Including playoffs this is the 4th straight season with a meeting between the teams. In their last meeting Green Bay went into Seattle and beat them 27-17. Green Bay had a 313-177 yard edge vs a very depleted Seattle team that started its #3 quarterback due to injuries. Seattle had a 17-3 lead when the Packers scored 24 unanswered points then allowed a garbage TD late in the 4th quarter. Green Bay QB Rodgers had 208 yards (70%) with 2 TD’s. Green Bay’s #2 rush defense which is allowing 89 yards per game (3.9 ypc) at home this year vs weak Seattle rush attack. Rodgers has averaged 269 yards per game (66%) with a 13-3 ratio at home this year and has only been sacked 6 times in the last four games prior to Pittsburgh. Seattle’s #16 pass rush has been balanced this year pulling in 12 sacks on the road but are allowing 290 yards per game (71%) with a 15-4 ratio on the road. Seattle has been outgained by 138 yards per game in the 4 games prior to Tampa Bay as their defense wears down & defenses have figured out how to expose the offensive line. Green Bay has lots to play for as they want the #5 seed, have a road trip to Arizona on deck & Seattle simply doesn’t travel well with their only road win this year being vs a St Louis team that started Boller.

Cincinnati beat Kansas City 17-7 last year as the Chiefs with a very young & beat up roster already had the cars packed & ready to go into the offseason. Cincy had a 13-0 lead, 17-2 first down & 239-50 yard edges with a beat up offense at the end of the 1st half. Cincinnati then played ball control in the 2nd half & the Chiefs scored on a 91 yd/11play drive on their final possession in garbage time. The Bengals have a massive edge with their #6 run game vs the Chiefs #28 run defense that has allowed 148 yards per game (4.5 ypc). Kansas City has a road game vs Denver on deck while Cincinnati finds itself in a potentially meaningful game next week vs the Jets to find out if they are the #3 or #4 seed. The Bengals have topped 23 points only once in 13 games but their defense is one of the best.

This game means a lot to both as Houston players want to keep Kubiak & the Dolphins may have an outside shot at the playoffs. This is the 4th meeting between the teams & last year Houston beat the Dolphins 29-28 at home. Houston did overcame 4 turnovers in the game with a 485-370 yard edge as Schaub ran for the game winning TD on 4th & goal with :07 left. Houston rebounded from a devastating 4 game losing streak and beat Seattle 2 weeks ago. Remember this team has been 8-8 each of the last 2 seasons and still plays hard down the stretch winning 5 of 7.

Earlier this season New Orleans was +4 in turnovers which led to a 38-7 Saints win as they finished with a 370-219 yard edge. Tampa is clearly looking ahead to next season going with rookie Freeman at QB while also making a Defensive Coordinator change and Head Coach Morris taking over those duties. Freeman will now be making his 7th start but despite allowing him to throw more he’s struggled reading defense and is completing just 52% in the 1st half of games completing many throws late with teams in prevent. The QB problems have directly correlated to the scoreboard as they averaged just 8 points per game the last four weeks. With New Orleans off of the Dallas loss and having a road game at Carolina on deck (lost both to Panthers last year) this should be closer than the first meeting but the Saints will still win comfortably as they lock up home field advantage.

The Steelers got a last second win last week and are still fighting for their playoff lives. Baltimore is off back to back home wins but taking to the division road is another matter. If you look at the Ravens other 2 division road games this year they gained only 274 yards & 14 FD’s in Cleveland while gaining 215 yards & 16 FD’s in Cincinnati. I’ll call for the Steelers to win by a field goal to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The Cardinals keep appearing as the team no one wants to face as their defense continues to improve especially in stopping the run. The Cardinals are off a 2 game road trip and have wrapped up the division but WR Fitzgerald has vowed that they would be more focused than last year where the Cardinals lost to Minnesota & New England by a combined 82-21 in weeks 15 & 16. St Louis was mauled two weeks ago at Tennessee losing 47-7 and have lost 6 straight. The Rams went to Keith Null at QB and may be looking at him here to see if he is a potential backup QB. That would spell trouble against a Cardinals defense that has had at least 3 sacks in 5 straight games & has had 4 or more sacks in 6 games this year. In the last four games the Cardinals have had 100+ yard rushing they are averaging 436 yards per game and they will be able to run over a Rams defense that has allowed 161 yards per game the last 8 weeks. Earlier this year Arizona finished with a 444-314 yard edge against the Rams and get the big win here.

Congrats to the Colts as they now hold the record for consecutive wins. Head Coach Caldwell has said the Colts will go for the 16-0 record but will start sitting players if injuries do start to occur. The Jets were on a 3 game win streak before the disappointing loss to Atlanta last week at home. The Jets defense has stepped up the blitzing & in an impressive 3 game stretch they held Carolina, Buffalo & Tampa Bay to 8 points per game, 9 first down/game & only 165 yards per game. It doesn’t matter who is playing QB with that type of defensive production. RB Thomas Jones continues to gel with his OL and over the last 8 games he’s averaging 112 yards per game & 4.7 yards per carry getting at least 21 carries in every game. Solid defense & a power rush attack will keep you in every game especially in December but the Colts keep the undefeated season alive.