We’ve already begun 0-1 when I picked Chicago to beat Washington on Thursday night. I don’t know what I was thinking. So I’m now 108-75 for a .590 winning percentage. Let’s go and I hope to do better today. Lots of good games.
St. Louis at Cincinnati – Fox, 1 p.m.
The Rams should have a better record, but injuries plagued them early on and going 0-7 didn’t help matters. They’ve won three out of their last five, but as Bill Parcells says, you are what you are. You can say they’re the best 3-9 team in football, but that doesn’t cut it with fans who had hoped this team would be a Super Bowl contender. Instead, they’re looking at the upper echelon in the NFL Draft in the Spring. And don’t let me get started on the Bungles who were supposed to be better as well. The last two weeks, the Bengals have been lackluster, especially against Tennessee in Week 12. Despite the fact that Brock Berlin is starting for the Rams at QB, I’ll still still take St. Louis to win , 23-17.
Tampa Bay at Houston – Fox, 1 p.m.
Don’t look now, but the Buccaneers are looking at winning the NFC South. While their defense is not on a par with the Super Bowl winning team some years back, you have to look at this team as a possible threat to go deep into the playoffs. Now that coach Jon Grudin knows that Luke McCown is an ample backup for Jeff Garcia, he can rest assured that QB play will not be an issue. Houston is greatly improved, but I don’t think they’ll win today. I’m going to take the Bucs to win at Reliant, 27-14.
Carolina at Jacksonville – Fox, 1 p.m.
I’m taking the two headed running attack of the Jags to win this one. Plus, Jacksonville needs the win today. The Panthers are an enigma to me. Jags win, 31-14.
New York Giants at Philadelphia – Fox, 1 p.m.
The Giants certainly looked like they were about go swooning last week, down late to the Bears at Soldier Field when all of a sudden, Eli Manning looked like his brother, leading a late comeback. And the Iggles are coming off two straight losses. However, it’s a division game, it’s December and you just never know what will happen when these two play in the cold. In the last game, the Giants sacked Donovan McNabb 30 times (or so it seemed). I do expect Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora in the backfield chasing AJ Feeley today, but I don’t think the sack total will be as many as last time. Brian Westbrook is a proud man and doesn’t want to get swept by the Giants. Against my better judgment, I’m taking Philly today by a figgy, 24-21.
Dallas at Detroit – Fox, 1 p.m.
There’s the underlying theme of QB Jon Kitna ripping the Dallas Cowboys’ Terrence Newman after a game last season and Newman saying this week he has many set aside for possible fines. Plus, you also have the prediction from Kitna saying the Lions could be a ten win team. Well, if the Lions are going to be a ten win team, they’re going to have to win out starting today and I don’t see that happening. First, the Cowboys are hitting on all cylinders. Second, Detroit has lost four straight games. The Lions have not played well in this stretch. Dallas in its last four games has been running the ball, throwing the ball and its defense has been intimidating receivers coming across the middle. While the refs will be watching Newman, the ones to watch here are QB Tony Romo and WR Terrell Owens. They’ll probably hook up for two TD’s and over 100 yards. Take the Cowboys today, 34-21.
Oakland at Green Bay – CBS, 1 p.m.
I heard someone earlier this week say that the Raiders would defeat the Packers at Lambeau and this was a nationally-known writer (not Peter King). I can’t remember who it was, but I want this man’s credentials checked. Yes, the Raiders have been playing better of late and JaMarcus Russell finally played last week. I’ll take the Packers despite them losing two Thursdays ago to the Cowboys. I think they get the ship righted this week. No, I’m not going to write how great Brett Favre is, I’ll leave that to Peter King. Packers, 35-24.
Miami at Buffalo – CBS, 1 p.m.
If Miami couldn’t beat the Jets this week, they certainly aren’t going to beat Buffalo. Take the Bills, 27-19.
San Diego at Tennessee – CBS, 1 p.m.
Tough one to predict but Albert Haynesworth who can defend the run is back since last week. A battle of two 7-5 teams. This will be interesting to watch. And it’s a tale of two 7-5 teams. Tennessee is battling the Browns and Jags for the Wild Card. San Diego is on top of the AFC West and can clinch the crown today combined with a Broncos loss. The Chargers still are getting used to a new offense and LaDanian Tomlinson still doesn’t see the ball enough for my taste. I will take the Chargers to win this one, but it’ll be close, 31-27.
Arizona at Seattle – Fox, 4:05 p.m.
I like Seattle, 31-24.
Minnesota at San Francisco – Fox, 4:05 p.m.
Take the Vikings’ two headed running attack, 26-10.
Cleveland at New York Jets – CBS, 4:15 p.m.
One of three late games for CBS today. The Browns have to rebound from last week’s loss to the Cardinals. It was a game the Browns certainly could have won. However, they were behind most of the game. The Jets are still in transition with Kellen Clemens still adjusting to QB. Derek Anderson is one of the better QB’s in the game this season. He has jelled with TE Kellen Winslow and WR’s Braylon Edwards and Joe Jerevicious. Plus, the running of Jamal Lewis has taken pressure off Anderson as well. The only bright spot for the Jets in this game? They’ll be at home. That won’t be enough. Take my Browns to slap the Jets around, 31-21.
Kansas City at Denver – CBS, 4:15 p.m.
The Broncos didn’t help themselves in the AFC West race by losing to Oakland last week. In fact, the first two division wins by the Raiders since 2002 came at the expense of these two teams. The Chiefs are 0-3 in their last three games. The Broncos are 1-2. You can see these two teams are heading in the wrong direction. One has to win today. I’ll take Denver only because they’re at home, 15-3.
Pittsburgh at New England – CBS, 4:15 p.m.
Ok, the game of the day. Again, this should have been flexed to primetime, but CBS wisely protected this game from being moved so NBC is stuck with Indianapolis and Baltimore which we’ll get to in a moment. Everyone says the Eagles and the Ravens found the blueprint to beat the Pats, run the ball and pressure Tom Brady. But while Philly and Baltimore came close, the Pats still found ways to win. And this is why coach Bill Belichick has told his players that they have to play 60 minutes and not take the foot off the gas like they did in the AFC Championship game against Indy in January. He knows the Pats can’t beat every opponent, 58-3. However, the Steelers come in with the best running attack the Patriots will see. Plus Ben Roesthlisberger has Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward to throw to. And this zone blitzing defense has given Tom Brady fits in the past. If anyone beats the Patriots this season, it’ll be the Steelers, but they won’t. Take the Pats to win in another close one, 27-21.
Indy at Baltimore – NBC, 8:15 p.m.
The Ravens are still smarting from Monday night’s loss to the Patriots. They’re blaming everyone except themselves for the loss. The timeout that was called while Tom Brady was stopped on 4th and 1, called by your defensive coordinator, not the refs on their own. The holding call in the endzone was correct. Jabar Gaffney did have the ball in the endzone on the winning score. Move on. But the Ravens are still on a hangover. Indy will win this one, 38-10.
New Orleans at Atlanta – ESPN, 8:30 p.m. Monday
I’ll go with the Saints, 13-3.
Enjoy the games.
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