A second straight 12-4 week has put my record at 152-71-1 on the season. Let's keep things rolling.
Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars
Perhaps the two worst teams in football go at it on Thursday night. Man... this isn't gonna help the image of NFL Network broadcasts nor Thursday night games in general. Anyway, I am inclined to lean towards Jacksonville for a couple reasons. First, although they may only be 1-3 since their bye week, they've at least shown pretty decently against some solid competition. They were right there with the Colts on the road through the first half, right there with the Texans at home for three quarters and right there with the Ravens on the road through three quarters. They even led Houston and Baltimore at halftime. Tennessee is just awful. Plus this one is in Jacksonville. Prime opportunity for them to pick up their third victory.
My Call: Jaguars 20, Titans 13
Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins
Look, I don't necessarily love this spot for the Eagles after losing two straight games at home, but the Redskins are such a mess these days that I'm not sure it'll really matter too much. Robert Griffin III will start for Washington under center after Colt McCoy was injured in the loss, and he's been nothing short of a disaster since his rookie season. It wouldn't shock me if Washington shows as well as a team that's such a mess possibly can, but I just don't have the faith in them to pull it off.
My Call: Eagles 30, Redskins 24
San Diego Chargers at San Francisco 49ers
First game where I don't necessarily love the spot for either team. Both are coming off tough losses to division rivals. The Niners loss in Seattle eliminated them from possible playoff contention while the Chargers are very much on thin ice after losing at home to Denver. When in doubt, go with the team that still has a shot and at least has shown something offensively in recent memory, even if they happen to be on the road. Gotta go with the Chargers.
My Call: Chargers 19, 49ers 13
Minnesota Vikings at Miami Dolphins
Although I don't love this spot for Miami coming off two straight blowout losses against two good teams, I believe they'll have just enough to sneak past the Vikings. Being at home helps and so does having the better QB. The Phins need this to keep very slim playoff hopes alive.
My Call: Dolphins 20, Vikings 19
Baltimore Ravens at Houston Texans
Ryan Fitzpatrick wasn't wonderful to begin with, but I still have to think he'd be a better option than either Thaddeus Lewis or Tom Savage under center. Well, Houston won't have him anymore this season after he broke his leg in their loss to the Colts. Right now, I have no idea whether it'll be Lewis or Savage starting at QB in this game for the Texans... but quite honestly, I don't really believe it matters. The Ravens are battling for a spot in the AFC Playoffs and given that they know how to win games when it's necessary, I just can't see them losing a game to one of those two QBs. Their defense should carry the day here.
My Call: Ravens 21, Texans 7
Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears
If you ask me, the Bears should fire everybody, release Jay Cutler and hit the reset button. Easier said than done given the financial commitment, especially to Cutler who is being paid like a top NFL QB, but sometimes, you have to do what you've got to do. Does this tell you what I think is gonna happen in this game? Okay, if that doesn't, maybe this prediction will.
My Call: Lions 27, Bears 14
Cleveland Browns at Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton is again questionable after the car accident which caused him to miss Carolina's game against Tampa Bay. With the way Johnny Manziel looked against the Bengals though, it may not matter if it's Cam or the former Cleveland Brown in Derek Anderson under center for the Panthers. Look, there's nowhere but up for Johnny Football to go following that disaster in the 30-0 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, but I'm not convinced he'll be able to fix enough of what ails him in just a week. I'll take Carolina in another ugly affair.
My Call: Panthers 17, Browns 13
Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints
Call me stubborn if you wish, but I'm again picking the Saints at home in spite of the fact that they've lost four straight games in their building and have looked pretty awful in doing so. This game should be very similar to the game between these two teams in Atlanta which was won by the Falcons 37-34 in overtime. Gotta think both QBs should be in for big games against bad defensive teams. Why not a little bit of payback by the same score? That'd be something!
My Call: Saints 37, Falcons 34
Green Bay Packers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After a somewhat unsurprising loss on the road to Buffalo, now the Packers need to avoid a letdown and make sure two straight road losses don't come to fruition. No worries against an awful Bucs team. Aaron Rodgers bounces back with a very nice performance after a bad game in Buffalo. Tampa Bay simply lacks the firepower to keep up.
My Call: Packers 34, Buccaneers 17
Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers
Gigantic implications for both teams as the Chiefs are looking to keep any hope of a wild card berth alive while Pittsburgh is looking for either that or a division title. My guess is this will be one of those old school style type of games where the running games and defenses will be at the forefront. Reason I like the Steelers is because they have a WR by the name of Antonio Brown. Kansas City just doesn't have that type of weapon and I think there's only so much Jamaal Charles will be able to do.
My Call: Steelers 21, Chiefs 17
New England Patriots at New York Jets
Listen, the Pats are a far superior team to the Jets in just about every facet, but they're gonna need to be focused and bring their 'A' game because this is the game where I'd expect the Jets to lay it all on the line. The Jets have no love for New England (neither do I, but that's another story) and they'd love nothing more than to knock the Pats off the number one line in the AFC Playoffs. They'll at least hope to knock them to the two seed and make them have to go to Denver for a possible AFC title bout if both teams were to make it that far. Unfortunately for New York, I just think too much would have to go right for them and I don't see the Pats losing their focus. I could see this being a game for maybe even one half, but unless we see a combination of New England turnovers, big plays on special teams for the Jets and the like, I don't think a win for them here is possible.
My Call: Patriots 27, Jets 13
New York Giants at St. Louis Rams
This is one of those games where I look at both teams and say although the Giants have won two straight games and the Rams lost last week, the Giants wins have come against awful Tennessee and Washington while at least St. Louis lost to a very good Cardinals defense and had been playing much better in the weeks prior. I'm leaning towards thinking the Giants need to say good bye to their two game winning streak given all this and the fact that I think they'll be more focused on a visit from Philadelphia to end their season, but given the Rams offensive struggles, I wouldn't be shocked if it were close.
My Call: Rams 16, Giants 13
Buffalo Bills at Oakland Raiders
Got another game here where I don't necessarily love the spot either team is in. The Bills are coming off a huge, emotional win over Green Bay, so I believe they're due for quite the letdown. On the other hand, it's not as though this is one of those "Super Bowl" type games for the Raiders like a game against someone such as Kansas City or San Francisco, so I don't know if they'll necessarily be fully up for this one, either. I just have to throw the dart and hope I'm right. I'll go with Buffalo.
My Call: Bills 20, Raiders 17
Indianapolis Colts at Dallas Cowboys
Sounds like running back DeMarco Murray is gonna give it a go with a broken left hand. People will wonder if he should and if he does play a majority of the game, will he be as effective? Funnily enough, sometimes guys feed off of that and end up having some of their better games when fighting through an injury. Dallas will definitely need his best effort if they want to get this win and also to clinch the NFC East crown. That's suddenly a possibility after Philadelphia lost to Washington. No doubt the Cowboys need this game more and having Murray available should help, but we've seen this team come up short in spots exactly like these over the years. Andrew Luck certainly won't make it easy; I think that'll hold true even if star wide receiver T.Y. Hilton isn't available for him to throw to. He seems like a possible game time decision with a hamstring issue. It may be in Indy's best interests to sit him for this game, but just a gut feeling tells me he'll go the DeMarco Murray way and try toughing it out. Anyway, I see a high scoring affair and I'll take... the Colts.
My Call: Colts 34, Cowboys 31
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals
What the hell is going on here? The team with the best record in the NFC, tied for the best record in all of football and is extremely tough at home is gonna be an underdog? Yep, it makes a lot of sense actually. Arizona is down to their third string QB in Ryan Lindley and the Seahawks are the defending Super Bowl Champs who have hit their stride. They won't be intimidated by the hostile road crowd. Actually, I think they'll feed off it. Their defense will feast on Lindley all game and although the offense won't put together a masterpiece against a tough Cardinals defense, Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson should do plenty to get out of dodge with a win, which would put Seattle in firm control for the number one seed in the NFC Playoffs.
My Call: Seahawks 20, Cardinals 10
Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals
Andy Dalton is not gonna be able to keep pace with Peyton Manning on the scoreboard. The only hope Cincinnati has to me is to make big plays on special teams, win the turnover battle by at least two and set up short fields. I don't see all of that coming together.My Call: Broncos 30, Bengals 20
