(Winning picks in bold)
Season Record: 76-54
Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans
The Colts fell behind early and couldn’t come back to beat the Rams on Sunday. They have struggled to get an early lead as of late and need to beat the Titans to gain back some momentum. Tennessee also lost a game they should have won. They let the Jaguars win their first game of the season. Expect Andrew Luck to bounce his team back and roll over the Titans on the road.
New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills
The Jets are sitting pretty in the last spot for a playoff berth. Coming off a bye week, they should be prepared to take down the struggling Bills in an AFC East tilt. Look for Buffalo to contend, but Rex Ryan’s team should dominate down the stretch.
Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati lost a game they should have won against a weak Ravens team. They need to regroup and come ready to play Sunday against the Browns. Cleveland has proved they can compete with just about any team, despite their record. Expect the Browns to put up a fight, but ultimately fall to the AFC North division leaders.
Washington Redskins @ Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have had some luck as of late and hope the luck keeps coming. Last time they played the Redskins, the Eagles played flawlessly. Washington is coming off an embarrassing loss to the Vikings, who at the time had one win. Expect Nick Foles to be in at quarterback for the Eagles and lead the team to victory. They look to have a winning record for the first time since the first week of the season.
Detroit Lions @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Detroit came out of the weekend with sole possession of the NFC North as they took down the Bears and the Packers lost to the Eagles. Look for Detroit to stay atop the division with an easy win over the Steelers. Pittsburgh picked up a win Sunday, but they need to run the ball better and Ben Roethlisberger needs to pass more. Look for Detroit to take down the Steelers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Atlanta is struggling and any hopes of the playoffs are just about gone. The team can’t buy a win as of late, but hopefully a visit to the winless Bucs will change all that. This should be a sloppy game from the start with the Falcons picking up a win.
Arizona Cardinals @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Arizona had an impressive win over the Texans. They sit just a game behind the 49ers for the last NFC Playoff spot. Arizona’s offensive line needs to protect their quarterback in order to keep picking up the wins. Jacksonville upset the Titans on Sunday to pick up their first win of the season. Don’t expect the Jaguars to win a second straight. This should be an easy one for the Cards.
Oakland Raiders @ Houston Texans
Despite the Texans losing seven straight games, they should take down the Raiders at home. The Texans’ starting running back and quarterback are both out and have to rely on backups to win. Oakland looked as if they could contend for the playoffs just a few weeks ago, but have since dropped out of any playoff race and can only look to improve for the 2014 season.
San Diego Chargers @ Miami Dolphins
San Diego played the Broncos well and will look to get back to .500 and end their losing streak. Miami is having plenty of problems off the field and it may become a distraction on the field. Miami is only a game back of the Jets for the final AFC Playoff spot. Look for San Diego to bounce back and down the Dolphins.
San Francisco 49ers @ New Orleans Saints
Both teams went in different directions last weekend. The 49ers managed just three field goals in a loss to the panthers at home. Meanwhile, Drew Brees led an explosive attack for the Saints and they rolled over the Cowboys, setting an NFL record for first downs in a game. Expect the Saints to win on their home turf, where they haven’t lost all year. San Francisco needs to limit mistakes and score plenty touchdowns in order to upend the Saints.
Green Bay Packers @ New York Giants
The Giants are coming around and making a mid-season comeback. They will be facing Green Bay’s third-string quarterback and should win at home. Green Bay will need double the yards on the ground from Eddie Lacy in order to win. The loss of Aaron Rodgers has put a damper on playoff hopes. Look for close game, with the Giants pulling out a win.
Minnesota Vikings @ Seattle Seahawks
Seattle keeps on winning and is showing no signs they will stop. Look for the Seahawks to win big in front of their home crowd. Minnesota is coming off just their second win of the season in a high-scoring game against the Redskins. Seattle sits at the top of the NFC and needs to win to stay a game in front of the Saints
Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos
This is the game of the week. These two teams will meet on Sunday Night Football and could be one of the greatest games of recent memory. The Broncos are much better than the Chiefs, despite Kansas City’s perfect record on the season. The Chiefs will rely on their defense. Denver is hoping Peyton Manning’s MRI is negative and that he can play. Home-field advantage for Denver plays a big part in the reason they should win. Expect a thriller in Denver.
New England Patriots @ Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have won five straight games and look to continue their winning streak on Monday Night Football. Their defense has been spectacular and ranks in the top five in the NFL. If the Panthers can add an explosive offensive attack, they are poised for a deep run in the playoffs. New England is coming off a bye and holds a two-game division lead over the Jets. Expect the Panthers’ defense to shut down Tom Brady and the Patriots.
