LAST WEEK STRAIGHT UP: 10-5
SEASON STRAIGHT UP: 38-25
LAST WEEK VS. SPREAD: 7-7-1
SEASON VS. SPREAD: 29-33-1
The Rams came through in my upset special last week and I'm calling on them again, though I don't feel as strongly. Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will have to come up with some tricks against a rugged Arizona defense – trying to smash-mouth the Cards won't work. Need some special-teams help, too.
Rams 17, Cardinals 16
Load up on the Ravens, friends. The Chiefs are a complete mess. If they couldn't get fired up to play division rival San Diego last week, what chance will they have against the much tougher Ravens this week? None.
This is a bad match-up for the Chiefs. The one thing they can do is run the ball, and that's the hardest thing to do against the Ravens. And you can bet the Ravens' secondary is licking its chops waiting for Matt Cassel to toss up a few ducks.
What the Ravens do best is create turnovers and the Chiefs are minus-13 in the turnover ratio. Yikes. The booing will be heard all the way to St. Joe.
Ravens 30, Chiefs 13
Here's my upset special this week. The Falcons rallied to beat the Panthers last week and really should have lost if not for a Carolina defensive meltdown in the final seconds. This week, the Redskins and RGIII will expose the Falcons' defense and the Falcons' unbeaten season ends.
Redskins 28, Falcons 24
EAGLES (+4) AT STEELERS
The Eagles are a hard team to figure. Just when you thought they'd belly up at home to the Giants, they squeak out a win. That win died down the quarterback controversy for awhile in Philly. But the Steelers will be too tough at home, and this may not be close.
Steelers 27, Eagles 17
The Packers got a season-saver last week in the one-point win over the Saints. And more good news was that the Packers' slumbering offense finally woke up. The bad news is the much-maligned defense from 2011 showed up again last week – or was it just that Drew Brees was that good? We'll find out this week.
Packers 34, Colts 13
Have to hand it to the Browns, who showed some spunk last Thursday night at Baltimore and gave the Ravens a good run. The Browns' offense is showing some signs of life, even with a rookie quarterback. They may hang around again based on a vastly improving defense, too.
Giants 20, Browns 13
Wow, can these Vikings really be 3-1? And guess what? They're about to be 4-1 and the talk of the NFC.
Vikings 24, Titans 16
Great effort by the Dolphins last week on the road against a tough Arizona team. Miami is really playing much better than its 1-3 mark. And they probably will make the Bengals scratch and claw here to get a win.
Bengals 23, Dolphins 17
I do think the Seahawks will be cursed for awhile for stealing that Monday night game over Green Bay (and then boasting about it). The curse started with a loss to the Rams and it continues here.
Panthers 20, Seahawks 10
The Bears got a huge defensive performance on Monday night at Dallas, and they will smother the Jags here. Jay Cutler hasn't had to be good yet, and if he has a decent day, this won't be close.
Bears 27, Jags 10
BRONCOS (+7) AT PATRIOTS
Ooh, the big Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning matchup. If Peyton can take these Broncos into Foxboro and beat Brady and Co., he's way better than we even think. Bet he keeps it close somehow.
Patriots 28, Broncos 24
The 49ers bounced back quite nicely from that embarrassing loss to the Vikes by thumping the hapless Jets. This will be more of a tester. The Bills still don't know what hit them last week – they had a 21-7 lead in the second half before the Pats scored 35 straight points. They hang around even longer this week.
49ers 19, Bills 14
This could be a wild one. The Saints are beyond desperate – they are inches from a collapse and completely giving up on the season. Drew Brees has pride, though, and he will have a big day. So will Philip Rivers against a horrible Saints defense.
Chargers 48, Saints 45
The Jets are in worse shape than the Chiefs. Now the whole country can watch the demise of Rex Ryan's troops.
Texans 35, Jets 10
