November is here and with it the weather has turned cooler.  This is also  typically the time of year where the playoff prospects for many teams turn similarly cold.  But for the best, things are getting warmed up for the playoff run.  The Colts had been performing well, until a red hot Ben Roethlisberger torched their secondary for over 500 yards passing and SIX (6) TDs.  Texans first round pick Jadeveon Clowney had been on ice since week 1 with an injury caused by the suddenly notorious Texans turf. until he returned last week against the tacks.  But an illness has him under the weather.  Speaking of the Tacks, they have cooled on Jake Locker, and rookie Zach Mettenberger has warmed up from the bullpen.  Finally, the Jaguars and RB Denard Robinson thought they were warming up after beating Cleveland, but rookie Blake Bortles and the team cooled off in a loss to the fish.

 

Now for this week's games.

 

Jacksonville
(1-7) at Cincinnati
(4-2-1)-The young Jaguars make their way to Ohio to face a Bengals team that looked awfully impressive to start the season, only to have injuries bring them down to earth.  The Bengals get AJ Green back with a toe injury, but still will likely be without RB Giovani Bernard, LB Rey Maualuga and Vontaze Burfict, OL Kevin Zeitler and DB Darqueze Denard.  With those LBs hurting, the Jaguars running game should continue to show more signs of life with Denard Robinson.  However, the matchup of Bortles and the Jaguars' passing game against the Bengals pass rush and secondary should be a tough one for the Jaguars.  The Jaguars defense should keep things interesting.  Bengals
28, Jaguars
17.

 

Philadelphia
(5-2) at Houston
(4-4)-The Eagles are on the second game of a western road trip, coming off a loss to the Arizona Cardinals last week.  Foles has thrown a bunch of INTs this year-at least compared to last year.  Do defenses have the book on him, are injuries to the Philly OL contributing to his drop in performance, or some combination?  The Eagles' offense doesn't seem to match up well against the Houston front, as nobody seems to have found a way to control J.J. Watt.  However, I think RBs Sproles, McCoy, with TEs Brad Celek and Zach Ertz can exploit the Texans LBs, and ultimately, despite his issues, I think Foles is better than Fitzpatrick.  In a tough and interesting game, Philly
beats Houston
24-20.

 

Indianapolis
(5-3) at N. Y. Giants
(3-4)-it will be interesting to see how the Colts secondary rebounds against the thrashing they received at the hands of the Pittsburgh passing game.  The Colts can't rush the passer very well, and the Giants have struggled pass blocking.   But Luck is capable of picking the Giant defense apart.  Indy
31-21 over the G Men
.

 

Tacks are off.

 

Last week:  2-1

Overall:  17-10

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