A win Sunday and the Cleveland Browns would take a big step toward securing a playoff berth.
Excuse me. Did I just type that?
The last time the Browns were playoff contenders, Bill Clinton was in the White House and you didn’t have to make a down payment to fill up the gas tank.
It’s true, though. The Browns are 6-4, good for second place in the AFC North. A victory Sunday over Houston and they would move to 7-4, putting them in position to snag a wild card or, believe it or not, challenge the Pittsburgh Steelers for the division title.
These aren’t your father’s Browns. They scored 238 points last season, when they finished 4-12. They’ve already scored 288 this season, ranking them third in the league behind New England (411) and Dallas (324).
This is supposed to be about the time Brady Quinn was going to become the Browns’ starting quarterback. But that was before Derek Anderson (20 TD passes, 10 INTs) emerged as one of the biggest stories in the league.
So will the Browns get it done against the Texans? Don’t be so sure.
Houston is a savvy bunch, especially with Andre Johnson having returned to the lineup after missing seven games with knee problems.
Couch potato heaven
Philadelphia at New England
6:15 p.m., Patriots by 22
Last meeting: Patriots won 31-10 at Philadelphia on Sept. 14, 2003.
What, you think Laurence Maroney is running hard? How about bettors in Las Vegas charging the windows to ride the Pats? Line jumped five points in this one after opening at 17 1/2. Stuff happens when you’re coming off a 56-10 barnburner. Rich get richer: Pats lead league in turnover diff, too, at plus-13. NE can become fourth team since 1978 to clinch division title by Game 11 (1985 Bears, 1997 49ers, 2004 Eagles).
Prediction: Patriots 46, Eagles 10
Worth the electricity
Houston at Cleveland
11 a.m., Browns by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Texans won 14-6 at Houston on Dec. 31, 2006.
Browns gave away last year’s game with three TOs, including a FR for a TD. And now for a sentence you don’t read every day: Cleveland in search of fifth straight dubya at home. Texans a different club with WR Andre Johnson in lineup. Johnson in three games this season: three 100-yard days, four TDs. Kellen Winslow Jr. leading NFL TEs in receiving yards (767), had career-high 11 catches in last meetin’ with the Texans.
Prediction: Texans 20, Browns 19
Washington at Tampa Bay
11 a.m., Buccaneers by 3
Last meeting: Buccaneers won 20-17 at Washington on Nov. 19, 2006.
About last year’s meeting: Clinton Portis was on IR and Jason Campbell was making first career start at QB for ‘Skins. Campbell’s arm hanging after 54 throws (33 completions, 384 yards) at Dallas. Not a good spot for ‘Skins coming off rivalry game vs. ‘Boys. Did you know? Bucs fifth in the league in D. Campbell: 11 TD passes, eight INTs. Tampa Bay QB Jeff Garcia: 11 TD passes, three INTs.
Prediction: Buccaneers 23, Redskins 17
Tennessee at Cincinnati
11 a.m., pick ’em
Last meeting: Bengals won 31-23 at Tennessee on Oct. 16, 2005.
Bengals coming off embarrassing home L to Cardinals. In fact, come to think of it, their whole season has been an embarrassment. Titans have won five straight at Cincy. Bengals 31st in league in D. No truth to rumors that presses stopped at Nashville newspaper after Vince Young threw a TD pass vs. Broncos. Dude has five TD tosses, 12 INTs. Tenn TE Bo Scaife has three-plus first-down catches in each of past three.
Prediction: Titans 24, Bengals 23
Beats cleaning the garage
Buffalo at Jacksonville
11 a.m., Jaguars by 7 1/2
Last meeting: Bills won 27-24 at Buffalo on Nov. 26, 2006.
Bills coach Dick Jauron, a Yale man, 2-0 in career vs. Jags. Buffalo coming off 112-point loss to the Pats. Seemingly anyway. Let’s Go .500 despite ranking 31st in Oh, 28th in D. Jax QB David Garrard: eight TD passes, no picks. Jags averaging 140 rush yards per. Jags TB Maurice Jones-Drew not just another pretty face with a hyphen in his name. Dude has scored 23 TDs in past 24 games.
Prediction: Jaguars 23, Bills 20
Seattle at St. Louis
11 a.m., Seahawks by 3
Last meeting: Seahawks won 33-6 at Seattle on Oct. 21.
What’s this? A real W streak for the Rams? Hey, they’re finally getting healthy. The Vegas angle: Rams 0-4 vs. point spread at home. Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck has won four straight vs. Rams. Underrated guy, Julian Peterson. Seattle LB has racked up eight sacks. Seahawks plus-6 in turnovers, Rams minus-9.
Prediction: Rams 27, Seahawks 23
Minnesota at N.Y. Giants
11 a.m., Giants by 7
Last meeting: Vikings won 24-21 at the Meadowlands on Nov. 13, 2005.
Talk about one-dimensional offense. Vikes No. 1 in the league in rushing, 30th in passing. Giants TB Brandon Jacobs averaging a cool 5.2 yards per. Minnie QB Tarvaris Jackson learning on the job: two TD passes, six INTs. Vikings DE Brian Robison leads team, NFC rookies with 4.5 sacks. G-Men DE Michael Strahan coming off season-high three sacks vs. Lions. Vikings WR Sidney Rice among league passing leaders. Huh? He completed two outta two last week for 94 yards.
Prediction: Giants 26, Vikings 16
Baltimore at San Diego
2:15 p.m., Chargers by 9 1/2
Last meeting: Ravens won 16-13 at Baltimore on Oct. 1, 2006.
Most disappointing team in the league? Gotta be the Ravens. They’re 4-6 (1-9 vs. point spread). Unless, of course, it’s the Chargers, now in ranks of .500 teams after 14-2 in 2006. At least Bolts fans still like their coach. They’ve been chanting “Mar-ty! Mar-ty!” throughout season. What’s that? That’s right, he doesn’t work there anymore. Kyle Boller: the man, the myth, the myth. Ravens expected to 86 him after season.
Prediction: Chargers 27,
Ravens 10
Miami at Pittsburgh
6:30 p.m. Monday, Steelers by 16
Last meeting: Steelers won 28-17 at Pittsburgh on Sept. 7, 2006.
Steelers miffed after embarrassing L vs. N.Y. Jets. Pitt OL got punked, allowing seven sacks. Dolphins rookie QB John Beck making second start at Pittsburgh. In the immortal words of the guy in “Jaws”: “You’re gonna need a bigger boat,” kid. Ex-Stillers LB Joey Porter returns to scene of his greatest success. As opposed to no success, which he has been experiencing in Miami.
Prediction: Steelers 34,
Dolphins 0
Get a life bubba
New Orleans at Carolina
11 a.m., Saints by 3
Last meeting: Panthers won 16-13 at New Orleans on Oct. 7.
So, will they or won’t they? The Panthers, that is. Will they win a home game or not? They’re 4-6 — 4-2 on the road, 0-4 at home. Saints seventh in the league in offense, but keep giving away games. They’re minus-10 in turnovers. Recent soil samples suggest Panthers QB Vinny Testaverde is older than dirt at team’s stadium. Carolina HC John Fox 8-3 career vs. Saints.
Prediction: Panthers 20, Saints 19
Oakland at Kansas City
11 a.m., Chiefs by 5 1/2
Last meeting: Chiefs won 12-10 at Oakland on Oct. 21.
You got yer death, you got yer taxes, and you got the Chiefs beating the Raiduhs. K.C. has won nine straight in series. Brodie Croyle running the show for Chiefs. Croyle in first career start last Sunday: 19-for-27, with a TD. K.C. DE Jared Allen tied for league lead with 9.5 sacks. He has 6.0 career vs. Raiders, most vs. any opponent. Raiders 31st in league in run D.
Prediction: Chiefs 16, Raiders 10
San Francisco at Arizona
2:05 p.m., Cardinals by 10 1/2
Last meeting: Niners won 20-17 at San Francisco on Sept. 10.
The Cardinals giving 10 1/2? Tells you how gawdawful Niners are. Alex Smith’s shoulder woes figure to keep him out of this one. Question is, is that a bad thing or a good thing? Stunbelievable: Niners have yet to reach 300 yards in total offense in a game this season. ‘Zona QB Kurt Warner 7-0 career vs. S.F. S.F. coach Mike Nolan 1-4 career vs. House of Cards.
Prediction: Cardinals 31, 49ers 16
