Week 12

November 25 2009 @ 20:30

Greetings Lasses and Lads. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

My upset of the week: Jaguars (+3.5) at 49ers.

My no-brainer of the week: Bears (+9.5) at Vikings.

My record against the spread:

Last week: 6-10.

Season: 82-78.

 
Green Bay at Detroit (-9.5)

Last week: Packers beat 49ers 30-24; Lions beat Browns 38-37.

This game will likely turn into a game of chicken -- can the Detroit blitz get to Packers QB Aaron Rodgers before Rodgers gets to Detroit's undermanned and overmatched secondary. The Lions have no choice but to blitz the Packers heavily because they can't get a push with just the front four. The Lions failed to get to Cleveland's Brady Quinn last week, and he threw four TD passes. If the Lions can't pressure Rodgers, he'll toy with a perfect passer rating.

Lions QB Daunte Culpepper, who is expected to start for the injured Matthew Stafford, is playing for his career. Culpepper still yearns to start in the league, and the soon-to-be free agent wants to show other teams that he still has what it takes. Culpepper still has the physical skills, including mobility and arm strength, but he has to convince personnel people that he can make good decisions with consistency.

The Lions will come out with a wave of energy to start the game, and the Packers will have to match or withstand it. The visiting team tends to wear out first in games played in a short week, and it will be vital not to trail early. One of the keys to doing that is establishing the run and keeping the crowd quiet. A couple of long drives to start out the game will calm down the Lions' fans.

While the Lions aren't a very good team, they have some impressive young talent, and TE Brandon Pettigrew is quickly establishing himself as a real weapon. A physical blocker, he's also becoming a force as a receiver who can muscle for yards after the catch and move the chains. When he gets more consistency in his overall game, he's going to be a matchup nightmare for defensive coordinators.

With Al Harris out and Charles Woodson playing a plethora of positions, Green Bay coaches will have to find a way to protect new starting corner Tramon Williams and new nickel back Jarrett Bush. That probably means playing a lot of cover 2 if they don't plan to move Woodson around in blitz situations. Playing cover 2 reduces the creativity in the Packers' blitz package, but it's better than giving up a bunch of big plays.

If the Lions are going to have a chance to win, they have to avoid Woodson, who feasts on Detroit quarterbacks. Woodson can't cover the long ball like he used to, but he's a hawk in the short zones and an expert at baiting quarterbacks who think they have a soft read. Woodson already has five picks this season, and he'll have a chance for more because the Lions will have to throw a great deal to keep pace.

Backup running back Brandon Jackson was effective last week on third down by showing a good knack for working the screen pass, something that has been missing all season. Opponents are coming hard after Aaron Rodgers because of all the sacks the team has allowed, so it is crucial to run successful screens. Jackson isn't a breakaway threat, but he runs hard and usually leans forward for a couple of extra yards. He's a good complement to starter Ryan Grant.

Lion RB Kevin Smith's rushing numbers aren't always impressive, but he continues to make valuable contributions as a receiver out of the backfield. He's comfortable running routes downfield, including up the seam. Though he doesn't have great speed, he's elusive in the open field and knows how to work his blockers.

The Packers dominated the Lions 26-0 in the first meeting, and the game wasn't even that close. Green Bay simply has too much offensive firepower, and Detroit is too banged up on offense to match them. The Lions are giving up 30 points per game and surrendered 37 points to the Browns, who had scored a total of 29 points in their previous five games combined. And the Lions are catching the Packers at a bad time -- after losing two straight games, Green Bay has won its last two and needs to keep rolling to keep their playoff hopes alive. Take Packers.

Oakland at Dallas (-13.5)

Last week: Raiders beat Bengals 20-17; Cowboys beat Redskins 7-6.

Remember when this used to be a battle between two of the league's best franchises? The Raiders with their Commitment to Excellence against the Cowboys, dubbed America's Team by NFL Films.

These days, the Raiders have been one of the league's worst teams since a Super Bowl appearance in 2002, while the Cowboys haven't won a playoff game since 1996.

That said, this game between storied NFL franchises is a much bigger contest for Dallas than Oakland.

A win and the Cowboys will be 8-3 and alone in first place in the NFC East entering December, which has been a month of horrors for them. More important, they will be positioned to make the playoffs and end their wretched 12-year streak without a postseason win after missing the playoffs in 2008.

The Raiders are already playing for pride this season, though quarterback Bruce Gradkowski makes them a much more difficult opponent. He led Oakland to a win last week in his first game as a starter, replacing ineffective JaMarcus Russell, the former No.1 pick overall.

The Cowboys have their own issues on offense, scoring only two touchdowns in the past two weeks. The Raiders won't score many points — no matter who's playing quarterback — but their defense is playing pretty well these days.

Cowboys' offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is still searching for his team's identity. This would be a good week to find it.

The Raiders rank 30th in the NFL against the run, yielding 157.7 yards per game. The Cowboys are the second-most efficient team running the ball at 5 yards a pop. The Raiders must free up at least one defender — most likely strong safety Tyvon Branch — to help against the run so the Cowboys don't dictate the tempo of the game from the outset.

 Russell lost his starting job because of his inability to get the ball to his wide receivers on a consistent basis.  Gradkowski did a nice job last week against the Bengals, and he must continue that success against a pair of cornerbacks — Mike Jenkins and Terence Newman — adept in tight man-to-man coverage.

This Raiders team isn't accustomed to playing on national TV with so much attention focused upon them. They must ignore the fact they are playing in a new stadium, on Thanksgiving Day and on national TV and just stick to their routine, as if they are playing a home game.

Just a few weeks ago, the Cowboys were using a overabundance of big plays from a variety of players to score points at a rapid pace. Now, they can hardly score at all. The Cowboys have entered the fourth quarter of each of the last two games with zero points and are fortunate to be 1-1 in those games. In the past two games, Dallas has just two touchdowns in 22 possessions with 12 punts. Part of the reason is they're not getting big plays. They had just four two plays of 20-plus yards against Washington and Green Bay the last two weeks. The Cowboys rank among the league leaders in offensive penalties and struggle to consistently drive the length of the field.

There are a few times in every game when the quarterback gets the right play against the right coverage. When it happens, the quarterback must connect. Tony Romo hasn't been doing that. He is completing only 60 percent of his passes, and his percentage has dropped each of the past four seasons. Of quarterbacks who have thrown at least 300 passes, only Atlanta's Matt Ryan (59.3) and Detroit's Matthew Stafford (55.2) have a lower completion percentage. Romo's 61 poor throws ranks second in the NFL. The Cowboys need him to be more accurate and hit receivers in stride, especially since their offense is struggling.

The Raiders are going to have a tough time winning Thursday if they convert just 27.9 percent of their third downs against the Cowboys. The Raiders rank 30th in the NFL in third-down conversions. Again, that's an area where they should improve with Gradkowski at quarterback instead of Russell. The Cowboys' defense has played well on third down much of this season but struggled against Washington last week in a 7-6 victory, allowing the Redskins to convert 7-of-15 third downs.

The Raiders are at a significant disadvantage, having to travel from the west coast to Dallas on a short week. Add to that an abject offense and it's hard to see how the Raiders win this game, considering Dallas' defense is playing at a high level. However, the Raiders will keep matters close. Take points and Raiders.

NY Giants at Denver (+6.5)

Last week: Giants beat Falcons 34-31; Broncos lost to Chargers 32-3.

The best Thanksgiving matchup is the finale, with a couple of teams in the playoff hunt trying to figure out how to return to the level they were at in September and early October.

The Giants at least got a win and a little bit of confidence last week. They beat Atlanta in overtime to snap a four-game losing streak, and another win could keep them heading in a positive direction. The NFC East is bunched up, with Dallas leading Philadelphia and the Giants by a game.

The AFC West is separated by a game as well, but the Broncos are fading fast. They have lost four in a row and are coming off a devastating 32-3 loss to San Diego, a team Denver handled on the road a month ago. Frustration is starting to become apparent. During the Chargers game, receiver Brandon Marshall and running back Knowshon Moreno had words on the sideline after a Moreno goal line fumble, and Moreno shoved Marshall. The Broncos could fall out of the AFC West race fast if they don't pick up a win soon.

Both teams might be flawed, but Thursday's result might go a long way in determining which one stays relevant through December.

In their last two games, the Giants' defense has allowed the opponent to march down the field for a touchdown in the final minute. The first collapse led to a loss and the second forced overtime. If the Giants don't find a way to cover downfield, they will find it difficult to be a serious playoff contender. Safeties Michael Johnson and Aaron Rouse have to locate the ball in the air, and there needs to be fewer communication breakdowns -- a problem that has cost the Giants in several games.

Pass-catching tight ends pose huge problems to the Giants, who often struggle in coverage. Michael Boley is the best coverage option among the linebackers, but he could not contain Tony Gonzalez last week. There is no safety on the roster who excels at covering tight ends, so the game plan may have to call for a cornerback such as Terrell Thomas to cover Tony Scheffler, who is a threat.

The best news for the Broncos on Sunday -- and perhaps the only bit of good news -- was that Kyle Orton didn't reaggravate his left ankle injury. He gave the Broncos a spark off the bench, and he obviously gives the team its best chance to win. Denver needs to protect Orton and construct a game plan that doesn't ask him to be too mobile.

The Broncos have had good success running to the outside lately, especially with Moreno. Moreno averaged eight yards a carry against San Diego. The problem was Denver fell behind, and Moreno had only 10 carries. Denver needs to keep the game close so it can keep feeding the ball to its rookie tailback. That also will help keep a beleaguered defense off the field.

A month ago, the Broncos were the top-ranked defense in the NFL and wouldn't have been concerned about facing a top running team like the Giants. A lot has changed since then. Denver isn't getting the same push up front, and teams are running the ball well against the Broncos. San Diego broke the 200-yard mark on the ground last week. The Giants will pound the ball the entire game if the Broncos don't match their physical style.

The biggest advantage the Broncos have in this matchup is not having to travel in the short week. New York gets little time to prepare and then has to fly over two time zones for a Thanksgiving game. Still, one has to wonder if the Broncos can take advantage. So many things that worked early in the season for Denver have become problems, and they are coming off an emotional loss to San Diego. The Broncos will be healthier at quarterback than last week, but the Giants are coming off a key win and are probably the better team at this point…barely. Take points and Broncos.

Pittsburgh at Baltimore (-2.5)

Last week: Steelers lost to Chiefs 27-24; Ravens lost to Colts 17-15.

The Ravens would like to break the Steelers' dominance in the series. Pittsburgh has an 18-10 advantage, including three wins last season, one of those in the AFC championship. In all three games, the Ravens had chances to win but couldn't make the big plays at the end. The Ravens like to say this is a rivalry, but it has been very one-sided in recent years.

The Ravens would never admit it, but their quarterback, Joe Flacco, is a facsimile of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Both are big, strong QBs with limited mobility but elusiveness. Both came from small colleges, and both are fairly accurate. But in their three matchups last season, Flacco played his worst games of the year. In contrast, Roethlisberger made big plays in the fourth quarter of each game to lead the Steelers to victory. Also, Big Ben has a couple of Super Bowl rings, and Big Joe doesn't have any yet.

Unless Cincinnati chokes down the stretch, which is always a possibility, Baltimore and Pittsburgh are top contenders for a wild-card playoff berth. Pittsburgh has a one-game advantage over the Ravens, but they face each other twice in the remaining six games. Other wild-card contenders, such as Houston and Jacksonville, might fade, but both the Steelers and the Ravens are sound teams. Unfortunately, one might knock the other out of contention.

The Steelers already have allowed more pass plays of 40 yards or longer (four) than they did all of last season, including two in the final 16 minutes against the Chiefs. The Ravens are not a deep-strike team and lack a vertical passing attack. But Flacco has the arm strength to challenge their two-deep coverage.

One of Roethlisberger's top priorities will be knowing where All-Pro safety Ed Reed is at all times on the field. It is something he has been aware of over the years, and Reed did not have an interception against the Steelers last year, including the playoffs.

Roethlisberger has been a Ravens killer, especially with late-game heroics. He can make plays with his arm or his legs, and he is a master at improvising. Roethlisberger is hard to bring down, so the Ravens are emphasizing staying with their man in pass coverage until they hear a whistle. The Ravens also want to attack Roethlisberger's right arm when they tackle. Because of his strength, Roethlisberger can carry tacklers and still throw the ball.

Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward always gets under the skin of the Ravens. Ward can make big plays, but he has also delivered some killer blocking shots to the Ravens. Some of them are borderline dirty, but Ward never gets penalized. He irritates the Ravens so much that he can get them out of their game, particularly members of the secondary. The Ravens have to keep a lid on Ward, both on the field and in the trash-talking department.

On special teams, long returns have become a disturbing trend for the Steelers, who have allowed a special teams or defensive touchdown in each of their past eight games. What is especially troublesome is their horrid kickoff-coverage unit, which has allowed a touchdown return in four of their past five games.

Teams that have gotten a strong pass rush from their front four and played two-deep coverage have had great success against Flacco. Why? When teams drop seven players into coverage, Flacco has to make more reads, and he hasn't adjusted well. Flacco plays better when the Ravens run a no-huddle because he has to make quick reads, and sometimes the other team can't get their personnel on the field. So the Steelers will try to get a strong pass rush with the front four. It worked well against the Ravens last season in the conference championship game, and you can bet Flacco will see it again Sunday.

In the past, the Ravens have been a tough, physical team, but they've had problems winning against teams with a similar style. The Steelers play with great intensity that Baltimore might not be able to match. Roethlisberger was bothered by a concussion last week in Kansas City, but he should be healthy against the Ravens. If Roethlisberger plays with no side effects, he'll lead Pittsburgh to another victory but the jury is still out that. Take Ravens.

New England at New Orleans (-2.5)

Last week: Patriots beat Jets 31-14; Saints beat Buccaneers 38-7.

The atmosphere in the Superdome should be incredible for one of the most anticipated games ever played in New Orleans. The Saints are a perfect 10-0, and a victory over New England would solidify their status as an elite team and a bona fide Super Bowl favorite. So far, the Saints' most impressive win of the year was against the New York Giants in the Superdome in Week 6, but the Giants have fallen back to the pack a bit since then.

The Patriots (7-3) aren't having their best season, but they remain an elite, proven team with a dynamic offense. And New England will also be trying to protect its status as the only 16-0 team in NFL history -- much like the Miami Dolphins, who protected their perfect reputation on Monday Night Football in 1985 by handing the '85 Chicago Bears their only loss.

The Patriots are still trying to spit out the bad taste from their Week 10 loss at Indianapolis, when they let the Colts come from behind for a last-minute victory (following Coach Bill Belichick's infamous fourth-and-2 decision). They came back with a commanding performance last week, routing the New York Jets, 31-14, and will try to keep rolling through New Orleans. The Patriots started the season slowly, with quarterback Tom Brady shaking off the rust from his 2008 knee injury. But they still loom as a bona fide contender themselves.

There should be plenty of offensive firepower from both teams, who have the top two offenses in the NFL. The Saints average 420.5 yards per game, the Patriots 416.1. New Orleans averages a league-high 36.9 points per game; New England is third at 29.0. And both teams' defenses have been a little more vulnerable than they'd like recently. The Saints' rebuilt secondary has been depleted by injuries, and they may be without their top three cornerbacks on Monday night, not great timing with Brady, Randy Moss and Wes Welker coming to town.

New Orleans' defense has shown it will give up yards -- it is ranked 17th in the league in yards allowed -- so it won't flat-out shut down the Patriots' offense. But if Brady throws it into the hands of safety Darren Sharper or his opportunistic teammates, it spells trouble for the Pats. The Saints have five defensive touchdowns. Brady has four picks in his last four games, which isn't terrible, but he must avoid throwing into traffic.

 Drew Brees has the Saints' offense clicking and will provide the Patriots with a challenge comparable to the one they faced at Indianapolis. Everyone is a weapon, and with a league-leading 40 receptions of 20 yards or more, the completions come in big chunks. Cornerbacks Leigh Bodden and Jonathan Wilhite and their colleagues must make the Saints earn every inch. They have to keep everything in front of them.

The Patriots have three losses because they had three second half letdowns. The Jets (in Week 2), the Broncos and the Colts all benefited from the Pats' mental lapses. There is no doubt the Saints' offense can score in a hurry, so if the Patriots jump out to a big lead, they must remain focused and stay the course. If they leave any opening, the Saints and their frenzied crowd will take advantage of it.

Against the dangerous Patriots, the Saints have to be sound in the secondary no matter who plays. Starting cornerback Tracy Porter (knee) is out, starting corner Jabari Greer (groin) will be questionable and No. 3 corner Randall Gay (hamstring) will be questionable. That leaves rookie Malcolm Jenkins, backup Usama Young and two veterans just plucked out of semi-retirement: Chris McAlister and Mike McKenzie. Look for defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to use a variety of formations and blitzes that protect the back end of his defense.

The Saints were sloppy over a four-game stretch from Weeks 7-10, as a combined 13 turnovers made their games too close for comfort. They cleaned things up last week, winning the turnover battle 4-0 in a rout at Tampa Bay. They need to be just as protective with the ball Monday night in a game where every possession will count and short fields will be capitalized on.

Drew Brees has been establishing himself as the third member of the elite QB class, just behind Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. But he needs to prove it in this matchup. Brees reads defenses brilliantly, he's accurate, and he has great rapport with his receivers. But he has had some sluggish stretches and threw seven picks between Weeks 7-10. He needs to be at his best against the Patriots, who have a decent but not dominant pass defense.

This matchup looks awfully difficult for the Saints, who have been flirting with their first loss for much of the last month and now have a depleted secondary. But in their recent past, the Saints have stepped up and played their best football in these types of showdowns -- when they feel like they have something to prove on a big stage.

 Their most impressive performance of the year came against the Giants in Week 6 when both teams were undefeated. Last year, they routed the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football, rolling up 51 points. In 2006, they dominated the Cowboys in a late-season game at Dallas to prove they were a serious contender. They'll be plenty motivated to shine in this game, and the atmosphere in the Dome will be electric. Although I prefer passion over experience, the Patriots will show that the latter still produces winners. Take Patriots.

Tampa Bay at Atlanta (-11.5)

Last week: Buccaneers lost to Saints 38-7; Falcons lost to Giants 34-31.

After forcing the Giants to overtime last week, the Falcons don't need any more moral victories. WR Roddy White summed it up when he stated the playoffs start now for the Falcons, who have kicked away their best start in five seasons.

The offense has to figure that it will be in shootouts until the problems in the secondary are corrected. If the Falcons can blend in a running attack with a Ryan-to-White-and-Gonzalez passing attack, they should be able to put up enough points to mask that leaky secondary for one week. Take Falcons.

Miami at Buffalo (+2.5)

Last week: Dolphins beat Panthers 24-17; Bills lost to Jaguars 18-15.

The Dolphins have the momentum and plenty of incentive to play well. This is not a super talented team, but they are well coached and win games by being more physical than their opponent. The Bills' 3-7 record is a reflection of how frustrating their season has been. But things could have been a whole lot different if they knew how to finish games.

In eight of the Bills' 10 games, they have gone into the fourth quarter either tied or with the lead. They lost five of those games, including the last three. The offense deserves most of the blame because it has scored 20 points just once in the past eight games. As tough as the Dolphins play, it's hard to pick the Bills until their offense proves it can do more than display the occasional flash. Take Dolphins.

Cleveland at Cincinnati (-13.5)

Last week: Browns lost to Lions 38-37; Bengals lost to Raiders 20-17.

The Bengals learned a brutal and painful lesson last week, walking into the Raiders' trap at Oakland and getting ambushed by an unfamiliar AFC West opponent. If you don't come prepared to play a full 60 minutes, you'll get bruised, battered, bloodied and beaten.

They received their wakeup call, and they'll play with a much greater sense of urgency at home against the struggling Browns, whose coach, Eric Mangini, is clinging to his job by a thread. The Bengals have a tendency of letting up after getting ahead. In this game, they must place their hands on Cleveland's throat and not forget to squeeze. Take Bengals.

Indianapolis at Houston (+3.5)

Last week: Colts beat Ravens 17-15; Texans lost to Titans 20-17.

Though undefeated, the Colts are coming off four games decided by four points or fewer, so they're due for a loss. But the Texans are coming off a devastating Monday night loss to Tennessee. Houston has lost three games at home, more than in each of the last two seasons.

And there's no way the Texans will shut down Manning. If they do pull off an upset, it should be a close game. That means K Chris Brown has to get over the yips, regain his confidence and resume making the kind of clutch field goals he's made over the last seven years but curing the yips takes time. Colts win and will finally cover. Take Colts.

Chicago at Minnesota (+9.5)

Last week: Bears lost to Eagles 24-20; Vikings beat Seahawks 35-9.

The Vikings are coming off their most complete game of the season, a 35-9 dismantling of Seattle at home. They will finish a three-game home stand against Chicago hoping to get another easy win before its Sunday night matchup at Arizona.

QB Jay Cutler might have to put together his best game of the season for the Bears to have a chance to win on the road against a Vikings team that's 5-0 at home this season. But that's asking too much, given Cutler's erratic performances. Take Vikings.

Carolina at NY Jets (-2.5)

Last week: Panthers lost to Dolphins 24-17; Jets lost to Patriots 31-14.

Desperate doesn't begin to describe the mindset of both teams in this game, and Carolina does have three extra days to plot and plan after losing to Miami on a Thursday night. But even though Jake Delhomme has been taking much better care of the ball recently, the Panthers' offense doesn't scare anyone, at least inside the 20-yard line.

Mark Sanchez bounced back from his five-interception meltdown against Buffalo with two consecutive turnover-free games, so there's no reason he can't correct some of his mistakes here. As has been their custom this season, Carolina makes some plays, but not enough of them when it matters but they’re playing the Jets. Take Panthers.

Washington at Philadelphia (-8.5)

Last week: Redskins lost to Cowboys 7-6; Eagles beat Bears 24-20.

The Redskins have played a couple of good games recently. First was the win over the Broncos at home followed by a tough loss to the Cowboys, in a game they took deep into the fourth quarter. The thought lingers as to how much have the Redskins improved during that short span? Not enough to beat the Eagles at home.

The Eagles do have a tendency to implode now and then and if it was not for Jay Cutler’s inaccuracy Sunday night, the Bears could have won that game.

Albeit, this caper is a divisional game and those are often won in the trenches and are typically close affairs. Take points and Redskins.

Seattle at St-Louis (+2.5)

Last week: Seahawks lost to Vikings 35-9; Rams lost to Cardinals 21-13.

Reminiscent of their play at the end of the 2008 season, the Rams are coming close but haven't been able to finish out games. They've lost four times by eight points or fewer, including three times in their past five outings. The Seawhawks represent the Rams' best remaining chance to get a victory, something they have done six times in the past 42 games.

A loss Sunday to Seattle and the Rams tie their franchise record for most consecutive home losses. It won't happen. Kyle Boller is a high-energy player who seems to get his teammates fired up. His mobility will help keep plays alive when the protection breaks down, and his arm strength will help the Rams connect on a couple of deep passes; add Steven Jackson to the mix and the Rams get their second win. Take Rams.

Arizona at Tennessee (-2.5)

Last week: Cardinals beat Rams 21-13; Titans beat Texans 20-17.

The Titans are suddenly finding ways to win, and they'll be especially jacked up coming off of their fourth straight win. Against the Cardinals, look for RB Chris Johnson to rip off at least one big run in another big game.

The Titans will surrender some yards to the Cardinals but those will come from probable starter Matt Leinart as Kurt Warner may sit this one out with a concussion he suffered last week.

While the Cardinals at 5-0 away from home may prove to be a stern test for the Titans, the sudden resurgence of QB Vince Young coupled with posse Johnson and emerging star receiver Kenny Britt will allow the birds to point a finger at a culprit for their eventual defeat. Take Titans.

Kansas City at San Diego (-13.5)

Last week: Chiefs beat Steelers 27-24; Chargers beat Broncos 32-3.

This game is the proverbial trap, despite the warning signs that the Chiefs should not be taken lightly. The Chargers have a lot to deal with this week, including cornerback Antonio Cromartie's implication in a Monday morning bar fight, a charity event on Tuesday and downtown celebration of the team's 50th anniversary on Friday.

The Chargers have in the past been prone to believing their own hype, but this seems to be a focused group intent on finally being the one that lives up to the billing. They are playing better seemingly every week but not enough to win by two TD’s. Take points and Chiefs.

Jacksonville at San Francisco (-3.5)

Last week: Jaguars beat Bills 18-15; 49ers lost to Packers 30-24.

Sunday's matchup features two teams led by former NFL linebackers. As you would expect, each coach, Jack Del Rio and Mike Singletary, points to solid defense and physical offense as the formula for success.

Del Rio's Jaguars, however, have been closer to the mark in recent weeks. Singletary and the 49ers were let down by their defense Sunday and are still trying to pin down an offensive philosophy. Look for the Jaguars, who have the league's sixth-ranked rushing offense and a good shot at a wild-card spot, to win a close game. Take Jaguars.

 

 

 

 

By: Aengus Moorehead @ 20:30 | Category: Football  | Comments: 0 | Permalink