Couch potato heaven
Atlanta at Carolina
11 a.m., Panthers by 3
Last meeting: Falcons won 34-31 (OT) at Atlanta on Dec. 18, 2004
Talk about close encounters. Two of past three between teams have been decided in OT. … Michael Vick seeking fourth straight two-TD game. That’s TD passes, not runs. … Dirty Birds are only Not For Long team to run for 100 yards in every game. … Panthers plus-8 in turnovers, Falcons plus-5. … Panthers traditionally fast finishers. They’re 10-5 in season’s last five games under John Fox. … Carolina WR Steve Smith could pull off Triple Crown among wideouts. He leads league in catches (75), yardage (1,161) and TD catches (nine). … Panthers first in NFC at 8.05 yards per pass attempt. We’d tell you who leads the league, but you already know.
Prediction: Panthers 30, Falcons 24
Dallas at New York Giants
11 a.m., Giants by 3
Last meeting: Cowboys won 16-13 (OT) at Dallas on Oct. 16
Both teams steaming after 24-21 losses in OT. … G-Men third in the No Foul Language at 27.5 ppg. … New Yawk QB Eli Manning has at least one TD pass in 12 straight, longest active streak in da league. … Best free-agent signing of the offseason? What, you mean other than Plaxico Burress? Dude needs 72 receiving yards to become seventh Giant ever with a thou. … Kickers Billy Cundiff of the Cowboys and Giants’ Jay Feely missed FGs that could have given their teams W’s in Week 12.
Prediction: Cowboys 19, Giants 18
Worththeelectricity
Seattle at Philadelphia
7 p.m., Monday, Seahawks by 4
Last meeting: Eagles won 27-20 at Seattle on Dec. 8, 2002
You knew one of these teams would be leading the league in sacks. But who knew it would be the Seahawks with 36? … Did you know? Seattle DT Rocky Bernard tied for league lead among interior linemen with 8 1/2 sacks. … Can you say MVP? Seattle TB Shaun Alexander leads NFL with 1,339 rushing yards, 20 rushing TDs. … Iggles QB Mike McMahon: 33-for-73, 425 yards. Any more questions? … Best rookie you haven’t heard of? Try Eagles DE Trent Cole, a fifth-rounder who has five sacks in his past four games. … Seahawks win NFC West title and a third straight playoff berth with a W.
Prediction: Seahawks 25, Eagles 17
Oakland at San Diego
6:30 p.m., Chargers by 11
Last meeting: Chargers won 27-14 at Oakland on Oct. 16
Chargers right there with Broncos as league’s second-best team. Question is, with that brutal schedule, will they make the playoffs? … San Diego has won four straight vs. Raiduhs. How rare is that? If they make it five in a row in this one, it would be their first five-game W streak vs. Oakland since 1960-62. … Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer has more regular-season Ws vs. Raiders (23) than any other coach who ever was. … Best defensive rookie in the Not For Long? You could argue Chargers LB Shawne Merriman, who has a sack in five of past seven. … Raiders DE Derrick Burgess tied for league lead this year with 11 sacks.
Prediction: Chargers 44, Raiders 23
Green Bay at Chicago
11 a.m., Bears by 7
Last meeting: Packers won 31-14 at Chicago on Jan. 2, 2005
Pack is 20-4 in December/January regular- season games under Mike Sherman. What’s that? Yeah, you’re right. That and half a buck will get them a phone call. … Packers minus-11 in turnovers; Bears, surprisingly, minus-1. … Memo to Brett Favre: Lose the interceptions, Bubba! He has thrown 19 in 11 games, putting him on pace for, like, a whole bunch. … In Gado the Pack trusts. Samkon Gado, that is. The undrafted rookie has run for 100-plus yards in two of past three games. Not only that, he has never been arrested. … Bears seeking eighth straight W, fifth in a row at home. … Look for low-scoring affair – the cliché of the day, by the way – in this one. FG kickers could have tough time in Soldier Field wind.
Prediction: Bears 27, Packers 16
Jacksonville at Cleveland
11 a.m., Jaguars by 3
Last meeting: Browns won 21-20 at Jacksonville on Dec. 8, 2002
Jags giving three points here despite absence of QB Byron Leftwich. With Leftwich out with a broken ankle, David Garrard assumes the position. … David Garrard. Wasn’t he the guy who chased “The Fugitive” around all those years? … Jax third in the loop in turnovers at plus-12. Brownies, meanwhile, are minus-7. … Ex-Bronco Reuben Droughns all the rage in Mistake by the Lake: 211 carries, 941 yards. … Game features league’s top rookie receivers – Jax’s Matt Jones (28 catches) and Cleveland’s Braylon Edwards (27). … Browns seeking third straight dubya at home. … Who knew? Cleveland D leads AFC in red zone, allowing just 15 TDs in 33 possessions.
Prediction: Browns 20, Jaguars 13
Beats cleaning the garage
Minnesota at Detroit
11 a.m., Vikings by 3
Last meeting: Vikings won 27-14 at Minnesota on Nov. 6
What’s this? Vikes seeking fifth straight W, third in a row on road? … No, really, we’re not making this up. Minnie playing lights out without would-be starting QB Daunte Culpepper. … Lions CB Dre’ Bly, who buried Joey Harrington on national TV, says, come to think of it, Jeff Garcia isn’t any good, either. … Motown playing first game since firing of Steve Mariucci. But then you knew that. … Did you know? Mike Tice 7-0 career vs. Lions. … Minnie S Darren Sharper has five INTs in past three games, leads league with seven. … Lions can’t get running game revved. Kevin Jones stumbling along at 3.3 yards per.
Prediction: Vikings 34, Lions 23
Tennessee at Indianapolis
11 a.m., Colts by 16
Last meeting: Colts won 31-10 at Tennessee on Oct. 2, 2005
You already know about Indy offense. Did you know Colts rank No. 4 in the bidness in D? They’re 10th vs. run, eighth vs. pass. … Peyton Manning on pace for mere 32 TD tosses after record-setting 49 last season. Something tells us he’ll get over it. … As if Manning needed it, but he’s also got the league’s leading runner in his backfield. Edgerrin James has 1,240 yards and ranks second in AFC with 11 rushing TDs. … And now for something you don’t see every week: Titans coming off a W! … Tenn beat hapless Niners last week in front of Jed Clampett and family. … Colts haven’t trailed in nine of 11 games. … Titans’ only hope is to pressure Manning. DE Kyle Vanden Bosch third in the league with 10 1/2 sacks.
Prediction: Colts 37, Titans 24
Tampa Bay at New Orleans
11 a.m., Bucs by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Saints won 21-17 at Tampa on Dec. 19, 2004
Game site is Baton Rouge, where Saints have drawn more penalties than fans. … Talk about mediocre: Chris Simms, five TD passes, five INTs; Aaron Brooks, 12 TD passes, 13 INTs. … N’Awlins minus-13 in turnovers, Bucs plus-2. … Series usually tight. Past six decided by a TD or less. … Bucs DE Simeon Rice needs one sack for fifth straight year in double digits. … Tampa Bay second in the league in D at 270 yards per. … Tampa Bay WR Joey Galloway having career season with 58 catches, 1,000 yards, seven TDs.
Prediction: Bucs 20, Saints 10
Washington at St. Louis
2:05 p.m., Redskins by 3
Last meeting: Redskins won 20-17 at Washington on Nov. 24, 2002
Why are ‘Skins favored? Two factors. They’re seeking fifth straight road W in series, and Rams are starting a rookie, seventh-rounder Ryan Fitzpatrick, at QB. … Redskins minus-10 in turnovers, Rams minus-9. … Rams fourth in league in offense – first in passing yardage – but 29th in D. … Rams have hit skids in recent weeks. Before last week’s miracle W at Houston, they lost at home to Cardinals. … ‘Skins WR Santana Moss second in the league in receiving yardage at 1,053. … Rams S Mike Furrey has five takeaways – two fumble recoveries, three INTs – in past six games. … Clinton Portis in 11 career December games: 11 games, 1,399 yards.
Prediction: Redskins 31, Rams 29
New York Jets at New England
2:15 p.m., Patriots by 10
Last meeting: Patriots won 23-7 at the Meadowlands on Dec. 26, 2004
Will last New England DB standing please turn out the lights? … The good news is Tom Brady leads league with 3,030 passing yards. The bad news is Tom Brady leads league with 3,030 passing yards. Pats still can’t get running game going, what with Corey Dillon in and out of the lineup with injuries. Dillon: 126 carries, 441 yards, 3.5 per. … Patriots, coming off 10-point loss at K.C., haven’t had back-to-back Ls in 44 games. … Jets’ D wearing down in face of offense’s monumental struggles. They’ve dropped to 30th in the league in run D. … Jets coach Herm Edwards 2-6 career vs. Pats.
Prediction: Patriots 34, Jets 10
Get a life, Bubba
Houston at Baltimore
11 a.m., Ravens by 8
Last meeting: Ravens won 23-19 at Houston on Dec. 15, 2002
Not that Dom Capers is toast, but he could be fired at halftime if Texans are down. … Only the Texans. They led by 10 with less than a minute to play last week, but found a way to lose. … Only Paris Hilton gets hit on more than Houston QB David Carr. Dude has been sacked 50 times in 11 games. … Question for ya, Brian Billick. What part of “Kyle Boller isn’t the answer” don’t you get? … Balt minus-11 in turnovers, Houston minus-8. … Boller just good enough to keep Ravens’ hopes alive. They’re 10-4 at home with him under center.
Prediction: Ravens 27, Texans 0
Buffalo at Miami
11 a.m., Dolphins by 4
Last meeting: Bills won 20-14 on Oct. 9
Bills a tale of two teams: 4-2 at home, 0-5 on road. … Bills coach Mike Mularkey 3-0 vs. Dawfins. … Series between teams has ended in sweep for six years running. Don’t count on it this year, what with Buff QB J.P. Losman making first start vs. division opponent. … Didja know? Bills plus-8 in turnovers, Dolphins minus-5. … Game marks homecoming for Buffalo TB Willis McGahee, who starred in college at U of Miami. … Miami D gettin’ it done. DE Vonnie Holliday had three sacks last week vs. Raiduhs. … Dawfins gunnin’ for Bills in this one. Buffalo recorded five INTs and forced seven turnovers in ’04 game at Miami.
Prediction: Dolphins 31, Bills 19
Arizona at San Francisco
2:05 p.m., Cardinals by 3
Last meeting: Cardinals won 31-14 at Mexico City on Oct. 2
How bad are Niners? Cardinals giving them a FG at home. Case closed. … There’s life left in Kurt Warner’s arm after all. Dude has thrown six TD passes, one INT in past three games. … Niners last in league in D, last in Oh. Nice unis, though. … ‘Zona second in league in passing yards at 275 yards per. … Cards WR Larry Fitzgerald leads league with 74 catches. … Alex Smith, top pick in ’05 draft, starts first game since Oct. 23. … Cards S Adrian Wilson leads NFL DBs with five sacks.
Prediction: Cardinals 31, 49ers 14
Capsules By Jim Armstrong, The Denver Post
