The Patriots are getting their usual allotment of bouquets these days after dispatching the Jets and the Bears with assertiveness in back-to-back weeks, moving them to the front of the line in the Super Bowl chase.
But it would be a mistake to snooze on the NFC’s best right now, especially the defending champs. Since an unnerving loss to the Browns dropped them to 4-3, the Saints have won six in a row and have scored at least 30 points in their last five games. They also do business in the NFC South, the league’s only division with three teams that have at least eight wins with three games to play. The division-leading Falcons, at 11-2, have the same record as the Patriots — without the hype — and may also have the most well-rounded team.
But the Saints are just one game behind and have shaken off the inevitable Super Bowl hangover quite nicely to put themselves in position to compete again.
Must-see game of the week
Saints at Ravens 11 a.m.
The skinny: Both of these teams are in fierce division races, with the Saints chasing the Falcons in the NFC South and the Ravens trying to keep pace with the Steelers in the AFC North. The Saints have been rumbling through their schedule since QB Drew Brees threw four interceptions against the Browns in October. They haven’t lost since, and Brees has 14 touchdown passes in the last six games.
The difference will be: Brees’ play against an opportunistic defense. Brees, though he is on pace for his fifth consecutive 4,000-yard passing season (he needs just 145 yards to get there), has not been at his 2009 level, especially in respect to turnovers. He’s been intercepted at least twice in five games this year, including all three of the Saints’ losses — Atlanta, Arizona and the Browns. The Ravens seem to create the most turnovers in their biggest games.
The call: Saints 28-24
Catch ’em if you can
Jaguars at Colts 11 a.m.
For all of the Colts’ injuries, turnovers and inability to play the way people have become accustomed to them playing, they still will give themselves a chance for yet another division title with a win in this one. For their part, the Jaguars could put the clamps on their first division title since 1999 with a victory. The Colts have won five of the last seven meetings.
The call: Colts 31-28
Eagles at Giants 11 a.m., KDVR-31
The Eagles have won 12 of their last 13 games in December and are showing as much offensive balance as at any time in Andy Reid’s long tenure as coach. And that’s why their offense is tops in the league at the moment at 402.8 yards per game and second in scoring at 28.8 points per game. Turnovers will be the concern for the Giants. The Eagles are tied for the league lead in takeaways with 30, and cornerback Asante Samuel leads the league in interceptions with seven.
The call: Eagles 24-20
Jets at Steelers 2:15 p.m.
In two short weeks, the Jets have gone from Super Bowl aspirations to just another team that talked a little too much. New York has lost two in a row, and second-year QB Mark Sanchez looks slightly overwhelmed by the playoff chase at the moment. The Steelers will attack him repeatedly and show him several coverage looks and blitz looks he hasn’t seen before.
The call: Steelers 21-17
Packers at Patriots 6:20 p.m., KUSA-9
Packers backup QB Matt Flynn figures to get his first career start in this one with Aaron Rodgers having been forbidden to even attend the team’s meetings for much of the week because of a concussion he suffered last week. For his trouble, Flynn gets one of the more difficult defensive schemes to solve in one of the toughest places to play.
The call: Patriots 31-16
Quick hitters
Cards at Panthers 11 a.m.
A rare matchup of rookie quarterbacks with Arizona’s John Skelton, fresh off his win over the Broncos in his first career start last week, squaring off with the Panthers’ Jimmy Clausen.
The call: Cardinals 13-10
Browns at Bengals 11 a.m.
An already dismal season for the Bengals would get that much worse with a loss in this one.
The call: Bengals 21-20
‘Skins at Cowboys 11 a.m.
Both the Broncos and Mike Shanahan have discovered football life isn’t nearly as fun for either one of them after their divorce.
The call: Cowboys 27-17
Bills at Dolphins 11 a.m.
Dolphins outside linebacker Cameron Wake leads the NFL in sacks with 14.
The call: Dolphins 10-7
Chiefs at Rams 11 a.m., KCNC-4
Chiefs QB Matt Cassel returned to practice last week, but it would be a lot to ask for a guy to even play, much less play well, less than two weeks after an appendectomy.
The call: Rams 23-20
Lions at Bucs 11 a.m.
The Buccaneers need this to keep themselves on the fringe of the NFC playoff race. Tampa Bay QB Josh Freeman is 10-6 in his last 16 starts.
The call: Buccaneers 17-13
Texans at Titans 11 a.m.
Never in Jeff Fisher’s 16 full seasons as Titans/Oilers coach has the public outcry for his ouster been louder.
The call: Texans 31-24
Falcons at Seahawks 2 p.m.
Atlanta is trying for its eighth win in a row, and QB Matt Ryan has won his last eight starts in December or January.
The call: Falcons 24-13
