Couch potato heaven
Oakland at Kansas City
11 a.m., Chiefs by 4 1/2
Last meeting: Chiefs won 23-17 at Oakland on Sept. 18
Battle between teams that don’t particularly care for one another. What’s that? OK, OK, they hate each other’s guts. … Don’t look now, but Raiders have won three of their past four, moving them within a step or two of leaving AFC West basement. … Remember back in the day when the Chiefs’ offense made big plays? Trent Green has thrown all of six touchdown passes in seven games. … Chiefs have won five straight vs. Raiduhs, all by TD or less. … Raiders’ Kerry Collins: 10 TD passes, two INTs. In past three vs. Chiefs, he has six TD passes, one INT. … Chiefs’ front four a mess. You don’t suppose K.C. front office is second guessing itself for not trying to sign all those Cleveland rejects who landed in Denver, do you? Nah, didn’t think so.
Prediction: Chiefs 31, Raiders 20
Carolina at Tampa Bay
11 a.m., Panthers by 1 1/2
Last meeting: Panthers won 37-20 at Tampa on Dec. 26, 2004
Winner will emerge tied or in sole possession of first place in NFC South. … Who’s your daddy, Bucs? Panthers have won two straight in series at Tampa Bay, two straight at Carolina. … Question of the week in Tampa: Would Bucs be better off starting Chris Simms or his dad, Phil, in this one? Newly acquired QB Tim Rattay could get the call. … Panthers keep winning despite lack of runnin’ game. Stephen Davis averaging 3.0 per. … Then there’s Panthers WR Steve Smith, who leads league in catches (50), receiving yards (797) and TD catches (eight). Smith looms as league MVP candidate, which is saying something since a wideout never has won the award.
Prediction: Panthers 19, Bucs 17
Worth the electricity
Cincinnati at Baltimore
11 a.m., Bengals by 3
Last meeting: Bengals won 27-26 at Baltimore on Dec. 5, 2004
Bengals plus-20 in turnovers after intercepting, count ’em, five Brett Favre passes last week. Now for the down side: All those turnovers and still Cincy struggled to win. … Carson Palmer, MVP candidate? Could be. Bengals QB, who leads the NFL with 2,037 passing yards and 16 TD passes, has thrown for 300-plus in each of his two appearances vs. Ravens. … Issue with Baltimore isn’t so much whether LB Ray Lewis and S Ed Reed can play, but why they should bother. Ravens in a big hurry to go nowhere. … Balt TB Jamal Lewis reached a major milestone last week, reaching the 3.0-yard per carry mark for the season. Don’t laugh. He was at 2.5 three weeks ago.
Prediction: Bengals 24, Ravens 20
Atlanta at Miami
11 a.m., Falcons by 2 1/2
Last meeting: Dolphins won 21-14 at Miami on Dec. 30, 2001
Falcons averaging league-leading 188 rushing yards per game. How significant is that? Consider this: NFL’s top five running teams – Atlanta, Denver, Seattle, Indy and Pitt – a combined 28-8. … Warrick Dunn averaging 5.4 yards a carry and, as usual, Michael Vick leading all QBs with 302 yards on ground. … Remember those early struggles by Dolphins rookie TB Ronnie Brown? He’s averaging 4.8 yards a carry, sixth in the league. … NFL’s best division? For all the love the AFC gets, NFC South has three teams at 5-2, Falcons among ’em. … One more W for Dawfins and Gus Frerotte will bang his head against the wall. A fourth win would match last year’s victory total.
Prediction: Dolphins 16, Falcons 14
San Diego at New York Jets
11 a.m., Chargers by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Jets won 20-17 in overtime at San Diego on Jan. 8, 2005
Marty Scottenheimer’s issues are in January, right? He always wins during the season, right? Then explain how he’s only 2-6 career vs. Jets. … Schottzy hired Jets coach Herm Edwards in 1990 to be Chiefs’ scout and secondary coach. … San Diego TE Antonio Gates, who missed first game with suspension, on pace for 86 catches, 12 TDs. Any questions about identity of NFL’s top TE were answered last week, when Gates dominated Chiefs and Tony Gonzalez. … Vinny Testaverde starts this one for Jets. Question is, next time these two meet, will Chargers QB Philip Rivers be playing for Jets? … So you thought ex-Patriot CB Ty Law was on the down side? Not a chance. He has an INT in three straight for Jets.
Prediction: Chargers 30, Jets 19
Pittsburgh at Green Bay
2:15 p.m., Steelers by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Steelers won 27-20 at Pittsburgh on Nov. 9, 1998
The good (Brett Favre second in NFL with 15 TD passes), the bad (Favre has 13 INTs) and the ugly (Pack is 1-6). … Tony Fisher, Packers’ top running threat, has 31 carries, 71 yards. Other than that, the play was great, Mrs. Lincoln. … Stillers QB Ben Roethlisberger leads league with 112.4 passer rating. … Ex-CSU LBs Clark Haggans, Joey Porter tied for Pitt team lead with 4.0 sacks. … Hines Ward has 534 catches, leaving him four from breaking John Stallworth’s team record. … Steelers, coming off lethargic Monday night effort vs. Ravens, will have to be a lot more lethargic to lose this one.
Prediction: Steelers 34, Packers 23
Philadelphia at Washington
6:30 p.m., ESPN, Redskins by 3
Last meeting: Eagles won 17-14 at Washington on Dec. 12, 2004
‘Skins coming off inspiring 36-0 loss to Giants. Now for good news: Since nobody on the roster moved a muscle, they came out of the game with no new injuries. … ‘Skins minus-9 in turnovers, Eagles plus-2. … Not that Eagles don’t have a running game, but TB Brian Westbrook has skipped postgame shower for three straight weeks. … On plus side, Philly averaging NFL-best 296 passing yards per. … Washington WR Santana Moss second in the loop with 777 receiving yards. … Terrell Owens says he could miss this one with ankle problem. In other words, he’ll play and have a monster day. … ‘Skins first in NFL in passing D at 153 yards per.
Prediction: Redskins 27, Eagles 19
Beats cleaning the garage
Houston at Jacksonville
11 a.m., Jaguars by 13 1/2
Last meeting: Texans won 21-0 at Jacksonville on Dec. 26, 2004
Think Jags have forgotten last year’s embarrassing shutout loss at home to Tex’ns? The wise guys in Vegas don’t think so. Game opened at Jax minus-10 1/2 and immediately moved to 13 1/2. … Fred Taylor healthy and gittin’ it done for Jags. He started slowly, battled leg injury, but has 297 yards on 46 carries in past two. … Texans riding a four-quarter winning streak for first time. They jumped ahead of Brownies last week, first time all season they held a lead. … Go figure. David Carr has won four of five starts vs. Jags. … Texans minus-6 in turnovers, Jax plus-6. … Jags love to beat you with ball control and D. They’ve racked up 24 INTs in past 15 games.
Prediction: Jaguars 27, Texans 11
Detroit at Minnesota
11 a.m., pick ’em
Last meeting: Vikings won 28-27 at Detroit on Dec. 19, 2004
With Daunte Culpepper gone for the season, Vikings up the creek without a paddle. … Just wondering: With Fred Smoot having served as social director on Vikes’ ill-fated love cruise, does that make him a Smoot peddler? … Who knew? Lions have 19 takeaways, third most in da bid’ness. … Battle of two backup QBs in this one. Jeff Garcia on the job to stay for Motown, what with Joey Harrington having fallen off the map. Brad Johnson, who won a Super Bowl ring with Tampa Bay, starts for Minnie. … Lions favored in this one, defying history books. Mike Tice is 6-0 vs. Detroit. … With Randy Moss long gone, TE Jermaine Wiggins leads Vikes with 35 catches.
Prediction: Lions 10, Vikings 9
Chicago at New Orleans
2:05 p.m., Bears by 3
Last meeting: Saints won 20-13 at New Orleans on Oct. 12, 2003
Game will be played at Baton Rouge, La., where Saints were pounded last week by Dolphins. … Best D in bid’ness? It could be Bears. They’ve allowed only 81 points through seven games. Bears of ’85 allowed 105 at same point in that 16-round fight Mike Shanahan keeps talking about. … Memo to Saints: To paraphrase Keyshawn John- son, just hold on to the darn ball! Ain’ts minus-12 in turnovers. Not only that, they’re about to turn over the coaching staff. … Bears seeking first four-game winning streak since 2001. … Ever heard of Tank Johnson? He’s just one of Bears’ unsung heroes, a DT with three sacks in past two games. … How bad is N’Awlins D? Owner Tom Benson’s assault on a TV cameraman last week was team’s hardest hit of the season.
Prediction: Bears 24, Saints 9
Seattle at Arizona
2:05 p.m., Seahawks by 4
Last meeting: Seahawks won 37-12 at Seattle on Sept. 25
Just wondering: Seahawks are 5-2, so why don’t they ever get any love in best-team-in-NFC decision? It’s just the NFC, the junior varsity conference. … Seattle has good record despite minus-3 turnover ranking, same as ‘Zona. … Seahawks have best RB in NFC in Shaun Alexander, last seen leading NFL with 12 TD runs. … Seattle’s Oh averaging 390.3 yards, 24.4 first downs and 6.0 yards per play, all tops in NFL. … Ex-Bronco Bertrand Berry second in NFC with 7.0 sacks, putting the ‘Zona DE on pace for 16. Broncos’ entire defense on course for measly 20.
Prediction: Seahawks 27, Cardinals 17
New York Giants at San Francisco
2:05 p.m., Giants by 11
Last meeting: 49ers won 16-13 at the Meadowlands on Sept. 5, 2002
Who knew G-Men would be leading NF of L in scoring (29.9 per) through seven games? … Wait, it gets better. We all knew a Manning would be playing QB in the Pro Bowl, but little did anyone know there would be two. … You don’t think Eli is a Pro Bowler? Dude has thrown 13 TD passes, five INTs. Not only that, Donovan McNabb won’t be playing in Hawaii because of injuries. … Giants plus-12 in turnovers, Niners minus-5. … Alex Smith expected to return as 49ers’ starting QB. Through two games, former Ute is 23-of-50 for zero TDs, five INTs (whopping 17.5 passer rating). … San Fran’s Kevan Barlow ran for 101 yards in W over Bucs last week, making him first RB to crack 100-yard mark vs. Tampa Bay this season.
Prediction: Giants 31, 49ers 13
Get a life, bubba
Tennessee at Cleveland
11 a.m., Browns by 3
Last meeting: Browns won 31-28 in overtime at Tennessee on Sept. 22, 2002
Loser joins hapless Texans as teams to beat for No. 1 overall pick in 2006 draft, a.k.a. the Matt Leinart Lottery. … Tin Men trying to regroup defensively after being punked for 34 points – at home, no less – by Raiduhs. … Ex-Bronco Reuben Droughns has run for combined 199 yards in past two for Browns, putting him on pace for 1,100-plus. He’s been so good, we won’t even mention his DUI arrest of last week. Oops, guess we just did. … List of league’s most underrated players has to include Cleve LB Andra Davis, who has 11-plus tackles in each of Browns’ seven games.
Prediction: Browns 20, Titans 16
