In honor of this week’s Titans-Chiefs tilt, we remember from whence they came in this AFL Old School shot of Abner Haynes of the Dallas Texans running to daylight…the Chiefs could definitely use his service on Sunday, but Father Time says. “No can do.”

Week 14 recap:
Vs. W/L (15-1)
Vs. Spread (10-6)
Vs. O/U (12-4)

For the Season:
Vs W/L: 136-76-0
Vs Spread: 101-107-0
Vs. O/U: 113-95-0

Here’s where we’re at via the Spread relative to the “Sportsline Experts”:

Expert “P”: 117-90-0
Expert “J”: 114-93-0
Expert “S”: 111-96-0
Expert “H”: 103-104-0
Expert “R”: 101-106-0
PFN: 101-107-0
Expert “D”: 96-111-0

It only took 14 weeks to ring up a double-digit winning week on the spread, but it’s more a matter of understanding where the teams are this late in the season than anything else. The most remarkable thing about this year has been the huge number of injuries that have occurred, especially at quarterback. How many teams have been fortunate enough to start one guy through the season? It seems like only a handful. That’s why Patriots’ fans ought to stay humble while enjoying the team’s success. If anything happens to Brady (Heaven forbid), New England is toast.

Week 14 Game Balls:

1. Minnesota: The Vikes are doing it with smoke and mirrors, but they have not looked this good since the Glory Days of the Met and Bud Grant.
2. Dallas & San Diego: Great comeback wins for two teams looking to hit January flying.
3. New England: That’ll be the last time some dope opens his trap before a game. Why didn’t one of the veteran Steelers take the young man aside before he shot off his mouth?

Jackass of The Year: Bobby Petrino. It wasn’t necessary to wait until the year ended to select this year’s Carpetbagger of the Year. It was utterly disgraceful that Petrino would simply walk away from his job with three games remaining to go make the “sooey call” down in Fayetteville.

Last January 3rd, the subject of Carpetbagger Coaches was discussed in depth, and the analysis need not be hammered ad nauseam. People like Petrino aren’t worth wasting much precious time over anyhow. People who fail to honor their professional commitments are not given slack around here. If I were a citizen of the State of Arkansas, I’d be pretty irate knowing that any of my tax dollars would be subsidizing the like of this guy.

People need to get their priorities straight. When head football coaches become among the highest-paid state employees (over and above public safety workers and academic professionals) we need to seriously rethink what really matters in life. It’s great to have a college team around which a community may coalesce. This year’s Kansas-Missouri game was about as intense as a public school rivalry gets in college football. Successful athletic programs can also generate substantial revenues for a university. However, when public dollars are being expended to fund an institution of higher learning taxpayers have a duty to ensure that the expenditures help fulfill the university’s mission. The granting of athletic scholarships to gifted young men and women serve their purpose when these kids graduate and use their education for the betterment of their communities. The record ought not to be viewed in wins and losses but the percentage of student athletes who actually earn a four-year degree. Long after the cheers subside the former athletes will be well into adult lives filled with responsibility. The better educated they are the more society prospers.

Week 15 The Sunday Games:

At New Orleans -3.5 Arizona 47

The Aints ain’t quite out of the NFC picture just yet. They’d have to run the table and that’d be a hard task considering they’re minus a starting backfield. Meanwhile, the Cardinals’ D has cost the team a legitimate shot at the postseason. No one can suggest that Kurt Warner’s ready for the glue factory just yet. The only thing going in the Saints’ favor (beyond the Dome) is that they’re still “mathematically alive”.

Projected Final Score: New Orleans 24, Arizona 20

At Tampa Bay -11.5 Atlanta 39
There are two way to look at this game: Maybe the Falcons are just a butt-ugly bunch of mutts who have alreasy packed it in. Or maybe they’re so happy at the thought of being free from a coach who was universally loathed in the locker room that they will come out and play an unfettered game. There yet remains a certain amount of professional pride with the Falcons. This is one the team owes for the man who writes the checks.

Projected Final Score: Tampa Bay 17, Atlanta 13

Baltimore -3.5 At Miami 37.5

There has to be a game some time this year where the Dolphins win. To quote Sam Rutigliano, “just one time, baby, one time.” Against any other team in football the Ravens would be an automatic one-touchdown underdog. The Fins face a non-existent offense at home, and even if the Beck Expeiment appears to be on the shelf for this year, can’t Cleo The Great generate anything? Uh…probably not. Speaking of fizzle, the Kyle Boller Era appears to be coming to a merciful end down in the Chesapeake, While they’re at it, disposing of the coach wouldn’t be such a bad idea either. It’s time to tear this house down to the studs and rebuild.

Projected Final Score: Miami 17, Ravens 16

At Cleveland -5.5 Buffalo 44.5

The 2007 Rust Bowl ought to be one terrific football game. It’ll probably be cold and nasty by the Lake as the Browns look to nail down a Wild Card berth. The Bills are saying, “not so fast, guys.” Buffalo has probably done more with less than any team in the League. Both teams are coming off convincing victories and are looking at this game as their season. The winner has a nice chance at the postseason while the loser can start getting ready for the holidays.

Projected Final Score: Cleveland 24, Buffalo 20

Green Bay -9.5 At St. Louis 44

The Pack rebounded quite well last Sunday while ol’ Saint Loo had nothing going offensively against the woeful Bungles. Favre has the Pack offense clicking and this game ought not to be that tough of a challenge. That said, it looks like Bulger’s back for this one and the Rams (despite their record) to tend to play much better at home. As far as winning? Forgetaboutit.

Projected Final Score: Green Bay 27, St. Louis 16

At Pittsburgh -3.5 Jacksonville 37

Two nasty defenses tangle in the Iron City. Despite what happened last Sunday night, the Steelers remain a tremendous team who simply does not lose at home. They will come into this game with their pride having been been seriously wounded and will be looking to right the ship. The Jags may be a tough opponent but something generally bad happens to warm weather teams when they travel north of the Mason-Dixon in December. Last week they scored 37 against the Pathetic Panthers. This week things will be different.

Projected Final Score: Pittsburgh 24, Jacksonville 21

At New England -23.5 NY Jets 47

Why not set the spread at -100? Numbers such as these are patently absurd. Thanks to Mother Nature, the spread portion of the game will likely take care of itself. The question is whether New England will win, not by how much. A nasty nor’easter will be visiting New England on Sunday. While the type of precipitation and amounts remain a mystery, the presence of high winds are not. It’ll be a most unpleasant atmosphere which will keep the score close. As far as the nonsense that occurred after Week 1, the Patriots have bigger fish to fry and have no problem maintaining their focus. Talk is cheap: they regard the Jets as tough divisional rivals and aren’t looking past them for a moment. Both teams will encounter trouble moving the ball because of the adverse weather conditions. The passing game is going to be kept at a minimum which works to the Jets’ advantage as Maroney scares no one (maybe they should’ve taken Dillon up on his offer). The Patriots’ D is getting ,more banged up with each succeeding week and the Jets can run the football.

Projected Final Score: New England 8, NY Jets 6

Seattle -6.5 At Carolina 37.5

In recent weeks Seattle has risen from their long sleepwalk and determined to play football. This week they will be nobly aided and abetted by the putrid Carolina team which may be putting its fourth-string quarterback out there to start. Not only have the Panthers been decimated by injuries, they were an overrated lot to begin with, still living off the laurels of making it to the Super Bowl a few years ago. There are some serious winds of change that ought to be blowing through Mayberry in the offseason.

Projected Final Score: Seattle 24, Carolina 13

Tennessee -3.5 At Kansas City 34

They’re still digging out in the Heartland after a rough spell of ice and snow that has kept that ol’ Wichita Lineman busy on the line these days, It’s been a lost year for the Chiefs who seriously need to re-think the GM/Coach situation. Peterson has been there way past too long and Herm simply does not have the chops to be a head coach in the NFL. Last week’s loss was just brutal. Meanwhile, the Titans are about as enigmatic as it gets. One week they can be studs, and the next, duds. They had San Diego on the ropes and let them off the hook. Losses like that are hard to rebound from…except in cases where the next opponent genuinely sucks.

Projected Final Score: Tennessee 23, Kansas City 16

At San Diego -9.5 Detroit 45.5

Last week we learned that the Lions can put up points against any defense. However, whatever offense that’s brought to bear has been more than negated by a sieve for a defense. Another thing we have learned about the Lions is that Kitna seems to be incapabale of posting even two consecutive dominant performances. The Chargers’ post season hopes were undeniably boosted as a result of a nice comeback win, though Tomlinson was not exactly overly supportive of his quarterback when the going got rough. This week, everybody will be whistling a happy tune in San Diego.

Projected Final Score: San Diego 31, Detroit 20

At Dallas -10.5 Philadelphia 48.5

Can the Eagles possibly make a game of it down in Big D? No. Their best bet is to consider that Donovan McNabb has taken them as far as he could and now it’s time to look for someone else to lead the team. Cowboys have burned through the NFC and appear destined to be NFC Champs. They will dispose of the visitors with little difficulty.

Projected Final Score: Dallas 31, Philadelphia 16

At NY Giants -4.5 Washington 37

Sunday wraps up with an NFC East grudge match in the Jersey swamp. The nasty weather most likely will have departed the Metro area prior to kickoff but it’ll be windy and cold. The Redskins had an extra three days to rest and prepare after a genuinely heroic victory. There will be no “closure” nor will it be business as usual for the players and staff, not this year anyway. The G-Men need to continue building momentum heading into the playoffs. Rivalry games are always tough as the Redskins have demonstrated. Eli Manning does not engender much confidence around here.

Projected Final Score: NY Giants 21, Washington 17