Playoff implications.
We just flipped the calendar to December, but it’s never too early to talk about playoff implications. Take the Cowboys-Giants matchup at the Meadowlands. It has playoff implications, all right. As in, if the beleaguered Giants lose, they’re probably going to be watching them on TV.
With a win, Dallas could take command of the NFC East. San Diego, meanwhile, can take another big step toward winning the AFC West with a victory at Buffalo, and New Orleans can stay ahead of the pack in the NFC South with a W against the resurgent 49ers at the Superdome.
San Francisco (5-6) let a victory slip away last week at St. Louis, but make no doubt, the Niners are in the playoff hunt. This is, after all, the NFC we’re talking about. The junior-varsity conference.
Six teams in the NFC have winning records, three fewer than the AFC. Oh, and did we mention the AFC holds a 32-20 edge in interconference games? And that the Las Vegas oddsmakers have posted the AFC as a five-point favorite to win the Super Bowl?
Trust us, if the 49ers make the playoffs, they won’t apologize for the conference they play in. If they can pull off an upset on the bayou and the Seahawks lose at Invesco Field, San Francisco would be one game behind in the NFC West.
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
Couch potato heaven
San Francisco at New Orleans
11 a.m., Saints by 7
Last meeting: Saints won 30-27 at New Orleans on Sept. 19, 2004.
What’s this? Couch potato heaven for the Niners-Saints? Yeah, now that you asked. San Fran as we speak is one of the NFC’s best teams, led by hard- charging TB Frank Gore. … Gore leads the conference with 1,177 rushing yards. Not only that, he created the Internet. … Just wondering: How can Saints be 7-4 with a minus-9 turnover margin? … If they had an MVP for the NFC, Drew Brees would be a candidate. Dude’s on pace for 5,000 passing yards, which is, like, really good.
Prediction: Niners 27, Saints 24
San Diego at Buffalo
11 a.m., Chargers by 6
Last meeting: Chargers won 48-10 at San Diego on Nov. 20, 2005.
Yeah, boy, Bolts sure have missed Shawne Merriman. They’ve won five straight, scoring at least 32 points four times. … Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer has 200 career W’s, one behind Dan Reeves for sixth in Not For Long history. … Philip Rivers on the road: 11 touchdown passes, four interceptions. Rivers at home: four touchdown passes, two interceptions. … Bills QB J.P. Losman has led last-minute, game-winning drives in each of past two games. … Buffalo DE Aaron Schobel is a force coming off the corner. He has 4 1/2 sacks in past three home games.
Prediction: Chargers 30, Bills 20
Worth the electricity
Minnesota at Chicago
11 a.m., Bears by 9
Last meeting: Bears won 19-16 at Minnesota on Sept. 24.
Is Bears coach Lovie Smith still in love with Rex Grossman, he of the 14 INTS? So far, the Lovemeister is saying all the right things, but Brian Griese took some practice snaps last week with the No. 1 offense. … Bears have won five straight at home vs. Vikes. … Grossman a tale of two QBs: 12 TD passes, three INTs at home, six TD passes, 11 INTs with pillow mints. … Did you know? Vikes first in league in run D. … Vikings’ Chester Taylor (999 yards, third in NFC) about to hit 1,000 mark for first time in career.
Prediction: Bears 27, Vikings 13
Indianapolis at Tennessee
11 a.m., Colts by 7 1/2
Last meeting: Colts won 14-13 at Indianapolis on Oct. 8.
Titans have won four of past six. Good thing. Jeff Fisher was threatening to regrow his beard if they kept stinking up the stadium. … Tin Men coming off come-from-behind dubya vs. Giants. And we mean come from behind. They trailed 21-0 with nine minutes to play, but won 24-21. … Now for the bad news: They’ll have to face the other Manning in this one. Peyton ranks first in AFC in passing yards, TD passes and passer rating. … W would ensure fourth straight division title for Colts.
Prediction: Colts 24, Titans 16
Jacksonville at Miami
2:05 p.m., Dolphins by 1
Last meeting: Dolphins won 24-10 at Jacksonville on Oct. 12, 2003.
This just in. It’s getting late and Dolphins are on a roll, the exact scenario that played out last season. … You don’t suppose Miami QB Joey Harrington was happy about throwing those three TD passes at Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, do you? . … Talk about consistent. Fish are fifth in league in D – sixth vs. rush, seventh vs. pass. … Jags QB David Garrard makes fewer mental mistakes than Matt Damon in “Good Will Hunting.” Dude hasn’t thrown an INT in eight of past nine starts.
Prediction: Dolphins 16, Jaguars 13
Carolina at Philadelphia
6:30 p.m. Monday, Carolina by 3
Last meeting: Eagles won 30-8 at Philadelphia on Oct. 17, 2004.
Panthers allowing league-best 4.13 yards on first down. … Say, didn’t you used to be Jake Delhomme? Dude is 31st in the loop in third-down passing, having completed 48.5 pct. with three TDs, five picks. … Donovan McNabb underwent successful knee surgery last week. But then, when’s the last time a doctor said a surgery wasn’t successful? … Carolina DE Julius Peppers must have those jell things in his shoes. He leads league with 11 sacks and has 14 in past 12 games.
Prediction: Panthers 26, Eagles 16
Beats washing the car
Kansas City at Cleveland
11 a.m., Chiefs by 5
Last meeting: Chiefs won 41-20 at Kansas City on Nov. 9, 2003.
Memo to Browns’ head coach: Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art your offense, Romeo? Brownies shut out last week – at home, no less – vs. Bengals. … Cleveland minus-11 in turnovers and 31st in the league in Oh. Other than that, we’re talkin’ 1966 Packers here. … K.C. TB Larry Johnson on pace for 410 carries, which would tie Jamal Anderson’s NFL record set during days with Dirty Birds. … Just wondering: If Chiefs allowed 38 yards rushing to Broncos, how many inches are Browns going to gain?
Prediction: Browns 19, Chiefs 18
Atlanta at Washington
11 a.m., Redskins by 2
Last meeting: Redskins won 33-31 at Atlanta on Sept. 14, 2003.
Impressive performance last week by Atlanta QB Michael Vick, who flipped off Georgia Dome fans with both hands following club’s fourth straight loss. Both hands? Hey, it’s the 21st century. A man’s gotta be able to multi-task. … Vick has 870 rushing yards, putting him on pace to shatter all-time record for QBs. Now if he could just complete a pass to save his life. … It isn’t just Vick. Falcons receivers dropped five passes in loss to Saints. … ‘Skins’ Jason Campbell last week became fourth QB in NFL history to throw two TD passes in each of first two starts.
Prediction: Falcons 20, Redskins 19
Detroit at New England
11 a.m., Patriots by 13 1/2
Last meeting: Patriots won 20-12 at Detroit on Nov. 28, 2002.
Go figure. Bill Belichick 1-3 lifetime vs. Putty Tats. … Didja know? Belichick was Lions asst. special-teams coach in 1976-77. In fact, he still has the sweatshirt he wore back then. … Is William Clay Ford the only billionaire in America without cable? How else to explain Matt Millen still on the job? Lions 80,000 leagues under the .500 mark during his tenure. … Pats CB Asante Samuel had three INTs vs. Bears last week, giving him league-leading six.
Prediction: Patriots 32, Lions 20
Get a life, Bubba
N.Y. Jets at Green Bay
11 a.m., Jets by 1
Last meeting: Jets won 42-17 at East Rutherford, N.J., on Dec. 29, 2002.
No really, we’re not making this up. Jets showing some heart under first-year coach Eric Mangini. They’ve allowed 20 or fewer points in five of past six. … Packers 29th in the league in red-zone offense, with 13 TDs in 31 possessions. … Pack DE Aaron Kampman is second in league with 10.0 sacks. Not only that, he’s a team player, not to mention a righteous dude. … Jets’ lack of running game shows in first-down stats. They’re averaging 4.06 yards on first down, next-to-last in the league.
Prediction: Jets 24, Packers 23
Arizona at St. Louis
11 a.m., Rams by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Rams won 16-14 at Arizona on Sept. 24.
Cardinals shaky on offense, but can’t stop anybody. They’re 26th in offense, 30th in D. Nice stadium, though. … Rumorama: Pete Carroll to the Cards, where he and Paris Hilton would be reunited with Matt Leinart. … St. Looie QB Marc Bulger has won seven of eight career starts vs. ‘Zona. What, was he hung over the other time? … Rams DE Leonard Little has five sacks in past four games, 10.0 for season. … Rams leading NFC with plus-11 turnover ranking.
Prediction: Rams 37, Cardinals 29
Houston at Oakland
2:05 p.m., Raiders by 3
Last meeting: Texans won 30-17 at Houston on Oct. 3, 2004.
The Raiders favored for a change? That’s like Germany being favored in a world war. … Oakland coach Art Shell finally got with the program last week, and demoted Oh coordinator Tom Walsh. Team was last in the league in offense – 21st on the ground, 32nd in the air. … Randy Moss’ reaction to Walsh’s demotion? Who knows? He was taking a nap in the trainer’s room. … Texans competing, believe it or not. Four of past five games have been decided by six points or less.
Prediction: Raiders 25, Texans 17
Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh
2:15 p.m., Steelers by 7
Last meeting: Steelers won 17-7 at Tampa on Dec. 23, 2002.
Bill Cowher says Steelers, with little or no chance of making playoffs, have an opportunity to show what they’re made of down the stretch. What’s that? Yeah, yeah, we know, coaches always say that kind of baloney. … Now for the truth of the matter: Steelers decided to take the year off. … Pitt minus-12 in turnovers, Bucs minus-8. … Bucs lousy in rushing game, but can’t throw the ball. They’re 29th in both categories. … Ben Roethlisberger denies he has begun counting INTs in his sleep.
Prediction: Steelers 30, Bucs 10
