We've gotten to that point in the NFL season where we know which teams are really good, which teams are really bad, and which teams fall somewhere in the middle. But those categories, of course, are very fluid. I have a feeling my thoughts about some teams are going to change from week-to-week. Take Cleveland and Atlanta, for example. The Browns were written off by everyone. Now they've won three straight and could easily make it four in a row this week. Atlanta, meanwhile, was a preseason Super Bowl pick by some (this guy), but the Falcons have only won one game this season, lost to the Jets on Monday, and are seeing their best players drop like flies. They certainly don't look like a playoff team.
This week gives us some really good marquee games that'll tell us where the participants stand. And then there's Denver-Jacksonville...
Bengals (3-2) at Bills (2-3): Cincinnati-Cincinnati finally got its signature win, holding the Patriots to six points and ending Tom Brady's touchdown pass streak last week. I'm starting to come around with those who think the Bengals have a shot to win the AFC North. They need a road win, though. Since remember, their previous game before beating New England was a loss in Cleveland. If they lose in Buffalo, we'll go back to thinking they aren't for real. The Bengals have to back up that victory over the Patriots with one over the Bills.
Lions (3-2) at Browns (3-2): Cleveland-Believe it or not, both of these teams are tied for first place in their division. As incredible as it sounds, it seems like the Browns knew what they were doing. Three straight wins since the Trent Richardson trade. It hasn't been against the greatest competition, granted, but a win's a win. I think they keep it going against a Lions team that has only one road win this season...against the Redskins.
Raiders (2-3) at Chiefs (5-0): Kansas City-There are only three undefeated teams left in the NFL, and two of them play in the AFC West. Kansas City may get that "1" next week against Houston. The Raiders, however, aren't Houston. The Chiefs will be 6-0.
Panthers (1-3) at Vikings (1-3): Minnesota-Adrian Peterson is going to play despite his two-year-old son's tragic death on Friday. The Vikings are certainly going to play this game in his memory, and I'd expect Peterson to have a performance similar to the one Brett Favre had on that Monday night after his father died. Minnesota's playing a beatable team, so they were my pick this week anyway. Now they have the extra motivation to win it for their grieving best player.
Steelers (0-4) at Jets (3-2): Pittsburgh-It's been a miserable season in Pittsburgh, but at least they aren't the Jaguars. Or the Giants. I expected one of these teams to come into this game an absolute mess. I just didn't expect it to be the Steelers. The Jets have been one of the most surprising teams in the league this year. Although, much like Cleveland, it's not like they've beaten the cream of the NFL crop. The teams they've beaten have a combined three wins. That total won't change if the Jets win again. After a week off to straighten themselves out, though, I think the Steelers finally get into the win column.
Eagles (2-3) at Buccaneers (0-4): Philadelphia-The Eagles certainly have had the benefit of favorable scheduling the last two weeks. And that may be exactly what Philly needs to get back on track. The Bucs are a mess and Greg Schiano's days are numbered in Tampa. Maybe finally getting out of that situation with Josh Freeman will end up being a good thing. We're not likely to find out this week, though. Two in a row for the Eagles, who get back to .500 (and could actually move into first place) by beating two winless teams.
Packers (2-2) at Ravens (3-2): Baltimore-Along with Saints-Patriots, this is right up there in the "Game of the Week" conversation. Green Bay needed a week off, then came off its bye with its best performance of the season against the Lions. And the Ravens got the road win they badly needed in Miami to maintain that three-way tie in the AFC North. The winner of this one will be in good shape to right its season. Baltimore needs to do that a little more in a jumbled AFC playoff race.
Rams (2-3) at Texans (2-3): Houston-Show of hands who thought Houston would come into this game in third place and on a three-game losing streak. The Texans did have to run a very difficult gamut of Baltimore, Seattle, San Francisco, though. And I think it's safe to say that last week's blowout in San Francisco was rock bottom. They've got Kansas City next week, so the Texans really need a W here.
Jaguars (0-5) at Broncos (5-0): Denver-Um, yeah. The best team in the league against the worst team in the league. The big question heading into this game is whether or not the Broncos will cover that ridiculous 28-point spread. Shows how much confidence America has in Jacksonville.
Titans (3-2) at Seahawks (4-1): Seattle-Exactly what I thought would happen last week did. I finally picked Seattle in a road game, and the Seahawks promptly lost. But they're a different team at home. Regardless of the opponent. The Titans are good, but I'm not stupid enough to pick against the Seahawks in Seattle. Until they actually lose a home game (which might be against New Orleans in Week 13), I'm picking the Seahawks every time they play one.
Saints (5-0) at Patriots (4-1): New England-The last time these two played, four years ago, it was on a Monday night in New Orleans. Everybody wanted to know if the Saints (who went on to win the Super Bowl) were for real, and most thought the Patriots would knock them from the ranks of the undefeated. Four years later, New Orleans is again undefeated going into its meeting with New England. Except this time the game is in Foxboro. It would've been a battle of unbeatens if the Patriots hadn't laid an egg last weekend in Cincinnati. That could be a blessing in disguise, though. New motivation for Brady and Co. As for Brees and Co., they won't be undefeated anymore.
Cardinals (3-2) at 49ers (3-2): San Francisco-Arizona's improvement under Bruce Arians this season has been obvious. Last week's dismantling of Carolina was the greatest example of that yet. The 49ers, meanwhile, have straightened themselves out after two very bad games against Seattle and Indianapolis. While the Cardinals are better, they're not on the level of the 49ers yet. San Francisco's an elite team.
Redskins (1-3) at Cowboys (2-3): Dallas-One of the NFL's greatest rivalries takes center stage on Sunday night, as NBC gets one of its favorite matchups. It's not quite as marquee as they were probably hoping, though, since Washington's not really that good this season. Dallas is only 2-3 yet, remarkably, tied for first in what has been a very weak division so far this year. I was encouraged by that team I saw in the Game of the Year last week, though. If not for one of Tony Romo's patented costly late-game interceptions, Dallas might win that game. Washington's not Denver. Washington the Cowboys will beat.
Colts (4-1) at Chargers (2-3): Indianapolis-The Colts could easily get caught looking ahead to the Peyton Bowl, so this one's got "trap game" written all over it. Only one loss for Indy this season, though, and their previous trip to California yielded a very impressive win in San Francisco. The Chargers are always going to be that scary opponent no good team actually wants to face, and San Diego's going to impact the playoff race by beating somebody good. It won't be this week, though.
BYE: Atlanta, Miami
This Week: 1-0
Last Week: 9-5
Season: 49-29
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