[center]
[/center]
GAME OF THE WEEK - Chicago Bears (4-3) at Green Bay Packers (5-2), GB by 11 - This is basically the Game of the Week by default, because it's the only one that features two teams over .500 playing each other. And honestly, it won't be a great game. The Bears' defense is terrible, Jay Cutler won't be playing and the Packers are looking about as good as they've looked in the last few years.
Packers 38, Bears 13Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) at Miami Dolphins (3-4), CIN by 2.5 - The Dolphins have lost four straight, and it's not about to get any easier. The Bengals are coming off a depantsing of the Jets, and are looking about as good as any team in the league. They'll continue their romp toward a division title with a convincing win over the flailing Dolphins.
Bengals 31, Dolphins 17Atlanta Falcons (2-5) at Carolina Panthers (4-3), CAR by 7.5 - What the hell has happened to the Atlanta Falcons? Their descent to the bottom of the standings this year defies all logic. The Panthers are finally starting to get it together, and with the Falcons in the state they're in it'd be a surprise to see Carolina lose this one.
Panthers 27, Falcons 17Minnesota Vikings (1-6) at Dallas Cowboys (4-4), DAL by 10.5 - A game at home against the hapless Vikings is just what the doctor ordered for the Cowboys after that embarrassment in Detroit. Dallas should get the win and maintain its wobbly lead in the NFC East.
Cowboys 31, Vikings 10New Orleans Saints (6-1) at New York Jets (4-4), NO by 5.5 - Tough game to pick, given that it's in New York. The Jets did manage to beat the Patriots, but the game against the Bengals last week was pretty eye opening. I'm going to go with the safe pick here, but wouldn't be overly surprised to see an upset.
Saints 26, Jets 20Tennessee Titans (3-4) at St. Louis Rams (3-5), TEN by 3.5 - The Jeff Fisher bowl has arrived, and that silence is the sound of all the people who give a fuck. Jake Locker should be playing for the Titans, while the Rams are up a crick without a paddle with no Sam Bradford for the rest of the season. Not even Brett Favre could step in and save the Rams from their fate for the rest of this year.
Titans 20, Rams 13Kansas City Chiefs (8-0) at Buffalo Bills (3-5), KC by 3.5 - Kansas City's going to have to lose a game sooner or later, and the Bills have already pulled off a couple surprise victories this season. I think they're going to give the Chiefs a good run for their money, but I just think that Chiefs defense is too good for this to be the game where they fall.
Chiefs 20, Bills 16San Diego Chargers (4-3) at Washington Redskins (2-5), PUSH - What little momentum the Redskins had after their win in Chicago quickly evaporated in Denver, and now the team is probably just hoping to get out of the season with RGIII intact and somewhat resembling his former self. The Chargers probably shouldn't have too much difficulty in dispatching the Redskins.
Chargers 28, Redskins 20Philadelphia Eagles (3-5) at Oakland Raiders (3-4), PHI by 1 - So much for the Eagles offense under Chip Kelly lighting up the world. Now with Vick and Foles both injured, there's basically no chance that Matt Barkley steps in and wins a game for this team. The Raiders should be able to capitalize.
UPSET! - Raiders 23, Eagles 13Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7) at Seattle Seahawks (7-1), SEA by 17 - Lol.
Seahawks 42, Bucs 10Baltimore Ravens (3-4) at Cleveland Browns (3-5), BAL by 3 - I could actually see the Browns coming in here and pulling off the upset now that Weeden won't be starting, but the Ravens are in desperate need of a victory and I think that desperation outweighs anything the Browns will be able to do.
Ravens 20, Browns 17Pittsburgh Steelers (2-5) at New England Patriots (6-2), NE by 7 - Remember how this used to be one of the most anticipated matchups of every season? My how much has changed. The Patriots should be able to deliver a knockout blow to the Steelers and continue their coast toward yet another division title.
Patriots 27, Steelers 14Indianapolis Colts (5-2) at Houston Texans (2-5), IND by 2 - This is basically the last chance for the Texans to scramble back into the playoff race. They'll need consecutive wins starting this week to even have a prayer. Unfortunately for them, I just think that the Colts are too good.
Colts 34, Texans 20.
BYES: Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers