LAST WEEK: 11-5, extending out the season
forecast to a balmy 152-87
The final week of the regular season is perennially the
toughest forecast of the year. There are so many different butterflies flapping
their wings, spreading odd effects all over the NFL landscape.
As such, I am only offering commentary on games with playoff
implications. If you really care about the Lions vs. Packers, seek help
immediately and/or listen to my Sunday morning radio show, available for
streaming on the iHeart app.
All games this week are on Sunday.
COLTS AT
TITANS: The only true win-or-go-home game of the weekend for
both teams. It’s simple. The winner gets the sixth seed in the AFC, the season
ends for the loser in the final game of the regular-season slate.
The Colts (9-6) have won eight-of-nine since starting 1-5,
and it has been a balanced effort between offense and defense. That’s what makes
them so difficult for Tennessee. If Andrew Luck isn’t having his best night,
Darius Leonard and the defense can still keep the game winnable. Tennessee
(9-6) can be the better team but also the worse team, even at home. QB Marcus
Mariota’s questionable status - even if he plays - makes it real tough to trust
the Titans. COLTS 24, TITANS 17
EAGLES AT
REDSKINS: Washington’s top three QBs are all on IR. Then
again, Carson Wentz is also unavailable, leaving the Eagles' prayers hanging on
Nick Foles (again). That worked out pretty well at the end of last season.
Unfortunately, Foles cannot control what happens with the Vikings, who must
lose to the Bears for the Eagles (8-7) to make the postseason ... presuming
Philly wins this game. Presumption made. EAGLES 28, REDSKINS 17
BENGALS AT STEELERS: The Steelers need to beat
what’s left of the Bengals and hope the Browns can beat the Ravens (9-6). If
those things both happen, Pittsburgh (8-6-1) sneaks into the playoffs as the
AFC North champion. Otherwise, Mike Tomlin & Co. will be watching the
postseason with the rest of us. If they can’t beat Jeff Driskel throwing
to Cody Core by at least two touchdowns, in Pittsburgh, the Steelers have no
business even thinking about looking at the scoreboard in Baltimore. Then
again, the line has gone down at Bet Online from a high of 16.5 points early in
the week. STEELERS 34, BENGALS 10
BROWNS AT
RAVENS: A lot is at stake here. The Ravens (9-6) win the AFC
North with a victory, but the surging Browns do have something to play for.
Both these teams have won five of their last six games, and that stint leaves
the Browns (7-7-1) with a chance to seize their first non-losing season since
2007. Interim coach Gregg Williams has declared this a playoff game, and a win
would offer him a better chance of sticking with the rising franchise.
To accomplish that, Williams’ defense will need to control
Lamar Jackson. The dynamic rookie has improved his passing proficiency enough
that the Browns can’t over-commit to stopping him and the Baltimore run game.
For all the praise Williams has earned as the head coach, his defense is still
prone to being too blindly aggressive and mistake-prone. I think John Harbaugh
and the Ravens taken advantage and win the AFC North. RAVENS
26, BROWNS 21
BEARS AT
VIKINGS: The Vikings (8-6-1) need to win to seize a wild-card
berth. The Bears (11-4) are locked into being the No. 3 seed unless they win
and the Rams (12-3) lose to the 49ers. I’m interested in seeing how rookie head
coach Matt Nagy handles his Bears. Will he rest them and play vanilla, hoping
for a rematch next week? Or will he treat this as an important enough game to
play everyone full bore and not risk any rust in the postseason? I’ll venture
this - if the Bears really want to win this game, they will win it and ruin
what has already been a disappointing season for the Vikings. But if Chicago
backs off the gas, the Vikings could win by 25. BEARS 23, VIKINGS 21
DOLPHINS AT
BILLS: This will be the final game for Bills venerable DT Kyle
Williams. The 14-year vet announced this week that he is hanging up the cleats
after the game. Williams has been one of the most popular and underappreciated
players around the league for a long time. He goes out a winner. BILLS
18, DOLPHINS 13
CHARGERS AT
BRONCOS: Vance Joseph goes out on the wrong end of yet another
outcome in what figures to be his final game as Denver’s coach. CHARGERS
33, BRONCOS 22
JAGUARS AT
TEXANS: Blake
Bortles will start again for the Jaguars. Cheer up; Duval ... it’s the last
time. TEXANS 27, JAGUARS 21
49ERS AT RAMS: If the Rams win they get a bye
as the NFC’s No. 2 seed. If … (insert lol GIF of your choice here) RAMS
30, 49ERS 17
COWBOYS AT
GIANTS: I’d like the Giants more if Odell Beckham was playing
but his season is over. Dallas (9-6) has nothing to play for except the pride
of burying a hated division rival and getting a 10th victory. Might be one of
the more interesting watches on the day for the meaningless games. GIANTS
29, COWBOYS 24
CARDINALS AT
SEAHAWKS: Arizona locks up the No. 1 overall pick. Hope you
like the dry air, Nick Bosa SEAHAWKS 35, CARDINALS 10
RAIDERS AT
CHIEFS: The Chiefs (11-4) need to win to lock up home-field and
the No. 1 seed. They’ll get it. CHIEFS 40, RAIDERS 20
PANTHERS AT
SAINTS: Now playing quarterback for Carolina: Kyle Allen, the
undrafted rookie from Houston. He’s backed up by Garrett Gilbert, who may or
may not have been your claims adjuster at Liberty Mutual last week. Playing QB
for the Saints? Teddy Bridgewater. SAINTS 32, PANTHERS 12
LIONS AT
PACKERS: Matt Patricia’s rookie season comes to a merciful end
the same way it began, with a humiliating loss. At least nobody will watch this
one, unlike the opener on national television. PACKERS 20, LIONS 6
FALCONS AT
BUCCANEERS: Dirk Koetter’s last stand. I have a feeling the
Bucs players go out and show the kind of coach-killing potential they have and
smoke the Falcons in a ploy to try and land a better coaching candidate. BUCCANEERS
41, FALCONS 30
JETS AT
PATRIOTS: Something odd will happen in this game with the
Patriots. Maybe it’s Gronk throwing a TD pass, or James White catching 17
passes to get 100 receptions on the season, or a Kyle Van Noy pick-six. Heck,
it could be all three… PATRIOTS 27, JETS 17
Bowls
Cotton Bowl
Clemson 31, Notre Dame 14
Orange Bowl
Alabama 57, Oklahoma 36
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