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CONFIRMED SUNDAY NFL FOOTBALL CARD!
THE VERY LAST DAY TO SIGN UP FOR THE BOWL GAMES WILL BE SUNDAY. THE COST IS $20 FOR ALL THE GAMES AND THE BOWL TIPSHEETS. THOSE OF YOU WITH HOTMAIL ADDRESSES NEED TO GET ANOTHER ADDRESS (A FREE YAHOO ONE FOR EXAMPLE) FOR THE TIPSHHETS AS THEY ARE TO LARGE FOR HOTMAIL ACCOUNTS. I WILL SEND THE SHEETS EVERY FEW HOURS SO YOU HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT THEM AND EITHER PRINT THEM OUT OR SAVE THEM TO YOUR COMPUTER. POINTWISE WILL BE AVAILABLE MONDAY AFTERNOON. EARLY TUESDAY MORNING I AM SENDING WINNING POINTS. POWERSWEEP WILL BE SENT AT 1:45 ON TUESDAY, FOLLOWED BY PLAYBOOK, GOLDSHEET, AND CKO AND ANY OTHERS THAT I GET. MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS [email protected]
LOOKS LIKE THIS MIGHT BE A WEEKEND FOR THE DOGS TO COME OUT. LOTS OF SOLID PLAYS THIS WEEK SO LETS UP THE BANKROLL GOING INTO THE BOWLS. GOOD LUCK TO ALL PLAYERS AND CAPPERS.
NFL FOOTBALL
(4) CLEVELAND +2
(4) MINNESOTA +7
(3) CHICAGO +7 (BUYING 1/2 POINT)
(3) WASHINGTON +8
(2) SEATTLE +10 (BUYING 1/2 POINT)
(2) SAN DIEGO +3
NFL TOTALS
(1) CHICAGO/JETS UNDER 36.5
(1) CLEVELAND/INDY UNDER 41
(1) SAN DIEGO/BUFFALO UNDER 41.5
DETAILED ANALYSIS
INDIANAPOLIS (8 - 5) at CLEVELAND (7 - 6)
Week 15 Sunday, 12/15/2002 1:00 PM
311 INDIANAPOLIS -2
312 CLEVELAND 40.5
Edgerrin James will have a reunion with collegiate coach Butch Davis on Sunday. But there is a lot more at stake when James and the Indianapolis Colts meet Davis and the Cleveland Browns in a key AFC matchup. Marvin Harrison has 118 catches and needs six more to break the NFL's single-season record. After suffering a loss at Tennessee last Sunday, the Colts fell into a first-place tie with the Titans in the AFC South. However, Indianapolis has lost both of its meetings against Tennessee. James, the star running back of the Colts, played three years under Davis as a collegian at the University of Miami, ranking second on the school's all-time rushing list. He declared for the NFL draft following his junior season and was taken by the Colts with the fourth pick in the 1999 draft. Davis coached at Miami for five years, leaving one year after James and became Browns coach in 2000. James is one of 16 players that Davis coached at Miami that were first-round picks. No stranger to close games since coming to Cleveland, Davis was part of another dramatic contest against the Jaguars when Tim Couch threw a 50-yard "Hail Mary" touchdown pass to Quincy Morgan on the final play for a 21-20 victory. Davis has coached 29 games with the Browns, with 16 being decided in the final minute. The Colts could have used some heroics against the Titans, but suffered a 27-17 loss. Peyton Manning was intercepted three times in the defeat, and was diagnosed after the game with swelling in the knee. He will start this contest. The only player in NFL history with four straight 100-catch seasons, Harrison is closing in on Herman Moore's single-season record of 123 receptions in 1995. Harrison has 118 catches for 1,394 yards.
Important game with playoff implications here. Tony Dungy has the Colts playing well, especially the defense. But he brings a long history of performing badly in big games into this season, and last week his Colts went belly-up in a showdown with Tennessee, losing 27-17. Both teams are 8-5 atop the division, but Tennessee has beaten Indy twice. Peyton Manning wasnt at his best, either, with 3 interceptions. Manning had some swelling in his right knee after the game. Indy has a poor running game, but Manning and Marvin Harrison carry the offense with 253 yards passing per game. The Browns have had one of the more bizarre seasons in sports history. They lost opening day because a player took off his helmet on the final play, they came from way back to beat the Jets, lost 23-20 to Pittsburgh in a wild OT game, and won 21-20 last week on a 50-yard prayer on the final play. Cleveland is alive for a playoff spot, but theyve been doing it with mirrors. The Browns have no running game, and the defense has not been strong. The Browns are still very much alive in the wild card race. They are only a game worse than the Colts in the standings so this contest could have tiebreaker implications at the end of the season. Cleveland still has hopes of winning the AFC North, trailing first-place Pittsburgh by one-half game. The Browns play at Baltimore next week before closing the season at home vs. Atlanta. It seems like some mystic being is propelling the Browns toward the playoffs. I really don't think the Colts have any idea what's in store for them Sunday.
Projected Score: IND Colts 17, CLE Browns 21
PLAY 4* UNITS ON CLEVELAND CLEVELAND + 2
PLAY 1 UNIT ON THE UNDER 41
MINNESOTA (3 - 10) at NEW ORLEANS (9 - 4)
Week 15 Sunday, 12/15/2002 1:00 PM
317 MINNESOTA 49.5
318 NEW ORLEANS -7
The Vikings fell to 3-10 on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field on Sunday night as the Packers scored late in a 26-22 Minnesota loss. An interception on the final Daunte Culpepper pass to the Green Bay 18 as time expired essentially ended the game but instead of going down, Darren Sharper zigzagged across the field, starting fights everywhere he went and finally went down on the Vikings' 16. Michael Bennett ran 19 times for 120 yards for the Vikings, who jumped out to a 13-0 lead. Culpepper completed 15 of 28 passes for 136 yards an interception and score plus three sacks. He also ran four times for 26 yards and a touchdown. Deuce McAllister ran for 127 yards and three touchdowns, and the Saints capitalized Baltimore miscues in a 37-25 victory Sunday. Aaron Brooks finished 9-for-23 for 123 yards a touchdown, while replacement Jake Delhomme went 7-for-8 for 103 yards. Brooks left in the third quarter with New Orleans up 20-7. He bruised his right shoulder one week earlier against Tampa Bay. The Vikings head to the sultry South on Sunday but the outcome will be similar to last weeks visit to Packerland. The Saints are motivated to keep up in the playoff hunt and their defense will be the difference once again. I see another backdoor coming in this one!
Projected Score: NO Saints 24, MIN Vikings 21
PLAY 4* UNITS ON MINNESOTA +7
NY JETS (7 - 6) at CHICAGO (3 - 10)
Week 15 Sunday, 12/15/2002 1:00 PM
307 NY JETS -6.5
308 CHICAGO 36.5
Curtis Martin may be salivating after watching Ricky Williams run around and through the Chicago Bears on Monday night. Martin and the New York Jets have won five of their last six games heading into Sunday's inter-conference contest against the Bears, who have lost 10 of their last 11 games.Laverneus Coles has had 114 receiving yards or more in three of his past four games. Trying to become only the second player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first eight seasons, Martin is 222 yards away from achieving the feat with three games remaining. He can receive a major boost from the Bears, who yielded 216 yards on the ground to Williams on Monday in a 27-9 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Last week, Martin became the 16th player in NFL history to eclipse the 10,000-yard rushing mark, but was held to 57 yards on 18 carries in a 19-13 win over Denver. He has recorded just three 100-yard games this season, but two have come in the last four weeks. The Jets are in the thick of the playoff race, one game behind Miami and the New England Patriots in the AFC East. If the Jets win their remaining three games and finish tied with Miami and New England at 10-6, then they will win the division on tiebreakers. The Jets have a better division record than Miami and a better record against common opponents than New England. "If I'm voting for MVP of the Jets, it's Laveranues Coles," said Jets coach Herman Edwards. "He's just consistent. Every week, he keeps making plays. People double him, but he still finds a way to catch it and make plays." A case for MVP could also be made for quarterback Chad Pennington, who is 6-3 as a starter since replacing veteran Vinny Testaverde. Pennington was mistake-free last week, completing 19 of 30 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown.
Chicago's quarterback situation is anything but stable this season. Sore-armed Jim Miller started the Monday night loss at Miami before leaving with an injury, veteran Chris Chandler struggled for most of the second half and third-string Henry Burris was used in spot relief. The Bears have never won as few as three games in a season since the league instituted a 16-game schedule in 1978. They finished 4-12 in 1997 and 1998 under former coach Dave Wannstedt.
The Jets kept alive their playoff hopes on Sunday with a 19-13 win over the Denver Broncos. New York's bend-but-don't-break defense, led by Marvin Jones' 17 tackles, helped keep the Jets one game out of the AFC East lead. Jon McGraw's diving interception at his 2-yardline with 83 seconds left in the game. Down 13-6, the Jets scored 13 unanswered points - two field goals by John Hall and a brilliant catch-and-roll touchdown by Laverneus Coles. Chad Pennington was 19-for-30 and 244 yards. The Bears reached a new level of futility losing to the Dolphins 27-9 in rainy Miami on Monday (Yes, DJ hit the side and total) "It was a long night,' said coach Dick Jauron, who played three quarterbacks. "Not a whole lot good. The Dolphins were not playing at the top of their game, but they were close, and we were not effective at all.' the game ranked with the worst in a dismal season. Jauron started sore-armed Jim Miller at quarterback, tried Henry Burris in spot relief and turned to Chris Chandler in the second half, but none could get Chicago into the end zone until the final minute. And injuries continued to mount. Miller departed on a cart midway through the third period with a sprained left knee, and guard Chris Villarrial sat out the second half with back spasms. Bears heading to their home away from home in Champagne. Feeling here is that we smell a rat. Why are the Jets only a TD fav over the dismal Bears? After beating the Broncos in comeback fashion last week, the Jets travel to lowly Chicago. After the game, the Jets go to New England and finish with a home game against Green Bay. They could be caught looking ahead and I think they will be looking ahead and get on the bus before the gun goes off. Jets get a hard fought win (possible upset? hmmm) but the Bears get the money.
Projected Score: NY Jets 21, CHI Bears 17
PLAY 3* UNITS ON CHICAGO +7 (BUYING 1/2 POINT)
PLAY 1* UNIT ON THE UNDER 36.5
WASHINGTON (5 - 8) at PHILADELPHIA (10 - 3)
Week 15 Sunday, 12/15/2002 1:00 PM
319 WASHINGTON 37.5
320 PHILADELPHIA -7.5
The Redskins turned the ball over 5 times on Sunday giving the Giants a 27-21 win in Washington. Trailing 17-0, the Redskins rallied behind Patrick Ramsey, after Danny Wuerffel sprained his right shoulder in the third quarter. He led two scoring drives immediately after entering the game. Ramsey was 12-for-27 for 204 yards, and Derrius Thompson caught six passes for a career-high 122 yards. The best Washington can do now is repeat the .500 seasons of the past two years. Duce Staley ran for 100 yards and Feeley, the third-stringer, threw for 190 yards and two touchdowns as the Eagles intercepted Matt Hasselbeck three times to beat the Seattle Seahawks 27-20 Sunday. Teams are headed in opposite directions and the Eagles have been able to get the job done even with Donovan McNabb sidelined. Defense rules on Sunday.
Projected Score: PHI Eagles 21, WAS Redskins 17
PLAY 3* UNITS ON WASHINGTON +8
SEATTLE (4 - 9) at ATLANTA (8 - 4)
Week 15 Sunday, 12/15/2002 1:00 PM
303 SEATTLE 44.5
304 ATLANTA -9.5
Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons look to get some of their swagger back Sunday when they host the Seattle Seahawks at the Georgia Dome. With a chance to move into first place in the NFC South, the Falcons had their eight-game unbeaten streak stopped last Sunday with a 34-10 loss at Tampa Bay. Vick -- the NFL's fastest quarterback -- was shut down by the league's top defense, completing 12 of 25 passes for 125 yards with one touchdown and an interception. He rushed for just 15 yards on five attempts. Vick will not see anything like the Bucs defense in this one as the Seahawks rank 28th in the league in that category. A productive game by Vick could have the Falcons back in the playoffs for the first time since their 1998 Super Bowl season. They need a win and a loss by the New York Giants to secure a postseason berth. Atlanta is in third place in the South, one-half game behind New Orleans and 1 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay. The Seahawks are coming off last Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Matt Hasselbeck passed for two touchdowns, but threw three interceptions and was sacked four times. Hasselbeck suffered a left foot injury against the Eagles, and is questionable for this contest. If Hasselbeck is unable to start, former Falcon Jeff George would get the call. George was suspended by the Falcons during the 1996 season for run-ins with then-coach June Jones. He later rejected a trade to the Seahawks. George has not played for Seattle after signing on October 29.
"Hopefully, he'll (Hasselbeck) be able to play," George said. "That would be the best thing for this team. I've been around the league quite a while. And, fortunately, I've played in a lot of offenses. If my number's called, that's what I was brought here to do." The top overall pick in the 1990 draft, George has completed just under 58 percent of his passes for 27,602 yards with 154 touchdowns and 113 interceptions during his career. He has thrown for at least 2,500 yards in a season six times and for 20 or more touchdowns on four occasions. Shaun Alexander has gained more than 100 yards from scrimmage in each of his past three games.
What may surprise you is that Seattle out gained Philadelphia 367-316, but was hurt by the TO's. RB Alexander has been running wild the last month. Hasselbeck threw for two TDs in the last 17 minutes, and for the second straight week the Seahawks made things interesting. The Falcons were downed by nemesis Tampa Bay 34-10 on Sunday. Tampa Bay ended Atlanta's eight-game unbeaten streak and held on to first place in the NFC South. A struggling Michael Vick completed just 12 of 25 passes for 125 yards and struggled all day. Tampa Bay held the Falcons to a field goal until Michael Vick threw a 5-yard TD pass to Alge Crumpler early in the fourth quarter. The Falcons had one sack after having 14 in their previous two games. The Falcons didnt fare well against the Bucs but they step down in class on Sunday and get the win but the Seahawks get the money.
Projected Score: ATL Falcons 27, SEA Seahawks 20
PLAY 2* UNITS ON SEATTLE +10 (BUYING 1/2 POINT)
SAN DIEGO (8 - 5) at BUFFALO (6 - 7)
Week 15 Sunday, 12/15/2002 1:00 PM
305 SAN DIEGO 41.5
306 BUFFALO -3
The San Diego Chargers should be well equipped for anything Mother Nature has to offer Sunday when they meet the Buffalo Bills. Playing in Western New York late in the season is anything but easy with the chances of bad weather always being a factor. Two weeks ago, the Bills played the Miami Dolphins here in a driving snowstorm. It will be Drew Brees, not Doug Flutie, who will lead the Chargers into Buffalo. But even though they play on the west coast, the Chargers appear to have the right offense if weather should be a factor. San Diego relies on second-year running back LaDainian Tomlinson and a conservative passing attack. Tomlinson is third in the NFL in rushing with 1,375 yards to go along with 13 touchdowns. He has been a workhorse all season, getting at least 20 carries in nine of 13 games. Tomlinson could be busy again in this contest with the Bills ranking last in the AFC against the run, allowing 138.7 yards per contest. Last Sunday, Tomlinson rushed for just 57 yards as the Chargers were knocked out of first place in the AFC West with a 27-7 loss to Oakland. Drew Brees struggled in the loss, throwing three interceptions. The Chargers are in second place, one game behind Oakland and a game in front of both Denver and Kansas City. San Diego plays at Kansas City before closing the season at home vs. Seattle. While they have playoffs on their mind, the Chargers will not have to deal with the hype of backup quarterback Doug Flutie making his return to Buffalo. Flutie was one of the Bills' most popular players from 1998-2000 before losing out in a quarterback controversy with Rob Johnson. He was the Chargers' starter last season, rallying his club to a 27-24 victory over the Bills in San Diego, before coach Marty Schottenheimer handed the job to Brees.
After surprising for much of the season, the Bills have faint playoff hopes. They are a game under .500 and in last place in the AFC East and probably will not make the playoffs even if they win their last three games. Last Sunday, Drew Bledsoe was intercepted four times in a 27-17 loss at New England. Bledsoe still has had a huge season, passing for 3,842 yards and 23 touchdowns. Bledsoe could be in for a big day against the Chargers, who rank 15th in the conference against the pass. His receivers have favorable matchups with Eric Moulds and Peerless Price lining up against Alex Molden and rookie Quentin Jammer.
Both teams come in off deflating losses. The Bills went to New England in a key AFC East clash, and went belly-up in a 27-14 loss. San Diego had an AFC West showdown at home against the Raiders, and were outplayed in a 27-7 defeat. The key is San Diegos strong running game against Buffalos brilliant passing attack. Which offense is at a disadvantage? San Diegos defense has been awful against the pass, allowing 264 yards in the air per game (22.5 points per game allowed). The Charger defense has allowed 26, 34, 21, 44, 28, 17, 30, 27 and 27 points the last 9 games. Buffalo allows 28 ppg and is poor against the run (138 yards rushing pg allowed). The weather will be cold, which gives the edge to the running attack. Chargers control the ball, the tempo and the final score.
Projected Score: BUF Bills 17, SDG Chargers 23
PLAY 2* UNITS ON SAN DIEGO + 3
PLAY 1* UNIT ON THE UNDER 42
THE VERY LAST DAY TO SIGN UP FOR THE BOWL GAMES WILL BE SUNDAY. THE COST IS $20 FOR ALL THE GAMES AND THE BOWL TIPSHEETS. THOSE OF YOU WITH HOTMAIL ADDRESSES NEED TO GET ANOTHER ADDRESS (A FREE YAHOO ONE FOR EXAMPLE) FOR THE TIPSHHETS AS THEY ARE TO LARGE FOR HOTMAIL ACCOUNTS. I WILL SEND THE SHEETS EVERY FEW HOURS SO YOU HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT THEM AND EITHER PRINT THEM OUT OR SAVE THEM TO YOUR COMPUTER. POINTWISE WILL BE AVAILABLE MONDAY AFTERNOON. EARLY TUESDAY MORNING I AM SENDING WINNING POINTS. POWERSWEEP WILL BE SENT AT 1:45 ON TUESDAY, FOLLOWED BY PLAYBOOK, GOLDSHEET, AND CKO AND ANY OTHERS THAT I GET. MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS [email protected]
LOOKS LIKE THIS MIGHT BE A WEEKEND FOR THE DOGS TO COME OUT. LOTS OF SOLID PLAYS THIS WEEK SO LETS UP THE BANKROLL GOING INTO THE BOWLS. GOOD LUCK TO ALL PLAYERS AND CAPPERS.
NFL FOOTBALL
(4) CLEVELAND +2
(4) MINNESOTA +7
(3) CHICAGO +7 (BUYING 1/2 POINT)
(3) WASHINGTON +8
(2) SEATTLE +10 (BUYING 1/2 POINT)
(2) SAN DIEGO +3
NFL TOTALS
(1) CHICAGO/JETS UNDER 36.5
(1) CLEVELAND/INDY UNDER 41
(1) SAN DIEGO/BUFFALO UNDER 41.5
DETAILED ANALYSIS
INDIANAPOLIS (8 - 5) at CLEVELAND (7 - 6)
Week 15 Sunday, 12/15/2002 1:00 PM
311 INDIANAPOLIS -2
312 CLEVELAND 40.5
Edgerrin James will have a reunion with collegiate coach Butch Davis on Sunday. But there is a lot more at stake when James and the Indianapolis Colts meet Davis and the Cleveland Browns in a key AFC matchup. Marvin Harrison has 118 catches and needs six more to break the NFL's single-season record. After suffering a loss at Tennessee last Sunday, the Colts fell into a first-place tie with the Titans in the AFC South. However, Indianapolis has lost both of its meetings against Tennessee. James, the star running back of the Colts, played three years under Davis as a collegian at the University of Miami, ranking second on the school's all-time rushing list. He declared for the NFL draft following his junior season and was taken by the Colts with the fourth pick in the 1999 draft. Davis coached at Miami for five years, leaving one year after James and became Browns coach in 2000. James is one of 16 players that Davis coached at Miami that were first-round picks. No stranger to close games since coming to Cleveland, Davis was part of another dramatic contest against the Jaguars when Tim Couch threw a 50-yard "Hail Mary" touchdown pass to Quincy Morgan on the final play for a 21-20 victory. Davis has coached 29 games with the Browns, with 16 being decided in the final minute. The Colts could have used some heroics against the Titans, but suffered a 27-17 loss. Peyton Manning was intercepted three times in the defeat, and was diagnosed after the game with swelling in the knee. He will start this contest. The only player in NFL history with four straight 100-catch seasons, Harrison is closing in on Herman Moore's single-season record of 123 receptions in 1995. Harrison has 118 catches for 1,394 yards.
Important game with playoff implications here. Tony Dungy has the Colts playing well, especially the defense. But he brings a long history of performing badly in big games into this season, and last week his Colts went belly-up in a showdown with Tennessee, losing 27-17. Both teams are 8-5 atop the division, but Tennessee has beaten Indy twice. Peyton Manning wasnt at his best, either, with 3 interceptions. Manning had some swelling in his right knee after the game. Indy has a poor running game, but Manning and Marvin Harrison carry the offense with 253 yards passing per game. The Browns have had one of the more bizarre seasons in sports history. They lost opening day because a player took off his helmet on the final play, they came from way back to beat the Jets, lost 23-20 to Pittsburgh in a wild OT game, and won 21-20 last week on a 50-yard prayer on the final play. Cleveland is alive for a playoff spot, but theyve been doing it with mirrors. The Browns have no running game, and the defense has not been strong. The Browns are still very much alive in the wild card race. They are only a game worse than the Colts in the standings so this contest could have tiebreaker implications at the end of the season. Cleveland still has hopes of winning the AFC North, trailing first-place Pittsburgh by one-half game. The Browns play at Baltimore next week before closing the season at home vs. Atlanta. It seems like some mystic being is propelling the Browns toward the playoffs. I really don't think the Colts have any idea what's in store for them Sunday.
Projected Score: IND Colts 17, CLE Browns 21
PLAY 4* UNITS ON CLEVELAND CLEVELAND + 2
PLAY 1 UNIT ON THE UNDER 41
MINNESOTA (3 - 10) at NEW ORLEANS (9 - 4)
Week 15 Sunday, 12/15/2002 1:00 PM
317 MINNESOTA 49.5
318 NEW ORLEANS -7
The Vikings fell to 3-10 on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field on Sunday night as the Packers scored late in a 26-22 Minnesota loss. An interception on the final Daunte Culpepper pass to the Green Bay 18 as time expired essentially ended the game but instead of going down, Darren Sharper zigzagged across the field, starting fights everywhere he went and finally went down on the Vikings' 16. Michael Bennett ran 19 times for 120 yards for the Vikings, who jumped out to a 13-0 lead. Culpepper completed 15 of 28 passes for 136 yards an interception and score plus three sacks. He also ran four times for 26 yards and a touchdown. Deuce McAllister ran for 127 yards and three touchdowns, and the Saints capitalized Baltimore miscues in a 37-25 victory Sunday. Aaron Brooks finished 9-for-23 for 123 yards a touchdown, while replacement Jake Delhomme went 7-for-8 for 103 yards. Brooks left in the third quarter with New Orleans up 20-7. He bruised his right shoulder one week earlier against Tampa Bay. The Vikings head to the sultry South on Sunday but the outcome will be similar to last weeks visit to Packerland. The Saints are motivated to keep up in the playoff hunt and their defense will be the difference once again. I see another backdoor coming in this one!
Projected Score: NO Saints 24, MIN Vikings 21
PLAY 4* UNITS ON MINNESOTA +7
NY JETS (7 - 6) at CHICAGO (3 - 10)
Week 15 Sunday, 12/15/2002 1:00 PM
307 NY JETS -6.5
308 CHICAGO 36.5
Curtis Martin may be salivating after watching Ricky Williams run around and through the Chicago Bears on Monday night. Martin and the New York Jets have won five of their last six games heading into Sunday's inter-conference contest against the Bears, who have lost 10 of their last 11 games.Laverneus Coles has had 114 receiving yards or more in three of his past four games. Trying to become only the second player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first eight seasons, Martin is 222 yards away from achieving the feat with three games remaining. He can receive a major boost from the Bears, who yielded 216 yards on the ground to Williams on Monday in a 27-9 loss to the Miami Dolphins. Last week, Martin became the 16th player in NFL history to eclipse the 10,000-yard rushing mark, but was held to 57 yards on 18 carries in a 19-13 win over Denver. He has recorded just three 100-yard games this season, but two have come in the last four weeks. The Jets are in the thick of the playoff race, one game behind Miami and the New England Patriots in the AFC East. If the Jets win their remaining three games and finish tied with Miami and New England at 10-6, then they will win the division on tiebreakers. The Jets have a better division record than Miami and a better record against common opponents than New England. "If I'm voting for MVP of the Jets, it's Laveranues Coles," said Jets coach Herman Edwards. "He's just consistent. Every week, he keeps making plays. People double him, but he still finds a way to catch it and make plays." A case for MVP could also be made for quarterback Chad Pennington, who is 6-3 as a starter since replacing veteran Vinny Testaverde. Pennington was mistake-free last week, completing 19 of 30 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown.
Chicago's quarterback situation is anything but stable this season. Sore-armed Jim Miller started the Monday night loss at Miami before leaving with an injury, veteran Chris Chandler struggled for most of the second half and third-string Henry Burris was used in spot relief. The Bears have never won as few as three games in a season since the league instituted a 16-game schedule in 1978. They finished 4-12 in 1997 and 1998 under former coach Dave Wannstedt.
The Jets kept alive their playoff hopes on Sunday with a 19-13 win over the Denver Broncos. New York's bend-but-don't-break defense, led by Marvin Jones' 17 tackles, helped keep the Jets one game out of the AFC East lead. Jon McGraw's diving interception at his 2-yardline with 83 seconds left in the game. Down 13-6, the Jets scored 13 unanswered points - two field goals by John Hall and a brilliant catch-and-roll touchdown by Laverneus Coles. Chad Pennington was 19-for-30 and 244 yards. The Bears reached a new level of futility losing to the Dolphins 27-9 in rainy Miami on Monday (Yes, DJ hit the side and total) "It was a long night,' said coach Dick Jauron, who played three quarterbacks. "Not a whole lot good. The Dolphins were not playing at the top of their game, but they were close, and we were not effective at all.' the game ranked with the worst in a dismal season. Jauron started sore-armed Jim Miller at quarterback, tried Henry Burris in spot relief and turned to Chris Chandler in the second half, but none could get Chicago into the end zone until the final minute. And injuries continued to mount. Miller departed on a cart midway through the third period with a sprained left knee, and guard Chris Villarrial sat out the second half with back spasms. Bears heading to their home away from home in Champagne. Feeling here is that we smell a rat. Why are the Jets only a TD fav over the dismal Bears? After beating the Broncos in comeback fashion last week, the Jets travel to lowly Chicago. After the game, the Jets go to New England and finish with a home game against Green Bay. They could be caught looking ahead and I think they will be looking ahead and get on the bus before the gun goes off. Jets get a hard fought win (possible upset? hmmm) but the Bears get the money.
Projected Score: NY Jets 21, CHI Bears 17
PLAY 3* UNITS ON CHICAGO +7 (BUYING 1/2 POINT)
PLAY 1* UNIT ON THE UNDER 36.5
WASHINGTON (5 - 8) at PHILADELPHIA (10 - 3)
Week 15 Sunday, 12/15/2002 1:00 PM
319 WASHINGTON 37.5
320 PHILADELPHIA -7.5
The Redskins turned the ball over 5 times on Sunday giving the Giants a 27-21 win in Washington. Trailing 17-0, the Redskins rallied behind Patrick Ramsey, after Danny Wuerffel sprained his right shoulder in the third quarter. He led two scoring drives immediately after entering the game. Ramsey was 12-for-27 for 204 yards, and Derrius Thompson caught six passes for a career-high 122 yards. The best Washington can do now is repeat the .500 seasons of the past two years. Duce Staley ran for 100 yards and Feeley, the third-stringer, threw for 190 yards and two touchdowns as the Eagles intercepted Matt Hasselbeck three times to beat the Seattle Seahawks 27-20 Sunday. Teams are headed in opposite directions and the Eagles have been able to get the job done even with Donovan McNabb sidelined. Defense rules on Sunday.
Projected Score: PHI Eagles 21, WAS Redskins 17
PLAY 3* UNITS ON WASHINGTON +8
SEATTLE (4 - 9) at ATLANTA (8 - 4)
Week 15 Sunday, 12/15/2002 1:00 PM
303 SEATTLE 44.5
304 ATLANTA -9.5
Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons look to get some of their swagger back Sunday when they host the Seattle Seahawks at the Georgia Dome. With a chance to move into first place in the NFC South, the Falcons had their eight-game unbeaten streak stopped last Sunday with a 34-10 loss at Tampa Bay. Vick -- the NFL's fastest quarterback -- was shut down by the league's top defense, completing 12 of 25 passes for 125 yards with one touchdown and an interception. He rushed for just 15 yards on five attempts. Vick will not see anything like the Bucs defense in this one as the Seahawks rank 28th in the league in that category. A productive game by Vick could have the Falcons back in the playoffs for the first time since their 1998 Super Bowl season. They need a win and a loss by the New York Giants to secure a postseason berth. Atlanta is in third place in the South, one-half game behind New Orleans and 1 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay. The Seahawks are coming off last Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Matt Hasselbeck passed for two touchdowns, but threw three interceptions and was sacked four times. Hasselbeck suffered a left foot injury against the Eagles, and is questionable for this contest. If Hasselbeck is unable to start, former Falcon Jeff George would get the call. George was suspended by the Falcons during the 1996 season for run-ins with then-coach June Jones. He later rejected a trade to the Seahawks. George has not played for Seattle after signing on October 29.
"Hopefully, he'll (Hasselbeck) be able to play," George said. "That would be the best thing for this team. I've been around the league quite a while. And, fortunately, I've played in a lot of offenses. If my number's called, that's what I was brought here to do." The top overall pick in the 1990 draft, George has completed just under 58 percent of his passes for 27,602 yards with 154 touchdowns and 113 interceptions during his career. He has thrown for at least 2,500 yards in a season six times and for 20 or more touchdowns on four occasions. Shaun Alexander has gained more than 100 yards from scrimmage in each of his past three games.
What may surprise you is that Seattle out gained Philadelphia 367-316, but was hurt by the TO's. RB Alexander has been running wild the last month. Hasselbeck threw for two TDs in the last 17 minutes, and for the second straight week the Seahawks made things interesting. The Falcons were downed by nemesis Tampa Bay 34-10 on Sunday. Tampa Bay ended Atlanta's eight-game unbeaten streak and held on to first place in the NFC South. A struggling Michael Vick completed just 12 of 25 passes for 125 yards and struggled all day. Tampa Bay held the Falcons to a field goal until Michael Vick threw a 5-yard TD pass to Alge Crumpler early in the fourth quarter. The Falcons had one sack after having 14 in their previous two games. The Falcons didnt fare well against the Bucs but they step down in class on Sunday and get the win but the Seahawks get the money.
Projected Score: ATL Falcons 27, SEA Seahawks 20
PLAY 2* UNITS ON SEATTLE +10 (BUYING 1/2 POINT)
SAN DIEGO (8 - 5) at BUFFALO (6 - 7)
Week 15 Sunday, 12/15/2002 1:00 PM
305 SAN DIEGO 41.5
306 BUFFALO -3
The San Diego Chargers should be well equipped for anything Mother Nature has to offer Sunday when they meet the Buffalo Bills. Playing in Western New York late in the season is anything but easy with the chances of bad weather always being a factor. Two weeks ago, the Bills played the Miami Dolphins here in a driving snowstorm. It will be Drew Brees, not Doug Flutie, who will lead the Chargers into Buffalo. But even though they play on the west coast, the Chargers appear to have the right offense if weather should be a factor. San Diego relies on second-year running back LaDainian Tomlinson and a conservative passing attack. Tomlinson is third in the NFL in rushing with 1,375 yards to go along with 13 touchdowns. He has been a workhorse all season, getting at least 20 carries in nine of 13 games. Tomlinson could be busy again in this contest with the Bills ranking last in the AFC against the run, allowing 138.7 yards per contest. Last Sunday, Tomlinson rushed for just 57 yards as the Chargers were knocked out of first place in the AFC West with a 27-7 loss to Oakland. Drew Brees struggled in the loss, throwing three interceptions. The Chargers are in second place, one game behind Oakland and a game in front of both Denver and Kansas City. San Diego plays at Kansas City before closing the season at home vs. Seattle. While they have playoffs on their mind, the Chargers will not have to deal with the hype of backup quarterback Doug Flutie making his return to Buffalo. Flutie was one of the Bills' most popular players from 1998-2000 before losing out in a quarterback controversy with Rob Johnson. He was the Chargers' starter last season, rallying his club to a 27-24 victory over the Bills in San Diego, before coach Marty Schottenheimer handed the job to Brees.
After surprising for much of the season, the Bills have faint playoff hopes. They are a game under .500 and in last place in the AFC East and probably will not make the playoffs even if they win their last three games. Last Sunday, Drew Bledsoe was intercepted four times in a 27-17 loss at New England. Bledsoe still has had a huge season, passing for 3,842 yards and 23 touchdowns. Bledsoe could be in for a big day against the Chargers, who rank 15th in the conference against the pass. His receivers have favorable matchups with Eric Moulds and Peerless Price lining up against Alex Molden and rookie Quentin Jammer.
Both teams come in off deflating losses. The Bills went to New England in a key AFC East clash, and went belly-up in a 27-14 loss. San Diego had an AFC West showdown at home against the Raiders, and were outplayed in a 27-7 defeat. The key is San Diegos strong running game against Buffalos brilliant passing attack. Which offense is at a disadvantage? San Diegos defense has been awful against the pass, allowing 264 yards in the air per game (22.5 points per game allowed). The Charger defense has allowed 26, 34, 21, 44, 28, 17, 30, 27 and 27 points the last 9 games. Buffalo allows 28 ppg and is poor against the run (138 yards rushing pg allowed). The weather will be cold, which gives the edge to the running attack. Chargers control the ball, the tempo and the final score.
Projected Score: BUF Bills 17, SDG Chargers 23
PLAY 2* UNITS ON SAN DIEGO + 3
PLAY 1* UNIT ON THE UNDER 42