Every game is on Sunday this week, so no worries about getting stuff in by Thursday!
GAME OF THE WEEK – Detroit Lions (11-4) at Green Bay Packers (11-4), GB by 7.5 – The Packers have been unstoppable at home this year, but the Lions match up very well against that juggernaut of an offense led by the 2014 Most Valuable Player, Aaron Godgers. Classic matchup of something’s gotta give, with a division title and first round bye on the line. The Packers are going to want revenge for the stomping handed to them by the Lions in Detroit earlier this year. I think this will be a hard fought contest, but I would not bet against the Packers at home in December where the Lions are on a 22-year losing streak. But rest assured, if any team knocks the Packers out of the postseason this year, it will be either Detroit or Seattle, nobody else in either conference. Packers 27, Lions 24
Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12) at Houston Texans (8-7), HOU by 10 – The Texans have put together a pretty damn solid year for not having a quarterback, and a big part of that is the play of JJ Watt. While they’re a long shot for a playoff berth, they’ll take care of business at home against a poor Jaguars team. Texans 24, Jaguars 10
Indianapolis Colts (9-6) at Tennessee Titans (2-13), IND by 6.7 – The Colts are completely locked in to the #4 seed, so it’s hard to know for sure if they’re going to play their starters the whole game or not. But their backups are probably on par with Tennessee’s starters, so it works out. Colts 23, Titans 16
Cleveland Browns (7-8) at Baltimore Ravens (9-6), BAL by 8.5 – Last week was a game the Ravens really needed, and now they’ll need this one with some help from other teams to get into the playoffs. The Browns are on a tailspin to end the season, so the Ravens will do their part, but they’ll need help from the Chiefs if they want a playoff spot. Ravens 26, Browns 10
Buffalo Bills (8-7) at New England Patriots (12-3), NE by 5 – The Patriots may be locked in at the #1 seed, but the last time they entered a regular season finale with homefield locked up, Tom Brady stayed in the game until they had a 38-0 lead. Don’t expect Belichick to lay off the gas, especially in a divisional matchup against a tough Bills squad. Patriots 31, Bills 17
New York Jets (3-12) at Miami Dolphins (8-7), MIA by 5.5 – The Dolphins may be out of playoff contention, but 9-7 is not a bad way to end the year. Still, Dolphins fans are going to look back on this year and think of lost opportunities against several teams in close games that could have made a difference in their playoff standing. Dolphins 20, Jets 17
Carolina Panthers (6-8-1) at Atlanta Falcons (6-9), ATL by 4 – In a game deciding the championship, look for the Falcons to come out victorious. They’re undefeated against NFC South foes this year, and while Carolina has come on strong lately I can’t look past Atlanta’s divisional record. Falcons 30, Panthers 20
Chicago Bears (5-10) at Minnesota Vikings (6-9), MIN by 7 – The Vikings have played tough football over the last month and a half, and the Bears gave up by early November. I think this one won’t be close. Vikings 31, Bears 10
San Diego Chargers (9-6) at Kansas City Chiefs (8-7), KC by 2.5 – Kansas City’s homefield advantage can’t be understated, and this game has big-time playoff implications. For San Diego, it’s win and you’re in. Kansas City needs a bit of help from Cleveland and Jacksonville. This is going to be a tough contest, but it’s Philcember, baby. UPSET! – Chargers 24, Chiefs 20
Philadelphia Eagles (9-6) at New York Giants (6-9), NYG by 2.5 – The Eagles may have found a way to derp themselves out of the playoff picture, but I think they’ll end up with a nice round 10-6 season, getting past a Giants team that has suddenly become more feisty. UPSET! – Eagles 31, Giants 27
Dallas Cowboys (11-4) at Washington Redskins (4-11), DAL by 6.5 – Dallas has locked up its division and is basically locked in at the third seed, but that doesn’t mean that they will be expected to take it easy on their arch nemesis. Cowboys 27, Redskins 20
New Orleans Saints (6-9) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-13), NO by 4 – As disastrous as this season has been for the Saints, here’s a statistic that will show you how bad the Bucs have been: midway through the second quarter against the Packers last week, the Bucs didn’t have a single offensive yard. Yowza. Saints 27, Bucs 6
St. Louis Rams (6-9) at Seattle Seahawks (11-4), SEA by 12.5 – The Rams are going to give the Seahawks everything they’ve got, because that’s what they do against good teams. But the Seahawks are playing at home and going for the top seed, which would effectively guarantee them a second consecutive Super Bowl berth. Come on now. Seahawks 33, Rams 14
Arizona Cardinals (11-4) at San Francisco 49ers (7-8), SF by 6 – When your QB options are Ryan Lindley or Logan Thomas, you’re going nowhere, even against a dysfunctional and beaten down 49ers team. This Cardinals team, for all the great games it’s played this year, is a guaranteed one and done in the postseason. 49ers 20, Cardinals 9
Oakland Raiders (3-12) at Denver Broncos (11-4), DEN by 14 – Peyton Manning has looked shaky lately and the Broncos aren’t instilling fear in their opponents, but they’re playing the Raiders at home to lock up a first round bye, so yeah. Broncos 35, Raiders 13
Cincinnati Bengals (10-4-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5), PIT by 3.5 – The other game of the week. The Bengals had a breakthrough game on Monday night, finally taking down a good team in prime time and beating Peyton Manning for the first time ever. But on a short week, on the road against a divisional opponent in another primetime game, what are the odds they can duplicate that success? I don’t know, honestly. But I picked the Steelers to win the division at the beginning of this season, and some of ya’ll thought I was crazy. I’m sticking with them to seal it on Sunday night! Steelers 26, Bengals 24
Hard to believe it's the final week of the regular season! Argh the end of the year is too close for my liking.
