The Lions have shown a knack for falling behind to teams this year. If they get off to a slow start against the high-octane Green Bay offence, Detroit will really find out what it means to be behind. Forget all the bad stuff you’ve heard about Green Bay’s defence; if the Lions fall behind and have to throw it 40 to 50 times (or more), you can expect the Packers’ secondary to make Stafford pay with at least 2 or 3 interceptions. Aaron Rodgers had better keep his head up today. With the way QBs have been going down lately (Cutler, Schaub, Cassel), and with the dirty Lions’ propensity for hitting QBs late, Green Bay could be the next team to see its playoff hopes dashed. Winner: Packers
Dolphins at Cowboys
I picked the Cowboys to be a playoff team this year, and I still believe that they will be. They’ve been in a good winning groove lately. Somehow, I can’t shake the feeling that they should be doing better. I know that they’ve lost a couple of games that they should have won, and last week they barely beat a Washington team that they should have handled easily. The Dolphins seem to have finally turned a corner and found a way to close out games that they found ways to lose earlier in the season. Miami’s defence has been phenomenal over the past few games, and their offence has finally found a way to move the ball and score consistently. If the Dolphins can keep it close, avoid costly mistakes, and take advantage of the 1 or 2 interceptions that I just know that Tony Romo will gift them with, then I think we have the makings of an upset. Winner: Dolphins
49ers at Ravens
I have thought that Baltimore was the best team in the AFC since the beginning of the season. I still believe that they have the potential to get to the Super Bowl. They’ve just been so maddeningly inconsistent on offence. They are a stark contrast to a San Francisco team that has been a model of consistency. The 49ers field a stifling defence, and always seem to do enough on offence, albeit not spectacularly, to win. Playing at home, in a tight race in the AFC North, and with the possibility of a playoff bye still well within their grasp, this has all the makings of a game that the Ravens should win, especially since they are against a West-coast team playing in the Eastern Time zone for the fourth time this season. However, while the 49ers have epitomized consistency, the Ravens have consistently lost the games I thought they should have won. They were lucky against the Bengals last week. They’ll need more than luck against San Francisco. Winner: 49ers