Two hottest quarterbacks in the game (above)
Last week:4-6; Overall: 59-43 (58%)
Cleveland Browns ((6-4) @ Atlanta Falcons (4-6)
Georgia Dome (71,228)
Noon CT/1 PM ET on CBS
Falcons by 3
The Falcons have won two in a row. The Browns lost a tough one at home to the Texans last week. Like Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Roddy White to get it done here.
Falcons 31, Browns 27
Tennessee Titans (2-8) @ Philadelphia Eagles (7-3)
Lincoln Financial Field, Philly (69,176)
Noon CT/ 1 PM ET on CBS
Eagles by 11
Wow, that’s a big point spread, but the Titans are really struggling. Mark Sanchez came back to Earth last week as the Packers blasted the Eagles, but I see the Eagles blasting the Titans here.
Eagles 42, Titans 24
Detroit Lions (7-3) @ New England Patriots (8-2)
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass. (68,756)
Noon CT/1 PM ET
FOX, Joe, Troy, EA
Patriots by 7
If the Patriots weren’t unstoppable enough with Brady, Gronk and the passing game, now they have Jonas Gray running the ball. Gray scorched Indy for 201 yards and four TDs last Sunday night. Patriots keep rolling and are looking pretty primed for Super Bowl 49 in Glendale, Arizona on Feb. 1, 2015.
Patriots 35, Lions 27
Green Bay Packers (7-3) @ Minnesota Vikings (4-6)
TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis (50, 805)
Noon CT/ 1 PM ET
FOX
Packers b 8 1/2
The Packers are another team looking Super Bowl worthy. ARodg is going off and the defense and special teams accounted for three touchdowns last Sunday in a 53-20 blasting of the Eagles. The Packers offense is just too much for Teddy Bridgewater and the Vikings to keep up with.
Packers 41, Vikings 28
Cincinnati Bengals (6-3-1) @ Houston Texans (5-5)
NRG Stadium, Houston (71,054)
Noon CT/1 PM ET
CBS
Texans by 1 1/2
Ryan Mallett looks like he could be the answer right now for the Texans. I’ve always liked Mallett as a quarterback. He can be a pretty good NFL quarterback. If he can’t get it done for the Texans today, then J.J. Watt will somehow.
Texans 28, Bengals 24
Tampa Bay Bucs (2-8) @ Chicago Bears (4-6)
Soldier Field (61,500)
Noon CT/ 1 PM ET
FOX
Bears by 6
The pressure is on every week now for Jay Cutler and the Bears. Hopefully, Jay can get Chicago fans and the media off his back for another week. Lovie Smith has a homecoming in Chicago.
Bears 34, Bucs 31
Arizona Cardinals (9-1) @ Seattle Seahawks (6-4)
CenturyLink Field (67,000)
3:05 PM CT/4:05 PM ET
FOX
Seahawks by 7
The Cardinals are the best story in the NFL this season and they are legitimate. But at Seattle, with that crowd, it’s too much to ask of them. I see them very much with deep postseason possibilities, but Russell Wilson and the Seahawks will protect their home turf and start making their own run today.
Seahawks 30, Zona 21
Washington Redskins (3-7) @ San Francisco 49ers (6-4)
Levi’s Stadiun, Santa Clara, Caly (68,500)
3:25 PM CT/4:25 PM ET on CBS
Niners by 7
Like Colin Kaepernick and a still solid 49ers defense, which is getting healthy again, to stop the reeling RG III and the Skins.
49ers 31, Redskins 23
Sunday Night Football
Cowboys (7-3) @ Giants (3-7)
MetLIfe Stadium, East Rutherford, Jersey (82,500)
7:30 PM CT/8:30 PM ET
NBC, Al, Cris, Michelle
Cowboys by 4
Can Tony Romo and the Cowboys keep the momentum going? Romo had a bye week to get his back healthier. It’s been a struggle for Eli and the Giants, but I’m going with them to pull off the upset tonight.
Giants 31, Cowboys 30
Monday Night Football
Baltimore Ravens (6-4) @ New Orleans Saints (4-6)
Mercedes-Benz Superdome (72,003)
7:30 PM CT/8:30 PM ET
ESPN, Tirico, Gruden, Lisa
Saints by 3
The Saints have to win tomorrow night. They’ve lost two straight at home after winning 20 in a row at the friendly confines of the Superdome. Drew and company have got to get some momentum going if they want to be even a part of the postseason. I think they get it done tomorrow night over Flacco and the Ravens.
Saints 34, Ravens 30
My Final Four this week as we head into a huge rivalry week with massive playoff implications:
1. Alabama
Has done nothing to prove otherwise. Could be some injury concerns heading into the Iron Bowl, but most of the players will be available, if not all of them. Auburn next Saturday night at 6:45 PM CT/7:45 PM ET on ESPN.
2. Oregon
Marcus Mariota makes one of his final Heisman statements in a tricky game for the Ducks next Saturday in Corvallis against rival Oregon State. Oregon State knocked off Arizona State at home last week, so Oregon is in for a tussle. The Ducks have to survive this one to stay in the playoff mix.
3. Mississippi State
State overtakes Florida State with a blasting of Vandy at home. My brother in law, who is a Mississippi native, got on me for not putting State in my top four last week. He was right. State belongs in the playoff right now with a huge one against Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl coming up next Saturday in Oxford at 2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET on CBS.
4. Florida State
Just getting by, but getting by nonetheless. Have the Gators next Saturday @ 2:30 PM CT/3:30 PM ET on ESPN. If they get by the Gators, they’ll play Georgia Tech in the ACC title game with a chance to compete for another national title with a victory in that game.
