Steelers running back Jonathan Dwyer will look to help carry his team to victory over the Ravens on Sunday. (Justin K. Aller) |
The Giants bounced back from back-to-back loss to destroy the Green Bay Packers 38-10. Eli Manning threw three touchdown passes, and the team had no turnovers. Those two things are crucial factors to the success of the Giants. The Redskins come in with momentum as well following their big Thanksgiving Day win over the Dallas Cowboys. Rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III has thrown four touchdown passes in each of his last two games. His success through the air is crucial to the Redskins success.
Prediction: Redskins 27 Giants 24
4. Minnesota Vikings (6-5) @ Green Bay Packers (7-4) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX
Both teams come into this game on a negative note having been blown out in their game last week. Both offenses struggled to get anything going. The Vikings need the win here to remain in the playoff hunt. The Packers need the win to establish themselves once again as one of the NFC's top teams.
Prediction: Packers 24 Vikings 16
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) @ Denver Broncos (8-3) - 4:05 PM EST, FOX
Last week, the Buccaneers saw their four-game winning streak come in to an end in a hard fought 24-23 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Their opponent doesn't get much easier this week. The Broncos are one of the hottest teams in football as winners of six straight. Quarterback Peyton Manning is having another excellent season in his first year with his new team. Meanwhile, the Buccanners will need a much better showing out of running back Doug Martin if they hope to control the clock and pull off the upset.
Prediction: Broncos 31 Buccaneers 20
2. Seattle Seahawks (6-5) @ Chicago Bears (8-3) - 1:00 PM EST, FOX
The Seahawks have struggled to find ways to win on the road. They are going to have to come up with a way to just that if they hope to remain in the thick of the NFC playoff hunt. The Bears rebounded from two straight losses to crush the Vikings 28-10. They will look to get quarterback Jay Cutler and the rest of the offense healthy and back to top form on Sunday.
Prediction: Bears 20 Seahawks 17
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) @ Baltimore Ravens (9-2) - 4:25 PM EST, CBS
The Steelers have dropped two straight games with star quarterback Ben Roethisberger. They will still be without him when they face the Ravens again for the second time in three weeks. With question marks at quarterback, the Steelers will rely more on their stable of running backs, who are lead by newly named starter Jonathan Dwyer. The Ravens are winners of four in a row and have opened up a three-game lead in the AFC North. With the defense getting healthier, this team is trending up.
Prediction: Steelers 17 Ravens 13