Veritable plethora isn’t a term we use lightly around here, but when looking at the Week 8 schedule, we’ve got to haul it out for a rare NFL Sunday appearance.
There’s a VP of big games on the docket, including Indianapolis at Denver, Baltimore at New Orleans and New England at Minnesota. And that doesn’t even take into account Atlanta at Cincinnati, Seattle at Kansas City and Jacksonville at Philadelphia.
Not only that, Arizona plays on the – cue up the Chris Berman soundtrack – frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, as if there were any other kind of tundra. What’s that? Yeah, yeah, we know, the game stinks, but it’s worth watching just in case Dennis Green fires another coach or goes ballistic on the ball boy.
But back to the games that really matter.
The winner of the Indy-Denver game will have, for the time being anyway, the inside track to the Super Bowl from the AFC. The Patriots, meanwhile, would improve to 6-1 with a win in Minneapolis on Monday night. Week 8 also will usher in the Tony Romo era in Dallas. Romo took over at halftime of last week’s Monday nighter and is expected to start today at Carolina, where a loss would put the Cowboys under .500.
Couch potato heaven
Baltimore at New Orleans
11 a.m., Saints by 2
Last meeting: Saints won 37-25 at Baltimore on Dec. 8, 2002.
Both clubs coming off byes. Ravens have won four straight after their week off, tied for second-longest streak in the bid’ness behind Eagles’ seven in a row. … Saints shooting for first 4-0 start at home since Louisiana Purchase. All right, all right, since 1991. … You think it’s Reggie Bush and Drew Brees, but it’s not. N’Awlins D-line key to Saints’ resurgence. Three Saints D-linemen have three-plus sacks apiece. … Ravens plus-7 in turnovers, but have lost back-to-back games.
Prediction: Ravens 19, Saints 18
San Francisco at Chicago
11 a.m., Bears by 16
Last meeting: Bears won 17-9 at Chicago on Nov. 13, 2005.
Bears giving 16 coming off miracle win at Arizona followed by bye week. … Bears after first 7-0 start since 1985, when Fridge Perry’s money was no good in Chicago restaurants. … Bears still looking to rev runnin’ game: Thomas Jones, only 3.7 yards per. … Frank Gore among NFL’s underrated players. He leads Niners in yards rushing (520) and catches (24). … Bears’ Rex Grossman at home: 3-0, eight TDs, zero INTs, 118.9 passer rating. … Niners, coming off bye, showed more emotion last week than they did in last game, a 48-19 loss to Chargers.
Prediction: Bears 17, 49ers 0
Worth the electricity
Atlanta at Cincinnati
11 a.m., Bengals by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Falcons won 30-3 at Atlanta on Sept. 22, 2002.
Michael Vick coming off career-high four TD passes vs. Steelers. Three went to TE Alge Crumpler, who finished with six catches, 117 yards. … Both teams like to play keepaway. Falcons plus-7 in turnovers, Bengals plus-6. … Cincy 7-0 at home vs. NFC under Marvin Lewis. … Bengals WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh runs 4.4 in the 40, but takes 5.5 to sign his autograph. … Bengals DEs Robert Geathers and Justin Smith have six sacks apiece, making them only Not For Long tandem with a half-dozen each.
Prediction: Bengals 24, Falcons 20
Seattle at Kansas City
11 a.m., Chiefs by 6
Last meeting: Seahawks won 39-32 at Seattle on Nov. 24, 2002.
Seahawks turning into road warriors, having won seven of past nine with pillow mints. … QB Seneca Wallace to make first NFL start for Seattle, what with Matt Hasselbeck sidelined with knee issues. Wallace in limited duty this season: 15-for-27, 140 yards, zero TDs, two INTs. … Maybe they ought to call this one the Backup Bowl. Damon Huard starts at QB for the Chiefs. Huard has proven to be more than capable in Trent Green’s absence, throwing seven TD passes, only one pick. … A number hardly befitting a Super Bowl team: ‘Hawks minus-3 and counting in turnovers.
Prediction: Chiefs 17, Seahawks 16
St. Louis at San Diego
2:05 p.m., Chargers by 10
Last meeting: Rams won 28-24 on Nov. 10, 2002.
Chargers’ D leading league at 241 yards allowed per. Now for the fine print: Injuries, pending suspension of Shawne Merriman won’t help the cause. … San D’s Philip Rivers threw 11 passes in first NFL start, but has come out throwing in recent games. He has thrown more passes, with more completions, than any other QB in past three. … Rams WR Torry Holt leads circuit with seven TD catches. … Rams plus-11 in turnovers, Chargers plus-6.
Prediction: Chargers 31, Rams 23
Dallas at Carolina
6:15 p.m., Panthers by 5 1/2
Last meeting: Cowboys won 24-20 at Carolina on Dec. 24, 2005.
Bill Parcells apologized to Cowboys fans for embarrassing loss to Giants on Monday night. And while he was on a roll, he apologized for T.O.’s publicist, too. … Speaking of whom, how could players of Cowboys’ stature stink up the barn like they did vs. G-Men? Game was so bad it cost Drew Bledsoe his gig. Tony Romo – the QB, not the ribs maven – will start for Big D. … Jake Delhomme has his own issues. Panthers’ QB has been lousy on third down throughout the season and cost his team at least a tie with stupid end-zone pick at Cincy.
Prediction: Panthers 34, Cowboys 27
Beats washing the car
Jacksonville at Philadelphia
11 a.m., Eagles by 7
Last meeting: Jaguars won 28-25 at Jacksonville on Oct. 6, 2002.
Three weeks ago, these teams looked like powerhouses. Now they’re a coupla clubs desperate for a W. … Eagles coming off back-to- back road losses, each on an 11th-hour FG, the last from 62 yards out. … Jags coming off 20-point loss to dog-bottom Texans. … Jags QB Byron Leftwich usually plays well vs. NFC: 5-2, 12 TDs, 4 INTs in past seven vs. The Other Conference. … Philly leads NF of L in overall Oh (417.1 yards) and passing Oh (291.1). … Eagles CB Lito Sheppard has three INTs in past two games.
Prediction: Eagles 27, Jaguars 20
Tampa Bay at N.Y. Giants
11 a.m., Giants by 9
Last meeting: Bucs won 19-13 at Tampa on Nov. 24, 2003.
Bucs coach Jon Gruden 3-0 in his career vs. G-Men. What’s that? Yeah, you’re right. A lot of good that will do him today. … Bucs hoping for Monday night hangover from Giants, who dismantled Cahboas in Big D. … Tiki Barber, leading the loop in rushing yards, plans to retire at season’s end. … Eli Manning 8-2 in past 10 home starts with 17 TDs. … Hmm. Bucs have won three out of four vs. Giants, outscoring G-Men 72-41. … Wait till Bucs rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski gets wind of that Meadowlands wind.
Prediction: Giants 24, Bucs 13
Pittsburgh at Oakland
2:15 p.m., Steelers by 9
Last meeting: Steelers won 24-21 at Pittsburgh on Sept. 12, 2004.
Raiders win! Raiders win! We only mention it because it may not happen again. … Steelers figure to be much tougher test than Gang Green from Arizona. … Charlie Batch could start this one for Stillers. That’s Charlie Batch, the NFL’s highest-rated quarterback. … Steelers’ biggest problem? They’re not gittin’ er’ done in the running game. Willie Parker: 3.8 yards per. … Raiders minus-12 in turnovers, Steelers minus-2. … From the practice-makes-perfect dept.: Raiduhs P Shane Lechler leading AFC with 49.9-yard avg.
Prediction: Steelers 19, Raiders 3
Get a life, Bubba
Houston at Tennessee
11 a.m., Titans by 3
Last meeting: Titans won 13-10 at Tennessee on Dec. 11, 2005.
We still in Kansas, Toto? Texans coming off 20-point W vs. team that won 12 games in ’05. … Houston talking playoffs after big win over Jacksonville. Yeah, right. Baseball playoffs, maybe. … Tin Men coming off bye week nonloss, prompting parade through downtown Nashville. … Texans have won past two in series. … Mario Williams, in case name rings a bell, leads Hugheston with 2.5 sacks. … Vince Young struggling in early days as NFL QB. He’s completed 47-of-99 with 56.5 passer rating. … Titans seeking back-to-back W’s for first time since ’03.
Prediction: Texans 16, Titans 13
N.Y. Jets at Cleveland
2:15 p.m., Browns by 2
Last meeting: Jets won 10-7 at Cleveland on Nov. 21, 2004.
Browns Oh coordinator Maurice Carthon walked plank after disgusting loss to Broncos, but Romeo Crennel wants it known that Carthon wasn’t fired. Uh, OK. And those are palm trees growing out there on the shores of Lake Erie. … Crennel and Jets coach Eric Mangini were both defensive assistants under Unabomber Belichick during days with Pats. … J-E-T-S no longer a J-O-K-E. It’s October and they’ve equaled last year’s W total. … Rookie TB Leon Washington lookin’ like the real deal. He had first two-TD game in dubya vs. Lions.
Prediction: Jets 20, Browns 17
Arizona at Green Bay
11 a.m., Packers by 4
Last meeting: Cardinals won 20-13 at Arizona on Sept. 21, 2003.
Pack riding one-game winning streak. OK, so one game doesn’t make a streak. What are we supposed to write about, all those Brett Favre picks? … Go figure. ‘Zona Oh leads Not For Long with 59 first-quarter points. … Edgerrin James averagin’ 2.7 stinkin’ yards per carry for Cards. Can you say Emmitt Smith? … Matt Leinart trying to become first Cards rookie QB to get a W since Jake Plummer in ’97. … Pack WR Greg Jennings second among NFL rookies with 378 receiving yards and a trio of TDs.
Prediction: Packers 30, Cardinals 23
Read Jim Armstrong’s Opening Shots on Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in The Denver Post sports section and Mondays in NFL Monday. His previous columns are available online at www.denverpost.com.
