Only a handful of NFL teams have made the playoffs after opening the season 2-5.
Why do we mention that? Because the Steelers and Redskins, two teams with Super Bowl aspirations on opening day, are 2-5.
Maybe it’s already too late for either to be playing in January, but to have any hope, they’d better get it cranked up in November. Here’s the rub: Neither has an easy game today, with the Redskins playing the Cowboys and the Steelers facing the Broncos in a rematch of last season’s AFC championship game.
Oh, and did we mention the Colts and the Patriots, two teams that don’t particularly care for one another, square off in New England? Nothing at stake in that one. Uh-huh. And Wisconsin just re-enacted Prohibition.
With a victory, the Pats would tie the Colts for the best record in the AFC. If Indy wins, the Colts would have the inside track on home-field advantage in the playoffs with an 8-0 record and wins over New England and Denver.
Cincinnati, meanwhile, just wants to win a game. Since beating the Steelers on Sept. 24, the Bengals have lost three out of four, including home games vs. New England and Atlanta.
A loss to Baltimore today and the Bengals would be two games behind the Ravens in the AFC North. A victory and Cincinnati would tie for the division lead.
Couch potato heaven
Cincinnati at Baltimore
11 a.m., Ravens by 3
Last meeting: Bengals won 42-29 at Cincinnati on Nov. 27, 2005.
Cincy not the same team that won AFC North in ought-5. … Bengals 21st in the bid’ness in overall D, allowing ugly 4.5 yards per carry. … Ravens tied for league lead at plus-11 turnovers. … Cincy coach Marvin Lewis is former Balt D coordinator. … Ravens TE Todd Heap having a career year with 30 receptions, conference-leading five TD catches. … How much does Balt TB Jamal Lewis have left? We could find out today. Three of his top nine career rushing days (135 yards, 180, 186) have come vs. Bengals.
Prediction: Ravens 19, Bengals 17
Kansas City at St. Louis
11 a.m., Rams by 2
Last meeting: Chiefs won 49-10 at Kansas City on Dec. 8, 2002.
Didja know? Chiefs own NFL-best 20-5 interconference record since 1995. … Rams, meanwhile, have won 16 of past 17 at home vs. AFC with 548-331 point advantage. … Both starting QBs – K.C.’s Damon Huard (100.4) and Rams’ Marc Bulger (101.3) – have passer ratings of 100-plus. … Bulger has thrown for 300-plus, 3-plus TDs in past two home games. … Rookie DE Tamba Hali gettin’ it done for Chiefs – 3.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles. … Rams plus-10 in turnovers, Chiefs minus-1.
Prediction: Rams 23, Chiefs 20
Worth the electricity
Houston at N.Y. Giants
11 a.m., Giants by 13
Last meeting: Texans won 16-14 at Houston on Nov. 24, 2002
Houston QB David Carr leads NFL with 70.5 completion pct., but stunk up the yard so badly vs. Titans he publicly apologized for being born. … Texans back to Wali Lundy as starting TB. He’s averaging 4.9 yards per, about twice what backup Ron Dayne was contributing. … Hugheston rookie Mario Williams has at least one sack in three of past four. … G-Man Tiki Barber leads league with 715 rushing yards, one announced retirement. … Giants WR Plaxico Burress has caught a TD pass in five of seven games.
Prediction: Texans 20, Giants 19
Dallas at Washington
11 a.m., Cowboys by 3
Last meeting: Redskins won 35-7 at Washington on Dec. 18, 2005
Joe Gibbs 14-14 career vs. ‘Boys in Hall of Fame career. … Cahboas have dominated series in recent years, winning 15 of past 18 vs. ‘Skins. … Dallas QB Tony Romo won first career start last week vs. Panthers. Not only that, he makes a mean rack of ribs. … Despite it all, T.O. on pace for 85 catches, 1,101 yards, 11 TDs. Oh, and 26 sideline meltdowns. … Some good that 700-page playbook of Al Saunders’ is doing ‘Skins. They’ve scored 140 points, eight more than Lions, six more than 49ers, Cardinals.
Prediction: Redskins 30, Cowboys 23
Cleveland at San Diego
2:15 p.m., Chargers by 12 1/2
Last meeting: Chargers won 21-0 at Cleveland on Dec. 19, 2004
Funny how time has a way of changing things. One week Shawne Merriman and his lawyer are adamant his positive steroid test was the result of a tainted supplement. The next week Merriman drops his appeal and will begin serving four-game suspension. … How much will Merriman be missed? He’s tied for league lead with 8.5 sacks. … Philip Rivers: 10 TD passes, 3 INTs. Drew Brees, the QB he replaced: 11 TD passes, 7 INTs for Saints. … Chargers plus-7 in turnovers, Browns minus-8. … Kellen Winslow, Jr., leading NFL TEs with 40 catches, will be on same field his dad once called home.
Prediction: Chargers 35, Browns 9
Miami at Chicago
11 a.m., Bears by 13 1/2
Last meeting: Dolphins won 27-9 at Miami on Dec. 9, 2002
Bears allowing league-best 23.9 conversion pct. on third down. … Thirty-nine points today – don’t put it past them – and Bears would tie last year’s total of 260. … Dolphins minus-5 in turnovers, Bears plus-11, tied with Ravens for best in the biz. … Bears’ fifth-rounder Mark Anderson leads Not For Long rookies with 7.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles. … Dawfins DE Jason Taylor has 99.5 sacks, needs 0.5 to join Michael Strahan (132.5), Simeon Rice (120) as active players with 100.
Prediction: Bears 27, Dolphins 23
Beats washing the car
Atlanta at Detroit
11 a.m., Falcons by 5 1/2
Last meeting: Falcons won 27-7 at Detroit on Nov. 24, 2005
What’s this? Michael Vick, seven TD passes in past two games? You could look it up. … Dirty Birds CB DeAngelo Hall tied for NFL lead with four INTs. … Falcons only team with two runners in top 20 – Warrick Dunn (637 yards), Vick (496). … Lions have allowed 189 points. Only Arizona, San Fran have allowed more. … Lions QB Jon Kitna hoping his throws are more accurate than Tigers’ pitchers.
Prediction: Lions 17, Falcons 16
Oakland at Seattle
6:30 p.m. Monday, Seahawks by 7
Last meeting: Raiders won 31-17 at Oakland on Sept. 8, 2002
Raiders riding two-game W streak, but don’t kid yourself. They’ve got more issues than Nike has swooshes. … Raiduhs had 98 yards, including 17 via the air, in win over hapless Steelers. … Seahawks 24-4 in past 28 at home. … Seattle will start Seneca Wallace at QB in place of injured Matt Hasselbeck. Wallace threw three TD passes in first start at K.C. … Mo Morris averaging 2.9 yards per in relief of Shaun Alexander. … Raiders have 99 first downs in seven games, making them only NFL club not to have cracked the 100 mark. Colts have 164.
Prediction: Seahawks 25, Raiders 13
Tennessee at Jacksonville
11 a.m., Jacksonville by 9 1/2
Last meeting: Jaguars won 40-13 at Jacksonville on Jan. 1
Talk about a blowout. Jags scored game’s first 40 points in teams’ last meeting. … Tenn rookie Vince Young below 50 pct. (54-for-114) with 4 TD passes, 4 INTs. … How are Titans plus-1 in turnovers? They’ve fumbled twice, tied for lowest total in the circuit. … Jags coach Jack Del Rio says he’ll wait till game time to name David Garrard his starting QB. OK, OK, so he says he’s still considering Byron Leftwich, too. Don’t count on Leftwich getting the call.
Prediction: Jaguars 31, Titans 20
New Orleans at Tampa Bay
11 a.m., Saints by 1
Last meeting: Saints won 24-21 at Tampa on Oct. 8
Drew Brees on pace for 4,000-plus passing yards in first season in N’Awlins. You don’t suppose Dolphins are kicking themselves for not signing him, do you? Nah, didn’t think so. … Reggie Bush: sixth in NFL in receiving, 46th in rushing. … N.O. TB Deuce McAllister has 701 yards on ground in seven starts vs. TB. … Yo, Bruce Gradkowski, ever heard of a rookie mistake? The kid has thrown 155 passes with only one INT. … Bucs DE Simeon Rice has 14 sacks in past 10 games vs. Saints.
Prediction: Saints 31, Bucs 17
Get a life, Bubba
Green Bay at Buffalo
11 a.m., Bills by 3
Last meeting: Packers won 10-0 at Green Bay on Dec. 22, 2002
Bills coach Dick Jauron 2-9 vs. Pack from his days with Bears. … Brett Favre has thrown 10 TD passes, 5 INTs. No really, we’re not making this up. He’s not getting Packers beat every week with stupid INTs. … The joy of sacks: Packers DE Aaron Kampman tied for league lead with 8.5. … Bills minus-8 in turnovers. … Let’s Go converting a lousy 28.6 pct. of third downs, second from last in the league. … One more dubya and Pack ties 2005 total of four.
Prediction: Bills 16, Packers 13
Minnesota at San Francisco
2:05 p.m., Vikings by 5
Last meeting: Vikings won 35-7 at Minnesota on Sept. 28, 2003
Talk about a pair to draw to. Teams lost by combined 55 points last week. … What, you think Jake Plummer has been shaky this season? He has five TD passes, seven INTs. Vikings’ Brad Johnson has four and seven. … Vikings tough at crunch time. They’ve outscored opponents 59-16 in fourth Q and OT. … Niners allowing a ghastly 51 pct. conversion rate on third down, last in the league.
Prediction: Vikings 31, 49ers 26
Read Jim Armstrong’s Opening Shots on Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in The Denver Post sports section and on Mondays in NFL Monday. His previous columns are available online at www.denverpost.com
