We're in the final month of the season, and every single game is important for anyone in the playoff hunt from here on out. Except for the Cowboys, who can essentially coast to the top seed in the NFC.
Here are this week's games:
GAME OF THE WEEK - THURSDAY NIGHT - Oakland Raiders (10-2) at Kansas City Chiefs (9-3), KC by 3 - An absolutely huge game on Thursday night this week, by far the most meaningful Thursday game of the year. If the Chiefs win, they've got a permanent head to head tiebreaker on the Raiders. If the Raiders win, they've all but locked up the AFC West and a first round bye, barring a collapse. The stakes are gigantic. The first meeting between these two teams was close, and this one will be too. But with the way the Chiefs have been pulling victories out of their ass lately, and the fact that they're playing at home on a short week, I have to take them, as much as I want to see the Raiders victorious. Chiefs 23, Raiders 20
Denver Broncos (8-4) at Tennessee Titans (6-6), TEN by 1 - Coming off a bye, the Titans were handed a huge favor by the Texans last week in Green Bay. Now they need to win games to get in to the playoffs. But right now, the Denver Broncos are in must-win mode as well, as there's a very competitive wild card race happening in the AFC. The Titans are tough, but the Broncos are more talented and better coached, even if their offense is hot garbage. UPSET! - Broncos 20, Titans 17
San Diego Chargers (5-7) at Carolina Panthers (4-8), CAR by 1 - There's really not much reason for anyone to have any confidence in the Panthers at this point. UPSET! - Chargers 27, Panthers 17
Houston Texans (6-6) at Indianapolis Colts (6-6), IND by 6 - This game could very well end up being a knock-out blow for one of these teams. There's only one team coming out of the AFC South, and there's a three-way race going on. Playing at home, and not being quarterbacked by Brock Osweiler, the Colts have the clear advantage, but you never know in this division. Colts 26, Texans 17
Cincinnati Bengals (4-7-1) at Cleveland Browns (0-12), CIN by 6 - This is really the Browns' best chance to pick up a win for the rest of the season. But there's no chance I'm predicting that. Bengals 30, Browns 13
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) at Buffalo Bills (6-6), PIT by 2 -Another highly important game for the AFC playoff picture. Win, and the Bills still have a small shot, while the Steelers are forced to hope for the Ravens to lose and stay tight. Lose, and the Bills are now likely eliminated, and the Steelers keep the pressure on in the AFC North. The Steelers looked the part of contenders against this Giants this past weekend, and I expect them to keep the momentum going even in a tough road atmosphere. Steelers 27, Bills 20
Arizona Cardinals (5-6-1) at Miami Dolphins (7-5), MIA by 1.5 - The Dolphins really needed a win against Baltimore, but got housed. Now they need to win out and hope for a Denver loss or two to get them into the postseason. Playing against a neutered Cardinals team, they're certainly capable of coming away with a win, but the Cardinals are now playing spoiler and are more than capable of taking them down. UPSET! - Cardinals 24, Dolphins 20
Chicago Bears (3-9) at Detroit Lions (8-4), DET by 8 - Records go out the window in NFC North divisional games. The Lions are going to win this game, but they're going to get a stiff challenge from a Bears team that really would love to spoil their season. With the Cowboys, Giants and Packers left on their schedule, this is an absolute must-win for Detroit if they hope to get into the postseason. Lions 30, Bears 17
Minnesota Vikings (6-6) at Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10), MIN by 3.5 - The Vikings have lost six of their last seven, and are watching their playoff hopes slowly fade away. But this week they get a Jaguars team that has completely given up on its coaching staff. If they can't win this, they deserve to be eliminated. Vikings 27, Jaguars 19
New Orleans Saints (5-7) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5), TB by 2.5 - If the season ended today, the Bucs would be in the playoffs. Crazy eh? The Saints certainly have a good shot at playing spoiler, but I like the way the Bucs have played against some good competition lately. They've got this one. Bucs 23, Saints 16
Washington Redskins (6-5-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-7), WAS by 1 - Consider this an elimination game in the AFC East. The Eagles are longshots at this point, but need a win to stay alive. The Redskins did themselves no favors by losing last week, but still have an outside shot at a wild card. Playing at home, give me Philadelphia. UPSET! - Eagles 21, Redskins 17
New York Jets (3-9) at San Francisco 49ers (1-11), SF by 2.5 - The Jets are so bad that they're underdogs to the 49ers the week after the niners had five yards in a half passing. Incredible. UPSET! - Jets 20, 49ers 6
Seattle Seahawks (8-3-1) at Green Bay Packers (6-6), SEA by 2.5 - The most important game in the week in the NFC, and the second-most important game in the league this week. The Packers haven't been playing INCREDIBLE football in their last two wins, but they're playing noticably more inspired football, and a brand of football that's much more likely to lead to sustainable success. The Seahawks have had problems with consistency all year long, and with the Packers' pass rush starting to wake up, that terrible offensive line could have trouble. Lambeau is going to be insane for this game, so the Seahawks are going to have to have a fast start if they want to take this one. Given how rough their offense has been most of this year, that might not be in the cards. Call me stupid, but I'm going to take the Packers. Something about this team has given me hope again that they're going to turn it around and sneak into the playoffs, against all the odds. UPSET! - Packers 27, Seahawks 24
Atlanta Falcons (7-5) at Los Angeles Rams (4-8), ATL by 6 - The Falcons get a nice easy road game to keep themselves in position to maintain their division lead over the upstart Bucs. Falcons 31, Rams 13
Dallas Cowboys (11-1) at New York GIants (8-4), DAL by 3 - A rematch of the first game of the season, which was a truly entertaining contest, is Dallas's chance to claim the division and a first-round bye once and for all. These two teams have come a long way since that week one battle, and with so much on the line, Dallas has to take it. Cowboys 23, Giants 20
Baltimore Ravens (7-5) at New England Patriots (10-2), NE by 7 - All eyes in Pittsburgh will be on this game, for sure. The Ravens have given the Patriots fits in the past, but this incarnation of the Patriots is on a mission that won't be thwarted by a 7-5 team at home in primetime. Patriots 34, Ravens 20
