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Los Angeles Chargers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Preview and Predictions 12-02-2018
NFL PREDICTIONS 29TH NOVEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger meet up again when the Los Angeles Chargers visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night. The two members of the 2004 NFL Draft class are thriving in their 15th seasons with Rivers coming off a record-setting performance in last week's 45-10 rout of the Arizona Cardinals (as the Chargers were -14 point favorite at intertops).

Rivers set NFL single-game records for completion percentage (96.6) and consecutive completions (25) during a 28-of-29 performance in which he tossed three touchdown passes. "He is an MVP caliber player, playing at an MVP level now," Roethlisberger told reporters of Rivers. "What he did last week was pretty spectacular ... 25 in a row. It's easy because he is a quarterback to keep track of what he is doing. It's fun to watch a guy like that play." Rivers understands why he is linked with Roethlisberger - Eli Manning was also a member of the draft class - but says it will be more than quarterback play that decides Sunday's game. "He's been a heck of a player for them for a long time," Rivers told reporters. "Again, it's never about the other quarterback. You have to worry about that defense. But it's always awesome going against those teams led by those kind of guys."


TV: 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC. LINE: Steelers -3.5 O/U: 51.5

ABOUT THE CHARGERS (8-3): Rivers has thrown multiple touchdown passes in each game this season while passing for 3,119 yards and 26 scores against six interceptions. Standout running back Melvin Gordon (knee) will miss the contest so Austin Ekeler (409 yards, 5.8 average) will get the call and the club hopes he performs better than his previous start this season (42 yards on 12 carries against Tennessee). Standout defensive end Joey Bosa displayed he is fully recovered from the foot injury that caused him to miss the first nine games by recording two sacks against the Cardinals.

ABOUT THE STEELERS (7-3-1): Roethlisberger passed for a season-best 462 yards - his second time over 450 this season - in last Sunday's 24-17 loss to the Denver Broncos and has thrown for 3,664 yards and 24 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. Longtime star Antonio Brown (71 receptions, 874 yards) is tied for the NFL lead with 11 touchdown catches but currently trails teammate JuJu Smith-Schuster (77 for 1,055) for the Pittsburgh lead in receptions and yardage. Linebacker T.J. Watt (10 sacks) has emerged as a force in his second NFL season and has recorded three sacks in two different contests.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Chargers are 1-14 in the regular season at Pittsburgh but also won in the Steel City in the 1994 AFC Championship Game to reach their lone Super Bowl.

2. Steelers RB James Conner (849 yards) has only 143 over the past three games after compiling four straight 100-yard outings.

3. Los Angeles WR Keenan Allen (69 catches) has at least five receptions in each of the past five games.

PREDICTION: Steelers 28, Chargers 26

Minnesota Vikings vs. New England Patriots Preview and Predictions 12-02-2018
NFL PREDICTIONS 29TH NOVEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


The New England Patriots are coasting to another division title but will be banking that a return to Gillette Stadium will help raise their game as they jockey for seeding in the AFC postseason race. The Patriots are a perfect 5-0 at home but will play in Foxborough, Mass., for the first time since Nov. 4 when they host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon.

New England came off its bye week and avoided a second straight loss by pulling away in the second half for a 27-13 victory at the New York Jets (as the Patriots were -13 point favorite at intertops), but the team expects a much stiffer challenge from Minnesota. "This has really been an impressive team to watch," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said of the Vikings. "Looks like to me they're even better than they were last year. Really well coached defensively, as good as we'll face all year." Minnesota, which holds down the No. 5 seed in the NFC, shut down Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers last week and will look to do the same against another multiple MVP-winning quarterback in New England's Tom Brady. "You've got to give respect where respect's due," Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen said. "Five Super Bowl rings, they're in the playoffs every year and he's a large part in the team winning. He's the GOAT. We've got to go out there and play our best game to beat one of the best."

TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Patriots -5 O/U: 49

ABOUT THE VIKINGS (6-4-1): Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs form one of the more lethal pass-catching tandems in the NFL, but Diggs did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, although he insisted he will play against the Patriots. Thielen is the NFL leader with 93 receptions and notched his ninth 100-yard game of the season after hauling in eight catches for 125 yards and a score against the Packers. Quarterback Kirk Cousins ranks fifth in the league with 3,289 yards to go with 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions, but expect Minnesota to try to get its dormant running game untracked Sunday. The Vikings had four sacks last week but star cornerback Xavier Rhodes (hamstring) is questionable.

ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (8-3): New England slowly is getting healthy -- rookie running back Sony Michel returned in the week before the bye, tight end Rob Gronkowski was back last week and running back Rex Burkhead is expected to rejoin the lineup Sunday for the first time since Week 3. Brady posted his highest passer rating (115.4) of the season against the Jets, throwing for 283 yards with a pair of touchdowns and zero interceptions. Michel rushed for a season-high 133 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries while Gronkowski had three catches for 56 yards and scored for the first time since Week 1. The Patriots are vulnerable to the pass, ranking 25th with an average of 269.7 yards allowed.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Thielen needs seven catches to join Rod Smith and Wes Welker as the only undrafted players with 100 receptions.

2. Brady needs two TD passes to eclipse Peyton Manning (579) for the most in league history (playoffs included).

3. Diggs has 31 catches for 322 yards and three TDs in his last three games.

PREDICTION: Patriots 27, Vikings 23

San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks Preview and Predictions 12-02-2018
NFL PREDICTIONS 29TH NOVEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


Richard Sherman makes his return to Seattle for the first time as an opposing player when the San Francisco 49ers visit the Seahawks on Sunday. Sherman was released in March while recovering from an Achilles injury after seven seasons and two Super Bowl appearances with the team.


Sherman ridiculed Seattle for its recent decline, offered that he has no relationship with Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and criticized the manner in which he was released while meeting with reporters Thursday. "You just expect after you've done so much for a franchise that they wouldn't cut you while you're hurt," Sherman said. "It's kind of more a respect thing than anything, but they did, so you've kind of got to roll with the business. They've rarely ever cut anybody while they were hurt. We hadn't honestly seen that very often." While the Seahawks are part of the NFC playoff chase, Sherman's new team is far out it and has lost eight of its last nine games. Sherman has yet to record his first interception with San Francisco after accumulating 32 and earning four Pro Bowl bids as the headliner of Seattle's 'Legion of Boom' defense.


TV: 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Seahawks -10 O/U: 46


ABOUT THE 49ERS (2-9): Quarterback Nick Mullens will make his fourth straight start but is on a short leash after throwing two interceptions in the team's sluggish 27-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last weekend (as the 49ers were +1.5 point underdog at intertops). "I don't think he played very well," coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters of Mullens. "Just looking at some of our situations but it wasn't all him. No one played very well, especially in the pass game. All around we didn't do good enough." San Francisco ranks 10th in defending the run (102.7 yards per game) and will be challenged by a Seattle offense that leads the NFL in rushing at 147.1.

ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS (6-5): Seattle has won its last two games to perk things up after the team was unable to find a sustained groove earlier this season. "There is just a real upbeat aura about this team," Seattle coach Pete Carroll told reporters. "They're real hungry to learn, they're hungry for the challenges. They keep looking to the future and what's up and what's coming. It's just been a really good group to work with." Wilson is enjoying a strong season with 2,531 yards and 25 touchdowns against only five interceptions, while defensive end Frank Clark has been a standout with 10 sacks.


EXTRA POINTS


1. The Seahawks have won the past nine meetings - playoffs included.


2. San Francisco is 0-6 on the road, with three of the defeats coming by three or fewer points.


3. Seattle LB K.J. Wright (knee) will miss the contest -- the former Pro Bowler has played in only three games this season.


PREDICTION: Seahawks 30, 49ers 17

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Oakland Raiders Preview and Predictions 12-02-2018
NFL PREDICTIONS 30TH NOVEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid is notoriously tough to beat following a bye week, and the Chiefs hope that trend holds true when they travel to face the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. The Chiefs have won six of the past seven meetings with their longtime AFC West rivals, but they lost at Oakland last season.

Kansas City is coming off a bye following a wild 54-51 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 11, which snapped the Chiefs' four-game winning streak. Reid's teams are 16-3 in games following a bye, and the Chiefs are a heavy favorite against an Oakland team that has struggled in the first season of coach Jon Gruden's comeback. After snapping a five-game skid with a 23-21 win at Arizona in Week 11, the Raiders' offense sputtered in a 34-17 loss at Baltimore last week (as the Raiders were +13 point underdog at intertops). It's the first of two meetings in a five-week span, as the teams will face off again in the regular-season finale Dec. 30 in Kansas City.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Kansas City -14.5 O/U: 55.5

ABOUT THE CHIEFS (9-2): Kansas City boasts one of the NFL's most exciting offenses thanks to second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has passed for 3,628 yards, leads the NFL in touchdown passes (37) and ranks second with a 117.9 quarterback rating. Mahomes is surrounded with weapons, including versatile running back Kareem Hunt and speedster Tyreek Hill, who had a career-high 215 receiving yards and two touchdowns against the Rams. Kansas City's defense ranks 30th in the league, and the secondary is suspect, but the Chiefs have forced 17 turnovers, including at least one in eight straight games.

ABOUT THE RAIDERS (2-9): Oakland's offense has been abysmal of late, averaging only 279.1 total yards in the past seven games. The ground game that had started to come to life was limited to 67 rushing yards last week against the Ravens, and Derek Carr has not topped 300 yards passing since Week 4 against Cleveland -- and hasn't surpassed 250 yards since Week 5. The defense has been awful against the run, ranking last in the league and allowing 140 rushing yards or more eight times in 11 games and 200 or more three times.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Mahomes has averaged 348.5 passing yards with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions in six road games this season.

2. Raiders DT Maurice Hurst, who has a team-high four sacks, is questionable with an ankle injury.

3. Chiefs DT Chris Jones has recorded a sack in seven straight games and has at least two sacks in the past two contests.

PREDICTION: Chiefs 34, Raiders 20

New York Jets vs. Tennessee Titans Preview and Predictions 12-02-2018
NFL PREDICTIONS 29TH NOVEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


The Tennessee Titans are going to have to take advantage of a stretch run filled with home games if they're to remain in the AFC playoff picture. Coming off damaging back-to-back road losses, the Titans begin that stretch Sunday when they host the sliding New York Jets.


Tennessee is 3-1 at home, including an impressive 34-10 triumph over New England on Nov. 11 that put the team at 5-4, and it plays four of its final five in downtown Nashville. "We get to go back to Nissan Stadium," cornerback Logan Ryan told reporters. "We have the pieces, and we know we are going back home and have to execute. Our season is on the line in a sense. We need to win this game. That's all that matters. You're going to see how much we care based on how we play. That's my mentality." The Jets have lost five straight by a combined score of 142-56, including last Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Patriots (as the Jets were +13 point underdog at intertops). Rookie quarterback Sam Darnold (foot) has practiced for the first time in weeks and could return for this one.


TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Titans -8 O/U: 40.5


ABOUT THE JETS (3-8): Josh McCown has completed just 54.4 percent of his passes with one touchdown and three interceptions in two games filling in for Darnold, and the veteran is also hampered by back and hand injuries. "I mean, yeah," Darnold told the media when asked if he's pushing to start this week. "I want to play really bad. But at the same time, I understand it's a process." The Jets lead the AFC with 17 interceptions -- including four by Darnold in his last game Nov. 4 at Miami -- and the passers get little support from a running game that has averaged 77.5 yards per game since its out-of-nowhere 323-yard effort in a win over Denver on Oct. 7.

ABOUT THE TITANS (5-6): With two home games in a span of five days (Jacksonville pays a visit Thursday night), Tennessee is eager to set a tone in front of the home fans. "The goal is you don't get down against the Jets," said coach Mike Vrabel, who saw his team start strong and never look back in the rout of the Patriots. "If we start fast, which I hope we do and continue on that path with a lead and try to keep it so we can control the game. We will try to start fast and execute early and play complementary. We have to play hard and give our fans something to cheer about." Of course, that didn't pay dividends when the Titans lost an early 10-0 lead in last week's 34-17 loss to Houston, a result that came in spite of Marcus Mariota completing 22-of-23 passes for 303 yards and two scores.


EXTRA POINTS


1. Mariota, who has been limited in practice due to a neck issue, was sacked 29 times over the last six games.


2. New York is 29th in the league with 199 passing yards per game. Tennessee is 30th (191).


3. The Jets have won seven of 10 meetings since the Tennessee franchise moved from Houston to Nashville prior to the 1997 season.


PREDICTION: Titans 27, Jets 16

Denver Broncos vs. Cincinnati Bengals Preview and Predictions 12-02-2018
NFL PREDICTIONS 29TH NOVEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


The Denver Broncos have remained on the outer fringe of the postseason bubble with back-to-back wins over potential playoff teams while the Cincinnati Bengals find themselves in the same location after dropping three straight games. The Broncos and Bengals bid to improve their standing at the other's expense on Sunday when they meet at Paul Brown Stadium.


"Right now we're 5-6. That's where we are," Denver coach Vance Joseph said. "... Most teams would lose their minds and not work hard, but we haven't done that so the reward for sticking together and having great chemistry is coming now." Joseph saw his bend-but-don't-break defense overcome 462 passing yards to Ben Roethlisberger in Sunday's 24-17 victory over Pittsburgh (as the Broncos were +3 point underdog at intertops), improving the Broncos to 2-1 in a dizzying three-game stretch that involved teams that had faced the Broncos with at least a five-game winning streak. While Denver emerged from its bye with promise, Cincinnati returned from its off week by surrendering 110 points with lopsided losses against New Orleans and Cleveland sandwiching a three-point setback at Baltimore. Adding injury to insult, backup Jeff Driskel will receive his first NFL start against the Broncos after fellow quarterback Andy Dalton sustained a season-ending thumb issue in Sunday's 35-20 setback to the Browns.


TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Broncos -4.5 O/U: 44


ABOUT THE BRONCOS (5-6): Case Keenum could pick up the pace after throwing for just 402 yards over his last two contests when he tests his mettle versus a Cincinnati defense that is hemorrhaging league-worst totals in points per game (31.5) and total yards (439.6). Trusted target Emmanuel Sanders found the end zone last week and has four touchdowns in his last two trips to the Queen City while speedy rookie Phillip Lindsay has five of his six rushing touchdowns in his last five outings. While the offense has shown signs of improvement, the generous defense has been gashed for 479 total yards in a 23-22 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 18 and 527 versus the Steelers. "The yardage, you have to kind of ignore it, and that's tough for us to do," Joseph said. "A thousand yards in two weeks for our defense, that's tough, but 19.5 (points allowed per game) and seven takeaways, you've got to take it and be happy about it, I guess, right?"

ABOUT THE BENGALS (5-6): Driskel, who is faster and more athletic than Dalton, passed for 155 yards and a touchdown as well as ran for a score after entering Sunday's game in the third quarter. The 25-year-old tossed a 28-yard scoring strike to Tyler Boyd in that stanza and likely will see the return on Sunday of seven-time Pro Bowl wideout A.J. Green, who has missed the last three games with a toe injury. "With this injury it just took time to heal," the 30-year-old Green said. "(And) me getting mentally ready to where I could go out there and play at a high level and not just be out there limping around." Joe Mixon erupted for 155 scrimmage yards (89 rushing, 66 receiving) versus the Browns and has totaled 664 and four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) in six home games this season.


EXTRA POINTS


1. Cincinnati DE Carlos Dunlap, whose seven sacks are tied with DT Geno Atkins for the team lead, has seven sacks in his past four encounters with Denver.


2. Broncos LB Von Miller has collected 6.5 of his team-leading 11 sacks in his past six contests.


3. Cincinnati S Shawn Williams has recorded three of his club-best four interceptions in his last five games.


PREDICTION: Broncos 24, Bengals 20

Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Preview and Predictions 12-02-2018
NFL PREDICTIONS 29TH NOVEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


It was less than a month ago that the Carolina Panthers harbored hopes of overtaking the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South, owning a 6-2 record and riding a three-game winning streak. Things have since taken a dramatic turn for Carolina, which is trying to climb back into the playoff race entering Sunday's game at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.


It will mark a rematch of a Nov. 4 clash between the division rivals, when the Panthers rolled to a 42-28 victory for their third win of the row, but they proceeded to drop their next three to dim their playoff chances. "Just stick together. We still have five games left to go," Carolina coach Ron Rivera said of what his team's mindset needs to be. "We control it. Go out and play. You have to play to win." Tampa Bay ended a four-game slide behind its finest defensive performance of the season in a 27-9 victory over the San Francisco 49ers (as a -1.5 point favorite at intertops) last week. Ryan Fitzpatrick threw for four touchdowns in the loss to the Panthers, but Jameis Winston will make his second straight start for the Buccaneers.


TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Panthers -3.5 O/U: 54.5


ABOUT THE PANTHERS (6-5): Cam Newton had six touchdowns passes and zero interceptions during the three-game winning streak but has been picked off in each of the past three losses and had only 12 rushing attempts during the skid. Running back Christian McCaffrey had a monster game in last week's 30-27 loss to Seattle, amassing a franchise record 237 yards from scrimmage to go with two touchdowns, and also piled up 157 yards and two scores in the win over Tampa Bay last month. Rookie wide receiver DJ Moore has bolstered the passing game with 15 catches for 256 yards and a score in the past two games. Carolina's defense has allowed an average of 34 points in the past three.

ABOUT THE BUCCANEERS (4-7): Winston, who replaced Fitzpatrick earlier in the season only to be benched after his third start, threw for 312 yards with a pair of touchdowns and zero interceptions against the 49ers. "Jameis made good decisions with the football," Tampa Bay coach Dirk Koetter said. "Played a clean game. We had a good result." Wide receiver Mike Evans was held to one catch for 10 yards in the first meeting but has back-to-back 100-yard games. The Buccaneers, who have surrendered at least 30 points seven times, could receive a lift on defense with the potential return to the lineup of linebacker Lavonte David after a two-game absence due to a sprained MCL.


EXTRA POINTS


1. Carolina has won the past three meetings against Tampa Bay.


2. Buccaneers DE Jason Pierre-Paul has five sacks and a forced fumble in his last five home games.


3. Newton has thrown for 1,429 yards with 12 TDs and four interceptions in his last five road games.


PREDICTION: Panthers 30, Buccaneers 27

Cleveland Browns vs. Houston Texans Preview and Predictions 12-02-2018
NFL PREDICTIONS 29TH NOVEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


The Houston Texans are enjoying the longest winning streak in the AFC at eight consecutive games and are trying to position themselves for an AFC South title and a first-round bye in the playoffs. The Cleveland Browns, who visit the Texans on Sunday, are on the upswing as well and are winners of two straight behind rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield.


Houston is two games clear of the Indianapolis Colts (6-5) in the AFC South and only has one game remaining against an opponent with a winning record - at home against the Colts in Week 14 - as it sits tied with New England for the No. 2 spot in the AFC, though the Patriots own the head-to-head tiebreaker. "We just kind of started slow early on in the season," Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson told reporters. "We were just a couple of plays from being 3-0. It didn't fall our way, but we corrected those mistakes and made sure that we stayed on top of our game and kept grinding. And now we're sitting here at 8-3 and have an opportunity to do something special. ... And if we can do that, sky's the limit for us." Cleveland already matched the franchise's total of wins from the previous three seasons and continues to improve under interim coach Gregg Williams. "Our guys have done a very good job of realizing and capturing the moment, capturing the meeting and changing from walkthrough attitude to practice attitude and then from practice attitude to game attitude," Williams told reporters. "Then the execution, each and every space has to be faster and better. I have been pleased with them."


TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Texans -6 O/U: 47


ABOUT THE BROWNS (4-6-1): Mayfield was on fire in wins each of the last two weeks, combining to complete 36-of-46 passes for 474 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions. "As the experience continues, the comfortability grows," Mayfield told reporters. "Really nothing else to that. As I see more looks and more things, I'm going to be more comfortable. I just got to go out there and do my job." Mayfield benefits from an offensive line that did not allow a sack in either of the last two contests and a running game that features rookie Nick Chubb, who totaled 337 yards from scrimmage and four TDs in the last two games.

ABOUT THE TEXANS (8-3): Houston set a franchise record with 281 rushing yards in Monday's 34-17 drubbing of the Tennessee Titans (as the Texans were -3.5 point favorite at intertops), led by Lamar Miller's 162 yards on 12 carries. "(The running game) just opened up the whole offense," Watson told reporters. "The safeties get aggressive. The defense has to show what their hand is. That was the challenge tonight for our offensive line and the running backs to kind of set the run game and open up the pass game. That's what we did, and if the run game is clicking, we're going to make sure we're going to stay rolling with that momentum." Watson added 70 yards and a score on the ground to go with a pair of passing TDs and did not turn the ball over after tossing a pair of interceptions in the previous game.


EXTRA POINTS


1. The Texans activated LB Dylan Cole (wrist) off IR and waived LB Josh Keyes.


2. Cleveland DE Myles Garrett recorded at least one sack in four of the last five games.


3. Houston took the last four in the series, including a 33-17 home win last season.


PREDICTION: Texans 28, Browns 24

Los Angeles Rams vs. Detroit Lions Preview and Predictions 12-02-2018
NFL PREDICTIONS 29TH NOVEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


The Los Angeles Rams can wrap up their second straight NFC West Division title and stay in the hunt for the top overall seed in the conference when they visit the Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon. Los Angeles, which won its first eight games behind a high-powered offense, is coming off a bye that followed a pulsating 54-51 win over Kansas City in Week 11.


With back-to-back road games at Detroit and Chicago on deck, the Rams are trying not to get too preoccupied with potential seeding for the postseason. "We've got to find a way to get better. Those good teams really do that," coach Sean McVay said. "You've got to continue to get better if you expect to compete, but for us, that focus is on the Detroit Lions this week." Detroit has seen its playoff hopes fizzle over the past five weeks, falling to 1-4 in that span after a 23-16 loss to the Bears (as a +3 point underdog at intertops) on Thanksgiving Day. "Certainly the Rams are not going to feel sorry for us," Lions coach Matt Patricia said. "We just have to make sure we do a good job of doing everything we can to try to stop them."


TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Rams -10 O/U: 54.5


ABOUT THE RAMS (10-1): Todd Gurley, who fell to second in the league in rushing during the bye week, was hindered by an ankle injury and had a season-low 12 carries against Kansas City but McVay said he had a great practice Wednesday. Jared Goff threw for 413 yards and four touchdowns in the shootout against the Chiefs and has 14 scoring passes against one interception over his past five games. Brandin Cooks has bounced back from a quiet three-game stretch with three consecutive 100-yard games, hauling in 24 receptions in that span. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh returns to the city where he began his career but Aaron Donald is a bigger threat with an NFL-high 14.5 sacks.

ABOUT THE LIONS (4-7): After years of having one of the league's worst rushing attacks, Detroit finally had established a solid ground game before rookie Kerryon Johnson suffered a knee injury that will sideline him for a second straight game. LeGarrette Blount was brought out of mothballs to fill in for Johnson on Thanksgiving and responded by rushing for a season-high 88 yards and two touchdowns. Matthew Stafford has only three touchdown passes versus four interceptions over the past four games and is working with a depleted receiving corps led by Kenny Golladay. Nose tackle Damon Harrison has solidified a run defense that has yielded 148 yards in the last three games.


EXTRA POINTS


1. Cooks needs 36 yards to become the first player in NFL history with 1,000 yards for three different teams in three straight seasons.


2. Stafford has 12 touchdown passes and two interceptions in his last four games games versus NFL West foes.


3. Gurley, who has an NFL-best 17 TDs, has scored in his last seven road games.


PREDICTION: Rams 34, Lions 20

Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins Preview and Predictions 12-02-2018
NFL PREDICTIONS 29TH NOVEMBER 2018 BY GRACENOTE


The Miami Dolphins' fast start to the season has slowed to a crawl, answering a promising 3-0 start with losses in six of their past eight games. The Dolphins will look to reverse their current fortunes and avenge last season's sweep at the hands of the Buffalo Bills on Sunday when they welcome their AFC East rivals to Hard Rock Stadium.


"Finishing, man. As an offense, we got to finish. As a team, we got to finish," said running back Frank Gore, who watched Miami squander a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 27-24 setback in Indianapolis (as a +9 point underdog at intertops). The Dolphins hope the familiar surroundings of home will get them back on track, as they are 4-1 this season in South Florida and 15-6 in their last 21 contests. Buffalo returned from its bye week to win two in a row to keep afloat the pipe dream of back-to-back playoff berths, with rookie Josh Allen using his legs for a franchise-best 99 yards rushing by a quarterback and a team-leading fourth touchdown run in Sunday's 24-21 victory over Jacksonville. The seventh overall pick hasn't done much with his arm this season, throwing for over 200 yards on one occasion in seven outings heading into a tilt with a Miami defense that is 21st against the pass (258.2 yards).


TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Dolphins -4.5 O/U: 40


ABOUT THE BILLS (4-7): LeSean McCoy has made himself at home in the end zone against Miami, scoring seven touchdowns (five rushing, two receiving) in seven career encounters. While the Bills are averaging a pedestrian 3.95 yards per carry this season, the Dolphins have yielded an NFL fourth-worst 139.8 yards on the ground per game. Undrafted rookie Robert Foster reeled in a 75-yard touchdown reception versus the Jaguars and has five catches for 199 yards in the last two weeks. Fellow wideout Zay Jones, who leads the team in receptions (37), receiving yards (392) and receiving touchdowns (two), wasn't even targeted last week.

ABOUT THE DOLPHINS (5-6): Ryan Tannehill returned from a five-game absence due to a shoulder injury to throw for 204 yards and two touchdowns last week in Indianapolis, but he has fared far better at home. The 30-year-old has won each of his last seven starts and has thrown three-plus touchdowns in three of his past four games in Miami. The ageless Gore provides a potent punch out of the backfield, as the then-Colt gashed the Bills in his last meeting for 130 yards in December and faces a club that permitted a season-worst 226 yards rushing to Jacksonville on Sunday. Fellow running back Kenyan Drake scored twice last week (one rushing, one receiving) to give him five touchdowns in the past five games overall heading into a tilt with Buffalo, against which he found the end zone in a 24-16 setback on Dec. 17.


EXTRA POINTS


1. Buffalo S Jordan Poyer, who had an interception last week, sealed the team's first playoff berth since the 1999 season with a pick against Miami on New Year's Eve.


2. Dolphins CB Xavien Howard picked off Andrew Luck twice last week to boost his total to an NFL second-best five interceptions on the season.


3. The Bills signed Matt Darr and waived fellow P Colton Schmidt on Tuesday.


PREDICTION: Dolphins 20, Bills 17