* Ravens over Dolphins-
Baltimore finally exploded win a big home win. They sit at 4-4, two games behind Pittsburgh in AFC North, having lost to the Steelers earlier in the season. The Ravens travel to Tennessee this week. The Dolphins just traded running back Jay Ajayi to the Eagles today, weakening their offense. They played a terrible game against Baltimore, and, despite a 4-3, it has to be questioned if the Fish will go anywhere this year. This trade sending mixed signals to Miami fans, sitting with a winning record in AFC East, yet dealing their best running back? The Dolphins have Oakland at home on Sunday night.
* Vikings over Browns-
Minnesota beat the hapless Browns in London, even without QB Sam Bradford. The NFC North is for the Vikings to lose, sitting on top with a 6-2 slate. I don't think Minnesota will go far if they do make the playoffs, but they do have a fin defense, and a playoff game in chilly Minnesota ( roof or no roof) would be an advantage. Meanwhile, the Browns are 0-8, destined for yet another miserable year, and have to see quarterbacks Carson Wentz, Jared Goff and DeSaun Watson rub it in Cleveland's face each week of what could have been. They deserve it. Cleveland's front office is the worst in all professional sports. The Vikes have a bye this week as they return from England. as do the Brownies.
* Bills over Raiders-
Buffalo continues to surprise, even though this was supposed to be a rebuilding year. Coach Sean McDermott has done a great job with the Bills. RB LeSean McCoy is in his prime ( too bad the Eagles couldn't get him back in Philadelphia).The Bills are 5-2, only a half-game behind the Patriots.Oakland fails to win on the east coast again. That Christmas night match-up with the Eagles may not matter if the Raiders continue to stumble. They are 3-5 and in the cellar of AFC West, 3 games behind Kansas City. Buffalo is at the Jets this Sunday for a key division game, while the Raiders go to Miami on Sunday night.
* Bengals over Colts-
Cincinnati eeked out a victory against the lowly Colts. Cincy is 3-4 and technically still in a division and wild card race, but I don't believe in the Bengals. Indy may not get QB Andrew Luck back at all this year. They should be looking to tank for 2018. The Bengals have three straight road games, starting this week at Jacksonville.Indianapolis goes to Houston to take on DeShaun Watson and the Texans.
* Patriots over Chargers-
New England had a tougher time than expected at home against the surging Chargers, escaping with an eight point victory. The Pats lead the AFC East with a 6-2 record, but it feels different this year. They need to secure home field advantage and get a playoff game or two in icy New England in January. Getting the Pats away from home would be big for any AFC team hoping to get to the Super Bowl. The LA Chargers are playing better, but let's be real- they don't measure up to the Chiefs in the west and they aren't good enough to be a wild card squad. New England LA has a bye week while the Patriots also take their break.
* Cowboys over Redskins-
I really expected the 'Skins to put up a better fight against Dallas in Washington but it wasn't meant to be. Now the Redskins are 3-4, have been swept by the Eagles, and now have a home division loss to the Cowboys. Dallas goes to 4-3 and seems to be rounding into shape, but the Zeke Elliot suspension looms over them/ The 'Boys return to Dallas with a tough match-up against the Chiefs while Washington makes yet another west coast trip, this time to Seattle.
* Chiefs over Broncos-
KC is a solid team, and they manhandled the struggling Broncos on Monday Night Football. Who can or will challenge the Chiefs in AFC West? No one. Kansas City are playing for playoff seeding, a bye and home field advantage. Getting New England and/or Pittsburgh in KC would be big. Denver comes to Philadelphia this Sunday afternoon, still with a good defense but mightily struggling at quarterback.
* Saints over Bears-
The red-hot Saints have now won five in a row and are ether clear favorites to win the NFC South. QB Drew Brees is playing great and New Orleans has a good defense to go with it. Chicago is 3-5, still i striking distance in NFC North, with Green Bay, Minnesota and Detroit all flawed, but with a rookie QB, the bears won't get to the playoffs this season. The Saints stay in the Superdome to play Tampa Bay while the Bears take their bye this week.
* Falcons over Jets-
Atlanta survived in New York, and despite the win, they still aren't exuding confidence. There's got to be some sort of Super Bowl letdown. They better wake up, as New Orleans is hot and Carolina is still a force to be reckoned with. The Jets are 3-5 in a surprising seasons o far,which, with a few breaks here and there, could have been a really surprising campaign. The 4-3 Falcons play their third straight road game at Carolina this Sunday, while the Jets stay home to take on the Bills.
* Eagles over 49'ers-
I already broke down this game, but I will add that the 49'ers are now 0-8 for the first time in their history. They were the trendy team to win at least 5-6 games this year but it won't happen. They have only won three games in their last 26 tries- and all have been against the LA Rams. Go figure.The Birds finish their three-game home stand with Denver this Sunday before taking their well-deserved bye, then facing the Cowboys in Dallas on Sunday Night Football on Nov. 18.
* Panthers over Buccaneers-
Carolina is now 5-3 and have a major divisional game this week with the visiting Falcons. This is where the Panthers and QB Cam Newton need to step up and show they are one of the elite teams in the NFC. The Bucs, also a trendy pick at the beginning of the year, have so much potential, yet sit at a disappointing 2-5. Good luck as they take on the Saints in New Orleans this week.
* Seahawks over Texans-
In a wild game at Seattle, the Seahawks beat the Texans, 41-38. The Seattle defense isn't what it used to be, giving teams like the Eagles reason for hope. The Seahawks are tied with the LA Rams at 5-2 in NFC West, having beaten the Rams already. Houston has to be excited with the play of QB Watson, as they are 3-4 in NFC South, right behind the Titans and Jags. Seattle plays at home again this week, greeting the Redskins, as the Texans go home to face the bad Colts.
* Steelers over Lions-
Pittsburgh won in Detroit and are now 6-2 in AFC North. The Lions fell to 3-4, but don't count them out yet in wacky NFC North. The Steelers take their bye this week before hitting the road again to Indianapolis. The Lions go to Lambeau Field in Green Bay for an important division game with the Packers.Without having to deal with Aaron Rodgers, the Lions have a fighters' chance.
* Vikings over Browns-
Minnesota beat the hapless Browns in London, even without QB Sam Bradford. The NFC North is for the Vikings to lose, sitting on top with a 6-2 slate. I don't think Minnesota will go far if they do make the playoffs, but they do have a fin defense, and a playoff game in chilly Minnesota ( roof or no roof) would be an advantage. Meanwhile, the Browns are 0-8, destined for yet another miserable year, and have to see quarterbacks Carson Wentz, Jared Goff and DeSaun Watson rub it in Cleveland's face each week of what could have been. They deserve it. Cleveland's front office is the worst in all professional sports. The Vikes have a bye this week as they return from England. as do the Brownies.
* Bills over Raiders-
Buffalo continues to surprise, even though this was supposed to be a rebuilding year. Coach Sean McDermott has done a great job with the Bills. RB LeSean McCoy is in his prime ( too bad the Eagles couldn't get him back in Philadelphia).The Bills are 5-2, only a half-game behind the Patriots.Oakland fails to win on the east coast again. That Christmas night match-up with the Eagles may not matter if the Raiders continue to stumble. They are 3-5 and in the cellar of AFC West, 3 games behind Kansas City. Buffalo is at the Jets this Sunday for a key division game, while the Raiders go to Miami on Sunday night.
* Bengals over Colts-
Cincinnati eeked out a victory against the lowly Colts. Cincy is 3-4 and technically still in a division and wild card race, but I don't believe in the Bengals. Indy may not get QB Andrew Luck back at all this year. They should be looking to tank for 2018. The Bengals have three straight road games, starting this week at Jacksonville.Indianapolis goes to Houston to take on DeShaun Watson and the Texans.
* Patriots over Chargers-
New England had a tougher time than expected at home against the surging Chargers, escaping with an eight point victory. The Pats lead the AFC East with a 6-2 record, but it feels different this year. They need to secure home field advantage and get a playoff game or two in icy New England in January. Getting the Pats away from home would be big for any AFC team hoping to get to the Super Bowl. The LA Chargers are playing better, but let's be real- they don't measure up to the Chiefs in the west and they aren't good enough to be a wild card squad. New England LA has a bye week while the Patriots also take their break.
* Cowboys over Redskins-
I really expected the 'Skins to put up a better fight against Dallas in Washington but it wasn't meant to be. Now the Redskins are 3-4, have been swept by the Eagles, and now have a home division loss to the Cowboys. Dallas goes to 4-3 and seems to be rounding into shape, but the Zeke Elliot suspension looms over them/ The 'Boys return to Dallas with a tough match-up against the Chiefs while Washington makes yet another west coast trip, this time to Seattle.
* Chiefs over Broncos-
KC is a solid team, and they manhandled the struggling Broncos on Monday Night Football. Who can or will challenge the Chiefs in AFC West? No one. Kansas City are playing for playoff seeding, a bye and home field advantage. Getting New England and/or Pittsburgh in KC would be big. Denver comes to Philadelphia this Sunday afternoon, still with a good defense but mightily struggling at quarterback.
* Saints over Bears-
The red-hot Saints have now won five in a row and are ether clear favorites to win the NFC South. QB Drew Brees is playing great and New Orleans has a good defense to go with it. Chicago is 3-5, still i striking distance in NFC North, with Green Bay, Minnesota and Detroit all flawed, but with a rookie QB, the bears won't get to the playoffs this season. The Saints stay in the Superdome to play Tampa Bay while the Bears take their bye this week.
* Falcons over Jets-
Atlanta survived in New York, and despite the win, they still aren't exuding confidence. There's got to be some sort of Super Bowl letdown. They better wake up, as New Orleans is hot and Carolina is still a force to be reckoned with. The Jets are 3-5 in a surprising seasons o far,which, with a few breaks here and there, could have been a really surprising campaign. The 4-3 Falcons play their third straight road game at Carolina this Sunday, while the Jets stay home to take on the Bills.
* Eagles over 49'ers-
I already broke down this game, but I will add that the 49'ers are now 0-8 for the first time in their history. They were the trendy team to win at least 5-6 games this year but it won't happen. They have only won three games in their last 26 tries- and all have been against the LA Rams. Go figure.The Birds finish their three-game home stand with Denver this Sunday before taking their well-deserved bye, then facing the Cowboys in Dallas on Sunday Night Football on Nov. 18.
* Panthers over Buccaneers-
Carolina is now 5-3 and have a major divisional game this week with the visiting Falcons. This is where the Panthers and QB Cam Newton need to step up and show they are one of the elite teams in the NFC. The Bucs, also a trendy pick at the beginning of the year, have so much potential, yet sit at a disappointing 2-5. Good luck as they take on the Saints in New Orleans this week.
* Seahawks over Texans-
In a wild game at Seattle, the Seahawks beat the Texans, 41-38. The Seattle defense isn't what it used to be, giving teams like the Eagles reason for hope. The Seahawks are tied with the LA Rams at 5-2 in NFC West, having beaten the Rams already. Houston has to be excited with the play of QB Watson, as they are 3-4 in NFC South, right behind the Titans and Jags. Seattle plays at home again this week, greeting the Redskins, as the Texans go home to face the bad Colts.
* Steelers over Lions-
Pittsburgh won in Detroit and are now 6-2 in AFC North. The Lions fell to 3-4, but don't count them out yet in wacky NFC North. The Steelers take their bye this week before hitting the road again to Indianapolis. The Lions go to Lambeau Field in Green Bay for an important division game with the Packers.Without having to deal with Aaron Rodgers, the Lions have a fighters' chance.
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