Sunday Playbook /By Milt Northrop
Titans’ win streak, AFC East lead up for grabs
Most of the focus for Week 12 of the NFL season will be on the AFC East — and we’re not talking about the Buffalo Bills here. While the first-place New York Jets will be in Nashville, Tenn., to face the unbeaten Tennessee Titans, the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins will be meeting in Dolphin Stadium. If the Jets lose they will fall to 7-4 and into a tie for the division lead with the winner of the New England-Miami game.
Another key AFC game finds the Indianapolis Colts visiting the San Diego Chargers, in a matchup of two teams who many thought would be Super Bowl contenders. The Colts are trying to stay in wild card contention, while the Chargers, who trail Denver by two games in the AFC West, will be trying to stay in the division race.
The top NFC game will have the New York Giants and their punishing running attack at the pass-happy Arizona Cardinals in Glendale, Ariz.
Game of the day
Patriots (6-4) at Dolphins (6-4) Kickoff: 1 p. m. The line: Dolphins (-1).
The scoop: The Dolphins routed the Patriots, 38-13, in Foxborough in September, befuddling the Pats with their “Wildcat” offense. The Pats have had a week and a half to prepare for this one after last Thursday’s OT loss to the Jets. . . . Since 2001, New England is 35-11 against the other teams now in the AFC East (9-6 versus Miami, 12-4 versus the Jets and 14-1 versus Buffalo).
Outlook: Matt Cassel will be better, and the Pats will be ready this time. New England, 24-13.
Top attractions
Jets (7-3) at Titans (10-0) Kickoff: 1 p. m. The line: Titans (-5z).
The scoop: The Jets look like they are for real. Tennessee has worked very hard to get to 10-0, including coming back from 14-3 to win at Jacksonville, 24-14, last week. . . . The Jets have had nine days off since winning at New England.
Outlook: The Jets are getting better and more confident each week. The Titans finally fall, 17-14.
Giants (9-1) at Cardinals (7-3) TV: Ch. 29, 4 p. m. The line: Giants (-3).
The scoop: Interesting matchup between former NFC East rivals. . . . The Giants lead the league in rushing average (5.3) and rushing yards. The Cardinals are last in rushing average (3.4) and 29th in yards. . . . Kurt Warner of Arizona is the hottest passer in the league with four straight 300-yard games.
Outlook: Should be fun to watch, but can’t see the Giants losing. New York, 33-24.
Colts (6-4) at Chargers (4-6) TV: Ch. 2, 8:15 p. m. The line: Chargers (-2z). The scoop: No team has underachieved like the supposedly “most talented” Chargers. They continue to lose close games and now trail mediocre Denver team by two games in the AFC West. . . . The Colts haven’t forgotten how to win. Indy has won its last three and has a chance of winning its next five before ending season with a home game against Tennessee. . . . The Chargers fired defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell, but the offense (14th in the league, 27th in rushing) is lagging, too.
Outlook: The Chargers are ripe for a shake-up if they don’t catch the Broncos. Colts, 37-31.
Panthers (8-2) at Falcons (6-4) Kickoff: 4:15 p. m. The line: Falcons (-1).
The scoop: Carolina won the first game between the NFC South rivals, 24-9, on Sept. 28. . . . The Panthers have been unimpressive the last two weeks in wins at Oakland and home against Detroit. . . . The Falcons had won four of five before a 24-20 home loss to Denver last week. . . . The Falcons are second in the NFL in rushing.
Outlook: The Panthers can’t afford a letdown with Tampa Bay chasing. Carolina, 21-14.
Best of the rest
Eagles (5-4-1) at Ravens (6-4) TV: Ch. 29, 1 p. m. The line: Ravens (-1z).
The scoop: Do they really play ties in the NFL? . . . Baltimore, trailing Pittsburgh in the AFC North, has to rebound from last week’s loss or fall two behind in the division.
Outlook: The Ravens can make it a long day for Donovan McNabb and Co. Baltimore, 20-16.
Texans (3-7) at Browns (4-6) Kickoff: 1 p. m. The line: Browns (-3).
The scoop: The Browns won, 27-17, over Houston last year, also in Cleveland. . . . The Texans rank fifth in the league in offense, but their defense has given up 32 TDs. Only the Lions and Rams have allowed more.
Outlook: Should be a shootout. Browns, 38-31.
49ers (3-7) at Cowboys (6-4) Kickoff: 1 p. m. The line: Cowboys (-10).
The scoop: Cowboys fans still haven’t forgotten Dwight Clark and “The Catch.” . . . Dallas has been run on and the Niners’ Frank Gore is averaging 4.7 per carry and 83.4 per game.
Outlook: The Niners make the ’Boys work for it. Dallas, 27-20. Buccaneers (7-3) at Lions (0-10) Kickoff: 1 p. m. The line: Buccaneers (-8). The scoop: Rod Marinelli, a former Tampa Bay assistant, is 1-0 against his old team, a 23-16 win last season, also at Ford Field. . . . The Bucs rank in the NFL’s top 10 in both offense and defense. Tampa Bay leads the NFC wild card race.
Outlook: Unless they are looking ahead to divisional games the next three weeks, the Bucs should prevail. Tampa Bay, 17-10.
Vikings (5-5) at Jaguars (4-6) Kickoff: 1 p. m. The line: Jaguars (-2z).
The scoop: The Jags are dead in the AFC South race while the Vikings are very much alive in the NFC North, tied for the lead with Green Bay and Chicago.
Outlook: Big road win for Minnesota, 27-13.
Packers (5-5) at Saints (5-5) TV: ESPN, Monday, 8:30 p. m. The line: Saints (-2z).
The scoop: The loser of this one will be in serious trouble in the wild card race. . . . Despite its record, New Orleans leads the league in offense (411.5) and QB Drew Brees tops the league with 3,251 passing yards.
Outlook: Packers, 28-27. Bears (5-5) at Rams (2-8) Kickoff: 1 p. m. The line: Bears (-8).
The scoop: The Bears have to bounce back from a 37-3 licking at Green Bay last week. . . . The last time the teams met (2006), the Bears’ Devin Hester had kickoff returns of 94 and 96 for TDs.
Outlook: The Rams don’t look like a very lively underdog. Bears, 27-16.
Raiders (2-8) at Broncos (6-4) Kickoff: 4:05 p. m. The line: Broncos (-9).
The scoop: Denver has won nine of the last 11 in this AFC “Werst” rivalry, including a 41-14 rout at Oakland in the season opener. . . . The Broncos can’t afford to trip up because they have tough road games at the Jets, Carolina and San Diego left to play.
Outlook: Broncos, 34-20.
Redskins (6-4) at Seahawks (2-8) Kickoff: 4:15 p. m. The line: Redskins (-3z).
The scoop: Washington is trying to snap a two-game losing streak. . . . The Redskins have won their last four against the Seahawks. . . . Matt Hasselbeck returned to the Seattle lineup at QB last week, but a Seahawks rally fell short in a 26-20 home loss to Arizona.
Outlook: The Redskins have only one TD last the two games, but the sight of Seattle’s defense should perk things up in a hurry. Washington, 24-10.
Dog of the day
Bills (5-5) at Chiefs (1-9) TV: Ch. 4, 1 p. m. The line: Bills (-3).
The scoop: Injuries have reduced the Chiefs to a Triple-A level while the Bills continue to sink. . . . In Chan Gailey’s spread offense, the Chiefs have averaged 22.5 points in their last four games. . . . K. C. has played only two teams with losing records and one was the underachieving Chargers.
Outlook: Most embarrassing loss yet for Buffalo. Chiefs, 20-17.
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