Pigskin Prognostications, Week Fifteen

The weather'll be icy in town this evening, and we might/might not have power, and that information...has nothing whatsoever to do with the following information.

Saints 27, Bears 21 - Brees and Bush beat the Bears on a blustery day in the beltway.

Falcons 21, Buccaneers 20 - Tampa Bay trounced Atlanta the last time they played, but that was way back in week two, and Matt Ryan has considerably improved his game, and after Buc D got ran over by Carolina--and with a short week of preparation (and rest)--I'm not sure if they'll be ready for another steamrolling effort by another great running team.

Redskins 20, Bengals 10 - You know, even though this is just his first year, Zorn quite possibly could lose his job at the end of the season if Washington loses this one. They shouldn't, but they're more beat up than Cincinnatti is, and the Redskins' D has been non-existant the past three weeks, and there's been internal strife, and...oh, shoot, who am I kidding? It's the Bengals!

Titans 28, Texans 20 - Houston has been playing good, solid ball as of late, but I don't think they'll have enough D to stop Tennessee.

Packers 31, Jaguars 13 - Green Bay is pretty much out of the playoffs, but I don't believe that'll stop Rodgers desire to prove that his team didn't make a mistake in choosing him, and I don't think Jacksonville's got the talent or moxie on D to stop Rodgers.

Dolphins 14, 49ers 13- If San Fran were playing this one at home, I'd tilt the game their way...and it still might tilt that way, anyway, as they've been playing inspired football as of late.

Seahawks 24, Rams 13 - Senaca Wallace could be auditioning, ya know?

Jets 30, Bills 9 - The Jets bounce back in a big way this week, as the Bills have been playing sloppy, near-emotionless football.

Chargers 35, Chiefs 31 - San Diego's still holding out hope that Denver will slip up just once, so that the Broncos will only be one game up when the two teams face each other the last week of the season. And since San Diego won the first game....

Colts 30, Lions 12 - This smells like a trap game, but with the playoffs on the line, I don't believe Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy will take their feet off the gas just yet; in fact, I expect them to come out throwing, relentless no-huddling, and not take a breath till their three TDs up.

Cardinals 27, Vikings 24 - This one could very easily lean the other way, 'cause Minnesota's D has been playing great lately, and Arizona can't run the ball, but...who's throwing the ball for the Vikings this week? Uh-huh.

Steelers, Ravens - The top two run-stuffing defenses in the league cancel each other out, and then it's Flacco vs. Big Ben, and I believe--as well as Flacco's been playing--that Big Ben's bravado will see him through to V.

Panthers 31, Broncos 21 - Back when Denver played Atlanta a few weeks ago, I predicted the Falcons would win, and I was wrong, 'cause Denver finally found a running game, and their D crowded the line, forcing the Falcons to pass more than they wanted to. I think they'll use a similar defensive philosphy this week, trying to force Delhomme to beat them, but--as good as Roddy White is--Atlanta didn't have a receiver with the talent of Steve Smith, and...Denver's newly-found star running back is out for the year, so....

Patriots 17, Raiders 8 - Wow...Cassell might not be behind center this week. If that's the case, then Oakland should be favored to win. I know I'd pick 'em. I figure, though, that Cassell'll make it back (his father recently passed away) in time for the game, so this pick is based on that assumption.

Cowboys 24, Giants 21- Yeah, the Giants may have the better team, but the Cowboys--after last week's choke job--will be more motivated than ever this week, and they're playing in Dallas.

Eagles 26, Browns 11 - Eagles are playing the league's best football right now, and the Browns...are not.