The Dallas Cowboys are 12-2 with an outside shot at a rare 500-point season.
A lot of good it will do them if they don’t get the top playoff seed in the NFC.
The Cowboys, second in the league with 429 points, put themselves in harm’s way with last Sunday’s 10-6 home loss to Philadelphia. The defeat left them tied with Green Bay in the race for home-field advantage in the playoffs.
Dallas owns the tiebreaker, having beaten the Packers in Big D. But the Packers finish with games at Chicago and at home vs. Detroit. The Cowboys have back-to-back roadies at Carolina and Washington. Sure, they’re heavily favored to beat the Panthers on Sunday, but that season finale vs. the Redskins could be downright greasy, especially with quarterback Tony Romo nursing a bruised right thumb that required an MRI.
Not that any of this is a big deal, but the Packers are almost unbeatable in the playoffs at Lambeau Field, but have lost nine straight at Dallas.
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
Green Bay at Chicago
11 a.m., Packers by 8 1/2
Last meeting: Bears won 27-20 at Green Bay on Oct. 7.
You don’t suppose the Pack, one game from No. 1 seed in NFC, is frustrated by that October loss to Bears, do you? Nah, didn’t think so. Brett Favre set the NFL mark for most career passing yards last week, giving him every record in the book except most TV commercials by a quarterback. Chicago coach Lovie Smith 5-2 career vs. Pack. For a guy they grabbed off the scrap heap, Packers TB Ryan Grant ain’t half-bad. With 799 yards rushing, he has a shot at a thousand.
Prediction: Packers 27, Bears 17
Miami at New England
2:15 p.m., Patriots by 22
Last meeting: Patriots won 49-28 at Miami on Oct. 21.
By now, any appearance by the Pats qualifies as a slice of couch potato heaven. They can become first NFL team ever to be 15-0 in the regular season. Pats can’t look past the Phish, but we can. They’ve got the Giants next week at the Meadowlands, where the G-Men are 3-4. Old Man Winter the only one who could keep Tom Brady from all-time TD pass record. He’s at 45, leaving him four away from tying PManning. This just in: All sharp objects were hidden at Ravens headquarters after last week’s loss to Dolphins.
Prediction: Patriots 31, Dolphins 0
Worth the Electricity
Dallas at Carolina
6 p.m. Saturday, Cowboys by 10 1/2
Last meeting: Cowboys won 35-14 at Carolina on Oct. 29, 2006.
Just wondering: Will the Grinch who swiped Christmas also make off with Cowboys’ top seed in the NFC? Dallas QB Tony Romo struggling with a sprained right thumb. Other than that, Jessica Simpson’s dude is livin’ large, thank you very much. Panthers will start rookie QB Matt Moore, cut by the Cahboas late in training camp. Dude has never thrown a TD pass, much less date a Hollywood hottie.
Prediction: Cowboys 31, Panthers 16
N.Y. Giants at Buffalo
11 a.m., Giants by 2 1/2
Last meeting: Bills won 24-7 at the Meadowlands on Nov. 30, 2003.
Battle of New Yawk. What’s that? Oh, yeah, G-Men play in Joisey. Giants minus-8 in turnovers. So much for Eli Manning’s arrival as a quality NFL signal QB. Quirkiest state of the NFL season? Giants’ 3-4 home record, 6-1 road ledger has to be on the short list. Don’t blame the D: Bills coming off 8-0 loss at Cleveland. Special teams could factor here. Bills’ Roscoe Parrish leads the Not For Long with 17.5 PR avg.
Prediction: Giants 19, Bills 13
Cleveland at Cincinnati
11 a.m., Browns by 3
Last meeting: Browns won 51-45 at Cleveland on Sept. 16.
Remember last game vs. these two? It was Derek Anderson’s first start and all he did was throw five TD passes. Browns have won four outta five, putting them in position for their second playoff berth since original Brownies left town. So it’s official then. Jamal Lewis isn’t washed up (1,084 yards, nine TDs). Memo to Cincy coach Marvin Lewis: On the off chance ownership hasn’t already determined your fate, you might want to win this one.
Prediction: Bengals 23, Browns 20
Houston at Indianapolis
11 a.m., Colts by 7
Last meeting: Colts won 30-24 at Houston on Sept. 23.
Colts have nothing to play for, having clinched their fifth straight AFC South title. Peyton Manning career vs. Houston: 10-1, 71.2 pct., 26 TDs, four INTs. Indy WR Reggie Wayne averaging 110.7 yards per vs. division foes. News flash: Mario Williams just sacked Jay Cutler again. Texans DE leads AFC with 13 of ’em. Colts rook Anthony Gonzalez becoming a factor: 35 catches, 554 yards, team-leading 15.8 yards per.
Prediction: Colts 24, Texans 20
Washington at Minnesota
6:15 p.m., Vikings by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Vikings won 19-16 at Washington on Sept. 11, 2006.
Vikings in search of sixth straight W. Don’t blame QB Tarvaris Jackson, he of the six TD passes, 10 INTs. With rookie Adrian Peterson in the backfield, Vikings’ play action should set up big plays in passing game. But no. Vikes plus-7 in turnovers, Redskins minus-7. Did you know? ‘Skins TE Chris Cooley has 26 TD catches since entering the Not For Long in 2004.
Prediction: Redskins 16, Vikings 13
Beats Cleaning the Garage
Oakland at Jacksonville
11 a.m., Jaguars by 13
Last meeting: Jaguars won 13-6 at Oakland on Jan. 2, 2005.
True, but strange: First meeting vs. teams at Jax. Jags QB David Garrard, handed the job days before the season opener, has 16 TD passes, 2 INTs. A show of hands, please, among AFC teams wanting to face the Jags in January. Thought so. Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell has thrown 12 passes all year. Great. They’re trying to have him ready by opening day 2010. Jax TB Fred Taylor, the quietest 10,000-yard rusher that ever was, aiming for fifth straight 100-yarder.
Prediction: Jaguars 34, Raiders 13
Philadelphia at New Orleans
11 a.m., Saints by 3
Last meeting: Saints won 27-24 at New Orleans in 2006 NFC divisional playoff.
Saints have scored 10 more TDs (42) than Tampa Bay, but Bucs lead NFC South by two games. How? Simple. N’Awlins has allowed 317 points, Tampa a league-best 218, 14 fewer than Pats. Saints’ Drew Brees has thrown two-plus TD passes in five straight homers. Philly coach Andy Reid 2-2 career vs. Saints. Eagles minus-6 in turnovers, Saints minus-7.
Prediction: Saints 23, Eagles 19
Tampa Bay at San Francisco
2:05 p.m., Buccaneers by 6
Last meeting: Niners won 15-10 at San Francisco on Oct. 30, 2005.
Niners beat Bengals last week. We only mention it because it was their first dubya outside the NFC Waste. Bucs coming off 37-3 win over Falcons. But then, who isn’t? Elvis and the Dirty Birds have left the building. Did you know? Bucs numero uno in NFC with plus-14 turnover margin. 49ers? They’re minus-13 on the off chance you care. SF punter Andy Lee leads NFC with 48.3-yard avg. Well, duh. Dude gets more practice than anyone else.
Prediction: Buccaneers 16, 49ers 6
N.Y. Jets at Tennessee
2:15 p.m;., Titans by 8 1/2
Last meeting: Jets won 23-16 at Tennessee on Sept. 10, 2006.
Jets coming off moral W at New England. Titans coming off a real one at K.C. Jets have won three straight in series. Titans DE Kyle Vanden Bosch going to the Pro Bowl with 9.0 sacks. Titans’ Vince Young leads NFL QBs with 375 rushing yards. Now if he could just complete back-to-back throws. Jets TB Thomas, once a target of trade talks with Broncos, needs 37 yards to reach a thou.
Prediction: Titans 21, Jets 13
Baltimore at Seattle
2:15 p.m., Off the board
Last meeting: Ravens won 44-41 (OT) at Baltimore on Nov. 23, 2003.
Words can’t describe how excited Ravens must have been to fly coast-to-coast for this one. They couldn’t fog up a locker-room mirror these days. Seattle DE Patrick Kerney going to the Pro Bowl with 13.5 sacks. Baltimore minus-18 in turnovers, Seattle plus-12. Seahawks CB Marcus Trufant tied for NFC lead with seven INTs. Matt Hasselbeck in only career appearance vs. Ravens: 5 TD passes, no picks.
Prediction: Seahawks 30, Ravens 3
Get A Life, Bubba
Kansas City at Detroit
11 a.m., Lions by 4 1/2
Last meeting: Chiefs won 45-17 at Kansas City on Dec. 14, 2003.
Teams have lost a combined 13 straight. And you thought the Dolphins were roadkill. Lions have lost past six and have allowed NFL-worst 390 points. Let us guess. Matt Millen just got another contract extension. Chiefs coach Herm Edwards’ “Get over it” comment to fans about team’s season going over like a lead balloon in K.C.
Prediction: Lions 31, Chiefs 24
Atlanta at Arizona
2:05 p.m., Cardinals by 10
Last meeting: Falcons won 32-10 at Atlanta on Oct. 1, 2006.
Talk about a trend waiting to end. Dirty Birds have won past four in series. Who knew Kurt Warner would throw 20 TD passes this season? He’s standing on 21. Now if he could just do something about his wife’s hair. Falcons WR Roddy White coming on. Dude has 999 receiving yards, 3 feet from his first 1,000-yarder.
Prediction: Cardinals 34, Falcons 15
