Two weeks to go, and 18 teams are still in playoff contention. Here are this week’s picks:
GAME OF THE WEEK – Cincinnati Bengals (11-3) at Denver Broncos (10-4), DEN by 3.5 – This is a huge game for several reasons. First, it will almost certainly seal up the second first-round bye for the AFC. Second, the Broncos could potentially be in a situation where if they lose out, they miss the playoffs entirely. Heck, there is a scenario in which they go 11-5 and miss the playoffs. So this is a mammoth game, and it’s going to have a playoff atmosphere. This is exactly the kind of game the Bengals always lose. The Broncos haven’t looked great, but they were sticking it to the Steelers until they blew it in the second half. I think they can hold off Cincinnati just long enough to win the game. Broncos 23, Bengals 20
THURSDAY NIGHT – San Diego Chargers (4-10) at Oakland Raiders (6-8), OAK by 5.5 – These teams could potentially be sharing a stadium next year. Wouldn’t that be weird? The Raiders played the Packers well but couldn’t overcome early mistakes. They won’t make the same mistakes for a second week in a row. Raiders 31, Chargers 20
SATURDAY NIGHT – Washington Redskins (7-7) at Philadelphia Eagles (6-8), PHI by 3 – The Redskins have been abysmal on the road this season, but the Eagles have been even more wildly inconsistent than Washington. Makes this a really tough game to pick, especially considering how awful Philly looked against Arizona. But the NFC East is going to be a shit show right down to the very end, so as much as I’d like to see Washington take the division, I think they blow this one. Eagles 20, Redskins 16
New York Giants (6-8) at Minnesota Vikings (9-5), MIN by 6 – The Giants were extremely close to upsetting the Panthers last week. But playing without their best offensive player, and given the offensive explosion the Vikings displayed last week, I think they can officially put a rest to their playoff hopes now. Vikings 23, Giants 17
Chicago Bears (5-9) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8), TB by 3 – The Lovie Smith bowl is upon us at last! The Bucs had a nice run going for a little while, but consecutive losses have essentially eliminated them from the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Bears are basically playing for what little pride they have left. I’ll go with Chicago in the minor upset. UPSET! – Bears 27, Bucs 20
Carolina Panthers (14-0) at Atlanta Falcons (7-7), CAR by 7 – The last Falcons/Panthers game was a 38-0 stomping. This one won’t reach those levels. The Falcons will give the Panthers their best shot, but ultimately come up short as Carolina marches toward a perfect regular season. Panthers 30, Falcons 20
Dallas Cowboys (4-10) at Buffalo Bills (6-8), BUF by 6 – It’s been an extremely disappointing season for the Bills, but at least they get a home game against the Kellen Moore-led Cowboys to add another notch to the W column. Bills 24, Cowboys 13
Jacksonville Jaguars (5-9) at New Orleans Saints (5-9), NO by 3.5 – There is still a scenario in which the Jaguars can make the playoffs, believe it or not. But the Saints are getting their mojo back together, and as much as I’d like to see the Jaguars find a way to make it happen, I think New Orleans takes this one at home. Saints 31, Jaguars 27
San Francisco 49ers (4-10) at Detroit Lions (4-10), DET by 9 – The Lions can at least play a little bit of offense. Lions 23, 49ers 9
Cleveland Browns (3-11) at Kansas City Chiefs (9-5), KC by 12.5 – Eight straight wins and counting for the Chiefs after their 1-5 start. Who would have thought a team that lost five straight in their first six games would be positioned as a prime candidate to make a Super Bowl run, especially when missing their franchise player? Chiefs 33, Browns 10
Indianapolis Colts (6-8) at Miami Dolphins (5-9), BETS OFF – Bets are off in this one until we know if Andrew Luck is playing or not. But even without Luck, the Colts have been playing competitive ball, whereas the Dolphins have been faltering. Colts 17, Dolphins 13
New England Patriots (12-2) at New York Jets (9-5), NE by 3 – The Jets are going to give the Patriots everything they have… their playoff lhopes depend on it. But with Gronk back, this Patriots machine is ticking. Patriots 24, Jets 20
Houston Texans (7-7) at Tennessee Titans (3-11), TEN by 4.5 – Brandon Weeden is now playing quarterback for the Texans. Let that sink in before you make your pick. Titans 27, Texans 10
Green Bay Packers (10-4) at Arizona Cardinals (12-2), ARZ by 4.5 – The other Game of the Week contender from this week also could have a lot to say about who gets the second seed in the NFC. The Packers still aren’t playing pretty football, but they’re doing what other Packers teams in recent years couldn’t do—win on the road, especially against decent caliber teams. That being said, this Cardinals team could very well be the best coached team in the NFL. While I don’t think this one will be a stomping, I’ll be surprised if the Packers are able to muster what it takes to get a victory here. Cardinals 28, Packers 24
St. Louis Rams (6-8) at Seattle Seahawks (9-5), SEA by 13.5 – The Rams always give the Seahawks fits, but this is a very different Seahawks team than the one that lost to the Rams earlier this year. Seahawks 31, Rams 17
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5) at Baltimore Ravens (4-10), PIT by 10.5- The Steelers are looking primed for a playoff run here. A win over Baltimore will essentially seal up a wild card spot.
BUFFALO
