Green Bay
Packers (5-5-1) at Detroit Lions (6-5):
Being a Lions fan, I strongly dislike the fact that Matt
Flynn is starting in Aaron Rodgers’ place. He knows the system as well as any
other QB the Packers have signed in recent years, and he has a wealth of
receiving talent, as well as Eddie Lacy, to help carry the load. The Packers’
defense is still decimated and looking weaker by the week, which bodes well for
Reggie Bush, who hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 8 against Dallas, and for
Matthew Stafford, who’s looked shaky at best the last three weeks. However, the
Lions has a whole have shown they’re struggling with the immense pressure that
comes from leading the division, and this week won’t be any different.
Green Bay
Packers: 34-31
Oakland
Raiders (4-7) at Dallas Cowboys (6-5):
The Cowboys have been playing .500 football for about as
long as anyone can remember, but they did something they weren’t supposed to do
last week: win. The win allows them to keep pace with the red-hot Eagles and
gives them a shot at being two games over .500, which hasn’t happened yet this
season. Tony Romo’s game-winning drive against New York showed a resolve the Cowboys
have been lacking in the last month or so, and he managed to use nearly ever
weapon at his disposal, including the almost-invisible Miles Austin. He’ll need
that against a Raiders defense that, at times this season, has been lockdown
(though have been a few … let’s call them slip-ups). Oakland has also managed
to find the perfect formula to control the clock, relying on Matt McGloin to
not make mistakes and on Rashard Jennings, and now Darren McFadden, to carry
the bulk of the load. The Cowboys should take a step in the right direction
today, but it won’t be easy.
Dallas
Cowboys: 28-23
Pittsburgh
Steelers (5-6) at Baltimore Ravens (5-6):
0-4 has to seem like an eternity ago for Steelers fans. For
all the flak Mike Tomlin got for his “rules” in Pitt’s locker room, it seems to
be working. Aside from a two-game slip to close out October, the Steelers have
been nearly unstoppable, dominating the Jets and Ravens with suffocating defense,
and assaulting the Bills, Lions and Browns through the air. Ray Rice looks like
he got a jump start against Chicago two weeks ago, and Joe Flacco looked
incredibly accurate on deep throws against the Jets, but this is a different
beast. The Falcons are desperate, but Pittsburgh’s secondary won’t be giving up
any wide-open 60-yard looks, and Rice is unlikely to gain much ground against a
run defense that has gone from league’s worst to 11th overall in
less than six games.
Pittsburgh
Steelers: 17-16
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