Observations from Week 15:
1. Patriots QB Matt Cassel played the game of his life vs. Oakland on the heels of his father dying the previous Monday. Sound familiar? I wonder if he got a call from Favre before deciding to play.
2. If New England and Miami wins the rest of their games and NY wins the AFC East, then Miami would win the wild card on tie-breakers. The Patriots could miss the playoffs at 11-5.
3. Giants RB Brandon Jacobs' injury woes have allowed the Plaxico mess to affect NY's chemistry. All Philly and Dallas had to do was stack the box and rush like hell and look what happened.
4. My choice for Coach of the Year is Miami's Tony Sparano.
5. Injuries to the Titan's DE Kyle Vanden Bosch and DT Albert Haynsworth along with the Giants' RB Brandon Jacobs and RT Kareem McKenzie could be a road hazard getting to the Super Bowl.
6. I get the feeling that Donovan McNabb laughed so hard that he literally turned red as he read the soap opera reports coming out of Dallas about T.O.
7. Coaches who I don't think can keep their jobs no matter how they finish is Cleveland's Romeo Crennel, KC's Herm Edwards, Buffalo's Dick Jauron, Detroit's Rod Marinelli, and St. Louis' Jim Haslett. For some reason, I think Marvin Lewis will stay in Cincy.
It's crunch time. The whole reason that NFL players show up for training camp in July is to be good enough to be able to play in January. Grasping momentum and shoving it in the coal stove of the team's steam engine is critical this time of year as teams look to hit their peak at just the right time.
This week is going to be very pivotal for several franchises. It's compiled of fierce divisional rivalries, excellent individual match-ups, and the end of an era. All together you get a week that will help shape up the playoff picture and begin to bring an end to one phenomenal 2008 regular season.
- Indianapolis Colts (10-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars (5-9): NFLN, 8:15pm EST, Thursday Night - Speaking of momentum, Indy has it and Jacksonville can't remember what it looks like.
- Baltimore Ravens (9-5) at Dallas Cowboys (9-5): NFLN, 8:15pm EST, Saturday Night - This battle is going to be as big as the hole in the Texas Stadium roof considering what's at stake in each club's playoff hunt. This will be the last regular season game in this hallowed dome so expect the crowd to be at its loudest. Dallas has never beaten the Ravens, and this will be Baltimore's first visit to The Temple...and last.
- Cincinnati Bengals (2-11) at Cleveland Browns (4-10): CBS, 1pm EST - A slapping contest between Ohio's finest.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3) at Tennessee Titans (12-2): CBS, 1pm EST - The mantle of domination is now resting on the shoulders of the Steelers. Tennessee is still a force, but injuries and a dormant offense have plagued the Titans. They will probably meet again.
- Miami Dolphins (9-5) at Kansas City Chiefs (2-12): CBS, 1pm EST - Arrowhead Stadium can no longer strike fear in visiting teams, and it will no longer house GM Carl Peterson who resigned this week.
- San Diego Chargers (6-8) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5): CBS, 1pm EST - Giving up 474 yards rushing and 5 TD's on 80 carries in the past two games makes it pretty easy for an opponent to put together their offensive game plan. San Diego and L.T. will look to extend their current win streak in December which is at 12.
- San Francisco 49ers (5-9) at St. Louis Rams (2-12): FOX, 1pm EST -It's going to be a heated and crazy finish to the season to see who will nail down the #2 spot in the 2009 NFL Draft. My pick is the Rams.
- New Orleans Saints (7-7) at Detroit Lions (0-16): FOX, 1pm EST - I think we all know who has sewn up #1.
- Arizona Cardinals (8-6) at New England Patriots (9-5): FOX, 1pm EST - The Cardinals have lost three of their last four games while the Pats have won 3 of their last 4. Arizona is also 0-4 this season on the East Coast while Matt Cassel is hot right now.
- Houston Texans (7-7) at Oakland Raiders (3-11): CBS, 4:05pm EST - Riding a four-game win streak for the first time in franchise history, Houston is turning heads as they streak towards a very strong 2008 finish. QB Matt Schaub and WR Andre Johnson are smoking, and the Texans defense is really coming together.
- Buffalo Bills (6-8) at Denver Broncos (8-6): CBS, 4:05pm EST - Last week, I know J.P. Losman looked like he had never played football before, but he won't need to rely on his arm that much vs. the Broncos' porous run defense.
- NY Jets (9-5) at Seattle Seahawks (3-11): CBS, 4:05pm EST - The forecast calls for freezing temps and a chance of snow -- perfect conditions for #4 to break NY's losing streak of 3 vs. West Coast teams this season.
- Atlanta Falcons (9-5) at Minnesota Vikings (9-5): FOX, 4:15pm EST - Despite the glory and praise heaped on Atlanta this year, this contest may not be that close. The Vikings are #1 vs. the run, and have a pretty good RB themselves who will be facing a run defense ranked 22nd. QB Tarvaris Jackson is stepping up his game and could be huge vs. Atlanta's 23rd-ranked pass defense.
- Philadelphia Eagles (8-5-1) at Washington Redskins (7-7): FOX, 4:15pm EST - Philly has quietly snuck into the playoff race and will stroll into FedEx Field to face a Redskins team that is in turmoil. Coach Jim Zorn proclaimed himself "the worst coach in America" and said he will re-evaluate his approach to football games. So will Daniel Snyder.
- Carolina Panthers (11-3) at NY Giants (11-3): NBC, 8:15pm EST - Where do you start? Eli Manning got pummeled vs. Dallas last week and doesn't get much of a break vs. the 9th-ranked pass rush in the NFL. Both teams have dynamic running attacks and effective passing games. The winner clinches the #1 seed and claims home field advantage throughout the playoffs. This is going to be a war so cancel any plans you have.
- Green Bay Packers (5-9) at Chicago Bears (8-6): ESPN, 8:30pm EST, MNF - These two teams have met more than any other two teams in NFL history. This will be their 176th meeting. Look for the Bears to maul the Packers very weak run defense and ride the waves of the Soldier Field crowd as they surge forward in the playoff hunt.
STANDINGS
Chris Mortensen: 8-8, 152-72
Eddie Chinn: 13-3, 149-75
Mark Schlereth: 8-8, 146-78
Mike Golic: 11-5, 135-88
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