N.Y. Jets at Washington – Two very bad teams match up in this one. Much like with the Jets clash with the Giants last weekend, this is a game that will likely be decided in favor of the team that manages to screw up less than the other team. My guess is that the Jet, fresh off a game in which the Giants made them look like a legitimate contender, find a way to win in Washington. My prediction: N. Y. Jets
New Orleans at Tampa Bay – So, after the Saints inexplicably got shellacked last weekend at home against the Falcons, can they now recover and find their way back to their more normal wining this weekend, when they visit Tampa Bay? The Bucs have been a thorn on their side these past two seasons, and they do have home field advantage here. But my guess is that the Saints get it together enough this week to pull off the much needed victory to stay comfortably atop the NFC South. My pick: New Orleans
Buffalo at Miami – The Bills started off the season very hot, but seem to have slowed just a smidge in recent weeks. Meanwhile, the Dolphins looked like literally the worst team in the league earlier this season, only to earn two consecutive wins. They are a bit hot, but one thing about that, is that they will not sneap up on anyone now. Especially not a division rival familiar with them, and one with a tough defense that should keep Miami’s still limited offense in check. Look for the Bills to rebound from their loss last week and inch their way closer to a playoff spot. My pick: Buffalo
Dallas at Detroit – The Cowboys are trying to win the NFC East, and they need to keep up with the Eagles, especially if Philly manages to beat New England this weekend. Detroit, meanwhile, has sunk to the bottom of the NFC North, and their playoff hopes are flickering. They do have home field advantage in this one, but it is questionable how strong that will be. Look for the ‘Boys to will their way to a win here. My pick: Dallas
Jacksonville at Indianapolis – A division showdown, and the Jaguars actually may be able to make a big move up the division ladder should they win. The Colts are trying to recover from that stunning home loss to the lowly Dolphins. Now, they get another Florida team visiting them, but the Jaguars are better. But they are also inconsistent, something that these two teams have in common. But I am going to go out on a limb here, and predict that the road team will pull off a victory. My pick: Jax
Houston at Baltimore – Wow! This game has huge playoff implications! These two teams are currently division leaders, and both are still vying for one of the top two spots in the AFC for a playoff bye. The Texans have talent, and they have a good chance to take the AFC South. But the Ravens right now are absolutely on fire, perhaps even the hottest team in the league. The Ravens have home field advantage, as well, and a ton of momentum. Hard to go against all of that in this big showdown between two likely playoff teams. My pick: Baltimore
Atlanta at Carolina – The Falcons managed one win last weekend, but let us not forget how disastrously this season has gone for them aside from that. They still only have two wins ot their name, while the Panthers, while inconsistent, remain relevant in the NFC playoff picture, even if they are currently on the outside. With home field advantage, and every motivation to win, look for the home team to down the flight of the Falcons. My pick: Panthers
Denver at Minnesota – The Vikings probably need a week off already. They will have a bye week soon, but before that, this home game against the up but mostly down Broncos. Minnesota is especially tough at home. They have the defense, and a strong running game, that will present all sorts of problems for Denver. Hard to go against the home team for this one. My pick: Minnesota
Cincinnati at Oakland – The Raiders might just be catching fire. They were up and down all season, but with a relatively weak remainder of their schedule, they have a golden opportunity to position themselves not only as serious playoff contenders, but even division title contenders, to boot. They may be peaking at the right time. That is why they simply cannot afford a letdown this weekend, as the worst team in the league right now, the 0-9 Bengals, come to town. No reason to expect an upset in this one, frankly. My pick: Oakland
New England at Philadelphia – The Patriots are back from a restful bye week, and they now begin the work of recoverin g from that humbling loss in Baltimore. They not travel to nearby Philadelphia, in a rematch of the Super Bowl from a couple of season ago, to take on the team that beat them and denied them back-to-back titles. Philly is starting to really come on as of late, and this is going to be a very tough game. I think it will be another close one, and it should come down to the fourth quarter. But in the end, I have to give the home team an ever so slight advantage. My pick: Philadelphia
Arizona at San Francisco – The 49ers were just handed their first loss of the season last weekend, but they get the Cardinals at home. Having already beaten the Cards, the 49ers should be able to manage a win here. They obviously do not want to drop a second straight divisional game, especially at home. Arizona is becoming a dangerous team, with a hot young quarterback threat, but they are not quite on the level yet where they can seriously threaten a team like the Niners in SF. Home team has too many advantages to ignore. My pick: San Francisco
Sunday Night Football – Chicago at L.A. Rams – A rematch of a game between these two teams from last week. That one was in frigid Chicago, and the Rams looked like a warm weather team being bullied in the cold by a far more physical cold weather team. In the relative warmth of Los Angeles, however, this could be a different ball game. Still, the Rams have seemed to have problems all season long, especially with their formerly potent offense. Of course, they face a team in the Bears that itself has seemingly itself done a disappearing act, although Chicago looked very good in a win last week against Detroit. Can they follow that up with a solid performance on the road in L.A. this weekend? Maybe. But I still have to go with the home team in this one. My pick: L.A. Rams
Monday Night Football - Kansas City at L.A. Chargers – The Chiefs are not looking anywhere near the level that many of us expected them to be at by this point. Then again, neither are the Chargers. These two teams have been quite inconsistent as of late, and so the question, really, is which of these teams will show up. Will the Chargers look like the team that started off 2-5, or will they look like the team that dominated the Packers in their last home game? Will the Chiefs get back to the form that they were in last season, and which raced off to a 4-0 start this season, or will they once again fall to a seemingly lesser team, as they have done too often in the last month and a half or so? It is hard to tell. But my guess is that the Chiefs manage to put it together enough to avoid a second straight loss. My pick: Kansas City
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