Last week: 13-3 (.813)
Season record: 145-95 (.604)
THURSDAY
Dallas Cowboys (11-4) at Tennessee Titans (7-8), 8:15 p.m. – The Titans are one of several AFC contenders – the Jets and Dolphins are the others – who are going in the wrong direction. They have lost their past five games and are in danger of not winning the division, something that appeared to be a rubber-stamp when they held a four-game lead heading into Week 12. A loss to the Cowboys will force them to win their season finale in Jacksonville. The Cowboys have scored at least 40 points in four of their past eight games and are averaging 37.5 points since Halloween. Pretty impressive stuff.
Prediction: Cowboys, 38-23
SUNDAY
Steelers (7-8) at Baltimore Ravens (10-5), 8:20 p.m. – The Ravens have rushed for over 200 yards in each of their past two meetings with the Steelers. But that didn’t hurt the Steelers in the first meeting three weeks ago nearly as much as the three interceptions in Baltimore territory. The Ravens still have a chance for the division title.
Prediction: Steelers, 20-17
Cleveland Browns (6-9) at Washington Commanders (7-7-1), 1 p.m. – The Browns offense has been as cold as the lakefront weather, managing just 33 points in the past three games with Deshaun Watson. The Commanders aren’t much different: They don’t have a victory in the past three games, severely harming their playoff chances.
Prediction: Browns, 16-14
Miami Dolphins (8-7) at New England Patriots (7-8), 1 p.m. – Like the Titans and Jets, the Dolphins are doing their best to kick away a playoff spot. They have lost four in a row and could be without QB Tua Tagovailoa. But if they beat the Patriots, who have lost four of their past five, the Steelers are out of the playoff picture.
Prediction: Dolphins, 20-17
Arizona Cardinals (4-11) at Atlanta Falcons (5-10), 1 p.m. – There was a time not long ago when the Falcons were leading the NFC South division. But four consecutive losses have changed all that. Not sure which owner is more displeased with handing out ridiculous QB contracts – the one in Denver or the one in Arizona.
Prediction: Falcons, 18-15
Chicago Bears (3-12) at Detroit Lions (7-8), 1 p.m. – The Bears have allowed 31 or more points in five of their past eight games. But their No. 1-ranked rush offense might have a lion-sized day against Detroit, which allowed 320 yards last week to the Carolina Panthers. Even that might not be enough to end their eight-game losing streak.
Prediction: Lions, 31-25
Jacksonville Jaguars (7-8) at Houston Texans (2-12-1), 1 p.m. – A matchup of the two hottest teams in the AFC South. The Jaguars have won four of their past five and are ready to take the division lead from Tennessee. In their past three starts, the Texans should have beat the Cowboys, took the Chiefs to OT and beat the Titans.
Prediction: Jaguars, 24-23
Denver Broncos (4-11) at Kansas City Chiefs (12-3), 1 p.m. – Nobody likes to see a coach get fired with two games left in his rookie season, but it should come as no surprise it happened to Nathaniel Hackett. But he should not be alone. The person who thought it was a good idea to trade for Russell Wilson should go, too.
Prediction: Chiefs, 33-9
Indianapolis Colts (4-10-1) at New York Giants (8-6-1), 1 p.m. – The Giants have just one win in their past six starts, but they somehow still have control of a wild card playoff spot. Since winning his first game as a much-criticized interim replacement for Frank Reich, Jeff Saturday has had a lot of lousy Sundays, losing five in a row.
Prediction: Giants, 24-16
New Orleans Saints (6-9) at Philadelphia Eagles (13-2), 1 p.m. – The Eagles’ loss to the Cowboys left open the possibility they could not only lose the No. 1 seed in the NFC, but also the NFC East title. But that will all be settled if they can beat the Saints, even without Jalen Hurts. The Saints need a Tampa Bay loss to stay alive.
Prediction: Eagles, 34-17
Carolina Panthers (6-9) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8), 1 p.m. – The Panthers can take over first place in the NFC South with a victory because they will have swept the season series with Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers’ only two wins in the past five games are because Tom Brady pulled out last-minute scores against the Saints and Cardinals.
Prediction: Panthers, 17-16
San Francisco 49ers (11-4) at Las Vegas Raiders (6-9), 4:05 p.m. – Does anyone really think the 49ers are not headed to the Super Bowl, even with a rookie quarterback? They have won eight in a row by an average of 14.1 points because of a defense that is allowing 12.1 points during that streak. The Raiders have given up.
Prediction: 49ers, 31-10
New York Jets (7-8) at Seattle Seahawks (7-8), 4:05 p.m. – It was little more than a month ago these teams were among the surprises of the NFL season. But the Jets have lost four in a row and the Seahawks have lost five of the past six. The Jets have benched Zach Wilson again, but they’ve actually performed better with Mike White.
Prediction: Jets, 16-13
Minnesota Vikings (12-3) at Green Bay Packers (7-8), 4:25 p.m. – Aaron Rodgers and the Packers have suddenly come alive and kept themselves in the playoff picture with a three-game winning streak. The Vikings still have their eye on the No. 1 seed in the NFC, though they survived close calls against the Colts and Giants.
Prediction: Packers, 30-28
Los Angeles Rams (5-10) at Los Angeles Chargers (9-6), 4:25 p.m. – Here’s an oddity: the Rams are actually the road team in their own stadium. Somehow, their surprisingly anemic offense put up 51 points last week against one of the league’s stingiest defenses. The Chargers clinched a playoff spot with their third consecutive victory.
Prediction: Chargers, 27-21
MONDAY
Buffalo Bills (12-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (11-4), 8:15 p.m. – The Bengals finish with two of the AFC playoff teams – the Ravens are next – but they have both at home, where their only loss this season was to (gulp!) the Steelers. The Bills don’t want to let go of that No. 1 seed and can clinch the top spot with a win if the Chiefs lose.
Prediction: Bengals, 41-38
Gerry Dulac: gdulac@post-gazette.com and Twitter @gerrydulac.
First Published: December 29, 2022, 5:25 p.m.
