Huge Week 16 coming up in the NFL. In fact, it's already started. The 2-12 Jaguars beat the 2-12 Titans to get the week off to a modest start Thursday (does anyone watch these Thursday games?), but Saturday, Washington shocked Philadelphia and snapped a six-game losing streak with a 27-24 win against the Eagles. Because of the Philly loss, if Dallas beats Indianapolis on Sunday, it clinches the NFC East. In the night game, the Chargers, needing a win to stay in the AFC wild-card race, stormed back in the fourth quarter down 35-21 against the Niners to tie it up and then escape the bay area with a victory, 38-35, in overtime.
Season: 37-29; last week: 5-3
Falcons (5-9) at Saints (6-8), 1 p.m. FOX
This game doesn't look like a marquee Week 16 NFL matchup, but because of the state of the NFC South this season, it is. New Orleans wins the division with a win vs. Atlanta and a win next week. The Falcons already beat New Orleans once, though, so winning out for the Falcons would also give them the division. The Panthers at 5-8-1 are also still in it, but they must win out (which includes a game vs. Atlanta next week) and have Atlanta win this game. In the New Orleans, I'll take the Saints in a close contest. The Falcons won 37-34 in Atlanta.
Saints 34, Falcons 31
Chiefs (8-6) at Steelers (9-5), 1 p.m. CBS
Pittsburgh is getting it going a little bit these past two weeks, winning road games at Atlanta and at Cincinnati. It is still a half-game back in the NFC North of the Bengals, but the Steelers play them next week in Pittsburgh. With a win already over their rivals, they have the inside track to the division if they win out. In their way first, though, is a desperate Chiefs team that must win to have a chance in the wild-card race. I like the Steelers.
Steelers 28, Chiefs 21
Seahawks (10-4) at Cardinals (11-3), 8:30 p.m. NBC
Arizona has already clinched a playoff berth and can do the same with the division with a win over Seattle at home. The Seahawks already defeated the Cardinals in Seattle a few weeks ago and need to win to stay alive for the division and to also keep pace in the wild-card race, where they are battling with the Eagles, Cowboys, Packers, and Lions. Cardinals QB Drew Stanton injured himself last week and now Arizona turns to Ryan Lindley under. Throughout this year, I have gained a ton of respect for the tough-nosed Cardinals. I just don't think they are going to score much, though, against this vaunted Seahawks defense, which has given up a total of 27 points the past four weeks. I don't think Seattle will score a lot, either, but I think it will be enough.
Seahawks 13, Cardinals 7
Broncos (11-3) at Bengals (9-4-1), 8:30 p.m. Monday night ESPN
Denver has been shaky the past few weeks but has gotten victories in four straight games since being stunned at St. Louis. Cincinnati has been good against decent teams this year, but has mostly struggled against great teams, with losses to New England, Indianapolis, and also bad losses to the Browns and at home against the Steelers. Peyton Manning and Co. should get it done, but the Bengals defense might be able to keep it in the game.
Broncos 27, Bengals 20
Colts (10-4) at Cowboys (10-4), 4:25 p.m. CBS
Well, the unthinkable happened, and the Redskins upset the Eagles, handing Dallas a chance to clinch the division and a playoff spot with a win against a tough Indianapolis team. The Redskins' victory in October against the Cowboys has haunted Dallas all year, so the fact that the 'Skins have now helped out the Cowboys is fitting. Can the Cowboys take advantage?
Critics like to point out that the Cowboys have not been good at home, and that is true. But let's take a look at those home performances. In Week 1, Dallas lost to the 49ers, who at that point were looked upon as a contender for perhaps a Super Bowl title. San Fran's defense is good and Tony Romo was rusty that week, as he did not play in the preseason. Dallas' defense was actually quite solid, giving up only 21 offensive points, with seven of those being from about the goal line after a Dallas turnover. In Week 4, the Cowboys played quite well in dispatching the Saints, 34-17. In Week 5, Dallas played well enough to top the Texans in OT. In Week 7, Dallas beat the Giants by 10. At his point, Dallas was playing quite well at AT&T Stadium, but things went downhill from there. First, Washington came in and stunned Dallas on Monday night. But hey, it was a rivalry game, DeMarco Murray fumbled away a key chance for the Cowboys to go up 14-3, and Tony Romo got hurt, helping the Redskins get the 20-17 upset in OT. The next week, Dallas was at home vs. a tough Cardinals
defense with Brandon Weeden under center, Arizona took advantage and won. Finally, on Thanksgiving, Dallas wasn't ready for Philly's up-tempo offense with only a few days to prepare and Romo, for some reason, did not get a pain-killing shot before the game despite a short week. Dallas' defense and offense suffered as the Eagles won in a blowout.
I think this week is different than those last few weeks at home, though. Romo is healthy. Dallas has had a full week to prepare for the Colts. And Indy is not desperate for a win as it has already clinched a playoff spot and the AFC South. Sure, it could move up in seeding but that would be difficult with the Patriots and Broncos a game up in the win column. Also, both teams own head-to-head tiebreakers over the Colts. All of these factors should help the Cowboys.
Obviously, the defense does have its work cut out for it against Andrew Luck and the NFL's No. 1 passing offense, but Indy's top two WRs, T.Y. Hilton and Reggie Wayne, are banged up. Indy does not have the best rushing defense and Dallas will look to take advantage. That could be harder if Murray and linemen Zack Martin and Doug Free don't play. It looks as if Murray will play after breaking a bone in his left hand at the Eagles. It seems likely, though, he could be limited and Lance Dunbar and Joseph Randle will see more work. Neither Martin nor Free have practiced this week. They hurt their ankles against the Eagles. Free left the game early but Martin continued to play. I think it would be a bigger loss if neither of them play than for Murray to sit out. I respect Murray and he is a great back, hut I think the line is what has made the Cowboys' offense go this season. So hopefully at least one of them plays and Murray doesn't have any huge screwups because of his hurt hand (fumbles, poor blitz pickup). With the motivation of a division title hanging in the balance, I think the Cowboys will make enough plays and clinch the title -- at home no less.
Cowboys 27, Colts 24
Season: 37-29; last week: 5-3
Falcons (5-9) at Saints (6-8), 1 p.m. FOX
This game doesn't look like a marquee Week 16 NFL matchup, but because of the state of the NFC South this season, it is. New Orleans wins the division with a win vs. Atlanta and a win next week. The Falcons already beat New Orleans once, though, so winning out for the Falcons would also give them the division. The Panthers at 5-8-1 are also still in it, but they must win out (which includes a game vs. Atlanta next week) and have Atlanta win this game. In the New Orleans, I'll take the Saints in a close contest. The Falcons won 37-34 in Atlanta.
Saints 34, Falcons 31
Chiefs (8-6) at Steelers (9-5), 1 p.m. CBS
Pittsburgh is getting it going a little bit these past two weeks, winning road games at Atlanta and at Cincinnati. It is still a half-game back in the NFC North of the Bengals, but the Steelers play them next week in Pittsburgh. With a win already over their rivals, they have the inside track to the division if they win out. In their way first, though, is a desperate Chiefs team that must win to have a chance in the wild-card race. I like the Steelers.
Steelers 28, Chiefs 21
Seahawks (10-4) at Cardinals (11-3), 8:30 p.m. NBC
Arizona has already clinched a playoff berth and can do the same with the division with a win over Seattle at home. The Seahawks already defeated the Cardinals in Seattle a few weeks ago and need to win to stay alive for the division and to also keep pace in the wild-card race, where they are battling with the Eagles, Cowboys, Packers, and Lions. Cardinals QB Drew Stanton injured himself last week and now Arizona turns to Ryan Lindley under. Throughout this year, I have gained a ton of respect for the tough-nosed Cardinals. I just don't think they are going to score much, though, against this vaunted Seahawks defense, which has given up a total of 27 points the past four weeks. I don't think Seattle will score a lot, either, but I think it will be enough.
Seahawks 13, Cardinals 7
Broncos (11-3) at Bengals (9-4-1), 8:30 p.m. Monday night ESPN
Denver has been shaky the past few weeks but has gotten victories in four straight games since being stunned at St. Louis. Cincinnati has been good against decent teams this year, but has mostly struggled against great teams, with losses to New England, Indianapolis, and also bad losses to the Browns and at home against the Steelers. Peyton Manning and Co. should get it done, but the Bengals defense might be able to keep it in the game.
Broncos 27, Bengals 20
Colts (10-4) at Cowboys (10-4), 4:25 p.m. CBS
Well, the unthinkable happened, and the Redskins upset the Eagles, handing Dallas a chance to clinch the division and a playoff spot with a win against a tough Indianapolis team. The Redskins' victory in October against the Cowboys has haunted Dallas all year, so the fact that the 'Skins have now helped out the Cowboys is fitting. Can the Cowboys take advantage?
Critics like to point out that the Cowboys have not been good at home, and that is true. But let's take a look at those home performances. In Week 1, Dallas lost to the 49ers, who at that point were looked upon as a contender for perhaps a Super Bowl title. San Fran's defense is good and Tony Romo was rusty that week, as he did not play in the preseason. Dallas' defense was actually quite solid, giving up only 21 offensive points, with seven of those being from about the goal line after a Dallas turnover. In Week 4, the Cowboys played quite well in dispatching the Saints, 34-17. In Week 5, Dallas played well enough to top the Texans in OT. In Week 7, Dallas beat the Giants by 10. At his point, Dallas was playing quite well at AT&T Stadium, but things went downhill from there. First, Washington came in and stunned Dallas on Monday night. But hey, it was a rivalry game, DeMarco Murray fumbled away a key chance for the Cowboys to go up 14-3, and Tony Romo got hurt, helping the Redskins get the 20-17 upset in OT. The next week, Dallas was at home vs. a tough Cardinals
I think this week is different than those last few weeks at home, though. Romo is healthy. Dallas has had a full week to prepare for the Colts. And Indy is not desperate for a win as it has already clinched a playoff spot and the AFC South. Sure, it could move up in seeding but that would be difficult with the Patriots and Broncos a game up in the win column. Also, both teams own head-to-head tiebreakers over the Colts. All of these factors should help the Cowboys.
Obviously, the defense does have its work cut out for it against Andrew Luck and the NFL's No. 1 passing offense, but Indy's top two WRs, T.Y. Hilton and Reggie Wayne, are banged up. Indy does not have the best rushing defense and Dallas will look to take advantage. That could be harder if Murray and linemen Zack Martin and Doug Free don't play. It looks as if Murray will play after breaking a bone in his left hand at the Eagles. It seems likely, though, he could be limited and Lance Dunbar and Joseph Randle will see more work. Neither Martin nor Free have practiced this week. They hurt their ankles against the Eagles. Free left the game early but Martin continued to play. I think it would be a bigger loss if neither of them play than for Murray to sit out. I respect Murray and he is a great back, hut I think the line is what has made the Cowboys' offense go this season. So hopefully at least one of them plays and Murray doesn't have any huge screwups because of his hurt hand (fumbles, poor blitz pickup). With the motivation of a division title hanging in the balance, I think the Cowboys will make enough plays and clinch the title -- at home no less.
Cowboys 27, Colts 24
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