Minnesota 16, NY Giants 13 - These two teams fought a low-scoring game dictated by defense. Neither offense lit up the scoreboard. But the Vikings wind up winning their third straight against three different NFC East opponents. They improve to 7-8, although they have been out of the playoff picture for a while now. As for the G-Men, this is yet another loss, as they fall to 2-13 now. My pick: Accurate
New Orleans 29, NY Jets 6 - The Saints have caught a bit of fire towards the end of an otherwise miserable and largely forgettable season. They absolutely dominated Gang Green. It felt like they might have won even more handily than they did, but there still was never any real margin for doubts here. The Jets offense looked completely inept. The Saints win their third straight to improve to 5-10, while the Jets fall to 3-12 on the year. My pick: Accurate
Buffalo 23, Cleveland 20 - The Bills needed a win. And win they did, although they made it a lot more suspenseful than many people, myself included, expected this one to be. Indeed, Buffalo had a 13-point midway through the third quarter in a game that they absolutely needed to win. But they had to hang on for a narrow three-point win to finally get past the Browns. Nevertheless, it is a win and helps their cause, as they improve to 11-4 and still on the heels of the New England Patriots in the AFC East race. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns fall to 3-12 on the year, a season they will likely love to see end. My pick: Accurate
Carolina 23, Tampa Bay 20 - Last week, I mentioned that it sometimes feels like nobody wants to win this rather pathetic division, likely the worst in the NFL. This game seemed to reinforce that notion. Several lead changes, and neither team could really get the decisive advantage and pin the other team down. Fittingly, it came down to the end, as the Panthers broke a 20-20 tie with a successful field goal. The defense held and the Panthers had finally earned enough to score a victory and take sole possession of first place in the NFC South, at least for now. But these two teams will meet again.. My pick: Accurate
LA Chargers 34, Dallas 17 - The Cowboys, I thought, would respond to their officially being eliminated by playing well and earning a solid win to play spoilers. Clearly, I was wrong about that one. The Chargers came in hot, and they played like it. Los Angeles dominated the Cowboys on the road in Big D, earning a win which, coupled with the loss by the Broncos, suddenly makes the AFC West race surprisingly tight and interesting. With the win, the Chargers improve to 11-4 and just one game behind the Broncos. But they have a tough road to travel through to win the AFC West, as they next host the also red-hot Texans, and then travel to Mile High to face the Broncos is a game that might decide not only the AFC West, but possibly even home field advantage throughout the AFC in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Cowboys fall to 6-8-1 on the year with this loss, and are assured another non-winning record once again. My pick: Inaccurate
Cincinnati 45, Miami 21 - Nothing serves better for a team responding to some controversy like winning does. Last weekend, Joe Burrow was shutout for the first time in his NFL career. The Bengals showed nothing, and looked weak and suspect. He made comments in the postgame which seemed to suggest that he might not be having much fun playing in Cincy. Everyone began to wonder whether he was so unhappy that he might either leave or even have an early retirement. So they responded in a big way with a decisive win on the road in Miami, scoring a ton of points. Go figure. The Bengals improved to 5-10 on the year, while the Dolphins fall to 6-9 on the season. My pick: Inaccurate
Tennessee 26, Kansas City 9 - Wow, just how bad is KC without Mahomes? Seems like the Chiefs have pretty much given up on the rest of the season. They get dominated against one of the worst teams in the league all season, and their offense looked anemic. This was mostly for pride, but the Titans looked like they really wanted this one. Tennessee improves to 3-12 on the year with this win, while the Chiefs fall to 6-9, assuring their first losing season in over a decade. My pick: Inaccurate
Atlanta at Arizona - In the "Who Cares Bowl," the Falcons managed to defeat the Cardinals on the road in Arizona. With the win, Atlanta improves to 6-9 on the season, while the Cards fall to 3-12 on the year. My pick: Inaccurate
Jacksonville 34, Denver 20 - What a win for the Jaguars. With a lot of people - myself included, admittedly - doubting just how good they are and pointing out that they had not exactly beaten a lot of quality teams this season to be taken seriously enough. Then in this game the Jaguars go into Mile High, with that elevation and all of that, and they dominate the Broncos. Lawrence Trevor will not become the next "LT" (like Lawrence Taylor or Ladamian Tomlinson), but he really looked fantastic today. They Jaguars played solidly all around and knock off the hottest team in the league, and do it on the road, and convincingly at that. An impressive, statement win that improves them to 11-4 and keeps them one ahead of the Texans in the AFC South. They also keep their hopes alive for the top overall seed in the AFC. As for Denver, they fall to 12-3, and their 11-game streak of wins, as well as 18 straight at home, all come to a grinding halt with this loss. My pick: Inaccurate
Houston 23, Las Vegas 21 - The Texans won this game, as everyone (myself included) predicted. Yet, they sure had a surprisingly difficult time of it against one of the very worst teams in the NFL. Feels like maybe they overlooked the Silver & Black and almost paid the price. Still, a win is a win, and this one improves the Texans to 10-5 on the season, and still nipping at the heels of the AFC South leading Jaguars. As for the Raiders, they fall to 2-13 on the season. My pick: Accurate
Pittsburgh 29, Detroit 24 - This one felt like a strange game. It felt like the Lions were about to grab a comeback win deep in Pittsburgh territory towards the final seconds. They came so close. Even that last play was officially ruled a touchdown, and it was not the first on that drive. Yet each one was negated by an offsetting offensive penalty. In the end, the clock ran out on Detroit, leading to a game that felt symbolic of their entire season. Almost, probably should have happened, but not quite. The result is that the Steelers improve to 9-6 and, coupled with the loss by the Ravens, are a game away from clinching the AFC North. Meanwhile, the Lions fall to 8-7 on the season and need a lot of help to still reach the postseason. So much help, in fact, that it feels unlikely. They need to win out and hope that the Packers lose out. We'll see. My pick: Inaccurate
Sunday Night Football: New England 28, Baltimore 24 - This was a game which I actually watched. At least I watched the end of it. Seemed like the Ravens had this thing well in hand. Then they seemed to self-destruct. It was a case of the Ravens doing everything possible to accommodate the Patriots as much as it was an impressive comeback win by New England. One way or the other, the end result is that the Pats improve to 12-3 and stay one ahead of the Bills in the AFC East. Meanwhile, the Ravens fall to 7-8 and are now on the end of elimination from playoff contention. They lost control of their own destiny and need to win out while hoping the Steelers lose out. My pick: Accurate
Monday Night Football: San Francisco 48, Indianapolis 27 - It never felt to me that the Colts, despite home field advantage, could actually win this one. The 49ers have quietly become on of the hottest teams in the league, now with five straight wins. Everything has worked out in their favor lately, with the NFC West race tightening and the Seahawks - a team the 49ers already defeated in Seattle and will play again in San Francisco - currently on top by merely one game. Somehow, everything has worked in their favor, including the schedule. So I figured that they would get past the Colts tonight, since Indy seems to be going in the opposite direction. Everything has been going wrong for the Colts, and they now have dropped five straight games. With the win, the 49ers improved their record to 11-4 and remain relevant in the NFC West race. Meanwhile, the Colts fall to 8-7 and are out of the AFC playoff picture now, something that would have seemed impossible just four or five weeks ago. My pick: Accurate
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