WEEK 12 NFL CAPSULES

Bob Christ offers his take on this week's slate of NFL games.

SUNDAY’S GAMES

Cleveland (1-9) at Cincinnati (7-3)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Bengals -14 Total: 38
TV: None
Weather: Mid-50s, 30 percent chance of rain
Facts: Browns QB Brady Quinn’s three first-half TD passes last week in a 10-play span against Detroit matched his three-year total to that point. ... Double-digit underdogs, who were 2-9 against the line in the first five weeks, have gone 12-10 since, including two Thanksgiving losses. ... Until last week’s 439-yard outburst, Cleveland’s offense hadn’t reached 200 in any of its previous five games. In Week 4, though, it had 395 in an OT loss to the Bengals. ... Cincinnati RB Cedric Benson (questionable, hip) remains iffy.
Analysis: The Bengals, still feeling good about themselves, got a mulligan last week when they lost at Oakland but didn’t lose ground because the Steelers and Ravens also lost. Despite what the injury report says, coach Marvin Lewis insists Benson, who sat out last week, is close to being back.
Forecast: Bengals 31, Browns 6
 

Washington (3-7) at Philadelphia (6-4)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Eagles -9 Total: 41
TV: Fox (5)
Weather: Mid-50s, 20 percent chance of rain
Facts: Philadelphia had a season-low 11 first downs in its 27-17 victory against Washington’s second-ranked defense in Week 7. The Eagles benefited from a score off an interception and matched a team season high by starting four drives over the 50-yard line. ... Washington has held one team below 100 yards rushing, that being Carolina’s third-rated ground offense. ... Eagles officials might want to hustle up and child-proof the luxury suite they’ll be giving Redskins owner Daniel Snyder on Sunday.
Analysis: Eagles DBs were beaten deep with regularity last week against Chicago, but fortunately Jay Cutler was the opposing QB. If Philadelphia doesn’t make adjustments, the league’s eighth-most accurate passer, Jason Campbell, could be teaming with Santana Moss to make this game close.
Forecast: Eagles 23, Redskins 21

Miami (5-5) at Buffalo (3-7)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Dolphins -3 Total: 39
TV: None
Weather: Mid-40s, 30 percent chance of rain
Facts: The chill shouldn’t bother the Dolphins, who were 38-31 winners at Kansas City last year when it was 10 degrees at kickoff, the third-coldest reading in the league in 2008. ... Miami’s Ricky Williams, now the feature back, is coming off back-to-back games of 20-plus carries for the first time in four seasons. ... Buffalo WR Terrell Owens made a giant contribution in Perry Fewell’s first game as interim boss, making nine catches for 197 yards last week.
Analysis: The Dolphins have been auditioning centers since Jake Grove (questionable, ankle) got hurt last week at Carolina, as did his backup. That could put a damper on the Wildcat, especially snapping with a slick ball.
Forecast: Bills 20, Dolphins 16
 

Seattle (3-7) at St. Louis (1-9)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Seahawks -3 Total: 42
TV: None
Facts: The Seahawks, who have won nine in a row against the Rams, shut them out 28-0 on Opening Day when St. Louis had its starting QB. Now Marc Bulger is out with a broken leg and replaced by Kyle Boller, who was shut out in one of his two starts this year. ... Seattle had 4 yards rushing on 13 carries last week in a 35-9 loss to Minnesota, the worst output by anyone since Dallas had 1 yard against Washington in a Week 17 game two years ago. ... Workhorse Rams RB Steven Jackson has been having back spasms (questionable). He is second in the league in yards from scrimmage, trailing Titans RB Chris Johnson.
Analysis: Not only is Boller a turnover waiting to happen, but the Rams’ defense is getting wearier by the day. The unit has yielded a league-high 14 TD drives of 80-plus yards, including three in a row last week against Arizona.
Forecast: Seahawks 26, Rams 13
 

Indianapolis (10-0) at Houston (5-5)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Colts -3 Total: 48
TV: CBS (8) RADIO: KWWN-AM (1100)
Weather: High 70s, 30 percent chance of rain
Facts: Dating to 1934, 18 previous teams have opened 10-0. Six of them lost their next game, including Tennessee last year against the Jets. ... One of the most dazzling comebacks in 2008 occurred in Houston when Indianapolis rallied from a 27-10 deficit with three TDs in the final 4:04. The barrage was fueled by three turnovers by then-Texans backup QB Sage Rosenfels. ... Houston is 0-3-1 against the line at home this season.
Analysis: Except for the fact Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning won’t allow his team to lose, the sense of urgency can’t be high considering the Colts have a three-game edge for best record in the conference. But as long as Houston kicker Kris Browns continues to gag in the clutch, the Colts should prevail.
Forecast: Colts 24, Texans 16

Tampa Bay (1-9) at Atlanta (5-5)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Falcons -12 Total: 46
TV: None
Facts: Buccaneers rookie QB Josh Freeman, making his fourth straight start, had six fumbles in his first three starts, more than anyone else in this span. ... Atlanta had been averaging 5.3 yards per rush its previous four games behind RB Michael Turner (questionable, knee), before getting only 3.0 on 30 carries last while he sat out a 34-31 loss against the Giants. ... The Falcons finally completed their gruesome run of four teams in seven weeks coming off byes. They went 3-1 against the line against them.
Analysis: Considering only Kansas City has given up more 400-yard games of total offense than Atlanta, that’s a lot of points to spot a Tampa Bay offense that exhibited potential with a 12-play, 95 yard drive against the Saints last week.
Forecast: Falcons 31, Buccaneers 24
 

Carolina (4-6) at N.Y. Jets (4-6)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Jets -3 Total: 41
TV: None
Weather: Mid-50s, 20 percent chance of rain
Facts: New York had only 34 yards by halftime in last week’s 31-14 loss in New England, the fewest for any team this year. ... New York’s Mark Sanchez, who led the Jets to a 3-0 start, is now the worst QB on the passer chart who hasn’t lost his job. Carolina’s Jake Delhomme is just above him. ... After being outrushed by all three foes during their 0-3 start, the Panthers have outrun their opponents in the past seven. ... Funny: Jets coach Rex Ryan says Sanchez has been playing well enough to have won seven games.
Analysis: The Jets have the NFL’s No. 2 rushing attack and the Panthers are third best. But it seems only Carolina has had the sense not to let its scattershot QB throw games away anymore.
Forecast: Panthers 30, Jets 21
 

Jacksonville (6-4) at San Francisco (4-6)
Time: 1:05 p.m. Line: 49ers -3 Total: 41
TV: None
Weather: Mid-60s
Facts: Jacksonville is making its second West Coast trip of the year and its first ever to San Francisco. On the earlier trip to Seattle, the Jags were 1-point underdogs and suffered the second-most lopsided loss in their 15-year history, 41-0. ... The 49ers were outgained 362-57 in the first half of their 30-24 loss in Green Bay last week before rallying for a backdoor cover. That 305-yard gap was the second-biggest for a first half all season.
Analysis: The Jaguars have gone 4-1 since that rout in Seattle and are playing with energy while in the playoff race. The 49ers, meanwhile, have lost five of six – barely winning 10-6 over Chicago despite a plus-4 turnover edge.
Forecast: Jaguars 27, 49ers 21

Kansas City (3-7) at San Diego (7-3)
Time: 1:05 p.m. Line: Chargers -13 Total: 45
RADIO: KWWN-AM (1100)
Weather: Mid-60s
Facts: The Chiefs won at home against Pittsburgh as an 11-point underdog last week. The last time K.C. pulled such an upset was in 2007 at San Diego, beating the 12-point favorite Chargers. ... Teams are 2-7 against the line this season in their next game after facing the Steelers. ... San Diego gained 203 rushing yards last week, the 22nd time a team reached that plateau this year. Not bad for a Chargers team that also has had games of 34 and 16 ground yards.
Analysis: Kansas City got two big returns (kickoff for touchdown, interception) last week in their inexplicable victory against Pittsburgh. That’s not going to happen again. ... San Diego QB Philip Rivers should play-fake his way to a big day against the league’s third-worst defense.
Forecast: Chargers 38, Chiefs 14
 

Chicago (4-6) at Minnesota (9-1)
Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Vikings -11 Total: 47
TV: Fox (5)
Facts: Since Chicago’s three-game winning streak in Weeks 2-4, when Jay Cutler threw for seven TDs with one interception, he has thrown for seven scores with 13 pickoffs while plummeted from 11th to 24th on the passer chart. ... What if? Should Minnesota QB Brett Favre suddenly be forced to the sideline, Tarvaris Jackson is at the ready. He had eight TD throws and only one interception in the final four games last season as the Vikings won the NFC North. ... Chicago CB Charles Tillman forced three fumbles last week against the Eagles, the most by anyone in a game the past two years.
Analysis: Minnesota’s run-stuffing defense was at its best last week, holding Seattle to 4 yards. If Cutler is going to be expected to generate 80 percent of the offense, there are bound to be some missteps. On the other side, Favre has thrown three interceptions all year.
Forecast: Vikings 30, Bears 13

Arizona (7-3) at Tennessee (4-6)
Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Titans -3 Total: 46
TV: None
Weather: Mid-60s, 20 percent chance of rain
Facts: The Titans are trying to become the first team to finish with a winning record after an 0-6 start. The only 0-5 team to make such a comeback was the 1962 Buffalo Bills (7-6-1). ... After Arizona QB Kurt Warner (probable, head) left late in the first half last week at St. Louis, the Cards went scoreless with backup Matt Leinart at the controls. ... NFL rushing leader Chris Johnson has averaged 161.5 yards during the Titans’ four-game winning streak. That figure has been topped in a game by another back only eight times this year.
Analysis: Johnson should find smooth going again against a Cardinals defense that gave up 270 rushing yards to Carolina four weeks ago. Plus, why would the Cardinals subject their graybeard QB to any abuse while holding a three-game division lead?
Forecast: Titans 31, Cardinals 17

Pittsburgh (6-4) at Baltimore (5-5)
Time: 5:15 p.m. Line: Off Total: Off
TV: NBC (3) RADIO: KWWN-AM (1100)
Weather: Low 60s
Facts: Pittsburgh had 515 yards of total offense last week at K.C. in its 27-24 OT loss, the most by a losing team this season. It also was only the second time in two years a double-digit favorite held a double-digit lead (17-7) and lost. ... Baltimore has allowed an average of 10 points in its past four games, snapping back after yielding 24-plus in four of its first six. ... Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger (probable, head) insists he’ll play. If he can’t, uh-oh. With backup Charlie Batch out (wrist), next up is Dennis Dixon, who has thrown one pro pass.
Analysis: If the Steelers quit giving up kickoff returns for TDs (an NFL record-tying four so far) maybe they’ll win a few more games, especially against a Ravens team that has had two offensive TDs in its past three games.
Forecast: Steelers 27, Ravens 19

MONDAY’S GAME
 

New England (7-3) at New Orleans (10-0)
Time: 5:30 p.m. Line: Saints -2 Total: 56
TV: ESPN (30) RADIO: KWWN-AM (1100)
Facts: The Saints have only two victories over a team with a winning record at the moment (Philadelphia, New York Giants). That’s two more than the Patriots have. ... New England has held a league-high three starting QBs below the Mendoza line (39.6) in passer rating this year, but none of them will be playing in this year’s Pro Bowl. ... Over the previous four weeks, a running back gained 130-plus yards 12 times. Three of them were against New Orleans. ... One of the Patriots’ unlikeliest victories came in 1986 when they beat the Saints in the Superdome 21-20 despite having only 2 yards rushing on 18 carries.
Analysis: New Orleans has built its reputation as a ball-hawking secondary by facing QBs who have had little or no experience, or who are just plain rotten. The only QB the Saints faced inside the top 20 was No. 12 Eli Manning, fresh off his foot injury. Now they’ll face three-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, who’s No. 5.
Forecast: Patriots 38, Saints 27
 
Last week: 10-6 vs. spread; 11-5 straight up
Season total: 75-82-3 vs. spread; 93-67 straight up