Week 14 Review/Week 15 Preview:

For the Week/Season:
v. W/L: (11-5)/(128-80)
v. ATS: (8-8)/(98-105-5)
v. Aggregate:(7-9)/(115-93)

ATS v. The Loyal Opposition:
FOXSports Peter Schrager 119-90
CHFF: 113-91
ESPN Bill Simmons 110-93-5
CBS-Brinson 108-98-3
CBS-Judge 109-97-3
Walter Football 104-98-7
CBS-Katzowitz 103-103-3
CBS-Richard 100-106-3
USA Pete O’Brien 98-103-7
Postcards From Nowhere: 98-105-5
CBS-Prisco 97-109-3

W/L v. PFT, ESPN NFL Experts & USA Today Analysts:
PFT-Rosenthal 138-70
PFT-Florio 135-73
Nate Davis (USAT) 136-72
Accuscore (ESPN) 135-73
Gary Mihoces (USAT) 135-73
CHFF: 133-74
Mortensen (ESPN) 129-79
Golic (ESPN) 132-76
Pick 'em (ESPN) 133-75
Schlereth (ESPN) 132-76
Pete O'Brien (USAT) 132-76
Jon Saraceno (USAT) 131-77
Sean Leahy (USAT) 130-78
Jim Corbett (USAT) 130-78
Hoge (ESPN) 130-78
Postcards From Nowhere: 128-80
Wickersham (ESPN) 124-84
Jarrett Bell (USAT) 122-86
Tom Pedulla (USAT) 121-87
Allen (ESPN) 120-88
Schefter (ESPN) 112-96

Week 15 Thursday Night Preview:

At San Diego -9 San Francisco 44.5

NOTE: Due to a “technical glitch” we were unable to post a projection for Thursday night’s game. But it is included here nonetheless…

Thursday night takes the NFL to San Diego, where the ‘Niners travel down the Coast to face the Chargers. Antonio Gates will be out again with a foot injury, but his absence last week didn’t hurt the Chargers’ attack. Both teams are coming off of impressive outings last week. For San Francisco, every game here on out is do or die. The Chargers are a game back of the Chiefs and can only hope that a win here coupled with a loss by the Chiefs will put them in their customary spot atop the AFC West.

Projected Final Score: San Diego 33, San Francisco 14

Week 15 Preview:

At St. Louis -1.5 Kansas City 43.5

As goes Matt Cassel, so go the Chiefs. The early line in this “Battle of Mizzou” goes to the Rams in large part due to Cassel’s recovery from an appendectomy. The world saw how futile the offensive attack was in his absence, but all the Chiefs can do is await clearance from the medical staff. The Rams were predictably routed by a good team as Sam Bradford’s education continues.

Projected Final Score: St. Louis 23, Kansas City 13 (if Cassel does not play)
Projected Final Score: Kansas City 24, St. Louis 17 (if Cassel plays)

At Tennessee -1.5 Houston 47.5

The Texans are coming off a heartbreaking loss and a short week, so you’d have to think they’d be hard pressed to come up big in Nashville against Team Turmoil on Sunday. To their credit, the Texans came back to score three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to force overtime only to see it all slip away on a pick-six. Super Mario is out for the year and his absence will croak an already beleaguered defense. The Titans have the benefit of a few extra days’ rest and perhaps some motivation after their two point loss to Indy. But why go for a touchdown when the outcome of the game was no longer in doubt? All that served was to cost legions of “investors” untold millions to the house.

Projected Final Score: Houston 27, Tennessee 24

At Indianapolis -5 Jacksonville 48.5

If Indy falls at home on Sunday, the Jags are in the drivers’ seat in the AFC South. So this is the time and place where the division will be decided. As well as the Jaguars have played in recent weeks, it’s still very difficult to predict Peyton Manning faltering in his house. The Jags have been on an impressive run, but last week McFadden ran wild on their defense, and they’ve yet to put forth “that” kind of outing that would make anyone stand up and notice.

Projected Final Score: Indianapolis 24, Jacksonville 21

At Carolina -2.5 Arizona 38

How is Carolina favored to win anything? Last week at home they lost to Atlanta by three touchdowns. This week, the lowly Cardinals come to Charlotte, but they put 43 points up on the board last week against a Denver defense that may be bad though not as putrid as the Panthers’. John Skelton acquitted himself quite well in his NFL debut, so maybe the Cards have discovered Kurt Warner’s successor (or maybe not). It was only one game against a bad team.

Projected Final Score: Arizona 24, Carolina 17

At Cincinnati -1.5 Cleveland 40

The Bungles’ offense was dead on arrival in Pittsburgh last week. Did you see Troy Polamalu’s pick six? Was that dive into the end zone something else? Even though this is allegedly a rivalry game it’s hard to see the Bengals coming into this game with any sense of pride. They’re wishing the season was over a month ago. The Browns were particularly inept last week in Buffalo, though that’s more a function of a lack of talent than a lack of heart.

Projected Final Score: Cleveland 23, Cincinnati 21

At Miami -5.5 Buffalo 41

After beating the Jets last week, the Dolphins get the great fortune of traveling to Buffalo…in December. The Bills ought to be ill-humored hosts, especially after their 13-6 win over Cleveland last week. The Dolphins may not qualify for the tournament this year, but they have one of the better defenses in the AFC. It’s the lack of consistency on offense that killed their chances. The Bills will come out with a ton of heart, regardless of their record.

Projected Final Score: Miami 23, Buffalo 17

At NY Giants -2.5 Philadelphia 46

Does it get any bigger than this one on Sunday? Both teams are 9-4 and the winner will be a game up with two left to play. The Giants easily disposed of Minnesota in Detroit on Monday night 21-3 while the Eagles just squeaked by in Dallas on Sunday night. The Giants’ defense has played very well in recent weeks and they’re starting to get back some of their injured starters on offense. Brandon Jacobs looks great again as a starter but Steve Smith (who recently returned) is now done for the year with a leg injury. The Eagles suffered two big defensive losses last week after Stewart Bradley and Brandon Graham went down with injuries. It will indeed be interesting to see how the highly mobile Vick will be able to evade the Giants’ blitzing schemes this week.

Projected Final Score: NY Giants 24, Philadelphia 20

At Dallas -6 Washington 45

Once upon a time, Cowboys-‘Skins was a huge rivalry. With Landry on one side and Allen on the other, there was never a shortage of talent or entertainment. Of course, that was in the days before two of the most dreadful owners in sport put their greedy paws all over these once-great franchises. Now the word is that McNabb may be replaced this week by Rex “Turnover Machine” Grossman. Say it ain’t so.

Projected Final Score: Dallas 24, Washington 17

At Tampa Bay -6 Detroit 43

The Lions were the big beneficiaries of Rodgers’ injury last week, as their defense had an outstanding day, beating the Packers (in old school style) 7-3. This week, they travel down to Mabry Blvd. and a much tougher date with the Bucs, who escaped Washington with a one-point win after the “Skins holder muffed the snap for the game-tying extra point. This young Bucs’ team plays much better at home and should be excited to play against a beatable opponent. But the Bucs did incur a couple of heavy losses on defense last week (Gerald McCoy and Quincy Black) and that’s gotta hurt their chances on Sunday. Best of luck to LB Tyrone McKenzie (formerly of New England), who’ll be getting a chance to play with the Bucs this week.

Projected Final Score: Tampa Bay 23, Detroit 16

At Ravens -1 New Orleans 43.5

This promises to be a promising showdown of a high-powered offense against a rock-tough defense. On Monday night, the Ravens let a big lead slip away late in the game and were fortunate to prevail over Houston in overtime. The Saints overwhelmed St. Louis at home last week, but that was pretty much a given. What was troubling for the Ravens was uncharacteristically blowing a 28-7 advantage. Granted, the Texans can move the chains, but a highly touted defense shouldn’t play that poorly at a critical juncture of the season. The Saints can move the chains better than Houston, so it remains to be seen whether the Ravens’ late game slide was an anomaly or something the Saints can identify and exploit.

Projected Final Score: New Orleans 27, Ravens 21

Atlanta -6 At Seattle 45

Seattle had a chance last week to jump up into the conversation in the NFC Worst, but they blew it in a big way, losing 40-21 to San Francisco. Any team that would allow 40 points to an Alex Smith-led offense ought to hang their heads in shame. Atlanta is now head and shoulders above the pack in the NFC at 11-2 and is fresh off a 31-10 annihilation of the woeful Panthers. Despite the Seahawks’ inept play, back-to-back road games are a tough test for any team, especially when it involves traveling cross-country.

Projected Final Score: Atlanta 31, Seattle 17

At Pittsburgh -6 NY Jets 36

The Blowhards lost at home to Miami last week, and there’s nary a squeak emanating from the Jets’ facility this week. The offense is in disarray and folks are starting to question whether Mark Sanchez is for real. Maybe they’re asking him to perform magical feats instead of managing an offense. Earlier in the year, the Jets mixed short passes with the run and Sanchez was reasonably effective. Nobody expected him to be the second coming of Johnny U. Meanwhile, the Steelers’ offense wasn’t so hot last week and Roethlisberger took quite a beating again, as Pittsburgh’s O-Line is no great shakes.

Projected Final Score: Pittsburgh 23, NY Jets 16

At Oakland -6.5 Denver 44

The Raiders last, best chance of contending for a shot at the division title probably slipped away in Jacksonville last week, but they get another shot at the Broncos as a consolation prize. The Broncos are an awful team this year, as witnessed by their 43-13 shellacking by the Cards last week. The damage caused by the McDaniels regime is going to take a long, long time to repair.

Projected Final Score: Oakland 24, Denver 17

At New England -9.5 Green Bay 47

The health of Aaron Rodgers will dictate the outcome of this game. If he is cleared to play, the Pack has every reason to come into Foxboro feisty and competitive. They’re only a game behind the Bears in the NFC North and it is crunch time. A loss here pretty much knocks them out of the playoff hunt. If Rodgers can’t play (which looks quite likely), Matt Flynn won’t be lighting up the night time sky. The Pats now have a two-game lead in the AFC East and clinched a playoff spot after their outstanding win in Chicago, a game that was played in miserable conditions. The local media yahoos are thumping the drum for all its worth, but there are three regular season games left to play. Coach Belichick will have his players focused and grounded to address each game that’s played on the schedule. The Pack’s defense

Projected Final Score: New England 27, Green Bay 20 (if Rodgers starts)
Projected Final Score: New England 24, Green Bay 16 (if not)