Honestly...Did you ever associated Christmas Day with Football? Neither have I---Ahh well--Merry Christmas from The NFL--huh??? Tis the week before the last official week, and all through the league--everyone is stirring--even the football widows! Well especially The football widows---or at least the gals whose 'Football fan' hubbie has The NFL Network! So let's see what we have on the agenda for this weekend--shall we?
Friday December 25
Time (ET) Visiting Team Home Team TV
7:30 pm San Diego Chargers (11/3) Tennessee Titans (7/7) NFLN
Sunday December 27
Time (ET) Visiting Team Home Team TV
1:00 pm Buffalo Bills (5/9) Atlanta Falcons (7/7) CBS
1:00 pm Kansas City Chiefs (3/11) Cincinnati Bengals (9/5) CBS
1:00 pm Oakland Raiders (5/9) Cleveland Browns (3/11) CBS
1:00 pm Seattle Seahawks (5/9) Green Bay Packers (9/5) FOX
1:00 pm Houston Texans (7/7) Miami Dolphins (7/7) CBS Tickets
1:00 pm Jacksonville Jaguars (7/7) New England Patriots (9/5) CBS
1:00 pm Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2/12) New Orleans Saints (13/1) FOX
1:00 pm Carolina Panthers (6/8) New York Giants (8/6) FOX
1:00 pm Baltimore Ravens (8/6) Pittsburgh Steelers (7/7) CBS
4:05 pm St. Louis Rams (1/13) Arizona Cardinals (9/5) FOX
4:05 pm Detroit Lions (2/12) San Francisco 49ers (6/8) FOX
4:15 pm New York Jets (7/7) Indianapolis Colts (14/0) CBS
4:15 pm Denver Broncos (8/6) Philadelphia Eagles (10/4) CBS
8:20 pm Dallas Cowboys (9/5) Washington Redskins (4/10) NBC
Monday December 28
Time (ET) Visiting Team Home Team TV
8:30 pm Minnesota Vikings (11/3) Chicago Bears (5/9) ESPN
It was not very difficult to choose this week's most influential game. There is no doubt in my mind that that title belongs to the San Diego Chargers (11/3) Tennessee Titans (7/7) game. Forget the fact that The Chargers have claimed thier division after 9 consecutive wins. The Titans will not be concern with that--Thier only concern will be that they are 1 of 8 teams ( Ravens, Broncos, Jaguars, Dolphins, Jets, Steelers, Texans, and yes--The Titans), who are still in The AFC Wildcards race--The Ravens and The Broncos are holding 1st place for that race--with the other 6 teams all currently placed at being 1 game behind them in that race. However, what makes The Titans different then any of the other teams in the race--is the Titans were not even thought of to be in this race at all. As you know--they got off to a terrible start losing thier first 6 games--then coming back to win thier next 6 before losing again to the Colts. Now out of the 6 teams that are 1 game behind, The Titans have the best record (5/1, compared to a team like Steelers who are 1/5 over thier last 6!) of thier last 6 games, and certainly prove themselves to be a hungry team. Can they stop the Chargers' charging--and there fore turn a distatorous season into a playoff contending team?
The game with the most "We are going to put our foot down on this one" influences will go to the Baltimore Ravens (8/6) Pittsburgh Steelers (7/7) game. As mentioned--The Ravens currently hold a tie for 1st place in the wildcard race with The Broncos, and The Steelers are one of 6 teams who is currently 1 game behind that! Now with the Steelers having some rather shall we say 'unfavorable' playings of late (Having been beaten by The Rams, Raiders, and Browns), and the Raven doing good enough to be in both thier divisional race (1 game behind The Bengals) as well as the Wildcard race, I am sure they have enough motivation within them to not lose this game, and there fore will take whatever place they will with the Playoffs--after they melt The Steelers down. (Sorry Larrry--dealing with reality here!)
The game with the most 'Almost even all the way around' influences goes to the Houston Texans (7/7) Miami Dolphins (7/7). Asides from the fact that both teams have a .500 record, both teams are also posting a 2nd place, 1 game behind position in thier wildcard race. The only difference is The Texans are in the same division as The Colts, and are currently 7 games behind the Colts--and therefore--totally and completely out of the divisional race. HoweverThe Miami Dolphins--are still in thier divisional race--being tied with The Jets with 2 games behind The Patriots. Should the Dolphins win the game-(And The Patriots lose to The Jaguars of course), -it is highly possible that the Dolphins will stand alone in 2nd place by the end of the day, since The Jets will be playing The Colts.
Which brings us to the game with the most "Why did we have to end up like this?" influence which will belong to the New York Jets (7/7) Indianapolis Colts (14/0) game. Now I am a fan of The New York Jets--But--Playing against the Colts? Uhmmm..sorry--no way!! sorry Jets--but I think your season is over!
Ok--so it is about 45 minutes from the start of the Chargers/Titan games--so I will wrap it up here---As always, if u feel I miss an important game--or if u want to just give a shout out for your team--I certainly would appreciate it!