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NFL Capsules

Submitted by administrator on Fri, 12/14/2007 - 15:01

Capsule previews for week 15 around the NFL. All times Eastern.SATURDAY:Cincinnati Bengals (5-8) at San Francisco 49ers (3-10), 8 p.m.The Bengals can beat up on the likes on the Rams and 49ers. Wait a minute, they might struggle on the road against the 49ers. Not.Prediction: Bengals, 20-10SUNDAY:Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4) at Pittsburgh Steelers (9-4), 1.The Steelers like to face teams that rely predominantly on the run, even without DE Aaron Smith. After all, the Jaguars can't possibly run past them as fast as the Patriots did.Prediction: Steelers, 23-16Buffalo Bills (7-6) at Cleveland Browns (8-5), 1.The Bills just aren't going away, patched-up defense and all. Neither are the Browns, who have come up with more bizarre endings than Jerry Bruckheimer.Prediction: Browns, 30-20Baltimore Ravens (4-9) at Miami Dolphins (0-13), 1.Need any more proof how bad the Ravens have slipped? But, just in case, the winless Dolphins might provide the ultimate humiliation.Prediction: Dolphins, 17-16Green Bay Packers (11-2) at St. Louis Rams (3-10), 1.Still not convinced the Packers aren't the best team in the NFC, Dallas included. Unless, of course, the opponents are laying down for the Brett Favre Farewell Tour.Prediction: Packers, 31-17Arizona Cardinals (6-7) at New Orleans Saints (6-7), 1.The loser might jeopardize some wild-card playoff hopes. The Cardinals have been hampered with injuries. The Saints don't have any such excuse.Prediction: Cardinals, 28-27Tennessee Titans (7-6) at Kansas City Chiefs (4-9), 1.The Titans Tumble continues (1-4 in past 5) after letting San Diego off the hook. But they still have enough to get past the Chiefs, who have lost six in a row.Prediction: Titans, 20-12New York Jets (3-10) at New England Patriots (13-0), 1.It is not nice to rile Bill Belichick and the Patriots. All the Jets and a former coach did was turn them in for cheating. Like waving a red flag in front of a bull.Prediction: Patriots, 56-3Seattle Seahawks (9-4) at Carolina Panthers (5-8), 1.Not even the east-coast travel can seem to slow the Seahawks, who have won five in a row. Certainly, it won't be the Panthers, who have lost four of five.Prediction: Seahawks, 23-13Atlanta Falcons (3-10) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5), 1.Just remember, the Falcons wanted to hire Ken Whisenhunt. Instead, they hired Bobby Petrino. Now Michael Vick isn't the most despised person in Atlanta.Prediction: Buccaneers, 28-0Indianapolis Colts (11-2) at Oakland Raiders (4-9), 4:05.All those injuries and the Colts are positioned for the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs. By the way, what happened to their Super Bowl hangover?Prediction: Colts, 30-13Philadelphia Eagles (5-8) at Dallas Cowboys (12-1), 4:15.The Eagles have lost three in a row by a combined 10 points. And the opponents were the Patriots, Seahawks and Giants. Here comes No. 4.Prediction: Cowboys, 34-17Detroit Lions (6-7) at San Diego Chargers (8-5), 4:15.yWell, those 10 victories Jon Kitna predicted are out of the question for the Lions, who have lost five in a row. The Chargers are merely masquerading as a division leader.Prediction: Chargers, 28-16Washington Redskins (6-7) at New York Giants (9-4), 8:15.Don't discount the Giants in any playoff formula. Three of their four losses were to the Cowboys (twice) and Packers. But they are also 3-3 at home.Prediction: Giants, 34-14MONDAY NIGHT:Chicago Bears (5-8) at Minnesota Vikings (7-6), 8:30 p.m.The Vikings are among the hottest teams in the league, averaging 34.8 points during a four-game winning streak. They put up 34 on the Bears in the first meeting.Prediction: Vikings, 38-20(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)