Week 15 Preview

Green Bay

-2

At Chicago

43

After getting the better of the Lions on a snowy night at Lambeau, the Packers travel to Chicago to renew the League’s most ancient rivalry. They should expect the Bears to be in a most foul state of mind after having lost to the Vikings in uninspiring fashion. Until proven otherwise, there will be questions regarding Jay Cutler’s ability to lead an offense. When he’s good, the Bears can play with anyone. This is crunch time for Chicago and the offense did not function well against a team that they should have beaten. The Packers are in great shape heading into this game, with a leg up over everyone else in the NFC North and Rodgers has the offense hitting on all cylinders.

Projected Final Score: Green Bay 23, Chicago 17

At Atlanta

-1.5

NY Giants

50.5

Although both of these teams are likely to make the playoffs, this is an important game for momentum purposes. The Falcons hit another bump in the road, losing 30-20 to Cam Newton and the Panthers. OK, so they’re now 11-2, what’s the difference? Maybe losing to an inferior opponent is something that can be passed off in the early-mid season but not in December. This defeat should set off bells and alarms as the Falcons have not played dominating football coming down the stretch. They seriously need to right the ship before the playoffs or risk being “one and done” with their lackluster play. Fortunately, they’re home this week and that’s the good news. The bad news is that the Giants are coming in and they’re making their traditional December run. Last week, the G-Men obliterated the Saints, putting a whopping 52 points up on the board. This week’s game will go a long way in determining who may be king of the hill in the NFC.

Projected Final Score: NY Giants 24, Atlanta 21

At New Orleans

-4

Tampa Bay

54

Here are two losing teams going nowhere. The Bucs actually showed signs of life in the early part of the year but wilted quickly under the Florida sun. A lifeless Eagles’ team got the better of them at home last week and it’s actually difficult to lose to a team that has nothing to play for. The Saints allowed the G-Men to score 52 points last week and that was a pathetic display. They decided to get into a track meet with the Giants and were blown away. So much for that high-powered offense. Do they miss Coach Payton, or what?

Projected Final Score: New Orleans 27, Tampa Bay 21

At St. Louis

-3

Minnesota

38

Here are two teams that have yet to give up the fight, regardless of their respective records. Under Coach Fisher, the Rams are a team on the rise. Maybe not this year or next, but his experienced hand will guide St. Louis to playoff contention. Last week, the Rams enjoyed a close upset win over Buffalo. These are the sort of victories that buoy the confidence of a young team. The Vikings were also surprise winners over the Bears last week but face a tough task in trying to defeat the Rams, who seem to play very well at home. To do this, they need a very big week from AP, who’s gunning for the single-season rushing record.

Projected Final Score: St. Louis 23, Minnesota 17

At Cleveland

+1.5

Washington

37

RGIII suffered a knee injury in the win over the Ravens and his status for this game is unknown. An MRI revealed no structural damage to his knee, so he’s one very fortunate young man. This week, the ‘Skins travel to Cleveland to face a Browns’ squad that’s been surging of late. Sure, Cleveland has been beating up on bad teams but that doesn’t matter for a hungry and young team. It’s all about the wins. Without the dynamic RGIII, the Vegas Boys are expecting Washington to struggle, but they do possess a great deal of talent beyond the quarterback position. For the Browns, it’s yet another chance for Weeden and the offense to keep the good times rolling. Don’t think that the elderly rookie is looking at this as another game. He’s probably looking at this game as a chance to showcase his skills before an audience that’s been swept up in the RGIII/Luck hype.

Projected Final Score: Washington 24, Cleveland 17

At Miami

-7.5

Jacksonville

37

The Dolphins played their hearts out on the Coast last week but were crushed by a vastly more talented 49’ers team. This week ought to be an easier task as they return home to face the woeful Jaguars. They allowed 17 points to the offensively-challenged Jets last week. Most weeks, that’s good enough to win but the Jags’ offense was so punchless that they were only able to muster 10 points. No wonder they’re 2-11! This week, Miami should be very excited at the prospect of being able to dominate a doormat. For the Jags, this season can’t end soon enough.

Projected Final Score: Miami 24, Jacksonville 13

Denver

-2.5

At Ravens

48

This might be the biggest test of the year for the streaking Broncos as they travel to M&T to face the Ravens, who were stung in OT last week and are now fighting for their playoff lives. The Broncos are coming off of an easy Thursday night win in Oakland and are well on their way to capturing the AFC West crown and a possible first round bye. They hope to leave town with another convincing win over a quality opponent. The Ravens are banged up, especially on defense. Joe Flacco got into a track meet with RGIII last week and lost by a nose. The offense functioned well against the Redskins. It was the defense that fell prey to the mobile RGIII. This week, they face Peyton Manning, who may confound the defense in a completely different but equally deadly way.

Projected Final Score: Cincinnati 24, Philadelphia 20

At Houston

-8.5

Indianapolis

48.5

The Texans return home to face Andrew Luck and Indianapolis after Monday night’s horrific loss to the Patriots. The Texans were simply outclassed in every phase of the game as they couldn’t run or pass the ball and the defense allowed Brady to have a veritable field day. If the Texans hope to hang onto that top seed in the AFC, this is a game in which that absolutely have to win. Fortunately, they’re home. Unfortunately for them, they have to face a divisional rival that’s on fire coming down the stretch. Luck and Indy’s offense had another big afternoon last week as they hung 27 points on the pathetic Titans. This week, Indy attempts to make its case for a Wild Card shot as they’d be in the driver’s seat with a win here and would love nothing more than to make the Texans squirm in the final weeks.

Projected Final Score: Houston 27, Indianapolis 24

At San Diego

-3

Carolina

45.5

Give credit to both of these teams for playing hard-nosed football and securing big wins last week. The Chargers proved that they are capable of playing a consistent 60 minutes of football as they traveled to Pittsburgh and took it to the Steelers. Whether they’re capable of this sort of commitment in successive weeks has always been the question. They use their home-field advantage this week when Cam Newton and the Panthers travel to Paradise also looking to keep the positive momentum rolling after their win over Atlanta. Both coaches are on the hot seat and (although the game has no playoff implications) the winner here just may be able to save his job.  Who knows, stranger things have happened.

Projected Final Score: Cincinnati 24, Philadelphia 20

Seattle

-5.5

At Buffalo

43

When a team wins 58-0, it’s hard to say whether it’s a case of being that good or the opponent that bad. Maybe it’s a combination of the two. After annihilating Arizona last week, the Seahawks travel to Buffalo, who’s facing NFC West opponents at home in consecutive weeks. The Bills will always play tough at home regardless of record. They fought hard against the Rams last week only to fall short at the end. Ryan Fitzpatrick and the offense weren’t any great shakes but the defense played well enough. Everything went right for the Seahawks last week and they should come into this game brimming with confidence at the prospect of stomping on an inferior opponent.

Projected Final Score: Seattle 24, Buffalo 17

Detroit

-6.5

At Arizona

44

A professional football team with only a modicum of pride does not lose by 58 points. This is a team that has quit on their coach and should collectively hang their heads in shame. It doesn’t matter that they have no one to adequately play the quarterback position. The defense was the alleged “strength” of this team and words cannot express simply how inept the Cardinals were on both sides of the ball. Now they return home to face a Lions’ squad that has to be livid over playing so well in Green Bay only to fall short in the second half. They won’t have to worry about snow in the Valley of the Sun and chances are they won’t have to worry too much about the Cardinals. This is a team that has quit and deserves no breaks at all.

Projected Final Score: Detroit 27, Arizona 10

At Dallas

+1.5

Pittsburgh

44.5

Condolences are sent to the family and friends of Jerry Brown, a practice squad player with the Cowboys, who was killed in a motor vehicle accident early last Saturday morning in Irving. The driver, DT Joshua Brent, was allegedly intoxicated and was arrested at the scene for vehicular manslaughter. Brown and Brent were best friends and teammates at the University of Illinois. This is the second tragedy to hit the NFL in successive weeks. You’d think (!) that any professional football player with an ounce of common sense would be mindful of the Belcher incident and cool it with the booze consumption. Hello? Just because you’re a pro football player, it doesn’t make you immune to the same vices that plague society. The NFL and NFLPA have set up a program for players to call when they think they may be impaired and a driver will immediately come and pick them up and drive them home, no fee and no questions asked. How can anyone beat that? While players may drink, and some occasionally to excess, there is NO EXCUSE, absolutely no excuse for driving while impaired when the incident could’ve been avoided WITH ONE SIMPLE PHONE CALL. News of stupid fools like Brent has become exceedingly tiresome. Now he has to live with the fact that his (alleged) recklessness resulted in the death of his best friend. By all accounts, Brown was looking forward to being a husband and a father. This is yet another senseless tragedy that could’ve been easily averted had someone exercised just a teeny-weeny bit of common sense. 

…last week, the Cowboys traveled to Cincinnati with heavy hearts and came away with a hard fought 20-19 win. This week, they return to their billion-dollar home to face a Steelers’ squad that hit a serious bump in the road last week when they were swept off the field by the Chargers. It appeared as if the Chargers’ front seven were in Roethlisberger’s grille all afternoon as Pittsburgh really struggled moving the football. Maybe it was simply a case of Big Ben being rusty. Injuries on the Steelers’ defense appear to have taken quite a toll on their effectiveness. The Steelers’ D is usually a rock wall at home but last week it was paper-thin against Philip Rivers. Right now, Pittsburgh is in the fight of their lives in the AFC North and desperately need to win. So do the Cowboys.  Maybe Tony Romo and the Cowboys’ offense weren’t so hot last week. It was the defense’s turn to play a dominant 60 minutes over an offense that can be explosive at times. What gives for this week?

 Projected Final Score: Pittsburgh 23, Dallas 21

At Oakland

-3

Kansas City

42.5

Once upon a time (in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s) this was an actual rivalry that meant something. Now, it’s just two miserable teams playing out the string to see who will finish last in the AFC West. Somewhere all the great Raiders and Chiefs (living and dead) who participated in this once-great rivalry can only shake their heads in dismay. What, if anything, can be offered by way of pre-game commentary? Other than the fact that both of these teams suck, not much at all…

Projected Final Score: Oakland 21, Kansas City 17

At New England

-5

San Francisco

48

Sunday night brings us to Foxboro, where Tom Brady and the Patriots face another very tough test with San Francisco. On Monday night, the Patriots played one of their best games in recent memory, routing the Texans, 42-14. Brady threw four touchdown passes and the front seven on defense were especially stout against the run. There is no rest for the weary as another quality opponent comes to Foxboro looking to crash the party. Coach Belichick and the troops are fully aware that San Francisco’s defense presents far more problems than Houston’s and the prospect of Frank Gore blowing holes through the defensive line is not exactly enticing.  The ‘Niners are coming off of a highly satisfying two-way home win over Miami and are looking to send a League-wide message that they consider themselves to be the finest football team in all the land. This is their third or fourth trip back east and has shown that jet lag and cross-country travel are no issue. Since taking over as the starter, Colin Kaepernick has given the ‘Niners a completely new look on offense with his mobility. He’s especially dangerous when he escapes the rush and can do things with the football that Alex Smith couldn’t.

Projected Final Score: San Francisco 24, New England 21

Monday Night Preview:

At Tennessee

-2

NY Jets

42.5

Hoo-Boy! Whoever was responsible for putting this matchup on prime-time should be summarily fired. Talk about a “disastuh”, the only lineup worse than this would’ve been KC-Oakland. The Titans only lost by four points to the red-hot Andrew Luck and Indy last week, and should feel as if they can give the Jets a run for their money. Coach Rex’s crew once again struggled to put points on the board but they scored 17 and that was all they needed against the woeful Jaguars. The Titans are not as bad as Jacksonville, but that’s not saying a whole lot. The Jets are stuck with Sanchez to the tune of $9M guaranteed through next year, so he’s not going anywhere (for a while). So far, the Jets’ ship has mostly sunk with Sanchez at the controls and it’s hard to envision some sort of epiphany happening anytime soon.  

Projected Final Score: NY Jets 24, Tennessee 21