Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - For the next few weeks, about half of the NFL's teams will be wrangling for postseason position. The best of those will be gunning to play at home as deep into January as possible, which is supposed to be the ultimate reward for a regular season played well.
Everybody knows that teams play better in front of their home fans, the day after they were able to sleep in their own beds, and on a diet of their wives' delicious cooking.
That's the perception, now here's the reality - being at home doesn't mean all that much.
To wit:
-Of the 15 NFL clubs currently sporting a winning record, eight have a better mark away from their friendly confines than at home. Include three current division leaders (Chicago, New England, New Orleans) in that group.
-Home teams are only 117-91 (.563) in 2006. Last weekend (the second weekend in December, mind you) visitors went 10-6, sort of dispelling all that nonsense about teams playing better in "their own" weather.
-Most of the stadiums that would rank on any short list of "toughest facility" (Denver, Green Bay, Kansas City, Minnesota) have seen its inhabitants lose multiple home games this season. The Packers are 1-5 at Lambeau Field this year, compared to 4-3 on the road. Kansas City just lost its first December home game in 10 years, in decisive fashion, to Baltimore.
-The Cowboys were destroyed by the Saints at home on Sunday night, one week after going to a supposedly difficult environment at the Meadowlands and coolly dispensing of the Giants. New York teams, both of which are in the playoff hunt, are a combined 6-7 at home.
-We're not just talking about 2006. In last year's playoffs, road teams went 6-4. The top four seeds went a combined 2-3 on their home fields, and the cold-weather Broncos and Bears were both humbled in their home facilities in the postseason.
The moral of this short tale? Putting yourself in prime playoff position is preferable to the alternative, but putting your shoulder pads on in the more spacious locker room guarantees virtually nothing in today's NFL.
Let's take a look at what will be in the National Football League:
WEEKLY SEED REPORT
An up-to-date ranking of where teams lie in the playoff race:
AFC 1. San Diego (11-2) 2. Indianapolis (10-3) 3. Baltimore (10-3) 4. New England (9-4) 5. Cincinnati (8-5) 6. Jacksonville (8-5)
NFC 1. Chicago (11-2) 2. New Orleans (9-4) 3. Seattle (8-5) 4. Dallas (8-5) 5. N.Y. Giants (7-6) 6. Philadelphia (7-6)
NFL POWER POLL
The My Sportsbook's updated NFL Power Poll, which ranks all 32 league teams, can be found at:
http://www.sportsnetwork.com/default.asp?c=sportsnetwork&page=nfl/misc/nfl- poll.htm
FANTASY - FIVE TO START
Brett Favre, QB, Green Bay (vs. Detroit) - Lions are pathetic on defense, and Favre has owned them over the course of his career.
Rudi Johnson, RB, Cincinnati (at Indianapolis) - Colts have little ability to stop the run, meaning Johnson should run around, over, and through them.
Deion Branch, WR, Seattle (vs. San Francisco) - With Darrell Jackson sidelined, Branch should be Matt Hasselbeck's top target.
George Wrighster, TE, Jacksonville (at Tennessee) - Young Titans secondary will have its hands full with Jacksonville's receivers and running game, to Wrighster's benefit.
Carolina Defense (vs. Pittsburgh) - Look for the Ben Roethlisberger turnover machine to get started back up against the Panthers.
FANTASY - FIVE TO BENCH
Michael Vick, QB, Atlanta (vs. Dallas) - Cowboys are fundamentally sound on defense, which is bad news for Vick.
Cedric Houston, RB, N.Y. Jets (at Minnesota) - Vikings haven't let anyone run on them this year, and Houston won't be the first.
Andre Johnson, WR, Houston (at New England) - Angry Patriots team should suffocate the Houston offense.
Kellen Winslow, TE, Cleveland (at Baltimore) - Browns won't move the football much on the Ravens, no matter who plays quarterback.
Philadelphia Defense (at N.Y. Giants) - Eagles' defensive renaissance will end against Barber, Burress and company.
SUICIDE POOL PIX
1. Baltimore (vs. Cleveland) - Hard to envision the Browns moving the football at all against the Ravens.
2. Chicago (vs. Tampa Bay) - Buccaneers at Soldier Field in December? Please.
3. Seattle (vs. San Francisco) - Niners won the first matchup, but Seahawks are a different team at home.
THE GAMES
I was a season-low 6-10 in my picks last week, and went a miserable 5-10-1 against the spread. The fact that road teams were 10-6 in Week 14 tells part of the story, the fact that seven road underdogs won tells a little more. Road teams I thought would win or at least keep things close (see Cleveland @ Pittsburgh, Seattle @ Arizona, Indianapolis @ Jacksonville, Denver @ San Diego, St. Louis @ Chicago) did not. Counting on those that I shouldn't and underestimating others that I shouldn't is why I am now 118-90 (.567) on the year, and 95-106-7 (.474) when walking the line.
San Francisco (5-8) at Seattle (8-5), Thursday, 8:00 (Seattle -10)
Storylines: Seahawks can clinch their third consecutive NFC West title with a win...49ers were 20-14 home winners over Seattle in Week 11, snapping a six- game losing streak in the series, and can earn its first home-and-home sweep over the Seahawks since 2002 with a win on Thursday...Seahawks wide receiver Darrell Jackson, who is tied for the league lead in touchdown receptions with 10, will be out with turf toe...49ers are last in the league in scoring defense (26.8 points per game), and touchdowns allowed (40)...Seattle is tied for last in the league in rushing TDs (4) along with Tampa Bay...49ers running back Frank Gore rushed for a career-high 212 yards against the Seahawks in Week 11...San Francisco cornerbacks Shawntae Spencer (ankle), Sammy Davis (thigh), and Donald Strickland (knee) are all questionable, as are linebacker Derek Smith (hamstring) and tight end Eric Johnson (knee)...Seattle is 3-1 on primetime this season, while San Francisco is making its first evening appearance of the season.
Fast Fact: The 49ers have been outscored by a composite of 75-3 in their last two trips to Seattle.
Prediction: Banged-up 49ers will have trouble overcoming the 12th Man. Seahawks 27, 49ers 13.
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Dallas (8-5) at Atlanta (7-6), Saturday, 8:00 (Dallas -3)
Storylines: Cowboys can clinch first playoff berth since 2003 with a win and help from the Vikings (loss), Saints (win), and/or Panthers (loss) on Sunday...With a victory, Atlanta would pass the loser of Sunday's Giants/Eagles game for the second of two Wild Card slots in the NFC...Falcons running backs Warrick Dunn (calf) and Jerious Norwood (knee) both considered questionable for Saturday...Atlanta leads the league in rushing offense (197.7 yards per game) and yards per carry (5.6), and is last in NFL passing offense (139.2 yards per game)...Cowboys' 42 points allowed in last week's loss to the Saints were their second-most surrendered during the Bill Parcells era... Falcons and Cowboys have lost just four fumbles each on the year, tied for the league-best...Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who was held to a season-low five rushing yards in last week's 17-6 win over Tampa Bay, needs 66 yards to become the first QB in NFL history to amass 1,000 ground yards in a season.
Fast Fact: Bill Parcells' first regular season game as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys resulted in a 27-13 loss to the Falcons on Sept. 7, 2003.
Prediction: Cowboys will right the ship against an Atlanta team that has glaring weaknesses. Cowboys 31, Falcons 23.
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Cleveland (4-9) at Baltimore (10-3), Sunday, 1:00 (Baltimore -11)
Storylines: Ravens clinch their first playoff berth since 2003 with a win, and can clinch AFC North win a victory and a Bengals loss at Indianapolis on Monday night...Baltimore was a 15-14 winner at Cleveland in Week 3, and can complete its first home-and-home sweep of the Browns since 2003 with a victory...Cleveland quarterback Charlie Frye (wrist) expected to miss his second straight start, meaning Derek Anderson would play against a Ravens team that used a sixth-round draft choice on him in 2005...Ravens lead the league in total defense (268.1 yards per game), scoring defense (13.1 points per game), touchdowns allowed (17), opponents' completion percentage (54.4), turnover margin (+16), and interception returns for touchdowns (4)...Ravens and Bears are tied for the NFL lead in interceptions (22)...Cleveland is tied for last in the league in turnover margin (-12) along with Detroit and Tampa Bay...Browns safety Brian Russell (staph infection in elbow) is out for the year.
Fast Fact: The Browns are 0-8 in AFC North road games since winning at Cincinnati on Dec. 28, 2003.
Prediction: Ravens have their sights set on a first-round playoff bye, and will crush the fading Browns in an effort to draw nearer to it. Ravens 24, Browns 3.
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Miami (6-7) at Buffalo (6-7), Sunday, 1:00 (Buffalo -1)
Storylines: Dolphins are 5-1 over their past six games, and can get to .500 for the first time all season with a win...Bills are 4-2 over their past six, and can reach. 500 for the first time since starting the year at 2-2...Buffalo won at Miami (16-6) in Week 2, and can complete its first home-and-home sweep of the Dolphins since 2002 with a victory...Miami running back Ronnie Brown (broken hand) expected to miss his third consecutive game...Dolphins rusher Sammy Morris rushed for a career-high 123 yards in last week's 21-0 upset of New England...Buffalo defensive end Aaron Schobel is tied for the NFL lead in sacks (12.5) along with the Chargers' Shawne Merriman, and Dolphins end Jason Taylor is third on the list with 11.5...Buffalo cornerback Terrence McGee (ankle) and safety Donte Whitner (hamstring) listed as questionable after missing last week's 31-13 win over the Jets...Dolphins last posted back-to- back shutouts in Weeks 9-10 of the 1973 season, against the Colts and Bills.
Fast Fact: Dolphins wide receiver Chris Chambers has scored a touchdown in seven of 10 career meetings with the Bills.
Prediction: Both of these teams are playing well of late, but Miami has been slightly more consistent. Dolphins 20, Bills 16.
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Pittsburgh (6-7) at Carolina (6-7), Sunday, 1:00 (NL)
Storylines: Steelers are 4-1 since starting the year 2-6, and can keep hold of their slim playoff hopes with a victory...Panthers have lost five of their last seven, including three in a row, and are a game behind the 7-6 Giants, Eagles, and Falcons as well as the 6-7 Vikings in the hunt for one of two Wild Card slots...Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme (thumb) is questionable after missing last week's 27-13 loss to the Giants...Chris Weinke, who threw for a franchise-record 423 yards against the Giants, would start if Delhomme can't go...Panthers are last in the league in third-down percentage (29.8), and first in opponents' third-down percentage (28.6)...Steelers have thrown a league-high 20 interceptions, all by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger...Steelers running back Willie Packer rushed for a franchise record 223 yards in last Thursday's 27-7 win over the Browns, his second 200-yard-plus game of the season...Pittsburgh strong safety Troy Polamalu (knee) is listed as doubtful for Sunday, while wideout Hines Ward (knee) is questionable.
Fast Fact: In 15 years as head coach, the Steelers' Bill Cowher has won a road game against just one of the four current members of the NFC South (Atlanta).
Prediction: Pittsburgh will continue to play with confidence, while Carolina continues to play with Chris Weinke. Steelers 15, Panthers 13.
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Tampa Bay (3-10) at Chicago (11-2), Sunday, 1:00 (Chicago -13)
Storylines: NFC North champion Bears can clinch homefield advantage throughout the playoffs with a win and a Saints loss to the Redskins...Buccaneers have lost three in a row and six of their last seven, and are averaging 9.4 points per game over that span...Rookie Bruce Gradkowski expected to start for Tampa Bay after being benched in favor of Tim Rattay late in last week's 17-6 loss to the Falcons...Bucs are last in the league in scoring offense (11.6 points per game), and are tied for the bottom of the NFL in rushing touchdowns (4) along with Seattle...Tampa Bay is tied for last in the league in turnover margin (-12) along with Detroit and Cleveland...Chicago leads the league in takeaways (40), forced fumbles recovered (18), and is tied for the NFL lead in interceptions (22) along with Baltimore...The Bears' Devin Hester has scored an NFL-record six touchdowns off returns (3 punt, 2 kickoff, 1 missed field goal) this season, and had two kickoff returns for TDs in Monday's 42-27 win over the Rams.
Fast Fact: The Buccaneers are 0-5 all-time in December games played at Soldier Field, and have been outscored by a composite of 160-41 in those contests.
Prediction: Don't overthink this one - the Bears will be loose against a Buccaneers team that is playing out the string. Bears 31, Buccaneers 3.
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Detroit (2-11) at Green Bay (5-8), Sunday, 1:00 (Green Bay -5)
Storylines: Detroit begins Week 15 tied for the worst record in the NFL along with the Raiders...The Lions have lost their last 15 road games against the Packers since winning at Lambeau Field, 21-17, in Week 16 of the 1991 season...Detroit is 0-6 on the road under first-year head coach Rod Marinelli...Packers were 31-24 winners when they met the Lions at Ford Field in Week 3...Green Bay is 1-5 at home this season, compared to 4-3 away from Lambeau...Lions running back Kevin Jones (foot) is out for the year, and Arlen Harris is expected to start in his place...Detroit is last in the league in rushing offense (70.7 yards per game), has committed an NFL-high 34 turnovers on the year, and is tied for last in the league in turnover margin (-12) along with Cleveland and Tampa Bay...Lions are allowing opponents to complete a league-high 68 percent of their passes...Packers cornerback Charles Woodson has either an interception or fumble recovery in each of his last three games.
Fast Fact: The starting quarterbacks the last time Detroit won a road game against Green Bay were Mike Tomczak (Packers) and Erik Kramer (Lions).
Prediction: This won't be the year the Lions lift their embargo on winning at Lambeau. Packers 21, Lions 13.
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N.Y. Jets (7-6) at Minnesota (6-7), Sunday, 1:00 (Minnesota -3)
Storylines: Jets and Vikings are both a game behind the Wild Card leaders in their respective conferences...Minnesota running back Chester Taylor (ribs) expected to play after missing last week's 30-20 win over the Lions...Backup Artose Pinner rushed for a career-high 125 yards in Taylor's place...Jets quarterback Chad Pennington, who was benched late in last Sunday's 31-13 loss to Buffalo, has thrown multiple interceptions in four of his last six outings...Vikings lead the NFL in rushing defense (54.1 yards per game) and yards allowed per carry (2.7), and are on pace to break the 2000 Baltimore Ravens' NFL record for fewest rushing yards allowed in a 16-game season... Vikings have six interceptions in their past two games, and every member of Minnesota's starting secondary has at least one pick...The Jets' Justin Miller leads the NFL in kickoff return average (29.0), and is tied with the Bears' Devin Hester with two kickoff returns for touchdowns.
Fast Fact: The Jets are 5-0 against the Vikings since last losing to them in 1975 at Metropolitan Stadium.
Prediction: Vikings defense is playing as well as any in the league, which should mean some more costly turnovers for Chad. Vikings 16, Jets 10.
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Houston (4-9) at New England (9-4), Sunday, 1:00 (New England -11)
Storylines: Patriots can clinch AFC East with a win and a Jets loss at Minnesota...Regular season home finale for New England, which will play at Jacksonville and Tennessee in its last two games...Pats' 21-0 loss at Miami last week was just their second shutout of the Bill Belichick era...Texans wideout Andre Johnson leads the NFL in receptions (92)...New England running back Laurence Maroney (back) considered questionable after missing last week's game, as is tight end Ben Watson (leg)...New England quarterback Tom Brady threw for a season-low 78 yards in Miami...Patriots receiver Jabar Gaffney will face the team for which he played from 2002 through 2005...Houston running back Ron Dayne has rushed for 182 yards and two touchdowns in his last two contests...New England cornerback Asante Samuel is tied for the league lead in interceptions (7) along with the Raiders' Nnamdi Asomugha and Jaguars' Rashean Mathis... Patriots have allowed an NFL-low nine passing touchdowns on the season.
Fast Fact: Patriots running back Kevin Faulk had 188 total yards (80 rushing, 108 receiving), a career-high to date, in New England's 23-20 overtime win over the Texans on Nov. 23, 2003.
Prediction: Pats will take last week's frustrations out on the young and struggling Texans. Patriots 35, Texans 10,
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Washington (4-9) at New Orleans (9-4), Sunday, 1:00 (New Orleans -9)
Storylines: Saints can clinch NFC South title with either an Atlanta loss to Dallas on Saturday night or a win over the Redskins...New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees leads the NFL in passing yards (4033), TD passes (25), and passer rating (101.2), and the Saints are No. 1 in the league in both total offense (410.6 yards per game) and passing offense (303.5 yards per game)...Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell is 1-3 as a starter since taking over for Mark Brunell, including 0-1 on the road...Saints rookie running back Reggie Bush has 256 receiving yards and five touchdowns in his past two games combined... Redskins rusher Ladell Betts has gone over 100 yards in each of his past three contests...Washington has allowed a league-high 25 passing touchdowns, and a league-low four rushing TDs...Redskins defense has an NFL- low 10 takeaways, five interceptions and 15 sacks on the season...Washington center Casey Rabach (broken hand) is questionable...Saints defensive tackle Hollis Thomas will serve the second of a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's steroid policy.
Fast Fact: The road team has won the last four games in the Redskins/Saints series, since New Orleans earned a 20-3 win over Washington in Week 12 of the 1992 season.
Prediction: Redskins haven't made any defensive plays all year, why would they start against Drew Brees and the Saints? Saints 38, Redskins 14.
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Jacksonville (8-5) at Tennessee (6-7), Sunday, 1:00 (Jacksonville -3)
Storylines: Jacksonville, which has won three of its last four, is holding down the second of two AFC Wild Card entries as Week 15 begins...Tennessee, which is 5-2 in its last seven games, can get to .500 for the first time since starting the 2005 season 1-1...Titans looking for their first five-game winning streak since the 2003 campaign...Jaguars have won three in a row over the Titans, including a 37-7 home triumph in Week 9...Jaguars rushed for 375 yards in last week's 44-17 rout of the Colts, with Maurice Jones-Drew going for 166 and Fred Taylor 131...Taylor (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday...Tennessee running backs Travis Henry (ankle) and LenDale White (hip) are both questionable, meaning Chris Brown could return to the starting backfield on Sunday...Jacksonville cornerback Rashean Mathis is tied for the NFL lead in interceptions (7) along with the Patriots' Asante Samuel and Raiders' Nnamdi Asomugha...Tennessee is last in the NFL in total defense (364.4 yards per game)...Jacksonville is last in the league in forced fumbles recovered (3).
Fast Fact: The Jaguars are 4-5 all-time in Tennessee, and have never won at the Titans by more than six points.
Prediction: Titans look like a different team right now, and the Jaguars have been average at best away from home this year. Titans 20, Jaguars 17.
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Denver (7-6) at Arizona (4-9), Sunday, 4:05 (Denver -3)
Storylines: Rookie quarterbacks Matt Leinart (Cardinals) and Jay Cutler (Broncos) will face off in the desert...Leinart is 3-6 as a starter this season, while Cutler is 0-2...Denver has lost four in a row to fall a game back of 8-5 Wild Card leaders Cincinnati and Jacksonville...Cardinals are trying to win three in a row for the first time since Weeks 4-7 of the 2002 season...Broncos haven't lost five consecutive games since 1990...Denver's 48 points allowed to the Chargers last week were its most surrendered in a regular season game since 1994...Arizona running back Edgerrin James has gone over 100 rushing yards in each of his last two games, and is 75 yards shy of becoming the Cardinals' first 1,000-yard rusher since Adrian Murrell in 1998...Broncos running back Tatum Bell has gone over 100 yards in each of his last two games, and needs 102 yards for the first 1,000-yard game of his career...Arizona is last in the league in yards per carry (3.0) and rushes of 20 yards or more (0).
Fast Fact: The Broncos' Mike Shanahan is 3-0 in his career against Arizona.
Prediction: It won't be easy for the Broncos, but they'll grind out a much- needed win in the Arizona heat. Broncos 17, Cardinals 16.
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Philadelphia (7-6) at N.Y. Giants (7-6), Sunday, 4:15 (N.Y. Giants -5)
Storylines: Eagles and Giants enter Week 15 holding down the top two Wild Card slots in the NFC, and are tied for second place in the East behind 8-5 Dallas...Philadelphia, which is 2-1 with Jeff Garcia as starting quarterback, would claim NFC East if it wins its final three games...Giants won in Philadelphia (30-24 in overtime) in Week 2, erasing a 24-7 fourth-quarter deficit to win the game...Philly trying to avoid its first four-game losing streak to the Giants since losing nine in a row from 1997-2000...Garcia has eight touchdown passes without an interception in his three starts...Giants defensive end Michael Strahan (foot), who has missed six weeks, not expected to return...New York running back Tiki Barber went over 100 yards for the first time in four games in last Sunday's 27-13 win over the Panthers...The Eagles' Brian Westbrook needs five yards for the first 1,000-yard rushing season of his career...Giants wideout Plaxico Burress has scored a touchdown in six of his last seven contests.
Fast Fact: The team that has won the first season meeting between the Eagles and Giants has also won the second in 19 of the past 21 years.
Prediction: Superior Giants team will do what they must against an Eagles outfit that is still weak defensively. Giants 24, Eagles 14.
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St. Louis (5-8) at Oakland (2-11), Sunday, 4:15 (Oakland -2)
Storylines: Raiders begin Week 15 tied with the Lions for the worst record in the NFL...Oakland trying to avoid its first seven-game losing streak in a single season since the 1987 team lost seven straight (including three while using replacement players)...Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss (ankle) will miss Sunday's game...Rams wideout Torry Holt is tied for the NFL lead in touchdown catches (10) along with Seattle's Darrell Jackson...Oakland is last in the league in total offense (243.3 yards per game), touchdown passes (7), and sacks allowed (62)...Rams are worst in the league in opponents' third-down percentage (46.4)...Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha is tied for the league lead in interceptions (7) along with the Patriots' Asante Samuel and Jaguars' Rashean Mathis...Oakland is No. 1 in the league in pass defense (155.3 yards per game)...Rams linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa (broken hand) and defensive end Leonard Little (throat) both questionable...St. Louis kicker Jeff Wilkins leads the NFL in field goals made (27) and attempted (31).
Fast Fact: The Rams have not won a road game against a current member of the AFC West since relocating from Los Angeles to St. Louis in 1995.
Prediction: In their last real shot at a win, the Raiders figure to come to play. Raiders 20, Rams 12.
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Kansas City (7-6) at San Diego (11-2), Sunday, 8:15 (San Diego -8)
Storylines: Chargers, who wrapped up the AFC West last week, can clinch a first-round playoff bye with a win and an Indianapolis loss to Cincinnati on Monday night...Chiefs have lost two in a row to fall a game back of the Bengals and Jaguars for a Wild Card spot in the AFC...Kansas City dealt San Diego a 30-27 setback in Week 7, the Chargers' most recent loss...San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who set the NFL record for touchdowns in a season (29) last week, needs three points to break the league mark for points in a season (176), set by Green Bay's Paul Hornung in 1960, and is two rushing touchdowns shy of breaking Shaun Alexander and Priest Holmes' shared mark of 27 ground TDs...Chiefs running back Larry Johnson (1432 yards) and Tomlinson (1427) are 1-2 in the league in rushing yards...San Diego leads the NFL in scoring offense (32.7 points per game), and is tops in the league in fewest turnovers (12) and interceptions (6)...Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman is tied for the NFL lead in sacks (12.5) along with Buffalo's Aaron Schobel as Week 15 begins, and San Diego is No. 1 in the league in sacks (48)...Kansas City defensive end Jared Allen leads the league with four fumble recoveries on defense.
Fast Fact: In the two Chiefs/Chargers games in which they've both started, Kansas City's Larry Johnson has outgained San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson, 263-113.
Prediction: Desperate Chiefs will show up for this one, but revenge-minded Chargers will ride Tomlinson to another victory. Chargers 28, Chiefs 19.
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Cincinnati (8-5) at Indianapolis (10-3), Monday, 8:30 (Indianapolis -3)
Storylines: Colts can clinch playoff berth with a win, and can clinch AFC South with a victory and a Jacksonville loss at Tennessee on Sunday... Cincinnati is holding down the first of two AFC Wild Card entries as Week 15 begins...Indianapolis was a 45-37 road winner over Cincinnati when the teams met last season, as the teams combined for the second-most first-half points (62) in NFL history...The Bengals' Chad Johnson (1247 yards) and Colts' Reggie Wayne (1129) are 1-2 in the NFL in receiving yards (1247)... Bengals cornerback Deltha O'Neal expected to play after being sidelined for last week's win over Oakland following a DWI arrest...Indianapolis leads the league in third-down percentage (55.5) and sacks allowed (14)...Colts are last in the league in rushing defense (176.5 yards per game), yards allowed per carry (5.4), runs of 20 yards or more (16), and rushing TDs allowed (17)... Cincinnati is last in the league in passing defense (238.5 yards per game)... Bengals, who are making just their second appearance on Monday Night Football since 1992, are 8-16 (.333) all-time on Monday...Colts are 17-10 (.630) all- time on Monday, and have won five straight since last losing in 2002.
Fast Fact: Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is 4-0 against the Bengals in his career as a starter.
Prediction: Colts' free fall will continue, as streaking Bengals will run up and down the field at will against Indianapolis. Bengals 35, Colts 34.
