Seahawks could clinch NFC West with a win over 49ers
As if the 49ers don't have enough dislike for the Seahawks, Seattle could clinch the NFC West with a win at San Francisco today. As if the Saints don't have enough headaches from being pounded by those Seahawks last weekend, they now face another staunch defense when Carolina visits the Big Easy in an NFC South showdown.
Those are the highlights on one of the more intriguing weekends of NFL matchups this season. The stretch drive is officially under way.
''If this doesn't fire you up, if this doesn't fire up the fans, then what does?'' 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. ''I suppose Abraham Lincoln riding across the field with a frock and a top hat, riding a horse, waving an American flag. I doubt that would fire them up, if this game doesn't fire them up. The people that really love football would be fired up by this matchup.''
Or by the one in the Superdome.
''It's a big game that everyone will be watching,'' outstanding Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly said. ''It's against the Saints — a division game and a good team. There's not a whole lot of motivation that you need in this game. It's Drew Brees and the Saints on Sunday night. We're 9-3. They're 9-3. It's going to be an exciting game.''
Seattle (11-1) at San Francisco (8-4): If there's a more physical rivalry in the league right now, show us. These two defenses don't let up, and the animosity is evident everywhere on the field — and on the sidelines, where Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and Harbaugh have a long-standing feud.
Makes for a juicy affair at Candlestick in a game far more critical to San Francisco's playoff prospects.
''It's a new game, another Sunday,'' 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis said. ''We've talked about it the last couple of weeks that every game we play from here on it out is important. It's important to where we go to get into the playoffs. ... Once we get in, then I feel like anything can happen.''
Carolina (9-3) at New Orleans (9-3): Both teams finished 7-9 last year, when the Saints were in the midst of the bounty scandal punishments. They've been on top of the NFC South all year, but were caught last week when they flopped in Seattle and the Panthers won their eighth straight, beating Tampa Bay.
''Yeah, it is a big game,'' Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins said. ''You don't really have to add much sugar to this one.''
Nor to the rematch in two weeks.
Indianapolis (8-4) at Cincinnati (8-4): The Colts can clinch the AFC South with a win or a Titans loss at Denver. Colts linebacker Robert Mathis leads the NFL with 15½ sacks and needs one to surpass Dwight Freeney (16 in 2004) for the club record.
Cincinnati is 5-0 at home for the first time since 1988, when the Bengals won all eight regular-season home games and two playoff games before falling to San Francisco in the Super Bowl.
Detroit (7-5) at Philadelphia (7-5): The Eagles finally have figured out how to win at home, and the Lions are 3-3 on the road, pretty good for them. Philadelphia's Nick Foles has 19 touchdown passes without an interception, one short of the league mark Peyton Manning set earlier this season.
Dallas (7-5) at Chicago (6-6): At Soldier Field, regular quarterback Jay Cutler's absence has not been a major hurdle because Josh McCown has played well. The Bears' defense is another story, more like Lilliputians of the Loop than Monsters of the Midway.
The Cowboys couldn't be more unpredictable, but one thing they can do is throw the ball.
Tony Romo (3,140 yards passing) hit the 3,000 mark for a team-record sixth time. He has at least 300 yards passing in all three games against Chicago, but also threw five interceptions against the Bears last year.
Tennessee (5-7) at Denver (10-2): Denver gets a playoff berth with a win or tie or either Miami or Baltimore losing or tying.
The weather forecast calls for very chilly conditions in the Mile High City, and Manning is no winter wizard. Manning has an 8-11 career record when the game-time temperature is 40 or below.
Kansas City (9-3) at Washington (3-9): Kansas City is the first team in NFL history to win its first nine games and then lose the next three. The defense has been weakened by injuries and has just two sacks in the past five games after 35 sacks in the first seven.
KC is in the playoffs with a win and either Miami or Baltimore losing or tying or with a tie and Miami or Baltimore falling.
Already out of the playoff race after winning the NFC East in 2012, Washington has dropped four straight and five of six. Chiefs coach Andy Reid already is 3-0 against the division he coached in for 14 years in Philadelphia.
St. Louis (5-7) at Arizona (7-5): The Cardinals have not won an NFC West game (0-3) and need to start now because they also face the Seahawks and Niners this month. They have lost eight straight against NFC West foes since last year's season-opening win over Seattle.
Miami (6-6) at Pittsburgh (5-7): Miami must hope for better weather than in 2007, when it fell 3-0 in a near monsoon. The Steelers have won each of the past five meetings and haven't lost to Miami at home since 1990.
Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace spent four seasons in Pittsburgh before signing a $60 million deal with Miami.
Minnesota (3-8-1) at Baltimore (6-6): Baltimore controls the final AFC wild-card berth and finishes off a three-game homestand in which it is 2-0. With a victory, Baltimore will improve to 6-1 at home and have its first three-game winning streak of the season. The Ravens are allowing 12.3 points a game at home, second best in the NFL behind Carolina.
New York Giants (5-7) at San Diego (5-7): Eli Manning vs. Philip Rivers, the quarterbacks dealt for each other on draft day in 2004. Manning is 0-2 vs. the Chargers, but one loss came when Drew Brees was the San Diego starter.
Atlanta (3-9) at Green Bay (5-6-1): The Packers are 0-2-1 in the past three at Lambeau Field, all without Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay, however, has won 12 straight regular-season games at Lambeau played Dec. 1 or later.
Buffalo (4-8) at Tampa Bay (3-9): The Bills are on the verge of a 14th consecutive season out of the playoffs. This is their ninth trip to Tampa in 10 meetings with the Bucs.
It's a reunion of sorts on both sides. Bucs coach Greg Schiano and Bills coach Doug Marrone faced each other three times while leading Rutgers and Syracuse, respectively, in the Big East, with Marrone holding a 2-1 edge.
Oakland (4-8) at New York Jets (5-7): Oh, for the days of Joe Namath and Ben Davidson. Maybe the most interesting aspect here is whether Rex Ryan and/or Dennis Allen can save their coaching jobs with late-season turnarounds.
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