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San Francisco at New York Giants 1:00 pm Fox October 21, 2007
Why to Watch: Improbable might be the perfect word to describe the turnaround that’s taken place in New York.  How does an 0-2 team down 17-3 at halftime of its third game become the NFC’s second best team in four short weeks?  No matter how it’s happened, it has and the Giants are as hot as any team in the NFL.  The 49ers need a similar streak after their bye week, although keeping pace with Seattle and Arizona in the NFC West isn’t that difficult this season.  The 49ers had a bye last week, but have to travel across country to take on the scorching hot Giants.
Why San Francisco Might Win:  With a week off, the 49ers had the opportunity to get some rest and get prepared for the Giants, while New York has to suffer through a short preparation week.  Quarterback Trent Dilfer had more time to digest more of the playbook and get more practice snaps.  He needs them; the 49er offense is 31^st in the league in scoring, and can do nothing but improve.  Running back Frank Gore should be more productive for the remaining portion of the season, especially against the Giants 11^th ranked rush defense (yielding 96.5 yards per game).
Why the Giants Might Win:  Dilfer shouldn’t get comfortable in the pocket.  The Giants have sacked anything that’s moved at the quarterback position in the last three weeks.  17 sacks in the last three weeks, including four last night of Falcon quarterback Joey Harrington.  But, the defense isn’t the only unit playing well lately.  The Eli Manning-led offense is sixth in the league in total offense averaging 359.2 yards per game (230.3 through the air, 128.8 on the ground).  The three Giant backs combined for 188 yards on the ground against the Falcons (Droughns – 90, Jacobs – 86 and Ward – 12) and San Francisco is 22^nd in the league against the rush.  Uh oh.
Who to Watch: The recipient of the Giants stout pass rush is rookie cornerback Aaron Ross.  He has three interceptions in the last two weeks and is tied for fifth in the league with those three picks on the season.  The Giants haven’t had a playmaking defensive back in some time, so the emergence of the rookie is the perfect tonic for the Giants ‘D’.
What Will Happen: The week off should have the 49ers fresh, but the Giants are on fi-re.  Eli looks good.  No one can stop Plaxico Burress.  The running game is solid.  The defense is playing well.  At home, even in a short prep week, the Giants are getting it, if you will.  They might not blow out San Fran, but the playmakers (Burress, Ross and the DL) will turn the game in the fourth quarter.
CFN Prediction: Giants 28 … 49ers 17... Line: New York -9
Must See Rating: (5 Keeping Up with the Kardashians - 1 Ellen's dog plea) ... 2.5

New England at Miami 1:00 pm CBS October 21, 2007
Why to Watch: The perfect against the imperfect.  The best vs. the worst.  Good taking on bad.  The undefeated New England Patriots might be the best team of the decade and have beaten opponents by an average 38-15.  They finally trailed during the second half of a game against Dallas, and then they outscored Dallas 24-3 the rest of the way.  Miami?  Well, let’s just say that the Dolphins have had their share of moral victories this season.  A loss to Cleveland in the Dawg Pound left Cam Cameron’s bunch with an 0-6 record and the Patriots on the way to south Florida.  Not good.  Not good at all.
Why New England Might Win:  Offense.  Defense.  Special Teams.  Coaching.  Pick one and you’ve got a reason why New England wins games.  Last week at Dallas, six different Patriots scored points, including the trio at receiver – Donte Stallworth, Wes Welker and Randy Moss.  That trio combined to snare 24 passes for 319 yards, including four touchdowns.  Miami’s defense was shredded by Cleveland quarterback Derek Anderson, who completed18 of 25 for 245 yards and three touchdowns, so expect much of the same this weekend.
Why Miami Might Win:  The Dolphins have really only two things that give them hope in this game.  One, the Patriots are notorious for playing poorly in Miami.  The other is the overall dominance of running back Ronnie Brown.  He ran for over 100 yards for the third consecutive week, rushing for 101 yards on 19 carries against Cleveland.  He also led the Dolphins with nine receptions for 69 yards.  He’s third in the league in total rushing yards, accounting for 526 yards, 87.7 yards per game and should be the focus for the Patriots defense all day long.
Who to Watch: The Miami offensive line has more pressure on it this week than in any previous week.  The Patriots are fifth in rush defense, giving up 78 yards per game and know they have to stop Brown.  The Dolphin offense can’t let the Patriots offense get back on the field against the 23^rd ranked defense in the league.  As such, the offensive line must get movement and create seams for Brown to pound 20 to 25 times, keeping Tom Brady and company on the sideline throughout the game.
What Will Happen: Unfortunately, it won’t happen.  Brown will get bottled up, held to less than 50 yards rushing, while the Patriots systematically destroy the Dolphin defense.  Brady will have 300+ yards passing, while the gaggle of running backs spread the wealth, combining for 125+ yards on the ground.  The records stay perfect when this one is over.
CFN Prediction: Patriots 42 … Miami 17  ... Line: New England -16
Must See Rating: (5 Keeping Up with the Kardashians - 1 Ellen's dog plea) ... 2

Tennessee at Houston 1:00 pm CBS October 21, 2007
Why to Watch: Who wouldn’t want to watch Houstonian and current Titan quarterback Vince Young play in his home town?  70,000 Texans fans, that’s who.  Well, there’ll be a few of those fans cheering for VY (this game sold out in minutes when tickets went on sale)…well, that is, if he ends up playing.  The great one injured his quad last week and is questionable as of press time.  Behind backup Kerry Collins the Titans fought back to tie the game in Tampa Bay, but a late Matt Bryant field goal gave Tennessee its second loss of the season.  The Texans also lost, a 37-17 drubbing at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars.  The loser moves to the cellar, although that’s not really an insult in this division.
Why Tennessee Might Win:  Even with VY potentially out of the game, the Texans are still going to have major problems stopping the Tennessee rushing attack.  The Titans are sixth in the league, averaging 141.8 yards per game, while the Texans are 19^th in the NFL in rush defense, giving up 116.8 yards per game.  Expect plenty of LenDale White and Chris Brown against the Texans defense, a unit that gave up 244 yards rushing to the Jaguars last week.
Why Houston Might Win:  Desperation and a possible absence of VY.  The Texans are looking at two California road trips after this game, including a trip to San Diego.  So, a loss here could be damaging for a team looking to have the organization’s first winning season.  Now, take VY out of the lineup and the pressure placed on the defense is significantly lessened.  Collins isn’t a total stiff, but as many in Houston will tell you, he isn’t VY.
Who to Watch: Houston running back Ahman Green returned last week, but had little impact on the game.  He ran 16 times for 44 yards and never really got going against the stout Jacksonville defense.  It won’t be much easier this week for him as he faces the number one rush defense in the league.  Unfortunately, the Texans have no shot at winning this game if Green isn’t at least 75+ yards on the ground against the Titans.
What Will Happen: Fortunately for the Texans, Green will get those 75+ yards on the ground and quarterback Matt Schaub won’t turn the ball over in the red zone, while throwing for 250+ yards against the 18^th ranked Tennessee pass defense.  The Texans will upset the favored Titans.
CFN Prediction: Texans 24 … Titans 21  ... Line: NO LINE
Must See Rating: (5 Keeping Up with the Kardashians - 1 Ellen's dog plea) ... 3.5

Tampa Bay at Detroit 1:00 pm Fox October 21, 2007
Why to Watch: Winning ugly might be the motto of the Buccaneers this season, but it’s still winning.  The Bucs moved the record to 4-2 after Matt Bryant’s 43-yard field goal with a minute remaining gave the Bucs a 13-10 win over the visiting Titans.  The Lions had the week off to prepare for Jeff Garcia and company and, well, to recover from the ruthless 34-3 beating they received from the Washington Redskins two weeks ago.  Both teams have realistic division championship hopes, but a loss could ruin those dreams.
Why Tampa Bay Might Win:  Face it people, Jeff Garcia is a good quarterback and is the perfect leader for the Buccaneers.  It doesn’t show in his numbers – he’s averaging less than 200 yards per game and less than a touchdown per game.  But, he doesn’t turn the ball over and comes up with the big play at the right time.  He was 20 of 31 for 274 yards and a touchdown against a tough Tennessee defense, and the Lions have the 30^th ranked pass defense in the league.  It could be another banner day for the Bucs signal caller.
Why Detroit Might Win:  For as well as Garcia throws the football, the Lions’ Jon Kitna throws it better and is a bit more dangerous.  The Lions are fifth in the league in passing yards per game, averaging 265.4 yards per game and Kitna is eighth in the league in passer rating, with a 93.2 rating.  Tampa Bay is solid against the pass (eighth in the league in pass defense), but it hasn’t seen a passing offense like the one it’ll see on Sunday.
Who to Watch: Tampa Bay receiver Joey Galloway is just as dangerous downfield as he was ten years ago.  He had another long ball for a touchdown, a 69-yarder against the Titans.  Galloway is averaging 18.3 yards per catch and is a difficult matchup for the Lions secondary.
What Will Happen: The Lions, after a week off, will come out of the gates quickly and have the Bucs in trouble early.  Kitna will light up the Buc secondary, throwing for 300+ yards and three touchdowns in the process.  Garcia will have a strong game for the Bucs, but in this track meet, the Lions will outrace the Bucs to the finish line.
CFN Prediction: Lions 38 … Buccaneers 34  ... Line: Detroit -2.5
Must See Rating: (5 Keeping Up with the Kardashians - 1 Ellen's dog plea) ... 2.5

Baltimore at Buffalo 1:00 pm CBS October 21, 2007
Why to Watch: The visiting Bills have had a week off to stew about the Monday night 25-24 loss to the Cowboys, a loss that had no business taking place last week.  The time off gave the Bills coaching staff the opportunity to evaluate rookie quarterback Trent Edwards and determine he’s the right option against this stout Ravens defense.  The Ravens hammered the turnover prone Rams last week 22-3 to move to 4-2 on the season.
Why Baltimore Might Win:  The Ravens are still running game and defense, defense and running game, especially with quarterback Steve McNair out for the next two weeks.  Running back Willis McGahee is fourth in the league with 525 yards rushing, averaging 87.5 yards per game to lead the offense, while the defense is fourth in the league in total defense, yielding 272.3 yards per game.
Why Buffalo Might Win:  Playing at home last week, it was evident that the Bills are a different team, infused by young talent at quarterback and running back and on defense.  The defense generated six turnovers against Dallas in a losing effort, while putting 14 points up on the board in the process.  No matter how good this defense played last week, the Bills must get a solid game out of Edwards, the 24^th ranked passer in the league.
Who to Watch: Raven quarterback Kyle Boller will start in place of a banged up McNair and actually has played much better as the second quarterback behind the Raven starting quarterback.  Boller completed 60% of passes last week against the Rams (18 of 30) for 184 yards, but didn’t get the Ravens in the end zone through the air.  The Bills are second to last in the league in pass defense, giving up 287.8 yards per game, so Boller must be able to take advantage of the weak Buffalo secondary.
What Will Happen: The Ravens will have a rough go of it in Buffalo.  The Bills will pressure Boller into a couple of poor throws and then establish rookie running back Marshawn Lynch on the ground.  The Bills score the major upset behind Edwards and Lynch and another opportunistic defensive performance.
CFN Prediction: Bills 20 … Ravens 17  ... Line: Baltimore -3
Must See Rating: (5 Keeping Up with the Kardashians - 1 Ellen's dog plea) ... 2.5

Arizona at Washington 1:00 pm Fox October 21, 2007
Why to Watch: It’s Tim Rattay time in Arizona!  With Matt Leinart out for the year and Kurt Warner highly questionable, the former record setting quarterback from Louisiana Tech should take over in the desert for a team still in the NFC West division hunt.  The Cards were beat by Vinny Testaverde and the Carolina Panthers 25-10.  Last week wasn’t a good one for the Redskins as Joe Gibbs’ gang took one on the chin in Green Bay – Washington lost 17-14 to the Packers, dropping the ‘Skins to 3-2.
Why Arizona Might Win: Rattay will have a week to fully prepare with this team, instead of being thrown on the field after being at practice for a couple of days.  He threw three interceptions against the Panthers, but should be much crisper against the Redskins.  On the other side of the field, the Cardinals should be able to get some pressure on quarterback Jason Campbell, who was sacked three times by Green Bay.  Defensive lineman Darnell Dockett is tied for second in the league with six sacks, including one last week against Carolina.
Why Washington Might Win:  The Redskins defense is ranked third in the league in scoring defense, giving up a paltry 13.8 points per game.  That unit is also third in the league in total defense, yielding 259 yards per game, so don’t expect the Cardinals led by a recent junk heap quarterback signee to do much against one of the best units in the league.
Who to Watch: Redskin wide receiver Santana Moss has been injured lately, missing some game time and once he got back on the field last week against Green Bay, he had no catches and one rush for zero yards.  The Redskin offense is a bit more diverse than expected, but the dimension that Moss provides for this team takes the offense to another level.  The Skins need Moss to pick up the production now that he’s back on the field.
What Will Happen: The Redskins will jump out front early and not let the Cardinals breathe.  Quarterback Jason Campbell will be effective through the air and rely on the running game to grind the Cardinals into submission.
CFN Prediction: Redskins 24 … Cardinals 10  ... Line: Washington -8.5
Must See Rating: (5 Keeping Up with the Kardashians - 1 Ellen's dog plea) ... 2.5

Atlanta at New Orleans 1:00 pm Fox October 21, 2007
Why to Watch: Each team has one win.  Each team has played its share of ugly, horrid games.  Both teams are looking up at the leaders in the NFC South, separated by only percentage points in the standings.  It’s not a game that stokes the embers within the NFL fan, but one of these teams could use a victory in this game to generate some momentum to save a lost season.  The Saints do have a little momentum having beaten the Saints 28-17 for the first win of the season, while the Falcons gave up 24 unanswered points in a 31-10 loss to the Giants.  One team has to win, that’s the good news.
Why Atlanta Might Win:  What’s the best way for an ailing offense to get well?  Play a defense ranked 27^th in the league in scoring defense.  The Saints are giving up 27.2 points per game and they’re not great against the pass either, ranked 26^th in the NFL, yielding 241.0 yards per game.  Quarterback Byron Leftwich takes over as the starter and, although he’s not played much this season, he can light up the Saints questionable secondary (Seahawk QB Matt Hasselbeck did so last week, throwing for 362 yards on Sunday night).
Why New Orleans Might Win:  Quarterback Drew Brees looked more like the Drew Brees of 2005 and 2006 on Sunday night against Seattle.  He finished 25 of 36 for 246 yards, two touchdowns and, more importantly, no interceptions.  The killer all season long has been the interception bug – Brees has thrown nine, but by not throwing a pick against Seattle, he kept the offense on the field and helped put 28 points on the scoreboard.
Who to Watch: Saints running back Reggie Bush proved that maybe he can be a number one running back in this league.  He pounded the Seahawks for 97 yards on 19 carries, providing the perfect complement to Brees and the passing game.  With Deuce McAllister out for the season, the question throughout the season will be about Bush’s ability to withstand the pounding as the number one guy.  Well, if last week was any indication, he might have all the answers.
What Will Happen: New Orleans is due to go on a sweet little run.  The win on the road against Seattle is going to jump start the Saints and the memory of beating Atlanta in the Dome last year may be the perfect tonic for this team.  Brees is going to continue playing well and Bush will have a 125+ total offensive yards to lead the Saints to win number two.
CFN Prediction: Saints 27 … Falcons 13... Line: New Orleans -8
Must See Rating: (5 Keeping Up with the Kardashians - 1 Ellen's dog plea) ... 2

Kansas City at Oakland 4:05 pm CBS October 21, 2007
Why to Watch: The days of Daryl Lamonica vs. Len Dawson, Otis Taylor vs. Willie Brown and Ben Davidson vs. the entire Chiefs offense are long gone.  Sorry to break it to you, but this is the 2000s and the AFL is history.  Damn.  Those were fun battles, but if these two teams continue to improve maybe we can get back to those brutal AFL matchups.  We’re not quite there, but the two teams are much better than expected.  The Chiefs are tied with the Chargers for first place in the AFC West after beating the Bengals 27-20 in Arrowhead, while the Raiders dropped a physical 28-14 tête-à-tête to the aforementioned Chargers.
Why Kansas City Might Win:  Somehow running back Larry Johnson found some of his 2005/2006 mojo after struggling for much of the season.  He pounded on the weak Bengal defense front, rushing for 119 yards on 31 bruising carries, including an eight yard touchdown.  The Johnson Effect plays well for quarterback Damon Huard, who completed 25-35 for 264 yards and two touchdowns to future Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez.  None of it happens without Johnson and facing the 28^th ranked rush defense in the league, he should have another strong performance.
Why Oakland Might Win:  The answer for the Oakland offense isn’t Larry Johnson, obviously, but it is a similar answer – the running game.  The Raiders are third in the NFL in rushing, averaging 166 yards per game and running back LaMont Jordan is sixth in the league averaging 93.2 yards per game, even though the Chargers held him to 42 yards on 18 carries.  The Chiefs are 20^th in the league stopping the run, yielding 117.7 yards per game, so expect a lot of running from Jordan and Justin Fargas.
Who to Watch: Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez somehow gets better with age.  He had nine catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns against the Bengals and is Huard’s go-to guy.  With Jeff Webb and Dwayne Bowe emerging on the outside, Gonzalez continues to be a menace in the intermediate areas of the field.  The Raiders can’t hope to stop Johnson and Gonzalez.
What Will Happen: The Raiders will have some trouble stopping Johnson, who rushes for 100+ yards and that’ll be the death knell for the Oakland defense.  Huard won’t play a clean game, as he throws a pick or two, but he’ll come up big down the stretch.  In a game that comes down to the final few minutes, the Chiefs will win a huge game on the road.
CFN Prediction: Chiefs 24 … Raiders 23  ... Line: Oakland -2
Must See Rating: (5 Keeping Up with the Kardashians - 1 Ellen's dog plea) ... 2.5

New York Jets at Cincinnati 4:05 pm CBS October 21, 2007
Why to Watch: Okay, so one team can’t score.  One team can’t stop people from scoring.  So, what gives first – the movable object or the irresistible force?  We’ll find out soon enough on Sunday, even if both teams are playing as poorly as these two have played lately.  These two are a combined 2-9, losing seven in a row.  The Bengals latest loss was a 27-20 beatdown at the hands of the Chiefs, while the Jets scored a measly nine points in a loss to Philadelphia.  The good news in all of this is that one of these teams will end a losing streak on Sunday – even if it’s a tie.
Why the Jets Might Win:  The Jets found Thomas Jones last week.  The former Bear runner had his best game as a Titan, err, Jet (maybe there is something to those UVA blue jerseys that Jones likes).  Anyhow, Jones rushed for 130 yards on 24 carries and is tenth in the league with 420 rush yards.  Considering the fact that Cincinnati is 29^th in the NFL against the rush, giving up 145.8 yards per game, Jones should have another 100+ yard performance on Sunday.
Why Cincinnati Might Win:  Want a bad formula for a Jets win this weekend?  How about the fourth best offense in the league (Bengals averaging 367.0 yards per game) facing the 28^th best defense in the league (Jets yielding 374.8 yards per game)?  That could be a problem for the Jets and a nice situation for the Bengals.  Even in a losing effort last weekend, the Bengals piled up 373 yards total offense against a surprisingly good Chiefs defense.  The Jets aren’t that good. Ouch.
Who to Watch: Who plays quarterback for the Jets?  Chad Pennington is perhaps on his last legs for the Jets, while Kellen Clemens sits and waits for his opportunity.  Pennington can’t throw the ball downfield but is typically accurate; his longest completion this year is only 29 yards, but he completes 68.3% of his throws.  It shows you how good Jones is and was last week facing a defense that can play all 11 guys within ten yards of the line of scrimmage without fear of getting beat deep.  Should Clemens take more snaps?  Probably soon.
What Will Happen: Although the Bengals can’t stop anyone, they’ll outscore the Jets behind a 350+ yard performance from star quarterback Carson Palmer.  Wide receivers TJ Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson will both have 100+ yard days as the Bengals torch the Jets at home.
CFN Prediction: Bengals 38 … Jets 31  ... Line: Cincinnati -6.5
Must See Rating: (5 Keeping Up with the Kardashians - 1 Ellen's dog plea) ... 2

St. Louis at Seattle 4:15 pm Fox October 21, 2007
Why to Watch: No team in the NFL is struggling near as much as the St. Louis Rams.  They’ve failed to pull out a win and hit rock bottom last weekend, losing 22-3 to the Baltimore Ravens.  The Seahawks didn’t have a great weekend either, losing at home to the formerly winless New Orleans Saints 28-17.  Suffice it to say, the Seahawks won’t lose twice in a row to winless teams, at home.  Wait, will they?
Why St. Louis Might Win:  The Rams are getting quarterback Marc Bulger back in the lineup, which is a stark improvement over aged Gus Frerotte, who threw five interceptions last week in Baltimore.  Bulger hasn’t played exceptionally well this year, but with a couple of weeks off to rest his body, his arm and his mind, he should have a strong game.  Seattle’s defense is 19^th in the league in passing defense, giving up 220.2 yards per game and Saints quarterback Drew Brees had a field day against them last week (25 of 36, 246 yards and two touchdowns).
Why Seattle Might Win:  As mentioned above, there’s no possible way that the Seahawks will lose to two winless teams, at home, in back-to-back weeks.  The Rams are 21^st in the NFL in total defense, yielding 338 yards per game and the Seahawks are potent enough to capitalize.  Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is fifth in the league in passing yardage with 1,510, but he must find a way to get the ball in the end zone against the 26^th ranked scoring defense in the league.
Who to Watch: Seattle running back Shaun Alexander is showing his age a bit this season.  After a relatively solid start, the former NFL MVP has struggled on the ground.  Last week, Alexander had 35 yards on 14 carries against the Saints, but the Rams aren’t good stopping the run (27^th in the league giving up 134.5 yards per game).  He needs to have a 100 yard day to take the pressure off of Hasselbeck.
What Will Happen: The Seahawks aren’t about to lose a second week in a row at home, not to another winless team.  No way.  Hasselbeck will have a solid 250+ yard day, while Alexander has a strong game against the porous Ram defense.
CFN Prediction: Seahawks 31 … Rams 10  ... Line: Seattle -8.5
Must See Rating: (5 Keeping Up with the Kardashians - 1 Ellen's dog plea) ... 2

Minnesota at Dallas 4:15 pm Fox October 21, 2007
Why to Watch: In Dallas, there’s no such thing as a moral victory, but the Cowboys did lead the vaunted Patriots in the second half last Sunday.  The rest of the game didn’t go so well for Wade Phillips’ charges, as the Cowboys lost their first game of the season 48-27.  The weekend was much different for the Vikings.  After losing every game since the opener, the Vikings decided a trip to Chicago was exactly what the doctor ordered.  Well, that and 20 sublime carries for Mr. Adrian Peterson.  The Vikes left Chicago a 34-31 winner and heading to Dallas with some confidence.
Why Minnesota Might Win:  A.D.  As in, All Day.  The rookie from Oklahoma is as good as advertised.  He had 224 yards on only 20 carries, but it was his three touchdown runs that showed everyone that he’s for real.  He reeled off touchdown runs of 73 yards, 67 yards and 35 yards and literally ran away from anyone wearing a dark jersey.  He’s got an explosiveness that so few backs in the league have and he’ll make life extremely difficult for the seventh ranked Dallas rush defense.
Why Dallas Might Win:  Except for Peterson, the Vikings don’t have much on offense to scare the Cowboys.  The Cowboys can stack safety Roy Williams in the box without fear of getting beat in the passing game by the 31^st ranked passer in the league Tarvaris Jackson.  Furthermore, the Cowboy offense isn’t facing a multi-faceted 3-4 look this week and should move the ball effectively against a Viking defense that gave up 458 yards to the Chicago Bear offense.
Who to Watch: The aforementioned Williams is a major key this week in stopping Peterson.  He had four tackles against the Patriots, but the Pats didn’t run the ball near as much, or as well, as Peterson does.  Williams will have to spend much of his time in the box, shadowing the Vikings star runner, but when he does play outside the box (in any cover two schemes), he has to break down on Peterson when he fills in the alley or he’ll be another Peterson highlight.
What Will Happen: The Cowboys will slow down Peterson and keep the Vikings out of the end zone.  Quarterback Tony Romo will have a field day against the worst pass defense in the league, throwing for 300+ yards and three touchdowns.  This one won’t be that close.
CFN Prediction: Cowboys 27 … Vikings 13  ... Line: Dallas -9
Must See Rating: (5 Keeping Up with the Kardashians - 1 Ellen's dog plea) ... 3

Chicago at Philadelphia 4:15 pm Fox October 21, 2007
Why to Watch: The Eagles needed a win last week in the Meadowlands to help people forget about the 12 sack debacle against the Giants.  Fortunately for Andy Reid and company, the Eagles got that win, a 16-9 win over the Jets.  Unfortunately for the Bears, the results weren’t quite the same.  The Bears defense is still trying to tackle Adrian Peterson and, as a result, went down to defeat at home on a last second field goal 34-31.  The two perennial playoff teams will be going nowhere after a loss, so this one is key to any future postseason hopes for both.
Why Chicago Might Win:  For as bad as the defense played last week, quarterback Brian Griese quietly threw for nearly 400 yards in the loss.  He completed 26 of 45 passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns, a performance not thought possible for a Chicago quarterback at the beginning of the season.  Continued improvement and production from Griese should help the Bears overcome recent defense shortcomings.
Why Philadelphia Might Win:  The Eagles have finally found some balance in their offense.  Quarterback Donovan McNabb threw the ball 35 times last week against the Jets, completing 22 for 278 yards and a touchdown.  In addition, the Eagles ran the ball 28 times for 151 yards, providing the perfect complement to the passing game.  Considering how much trouble the Bears defense (ranked 26^th in the league against the run) had stopping the run last week, expect even more of running back Brian Westbrook on Sunday.
Who to Watch: The Bears secondary combined for 18 tackles on Sunday against the Vikings, which is a disturbing number for any run defense.  If the secondary is leading the team in tackles (Danieal Manning tied for the team lead with seven tackles), then the Eagles will roll over the Bears in a cakewalk.  For Bears fans, the secondary needs to be the “who not to watch” this weekend.
What Will Happen: The Eagles are more balanced on offense and the defense is playing better than the Bears currently.  The Eagles are seventh in the NFL in total defense and will shut down Griese and the Bears running game.  In another ugly, physical win, the Eagles even the record at 3-3.
CFN Prediction: Eagles 20 … Bears 13  ... Line: Philadelphia -5.5
Must See Rating: (5 Keeping Up with the Kardashians - 1 Ellen's dog plea) ... 3.5

Pittsburgh at Denver 8:15 pm NBC October 21, 2007
Why to Watch: This season hasn’t progressed as the Broncos organization would’ve liked.  After surviving two early wins, the bottom has dropped out for Denver.  The Jaguars, the Colts and the Chargers laid waste to the Broncos beating them by a combined 102-37, leaving them searching for answers during the bye week.  The Steelers fought back, after a loss to Arizona, with a decisive 21-3 win over the Seahawks two weeks ago.  The bye week helped the Steelers get healthy, and even more potent.  That’s not what the Broncos wanted to hear.
Why Pittsburgh Might Win:  Running back Willie Parker is fourth in the league in rushing, averaging 101.4 yards per game and has grown into more than a one year wonder.  Parker’s burst, behind this offensive line, is exceptionally difficult to handle.  Especially for the Broncos.  Denver’s defense is last in the league in rushing defense, yielding 187.6 yards per game, so Parker will play a major role in this game for the Steeler offense.
Why Denver Might Win:  Outside of the production of running back Travis Henry, the Broncos reasons for winning are a little bit more subjective than objective.  Henry is averaging 99.6 yards per game and is fifth in the league in rushing, just behind Parker.  However, a home game in front of a national television audience should have Mike Shanahan’s squad ready to play.  The Broncos need that home crowd to carry them through against this well-coached Steelers team.
Who to Watch: The Steelers Pro Bowlers return to the field on Sunday.  Safety Troy Polamalu is back after being missing the Seattle game with an injury, while wide receiver Hines Ward returns after missing the last two games with a knee injury.  Nothing like the rich getting richer, huh?  Keep an eye on how much these two are involved in this game.
What Will Happen: The Broncos are a shell of their former selves.  Quarterback Jay Cutler really misses wide receiver Javon Walker and it’s even tougher to move the ball against the Steelers with a weapon of that magnitude still on the bench.  Parker has a huge game, rushing for 150+ yards and a couple of touchdowns in a decisive Steelers win.
CFN Prediction: Steelers 27 … Broncos 10  ... Line: Pittsburgh -3.5
Must See Rating: (5 Keeping Up with the Kardashians - 1 Ellen's dog plea) ... 3

Indianapolis at Jacksonville 8:30 pm ESPN October 22, 2007
Why to Watch: In the best matchup of the weekend, the Colts travel to Jacksonville to battle the Jags for the AFC South lead.  The undefeated Colts had the weekend off to watch the Jaguars dominate the Texans from start to finish 37-17.  On Monday night, Jacksonville will be hopping and the atmosphere will rival that of a playoff or championship game.  The Colts sit atop the AFC South, but a win by the Jags moves Jacksonville into a tie for first place and a leg up in the head-to-head tiebreaker.  It should be a good one; a physical, hard-hitting game befitting two of the better teams in the league.
Why Indianapolis Might Win:  It’s hard to fathom a defense completely shutting down Peyton Manning and the Colts offense.  Play nickel and take away Manning’s throwing options, he’ll check to run plays.  Stuff the box with defenders and he’ll light your defense up with the passing attack.  The Colts are third in the league in total offense, averaging over 400 yards per game – seventh in passing offense (260.8 YPG) and fifth in rushing (142.0 YPG).  The Texans did register 390 yards against Jacksonville, so Indianapolis should do that and then some against Jack Del Rio’s bunch.
Why Jacksonville Might Win:  The Jaguars can run the football as well as any team in this league.  Kansas City found that out the hard way two weeks ago and Houston found that out last weekend.  Against Houston, running back Maurice Jones-Drew averaged 10.4 yards per carry on 12 carries, which included two touchdowns, while Fred Taylor averaged 15 yards per carry on six carries.  Indianapolis is better against the run this season, but is still giving up105.4 yards per game…and the Colts haven’t seen this attack yet this season.
Who to Watch: Jaguars quarterback David Garrard hasn’t thrown an interception this season, so the pressure from defensive ends Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney is extremely important in this game.  If Garrard does an about face and turns the ball over, the Jags have no shot at beating the Colts.  It’s imperative that these two dominate the edge and force Garrard into poor decisions.
What Will Happen: The Colts will eventually take away the running game by stacking the box and putting the game in Garrard’s hands.  This is not what Del Rio wants for his young quarterback – he needs him to capably manage the game and not turn the ball over.  The Colts will take advantage of Garrard forcing the issue and win the ball game.
CFN Prediction: Colts 28 … Jaguars 20  ... Line: Indianapolis -3
Must See Rating: (5 Keeping Up with the Kardashians - 1 Ellen's dog plea) ... 4.5