Cleveland at Pittsburgh
11 a.m., Steelers by 10
Break up the Brownies! In their five wins, they’re averaging a cool, crisp – OK, so we’ve been watching too many brewski commercials – 35.8 ppg. … Steelers 4-0 at home, where Big Ben has thrown one lonely INT. … Santonio Holmes becoming bigger than ketchup in Pittsburgh: 17.9 ypc, 6 TD grabs.
Prediction: Steelers 31, Browns 23
Jacksonville at Tennessee
11 a.m., Titans by 4
Their offenses are uglier than the price of gas, but all these two do is win. … Midway through the season, Vince Young has three TD passes, eight INTs. That projects to … Oh, never mind. You get the snapshot. … Jags leaning on immortal, Canton-bound Quinn Gray till David Garrard returns.
Prediction: Titans 24, Jaguars 9
Dallas at N.Y. Giants
2:15 p.m., KDVR-31, Cowboys by 1
Big news in New Yawk. G-Men D decided to show up after season-opening thrashing at Big D. Their 296 ypg allowed is second-best in the NFC. … Give that man a raise! Tony Romo in 18 career starts: 13-5, 35 TD passes. … Giants the fifth team in Not For Long history to win six straight after opening 0-2.
Prediction: Giants 24, Cowboys 23
Indianapolis at San Diego
6:15 p.m., KUSA-9, Colts by 3 1/2
Bolts’ W at Indy ruined Colts’ quest for perfect 2005 season. … Peyton Manning on pace for 28 TD passes, 8 INTs, making him a lock for MVP runner-up. So who’ll win it? What, you mean other than Tom Brady? … Bolts so desperate they’re considering bringing in Marty Schottenheimer for a pregame speech. Memo to the blondes in the crowd: just kidding.
Prediction: Colts 34, Chargers 30
Minnesota at Green Bay
11 a.m., KDVR-31, Packers by 6
Brett Favre on pace for a career-high 4,812 slingin’ yards. His wife, meanwhile, gets more air time than the Desperate Housewives. … So, can we agree that Vikings rookie TB Adrian Peterson has potential? Good thing they have end zones in the Metrodome or the Bolts still would be chasing him. … Pack has won 11 of past 12.
Prediction: Vikings 20, Packers 19
Philadelphia at Washington
11 a.m., Redskins by 3
Eagles may be flakiest team in the bid’ness. They lose at home to Bears, beat Vikings on road, then get waxed at home by Cowboys. So what will they do in this one? For that answer, consult your local palm reader. … Clinton Portis coming off career day with 196 yards.* (* – it was vs. dog-butt Jets.)
Prediction: Eagles 17, Redskins 16
Atlanta at Carolina
11 a.m., Panthers by 3 1/2
Class act, good player: Falcons TB Warrick Dunn needs 147 yards to reach 10,000 mark. … Panthers allowed seven sacks in last week’s loss at Tennessee. And to think, David Carr could give way to 40-something Vinny Testaverde in this one. … Memo to Joey Harrington: Throw a TD pass already, huh? Of his 238 attempts, four have ended in dances.
Prediction: Panthers 27, Falcons 16
Cincinnati at Baltimore
2 p.m., Ravens by 3 1/2
Insert punch line here. Cincy coach Marvin Lewis says club still could make playoffs. … Say, didn’t you used to be Steve McNair? Former co-MVP has two TD passes in 150 attempts. … Cincy wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh on course for 124 catches. Well, duh. Have you seen the Bengals’ running game?
Prediction: Bengals 23, Ravens 18
Detroit at Arizona
2:15 p.m., Cardinals by 1 1/2
Lions 6-2, Cards 3-5. So why is House of Cards favored? Because Lions’ two losses have come by combined 90-24 on the road. … Maybe he needs to try Arenaball again: Performer Formerly Known as Kurt Warner coming off 10-for-30 outing at Tampa. … Tale of two teams’ turnovers: Lions plus-8, Cardinals minus-9.
Prediction: Cardinals 31, Lions 30
Buffalo at Miami
11 a.m., Bills by 3
Dolphins of ’72 were 14-0. Dolphins of ’07 on pace for 0-16. … Bills in search of fourth consecutive W, a feat they haven’t pulled off since December ’04. … Miami DE Jason Taylor loves to play vs. Bills. He has 16 sacks vs. Buffalo, most of any opponent.
Prediction: Bills 20, Dolphins 17
St. Louis at New Orleans
11 a.m., Saints by 10 1/2
Rams might get star TB Steven Jackson back for this one. Bet he can’t wait to rejoin that juggernaut. … Get a grip, you two! Rams minus-13 in turnovers, Saints minus-7. … N’Awlins 0-4 in first four, 4-0 and averaging 30.5 ppg since. Saints can become first NFL team to lose first four, win next five.
Prediction: Saints 34, Rams 20
Chicago at Oakland
2:15 p.m., Bears by 3 1/2
Raiders expected to return to Josh McCown as starting QB. Question is, is he keeping seat warm for top draft pick JaMarcus Russell? … Bears minus-10 in turnovers, Rai-duhs minus-8. … Bears 9-3 when TB Cedric Benson runs for 50-plus yards. Right. Like he ever runs for 50-plus yards. Dude is averaging 3.1 yards per.
Prediction: Raiders 13, Bears 10
San Francisco at Seattle
6:30 p.m. Monday, ESPN, Seahawks by 10
SF TB Frank Gore at the midway point: 435 yards. That’s 435 yards in a half-season? Adrian Peterson had that many vs. Chargers. Or so it seemed. … On the off chance you care, Niners averaging 10.2 ppg in past five. … 4-4 Seahawks thankful to be in Not For Long’s worst division, with apologies to AFC West.
Prediction: Seahawks 27, 49ers 13
