins after dropping three in a row and really have not shown the ability to hang with teams in the class of the Ravens. Baltimore was able to slip by the Browns, 34-27, last week after suffering a major defeat to Cincinnati the week before. They are just 1 game ahead of the hard charging Bengals and need a win badly here as they have to face Cinci again next week! Tampa has ceded 30 or more points in four of their five losses and will need to play much better D in this one to have a real shot. The Ravens are second in the league with 19 interceptions and Bucs' QB Baker Mayfield has just 16 TD passes compared to 13 picks!

   Final Analysis: Tampa Bay has not been able to slow down top teams and Mayfield has not been good enough versus better talents (7 interceptions and not a single 100+ QBR finish versus any team with a .500 record or better)! Baltimore 33-19.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (4-7) AT LOS ANGELS CHARGERS (7-5)

KC With Golden Chance to Upset Unsettled AFC West Applecart!

    This is not a good time for a team to playing its worst football, yet that is precisely where the sagging Chargers find themselves. They come in having lost three of their last five and blew a big lead against the Buffalo Bills last week before missing a game tying field goal as time expired. The Chiefs and coach Pat Johnson have not had a good year in KC, but Johnson has a track record of beating Charger coach Jeff Beyel and it is a sure bet the Chiefs will be primed for this one. 

   Final Analysis: Kansas City has the far superior roster and should have a much better record than they currently own. LA has had all types of issues with QB Justin Herbert making huge mistakes, but he has not thrown a pick in three of his last four games. If KC quarterback Patrick Mahomes can avoid the turnover, his team should prevail. He has, though, thrown 19 interceptions in the team's 7 losses, while finding the opposing jersey just once in the Chiefs' wins!  Kansas City 28-24.

8:20 PM-GREEN BAY PACKERS (6-5) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (11-1)

Is Pack Heating Up at Right Time? Colts Keep on Running! 

    The NFC North title has probably eluded the Packers for a third straight season, but the team has an extremely favorable schedule going forward and is a favorite to be one of the playoff entrants. They can all but seal the deal should they upend the Colts here in Indianapolis. To do that, though, they will need to stop a Colts' offense that continues to function at a high level despite lacking much in the way of hi-level talent. The Colts are averaging a league best 37.4 PPG while trampling folks under hoof to the tune of 202.67 YPG! It has not mattered who runs the ball from, injured backs Jonathan Taylor and DJ Giddens to plodding veteran Aaron Jones and slothlike back Devin Neal, as the Colts still have success. FB Patrick Ricard has been afforded much of the credit with his outstanding lead blocking, but so has a powerful offensive line led by guards Quenton Nelson and rookie Luke Kendra. Rookie QB John Mateer leads all freshman signal callers with 23 TD passes, although Cowboy QB Diego Pavia has played 1 less game. The Colts' defense has racked up a league best 77 sacks and is fourth in interceptions with 19. Edge rushers JT Tuimoloau and Laiatu Latu have slammed opposing signal callers for 17.5 and 16.5 traps respectively. They are ranked 1 and 2 in sacks in the AFC!

   Final Analysis: Hard to see the Packers slowing down the Colts' running game. Green Bay has had problems running the ball, and that means they will likely end up passing the ball against the Indy sack gang. Indianapolis 35-16. 

    Well, every PFL season always has one or two games like this one. The Cardinals did not get their shot at the Jets last season as they lost the NFC Championship to coach Mike Kleinknecht's Carolina Panthers. Now they get a crack at the powerful reigning champs who have won 29 of their last 31 games. The traditional passing onslaught of Kleinknecht's team has, at least for now, given way to a rugged running game paced by tailback Breece Hall. Hall is second in the league in rushing (911 yards) trailing only Vegas' back Ashton Jeanty. Arizona is led by MVP candidate QB Kyler Murray (33 TDs and just 9 interceptions) who leads the PFL with a sparkling 114.6 QBR. His main target is OPOY candidate WR Marvin Harrison Jr. who tops the league with an unreal 1,133 yards in receptions and a stunning 103 YPG number and 10 TD grabs. All 3 are the best in the league. The Cardinals are also #1 in defense giving up just 16.82 PPG. The Jets are no slouches on D themselves yielding only 16.91 PPG. Arizona, though, has crunched opposing quarterbacks 62 times compared to New York's low 30.

   Final Analysis: Arizona has some serious gaudy numbers in their resume, but they have also shown to be vulnerable at times. They have been held under 30 points just 4 times all year and in three of those games Murray posted QBRs below 100. The only game the Jets lost was versus the Bears as HB Breece Hall ran for a season low 38 yards. Both teams are near the best in the league at stopping the run, but feel the Cards have the better passing attack and pass rush. Arizona 27-24.

TEAMS ON A BYE