Week 14 Sunday:

Since Dallas is visiting Pittsburgh this week, we fondly remember the Great Lynn Swann, whose acrobatic catches in two Super Bowls against the Cowboys propelled the Steel Curtain to a dynasty in the 1970’s.

If we learned anything from Thursday Night’s Chargers-Raiders tilt it’s that Oakland is a horrible football team and that JaMarcus Russell’s learning curve is going to be a long, slow arc. He may be able to throw a football 100 yards, but right now he can’t hit the side of a barn. Some of his passes were brutal, and then he left on the cart after injuring his ankle. It seems as if his holdout in ’07 put him behind the eight-ball moving forward.

The big news this Week was the delayed suspensions that could have directly affected the Vikings and the Saints. New Orleans is out of the playoff hunt, but Minnesota is in first place in the NFC North. Since there are genuine issues of material fact as to whether the NFL’s Medical staff had knowledge that the now-banned diuretic contained substances that violated the League’s steroid policy and allegedly failed to warn trainers and players, it would seem that the wisest course of action would be letting the litigious process run its course and, provided the League’s arguments are upheld, enforce the suspensions at the beginning of next season. Wisdom does not appear to be the order of the day, as both federal and state TRO’s currently enjoin the teams from suspending the players for at least this week. Suspending the players now places the Vikings at a terrible disadvantage moving into the final month, as runners will find a gaping hole that was once ably plugged by Team Williams. Taking those two out of the D-Line essentially kisses off any playoff hopes. The cases continue…

At Chicago -6.5 Jacksonville 40

Despite getting drubbed at the Baggie Dome on Sunday Night, the Bears remain in the thick of things in the NFC North. The Jags packed it in a few weeks ago as was evidenced by their dreadful showing on Monday Night. Next to San Diego, the Jags have to be the biggest disappointment in the NFL. It’ll be nice and cold in the Windy City on Sunday, definitely not promising conditions for a team that appears to have tuned out the coach.

Projected Final Score: Chicago 23, Jacksonville 16

At Indianapolis -13.5 Cincinnati 42.5

Indy pulled yet another out of the fire last week in Cleveland, as the weather conditions played a big factor in the outcome. This week, that’ll be no problem as Manning & Co. will be looking to rebound and move forward toward the playoffs. The Bungles are 1-11-1. That’s all anyone really needs to know.

Projected Final Score: Indianapolis 27, Cincinnati 13

At Green Bay -5.5 Houston 47

Thank goodness that the Texans will be on the road so viewers will be spared the “all red” look that they featured on Monday Night. We’ll leave the fashion analysis to others; suffice to say it was brutal. Steve Slaton is developing into a terrific runner, and he’s no stranger to playing in the cold. Both he and his teammates played well at home last week, but the weather will tend to slow things down. It’ll be a perfect day for football at Lambeau, cold and snow. The Ghost of Vincent T. Lombardi will be prowling the sidelines screaming at the players. This ought to be a fun afternoon for the Pack, as the heat is off for this year and they can concern themselves with executing well in the final month.

Projected Final Score: Green Bay 24, Houston 17

At Tennessee -13.5 Cleveland 37.5

By the sound of things in Cleveland, Coach Crennel won’t be standing on the sidelines after December, as the wheels fell off the bus this year and ownership will be looking to clean house. Speaking of the bus, that’s where the Browns’ gutless GM threw Crennel under last week, and hopefully when the time comes he’ll be broomed out before the coach. General Managers should be seen and not heard. After scoring only a pair of field goals, and losing backup Derek Anderson for the season, it’s down to the third-stringer (Dorsey) as they hold their collective breath until the season ends. The Titans had an extra three days’ rest and prep after annihilating Detroit on Thanksgiving. The easy game and subsequent break could not have come at a better time for a team that’s looking to roll into the playoffs. If there was one word that encapsulates this matchup it would be “Unfair”…

Projected Final Score: Tennessee 31, Cleveland 10

Minnesota -9.5 At Detroit 46

If the Williams Boys are disqualified for this one, the 0-12 Lions have a slight chance. If they show up across the line from Culpepper…forgetaboutit…With four games remaining, the Vikes are in great shape for the postseason (this week, anyhow). Pending the results of the litigation, they need to win every week and hopefully build some momentum.

Projected Final Score: Minnesota 27, Detroit 17

At Ravens -5.5 Washington 36.5

The Redskins make the quick hop up the road to face a Ravens’ team that is hungry and intent on winning this local rivalry. Coach Harbaugh has done a wonderful job in his rookie year by developing a team that is balanced on both sides of the ball. It’s no longer just Ray Lewis and a cast of thousands, Harbaugh is building a team that’s becoming a 60-minute headache. Coach Zorn’s team has the misfortune of playing in the NFC East and they’ve vacillated between good and mediocre all season. Coming into this one, Portis is banged up and his effectiveness may be limited. Since he’s the engine that drives the offense, it may be a rough afternoon. The ‘Skins played flat in last week’s home loss to the G-Men, and that simply won’t do this week.

Projected Final Score: Ravens 24, Washington 17

At NY Giants -7 Philadelphia 44

The Eagles are coming off of a big Thanksgiving Night win at home and travel to the Meadowlands to face a Giant team that has to be feeling distracted by the off-the-field events from last week. The problem with the Eagles is deciding which team will show up on Sunday, the juggernauts of Thanksgiving or the The Giants’ receiving corps is somewhat depleted but Manning has so many weapons from which to choose that losing a receiver here or there isn’t crippling to the offensive attack. If there is one place where a lack of concentration to the duties at hand will not be tolerated it is Coach Coughlin’s house.

Projected Final Score: NY Giants 28, Philadelphia 20

At New Orleans -2.5 Atlanta 52

Why are the Saints favored? The Falcons have played lights out in recent weeks and don’t appear to be intimidated by traveling to the Big Easy after knocking off San Diego last week. The Saints are coming off of a tough road loss and any playoff hopes they may harbor exist only in their dreams…

Projected Final Score: Atlanta 27, New Orleans 24

NY Jets -4 At San Francisco 44.5

The Jets made a hard landing last week (forgive the pun), but that doesn’t necessarily represent a stumbling block on the way to the playoffs. It was simply one bad game. This week, they have a chance to get their act back into high gear with what ought to be a easily winnable game against the ‘Niners (who broke the West Coast teams’ winless drought in the East last Sunday). San Francisco is slowly beginning to turn the tide under Coach Singletary, who should be given a full and fair opportunity to lead this team going forward. Their defense played really tough in the elements in Buffalo last week, but this week they’ll be facing a guy who knows what it’s like to play in Candlestick when it really matters. The ‘Niners will be waiting, though in the end, experience matters.

Projected Final Score: NY Jets 27, San Francisco 17

At Buffalo
(Toronto) -1 Miami 42.5

The NFL comes to Canada on Sunday when the Bills take the QEW around the bend to f/k/a SkyDome in the first of scheduled games to be played annually in Toronto. It’s sad and ironic that Ted Rogers, the Canadian communications mogul passed away this week. It’s not that big of a deal as the CFL’s season has already concluded, the venue is less than 2 hours away and the arrangement beats relocating the team to LA. However, if the roof stays closed, then the Bills and their fans should feel shortchanged because it takes away one of the few advantages Buffalo has this week- cold and snow against a warm weather team. Miami is beginning to show some cracks of late as they barely came away with a win in St. Louis last week and the Bills are looking to atone for a completely forgettable defeat at home. It appears as if J.P. Losman will be manning the controls after Trent Edwards suffered a groin injury last week.

Projected Final Score: Miami 21, Buffalo 20

At Denver -8.5 Kansas City 48

We’ve had a bad time figuring out Denver all year, as they weren’t considered much beyond a .500 team, but have excelled in recent weeks. Give credit to Coach Shanahan, as they really put it to the Jets last week and are now in the driver’s seat in the AFC West. This week, they greet the woeful Chiefs, who are coming off a rare win in Oakland, but a repeat is probably not in the cards here. Now’s the time when playoff teams are looking to be execute with greater efficiency, and there’s no better way to prepare for January than by kicking some JV ass in December.

Projected Final Score: Denver 28, Kansas City 16

At Arizona -13.5 St. Louis 49

When the Cardinals are at home, they’re a good-to-very good team. Just like Denver, they have a nice December tune up against a team that’s bad no matter where they play. The Cards were embarrassed last Thursday and are looking to make amends as they head into their playoff run. (The words “Cardinals” and “playoffs” in the same sentence remain incongruous). The Rams are not just another opponent for Kurt Warner; it would give him special delight to light up the sky against his former team. The Rams gave Miami every thing they could handle last week and should be commended for continuing the fight, but Warner is probably going to torch the Rams for 400+ yards, and by the time all is said and done the Rams are going to rue the day they cast him aside so cheaply.

Projected Final Score: Arizona 31, St. Louis 17

At Pittsburgh -3 Dallas 41

This is a special rivalry between two teams that have duked it out three times for the Super Bowl. When Doomsday met the Steel Curtain in the ‘70’s (Landry vs. Noll, Staubach vs. Bradshaw, etc.), they were among the most entertaining and competitive championships played. While this year’s editions of the teams are not in the same league as those powerhouses of a generation ago, they’re still very good. Dallas is coming off of a dominant win on Thanksgiving and have the benefit of three extra days to prepare. They’ll need it, as the Steelers are coming home to play in the cold before an insane amd boisterous yellow-flag waving crowd. Give the Steelers credit for their dominant second half performance in Foxboro last week in really rotten weather conditions. Their defense utterly confounded the Patriots, forcing (too numerous to count) turnovers and shutting down any offensive attack New England tried to muster.

Projected Final Score: Pittsburgh 24, Dallas 20

New England -4.5 At Seattle 43

This game had originally been scheduled for prime time on Sunday. Thankfully, wiser heads prevailed and the game will only be seen in the local markets. Last week, the Patriots suffered a pivotal loss as any hope they have for the playoffs hinge on the Jets faltering coming down the stretch. Matt Cassel did not remind anyone watching of Tom Brady last week, between his fumbles and interceptions. He was exposed playing against a top flight defense. While Belichick would never admit it, injuries have crippled the team to the point where it’s hardly more than a shell of last year’s. Rosey Colvin recently rejoined the team after having been cut by Houston in the preseason for a four-game swan song. Who’s next, Babe Parilli? No, but Junior Seau is.

The Patriots are now making their second two-week West Coast swing and this date with the 2-10 Seahawks isn’t going to be a fun-filled walk in the park. Time is winding down on Coach Holmgren’s tenure and injuries have wrecked what was supposed to be a fitting farewell. Hasselbeck is doubtful for this game, and Seneca Wallace will try to connect with some receivers who are healthy enough to catch the ball. The Patriots’ defensive backfield closely resembles a slice of Swiss cheese, so he may have some success.

Projected Final Score: New England 21, Seattle 17