All World All Sports (www.allworldallsports.com)

The SportsRagePage (http://www.sportsragepage.com)

by Digger

NFL 2008 regular season is winding down. Only two games remain (standings) before Playoff football begins. Huge games with major implications are slated for week's 16 & 17. Just win is the slogan while a few teams will need help from others. A Denver victory this weekend wraps up AFC West. Tennessee & Pittsburgh are in... however, the Steelers could overtake the once invincible Titans for AFC's #1 seed. Wild Card and division races feature Jets, Miami, New England, Baltimore and Indianapolis.

Over in the NFC... Atlanta, Dallas, Philadelphia, Chicago, Tampa Bay and Minnesota have been bouncing up and down the playoff ladder much of the year. Arizona wrapped up the NFC West. The Giants (11-3) could lose #1 slot to a surging Carolina (11-3) squad in one of my four Games of the Week matchup selections.

Let's get to it... Week 16:

(Thursday)
Indianapolis (10-4) @ Jacksonville (5-9): Interesting scenario. If Indy wins out and Tennessee loses out, Colts take division title. Manning should have no problems dissecting Jaguars secondary. Jacksonville players suiting up for respect and 2009 contracts. Colts in a one sided game, 36-7.

(Saturday)
=>Baltimore (9-5) @ Dallas (9-5): Baltimore dropped a heartbreaker, and the division, to Pittsburgh week 15. Ravens in deep trouble if they get clipped in Dallas. AFC has four 9-5 teams, plus Wild Card leading Indy at 10-4. Ravens on outside looking in with a loss. Dallas dominated Giants to stay alive. A must win for Jerry Jones' team. Ravens D gobbles up Romo, Witten & T.O. Ravens win Game of the Week #1, 23-16.

(Sunday)
Cincinnati (2-11-1) @ Cleveland (4-10): Both teams on life support after a season marred by disappointment and negative press. Ohio residents will be waiting to hear which coach gets axed first. Both have been miserable. Cincinnati wins 3rd game, 24-20.

San Francisco (5-9) @ St Louis (2-12): SF's Singletary has earned a job for 2009 as Head Coach. He's helped to wake up a slumbering club. As for the Rams, they do nothing right. 49ers keep Rams winless in NFC West, 27-20.

New Orleans (7-7) @ Detroit (>:XX): Saints have been banged up all year. QB Brees no longer seems capable of breaking Dan Marino's single season yardage record. That won't stop him from trying against the NFL's lone winless team. Detroit hasn't figured out a way to win and will become the 1st NFL team to go 0-16. Saints win big, 38-20.

=>Pittsburgh (11-3) @ Tennessee (12-2): AFC North Champ Pittsburgh squares off vs AFC South Champ Tennessee in a game set to feature plenty of heavy hitting action. If Pittsburgh wins out, then they're AFC seed #1. Titans win top seed with a home victory over fired up Pitt. The Steelers are hot... seeming to invent new ways to win in games final moments. Defense will tear apart QB Collins. Steelers knock off banged up Titans, move closer to #1 seed. Game of the Week #2, Steelers 23-9.

Miami (9-5) @ Kansas City (2-12): From 1-15 to 9-5, Miami has surpassed even their own wildest expectations. 3 AFC East teams battling with 9-5 records. A win in KC boost Dolphins before final game confrontation with arch rival Jets. Kansas City needs to re-examine their rebuilding plans, quickly. Miami wins hard fought game, 23-21.

Arizona (8-6) @ New England (9-5): Warner was also challenging for Marino's single single passing record before becoming erractic. Arizona imploded this weekend and no longer seems strong enough in any potential playoff matchup. Things can always change for the better if Cards offense starts clicking. Patriots have played gritty football this season after losing MVP Brady. Cassell now plays with confidence. New England stays in the hunt, 33-26.

San Diego (6-8) @ Tampa Bay (9-5): SD has been bleeding all year. They can be put out of their misery with a loss to Tampa this weekend. However.... a SD win, and a Denver loss to Buffalo would mean the Chargers could still win the AFC West. Their final game is against Denver. Tampa Bay's 2 consecutive losses has them scrambling. Smoked by Carolina and lost in OT to Atlanta, Tampa must win out to advance. SD stun Bucs, 23-13.

Houston (7-7) @ Oakland (3-11): It's fun watching Houston play football this season. Andre Johnson has 103 receptions. Everyone knows he's the main passing target.. yet, he still beats double teams, bumps, traps. Want to run? No problem, Slaton averages nearly 5 yards per carry. Texans organization has done very well. 2009 is promising. Oakland's silver & black has been black & blue for many years. Very poor personnel decisions. Houston romps, 33-17.

Buffalo (6-8) @ Denver (8-6): Buffalo handed the Jets an early holiday present last weekend by way of bonehead playcalling resulting in a fumble returned for the game winning touchdown. Bills players can save face by denying Denver the AFC West crown. If the Broncos win, they're AFC West Champs. A loss and SD win sets up final game showdown vs Chargers. Denver's offense wakes up, 34-24.

Jets (9-5) @ Seattle (3-11): Jets tied for AFC East thanks to a gift fumble from Buffalo. They're not strong when traveling west and better take weak Seattle seriously. A must win game for Jets. Thomas Jones could be in for his biggest stat game of the year. Seattle playing to secure jobs in '09. Jets win ugly again, 31-26.

=>Atlanta (9-5) @ Minnesota (9-5): Game of the Week #3. Falcons football keeps rolling along. Tie-breakers could decide their playoff fate. Turner vs Peterson is one heck of a RB showdown. Both will play large rolls in how this game unfolds. Minnesota is hot, winners of 4 in a row and 6 of 7. It's a pick'em game in my book. Atlanta in a squeeker, 36-34 in the Game of the Year.

Philadelphia (8-5-1) @ Washington (7-7): Eagles are red hot. McNabb has been razor sharp of late. Defense is inspired. Eagles now back in the hunt. Redskins were 6-2. Coach Zorn now wonders if recent losses happened on the field or on the sidelines. Eagles survive, remain contenders... 33-14.

=>Carolina (11-3) @ Giants (11-3): Game of the Week. Carolina is currently playing the best football in NFC. Giants two losses, post-Plaxico suspension, has Manning's offense out of whack. Dallas beat the daylights out of Eli with 8 sacks. Giants running game couldn't get going. Worse news, Carolina's monster running game comes to town. WR Smith presence stretches defenses. Giants will need to re-establish their dominating running game or it will be a long night. Winner of this contest wins #1 NFC Playoff seed. Carolina embarrasses Giants, 41-24.

(Monday)
Green Bay (5-9) @ Chicago (8-6): Rodgers 1st season as Green Bay's starting QB began with an impressive 2 game win streak. Lately, it's been 4 defeats in a row and 6 of 7. Keep your heads up GB fans, your team will be good again soon enough. This is a must win game for the Bears who need help to stay alive. Bears Forte carves up Pack, 27-20.