Game of the week
Cincinnati at Kansas City
11 a.m., Chiefs by 7 1/2
Last meeting: Bengals won 24-19 at Cincinnati on Nov. 16, 2003
Who knew: The Bengals seemingly have used last season’s 23-10 Monday night victory over the Broncos as a turning point in franchise history. In 25 previous games, they were 10-15. In the 25 since, they’ve gone 17-8.
Spotlight on: Deltha O’Neal
For a guy who was switched to wide receiver by Mike Shanahan, O’Neal has done all right as a cornerback. The former Broncos first-rounder leads the NFL with 10 interceptions. Nothing out of the ordinary there except that no Bengals player has led the league in picks.
Etc.: Talk about a picture of consistency. Cincy QB Carson Palmer has 11 games of 100-plus passer ratings, one away from an NFL record. … Bengals TB Rudi Johnson one of game’s more underrated players. He’s third in AFC with 1,440 yards and had 165 in last meeting vs. Chiefs. … Chiefs clinging to playoff lives, but they’re out if Steelers beat Lions. In other words, this one could be Dick Vermeil’s last game roaming an NFL sideline. … K.C. DE Jared Allen always around the ball. Dude has seven forced fumbles, 11 sacks. … Bengals’ offensive line has allowed 20 sacks, second-fewest in NFL (Colts, 18). … Cincy WR Chad Johnson talks the talk, walks the walk. He leads AFC with 93 catches, 1,377 yards.
Prediction: Chiefs 31, Bengals 22
Couch potato heaven
Miami at New England
11 a.m., Patriots by 5 1/2
Last meeting: Patriots won 23-16 at Miami on Nov. 13
Dolphins in Couch Potato Heaven? Yeah, now that you’ve asked. They’ve won five straight and are in search of first six-game streak since 1992. … Not that Nick Saban is gettin’ it done, but Miami has doubled last year’s W total of four. Not only that, Dawfins are dead even in turnovers, a far cry from 2004, when they were minus-17. … WR Chris Chambers having career year for Fish – 77 catches, 1,043 yards, 11 TD catches, tied for second in the league. … Best cold-weather QB in the biz? That would be New England’s Tom Brady. Pats have won 15 straight when game-time temp is 35 or below. … Go figure. Pats LB Mike Vrabel (three) and T Tom Ashworth (one) have combined for four TD catches.
Prediction: Patriots 27, Dolphins 19
Seattle at Green Bay
11 a.m., Packers by 4 1/2
Last meeting: Packers won 33-27, OT, at Green Bay in 2003 playoff game
A 3-12 team worthy of Couch Potato Heaven? No, but this one has an asterisk beside it. It could be the final game of Brett Favre’s fabled career. In other words, must-see TV for hard-core NFL fans. … Talk about struggling. Favre has thrown 19 TD passes, an ugly 28 INTs. … Pack minus-23 in turnovers, which, frankly, isn’t an aberration. They were minus-14 in 2004. … Seahawks seeking 12th straight W, but don’t need it. They’ve clinched home field throughout the playoffs, making them favorites to rep junior-varsity conference in the Super Bore. … Re: Seahawks’ magical season. You know things are going your way when Joe Jurevicius has, count ’em, nine TD catches.
Prediction: Packers 27, Seahawks 17
Worth the electricity
Carolina at Atlanta
11 a.m., Panthers by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Panthers won 24-6 at Carolina on Dec. 4
Your NFL comeback player of the year? What, you mean other than Steve Smith? Panthers WR needs six catches to join Muhsin Muhammad as only Carolina players with 100-catch seasons. … Game features matchup of two NFC Pro Bowl QBs – Jake Delhomme and Michael Vick. … Just wondering: Will Vick ever be a player worthy of the top pick in the draft? Running game certainly isn’t Falcons’ problem. They lead the league in rushing, averaging 168 yards per game and 4.9 per carry. … Carolina best at crunch time; witness Panthers’ 118 fourth-quarter points, second most in the bid’ness.
Prediction: Falcons 27, Panthers 25
Arizona at Indianapolis
11 a.m., Colts by 7 1/2
Last meeting: Colts won 20-13 at Indianapolis on Sept. 1, 1996
Did you know? Cardinals rank 10th in the league in offense (344 yards per) and D (301), joining Colts (third, ninth) as only two clubs in top 10 in each category. … ‘Zona S Adrian Wilson has eight sacks, most by a DB since stat was instituted in 1982. … Cards QB Josh McCown not as shaky as you think. He’s 3-2 in five starts, passing for two TDs in three of five starts. … Colts expected to rest several key players during game. Hence the relatively low point spread. … True, but strange: LBs lead each team in INTS – Cards’ Karlos Dansby (three), Colts’ Cato June (five).
Prediction: Colts 30, Cardinals 23
Detroit at Pittsburgh
11 a.m., Steelers by 13 1/2
Last meeting: Steelers won 47-14 at Pittsburgh on Dc. 23, 2001
Lions back to Joey Harrington as starting QB – for a day anyway. … Steelers WR Hines Ward tied for second in the loop with 11 TD catches, needs 65 yards for an even thousand. … Victory would assure Stillers of playoff berth and would mark 10th playoff trip in 14 seasons under Bill Cowher. … Steelers have won seven straight vs. NFC. … Lions DT Shaun Rogers is first Motown D lineman with back-to-back Pro Bowl trips since Luther Elliss in 1999-2000. … Pitt’s Joey Porter leads NFL LBs with 10.5 sacks. … Go figure. Lions have used three No. 1 draft picks on WRs in recent years, but their leading receiver is Roy Williams with 42 receptions and 7 TDs.
Prediction: Steelers 41, Lions 9
Washington at Philadelphia
2:15 p.m., Redskins by 7 1/2
Last meeting: Redskins won 17-10 at Washington on Nov. 6
‘Skins, who looked like roadkill a month ago, still in playoff hunt. … They need to win and ask questions later, and conveniently Eagles will line up Mike McMahon at QB. McMahon in six starts: 44 pct., 3 TDs, 7 INTs. … Washington QB Mark Brunell questionable, but reports his sprained knee is improving. … As usual, Moss has 80 catches for 1,400 yards, 9 TDs. Now for the fine print: We’re talking Santana Moss, not Randy, tied for 49th in the league in receptions. … He may dress in the dark, but give ‘Skins’ Clinton Portis this: Dude can carry the mail. He ranks sixth in the Not For Long with 1,404 yards.
Prediction: Redskins 27, Eagles 3
Beats cleaning the garage
Chicago at Minnesota
2:15 p.m., Vikings by 4 1/2
Last meeting: Bears won 28-3 at Chicago on Oct. 16
Bears have clinched first-round playoff bye, but can’t get home field throughout. Does that mean they have nothing to play for? Hardly. QB Rex Grossman, installed as the starter two weeks ago, needs all the playing time he can get. … Bears numero uno in NFL in D, allowing 274.2 yards per. … Vikings need W for second winning season in four years under Mike Tice. Either way, Tice’s days appear numbered in Minnesota.
Prediction: Vikings 23, Bears 10
New Orleans at Tampa Bay
11 a.m., Bucs by 13 1/2
Last meeting: Bucs won 10-3 at Baton Rouge, La., on Dec. 4
What, you think Saints will lie down for this one? They’ve won three straight on the road vs. Bucs. … What’s that? OK, OK, so those three Ws came back in the day, when Saints were trying. … N’Awlins QB Todd Bouman struggling, completing 43-of-85 for 1 TD, 5 INTs. … Saints a wretched minus-21 in turnovers, Bucs plus-4. … Tampa CB Ronde Barber has 28 career INTs, including three in last game vs. Saints. … Bucs second in the league in D – seventh vs. run, fourth vs. pass.
Prediction: Bucs 34, Saints 23
Tennessee at Jacksonville
2 p.m., Jaguars by 4
Last meeting: Jaguars won 31-28 at Tennessee on Nov. 20
This one could be Jeff Fisher’s swan song as Titans’ coach. … Jax QB Byron Leftwich, who’s been out indefinitely with a broken ankle, is practicing and could play. … As of mid-week, Titans were undecided between QBs Steve McNair and Billy Volek. … Jags tuning up for postseason, having secured first playoff spot since 1999. … Ex-Bronco Reggie Hayward, who got big-bucks free-agent deal from Jags, leads team with 8.5 sacks. … Jags TB Fred Taylor rounding into shape after battling ankle problems. He had 101 yards rushing last week.
Prediction: Jaguars 13, Titans 10
St. Louis at Dallas
6:30 p.m., Cowboys by 12 1/2
Last meeting: Cowboys won 13-10 at St. Louis on Sept. 29, 2002
Who knew? Cowboys coach Bill Parcells, for all his success, is 3-6 career vs. Rams. … Rams stinking it up defensively – 30th vs. run, 22nd vs. pass. … Cahboas DE Marcus Ware tied for second among NFL rookies with 7.0 sacks, including three last week. … OK, so most of his catches have proved meaningless, but Rams’ Torry Holt deserves a little love. He leads league with 98. … Talk about sad. Rams minus-14 in turnovers, a big improvement over 2004, when they were minus-24.
Prediction: Cowboys 37, Rams 20
Get a life, Bubba
Baltimore at Cleveland
11 a.m., Ravens by 3
Last meeting: Ravens won 16-3 at Cleveland on Oct. 16
Browns checking for a pulse after last week’s 41-0 blowout loss to Steelers. … Talk about a motivator. Corpulent Brownies coach Romeo Crennel has threatened to sit on anybody who doesn’t play hard in this one. … Cleveland TB Reuben Droughns needs 49 rushing yards to surpass career high of 1,240, set last season with Broncos. … Don’t blame free-agent signee Derrick Mason for Ravens’ rotten season. He has 83 catches, a franchise record.
Prediction: Browns 20, Ravens 16
Buffalo at New York Jets
11 a.m., Bills by 1 1/2
Last meeting: Bills won 27-17 at Buffalo on Oct. 16
Bills a tale of two teams. They’re lousy with J.P. Losman at QB, respectable with Kelly Holcomb under center. Holcomb has eight TD passes, four INTs as a starter. … Brooks Bollinger, Cedric Houston in Jets’ starting backfield. Any more questions? … Not that Bollinger has been that bad in recent weeks. He has four TD passes, one INT in past three games. … Jets 0-8 on the road, but with a W would finish .500 at home. … So much for contention that Jets CB Ty Law was ready for the scrap heap. Dude has seven INTs, third in the AFC.
Prediction: Bills 30, Jets 20
Houston at San Francisco
2 p.m., Texans by 1
Last meeting: First game between teams
Texans favored on the road. Have you ever? … This just in. You’re never going to be favored when you’ve got a rookie QB who’s thrown 10 INTs, no TD passes. Those are Niners QB Alex Smith’s numbers in limited playing time. … Somehow, some way, Texans QB David Carr has 14 TD passes, only 11 INTs. Both Carr and Smith were top picks in NFL draft. … Game figures to be Dom Capers’ finale as Texans’ head coach. Not that he’s definitely gone, mind you. Of course, Elvis could be launching a comeback tour, too.
Prediction: Texans 24, 49ers 15
