Fraser's Favorites Week 17

San Francisco at St. Louis
A game that has relatively little impact on the playoff scene, barring a major upset by the Rams, suddenly has huge implications. If the Rams lose this game, which they will, and the Colts end up beating the Jaguars, the number one pick of next years draft falls into St. Louis’ hands. This was an incredibly disappointing season for the Rams. A team with playoff expectations as the season began is now in position to earn the one or two pick in the draft. The complete lack of an offense is solely to blame for the Rams woes. They score 11.1 points per game on average and have the leagues third worst passing attack. After getting shut out last week by the second best defense in the league in the Steelers, the Rams welcome the leagues best defense, the 49ers. Another shut out this week will end a truly pathetic season and all of St. Louis will become Indianapolis Colts fans.
San Francisco- 20
St. Louis- 0

Washington at Philadelphia
With a win this week against the Redskins, the Philadelphia Eagles could end the season on a four game win streak to improve their record to .500. While this team failed to meet exceedingly high expectations and the “superstars” of the team failed to mesh early this year, the Eagles could be scary in 2012. The momentum of a four game win streak will certainly carry over into the offseason and early next season. In order to attain that winning streak, the Eagles must defeat their NFC East rival Washington Redskins this week. In their last four games, the Redskins are giving up an average of 27 points per game, and have given up 30 points or more in three out of those four games. A rejuvenated Eagles offense will put up forty points on Washington this week illustrating what to expect of Philadelphia next year.
Washington- 24
Philadelphia- 42

Detroit at Green Bay
While the Lions are finally back into the playoffs, this game is extremely important for them. The difference between the 5 and 6 seed in the NFC is tremendous. That difference means playing either the NFC East champion or the New Orleans Saints in the SuperDome. Nobody wants to play the Saints in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Packers have achieved all they could have thus far this season and have clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs. With relatively nothing to play for, the Packers should rest their starters. As Aaron Rodgers sits, Matt Flynn will step in. Flynn will be auditioning for a starting role for another team for next season. At home, on a New Years Day where the forecast is snow, wind, and 32 degree weather, the Packers will gain the season sweep over the Lions.
Detroit- 17
Green Bay- 21

Tennessee at Houston
It is important to not only have talent going into the playoffs, but also momentum. Right now, the Houston Texans are going backwards. They have lost their last two games to two teams with sub .500 records. There are now questions again about the effectiveness of rookie quarterback T.J. Yates and the abilities of this Texans offense. However, the Texans did not come this far this season because of an explosive offense, but rather a superior defense. The absence of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips has clearly impacted this teams success over the last two games. His return should serve to motivate this team. A victory against the Titans could provide the momentum necessary for the Texans to succeed in the playoffs.
Tennessee- 13
Houston -23

Indianapolis at Jacksonville
There are several questions be answered as this game is played on: Do the Colts lose to get the number one pick in the draft or do they play hard like they have in their last two wins? Do the Jaguars lose on purpose to ensure Andrew Luck and the number one pick don’t fall into their own division? Will Jacksonville trade to get Andrew Luck because Blain Gabbert is that bad? No, of course the Jaguars won’t do that, but this game will determine the future of the Colts franchise. There is no way the Colts should play to win this game. Granted, professional athletes don’t like to (and hopefully don’t) lose on purpose to gain a draft pick, but this year its exceptionally important. The players should realize that the future of the frachise is more important than pride. The Colts should not, and will not, win this game for all of the right reasons.
Indianapolis- 14
Jacksonville- 17

N.Y. Jets at Miami
A season filled with ups and downs for the Jets (two game win streak, three game losing streak, three game winning streak, two game losing streak, three game win streak, and two game losing streak) will end with another down. The Jets will miss out on the playoffs and will finish their season with a loss to the Miami Dolphins. Finishing the season with an 8-8 record and missing out on the playoffs is not what head coach Rex Ryan expected coming into the season. Last week’s loss to the New York Giants was a microcosm of the Jets season. There were plenty of opportunities for the Jets to succeed, but a lack of consistency and a lack of execution doomed them. In a city that demands success, the Jets have to reconsider their roster for the future, specifically at quarterback.
NYJ- 18
Miami- 25

Chicago at Minnesota
After a fast start to the season, the Chicago Bears were victims of injuries to their starting quarterback and starting running back. The ineffectiveness of backup quarterback Caleb Hanie ultimately destined this team for failure. The Minnesota Vikings also suffered a significant injury as star running back Adrian Peterson tore his ACL last week against the Redskins. The Vikings still remained explosive on offense last week despite losing Peterson. The Bears struggles will continue as they travel to Minnesota in the final game of the season.
Chicago- 24
Minnesota- 31

Buffalo at New England
An interesting stat concerning the subtraction of Albert Haynesworth from the Patriots roster and the addition of him to the Bucs roster. When Haynesworth was with the Patriots, the team went 5-3. Since the team has released Haynesworth, the team is 7-0. As soon as the Patriots released him, the Buccaneers scooped him up from waivers. Since the Buccaneers have had Haynesworth they are now 0-7. Now we see why there were such problems with him last year on the Redskins…Nonetheless, the Patriots have their sights on home field advantage throughout the playoffs but first have to defeat the Buffalo Bills. Earlier in the season, the Bills completed a miraculous come from behind victory in an upset to defeat the Pats in Buffalo. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady don’t forget. That humiliating loss to the Bills will be avenged this week. Bradys “injured” shoulder will soon be forgotten as he too will break Dan Marino’s former record for passing yards in a season.
Buffalo- 23
New England- 42

Carolina at New Orleans
Sean Payton will be keeping a close eye on the scores from other games around the league. As soon as the 49ers jump out to a comfortable lead over the Rams, Chase Daniels could see a substantial amount of playing time. At that point, the Saints will have nothing to play for and will want to keep Drew Brees healthy. That gives Cam Newton and the Panthers the opportunity to defeat their division rival and show the Saints what to expect from them next season. Another top ten pick coupled with the defense getting healthy again could make the Panthers a serious playoff contender next year.
Carolina-35
New Orleans- 31

Tampa Bay at Atlanta
Despite the final score of the game against the Saints, Atlanta was not completely blown out in the game. The Falcons were down 12 points with about nine minutes left when Matt Ryan completed a pass to Julio Jones. Jones fumbled and a Saints defender picked up the ball racing into the endzone for a Saints touchdown. That defensive touchdown knocked the Falcons out of the game, and made what was a close game, seem like a blowout. This week the Falcons will play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who are on a nine game losing streak. Atlanta needs to win this game and hope for a Lions loss to avoid traveling to New Orleans again to take on the Saints in the playoffs. An easy win this week against the lowly Bucs will leave their playoff seed’s fate in the hands of the Lions-Packers game.
Tampa Bay- 17
Atlanta- 35

Baltimore at Cincinnati
The Bengals were supposed to be one of the worst teams in the league. They had no answer at quarterback. Their head coach was on the hot seat. Their team was supposedly a mess. And now they are in position to win the final game of the season and make the playoffs. Andy Dalton has shocked the league and has been one of the best rookie quarterbacks the league has ever seen. They have competed in arguably the toughest division in the NFL. And they have one of the leagues better defenses. The Bengals will have to be at their best this week when they welcome the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens, who need this win to secure the AFC North division title, have been known for their hiccups on the road this season. In this matchup, a young, motivated Bengals team at home will get the necessary victory to vault them into the 6th seed in the playoffs.
Baltimore- 21
Cincinnati- 24

Pittsburgh at Cleveland
With the Baltimore Ravens traveling to Cincinnati, the Steelers have an opportunity to win the AFC North. Big Ben is reportedly considering playing on an injured ankle. Big Ben doesn’t have to play in this game. Coming off of a shutout against the Rams, the Steelers defense is playing fast and motivated again. The Steelers will hold the Browns to under ten points in what will be a division clinching victory for Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh- 27
Cleveland-9

Seattle at Arizona
The Arizona Cardinals are an Early Doucet false step away from completing yet another come from behind victory. Six out of the seven Cardinals victories have been fourth quarter comebacks. A fourth quarter comeback is impossible when Marshawn Lynch is the opposing running back. As the Seahawks gain a lead in a hard fought game, Lynch will allow the Seahawks to win the time of possession and eliminate any Cardinals hopes of a comeback.
Seattle- 23
Arizona- 20

Kansas City at Denver
Kyle Orton had no chance of surviving Denver. From the time that Tim Tebow was drafted by the Broncos, all of Denver wanted Orton out and Tebow in. Orton had to hear about it everywhere he went. There were billboards begging John Fox to put Tebow in. At every game, fans would chant for Tebow. Now, Kyle Orton returns to Denver as the starting quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs and has an opportunity to spoil the Broncos playoff hopes. Not only will the Chiefs signal caller be motivated, but so will the rest of the team playing for interim head coach Romeo Crennel. A motivated Chiefs defense will contain Tim Tebow placing the playoffs hopes of the Broncos in the hands of the Raiders. However, with a Raiders loss, the Broncos will back into the playoffs.
Kansas City- 24
Denver- 20

San Diego at Oakland
With the addition of Carson Palmer, the Raiders had expectations of playing deep into the playoffs. In week 17, they will need help to make it in. The Chargers have already been eliminated from the playoffs and have to be extremely disappointed with their play this season. The talent on this roster should make them an immediate contender in not only the AFC West, but for the conference championship as well. A failure to meet their potential means the blame falls on head coach Norv Turner. As the Chargers travel to Oakland, Turner will earn a win in his final game as head coach in San Diego.
San Diego- 33
Oakland- 28

Dallas at N.Y. Giants
The playoffs are starting early this year in the NFL. After 16 weeks, the only champion in the NFC East is the mediocrity of the teams that make up the division. The winner of the division, either the Dallas Cowboys or New York Giants, will take over as the number four seed in the playoffs and will play either the Falcons or the Lions. In the first game these two teams played, there were numerous defensive mistakes as receivers were left wide open for easy touchdowns. This game will be determined by the defense that can limit those big plays. The New York Giants will be the beneficiary of an injured Tony Romo, defeating the Dallas Cowboys, vaulting them into the playoffs as the NFC East champion.
Dallas- 27
New York Giants- 33

Fraser's Favorites Week 16

Houston at Indianapolis

Forget about Andrew Luck. Forget about Peyton Manning. Dan Orlovsky is the answer in Indianapolis. Not exactly, but Orlovsky has played relatively well in the three games he has started this season. He is completing 63% of his passes, with 4 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions. The real reason the Colts finally got their first win of the season though was the play of their defense. The defense forced three turnovers and held the Titans rushing attack to only 66 yards. A defense that has been giving up over 28 points per game, held the Titans to only 13 last Sunday. This same defensive effort will not be repeated on Thursday night against the Texans. They welcome a Houston team that has dominated this season because of a consistent rushing attack and ball control offense. Although T.J. Yates showed the first signs of being a rookie against the Panthers, all he will have to do against the Colts this week is turn around and hand the ball to Arian Foster and Ben Tate. Both runningbacks will go over the 100 yard mark on the ground Thursday night, as the Houston Texans improve their record to 11-4.

Houston- 27
Indianapolis- 17

Cleveland at Baltimore

Has there been a team with more disappointing losses than the Ravens this season? That is not to take away anything from what San Diego did last week, but the Baltimore Ravens have laid some serious eggs. It truly is inexplicable for this defense to lose to Blaine Gabbert earlier in the season and then to give up as much offense as it did Sunday night. There is no doubt that they will bounce back this week at home against the Browns, but this team has to find consistency especially on the road. The perfect cure for a tough road loss is an upcoming game with the offensively challenged Cleveland Browns. It seems as if the Browns have been in rebuilding mode for close to a decade now. Looks like they will have to start all over again after yet another disappointing season.

Cleveland- 13
Baltimore- 24

Minnesota at Washington

Both of these teams have shown glimpses of what they are capable of. The Minnesota Vikings offense led by Christian Ponder, runningback Adrian Peterson, and exceptional playmaker Percy Harvin can be scary. The Washington Redskins defense led by its linebacking core of Ryan Kerrigan, Brian Orakpo, London Fletcher, and Rocky McIntosh can shut down opponents. However, the most difficult thing to do in the NFL is stay consistent; something that both of these teams have struggled to do this season. The biggest disappointment for Minnesota has been the play of their defense. They have suffered serious injuries in their secondary, and are giving up an atrocious 29 points per game, which is last in the NFL. Unless Jared Allen manages to make every tackle, the Redskins rushing attack should allow them to dominate the time of possession and therefore dominate this matchup.

Minnesota- 20
Washington -30

Jacksonville at Tennessee

With absolutely no pocket presence and awareness of defensive pressure, Blaine Gabbert proved last Thursday night that he is not the answer in Jacksonville. The experiment is over. The Jaguars need to find a new quarterback. They should look to what the Tennessee Titans did this offseason and its successes and failures during the season. The Titans brought in veteran Matt Hasselback to teach rookie Jake Locker what it takes to be successful in this league. Locker’s playing time has been limited, but he has played enough to gain the necessary experience to be successful next year. Titans head coach Mike Munchak has already declared Matt Hasselback the starter for this week’s game. This is a curious decision. The Titans playoff outlook looks helpless at this point, and Hasselback, who has fought injuries all season, was a major reason why the Titans were the first victims of the Colts last Sunday. Another reason the Titans collapsed against the Colts was because their defense allowed 205 rushing yards, 80 of those coming on a 4th quarter touchdown run by Donald Brown. That kind of rush defense does not bode well when Maurice Jones-Drew is coming to town. Another flaw in the Titans team is their lack of a pass rush as they are third to last in the league with 24 sacks. Three of the four victims of the Jaguars this season, the Titans, the Buccaneers, and the Colts, are in the bottom five in the league in sacking opposing quarterbacks. The Titans inability to threaten rookie Blaine Gabbert will allow for him to become comfortable in the pocket and we may see some positive signs from him. Maybe.

Jacksonville- 16
Tennessee- 14

St. Louis at Pittsburgh

The Rams have to shut Sam Bradford down for the rest of the season. Not only because they have nothing to gain by playing him, but also because they have actually played better offensively without him. This putrid Rams offense will now travel to play a Pittsburgh team coming off a road loss to the 49ers Monday night. While the Rams should shut down Bradford, the Steelers should shut down Roethlisberger. He was completely ineffective in their game against the 49ers and needs to rest before the playoffs. Backups Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon have proved in the past that they are more than capable of putting this team in position to win games. All they have to do in this game is put their team in field goal position one time as the Rams will be shut out in Pittsburgh this week.

St. Louis-0
Pittsburgh- 20

N.Y. Giants at N.Y. Jets

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…Unless you are a New York football fan. Neither the Jets or the Giants showed up for their week 15 matchups, making this week 16 New York showdown even more critical for these teams playoff hopes. This game will ultimately be determined by which defense best covers its opponent’s receivers. Last week against the Eagles, the man coverage the Jets usually play was picked apart by Michael Vick. Despite having arguably the best cornerback in the game Darrelle Revis, the Jets secondary looked extremely vulnerable when Vick had enough time to throw. If the Jets hope to win this matchup with the Giants, safeties Brodney Pool and Eric Smith will have to do a better job covering space in the middle of the field and their defensive line will have to put pressure on Manning. On the other hand, the New York Giants entire defense has been suspect for much of the season. They have not played a complete defensive game yet. One game their defensive line looks sluggish, the next game their secondary leaves wide receivers virtually uncovered. These things cannot happen if the expectation is for this team to make the playoffs. In a game where the loser will be left scrambling to make the playoffs, the Giants recent loss to the Redskins will provide a wake up call to their entire team, as Eli Manning and Jason Pierre-Paul lead the Giants to a crucial win.

NYG- 27
NYJ- 23

Denver at Buffalo

Hopefully a loss will quiet the Tebow fanatics. It truly is getting tiring hearing about Tebow on various television networks. It would be interesting if he was actually a good quarterback! Nonetheless as the Denver Broncos travel to Buffalo this weekend, they will need a win to keep pace in the wild AFC West division race. The Broncos are set to run all over the Bills this weekend. The Broncos boast the league’s best rush offense, running for over 160 yards per game. Meanwhile, the Bills have the league's 28th ranked rush defense, giving up an average of about 140 yards per game. Expect the Broncos to consistently get in field goal range for Matt Prater who will nail five field goals in a key victory for Denver.

Denver- 22
Buffalo – 20

Tampa Bay at Carolina

It is amazing how much the futures of these teams have turned around in this single season. The Buccaneers were supposed to be contenders and Josh Freeman was supposed to take the next step in his progression as a young quarterback. After a seven game losing streak and a complete collapse, there is no doubt Raheem Morris will be fired and serious changes will be made. On the other hand, the Carolina Panthers have competed in just about every game they have played in and no doubt have their quarterback for at least another decade. If the Panthers can get healthy and continue to improve their defense, this will be a scary team next year. Even though these teams are only playing for pride at this point, Carolina will want to prove to the Buccaneers that they are no longer the worst team in the NFC South.

Tampa Bay- 17
Carolina- 30

Arizona at Cincinnati

Both teams in this matchup need this game to stay alive in their respective playoff races. The Cincinnati Bengals recently took care of business against the Rams, but are only 2 and 4 in their last six games. Rookie Andy Dalton was in early contention with Cam Newton for rookie of the year, but has come down to earth in recent games. In the first eight games of the season, Dalton completed 61% of his passes, with 12 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. In the first six games of the second half of the season, Dalton is completing 55% of his passes with only six touchdowns and six interceptions. Specifically, when Dalton plays NFC opponents, his numbers drop considerably as his quarterback rating drops from an 81 to a 57. The Bengals opponent this week are from, you guessed it, the NFC. The Bengals will have to contain Larry Fitzgerald this week which has proved to be an almost impossible task for opposing teams. In a close, hard fought, down to the wire game, the Arizona Cardinals will continue their revival from a slow start and remain in contention for an NFC wildcard spot.

Arizona- 24
Cincinnati- 21

Oakland at Kansas City

There are a number of Jekyl and Hyde teams this year, but the Kansas City Chiefs top them all. The Chiefs started the season losing three in a row, then won four in a row, then lost four in a row, and have now won two out of three. They defeated the defending SuperBowl champions and seemingly unbeatable Green Bay Packers, with a new coach in Romeo Crennel and a new quarterback in Kyle Orton. The real hero though was the defense led by Tamba Hali. With the slimmest of playoff hopes alive, the Chiefs welcome AFC West rival Oakland Raiders. The free fall for Oakland continued last week with a disastrous home loss to the Lions. A consistent pass rush from the Chiefs defense will cause Carson Palmer to commit multiple turnovers in a season-ending loss for the Raiders. Question for Hue Jackson; Now would you consider that trade for Palmer “the greatest in football”?

Oakland- 20
Kansas City- 21

Miami at New England

Thank you Tom Brady. Thank you Bill Belichick. Thank you New England Patriots for finally quieting Tim Tebow and his colt. There are no doubts about how talented the Patriots offenseis, but questions remain with regards to the Patriots defense. Before Denver started to turn the ball over, the Broncos ripped apart the Pats D averaging over 10 yards per play throughout the first quarter. After three fortuitous turnovers for the Patriots, Tom Brady and company took care of business, extending the Patriots lead. However, the Patriots will not be so fortunate in playoff games as teams will not turn the ball over three or more times. This week against the Dolphins, Brady and the offense will continue to excel, but the defense will allow the Dolphins to stay in the game.

Miami- 28
New England- 35

San Diego at Detroit

Matthew Stafford led yet another miraculous comeback for the Detroit Lions last week. When hope is dwindling and all seems lost, Stafford seems to shine. What is curious is how the Lions continue to put themselves in situations where they are forced to perform miracles. They have an above average offense, an average defense, and an excellent turnover ratio. While the Lions remain a mystery, so do the San Diego Chargers. Once again, the Chargers find themselves in the thick of things in the AFC West after yet another second half comeback in their season. Much of their success can be credited to the excellent play of their quarterback Philip Rivers. In December, Rivers is completing 75% of his passes, with seven touchdowns and no interceptions. This is going to be an extremely fun game to watch between the Chargers and Lions. Both teams have high powered offenses and need this game to remain alive in their respective playoff races. The Chargers have been in this situation before, but the Lions have proved to perform well under pressure. The Lions get a dose of their own medicine this week, as Rivers leads a comeback win over Detroit to keep the Chargers AFC West hopes alive.

San Diego- 38
Detroit- 35

San Francisco at Seattle

How can you not like the Seattle Seahawks? They have an unbelievable fan base, an energetic head coach, and a young, fiery team. With another win last week, the Seahawks improved to 7-7 and kept their playoff hopes alive. This week they welcome their division rival, the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers are coming off a huge statement win against the Pittsburgh Steelers last Monday night. Despite two power outages at their own stadium, the 49ers defense continued to shine holding a one-legged Ben Roethlisberger and company to only three points. It is incredible that this defense has not allowed a rushing touchdown yet this season. They are the first team to begin the first 15 games of the season without allowing a rushing touchdown since the Decatur Staleys in the 1920’s. Enter Marshawn Lynch. Lynch, given the energy to perform by Skittles, has been an unstoppable force in the last several weeks. What will happen when the unstoppable force of Lynch meets with the 49ers immovable defense? Seahawks win.

San Francisco- 13
Seattle- 21

Philadelphia at Dallas

We knew that the NFC East was going to come down to an interesting and crazy finish, but not this crazy. The Eagles, somehow, someway, are still alive and now they are looking scary. They absolutely demolished the New York Jets last Sunday and looked like the team we had expected all season. In the Eagles last two wins, against the Jets and Dolphins, their defense has caused seven turnovers and sacked the opposing quarterback 13 times. Leading the defensive charge has been defensive end Jason Babin who has 13 sacks over the last four games and needs only 4.5 sacks to tie Michael Strahan’s season sack record. The Cowboys also got a much-needed win last week, but against a less formidable opponent. As the play of the defense for the Eagles has improved, it has made it that much easier for Michael Vick and the offense to be successful. The Eagles remain in contention for the NFC East title as Babin adds two more sacks, and the Eagles defeat the Cowboys.

Philadelphia- 35
Dallas- 33

Chicago at Green Bay

Some quotes from Rocky IV to summarize the Green Bay Packers loss to the Kansas City Chiefs this past Sunday. “You see? You see? He's not a machine, he's a man, he's a man.” Aaron Rodgers appeared to be less of a machine against the Chiefs completing less than 50% of his passes and throwing for only one touchdown. “He's cut, he's cut, the Russian's cut and it's a bad cut, and now it's Rocky Balboa coming after Ivan Drago”. The loss to the Kansas City Chiefs exposed a “cut” and a “bad cut” in the Green Bay defense and Green Bay offensive line. The Packers offensive line seemed exceptionally vulnerable and could provide an opening for a Green Bay upset in the playoffs. They still have two regular season games and a bye week in the playoffs to fix, or at least improve upon, their weaknesses. Meanwhile, the Bears now look for answers from their third string quarterback Josh McCown. In his first start of the season, McCown gets to play the defending champions who are now angry after their first loss of the season who also still need to lock up home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Good Luck, Josh.

Chicago- 13
Green Bay- 30

Atlanta at New Orleans

This has been one of the better rivalries in the NFL over the past four seasons. The New Orleans Saints have controlled the matchup since 2008, going 5-2 against the Falcons. Five out of the seven games have been decided by four or less points, and the total point differential in the seven games is only three. The Saints defeated the Falcons in overtime earlier this season after a questionable decision by Mike Smith gave the Saints incredible field position for a game-winning field goal. The Falcons are not getting enough attention in this particular game. Too much attention is being paid to Drew Brees’ quest for a record setting season and the Saints six game win streak. The Falcons defense has played respectably well over the last few weeks and are now getting back their best cornerback Brent Grimes. Expect Matt Ryan and Drew Brees to throw touchdown after touchdown throughout this entire game. The outcome of this game will be determined by which defense is able to hold its opponent late in the game. The Falcons defense outplays the Saints defense in another classic NFC South showdown.

Atlanta- 31
New Orleans- 27

Fraser's Favorites Week 16
Check back tomorrow night to find out my favorites for week 16 in the NFL!

Fraser's Favorites Week 15

Jacksonville at Atlanta

Mike Smith’s halftime speech against the Carolina Panthers had to be one for the ages. Not only did his team respond after halftime with 24 unanswered points to beat the Panthers, but Smith was also hospitalized after the game with chest pains. As fans, we tend to forget the amount of physical and mental stress that coaches and players are forced to handle throughout the entirety of the season. Off days are rare and there is so much pressure to succeed. In a time where the mantra is win or be fired, coaches are asked to go above and beyond their call of duty, non-stop, for half of the year. Coaches like Mike Smith who are energetic and fiery are often successful because of their dedication to the game. However, no matter how intense the pressure to win, coaches and players should remember that their long-term health is more important than an extra couple of hours of film study. Nonetheless, in this matchup of Thursday Night Football, both teams will need those extra couple of hours of film study on a short week. Matt Ryan has been electric in his last four games throwing for nine touchdown passes and only two interceptions, breaking the top ten in terms of quarterback rating this week. Even though the Jaguars have been stout on defense, expect Matty Ice to attack this depleted secondary with deep passes to Roddy White and Julio Jones.

Jacksonville- 10
Atlanta- 42

Dallas at Tampa Bay

It is now only a matter of time before Raheem Morris is fired. All of the wheels have fallen off and the Buccaneers are completely lost. The “youngry” attitude and atmosphere that Morris attempted to bring has failed, bringing only chaos and confusion to a team desperate for discipline. Fortunately for the Bucs, there are myriad coaches available, such as Tony Dungy, Jon Gruden, Jack Del Rio, and Jeff Fisher, who can instill the discipline needed. In speaking of discipline, the Cowboys secondary was a microcosm for a lack of discipline Sunday Night. If the Cowboys have any hopes for a playoff birth, they have to play better defensively against Tampa Bay and their remaining opponents. Playing against a team in complete disarray, Tony “Romocoaster” will carry his team to a much-needed win.

Dallas- 27
Tampa Bay- 20

Carolina at Houston

Cam Newton should have learned three valuable lessons before, during, and after Sunday’s loss to the Falcons. Lesson #1: Do not talk badly about your own team. Newton stated earlier in the week that he is waiting for the rest of the team to play to “his level”. He needs to realize that “his level” just simply is not good enough yet. Lesson #2: Taking a sack is better than throwing an interception. Falcons linebacker Mike Peterson intercepted a pass that Newton threw lefty while falling to the ground. It was a pass that he simply should not have thrown. While the statistics he has put up this year are incredible, Newton has committed way too many turnovers. In the games where Newton throws an interception, the Panthers have a record of 1-8. This is a statistic that should resonate with Newton during the offseason as he reflects on his rookie year. And Lesson #3: A lesson in modesty as he needs to realize that there is always someone better than him. Matt Ryan showed the rookie quarterback that it is not about numbers; it is not about one quarter or one half, but about the number of wins at the end of the season. Meanwhile another rookie quarterback, T.J. Yates, led his team in a last minute, division championship sealing, comeback victory last Sunday. In this matchup of rookie quarterbacks, the team that commits the fewest amount of turnovers will win the game. In an upset victory, Cam Newton will learn from past mistakes, limiting the amount of poor decisions he makes, and show the league what we can expect from the Panthers in 2012.

Carolina- 27
Houston- 24

Tennessee at Indianapolis

For the past decade, the AFC South has been dominated by the Indianapolis Colts. Peyton Manning and the Colts offense continuously embarrassed division opponents in route to the division title six straight years from 2003-2009. Now, it is time for redemption. The remaining three opponents on the Colts schedule are the Tennessee Titans, the Houston Texans, and the Jacksonville Jaguars. These three opponents will be itching to continue the Colts winless season. Meanwhile, it is surprising that Jim Caldwell has made it this far. He should have been fired long ago especially in an era when coaches get fired after one or two mediocre seasons. But this is just dreadful. Obviously, losing arguably one of the best quarterbacks of all time in Peyton Manning has not helped their cause, but the Patriots managed extremely well only three years ago. When the Patriots lost Tom Brady to an injury in 2008, Matt Cassel stepped up and led the Patriots to an 11-5 record. Not because Matt Cassel is a superstar, but because Bill Belichick is one of the greatest coaches of all time. Not only should Caldwell be ridiculed for the offensive play, but the horrific play of the defense should be an indication that this team has just given up on their head coach. The Colts run defense is allowing 144 yards per game. As they welcome the Titans to Lucas Oil Stadium, Chris Johnson will rush for over 200 yards in a rout of the hapless Colts.

Tennessee- 31
Indianapolis- 17

Green Bay at Kansas City

When Pink Floyd asked in his 1980 song “Is there anybody out there?”, he was referencing the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback situation. Seriously, is there anybody out there that can play quarterback better than Tyler Palko? There has to be. This was a team with playoff aspirations and one that still had playoff aspirations going into last week. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, the solution to the problem, Kyle Orton, lasted one play and then went out with a dislocated finger. However, the front office for Kansas City had to do more. Kellen Clemens should have been signed. They should have retained Tyler Thigpen. Brett Favre should have come out of, back into, and back out of retirement. But sticking with Tyler Palko knowing that you have no chance to win with him is ridiculous. They got destroyed by the New York Jets last weekend and now welcome Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers could be on the bench by halftime of this game.

Green Bay- 42
Kansas City-10

Seattle at Chicago

Marshawn Lynch should have a sign around his neck saying “Do Not Feed the Beast”. This man just refuses to go down and has therefore earned himself the nickname “Beast Mode”. Lynch is often found on the sideline after a tantalizing run eating Skittles. Skittles are certainly an interesting choice for a players choice for energy during a football game, but I’m sure young football players will be seen on the sidelines soon hoarding bags of skittles. Not only should Marshawn Lynch be considered beast mode, but so should that “12th Man” The energy the fans brought to the Monday night Football stage wanted to make me start cheering for the Seahawks. Now the Seahawks, with the slimmest of hopes still alive for the playoffs, will travel to Chicago. Chicago is the latest victims of the miracles of Tim Tebow and have all but eliminated themselves from the playoffs. The Bears will have to get pressure on Tarvaris Jackson and create points defensively from turnovers to win games. Caleb Hanie can not and will not get the job done as a starter. The defense of the Bears, led by long-time leader Brian Urlacher, and the pass-rushing abilities of Julius Peppers, will create enough short-field opportunities for Bears kicker Robbie Gould to win a field-goal ridden game.

Seattle-13
Chicago-16

Miami at Buffalo

The Buffalo Bills were off to a 5-2 start earlier in the season. They were so thrilled with their incredible start that they inked their “franchise” quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to a $59 million dollar deal for six years. The Bills have now lost six straight games and are battling the Miami Dolphins for the cellar dweller of the AFC East. While six games do not define a player’s future, the Bills have to be rethinking their decision to sign Fitzpatrick to such a contract. Their counterparts in this matchup, the Miami Dolphins, have been extremely quiet about their plans for their future quarterback and will not commit to Matt Moore. While Moore has been exceeding expectations thus far, he did have to leave Sundays game against the Eagles with an injury. The Dolphins front office took swift action after their disappointing loss to the Eagles firing Head Coach Tony Sparano. Not too long ago, Sparano made the Dolphins playoff-relevant again and introduced the “Wildcat” formation to the NFL. The Dolphins will now begin their rebuilding process on a sour note as Ryan Fitzpatrick demonstrates why he was deserving of such a large contract.

Miami- 17
Buffalo- 23

New Orleans at Minnesota

The media would be looking at the New Orleans Saints in a different light if Jake Locker and the Titans were able to get into the end zone at the end of last week’s game. While the Saints did manage to hold on, they have to be questioning their ability to win consistently in natural weather conditions. It is clear that the Saints, specifically their offense led by Drew Brees, are masterful inside and in a dome. However, all roads to the Superbowl will go through Lambeau Field in 2012. Not only will they have to defeat the best team in football in their own stadium, but the Saints will also have to deal with sub-freezing conditions, windy conditions, and the potential for snow. The Minnesota Vikings know all about snow and the dangers it can bring as a result of the Metrodome roof collapsing last year. It seems like as the roof collapsed, so did any potential for this team. In a game that will be all too close for the Saints liking, a key last minute turnover by their rookie quarterback will doom the Vikings to another loss.

New Orleans- 30
Minnesota- 23

Cincinnati at St. Louis

It is unfortunate that such a phenomenal coach like Steve Spagnuolo will lose his job because of the lack of talent on his team. Sam Bradford has been dealing with nagging injuries all season, and the team itself has been riddled with players headed to the IR. The Seahawks blocked punt return for a touchdown was the epitome of a lost season because of injuries. Rookie Chris Smith was asked to take on special teams duties as a gunner. He got confused when the Seahawks went to an all-out punt block formation, missing his blocking assignment, and the punt was blocked and returned for a touchdown. There is not much that a coach can do when his team has inferior talent. A lucky team will acquire Spagnuolo this offseason and expect their defense to get drastically better because he truly is a defensive genius. The Rams play host this week to rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals have to win this game to keep their playoff hopes alive. While the Bengals have lost four of their last five to take the air out of what was an amazing season, it is important to point out that their opponents record in their last five games is 44-21. The Bengals will beat up on a hopeless Rams team and Steve Spagnuolo will have coached his last game at the Edward Jones Dome.

Cincinnati- 26
St. Louis-14

Washington at N.Y. Giants

All of his life, Eli has been compared to big brother Peyton. Peyton won a Superbowl first. Peyton has always been the better quarterback. Peyton has always been the better leader. Eli always had to sit in the middle seat on family vacations. But Eli does not have to hear that at all this season. This season is different for the Manning family. Peyton has been sidelined with a neck injury, and Eli is flourishing under the spotlight. The younger brother is finally getting the attention he has deserved his whole life and can now be considered one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL. Not just any quarterback can lead their team to as many 4th quarter comebacks as Eli has. Not just any quarterback can lead his team to victory with just four minutes left, down by 12 in the most important game of the season. It takes an elite quarterback to do what Eli Manning did. Eli and the term elite should be synonymous with each other for the next decade. In the end, Eli will outdo his older brother Peyton by hoisting the Lombardi Trophy more than just one time.

Washington- 26
New York Giants- 33

Detroit at Oakland

Earlier in the season, the Detroit Lions were referred to as the luckiest team in football. Let me reiterate. The Detroit Lions can once again be considered the luckiest team in football. They hung on to defeat the Minnesota Vikings, but only because of a blown facemask call. What makes the missed penalty even more intriguing was that it would have added to an already extremely long laundry list of personal foul penalties against the Detroit Lions this season. If the Lions want to have any chance of an upset in the playoffs, if they make it there, they will have to play with more discipline. Discipline is also an idea that Carson Palmer should have drilled into his head after yet another multi-interception performance last week against the Packers. Four more interceptions last week gives Palmer 13 interceptions already. The expectation for the Raiders was to trade for the veteran Palmer and make a run deep into the playoffs. After going 3-4 with Palmer on the team, it looks like the Raiders will have to fight to keep their AFC West division championship hopes alive. With the pressure of the electric Raiders crowd, Matthew Stafford will crack under pressure, allowing Michael Bush and the Raiders to run past the Lions in a season-saving victory for the Raiders.

Detroit- 25
Oakland- 28

Cleveland at Arizona

Now that Todd Haley was fired as the Kansas City Head Coach, the Arizona Cardinals should look to get him back as their offensive coordinator. With Haley, the Cardinals were able to make a run at the Superbowl with a limited rushing attack, and veteran Kurt Warner playing quarterback. Without Haley, and without Kurt Warner, the Cardinals offense is in the bottom third of the league in yards per game and scores only 19.5 points per game. While Arizona has had their fair share of injuries, re-hiring Haley could reignite this offense and vault this team back into competition in the NFC West. The real story with this team has been the phenomenal play of their defense and special teams over their last six games. The Cardinals defense has allowed only 17.5 points per game and their special teams, starring rookie Patrick Peterson, has scored on two punt returns in that six game span. The real reason the Cardinals have been playing so well defensively is because of the pressure they put on opposing quarterbacks. This defense has 10 sacks over its last two games and has eight players with two or more sacks over the course of the season. As the inept Cleveland Browns offense travels to play this Cardinals defense expect multiple turnovers by either Colt McCoy or Seneca Wallace, and a fourth straight victory for Arizona.

Cleveland- 14
Arizona- 24

New England at Denver

Tebow Time is becoming a national phenomenon. Despite the horrors of the Broncos offense for the first three quarters, a switch is turned in the fourth quarter. Not only does Tim Tebow play at a completely different level, but so does this entire Broncos team. Something also has to be said for the poor luck opposing teams seem to have in the fourth quarter and overtime of games. Defenders start to fall down, passes go right to defenders, Marion Barber fumbles in overtime, and divine intervention is a plausible answer. The questions remain as to whether or not Tebow can be a long term solution for the Broncos. Those answers will come this week because Tebow will be forced into a shootout with Tom Brady. Brady and the Patriots, vying for home field advantage in the playoffs, managed to sneak passed the Redskins last week. Brady has had no problems scoring this season, continuously hooking up with unstoppable tight end Rob Gronkowski. Pre-game media discussions will be laughable this week as Brady and Belichick answer questions about Tebow. Tom Brady and Bellichick will not allow this craziness to happen to the Patriots as they dismantle Tebow and the Broncos.

New England- 35
Denver- 16

N.Y. Jets at Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Eagles can still make the playoffs. It’s not probable, but it’s possible. They would need a lot of help and have to win their remaining three games to improve to 8-8, but crazier things have happened in the NFL…If the Eagles, and Eagles fans, are truly thinking that their team has any shot at making the playoffs, they’re more like the “Dream-ING” team and not the dream team. The Eagles offense can obviously be explosive when their stars are healthy, but the real questions with this team all season have been on the defensive side. The statistics and numbers are glaring. In the Eagles five wins this season, they have given up only 13 points, 13 points, 7 points, 10 points, and 10 points last week to the Dolphins. In Eagles losses, the defense is giving up an average of 30 points per game. The Eagles next matchup will be against Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets. Although at times Sanchez looked shaky this season, he does deserve credit for leading his team back into playoff contention. At 8-5 in the tight AFC wildcard race, the Jets cannot afford to take any games off. Because of a fierce Eagles pass rush in the “Wide 9” defensive approach that accounted for nine sacks last week paired with the offensive attack of Michael Vick and Desean Jackson, the Jets will suffer a season-changing deFeet. A Freudian slip and misspelling in honor of Rex Ryan... 

New York Jets- 21
Philadelphia- 28

Baltimore at San Diego

In regular Chargers fashion, this team has found its stride in December. However, with Tim Tebow running the show in Denver, this year will be different in the AFC West as there will not be enough time for a late season miracle by the Chargers. Philip Rivers and the offense is finally meeting its potential though and could play a role in shaping the playoff seeding. This is a crucial week in the AFC playoff race and this is one of those key games. The Baltimore Ravens are hoping to lock up the one or two seed in the AFC and maintain home field advantage through a majority of the playoffs. With four teams currently sitting at 10-3 in their conference, the Ravens will have to win this game to keep pace in their division and in the conference. In order to do so, they have the daunting task of traveling across the country through three different time zones to face a Chargers offense averaging 37.5 points in their last two games. The last time Joe Flacco traveled to the West Coast, he averaged 4.9 yards per pass attempt, threw for only 1 touchdown and an interception in a loss to the Seahawks. The Chargers will continue to put pressure on the Broncos in the West as Flacco throws three interceptions to put a dent in the Ravens division championship hopes.

Baltimore- 23
San Diego- 30

Pittsburgh at San Francisco

The blueprint to defeat the San Francisco 49ers was laid out by the Baltimore Ravens on Thanksgiving Night; Get to Alex Smith. Although the obvious goal of any opposing defense is to get to the quarterback, it is even more important against the 49ers. With the run-first, short passing attack of the 49ers offense, it is imperative that they stay on track. If Smith gets sacked, or the timing with the receivers is thrown off, the offense stalls. This is exactly why the Arizona Cardinals managed to upset San Francisco last Sunday. The Cardinals defense sacked Smith five times and hit him a total of nine times. The San Francisco offensive line does not get much of a break this Monday night. They welcome the number one passing defense and a talented pass rusher in Lamar Woodley. Both teams need to win this game to keep pace in their respective conference standings. Despite the difficulties of traveling across country and injuries to Big Ben, the more talented Steelers team will be the first to score a rushing touchdown against this defense and beat the 49ers at Candlestick Park.

Pittsburgh- 24
San Francisco- 20

Fraser’s Favorites Week 14

Cleveland at Pittsburgh

There was a time earlier in the season when “experts” were calling this Steelers team old and washed up. This team should be a reminder to us all that the first several games of the season do not determine how successful a team will be. All of the statistics can be thrown away about “0-2 teams making or not making the playoffs” because every season and every team is different. While this Steelers team got off to a slower start than usual, they are right where they want to be heading into the playoffs. They most likely will not win the division because of two losses to the Ravens, but they are an absolute lock for the 5 seed in the wildcard. They are playing well at the perfect time and will roll into the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in football. They will no doubt win three of their remaining four games as they play the Browns (twice) and Rams, with their toughest game in San Francisco. The Steelers will completely shut down the Browns offense until a last minute field goal or touchdown.

Cleveland- 3
Pittsburgh- 24

Indianapolis at Baltimore

There is no doubting that the Ravens will win this game, but the question is by how much they will beat the Colts. The clock for the number one pick in next year’s draft started in about week 5 for the Colts. They should have the perfect answer as to what they will do with the pick. Do they draft Andrew Luck and let him learn from Manning? Do they get rid of Peyton Manning and start with the rookie? Do they trade away the pick for a gold mine of other picks? I think the best decision for the Colts would be to trade away the draft pick for multiple others. With Peyton Manning, this is a SuperBowl caliber team. Without him, obviously they are the worst in the league. By trading away that number one pick, they load their team with even more talent and make themselves automatic contenders for the SuperBowl in 2013.

Indianapolis- 10
Baltimore- 24

New England at Washington

Not only did Rob Gronkowski catch three touchdown passes last week against the Colts, but he caught three wide open passes for touchdowns. He broke the record for the most receiving touchdowns by a tight end in a single season and continues to dominate opposing defenses. But why don’t they cover him already?! Even though Brady obviously keys in on his big tight end in the red zone, opposing defenses fail to bump him at the line of scrimmage, and therefore have no chance of matching up with him in the red zone. The Patriots have a perfect combination of size and speed in their receiving core allowing them to attack teams with the short and deep passing game. However, the doubts remain with this team as long as the defense continues to play as poorly as it has. They allowed Dan Orlovsky to throw for over 300 yards! No doubts about their game in Washington as Brady and the offense rolls.

New England- 35
Washington- 20

New Orleans at Tennessee

Over their last two games at home, the New Orleans Saints have demolished two contenders for the playoffs improving their home record to 6 and 0. There is no doubting how unstoppable this team is in perfect dome conditions. However, the questions remain about their ability to win in natural weather conditions. In six away games this season, Drew Brees has thrown eight interceptions and his quarterback rating drops almost 40 points from home games. This statistic will be tested this Sunday as the Saints will play on natural grass at LP Field. Meanwhile, as Chris Johnson has rejuvenated his season, he has also given new life to the Titans season. Johnson will run all over this unimpressive Saints defense in a playoff-changing upset.

New Orleans- 24
Tennessee- 27

Kansas City at N.Y. Jets

It is truly ridiculous how week-to-week the analysis of players in the NFL can be. Two perfect examples of not only inconsistent play, but inconsistent analysis have been of Matt Ryan and Mark Sanchez. Matt Ryan played his two best games of the season in weeks 11 and 12 and experts praised him for his phenomenal play. After a poor performance in week 13 against the Texans, experts are asking what is wrong with Matt Ryan and will he return back to his potential. Then there is Mark Sanchez. Sanchez was completely ripped apart by the media for three straight weeks of poor performances. Then, after a fourth quarter comeback in week 13 against the Redskins, the media will not stop talking about how great he is in the fourth quarter. We need to stray away from making sweeping generalizations about players each week, rather than analyze their performance over an entire season. Basically, the media should wait until after the season to rip apart Sanchez for his poor play…The Jets need this game to make the playoffs and will force Tyler Palko into a multiple interception performance in a rout of the Chiefs.

Kansas City- 13
New York Jets- 23

Philadelphia at Miami

The Miami Dolphins continue to impress despite an awful start to the season. Their defense has improved each week and they may have found their quarterback in Matt Moore. Tony Sparano has to keep his job into next year. To keep this team competitive with the start they had is truly something incredible. While the Dolphins remain competitive week to week, the Eagles are simply just a bad team. Andy Reid making Juan Castillo the defensive coordinator could be the worst coaching decision he has ever made. The defense looked disinterested and uncaring in their game against the Seahawks as Marshawn Lynch ran all over them. Expect these same trends to continue as the Dolphins add to the Eagles dreadful season.

Philadelphia- 21
Miami- 24

Tampa Bay at Jacksonville

Blaine Gabbert is the worst starting quarterback in the NFL. Give me Caleb Hanie, give me Tyler Palko, and give me T.J.Yates and Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky. Gabbert has absolutely horrible throwing mechanics, gets truly frightened when a defender is anywhere near him, and makes awful decisions. This was a terrible decision to draft a quarterback out of a spread offense at Missouri without knowing his true potential. After 12 games it is obvious; there is no potential for Blaine Gabbert in this league and the Jaguars need to shut down this experiment quickly. Former head coach Jack Del Rio had the right idea sitting Gabbert. In speaking of struggling quarterbacks, the injured Josh Freeman has continued to regress. With Raheem Morris potentially on the chopping block after a dreadful performance against the Panthers, we will find out how much this team supports their coach. Blaine Gabbert proves why he is the worst quarterback in the league completing more passes to Bucs cornerback E.J. Biggers than his tight end Mercedes Lewis.

Tampa Bay-27
Jacksonville- 17

Atlanta at Carolina

After rushing for another three more touchdowns in week 13, Cam Newton has solidified himself in the record books as the quarterback with the most rushing touchdowns in a single season. With the performance he put on against the Buccaneers, Newton also solidified himself as the offensive rookie of the year becoming the clear favorite in front of Andy Dalton. His play has been truly unbelievable, crushing all expectations and giving hope to a rebuilding franchise. This week, Newton will face a former rookie of the year in Matt Ryan. Ryan is well-known for his accomplishments in his rookie season, but has not truly developed into the elite player most thought he would become. Ryan’s inconsistencies can be attributed to multiple factors including his own mechanical errors, as well as offensive line issues and wide receiver’s dropping passes. However, Ryan is still a young, developing player and will eventually become that elite-level quarterback most expect him to be. Matt Ryan needs to play well against the Panthers as the Falcons must win three of their next four games. If the Falcons falter against the Panthers, their playoff hopes could be in doubt. Michael Turner shows up in a big way this Sunday, allowing for Matt Ryan to orchestrate the play action offense in a demolition of the Panthers.

Atlanta- 35
Carolina-17

Houston at Cincinnati

No matter how this season ends for the Bengals, this was a successful season. They found their franchise quarterback Andy Dalton and have one of the top young defenses in the league. With playmakers like A.J. Green the offense can be explosive, but it can also be a run-first team with Cedric Benson. This is an all-around good football team and will now compete for years to come. Unfortunately, this year is not the future and they will not make the playoffs. The Bengals will be losers of two straight after they face the Texans this Sunday. The Texans defense has been phenomenal this season, and has been getting better with each week. Wade Phillips might not have been able to get it done in Dallas as a head coach, but he should be nominated for the most important pick-up by a football team this offseason. It doesn’t matter who plays quarterback for this football team because all he really has to do is hand the ball off to Arian Foster and Ben Tate, and watch his defense shutdown opposing quarterbacks. T.J. Yates improves to 2-0 as a starting quarterback in the league. Should we break out the comparison to Unitas?

Houston-21
Cincinnati- 13

Minnesota at Detroit

While Jim Schwartz should be celebrated for his accomplishments in Detroit over the last several seasons, he should also be ridiculed. This is the wildest, whiniest, and most uncontrollable group of players in the league. Schwartz has them playing at a high level, but at an unruly level. The perfect example of an undisciplined team was represented on Sunday Night against the Saints. As the Lions were driving into Saints territory and after they got into the redzone, Titus Young threw a punch at a Saints defender causing a personal foul penalty. That penalty pushed the Lions out of the redzone and could have cost them not only four points, but momentum as well. After starting 5 and 0, they are now 2 and 5 in their last seven games and will need help to make the playoffs. The decline in Matthew Stafford’s play is a microcosm of the Lions over the last few weeks. However, with their backs against the wall facing a struggling Vikings team, the Lions will squeak by with a much-needed win.

Minnesota- 23
Detroit- 28

Chicago at Denver

Football fans across America have fallen victim to the Tebow epidemic. He continues to amaze in the 4th quarter and now has the Broncos as a relevant playoff team. Calling him a Pro-Bowler and the MVP is ridiculous and absurd, but he has exceeded expectations even with his throwing ability. It might not be pretty, and he still is, by far, the worst throwing quarterback in the NFL, but he has been the quarterback while the Broncos have been winning. It is important to be careful not to say “He” wins games because this defense is what has been giving the Broncos opportunities to win games. Tebow takes advantage of those opportunities and has proven to be effective in the clutch. The Broncos now get to play yet another offensively challenged team this week as the Bears travel to Denver. Without Matt Forte and without a viable quarterback, the Bears will be the next victims of Tim Tebow.

Chicago- 17
Denver- 24

San Francisco at Arizona

The Arizona Cardinals have had arguably the most difficult schedule in the NFL. They are a young football team with a new quarterback and while there are no prospects of making the playoffs, they should look at this season as a positive one. While the Cardinals

are already looking to next season, the San Francisco 49ers have shocked the league by starting 11-2, already locking up the division title. With a playoff spot locked up, the 49ers will play down to their opponent as the Cardinals win in an upset. The NFC West could mirror the NFC South over the next several seasons with the division winner continuously changing.

San Francisco- 23

Arizona- 24

Oakland at Green Bay

After looking like one of the top teams in the AFC for several weeks with Carson Palmer at the helm, the Oakland Raiders flat out flopped against the Dolphins. Maybe it was the long travel to the east coast. Maybe it was that fierce passing offense led by Matt Moore. But the Oakland Raiders were just mandhandled in every facet of the game. Now they have to travel to Lambeau to take on the undefeated Green Bay Packers. Is there any doubt that Rodgers will cruise to another victory at home? Nope.

Oakland-20
Green Bay- 42

Buffalo at San Diego

Where has this Chargers offense been all season? If only the Chargers could play the Jaguars depleted secondary every game…That win for the Chargers not only snaps a six game losing streak, but also  keeps their hopes alive for the AFC West. The fact that the Chargers aren’t eliminated by now is telling of the division they are in. As the Chargers continue to hold on to playoff hopes, the Bills have no shot. A trip across the country will be even more detrimental to this already weak Bills team, allowing Philip Rivers and the Chargers to keep hopes alive.

Buffalo- 20
San Diego- 30

N.Y. Giants at Dallas

The battle of the NFC Least. What was supposed to be the best division in the NFL is now one of the worst. The New York Giants have lost four straight games to even their record and limit their chances of making the playoffs. The Dallas Cowboys recently lost in an upset to the Arizona Cardinals after Head Coach Jason Garrett called timeout, negating a game-winning field goal. With four games left, the Giants and Cowboys will square off twice in games that will ultimately decide the division winner. The key to the Giants success against the Packers last week was the defenses ability to put pressure on Aaron Rodgers and the stability Ahmad Bradshaw brought back to the offense. If the Giants expect to make a run at the playoffs, their play has to be more consistent. In what will be an interesting and exciting end to the season, the Giants will find that consistency and sneak into the playoffs.

New York Giants-33
Dallas-27

St. Louis at Seattle

Sweet Home Seattle! The Seattle Seahawks now play their third straight game at home and recently defeated the lowly Eagles on Thursday Night football. Marshawn Lynch has been absolutely unstoppable with multiple tremendous, Jim Brown-like runs. The noise at CenturyLink Field is truly incredible. It got so loud earlier in the year that there was seismic activity surrounding the building, and it was even difficult to hear the announcers and commentators last Thursday. Now the offensively challenged Rams travel to Seattle. Offensively challenged is actually being nice when discussing the Rams offense. They are scoring 11.7 points per game. Again, the Rams are scoring 11.7 points per game. Wow. Steve Spanguolo was seen Tebowing and praying that the “Greatest Show on Turf” led by Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk would trot out of the tunnel. Sorry, Steve.

St. Louis-16
Seattle- 24