I was sitting there on Thanksgiving, a little too full of holiday "cheer" to really care that both my picks that day were going horribly, and all could think about was Joey Harrington. Not too long ago, I put some nice words behind Harrington: I think he's a great QB with amazing skills and a great mental grasp of the NFL game, and with some real weapons I think he'd be not only a great fantasy QB but also a regular on the highlight reel. I'll say Harrington is not that fantasy stud NOW, but he's starting to make a difference even though he's still working without Charles Rogers. Don't get me wrong, the Lions are still far from a threat. They have won 4 games by kicking you to death with field goals. But give some props to Harrington: he's the guy getting Hanson in field goal range. I honestly believe Charles Rogers could have made a huge difference in the Lions' season, maybe even helped them pick up another win or two. However, Rogers won't be in this game and though the Detroit D is playing well this game will not be a defensive battle. The Lions have to get the ball into the end zone, and they can't continue to rely on 5 or 6 field goals by Hanson to provide all the offense. The answer may be coming (it's a long shot, but it's a change) in rookie RB Artose Pinner. Pinner has been activated this week after spending the first half of the season on the PUP list and spending the last few weeks both with continued recovery from the broken leg he suffered during his senior year at Kentucky as well as dealing with some personal family issues. It sounds like Pinner will get significant playing time in this game, and he couldn't ask for a better defense to start his NFL career against (the Bolts give up an average of 145 yards rushing a game). I, obviously, wouldn't gamble on Pinner for fantasy purposes, but keep an eye on him. If he can give the Lions any kind of running game, the Lions could be tough opponent. However, I think LT and Flutie will be too much this week for the Lions. Plus, keep tabs on Quentin Jammer: the young CB had a great game last week versus the Chiefs and if he can cover well again this week, the Chargers could pick up a nice win.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: LaDainian Tomlinson, Doug Flutie, Joey Harrington, Jason Hanson

2nd String: David Boston, Shawn Bryson, Artose Pinner, Az-Zir Hakim, Eric Parker, Bill Schroeder, Mikhael Ricks, Steve Christie, Bolt Defense, Detroit Defense

Prediction: Bolts 21, Lions 17

Chicago (5-7) at Green Bay (6-6) 1:00 PM
The Bears are going to win the division. They are two games back and if they win out they could make the playoffs. I also believe that I will be making the roster of the Boston Red Sox this year as the setup man between Curt Schilling and Keith Foulke. Then, I will legally change my name to Nene, in honor of the Denver Nugget player with the same name, and I will go on to earn top honors as the NFL prognosticator of the century. The Bears have been playing well, having won 4 of their last 6 games. Kordell Stewart and, um, Brad Forsey had great games last week versus Arizona. But, as we always say, don't take it to heart as it was the Arizona Cardinals. Imagine what the A-Train could have done it that one! He's over his viral bug and will be back to face the Packers. The Packers don't sport the best rushing D out there, giving up 113 yards a game. The Bears will need a big game from the Train in this one if they hope to win. The Bears, historically, have had trouble versus the Packers, especially on the Frozen Tundra. It looks like Chris Chandler should be out and Stewart is likely to get the start, and it should probably stay this way for the remainder of the season (just my opinion). Stewart played well versus Green Bay in their last meeting (201 yds passing, 71 yds rushing, 1 rush TD, but 2 picks). The key player could be Justin Gage. The rookie WR has come on strong, and he's done well with both QB's at the helm. By the way, has anyone seen David Terrell? It seems he's come up missing, and he's not even mentioned now that Gage has become the hot rookie in Chitown. If Booker, White, and Gage can open up some yards against the Packer's passing D (giving up 211 yards a game), and A-Train can play as well as he has this second half of the season, the Bears could give the Packers a real hard time. Trust me: nothing would make the Chicago faithful happier than to see their team knock the Cheese out of the playoff picture, and a loss this weekend would do it.

What happened to Ahman last week? It's turkey day, and the Pack are looking for the Rams to take it to the Vikings (as they did), and they don't take advantage. The thumb problem for Favre has got to be driving the Cheeseheads nuts! He's dropping at least a couple of balls in mid-throw every week, and though he's playing well he doesn't seem to have the accuracy he's accustomed to show. But it was very disturbing to see a guy that has run for at least 100 yards in 8 of 12 games this year struggle to run against the Lions' defense. Every dog has its day, and Chicago is not likely to stop Green for a second week in a row (the Bears are giving up 122 yards rushing a game). Green will have to bear the cross this week as the Bears' passing D has really stepped up in recent weeks. The Bears are holding teams under 200 yards passing a game in their last 7 games. With Favre's recent thumb problems and Chicago's passing defense, all signs point to a big game for Green. The Packers will need to keep their offense on the field as much as possible, and running the ball early and often gives them a great game plan to do so. The Pack is in the hunt for a playoff spot, and with Minnesota struggling to hold them off the Packers cannot blow another chance. The Bears will make this interesting, and the Packers need to take advantage with a win here and then look at what's left on the schedule (Chargers, Raiders, Broncos). They could make the race for the NFC North interesting. That said, this is the Packer and the Bears, and if you want to put your money on the smart spot, put it on the Pack.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Ahman Green, Anthony Thomas, Brett Favre, Javon Walker, Bubba Franks, Paul Edinger, Ryan Longwell

2nd String: Kordell Stewart, Marty Booker, Dez White, Justin Gage, Donald Driver, Desmond Clark, Chicago Defense, Packer Defense

Prediction: Bears 13, Packers 20

Indianapolis (9-3) at Tennessee (9-3) 1:00 PM
What a loss for the Colts last week! One freakin' yard. Seriously, how many of you didn't see that play coming? I took one big lesson away from that game: Indy can't continue to get in these big come-from-behind situations, and they also can't count on winning all of these close games. Granted, it took a big time play from the Patriot defense to keep them at a loss, but the fact remains that this Colts team cannot "grind" out wins. The Patriots shut down the big play in the first half, and the Colts had a very hard time getting their offense going at all. Edge James can get it done, but he can't do it alone. If he's kept to respectable yards and small runs, and if Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne are kept under wraps on deep routes, the Colts will struggle in low scoring games. This would be good news to the Titans, but they don't keep too many games in the low scoring category. The Titan defense is coming off a loss to the Jets that saw them allow 24 points, 231 yards passing, and 97 yards rushing (including Curtis Martin's first TD). The truth is the Colts are capable of lighting up anybody, and their only worry is scoring enough to overcome their defense. Key stat: the Titans give up 76 rushing per game (best in the NFL), but they give up an average of 234 yards through the air. That is not a good number to bring against Peyton Manning. Jevon Kearse is listed as "probable," and he could give Manning some problems, but he can't do it alone.

The Titans are hitting a bit of a wall in my opinion. Last week's loss to the Jets was huge: they are, essentially, out of the running for a 1 or 2 seed in the AFC. The schedule ahead for the Titans isn't a cakewalk, and it starts with this tough match with Indy. McNair has officially reached the point of not practicing and playing on Sundays (and that's not necessarily a bad thing, but it shows the beating he's taken thus far and the load he's had to carry is taking a toll). Eddie George is still struggling: he ran for 73 yards against the worst rushing D in the land last week. Every one runs on the Jets, but the Titans didn't run the ball well at all. Let's be honest: that game was two great McNair throws away from being an ass kicking. The Titans are a team that really worries me. They have such great talent, but they are battered with injuries (McNair is not likely to be 100% for the rest of the year, Drew Bennett is likely to miss this week again, CB Andre Dyson is questionable, & you have to hope Kearse can stay healthy). This team relies way too much on one player, and way too much on one facet of their offense, and the Colts are not very good team to throw against. They are ranked 7th versus the pass, and they have allowed an average of only 184 passing yards a game. Throw in 26 sacks and you have to wonder if the Titans have the go to get it done versus this high-powered offense. This game is HUGE: with the Pats and Eagles playing so well, and both of those teams have favorable schedules left ahead, and the key is the potential match up for the postseason. The loser of this game is likely to lose the AFC South and get in as a wild card team, and the wild card team will be forced to travel to either Cincy or Baltimore (winner of the AFC North) despite having a better record! No one wants to travel in the first round, especially when you are sporting only 4 losses and having to play Cincy or Baltimore (both teams are capable of beating just about anyone). I believe the Colts have too many advantages to ignore: they have all their weapons healthy, they have a competent defense that fits well with Tennessee's strengths, and they are a team looking to put behind a reputation of choking at this time of the year. Tony Dungy is a coach that can lead this team to the Promised Land, and he can motivate these guys past their mental barricades. I'm putting my money on the team with a solid running game and a healthy, top quality QB. Give me the Colts.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Peyton Manning, Edge James, Marvin Harrison, Mike Vanderjagt, Steve McNair (Questionable), Derrick Mason, Gary Anderson

2nd String: Reggie Wayne, Titan Defense, Justin McCareins, Marcus Pollard, Eddie George, Tyrone Calico, Chris Brown, Colt Defense

Prediction: Colts 27, Titans 17

Seattle (8-4) at Minnesota (7-5) 1:00 PM
The Seahawk fans are yelling for respect. YELLING for respect, as they sit at a very respectable 8 & 4 and in charge of the NFC West. They may have the hottest QB in the game in Matt Hasselback. His numbers are very impressive: 2883 yds, 22 TD's. And, let's add this fact: Seattle leads the NFL in dropped passes! As long as we are talking about the Hawks, can you all stop sending me emails about Darrell Jackson?! I KNOW! He's having an awesome season, and he's sporting better numbers than Hines Ward, Joe Horn, Plaxico Burress, Jerry Rice, Rod Smith, etc. By the way, here's a number no one has thrown at me (found it all on my own, just to brag): he's the league best in yards per catch (17.1). Koren Robinson has started to put together some nice games as well, and Bobby Engram has to put in his work as well. Shaun Alexander continues to impress (on, in my opinion, too few carries). This team has it going on offensively: ranked 9th throwing the rock and 8th running it. They've been holding on the ball better in recent games, and these guys just don't turn the ball over (only 9 combined fumbles and 9 interceptions). All those numbers usually turn into wins, and thus the success of the Seahawks this season. They are coming into Minnesota at a time when the Vikings are really struggling. The Vikes have lost 5 of their last 6 games and are struggling to hold on the their division. The defense is definitely suspect: they give up an average of points a game, and they are coming off a thrashing by the Rams. To say the Rams and Seahawks are similar is not only true, it's an understatement of epic proportion. If the Vikings can't step it up defensively, they will suffer yet another loss.

The Vikings are struggling a bit on offense as well. Daunte Culpepper has rediscovered his propensity for turnovers once again: 6 interceptions in his last 4 games. They still put up numbers, but they wipe out their productivity with the inability to hold on to the football. This team is starting to feel the crunch of being a team so reliant on offense for wins. They say defense wins championships for a reason. One good sign for Minnesota has been the return of Michael Bennett. Their running game had started to struggle a bit, and Bennett brings a much-needed element of speed to the lineup. He hasn't really broke on of those trademark 70-yard runs yet, but he's got it brewing. Seattle does give up some rushing yards (112/game), and the Vikes should look to Bennett to give their offense some stability and pace control. The Hawks do bring a nice passing defense, and though no one can cover Randy Moss the Vikes are not likely to throw for 350 on this team. With the defensive shortcomings of this Vikings team, the offense will be overloaded with work trying to keep up. Seattle will bring the run and the pass, and the Vikes aren't so good against either. It's hard to comprehend, but it looks like the Viking fans are going to endure another late season drop-off, and their team will be in a big time battle to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Shaun Alexander, Matt Hasselback, Darrell Jackson, Koren Robinson, Randy Moss, Daunte Culpepper, Michael Bennett

2nd String: Maurice Morris, Bobby Engram, Itula Mili, Josh Brown, Seattle Defense, Moe Williams, Aaron Elling, Nate Burleson, Kelly Campbell, Jim Kleinsasser, Minnesota Defense

Prediction: Hawks 32, Vikes 23

Tampa Bay (5-7) at New Orleans (6-6) 1:00 PM
The Bucs are as done as Dennis Rodman. Stick a fork in the defending champ, and then stick it in Beyonce and pass me the plate. It is hard to find an explanation for the demise of the team. I guess it's because of the sudden fall in the production of Keyshawn Johnson. Wait….. did he ever produce? Anyway, this team is the only team without 8 losses that I am willing to proclaim as dead. Their division is too tough and they won't get a wild card out of the NFC. This team has some weapons, and they've been able to move the ball offensively. However, after starting off the season in a tear, they have struggled to score in recent weeks. Now, it's not secret to anyone that follows football that the Saints have enjoyed great success over the Bucs in recent years. They have already beaten this team once, and now they get them at home. The Bucs have got to find a way to score, and they need to score more than a touchdown or two. Keenan McCardell is the obvious answer, and thus he has become defensive enemy #1. Joe Jurevicius is out for the season, and Chris Lee has provided another solid target. However, the key to this game will be the running attack. Michael Pittman has been nice, and Thomas Jones has shown some promise, but they are going to need some major improvements this week: the Saints' D gives up 141 yards rushing a game. This is a horrible number, and on the turf in the dome it would be nice to see the Bucs give the ball to Jones and let his speed showcase. With the season lost, it would make sense to let a player like Jones show what he can do and earn his spot in next year's squad. Plus, it gives your team the best chance to score!

In life, there are many thing that have gone unnoticed despite the strong production in the given fields of work: Carl Williams as an action hero, Chunky as a candy bar, Jim Beam as a prescription sedative, Boss Hog as a supervisor. Deuce McAllister may be the biggest example in professional sports. Sounds like a pretty grand statement, but I'm a numbers guy and the numbers back me up and every other media source is on this bandwagon this week, so let's all jump on and give the Deuce this due. 3 straight games with 160+ rushing (looked it up: been done once before, OJ), 9 consecutive games with 100+ yards (looked it up: this has been done only twice before, Walter Payton and Fred Taylor), and he's still young! He's a freakin' kid, and he's probably tops on the list of good players on bad teams. He continues to give his team a major edge on offense, and they continue to struggle when it comes to reaching the next level and making the postseason. The lack of production from Joe Horn has been a major concern, plus the lack of play for Donte Stallworth. The passing game could be a big weapon for the Saints, but this year it has not been. It is almost fair to say that TE Boo Williams has become the biggest threat for the Saints' passing attack, and that is never a good sign. It'd be nice to see the Saints put some other offense behind Deuce. They are coming off a tight win over Washington. I can't really look at the number for this game! I don't know what to expect from the Bucs' defense. Some games they role up the opposition and give them a toke; other games, they suck it up and liter the field with their mistakes. Deuce will run, that's almost a given. I'm going with the Saints: they just have the number of the Bucs and they have more to gain by winning. The Saints are completely dead yet, and if they want to at least make a showing of the season they need this win. It's hard for me to pick against the Bucs again, but I said that last week versus Jacksonville, and against Green Bay in Week 11, and against this very Saints team (in Tampa) in Week 9. Screw it up once shame on me, screw it up twice then you can blame it on me again. I'll take the Saints.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Deuce McAllister, Brad Johnson, Keenan McCardell, Aaron Brooks, John Carney

2nd String: Chris Lee, Buc Defense, Michael Pittman, Thomas Jones, Todd Yoder, Martin Gramatica, Joe Horn, Donte Stallworth (Questionable), Ernie Conwell, Saint Defense

Prediction: Bucs 13, Saints 20

Washington (4-8) at NY Giants (4-8) 1:00 PM
The Redskins are another team in the fryer. I'd put the Giants in there with them but I believe the Giants are better off in the compost pile, smoldering in the dog crap and cut grass, building this unbelievable stench that offends all onlookers and neighbors. They just suck. They got WHIPPED by Buffalo last week (one of the few games predicted correctly by yours truly), and it appeared to me, in the small amount of time I spent on the game, that the Giants had no interest in playing, much less winning. I'm not going over the numbers in this one. This game is barely worthy of my time, and though I am sure I will tune in for at least 10 minutes of it, I cannot justify getting into the stats. For the sake of all the wager hooks and fantasy guys out there, we can take a look at this one, but the numbers won't matter. Here's what you need to know about the Giants: they fumble more balls than a paraplegic porn star, they are more inconsistent than OJ's testimony, and they are basically not worthy of your hard earned gambling dollar. They have one fantasy worthy player, Amani Toomer, who is reliant on a total fantasy gamble, Kerry Collins, to get him the ball. He'll be smothered by one of the best CB's in the game, Champ Bailey, and Ike Hilliard, the other fantasy possibility (sounds like Shockey is out, or he'd make the list too), will also have a tough time as the Skins also have Fred Smoot to cover him. If the Giants want to get the offense going versus the Redskins, they need to run the ball. Thus, all Giant fans will be found on their knees, praying to the gods of football on every handoff that Barber can find a miracle and go one entire game without a red zone fumble. Good luck.

Here's some good news Giant fans! You just lost CB Will Allen for the remainder of the year! As if the loss of Shockey (and his backup, Marcellus Rivers) wasn't enough to make things easy for the Skins! You now have two of your key CB's out (Ralph Brown is the other) for a game with a team that HAS to pass the ball to win. Things are just coming up roses for the Giants. The Skins have experienced a bit of a surge it the rushing attack recently. Trung Candidate has shown some flashes of his abilities, but I wouldn't count on him to carry our fantasy squad into the playoffs. The Skins will be throwing the ball in this game, as they do every game, and with the defensive injuries the Giants have sustained it's easy to see that either Patrick Ramsey or Timmy Hasselback could enjoy a decent game. Laveranues Coles may be the WR fantasy start of the week. The Giants won't be able to cover him and you know he's getting the ball. Rod Gardner could benefit as well. This game looks like a lock for the Skins. The Giants, if they can avoid the usual mistakes, could and should make a game of this, but I doubt they have the heart. At least with the Skins you know they will leave it on the field and look to improve their stats and young talent. Take the Skins, and don't be afraid to put the parental lock on this one. It's not for the weak of soul.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Patrick Ramsey, Tim Hasselback, Laveranues Coles, John Hall, Amani Toomer, Matt Bryant

2nd String: Trung Candidate, Rock Cartwright, Rod Gardner, Darnerien McCants, Redskin Defense, Giant Defense, Kerry Collins, Tiki Barber, Ike Hilliard

Prediction: Skins 24, Giants 16

Dallas (8-4) at Philadelphia (9-3) 1:00 PM
I was tripping on Tryptophan when I saw the final score, because I know the Dallas D didn't let Jay freakin' Fiedler on the roof play like that. Right? Oh well, another pick bites the turf. Listen, Dallas is a young team and they are going to have letdowns like last week. I wouldn't read too much into it. What I will say is this: Richie Anderson is a nice compliment to this offense, but he's not enough to kill the concerns about the running game. Anderson has shown some nice moves and surprising speed, but this team is only one dominant RB away from being SOLID on offense, and the Fins showed that if you can take it to the passer you can beat this Boys' squad. Well, Dallas trips to Philly this week, and they like to rush the passer. They have 26 sacks thus far, and with Brian "Killer" Dawkins back on the field the already solid defense is improving. Dawkins can rush the passer, he can cover the wideouts, he's got great hands for interceptions, and he'll lay a hit on you that will turn you boxer briefs into a thong. These two teams faced off earlier in the season, and the Boys picked up a big 2-point win, but this Eagle defense (and offense for that matter) is different now. They are better, and Quincy Carter may not have such a good time throwing the ball.

Philly is on a streak, and a great streak it is. I'm going to admit something: I picked against the Eagles last week only because I felt this team had to lose one more game, and last week's match versus the Panthers was the best candidate left on the schedule. This week's game with Dallas doesn't look as even as the first time they met. Donovan McNabb is playing so much better now. He's THROWING for scores, he's running a bit more, and he's playing to win (he seemed tentative early in the year). That alone could be enough to make up the 2 points the Boys won by earlier in the year. That said, he won't have an easy go. I'm not taking too much to heart in the loss to Miami. Jay Fiedler had a nice game, and McNabb could have a nice day, but it won't be easy. This Dallas D is still very tough and very motivated. This week, Bill Parcells cut phenom CB/PR man Derek Ross (maturity issues named as the reason). Basically, it's a message: Parcells won't put up with your sh** and if you fu** up you're gone (Ross had 2 fumbles on kick returns in the loss to Miami). You better believe this will motivate the Boys, especially on defense, and they will battle hard. That said, I think the Eagles have to win this game. They currently lead Dallas by one game, and getting this win will nullify the win Dallas picked up earlier in the schedule. Donovan is playing better (Carolina's interception in the 1st quarter broke a streak, as Donovan had thrown 127 consecutive attempts without an interception), the RB's are healthy and running well as a group, the defense is much more healthy: everything points towards the Eagles, and it's too much for me to ignore. Take the hot hand: go with Philly.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Donovan McNabb, Philly Defense, Dallas Defense, Quincy Carter, Brian Westbrook, Joey Galloway, David Akers

2nd String: Terry Glenn, Billy Cundiff, Troy Hambrick, Antonio Bryant, Richie Anderson, Jason Witten, Correll Buckhalter, James Thrash, Todd Pinkston, LJ Smith, Chad Lewis

Prediction: Boys 14, Eagles 21

Oakland (3-9) at Pittsburgh (4-8) 1:00 PM
Oakland is horrible. Bill Callahan is right: they do give games away, they are undisciplined, they don't execute, they don't play with enough heart and too much bravado (especially for a team with 3 wins). It's all true, like it or not Raider fans. You just got beat by Denver AGAIN (actually, you got beat by Clinton Portis), and you are on your way to a dismal season. Rick Mirer has performed ok, but he's not going to give you a major advantage at QB. Tyrone Wheatley has become the best RB by default, and he's a nice RB but he hasn't shown consistency in his career. Your best player in Oakland is probably your kicker: at least he's your most consistent player. Jerry Porter has to be pulling his hair out. He missed the Rich Gannon games due to injury, watched his team fumble through the season, came back just in time to forget about the season, and now is struggling with fumbles. This team is presenting the Steelers' D with a great opportunity to reestablish some of the regular Pittsburgh dominance. They do well versus both the run (100 yds/game) and the pass (207 yds/game), but they have fallen apart in the red zone and have struggled with some turnovers on offense, thus allowing their opponents good field position and making things harder for the defense. Ty Wheatley is a nice runner, but his style won't work too well versus this Pitt defense, and I wouldn't count on Rick Mirer finding anything worthwhile either.

The Steelers are a team on the verge of …. making tee times. They are done. This year, 8 losses seems to be the cutoff for officially being done. That said, they want to win. They want to close this season with some pride and with some productive work. They will play some young talent, and they will try some different stuff, but they are still loaded all over the field and they still have guys that will make plays every week. Burress and Ward are probably the best 1-2 punch at WR. Jerome Bettis hasn't been a breakout guy (SHOCKER), but he's been solid and has provided a good mix of rushing for the Steelers. Some speed would be nice, but Bettis can get it done. This Raider defense is likely to give them some great yards, as they love to pick up stupid penalties and give their opponents big yards. As I see it, it doesn't matter as the Steelers could throw all over just about anyone with Tommy Maddox on his game. I'm trying hard to find anything nice to say about the Raiders, but it's hard. I like Phillip Buchanon, and Trace Armstrong is a strong veteran, and Justin Fargas (when healthy) is a nice prospect. All that said, the Steelers should whoop this arse this weekend. They should throw, and throw deep. Ward, Burress, and Randle El should enjoy nice games, and they should take advantage not only on bad coverage but also on penalties. The Pitt D should have no problems shutting down Wheatley, and Mirer won't get enough passing going to make a difference. Take the Black and Gold, not Silver.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Sebastian Janikowski, Hines Ward, Jeff Reed, Plaxico Burress, Pitt Defense

2nd String: Rick Mirer, Charlie Garner, Tyrone Wheatley, Jerry Porter, Teyo Johnson, Raider Defense, Tommy Maddox, Jerome Bettis, Amos Zereoue, Jay Riemersma (Questionable), Antwaan Randle El

Prediction: Raiders 10, Steelers 21

Houston (5-7) at Jacksonville (3-9) 1:00 PM
The Texans are a team that I really enjoy watching. They use a nice mix of passing and rushing, and Domanick Davis is a great RB for your viewing pleasure. This game is going to be one of the better matchups of the week! Seriously: the Texans can battle with anyone, and the Jags have played great in the last few weeks. Tony Banks is out for the Texans, so young blood David Carr returns to his starting role despite not being 100%. Expect the passing of Carr to be the key offensive component for this weekend, as the Jags come in with the 2nd best rushing defense in all of football (85 yds/game). Domanick Davis will take his cracks, but the Jags defense has really stepped up in recent weeks and has done very well versus rushing opponents (held Edge James to 44 yards 4 weeks ago for example). Carr will be looking for Andre Johnson, and they are more likely to find success as Jacksonville's pass D isn't as good (210 yds/game). Johnson has gotten it done in a big way for Houston this year. He can get open at any time and against anyone in the NFL. He may not always get your yards, but he'll get you into the end zone. Jacksonville better watch this kid, as well as Jabar Gaffney and Billy Miller. The Texans will go to the air, and they could find success quick and easy on that route.

Jacksonville has really been on a role in recent games. Don't get me wrong: they still take more losses than wins, but the games have been close and they can brag about big wins over Tampa Bay and Indy. Fred Taylor is the man for this team. He runs on everyone, and he's got a nice opponent to run against again this week. Houston ranks 26th versus the run, allowing 134 yards a game. Taylor will take advantage, and so will Leftwich. Leftwich has gotten a great chemistry with Jimmy Smith going, and he's started to get very comfortable in the NFL game. He threw for 224 versus a tough Tampa D last week, and he'll have a great shot at a Houston team that doesn't do well against the pass either (2nd to last to be exact). If the Jags defense can hold up and play as well as they are capable, Leftwich could string together consecutive wins for the first time in his short NFL career. Hey, milestones are milestones, and this kid is likely to have lots of 'em. Look for Leftwich to come out throwing, and Freddie T. may be the best RB start for your fantasy team this week. He'll run all over the Texans, and the passing game will help open it up for him as well. I'm taking the home team, with the solid RB and the up-&-coming QB. Jacksonville has been playing too good lately to ignore, and the Texans are about to be victim #4.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Fred Taylor, Byron Leftwich, Jimmy Smith, David Carr (Questionable), Andre Johnson

2nd String: Domanick Davis (Questionable), Jabar Gaffney, Billy Miller, Kris Brown, Texan Defense, LaBrandon Toefield, Seth Marler, Kevin Johnson, Kyle Brady, Jag Defense

Prediction: Texans 14, Jags 23

Cincinnati (7-5) at Baltimore (7-5) 1:00 PM
This is one of the best games of the week. These two teams, battling for the tradition rich AFC North (tradition?), and both teams coming in off of nice wins. The Bengals are on a streak they haven't experience the Icky Shuffle was cool. I saw this fact the other day, and I hate to say it, but it made me think something funny: Jon Kitna is the only QB to take every snap for his team thus far this season. Now, knowing that, when you hear that Kitna deserves MVP consideration (winning it, no, but consideration, yes), don't laugh. He's been the leader and head performer for a team that is winning games and battling hard for the playoffs for the first time in years. 22 TD's, 9 interceptions: that alone is freakin' amazing. Chad Johnson definitely helps. He's a stud, one of my new favorite players (and I HATE wide receivers). These guys are doing it against everyone, and if you've had CJ or Kitna on your fantasy squads you know they bring it every week. They will give Baltimore problems. The Ravens do have a great defense once again: they do well against the run (102 yds/game) and the pass (180yds/game). The rushing of Corey Dillon and Rudi Johnson has been a nice offensive weapon, but the bread and butter of this Bengals team is Kitna to Johnson. You thrown in Peter Warrick, having a great comeback year, and you are giving the Ravens a very tough run to guard the pass.

The Ravens have to be happy with their position. They have been relying on Jamal Lewis, and Jamal Lewis, and Jamal Lewis for offense. The passing game didn't come alive until recent weeks, yet they are tied for their division lead and will battle with Cincy to make the playoffs. The loser will be likely be going home and watching on the plasma, as their records aren't worthy of wild card consideration at this point. Baltimore lives and dies on defense and Jamal Lewis, yet the passing of Anthony Wright has lead this team to recent wins over Seattle and San Francisco. He's made Marcus Robinson look like a stud again, and Todd Heap has finally enjoyed some great passing looks. Wright will be key again this week, but you know it's all about Lewis. Cincy gives up about 120 rushing yards a game, which could translate into about 150 yards for Lewis. If the Bengals don't come up with an answer for Jamal (he hit them for 101 earlier in the year), it could be a long day. This is a tough one to pick, and I'm going with the glory story of Cincy! I think Corey Dillon is the key: he seems to have his head back on straight and picked up 48 yards on only 10 carries last week. I believe the tandem of Dillon and Rudi will be able to perform well enough to keep Ray Lewis and company honest, and I don't think the Ravens will have an answer for Chad Johnson. Kitna is on a roll, Marvin Lewis has made me a believer, and the Bengals are due for a playoff performance! I'M ON BOARD BABY! I'LL SINK WITH CJ IF I HAVE TO, 'CAUSE THE BENGALS ARE GOING TO THE SHOW! Sorry, but I get a little excited about upsets and games of this caliber. This will be a close one, but I'm taking the Bengals. I think the Ravens have relied to heavily on Jamal Lewis, and this week it all catches up to them. The Ravens' D is tough, but not tough enough.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Jamal Lewis, Chad Johnson, Jon Kitna, Baltimore Defense, Todd Heap

2nd String: Corey Dillon, Rudi Johnson, Peter Warrick, Matt Schobel, Shayne Graham, Cincy Defense, Anthony Wright, Travis Taylor, Marcus Robinson, Matt Stover

Prediction: Bengals 24, Ravens 21

Arizona (3-9) at San Francisco (5-7) 4:05 PM
Arizona has fallen back to reality: they've lost 4 in a row. It's not a big secret that this team is (a) horrible on the road, and (b) struggling to stop other teams no matter where they play. Offensively they have the tools to compete. Marcel Shipp is one of the best players in the NFL on a bad team, along with his WR counterpart Anquan Boldin (by the way, congrad's to Boldin for becoming only the 12th rookie to reach 1000 yards in the history of the NFL). This is the problem: they have become the primary target of every opposing defense they meet. It's hard to get these guys going every week when they are constantly caught in a barrage of defensive schemes. This team is not good, and they aren't going to get any better. They give up a ton of points (28/game) and they don't come even close to scoring enough to overcome that number. Basically, it can be safely stated that the Cards are battling the Bolts for next year's first draft pick (can you say Eli Manning Arizona fan?). They are likely to have a tough time with this San Francisco visit. My good friend Dennis, an avid prognosticator and purveyor of good wagering opportunities, sent along these stats: in Arizona's last 3 road games they have lost by an average of 25 points, and in the Niners last 3 home games they have won by an average of 19 points. So, who do you want to put your money on?

Sounds like the Niners are going to stick with Jeff Garcia. "But Bryan, they played HORRIBLY with him behind center last week! He threw 4 picks, barely broke 100 yards, and couldn't have hit Terrell Owens if he was 5 feet in front of him and weighed 700 pounds! Why won't they go back to Tim Rattay?" Damn fine question, and I guess you could sum it up as Garcia is the starter now and has been whenever he's healthy. I would suggest that the Niners are giving Garcia the start because of the opponent. Arizona gives up 227 yards through the air a game, and if Garcia can't take advantage of that then maybe it will be time to hand the reigns over to Rattay. Rattay is their guy of the future, make no bones about it. It's unlikely that Garcia will ever enjoy a full season of health ever again, and if Coach Erickson thinks that he shouldn't use Rattay he's wrong (and that may be the case, as Erickson has never been known for his smart moves in the professional circle of football). Garcia should have a nice game. The real interest for me (and some of you fantasy buffs out there) will be Kevan Barlow. He will be the man at RB this week as Garrison Hearst is out (knee). Barlow has been the "guy in waiting" for about 3 years now, and he has yet to take advantage of the opportunities he's been afforded. He's a nice back , but he has yet to prove he can do it week in and week out, and he is running out of chances. Arizona doesn't give up a ton of rushing yards (only 109 yds/game, you'd guess higher as it's ARIZONA!), and that makes it hard to bet on Barlow this week. However, betting on the Niner to win, and win big, is fine! Shipp and Boldin may do some damage, but it won't be too much, and it definitely won't be enough to keep this one close. I'm not one to guess a big score (Dennis is guessing 40-3, ballsy pick!), but I do believe the Niners will cover whatever the spread is and they will blow this team out.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Terrell Owens, Jeff Garcia, 49er Defense, Marcel Shipp, Anquan Boldin

2nd String: Kevan Barlow, Jeff Blake, Bryant Johnson, Freddie Jones, Arizona Defense, Tai Streets

Prediction: Cards 13, Niners 28

Miami (8-4) at New England (10-2) 4:15 PM
Did you all see Bob Griese light up that tough Dallas defense on Thanksgiving? What….. that wasn't Bob Griese? Oh. Did you see Brian Griese tear up……….. What? It was Fiedler. Really? Fiedler put up those numbers against the #1 defense in the country? Amazing. Give some props to Fiedler, now wipe it out of you mind. If you really think Fiedler will put up that kind of performance consistently, you have to pass that joint over here. Sorry, but even after a great performance in the turkey bowl, I'm not ready to jump on board with this team just yet. One word: Wannstedt. This guy could screw up a bread sandwich. He's jinxed, asked Chicago. Fiedler is a nice QB, but to say he's going to go like this week in and week out is just stupid (just for some stat proof, Chris Chambers is a stud and although he picked up 3 big time TD's last week, his average yards a game is only 55.8, and that puts him out of the top 20; if that isn't an indicator of Fiedler's inability to put up big yards consistently and use Chambers effectively, I don't know what else would be). What really concerns me is the running of Ricky Williams. He's still a stud, but not like we have come to expect. He's struggled in many games this year and hasn't shown me too much to think he's fully recovered from whatever his problem may be. He did pick up 104 yards on 31 carries versus Dallas, but he didn't get any scoring done and this is a concern. This week, you better believe the Fins are going to need that running game. NE is possibly the hottest team in the NFL right now, and they have one of the best defensive units in all of football. NE's D does pretty well versus the pass (can you say Ty Law and Rodney Harrison?): 208 yds/game, only 10 passing TD's allowed. Jay Fiedler will be spending plenty of time running with the ball, and for his life, and that is when he's at his worst. Ricky had better refind his game and the end zone, as he will need to carry the load in this match.

This is going to be a great game for fans of the defense, potentially. The Fins are pretty stingy on the field as well: they rank 4th versus the rush (89 yds/game). It's no secret the Pats don't run with authority. They live and die with Tom Brady. Brady is the man, and although I was making a case for Jamal Lewis as MVP a few weeks ago, I'd switch my answer to Brady today. He has the best winning percentage among active QB's (at least 25 starts), having passed Kurt Warner before last week's win over Indy. He's the leader of this team and is enjoying an amazing season. He'll have tough match this week, as Miami is also good against the pass. Although they give up 220 yards a game, they have collected 20 interceptions, 30 sacks, and have allowed only 10 passing TD's. The Pats are going to wish they had a better running game for this game, but Kevin Faulk is not necessarily rotted wood and the Pats have gotten it done against other tough defenses without a strong rush attack this season (Philly, Tennessee, Denver, and in their first match with Miami). In their first run-in, Faulk picked up only 38 yards but Brady threw for 283 and 2 TD's. The key for Brady is his calm in tough situations. Did you see him late in the game versus Indy? I thought he was on ludes! He is a great leader and he can get it done without a true dominant WR. Whether it's Deion Branch, Troy Brown, David Givens, Bethel Johnson, Daniel Graham, David Patten, Dedric Ward, or Christian Fauria, he's gotten it done and has brought the Pats to their current division lead. I know Coach Bill Belichick is a great game planner, and though he often gets much of the credit for this team's success, I feel you should give more of that credit to Tom Brady. I believe he will throw on this Miami defense, and he will turn that 220 yards allowed average into about 300 yards, and once again he will take the Pats to a close, exciting win. THERE New England fans! I'm doing it! I'm picking your team, and I'm doing it convincingly. I think there is not one truly dominant team in the NFL right now, but if you were to formulate arguments for the top dogs, the most convincing argument would be for the Patriots. Miami is too inconsistent, they will have a rough time with the awesome Patriot defense, and they will lose.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Tom Brady, Patriot Defense, Ricky Williams, Chris Chambers, Deion Branch

2nd String: Fin Defense, Randy McMichael, Brian Griese, Jay Fiedler, James McKnight, Olindo Mare, David Givens, Kevin Faulk, Troy Brown (Questionable), Daniel Graham, Adam Vinatieri

Prediction: Fins 14, Pats 23

NY Jets (5-7) at Buffalo (5-7) 4:15 PM
You don't have to be a Jets fan to realize how exciting this team has been since the return of Chad Pennington. I've dragged on about Penny enough in recent columns, so I won't go into it again. Sufficed to say, the Jets are a much better squad with Pennington behind center, and last week's convincing win over Tennessee is proof. I stated earlier that a team with 8 losses is officially dead for the playoffs. There are several teams with 7 losses right now, and the chances of most of these teams making a run is slim and none. However, if I were to pick one team, one team that could possibly win out and make a miracle out of what was once a lost season, the Jets are your best shot. Now, I'm not saying it will happen: they still have the Patriots and the Fins on left on the schedule. However, this team is HOT right now. Curtis Martin got his first TD OF THE YEAR last week. Pennington to Moss is heard more on TV than, "Paris Hilton was caught having sex on tape, AGAIN." The Jet's special teams and defense is playing well, they have a solid kicking game, they have a great coach, they have it all working right now. If only they could keep the rushing numbers down! They are still, despite holding Eddie George to 73 yards last week (Gary Coleman could hold Eddie George under 100 yards right now), one of the worst rushing D's in the NFL (3rd worst to be exact). They are improving, but they will struggle against a strong RB like Travis Henry. Henry has proven he's worthy of starting for this team, and would be a starter on most NFL teams. He's become the only source of consistent offense on this Buffalo team. If the Jets want to win again, in a convincing matter, they need to do two things. First, they need to crack that tough Buffalo passing defense (still best in the league at 174 yds/game). Right now, it's easy to see Pennington throwing well versus anyone. Second, they need to "contain" Travis Henry. Henry is a player capable of making things easier for Bledsoe. He can't win games on his own, but he can help give his team a much better shot.

Buffalo managed to win in convincing fashion last week versus the Giants. Right now, I think the Holy Sisters of the Covenant could field a team and beat the Giants. Granted, the Bills needed a win in a major way. But don't read too much into that game. Bledsoe is still struggling with his game and he took a massive helmet-to-helmet hit that has made daily functioning a tough task this week. He is still suffering from dizziness and is reportedly tired and apparently lightheaded. That doesn't sound good. Bledsoe is a good QB, but he's struggled this season with turnovers and forced passes, something that would surely continue if he were to play this week. The Jets have a nice passing D, giving up only 198 yds/game and only 10 passing TD's allowed. The big concern will be Shaun Ellis: he's among the league leaders in sacks and has been known to drop a crushing blow to QB's from time to time. If Bledsoe goes (reported "75% chance he will start"), he will be blitzed like mad, and the Jets will look to take full advantage of his hampered status. It's no stretch to say Henry will run the ball 25 times, and he's likely to find success. But the Bills are going to have to put up some points. Since Pennington's return, the Jets are averaging 23 points a game, and they have won every type of game imaginable. He doesn't throw too many picks (only 6 thus far), and Curtis Martin doesn't fumble too much either (2 thus far). Buffalo can't count on the Jets making mistakes like the Giants made mistakes last week, and thus the Jets will win. Buffalo doesn't have the passing game working well enough to take it to the tough Jets' defense, and that will limit their scoring enough to open the door for Pennington and company. Look for the Jets to continue their current hot streak to another win over Buffalo.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Chad Pennington, Santana Moss, Curtis Martin, Anthony Becht, Doug Brien, Travis Henry

2nd String: Eric Moulds, Curtis Conway, Jet Defense, LaMont Jordan, Drew Bledsoe, Josh Reed, Bobby Shaw, Rian Lindell, Buffalo Defense

Prediction: Jets 24, Buffalo 14

Kansas City (11-1) at Denver (7-5) 4:15 PM
Yet another amazing matchup to preview! That's what makes the NFL so damn special. If you will think back to the last time these teams played each other, it was a very exciting game. Dante Hall was the difference maker, but Denver fans would argue that the officiating was the difference maker (apparently, the though is that a clip call was missed Hall's TD return, and they have a point, but they shouldn't have been in that position if they really want to complain). This would lead you to believe that this matchup will be just as exciting. I would beg to differ. Let's start with the Chiefs. First of all, in that first game, Tony Gonzalez was in the midst of a small slump. Second, Dante Hall was perceived as the biggest point scoring threat on the team. Now, this week, neither of those is true. Priest Holmes is back on the KC pedestal where he belongs. The big difference in my mind comes on the defensive side of the ball for Denver, and it ties in nicely with the resurgence of Tony Gonzalez. In their first meeting, the Broncos were healthy on defense. Now, they are missing TWO of their starting LB's, both guys being key playmakers for the squad: John Mobley and Ian Gold. This will free up Gonzalez in a major way. Gold would normally draw the assignments on Gonzo, and with his talents and speed on the sidelines, I'd look for a big game for the seasoned veteran and best TE in the NFL. Don't get me wrong Denver fans! Jashon Sykes has been a nice player in his rookie year, but he will be a toy for an experienced Pro Bowler like Gonzo. Look for Priest to take advantage as well. With the secondary line of defense depleted, Priest will have a better chance to break out some big runs, and he will be unstoppable in the red zone. When you mix in the recent success Trent Green has found as he's in a nice groove throwing, and the lousy secondary of the Broncos, you have to admit it's not looking so good for Denver.

Two things you have to be happy about if you are a Denver fan: you've got Plummer back, and Clinton Portis is still on your team and healthy. Plummer, in my mind, has proven he is likely worthy of the money Denver spent to get him. Now if he can just stay healthy! He could find some nice success against this KC defense. I believe the trendy term is "bend but don't break." KC gives up plenty of offense: 210 yds passing a game, 136 yards rushing a game. By the way, that was Clinton Portis just landing on your starting fantasy roster. He'll be the primary source of offense once again this week. Did you see him destroy the Raiders last week? I was waiting for Shanahan to pull the QB and just hike the ball to Portis and let him go. They couldn't stop him. He's got surprising speed and his burst after breaking the secondary is amazing. However, this week, he won't be enough. The Denver D is sure to give up at least 21 points to the Chiefs' amazing offense. That said, the onus falls to Plummer to get it done. He'll be looking to Rod Smith and Shannon Sharpe, the two biggest beneficiaries of Plummer's arm. It would be Ashley Lelie, but his hands have yet to be returned as he continues to drop more passes every week (believe he dropped 6 balls last week; he should be benched). Denver needs to open up the long game too. They normally stick to short passes and they let the WR's do the work. Smith is still a great receiver, but he can't break it out as easily as he once did. Get it to him deep and he's bound for 6. This game could actually be as tight as their last meeting. Portis could slow down the pace, Plummer could find some open arms, and Denver could give them a run. However, I have to go with the hot hand of KC. The passing of Green has been too hot to ignore, and when you add that to the talents of Holmes and Gonzalez, it's too much to ignore. If KC wins this game, you can stick a fork in Denver. KC will have wrapped up the division, and the 8th loss for Denver will put an end to a disappointing first season for Jake Plummer in the blue and orange (and, maybe, just maybe, folks might start looking at Mike Shanahan as a reason for not making the playoffs, instead of Brian Griese).

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Trent Green, Priest Holmes, Tony Gonzalez, Clinton Portis, Jake Plummer, Shannon Sharpe

2nd String: KC Defense, Johnnie Morton, Eddie Kennison, Morten Andersen, Rod Smith, Ashley Lelie, Jason Elam, Denver Defense

Prediction: Chiefs 28, Denver 21

Carolina (8-4) at Atlanta (2-10) 8:30 PM
The Panthers are not performing as well as I had hoped in the second half of this season. The defensive front line is amazing, but the rest of the defense is becoming a little suspect. They do give up plenty of yards: 100/rushing and 212 passing. The offense has learned that Jake Delhomme is not Joe Montana, and though he's brought some nice wins home for the Cats he can't do it every time, and neither can Stephen Davis. They have so many close games, and the wins in those situations speaks nicely to Delhomme's abilities. You don't win those games without some good QB play. However, if you continue to turn every game into a race to the finish line, you are not going to win every time, and lately those close wins have been coming in as close losses. Here's the key stat that I've found in my obsessive stat studies: the Panthers are a great defense against opponent scoring in the first 3 quarters, but in their last 5 games they have been horrible in the 4th quarter. In those five games, they've allowed only 57 combined points in the first 3 quarters. However, in the 4th quarter alone in those 5 games combined they have allowed 50 points (and 557 yards of offense allowed in those 4th quarters alone! YIKES!). This is a trend that has to stop, and this is a good week to see if they can do it. Atlanta may be 2 & 10, but I feel comfortable saying that with the return of Mike Vick they just got a lot better. Vick, if he's ok, will be running and gunning, and the Panthers will have to find a way to get to him and keep him in the pocket. I'm not really sure what to expect from Vick in this one, but I do know that if the Panthers cannot stop him in the 4th and the game is as close as most Panther games tend to be, this will be exciting.

Like I said, who knows what to expect from Vick. I expect more from Peerless Price, as Mike, I guess its "Michael" again, as Michael did a nice job of spreading the ball around in his stint last week. I'd say Price's stock automatically improves, and I'd say the running threat for Atlanta just got better as well. With Dunn out and TJ Duckett running the ball, this team will need some flashes of Vick's speed to help bolster the offense and keep the Carolina defense honest. The real problem will finally become as evident as possible in this game: the Atlanta defense is AWFUL. They don't stop the run (149 yds/game), they don't stop the pass (239 yds/game), they don't keep opponents out of the end zone (27 pnts/game), they don't do much at all. They won't stop Stephen Davis at all. That's as close as you can get to a fantasy guarantee! They aren't likely to stop Delhomme and Steve Smith either. Smith has become a great WR in the NFL, and if he keeps it up he may find himself in Hawaii at season's end (the Pro Bowl people, don't you watch the best All Star game in professional sports? There's nothing better than the lack of effort, the lack of participation, and the blatant use of the game for a nice vacation as you will see at the Pro Bowl!). So, the question that needs to be asked is this: will Michael Vick do enough to keep his team at Carolina's door and to make up for the atrocious defense? The answer is no. He's getting his first start, he may be a little bit rusty, probably will be a little bit hesitant to run in some spots, and that front 4 of Carolina will be giving him plenty to think about as it is! Take Carolina, but tune in to see how Vick looks and you might get a better game than you would think.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Jake Delhomme, Stephen Davis, Steve Smith, Jay Feeley, Mike Vick, Peerless Price, Carolina Defense

2nd String: John Kasay, DeShaun Foster, Muhsin Muhammad, TJ Duckett, Quentin McCord, Alge Crumpler

Prediction: Panthers 23, Falcons 14

St. Louis (9-3) at Cleveland (4-8) Mon 9:00 PM
The Rams are starting to remind us all of the Rams that won a Super Bowl. Let me say this now, just to get it out there: I don't like WR's, but I'd put Torry Holt's name in the mix for MVP consideration this year. The guy is on pace to break some yardage records for receivers this year, and with 1387 yards and 10 TD's already on the board you cannot ignore what Holt is doing for his team. He's a great player, and I'd say he could be right with Randy Moss for the best WR's playing right now (personally, I'd love to put Marvin Harrison in front of these guys, but the numbers are doing the talking). This team will light up the Browns. I don't care if it's Monday night, I don't care if the Browns' passing D numbers look good (179 yds/game, only 11 TD's allowed), and I don't care if this comes off as obvious. This team cannot be stopped offensively without a supreme effort from a top-notch defense, and even then you won't stop them. You all have no idea how happy I was to see Marshall Faulk get his carries last week, and look what he did! 3 TD's, I almost pissed my pants. Seriously, if you've read my column all through the season you've been nice enough to read my rants on Martz and his inability to admit that Marshall Faulk is the key to this team's success. Faulk is still a top 5 RB, and he's capable of those big numbers almost every week! So, let's see, Cleveland gives up 120 yards rushing a game, and they are still trying to remove the boot Seattle left in their backsides, and they didn't stop Shaun Alexander from running all over them, or Priest Holmes, or LaDainian Tomlinson, or Jamal Lewis. I wonder if Faulk is worthy of 25 or 30 carries this week? The fact that I've spent this much time insulting the Cleveland defense, and the fact they gave up 34 to Seattle last week, and the fact that it's so obvious that the Rams should spank these guys that Stevie Wonder, drunk and on ecstasy, could have written this preview, I think we can call that covered.

The Browns have to be wondering what they will do for offense. Kelly Holcomb struggled, they brought in Tim Couch who was then injured and is now out with a possible MCL problem, and now they are coming into another NFL buzz saw in the Rams. Tough breaks, along with Willie Green joining the cast of the Jerry Springer show, make this a season of loss for the Browns, and folks are starting to question Coach Butch Davis. Myself, I think you can't blame Davis. He's still cleaning house from the last managers (and, by the way, that will include the cleansing of Tim Couch from this team, mark it down now) and he's been struggling to find the right leader for this squad. You look at that record at 4 & 8, and you see the schedule ahead (at Denver, Baltimore, at Cincy), and you can see the Browns making a push for the 1st draft pick. They are likely, in my mind, to lose out, and they are going to struggle to find any positives to take from these games and the season as a whole. Their RB of the future can't get his life together, their QB situation is questionable at best, the defense isn't horrible but it's not dominant. I've got one thing: Courtney Brown. Brown was quickly labeled as a bust after struggling the last two years, but he's tearing it up this year as the Browns' leading sack man (6), 4 forced fumbles, and he appears to get better with every game despite his team's struggles (hey, he's getting PLENTY of opportunities to make plays!). That's about all I can say! The Browns are a team looking to get through each game healthy, maybe to compete if they can, but against offensive units like Seattle and St. Louis, it's asking an awful lot for this team to come in and keep up with the likes of Bulger, Holt, and Faulk. Take the Rams, take them big, and don't expect one of those crazy Monday Night mysteries.

Key Fantasy Players

1st String: Torry Holt, Marc Bulger, Marshall Faulk, Rams Defense, Jeff Wilkins

2nd String: Isaac Bruce, Dane Looker, Brandon Maneamula, Kelly Holcomb, Andre Davis, Quincy Morgan, James Jackson, Dennis Northcutt, Phil Dawson, Cleveland Defense

Prediction: Rams 37, Browns 13