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Week 17
EAGLES 24 REDSKINS 14
Philly's "Dream Team" campaign ended in a nightmare as Andy Reid's club underachieved during the first three-quarters of the season. The 7-8 Eagles can finish the year with a four-game winning streak and a .500 record with a win over the Redskins. Washington quarterback Rex Grossman is likely to struggle against a Philadelphia pass rush that leads the NFL in sacks with 49.
FALCONS 31 BUCS 13
Look for Atlanta to rebound off its 29-point road loss to the Saints last Monday night. Tampa Bay is suffering through a nine-game losing streak that will likely cost head coach Raheem Morris his job.
49ERS 22 RAMS 6
Jim Harbaugh should wrap up NFL Coach of the Year honors after San Francisco finishes the season with a 13-3 record and the #2 seed in the NFC playoffs. St. Louis is 2-13 straight up and 2-12-1 against the spread.
VIKINGS 24 BEARS 23
Both teams are playing without their star running backs as Minnesota's Adrian Peterson and Chicago's Matt Forte suffered season-ending knee injuries. Slight edge to the home team coming off a victory last week.
LIONS 27 PACKERS 17
Green Bay will rest its key personnel, including quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a cinch for the NFL MVP Award. Rodgers' QB rating of 122.5 is an all-time single-season NFL record, beating the old mark (121.1) set by Peyton Manning in 2004.
GIANTS 21 COWBOYS 10
A winner-take-all battle in the NFC East wraps up the 256-game regular-season schedule. Let's take Eli Manning over the erratic and unreliable Tony Romo.
SAINTS 31 PANTHERS 30
Credit Carolina quarterback Cam Newton for not only being the most impressive rookie in the NFL but also improving with every start. Newton's performance last week (a QB rating of 142.4) was superb. Expect a high-scoring shootout at the Superdome.
TITANS 24 TEXANS 10
Tennessee needs a victory and some help to make the postseason while Houston is locked into the #3 seed in the AFC playoffs. Expect a solid defensive effort from the 8-7 Titans.
RAVENS 24 BENGALS 14
Critical game for both teams. Baltimore is playing for the #2 seed in the AFC playoffs which carries with it a "bye" in the opening week of the postseason. Cincy cannot be trusted.
STEELERS 29 BROWNS 13
Cleveland has lost five straight games and appears to be a dead team. Pittsburgh should roll to victory whether it's Ben Roethlisberger or Charlie Batch at the controls. Batch is 5-2 as a spot starter in the NFL since 2001.
JAGUARS 24 COLTS 17
After 13 straight losses, Indy is riding a two-game winning streak but a win over Jacksonville could cost the Colts the number one overall selection (Andrew Luck) in the 2012 NFL Draft. Lowly Jacksonville should defeat uninspired Indianapolis.
DOLPHINS 17 JETS 13
Miami never quit on the season despite starting the year by losing its first seven games. The Dolphins are 5-3 since the disastrous beginning and they're playing hard for interim head coach Todd Bowles.
PATRIOTS 31 BILLS 21
New England's Tom Brady is 36-5 in December games (though this game will be played in January) and the Pats seem to peak at this time every year. Buffalo snapped a seven-game losing streak last week against Tim Tebow and the Broncos.
RAIDERS 34 CHARGERS 23
Carson Palmer meets Philip Rivers in a matchup of overhyped quarterbacks. Oakland sports a winning record (8-7) despite its sloppy play as the Raiders lead the NFL in penalties (155) and penalty yardage (1,293).
CHIEFS 24 BRONCOS 23
Kyle Orton gets a chance to redeem himself and dash the playoff hopes of the team that released him earlier this season. Orton's replacement, Tim Tebow, exits the worst performance (QB rating of 35.4) of his professional career; Let's call for the mild upset.
CARDINALS 14 SEAHAWKS 10
Both teams were eliminated from playoff contention last week after suffering losses in games they had an opportunity to win. Arizona quarterback John Skelton has been a pleasant surprise this season for the Cardinals.
Week 16
TEXANS 23 COLTS 17
Look for Houston to rebound off its 28-13 home loss to the Panthers. Third-string quarterback T.J. Yates should return to his winning ways facing a suspect Indianapolis defense. The Colts should regress after their first victory of the season, a 27-13 win over Tennessee.
CHIEFS 29 RAIDERS 17
Kansas City knocked off the best team in the NFL last week and should ride the momentum of its victory over the Packers to another win this week against division rival Oakland. The Raiders have led the AFC in penalty yardage each of the past nine seasons.
BRONCOS 24 BILLS 16
Let’s take Tim Tebow off a loss. The dual-threat quarterback is 7-2 as a starter this season and the Broncos will capture the AFC West crown by winning their last two games of the season. Buffalo has lost seven straight games after a promising 5-2 start.
TITANS 24 JAGUARS 17
Both teams are playing out the string in a season of lost opportunity. The AFC South was wide open this year after Peyton Manning went down with a season-ending neck injury and yet neither Tennessee nor Jacksonville took full advantage.
CARDINALS 27 BENGALS 24
Let’s call for a mild upset here. Arizona has won three overtime games this season and the Cardinals are playing their best football of the season. Cincinnati's eight victories this season have come at the expense of teams that are a combined 34-78.
PATRIOTS 24 DOLPHINS 23
New England could experience a letdown this week after its emotional win over Denver and Tim Tebow. Miami has won five of seven games after starting the season 0-5.
RAVENS 21 BROWNS 6
Baltimore figures to play angry following its Sunday night loss in San Diego. The Ravens are a perfect 7-0 this season at M&T Bank Stadium.
GIANTS 24 JETS 23
Rex Ryan's defense allowed 45 points and 420 yards last week in a loss to Philadelphia. Slight edge to Eli Manning over Mark Sanchez in a battle of inconsistent quarterbacks.
REDSKINS 31 VIKINGS 13
Great spot for Washington to pound a helpless opponent. The Vikings have lost six straight games and head coach Leslie Frazier figures to be unemployed at season's end.
PANTHERS 27 BUCS 14
Tampa Bay has the look of a team that has quit on the season. Losers of seven straight, the Bucs will offer little resistance to Carolina's offense led by the fast-improving rookie quarterback Cam Newton.
STEELERS 24 RAMS 10
Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger playing status (ankle) is a concern, but the Steelers can beat the lowly Rams with or without Big Ben. St. Louis is 2-12 straight up and 2-11-1 against the spread.
CHARGERS 31 LIONS 28
Look for streaking San Diego to continue its winning ways against an overrated Detroit team. Quarterback Philip Rivers has thrown seven touchdown passes and no interceptions in San Diego's last three games, all victories for the Chargers.
SEAHAWKS 15 49ERS 14
Both defenses should dominate in what figures to be a closely-contested game. San Francisco is the only team in the NFL yet to allow a rushing touchdown. Love the way Seattle played in the second half of its dominating win over Chicago last week.
COWBOYS 27 REDSKINS 26
Let's side ever so slightly with Tony Romo and the home team. The return of Miles Austin is a key to the success of the Cowboys.
PACKERS 41 BEARS 14
Look for Green Bay to rebound with an outstanding effort after its subpar performance last week at Arrowhead Stadium. The injury-riddled Bears are forced to start journeyman Josh McCown at quarterback after Caleb Hanie proved ineffective in replacing injured starter Jay Cutler.
SAINTS 31 FALCONS 21
New Orleans looked super in its 42-20 victory over Minnesota last week as quarterback Drew Brees completed 32-of-40 passes for 412 yards and five touchdowns. The Saints are the second-best team in both the NFC and NFL.
Week 15
FALCONS 34 JAGUARS 20
Atlanta scored 24 unanswered points in a 31-23 victory over Carolina as quarterback Matt Ryan threw for more than 230 yards in the second half of the comeback victory. Jacksonville's win last week was more a case of ineptitude on Tampa Bay's part rather than any spark from the hopeless Jags.
COWBOYS 24 BUCS 13
Dallas cannot afford a loss to the lowly Bucs as the Cowboys battle the Giants for the NFC East Crown. Look for a spirited effort from Romo and Company after their late-game collapse last Sunday night against the Giants.
GIANTS 27 REDSKINS 20
Eli Manning is enjoying one of the finest seasons of his career, eclipsing 4,000 yards in passing over the team's first 13 games. The Giants gained a much-needed victory last week and should ride the momentum of last Sunday's win to another victory this week.
PACKERS 35 CHIEFS 24
The injury to Green Bay wide receiver Greg Jennings is a concern, but the Packers are not only the best team in the league but also the deepest team in the NFL. The quarterback rating of Aaron Rodgers this season (123.3) is off the charts.
SAINTS 28 VIKINGS 17
New Orleans is peaking at the right time. Winners of five straight games, the Saints appear as the strongest threat in the NFL to stop the Packers from back-to-back Super Bowl titles. Drew Brees is the one quarterback in the league who can match points with Aaron Rodgers.
BEARS 17 SEAHAWKS 13
Chicago's defense and special teams should be the difference in what figures to be a low-scoring, closely-contested game. The Bears are playing without its two best offensive weapons in quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte.
BILLS 23 DOLPHINS 20
A lost season for both teams as they each exit blowout losses. Slight lean to the home team.
TEXANS 34 PANTHERS 17
Houston is riding a seven-game winning streak thanks to the surprising calm and cool of inexperienced quarterback T.J. Yates. Houston clinched a playoff berth last week, its first in franchise history, with a 20-19 victory over Cincinnati.
TITANS 24 COLTS 16
The winless season for Indy should continue as the Titans (7-6) still have hopes of making the AFC playoffs. Indy gained only 53 yards of total offense through three quarters of its game last week against Baltimore.
BENGALS 20 RAMS 10
St. Louis is the second-worst team in the NFL at 2-11 straight-up and 2-11 against the spread. Cincy finds a way to win a road game.
LIONS 31 RAIDERS 10
Love this spot for Detroit. The Lions catch an Oakland team in poor form and should pressure quarterback Carson Palmer into many mistakes. Palmer threw four interceptions last week in a 46-16 loss to Green Bay. Ndamukong Suh returns from a two-game suspension for the Lions.
PATRIOTS 28 BRONCOS 14
Look for Bill Belichick and Tom Brady to put an end to the six-game winning streak of the Denver Broncos and Tim Tebow. New England will devise a scheme to slow down the overachieving Tebow.
EAGLES 23 JETS 20
Philadelphia recorded nine sacks last week in a dominating 26-10 victory over Miami. Michael Vick looked decent in his return to action after missing the last three games with a rib injury.
CARDINALS 20 BROWNS 6
Arizona's defense and special teams are playing well right now, providing the necessary support to an Arizona offense that sometimes struggles to move the football. Cleveland quarterback Colt McCoy is still a work in progress.
CHARGERS 24 RAVENS 20
San Diego is playing its best football of the season. Philip Rivers has his full fleet of receivers and Baltimore is only 3-3 on the road this year. Mild upset at Qualcomm.
49ERS 19 STEELERS 16
Tough spot for Pittsburgh with an ailing Ben Roethlisberger (ankle) forced to play on the choppy turf at Candlestick Park. Let's lean to home team as San Francisco battles with New Orleans for the #2 seed in the NFC.
Week 14
STEELERS 35 BROWNS 10
Pittsburgh has dominated the recent series against Cleveland, winning seven straight games at Heinz Field and 14 of the last 15 overall. The Steelers won the last two meetings over the Browns by a combined score of 69-19. Cleveland is 3-18 against AFC North foes since 2008 and quarterback Colt McCoy is winless in seven career games within the division.
RAVENS 28 COLTS 7
Indianapolis showed some late life by scoring the game's final 21 points in a 31-24 loss last week against New England. Look for the Ravens to keep the back door closed.
BENGALS 24 TEXANS 21
Houston rookie quarterback T.J. Yates made his first NFL start a winning one in defeating Atlanta last week, 17-10. Look for Cincy's defense to pose problems this week for the fifth-round draft choice out of North Carolina.
PACKERS 31 RAIDERS 14
Green Bay's pursuit of perfection continues. The 12-0 Packers are trying to become only the second NFL team to finish the regular season 16-0. The New England Patriots accomplished the feat in 2007 (Note: the Miami Dolphins went 14-0 in their perfect season of 1972).
JETS 24 CHIEFS 14
Look for New York running back Shonn Greene to provide support for Mark Sanchez and the Jets' passing game in a double-digit victory over the 5-7 Chiefs.
LIONS 27 VIKINGS 13
Time for Detroit to return to its winning ways. The Lions started the season 5-0 and have gone 2-5 since. Quarterback Matthew Stafford should light up a suspect Minnesota secondary.
SAINTS 27 TITANS 23
Tricky game to handicap as both teams are playing good football. Slight lean to Brees and Co. after Drew's 342-yard performance last week. New Orleans has won four straight games.
DOLPHINS 17 EAGLES 14
Michael Vick returns to action for Philadelphia but it may not matter as many of Philly's top players have quit on the season. The Dolphins are playing hard despite the lame-duck status of head coach Tony Sparano.
PATRIOTS 31 REDSKINS 21
New England always seems to peak late in the season and the Patriots enjoyed a virtual bye week with last week's assignment against winless Indianapolis while Washington suffered a fourth-quarter meltdown by surrendering 21 points in the final 15 minutes of its game against the Jets.
PANTHERS 25 FALCONS 21
Good spot for Carolina to play the spoiler's role as Atlanta fights for a playoff spot in the NFC. Cam Newton is the real deal, a quarterback who can beat you with his arm or beat you with his feet.
JAGUARS 14 BUCS 13
Both teams have been disappointing this season. Jacksonville averages fewer than 13 points per game, lowest in the NFL. Tampa Bay has lost six straight games with little or no hope on the horizon.
CARDS 17 49ERS 13
Let's call for a mild upset here as San Francisco celebrated last week by clinching the weak NFC West. Arizona has played better of late, winning in overtime last week against the Dallas Cowboys.
BRONCOS 21 BEARS 20
If the game is close in the fourth quarter, count on Tim Tebow to win it for the Denver Broncos. The charismatic leader is 6-1 this season as Denver's starting quarterback after previous starter Kyle Orton started the season 1-4. Chicago is without its top two offensive players in quarterback Jay Cutler and running back Matt Forte.
CHARGERS 31 BILLS 21
Look for San Diego to post a late-season surge as the Chargers looked tremendous on both sides of the football in their 38-14 victory last Monday night over Jacksonville. Buffalo has lost five straight games to fall to 5-7 on the season.
GIANTS 27 COWBOYS 24
New York played well in defeat last week when losing to the Packers, 38-35. Let's give a slight edge to Eli Manning over Tony Romo in a matchup of inconsistent quarterbacks.
SEAHAWKS 34 RAMS 17
St. Louis is saddled with the worst offensive line in the league and an injury-riddled secondary, two qualities which guarantee failure in the pass-happy NFL. Seattle rolls.
Week 13
SEAHAWKS 23 EAGLES 20
Seattle has covered seven of its last nine games despite winning only four of those contests. Pete Carroll's defense should confuse an Eagles' offense led by the ineffective Vince Young or the injury-prone Michael Vick.
BILLS 24 TITANS 20
Look for Buffalo to snap its four-game losing streak by winning a game at the friendly confines of Ralph Wilson Stadium. Ryan Fitzpatrick played better last week in the team's narrow loss to the Jets.
BEARS 17 CHIEFS 10
Both teams are having issues at the quarterback position. Let's rely on Chicago's defense and special teams to carry the day against the injury-plagued Chiefs.
RAIDERS 23 DOLPHINS 20
Calling for a mild upset here as Miami's difficulties while playing at home are well-documented. Following back-to-back 7-9 seasons, Miami head coach Tony Sparano needed a winning season and he will not achieve one this year.
STEELERS 27 BENGALS 14
Pittsburgh is an exceptional team seemingly year in and year out. Cincy is enjoying a banner season at 7-4 but the Bengals' seven victories have come against teams with a combined record of 16-39.
BROWNS 21 RAVENS 20
Ray Lewis missed the last two games with a toe injury. Baltimore's road efforts have been shaky this season and Cleveland showed some fight over the past couple of games.
REDSKINS 20 JETS 17
Washington snapped its six-game losing streak last week with a come-from-behind 23-17 victory on the road in Seattle. Let's count on the Redskins to build off the momentum of last week's victory. New York is a struggling team trying to find a consistent level.
TEXANS 24 FALCONS 20
Houston's running back tandem of Arian Foster and Ben Tate should be enough for the Texans to defeat an Atlanta team that struggles in games outside the Georgia Dome.
PANTHERS 27 BUCS 24
A mild upset here for Carolina and its rookie quarterback Cam Newton. Tampa Bay committed five turnovers last week in losing its fifth straight game.
SAINTS 30 LIONS 20
Detroit will play without Ndamukong Suh, suspended two games for unsportsmanlike conduct in the Thanksgiving Day game against the Packers. Drew Brees should enjoy a huge day against the suspect secondary of the Lions.
BRONCOS 23 VIKINGS 17
Tim Tebow is one of the biggest stories of the 2011 NFL season. Since replacing Kyle Orton with Tim Tebow, the Broncos are 5-1 and in the thick of the wide-open AFC West playoff race.
49ERS 31 RAMS 13
Good spot for San Francisco after miserable scheduling dynamics in Week 12 when traveling cross-country to meet the Ravens on short rest. St. Louis has scored only 140 points over 11 games.
COWBOYS 24 CARDINALS 21
Plenty of Dallas fans will travel to Glendale, Arizona for this game. Look for the Dallas defense to focus on stopping Arizona running back Beanie Wells.
PACKERS 31 GIANTS 21
Green Bay's pursuit of perfection continues as the 11-0 Packers are five wins away from matching the 2007 New England Patriots as the only NFL team to finish the regular season a perfect 16-0 (Miami was 14-0 in its perfect regular season in 1972).
PATRIOTS 35 COLTS 13
New England can name the score here against the worst defensive team in the league. The Colts have surrendered 327 points in 11 games.
CHARGERS 24 JAGUARS 21
The Jags fired head coach Jack Del Rio and an announcement figures to come at the end of the season about the dismissal of embattled San Diego head coach Norv Turner.
Week 12
PACKERS 44 LIONS 24
Green Bay's offense looks unstoppable. Rodgers and Company should post big numbers indoors at Ford Field against the suspect secondary of the Lions. Turkey Day begins with a barbecue.
COWBOYS 20 DOLPHINS 17
Both teams enter the game sporting three-game winning streaks. Miami's defense has not surrendered a touchdown in its last three games. But Tony Romo figures to do just enough to win another November game by beating Miami in a tightly-contested game.
RAVENS 21 49ERS 17
Hate to buck red-hot San Francisco, winners of eight straight games. However, Baltimore rarely loses at M&T Bank Stadium where the Ravens are 5-0 this season and where they've won 15 of their past 16 games.
CARDS 23 RAMS 10
Let's call for a rare Arizona victory considering St. Louis has scored an NFL-low 120 points over its first 10 games.
JETS 26 BILLS 20
The league has figured out how to defend Chan Gailey's spread offense. Buffalo has been outscored 106-26 in its last three games.
BENGALS 24 BROWNS 14
Cincinnati rookie quarterback Andy Dalton should fare better against Cleveland after facing Pittsburgh and Baltimore in consecutive weeks. The Bengals, despite back-to-back losses in division games, are exceeding expectations with a 6-4 record.
TEXANS 23 JAGUARS 20
Houston back-up quarterback Matt Leinart is thrust into the spotlight after Matt Schaub's foot injury has sidelined the Houston starting quarterback indefinitely. The Texans, featuring an outstanding running game and improving defense, are the class of the weak AFC South.
PANTHERS 28 COLTS 19
Indianapolis appears headed for a winless season. Look for the Panthers and rookie quarterback Cam Newton to bounce back against the hapless Colts after their second-half collapse against the Lions in Detroit.
TITANS 23 BUCS 16
Tampa Bay is in the throes of a four-game losing streak and nothing is going right on either side of the ball for the youngest team in the NFL. Tennessee defends its home turf.
FALCONS 31 VIKINGS 21
The clock is ticking on Leslie Frazier's time in Minnesota. Star running back Adrian Peterson of the Vikings is unlikely to play after suffering a high ankle sprain last week against the Raiders.
RAIDERS 23 BEARS 17
Chicago's five-game winning streak is in jeopardy after losing quarterback Jay Cutler to a broken thumb. Little-used Caleb Hanie gets the start for the Bears. Lean to Oakland and the experience of Carson Palmer.
SEAHAWKS 14 REDSKINS 10
The defensive units should dominate from start to finish. Seattle recorded five sacks last week in 24-7 road win over St. Louis. Washington has lost six straight contests, marking the longest losing streak in head coach Mike Shanahan's 18-year career.
EAGLES 21 PATRIOTS 20
Philly's defense looked outstanding last week in a season-saving win at MetLife Stadium against division rival New York. Vince Young is 31-17 as an NFL starter.
CHARGERS 31 BRONCOS 21
The Tebow magic stops here. San Diego's defense should figure out a way to stop the one-dimensional quarterback. The Chargers' season is on the line over the final five games on the schedule. With a won-loss record of 5-6, San Diego must find a way to string together a series of wins.
STEELERS 24 CHIEFS 14
Kansas City quarterback Tyler Palko made too many mistakes (three interceptions) in his NFL starting debut last Monday night, a 34-3 loss to the New England Patriots. Things will not get easier for Palko against Pittsburgh's blitzing defense.
SAINTS 27 GIANTS 20
New Orleans exits a bye week and should be ready for a top effort in prime time against a high-profile opponent. Give the edge to the steady Drew Brees over the inconsistent Eli Manning.
Week 11
JETS 20 BRONCOS 17
Denver's one-dimensional running attack is likely to struggle against New York's stout defense. The Broncos won last week despite running the ball 55 times and passing the ball eight times, completing only two of the eight passes. The lack of a balanced offensive attack spells doom for most of NFL teams.
FALCONS 27 TITANS 20
Atlanta should return to the winner's circle after a tough overtime loss to division rival New Orleans. I appreciated Atlanta head coach Mike Smith's decision last week to gamble on fourth down and inches from his own 29-yard line but I disliked Smith's play choice (running off tackle instead of calling for a quarterback sneak).
DOLPHINS 23 BILLS 20
Miami has a chance to win its third straight game after starting the season 0-7. Buffalo has lost two straight games and three of four after going 4-1 to open the season. The Bills have been outscored 71-18 in their last two games.
RAVENS 27 BENGALS 13
Both teams enter the game with a won-loss record of 6-3. Cincy has posted only one victory against a winning team this season. Baltimore should be in an angry mood after losing last Sunday in Seattle.
JAGUARS 17 BROWNS 16
Ugly game between two also-rans. Slight edge to a more disciplined Jacksonville team that usually doesn't beat itself.
RAIDERS 24 VIKINGS 20
Don't look now but Oakland sits atop the AFC West with a record of 5-4. The Raiders have an eye on the postseason while the Vikings are merely playing out the season which could be the final season for head coach Leslie Frazier.
LIONS 38 PANTHERS 31
Detroit is in a funk right now but the Lions figure to outclass a Carolina team coming off its worst performance of the season. This indoor game at Ford Field could produce the most points on the Week 11 schedule.
PACKERS 35 BUCS 17
The reigning Super Bowl champions are the clear-cut favorites to win Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis. Green Bay features two of the best players in the game in quarterback Aaron Rodgers and linebacker Clay Matthews. Tampa Bay's season is going the wrong way.
COWBOYS 24 REDSKINS 10
Washington head coach Mike Shanahan has lost five straight games for the first time in his career. The Skins are struggling at the sport's most important position as Donovan McNabb was not the answer last season and the entry of Rex Grossman and John Beck has struggled mightily this season.
49ERS 24 CARDINALS 20
San Francisco continues to be the feel-good story of the season. Head coach Jim Harbaugh's team is 8-1 after the 49ers finished 6-10 last season under Mike Singletary with virtually the same roster of players.
SEAHAWKS 23 RAMS 20
Seattle should build on its impressive win last week over Baltimore with a solid road effort against division foe St. Louis. Pete Carroll's team features a better defense than Steve Spagnuolo's squad.
BEARS 27 CHARGERS 20
Chicago is an underrated team playing its best football of the season. San Diego, on the other hand, is in poor form with quarterback Philip Rivers throwing an NFL-high 15 interceptions. The Chargers could have problems handling the elements of the Windy City.
GIANTS 20 EAGLES 10
Philadelphia is in a funk, going 3-6 with a roster expected to challenge for postseason glory. Philly quarterback Michael Vick will likely miss the game (broken ribs), forcing Vince Young or Mike Kafka to compete against an improving New York defense.
PATRIOTS 31 CHIEFS 14
Tom Brady got back on track last week in New England's 37-16 victory over the New York Jets. The Pats are banged up defensively but the Chiefs are unlikely to take advantage of New England's limping defense with Tyler Palko making his first NFL start for the injured Matt Cassell.
Week 10
CHARGERS 31 RAIDERS 21
Time for San Diego to play to its ability level. The Chargers boast one of the most talented 53-man rosters in football yet their record stands at 4-4. If Philip Rivers limits his turnovers (14 interceptions in eight games), the Chargers should cruise against an Oakland team that is 0-2 since the acquisition of Carson Palmer.
STEELERS 24 BENGALS 17
Ben Roethlisberger is enjoying an outstanding season behind an improved offensive line and a fast fleet of wide receivers. Cincy steps up in class and rookie quarterback Andy Dalton will likely struggle against Pittsburgh's intimidating defense.
BRONCOS 20 CHIEFS 14
Let's call for a mild upset as Denver returns to contention in the wide-open AFC West with a road victory at Arrowhead Stadium. Tim Tebow is limited as a passer but unlimited in his will to win.
COLTS 24 JAGUARS 20
Great spot for Indianapolis to post its first victory of the season. Pride should be a factor as the 0-8 Colts play to avoid embarrassment.
BILLS 27 COWBOYS 24
The AFC East looks a lot stronger than the NFC East. Ryan Fitzpatrick, with a new contract in hand, should lead his team to victory against an overrated Dallas team.
TEXANS 27 BUCS 17
Houston is in perfect position to make the NFL playoffs for the first time in franchise history. The running back tandem of Arian Foster and Ben Tate has looked unstoppable over the past couple of games.
PANTHERS 30 TITANS 20
Cam Newton is improving with every start. He's a virtual cinch to be named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year despite his team's subpar record of 2-6. Here in Nevada, the Panthers are exceeding market expectations with a 5-3 record against the spread.
DOLPHINS 24 REDSKINS 14
Look for Miami to build off its first victory of the season, a 31-3 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9. The Dolphins finally break through with a convincing victory at home after going 5-19 ATS in their last 24 games at Sun Life Stadium.
FALCONS 31 SAINTS 30
Atlanta's running game, led by the unheralded Michael Turner, provides quarterback Matt Ryan with an opportunity to find emerging star wide receiver Julio Jones in man-to-man coverages. New Orleans is susceptible on the road.
BEARS 24 LIONS 20
Chicago sent a message to the NFC North specifically and the NFL in general with a 30-24 road victory over the Eagles last Monday night. The Bears are feeling good about themselves.
RAMS 27 BROWNS 19
Cleveland has scored only six first-quarter points in eight games and only nine third-quarter points through the first half of the season in what has been another woeful football campaign for the Browns. St. Louis last week showed heart and determination in a tough overtime loss to Arizona.
EAGLES 34 CARDINALS 17
Michael Vick and Company should rebound after losing on Monday night. Arizona has injury problems and inexperience issues.
RAVENS 27 SEAHAWKS 20
Baltimore last week established itself as the favorites to win the AFC title with a thrilling come-from-behind win over archrival Pittsburgh. Joe Flacco is improving every week and received a stamp of approval from Ray Lewis, the team's emotional leader.
49ERS 24 GIANTS 20
San Francisco stands as the only team in the NFL to remain undefeated against the spread (7-0-1). Jim Harbaugh's team has been emotionally-invested in every game this season. Credit the Niners for four victories this season in the Eastern time zone.
JETS 23 PATRIOTS 20
Hard to bet against the entry of Belichick and Brady but New England's defense is troubling, to say the least. Let's go with the better defensive unit playing before its home crowd.
PACKERS 34 VIKINGS 20
Aaron Rodgers, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, looks like a cinch to win the NFL MVP as the star quarterback leads his team in quest of a perfect 16-0 season. Rodgers has thrown 24 touchdown passes this season against only three interceptions.
Week 9
FALCONS 31 COLTS 17
Atlanta plays its best football when it establishes the run to set up Matt Ryan's play-action passes. The Falcons should have no trouble running the football against a defense allowing 144 rushing yards per game. The Falcons will enjoy the indoor setting of Lucas Oil Stadium as quarterback Matt Ryan is 26-6 lifetime in dome stadiums.
SAINTS 27 BUCS 24
New Orleans did not look right last week in a 10-point loss to the lowly St. Louis Rams. Tampa Bay exits its bye week after a six-point loss to the Bears in London. The Bucs won the first meeting between the division rival, 26-20, in Week 6.
TEXANS 27 BROWNS 9
Cleveland is the worst 3-4 team in the NFL. Cleveland's three wins have been accomplished over teams with a combined record of 2-20. The Browns have scored a total of three points in the first quarter and only six points in the third quarter of their first seven games.
BILLS 17 JETS 14
Buffalo posted a huge effort on both sides of the football in demolishing Washington last Sunday, 23-0. The winner of this game will emerge as the division's biggest threat to challenge New England for top honors in the AFC East. Fitzpatrick gets the edge over Sanchez.
CHIEFS 28 DOLPHINS 21
Miami has been outscored 62-25 in the fourth quarter of its first eight games. The Dolphins give the least when it matters most. Look for Kansas City to extend its four-game winning streak after losing its first three games of the season by a combined score of 109-27.
49ERS 21 REDSKINS 17
San Francisco looks for its fourth victory of the season in the Eastern time zone. San Francisco's Jim Harbaugh is the leading candidate for NFL Coach of the Year as his 6-1 team has exceeded everyone's expectations including those of the betting marketplace (6-0-1 against the spread).
COWBOYS 28 SEAHAWKS 21
Dallas should return to the winner's circle after a miserable performance Sunday night against division rival Philadelphia. Struggling Seattle is the perfect opponent for the Cowboys to rebound.
RAIDERS 27 BRONCOS 17
The Tim Tebow experiment enters another week as the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner struggled mightily against an aggressive Detroit defense that sacked the indecisive quarterback seven times last week. Oakland needs a good effort from newly-acquired Carson Palmer to provide balance to a dangerous running attack which is averaging nearly 160 yards per game.
TITANS 23 BENGALS 20
Tennessee needed its confidence-producing win last week versus Indianapolis and now steps up in class to meet surprising Cincinnati. I like the experience edge Matt Hasselbeck gives the home team over rookie counterpart Andy Dalton of the Bengals.
RAMS 24 CARDINALS 20
Let's trust the Rams to string good efforts back-to-back after St. Louis whipped New Orleans last week. The Rams raced to a 24-0 lead against the Saints and another quick start could doom the chances of the struggling Cards.
PATRIOTS 31 GIANTS 21
A rematch of Super Bowl XLII when the Giants ended the Patriots' quest for a perfect 19-0 season. New England looked disinterested in last week's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rarely does a Bill Belichick team play poorly two weeks in a row.
PACKERS 31 CHARGERS 17
Green Bay is clearly the class of the NFL and the Packers will prove it here against an underachieving, poorly-coached squad. Aaron Rodgers is not only the best quarterback in the game today but also the hottest. He's completing more than 71% of his passes with 21 touchdowns against only three interceptions.
STEELERS 20 RAVENS 10
Payback time for the Steelers as they look to avenge a 35-7 loss to the Ravens in Week 1 of the NFL season. Baltimore's dreadful first-half performance against Arizona should be a cause for concern for Ravens' supporters.
EAGLES 27 BEARS 17
Philly owns the most-talented 53-man roster in the NFL. Andy Reid's team put it all together last week with an emphatic 34-7 win over Dallas. Philly's best game is really good.
Week 8
TITANS 21 COLTS 17
Both teams exit embarrassing efforts as the Titans lost at home by 34 points to a division foe while the Colts traveled to New Orleans and lost by 55 points. Tennessee is the lesser of two evils here.
TEXANS 31 JAGUARS 15
Houston's Arian Foster looked amazing last week when scoring three touchdowns and recording 234 total yards (119 rushing and 115 receiving). Jacksonville will have issues containing the underrated superstar.
PANTHERS 34 VIKINGS 24
Good spot for Carolina to thump an opponent. Twenty-two-year-old quarterback Cam Newton has erased all doubts as to his NFL potential and he appears to be a force in the league for years to come.
SAINTS 35 RAMS 10
New Orleans is clearly the second-best team in the NFC and the Saints are headed for a showdown with the Packers in the NFC Championship Game. St. Louis is 0-6 straight up and 0-6 against the spread.
RAVENS 28 CARDINALS 14
Baltimore should be in an angry mood following its Monday night loss to Jacksonville. Arizona has some serious issues in its secondary.
GIANTS 20 DOLPHINS 10
The clock is ticking on the Tony Sparano Era in Miami. The Dolphins are 0-6 after back-to-back 7-9 seasons.
BILLS 28 REDSKINS 20
Game will be played in Toronto. Washington's long list of injuries and offensive line problems are a serious concern for quarterback John Beck who is making only his sixth career NFL start. Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick leads a Buffalo offense averaging 31 points per game.
BRONCOS 24 LIONS 21
Let's ride the momentum of Denver's fourth-quarter comeback win last Sunday in Miami. Tim Tebow is now 2-2 in four career NFL starts and his hobbled counterpart Matthew Stafford may play despite suffering an ankle injury late in the fourth quarter of last week's loss to Atlanta.
PATRIOTS 21 STEELERS 17
This is the most attractive game on an unattractive NFL card. New England's aerial attack will be put to a tough test against a Pittsburgh secondary yielding the fewest passing yards in the league.
49ERS 27 BROWNS 17
San Francisco's head coach Jim Harbaugh is the leading candidate for NFL Coach of the Year. San Francisco has adopted the personality of its head coach with a gritty, never-say-die attitude that has produced five wins over the team's first six games. Quarterback Alex Smith has improved dramatically under Harbaugh's tutelage.
BENGALS 17 SEAHAWKS 10
Cincy's defensive front seven should dominate Seattle's young offensive line. The Bengals benefit from a bye week after going 4-2 over the season's first six weeks.
COWBOYS 28 EAGLES 24
An important division game for two underperforming teams. Dallas trounced St. Louis last week and the Cowboys now meet a far more talented team. Let's trust Rob Ryan's defense to post a mild upset on the road.
CHIEFS 24 CHARGERS 23
Let's call for another mild upset as the Chiefs have won three straight games after starting the season 0-3. Philip Rivers cannot be trusted on the road in a hostile environment. Rivers has committed 11 turnovers in six games.
Week 7
BEARS 23 BUCS 20
Game played at Wembley Stadium in London, England. Veteran Chicago team should handle the overseas assignment better than Tampa Bay, the youngest team in the NFL. Chicago's exciting playmaker Devin Hester scored two touchdowns last Sunday night in a 39-10 victory over Minnesota. Note to Tampa Bay head coach Raheem Morris: do not challenge Hester on punts and kickoffs.
REDSKINS 24 PANTHERS 17
John Beck gets the start for Team Shanahan. Former starting quarterback Rex Grossman threw four interceptions last week to sabotage Washington's chances of victory over the Eagles. Carolina quarterback Cam Newton continues to make rookie mistakes.
CHARGERS 27 JETS 20
San Diego's Philip Rivers gets the nod over New York's Mark Sanchez. The travel is a concern, but the 4-1 Chargers appear to be a serious contender for the AFC title while the Jets' offense cannot be trusted.
BROWNS 17 SEAHAWKS 13
Good spot for Cleveland to defend its home-field advantage against a weak foe from the NFC West.
TITANS 23 TEXANS 20
Houston exits a physical beating from the Ravens in Baltimore. Star running back Arian Foster gained only 49 yards from 15 carries in last week's 29-14 loss to the Ravens. Tennessee is rested and ready off a Week 6 bye.
BRONCOS 24 DOLPHINS 14
Look for second-year quarterback Tim Tebow to win his 2011 starting debut. Tebow returns to the state where he starred collegiately at the University of Florida. Miami's Matt Moore looked overmatched in a 24-6 loss to the Jets last Monday night.
LIONS 28 FALCONS 24
Detroit comes off its first loss of the season and should rebound against an Atlanta team searching to find its identity. The Falcons are better suited as a run-first team and their strategy paid off (35 running plays, 22 passing plays) in last week's 14-point win over the Panthers.
RAIDERS 21 CHIEFS 13
Oakland welcomes former Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer to the fold. But the story with the Raiders this season is their outstanding running game led by superstar Darren McFadden. A focused effort by all three phases of the game provides the Raiders with their third straight victory since the death of their legendary leader Al Davis.
STEELERS 31 CARDINALS 21
A rematch of Super Bowl XLIII won by the Steelers, 27-23. Ben Roethlisberger looked sharp early in a 17-13 win last week over Jacksonville. Kevin Kolb could get overwhelmed by Pittsburgh's pass rush which will feature aggressive safety Troy Polamalu.
COWBOYS 28 RAMS 12
St. Louis is 0-6 and the Rams have been outscored by a combined margin of 137-49. Dallas, 2-3 in the early season, is desperate for a win after its heartbreaking loss last week to the Patriots.
PACKERS 31 VIKINGS 14
Green Bay is 18-8 against the spread since the start of the 2010 season. The Packers have the look of a champion. They're 6-0 for the first time since 1965. Christian Ponder replaces Donovan McNabb as Minny's signal-caller.
SAINTS 34 COLTS 14
New Orleans will have few problems in dispatching of winless Indianapolis. The undermanned Colts are trying hard but there are too many holes in the defense, not to mention the absence of future Hall-of-Famer Peyton Manning.
RAVENS 24 JAGUARS 9
Baltimore is 4-1 this season with its four victories coming by 15 points or more. The Ravens appear to be the second-best team in the AFC behind Bill Belichick's New England Patriots.
Week 6
PACKERS 34 RAMS 20
Green Bay's big-play offense should excel on the fast track at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. Aaron Rodgers is not only the most talented quarterback in the NFL but he's also the hottest. St. Louis counterpart Sam Bradford is saddled with a winless team sporting a weak offensive line and a suspect defense. The Rams have been outscored 113-46 through their first four games.
STEELERS 31 JAGUARS 13
"Big Ben" Roethlisberger threw five touchdown passes last week despite a noticeable limp from a sprained left foot. The Pittsburgh defense held Tennessee to three first-half points on 104 yards from 26 plays. Look for the Steelers to school the Jags before a rabid crowd at Heinz Field.
REDSKINS 21 EAGLES 20
The self-anointed Dream Team (back-up quarterback Vince Young first introduced the label) is in dire straits after losing four of its first five games. Philly leads the NFL with 15 turnovers and quarterback Michael Vick is the biggest culprit with seven interceptions and three fumbles lost.
LIONS 31 49ERS 30
Game of the week between the two biggest surprise teams in the NFC. The undefeated Lions (5-0) host the hard-trying 49ers (4-1) in a battle of two well-coached squads led by young quarterbacks on the rise. The game will be decided in the trenches as San Francisco's offensive line will face its toughest test of the season when they meet the vaunted defensive line of the Lions.
PANTHERS 23 FALCONS 20
Let's call for a mild upset here as Carolina quarterback Cam Newton has passed for more than 1600 yards through the five games of his NFL career. Carolina is only 1-4 on the season but an impressive 4-1 against the spread. Atlanta rolled over and played dead last week by allowing Green Bay to score the game's final 25 points after the Falcons held an early 14-0 lead over the defending Super Bowl champs.
BENGALS 21 COLTS 10
Cincy is 3-2 with a golden opportunity to move to 4-2 before a Week 7 bye. Winless Indianapolis is experiencing a miserable season and the misery doesn't figure to end anytime soon. Peyton Manning's absence is being felt on both sides of the football as Indy's defense could be as inept as Indy's offense.
BILLS 27 GIANTS 24
It's always difficult to analyze Giants' football because it's tough to forecast which Eli Manning will show up: the good Eli or the bad Eli. The eight-year pro threw three touchdowns last week but also threw three interceptions as the Giants lost by 11 points as a 10-point favorite against lowly Seattle. Here's the key angle: Buffalo's ball-hawking defense leads the NFL with 12 interceptions.
RAVENS 29 TEXANS 17
Baltimore is rested after a Week 5 bye. The Ravens should dismantle a short-handed Houston team missing its star wide receiver (Andre Johnson) and best defensive player (Mario Williams).
RAIDERS 26 BROWNS 16
Oakland may ride the wave of last week's emotional victory in Houston with another spirited effort this Sunday in Oakland. This is the Raiders' first game in Oakland since the passing of their legendary leader Al Davis.
PATRIOTS 38 COWBOYS 20
New England has recorded 30 or more points in 13 consecutive regular-season games. Make it 14 in a row after Sunday's home game against a Dallas team whose defense failed miserably in the biggest collapse in Cowboys' history (Dallas blew a 27-3 lead).
SAINTS 24 BUCS 20
New Orleans has won four straight since its road loss to Green Bay on the opening night of the NFL season. Drew Brees completed 32-of-45 passes for 359 yards and two touchdowns in last week's 30-27 victory over Carolina.
BEARS 23 VIKINGS 20
Chicago's run defense will be challenged as star running back Adrian Peterson comes to town after scoring three first-quarter touchdowns in a 34-10 victory over Arizona last week. Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler played well last Monday night despite performing behind one of the weakest offensive lines in the NFL.
JETS 24 DOLPHINS 17
The 2-3 Jets cannot afford to stumble against 0-4 Miami after losing last week to division rival New England and facing the 4-1 San Diego Chargers next week. If the Jets are a playoff team this season, they must show it this week in the Monday night spotlight. Mark Sanchez holds a decided edge over Miami back-up quarterback Matt Moore.
Week 5
CHIEFS 17 COLTS 13
Good spot for struggling Kansas City to build off last week's home win over Minnesota with a road victory against the winless Colts. Indy must deal with a short week after Monday night's seven-point road loss to Tampa Bay in which quarterback Curtis Painter looked average at best.
VIKINGS 27 CARDINALS 24
Time for Minnesota to play a full 60-minute game. The 0-4 Vikings have outscored their four opponents 61-16 in the first half before fading after halftime and losing by a combined score of 70-16. Leslie Frazier and Donovan McNabb desperately need a victory.
BILLS 31 EAGLES 30
Expect a shootout as Ryan Fitzpatrick and Michael Vick should excel against defensive secondaries with serious holes. Philadelphia, dubbed the "Dream Team" in the offseason, is falling far short of expectations after losing three of its first four games.
TEXANS 28 RAIDERS 21
Matt Schaub will miss wide receiver Andre Johnson (out three weeks with a hamstring injury), but the Texans sport enough weapons to expose Oakland's permissive defense.
PANTHERS 31 SAINTS 30
Upset special. Let's call for Cam Newton to perform well against Drew Brees in a divisional showdown in Charlotte. Newton has the raw ability to trade points with one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL.
JAGS 21 BENGALS 13
The Jags' defense always plays well against Cincinnati. The Bengals have scored 21 points or fewer in their last 11 meetings against Jacksonville.
TITANS 24 STEELERS 21
Credit 36-year-old quarterback Matt Hasselbeck for winning three straight games after an opening-week loss to Jacksonville. Mike Munchak's team benefits from injuries to Pittsburgh's offensive and defensive leaders Ben Roethlisberger and James Harrison. Roethlisberger will play with an injured foot while Harrison is out with a fractured orbital bone.
GIANTS 31 SEAHAWKS 17
Seattle's last five losses have come by margins of 14 points or more. The Giants are winning games behind their overachieving quarterback Eli Manning who is playing well without his full arsenal of offensive weapons.
49ERS 17 BUCS 13
Look for San Francisco to build off its 3-1 start behind enthusiastic head coach Jim Harbaugh. Tampa Bay, the youngest team in the NFL, has a tough assignment traversing coast to coast after a Monday night game.
PATRIOTS 31 JETS 20
Play against New England at your own risk. The Pats have scored 30 or more points in 13 regular season contests. Belichick over Ryan. Brady over Sanchez.
BRONCOS 21 CHARGERS 20
Never trust a Norv Turner team on the road. San Diego is not as good as its 3-1 record would indicate.
PACKERS 34 FALCONS 28
Hard to believe the defending Super Bowl champions are better than they were last season. Aaron Rodgers threw for a career-best 408 yards last week and should put up huge numbers indoors against a suspect Atlanta defense.
LIONS 31 BEARS 17
First Monday night game in Detroit since 2001. Ford Field will be rocking in support of the 4-0 Lions. The loud environment will pose problems for Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler and his struggling offensive line. The lethal combination of Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson has connected for eight touchdowns over the first four games of the season.
Week 4
LIONS 27 COWBOYS 24
Detroit is the best story in the NFC starting 3-0 for the first time since 1980. The Lions haven't made the playoffs since 1999, but a win at Dallas would set up a huge Monday night home game in Week 5 against the Chicago Bears. Young Matthew Stafford should lead his team past the hobbled Tony Romo and the Cowboys, a team faced with a short week after a narrow victory over Washington last Monday night.
SAINTS 28 JAGUARS 27
Look for Jacksonville to stay competitive against a New Orleans team searching for a defensive identity. Young quarterback Blaine Gabbert makes his home debut in Jacksonville after the Missouri product lost his first NFL start in Charlotte against fellow rookie Cam Newton. The Saints barely survive this road test.
EAGLES 23 49ERS 17
Michael Vick is expected to start Sunday after injuring his right hand in a 29-16 home loss to the New York Giants. San Francisco won last week in Cincinnati despite failing to cross midfield until midway through the third quarter.
REDSKINS 19 RAMS 14
St. Louis is 0-3 after a promising 4-0 preseason mark. Sam Bradford was running for his life last week (five sacks) against a Baltimore defense that stuffed the run and attacked the passer. Washington posts a road victory.
BROWNS 23 TITANS 20
One of these surprise teams will start the season 3-1. Cleveland won last week without star running back Peyton Hillis (strep throat). He should return this week against a Tennessee team missing star wide receiver Kenny Britt (right knee injury).
BILLS 31 BENGALS 17
Like Detroit in the NFC, the 3-0 Bills are the early-season story of the AFC. The opportunistic Bills last week scored 24 points off four uncharacteristic turnovers by New England in a come-from-behind, character-building 34-31 win over the Patriots.
CHIEFS 21 VIKINGS 18
Let's side with the home team as the lesser of two evils. Minnesota has been outscored 67-6 after halftime of its first three games. Kansas City tried hard last week in a respectable three-point loss at San Diego.
BEARS 27 PANTHERS 20
Cam Newton faces a difficult task on the road against a tough, physical defense led by Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. The Bears are desperate for a victory after losing a divisional home game to the rival Packers last Sunday.
TEXANS 17 STEELERS 16
Houston has been ineffective inside the red zone this season with only five touchdowns from 15 trips inside the opponents' 20-yard line. The Texans should post a road victory at home, but the margin will be smaller than the betting marketplace expects.
FALCONS 29 SEAHAWKS 21
Seattle exits a satisfying win and Atlanta enters off a narrow loss, a scenario which should benefit the hungry Falcons. Matt Ryan owns a significant edge over counterpart Tarvaris Jackson whose job status in Seattle will be an issue all season long.
GIANTS 27 CARDINALS 21
New York posted a huge road win last week in Philly which snapped a six-game losing streak to the Eagles. The Giants should feed off the momentum of last week's win for their game in Glendale this Sunday.
CHARGERS 24 DOLPHINS 23
San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers has thrown two interceptions in each of his team's first three games. The Dolphins are a desperate crew after starting the season 0-3 following back-to-back 7-9 seasons. Both coaches (Norv Turner and Tony Sparano) need to make the postseason to maintain their jobs in the NFL.
PACKERS 31 BRONCOS 17
Green Bay started the year from where it left off last season. The Super Bowl champs are clearly the best team in the league and they're even better than last year's championship edition with the return of injured stars Ryan Grant and tight end extraordinaire Jermichael Finley.
PATRIOTS 44 RAIDERS 24
Oakland will struggle to keep pace with New England's high-powered offense. Look for the entry of Belichick and Brady to be in an angry mood following last week's mistake-filled loss in Buffalo.
RAVENS 27 JETS 13
Baltimore's best game is really good. Joe Flacco performed brilliantly last week as Baltimore piled up 553 total yards in a 37-7 romp over St. Louis.
BUCS 34 COLTS 10
Credit the Colts for a gutty effort last Sunday night in a three-point loss to the Steelers. It's highly doubtful the undermanned Colts can rally for another strong outing following the physical game against Pittsburgh. Tampa Bay, behind rising star Josh Freeman, figures to win by double digits.
Week 3
49ERS 21 BENGALS 20
San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith owns an experience edge over Cincinnati rookie Andy Dalton in a meeting of former Mountain West quarterbacks. Niners outplayed the Cowboys in most areas of the game last week only to lose in overtime, 27-24.
PATRIOTS 30 BILLS 20
New England looks to score 30 or more points in its eleventh straight regular-season game. The Pats should accomplish the feat against a permissive Buffalo defense.
SAINTS 35 TEXANS 31
Look for New Orleans to start a long winning streak after losing its Week 1 assignment against the defending Super Bowl champions. The Texans are clearly the team to beat in the AFC South and they're likely to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, but this is a tough spot for Houston.
EAGLES 24 GIANTS 17
With or without Vick, the Eagles should defend their home field with a defense that will improve as the season progresses. Vince Young and Mike Kafka are capable replacements for the concussed Vick.
DOLPHINS 17 BROWNS 14
Desperate game for the 0-2 Dolphins because Miami's three division opponents (New England, New York Jets and Buffalo) started the season a combined 6-0. Miami takes a class drop here after facing New England and Houston in Weeks 1 and 2.
TITANS 28 BRONCOS 17
Tennessee veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will be fueled with confidence after leading his new team to a 26-13 win last week over Baltimore. Denver looks average at best.
LIONS 34 VIKINGS 17
Detroit has not won a game in Minneapolis since 1997. Time to exorcise the demons this Sunday as the emerging Lions, led offensively by Matthew Stafford and spearheaded defensively by Ndamukong Suh, look to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
JAGUARS 27 PANTHERS 24
Let's call for a mild upset in a match-up of rookie quarterbacks, Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton. Jacksonville owns the slightly better defense and the Jags have a legitimate chance to win a road game this Sunday.
CHARGERS 35 CHIEFS 21
Looks like a free Bingo square for San Diego this week as the banged-up Chiefs visit Qualcomm Stadium. Kansas City lost its best defensive player (Eric Berry) in Week 1 and its best offensive player (Jamaal Charles) in Week 2.
JETS 19 RAIDERS 16
Slight edge to the road team. Mark Sanchez returns to the West Coast where he starred collegiately at USC. Oakland head coach Hue Jackson is not the answer to revitalize a moribund Raiders' franchise.
RAVENS 24 RAMS 20
Baltimore should be in an angry mood following a listless effort last week in Nashville. St. Louis running back Steven Jackson may return to the lineup, but Baltimore's physical defense will present a challenge for the veteran running back.
BUCS 28 FALCONS 24
Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman is 14-12 in 26 NFL starts with eight of his 14 victories featuring fourth-quarter comebacks. Atlanta exerted a lot of energy in its Sunday night victory over Philadelphia.
SEAHAWKS 24 ARIZONA 23
The Seahawks play well at home and Tarvaris Jackson should find some open receivers against a rebuilt Arizona secondary.
PACKERS 31 BEARS 21
Green Bay is the class of the NFC and the Packers will be ready for this important divisional showdown. Chicago's inability to protect Jay Cutler will manifest itself against the Packers' blitzing style.
STEELERS 27 COLTS 7
Pittsburgh rebounded from its Week 1 loss to the Ravens with a dominating 24-0 victory over Seattle. Look for Indy to struggle against a Steelers' defense gunning for their second straight shutout.
COWBOYS 24 REDSKINS 20
Hard to trust the re-emergence of Washington quarterback Rex Grossman, who has led the Redskins to a surprising 2-0 start. Look for the Dallas defense to be the best unit on the field, hoping to account for the possible absence of injured quarterback Tony Romo.
Week 2
NEW ORLEANS 27 CHICAGO 21
The Bears, led by a stingy defense, easily disposed of the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 while the Saints' defense was lit up for 42 points in an eight-point loss to the Green Bay Packers. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees threw for more than 400 yards in the opening-week defeat and should perform well again with different results when playing indoors at the Louisiana Superdome.
DETROIT 31 CHIEFS 21
Matthew Stafford, age 23, is threatening to join the NFL's quarterbacking elite after his 305-yard performance in a 27-21 road victory in Week 1 against Tampa Bay. Kansas City was a no-show last week in an embarrassing 41-7 home loss to the lowly Buffalo Bills.
NEW YORK JETS 24 JACKSONVILLE 14
Both teams posted narrow victories last week with the Jets the more impressive of the two, rallying from a 24-10 deficit to defeat Dallas, 27-24.
BUFFALO 31 OAKLAND 21
Ryan Fitzpatrick is the real deal. His four touchdown passes last week against the Chiefs was no fluke. The Week 1 effort on the road should feed him the confidence to post a second straight outstanding performance while making his 2011 home debut.
WASHINGTON 23 ARIZONA 17
Rex Grossman is trying to resurrect his career in Washington and last week's 28-14 victory over division rival New York is a step in the right direction. The Redskins could emerge as the main challenger to the Eagles in the always-competitive NFC East.
BALTIMORE 30 TENNESSEE 9
No team in the NFL has more defensive stars than the Baltimore Ravens, led by future Hall-of-Famer Ray Lewis. John Harbaugh is 33-16 in three-plus years as the Ravens' head coach.
PITTSBURGH 29 SEATTLE 10
It's a rematch of Super Bowl XL. Pittsburgh became the first #6 seed to ever win a Super Bowl (Green Bay duplicated the feat last season) by defeating Seattle, 21-10, following the 2005 regular season. The game was played in Ford Field. Look for the Steelers to score again as Seattle is struggling in every phase of the game.
GREEN BAY 34 CAROLINA 21
Credit Cam Newton for his huge 422-yard passing performance in his NFL debut. But the rookie will regress when facing a Green Bay team that's likely to gain an early lead and blitz the inexperienced signal-caller.
TAMPA BAY 24 MINNESOTA 17
Look for the Bucs to gain a road victory after losing their home opener last week. Minnesota could prove to be one of the worst teams in the NFC. The Vikings recorded only 10 first downs and 187 total yards in a 24-17 loss to the Chargers last week.
INDIANAPOLIS 24 CLEVELAND 13
Not many NFL teams would have defeated the Houston Texans last week. Let's forgive Indy's poor performance and count on the Colts' record of success at home to win without the presence of their leader Peyton Manning, who recently underwent his third neck surgery over the past 19 months.
SAN FRANCISCO 21 DALLAS 16
The home underdog looks live in this spot. The 49ers' defense and special teams (Ted Ginn, Jr. with a pair of return touchdowns) played well in a 33-16 victory over Seattle, giving Jim Harbaugh a victory in his NFL coaching debut.
HOUSTON 24 MIAMI 20
The Texans are the new favorite to win the AFC South after their resounding 34-7 victory over the Colts. The Dolphins allowed Tom Brady to slice and dice their defense for 38 points and 517 passing yards.
NEW ENGLAND 34 SAN DIEGO 20
The Chargers will be hard-pressed to keep pace with a team that looks both hungry and destined for a Super Bowl appearance. This is the biggest coaching mismatch of the week with the calculating Bill Belichick owning a huge advantage over the bumbling Norv Turner.
CINCINNATI 23 DENVER 19
Let's call for a mild upset as the Broncos' quarterback situation is causing dissension in the ranks. The Bengals have two hard-nosed quarterbacks on their 53-man roster in rookie Andy Dalton and tough guy Bruce Gradkowski.
PHILADELPHIA 27 ATLANTA 23
Do not bet against Michael Vick indoors on a fast track. The Eagles are the fastest team in the NFL with running backs LeSean McCoy and Ronnie Brown and wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin joining the speedy Vick.
NEW YORK GIANTS 26 ST. LOUIS 16
The Rams lost several key contributors, including star running back Stephen Jackson (leg injury), in a 31-13 Week 1 loss to the Eagles. The Giants should play well off a division loss to Washington.
Week 1
GREEN BAY 30 NEW ORLEANS 20
A meeting of the last two Super Bowl winners is the perfect way to open the 2011 NFL season following the nasty 136-day lockout. Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers are quickly becoming the NFC's version of Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Edge goes to the defending champion Packers playing before their rabid fans at Lambeau Field.
PITTSBURGH 23 BALTIMORE 20
The Steelers lead the all-time series with the Ravens 21-12, including a perfect 3-0 mark in the postseason. A proven Ben Roethlisberger rates the advantage over an improving but inexperienced Joe Flacco.
DETROIT 31 TAMPA BAY 17
Two young teams with rising expectations. The Bucs went 10-6 last season and narrowly missed the playoffs. The Lions have won the last eight games they've played: winning their last four games last season and going a perfect 4-0 in the preseason.
ATLANTA 31 CHICAGO 14
The Bears still have issues with their offensive line. If you cannot protect the quarterback in football, you'll have problems at every level of football, especially the NFL. The coach-quarterback combination of Mike Smith and Matt Ryan towers over Lovie Smith and Jay Cutler.
KANSAS CITY 24 BUFFALO 13
The Bills cannot stop the run after allowing nine running backs last season to rush for 100 yards or more in a game. Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassell will get the start despite with a rib injury.
HOUSTON 34 INDIANAPOLIS 14
Fascinating game to handicap after it was announced Peyton Manning will not play for the Colts. Pointspread moved six points on the news of Manning's absence. Kerry Collins starts in place of the future Hall-of-Famer and he'll struggle against a hungry Houston squad.
PHILADELPHIA 28 ST. LOUIS 21
The Eagles debut their "Dream Team" indoors in St. Louis on a fast track that will promote speed demons Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson. Take the strong NFC East rep over the weak NFC West foe.
CLEVELAND 31 CINCINNATI 17
Battle of Ohio. The Pat Shurmur Era begins in Cleveland with a romping victory over state and division rival Cincinnati. Cleveland's new defensive coordinator Dick Jauron will devise a plan to confuse Cincy's rookie signal-caller Andy Dalton.
TENNESSEE 27 JACKSOVILLE 10
Two franchises in transition as Tennessee begins its season without Jeff Fisher (fired after 16 seasons) and Jacksonville starts journeyman Luke McCown at quarterback after releasing veteran David Garrard earlier this week. Give the edge to Tennessee, the team with the most electrifying player on the field in running back Chris Johnson.
NEW YORK GIANTS 14 WASHINGTON 13
Both defensive units should play well in a division game to open the new campaign. Expect an emotional ceremony to open the game as these two cities, New York and Washington, were the ones most impacted by the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
ARIZONA 33 CAROLINA 18
Kevin Kolb will outshine Cam Newton in what will be Kolb's Arizona debut and Newton's introduction to the NFL. The Panthers will do well to win three or four games this season.
SAN FRANCISCO 24 SEATTLE 20
It's time for young Alex Smith to mature into a productive NFL quarterback. Smith needs to improve on his 19-31 career mark as an NFL starter and he has a chance to do so under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, a steady presence on the sidelines who proved his worth by transforming Stanford into a perennial Pac-12 title contender.
SAN DIEGO 30 MINNESOTA 17
Look for the Chargers to display extreme focus in winning September games. The notoriously slow-starting Chargers have one of the best 53-man rosters in the NFL, but they seemingly underachieve every season. Norv Turner needs to win and win big this season or else. San Diego owns only one playoff victory over the past three seasons.
NEW YORK JETS 17 DALLAS 14
Head coach Rex Ryan goes up against his brother Rob, the new defensive coordinator of the Cowboys. The Jets have lost the last two AFC Championship Games, but quarterback Mark Sanchez is not to blame (490 yards passing and four touchdowns against only one interception).
NEW ENGLAND 37 MIAMI 13
Bet against the Patriots at your own risk. New England under Belichick has won 14 regular-season games four times and seeks its fourth Super Bowl title. The Patriots will send a message to the NFL with a romping win on Monday night.
DENVER 17 OAKLAND 14
A pair of new coaches - John Fox at Denver and Hue Jackson in Oakland - will try to lead once-proud franchises back to NFL respectability. It will not be easy. Fox looks old and tired and Jackson must come to grips that no Oakland coach has lasted more than two years over the past decade.
