Couch potato heaven
Tampa Bay at Atlanta
11 a.m., Falcons by 6
Last meeting: Bucs won 27-0 at Tampa on Dec. 5, 2004
Falcons seething after embarrassing home loss to Performers Formerly Known as Packers. … Which reminds us. If you know off the top of your head the name of the Pack’s starting tailback, you need to reconnect with your family. … Game features matchup of Not For Long’s two youngest coaches – Jon Gruden (42), Jim Mora, who’ll turn 44 on Saturday. … Bucs have Dirty Birds’ number, have won four of past five in Hotlanta. … Joey Galloway enjoying career resurgence in Tampa. Dude has 12 TD catches in past 14 games. Among players with 50-plus catches since AFL-NFL merger, Galloway ranks fourth with 32-yard per TD catch avg. … Bucs 18th in league in rushing, Falcons No. 1.
Prediction: Falcons 30, Bucs 20
Carolina at Chicago
11 a.m., Panthers by 3
Last meeting: Panthers won 24-14 at Carolina on Dec. 22, 2002
Two head coaches’ names in this one are Fox and Lovie. … Panthers plus-9 in turnovers, Bears minus-2. … Don’t try this at home: Bears have won five straight with a rookie QB. … Bears No. 1 in the bidness in D – eighth vs. run, third vs. pass. … Brian Urlacher leads NFL LBs with six sacks. … Steve Smith for MVP? Don’t laugh. Bandwagon rolling for Panthers’ WR, who leads league in receiving yards (937) and receiving TDs (9). … Panthers CB Ken Lucas second in NFC with four INTs after tying for conference lead with six in ’04.
Prediction: Panthers 24, Bears 13
Worth the electricity
Philadelphia at New York Giants
11 a.m., Giants by 7 1/2
Last meeting: Eagles won 27-6 at the Meadowlands on Nov. 28, 2004
Mike McMahon starts this one for Eagles, what with Donovan McNabb nursing a strained groin and a bruised ego. … Eagles have won 12 of past 16 road games within NFC East. … G-Men coming off embarrassing loss to crew of the Love Boat from Minnesota. Eagles, meanwhile, gave one away Monday night vs. Cah-boas. … Eli Manning has at least one TD pass in 10 straight. He needs five to reach 20 mark, a first for a Giants QB since 2000. … Giants lead NFC with plus-9 turnover ranking. Don’t ask how, but Eagles are plus-2. … Philly ran for season-high 181 yards in Monday nighter, but have only 650 for the season.
Prediction: Giants 26, Eagles 20
Buffalo at San Diego
2:15 p.m., Chargers by 10 1/2
Last meeting: Bills won 20-13 at Buffalo on Dec. 15, 2002
QB status unclear for Bills. Kelly Holcomb nursing a concussion, which could hand start to J.P. Losman, a native of nearby Venice, Calif. … Go figure. Bills plus-10 in turnovers, but haven’t been able to muster a .500 record. Why? For one thing, they’re 31st in the league vs. the run. … Bills DE Aaron Schobel is the best pass rusher you’ve never heard of. Dude has seven sacks, third in the AFC. … Chargers TE Antonio Gates sat out opener with suspension, but could make a run at 100 catches.
Prediction: Bills 19, Chargers 17
Beats cleaning the garage
Pittsburgh at Baltimore
11 a.m., off the board
Last meeting: Steelers won 20-19 at Pittsburgh on Oct. 31
Tale of two teams’ turnovers: Steelers plus-10, Ravens minus-11. … Stillers aiming for 12th straight W on the road. Currently tied for second-longest streak in NFL history. … Bill Cowher 14-6 career vs. Ravens, Brian Billick 5-9 vs. Steelers. … Check availability of Ben Roethlisberger for this one. If he can’t go, Steelers are a different team – as in worse – with Turnover Tommy Maddox under center. … Balt QB Kyle Boller in limited duty: 34-of-56, 0 TD passes, 4 INTs. … Balt LB Tommy Polley having a career year. He has 12 tackles in back-to-back games. … Ravens No. 1 in AFC in D at 271 yards per.
Prediction: Ravens 13, Steelers 10
Detroit at Dallas
11 a.m., Cowboys by 8
Last meeting: Cowboys won 31-21 at Dallas on Oct. 31, 2004
Cowboys still pinching themselves over gift W at Philly on Monday nighter. … Coach Bill Parcells gave out game balls to Roy Williams, Drew Bledsoe and Donovan McNabb. … Pretty simple stuff for Lions. They’re 4-1 when outrunning opponents, 0-4 when they don’t. … Bad news is, Motown TB Kevin Jones averaging only 3.2 yards per. … You know, for a guy with the mobility of a manatee, Bledsoe isn’t exactly having a rotten year. He’s on pace for 26 TD passes and leads NFC with 96.8 pass rating. … This one could come down to which Roy Williams wins the battle. Cowboy Roy has an INT in two of past three games; Lions’ Roy had three TD catches last week in first start of the season.
Prediction: Cowboys 26, Lions 20
New Orleans at New England
11 a.m., Patriots by 9 1/2
Last meeting: Patriots won 34-17 at New England on Nov. 25, 2001
The misadventures of Aaron Brooks continue. He has 7 TD passes, 12 INTs, his worst season in a Saints uni. … Tom Brady leads league with 2,560 passing yards. But then, if you’ve seen the state of Pats’ running game, that can’t come as any surprise. … Teams a combined – egads! – minus-20 in turnovers – Saints minus-13, Pats minus-7. Worst Pats were in their Super Bowl seasons was plus-7. … Pats have won 17 of past 21 vs. NFC, including three Super Bowls. … NE WR Deion Branch averaging 9 catches, 100 yards in past three vs. NFC. … You don’t see this every day. LB Mike Vrabel leads Pats with 2 1/2 sacks, 2 INTs.
Prediction: Saints 30, Patriots 27
Jacksonville at Tennessee
11 a.m., Jaguars by 4
Last meeting: Titans won 18-15 at Jacksonville on Nov. 21, 2004
Jags cracked 30-point barrier last week for first time in almost four seasons. … Jax TB Fred Taylor has been battling a bum ankle, but figures to play today. If he goes down, Greg Jones, who ran for career-high 106 last week, will get the call. … Jags gittin’ ‘er done with D. They’re 18th in the league in Oh, fifth in D. … Anybody notice that Byron Leftwich is having a stellar season. He has 12 TD tosses, only 5 INTs for conservative Jax offense. … Who knew? Jags WR Jimmy Smith has 824 catches, three away from tying Larry Centers for eighth in NFL history. … Tin Men have Jags’ number. They’ve won 11 of past 14 vs. Jacksonville.
Prediction: Titans 23, Jaguars 20
Oakland at Washington
11 a.m., Redskins by 6
Last meeting: Redskins won 29-19 at Oakland on Nov. 29, 1998
Game marks return to D.C. for Raiders coach Norv Turner, who coached ‘Skins from 1994-2000, leading them to NFC East title in ’99. … Just wondering: How in the heck fire are ‘Skins over .500 with that minus-11 turnover ranking of theirs? … Kerry Collins: 14 TD passes, 6 INTs. Now for the fine print: Half of those picks came last week vs. Broncos. … For a guy who began the season on the bench, ‘Skins QB Mark Brunell isn’t half-bad: 14 TD tosses, 5 INTs. … Raiders, 24th in the bidness in D, don’t have anyone with more than one INT. … Randy Moss says in ESPN interview there’s a “black cloud” hanging over Raiders. Gee, ya think? They’ve lost 14 of their last 16 games in the AFC West.
Prediction: Raiders 27, Redskins 19
Kansas City at Houston
6:30 p.m., Chiefs by 7
Last meeting: Texans won 24-21 at Kansas City on Sept. 26, 2004
Chiefs on life support after 14-3 clunker at Buffalo. … And scary part is, TB Larry Johnson ran for 132 yards vs. Bills. … Moral to story: Chiefs’ passing game stinks. … Happy to report that Texans QB David Carr still is in one piece this late in the season. Dude gets sacked more than Donald Trump’s apprentices. … Go figure. Chiefs’ shaky D hasn’t allowed a 100-yard runner in 16 straight, second-best streak in the league to Steelers’ 21. … Hot off the rumor mill: Don’t be shocked to see Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak coaching Texans next season.
Prediction: Chiefs 31, Texans 27
Get a life, Bubba
Miami at Cleveland
11 a.m., Browns by 2 1/2
Last meeting: Dolphins won 10-7 at Miami on Dec. 26, 2004
Coaches – Nick Saban and Romeo Crennel – both members of Bill Parcells family tree. … Browns TB Reuben Droughns has 99-plus rushing yards in three of past four. … At least Browns are consistent. They’re 24th in the league in offense, 27th in D. … Now for good news on Browns front: They rank first in AFC in red-zone D, allowing 12 TDs on 28 trips (42.9 pct.). … Dawfins minus-4 in turnovers, Browns minus-5. … Miami LB Zach Thomas still hasn’t lost that step everyone keeps talking about. Dude has double-figure tackles in 24 of past 26.
Prediction: Dolphins 19, Browns 16
Arizona at St. Louis
11 a.m., Rams by 9 1/2
Last meeting: Rams won 17-12 at Phoenix on Sept. 18
Rams just so-so these days, but they’re still tough in the dome. They’re 42-10 at home in past 52. … St. Looie offense averages 5.9 yards per play, second in the NFL. … Marc Bulger returned from shoulder problems last week and threw for 304 in Rams’ loss at Seattle. … Cardinals minus-8 in turnovers, Rams minus-9. … ‘Zona WR Larry Fitzgerald has league-leading 61 catches, three more than he had during his entire rookie season. … Memo to Rams coaches: Get the ball to Steven Jackson! He’s averaging 102 rushing yards in past five. … Rams S Adam Archuleta leads NFL DBs with 3 1/2 sacks. … Cardinals’ running game running on empty. TB Marcel Shipp averaging 2.4 yards per on 101 carries.
Prediction: Rams 41, Cardinals 24
Seattle at San Francisco
2:05 p.m., Seahawks by 12 1/2
Last meeting: Seahawks won 42-27 at San Francisco on Nov. 7, 2004
Paper or plastic, Niners fans? … So this is how low the Niners have gone: Getting 12 1/2, at home, against a division rival. … San Fran QB Cody Pickett, 1-for-13 vs. Bears last week, returns to the bench in this one in favor of Ken Dorsey. No really, we’re not making this up. … Seattle D second in the league with 30 sacks after registering 36 last season. … Seahawks first in the league in offense (391 yards per). They average 6.1 yards per play and 5.3 per run, both numero uno in the NFL. … 49ers’ leading receiver, WR Brandon Lloyd, has 23 catches. Back in the day, that was a good two weeks for Jerry Rice.
Prediction: Seahawks 34, 49ers 10
Minnesota at Green Bay
7 p.m. Monday, Packers by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Vikings won 23-20 at Minnesota on Oct. 23
Vikings’ injury report includes bum knee for coach Mike Tice, who was rolled on the sideline in last week’s W vs. Giants. … Past six regular-season games between teams have been decided by five points or less. … Ex-Packer Darren Sharper leads Vikes with five INTs, tied for second in the league. … Brett Favre still above water: 16 TD passes, 15 INTs. … Go ahead, we dare you. Find us one player in the league named Samkon who is better than Packers TB Samkon Gado. Kid ran for 103 yards in last week’s shocking win at Atlanta. … Vikes QB Brad Johnson: 3 TD passes, no INTs in two starts.
Prediction: Vikings 34, Packers 24
