SUNDAY 1 PM ET CBS
It’s Odd-Score Sunday … and we’re making an odd prediction. There will be three safeties in the NFL this weekend, and Jacksonville will get one early in what should be a closely fought contest. Here’s why this one will be tight: The Bills have a lot more talent than you think and, despite their poor play recently, can use their backs to run on the Jaguars — provided EJ Manuel protects the football. The key for Jacksonville is Chad Henne, who must use his legs to escape the top pass rush in the NFL in the terms of sacks (Buffalo has a league-leading 44). The veteran QB scampered quite a bit in the emotional win last week over Houston. His mobility was the difference on a handful of plays and, frankly, it caught us by surprise.
BILLS-23 JAGUARS 25
SUNDAY 1 PM ET CBS
It’s so easy to pick the Patriots over the Dolphins, but we’re saying, “Not this time.” When these AFC East foes last met, the Fins blew a 17-3 halftime lead. But that was in New England, with Rob Gronkowski playing and Miami still missing its mettle. Well, the mettle is there now. These guys are playing as a team, which might sound like a cliché, but we don’t care. The Dolphins have won three of their last four under tricky circumstances. Ryan Tannehill isn’t taking sacks like he had been earlier in the season (one in Week 13 and two last week), and the running game has posted 306 yards over the past two games. Give the offensive line a lot of credit for improving its play. The linebackers had better do the same, because Tom Brady has carved up opponents by throwing to his running backs. Shane Vereen is a difference-maker for the Pats through the air.
DOLPHINS 26 PATRIOTS 24
SUNDAY 4:05 PM ET CBS
We could go with a score of 20-6 here, but we’re thinking this is going to be a Charlie Hough Special — a knuckleball of a game. You know Carolina will be fired up to take care of business at home after getting embarrassed in New Orleans. The Jets need to get off to a fast start to getGeno Smith going. Considering the Panthers have allowed all of 21 points in the first quarter of games all year, that will be a tough task. Smith won’t be able to lean on his running game, either, as Carolina stops ground attacks better than any team in the NFL. Of course, the Jets’ defense is right behind the Panthers in that category. This will be a slugfest.
JETS 6 PANTHERS 12
…However, I disagree.
Bills 21 Jaguars 17
Patriots 28 Dolphins 20
Jets 12 Panthers 24
IMO rcr1959
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