The Boston Herald had the perfect headline for this game - Lateral Damage. The Upset Of The Year left everyone shocked as a pass play turned into a hook and double-lateral play that worked. The win keeps the Dolphins eighth in the AFC playoff race.
Oakland's fourth win in the last six meetings with the Steelers doesn't qualify as an upset because the Steelers had been exposed as frauds entering this game and now the Steelers are sliding - perhaps sliding out of the playoffs a la 1998.
Tennessee stayed in the playoff run with a 30-9 rout of the Jaguars. Derrick Henry erupted with 238 rushing yards and four scores, for a season-average of an eye-popping 4.9 yards per carry. Marcus Mariota thus wasn't asked to do a lot but did complete 75% of his passes, yet low yardage, a pick, and a sack left his passer rating at a disappointing 75. The loss for the Jaguars has led to buzz that GM Tom Coughlin will take over as head coach in 2019.
Chiefs over Chargers - Until we see it, we can't pick the Chargers over the Chiefs with a nine-game winning streak for Kansas City in this rivalry. The Chargers nonetheless are playing playoff-caliber ball and look a playoff lock. One, though, should keep an eye on Patrick Mahomes as for all his brilliance has shown disconcerting signs of sloppiness.
Texans over NY Jets - The surprising loss to the Colts last week should not be repeated against the punchless Jets as Bill O'Brien is this close to a seasonal record for wins in his coaching career, while Deshaun Watson's comeback season should have MVP buzz circulating.
Broncos over Browns - The poor performance at the punchless 49ers last week was disconcerting and the Broncos get an improving Browns team. Baker Mayfield's rookie season has generated more attention than anything the Browns have seen in decades but we still think the Broncos - 23-5 lifetime vs. the Browns and on a win streak dating to 1990 - will pull off the win.
Falcons over Cardinals - One of the "Toilet Bowl" games common to the final month of a season, this showdown between two teams a combined 7-19 doesn't promise much between a dismal rookie season for Josh Rosen and a regression in Matt Ryan.
Ravens over Buccaneers - The Ravens stumbled against the Chiefs as Lamar Jackson managed two touchdowns but only completed 13 of 24 passes, was sacked three times, and coughed up the game-deciding fumble at the end. The Ravens get the struggling Bucs coming off blowing it against the Saints.
Titans over NY Giants - The Giants aren't the pushovers they were earlier this season with four wins in their last five games and 147 points scored in that five-game span. Yet the Giants have won just twice at home as they host a Titans team playing for a playoff berth and which already has manhandled two of New York's division rivals.
Dolphins over Vikings - A public controversy erupted between Vikings coach Mike Zimmer and OC John DeFilippo with public criticism of the offense's play-calling - and the result was DeFilippo got canned after the loss at Seattle. This illustrates a playoff pitch falling away as the Vikings host the surging Dolphins.
Redskins over Jaguars - Both teams are a mess; pick the one that's still 6-7 in this one.
Cowboys over Colts - 7-6 vs. 8-5. Suddenly this matchup has the makings of a very competitive game with the Cowboys now facing the division title in their grasp and the Colts fighting for very realistic playoff life. This is only Andrew Luck's second career start against the Cowboys.
Raiders over Bengals - Collapse for the Bengals has been absolute and Jeff Driskel's unplanned rookie season has been winless in two starts. The Raiders come in off a liberating win over the hated Steelers.
Bears over Packers - The fitting image from the Bears' sloppy but effective defeat of the Rams is the fan wearing a Bears jersey # 46 - not for a player, but for the most famous copy of a defense ever seen - the Bears' 46 Defense was just their copy of Jerry Glanville's Gritz Blitz from the Falcons yet it caught everyone's attention in their magical 1985 title season. The Bears are surging and get a mediocre Packers team they want to smack around after blowing it in Week One.
Lions over Bills - Here is what you need to know - Brian Daboll is a failure as an OC and Josh Allen has been worthless in his rookie season. Pick the struggling Lions.
Seahawks over 49ers - The Seahawks looked in trouble earlier this season, that's not the case now, especially with a five-season winning streak over the punchless Niners.
Patriots over Steelers - New England's shocker of a loss at Miami will doubly motivate them to crush a collapsing Steelers team that's been in freefall the last four games and which has proven it cannot beat the Patriots for anything.
Rams over Eagles - Both teams are coming off losses, yet the Rams remain the easy favorite for the NFC's top seeds and the Eagles' playoff chances are all but gone even if they win out. The caveat here is the Eagles have won their last five meetings with the Rams.
Saints over Panthers - The Saints rebounded from the loss in Dallas by beating the other team that had beaten them this season, and now they get a faltering Panthers team that has lost five straight and four of its last five meetings with the Saints.
Take the season laterally as it winds down.
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