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Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003
Carolina 29 - *New Orleans 16
Paced by 159 rushing yards and a TD from Stephen Davis, the Panthers beat the Saints 19-13 three weeks ago. Carolina's ground game has continued to strengthen, while N.O.'s run defense has only weakened.
*Chicago 17 - Detroit 14
The Bears will win here with the run, the only thing either team is any good at. In 2002 each won at home -- each on a field goal in OT -- Detroit 23-20 and Chicago 20-17. They'll meet again in two weeks.
Denver 23 - *Baltimore 17
Their defense is solid, but the Ravens won't stop the Broncos on the ground. Baltimore stunned Denver with a 31-point second quarter last year on the way to a 34-23 win, its third straight in the series.
*Indianapolis 31 - Houston 13
Though their offense has come far since '02, when the Colts shut them down twice, 23-3 and 19-3, the Texans don't have enough pass defense to threaten Indy. But will the Colts let down after a week off?
*Kansas City 30 - Buffalo 17
A good offense (the Chiefs, who like to run) meets a lousy one (the Bills, who mostly pass), and neither defense matches up well against those strengths. K.C. was a 17-16 winner over Buffalo last year.
*Minnesota 35 - N.Y. Giants 19
This may be a slugfest, with the Vikings able to run or throw on the Giants and N.Y. picking apart Minnesota's weak secondary. Tiki Barber's TD with 2:43 left led the Giants over the Vikes in '02, 27-20.
*New England 22 - Cleveland 16
In contrast to the above, defense is the key here: The Browns must find a way to slow the Patriots on the ground. N.E. has won three of its last four against Cleveland, most recently 27-16 two years ago.
*Philadelphia 21 - N.Y. Jets 17
No sure pick, because the Eagles can't stop the pass, and the Jets' Chad Pennington is itching to throw a few. Philly will dice N.Y.'s defensive line, though, and improve its record in the series to 7-0.
St. Louis 26 - *Pittsburgh 24
The likely game of the week, featuring two of the NFL's best air games, one outstanding pass defense (the Steelers'), one solid one (the Rams'), and very little running. Pittsburgh won last, in '96.
San Francisco 24 - *Arizona 12
Against the 49ers' defense, the Cardinals simply aren't a scoring threat. With Jeff Garcia throwing five TD passes, S.F. won its fourth and fifth in a row against Arizona last year, 38-28 and 17-14.
Seattle 20 - *Cincinnati 13
The Seahawks aren't as good as their record, and the Bengals can prove it if they focus on corralling the run. Seattle and Cincy have faced off 16 times -- most recently in '99 -- and each has won eight.
*Tampa Bay 23 - Dallas 20
Here's the reigning champs' chance to show the league's friskiest offense who's in charge of the line of scrimmage. After dropping the first eight in this series, the Buccaneers have won the last two.
Tennessee 29 - *Jacksonville 13
Desperately in search of a running game, the Titans won't find it against the Jaguars, but they'll kill them through the air -- unlike Tennessee's two wins in '02, when Eddie George ran for four TD's.
Monday, Oct. 27, 2003
Miami 24 - *San Diego 14
Other than the nice sunset, we're not sure why S.D. is hosting a Monday night game. In their fourth straight win over the Chargers last year, a 30-3 drubbing, the Dolphins outgained them by 269 yards.
* indicates home team
Open date: Atlanta, Green Bay, Oakland, Washington
Carolina 29 - *New Orleans 16
Paced by 159 rushing yards and a TD from Stephen Davis, the Panthers beat the Saints 19-13 three weeks ago. Carolina's ground game has continued to strengthen, while N.O.'s run defense has only weakened.
*Chicago 17 - Detroit 14
The Bears will win here with the run, the only thing either team is any good at. In 2002 each won at home -- each on a field goal in OT -- Detroit 23-20 and Chicago 20-17. They'll meet again in two weeks.
Denver 23 - *Baltimore 17
Their defense is solid, but the Ravens won't stop the Broncos on the ground. Baltimore stunned Denver with a 31-point second quarter last year on the way to a 34-23 win, its third straight in the series.
*Indianapolis 31 - Houston 13
Though their offense has come far since '02, when the Colts shut them down twice, 23-3 and 19-3, the Texans don't have enough pass defense to threaten Indy. But will the Colts let down after a week off?
*Kansas City 30 - Buffalo 17
A good offense (the Chiefs, who like to run) meets a lousy one (the Bills, who mostly pass), and neither defense matches up well against those strengths. K.C. was a 17-16 winner over Buffalo last year.
*Minnesota 35 - N.Y. Giants 19
This may be a slugfest, with the Vikings able to run or throw on the Giants and N.Y. picking apart Minnesota's weak secondary. Tiki Barber's TD with 2:43 left led the Giants over the Vikes in '02, 27-20.
*New England 22 - Cleveland 16
In contrast to the above, defense is the key here: The Browns must find a way to slow the Patriots on the ground. N.E. has won three of its last four against Cleveland, most recently 27-16 two years ago.
*Philadelphia 21 - N.Y. Jets 17
No sure pick, because the Eagles can't stop the pass, and the Jets' Chad Pennington is itching to throw a few. Philly will dice N.Y.'s defensive line, though, and improve its record in the series to 7-0.
St. Louis 26 - *Pittsburgh 24
The likely game of the week, featuring two of the NFL's best air games, one outstanding pass defense (the Steelers'), one solid one (the Rams'), and very little running. Pittsburgh won last, in '96.
San Francisco 24 - *Arizona 12
Against the 49ers' defense, the Cardinals simply aren't a scoring threat. With Jeff Garcia throwing five TD passes, S.F. won its fourth and fifth in a row against Arizona last year, 38-28 and 17-14.
Seattle 20 - *Cincinnati 13
The Seahawks aren't as good as their record, and the Bengals can prove it if they focus on corralling the run. Seattle and Cincy have faced off 16 times -- most recently in '99 -- and each has won eight.
*Tampa Bay 23 - Dallas 20
Here's the reigning champs' chance to show the league's friskiest offense who's in charge of the line of scrimmage. After dropping the first eight in this series, the Buccaneers have won the last two.
Tennessee 29 - *Jacksonville 13
Desperately in search of a running game, the Titans won't find it against the Jaguars, but they'll kill them through the air -- unlike Tennessee's two wins in '02, when Eddie George ran for four TD's.
Monday, Oct. 27, 2003
Miami 24 - *San Diego 14
Other than the nice sunset, we're not sure why S.D. is hosting a Monday night game. In their fourth straight win over the Chargers last year, a 30-3 drubbing, the Dolphins outgained them by 269 yards.
* indicates home team
Open date: Atlanta, Green Bay, Oakland, Washington