Who would have thought at the start of the season that these two would be playing this game with huge playoff implications but that is the case here as both of them need a win to bolster their case. LW KC was without QB Cassel (appendix) and the Chiefs were forced to go with Brodie Croyle at the helm. Croyle was ineffective and Cassel will be a game-time decision here. The Chiefs playoff run started LW as they traveled to SD and perception met reality as SD dominated. They are now playing with added pressure as are also playing on the road for a 2nd straight and a tiring 5th time in 7 weeks. The Rams return home after a lengthy 3 game road trip incl LW as they lost to NO. QB Bradford was bothered by the Saints blitzing LW but KC has not had success away from home with only 10 sacks in their 1st 6 road games and with Cassel being a ? mark I will go with the Rams who get a key win.

IND can still win their 7th Div title in 8 years by winning out which makes this the AFC South Championship game. JAX upset IND 31-28 in the 1st meeting TY with the 8th longest FG in NFL history (59 yds). The Colts are 2-3 vs foes with a winning record TY (not inc JAX). They have a 372-313 yd edge with a 25-15 scoring edge but are -8 TO’s as Manning has pressed to make up for the depleted skill players. The Jaguars are 0-4 vs foes with a winning record TY (minus IND) losing the yardage battle in all 4. They have been outgained 409-291 in those (-9 TO’s) losing by a 33-14 avg score. The Colts expect to get WR Collie, WLB Session and possibly CB Hayden and RB Addai back with the extra rest. Del Rio deserves to be commended for making the most out of a soft schedule and a healthy roster TY (only 2 starts on IR) but I'm going with the more veteran team used to big games at the end of the year.

Earlier TY the Browns logged a 23-20 win over the Bengals which started the Bengals on a 10 game losing streak. CIN had a 413-295 yd edge but 2 fumbles set up a pair of FG’s for the Browns. On their final drive CIN worked the ball down the field to the CLE 31. An offensive pass interference penalty on Ochocinco made it 3 & 13 on the 41 where Palmer was sacked and CLE ran out the final 4:41. Owens had his best game of they year with 10 rec (22.2) but his 78 yd TD came when the CLE defender slipped in coverage. The Browns have gone with Delhomme at QB the L3W and after a win against Carolina the offense had bogged down and gained 252 yds in a win at Miami but LW the offense totaled just 187 yds including just 56 yds on the last 6 drives. Rookie Colt McCoy will be back in in the starting role after missing the L/3 with an ankle injury. Cincinnati meanwhile got out to an early 7-0 lead at Pittsburgh but they were held to 132 TOTAL yards before 58 yds in garbage time trailing 23-7. The Bengals have now been outgained in 4 straight games by an average of 133 ypg as the veterans have resigned themselves to a lost season while McCoy being back in the lineup should revitalize the CLE offense.

One of the most important games this weekend as the winner takes control of the NFC East. Including playoffs PHI has won 5 straight vs NYG with a 31-19 avg score. and PHI won the 1st game TY 27-17. NY rallied from a 16-3 deficit to take the lead early 4Q but a def offsides pen on 3&5 set up a 50 yd TD run by McCoy on 4th Dn. Manning then fmbl’d the ball on a 16 yd scramble which set up a 30 yd FG to seal it. Despite being outgained 392-208 the Giants had a solid def gameplan as while Vick had 258 yds passing (63%) he only had 34 yds rushing (3.1) and no passing TD’s. The Giants had an unusual week flying into KC and then back to Detroit to face MIN. While it took them out of their routine and gave them one less day to prep they know the Eagles well enough to not make that an issue. Manning blamed himself for the loss to the Eagles and NYG continues to be overlooked as one of the league’s premier teams (#2 off, #4 def YTD).

This is the Lions 1st road game in 4 Wks and they’ve lost an NFL record 26 straight road games. Both teams have had their share of injuries lately with DET down to #3 QB Stanton, losing DE Vanden Bosch (neck) and CB Smith (right shoulder) landing on IR. TB’s injury situation is more dire however as prior to LW’s 17-16 win vs WAS they lost their best CB (Talib), starting SS (Grimm), Ctr (Faine), RG (Joseph), #3 DE (Moore) and demoted their starting RT (Trueblood) due to poor play. The Lions knocked GB’s Rogers out of the game and the defense came to play holding the Packers to 13 FD’s and 258 yds. Detroit despite their 3-10 record and a late season win over a division rival can give this young team the energy to not only finish the season strong but perhaps pull an upset as well. DL Suh is dominating the middle for Detroit and by him occupying 2 OL on every play the Lions have held 5 of their last 10 opponents to 290 yds or less. It’ll be a low scoring close game but I will go with the home who has the QB edge and will win another close one.

This is the Falcons 3rd straight road game (4th in 5 Wks) and they have a big MNF rematch at home vs the Saints on deck. In SEA's L/3 games vs a foe with a winning record (NYG, NO, KC) they are 0-3 being outgained by 203 ypg (-4 TO’s) and losing by 22 ppg. ATL has logged a 7-2 record vs NDIV foes TY with a 30-22 avg score however this will be the first poor weather game for Ryan and the Falcons this year with the forecasts in the 40’s. A wet field takes away their speed edge and it will be tough to keep the Falcon players from not looking ahead to hosting the Saints next week. Having an energetic HC in his first season with a team that plays well at home has me taking the Seahawks in a upset.

OAK won the 1st meeting TY 59-14 where they dominated with a 328 (6.3) to 75 (4.4) rush edge. Including that game the Raiders are 4-0 in DIV play outgaining foes by 35 ypg (+2 TO’s) with a 36-18 avg score. They are getting the Broncos at the right time as they are on their 4th road game in 5 Wks (3rd straight) with career RB coach Studesville in his 2nd game as interim HC. DEN had a favorable matchup vs an ARZ team down to its 3rd string QB LW and looked inept getting outgained 357-288. The secret to the Raiders success is simple and that is running the ball. They have rushed for over 135+ yards 4 times this season winning each and now they face a Broncos defense allowing 169 ypg & 4.6 ypc on the road. The Broncos have also struggled with protection and in the L6W they’ve allowed 3+ sacks in 5 games losing all of them and the Raiders have had multiple sacks in 12 of 13 games TY incl 26 L/7W. The Raiders keep their playoff hopes alive.