And The Forecast Is...

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Week 14 NFL Forecast:

Hey, if the crystal ball doesn't work, it'll be an 8-ball next week...('cause that's where your fearless prognosticator will be forecasting behind). Week 14 of the season presents more than its share of kryptonite specials will, but also a couple of intriguing matchups.

At Kansas City -3 Baltimore 36.5

After last week’s complete and total misfiring or the Raven offense, they travel to Kansas City to face the Chiefs, who blew a two touchdown lead against the Browns on Sunday. Both teams can play much better than they did in Week 13. However, on balance, the Ravens are a much better team. So, either their performance against the Bengals was an aberration, or else they’re reverting to their and historically typical offensive underperformance. Since Billick has taken over as offensive coordinator, last week’s showing was really the first bad outing since McNair returned to the lineup. This game could go either way, but the early indications are for an upset, and for the Ravens to get their act back in gear.

Projected Final Score: Ravens, 20, Kansas City 17.

Atlanta -3 At Tampa Bay 38

If this game will played on paper, the final score would be something like Atlanta 34, Tampa Bay 0. Last week Michael Vick played well in the Falcons’ victory at Washington. However, from one week to the next, one never knows which Michael Vick will show up. The clock is running out on Tampa Bay’s nightmare of the season. Coach Chucky’s crew has been awful, just awful all year long. With the way that things are going in the NFC this year, Atlanta or is still in the hunt for a wild-card spot, believe it or not. So look for the Falcons to play a little spirited football coming down the stretch. And if things break right, they might just make it to the postseason. But at Week 14, that’s a very large, maybe.

Projected Final Score: Atlanta 24, Tampa Bay 17.

At Detroit -2.5 Minnesota 37.5

Holy smokes, talk about a dreadful game. The woeful Vikings travel to Detroit to play the hapless Lions. This one is so toxic, it’s almost glowing with radioactivity, not to be touched under any circumstances except with a 500 foot pole and heavy rubber gloves. Last week, the Viking offense, or more specifically, the lack thereof, that proved to be their undoing in a game they actually could’ve won against the Bears on the road. Meanwhile, the Lions played a very good game, and Foxboro, ultimately losing to the Patriots late in the fourth quarter. The Patriots have played both of these teams, and based on the way, they have performed, and the spirit and determination that the lines of shallow. Despite winning only two games, one would have to root for the Honolulu blue and silver, even though a victory may prevent them from obtaining the first overall pick in next year’s draft. There is still fight left in Coach Marinelli’s crew, and while I cannot forecast the outcome with any reasonable degree of certainty, I will be hoping that the Lions win.

Projected Final Score: Detroit 27, Minnesota 16.

At Houston -1.5 Tennessee 41.5

And another impossible game to pick, the Titans travel down to the Gulf to face the Texans. Tennessee is coming off of a tremendous upset victory against Indianapolis at home last week, courtesy of Rod Baronas’ last second 60 yard field goal. That the Titans were able to keep the high-powered Indy offense in check is a tremendous accomplishment. The Tejanos snuck past the absolutely dreadful Oakland Raiders on the road. This will be a homecoming for Tennessee quarterback Vince Young, who has developed rather well in his rookie season, defying the wisdom of many of the so-called experts who follow the game. Even though both teams are struggling, it should be a hard-hitting, competitive football game. Right now, it’s a pick ‘em game, the outcome of which again cannot be forecasted with any reasonable degree of certainty. However, based on their defensive play last week, I would consider the Titans a slight favorite.

Projected Final Score: Tennessee 21, Houston 20.

At Carolina -3 NY Giants 39

We move from bad to worse: the Giants travel to Carolina. On Monday night, the Panthers blew their fifth fourth-quarter lead of the year, and lost not only the game but QB Jake Delhomme in the process. Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Giants lost on a last-second field goal, at home against Dallas. There was high promise for Carolina at the beginning of the season, the same could have been said for the Giants, before having become utterly decimated by injury. The year is over for the G-Men, while Carolina is mixed in the bag with Atlanta will of having a theoretical chance to make it to the postseason. Chris Weinke, the 1926 Heisman Trophy Winner takes over at QB for the Panthers. At this point in the season, neither team really deserves to win. They’ve both been highly disappointing, and they stink. In recent years, the Giants have really had a bad track record in the second halves of the season. Without their starter, it’s more likely than not, the Giants will win the game, but with these two teams who really knows?

Projected Final Score: NY Giants 24, Carolina 21.


At Dallas -6.5 New Orleans 48

The Saints travel to Dallas for showdown between two NFC contenders. This ought to be one of the few marquee games of the weekend. Last week, Reggie Bush had a breakout game. For the Cowboys, Tony Romo looks to continue his winning ways at quarterback. The line of 6 ½ is reasonable, considering the quality of the Cowboys play since the quarterback change. While New Orleans is no pushover by any stretch of the imagination, the Cowboys will enter this game looking to solidify their hold on the NFC East, and so they shall.

Projected final score: Dallas 31, New Orleans 20.

At NY Jets -4 Buffalo 37

In a renewal of ancient AFL rivals, Buffalo goes down to the Meadowlands for a matchup with the Jets. The Bills played San Diego very tough at home last week only to lose, while the Jets annihilated the Packers on the road. It was 31-0 by halftime. So it was either a case of the Jets doing everything right and the Packers doing everything wrong, or the Jets simply being a better football team. At this stage of the season, the Jets are a better team than Buffalo and smelleth the Wild Card. The Bills give or take no quarter, and will hit hard on every play. But they have suffered injuries over the course of the year, while the Jets have remained reasonably healthy. It ought to be brisk and nasty down there in the weeds of Jersey. A great day for two old rivals to attack one another, with all the ferocity they can muster. The Jets will come out on top.

Projected final score: NY Jets 23, Buffalo 17.

Indianapolis -1.5 At Jacksonville 44

Last week, the Jaguars put forth 60 minutes of sound, two-way football in dispatching Miami, while Indianapolis struggled all day long and lost on a last-second field goal on the road. If Indianapolis loses this game, they fall into a tie for the best record in the AFC. Obviously, they would want to maintain home-field advantage throughout the playoffs where they’re unbeatable at home. At this stage, it would be hard to see how Peyton Manning would allow his team to lose back-to-back games. The Jaguars may be sky high for this one, but have lacked the consistency required of legitimate conference contenders. Just because they played well last week against Miami, does not necessarily imply that they will do so against the most productive offense in football. Both teams have every reason to bring their ‘A’ Game. Look for Indianapolis to come back in a big way this week.

Projected Final Score: Indianapolis 28, Jacksonville 17.

At Washington PK Philadelphia 39

This is a banner week for kryptonite specials. In the fourth such matchup on the slate, Philly travels south to The DC. On Monday night, Jeff Garcia brought the Eagles back with a dramatic victory. It now appears that Garcia has regained whatever (minimal) chances the Eagles have for making it to the postseason. It’s been a few years now since he was a star with the 49ers, and kicked around with a few teams, before being thrust back in the spotlight. Last week in Philadelphia, he showed tremendous poise and confidence in running the Eagle offense against the Panthers. Carolina is a better team than Washington. And while the Redskins may play well at home, they certainly did not do so last Sunday. While it’s sad to see a coach with the stature of Joe Gibbs, presiding over such an uninspiring, underperforming bunch as the 2006 Redskins, the Eagles will come into town and despite one less day of preparation, will leave the Nation’s Capitol with a victory.

Projected Final Score: Philadelphia 23, Washington 17.

At Cincinnati -11 Oakland 40.5

The Oakland Raiders are awful. The Cincinnati Bengals come into the game well rested, and looking to fine tune the offense heading into the playoffs. By season’s end, it’s 50/50 that the Bengals will win more games than the number of players on the team who have been arrested. Unfortunately, the "Outlaw Program" is no longer in California, but in Ohio. This is unacceptable. Is 11 points too much? Ordinarily, prudent bettors would back away from double-digit spreads as if they would dog waste on the sidewalk. However, since the once high and mighty Oakland Raiders are now lower than said dog waste, and nothing would give a certain forecaster more pleasure than seeing the Raiders lose every game for the next 75 years, it is reasonable to suggest that the JailBirds are in fact two touchdowns better at this stage of the season than are the Raiders.

Projected final score: Cincinnati 34, Oakland 17.

New England -3.5 At Miami 37

The Patriots travel down to sunny South Florida, where more often than not, they lose. While they’re considered to be modest favorites, one can never overlook the fact that these are two hated rivals. Both coaches know each other very well, and would love nothing better than to stick it to the other guy. The Dolphins are just playing out the string rate now, and this is a game that the Patriots really need to win, as the Jets are only two games back. Jason Taylor is going to have a wonderful day under the Florida sun whacking around Patriot offensive tackles, en route to sacking Brady. The Dolphins have nothing to lose, while the Patriots have everything to lose. As always, this will be a hard-hitting highly entertaining game. Ronnie Brown is out for Miami, so their running game may be hampered. Maroney may not play for New England, either. Anything can happen, but look for New England to just squeak by, perhaps by a field goal.

Projected Final Score: New England 24, Miami 20.

At San Francisco -5 Green Bay 43.5

Unfortunately, the Pack have fallen into the pit. Do you remember those great Young vs. Favre playoff classics? It seems as if it was only a couple of seasons back. After last week’s blowout loss, maybe it’s a good thing to hit the road. The 49ers will run and pass just like the glory days of Montana and Rice. They’re on the way back up the ladder and will be fighting for a playoff berth next season. It may be a Muck Bowl out there at old Candlestick, and that may be the only thing keeping the Niners from a double-digit win.

Projected Final Score: San Francisco 24, Green Bay 17.

Seattle -3.5 At Arizona 45.5

The ‘Hawks are healthy once more on offense while the Cards had a nice win against St. Louis, a well balanced pass/run offensive showing. Seattle has begun their playoff run and need to keep the momentum rolling through December. Arizona’s goin’ nowhere, other than to make plans to announce the hiring of a new head coach shortly before the big ball comes down in Times Square.

Projected Final Score: Seattle 34, Arizona 24.

At San Diego -7.5 Denver 42.5

Denver’s season appears to be slipping away, as if Coach Shanahan figured it was better in the long-term to take a step back with the quarterback change to take two steps forward next year. Jay Cutler’s got a rocket for an arm and the Broncos always have a knack of finding guys who can tote the leather, but most likely they’ll be watching the tournament from the sidelines. The Chargers are in great shape in December and, much like Seattle, are looking to roll into the postseason. But these are two old AFL West rivals, and in that tradition, anything wild could happen.

Projected Final Score: San Diego 30, Denver 21.