GAME OF THE WEEK – Dallas Cowboys (9-4) at Philadelphia Eagles (9-4), PHI by 3.5 – You have to feel like whoever wins this game is going to win the division. Philadelphia has already stolen one on the road, so they come in with the advantage in that sense. But don’t sleep on the Cowboys. With their ability to run the ball and throw at any time, and with Mark Sanchez’s struggles showing up again this week, I’m going to take them to grab the upset. UPSET! – Cowboys 27, Eagles 24
THURSDAY NIGHT – Arizona Cardinals (10-3) at St. Louis Rams (6-7), STL by 4 – The Cardinals ground out a tough, hard-fought win against the Chiefs, but now they walk into a divisional buzzsaw against the Rams, who have posted back-to-back shutouts and always play really well against other NFC West teams. Based on the momentum both these teams have, I like the Rams to come away with the win. Rams 23, Cardinals 16
Oakland Raiders (2-11) at Kansas City Chiefs (7-6), KC by 10 – The Chiefs have basically played themselves out of the playoffs, but they can get some revenge this week against the Raiders, who surprised them a few weeks back. Chiefs 31, Raiders 14
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-11) at Baltimore Ravens (8-5), BAL by 13.5 – Definitely a trap game for the Ravens after a big win to deliver the knockout punch to the Dolphins, but I don’t see them dropping this. They need every win they can get to stay in the AFC playoff race. Ravens 27, Jaguars 10
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5) at Atlanta Falcons (5-8), PIT by 2.5 – The Steelers tend to play down to their competition and are the only AFC North team to lose to an NFC South team this year (and they did it twice). Moreover, Julio Jones has been unguardable in the last two games, and Pittsburgh has a suspect secondary. But despite all of this, I’m bucking logic and going with the Steelers, who I have picked to win the division since the beginning of the year and I’m not backing down now. Steelers 31, Falcons 27
Houston Texans (7-6) at Indianapolis Colts (9-4), IND by 6.5 – The Colts definitely didn’t look the part of contenders last week, but they’ve never lost at home to the Texans and I don’t see that changing this week. Colts 30, Texans 20
Cincinnati Bengals (8-4-1) at Cleveland Browns (7-6), PUSH – Johnny Manziel is getting his first start this week officially and it comes in a huge game for both teams. The Browns have been all but eliminated and desperately need this, while the Bengals need to keep pace with Baltimore and Pittsburgh. But the Bengals tend to fold when the going gets tough, and I think Manziel mania will kick off with a bang. Browns 20, Bengals 17
Miami Dolphins (7-6) at New England Patriots (10-3), NE by 7.5 – These two teams are in very different places than they were in week one, when Miami scored the upset. With a win, the Patriots will claim yet another divisional title, their 10th in the last 11 years. Ho hum. Patriots 34, Dolphins 20
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-11) at Carolina Panthers (4-8-1), CAR by 5.5 – Hopefully Cam Newton is feeling alright for this one. The way the Panthers played in New Orleans, it seems silly to think they’d drop this one right? But you never know with the NFC South this year. Panthers 30, Bucs 13
Washington Redskins (3-10) at New York Giants (4-9), NYG by 6.5 – The Giants have been bad, but the Redskins are the NFL’s most dysfunctional franchise and have been absolutely inept lately. This one won’t be close, divisional matchup aside. Giants 34, Redskins 9
Green Bay Packers (10-3) at Buffalo Bills (7-6), GB by 5 – Make no mistake, the Packers are going to be in for a challenge when heading into Buffalo. But with homefield advantage throughout the playoffs in sight, Aaron Rodgers will will them to victory with another masterpiece performance. Packers 31, Bills 20
Minnesota Vikings (6-7) at Detroit Lions (9-4), DET by 8 – This is going to be a really interesting and, I think, close game. The Lions looked solid in dismantling the Bucs, but they stopped playing months ago. The Vikings are actually peaking right now after playing really well against Green Bay and putting together consecutive wins in the last two weeks. If Detroit’s going to drop a game before they play the Packers, this would be the one where I’d expect it to happen. But I think the Lions will escape with a hard-fought win. Lions 23, Vikings 20
New York Jets (2-11) at Tennessee Titans (2-11), NYJ by 1.5 – This one’s all about positioning for the draft. Which team will shoot itself in the foot with the victory? Probably the Jets. Jets 20, Titans 10
Denver Broncos (10-3) at San Diego Chargers (8-5), DEN by 4 – The Chargers have a brutal stretch in this final month of games. This is another important one against a conference powerhouse. The Chargers under Rivers traditionally play great football in December. I have had this one circled for a while as one where the Broncos would stumble, so I’m going to take the Chargers here. UPSET! – Chargers 27, Broncos 23
San Francisco 49ers (7-6) at Seattle Seahawks (9-4), SEA by 9.5 – The 49ers are done, and the Seahawks are on the rise. This won’t be close. Seahawks 37, 49ers 17
New Orleans Saints (5-8) at Chicago Bears (5-8), NO by 3 – The Bears look like they’ve given up on the season, while the Saints still occasionally look somewhat competent. I’ll go with the road upset. Saints 31, Bears 21
