Tennessee 24, Cincinnati 20- This one wound up being a thrilling game! The Bengals and Titans went back and forth, exchanging leads and good plays, in a game that basically meant everything to both teams. For the Titans, it was a necessary game, because they had to keep up with red hot Jacksonville. For the Bengals, they had to win to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive. And Cincy seemed to have managed to pull off the road upset, until the Titans rallied from behind in the final seconds to pull off a tremendous victory that should make them feel like destiny is on their side. They got the job done when their backs were against the wall, and found a way to win against all odds. What a game for Mariota, and a tough loss for Cincy, who are basically eliminated by this point. My pick: Accurate
Detroit 38, Cleveland 24 - The battle between the two most beleaguered franchises in the league over the past several decades went the way most would have expected. The Lions have struggled for many decades, and their accomplishments have been limited in recent decades. However, they have now strung together a small winning streak, and gotten back to a winning record, and once again, look relevant in the playoff picture, although they need to keep winning to keep their hopes alive to win the NFC North. The Lions offense once again looked explosive and full of life, while the winless Browns once again looked overwhelmed. Cleveland could use a break, but Detroit looks like a playoff bound team at the moment. My pick: Accurate
Green Bay 23, Chicago 16 - Not sure why the Packers continue to dominate the Bears, but they do. Even when the Packers had looked horrendous themselves going into this one, they find the cure to their ails at Soldier Field. The Bears played tough, but seemed unusually flat, although Green Bay obviously had something to do with that. Even when Packers quarterback Brett Hundley had never gotten a win before, he managed to do so against the Bears. This one essentially ended what slim hopes Chicago might have had for a comeback late in the season, while it keeps Green Bay relevant in the playoff hunt. My pick: Inaccurate
Jacksonville 20, L.A. Chargers 17 - It took a whole team effort, but the Jaguars continue their winning streak and keep up with the Titans in the process, as they get past the tough Chargers. Indeed, L.A. looked good, and were a serious threat in this one, but they keep finding ways to lose close games, much like they have surprisingly often in recent seasons. But Jax seems to be getting used to winning, and finding new ways to do so whenever necessary. This was an important game for them, and they got the job done against an opponent who is better than their record suggests. My pick: Accurate
Minnesota 38, Washington 30 - The Vikings won a very important game, and it keeps their momentum going, and their lead over the rest of the NFC North solid. For Washington, their home fans suffered a bad loss in which the defense looked vulnerable, and this loss probably removes even the remotest chance of catching the Eagles, or perhaps even of making the playoffs, from the realm of possibility. But the Vikings are heading to the playoffs, barring any unlikely scenarios of a total collapse, because they are playing some lights out football at the moment. My pick: Accurate
New Orleans 47, Buffalo 10 - Okay, I expected the Saints to win this one. I did not expect them to humiliate the Bills, and to beat up on them in front of their own home fans. But that is exactly what happened, and it came in a surprising manner. It was New Orleans suddenly tough and physical running game that seemed to expose weaknesses in Buffalo's suddenly vulnerable defense. An ugly, ugly game for fans up in Buffalo, but a beautiful and hugely gratifying win for fans of the Saints, as that team continues to establish themselves as serious contenders, and they continue to lead the NFC South, as their winning streak reached seven straight now. My pick: Accurate
Tampa Bay 15, N.Y. Jets 10 - Each New York team (the Jets, the Bills, and the Giants,) suffered embarrassing losses yesterday. The Jets looked very bad in this one, particularly on offense. Their defense played well, flustering and frustrating Tampa's offense. After all, the Bucs only scored 15 points total. However, the Jets themselves looked even worse on offense, unable to produce anything significant until the final moments, when they scored a touchdown, but far too late to really give them a realistic chance of pulling off a miracle comeback. An ugly game, but the Bucs, a team with a massive losing streak heading into this one, will take the win however they can get it. My pick: Inaccurate
Pittsburgh 20, Indianapolis 17 - The Colts surprised a lot of people and played some tough football in this one, pushing the Steelers to the brink of an upset loss. But in the end, the best teams play just good enough to win, even when they are not playing very well. And so it was that Pittsburgh somehow found a way to win this, despite being outplayed through most of the contest. Another win for the Steelers, and another loss for the Colts. Not the way most people would have expected it, but the end result seems predictable nevertheless. My pick: Accurate
L.A. Rams 33, Houston 7 - The Rams just continue to look hot, as they stay ahead of the Seahawks in the race for the NFC West. Los Angeles sports fans still smarting from the World Series loss to the Astros perhaps got a little extra satisfaction in watching the Rams batter the Texans, but this particular result was hardly surprising. These two franchises are heading in opposite directions, as the Rams keep on winning and establishing themselves as a serious force in the NFC playoff picture, while the Texans keep on losing and pushing themselves out of relevance and the playoff picture altogether. Another huge, blowout win for the Rams! My pick: Accurate
Atlanta 27 Dallas 7 - Atlanta suddenly showed up, just when their backs were pressed firmly against the wall. Without Ezekiel Eliot, and with rumors now swirling that Jerry Jones might actually be ousted as owner of the storied franchise, the Cowboys looked completely flat against the Falcons. Most surprisingly, the Falcons, known mostly for their offensive power, were able to dominate the Cowboys with their defense, getting tons of sacks and containing the 'Boys to a pedestrian touchdown in total output. Atlanta's offense, though, nevertheless managed to get a decent day in, as they dominated Dallas and earned a timely win to remain relevant in the playoff picture. This loss, in the meantime, coupled with the controversy surrounding this franchise, now ended the momentum that the Cowboys had managed to produce, and could threaten to derail the entire season, if Big D does not recover with a strong performance on the field soon. My pick: Inaccurate
San Francisco 31, N.Y. Giants 21 - As I mentioned a couple of times before this game, this was once perhaps the rivalry in the league, particularly in the later 1980's and very early 1990's. That was when both teams were at the height of their power, although they have met in some big, important, and memorable games since. But this was not one of them. These two teams came in with a combined record of 1-16 heading into it, and were possibly battling to avoid having the worst record in the NFC, if not the NFL, at season's end. San Francisco was winless going into this game, but they were able to impose their running game against a weak and outmatched Giants defense, while the Niners defense contained New York's trademark inept offense. The result was a convincing victory, and the game was not really as close as the score would indicate. It seemed that in the aftermath, more people fully realized just how wrong everything has gone for the Giants this season. Prior to the preseason, many expected the G-Men to at least be in the playoffs, and some went so far as to suggest division winners, and even a possible trip to the Super Bowl. Instead, they are 1-8, and literally looking like the worst team in the league, which they very well might be. There is clear dissension in the ranks, as players anonymously spoke out against Coach McAdoo, and he likely did not help his own cause by walking out of the press conference after suggesting that the players were adults and should be able to motivate themselves. It all reminds me of the Ray Handley era, only it seems the team is worse right now. In fact, I think that this is the worst that I have ever seen the Giants! My pick: Inaccurate
Sunday Night Football - New England 41, Denver 16 - The Patriots took care of Denver in exactly the manner that most people would have expected. The offense was explosive, the defense was stifling, and the Pats earned their way to a fifth straight win, while the Broncos stumbled their way to a fifth straight loss, as outright elimination from playoff contention looms nearer. This was an especially important victory for the Pats, since both the Jets and the Bills lost earlier in the day, thus allowing New England to put a more serious cushion between themselves and the rest of the division. Denver still seemed to have a decent defense remaining from the Super Bowl championship two years ago, but you would never know it from recent weeks, particularly the last two weeks, when they have allowed a total of 92 points combined. Denver seems destined for a last place finish in the AFC West, while the Patriots, once again, seem headed towards yet another division title, as they continue to compete with the Steelers and Chiefs for home field advantage. Great and solid win for the Pats, and another dismal and dispiriting loss for the once elite Broncos. My pick: Accurate
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