Don’t call it a comeback. Just call it business as usual in the NFL. At least it’s gone that way so far this season with the Broncos at the center of the league’s wild comeback festivities.
The Broncos are one of four teams — Arizona, Cincinnati and the Giants are the others — with five fourth-quarter comeback wins this season. To put that mayhem in perspective, entering this season only five teams since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 had at least six fourth-quarter comeback wins in a season. The record is seven in a season, set in 2009 by the Indianapolis Colts, who finished 14-2 in that regular season before losing to the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV.
Of the four teams this season with at least five fourth-quarter comeback wins, only the Broncos are at least two games above the .500 mark. Arizona has just six wins, five of those on comebacks, and the Bengals and Giants are 7-6 and fighting to stay in the playoff race.
“You can’t ever think you’re out of it,” Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard said. “I know we don’t. We don’t ever think we’re out of it.”
Must-see game of the week
Lions at Raiders 2 p.m.
The skinny: The Raiders’ offense has sputtered for the most part right from the time RB Darren McFadden suffered a foot injury to give Oakland’s season a limp. It has scored 14 and 16 points in back-to-back road losses over the last two weeks. Two touchdowns won’t get it done against the Lions, especially if the Raiders can’t pressure Detroit QB Matthew Stafford. Detroit is in position for one of the NFC wild-card spots, and Stafford has thrown seven TD passes and one interception in two games against AFC teams, including the Broncos, this season.
The difference will be: What kind of day the Raiders get from Carson Palmer. Since being acquired in a franchise-rattling trade, Palmer has flashed the form that made him one of the league’s franchise quarterbacks — and he has looked unsettled at times. The Lions are aggressive up front and are willing to take some chances to put some hits on opposing quarterbacks. They also get DT Ndamukong Suh back after his suspension for stomping on a Packers lineman.
The call: Lions 31-21
Catch ’em if you can
Packers at Chiefs 11 a.m., KDVR-31
Chiefs interim coach Romeo Crennel said he would like to turn this audition into a full-time gig as a head coach. There are, however, easier opening acts for that than taking on the league’s best team. The Packers have won 19 consecutive games. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has thrown at least two touchdown passes in 13 consecutive games and would reach 40 touchdowns passes this season with one against the Chiefs.
The call: Packers 30-10
Saints at Vikings 11 a.m.
The Packers may be the best-built team in the league, but the Drew Brees-directed Saints could certainly make an argument about being the most entertaining with their high-speed offense. They lead the league with 447.8 yards per game and are No. 2 in points at 31.9 per game. The Saints have won five consecutive games and will not play an outdoor game the rest of the way with two home games following this one.
The call: Saints 35-17
Jets at Eagles 2:15 p.m.
These teams haven’t met often over the years — just eight times — but the Eagles have won them all, including the most recent meeting in 2007. The Eagles showed a little more pop last week with quarterback Michael Vick’s return from broken ribs after missing three games. The Jets are pushing hard for an AFC wild-card spot but must stay ahead of the Raiders and Titans to do it. New York has won three consecutive games, last losing to the Broncos, and has averaged 33 points a game in the last three.
The call: Jets 30-27
Ravens at Chargers 6:20 p.m., KUSA-9
The Ravens have won four of the last five meetings between these teams and have won their last four games overall. Baltimore has leaned on RB Ray Rice of late, with Rice having averaged 153.5 yards rushing per game in his last two. Rice also leads all NFL RBs with 593 yards receiving this season. Chargers QB Philip Rivers is 22-2 in December starts in his career, including last week.
The call: Ravens 24-20
Quick hitters
Dolphins at Bills 11 a.m.
Things have gone so wrong for the Bills since their 5-2 start — they haven’t won a game since with six consecutive losses. Their defense has left them, with their last six opponents scoring at least 23 points and five have scored at least 27.
The call: Bills 27-23
Seahawks at Bears 11 a.m.
The Bears have seen their playoff hopes evaporate a little more with each game they have to play without QB Jay Cutler. Caleb Hanie will make his fourth consecutive start and has six interceptions to go with one TD pass for his first three.
The call: Bears 13-10
Panthers at Texans 11 a.m.
The Texans have clinched a division title and the playoff spot that comes with it. They will play this one without defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who is being treated for a kidney condition.
The call: Texans 28-24
Titans at Colts 11 a.m.
The Colts have won five of the past six meetings between these teams, but that was one significant QB injury ago. With the Titans having won the first meeting this season, a victory in this one would give them their first season sweep over the Colts since 2002.
The call: Titans 20-17
Redskins at Giants 11 a.m.
The Giants still have a shot at a division title and can thank QB Eli Manning for covering up their other problems. He has three 400-yard passing games this season and has thrown 14 fourth-quarter TD passes.
The call: Giants 30-20
Bengals at Rams 11 a.m., KCNC-4
The Bengals are on the outside edge of the playoff chase and should be able to keep themselves there with a win. The Rams have scored 16 or fewer points in 11 games this season.
The call: Bengals 24-9
Browns at Cardinals 2:15 p.m.
The Cardinals put together a nice too-little, too-late run, having won five of their last six games. The Browns are 30th in the league in scoring at just 13.7 points per game.
The call: Cardinals 28-12
Monday night
Steelers at 49ers 6:30 p.m.
The skinny:
The 49ers have been the league’s upstart team all season and can say a lot about their playoff readiness with how they play in this one. The Steelers are a veteran, tested team that is still squarely in the hunt for a division title. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has missed practice time this week with ankle troubles, but he usually finds a way to play. The 49ers might press the issue in the pass rush if they think Roethlisberger’s mobility is limited, but few players work around their injuries better than he does.
The difference will be:
If the 49ers can continue their work on defense in the scoring zone – they lead the league in scoring defense at 14 points a game. San Francisco is also the only team in the league that has not surrendered a rushing TD this season. The Steelers lean a little more toward the pass these days than they did early on in Mike Tomlin’s tenure as head coach – they’re 17th in rushing offense – but they still try to assert themselves when they think the time is right. And usually in December, they believe the time is right.
The call: Steelers 17-13
Broncos today
Patriots at Broncos 2:15 p.m.
The skinny: The Patriots have now won at least 10 games in nine consecutive seasons and are poised to claim yet another division title despite all of their defensive shortcomings. They have done it with Tom Brady having another franchise year that gain him consideration for the MVP award if not for Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. Many in the football nation see this as some kind of measuring stick for the Broncos, but that may be bit of a stretch, since these Patriots are last in the league in both total defense and pass defense. Eight teams have topped 300 yards passing against the Patriots this year.
The difference will be: How the Broncos’ defense handles Brady and the league’s match-up nightmare in TE Rob Gronkowski. Brady knows the team needs a touchdown every time he steps in the huddle because of the mess in the New England secondary. So, the Patriots work fast out of the no-huddle and score plenty – 10 games with at least 30 points. Brady is also one of the most difficult QBs in the league to blitz, so the Broncos’ chances of a win increase if they can get to him with four rushers.
The call: Patriots 31-28
