This just in: The Indianapolis Colts, if they’re going to win another Super Bowl, will have to survive the snow and slop of a New England January to get there. Of course, that’s assuming they get to New England in January.
Forget the Patriots. At the moment, the Colts have their hands full in trying to win their division. Why? Because this Jacksonville bunch refuses to go away.
If New England, Indy, Dallas and Green Bay are the NFL’s top four teams, feel free to pencil in the Jaguars at No. 5. And frankly, they may be better than that. They don’t score points in bunches like the other four, but they keep on winning.
The Jaguars (8-3) play at Indy (9-2) on Sunday with a chance to move into a first-place tie in the AFC South. The Jags will arrive in town with the league’s second-ranked defense (265 yards allowed per) and a low-risk, high-efficiency offense led by quarterback David Garrard, who hasn’t thrown an interception in 209 passes.
Jacksonville has allowed 17 points or fewer in eight of its 11 games. But that didn’t keep the Colts from hanging 29 on the Jaguars in October. That game marked the last appearance by Colts wideout Marvin Harrison, your basic Hall of Famer-in-waiting who has struggled with a knee injury for most of the season. Harrison could return to the Colts’ lineup Sunday.
Follow Jim Armstrong’s daily Broncos commentaries on The Jimmy Page at 7 a.m. and noon, and read his columns Sundays and the day after Broncos games at .
Couch Potato Heaven
Jacksonville at Indianapolis
11 a.m., Colts by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Colts won 29-7 at Jacksonville on Oct. 22.
Memo to David Garrard: Throw an INT already, will ya? Dude has thrown 9 TD passes, no picks. Game is a matchup of the best teams in the AFC whose coach doesn’t dress in the dark. Colts have won eight straight at home vs. AFC South opponents. Peyton Manning’s career home numbers vs. Jags: 5-1, 11 TD passes, 2 INTs. Jags second in AFC in rushing (138.5 per) and have 100-plus yards in 20 of past 22.
Prediction: Colts 27,
Jaguars 20
New England at Baltimore
6:30 p.m. Monday,
Patriots by 2
Last meeting: Patriots won 24-3 at New England on Nov. 28, 2004.
That 20 1/2 line. Points or TDs? Any glimpse of Pats’ march to perfection qualifies as couch potato heaven. They’re on pace for more points than the Dow. Pats plus-16 in turnovers, tops in the league, and Ravens are minus-11. Kyle Boller, the man, the myth, the myth, vs. the NE D. Things could get ugly in this one. Tom Brady needs to average two TD passes per to tie Peyton Manning’s Not For Long record of 49. Shouldn’t be a problem since he’s averaging almost 2 1/2.
Prediction: Patriots 37, Ravens 10
Worth The Electricity
San Diego at Kansas City
11 a.m., Chargers by 6
Last meeting: Chiefs won 30-16 at San Diego on Sept. 30.
Don’t look for Chiefs to win this one by 14, as they did at SD. Damon Huard played lights out that day. Chiefs will go with Brodie Croyle at QB in this one. KC coming off horrendous L to Raiders, snapping No There There’s 17-game losing streak in AFC West. SD coach Norv Turner 0-6 career vs. Chiefs. Chargers plus-11 in turnovers, Chiefs minus-2.
Prediction: Chargers 20, Chiefs 13
Seattle at Philadelphia
11 a.m., Eagles by 3
Last meeting: Seahawks won 42-0 at Seattle on Dec. 5, 2005.
Eagles TB Brian Westbrook wants a raise. No wonder. Dude leads the loop with 1,459 scrimmage yards — 901 rushing, 558 receiving. Memo to Cowboys and Packers: Don’t look now, but Seahawks emerging as a dark horse in NFC. Mike Holmgren 4-5 career vs. Iggles. He’ll be matched in this one vs. longtime buddy and former assistant Andy Reid. Eagles minus-7 in turnovers, ‘Hawks plus-6.
Prediction: Seahawks 27, Eagles 19
Houston at Tennessee
11 a.m., Titans by 4
Last meeting: Titans won 38-36 at Houston on Oct. 21.
Titans D falling apart of late, allowing 69 points in past two. Tenn in search of sixth straight dubya vs. Texans. Mario Williams, the top pick in ’06 draft: 6.0 sacks, matching Titans leader Kyle Vanden Bosch. Just wondering: Is Vince Young better or worse than last season? V.Y. has thrown 5 TD passes, 13 INTs. Tenn K Rob Bironas kicked NFL-record eight FGs in last meeting.
Prediction: Titans 31, Texans 26
Tampa Bay at New Orleans
2:15 p.m., Saints by 3 1/2
Last meeting: Buccaneers won 31-14 at Tampa on Sept. 16.
Saints have battled back from 0-4 start, but must have this one to keep playoff hopes alive. Bucs coming off ugly W of the year, beating ‘Skins without a second-half first down. Bucs plus-11 in turnovers, Saints minus-7. The seventh-round draft choice of the decade? That would be N’Awlins WR Marques Colston, he of the 42 catches, 584 yards & 4 TDs in past five games. Bucs have allowed 164 points, fewest in the NFC and 21 fewer than Pats.
Prediction: Saints 19, Buccaneers 15
Cincinnati at Pittsburgh
6:15 p.m., Steelers by 7
Last meeting: Steelers won 24-13 at Cincinnati on Oct. 28.
Bold prediction of the year: This one will produce more points than Steelers’ last game at Heinz Field. Stillers lucky to escape with 3-0 W over Miami, thanks to ninth inning, er, fourth quarter FG. Cincy WR Chad Johnson wanted us to mention that he had career-high 12 catches, three TDs in W over Titans. Just wondering: If the words Roethlisberger and Houshmandzadeh are in the same sentence, does it qualify as a paragraph?
Prediction: Steelers 23, Bengals 17
Beats Cleaning The Garage
Detroit at Minnesota
11 a.m., Vikings by 4
Last meeting: Lions won 20-17 (OT) at Detroit on Sept. 16.
Lions should sign Forrest Gump to upgrade running game. Leading rusher Kevin Jones has fewer than 500 yards. Vikings rookie TB Adrian Peterson has missed past two, but still leads league with 1,081 yards. Is that any good? If Lions are going to reach QB Jon Kitna’s prediction of 10 W’s, they’d better win this one.
Prediction: Lions 24, Vikings 23
Buffalo at Washington
11 a.m., Redskins by 5 1/2
Last meeting: Bills won 24-7 at Buffalo on Oct. 19, 2003.
Redskins’ focus an issue after tragic death of S Sean Taylor. With offense headed nowhere fast, Bills have handed keys back to rookie QB Trent Edwards, he of the one TD pass, five INTs. Washington lost last week at Tampa despite not allowing a FD in second half.
Prediction: Redskins 24, Bills 13
Cleveland at Arizona
2:05 p.m., Pick ’em
Last meeting: Browns won 44-6 at Cleveland on Nov. 16, 2003.
How have Brownies forged 7-4 record? For one thing, they’ve beaten up on pathetic NFC West. They’re 2-0 and counting vs. the mild, mild West. Cleveland averaging 34 ppg in seven W’s. Cardinals coming off ugly L to dog-bottom Niners. ‘Zona LB Karlos Dansby in past three outings: 3 INTs, 1 sack, 1 FF. Prediction: Cardinals 34, Browns 31
N.Y. Giants at Chicago
2:15 p.m., Giants by 1 1/2
Last meeting: Bears won 38-20 at the Meadowlands on Nov. 12, 2006.
By the numbers: Bears KR Devin Hester, thanks to Broncos, is averaging 84.4 yards per on his 12 career TDs. And now for a sentence you don’t read every day: Rex Grossman led Bears to come-from-behind win last week. Memo to Giants: Give the rock to Brandon Jacobs! Dude is averaging 5.2 yards a tote.
Prediction: Giants 27, Bears 18
Get A Life, Bubba
San Francisco at Carolina
11 a.m., Panthers by 3
Last meeting: Panthers won 37-27 on Nov. 14, 2004.
Panthers still looking for first home dubya. Trent Dilfer will start this one for Niners. What’s that? We hear ya, bubba. We can barely contain our excitement, either. San Fran reached 300-yard mark in offense for first time last week. Carolina in five home games: 54 points scored. Do the math, Sparky. This club stinks like week-old road kill. Prediction: Panthers 16, 49ers 10
N.Y. Jets at Miami
11 a.m., Dolphins by 1
Last meeting: Jets won 31-28 at the Meadowlands on Sept. 23.
Memo to the Dolphins: It’s almost bar time and another gimme game isn’t coming in. If Phish don’t win this one, they could lose out. Just wondering: Have Dawfins gotten a first down yet vs. the Steelers? Jets have won three straight vs. Miami. Dolphins rookie QB John Beck: 2 starts, no TDs, no INTs. Other than that, he has been a picture of production.
Prediction: Dolphins 19, Jets 10
Atlanta at St. Louis
11 a.m., Rams by 3
Last meeting: Falcons won 34-17 at Atlanta on Sept. 19, 2004.
Only upside to Bulger’s concussion: He can’t remember Rams’ collapse vs. Seattle last week. Dirty Bird LB Michael Boley has career-high three sacks last week, matching total for previous 42 career games. Is Rams WR Torry Holt a Hall of Famer? Holt in past two vs. Hotlanta: 20 catches, 282 yards, 3 TDs.
Prediction: Rams 30, Falcons 20
