Game of the week
New England at N.Y. Giants, Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET | 
Preview | Endzone
The line: Patriots by 14½
The injuries: New England's Kyle Brady (foot), Nick Kaczur (foot) and Kyle Eckel (stomach) did not practice on Thursday. If Eckel is unavailable, the Patriots would have only three healthy running backs for Saturday's game.
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| Brandon Jacobs is back at practice and the Giants just hope he stays healthy. (US Presswire) |
The story: Turn out the lights, Miami. The party's over. With one more win, the Patriots make it 16-0, only the second team since the league merger to run the table. Don Shula's 1972 Miami Dolphins were the other, and you can bet we hear from them if ... and when ... the Patriots win here.
And they should.
It's not just that they're the best team in football; it's that the Giants play their worst football at home. While they won their past seven on the road, they're 3-4 at home and working on a three-game losing streak. It makes no sense for coach Tom Coughlin to play his starters here, especially with the playoffs looming a week down the road. But play them he will, and that's dangerous.
This game means nothing to the Giants. They're already in the playoffs as the fifth seed. So why risk injuring your starters? Better ask Coughlin, who insists he's playing this one to win.
Good for him. But if he loses another starter to injury in, say, a 24-10 loss, look for the Monday Morning Quarterback Club to convene early. Look, the Giants are injured already. Wide receiver Burress is practicing again, but he has been hobbled by a bad ankle all season. Jacobs has been on and off the injury report (he's off now). And tight end Jeremy Shockey is lost for the season.
Maybe that's why Big Blue's season-ticket holders are giving up their seats, selling them to New England fans interested in being there when history is made. The New York Daily News reported this week that there were more than 150 tickets available on StubHub for more than $1,000 each and that hundreds more were available on eBay.
"That's probably one of the reasons why we are better on the road than we are at home," Jacobs told the Daily News.
Whatever. The Giants could make it interesting with their pass rush, but they had better get to Brady. Because if they fail, they don't have the defensive backs to cover the waves of wide receivers New England throws at you. Which makes me wonder: Just who is going to cover Randy Moss? Sam Madison? Corey Webster? Good luck. I just can't see the Giants secondary covering these guys.
But then there is this: What does New York do on offense? It had better hand the ball to Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw (if, in fact, he plays) again and again because Eli Manning has been positively dreadful at home lately. In his past three starts, he has three touchdowns and six interceptions -- with Minnesota scoring as many times on interceptions in one afternoon as his own receivers have in three starts.
I don't know, this one just feels like another New England rout waiting to happen. Players can say they're not focused on the 16-0 record, but, c'mon, who are they kidding? With one more victory, they know what they achieve, and so does the NFL. That's why it took the extraordinary step of offering this game, once reserved for the NFL Network, as a national simulcast.
Something to consider: With one victory the Patriots will break their 2003-04 record for most consecutive regular-season victories (18). They won their last three in 2006.
Three games I'd like to see
San Francisco at Cleveland, 1 p.m. ET | Preview
Sure, I know this shouldn't be close, especially with San Francisco talking about ... Chris Weinke? ... as a possible starter at quarterback. But I'd like to be there when the Browns complete a 10-6 season, their best since returning to the NFL.
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| Braylon Edwards has come into his own in '07. (US Presswire) |
It's also a chance for 49ers owner Denise DeBartolo York to see how the other half lives. She comes from nearby Youngstown, so she can't help but be aware of what's happening with the Browns. But now that she can see for herself, she might want to ask why the same thing isn't happening at Candlestick Point. Here's a hint: Start with the GM, and look what the Browns did there.
Something to consider: Cleveland quarterback Derek Anderson is 6-0 at home, with 12 touchdowns, four interceptions and a passer rating of 99.8.
Dallas at Washington, 1 p.m. ET | Preview
This is always the biggest game on Washington's schedule, but now there's an unexpected element introduced for the final weekend: If the Redskins win, they go to the playoffs. If? How can they not win? I know, I know, Dallas is 7-0 on the road, but the game means everything to Washington and nothing to Dallas.
The Cowboys already have the home-field advantage clinched and need time to rest key starters like quarterback Tony Romo, wide receiver Terrell Owens and cornerback Terence Newman. Owens (high ankle sprain) wasn't going to play anyway, but why suit up many ... OK, any ... of your regulars? Maybe I let them go a quarter or two, but no more.
Look, you earned the opportunity to get healthy, so take advantage of it. As for Washington, I've said several times this club reminds me of the team that two years ago won its last five starts to reach the playoffs. It's motivated. It's focused. And it's not making mistakes. Quarterback Todd Collins might be a career backup, but he's the perfect on-field extension of offensive coordinator Al Saunders. The two have been together for years, with Collins a perfect fit for Saunders' offense. He's not making mistakes, nor are his teammates. And the result is a three-game run that has them on the verge of making the playoffs for the second time in three seasons.
Something to consider: Five of the past seven games between these two have been decided by five or fewer points, including the Cowboys' 28-23 win on Nov. 18.
Tennessee at Indianapolis, 8:15 p.m. ET | Preview
Cleveland, this is your life ... or demise. The Browns' playoff hopes could rest on this game, with Tennessee in if it wins, and Cleveland in if the Titans stumble.
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| Let's hope Jim Sorgi is warmed up and ready. (US Presswire) |
Some people don't like it, especially when playoff hopes rest on the outcome of this game, but this game is not Dungy's concern. It's the concern of Tennessee and Cleveland. Dungy and the Colts earned the right to do what they want by winning all but two of their games, and I have no problem with it.
If you saw how Tennessee celebrated last weekend's defeat of the Jets, you'd have thought the Titans clinched a playoff spot. They didn't, but they know what you do: This weekend's task will be a lot easier than the last time the Colts and Titans met. Tennessee lost then, but only by two points -- and that was with Manning in the lineup for every snap.
Something to consider: The last three games between these two have been decided by a total of six points.
Crummy game of the week
Kansas City at the New York Jets, 4:15 p.m. ET | Preview
They moved this game from Sunday evening to Sunday afternoon, but if you polled season-ticket holders from both sides, they wouldn't mind if this were moved to next season. Once a stinker always a stinker. Neither team can score, and both are working through quarterback problems.
For the Chiefs, it's a hand injury to Brodie Croyle that might sideline him for the season finale. For the Jets, it's shoulder and rib injuries to Kellen Clemens that seem to have healed sufficiently for him to start. If there's an interest here, it's only in Herm Edwards returning to the stadium where he coached for five years. I like Herm. I don't like the team he has. Or the team he had. Another cafe latte, please.
Something to consider: Chiefs rookie Dwayne Bowe needs 18 yards in catches to reach 1,000.
Upset of the week
Denver (+2½) over Minnesota, 4:15 p.m. ET | Preview
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| It's not like Shanahan to end a season with a loss. (US Presswire) |
I say that stops here mostly because I think Jay Cutler produces a semi-decent performance against the league's worst pass defense. If Minnesota falls behind, especially if it falls behind by 10 or more, it's dead. Tarvaris Jackson cannot rally these guys. Not here. Not now.
Something to consider: In his past three home games, Cutler has seven touchdowns, no interceptions and a 124.4 passer rating.
Five guys I'd like to be
Patrick Kerney, defensive end, Seattle: Because he gets his first crack against his former team with a chance to set the club record for sacks in a season.
Antonio Cromarties, cornerback, San Diego: Because he gets to face rookie JaMarcus Russell, who served up three interceptions a week ago and could've served up five. Cromartie leads the league in interceptions, and San Diego has an NFL-best 29. Look for both to improve.
Arthur Blank, owner, Atlanta: Because after Sunday he can move on to a new season, a new coach and a new quarterback. Hallelujah.
Larry Fitzgerald, wide receiver, Arizona: Because he has a touchdown catch in his past four starts against St. Louis.
Chris Cooley, tight end, Washington: Because he has five touchdown catches in each of his last four starts vs. Dallas.
Stat of the week
The San Diego Chargers outscored their opponents 81-0 this season in the first quarters of home games. Just in case you're wondering, yes, it is an NFL best.
He said it
"How else could we possibly prepare ourselves to play a team of this stature if we don't put everything we've got into it?" -- Giants coach Tom Coughlin on Saturday's game against New England.
Where we will be
I'll be at the Saturday night coronation of the Patriots.
Pete will be in Tampa to launch a Pro Bowl recall campaign.
Gregg Doyel will be in Indianapolis but won't start.
Mike Freeman will be in Washington to trade Ray Bans with The Daniel.
