INDY (1-13) +6 OVER HOUSTON (10-4)(46) – You know, maybe I’m just crazy and have been around way too long, but I see a chance for Indy here to win at home in front of a big Thursday night crowd after winning their first game of the season last Sunday against Tennessee. I think they might win 3 in a row to end off the season. Let’s look at Texans first. They have averaged just a little over 16 points a game with rookie QB T.J. Yates in the lineup. Went down early 21-0 to CAROLINA at home last week before the rout was on. Problem when you wrap up early is intensity level of players during practice AND the games. Texas is good, but maybe it’s a little different being out there without DC Wade Phillips who’s in the hospital following surgery. Also, this may be the last game at Lucas Oil Stadium for several Colts veterans. How will they want to go out? Dan Orlovsky has settled in and is doing a good job not only working with the first unit but also in the 2 minute offense. Indy RB Donald Brown had his career day running the football last weekend in big home win against Tennessee. Peyton Manning officially put on IR this week after throwing the ball a bit last week with shoulder pads and a helmet on. The Texans roster is pretty banged up. CALL ME CRAZY BUT I’M TAKING THE COLT PLUS THE POINTS AS A HOME DOG AGAINST THE TEXANS! 3 STARS….

BALTIMORE (10-4) -12½ OVER CLEVELAND (4-10)(38) – Baltimore has beaten the Browns 7 straight times. There I no love lost between these two team for obvious reasons, but even though Peyton Hillis is back and starting at RB for the Browns, they are going nowhere fast. Colt McCoy is still suffering from his concussion and re-entry into the game a couple of weeks ago. Seneca Wallace will get the start again for Cleveland. If there’s a way to lose, Cleveland will figure out how to make it happen. Anquan Boldin had knee surgery this week and is out for Baltimore. Hopefully they’ll get him back for the playoffs. Ray Rice is having an MVP type year and will be ready for this one. Last week as away favorites in San Diego, the Ravens got crushed by a rejuvenated Norv Turner San Diego Charger team. That was their fourth loss on the season, all on the road. Now they’re back home where they’re undefeated. A win this week keeps the Ravens in the number 2 seed in the AFC for the playoffs. Cleveland has given up over 2,000 yards on the ground for the season already. Ray Rice and the Ravens offense should be able to do whatever they want against the soft front 7 of the Browns. I’M GOING TO TAKE THE RAVENS MINUS THE POINTS FOR 3 STARS.

DENVER (8-6) -3 OVER BUFFALO (5-9)(43) – This will be the 12th year in a row that the Bills have missed the playoffs. Buffalo can’t stop the run and Denver can run, and run, and run. Tim Tebow and the Broncos lost a tough one last week after coming out smoking against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Three big turnovers cost them the lead and eventually the game. After starting the season 5-2, the Buffalo Bills have lost 7 in a row to take themselves completely out of the hunt. With Tebow, McGahee, and Ball the Broncos have rushed for almost 2,300 yards already this season. The Bills will have no choice but to put 8 in the box and force Tebow to throw the ball. The Bills don’t have much help in their secondary with two of their top three DB’s out for the season. The Broncos have 39 sacks compared to only 20 for the Bills. Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has struggled the past several games and the Broncos pressure should be more than his offensive line can handle. Last weekend they lost for the second time to the Miami Dolphins. In both their games against Miami, hardly a world beater, the Bills went 0 for 23 on third down. That is not good. RB C.J. Spiller filled in nicely and had 167 total yards from scrimmage. Denver needs this game too bad to lose in Buffalo but I’M GOING TO PASS ON THE GAME EVEN THOUGH I’M ROOTING FOR DENVER AND TEBOW.

CAROLINA (5-9) -7 OVER TAMPA BAY (4-10)(45.5) – Early this season, this game would have been a toss up. Now I think that the Panthers should handle the Bucs at home easily. Last week the Panthers traveled to Houston and beat the Division Champion Houston Texans 28-13. It wasn’t even a close game. Coach Ron Rivera and OC Rob Chudinski have opened up the playbook the last couple of weeks and like what they see. They even ran a fumblerooski play for a TD last week. Newton’s favorite target, WR Steve Smith has caught 72 passes for 1300 yards and 6 TD’s this season. He has 6 receivers with at least 30 receptions this season. Three weeks ago in Tampa, the Panthers handled the Bucs 38-19. I don’t see much changing. The Bucs have lost 8 games in a row and 9 of their last 10. I really haven’t see anything on the Bucs side of the ball worth reporting in a positive light. Personally, I think a change is in order because to many it looks like Raheem Morris is losing the team. If they’ve quit on him, they need a new coach. Their season is definitely over. I look for Cam Newton and the Panthers to come out smoking on offense and get a lead and build on it early. Cam breaks Peyton Manning’s rookie yardage record for passing with just 18 yards. Congrats Cam. Welcome to the NFL> I’M TAKING CAROLINA MINUS THE POINTS FOR 3 STARS.

CINCINNATI (7-7) -4.5 OVER ARIZONA (7-7)(41) – Bengals QB Andy Dalton needs 2 TD’s to become the first rookie QB to have 20 TD’s since Dan Marino, Peyton Manning, and Charlie Connerly. The Bengals still have a fighting chance but they need help to make the playoffs. No matter what kind of help they get, they need to win out starting with the HOT Arizona Cardinals this week at home. After a 1-6 start to the season, Arizona has won 4 in a row and 6 of their last 7. To say they are hot would be an understatement. They’ve beaten San Francisco, Dallas, and Philadelphia. They are believing. John Skelton is 4-1 as a starter for the Cards. Beanie Wells has rushed for just under 1,000 yards and gives them a big back that can deliver punishment and get yards. All pro and future HOF receiver Larry Fitzgerald has caught 65 passes for 1,157 yards. The Bengals have started 8-6 with rookie QB Andy Dalton leading them. Cedrick Benson also has just under 1,000 yards and rookie A.J. Green has had an all pro rookie season catching 61 passes for just over 1,000 yards also. The Cards have played great as of late and even though they are the hot team here, I see their streak coming to an end in Cincinnati this weekend. If the Bengals win this week and next week at home against the Ravens, they have a good chance of making the playoffs. I’M GOING TO TAKE THE BENGALS MINUS THE POINTS FOR 3 STARS HERE.

KANSAS CITY (6-8) -2.5 OVER OAKLAND (7-7)(43) – Todd Haley was fired at the beginning of last week as head coach of the Chiefs and Romeo Crennel was made the head coach. All the Chiefs did was take on the undefeated Green Bay Packers, the best team in the NFL and returning Super Bowl Champs, and BEAT them at their place 19-14. The Packers didn’t play particularly well, but Crennel’s defense was unreal and created many problems for the Packers offense. The Raiders after losing on the road two weeks in a row to Miami and Green Bay, came home nad had a commanding 13 point lead late in the 4th quarter, only to blow it by letting Matt Stafford and Detroit go 98 yards in less than two minutes to win the game. Now if they lose in Kansas City to a fired up Chiefs team who ALSO have a chance to win the division with an 8-8 record, they’re done for the season. Not only were the Chiefs on fire last week, but for one of the few times this season, so were their fans. It’s always been a tough place to play at Arrowhead Stadium, but this game this weekend will be particularly tough. I’M GOING TO TAKE THE CHIEFS TO WIN THE GAME AND COVER THE SPREAD HERE KEEPING THEIR PLAYOFF HOPES ALIVE AND TRYING TO SAVE A HEAD COACHING JOB FOR CRENNEL. 4 STAR PLAY HERE!!

NEW ENGLAND (11-3) -9.5 OVER MIAMI (5-9)(50) – In the season opener when these two teams played against each other, both teams combined for an NFL single game record 906 yards passing. Last week the Patriots visited Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos and bat them 41-23. Even though they won, that had to take something out of them. However, the Dolphins who a couple of weeks ago fired Tony Sparano and beat the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo for interim coach Todd Bowles the same week and they should be ready to play. This matchup is almost ALWAYS a good game. Dolphin RB Reggie Bush had a career year running the football last week and Matt Moore continued to do a good job at QB for the Dolphins. The Dolphin defense didn’t allow a third down conversion against the Bills for their second game in a row. In my opinion, this is going to be a semi-shootout with both teams moving the football mostly in the air. New England’s defense is suspect at best. They’ll have to outscore Miami to win. With DE Andre Carter out for the season with a leg injury, there will be less of a pass rush coming from the Pats. Carter led the Pats with 10 sacks. This game could come down to whoever has the ball last, so I’M GOING TO TAKE OVER 50 POINTS FOR 5 STARS IN THIS GAME. I’M LOOKING FOR A 38-35 TYPE BALL GAME HERE.

JETS (8-6) -3 OVER GIANTS (7-7)(46.5) – To say this game could go either way be the understatement of the year. Both teams have put off sewing up their playoff berths till the last two weeks of the season. I don’t think they planned it that way, but that’s the way it is. Giants WR’s Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz are the first Giants pair of receivers to both accumulate 1,000 yards receiving in a season. The Jets are not the same team that went to the AFC playoff finals the past two years, but Rex Ryan has them still in it. The Giants just lost to the Redskins last week for the second time this year, the first time that has happened since 1999. The Jets three weeks ago came back in Washington and BEAT the Skins 34-19. If you use that as a comparison game to handicap the game, the Jets are your pick for sure. Both teams are playing at their home stadium, but the majority of the fans will be Jets fans. The Giants have lost 5 of their last 6 games and their defense has been anything but good. The Jets got CRUSHED last week by Andy Reid’s rejuvenated and healthy Eagles team that everyone had written off earlier this season. I’VE GOT TO PASS ON THIS GAME OR I SHOULD JUST SAY THAT I’M CRAZY. IF YOU HEALD A GUN UP TO MY HEAD, I’D TAKE THE JETS.

PITTSBURGH (10-4) -13 OVER ST. LOUIS (2-12)(34.5) – I’d hate to be the Rams coming into Heinz Field this week. Ben Roethlisberger isn’t going to play this week..THANK GOD. Why they had him in the game in the fourth quarter this past week against the 49ers is beyond me, unless they just wanted to lose him for the entire season. We were on the right side of that play. James Harrison is serving his second game of his suspension so that isn’t going to help the Steelers. The good news for the Steelers is they are playing maybe the worst team in the league, the St. Louis Rams. DL Chris Long has a badly sprained ankle but should play. The Rams will ride the legs and power of Steven Jackson as far as it will take them, but the Steelers should be able to stop them. The Rams have the 32nd ranked run defense in the league. Third string and just signed QB Kellen Clemmons played well last week against the Bengals for the Rams. Sam Bradford should be back this week. This is a must win at home for the Steelers and even though Big Ben won’t be playing, veteran Charlie Batch should have no trouble guiding Pittsburgh to an easy win. At age 37, Batch won’t be moving too much in the pocket and if he gets injured, Dennis Dixon will come in for the Steelers. C Maurice Pouncey is out again along with RB Mewelde Moore. Lamarr Woodley is questionable but should play. I’M GOING TO PASS ON THE GAME BUT PITTSBURGH WILL WIN.

TENNESSEE (7-7) – 7.5 OVER JACKSONVILLE (4-10)(40) – Tennessee has played themselves pretty much out of the playoff chase the past two weeks. Last week they lost to Indy by a score of 27-13. Three big turnovers provided all that the Colts needed to win their first game of the year. Matt Hasselbeck should be OK to start for the Titans. Chris Johnson has a sore ankle but will play. For the Titans, Maurice Jones-Drew has a sore ankle but he’ll start. QB Blaine Gabbert has struggled most of the season throwing the football to his limited receiving corps. I’d be surprised if the Titans beat the Titans, especially with the Titans needing the game. I’M GOING TO PASS ON THIS GAME.

SKINS (5-9) -7 OVER MINNESOTA (2-12)(47) – Neither of these teams are very good, but the Skins at least, are headed in the right direction even though they lost two of their best offensive players for the rest of the season because of a drug suspension. The Skins have played 5 decent games in a row. The lost a game they should have won against the Cowboys, they went to Seattle to beat a decent Seahawk team, then had the Jets beat before they gave up three late scores to lose, they played Brady and the Pats tough in a close loss, then beat up the Giants in New York last week. Roy Helu will get the ball almost 20 times tomorrow and if Rex Grossman can keep the ball in his receivers hands instead of the opposing teams, the Skins have a good chance of winning and covering against a struggling Viking team who right now pick first in the draft this coming year. Adrian Peterson will get the start at RB for the Vikings coming off a badly sprained ankle a couple of weeks ago. I’m sure they’ll utilize him and Percy Harvin in their offense. Two Minnesota DB’s are out with injuries. Starting G Steve Hutchinson is out for the game. I would imagine the Skins will get a heavy dose of A.P. on Saturday. Washington should get OT Jamaal Brown back from an injury this week. I’M GOING TO TAKE THE SKINS MINUS THE POINTS FOR 3 STARS.

SAN DIEGO (7-7) +2 OVER DETROIT (9-5)(52.5) – Phillip Rivers is 23-2 in December. Maybe it’s him and not Norv! The Chargers have finally turned the corner and seem to be headed towards a possible AFC West title, BUT maybe not. They run into a Lions team this weekend that badly needs a win to stay in the race for a playoff spot. Last week the Lions became the first team in NFL HISTORY to come back and win 4 games in a season when trailing by at least 13 points. They drove 98 yards for a score to win the game last week with less than 2 minutes to go. WR Calvin Johnson (Megatron) has caught 81 passes for 1,331 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. QB Matt Stafford has thrown for 33 TD’s and only 14 picks this season. This is a game that the Lions desperately need because they travel to Green Bay next week for the last game of the season. Unfortunately for the Lions, they don’t have much of a running game. The Chargers after losing 6 games in a row, have won 3 games in a row scoring 109 points and only giving up 38 points. They seem to have everyone healthy and RB Ryan Matthews has hit his stride running the football and catching the ball out of the backfield. QB Phillip Rivers hasn’t thrown a pick in the last three games. Last week the Chargers scored 34 points against a good Baltimore Ravens defense, the most points scored against the Ravens all season. THIS COULD BE THE BEST GAME OF THE DAY. THE WINNER WILL BE SMILING THE LOSER….NOT SO MUCH. I’M GOING TO PASS ON THE GAME and PLAY THE OVER FOR 3 STARS.

DALLAS (8-6) -1.5 OVER PHILLY (6-8)(50.5) – The winner of this game will probably win the NFC East. At least that’s my opinion. Dallas can lose, then beat the Giants next week and still come out with the East crown. If they win this week, it’s over, especially if the Jets beat the Giants this weekend. Philly is the hottest team in the East right now and look like what they thought they might be when the season started. However, it will be up to Mike Vick, his running and passing game, and the defense of the Eagles to decide if that indeed happens. LeSean McCoy is an awesome RB for the Eagles. He has averaged 4.9 yards per carry for the season and has a total of 1,579 yards from scrimmage. Mike Vick has a 80.6 QB rating and is coming off a couple of injuries this season. Cowboy QB Tony Romo has a very impressive 102.6 QB rating with 29 TD’s and only 9 interceptions. Mark Witten is his leading receiver with 68 receptions and 5 TD’s. Lauren Robinson and Dez Bryant have combined for 100 receptions and both have 9 TD’s each. Number 4 receiver Miles Austin even has 6 TD receptions. All of the Cowboys running backs are injured including Felix Jones so Sammy Morris, signed last week and who had 53 yards rushing last week will probably get the start. Chauncey Washington was signed off the practice squad. Either way, it’s a step down and if Jones starts at less than 100%, you have to give the Cowboys a minus in the rushing and pass protection game. Andy Reid’s teams have had great success against the Ryan Brothers so far in the NFL seasons. If Mike Vick can stay healthy and get time to throw on Saturday, it could be a very long game for the Cowboys and their stress will extend one more week. I’M TAKING PHILLY IN THIS GAME BECAUSE IT IS A MUST GAME FOR THEM. THEY DID WIN TWO IN A ROW LAST WEEK FOR THE FIRST TIME ALL SEASON. I’M LOOKING FOR THEM TO MAKE IT TO THREE IN A ROW THIS WEEK. 4 STARS.

SAN FRANCISCO (11-3) -1 OVER SEATTLE (7-7)(39) – I love what Jim Harbaugh has done in San Francisco this year with the 49ers. Who says a coaching change doesn’t help? I also love what Pete Carroll has done with the Seattle Seahawks this season. He has made believers out of his players and they are playing at a high level in both execution and intensity. However, this week their offense, led by QB Tavaris Jackson and RB Marshawn Lynch, face the best defense in the NFC in the 49ers. 49er LB Patrick Willis may come off the injury list to start today also. On the 49ers side of the ball, QB Alex Smith has quietly and efficiently had an excellent season. He has thrown 16 TD’s and only 5 picks all season long. His 5 picks are the fewest of any starter in the league. Frank Gore is banged up but should play at RB. He has rushed for 7 TD’s and over 1100 yards. Quietly, Michael Crabtree is the 49ers leading receiver this year with 59 receptions. TE Vernon Davis has been his guy in the red zone with 6 TD’s. Defensively, the 49ers have yet to give up a rushing touchdown all season long. If this continues it will shatter the NFL record of 4 rushing TD’s given up several years ago. The only thing that bothers me here as far as being able to side with the Seahawks in the game is me remembering what the Redskins did to them at their place four weeks ago. They came from behind to beat the Seahawks 23-17. I’M GOING TO TAKE THE GREAT VALUE HERE WITH THE 49ERS MINUS JUST ONE POINT FOR 3 STARS. IT IS TOO GOOD TO LEAVE ALONE.

GREEN BAY (13-1) -11.5 OVER CHICAGO (7-7)(42.5) – The Packers have BOTH of their starting tackles out for the season probably. Last week the Chiefs beat the Pack at home after firing their head coach on Monday. Not a good sign if you’re a Packers fan. However, this is still a very good team, maybe the best team in the league still and should rebound at home this week against a Bears team that is all but decimated with injuries themselves. Backup Chicago QB Josh McCown gets the start after mopping up last week in the Bears’ 38-14 loss at home to the Seahawks. Personally, I think the Bears have mailed it in. They lost four straight games to Oakland, Kansas City, Denver, and Seattle. That sucks. The Packers are a step up in class and the Bears should be clobbered. WR Johnny Knox is out for the season after surgery this week. WR/KR star Devin Hester is questionable and may not play. With the Packers still seething after their loss in Kansas City, I’m looking for them to come back strong against a banged up Bears team who have lost 4 in a row and destroy them as well as they can on Saturday. With Forte and now Marion Barber injured, Khalil Bell will get the start at RB and rookie Armando Allen from Notre Dame will be the backup. Great stuff if you’re Bell and Allen, not so great probably for the Bears. Having Hester and Knox out also creates a problem on special teams receiving teams for the Bears. TAKE THE PACK MINUS ALL THE POINTS FOR 3 STARS. THE ENTIRE COUNTRY SEEMS TO BE BETTING ON THE BEARS HERE FOR SOME REASON. I DON’T SEE IT PERSONALLY.

MONDAY NIGHT

NEW ORLEANS (11-3) -7 OVER ATLANTA (9-5)(52.5) – Definitely the best game of the entire week and a game well deserving of Monday night status. I LOVE THE SAINTS HERE. Sure, Atlanta has played better as of late but the only team they have beaten this year with a WINNING record is the Detroit Lions before their bye week. You could argue right now that the Saints are a better “team” than the Packers who were undefeated till last week’s loss in Kansas City. What Head Coach Sean Payton has done with their offense is not only exceptional but bordering on genius. They have three running backs that have 474, 479, and 496 yards rushing for the season. RB Darren Sproles has 659 yards receiving also. TE Jimmy Graham has caught 87 passes for 1171 yards and 9 TD’s. This may very well be the game that Drew Brees breaks Dan Marino’s NFL season record for passing yards. His passer rating is 109.1. Atlanta RB Michael Turner is banged up with a bad leg and that isn’t a good thing for the Falcons. DE John Abraham is back. Last week he had 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in their 41-14 drubbing of the Jaguars. I’M TAKING THE OVER HERE FOR 4 STARS EACH. CAN’T HELP MYSELF. GREAT TEASER HERE WITH THE SAINTS IF YOU WISH, ALL THEY’D HAVE TO DO IS WIN.