By Jason Bryden
Elm Staff Writer
Atlanta (7-4) at Houston (8-3)
Two teams with hopes to play in January collide this Sunday at Reliant Stadium as the Falcons travel to Texas to take on the Texans.
The Falcons won their fifth game of the last six with a 24-14 win over the Minnesota Vikings at home as Atlanta raced out to a 17-0 lead. If the Falcons, who have reached the playoffs in two of the past three years, make the playoffs this season, it will be the first time in the history of the franchise they would have reached the playoffs in consecutive seasons.
The Texans won their fifth consecutive game with a 20-13 win at Jacksonville this past Sunday, but paid a heavy price in the win. Quarterback Matt Leinart was lost for the season late in the first half against the Jaguars with a broken collarbone. Houston is down to its third quarterback, rookie T.J. Yates, as they lost starting signal caller Matt Schaub in Week 10 to a foot injury. The Texans currently lead the Tennessee Titans by two games in the AFC South and, are seeking their first playoff berth and division crown this year.
Atlanta and Houston are meeting for the third time and have split a pair of games. The Texans won in 2003 at home, while the Falcons prevailed in 2007 at home.
Tennessee (6-5) at Buffalo (5-6)
Two teams with playoff hopes meet in Western New York on Sunday as the Titans travel to play the Bills.
Tennessee held off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 23-17, in Week 12 at home and have won two of its last three. This is the one week in a five-week stretch, Weeks 10-14, where they will not play a NFC South team. The Titans played the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, and Buccaneers in Weeks 10-12 and will host the New Orleans Saints in Week 14.
Buffalo completed a 0-4 November with a last minute 28-24 loss at the New York Jets last Sunday. The Bills had a chance to win the game on their last possession, but could not score despite getting the ball inside the Jets’ 30. In November, the Bills allowed 32.3 points per game and scored just 12.5 per game.
Tennessee leads the all-time regular season series 25-14. In the playoffs however, Buffalo has won 2 of 3 meetings. The Bills downed the then Houston Oilers, 41-38, coming back from a 32-point deficit in the 1992 AFC Wild Card round, still the greatest playoff comeback in NFL history. The Titans returned the favor in the 1999 AFC Wild Card round, winning on the Music City Miracle to turn a 16-15 deficit into a 22-16 win. Both teams used those wins to advance to the Super Bowl, but both teams lost in the Super Bowl.
Cincinnati (7-4) at Pittsburgh (8-3)
The AFC’s two current Wild Card teams meet in a critical game on Sunday at Heinz Field as the Bengals look to even the season series against the Steelers after the Steelers won the first meeting between the two AFC North sides, 24-17, in Week 10 in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati snapped a two-game losing streak with a 23-20 comeback win over the Cleveland Browns, after the Bengals trailed 17-7 in the second quarter. Kicker Mike Nugent kicked a 26-yard field goal with 38 seconds left for the winning points following a 51-yard reception by wide receiver A.J. Green. The Bengals have won three of their last five trips to Heinz Field.
The Steelers held off the Kansas City Chiefs 13-9 on Sunday night. The Steelers forced four turnovers in the win. Pittsburgh might be without all-pro safety Troy Polamalu, who had to leave the game on Sunday with concussion like symptoms and did not return. With a win on Sunday, Pittsburgh will clinch its 16th winning season in the past 20 years.
The Steelers lead the all-time series 50-32 in the regular season and won the lone playoff meeting in 2005.
Green Bay (11-0) at New York Giants (6-5)
In 1998, the Denver Broncos were 13-0 and were 13-1 after losing to the New York Giants and in the 2007 season, the New England Patriots were 18-0 and seeking to go a perfect 19-0 in Super Bowl XLII, but the Giants denied the Patriots perfection and won the Super Bowl. On Sunday, can the Giants ruin another team’s quest for perfection as the 11-0 Green Bay Packers come to MetLife Stadium?
The Packers topped the Detroit Lions, 27-15, on Thanksgiving as Green Bay raced out to a 24-0 lead. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers tossed for 307 yards and two touchdowns and the Packers defense forced three turnovers in the win. The Packers are currently on a 17-game winning streak, which began with a 45-17 win over the New York Giants on December 26, 2010 at Lambeau Field.
Despite 406 yards passing from quarterback Eli Manning, New York fell for the third straight time on Monday night in a 49-24 loss at the New Orleans Saints. New York could be without defensive end Osi Umenyiora, who injured his ankle on Monday night, and that would hurt the Giants’ ability to rush the quarterback, which is a big part of the New York defense. In December/January regular season games since 2008, the Giants are just 6-8.
The two teams will meet for the 50th time in the regular season, with Green Bay holding a 26-21-2 series edge. In the playoffs, the Packers have won four of the six meetings. Four of Green Bay’s 13 titles have come at the expense of the New York Giants.
Detroit (7-4) at New Orleans (8-3)
Two teams heading in opposite directions and playoff aspirations meet on Sunday night in New Orleans as the Lions travel to play the Saints.
Detroit fell for the fourth time in its past six games with a 27-15 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving at home. The Lions hurt themselves with three turnovers and the ejection of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh for stepping on the arm of Green Bay guard Evan Dietrich-Smith. Unless he wins his appeal, Suh will serve the first of his two-game suspension against the Saints, a team that has as potent of an offense as any team in the NFL. In addition, the Lions also found out that running back Jahvid Best is done for the year with a concussion.
New Orleans completed a perfect 3-0 November with a 49-24 win over the New York Giants as the offense churned out 577 yards in the win and got four touchdown passes from quarterback Drew Brees in the victory. The Saints defense also contributed to the victory with two turnovers, including an interception in the end zone by linebacker Will Herring that quashed a New York scoring chance. The Saints are a perfect 5-0 at home this season.
New Orleans leads the all-time series 10-9-1.