Last Week: 10-5

Seattle Seahawks (5-1) at Arizona Cardinals (3-3)

It doesn’t even matter that this team is at home, Arizona cannot beat Seattle. And I’m happy to make that call. Carson Palmer has the second worse QBR of all players this year to have started more than 3 games (Eli is last), while Russell Wilson is in the top 10. Palmer has thrown 11 interceptions, and now faces a defence tied for first with 10 interceptions. A cheeky spot bet on 2 or more turnovers in Seattle’s favour may be a go-er.

Wildcard’s Pick: Seahawks by 10

St Louis Rams (3-3) at Carolina Panthers (2-3)

As usual the Panthers proved me wrong last week. Thus I fully expect to jinx them when I pick them to topple the dodgy Rams this week. Sam Bradford’s doing well for St Louis but he’s got nothing much to work with.

Wildcard’s Pick: Panthers by 7

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-5) at Atlanta Falcons (1-4)

What a depressing bye week for Atlanta. They already trail New Orleans by 4 wins. Now with Julio Jones done for the season, it’s all garbage time from herein. They don’t seem like the kind of team to tank the rest of the year, so they can probably recover some parity with a 6-10 or so season. But with this defence and with a hobbling Roddy White and an aging Tony Gonzalez as their only recognised receivers, it can’t get much better than that. Luckily Tampa Bay sucks much worse, so it’ll be at least one more week before fans are forced to accept how bad Atlanta is. It’s a shame that Tony Gonzalez is stuck on this Falcons team, having delayed his retirement for a shot at the Superbowl. I guess he could always ask for a trade (return to KC, anyone?).

Wildcard’s Pick: Falcons by 7

Dallas Cowboys (3-3) at Philadelphia Eagles (3-3)

In the NFC East, more than anywhere else, division games are gonna decide everything, since it’s not at all unlikely that all four teams go 4-6 or worse outside the East. Dallas and Philly are both 2-0 in interdivisionals, so this is a huge game, with massive playoff implications (though potentially not as much so as their week 17 clash at Jerry World). Nick Foles will start for the Eagles, which after his dominating show in Tampa suddenly doesn’t look like such a bad thing. Foles was pretty good against Dallas in relief of Vick last season though lost both games. There should be plenty of points scored here. Dallas will miss ironman DaMarcus Ware (supposing he doesn’t make a miraculous recovery – I wouldn’t count it out!) and especially RB DeMarco Murray. But Tony Romo has been lights out in 2013, and I just don’t think Foles can keep up on the scoreboard.

Wildcard’s Pick: Dallas by 13

Cincinnati Bengals (4-2) at Detroit Lions (4-2)

Neither of these teams are quite at the standard they should be at, and it’s probably down to a pair of underperforming QBs. Stafford because Calvin Johnson’s been banged up, Dalton because, well, he’s just not all that. Cincinnati does however have the definite advantage on defence. It’s a really difficult one to forecast a winner in, so I’m gonna side with personal preference and home field advantage.

Wildcard’s Pick: Lions by 3

Chicago Bears (4-2) at Washington Professional Football Team (1-4)

The Bears aren’t what they used to be on defence, but their offence has improved oughta sight with Jay Cutler’s 2013 form, and the emergence of Alshon Jeffery alongside Brandon Marshall at wideout. The Washington R******s defence is just an open gate to the endzone right now, so both those men should have big games. And I’m pretty stoked at having picked up Cutler for my fantasy team on Drew Brees’ bye week. Pretty goddamn stoked.

Wildcard’s Pick: Bears by 10

San Diego Chargers (3-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (0-6)

You never know with San Diego. It could be the Chargers motto, that. They haven’t had a winning or losing streak of over 1 game in 2013. They torch Dallas, then lose to Oakland, then beat Indianapolis. Jacksonville had themselves a moral victory by covering the line against Denver. On paper, there is no way that the Jaguars can win this. But the Chargers are just impossible to pin down.

Wildcard’s Pick: Playin’ it safe with a 10 point Chargers win

Buffalo Bills (2-4) at Miami Dolphins (3-2)

Coming off the bye, the Dolphins should be up for this one, despite the disappointment of their loss to New Orleans two weeks back. Ryan Tannehill needs better protection – he’s been sacked more than any other QB this season (24 times) – but their defence is strong and they have a great set of WRs. Buffalo, meanwhile, go through quarterbacks like Rob Ryan through a cheeseburger. I’m all in on the Dolphins this year to make the playoffs.

Wildcard’s Pick: Dolphins by 10

New England Patriots (5-1) at New York Jets (3-3)

Let’s be honest, the Jets just don’t beat New England. In fact the Pats are on a 5 game winning streak against them. Tom Brady has won 18 of 23 vs the Jets. Oh, and Rob Gronkowski should be back. All this and the momentum and belief gained by beating the Saints how they did and I think the Pats are a lock in.

Wildcard’s Pick: Patriots by 8

San Francisco 49ers (4-2) at Tennessee Titans (3-3)

It looks like San Fran is getting back on track now. Colin Kaepernick is still a young quarterback, and he struggles to throw under pressure and in the pocket, but he’s slowly figuring it out. Tennessee is going the other way. It’s a shame because they have a solid team – though Kenny Britt seems likely to be traded soon – but the Jake Locker injury has set them back immensely. Hopefully he returns before it’s all too late for the Titans.

Wildcard’s Pick: 49ers by 12

Baltimore Ravens (3-3) at Pittsburgh Steelers (1-4)

Man, I knew I shoulda picked the Steelers last week, but I was suckered in by the momentum of the Jets and that ugly ‘0’ next to the Steelers name. Well, both of those things are history now. Baltimore is another team trying to recapture old form. They’ve got many problems, but nothing compares to Pittsburgh’s offensive line issues. And guess what, they get to (try to) block Terrell Suggs this week.

Wildcard’s Pick: Ravens by 7

Cleveland Browns (3-3) at Green Bay Packers (3-2)

Yeah, umm, with Brandon Weeden at QB, it doesn’t matter how many Green Bay receivers are out injured. Green Bay seems to have even found a running game now too, thanks to rookie Eddie Lacy. Aaron Rodgers ought to have the measure of the Cleveland D, and Jordy Nelson, as the Last Man Standing, should have a big game.

Wildcard’s Pick: Packers by 14

Houston Texans (2-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-0)

The thing with Houston is that not only are they giving up turnovers at a stupid rate, but they aren’t getting them on defence either. Only the Steelers (who didn’t have a single turnover until last week) are worse. TJ Yates < Matt Schaub, too, so there’s no quick fix for Houston. They can forget about the Superbowl, just finishing 8-8 will be a stretch from here. Kansas City haven’t quite convinced me that they can make a Superbowl run either, they seem more like a team built to grind out regular season wins. The kind of team that loses narrowly in the first round of the postseason. You know, the team that Houston was the past few seasons.

Wildcard’s Pick: KC by 7

Denver Broncos (6-0) at Indianapolis Colts (4-2)

So I suppose the talking point here is Peyton Manning’s return to Indianapolis? Hell yeah it is. This has been one of the most highly anticipated games all season. Philip Rivers joked about it in his postmatch press conference last week. There’s so much to talk about here. But homecoming festivities aside, these are two great teams, and this should be one great match. Luck missed his chance to make a splash in front of a nationally syndicated audience last week, but gets another chance here. Denver has all the options on attack, but defensively they actually have struggled a lot. They’ve given up the most yards in the league. Part of that is because they shoot out to such big leads that teams have to go for it just to stay within range, but it’s a weak link that could be exposed down the line. Let’s see how Andy’s lads fare. This is Denver’s toughest test yet.

Wildcard’s Pick: You need more than just Luck against Peyton. And nobody wins more in this city than The Sherriff. Denver by 7

Minnesota Vikings (1-4) at New York Giants (0-6)

The Vikes will start their third QB in the last 4 games here: Mr Joshua Tyler Freeman. I have high hopes for him in Minnesota, since he brings a deep threat not seen on this team since Brett Favre. Yeah, his accuracy is piss-poor, but Adrian Peterson is the go to man on short & medium yardage plays anyway. And being able to get the ball in behind defensive backs will create more room for short passes anyway. The New York Giants are trash, but they might be the best 0-6 team in history. Did anyone catch David Wilson and Rueben Randle’s mock twitter beef, by the way? It’s nice to see them treating abysmal failure so light-heartedly.

Wildcard’s Pick: Minnesota rides the wave of change with a 6 point win. Remains to be seen if Freeman will be the long term answer, though

BYE: Oakland Raiders (2-4), New Orleans Saints (5-1)

The Wildcard is a staff writer for The Niche Cache. You may remember him from such other sports articles as ‘Prime Time Rhyme: The Musical Career of Deion Sanders’, ‘It Wasn’t Me: The Life and Times of Ray Lewis’ and his ill-fated work of phrophecy: ‘Stop the Clocks – It’s Tebow Time!’