Six weeks ago, tonight’s Patriots-Chargers AFC championship game do-over looked like one of the premier matchups of the NFL season.
Now, it’s a matchup of the mighty Dolphins’ last two victims.
If the question centers on how quickly things can change in the Not For Long, there’s your answer. One day, you’re primed to make a Super Bowl run. The next day, you’re trying to win a game, any game.
Stuff happens when you lose a superstar. The Pats are a month into Plan B, what with Tom Brady lost for the season with a knee injury. The Chargers? Don’t look now, but with Shawne Merriman also gone for the year, the Bolts rank 28th in the league in defense, 32nd vs. the pass.
They’re not alone, either. The Packers-Seahawks matchup in Seattle doesn’t look anything like the last time those two hooked up. That would have been the 2007 playoffs, Brett Favre’s last hurrah, when the Pack prevailed 42-20 in the Snowglobe Bowl at Lambeau.
These days, the teams have a combined record of 3-6. Not that each team’s offense has issues, but Favre has more touchdown passes (12) than the combined total of Aaron Rodgers (9) and Matt Hasselbeck (2).
The Seahawks are 1-3 and coming off a 38-point pasting vs. the Giants. The Pack? They just lost at home to the Falcons, who hadn’t scored a road touchdown in two games.
So what’s going to happen in these two games? Given the way things are playing out throughout the league, we’ll let you know first thing Monday morning.
Week 6, here we come . . .
Week 6
Chicago at Atlanta
11 a.m., Bears by 3
Last meeting: Bears won 16-3 at Chicago on Dec. 18, 2005
Dome, sweet dome: Falcons have scored nine TDs in two homies. . . . Bears have won 8-outta-9 in da series. . . . You don’t imagine Chargers are missing Michael Turner, do you? Nah, didn’t think so. Dude leads the loop in rushing yards (543) and rushing TDs (6). . . . Bronco Nation, take note: Jason Elam 11-of-11 on FGs. . . . Talk about a threat. Devin Hester: 15 career TDs, 77 yards per.
Prediction: Bears 27, Falcons 24
Miami at Houston
11 a.m., Texans by 3
Last meeting: Texans won 22-19 at Houston on Oct. 7, 2007
Texans are 0-fer and a hurricane just hit town. Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln . . . Dolphins on a winning streak? Yep. They’ve won back-to-backers, first time since ’06. . . . Joey Porter still gittin’ ‘er done: 5.5 sacks, second in AFC. . . . Miami TB/QB Ronnie Brown looking for third straight 100-yder. . . . Sage Rosenfels says he blew last week’s game vs. Colts. Well, duh. Dude probably thinks the economy is kinda sluggish, too.
Prediction: Texans 30, Dolphins 26
Baltimore at Indianapolis
11 a.m., Colts by 4
Last meeting: Colts won 44-20 at Baltimore on Dec. 9, 2007
Men of Manning have big-time issues: Last in the league in Run D (189 yds per), Oh (68). . . . Archie’s kid: five TD passes, just as many INTs. . . . Ravens giving up 193 yards per, best in the bid’ness. . . . Balt CB Chris McAlister has an INT in three of past four games. . . . Tony Dungy 6-0 career vs. Birds. . . . Say, didn’t you used to be Marvin Harrison? He’s averaging 9.6 yards on 17 catches.
Prediction: Colts 23, Ravens 16
Cincinnati at N.Y. Jets
11 a.m., Jets by 9
Last meeting: Bengals won 38-31 at Cincinnati on Oct. 21, 2007
Team coming off bye week, but Brett the Jet still leads league with a dozen TD tosses. . . . Bengals TB Chris Perry: 85 carries, five fumbles. . . . Ocho Stinko says Bengals were better team when everybody but the cheerleaders was getting arrested. Your thoughts, Mr. Commish? . . . Jets’ schedule: today vs. Cincy, at Oakland, K.C. in the swamps o’ Jersey. . . . Bengals’ pass rush in slo-mo: no one with more than 1.0 sack.
Prediction: Jets 34, Bengals 23
Carolina at Tampa Bay
11 a.m., Bucs by 1 1/2
Last meeting: Panthers won 31-23 at Tampa on Dec. 30, 2007
Jeff Garcia will start, what with Briese Griese’s shoulder barking. Hey, hold down your excitement up there in the peanut gallery! . . . Panthers would be 5-1 with a dubya. We mention it only because their last 5-1 start led to Super Bowl XXXVIII. . . . DeAngelo Weeums on a roll: 20 carries, 123 yards, three TDs last week. He had 121, two TDs in last meeting w/Bucs. . . . Tampa D ball hawkin’. LB Barrett Ruud, DE Gaines Adams have INTs in two of past three.
Prediction: Panthers 19, Buccaneers 16
Detroit at Minnesota
11 a.m., Vikings by 13
Last meeting: Vikings won 42-10 at Minnesota on Dec. 2, 2007
Matt Millen’s wife says he’s “out of football prison.” Lions fans, meanwhile, still stuck behind bars. . . . Jon Kitna the master of garbage-time stats. Lions have faced deficits of 21-0, 21-0, 21-3 and 24-0. . . . Bernard Berrian last week racked up Vikes’ first 100-yard receiving game in last 35. . . . Vikes have won 11 of past 12 in series, haven’t lost homie to Lions since ’97.Prediction: Vikings 33, Lions 17
Oakland at New Orleans
11 a.m., Saints by 7
Last meeting: Saints won 31-26 at Oakland on Oct. 24, 2004
First game as Raiders coach for the Cable Guy. . . . Darren McFadden the second-best rookie TB outta Arkansas. Or maybe you haven’t caught Felix Jones’ act in Big D. . . . Saints hoping to rack up big deficit so Raiders can blow it in the fourth Q, their signature M.O. . . . Reggie Bush: two PRs for TDs last week. Not only that, NCAA investigators haven’t called lately.
Prediction: Saints 34, Raiders 27
St. Louis at Washington
11 a.m., Redskins by 13
Last meeting: Rams won 37-31 (OT) at St. Louis on Dec. 24, 2006
Jim Haslett making interim coaching debut for Rams. Like it’s gonna matter. . . . Rams lower than the Dow: 30th in offense, 31st in D. . . . ‘Skins Jason Campbell: five games, no picks, no fumbles. . . . St. Lou safety O.J. Atogwe doing better than a certain other O.J. Dude has eight INTs in past 12 games. . . . Good thing Rams talked Steven Jackson out of holdout. If not, they might, you know, be in trouble.Prediction: Redskins 34, Rams 23
Dallas at Arizona
2:15 p.m., Cowboys by 4 1/2
Last meeting: Cowboys won 27-10 at Arizona on Nov. 12, 2006
Well? What do you mean what do we mean? Well, are the Cardinals for real or not? This one will tell the tale. . . . Is ‘Zona legit or just the best team in the NFL’s worst division? . . . Anquan Boldin out, but Cowboys’ secondary hurtin’, too. . . . Dallas minus-4 in turnovers, ‘Zona plus-1. . . . Didja know? Cahboas 14th in D, Cards 12th despite 56-point pasting vs. N.Y. Bretts. . . . Yo, Tony. T.O. wants to know why Jason Witten is leading the team with 35 catches.
Prediction: Cardinals 24, Cowboys 23
Philadelphia at San Francisco
2:15 p.m., Eagles by 4 1/2
Last meeting: Eagles won 38-24 at San Francisco on Sept. 24, 2006
Mike Nolan 0-fer-2 vs. Iggles. . . . Tale of two teams: Eagles with Brian Westbrook and w/o him. Check out injury report, what with B-Dub nursing cracked ribs. . . . DeSean Jackson had 68-yd. punt return vs. Eagles, first PR for a TD by a Philly rookie since LBJ was roaming the Rose Garden. . . . Donovan Mac in past two vs. 49ers: seven TD passes, no picks. . . . Niners a consistent bunch: 21st in offense, D.
Prediction: Eagles 31, 49ers 23
Green Bay at Seattle
2:15 p.m., Seahawks by 1
Last meeting: Packers won 42-20 in playoff game at Green Bay on Jan. 12, 2008
Not that times are tough in Coffeeville, but Mike Holmgren has more chins than wins. . . . Seahawks WRs finally getting healthy. How banged up is Seattle’s receiving crew? Rookie TE John Carlson leading club with 12 catches. . . . Ryan Grant had 201 yds. in ’07 playoff game, but is struggling at 3.7 yards per. . . . Holmgren, retiring after this season, 2-4 career vs. old club. . . . Pack’s Greg Jennings leads league with 569 receiving yards.Prediction: Seahawks 20, Packers 17
New England at San Diego
6:15 p.m., Chargers by 5
Last meeting: Patriots won 21-12 in playoff game at New England on Jan. 20, 2008
Pass the Red Bull, boys. Chargers after five games last year: 2-3. Chargers after five this year: 2-3. . . . L.T. 3.7 yards per. Oh, and did we mention that Bolts don’t have a receiver on pace for 60 catches? . . . Pats have won 11 of past 13 in series. . . . Charguhs 12-1 in last 13 homies vs. AFC. . . . Matt Cassel returning to SoCal, where he played at USC. Well, watched at USC.
Prediction: Chargers 27, Patriots 23
N.Y. Giants at Cleveland
6:30 p.m. Monday, Giants by 7 1/2
Last meeting: Giants won 27-10 at the Meadowlands on Sept. 26, 2004
Home-field dog on MNF, and you know what that means. Browns will show up. What’s that? Yeah, you’re right. It won’t matter. G-Men roll. . . . Last time we checked, Brady Quinn had a helmet and a pulse. Shouldn’t that be enough to become Cleveland QB? . . . Giants looking for ninth straight W, including playoffs. . . . Yeah, but. New Yawk has played St. Louis, Cincy & Seattle in past three. . . . Hmmmm. Eli: six TD passes, one INT; Peyton five TDs, five INTs.
Prediction: Giants 26, Browns 23
Jimmy tracker
Season record: 45-29
Record vs. the spread: 38-33-3
Highlight of the week: Texans over the Colts 27-24. Which it would have been if Sage “Fumbles R Me” Rosenfels hadn’t gift-wrapped the Colts a 31-27 W. Two words, Sagemeister: waiver wire.
