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So yeah, it has been a long time since I last did one of these weekly NFL prediction blog entries. Just kind of got lazy, at least when it came to sports, for some reason.
But it is the second to last weekend of NFL action coming up, and the playoff picture is starting to come a little more into focus. Some things have changed dramatically since the last time. The Titans in particular seemed to be well on their way to cruising to a division title, but now have lost a whole bunch of games in a row, and have actually fallen to second place in the AFC South. The Dolphins and Jets have cooled quite a bit since then, as have the Giants, although the G-Men can still clinch a playoff position with a win this week. The Packers and Lions had both looked like they were heading towards disastrous seasons, and now, both are fighting for playoff spots. Interesting situations, and those are not the only stories filled with drama as this week approaches. There is a huge meeting between the Bills and the Bengals. Buffalo looked like they were the best team in the AFC for much of this season, but a loss this weekend might push them all the way back to the third seed in the AFC, at least if the Chiefs also win. A lot of drama.
Let's take a look at the games to be played for this second to last weekend of regular season action in the NFL this season:
Thursday Night Football: Dallas at Tennessee - The Titans are imploding, and quickly. Not long ago, they looked like they were among the elite teams in the AFC, if not the NFL. Now, they have lost five straight games, and no longer control their own destiny. They are in serious danger of missing the playoffs outright, and I believe that if they lose this one, they will be out of the playoffs this season. So that makes this a must win. The problem for them is that the Cowboys are pretty hot, and probably the better overall football team. Also, Dallas needs to win to keep their own division title hopes alive. With all of that, I see the Cowboys getting this one, and the Titans almost shocking late season collapse being complete with a home loss that, for all intents and purposes, ends their season. My pick: Dallas
Indianapolis at NY Giants - If the G-Men can win this one, they clinch a playoff spot. The Colts currently have a five-game losing streak, and have basically been knocked out of the playoff picture. Their offense has looked lethargic and ineffective since taking that 33-0 lead over the Vikings at halftime some weeks ago. They scored 3 points in the second half, and were on the wrong end of the biggest single-game collapse in NFL history. They, they followed that up by scoring only 3 points all game against the Chargers. The Giants have been struggling as of late as well, but they have a tough defense, and should be able to earn this victory and notch a playoff spot in the process. My pick: NY Giants
Miami at New England - A pretty big AFC East showdown between teams with very realistic playoff chances. Right now, the Miami Dolphins are clinging to that seventh and final AFC playoff spot. But they have now lost four straight games. And whereas a playoff berth looked automatic just weeks ago, they now are in serious danger of missing it, particularly if they lost this one to the New England Patriots, who are literally right behind the Fins, and looking to steal that final playoff spot. True, the Dolphins beat them earlier this season, but that was in Florida. This game will be up at Foxboro, and in January. Still, despite a forecast for rain, it will be surprisingly mild this weekend, which helps the Dolphins, who have actually won four straight over the Pats now. So this makes for an interesting showdown, and a difficult one to pick. However, my guess is that Bill Belichick will have some solid preparations for this one, and that the Patriots will find a way to get past the Fins here in this one, to make the final weekend of the regular season very, very interesting. My pick: New England
Arizona at Atlanta - The Cardinals started off 7-0 in 2021, and were one of the clear teams on the rise. By contrast, they never seemed to pick up enough momentum to really take off this season. They enter this game with a 4-11 record, and an active losing streak of five straight. Then again, Atlanta has hardly had a much better season to this point. Just a few weeks ago, they still had division title hopes. But four straight losses have dropped them to 5-10 on the year, and they, too, will miss the playoffs, much like the Cardinals. So this seems like an inconsequential game which, in fact, it is. But somebody will win, right? Look for the Falcons to snap the streak, although either team could feasibly play poorly enough to lose this one. My pick: Atlanta
Carolina at Tampa Bay - Now suddenly, and quite unexpectedly, this is an all important showdown that very well may decide the NFC South, and will surely have huge ramifications for the division race, one way or another. Carolina looks hot, and specifically, their running game looks amazing right now. The Bucs just won, but they do not look as impressive as anyone expected them to. Still, the Panthers have been awful on the road this season, having earned just one win in six road games. That, plus the significance of this game for both teams (it could decide the division) makes this an intriguing match-up. But I suspect that the Panthers will come up with the goods. My pick: Carolina
New Orleans at Philadelphia - Playoff ramifications are high in this one, with the Saints playing for their playoff lives, and the Eagles trying to finally clinch the NFC East and the top seed in the NFC. So yes, this is an important game for both teams. The Saints do have a chance to make the playoffs by winning the division, but they need help, and also need to run the table the rest of the way. Hard to see either of those things happening, and my suspicion is that their season effectively ends this weekend, with this game. Philly just is too loaded, and should be able to seal the deal and clinch the NFC top spot in this game. My pick: Philadelphia
Chicago at Detroit - The Bears were long ago eliminated from playoff consideration. But the Lions find themselves hanging on for their playoff lives, still with a chance to qualify, even if they need some help. But they absolutely will not make it if they fail to win this home game against a very weak Bears team that sports the worst record in the NFC currently. Look for the Lions to earn a huge, statement win, as they prepare for a tough battle in the regular season finale. My pick: Detroit
Denver at Kansas City - The Broncos have suffered through a disastrous season, and have been one of the most disappointing teams of the year. Some people thought that they would be legitimate Super Bowl contenders this season, admittedly including myself. Boy, was I ever wrong about that. Now, they head to Arrowhead, where no Broncos team has won in a long time. In fact, Denver has a pretty serious losing streak against KC, dating back to the 2015 Super Bowl season. With the Chiefs flying high and aiming for the number one overall seed in the AFC, and with them having displayed a clear dominance over Denver in particular in recent seasons, it is difficult to expect anything but a continuation of recent trends. My pick: Kansas City
Jacksonville at Houston - The Texans just did the Jaguars a huge favor by beating the Titans, which allowed the surging Jaguars to pull into first place in the race for the AFC South. Now, Houston hopes to hand Jax a similar crushing loss. It could happen. But the Jaguars are playing well, they are hot, and it feels like this is their time. Look for them to show why they were able to overcome such an unbelievable margin and catch up to the Titans to take the top spot in the race for the AFC South division title. My pick: Jax
Cleveland at Washington - The Browns saw their playoff hopes end with the loss last weekend. Meanwhile, Washington is desperately trying to cling to that final NFC playoff spot, which for now, still belongs to them. The Commanders really cannot expect a much better opportunity than this one, playing at home against a relatively weak opponent that has managed only two road wins all season. Not sure if this game alone will be enough for them to clinch that playoff spot, but they should be able to win this one nevertheless, and make it very tough for other playoff hopefuls in the NFC to beat them out, albeit no impossible. Washington needs this, and they simply cannot afford a letdown. Nor do I think they will have one, either. My pick: Washington
NY Jets at Seattle - Whenever these two teams meet, I for some reason remember the 41-3 pounding that Gang Green put on the 'Hawks back in 1997. But these are obviously very different teams in very different circumstances. Jets coach Robert Saleh basically almost guaranteed that the Jets would make the playoffs, when he said that he had a feeling that the Bills and Jets would meet again. But if they made the playoffs, they will need a lot of help, as they don't control their own destiny. Also, the Seahawks are a solid team, and should be very fired up entering this game, as they are fighting for their playoff lives and cannot afford a loss here. Neither team can. So that makes this a very big game. I predict a tough, physical, close game. In the end, however, I have to go with the hometown Hawks to win this one. My pick; Seattle
San Francisco at Las Vegas - These two franchises used to be regional rivals, playing on either side of the Bay. Now, they are far more distant. Yet, despite the greatest distance, it is hard to imagine that the 49ers are at any great disadvantage here. They are one of the hottest - perhaps the hottest - team in the NFL right now, having won eight straight games, and still with a fighting chance to move up to the second seed and even, if they get lucky, possibly the top seed in the NFC. Meanwhile, the Raiders are not officially out of the playoff picture, although they are hanging on by a very thin thread, one that appears to be tearing. Not difficult to make this prediction. My pick: San Francisco
LA Rams at LA Chargers - The two Los Angeles franchises square off. Last season, the Chargers just missed the playoffs, while the Rams went on to win the Super Bowl. Not sure that the Chargers will get anywhere near the Super Bowl, but they already punched their ticket to the postseason, which the defending champion Rams will be watching from home this time around. Should be an interesting game, and it will be interesting to see just how fired up the Chargers are to win. My guess is that they actually will be quite fired up, with the dual inspiration of possibly moving up a playoff seed (with a chance to play the winner of the AFC South, the weakest division in the AFC), as well as simply to beat their hometown rivals, who also happen to be the defending champions. My pick: LA Chargers
Minnesota at Green Bay - Big game! The Packers are suddenly hot, and what was one a lost season now seems to be a possible return to the postseason, if things go right. As for the Vikings, they have won the division, but need to win to stay ahead of the 49ers for the second seed, as well as to remain within striking distance of the Eagles for the top NFC seed. But Lambeau Field is a tough place to play, and the Vikings will have to bring their A game, something that was not really even necessary earlier in the season, when teams regularly beat down the Cheeseheads. My pick: Green Bay
Sunday Night Football: Pittsburgh at Baltimore - No, the Steelers will not win the AFC North, which marks the longest drought in some years for them without a division title (it's only been two years, but it feels like a long time since they even went that long without winning this division). The Ravens are fighting for the division title, to try and keep on the heels of the Bengals, who themselves have a tough game coming up. So the Ravens should find a way to win this one, frankly, with all that is riding on this. My pick: Baltimore
Monday Night Football: Buffalo at Cincinnati - This game reminds me of when these two teams had a real rivalry, back in the eighties. They met in both the regular season and the playoffs in both 19891 and 1988, with Cincy getting the best of each meeting. It's obviously been many years since then, but you cannot get a much bigger showdown than this one. It could go either way, as both teams have been among the hottest teams in the league as of late. The Bills have won six straight, while the Bengals have won seven. But this one has all sorts of big ramifications for playoff positioning, which makes this very interesting. Look for the Bills to play very sharp and come up with just enough goods, because they cannot afford to lose this and be forced to go on the road - possibly twice - come playoff time. They need to win this one on the road to earn the right and the privilege to play at home in Buffalo for the playoffs in January. My pick: Buffalo
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