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NFL Capsules

Submitted by administrator on Fri, 12/21/2007 - 13:06

Capsule previews for Week 16 around the NFL. All times Eastern.SATURDAY:Dallas Cowboys (12-2) at Carolina Panthers (6-8), 8:15 p.m.Not sure which was more shocking -- the Cowboys losing at home to the Eagles or the Panthers beating the Seahawks. What will really be shocking if it happens again.PREDICTION: Cowboys, 27-14SUNDAY:Cleveland Browns (9-5) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-9), 1.The Bengals spent a lot of time in the slammer last season. This year they've gone right into the toilet. It's the last chance to stop the Browns.PREDICTION: Browns, 42-34New York Giants (9-5) at Buffalo Bills (7-7), 1.He won't win the award, but Dick Jauron should be coach of the year for what he's done with the injury-depleted Bills. This might be another reason why.PREDICTION: Bills, 17-16Green Bay Packers (12-2) at Chicago Bears (5-9), 1.The Packers can still smell that top seed in the NFC. Either that, or they smell the sewer into which the Bears -- last year's No. 1 NFC seed -- have plummeted.PREDICTION: Packers, 23-13Kansas City Chiefs (5-9) at Detroit Lions (6-8), 1.Only two teams have lost more games in a row than the Lions (6). One of them is the Chiefs (7), who, like Detroit, once enjoyed the view from atop the division.PREDICTION: Lions, 27-20Houston Texans (7-7) at Indianapolis Colts (12-2), 1.The Texans have not won a division game and are 2-5 on the road. That doesn't figure to change against the Colts, who just keep rolling without some of their stars.PREDICTION: Colts, 29-14Oakland Raiders (4-10) at Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4), 1.Could the Jaguars be the Steelers of 2005, winning their final four games and going on the road to the Super Bowl? Not with stops in Indy and New England.PREDICTION: Jaguars, 30-6Miami Dolphins (1-13) at New England Patriots (14-0), 1.Of course, some of the '72 Dolphins would have preferred the current Dolphins to end their winless streak against the Patriots. Not that it's going to happen.PREDICTION: Patriots, 34-9Philadelphia Eagles (6-8) at New Orleans Saints (7-7), 1.There should be more players with the game awareness of Bryant Westbrook, who took a knee rather than scoring a TD late in the win at Dallas. The Eagles actually play better on the road (4-3) than at home (2-5).PREDICTION: Eagles, 27-24Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5) at San Francisco 49ers (4-10), 4:05.The Buccaneers have already clinched the NFC South, so it might be a convenient time for a letdown. But the 49ers haven't won back-to-back games since Week 2.PREDICTION: Buccaneers, 20-16Atlanta Falcons (3-11) at Arizona Cardinals (6-8), 4:05.Owner Arthur Blank and the Falcons only need stare across the sideline to see the coach they wanted to hire -- Ken Whisenhunt. Once again, he will disappoint them.PREDICTION: Cardinals, 30-7Baltimore Ravens (4-10) at Seattle Seahawks (9-5), 4:15. Nobody has lost more in a row than the Ravens (8), who haven't won a game since Oct. 21. And, to think, they were 13-3 last season.PREDICTION: Seahawks, 23-9New York Jets (3-11) at Tennessee Titans (8-6), 4:15.The Titans are still hanging for a wild-card spot, despite losing three of the past five. At least they will take it to the final week.PREDICTION: Titans, 19-13Washington Redskins (7-7) at Minnesota Vikings (8-6), 8:15 p.m.Only the Patriots have won more games in a row than the Vikings (5), who are clinging to that second wild-card spot in the NFC. It's a tough finish for the 'Skins.PREDICTION: Vikings, 24-17MONDAY NIGHT:Denver Broncos (6-8) at San Diego Chargers (9-5), 8 p.m.Chargers are battling Steelers for No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs. The significance of that: The loser would play host to the Jaguars in the first round.PREDICTION: Chargers 37-17(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)