NFL round-up, Week 13

Steelers 33, Patriots 10: Pittsburgh is built to last, at least better than any of their AFC counterparts.  The Patriots are like an great prizefighter on his last legs — capable of greatness based on experience and guile, but in trouble against strong and steady opponents.  Oh, and Wes Welker got KTFO by Ryan Clark.

Bucs 23, Saints 20: I saw the Reggie Bush highlights in his return.  Two miserable attempts to catch screen passes and one worse attempt to block a blitzing safety.  Ugly.

Titans 47, Lions 10: Detroit is pathetic, looking like a great bet to finish winless.  They’re 29th in the league in points scored, 32nd in points against.  The Titans kept it free of drama, sign of a good team.

Cowboys 34, Seahawks 9: Tony Romo makes a big difference to Dallas.   DeMarcus Ware is helpful too.  Seattle is also awful.

Eagles 48, Cardinals 20:  Arizona’s rushing yard totals the last five weeks:  176, 46, 76, 23, 25.  The Cards are last in the league for the year in this category and in yards per rush.

49ers 10, Bills 3:  Really, the Bills should have won this game.  Eight yards per carry from Marshawn Lynch, four trips inside the 20-yard line…

Ravens 34, Bengals 3:  Mark Clayton caught like Lynn Swann in Super Bowl X and threw like Antwaan Randle-El in Super Bowl XL. 

Colts 10, Browns 6:  Robert Mathis will remember this day.  The defensive lineman scored the only touchdown of the game.  Combined passing yardage between the two teams: 235.

Giants 23, Redskins 7:  Jason Campbell is looking tentative.  The Giants were in control all the way. 

Dolphins 16, Rams 12:  Why has Torry Holt’s production fallen off a cliff?

Panthers 35, Packers 31: Steve Smith is having a monster year.  First he punched out his teammate, now he’s averaging almost 100 yards per game receiving, with the highest per-catch average of his career.

Broncos 34, Jets 17:  A let-down game for New York.  The Jets are susceptible to gunslingers.

Falcons 22, Chargers 16:  Norv Turner should not be a head coach.

Chiefs 20, Raiders 13: The margin of victory was provided by a fumble return of a botched fake field goal by Oakland.  The play apparently called for holder Shane Lechler to shovel the ball between his legs to 275-pound kicker Sebastian Janikowski, who would then run for the first down.  On paper, it’s a bad play.  In real life it was disastrous for the Raiders.

Vikings 34, Bears 14: Minnesota might be the NFC team most capable of presenting match-up problems for the Giants.

Jaguars 24, Texans 17:  My prediction.

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