Sure, it’s the Junior Varsity Conference, but those rumors aren’t true. They really do play football in the NFC.
The best team in the NFL’s Other Conference? We’ll find out Sunday night when the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears get it on in the City of Big Shoulder Pads.
This one is as classic as regular-season NFC matchups get: The Cowboys, who have racked up 82 points in two games, versus the Bears, proud owners of arguably the league’s best defense.
So who will win? The Bears, if Rex Grossman (one TD pass, three INTs) doesn’t give the game away. Or the Cowboys, if the Bears don’t put enough pressure on Tony Romo. The Bears, if Brian Urlacher & Co. can slow down the Dallas offense. Or the Cowboys, if Terrell Owens dances the night away in the end zone.
At any rate, there are playoff implications in this one. They won’t be felt right away, but in January, when these two could well meet for the NFC championship. If so, this game could determine where that one is played.
Go to for Jim Armstrong’s video preview of five key games, plus daily Broncos commentaries at 7 a.m. and noon. You also can chat live with Armstrong starting at 2:05 p.m. Sunday while the Broncos play.
COUCH POTATO HEAVEN
San Diego at Green Bay
11 a.m., Chargers by 4 1/2
Last meeting: Packers won 38-21 at San Diego on Dec. 14, 2003.
Nice guy, Norv Turner. But how is he as a head coach? Nice guy, Norv Turner. … Bolts offense not stretching the field, so LaDainian Tomlinson finding little running room. Last year’s MVP through two games this season: 35 carries, 68 lousy yards. … Bolts have won six straight vs. NFC. … Shawne Merriman lights out for Bolts: two sacks, a forced fumble vs. Pats. … Anyone notice Pack has won six straight since last season? Make no doubt, improved D has been biggest issue. … That sound you keep hearing is records breaking in Green Bay. Brett Favre has 149 career W’s, one more than J-Elway, and 417 TD tosses, four away from breaking Dan Marino’s NFL mark.
Prediction: Chargers 24, Packers 20
Indianapolis at Houston
11 a.m., Colts by 6
Last meeting: Texans won 27-24 in Houston on Dec. 24, 2006.
Texans beat Men of Manning last time out, their first W vs. Colts in 10 games. … What kind of upset would it be if Texans win? Colts are 16-2 under Tony Dungy in September, 9-0 vs. AFC South. … Texans fell behind 14-0 at Carolina last week. So how ugly did it get? Final score: H-Town 34, Carolina 21. … Thirty four points marked a franchise record for Texans. … Most underrated player in the blockin’ ‘n’ tacklin’ bid’ness? Try Colts S Bob Sanders. He has 2.5 sacks and ranks among league’s best run-stuffing safeties.
Prediction: Texans 23, Colts 22
Dallas at Chicago
6:15 p.m., Bears by 3
Last meeting: Cowboys won 21-7 at Dallas on Nov. 25, 2004.
Rex Grossman in first two: 1 TD pass, 3 INTs. If Bears are down in this one, don’t be surprised to see Brian Griese. … Cowboys have scored 82 points in two games. So much for was-Tony-Romo-a-one-year-wonder talk. Kid can play. … Romo in 12 games as Cahboas’ starter: 3,172 yards, 22 TDs, 11 picks. … Memo to Dallas special teams: Don’t kick it to Devin Hester. League’s best return man coming off 73-yard-TD punt return vs. Chiefs, who apparently don’t have cable.
Prediction: Cowboys 27, Bears 23
WORTH THE ELECTRICITY
Buffalo at New England
11 a.m., Patriots by 16 1/2
Last meeting: Patriots won 28-6 in Buffalo on Oct. 22, 2006.
Can you say name that score? Bills early leaders in Team Most Likely To Finish 2-14 competition. … Even Yale man Dick Jauron can’t figure his way outta this mess. … J.P. Losman still looking for first TD pass, not to mention first clue. … Major news flash: Randy Moss lives! Dude back on Hall of Fame track with 17 catches, 288 yards, 3 TD catches. … Pats beat Jets and Chargers 38-14, so …
Prediction: Patriots 38, Bills 14
San Francisco at Pittsburgh
11 a.m., Steelers by 9
Last meeting: Niners won 30-14 at San Francisco on Nov. 17, 2003.
Who among Niners ticked off NFL schedule makers? They opened with Monday nighter, then traveled to St. Looie, and now have to go cross country to Pittsburgh for 10 a.m. biological-clock start. … Did you notice? Niners won at Rams, but had eight first downs and one drive of 40-plus yards. … Big Ben career vs. NFC: 10-1 with 15 TD passes, 6 INTs and passer rating of, like, a lot.
Prediction: Steelers 31, 49ers 10
Cincinnati at Seattle
2:05 p.m., Seahawks by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Bengals won 27-24 in Cincinnati on Oct. 26, 2003.
Will the last team to score a TD please turn out the lights? … For a man whose name never appears in a headline, Bengals WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh sure can play. Dude tied for league lead with 17 catches, tied for AFC lead with three TD grabs. … Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck struggling in early going – 30-for-69 – but figures to get well vs. Bengals’ shaky secondary.
Prediction: Seahawks 34, Bengals 30
Tennessee at New Orleans
6:30 p.m., Monday, Saints by 4 1/2
Last meeting: Titans won 27-12 in Tennessee on Sept. 21, 2003.
A must win for Saints? No, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea, bubba. … N’Awlins D is N’Awful: 72 points allowed, no sacks or INTs in first two. … First MNF appearance for Titans since ’04. … Tenn likes to hammer you with Colorado Connection, TBs Chris Brown and LenDale White. White, a teammate of Saints TB Reggie Bush’s at USC, scored first career TD last week.
Prediction: Titans 20, Saints 19
BEATS CLEANING THE GARAGE
Arizona at Baltimore
11 a.m., Ravens by 8
Last meeting: Ravens won 26-18 in Arizona on Oct. 12, 2003.
Check injury status of Balt QB Steve McNair for this one. If he can’t go, duties fall to Kyle Boller, of whom ex-Bronco Trevor Pryce, now Boller’s teammate, once said, “He was scared out there” on the field. … Ravens usually money in the bank at home, witness 7-1 home record in ’06. … Ravens TB Willis McGahee has 174 yards in two games. Jamal Lewis, his predecessor, had 216 last week.
Prediction: Cardinals 19, Ravens 17
Detroit at Philadelphia
11 a.m., Eagles by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Eagles won 30-13 at Detroit on Sept. 26, 2004.
Philly Oh (Oh-No?) through two: one TD, 70,000 boos. … Donovan McNabb says black QBs get more criticism than white colleagues. Dude, you play in Philly. They boo sunshine and Santa Claus in Philly. … A show of hands, please, by those who believe McNabb is totally healthy. Thought so. … Lions 2-0 for first time since Ruth hit 60. Or so it seems. … Lions rookie WR Calvin Johnson, second pick in ’07 draft, has a TD catch in each of first two. Not only that, he’s a righteous dude.
Prediction: Lions 23, Eagles 20
St. Louis at Tampa Bay
11 a.m., Bucs by 2 1/2
Last meeting: Rams won 28-21 on Oct. 18, 2004.
Rams 0-2, with both losses at home. Can you say “On second thought, hold off on printing those playoff tickets”? … Talk about culture shock. Rams opened season with two straight in air-conditioned dome, now go to heat ‘n’ humidity of Florida. … Bucs QB Jeff Garcia solid as usual: 29-for-43, 444 yards, 2 TDs, no picks. … … Memo to Bucs coach Chucky Gruden: Club is 10-0 when Cadillac Williams logs 20-plus carries. So hand him the ball already.
Prediction: Bucs 27, Rams 20
N.Y. Giants at Washington
2:15 p.m., Redskins by 4
Last meeting: Giants won 34-28 in Washington on Dec. 30, 2006.
G-Men coach Tom Coughlin doesn’t win this one and he might as well draw up next week’s game plan on back of a pink slip. … Much-improved ‘Skins D didn’t allow TD to Eagles in Monday nighter. … New Yawk TB Derrick Ward had career-high 90 yards vs. Pack last week. … Joe Gibbs 14-17 career vs. Giants. … Eli Manning has won three of past four starts vs. ‘Skins, but backfield mate Tiki Barber, who ran for 234 yards in previous game vs. Wash, is long gone.
Prediction: Redskins 20, Giants 15
GET A LIFE, BUBBA
Minnesota at Kansas City
11 a.m., Chiefs by 2 1/2
Last meeting: Vikings won 45-20 at Minnesota on Dec. 20, 2003.
Since nobody in Chiefs’ front office seems willing to say it, somebody has to: Club made mistake hiring Herm Edwards as head coach. … Chiefs will go as far as Trent Green takes them, and he plays for Dolphins. … From the big-whoop dept.: Chiefs have scored 13 points in two games. … Vikes QB Tarvaris Jackson through two: one TD pass, five INTs.
Prediction: Chiefs 12, Vikings 10
Miami at N.Y. Jets
11 a.m., Jets by 3
Last meeting: Jets won 13-10 in Miami on Dec. 25, 2006.
Sorry, Cleveland, this is the real Dawg Pound. Dolphins 0-fer and Jets’ coaches preoccupied with busting Pats for spying. …. Dawfins TB Ronnie Brown off to same slow start as last year – 22 carries, 65 yards. … … Jets’ vaunted D through two games: no sacks, no INTs, 29 ppg allowed. Other than that, we’re talkin’ Steel Curtain. … Loser of this one applies for FEMA emergency funding.
Prediction: Jets 26, Dolphins 17
Cleveland at Oakland
2:05 p.m., Raiders by 3
Last meeting: Browns won 24-21 at Oakland on Oct. 1, 2006.
This just in: Browns just put up another TD vs. Bengals. So how did they score those 51 points? Who knows? Maybe all those Cincy criminals have gotten used to surrendering. … Close one here would favor Cleveland, what with Sebastian Janikowski having missed four of five FGs. … Raiders’ running game back on the map with LaMont Jordan, he of 229 yards thru two.
Prediction: Raiders 16, Browns 15
Carolina at Atlanta
2:15 p.m., Panthers by 4
Last meeting: Panthers won 10-3 at Atlanta on Dec. 24, 2006.
Jake Delhomme, in need of big year to keep his gig, loves playin’ vs. NFC South. He has won four straight within division, with seven TD passes, one INT. … Falcons QB du jour Joey Harrington: no TD passes in first two weeks. … Carolina WR Steve Smith all the rage in fantasyland: 8 catches, 153 yards, 3 TDs last week vs. Texans. … Falcons’ Oh line a mess, having allowed 13 sacks in first two.
Prediction: Panthers 31, Falcons 19
