SUNDAY (1PM): All Games - PART II

GAME CHART
3-8 (2-3 away)	car		@		KC		1-10 (0-6 home)
avg DEF ppg		24.1		14.6		avg OFF ppg
avg OFF ppg		19.5		27.4		avg DEF ppg
pass DEF rank		11th		29th		pass OFF rank
rush DEF rank		25th		4th		rush OFF rank
pass OFF rank		16th		10th		pass DEF rank
rush OFF rank		18th		24th		rush DEF rank
defensive formation		4-3		3-4		defensive formation
RB Stewart (DOUB) DE Applewhite (DOUB)		key injuries				S Lewis (DOUB)
FORECAST
Cloudy
STAT ALERT
-          KC offence has not scored more than 20-pts in seven straight games -          CAR QB Newton threw for 2 TD and ran for 2 TD vs PHI in week 12 -          CAR coming off short week -          KC averaging lowest offensive point total in NFL -          KC has lost 8 straight games -          KC has not scored a passing TD since week 8 -          KC leads NFL in turnovers
ANALYST INSIGHT
I see good value in taking the Carolina Panthers to cover the spread against a struggling Kansas City Chiefs team. Kansas City has been finding ways to lose games all year mainly because of it's offensive struggles. I see no reason for that trend to stop this week – A. ARONSON Spotting road points on consecutive weeks with these unpolished Panthers is something we're not prepared to do – R. THE HANDLE QB Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers shouldn't have any trouble picking up win No. 4 – J. REED Carolina’s defense, with its strong pass rush, will get to Brady Quinn and control the Chiefs’ anemic offense – V. IYER With CAR QB Cam Newton playing well, CAR will easily win in Kansas City M.D. SMITH CAR QB Cam Newton beats bad teams and the Chiefs certainly fit that bill – D. BILICKI
FINAL PREDICTION
CAR		SU		vs SPR		CAR (-4.5)
Arrowhead Stadium just ain’t what it used to be for the Chiefs. One of the most hallowed and hard spots to win a football game for oppositions in years’ past, KC has tragically allowed for their home field to become a disadvantage this season having yet to accrue one win to date before their loyal Red & White supporters. Leading the league in turnovers and fielding a QB (Brady Quinn) that couldn’t supplant CLE QB Colt McCoy or DEN QB Tim Tebow for a starting position (both of which have now relegated to backup roles for their respective teams), expect the mid-pack Chiefs defence to allow their club to hang around in this contest but their offence to ensure yet another crushing defeat against a beatable opponent. KC has held only one visiting opponent this season to a FGM score differential.

GAME CHART
8-3 (4-2 away)	ne		@		MIA		5-6 (3-2 home)
avg DEF ppg		22.2		19.2		avg OFF ppg
avg OFF ppg		37.0		20.5		avg DEF ppg
pass DEF rank		29th		22nd		pass OFF rank
rush DEF rank		10th		16th		rush OFF rank
pass OFF rank		4th		26th		pass DEF rank
rush OFF rank		6th		7th		rush DEF rank
defensive formation		4-3		4-3		defensive formation
DE Jones (OUT) G Mankins (OUT) TE Gronkowski (OUT)		key injuries				none
FORECAST
Cloudy with a chance of showers
STAT ALERT
-          NE averaging 47.5 ppg over the course of their past 4 outings -          NE has forced 12 turnovers in their last 3 games
ANALYST INSIGHT
Pats are obviously very good but after playing defences of Rams, Bills, Colts and Jets, this Miami stop unit poses more of a challenge – R. THE HANDLE As good as MIA QB Ryan Tannehill played in the fourth quarter to beat the Seattle Seahawks last week, he can't compete with the kind of production NE outputs – J. REED The Patriots' offense is back to looking like an unstoppable force – V. IYER New England’s offense is such a well-oiled machine that I like the Patriots to get into the end zone five or six times – M.D. SMITH
FINAL PREDICTION
NE		SU		vs SPR		NE (-9.5)
In the nine games he’s played since being traded by Miami to the Patriots, WR Wes Welker had torched his former Dolphins ball club for near a 1,000 yds receiving and 4 TDs. Not much will change this Sunday as two-time Super Bowl winner NE QB Tom Brady is sure to hook-up numerous times with wideouts Welker & Co. vs a notably disparate Fish secondary. MIA rookie QB Tannehill’s struggles of late have been well chronicled and, in spite a rebound in week 12 vs SEA, will not be able to sustain pace with a high octane Pats offence this weekend at Sun Life Stadium.

GAME CHART
4-7 (1-4 away)	ari		@		NYJ		4-7 (2-4 home)
avg DEF ppg		20.6		20.1		avg OFF ppg
avg OFF ppg		16.4		26.4		avg DEF ppg
pass DEF rank		4th		28th		pass OFF rank
rush DEF rank		23rd		15th		rush OFF rank
pass OFF rank		24th		7th		pass DEF rank
rush OFF rank		30th		30th		rush DEF rank
defensive formation		3-4		4-3		defensive formation
none		key injuries				WR Gates (DOUB)
FORECAST
Cloudy
STAT ALERT
-          ARI has lost 7 straight games -          ARI offence has only 2 passing TDs since week 6 -          ARI O-Line has allowed the most QB sacks in the NFL -          ARI QB Lindley had 4 INT in week 12 vs STL
ANALYST INSIGHT
The Cardinals defence figures to keep the birds within striking distance throughout – R. THE HANDLE
FINAL PREDICTION
NYJ		SU		vs SPR		NYJ (-5.0)
ARI, as strong as their pass defence has been this season, simply cannot contain the run of late and is dependent on a 6th-round pick QB, making only his second NFL start, to make up for their ineptitude.  As weak as the Jets have been this 2012-13 campaign, NYJ is at home and should have enough firepower on both ends of the field to put away an opponent whose losing streak has already extended to seven straight outings. NYJ QB Mark Sanchez can breathe easy here as the clumsiness of his travelling adversary will most certainly ensure his starting QB role for yet another weekend.

GAME CHART
8-2-1 (4-1 away)	sf		@		STL		4-6-1 (3-3 home)
avg DEF ppg		14.1		18.6		avg OFF ppg
avg OFF ppg		25.1		23.1		avg DEF ppg
pass DEF rank		2nd		21st		pass OFF rank
rush DEF rank		4th		12th		rush OFF rank
pass OFF rank		27th		16th		pass DEF rank
rush OFF rank		1st		14th		rush DEF rank
defensive formation		3-4		4-3		defensive formation
none		key injuries				LB Haggan (OUT) WR Amendola (DOUB)
FORECAST
N/A
STAT ALERT
-          STL is 2-6 over the course of their last 8 outings -          STL defence has allowed only 1 TD, 7 INT vs division rivals this season
ANALYST INSIGHT
San Francisco just has too much power on both sides of the ball for the Rams to have much of a chance – M.D. SMITH These two teams tied in San Fran but the Rams are getting eight at home?! – D. BILICKI
FINAL PREDICTION
SF		SU		vs SPR		STL (+8.5)
The last time these two clubs met they played to a tie. The fact the Rams are being dogged here by three FGMs is more indicative of their recent home field performances than it is their capability of handling this prolific divisional adversary. QB Colin Kaepernick has played above and beyond expectations to date for the 49ers, even supplanting former number one pick and playoff-seasoned QB Alex Smith for the starting role in SF. That said, STL owns a tough defence and head coach Jeff Fisher, legendary for his division-game preparedness, will push his ball club to ensure this traveling 49ers squad earns every point they score this weekend at Edward Jones Dome.

GAME CHART
10-1 (5-0 away)	hou		@		TEN		4-7 (2-3 home)
avg DEF ppg		30.5		29.7		avg OFF ppg
avg OFF ppg		21.6		19.2		avg DEF ppg
pass DEF rank		27th		10th		pass OFF rank
rush DEF rank		27th		5th		rush OFF rank
pass OFF rank		20th		17th		pass DEF rank
rush OFF rank		19th		2nd		rush DEF rank
defensive formation		3-4		4-3		defensive formation
G Caldwell (OUT) CB Joseph (OUT) T Newton (OUT) LB James (OUT) LB Reed (OUT)		key injuries				LB McCarthy (OUT)
FORECAST
Cloudy
STAT ALERT
-          HOU defence has allowed 450+ yds to opponents in two straight games
ANALYST INSIGHT
TEN RB Chris Johnson is poised for a big afternoon facing the Texans depleted linebacking corps.  The outright upset here is a very real possibility – T. COVERS Prohibitive divisional road faves always risky – R. THE HANDLE The Houston Texans will be able to win in all three phases of this game, and the outcome should never be in doubt – J. REED The Texans should have no trouble lighting it up – V. IYER
FINAL PREDICTION
HOU		SU		vs SPR		TEN (+7.5)
In spite of their 10-1 record to date, HOUs ailing defence, particularly their LB corp, will have immense trouble at containing a TEN offence that has, quite quietly, ascended to top-10 ranks in the NFL. TEN QB Jake Locker gives his squad every opportunity to win week in and week out and, since his breakout game vs HOU in week 4, RB Chris Johnson has all but returned to his Pro Bowl form of years past. HOU is still a club to be reckoned with and should not be taken lightly by any opponent. Nevertheless, TEN is a divisional foe and will not be intimidated by a Texans squad they have faced twice a season since their inaugural 2002 campaign.