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Gerry Dulac's NFL Forecast / Week 17
Saturday, December 30, 2006

Dulac's mark
Last week: 6-10
Season record: 145-95 (.604)

Steelers (7-8) at Cincinnati Bengals (8-7)
1 p.m., Paul Brown Stadium
The Skinny: Unlike the Steelers, the Bengals still retain some small measure of playoff life. Fittingly, Bill Cowher's final game could come against the team he has beaten the most (20).
Prediction: Bengals, 27-24


Detroit Lions (2-13) at Dallas Cowboys (9-6)
1 p.m., Texas Stadium
The Skinny: The Cowboys can still win the NFC East Division with a victory and a loss or tie by the Eagles. They will get the first half of the parlay.
Prediction: Cowboys, 34-12
Cleveland Browns (4-11) at Houston Texans (5-10)
1 p.m., Reliant Stadium
The Skinny: The Texans are finishing with a flurry, and have the hide of the Colts to prove it. The Browns, well, they are just finishing. The season, that is.
Prediction: Texans, 27-14
Jacksonville Jaguars (8-7) at Kansas City Chiefs (8-7)
1 p.m., Arrowhead Stadium
The Skinny: Both teams retain playoff possibilities, but each needs outside help, even with a victory. The Jaguars are 2-5 on the road and have the look of the Christmas holiday -- bye bye.
Prediction: Chiefs, 24-20
St. Louis Rams (7-8) at Minnesota Vikings (6-9)
1 p.m., Metrodome
The Skinny: Boy, the Vikings certainly can stop the run. Unfortunately, they can't do much of anything else. The Rams have won two in a row.
Prediction: Rams, 24-17
Carolina Panthers (7-8) at New Orleans Saints (10-5)
1 p.m., Louisiana Superdome
The Skinny: The Saints have tripled their victory total and went from worst to first in the NFC South Division in a year. Even with a first-round bye secured, they won't stop now.
Prediction: Saints, 30-17
Oakland Raiders (2-13) at New York Jets (9-6)
1 p.m., Giants Stadium
The Skinny: Which is the surest bet in sports -- the Jets will clinch a wild-card spot with a victory or the Raiders won't score a touchdown? Maybe both.
Prediction: Jets, 24-0
Seattle Seahawks (8-7) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-11)
1 p.m., Raymond James Stadium
The Skinny: Despite losing three in a row, the Seahawks still clinched the division title. Still, they're not exactly soaring into the playoffs.
Prediction: Seahawks, 23-17
New England Patriots (11-4) at Tennessee Titans (8-7)
1 p.m., LP Field
The Skinny: The Titans are the league's second-hottest team, winning six in a row and eight of the past 10. They could become the first 0-5 team in league history to make the playoffs.
Prediction: Titans, 24-23
Buffalo Bills (7-8) at Baltimore Ravens (12-3)
4:15 p.m., M&T Bank Stadium
The Skinny: Fresh off another stomping of the Steelers, the Ravens can get a first-round bye with a victory. Either way, they are headed to San Diego for the AFC title game.
Prediction: Ravens, 24-7
San Francisco 49ers (6-9) at Denver Broncos (9-6)
4:15 p.m., Invesco Field at Mile High
The Skinny: Jay Cutler has won two in a row and is starting to settle in as the Broncos quarterback. One more victory and he'll have to worry about playoff jitters.
Prediction: Broncos, 30-17
Miami Dolphins (6-9) at Indianapolis Colts (11-4)
4:15 p.m., RCA Dome
The Skinny: After a 10-0 start, the Colts have lost four of their past five and are looking like an early playoff exit. Looks like Peyton Manning's postseason record will slip to 3-7.
Prediction: Colts, 24-14
Atlanta Falcons (7-8) at Philadelphia Eagles (9-6)
4:15 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field
The Skinny: If it wasn't for Sean Payton in New Orleans, Andy Reid should be the NFC's coach of the year. And Jeff Garcia should get some kind of Rolaids award.
Prediction: Eagles, 24-6
Arizona Cardinals (5-10) at San Diego Chargers (13-2)
4:15 p.m., Qualcomm Stadium
The Skinny: The Chargers have won nine in a row and appear headed for the Super Bowl. A victory guarantees all of their playoff games in San Diego.
Prediction: Chargers, 41-10
Green Bay Packers (7-8) at Chicago Bears (13-2)
8:15 p.m., Soldier Field
The Skinny: It's downright amazing the Packers even have a chance to still make the playoffs. That, though, will disappear shortly after kickoff.
Prediction: Bears, 30-6
First published on December 30, 2006 at 12:00 am