Couch potato heaven
Washington at New York Giants
Time: 11 a.m., Giants by 2 1/2
Last meeting: Redskins won 31-7 at Washington on Dec. 5, 2004
Eli Manning engineered second career game-winning drive in the fourth quarter as G-Men beat Denver 24-23 last week. … Manning has at least one TD toss in past seven, throwing 15 scoring passes, five INTs in that stretch. … Just wondering: What took Joe Gibbs so long to put in Mark Brunell as ‘Skins’ starting QB? Brunell has five starts, throwing for two-plus TDs in each. … Giants plus-9 in turnovers, second in the biz, Redskins minus-6. … Ah, the wonders of starting your career with the Broncos. ‘Skins’ Clinton Portis is averaging nearly 100 yards a game – 4,958 in 50 – in three-plus NFL seasons. … Best big-play threat in the league? At the moment, it could be Wash’s Santana Moss, NFL-high 743 yards in receptions.
Prediction: Redskins 27, Giants 23
Worth the electricity
Green Bay at Cincinnati
Time: 11 a.m., Bengals by 9
Last meeting: Packers won 13-6 at Cincinnati on Sept. 20, 1998
Injury-decimated Packers going with Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor in the backfield. Actually, Tony Fisher gets his second career start after season-ending injuries to Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport. … Bungles? We’re going to have to dump that nickname. Bengals lead league with 23 forced turnovers, plus-16 ranking. … Cincy top dog in the AFC North? Not so fast, kitty cats. Steelers proved last week that Bengals are 1a. … Who knew? Brett Favre, given up for dead early in the season, leagues NFL QBs with 14 TD passes. … Game marks Packers’ third appearance in Cincy since 1976. … Bengals have won six straight vs. NFC.
Prediction: Bengals 34, Packers 23
Buffalo at New England
Time: 6:30 p.m., Patriots by 9
Last meeting: Patriots won 29-6 at New England on Nov. 14, 2004
Bills QB Kelly Holcomb has led team to a TD on opening drive in each of his three starts. … Did you know? Bills, with so-so 3-4 record, second in AFC with plus-8 turnover ranking. In other words, when their offense gets the ball, it doesn’t do anything with it. … Coming off bye week, look for rejuvenated Corey Dillon to regain old form for Pats. He’s averaging 3.4 yards per carry, but sat out pre-bye loss at Denver. … N.E. QB Tom Brady gets the girl and almost always gets the W vs. Bills. He’s 7-1 career vs. Let’s Go. … New England secondary a mess. No wonder LB Mike Vrabel leads club with one INT.
Prediction: Patriots 37, Bills 23
Beats cleaning the garage
Minnesota at Carolina
Time: 11 a.m., Panthers by 7 1/2
Last meeting: Panthers won 21-14 at Minnesota on Sept. 22, 2002
Vikings threw coach Mike Tice a life raft with last week’s come-from-behind W vs. Packers. But that was a depleted Green Bay team. These are the Panthers, who may be the class of the junior varsity conference. … Daunte Culpepper before encountering the Packers’ gawdawful secondary: 4 TD tosses, 12 INTs. D.C. against the Swiss-cheese secondary: 2 TD passes, 0 INTs. … Vikings on a roll lately. They’re down to minus-8 in turnovers after coughing it up on half of their first 24 drives. … So you had to sweat out the mortgage last month. You’re not alone, bubba. Panthers barely getting by, too. They’ve won three straight, all by four points or fewer.
Prediction: Panthers 31, Vikings 19
Arizona at Dallas
Time: 11 a.m., Cowboys by 9
Last meeting: Cowboys won 24-7 on Oct. 5, 2003
Talk about a great running game. Cardinals’ starting TB averaging 7.5 a carry. Oops, that’s 7.5 feet, not yards. Never mind. … Bill Parcells 15-4-1 vs. Cards. But then, isn’t everyone? … ‘Zona DE Bertrand Berry third in NFL with 31 sacks since ’03. … ‘Boys WR Terry Glenn averaging 18.7 yards a catch, leads league with five catches of 40-plus. … Rookie LB DeMarcus Ware leads Cowboys with four sacks. … Drew Bledsoe can’t run, but he sure can throw. He ranks second in the bidness with a 94.9 passer rating.
Prediction: Cardinals 20, Cowboys 17
Chicago at Detroit
Time: 11 a.m., Lions by 3
Last meeting: Bears won 38-6 at Chicago on Sept. 18
Battle for supremacy in the big, bad NFC North. What’s that? OK, OK, the bad, bad, NFC North. … Give Bears one thing. Their D is top shelf with LB Brian Urlacher playing at Pro Bowl level. Dude has six sacks to lead NFL LBs. … Jeff Garcia in charge as Lions’ No. 1 QB, leaving Joey Harrington on outside looking in. … Lions seeking fourth straight dubya vs. Bears in Motown. … Lions plus-5 in turnovers, Bears minus-1. … A tale of two Joneses. Bears’ Thomas third in NFC with 641 rushin’ yards. Lions’ Kevin struggling at 2.9 yards a carry.
Prediction: Bears 19, Lions 16
Jacksonville at St. Louis
Time: 11 a.m., Jaguars by 3
Last meeting: Rams won 17-14 at St. Louis on Oct. 20, 1996
Home, sweet home? Jags prefer room service, thank you. They’ve won seven of 11 on the road, including four of past five. … Fred Taylor (105 carries, 401 yards) expected to return at TB for Jax after missing pre-bye matchup with Steelers. … Jags have outscored opponents 26-0 in the first quarter, making them NFL’s only club not to allow a point in the opening stanza. … Stanza? OK, OK, no more cliches. … Steven Jackson the Man now in Rams’ backfield with 480 rushing yards. A TD today would mark his fifth straight game with at least one. … Jamie Martin will start at QB again for Rams. In rare twist for St. Looie QBs, he didn’t throw an INT in last week’s W over Saints.
Prediction: Jaguars 30, Rams 27
Tampa Bay at San Francisco
Time: 2:15 p.m., Bucs by 11
Last meeting: Bucs won 35-3 at Tampa on Nov. 21, 2004
The bad news is Niners rookie QB Alex Smith is banged up and might not play. The good news is Niners rookie QB Alex Smith is banged up and might not play. If he can’t go, Ken Dorsey starts. … Bucs in search of first 6-1 start in franchise history. … List of most underrated players in NFL has to include Bucs’ Ronde Barber. He needs one sack to become first CB in NFL history with 20 INTs and 20 sax. Not only that, he throws a mean right cross to unsuspecting officials. … Niners minus-8 in turnovers, Bucs plus-6. … Chris Simms takes over for injured Brian Griese for Bucs. If he doesn’t get it done, look for Tim Rattay, acquired from Niners two weeks ago.
Prediction: Bucs 31, 49ers 13
Baltimore at Pittsburgh
Time: 7 p.m. Monday, Steelers by 10
Last meeting: Steelers won 20-7 at Pittsburgh on Dec. 26, 2004
Steelers by 10. Points or touchdowns? … Ravens expected to be without LB Ray Lewis, S Ed Reed. Rest of defensive players might as well show up with matador capes. … Ben Roethlisberger back in action for Stillers after missing one game with a bum knee. Good thing. There’s a reason they call him Turnover Tommy Maddox. … Pitt TB Jerome Bettis ran for 117 in last meeting with Ravens. He’ll split time today with Willie Parker, who has four 100-yarders in six career games, all Steelers Ws. … Steelers plus-5 in turnovers, Ravens minus-7 and counting.
Prediction: Steelers 35, Ravens 16
Get a life, bubba
Cleveland at Houston
Time: 11 a.m., Texans by 2
Last meeting: Browns won 22-14 at Houston on Jan. 2, 2005
The Texans favored? No, really, we’re not making this up. If Hugheston loses this one, the Winless Watch will be on. … David Carr last week vs. Indy: 48 yards passing, four turnovers. … Browns 2-0 vs. Texans. … Ex-Bronco Reuben Droughns coming off 100-yard rushing performance in Browns’ 13-10 loss to Lions. … Texans WR Jabar Gaffney has 22 catches (for 224 yards) in past four games. … Browns minus-1 in turnovers, Texans minus-7. … Houston rookie Jerome Mathis scored franchise’s first kickoff-return TD in last week’s 38-20 loss to Colts.
Prediction: Texans 10, Browns 9
Oakland at Tennessee
Time: 11 a.m., Raiders by 1
Last meeting: Raiders won 40-35 at Oakland on Dec. 19, 2004
Raiders may be committed to excellence, but they’re mired in last place – again. … Talk about not making any plays on D. Warren Sapp leads No There There with one measly, lousy INT. … Not that either of these teams is making things happen in the passing game, but a running back (LaMont Jordan) leads Raiders with 30 catches. A tight end (Erron Kinney) leads Tin Men with 34. Both are below double digits in yards per grab. … Titans minus-7 in turnovers, Raiduhs dead even. … True, but strange: Oak QB Kerry Collins, who made his mark throwing deep balls and INTs, has thrown only one INT all season. … Raiders DE Derrick Burgess gettin’ it done coming off corner. He has two sacks in three straight games, seven overall.
Prediction: Raiders 25, Titans 23
Miami at New Orleans
Time: 2:05 p.m., Saints by 2
Last meeting: Dolphins won 30-10 at Miami on Nov. 29, 1998
Game will be played at LSU’s Tiger Stadium, where Saints are expecting tens of thousands of empty seats. … Good luck finding anyone within NFL circles who believes Saints will play another game in N’Awlins. You’ve got a better chance of seeing Elvis’ comeback tour. … Saints their usual minus-12 in turnovers, Dolphins minus-5. … Dawfins coach Nick Saban won’t be unfamiliar with the neighborhood, having coached at LSU. … Game is first of four for Saints at LSU.
Prediction: Dolphins 19, Saints 17
