(11) - Arizona at Carolina. The matchup between the Cardinals and Panthers is the perfect example of two teams headed in different directions. The Cardinals have had injuries at the quarterback position wreck their season. The Cardinals were 6-0 under Carson Palmer and averaged 26 points per game. Under Drew Stanton, the Cardinals were 4-1 and averaged nearly 23 points per game. But under 3rd stringer Ryan Lindley, the team 1-2 and averaging 11 points per game. The Panthers finished December 4-0 and gave up just 11 points per game.
(9) – Baltimore at Pittsburgh. The Steelers have put their success or failure entirely on QB Ben Roethlisberger, and he’s rewarded them. Big Ben threw for nearly 5,000 yards and 32 touchdown passes. Both of those were career highs. But here is where Roethlisberger was incredible: he took care of the football at a historic level. Roethlisberger became only the 2nd QB in the history of the game to have at least 600 passing attempts but didn’t reach double digits in interceptions. Tom Brady in 2012 is the only other player to accomplish this. The Steelers have a simple formula right now; let Big Ben win the football game by throwing the ball. With Leveon Bell out, it’ll be all on him again.
(4) – Cincinnati at Indianapolis. The Colts are on the upward arch where the team continues to have very good regular seasons but have not gotten good enough as of yet to take down the teams with elite veteran quarterbacks. Take a look at the Colts regular season in which they won 11 games. Four of their five losses came to teams quarterbacked by Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Tony Romo. Last year Brady knocked them out of the playoffs, the year before it was eventual Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. This week Andy Dalton and the Bengals come into Indy with receiver AJ Green doubtful for the game. The Colts should advance, and get a crack at another matchup with Brady or Manning.
(11-1) – Detroit at Dallas. Teams change over the course of an NFL Season. There was a time in October when the Seattle Seahawks were just 3-3 on the season. Another team that continues to change is the Dallas Cowboys. After week 2 of the NFL season in which Cowboys QB Tony Romo didn’t look healthy, the team and Romo decided to try a different approach to his prep. Since week 3 of the season, Dallas has held Romo out of practice and allowed him to spend the day focusing on a workout regimen for his surgically repaired back. That rehab work has been huge for Romo to feel healthy and prepared for each start.
Since this change was made to Romo’s prep schedule, he has rewarded Dallas with an 11-1 record with a full prep week schedule.