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Week 15 capsules: Look out below!

Will bad blood between the Patriots and Jets result in the score getting out of hand? Will Green Bay clinch a first-round bye with a victory and a Seattle loss? Our prognosticator Mark Craig delivers the news.

Last update: December 15, 2007 - 9:38 PM

★★★★★ Five-star games

N.Y. JETS AT NEW ENGLAND

Noon • 707, DTV • Line: N.E. by 21

Mark Craig's pick: N.E. BY 74

The Jets had the Patriots' sideline camera shut down in their last meeting, complaining signals were being stolen. New England was fined $750,000 (coach Bill Belichick paid $500,000) and docked a first-round draft pick. The theory is the Patriots (13-0) are geared for payback on the field against the Jets (3-10) and the line opened at a record- setting 27 points. The Patriots have 503 points, 53 shy of the NFL record set by the 1998 Vikings.

Our Over/Under: 0  Holiday cards sent by Pats coach Bill Belichick to his former assistant, Jets coach Eric Mangini. (Chris Miller)

WASHINGTON AT N.Y. GIANTS

7:15 p.m. • Ch. 11 • Line: NYG by 4½

Mark Craig's pick: NYG BY 7

Washington QB Jason Campbell (knee) is out for the regular season. Todd Collins steps in; his last start was Dec. 14, 1997 with Buffalo, the longest gap between starts for QB in NFL history. New York (9-4) can clinch a playoff berth with a victory, or losses by Minnesota and New Orleans. Giants QB Eli Manning (2,790 yards, 18 TDs) is trying for his third consecutive season of 3,000 and 20. The Giants gain 126.2 yards rushing per game.

Our Over/Under: 12  Times, during a game, that Joe Gibbs' mind wanders to NASCAR action. Vroom vroom! (CM)

JACKSONVILLE AT PITTSBURGH

Noon • 708, DTV • Line: PIT by 3½

Mark Craig's pick: JAX by 3

Pittsburgh (9-4) can clinch the AFC North with a victory and a Cleveland loss. Jacksonville (9-4) can clinch a playoff berth with a victory and a Tennessee loss. Jags RB Fred Taylor has three consecutive 100-yard games. QB David Garrard is second in the AFC with a passer rating of 103.3. The Steelers are 7-0 at home and have the top-ranked defense (245.5 yards per game) in the NFL, and have allowed a league-low 189 points.

Our Over/Under: 17 Pieces of tape teammates slapped on DB Anthony ("I Guarantee Victory") Smith's lips. (CM)

★★★★ Four-star games

ARIZONA AT NEW ORLEANS

Noon • 710, DTV • Line: N.O. by 3½

Mark Craig's pick: N.O. by 7

Both teams are 6-7 and a game behind the Vikings for the final NFC wild card. Cards QB Kurt Warner threw a season-high five INTs last week. WR Anquan Boldin (toe) sat out last week, but likely will play. Saints RB Reggie Bush (knee) is out again. Aaron Stecker rushed for 100 yards on 20 carries in his place. The Saints signed K Martin Gramatica and placed Olindo Mare on IR.

Our Over/Under: 97
  Percent of U.S. surprised to learn Kurt Warner has the third-best passer ranking in NFL history. (CM)

GREEN BAY AT ST. LOUIS

Noon • 711, DTV • Line: G.B. by 8

Mark Craig's pick: G.B. by 14

Green Bay (11-2) can clinch a first-round bye with a victory and a Seattle loss. The Packers have won 15 of their past 17. Ryan Grant rushed for a career-high 156 yards last week and is averaging 117.7 yards from scrimmage over the past seven games. The Rams have scored fewer than 20 points nine times. QB Marc Bulger (concussion) is back after missing two games.

Our Over/Under: 3 Percent of population who vaguely remember preseason Steven Jackson MVP talk. (CM)

★★★ Three-star games

BUFFALO AT CLEVELAND

Noon • 704, DTV • Line: CLE by 5½

Mark Craig's pick: CLE by 7

Buffalo (7-6) trails Cleveland (8-5) by one game for the final AFC wild card. Cleveland can clinch a playoff berth with a victory and a loss by Tennessee. The Bills have won six of eight, although S George Wilson (ribs) will miss the rest of the regular season. Cleveland has its most points since 1987 (360). QB Derek Anderson is 5-0 at home this season with 1,394 yards and 12 TDs. WR Braylon Edwards (65 receptions, 1,106 yards) has 13 TD catches, tying a franchise record.

PHILADELPHIA AT DALLAS

3:15 p.m. • 714, DTV • Line: DAL by 10

Mark Craig's pick: DAL by 14

Philadelphia (5-8) has lost three in a row. RB Brian Westbrook leads the NFL with 1,752 yards from scrimmage (1,110 rushing, 642 receiving) and 87 first downs. Westbrook leads all RBs with 74 receptions. Dallas (12-1) clinched the NFC East last week. The Cowboys have won seven in a row and lead the NFC in points (423) and total offense (389.2 yards per game). QB Tony Romo (3,654 yards, franchise-record 35 TDs) has thrown a TD pass in a team-record 17 games in a row.

★★ Two-star games

SEATTLE AT CAROLINA

Noon • 709, DTV • Line: SEA by 7½

Mark Craig's pick: SEA by 10

Seattle (9-4) clinched its fourth consecutive NFC West title last week and has won five in a row, the Seahawks' longest streak since a team-record 11-game run two seasons ago that helped them reach Super Bowl. The Panthers (5-8) have lost six of seven and are 1-5 at home.

DETROIT AT SAN DIEGO

3:15 p.m. • 715, DTV • Line: S.D. by 9½

Mark Craig's pick: DET by 3

Detroit (6-7) has lost five in a row, but leads the NFL with 33 takeaways and 17 fumble recoveries. The Chargers (8-5) can clinch the AFC West with a victory.

INDIANAPOLIS AT OAKLAND

3:05 p.m. • 713, DTV • Line: IND by 10

Mark Craig's pick: IND by 14

Indianapolis (11-2) has won four in a row. QB Peyton Manning must average only 214 yards passing over his final three games for his NFL-best eighth 4,000-yard season.


★ One-star games

ATLANTA AT TAMPA BAY

Noon • 712, DTV • Line: T.B. by 12½

Mark Craig's pick: T.B. by 14

Atlanta coach Bobby Petrino resigned, going to Arkansas. Emmitt Thomas was promoted to interim coach for the final three games. Atlanta (3-10) has lost four in row by an average of 18.5 points. The Bucs (8-5) clinch the NFC South with a victory or a New Orleans loss.

TENNESSEE AT KANSAS CITY

Noon • 705, DTV • Line: TEN by 3½

Mark Craig's pick: TEN by 6

Tennessee (7-6) has lost four of five and hasn’t won in Kansas City since 1990. TheCchiefs (4-9) have lost six in a row and are averaging 12.8 points per game during the skid. They gained only 129 yards last week.

BALTIMORE AT MIAMI

Noon • 706, DTV • Line: BAL by 3

Mark Craig's pick: MIA by 3

UPSET SPECIAL The Ravens (4-9) have lost seven in a row, being outscored 214-116. Miami (0-13) has lost 16 in a row, matching the eighth-longest streak in history.

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Date/Opponent Time W L Score
Sep 13 - at Cleveland 12:00 PM1034-20
Sep 20 - at Detroit 12:00 PM2027-13
Sep 27 - vs. San Francisco 12:00 PM3027-24
Oct 5 - vs. Green Bay 7:30 PM4030-23
Oct 11 - at St. Louis 12:00 PM5038-10
Oct 18 - vs. Baltimore 12:00 PM6033-31
Oct 25 - at Pittsburgh 12:00 PM6117-27
Nov 1 - at Green Bay 3:15 PM7138-26
Open     
Nov 15 - vs. Detroit 12:00 PM8127-10
Nov 22 - vs. Seattle 12:00 PM9135-9
Nov 29 - vs. Chicago 3:15 PM   
Dec 6 - at Arizona 7:20 PM   
Dec 13 - vs. Cincinnati 12:00 PM   
Dec 20 - at Carolina 7:20 PM   
Dec 28 - at Chicago 7:30 PM   
Jan 3 - vs. NY Giants 12:00 PM   

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