ShareThisBy GERRY DULAC
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Gerry Dulac's weekly NFL prediction capsules.
Last week: 7-9
Season record: 92-53 (.634)
Pittsburgh Steelers (3-6) at Cleveland Browns (3-6)
WHEN: 1 p.m., Sunday, Cleveland Stadium
THE SKINNY: Last time at the Dawg Pound, James Harrison and the Steelers body-slammed the Browns and their fans. Look for another knockout.
PREDICTION: Steelers, 27-13
Atlanta Falcons (5-4) at Baltimore Ravens (7-2)
WHEN: 1 p.m., Sunday, M&T Bank Stadium
THE SKINNY: Go figure: The Falcons beat the Steelers and Bengals and lose to the Browns. The Ravens want to make it four in a row before facing the Steelers.
PREDICTION: Ravens, 24-16
Cincinnati Bengals (4-5) at New Orleans Saints (6-3)
WHEN: 1 p.m., Sunday, Superdome
THE SKINNY: OK, let's see: The Steelers gave up 16 second-half points in a loss to San Diego; Cincinnati gave up 42. The Steelers beat the Saints. The Bengals ... ???
PREDICTION: Saints, 38-30
New England Patriots (6-3) at Green Bay Packers (4-5)
WHEN: 1 p.m., Sunday, Lambeau Field
THE SKINNY: The Patriots have lost two in a row for the first time in four years and everyone is panicking. How else to explain signing Vinny?
PREDICTION: Patriots, 24-23
Chicago Bears (8-1) at New York Jets (5-4)
WHEN: 1 p.m., Sunday, Giants Stadium
THE SKINNY: This will be the second week in a row the Bears will play at the Meadowlands. They won't need a 108-yard missed field goal return this time.
PREDICTION: Bears, 34-10
Tennessee Titans (2-7) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-4)
WHEN: 1 p.m., Sunday, Lincoln Financial Field
THE SKINNY: Remember this about the Titans: They can't finish against good teams. Not that the Eagles are that good.
PREDICTION: Eagles, 34-14
Washington Redskins (3-6) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-7)
WHEN: 1 p.m., Sunday, Raymond James Stadium
THE SKINNY: It took the Redskins this long to discover Mark Brunell can't play quarterback? Tampa Bay knew that in last year's playoff loss to the 'Skins.
PREDICTION: Buccaneers, 17-10
St. Louis Rams (4-5) at Carolina Panthers (5-4)
WHEN: 1 p.m., Sunday, Bank of America Stadium
THE SKINNY: It was a nice start while it lasted for St. Louis, which has lost four in a row and allowed an average of 31 points. Of course, the losses have been to winning teams.
PREDICTION: Panthers, 31-21
Buffalo Bills (3-6) at Houston Texans (3-6)
WHEN: 1 p.m., Sunday, Reliant Stadium
THE SKINNY: Which was more impressive _ losing to the Indianapolis Colts by a point in the RCA Dome or beating the Jaguars in Jacksonville? Question is, which team can repeat the performance?
PREDICTION: Texans, 17-13
Oakland Raiders (2-7) at Kansas City Chiefs (5-4)
WHEN: 1 p.m., Sunday, Arrowhead Stadium
THE SKINNY: It's back-to-back games against the league's bottom feeders for the Chiefs. Miami got a victory. Oakland might not get a touchdown.
PREDICTION: Chiefs, 27-2
Minnesota Vikings (4-5) at Miami Dolphins (3-6)
WHEN: 1 p.m., Sunday, Dolphins Stadium
THE SKINNY: In an area where exposure is a concern, Minnesota didn't waste time exposing itself as a pretender. And, in an area where it's warm, the Dolphins are beginning to get hot.
PREDICTION: Dolphins, 24-14
Detroit Lions (2-7) at Arizona Cardinals (1-8)
WHEN: 4:05 p.m., Sunday, University of Phoenix Stadium
THE SKINNY: The Cardinals' only victory was at Easy Bake Oven Field. Eight losses later, they're cooked like the Christmas goose.
PREDICTION: Lions, 27-24
Indianapolis Colts (9-0) at Dallas Cowboys (5-4)
WHEN: 4:15 p.m., Sunday, Texas Stadium
THE SKINNY: Peyton Manning has never played in Texas Stadium, not that it makes any difference. He can find the end zone in any city.
PREDICTION: Colts, 28-24
Seattle Seahawks (6-3) at San Francisco 49ers (4-5)
WHEN: 4:05 p.m., Sunday, Monster Park
THE SKINNY: He runs better than Al Gore, hits it harder than Jason Gore, can shake-and-bake like Demetrius Gore. Frank Gore leads the Upset Special.
PREDICTION: 49ers, 30-28
San Diego Chargers (7-2) at Denver Broncos (7-2)
WHEN: 8:15 p.m., Sunday, Invesco Field
THE SKINNY: The Chargers scored 42 points in the second half to beat the Bengals. They might not score that many points in 10 quarters against the Broncos.
PREDICTION: Broncos, 21-20
New York Giants (6-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4)
WHEN: 8:30 p.m., Monday, Alltel Stadium
THE SKINNY: The same team that scored 37 points against Tennessee was held to a TD vs. the Texans. How do the Jaguars expect to beat the Giants and their former coach, Tom Coughlin?
PREDICTION: Giants, 24-17
