Tonight's game:
Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears - Dallas needs this win, while Chicago is really floundering, with their playoff hopes effectively done. That could potentially make them more dangerous. But I suspect that the Cowboys will find a way to get things done up at Soldier Field, and bring home the much-needed win. My pick: Dallas
NY Giants at Tennessee Titans - Two of the worst teams in the league square off. The Giants hope to end a seven-game losing streak, while the Titans just want their third win of the season, as they have home field advantage. Something tells me the G-Men will end their losing streak, finally. But this year, you just never know. No result here will likely be surprising, admittedly. My pick: NY Giants
NY Jets at Minnesota - Ah, the Jets. This season's misery just never ends. If they were a halfway decent team, this would likely be a good chance at a win. But the Jets are no a decent team, and that translates to yet another loss. My pick: Minnesota
Carolina at New Orleans - Carolina needs this game to even have a remote chance. To that end, they will likely try some new and surprising things, take chances, and try and put their A-game on. Yet, in the end, they will get their asses kicked. My pick: New Orleans
Baltimore at Miami - Both teams have their precious playoffs hopes riding on this game. We have reached that point in the season where neither team can afford a loss, but someone will have to lose. The Ravens just lost Haloti Ngata for the season, and they are coming off a tough, demoralizing loss, while the Dolphins escaped Monday night with a victory, and a head of steam, as well as home field advantage. My pick: Miami
Houston at Jacksonville - The Jaguars sure looked like a decent team last weekend, although that might have had as much to do with their weak opponents as with anything else. Houston has played well at times this season, and looked good particularly against weaker opponents. They should win this game, too. My pick: Houston
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati - Talk about a big game! The Steelers seem to play up or down to the level of their competition. The Bengals finally have a bit of a cushion in their AFC North divisional lead, but they absolutely need to win this to keep it. If they can beat Pittsburgh, and if Baltimore loses to Miami, and if the Browns fail to beat Indianapolis (a lot of ifs, I know), the Bengals can, in effect, win the division title this weekend, for all intents and purposes. So, why do I get this feeling that they won't? My pick: Pittsburgh
Indianapolis at Cleveland- The Browns finally resolved their quarterback controversy, at least into this next game. But it is a brutal game, against the high-powered Colts offense. Indy has pretty much wrapped up the division, and they tend to be more vulnerable on the road, so the Browns have a chance. But the way that Cleveland has been playing lately? They look too similar to the same old Browns. My pick: Indy
Tampa Bay at Detroit - What once used to be a familiar rivalry. The Lions cannot afford to lose this one, obviously. They have to get their offense going, which they were able to do on Thanksgiving against Chicago. They should be able to get it done again this weekend against a vulnerable Tampa Bay team. My pick: Detroit
St. Louis at Washington - A week of controversy follows the Rams. Misery has followed Washington all season. Washington plays best when they have home field advantage, but the Rams have played well at times the last few weeks, and hope to keep whatever flickering chances that they have for sneaking into the playoffs alive. My pick: St. Louis
Buffalo at Denver - If the Bills want to be taken seriously, it is now time for them to step up. A win at Denver would firmly establish this team as a serious playoff contender. A loss would be a critical blow to their playoff chances. For the Broncos, they need the win to stay ahead of San Diego in the AFC West race, as well as to keep alive in their hopes of earning home field advantage in these playoffs. My pick: Denver
Seattle at Philadelphia- probably the most intriguing game this weekend! These are two of the hottest teams in the league right now! Philly's high flying offense, and the Seahawks, who have suddenly found themselves these last few weeks, and finally resemble the championship team of last year. In a battle of wills, I see the Seahawks imposing their will better than the Eagles can. My pick: Seattle
Kansas City at Arizona - Huge game between teams that suddenly find themselves struggling this season. For the Chiefs, two demoralizing losses in a row may already have derailed their season. For the Cardinals, two tough losses in a row need to be erased from their collective memory, as they return home and return to the things that were working so well for them earlier in the season. My pick: Arizona
San Francisco at Oakland - The 49ers will try and rebound from a tough loss to get back into focus and in the run for the playoffs. They need this game, which should be as easy for them as it could come. Oakland is a terrible team, probably the worst in the league, and the 49ers just have to go across the bay for a semi- de facto home field advantage, most likely (or did I underestimate the fan loyalty at Oakland?). Either way, the better team should win. My pick: San Francisco
New England at San Diego - Crucial game for both teams! Neither team can afford to lose. For the Patriots, losing two in a row when they are trying for home field advantage would be completely unacceptable. For the Chargers, they have the hot hand and home field advantage, and need to keep pace with Denver to have any chance at the division title, and possibly even hopes for the playoffs, since this season's AFC contenders are so tough. Logic would tell me San Diego, but I cannot underestimate the determination and ingenuity of Belichick and Brady to find a way to get this done. My pick: New England
Atlanta at Green Bay - Both teams are trying to stay atop their divisions. The Falcons have played reasonably well in getting back into this thing after a dismal start. But Lambeau Field is a damn tough place to play at, especially in cold weather. The Falcons are just not tough enough, and I see a blowout loss. My pick: Green Bay
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