Buffalo 16, Kansas City 10 - I had assumed that the Chiefs were easily going to win the AFC West. But seeing them fall from grace this dramatically makes me think that they will not. Whatever the problems are, they seem to be sticking doggedly to this team, as the Chiefs have won just one game following a 5-0 start to the season. They failed to win a game in November, and now are only a game ahead of both the Chargers and the Raiders. Think about this: the Chiefs were fully four games ahead of the Chargers after the first month or so, and they might wind up losing the division lead to them - and this is not baseball! Buffalo, in the meantime, finally ended their slide and got right back into the playoff picture, right at the most opportune time, and did so with an impressive road win in a tough place to play. A solid and encouraging win for the Bills, and another dispiriting loss for the Chiefs and their fans, as the slide, which has seen them drop from being seen as serious contenders for home field advantage, to just another division leader, to now, in serious jeopardy of outright losing that huge division lead that they once had! My pick: Inaccurate
Carolina 35, N.Y. Jets 27 - The Panthers did not have an easy time of it in this game, but they nonetheless stayed pretty hot, and managed to avoid an upset loss to a lesser team. In so doing, Carolina finally managed to tie the New Orleans Saints, who finally lost after winning eight straight. So, the Panthers have to be feeling pretty good about themselves right now. The offense showed some serious life, and ability to score points, while the defense did their job well enough to secure the win. As for Gang Green, whatever slim chances that this team had to make a run for the playoffs likely was lost with this outcome, but they have played far tougher than most ever thought that they could. Time to start thinking about rebuilding for next season. My pick: Accurate
Philadelphia 31, Chicago 3 - The Eagles did exactly what everyone expected them to in whipping Chicago for a league high ninth straight win, as they now stand alone for the longest active win streak in the league. They also enjoy the best overall record in the league, at 10-1. Let's face it: the Bears were never in this one, and Philly rolled over them. But Chicago is a weak team, and not really a major test for the high-flying Eagles. That test will come as early as next week, when the Eagles visit Seattle, and take on the still tough Seahawks, in a game that may go a long way towards establishing this team as serious contenders, or just pretenders. Let's see what happens. At the very least, it should be interesting! My pick: Accurate
Cincinnati 30, Cleveland 16 - Time is seriously running out for the Browns to produce a win this season. There are some games that they could conceivably win, such as possibly the Chargers next week, or more likely the weakened Packers, or perhaps the Ravens, or especially the Bears, even in Chicago. However, Cleveland became the first team since the then expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 1976 and 1977 seasons to start off two consecutive seasons with 0-11 starts. That means that the Browns are seriously flirting with having descended to historical new lows, even for them. Cincy took care of business and produced a convincing win that keeps their slim playoff hopes alive, but the news increasingly out of the NFL in Ohio is just how inept these Browns are! It really is a mystery whether or not they can avoid a winless season. My pick: Accurate
New England 35, Miami 17 - The Patriots continue to be the model franchise in professional North American sports, as they earned yet another victory against a crumbling divisional opponent. What made this win so significant? It secures a 17th straight winning season for New England, and keeps them very comfortably ahead of the second place Bills, by three games. It also keeps them tied with Pittsburgh in the race for home field advantage. Yes, Belichick and Brady just keep rolling, just keep setting new, impressive standards, as they keep on securing an ever more prominent spot in the history books. And frankly, they have a very real shot at adding to their collection of championship trophies this season, with the way that they are playing, and the level of talent and experience that this team is loaded with! I will not be betting against them! My pick: Accurate
Atlanta 34, Tampa Bay 20 - The Falcons appear to be back! They were able to produce another solid win yesterday, taking an early lead and then withstanding a strong Tampa Bay comeback effort, before wrapping this game up with a decisive touchdown in the end to ice it. This marks Atlanta's third straight win, and even though they seemed out of the division race not long ago, they suddenly are right back in the division race, trailing both the Panthers and the Saints by one game, and facing those two teams a combined three times in the final month of regular season play. As strange as it sounds, the Falcons essentially control their own destiny right now, which is precisely where they would want to be, and which seemed almost unimaginable just a few short weeks ago! My pick: Accurate
Tennessee 20 Indianapolis 16 - This is a huge game for the Titans, who needed it badly. They managed to win on a day when they were not playing especially inspired football, and this win, coupled with the loss by Jax, means that the Titans are nonetheless back in a first place tie with the Jaguars. The Colts played tough, and indeed, looked capable of winning this one for a long time. But in the end, it was the Titans who did just enough to earn a huge divisional win on the road. Whatever chances the Colts had - however slim - to sneak into the playoffs (surely with some help) must have ended once and for all with this latest loss, but it was a solid win for Tennessee, a team that continues to establish themselves as legitimate contenders for the playoffs. My pick: Just barely accurate
Seattle 24, San Francisco 13 - The Seahawks desperately needed a win in this one, and they got it. It was not especially pretty or explosive. But it was precisely what they needed, and when they needed it, and so they got the job done, much like the Seahawks of a few years ago might have done. San Francisco was able to produce an impressive win against the Giants, but Seattle is a team of a much stronger caliber, and proved a bit too much for San Fran. With the win, the Seahawks are able to move ahead of Detroit for that final wildcard spot, although they are still on the outside. However, they are just a game behind the Rams, and will face them in a huge clash in what is likely to be a "winner take all" meeting for the NFC West later this season. Before that, however, the 'Hawks get to host the Eagles in a huge clash next weekend! Now, that will be a big game, with a lot at stake for both teams - legitimacy for Philly, and playoff and divisional hopes for Seattle. My pick: Accurate
Oakland 21, Denver 14 - The Raiders suddenly look like a serious contender for the division title again! Who would have believed that after Oakland lost four straight games earlier this season, and looked completely irrelevant? This was not an easy, or even a pretty, win for the Silver and Black. But hey, a win's a win, and it gets them to keep in a second place tie with the L.A. Chargers, with both of them pulling to within a game of the once mighty, and seemingly untouchable, Chiefs, as that team continued to fall. A good win for the Raiders, and another bad loss for the Broncos, who look worse than I remember them looking in a very long time, if not ever. My pick: Accurate
Arizona 27, Jacksonville 24 - The Jaguars lost a tough game at Arizona, against a team who, quite frankly, they should have beaten. Now, with the Titans also winning, the Jaguars are no longer in sole possession of first place in the AFC South, but tied for it. The Cardinals played a bit like what they were capable of, and what they showed a few years ago, when they were winning far more frequently than they were losing. Still, they nearly lost a grip on this game, and it took a miracle field goal attempt that was successfully converted in the final seconds to secure this win for them. But it keeps the Cardinals flickering playoff hopes alive, at least for now. And at this point, Arizona will take it. My pick: Inaccurate
L.A. Rams 26, New Orleans 20 - The Rams took on another elite NFC team, but this time, it was in Los Angeles. Also, this time, the Rams won. By so doing, they manage to retain their lead in the NFC West, and stay in the company of elites themselves. The Saints had an impressive eight-game winning streak going into this one, but the Rams produced just enough to end that one and come out on top. For New Orleans, they still have reason to feel good, with a surprisingly tough defense, and very decent running game, and with Drew Brees, they can surely still be explosive on offense when needed. But they now have to share the division lead with the Panthers, and there are still plenty of divisional games left for both the Rams and the Saints. Neither team has secured their division just yet. My pick: Accurate
Sunday Night Football - Pittsburgh 31, Green Bay 28- Pittsburgh had to really hand on in this one, because the Packers proved to be a very tough challenge. They really pushed the Steelers to the limit, tying it up with a strong looking drive late in the fourth to tie it, and really keeping up with the Steelers all night long. It took an almost miracle field goal drive at the end for Pittsburgh to secure this one, but a win is a win, and it keeps them well ahead in the AFC North, and still tied with the Patriots in the race for home field advantage. As for Green Bay, you have to wonder why they did not show this kind of toughness for the past month or so, following the injury to star quarterback Rodgers. My pick: Accurate
Monday Night Football - Baltimore 23, Houston 16- It was not exactly pretty, but the Ravens nonetheless got the job done. Besides, the Ravens calling card is being physical and low-scoring, relying on their defense and a conservative offense, generally speaking. So, this was right up their alley. You could feel the Texans trying to dig as deep as possible in this one, trying to make up for past bad losseses and mistakes. But they just did not have it in them to beat a focused and determined Ravens team on a cold Maryland night. Now, the Ravens are very much alive for a playoff spot, while Houston is pretty much done for the year. Again, a solid win for Baltimore, and a dispiriting loss for the Texans, who now need to start thinking about next season. My pick: Accurate
Monday Night Football - Baltimore 23, Houston 16- It was not exactly pretty, but the Ravens nonetheless got the job done. Besides, the Ravens calling card is being physical and low-scoring, relying on their defense and a conservative offense, generally speaking. So, this was right up their alley. You could feel the Texans trying to dig as deep as possible in this one, trying to make up for past bad losseses and mistakes. But they just did not have it in them to beat a focused and determined Ravens team on a cold Maryland night. Now, the Ravens are very much alive for a playoff spot, while Houston is pretty much done for the year. Again, a solid win for Baltimore, and a dispiriting loss for the Texans, who now need to start thinking about next season. My pick: Accurate
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