Last week: 13-3
Season Total: 143-65
Saturday Night
Cowboys at Buccaneers
This is the perfect game for Dallas, after a rough four-game stretch which saw them barely beat Washington and Miami, then lose to Arizona and the New York Giants. Tampa Bay looks about as bad as a team can look right now, having given up 41 points to the anaemic Jags last week. The Cowboys should be able to win this one by a comfortable margin, and everything will be happy and wonderful in Cowboyland, until everyone remembers that there are still two brutal games left on the schedule. Winner: Cowboys
Seahawks at Bears
The Bears couldn’t score against the Chiefs, and they couldn’t score against the Broncos. I don’t expect much of a different outcome against the Seahawks. Winner: Seahawks
Packers at Chiefs
Green Bay continues its inexorable march towards perfection. Winner: Packers
Bengals at Rams
Cincinnati lost a heartbreaker last week, which damaged, but did not extinguish, their playoff hopes. Now they have to win out, and hope for some help. They should have little difficulty with this pitiful Rams team. Winner: Bengals
Saints at Vikings
The Saints have had their troubles on the road this season, but playing indoors, and against Minnesota’s secondary, should take some of the pressure off. Winner: Saints
‘skins at Giants
New York knows that the NFC East title is within their grasp. That alone will keep them focused and will ensure no letdown this week against a Washington team which would love to spoil the Giants’ playoff party. Winner: Giants
Dolphins at Bills
This one’s trickier than it looks. The Bills are desperate to end their losing streak, plus Miami just fired their coach. I was leaning towards Buffalo, until I heard that Matt Moore should start for Miami. I’d be thinking a whole lot differently if J.P. Losman was starting. Winner: Dolphins
Panthers at Texans
Man, is this one resilient Houston Texans team. The injuries keep piling up, and all they do is keep winning. They’ve prevailed in the past few weeks against tougher teams than Carolina, so I have to believe that they will do the same this week. Winner: Texans
Titans at Colts
Tennessee still has a shot at the playoffs, while, in case you haven’t been paying attention, Indianapolis is terrible. Keep an eye on potential Pro Bowl kicker Rob Bironas. He’s quite good. Winner: Titans
Lions at Raiders
The Raiders seem to be running out of steam. I’d give them a decent chance with a few less injuries (paging Darren McFadden). One interesting note: when’s the last time you could say that Oakland was playing against the dirtiest team in the league? Winner: Lions
Patriots at Broncos
New England will try to put Denver away early by building up a big lead and forcing the Broncos to open up on offence. This could get ugly. Winner: Patriots
Jets at Eagles
The Jets are officially in do-or-die mode, and will bring everything they have into this one. The Eagles, believe it or not, are still in the playoff hunt. Well, at least until after this game. Winner: Jets
Browns at Cardinals
Arizona is surging, and still has an outside shot at the playoffs after upsetting the 49ers last week. Expect a low-scoring, defensive struggle. Winner: Cardinals
Ravens at Chargers
I’ve been hearing a lot of talk this week about how Philip Rivers is back to his old self after two consecutive strong outings, but those were against the Jags and the Bills. Baltimore’s defence should bring Rivers back to earth. Winner: Ravens
Monday Night
Steelers at 49ers
Patrick Willis is still out for the 49ers, and James Harrison is suspended, so that’s a wash. Normally, I’d give Pittsburgh the edge because of their offence, but I’m not sure if Ben Roethlisberger can even walk, much less run. The Steelers can’t beat the 49ers defence with a backup QB, or with a gimpy Roethlisberger. Winner: 49ers
Season Total: 143-65
Saturday Night
Cowboys at Buccaneers
This is the perfect game for Dallas, after a rough four-game stretch which saw them barely beat Washington and Miami, then lose to Arizona and the New York Giants. Tampa Bay looks about as bad as a team can look right now, having given up 41 points to the anaemic Jags last week. The Cowboys should be able to win this one by a comfortable margin, and everything will be happy and wonderful in Cowboyland, until everyone remembers that there are still two brutal games left on the schedule. Winner: Cowboys
Seahawks at Bears
The Bears couldn’t score against the Chiefs, and they couldn’t score against the Broncos. I don’t expect much of a different outcome against the Seahawks. Winner: Seahawks
Packers at Chiefs
Green Bay continues its inexorable march towards perfection. Winner: Packers
Bengals at Rams
Cincinnati lost a heartbreaker last week, which damaged, but did not extinguish, their playoff hopes. Now they have to win out, and hope for some help. They should have little difficulty with this pitiful Rams team. Winner: Bengals
Saints at Vikings
The Saints have had their troubles on the road this season, but playing indoors, and against Minnesota’s secondary, should take some of the pressure off. Winner: Saints
‘skins at Giants
New York knows that the NFC East title is within their grasp. That alone will keep them focused and will ensure no letdown this week against a Washington team which would love to spoil the Giants’ playoff party. Winner: Giants
Dolphins at Bills
This one’s trickier than it looks. The Bills are desperate to end their losing streak, plus Miami just fired their coach. I was leaning towards Buffalo, until I heard that Matt Moore should start for Miami. I’d be thinking a whole lot differently if J.P. Losman was starting. Winner: Dolphins
Panthers at Texans
Man, is this one resilient Houston Texans team. The injuries keep piling up, and all they do is keep winning. They’ve prevailed in the past few weeks against tougher teams than Carolina, so I have to believe that they will do the same this week. Winner: Texans
Titans at Colts
Tennessee still has a shot at the playoffs, while, in case you haven’t been paying attention, Indianapolis is terrible. Keep an eye on potential Pro Bowl kicker Rob Bironas. He’s quite good. Winner: Titans
Lions at Raiders
The Raiders seem to be running out of steam. I’d give them a decent chance with a few less injuries (paging Darren McFadden). One interesting note: when’s the last time you could say that Oakland was playing against the dirtiest team in the league? Winner: Lions
Patriots at Broncos
New England will try to put Denver away early by building up a big lead and forcing the Broncos to open up on offence. This could get ugly. Winner: Patriots
Jets at Eagles
The Jets are officially in do-or-die mode, and will bring everything they have into this one. The Eagles, believe it or not, are still in the playoff hunt. Well, at least until after this game. Winner: Jets
Browns at Cardinals
Arizona is surging, and still has an outside shot at the playoffs after upsetting the 49ers last week. Expect a low-scoring, defensive struggle. Winner: Cardinals
Ravens at Chargers
I’ve been hearing a lot of talk this week about how Philip Rivers is back to his old self after two consecutive strong outings, but those were against the Jags and the Bills. Baltimore’s defence should bring Rivers back to earth. Winner: Ravens
Monday Night
Steelers at 49ers
Patrick Willis is still out for the 49ers, and James Harrison is suspended, so that’s a wash. Normally, I’d give Pittsburgh the edge because of their offence, but I’m not sure if Ben Roethlisberger can even walk, much less run. The Steelers can’t beat the 49ers defence with a backup QB, or with a gimpy Roethlisberger. Winner: 49ers
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