The NFC South seemed destined to have these two face each other late in the season with the division likely on the line. The Bucs barely got by the Minnesota Vikings, 34-31, last week while the Falcons played, arguably, their best game since their week 1 win over the Chicago Bears. The Falcons ran over the Seattle Seahawks, 41-19, as backs Ty Chandler and Bijan Robinson combined for 229 yards on 25 carries! The defense also played well limiting Seattle top back Kenneth Walker to just 35 yards on 9 carries and then getting after QB Sam Darnold sacking him 6 times and picking him off once.

   Final Analysis: Atlanta won the first meeting between these two teams, 37-14, winning the turnover battle 3-1 while piling up a 455-295 yardage edge over the Bucs. The Falcs are playing solid ball right now. Atlanta 31-20.

1:00 PM-SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (8-5) AT WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (8-5)

FedEx Faceoff: 'Hawks/Commanders in Major Confrontation!

       Both teams are coming off disappointing losses. Seattle was thrashed by the Atlanta Falcons, 41-9, while the Commanders were handled by the Arizona Cardinals, 42-20, as they collapsed in the second half. The DC offensive line could not hold off a ferocious Arizona pass rush as QB Jayden Daniels would suffer 12 sacks and complete just 32% (8-22) of his passes. Seattle could not get their running game going, could not stop the Atlanta running attack, and saw QB Sam Darnold wilt under pressure. The winner of this one will take a major step towards securing a playoff berth, while the loser will be left with some serious work to be done.

   Final Analysis: Both teams like to run the football and keep the pressure off their quarterbacks. Seattle has had some issues slowing down the run and that favors the Commanders in this one. If, though, Seattle can get backs Walker and Charbonnet going, they can win this key matchup. Washington 28-26?

  1:00 PM-MIAMI DOLPHINS (4-9)AT BUFFALO BILLS (6-7)

Are Dolphs Fish Fried? Bills Buffaloed in West, Chiily, Chitown

   For all intents and porpoises, the Dolphins' season is over. They can play spoiler, however, and are a very dangerous team to tangle with. The Bills played a rugged affair in the rain, sleet, and wind in Chicago but, as has been the trend for years now, they could not protect QB Josh Allen who would be snowed under an absurd 11 times leading to a, 27-7, defeat. The defense played well enough to win the game, but the offense was simply not capable of sustaining drives. In some ways they outplayed the Bears, but in far too many instances in the second half they did not.

   Final Analysis: Miami is good at stopping the pass especially in the takeaway department. The Bills would do well to run the ball with HB Cook as much as possible in order to keep Allen from having to endure too many pressure situations. Buffalo 28-24.

1:00 PM-KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (6-7) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (8-4-1)

 Bengals' Chance Slipped By. But Playoffs There For the Taking

    The Chiefs are on the cusp of reclaiming the AFC West after relinquishing their long time tenure as the divisional champs to the Las Vegas Raiders last season. They got by Carolina, 35-20, last week breaking open a close game in the 4th quarter. The Bengals played their "Game of the Century" with the Baltimore Ravens and the game met all expectations and beyond as the two teams battled to a rare, 32-32, tie! Cinci rolled up a staggering 530 yards and had 15 third down conversions!  They remain just 1 game behind the Ravens and a win here would all but ensure at least a playoff berth. The matchup between Chiefs' QB Patrick Mahomes and the Bengals' Joe Burrow should prove entertaining.

   Final Analysis: KC seems a bit inconsistent. Cinci looks like they are playing better and with more confidence. Cincinnati 27-22.

1:00 PM-DALLAS COWBOYS (8-5) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (6-7)

Pokes in Desperation Mode Following Inept Offensive Effort in Loss to Giants. Are Browns on Cusp of Playoff Berth or Not?

   The Dallas Cowboys have not been able to get their team on the same page virtually the entire season. The defense was horrific in the early stages of the season and is now playing very well. But the offense, which played decent early on, has become almost unbearable to watch. In last week's demoralizing, 19-7, loss to the rival Giants, the Dallas D, which was dead last against the run in the PFL, completely dominated the New York running game stuffing it for 80 yards on 36 carries (2.2 YPC)! But the offense found one way after another to shoot itself in the foot particularly rookie QB Diego Pavia. Pavia would toss a season high 3 picks in the game (One a costly endzone turnover from inside the 10!) and fumble another time (although recovered by Dallas) as the club could not get any sustained drives going. Inopportune penalties, blatant misfires, and a host of plays where Pavia, inexplicably, missed a wide open primary target only to force the ball to covered receivers doomed the offense all game long. The Browns are coming off their bye week and have lost their last two games. QB Shedeur Sanders' 79.1 QBR ranks 28th among all PFL starters. Both teams rank near the very bottom of the league in turnover margin with Cleveland stumbling in with a -10 ratio and the Cowboys right there at -9!

   Final Analysis: Both franchises have, quite honestly, been incredibly inconsistent, if not flat out ugly teams to watch. This one will almost certainly just get down to which error prone team makes the fewest mistakes. Dallas 20-16.

1:00 PM-PITTSBURGH STEELERS (4-9) AT BALTIMORE RAVENS (9-3-1)

Can Steelers Play Spoiler vs Hated Rival Ravens?

   The Steeler season appears to be over as far as the post-season goes, but they can take some joy in upsetting the Baltimore Ravens and, perhaps, send the Cincinnati Bengals on their way to an AFCC North crown.  Pittsburgh rookie QB Ty Simpson had another solid outing last week, but his Steelers lost anyways, 35-17, to the New orleans Saints. Simpson recored his 7th 100+ QBR effort throwing for 375 yards and 2 TDs, but the defense, yet again, just could not hold up. Baltimore got into a war with the Cincinnati Bengals last week in a hotly contested, 32-32, tie. The tie means the Bengals now hold the tie-breaker should the two teams tie within the division as Cinci won the first meeting, 15-10!

   Final Analysis: Baltimore playing games under duress now. Their offense should roll versus the porous Steeler D. However, the Steelers shocked the Ravens in their first encounter, 31-23, with Simpson throwing for 329 yards and 3 touchdowns, while the Steeler secondary intercepted Ravens' QB Lamar Jackson 4 times!  Rivaly game for sure here.  Baltimore 30-24.

1:00 PM-NEW YORK JETS (12-1) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (8-5)

Can Jets Survive Without QB Fields? Titans Hoping to Stay Hot

   The Jets suffered a major blow last week when they lost QB Justin Fields, perhaps, for the remainder of the regular season. It will be an internal decision to go with backup Malik Willis or maybe sign a mobile type signal caller like Russell Wilson. New York has clinched the AFC East already and really has only one goal left to seek (#1 seed). The Titans logged a big win last week as they knocked off the Las Vegas Raiders, 38-7. The defense wrecked Raider QB Dante Moore picking him off 3 times and holding him a misrable 16.6 QBR. Cam Ward would conclude the game with a spectacular perfect 158.3 QBR! He completed 23 of 25 (92%) passes for 343 yards and 3 touchdowns on the day! The Tennessee trio of Tony Pollard, Zach Moss, and Tyjae Spears matched the Raiders' Ashton Jeanty as they combined for 134 yards on 31 carries.

   Final Analysis: Difficult to gauge where the Jets are at the moment without Fields. They have enough talent and coaching to still win this one, but it could prove difficult. Tennessee 24-21?

1:00 PM-DETROIT LIONS (5-8) AT CHICAGO BEARS (10-3)

Lions Coming off Tough Loss. Can They Stop White Hot Bears 8 Game Win Streak?

   The Bears are football's hottest team right now and looking very much the team everyone anticipated before the season began. QB Caleb Williams benefitted beyond belief last season and is now, arguably, the best signal caller in the league! They have won 8 in a row and blew away these Lions just two weeks ago, 48-7, completely shutting down the Detroit offense and holding the Lions to a meager 108 total yards of offense. Chicago comes in leading the NFC in scoring (34.8 PPG), passing (298.9 YPG), sacks (87), and rush defense (74.6 YPG). This is all the more remarkable when one considers the Bears have the worst turnover margin (-16) in the entire league!

   Final Analysis: Bears have posted 40+ points in a game some 5 times already this season. They should have a great chance at making it 6. Chicago 35-17.

4:05 PM-JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (4-9) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (12-1) 

Colts Continue to Stampede AFC-Eye Top Seed If jets Falter 

4:05 PM-SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (5-7) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (10-3)

Can Niners Pull Off Miracle Stunner and Keep Playoff Aspirations Alive? Powerful Cards Still Eying Top Seed

   The odds are slim, and diminishing, that the 49ers can make the post-season. Still, they are not out of it yet and an upset here in the Desert could revive thier spirits. To do that, though, they will almost certainly have to do much better than their current 21.1 PPG offense has put up so far this season. Arizona has tallied 21 or more points in every head-to-head game this year. In the earlier meeting between these two clubs, the Cardinals embarrassed the Niners, 55-0.

   Final Analysis: Cards awfully strong and can both score and get after the opposing quarterback (77 sacks). That combo does not bode well for San Fran QB Brock Purdy who has been dropped a league most 77 times. Arizona 37-10.

4:15 PM-CAROLINA PANTHERS (5-8) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-8)

Halos try to Salvage Lost Season

   Carolina still does not have any leadership intact. The Saints were able to upset the Piitsburgh Steelers, 35-17, last week as their second half surge continued. They have now won four of their last five games but, sadly, it may all prove too little too late. Nonetheless, they have a mathematical shot at finishing 9-8 and that might be just enough to sneak into the NFC playoff field.

   Final Analysis: Saints playing well, but have some tough games ahead with Green Bay, Atlanta, and Arizona. NO LINE

4:15 PM-HOUSTON TEXANS (5-8) AT DENVER BRONCOS (4-9)

Texans Getting Reprieve?

   The Texans might seem like a team that is dead in the water, but the fact is they are just 1 game out of a playoff slot! As of this writing, the 7th seed position does not reveal a single team with a record above .500! The group is congested and includes the Cleveland Browns (6-7), Kansas City Chiefs (6-7), Buffalo Bills (6-7), Las Vegas Raiders (6-7) and then these Texans!  In addition, the slumping Los Angeles Chargers are just 7-6 and have lost four of their last five in the AFC West.

   Final Analysis: Denver has no staff and that should get Houston to 6-8. They finish up their season with difficult matchups versus Baltimore, Tennesse and Buffalo. NO LINE

    The defending AFC West Champion Raiders have been in a real war to keep their crown this season.  They have been up and down much of the year and now have to head to SOFI Stadium to face a Chargers' team that has fallen on hard times in the second half. The Bolts have now dropped five of their last seven games including a last play, 29-28, game to the Kansas City Chiefs two weeks ago. The Raiders, meanwhile, have stumbled as well losing three straight as the offense has gone into neutral. They have scored 3, 20, and 7 points respectively during the 3-game skid. One thing that has not gone sour in Vegas has been the running of super back Ashton Jeanty. The second year sensation out of Boise State is again leading the PFL with 1310 yards rushing and is tied atop the league, along with Chicago's Dameon Pierce, with 10 rushing scores! In the teams' first meeting, the Chargers got a huge game out of backup tailback Darius Taylor who ran for 126 yards. The LA defense was also able to hold Jeanty to a season low 33 yards in the, 27-6, Charger win.

   Final Analysis: It is highly improbable that LA can hold Jeanty down again. He has rushed for 100+ yards in four of his last five games. In addition, Charger QB Justin Herbert was able to avoid the big turnover. The Bolts have lost by a combined total of just 17 points in their last four defeats (4.25 margin). Vegas likes to keep things close with its running game and should be able to do so here. Another heart breaker in store for LA? Las Vegas 26-24.

8:20 PM-GREEN BAY PACKERS (7-6) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (4-9)

Pack Poised to Make Playoff Sprint!

    The Green Packers will be favored in every one of their remaining games that includes contests with the vacant Patriots and Vikings. They should finish 11-6 and that almost assuredly would get them into the playoff tree! They have won three of their last four and, if they win out, would enter the post-season having won six of their last seven! Including this one, they have games versus the Saints, Vikings, and 49ers and are in great shape.

  NO LINE

8:30 PM-PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (7-6) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (6-7)

Can Streaking G-Men Find Way to Playoffs or Even Win Division? Philly Needs to Hit Turnaround Button

   The Philadelphia Eagles need to hit the panic button right now! They are in danger of losing their long time reign over the NFC East but, more significantly, could end up outside the playoffs if they cannot get this going in the right direction. QB Jalen Hurts has tossed 16 interceptions over his last eight games after just throwing 1 in the first five games of the season! The Giants have battled their way back into both playoff contention and divisional honors by winning three in a row and four of their last five. They now own the best record within divisional play (3-2) and a win here would assure themselves of at least a tie in that category as well as a sweep of the series over the Eagles. In the first meeting, the two clubs engaged in a wild one that New York would eventually win, 34-31! But the difference would get down to the Giants not committing a single turnover, while Philly gave it away 3 times.

   Final Analysis: The Giants are the only team in football that has more rushing yards (2342) as a team than passing yards (1682)! They come in ranked second in the league in rushing, but are averaging 20.7 PPG which has them sitting 28th in the league. The Eagles rank 5th in the league ceding just 21.5 PPG but, oddly, gave up a season most points in their loss to the Giants! Basically, if the Eagles can contain the Giants' running game and avoid the turnovers, they should win this one. Philadelphia 24-21.