Pigskin Prognostications, Week Fourteen

Hate Thursday night games. Especially when they're between San Diego and Oakland. Ugh.

Chargers 24, Raiders 13 - If the Chargers don't win tonight, then San Diego coach Norv Turner's future there is probably sealed. Oakland? Who knows. Their defense--especially their secondary--will play well, but their offense? San Diego's D--now that Ron Rivera is coordinating--is playing much better, attacking more than reacting, and I think that improvement will make the difference in this one, which has the potential to be a low-scoring affair.

Bears 27, Jacguars 13 - Jacksonville's D isn't Minnesota's; Chicago goes on a rampage.

Vikings 24, Lions 10 - If the Williamses don't play, then this game could be this close. Maybe.

Falcons 28, Saints 27 - Those wacky NFC South teams! They just have so much fun playing together.

Giants 27, Eagles 18 - The last meeting between these two was much closer than the final score indicated, and McNabb looked great last week, and the Giants and Plaxico Burress (What do you mean I dropped the gun? Someone must have thrown it to the wrong shoulder) have had turmoil this week, but...have you seen the Giants run the ball, and how confident Eli is when they do so (well)? Yeah? Me, too.

Colts 31, Bengals 12 - Will Cincinnatti win another game this year? Maybe...but not this one, as the Colts are playing the hard-nosed football they learned how to play two years ago.

Packers 24, Texans 21- Both teams have displayed improved, uh, play, but...actually, the Texans could win this one. I don't think they will, but they could.

Titans 30, Browns 3- Who's the QB for Cleveland this week? Ken Dorsey? Really? Poor, poor pitiful Cleveland.

Jets 22, 49ers 10- If the 49ers play this week in the same fierce manner they did last week, they'll have a chance.

Patriots 27, Seahawks 13 - The Pats are playing for playoff position (and a chance at a division title), the Seahawks are playing for...pride. The Pats are more talented, anyway, all across the board.

Broncos 34, Chiefs 20- I've grown to be a Chiefs fan this season, but even I know they can't topple Denver if the Broncos play as well as they did last week.

Miami 17, Buffalo 9 - Buffalo's play has been up-and-down the past five weeks, but Edwards is out, so guess which way it goes this week?

Cardinals 31, Rams 10- St. Louis has been playing much better, but can do they have what it takes to stop Warner's air show? The moxie maybe, but not the talent.

Steelers 24, Cowboys 20- Growing up, I was a huge Dallas Cowboys fan (as I had to be, 'cause back then, network TV in our area showed every Saints game and every Cowboys game, and back in the '70s, it hurt to watch the Saints get beat that badly every week), and the three teams I hated the most--from the '70s to the '80s--were the Redskins, the 49ers, and the Steelers. Since this game should be a close, exciting game, and I'm not really sure who will win, then I should just pick Dallas for old time's sake...but I'm not a Dallas fan anymore, as T.O.'s antics (as well as Pacman Jones's) have completely soured me on my love for the team. Anyway, Pittsburgh's secondary is better, so, there you go.

Ravens 21, Redskins 14 - Baltimore's improved over the past few weeks, while Washington has slumped.

Tampa Bay 20, Carolina 18- The NFC South is the wackiest league in football when they play against each other. Like Chuck Berry sang, it just goes to show you never can tell.