NFL Week 12 - Late & Monday Night Previews

Kansas City (3-7) @ San Diego (7-3)

Chiefs: Did you think last week was an illusion? Me too. But this game against San Diego is different from the Pittsburgh game only because it's a divisional game. Sometimes, we never know what's going to happen. Kansas Citrry has a new RB in Jamaal Charles. A new WR in Chris Chambers. Things are starting to look up for KC fans.

The difference will be if the Chiefs can stop the new found Bolts running game. But even if they can stuff the run, KC will have to contend with the Charges passing game. All I can say is this...good luck today.

Chargers: RB LaDainian Tomlinson (left) is channelling his inner self of a few years ago. Since San Diego's bye in week 5, LT has been slowly building a season. He hasn't eclipsed 100+ yards yet, but I feel this is the week for that. QB Philip Rivers has a new target in WR Legedu Naanee. Naanee has a TD in each of th elast two weeks. That's another trend I see continuing. I see the Bolts putting up a lot of points.

LB Shawne Merriman's status is a gametime deal. He has had a knee, groin and foot problem. If there's a week where Merriman can sit, it might be this week. But DE Luis Castillo is unavailable and he isn't going to play. All the Chargers have to worry about on defense is the Chiefs finding confidence and rhythm.

Jacksonville (6-4) @ San Francisco (4-6)

This game is the easiest to breakdown. Whichever team can stop the run will win. Why? The game will be in the hands of the QB. Ask yourself: who does that favor?

One last thing: if the Niners lose, playoffs are out of the question. If the Jags lose, they still have hope.

Chicago (4-6) @ Minnesota (9-1)

Bears: Chicago may have something for the Vikings. Who am I kidding? QB Jay Cutler has been an easy target from everyone, but he's not the only culprit. RB Matt Firte has not even been a quarter of what he was last year. There's no go-to, #1 receiver. The TEs, which was a strong point during the preseason, have sort of disappeared. Cutler's haters need to back off. You can be a good QB, but if you don't have the help, you're going to look bad.

The same for the defense. Sure, the loss of LB Brian Urlacher has stung, but has anyone stepped up in his absence? I sure haven't seen it.

Vikings: There's a question about RB Adrain Peterson's (right) status. He is suffering from the flu and he's also dealing with bum ankle. If Peterson can't go, I think the Vikes will be okay with Chester Taylor. In fact, Taylor will have AD like numbers if he starts.

The best news for Minnesota is the return of CB Antione Winfield. All he needs to do is find WR Devin Hester and shadow him. Or find WR Johnny Knox and do the same. Getting after Cutler has to be priority #1. We all know that Cutler is prone to picks.

Arizona (7-3) @ Tennessee (4-6)

Cardinals: QB Kurt Warner (concussion) has practiced, but he's listed as questionable for the game. If Warner doesn't go, Matt Leinart will get the nod. An amazing thing has been happening with the Cards. They are starting to slowly find a ground game. That will be imperative against the Titans. If the Cards can eat some clock, that keep RB Chris Johnson and the Titans offense off the field.

But what if that doesn't happen? Then the NFL's 8th ranked rush defense will bang heads with the Titans and the league's top running attack. That has to be a major concern for Arizona, right? Maybe, but the Cards are undefeated on the road. This could be Arizona's toughest road test to date.

Titans: There's no one more electric in the NFL than RB Chris Johnson (left). He leads the world in rushing, but he also leads the Titans in receptions. Any time he has the ball, he can take it all the way. QB Vince Young, 4-0 as a starter, has been the biggest beneficiary of Johnson's talent. The Titans can and will run the ball. But do not discount the abilities of Young. He does have a strong arm and with the Cards having a porous pass defense (27th), we could see a big game from VY.

The defensive concern for Tennessee has to be those Cardinals receivers. Arizona has the best trio in the league and the Titans are 31st defending the pass. Regardless who goes at QB for the Cards, pressure is a must. Both Warner and Leinart are turnover prone. The Titans did control the Texans last Monday night. If they can shut down the Cards, it will be a win and Tennessee's winning streak and run for the playoffs will continue.

Sunday Night
Pittsburgh (6-4) @ Baltimore (5-5)

Steelers: QB Dennis Dixon is not only in the spotlight, he's also the Ravens target. It's Dixon's first start in the NFL, and he couldn't be put in a more difficult situation. RB Rashard Mendenhall must have his best game as a pro for the Steelers to leave Baltimore with a win. Dixon has a good set of receivers with Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes. TE Heath Miller may be the real key for the Steelers offense.

Pittsburgh's main focus will be Ravens RB Ray Rice. And no one runs on the Steelers top ranked run defense. Will they be able to stop the Ravens passing game?  Again, Rice is a concern as he leads the Ravens in catches and is second in receiving yards.

Ravens: The offense has sputtered since their week 6 loss to Minnesota. Sure they put up 30 points against the Broncos in week 8, but they got a kickoff return for a TD in that game. They had 292 yards on the Broncos, but three drives ended with field goals. An offesive explosion is not in the offering against the Steelers, but a more consistent, balanced attack will be just what the Ravens need to get a win and jump back into the playoff hunt.

It's obvious that Baltimore will look to pressure Steelers QB Dennis Dixon in Dixon's first NFL start. The Ravens can be stubborn against the run, too. In fact, this defense is slowly starting to resemble the Ravens defenses of the past. I think they've finally adjusted to the loss of Rex Ryan as their coodinator.

Monday Night
New England (7-3) @ New Orleans (10-0)

Partriots: The Pats revisit a site where they captured the Lombardi Trophy. The biggest difference will be that the crowd will be totally against them. And teh Superdome gets planty noisy for opponents. QB Tom Brady is back and just as good as he's ever been. WRs Randy Moss and Wes Welker are Pro-Bowlers and having wonderful seasons. We know the Pats can pass, but will they be able to run the ball? They must or an advantageous Saints defense will be all over them

We've heard about all the changes the defense has undergone, but New England in 2nd in scoring defense and 7th overall. Look at that dreaded 4th and 2 situation all you want, but this unit is strong. A lot of the names have changed, ut their play hasn't. The biggest concern is RB Reggie Bush. He's a matchup nightmare and the Pats do not have a player that can keep up with him.

Saints: The league's #1 offense, yet the Saints aren't the #1 passing offense. They're just 6th. It's the 5th rated running game and that three headed monster of RBs Pierre Thomas (right), Mike Bell and Reggie Bush that grabs your attention. QB Drew Brees has more offensive weapons at his disposal than any other QB in the NFL. If New Orleans comes out and runs the ball effectively, the passing attack will flourish. The key stats for this game are the usual, turnovers and time of possession.

A lot of talk has gone around about how improved the Saints defense is. It is improved, but they rank as follows: 13th in scoring, 15th against the pass, 20th against the rush and 17th overall. In other words, there are still vulnerabilities, and the Patriots will exploit any defensive weakness you might have. New Orleans have to contain the passing game. Make the Pats rely on the run. That may eat the clock, but you also have a potent, fast scoring offense.

This game has all the makings of a shoot out. Whoever has the ball last will win.

Sounds eerily familiar.