San Diego at Denver – Thursday, 8:25 – The scoreboard worker at Mile High can expect to be busy this Thursday. Denver (11-2) and San Diego (6-7) both live on the passing game, and have defenses that are prone to frequent lapses in quality. With that being said, the Chargers are simply outmatched in this game. Peyton Manning racked up nearly 400 yards passing last Sunday, and a repeat performance is in the works. Denver will pick up a win over the division rival Chargers.
Washington at Atlanta – Sunday, 1:00 – The dysfunction of the Washington Redskins (3-10) continued this week, as it was announced that Robert Griffin III will sit out the remainder of the season. That means that Kirk Cousins will be at the helm this week, and rest assured that that switch won’t turn the fortunes of the ‘Skins. Atlanta (3-10) is similarly a mess, but I think they have enough weapons on offense to take advantage of the atrocious Washington defense. The Falcons will come out on top in a battle of supremely disappointing squads.
Chicago at Cleveland – Sunday, 1:00 – It’ll be a bit of a fresh look for the Chicago Bears (7-6) as quarterback Jay Cutler returns to action. The Bears have been very productive offensively even without Cutler, due in large part to the receiver duo of Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall, perhaps the league’s best. Cleveland (4-9) snatched defeat from the jaws of victory last week as Tom Brady led the Patriots to a stunning last-second victory. Lost in that mayhem is the fact that the Browns hung with one of the league’s best squads. Cleveland should be able to take advantage of Chicago’s porous defense and will be able to hold on for a win.
Houston at Indianapolis – Sunday, 1:00 – The Texans (2-11) will take the field this week without Gary Kubiak, who was relieved of his duties as head coach of the league’s most underachieving team this past Friday. It’s been eleven straight defeats for Houston, and though they’ve often gone down fighting, no other team in the league has been quite as unable to put together a complete game. Indianapolis (8-5) has been on a skid of late too, but they should be able to overcome a Texans team in disarray. The Colts will guarantee a winning season with a victory over Houston.
New England at Miami – Sunday, 1:00 – These teams will meet for the second time this season, as the Patriots (10-3) look to wrap up the AFC East. New England was dealt a significant blow this week by the announcement that Rob Gronkowski will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL, and they’re simply not the same offensively without him. Miami (7-6) has a decent pass defense, but Tom Brady proved to be too much for them the first time around, and that will be the case this week as well. New England will claim AFC East honors by taking down the Dolphins.
Philadelphia at Minnesota – Sunday, 1:00 – While the snow poured down on Lincoln Financial Field last Sunday, LeSean McCoy had the game of his life, racking up 217 yards on the ground in the process. He should have another big game this week against the 22nd-ranked rushing defense of the Vikings (3-9-1), who also possess the 30th-ranked passing defense to boot. That spells out a big day for the Eagles (8-5) in terms of putting up points. Minnesota will also have to deal with an injured Adrian Peterson, and his limitations this week will doom the Vikings on offense. Philadelphia should cruise to a relatively easy victory over Minnesota.
Seattle at New York Giants – Sunday, 1:00 – The New York Giants (5-8) put a bow on this nightmare season last week in San Diego by absolutely stinking up the house. It was a fitting way for this team to eliminate itself from the playoffs, to say the least. They have their work cut out for them this Sunday going against a Seattle team (11-2) that should absolutely feast on the Giants’ turnovers. The Seahawks were held in check offensively by the 49ers in their last outing, but Russell Wilson will lead that unit to a rebound performance against a Giants defense that is quite adept at embarrassing itself. Seattle will continue its march to the playoffs with a win on the east coast.
San Francisco at Tampa Bay – Sunday, 1:00 – There is a stark contrast between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the first half of the season, and the second half Bucs. The first half Bucs stumbled out to an 0-8 start and were the laughingstock of the entire league. The second half Bucs, winners of four of their last five, have exemplified hard-nosed defense and have been propelled by a balanced offense lacking in big names but solid in production. That doesn’t mean Tampa Bay (4-9) is going to win this week. San Francisco (9-4) fields one of the league’s elite defensive units that managed to control a very good Seahawks offense in last week’s showdown at Candlestick. The Niners are hot-and-cold offensively, but I don’t think that will cost them this week. San Francisco will ride the momentum of their win over Seattle to victory in Tampa.
Buffalo at Jacksonville – Sunday, 1:00 – The Jaguars (4-9) have strung together three straight wins, which serves only to give them a worst draft pick at this point. In any case, they’re playing half-decent football right now. The same can’t be said for the Bills (4-9), who have fallen apart on both sides of the ball. EJ Manuel has regressed in a major way during the majority of his time back from injury, and I don’t see a rebound performance in the works. Jacksonville will extend their winning streak to four games.
Kansas City at Oakland – Sunday, 4:05 – Kansas City (10-3) will look to punch its ticket to the playoffs with a win over the Raiders (4-9) this week. The Chiefs were dominant in a rout of the Redskins in their last contest, and they appear to have righted the ship after their a shaky few weeks. Meanwhile, Oakland was down 20-3 at halftime against the Jets in Week 14, and looked exactly like a team that has nothing to play for. The Chiefs will secure a playoff bid by overcoming the Raiders.
New York Jets at Carolina – Sunday, 4:05 – I suppose it would be wrong to write off the Jets (6-7) quite yet. New York rode a good performance by Geno Smith to a comfortable win over the Raiders in Week 14, and their defense will usually prove difficult to score against. However, they’re not in the same class as the Panthers (9-4). Carolina was schooled by the Saints last week, but the Jets won’t manage much success on offense against a Panthers defense that will be looking to redeem itself. Carolina will handle the Jets at home and strengthen its chances of grabbing a coveted playoff slot.
Green Bay at Dallas – Sunday, 4:25 – The waiting game will continue for fans of the Packers (6-6-1), as Aaron Rodgers is still working his way back from a broken collarbone. Matt Flynn did a good job filling in for Rodgers last week as the Packers took down the lowly Falcons, but they were far from impressive. Dallas (7-6) was torched by Josh McCown and the Bears on Monday, and they are defined by inconsistency, but they’re a better team than a Rodgers-less Green Bay. The Cowboys will rebound from their Week 14 demolishing.
Arizona at Tennessee – Sunday, 4:25 – You have to credit the Titans (5-8) for turning in a good offensive performance in Denver last week. Thing is, their defense didn’t have a prayer of slowing down the Broncos, and though the Cardinals (8-5) can’t match Denver in terms of offensive firepower, they’re efficient enough through the air to torch the Titans. Arizona will pick up an important road win and maintain their playoff hopes.
New Orleans at St. Louis – Sunday, 4:25 – While the Rams (5-8) have played some gritty football for much of the year, the wheels have appeared to be falling off offensively over the
past couple weeks. When their opponent this week is the Saints, in a dome, that means St. Louis is in trouble. The Saints (10-3) absolutely took it last week to a Carolina defense far superior to that of the Rams. New Orleans should light up the scoreboard and have little trouble taking down the Rams in St. Louis.
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh – Sunday, 8:30 – The Pittsburgh Steelers (5-8) clinched yet another non-winning season in agonizing fashion last week, as wideout Antonio Brown tiptoed onto the sideline during a last-second dash for the end zone, sealing a win for the Miami Dolphins. Pittsburgh will make its last stand this week against a Cincinnati team (9-4) that is rolling (three straight wins). `The Bengals held the Steelers to a mere 10 points in their first matchup back in Week 2, and they should be similarly successful on the defensive side of the ball this Sunday. Cincinnati will all but wrap up the AFC North with a win in Pittsburgh.
Baltimore at Detroit – Monday, 8:30 – It certainly doesn’t feel like the Baltimore Ravens (7-6) have won in three consecutive games, but that’s the reality. Baltimore has seemed to escape defeat by the skin of its teeth, regardless of the mistakes they make in the game. I don’t see that trend continuing in Detroit on Monday night. The inconsistency of the Lions (7-6) drives me nuts, and I’m not even a Lions fan! With that being said, Matthew Stafford should be able to connect on a couple of huge deep balls, as the Baltimore defense is prone to giving up big plays (see Cordarrelle Patterson’s 79-yard touchdown on a screen pass in last week’s game against the Vikings). I like the Lions to capitalize on some coverage lapses and win a game that is crucial for both teams.