PITTSBURGH (9-3) -14 OVER CLEVELAND (4-8)(38.5) – Steelers clearly the much better team here. Short week last time didn’t work out that well for Steelers barely beating the Chiefs. Now the horrible Browns but a division game nonetheless. Steelers have won 15 out of last 16 games in this series, which tells you a little bit about the matchup. Steelers may not have Woodley at LB. Cleveland isn’t doing anything any different late in the season but is supposed to play Peyton Hillis. Big Ben is a little banged up but he always is. I’M GOING TO PASS ON THIS GAME BECAUSE I LIKE THE STEELERS SIDE OF THE GAME, BUT INJURIES AND THE SHORT WEEK GIVE ME WAY TO MANY THINGS TO DEAL WITH TO FIGURE OUT WHO REALLY COVERS. PASS.

BALTIMORE (9-3) -16½ OVER INDY (0-12)(41) – Second huge NFL line in two weeks. Patriots played games with the point spread (in my opinion) So many people right now on the Colts PLUS the points, I’m inclined to go with Ravens minus the points for 3 stars just to counter the damage done last week. There is NO WAY that Pats couldn’t have kept the foot on the pedal last week. Who knows why it stopped, but it stopped. Indy’s defense no matter what happened last week, still can’t stop anyone. The Ravens have been especially tough at home, seeming to play much harder and be more focused for their home fans. Ray Rice last week had his best week of the year. Finally, it looks like Cam Cameron has figured out that he needs to run the football for his offense to be effective. He obviously spent too much time with Norv Turner. He WILL be able to do that at will against the Colts. If Colts stack the box, BOOM long balls everywhere for points.

ATLANTA (7-5) -2½ OVER CAROLINA (4-8)(47½) – Last week in a loss in Houston to the Texans, the Falcons looked anything but playoff worthy, losing 17-10 to a team led by a rookie QB. Matt Ryan was anything but his usual self. Now the Falcons face a MUST WIN situation in Charlotte against the struggling Panthers. Rookie QB Cam Newton set an NFL record last week with his 13th rushing TD of the season. Earlier this season in Atlanta, the Panthers lost 31-17 to the Falcons. The Panthers are running the football better now and Newton is gaining experience and confidence. However, this isn’t going to be enough to get me to play this game one way or the other. PASS.

CINCINNATI (7-5) -3 OVER HOUSTON (8-3)(37) – This will be a good game to watch between possibly two playoff teams and might actually be a repeat matchup in the playoffs. Personally, I like the Texans being the better team here, but because they’re still starting T.J. Yates, their 3rd string QB, Cincy is holding their value in Vegas. Personally, I think this will be a very low scoring game. Houston has the TOP DEFENSE IN THE LEAGUE this year and Wade Phillips has them kicking butt. WR Andre Johnson is out this week and probably next week with a Grade A hammy pull. They still have the top running back tandem in the league with Arian Foster and Ben Tate and they will be able to give the Texans enough of a running game to offset the Cincinnati defensive front 7. With their top CB out for the year, Cincy will have trouble if they stack 8 or 9 in the box with Houston’s play action. Yates’ third week in a row starting for Kubiak will make a big difference.
Even though the Bengals absolutely NEED this game worse, I’m going with the better team, the Texans. I’M TAKING THE TEXANS PLUS THE POINTS FOR 3 STARS.

DETROIT (7-5) –7 OVER MINNESOTA (2-10)(47.5) – Who would have ever thought that this Viking team would be one of the worst teams in the league with only 2 wins at this point in the season? Ndamukong Suh is not only on sabbatical from the league for 2 games for stomping the arm of a fellow union member, but he ran his car into a few things this past weekend with some girls in tow, who left the scene of the accident only to return and say they were hurt. What a surprise? The Vikings have lost 6 of their last 7 games and now travel to division foe Detroit who MUST WIN this game to continue to fight for a playoff spot. Matt Stafford has his splint off of his finger now and supposedly threw easily this past week in practice. Minnesota’s secondary is in shambles. I’M GOING TO TAKE THE LIONS MINUS THE POINTS HERE TO WIN AND COVER THE SPREAD FOR 4 STARS.

GREEN BAY (12-0) -11½ OVER OAKLAND (7-5)(51½) – Now you can get odds (-300) on whether the Packers will go undefeated. They may indeed lose one of their last four games or more of the season, but I doubt the Raiders game will be one of them. The Raiders last week did me right by getting hammered by the resurgent Miami Dolphins 34-16. The Packers last week were a part of a big play on the OVER in the Giants matchup where 73 total points were scored. They are averaging 35 points a game and the Raiders defense recently hasn’t been playing so well. This is a MUST WIN for the Raiders but I don’t see them going into Lambeau Field and winning against a Packer team that has its sights set on 16-0 and a Super Bowl. The Raiders should be able to score against the Packers and we know the Packers will score on them. I’M GOING TO TAKE THE OVER 51.5 GAMES TO COVER. CHECK THE WEATHER.

TAMPA BAY (4-8) +3 OVER JACKSONVILLE (3-9)(41) – There is probably now way that I can talk myself into playing this game. My instincts say no. My instincts also say to not watch this game. Bucs QB Josh Freeman has been struggling. I HAVE THE BUCS RATED A SUCK TEAM. The Jags are only slightly better rated as an OK—team. I’m going to have to pass on this game altogether. I doubt Blaine Gabbert will be able to give me ANY reason why I should pick the home team. I AM FORCED TO PASS ON THIS HORRIBLE GAME TO WATCH HERE. BOTH HEAD COACHES (ONE AN INTERIM COACH) WILL PROBABLY LOSE THEIR JOBS AFTER THIS SEASON.

MIAMI (4-8) -3 OVER PHILLY (4-8)(45.5) – Two teams going entirely opposite directions here portray a strange game between two supposedly decent teams with 4-8 records each. Miami has played exceptionally well over the past 7 weeks. The Eagles have lost 4 of 5 but should be getting starting QB Mike Vick back this week. LeShawn McCoy is a force at RB for the Eagles. The Eagles are still a decent game on paper, rating as an OK team but have a -13 turnover ratio. This line between these two teams should say everything that needs to be said about this season for the suddenly dysfunctional Philadelphia Eagles. I’d love to say that Andy Reid’s job isn’t in jeopardy, but I’m starting to think it probably is. I’M GOING TO PASS ON THIS GAME, ALTHOUGH MY GUT SAYS MIAMI.

JETS (7-5) -10½ OVER KANSAS CITY (5-7)(36.5) – The Chiefs are fresh off a big upset in Chicago where Romeo Crennel’s defense had nothing but answers for everything backup QB Caleb Hanie tried to do against them last week. Mike Martz must have been on a suicide watch after the game. Nobody (including me) thought the Chiefs would cover let alone win this game. This week they travel again to play Rex Ryan and the Jets in a game that both teams need badly. Realistically, the Jets are the only team that really have a chance here. The question I have is will they have enough offense against a resurgent Chiefs defense to cover the 10 ½ points? Mark Sanchez is adequate at QB. The Jets are fresh off a comeback win last week in Washington against a less than average Redskins team. The Jets are definitely a better team at home where they are 5-1 this season. Their only loss came against the Patriots. The Jets are knicked up but it looks like everyone will play. Tyler Palko will get the start for the Chiefs again where he’s been anything but good, but seems to be improving. Kyle Orton came in for one play last week and dislocated a finger. Unbelievable! Look for a heavy dose of short passes mixed with Shonn Greene from the Jets offense. Crennel will have some tricks up his sleeve for Mark Sanchez and will probably try to duplicate what the Redskins defense was doing for 3 quarters last week. I’m going to take the Jets minus the points for 3 stars. I may even end up passing on the game by Sunday. The Jets really don’t do much for me but they ARE AT HOME.

NEW ORLEANS (9-3) -3 ½ OVER TENNESSEE (7-5)(50.5) – I love this game this week. Not so much playing it, as watching it. Chris Johnson of the Titans is back full force. Matt Hasselbeck has been decent all year running the Titans defense and have won three of their last four games. Early this season the Titans beat the Ravens at home. Will they be able to do it again against a sure Super Bowl contender like the Saints? The Saints go on the road this week where they’ve had trouble this season. All three of their losses have been on the road. This is a MUST win for coach Mike Munchak and the Titans. Since getting blown out at home against the Texans Week 7, they’ve won 4 out of 6 and recently their offense has been improved. New Orleans, however, will pose some problems for their defense they haven’t seen since the Texans game. The Saints could lose this game and be in fine shape for the playoffs. The Titans really can’t afford a loss, especially at home. I’M GOING TO PASS ON THIS GAME BUT WATCH IT CLOSELY. How the Titans play here will determine the rest of their season.

NEW ENGLAND (9-3) -8 ½ OVER SKINS (4-8)(48.5) – The Pats come into Washington fresh off 4 wins in a row and a suspect non-performance against the Indianapolis Colts last week. The Pats have plenty of offense but the Redskins defense is the strength of their team. Brady should have no trouble with Washington’s secondary which suffered at the inability of the offense last week to hold off a late surge by the Jets. Pats DE Andre Carter returns to the Skins to show them how much he’s improved this year. He leads the Pats in sacks with 9 so far this year. The Skins didn’t sign him because he didn’t “fit in” to their 3-4 defense they run now. Rex Grossman has throw 10 TD’s and 15 interceptions to go along with 3 lost fumbles, and HE is their best option at QB. Roy Helu has looked great at running back for the Skins and will get a heavy dose (hopefully) of carries against the front 7 of the Pats. He is averaging 4.7 yards per carry this season. The Skins just lost two of their best players for the season in LT Trent Williams and TE Fred Davis. Williams was by far the best offensive lineman for the Redskins and TE Fred Davis has 59 receptions on the year. They are irreplaceable and they Skins will notice them missing. SS LeRon Landry is out again for the Skins. Look for Brady to spread the field and move the ball in the no huddle against a defense which tires easily. I’M GOING TO TAKE THE PATS MINUS THE POINTS FOR 4 STARS. I’M ALSO HEDGING WITH THE OVER FOR 3 STARS HERE.

SAN FRANCISCO (10-2) -4 OVER ARIZONA (5-7)(37) – This is going to be a better football game than it looks like. Vegas recognizes that with their line of just 4 points. The Cards after a horrific start, have won 4 of their last 5 games and are on a roll. Two of those wins, however, have come against the lowly St. Louis Rams. With a big comeback win last week against the Cowboys, Coach Ken Whisenhunt has his team playing well, but this 49er team is better than any team they’ve seen this year. That doesn’t mean it’s an easy win and cover for the 49ers. There are questions now that they’ve wrapped up the NFC West title. How much will RB Frank Gore get the ball. Will they rest his sore body? Next week the 49ers have the Pittsburgh Steelers coming into town to play. Will they be looking ahead instead of concentrating on the Cardinals this week? One thing that the 49ers will have to pay close attention to is the special teams play of Patrick Peterson and the teams for Arizona. Peterson has returned 4 punts for TD’s this season. He also is improving at the cornerback position to be a stud. LB Patrick Willis is likely OUT for the game with a hamstring injury. They need him to get better. That is HUGE. QB Kevin Kolb has looked good since coming back from injury. I’M GOING TO PASS ON THIS GAME BUT SPEND A LOT OF TIME BREAKING IT DOWN. GOOD GAME TO WATCH FOR SURE.

DENVER (7-5) -3 OVER CHICAGO (7-5)(35.5) – Two teams obviously going in opposite directions. The Denver Flying Tim Tebows go home to a sold out stadium to take on the Bears who have lost their QB Jay Cutler and their way to the playoffs. Caleb Hanie has NOT been what they thought they had at backup QB. He’s thrown six interceptions in two starts. Mike Martz must be losing his mind. Last week somehow they failed to score a touchdown and lost to the Chiefs at home 10-3 for their second loss in a row. Before those two game they had won 5 games in a row to look like a force for the playoffs. They’ve also maybe lost their bread and butter star RB Matt Forte go down with a knee injury which makes their offense even less potent. Denver, on the other hand, has won 5 games in a row with a run first offense and Tim Tebow at QB. He has his teammates believing in him and so does most of the rest of the country. Vegas, however, not as much. RB Willis McGahee has stepped in at QB in the option and done a great job there. Tebow himself has rushed for 468 yards and a 5.7 yards per carry average. The real story of the Broncos is their play on defense and maybe that’s why John Fox was brought in. It certainly isn’t because of his prowess as a head coach. The Broncos are banged up but I see them beating up on a Bears offense that is struggling and keeping them off the field. I’ll ride Tebow till he doesn’t cover and win. TAKE THE DENVER BRONCOS AND TEBOW TO COVER THE SPREAD AND WIN FOR 5 STARS.

SAN DIEGO (5-7) -7 OVER BUFFALO (5-7)(48) – So finally San Diego won a football game and EVERONE is all over the Chargers as being back, right? Maybe not. But I’m not going to pick the Bills as the team to come into San Diego to upset the Chargers at home. The Chargers should win this game for sure, but I’m not trusting enough in this team to cover. Rather than tell you all the reasons why, let’s just get off this game and go to something worth covering. I’M GOING TO PASS ON THIS GAME. Two teams going nowhere fast.

DALLAS (6-6) -4 ½ OVER GIANTS (6-6)(50.5) – We knew that the Giants would have a run on their schedule that was going to be tough, but nobody thought it would take this toll on the Giants. After their BYE week, the y have played Miami, New England, San Francisco, Philly, New Orleans, and Green Bay. They’ve lost 4 in a row and are on the verge of shutting themselves out of the playoffs again this year. QB Eli Manning is having a very good season. They got Ahmad Bradshaw back last week and he made a difference. They just missed upsetting the Packers and their streak at home last week. Their mistake was their play calling and clock control at the end of the game. They left the Packers too much time on the clock. C David Baas is OUT. Osi Yuminyora is OUT. The Cowboys figured out a way to lose in Arizona last week against the Cardinals in overtime. Tony Romo is 7-11 in December games. It shouldn’t be the cold weather bothering him. HE’S FROM FREAKING WISCONSIN FOR GOODNESS SAKES. Both of these teams are facing a must win situation. If the Cowboys win, they are in the driver’s seat for the NFC crown. If the Giants don’t win, their season is OVER. I’M GOING TO TAKE THE OVER 50.5 FOR 5 STARS HERE. Both offenses will be able to move the ball against both defenses. Normally, I’d take the Giants here with their road warrior mentality, and I may still take them late, but without Dave Baas at C I’m worried about the offensive line and their running game and handling the Cowboys blitz packages and rush of DeMarcus Ware and company. DeMarco Murray and Felix Jones will hammer away at a Giants defensive line that gives up yardage in big chunks. Eli Manning and the Giants offense, led by WR Victory Cruz and his 62 catches for over 1,000 yards will score against Dallas, but probably not enough to win.

SEATTLE (5-7) -10 OVER ST. LOUIS (2-10)(37) – It looks like 3rd string QB Tom Brandstater, elevated from the practice squad last week, will become the starting QB of the Rams this week. Not exactly the game that ESPN wanted when they schedule it I’m sure, but here it is anyway. The Seahawks have it going on right now and are STILL a playoff hopeful. Head Coach Pete Carroll has these guys believing in themselves. Except for a late meltdown against the Redskins, they would have won 4 games in a row. Now a punchless Rams team comes to town without their top two QB’s healthy, and a MASH unit offensive line and DE Chris Long out for the game. The Rams have scored less than 10 points 5 times this season. RB Marshawn Lynch is giving the Seahawks a consistent running game. Tavaris Jackson is finding ways at QB to get this offense the points they need. With all of the injuries to the Rams and the pure fact I HAVE THEM RATED AS A SUCH TEAM, I’M TAKING THE SEAHAWKS HERE TO COVER THE SPREAD FOR 3 STARS. ST. LOUIS HAS NO CHANCE.

PHILLY (4-7) -3 OER SEATTLE ()4-7) (43.5) – Well, I was all over Philly from a pure “gut” standpoint for this game for weeks, then the Eagles are imploding looking like a pretty lousy defense with their 2nd string QB who is one hammy away from being Kafka. Macklin is out. Vick is out. Rodgers-Cromartie is out. They could win tonight, but like they say “I wouldn’t bet on it!” so I’m not. I’m going to pass on this game and hope that the Seahawks deliver another blow to an NFC East team. I really don’t want the Cowboys to win the East, but it’s looking more and more like it’s going to happen thanks to the Giants lack of defense all of a sudden. Like I tweeted everywhere in the country the other night…THE NFC EAST SUCKS. PASS.

BUFFALO (5-6) -1.5 OVER TENNESSEE (6-5) (43) – This game is a must game for both teams obviously, but these two teams are going in opposite directions at this point in the season. Bills RB Fred Jackson is out for the year with a broken leg. Injuries have decimated their offensive line. Their defense can not stop the run. Tennessee, on the other hand, since getting crushed by Houston 6 weeks ago, have played well. All pro RB Chris Johnson is looking like he’s back into form. Last week he rushed for 190 yards and caught passes for another 100. Even though this game is in Buffalo, Tennessee stands a good chance of controlling the clock and moving the football enough to outscore QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and the struggling Bills offense. Since shutting out the Redskins in Toronto 5 weeks ago, The Bills have lost 5 games in a row, two of them to the Jets. I’M GOING TO PASS ONTHIS GAME BUT I DO LIKE THE TITANS RUNNING THEIR RECORD TO 7-5 AND STAYING ALIVE HERE.

CHICAGO (7-4) -7 OVER KANSAS CITY (4-7) (37.5) – The Bears are without starting QB Jay Cutler for a while and there’s even talk of picking up Donovan McNabb off waivers to fill in while he rehabs his broken thumb. However, backup QB Caleb Hanie is probably in much better shape to lead the Bears throught he next couple of weeks even though last week he struggled in Oakland with the picks. Coming home to Soldier Field against a weak Chiefs team will probably produce a much better result this week. Star RB Matt Forte seems to be slowing down a bit after carrying most of the offensive load this season. Marion Barber III should be able to step in and take some carries with his power running game. There’s also a chance that former Bears QB Kyle Orton, picked up last week from Denver, will come into the game if he doesn’t start and Tyler Palko struggles. After winning 4 games in a row, the Chiefs have now LOST 4 games in a row and are pretty much out of any chance of making the playoffs. The last 4 weeks cumulative score is 95-25. Not good. The Bears are still playing for a wild card spot in the playoffs and have a good chance to win 10 games. I’M GOING TO TAKE THE BEARS MINUS THE POINTS FOR 3 STARS HERE.

BALTIMORE (8-3) -6 ½ OVER CLEVELAND (4-7) (38) – I have the Ravens rated as a GOOD team. I have the Browns barely rated as an OK- team, even though they are at home for this contest. The Ravens are coming off a big Thanksgiving day win against the 49ers and had 9 sacks. They have had a long week of preparation with some important rest for certain injured players. LB Ray Lewis probably won’t play this week but don’t count him out. He didn’t play against the 49ers and I made the statement that he’d be just as good being a coach on the sidelines as he would in the game. He was. QB Joe Flacco is 6-0 lifetime with a 106 QB rating lifetime against the Browns. The Browns seem to be better at home and the Ravens seem to better at home also. Ray Rice should get plenty of carries against this weak defensive front 7 of the Browns. Starting LB Scott Fujita was put in the season ending IR this week. Cleveland RB Peyton Hillis finally got some real touches last week and looked good. He gives the Browns a physical presence at RB they don’t get with anyone else. Colt McCoy will be under pressure the entire game when he throws the ball. I’M GOING TO PASS ON THE GAME BECAUSE I’M STILL NOT COMPLETELY SOLD ON THE RAVENS ON THE ROAD. THIS GAME HAS A LOT OF HISTORY.

ATLANTA (7-4) – 2 ½ OVER HOUSTON (8-3) (39.5) – The Falcons have played well since their opening day debacle against the Bears. They have won 5 out of their last 6 games with their only loss being an overtime loss against the Saints. Their last three wins have come against Indy, Tennessee, and Minnesota, teams with a combined record of 8-25. The Texans are a GOOD football team and I have them rated so. The Falcons are an OK + team and even though they are starting their 3rd string QB in rookie T.J. Yates from UNC (their first QB in the NFL EVER), I don’t see how the Falcons can be favored against them. The Houston defense is number 1 in the league. Their offense has a great running attack to go along with throwing to receivers like Andre Johnson. Personally, I don’t think Atlanta is Green Bay, if you know what I mean. I don’t see ANYONE being ranked over the Texans no matter who the QB is except the Packers. The Texans have rushed for 1,669 yards so far this season with Arian Foster and Ben Tate doing most of the damage. I look for the Falcons to stack the box and make the Texans throw the ball to beat them. I look for the Falcons to mix it up but to get their star RB Michael Turner off early so it will open up Matty Ice’s passing game to Roddy White, Tonny G and company. This game is a toss up. If Atlanta can go into Houston and dominate this Texans team, then they’re much better than I thought. Also, this isn’t a dome. They’ll have the roof open and it will be loud. The Falcons DO NEED THIS GAME WORSE THAN THE TEXANS DO, SO I’M GOING TO PASS ON THIS GAME. The Texans will win the South easily. The Falcons are playing for a wild card and may need 11 wins, not 10. A win here gets them 11.

MIAMI (3-8) -3 OVER OAKLAND (7-4) (38) – You don’t usually see too many 3-8 teams favored over a 7-4 team, but I got to agree with the linesmakers in Vegas on this one. The Dolphins ARE probably as good as the Raiders. The 3 points for some reason is the home field advantage, which usually means NOTHING when you’re talking about Miami. Until the last two games, the Dolphins hadn’t won a home game in two years. Now, however, they look like a team that’s coming together. The Raiders could be without LB Rolando McClain, their leading tackler who is in some severe trouble back in Alabama and is injured anyway. The last game he didn’t play in, the opposing team had 299 yards on the ground. If Miami can run the ball it will open up Matt Moore’s passing lanes to his RB’s and WR’s. Brandon Marshall is starting to make a big difference in the Dolphins offense, having caught 59 passes for 850 yards already. The Dolphins defense is rushing the QB well and stopping the run. The longest run they’ve given up all year is 21 yards. They also get back their start PK Carpenter this week. Since losing to the Jets 7 weeks ago, Miami has outscored their opponents 144-71. That is a completely different team than started the season 0-7. Oakland is leading the AFC West with their 7-4 record. Tim Tebow and Denver is chasing them and the rest of the division is imploding. The Raiders defense gives up a league worst 5.3 yards per carry. This should help the Dolphins establish their run game to open up their passing game. It would be easy to pass on this game, BUT I’M GOING TO TAKE THE DOLPHINS MINUS THE POINTS FOR 3 STARS.

NEW ORLEANS (8-3) -9 OVER DETROIT (7-4) (53.5) – The Saints crushed my dreams of the Giants actually covering on the road this past week (which they usually do) and looked PHENOMENAL doing it. I can’t really tell how much of that was the Giants sucking or the Saints doing great, but it was probably somewhere in the middle. The Lions took off to a 5-0 record then lost Javid Best for the season and everything seemed to change. QB Matthew Stafford inured his finger and has been good and bad the last few week. Their schedule is BRUTAL. Besides having their division opponents Chicago and Green Bay to deal with, they have also played Dallas, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Denver. Now they go into the French Quarter to play New Orleans who is ON FIRE at home, and still have two road games against Green Bay and Oakland. DAMN, GLAD THAT’S NOT MY SCHEDULE! The one thing that the Lions need to be able to do is to keep from getting any more banged up than they already are. I doubt the Lions think they are going to win this game, but I can’t see them backing off much. Their starting FS Louis Delmas is out with an injury. That is a HUGE loss. CB’s Chris Houston and Brandon McDonald may BOTH be out for the game. Ndamnukung Suh had an Albert Haynesworth moment last week and is out for 2 games but has appealed. I’m pretty sure he won’t be playing this weekend anyway. This would be a good one to miss. He doesn’t play the run all that well anyway. RB Kevin Smith may also be out this week. All Drew Brees is doing is setting NFL records. He has some great receivers to work with and NOBODY has figured out how to stop TE Jimmy Graham in press or zone coverage. Darren Sproles and Maurice Colston have been super also. RB’s Kevin Ingram, Pierre Thomas, and Darren Sproles all have just over 400 yards rushing. The Saints offense is a MACHINE!!! YOU MIGHT THINK THE OVER IS A GOOD PLAY HERE THIS WEEK AND I AGREE. I ALSO LIKE THE SAINTS MINUST THE POINTS FOR 4 STARS. THE OVER IS FOR 3.

PITTSBURGH (8-3) -6 ½ OVER CINCINNATI (7-4) (42.5) – This AFC North rival game features two of the best run defenses in the league. Ben Roethlisberger is still struggling a bit with a broken finger. The Steelers struggled to beat the Tyler Palko led Chiefs 13-9 this past week. Now they have to get ready for a good (I have them rated OK+) Bengals team led by rookie Andy Dalton. The Bengals came back against the suddenly stubborn Cleveland Browns last week to win 23-20. WR A.J. Green’s knee seems to be healthy so he’s a force to deal with. TE Jermaine Gresham is proving to be a solid choice in the check downs and in the red zone. Cedric Benson is solid at RB and has 740 yards for the season. PK Mike Nugent has only missed one field goal all season long. The Bengals are going to need 3 more wins minimum to have a chance for the playoffs. The Steelers with 8 wins already, with a win this weekend will have two games coming up with the weak Browns, a game at home against the Rams, and a trip to San Francisco to lock up the playoffs. The Steelers are going to struggle running the ball against the Bengals. Therefore they’ll be looking to open up their passing game with crossing routes and stretching the field with speedster WR’s Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown. They should be able to handle that. FS Troy Palomulu may be out with a concussion and will be a game day decision. That will definitely hurt the Steelers defense especially in blitz packages. I’M GOING TO PASS ON THIS GAME. TOO CLOSE TO CALL. I KIND OF LIKE THE UNDER THOUGH. I COULD SEE NEITHER TEAM SCORING OVER 20 POINTS.

TAMPA BAY (4-7) -3 OVER CAROLINA (3-8)(47) – Two teams going nowhere this year but with some talent square off to see who can actually win a ball game. The Panthers held on to beat the winless Colts last week after losing three games in a row. After winning 4 of 5 early in the season, they’ve lost 5 in a row. The Bucs have a decent running attack featuring RB LeGarette Blount. The Bucs receivers don’t offer much of a chance for QB Josh Freeman, a kid with a lot of talent. Defensively, the Bucs are just as bad. They’ve given up a 92.4 QB rating and opposing QB’s have thrown 19 TD’s. Their defensive front 7 is giving up 4.8 yards per carry and 13 TD’s. Their schedule has been tough but is getting ready starting this week to get much easier. They finish with Carolina, at Jacksonville, Dallas, at Carolina, and a schedule ending game with the Falcons which may be needed or not needed by Atlanta. The Carolina Panthers, led by outstanding rookie Cam Newton have struggled as of late. Newton’s QB rating has dropped to 81.1. He’s not the slam dunk for ROY that everyone thought he was earlier this season. Their corps of running backs does a good job and averages 5.1 yards per carry. Newton has 10 RUSHING TD’S HIMSELF! All pro WR Steve Smith continues to dominate opposing CB’s with 59 catches and 1,060 yards for the season. He’s caught 5 TD’s. I’M GOING TO PASS ONTHIS GAME BECAUSE THESE TWO TEAMS ARE TOO CLOSE TO CALL FOR ME. NOT WITH JUST 3 POINTS.

WASHINGTON (4-7) +3 OVER JETS (6-5)(39.5) – I may be at this game just because I’d love to say hi to Rex (Ryan not Grossman) and see just how bad they are. I have a feeling that this might be the last season we see Jet’s QB Mark Sanchez leading the Jets offense. This guy isn’t very good and lacks the arm to throw the ball downfield. Having said that, he’s having a better year than he’s had so far in his career and if Rex likes him, he’ll probably stick around. The Jets came back last week to beat a floundering Buffalo team 28-24 at home. After losing 6 in a row, the Skins flew cross country to play the Seahawks in the rain and beat them 23-17. The Seahawks looked MUCH better last night in defeating the Eagles. Rookie RB Roy Helu ran for 103 yards on 23 carries last week for the Skins. With just 356 yards total for the season, Helu is the Skins’ leading rusher. They got Santana Moss back after an injury last week and that helped the entire offense stretch the field. TE Fred Davis is STILL the Skins’ leading receiver Jabaar Gaffney has done a good job and is quickly becoming one of Grossman’s favorite targets. This is a MUST game for the Jets for sure. Supposedly, LaDanian Tomlinson is back this week and could make a big difference especially on 3rd down. Shonn Greene is the Jets’ leading rusher with 651 yards. They are a far cry from the team they’ve been in the past. I’M GOING TO PASS ON THIS GAME BUT MIGHT CHANGE MY MIND IF I GET SOME INFORMATION I’M WAITING ON. THIS GAME COULD GO EITHER WAY. THE JETS AREN’T THAT GOOD AND NEITHER ARE THE REDSKINS.

NEW ENGLAND (8-3) -20 OVER INDY (0-11)(48.5) – My first guy instinct was this would be the biggest line I ever saw out of Vegas. I was right. However, in my opinion, the line isn’t large enough. This IS a team that lost to New Orleans 62-7 earlier this season. My instinct tells me that New England won’t do much to slow down the game when they can throw the ball at will on a Colts defense that is HORRIBLE consistently. The Colts will try to run the ball against a constantly changing defense of New England but I’ve noticed lately that Belichick’s defense is improving. I don’t see Indy scoring more than 21-24 points. If they’re going to be competitive with the Pats, they’ll need to score over 35 points in my opinion. I don’t see that happening. I see the final score, even if the Pats take their foot off the accelerator and pull Brady after 2 ½ or 3 quarters, scoring about 45 points. The final of this game will be 45-17 or worse. Law Firm has rushed for 585 yards and scored 7 TD’s. Wes Welker has 82 receptions and already has amassed 1143 yards and 8 TD’s. Rob Gronkowski has 11 TD’s and 864 yards. I don’t see Jim Caldwell losing his job like his defensive coordinator just did, before the end of the season, but anything can happen here. There’s no doubt in my mind that the Colts are going 0-16 this season. I’M GOING TO TAKE THE PATS MINUS THE 20 FOR 5 STARS. TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

MINNESOTA (2-9) -1 ½ OVER DENVER (6-5)(45.5) – The Vikings have lost 3 in a row but those 3 losses are to three very good teams, Green Bay, Oakland, and Atlanta. Now they take on Denver and Tim Tebow at home. Former Florida State QB Christian Ponder used to play against Tim Tebow in college when Tim was at the University of Florida. He was drafted earlier in the draft than Tebow but none of that means anything when the two meet this weekend in Minnesota. Adrian Peterson is probably out for the game on Sunday. Toby Gerhart played in his place this past Sunday. Minnesota’s Percy Harvin has been doing more for the Vikings than usual. He has caught 51 passes for a 10.9 average AND has rushed 33 times for 235 yards. The Vikings have virtually NO pass defense, but the Broncos are a running team with Tebow at the helm. What will they do? I really don’t care what they do, but I’m sure that Tebow and the Broncos will continue their winning ways and cover this point spread. Two weeks ago the Vikings lost to the Raiders at home. This Denver team is every bit as good if not better. I’M GOING TO PLAY DENVER FOR 3 STARS PLUS THE POINTS.

DALLAS (7-4) -4 ½ OVER ARIZONA (4-7) (45.5) – The Cowboys are coming off 4 wins in a row and if they get their 5th consecutive win this weekend, it would be their first since 2007. I like Arizona here and have for some time as they’ve played well with John Skelton at QB. They’ve won 3 out of their last 4 games. But a couple of things are bothering me. Forget that I have Dallas rated as an OK + team. They are, but they’re also in the NFC East, a weak division this year. Kevin Kolb is supposed to get the start this weekend for Arizona. He hasn’t done that well in the past so far this year but he’s probably better than Skelton. Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray has been awesome so far at RB. Tony Romo has a 19-2 record in November and a 7-10 record in December. The Cowboys also have an extra three days of rest after playing on Thanksgiving Day. I’d love to see the Cardinals beat the Cowboys but this one is too close to call. I’M GOING TO PASS ON THE GAME.

GREEN BAY (11-0) -6 ½ AT GIANTS (6-5)(52) – In my opinion, the Packers are going to go undefeated this year. Traveling to New York to play the Giants after beating Detroit on Thanksgiving Day shouldn’t pose much of a problem. The Giants lost this past week 49-24 in New Orleans and looked like they HAD NO DEFENSE. I don’t expect them to fare any better against a Packer team with better weapons than Drew Brees had. The Giants running game has all but gone away. Since Ahmad Bradshaw was injured, the Giants have moved the ball almost exclusively through the air. Now with some of his receivers injured, Eli Manning is doing all he can, but it’s not enough. The Packers have gone 11-0 for the first time in franchise history. With the additional rest the Packers got after playing on Thanksgiving Day, they should be healed up on the offensive line and running back. The Giants are playing on a short week after their Monday night game. Tom Coughlin is 4-3 after playing a Monday night game. I’M GOING TO TAKE THE PACKERS MINUST THE POINTS AND THE OVER FOR 4 STARS.

SAN FRANCISCO (9-2) -13 ½ OVER ST. LOUIS (2-9)(38 ½) – This game absolutely looks like a trap to me. Coming off a big loss in Baltimore to his brother, Jim Harbaugh needs to get his team back to its winning ways and score some points in the process. I really don’t see how the Rams have any chance against a much tougher team like the 49ers but 13 ½ points is a lot of points. The 49ers still haven’t given up a rushing touchdown all season long and the Rams only have 4 rushing touchdowns themselves. They Rams give up a HUGE 5.1 yards per carry and the 49er rushing attack cold have a big day. The offensive line for the Rams has been reshuffled to the point of having guys playing places they’ve never played before. Steve Spagnuolo is in his 3rd season in the league and his record so far is 10-33, not exactly what the owners are looking for. Even though I think it’s a great spot for the 49ers with the extra rest, I’m going to PASS ON THIS GAME AT THIS TIME.

JACKSONVILLE (3-8) +3 OVER SAN DIEGO (4-7)(39) – This past week Head Coach Jack Del Rio was fired in Jacksonville and if the Chargers lose this game, Norv Turner may follow suit. This may be one of the WORST Monday night games of the season. Both teams are struggling. Both teams are going nowhere. I’m going to pass on the game right now because I could really care less who wins this game and both teams are so bad at times, I really don’t think I have an opinion that would be accurate. PASS ON THIS STUPID MONDAY NIGHT GAME.

WE ARE AWARE THAT THE STREAM WAS DOWN DURING THE LIVE SHOW THIS WEEK. WE HAVE BEEN ASSURED THAT THIS WILL BE FIXED BEFORE NEXT WEEK’S SHOW.

GREEN BAY (10-0) -6 ½ AT DETROIT (7-3)(5 ½) – This is going to be one of the best Thanksgiving Day games in Detroit in some time.  At least it means something for the Lions for a change.  Green Bay has won 16 games in a row dating back to last season and a Super Bowl victory.  Detroit started off 5-0 this season only to go 2-3 in its past 5 games.  The Packers are a better team than the Lions for sure, but how much better in Detroit remains to be seen.  Both teams are almost mirror images of each other offensively. Neither team really relies on the run too much and both give up more yardage on the ground than they make themselves.  The Packers are deeper personnel wise and have Aaron Rodgers.  Even though Matt Stafford is a good QB, he’s still young and makes mistakes.   He’s been picked off 10 times this season.  He has an injured finger that is supposedly getting better.  He threw 5 TD passes last week against Carolina, bringing the Lions back from a 24-3 deficit.  The Lions lost to San Francisco and Atlanta at home this season, which proves that their home field advantage there isn’t much of one.  The Packers are better than both of those teams.  Indoors, Aaron Rodgers’ numbers are unbelievable, something like a 125 QB rating when it’s 72 degrees and no wind.  I’M TAKING THE PACKERS MINUS THE POINTS AND THE OVER FOR 4 STARS EACH.  Everyone in the country is probably on the same numbers, but I don’t care.  If Detroit is going to keep it close (and last weekend they scored 49 points), they’ll have to score at least 31 points in this game.  I don’t see Detroit slowing the Packers offense down unless Rodgers gets hurt.  Green Bay has played better at home than on the road, but the road doesn’t seem to cause them many problems.  CALL 1-800-466-4748 for an updated evaluation of the game after 8 a.m. on THANKSGIVING!

DALLAS (6-4) – 7 OVER MIAMI (3-7)(44) – I HAVE THE COWBOYS RATED AT OK ++.  I HAVE THE DOLPHINS RATED AT OK.  The Cowboys are sitting at the top of the NFC East after their 3^rd straight win over the Washington Redskins last week in overtime.  We lost on the Cowboys ATS but they didn’t play all that well and the Redskins blew a couple of chances to win the game outright.  This is a perfect opportunity for the Boys to blow a home game against a team that really isn’t all that bad.  However, Tony Romo, Jason Witten, DeMarco Murray, and Dez Bryant probably won’t let that happen.  However, when you take a look at the number of points that Miami’s defense has given up the last 5 games (18, 20, 3, 9, and 8) you have to say that it’s impressive.  Dallas scored 27 points against a decent Skins defense last week, but barely beat a team that Miami handled at home the week before.  Reggie Bush should be good on the Dallas turf and Miami’s defense should be able to keep the game close.  I’M GOING TO PASS ON THE GAME AT THIS TIME.  CALL 1-800-466-4748 FOR MY RELEASE ON THANKSGIVING AFTER 11 A.M.

BALTIMORE (7-3) – 3 OVER SAN FRANCISCO (9-1)(39) – For the first time in the history of the NFL, two teams with head coaches that are BROTHERS will face off in a game.  Not only are the two head coaches brothers, but their father was a college head coach and scout in the NFL also.  It doesn’t get any better than this for a proud mom and dad who will be in attendance in Baltimore tomorrow night.  After moving to the 49ers from Stanford University, Jim Harbaugh has proven to be exactly what San Francisco has needed to turn around their franchise.  Their defense has played exceptionally well.  Alex Smith, who some believed would never be a good NFL quarterback, is doing a great job at the helm of this offense, which runs more than they pass.  The 49ers have covered the spread all but two games this season.  They are a FORCE.  Frank Gore is a bit knicked up with a sore knee and ankle, but they have an exceptional backup RB in Kendall Hunter.  Vernon Davis is one of the top TE’s in the league.  Michael Crabtree is improving slowly and Alex Smith seems comfortable throwing to any number of different receivers on his team, including offensive linemen.  The Ravens have been inconsistent, but their defense is solid.  Ray Lewis sat out last game but did a great job of coaching from the sidelines against the Bengals.  Ray Rice is averaging 4.2 yards per carry but needs more touches for sure.  He is also their leading receiver.  Joe Flacco has struggled at times this season and it looks like Anquan Boldin is slowed by an injury.  TE Ed Dickson out of Oregon is a solid receiver at TD and becoming a favorite of Flacco’s.  The 49ers have looked at times like world beaters and really haven’t played a bad game yet this season.  I HAVE A THEORY AND HERE IT IS!!  Look, these guys are brothers and neither one of them wants to lose, but the one brother who CAN’T AFFORD ANOTHER LOSS           is John Harbaugh and his Ravens.  The 49ers have all but wrapped off the NFC West and their playoff berth already.  The 49ers are on a short week (so are the Ravens) and even if they have the better of the two teams, I feel that the advantage on Bird Day is with the home team Ravens.  They are 5-0 at home and the least amount of points they’ve scored is 29 in those 5 wins.  The 49ers are UNDEFEATED on the road but something has to give. I look for them to lose their second  game of the season  against the Ravens in Baltimore.   I’M GOING TO TAKE THE RAVENS MINUST THE 3 POINTS TO WIN AND COVER AT A GAME THAT I WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE.  I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO SPENDING MY TURKEY DAY NIGHT WITH THE HARBAUGH FAMILY AND MAKE THAT JUST ONE MORE GREAT SPORTING EVENT I’VE BEEN AT IN MY LIFE.  3 STARS NOTHING BIG. Gonna be a big time DEFENSIVE PLAY SO HAVE FUN WITH THE UNDER TOO.  I don’t see either defense giving up much scoring in this one.

ATLANTA (6-4) – 9½ OVER MINNESOTA (2-8) (44) – The Falcons have won 4 of their last 5 games with the only loss coming at home in OT against the Saints WHEN I WAS ON THEM!  Anyway, this is a game the Falcons absolutely have to have to keep any hopes alive they will be in the playoffs this season.  Minny just lost Adrian Peterson for a while so they won’t be able to run the ball as effectively as usual.  Toby Gerhart will replace him and should do fine, but he isn’t A.P.  The Vikings are in heavy duty rebuild mode and with young Christian Ponder it looks like they already have their QB.  That means that with their first pick they’ll get an excellent football player to add to their roster next year.  This year, there is a chance they will not win one more game this season.  The Falcons are not that much better than the Vikings this year, but their record is and they have improved over the last several games.  I’m GOING TO PASS ON THIS GAME.

CINCINNATI (6-4) -7 ½ OVER CLEVELAND (4-6) (37 ½) – Two teams going in opposite directions.  Cleveland is lucky to have won 4 games this year.  Cincinnati is probably better thant heir 6-4 record.  Andy Dalton is doing a good job at QB his rookie year in Cincy and the Browns’ Colt McCoy is looking OK in his second year.  The Browns have struggled with their offense all year long.  The Bengals offense is pretty solid and beat the Browns opening day in Cleveland 27-17.  They’ve played the Ravens and the Steelers tough lately.  I doubt the Browns will be able to put up enough of a fight to stay close to the Bengals.  The Bengals did lose their best defensive player, CB Leon Hall a couple of weeks ago for the season.  The Browns really don’t have much of a passing game.  They might get Peyton Hillis back this week in the offensive backfield.  I have the Bengals rated OK+ and the Browns rated OK–.  I’M GOING TO TAKE THE BENGALS MINUS THE POINTS FOR 4 STARS OVER  THE BROWNS FOR 3 STARS.

CAROLINA (2-8) -3 ½ OVER INDIANAPOLIS (0-10) (46 ½) – There are a few handicappers and “experts” picking the Colts to win their first game of the year here at home against the Panthers.  I don’t personally see it myself, but hey, you’d think they’ve got to win sometime right?  NOT! This Colts defense is SO  bad I don’t have them winning ONE game this season and winning the Andrew Luck Bowl drawing.  Cam Newton has had a very good rookie year so far but as of late, he’s been wearing down and throwing some picks.  He has 12 TD’s and 14 interceptions so far this season.  Colts QB Curtis Painter is struggling this season and only has a 67.4 QB rating.  Newton is at 80.  The Colts have given up 1,000 yards more than they have rushed and passed for.  The Panthers should be able to move the ball up and down the field against this non-defense of the Colts.  I don’t see the Colts being able to score with them.  I’M PASSING ON THE GAME BUT TAKING THE OVER 46½  POINTS FOR 4 STARS.  THERE WILL BE SOME POINTS SCORED HERE INDOORS.

HOUSTON (7-3) -6 ½ OVER JACKSONVILLE (3-7) (37) – Houston’s Matt Schaub is lost for the season and former Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart will finally get the opportunity to see if he can successfully QB an NFL team.  What a team and what a year to get a chance to do that this would be.  With Peyton Manning out indefinitely for the Indianapolis Colts, the Houston Texans are in the driver’s seat of the AFC South with a 7-3 record.  Their schedule offers them a chance at 12 wins and a division title.  Coming off an extra week to prepare after Schaub’s injury, Leinart should be ready to play.  With Arian Foster and Ben Tate running the football and getting back Andre Johnson to go along with an already good group of receivers, everything is in place to continue to dominate the South.  The Texans have won 4 games in a row with one of the wins being against this same Jaguar team three weeks ago.  The MVP so far in the AFC as far as I’m concerned isn’t a player.  It’s Wade Phillips, the defensive coordinator who came from losing his head coaching job in Dallas to go back to his roots coaching the defense.  Head Coach Jack Del Rio of Jacksonville is looking like he might lose his job soon if he doesn’t get anything going with the Jaguars.  He still has Maurice Jones-Drew but rookie QB Blaine Gabbert has struggled with his weak pass receivers and offense.  I look for the Texans to come out scoring in bunches against a good Jacksonville defense that has been decimated as of late with injuries.  TAKE THE TEXANS MINUS THE POINTS FOR 3 STARS.

JETS (5-5) -9 ½ OVE BUFFALO (5-5) (42) – Two teams that looked early like they might both be in the playoffs now both look like they will struggle to even have a chance to get there.  I have the Jets rated OK and the Bills rated OK and guess what?  They’re both 5-5 which is OK.  The Jets are coming off two straight loses to the Patriots and the Tim Tebow’s of Denver.  The Bills have lost 3 in a row to the Jets, Dallas, and Miami by a combined score of 106-26.  That is pretty piss poor.  The Jets have an opportunity with their schedule to still make the playoffs.  The Bills, after losing this game, not so much.  After signing a big contract, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is struggling and now has lost his biggest offensive weapon in Fred Jackson to a broken leg.  The Bills will have their 3^rd center in 3 weeks this week when Kraig Urbick, usually their right guard, starts there.  The Jets have a much better defense than the Bills.  I look for the Jets to easily win by 10 points to defeat the Bills and knock them out of any chance for the playoffs.  I’M TAKING THE JETS MINUS THE POINTS FOR 3 STARS.

ST. LOUIS (2-8) -2 ½ OVER ARIZONA (3-7) (39 ½) – Seriously, who cares?  The famous announcing crew of Sam Rosen and Chad Pennington should tell you all you need to know about this game.  If anyone is caught playing this game for any reason, they should have their head examined.  QB Kevin Kolb may get the start on Sunday after being cleared to work out this week.  He will be a game time decisions as far as I know.  These two teams went into overtime three weeks ago and the Cardinals won 19-13.  Look for the Rams to ride the strong back of RB Steven Jackson and the limited receiving corps of QB Sam Bradford.  The Rams offensive line situation, however, is desperate having lost Roger Saffold and his replacement Mark LeVoir.  They were already thin.  Future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald is probably wondering when he’ll play in a game that actually means something.   I’M GOING TO PASS ON THIS GAME BETWEEN TWO TEAMS GOING ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE ANYTIME SOON. PASS.

TENNESSEE (5-5) -3 OVER TAMPA BAY (4-6) (43) – Both of these teams need a win pretty much to have ANY chance of making the playoffs this season.  My odds give them both 0 chance of making the playoffs.  After winning 4 of their first 6 games, the Bucs have lost 4 in a row facing Chicago, New Orleans, Houston, and Green Bay.  They step down in class facing the Titans and are just a 3 point favorite.  Last week against the Packers, the Bucs had a good outing.  LeGarrette Blount ran the ball well and QB Josh Freeman had a career day.  It wasn’t enough to beat the 11-0 Green Bay Packers however.  The Titans have been up and down all season long.  The only team of any real quality that the Titans have beaten was the Baltimore Ravens the second week of the season.  All 5 losses have come against quality teams.  Tampa doesn’t fall into that category.  Matt Hasselbeck will get the start on Sunday after injuring his elbow last week and rookie Jake Locker finished the game.   I’M GOING TO PASS ON THE GAME FOR SURE.  IT’S A TOSS UP.

OAKLAND (6-4) -3 OVER CHICAGO (7-3) (43 ½) – After losing two in a row at home against Kansas City and Denver, the Raiders went on the road and won two game against San Diego and Minnesota to bring their record to the AFC West lead at 6-4.  Carson Palmer is improving each week and the Raiders look to get back Darren McFadden possibly this week for a few carries.  Michael Bush has done an excellent job in his absence.  Jacoby Ford is OUT for the week at WR.  On the other side of the ball, Chicago’s starting QB Jay Cutler is out with a broken thumb.  Backup Caleb Hanie will be ready and do a good job in his absence.  The Bears should not miss a beat.  Darrius Heyward-Bey is questionable but should play for Oakland.  The Bears have won 5 games in a row.  Both teams will attack the other teams defense with the running game first.  I expect Oakland to load 8 men in the box and force Hanie to throw the ball to beat them.  I’M GOING TO PASS ON THIS GAME.

SEATTLE (4-6) – 3 OVER SKINS (3-7)(37 ½) – Even my contacts in Seattle close to the team say that they wouldn’t be surprised if Washington came in and beat the Seahawks on Sunday.  For that to be true, I’d have to ask the question, “How in the hell did the Seahawks beat the Ravens then?” The Seahawks best players are on the defensive side of the ball.  Their front seven are as good as anyone’s in the league.  Unfortunately for them, their offense blows pretty bad.  Marshawn Lynch is a legitimate baller, but even with his talent, he’s just averaging 3.8 yards per carry for this weak offense.  Their QB Tavaris Jackson struggles and has thrown only 7 TD’s and 11 picks.  The Seahawks are going to stop what little run the Skins have and force Rex Grossman to beat them.  Grossman’s numbers are similar to Jackson’s. 8 TD’s and 12 picks.  Grossman should get Santana Moss back this week after injuring his wrist earlier this season.  He’ll need him to stretch the field for his offense to be successful.  This is the Skins’ 11^th game of the season and their two healthy running backs, Roy Helu and Ryan Torain, have just 248 and 192 yards respectively.  That’s unbelievable.  The offensive line has been decimated by injuries so far this season.  I’M GOING TO PASS ON THIS GAME BECAUSE IT COULD GO EITHER WAY.  I DON’T SEE THE SKINS WINNING THIS GAME BUT I DON’T REALLY SEE MUCH BETTER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BALL.

NEW ENGLAND (7-3) -3 ½ OVER PHILADELPHIA (4-6) (50.5) – This could be one of the best games of the day here.  New England travels into Philly to take on an Eagle team that has been a mystery all season long.  Michael Vick is injured and last week his backup Vince Young led the Eagles to a 17-10 win in New York in a HUGE division game.  Even though Philly has most of their weapons for this game, Jeremy Macklin is a game time decision and Michael Vick is questionable but I’m not sure he’ll get the start quite yet.  OT King Dunlap is out for the Eagles with a concussion.  Tom Brady and New England’s offense will not have such an easy time of it against this talented defensive backfield of the Eagles.  The Pats are also playing a bunch of young inexperienced defenders against a pretty good offense.  If Vince Young starts for Philly, I see Belichick forcing him to throw the ball.  New England will have to stop LeSean McCoy to have any chance of doing that.  If Vick starts, he’ll be less than 100% and I’d look for the Pats to attack him and upset his rhythm in the pocket.  Brady has been more prone to turnovers this season and the Eagles defensive line has put lots of pressure on opposing QB’s.  IF VICK STARTS, I LIKE THE OVER 50.5 POINTS FOR 4 STARS.  IF YOUNG STARTS, I LIKE THE PATS WINNING AND COVERING THE 3 ½ POINT SPREAD.

SAN DIEGO (4-6) -5 ½ OVER DENVER (5-5)(45.5) – The Broncos have won 4 out of their last 5 since Tim Tebow took over the reigns as the Broncos QB.  Sure he’s only completing 44.8% of his passes and misses wide open receivers from time to time, but he’s WINNING, and he’s fun to watch and when he takes off and runs NOBODY really wants to tackle him.  Kyle Orton was picked up on waivers by the Kansas City Chiefs this week so Brady Quinn is now the backup to Tebow.  The Chargers will have both Ryan Matthews and Mike Tolbert healthy this weekend for the game.  Phillip Rivers has been struggling and Norv Turner can’t figure out what to do.  Both the Broncos and the Chargers have had problems keeping opposing teams from throwing the ball on them.  Since Tebow has taken over at QB for the Broncos, they have gone almost strictly to the running game with some passes mixed in.  Rivers has thrown 17 picks already this season.  Marcus McNeil is out for San Diego.  So is WR Malcolm Floyd.  G Luis Vasquez is doubtful.  San Diego has struggled on defense since losing to the Jets a month ago.  Injuries aren’t making things better.  The Broncos, on the other hand, are pretty healthy.  Their defense has stepped up and played well the last few weeks.   There is something going on in Denver and Tim Tebow is making believers out of everyone.  Add to that Norv and his struggling Chargers and I don’t see them stopping the Tebow Train.  San Diego beat the Broncos earlier this season in Denver. I’m looking for the Broncos to return the favor on Sunday.  I’M TAKING THE BRONCOS PLUS THE POINTS FOR 3 STARS IN THIS GAME.

PITTSBURGH (7-3) -10.5 OVER KANSAS CITY (4-6)(40) – Even though the Chiefs acquired Kyle Orton this past week on waivers and he’ll eventually start in K.C., Tyler Palko will probably get his second straight start at QB for the Chiefs.  The Steelers behind broken fingered Ben Roethelisberger will probably not have much of a problem with the Chiefs who have surrounded four wins in a row mid season with seven losses.  Miami beat the Chiefs three weeks ago 31-3.  The Steelers aren’t going to be any easier.  The Chiefs especially have had a tough time with pass protection all year long and facing the blitz schemes of the Steelers will present some serious problems for Palko and the offense.  The Steelers are banged up and Big Ben does have a broken thumb but the Steelers should leave K.C. after Sunday with a win.  I’M GOING TO PASS ON THE GAME COMPLETELY.

MONDAY NIGHT GAME

NEW YORK GIANTS (6-4) +7 OVER NEW ORLEANS (7-3) (51) – The Giants have lost two games in a row in San Francisco and last week at home against Philly.  They played a good game against the 49ers and had a chance to upset them.  Last week, they got nothing out of any parts of their team.  They faced backup QB Vince Young and ended up losing 17-10.  They can’t afford to go into New Orleans this week and do anything but be victorious or their season might be over sooner than later.  The Giants, as most of you know, are usually road warriors. They are an excellent traveling team.  The Saints are coming off a bye week and are healthy.  Eli Manning grew up in New Orleans and will have quite a few fans there and the Giants should have a healthy group of receivers ready for the game.  The Saints defense under Gregg Williams has been a good defense usually but this season they’ve struggled especially against the run.  The problem this week is Ahmad Bradshaw is still out.  Brandon Jacobs and the offensive line had their problems last week with the running game.  Now Will Beatty is out for quite a while having surgery this past week.  LB Michael Boley will miss another game this week with an injury.  If the Giants can protect Eli and get some decent runs out of Brandon Jacobs, then the Giants should be able to take advantage of their good receiving corps of Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks, and Jake Ballard. This is a doe or die game for the Giants.  Not so much for the Saints.  I’M GOING TO TAKE THE 7 POINTS AND PLAY THE GIANTS AND PLAY OVER 51 POINTS FOR 5 STARS.