Baltimore Ravens (4-3) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-1) Sunday 1 p.m.
When you looked at this game on the schedule at the beginning of the season, you thought it would probably serve solely for the Ravens to move further ahead in the AFC Central standings. It's just the opposite, though, as the Steelers, one of the most surprising teams in a surprising year, have a chance to further separate themselves from the defending champions.If the Steelers are going to win this game, it will be because they have something the Ravens desperately lack - a dependable running back. Baltimore still has a great defense, but Pittsburgh has a pretty good one as well, yielding only 10.8 points per game.
The big difference could be Jerome Bettis, the Steelers' brawny back. Though the Ravens historically do a good job against Bettis, he's having one of his best seasons in recent memory, and could propel Pittsburgh to a prestigious position in the Central.
Cleveland Browns (4-2) vs. Chicago Bears (5-1) Sunday 4:15 p.m.
Who would have thought these two teams would be a combined 9-3? Nobody, but that doesn't matter now, as two of the stingiest defenses in the league square off on Sunday. The Bears give up around 12 points a game, three better than the Browns, who will be aided by the return from injury of defensive lineman Courtney Brown.The shock in Chicago is not the defense, but the offense, which has been just good enough to give the Bears five wins. In his past two games, running back Anthony Thomas has rushed for 315 yards and two touchdowns. His former classmate at Michigan and current teammate, wide receiver David Terrell, caught two touchdown passes in last week's overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
If the Browns win and the Steelers lose, there will be a tie in the AFC Central, while a Bears victory could create a comfier cushion in the NFC Central.
Denver Broncos (4-3) vs. Oakland Raiders (5-1) Monday 9 p.m.
Two great offenses and two average defenses square off Monday night with divisional implications on the line. None of that might matter as much as personal rivalries, since Broncos coach Mike Shanahan has a vendetta for Raiders' owner - and Shanahan's former boss - Al Davis. The Broncos have won the past six games over the Raiders, as well as 11 of the last 12.
But in the past, the Broncos weren't playing against the best team in the AFC, which is what the Raiders are. Denver's defense has been susceptible to the big play all season, which is not a good thing when going against receivers Jerry Rice and Tim Brown.
This game could hinge on which Denver team shows up in Oakland. Will it be the team that looked like high schoolers against the Kansas City Chiefs earlier in the season, or the team that usually whips the Raiders?
