New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
I was waiting for that one game where the Saints offense would finally explode. It happened on Sunday night at home against the Packers. As tough as they can be at home, can this team bring their act on the road? So far it's been a struggle as all four road games for New Orleans have resulted in losses. Granted three of those losses came by a combined six points. My guess is the offense won't explode in Carolina but that their defense can keep them close and then the offense can come up with a big drive late to win it. Finally a close win for the Saints away from the Superdome! I've picked the Saints in all their road games and haven't gotten one yet. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment...
My Call: Saints 23, Panthers 20
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cleveland Browns
Although it's tough to call a game for a 5-3 team a "must win", a home game with a bad Bucs team comes about as close it can get to that for the Browns. Especially since the schedule toughens up considerably after this game. Will they get it? Yes. But my guess is it'll be a bit similar to this past weekend's win over Oakland, sometimes ugly. That doesn't matter though. All that matters is a win.
My Call: Browns 23, Buccaneers 16
Arizona Cardinals at Dallas Cowboys
Status of Cowboys QB Tony Romo appears up in the air for this one. Dallas will be looking to make amends for what was a bad loss on Monday night at home to rival Washington while the Cardinals will look to make their record a sparkling 7-1. I will assume Tony Romo plays and think this game should be a solid defensive battle that goes down to the wire. Although I personally don't hate Romo and the Cowboys, I did kinda see why people say he comes up small late in close games in that Redskins game. So with that in mind...
My Call: Cardinals 24, Cowboys 21
Philadelphia Eagles at Houston Texans
Tough game for me to call as I don't love the Eagles flying a long way across the country for a second straight road game, but I also don't love a team that has Ryan Fitzpatrick under center against a decent club. I imagine I am going to regret this pick, but I'll go with Philadelphia on a late Cody Parkey field goal; who makes four field goals on the day.
My Call: Eagles 26, Texans 24
New York Jets at Kansas City Chiefs
Can't say I think it matters whether Geno Smith or Michael Vick starts at QB for the Jets in this one. Both are extremely mistake prone; which is not a good matchup against a Chiefs team with a QB in Alex Smith who likes to play relatively mistake free football. This won't be a pretty result for the Jets. Rex Ryan gets one step closer to getting his walking papers.
My Call: Chiefs 30, Jets 10
Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals
Coming off a much needed win over division rival Baltimore, Cincinnati will look to avoid a letdown in a game they should handle rather easily. They do just that. The Jags aren't good and the Bengals are too tough at home for me to see a surprise happening here.
My Call: Bengals 28, Jaguars 17
San Diego Chargers at Miami Dolphins
West Coast team flying all the way across the country to take on a decent Miami team in a game that starts early in the afternoon. In just about any other scenario, I'd take the Chargers. Their desperation to win this one keeps it close, but I will take Miami in what I'd consider a small upset.
My Call: Dolphins 27, Chargers 24
Washington Redskins at Minnesota Vikings
Robert Griffin III returns to the starting lineup for the Redskins who will look to follow up their impressive Monday night surprise in Dallas with a second straight road victory. I say a letdown ensues and the Vikes win a defensive struggle. I wouldn't bet my house on it though.
My Call: Vikings 20, Redskins 19
St. Louis Rams at San Francisco 49ers
After getting off to a great start in St. Louis when these two teams played one another a couple weeks back outscoring the Niners 14-0 in the first quarter, the Rams laid an egg afterwards... being outscored 31-3 the rest of the game. In Santa Clara, I don't see them getting off to that kind of start. It'll be the second straight ugly road loss for St. Louis. They need a better QB than Austin Davis.
My Call: 49ers 35, Rams 17
Denver Broncos at New England Patriots
In a classic regular season game a year ago, New England erased a 24-0 halftime deficit and went onto win 34-31 in overtime. Although the Broncos may have gotten the ultimate revenge by topping the Pats in the AFC Championship game relatively easily, you have to think Peyton Manning and Co. haven't completely forgotten about what happened last year in the regular season. For some teams, the revenge factor may not be such a great thing. However, I think this Denver team and this QB know how to handle this situation. This game should be another classic, and I'll take the Broncos to exact a little regular season revenge on top of that playoff revenge from a year ago.
My Call: Broncos 34, Patriots 31
Oakland Raiders at Seattle Seahawks
Speaking of people whose jobs may be on the line, Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie may be feeling the heat with the team he assembled starting this season 0-7. I can't say he'll be fired for sure like I am about 99.9 percent sure with Jets head coach Rex Ryan, but 0-7 starts never help a GM who was feeling some heat before the season even began. Now Oakland gets to try picking up their first win of 2014 in Seattle. These may not be the same great Seahawks from a year ago that won the Super Bowl, but they're still way better than these Raiders. This has blowout written all over it.
My Call: Seahawks 35, Raiders 7
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
Love this matchup. Baltimore is coming off a tough loss in Cincinnati and looking for a season sweep of the Steelers. The Steelers looked great against Indianapolis and are obviously looking to exact some revenge for that 26-6 defeat in the second week of the season in Baltimore. This should be more the type of close, hard fought game we're more used to seeing between the two clubs. No records tied or coming close to being broken for Ben Roethlisberger this week, but how about another win? He'd take it if this prediction comes true...
My Call: Steelers 21, Ravens 16
Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants
A few years ago, this would have been a Manning vs. Manning game. However, the Colts decided to usher in the Andrew Luck era and Peyton took his talents to Denver in a move that's paid off for both franchises. After a terrible defensive performance in Pittsburgh a week ago, I think Indy will have used this past week well to prepare for this one. Their defense still won't be on point, but it'll be considerably better and Luck will do the rest. Close but needed bounceback victory.
My Call: Colts 31, Giants 27
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