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Sunday, Nov. 2, 2003
*Baltimore 21 - Jacksonville 10
Closer than it looks? The Jaguars' run defense is almost the equal of the Ravens' league-leading ground game. Jacksonville won the first eight games in this series, but Baltimore's taken the last five.
Carolina 24 - *Houston 16
Like the Ravens, the Panthers are all run, though the Texans don't defend against it nearly as well as the Jaguars. But Houston can gain great chunks of yards through the air on Carolina's secondary.
*Chicago 19 - San Diego 13
This pairing is worth watching mostly for those who like three yards and a cloud of dust, because if they're smart, the Bears and Chargers will run on each other. Chicago evened the series at 4-4 in 1999.
Cincinnati 20 - *Arizona 18
Things may be looking up for the Bengals and Cardinals after their upsets of the Seahawks and 49ers. Cincy, which will prevail with the pass, was a 24-13 winner three years ago, the last time they met.
*Dallas 26 - Washington 12
Dallas is simply the better team with or without the ball. After losing their 10th straight to the Cowboys in their first '02 faceoff, the Redskins held them to 186 yards in a 20-14 final-week pay-back.
Indianapolis 27 - *Miami 24
With the Colts chasing Dolphins runners and Miami chasing Indy receivers, this could be wild. Jay Fiedler threw for two TD's and ran for one in Miami's fifth win in a row over the Colts last year, 21-13.
*Minnesota 29 - Green Bay 21
After losing two straight and then sitting out a week, the Packers will not only be desperate but plenty angry, but the Vikings dominated them on both sides of the ball in Minnesota's 30-25 Week One win.
N.Y. Giants 16 - *N.Y. Jets 13
These teams could wrestle each other to a draw, because the Giants have the only offense -- by air -- and the Jets have the only defense -- against passing. The Blue beat the Green last, four years ago.
Oakland 17 - *Detroit 14
They've proved that they can lose to anybody, and the Raiders' stunning downhill slide makes this pick almost an upset. The clubs haven't met in seven years, since Oakland took a 6-2 lead in the series.
Philadelphia 19 - *Atlanta 12
After a drubbing by the Saints and a bye week, the no doubt thoroughly frustrated Falcons won't be going anywhere on the ground against the Eagles. Philly excused Atlanta from last year's playoffs, 20-6.
St. Louis 30 - *San Francisco 21
Led by replacement QB Marc Bulger, the Rams got by the 49ers in Week Two, 27-24, on Jeff Wilkins's 28-yard field goal in OT. St. Louis, improving by the week, has won eight of its last nine against S.F.
*Seattle 22 - Pittsburgh 14
The Seahawks aren't exactly blowing opponents away with their offense, so the Steelers' stingy defense will offer them a useful reality check. In their most recent meeting, in '99, Seattle won 29-10.
*Tampa Bay 23 - New Orleans 9
Battling their third NFC South division-mate in three weeks, the Saints may manage only a few field goals against the Buccaneers. Then again, N.O. shocked T.B. twice last year, 26-20 in OT and 23-20.
Monday, Nov. 3, 2003
*Denver 22 - New England 19
Their considerable QB woes aside, the Broncos have to stop their slide against the Patriots' fourth-best-in-the-NFL run defense. Clinton Portis led Denver over N.E. in '02, 24-16, with two rushing TD's.
* indicates home team
Open date: Buffalo, Cleveland, Kansas City, Tennessee
*Baltimore 21 - Jacksonville 10
Closer than it looks? The Jaguars' run defense is almost the equal of the Ravens' league-leading ground game. Jacksonville won the first eight games in this series, but Baltimore's taken the last five.
Carolina 24 - *Houston 16
Like the Ravens, the Panthers are all run, though the Texans don't defend against it nearly as well as the Jaguars. But Houston can gain great chunks of yards through the air on Carolina's secondary.
*Chicago 19 - San Diego 13
This pairing is worth watching mostly for those who like three yards and a cloud of dust, because if they're smart, the Bears and Chargers will run on each other. Chicago evened the series at 4-4 in 1999.
Cincinnati 20 - *Arizona 18
Things may be looking up for the Bengals and Cardinals after their upsets of the Seahawks and 49ers. Cincy, which will prevail with the pass, was a 24-13 winner three years ago, the last time they met.
*Dallas 26 - Washington 12
Dallas is simply the better team with or without the ball. After losing their 10th straight to the Cowboys in their first '02 faceoff, the Redskins held them to 186 yards in a 20-14 final-week pay-back.
Indianapolis 27 - *Miami 24
With the Colts chasing Dolphins runners and Miami chasing Indy receivers, this could be wild. Jay Fiedler threw for two TD's and ran for one in Miami's fifth win in a row over the Colts last year, 21-13.
*Minnesota 29 - Green Bay 21
After losing two straight and then sitting out a week, the Packers will not only be desperate but plenty angry, but the Vikings dominated them on both sides of the ball in Minnesota's 30-25 Week One win.
N.Y. Giants 16 - *N.Y. Jets 13
These teams could wrestle each other to a draw, because the Giants have the only offense -- by air -- and the Jets have the only defense -- against passing. The Blue beat the Green last, four years ago.
Oakland 17 - *Detroit 14
They've proved that they can lose to anybody, and the Raiders' stunning downhill slide makes this pick almost an upset. The clubs haven't met in seven years, since Oakland took a 6-2 lead in the series.
Philadelphia 19 - *Atlanta 12
After a drubbing by the Saints and a bye week, the no doubt thoroughly frustrated Falcons won't be going anywhere on the ground against the Eagles. Philly excused Atlanta from last year's playoffs, 20-6.
St. Louis 30 - *San Francisco 21
Led by replacement QB Marc Bulger, the Rams got by the 49ers in Week Two, 27-24, on Jeff Wilkins's 28-yard field goal in OT. St. Louis, improving by the week, has won eight of its last nine against S.F.
*Seattle 22 - Pittsburgh 14
The Seahawks aren't exactly blowing opponents away with their offense, so the Steelers' stingy defense will offer them a useful reality check. In their most recent meeting, in '99, Seattle won 29-10.
*Tampa Bay 23 - New Orleans 9
Battling their third NFC South division-mate in three weeks, the Saints may manage only a few field goals against the Buccaneers. Then again, N.O. shocked T.B. twice last year, 26-20 in OT and 23-20.
Monday, Nov. 3, 2003
*Denver 22 - New England 19
Their considerable QB woes aside, the Broncos have to stop their slide against the Patriots' fourth-best-in-the-NFL run defense. Clinton Portis led Denver over N.E. in '02, 24-16, with two rushing TD's.
* indicates home team
Open date: Buffalo, Cleveland, Kansas City, Tennessee
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