Divisional Predictions

Okay, let's try another round of these guesseshighly accurate predictions:

Baltimore @ Tennessee: Kerry Collins' resurgence this season has been a good story, but this will be a defensive struggle, and after last week's beatdown in Miami, the Ravens' D has KFC (Collins' middle name is Michael, but one of the Raiders' fan blogs bestowed the "KFC" moniker on him all the same) in their sights. Holy shit, did you see Ed Reed's Willie Mays interception of Pennington?

Ravens 16, Titans 10.


Arizona @ Carolina: The Cards managed to get out of their own way to bring Atlanta's Cinderella season to an end last week, but they don't travel well (0-5 on the East Coast this season, most of them blowout losses) and they don't do bad weather (40º and possible rain in Charlotte today). If Arizona's running game and defense perform as well as they did last week, and if they can shut down Carolina's excellent running attack, and if Kurt Warner can exploit the Panthers' mediocre secondary with his three 1,000-yard receivers (Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston), the Cards have a chance. And if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle.

Panthers 30, Cardinals 20.


Philadelphia @ New York: Philly has played with a real sense of purpose the past month, peaking at the proverbial right time. Their ferocious defense and McNabb's reversal of his mid-season slump might be enough to keep monster-truck RB Brandon Jacobs off the field and out of the end zone. The Giants have faltered lately, going 2-3 since Plaxico Burress' distractions, and Jacobs' injuries. But they always seem to bring just enough to get by, and are motivated by Philly's embarrassment of them last month. This will probably be the best game to watch this weekend.

Giants 23, Eagles 17.


San Diego @ Pittsburgh: It's axiomatic by now -- the deeper the Chargers go into the playoffs, the less likely they'll have LaDainian Tomlinson, who will sit this one out with (ouch) a muscle separation from the pubic bone, aka sore mangina. Mini-Me backup Darren Sproles was outstanding last week, but that was at home against a mediocre Colts defense. Punter Mike Scifres was the real star of last week's game, especially at the end, pinning the Colts against their own end zone. Ask the Raiders -- when your punter is your most consistent player, your team needs some help. LT Marcus McNeill got away with skull-fucking Indy DE Dwight Freeney all afternoon last week, but that shit won't fly in Pittsburgh, who has done more with less (on offense at least) than just about any team still in it. Dick LeBeau ought to be Secretary of Defense. Philip Rivers is going to meet Heinz Field in a variety of prone positions. Good times.

Steelers 17, Chargers 6.