49ers at Chargers
The ‘Bolts have won five of their last six, and Phillip Rivers is shining in crunch time. The 49ers have shown flashes of potential this season, but ultimately they just haven’t gotten the job done. Rivers is probably very excited to face a sluggish San Francisco passing defense, which he should carve up with ease.
Chargers 34 49ers 14
Browns at Bengals
What an awkward game. It doesn’t seem right that one of these teams will be victorious, as wins have been very hard to come by for both clubs this season. The Bengals, despite being competitive in most of their games, always find a way to bungle their chances, so it’s logical to think they’ll squander this chance, too.
Browns 27 Bengals 24
Redskins at Cowboys
Four of the last five contests have ended in losses for the Redskins, while the Cowboys have been surprisingly competent under interim head coach Jason Garrett. With essentially nothing on the line except pride, this should be an interesting contest. The Cowboys definitely have more momentum than the ‘Skins right now.
Cowboys 23 Redskins 14
Texans at Titans
A heartbreaking overtime loss to the Ravens on Monday night dealt a major blow to the Texans, who are now all but out of the playoff race. For the Titans, the question remains: will Randy Moss ever get the ball? If he does this week, it could be problematic for the Texans, who have one of the weakest passing defenses in the league.
Texans 28 Titans 14
Jaguars at Colts
Surprisingly, a lot is on the line in this usually unexciting matchup. An underachieving season for Peyton Manning has left the Colts in a dogfight with the Jags for the AFC South crown. Indy notched an important win over the Titans last week in which Manning looked like his old self. Despite his recent struggles, it’s very hard to bet against Manning when the game, let alone the season, is on the line.
Colts 34 Jaguars 21
Chiefs at Rams
This week is incredibly important for the playoff outlook and the general morale of both teams. If Matt Cassel plays, the Chiefs should win. If not, it’s a toss-up. Sam Bradford has played exceptionally well for a rookie quarterback, and this is the most important game of his young career.
Chiefs 20 Rams 13
Bills at Dolphins
A quick sizing up of this matchup would lead many to confidently think the Dolphins will win, but they have been erratic all season. After a huge win over the Jets, though, they should be a confident squad. The Bills should hope the Dolphins underestimate them because this will be a hard one for them to win without some help from the opposition.
Dolphins 17 Bills 0
Lions at Buccaneers
It feels good to see the Bucs have success. Josh Freeman, in just his second year in the NFL, has incredible potential and is improving every week. This could be a trap game for them, but the Bucs should be able to handle Detroit, especially at home.
Bucs 24 Lions 10
Cardinals at Panthers
Again, it’s hard to pick a winner here. Determining which team is less pathetic seems more appropriate. The Cardinals are coming off of a demolishing of the Broncos, but, then again, it’s the Broncos. Home-field advantage rests with the Panthers, so that’s an easy way to settle this one.
Panthers 10 Cardinals 7
Saints at Ravens
Finally, we have an exciting matchup. Indeed, this one includes two of the best teams in the league. The deciding factor could be defense. The Ravens’ defense seems a notch below the Saints in terms of stinginess and cohesion. And, make no mistake, if there is any room for exploitation, Drew Brees will find it.
Saints 17 Ravens 7
Eagles at Giants
How could this matchup be any better? Both teams are 9-4, tied for the division lead, and they are bitter rivals playing in what could effectively be the NFC East championship. The electrifying DeSean Jackson has diverted some attention from the Michael Vick Show, but Vick still looks very impressive. Eli Manning needs to play better than he did last week for the Giants to have any chance.
Eagles 35 Giants 24
Falcons at Seahawks
Matt Ryan is developing into one of the premier quarterbacks in this league, justifying his “Matty Ice” moniker. The Falcons are also lucky to be playing in a relatively low-pressure game this week; their success over the course of the season has given them some breathing room in the NFC South, and they should be able to handle the Seahawks.
Falcons 28 Seahawks 10
Jets at Steelers
This one has all the makings for a classic matchup. Classic uniforms, storied franchises, and winter’s wrath will combine for a contest reminiscent of the good old days, when Namath and Bradshaw still tossed around the pigskin. Realistically, though, the Steelers’ ravenous defense will capitalize on the inexperienced Mark Sanchez and feast on the Jets’ offense. That will be the difference in this game.
Steelers 23 Jets 6
Broncos at Raiders
Darren McFadden has been a savior for the black and gold this season, and everything points to him coming through again this week against the lowly Broncos. The more interesting thing to see will be whether Kyle Orton can produce fantasy points on the right side of zero.
Raiders 40, Broncos 14
Packers at Patriots
It will be a major disappointment if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t get a chance to play. The Packers have been decimated by injuries this season yet still have a real chance to make the playoffs. The NFL and its fans deserve to see a Rodgers-Brady matchup. If Rodgers plays, an upset could be in the works. If not, it doesn’t look good for the Pack.
Patriots 34 Packers 17
Bears at Vikings
After seeing the clip of the Metrodome’s demise, it will be exciting to see this game being played at TCF Bank Stadium, the new, outdoor stadium where the Minnesota Golden Gophers football team plays. An outdoor home game should be one of the high points of an otherwise disappointing season for the Vikings. Basically, this should be a slightly energized game with a predictable result: a Bears win.
Bears 20 Vikings 7