Sat, Dec 22
Atlanta Falcons (12-2) at Detroit Lions (4-10) Winner: Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons should not have any problems winning this game and making sure they secure a 1st round bye in the playoffs. Matt Ryan should have a big game throwing the ball to Roddy White, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez. The Falcons defense has to shut down Calvin Johnson and make Matthew Stafford throw the ball to somebody else. The Lions have lost 6 games in a row and it looks like they are just tanking the rest of the year since they have nothing to play for. The only thing that the Lions can look forward to is Calvin Johnson breaking Jerry Rice receiving yards record. The Lions have been a big disappointment this season and will have to make some changes to get back on track next season.
Sun, Dec 23
Game of the Week
San Francisco 49ers (10-3-1) at Seattle Seahawks (9-5) Winner: San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers beat the Seahawks in Week 7 and they are looking to get the sweep against their division rivals and clinch the division title. Colin Kaepernick has brought new life into this offense and will have to have a big game against this great Seahawks defense. This will be his biggest challenge of his career. Kaepernick has to get Frank Gore and the running game going and break down the Seahawks defense. He also has to get the ball to Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree and Randy Moss. The 49ers defense has to shut down Marshawn Lynch and force rookie quarterback Russell Wilson to beat them with his arm. The Seahawks have won 3 games in a row and are looking to make a statement against their division rivals. The Seahawks are undefeated at home and Russell Wilson plays great in Seattle. Wilson will have to take care of the ball and get the ball to Sidney Rice and Golden Tate. Marshawn Lynch has to have a big game and take the pressure off of Wilson. The Seahawks defense has to shut down Frank Gore and force Colin Kaepernick to beat them with his arm and not his legs. This should be a great game with 2 great defenses and 2 young quarterbacks.
New Orleans Saints (6-8) at Dallas Cowboys (8-6) Winner: Dallas Cowboys
This is a must win game for the Cowboys and the Cowboys have been on fire and have won 3 games in a row. Tony Romo has to have a big game against the struggling Saints defense. Romo has to get the ball to Dez Bryant, Miles Austin and Jason Witten. DeMarco Murray has been playing great and should have a big game and take pressure off of Romo. The Cowboys defense has to put pressure on Drew Brees. The Saints will not die but can play spoiler to the Cowboys playoff chances. Brees has to have a big game and take care of the ball. The Saints defense has to step up and shut down Dez Bryant and put pressure on Tony Romo.
Tennessee Titans (5-9) at Green Bay Packers (10-4) Winner: Green Bay Packers
The Packers have been on a roll and have won 3 games in a row. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense should have a big game against the Titans struggling defense. The Packers are in playoff mode and are getting healthier. The Packers defense has to shut down Chris Johnson and force Jake Locker to beat them. The Titans spoiled the Jets playoff chances last week and are just playing for next year. Chris Johnson has to have a big game and take pressure off of Locker. The Titans defense will have problems trying to slow down the Packers explosive offense.
Indianapolis Colts (9-5) at Kansas City Chiefs (2-12) Winner: Indianapolis Colts
This is a must win game for the Colts, who are trying to make the playoffs. Rookie quarterback Andrew Luck has been playing great and has his team in position to make the playoffs this year. Luck should have a big game against the Chiefs struggling defense and he should get the ball to Reggie Wayne. The Colts defense has to shut down Jamal Charles and force Brady Quinn to beat them. The Chiefs are pretty much done, and have been done for a while. They are just going to tank the season and rebuild for next year. Brady Quinn is playing to prove that he can be starting quarterback in the NFL. The Chiefs defense has to shut down Reggie Wayne and put pressure on rookie quarterback Andrew Luck.
Buffalo Bills (5-9) at Miami Dolphins (6-8) Winner: Miami Dolphins
The Bills beat the Dolphins in Week 11 and the Dolphins want to even the season series against their division rivals. The Dolphins has to win this game if they still want to make the playoffs, who still has a chance. Rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill has been playing good and will have to get the ball to Reggie Bush and let him break down the Bills defense. The Dolphins defense has to shut down CJ Spiller and force Ryan Fitzpatrick to beat them. The Bills have lost 2 games in a row and are looking to play spoiler to the Dolphins playoff chances. Ryan Fitzpatrick has to take care of the ball and get the ball to Stevie Johnson and Stevie Johnson. The Bills defense has to shut down Reggie Bush and force rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill to beat them.
Washington Redskins (8-6) at Philadelphia Eagles (4-10) Winner: Washington Redskins
The Redskins beat the Eagles in Week 11 and are looking to get the season sweep against their division rivals. The Redskins are on a roll and have won 5 games in a row and are looking to make the playoffs and win the division title. Rookie quarterback Robert Griffin looks like he will be playing in this game. RG3 should have a big game against the struggling Eagles defense. The Redskins defense has to shut down LeSean McCoy and put pressure on rookie quarterback Nick Foles. The Eagles have been a big disappointment this season and are looking to be the spoiler against their division rivals. Rookie quarterback Nick Foles will need to have a big game and attack the Redskins defense. McCoy should be back for this game and he can help take pressure off of Foles. The Eagles defense has to stop RG3 from making big plays with his arm and legs.
Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7) Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers beat the Bengals win Week 7. This is a must win game for the Steelers and everybody knows that Ben Roethlisberger is a big game quarterback. Big Ben has to have a big game and get the ball to Mike Wallace and Heath Miller. The Steelers defense has to step up and shut down AJ Green and force Andy Dalton to throw the ball to somebody else. Andy Dalton has to have a big game against the Steelers defense. Dalton has to take care of the ball and get the ball to his playmaker AJ Green. The Bengals defense has to put pressure on Big Ben and shut down Mike Wallace. The Bengals are a young and hungry team but I think the experience of the Steelers and the home field advantage will come into play.
St. Louis Rams (6-7-1) at Tampa Bay Bucs (6-8) Winner: Tampa Bay Bucs
The Bucs have lost 4 games in a row and are playing for pride now. Josh Freeman has to have a big game and get the ball to Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams. Doug Martin has to have a big game and break down the Rams defense. The Bucs defense has been the let down and will need to shut down Stephen Jackson and put pressure on Sam Bradford. This is a must win game for the Rams and will need a big game from Sam Bradford and Stephen Jackson. The Rams defense will need to slow down the Bucs explosive offense.
Oakland Raiders (4-10) at Carolina Panthers (5-9) Winner: Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have won 2 games in a row and Cam Newton has been playing great. Newton has got off to a slow start at the beginning of the season and has stepped up as of late. Newton should have another big game against the struggling Raiders defense. The Panthers defense will need to shut down Darren McFadden and put pressure on Carson Palmer. The Raiders finally won a game last week against the Chiefs and ended their 6 game losing streak. The Raider Nation will have to look forward to next year.
New England Patriots (10-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12) Winner: New England Patriots
This should be a big easy win for the Patriots. Tom Brady and the Patriots offense should have a big game against the struggling Jaguars defense. The Patriots defense should have no problems against Chad Henne and the Jaguars offense, especially if Maurice Jones Drew is not playing. The Jaguars have been a mess and have lost 3 games in a row and are playing for next year.
New York Giants (8-6) at Baltimore Ravens (9-5) Winner: New York Giants
This is a must win game for both teams. Eli Manning has to have a big game and get the ball to Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz. The Giants will need to have Ahmad Bradshaw back and also have a big game from him. The Giants defense has to step up and shut down Ray Rice and force Joe Flacco to beat them. The Ravens have lost 3 games in a row and looking to look like they are in trouble heading into the end of the season. Joe Flacco has to step up and have a big game against the Giants defense. Flacco has to get the ball to Torrey Smith , Anquan Boldin and David Pitta. Ray Rice has to have a big game and break down the Giants defense. The Ravens defense has to step up and put pressure on Eli Manning.
Minnesota Vikings (8-6) at Houston Texans (12-2) Winner: Houston Texans
The Texans can clinch a 1st round bye in the playoffs with a win against the Vikings. Matt Schaub has to have a big game against the Vikings defense and get the ball to Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels. Arian Foster has to have a big game and break down the Vikings defense. The Texans defense has to shut down Adrian Peterson and force Christian Ponder to beat them. This is a must win game for the Vikings. AP has to have a big game and carry the Vikings offense like he has all season. Ponder will need to step up and have a big game and get the ball to Kyle Rudolph. The Vikings defense will need to find a way to slow down the Texans explosive offense.
Cleveland Browns (5-9) at Denver Broncos (11-3) Winner: Denver Broncos
The Broncos are the hottest team in the NFL and have won 9 games in a row. Look for Peyton Manning to have a big game like he has all season and try to get the Broncos into position to get a 1st round bye in the playoffs. The Broncos defense has to shut down Trent Richardson and force rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden to beat them. The Browns have been playing better the 2nd half of the season and are playing for next year. Brandon Weeden has to show the Browns that he is the quarterback of the future and have a big game against the Broncos great defense. Trent Richardson has to have a big game and take pressure off of Weeden. The Browns defense has to find a way to slow down Manning and the explosive Broncos offense.
Chicago Bears (8-6) at Arizona Cardinals (5-9) Winner: Chicago Bears
This is a must win game for the Bears, and they are on a 3 game losing streak. Jay Cutler has to step up and take care of the ball and have a big game. Cutler has to continue to get the ball to Brandon Marshall. Somebody on the Bears offense other than Marshall and Cutler has to step up. The Bears defense has to step up and shut down Larry Fitzgerald and force John Skelton to beat them. The Cardinals finally won last week and beat the Lions and stopped their 9 game losing streak. Beanie Wells had a big game last week and will need to have another big game against the Bears defense to take pressure off of Skelton. The Cardinals defense has to shut down Brandon Marshall and force Cutler to throw the ball to somebody else.
San Diego Chargers (5-9) at New York Jets (6-8) Winner: San Diego Chargers
Both of these teams have been disappointments this season. Philip Rivers and the Chargers offense has been a mess and has not had a running game all year. Rivers has to finish the season strong and have a big game against this Jets defense and get the ball to Antonio Gates. The Chargers has to put pressure on the Jets new starting quarterback Greg McElroy. What an ugly year for the Jets. They trade for Tim Tebow and now bench Mark Sanchez to start Greg McElroy. The Jets must rely on their ground game and their defense has to put pressure on Philip Rivers. This should be an ugly game as both teams have nothing to play for and are playing for next year.