NFL capsules

By JOANNE KORTH, Times Staff Writer
Published December 30, 2007

Matchup, The scoop, Korth's pick

Bucs (9-6) vs. Panthers (6-9)

Time: 1 p.m., Ch. 13

Line, O/U: Panthers by 3, 36, By about midway through the first quarter, it will be hard to find a marquee player on the field for either team. In hopes of getting healthy for next week's wild-card game against the Giants, the Bucs will keep quarterback Jeff Garcia, left, and most of their star players on the sideline. The injury-riddled Panthers don't have many star players left. A 10-win season would be nice for Tampa Bay but not enough to risk a serious injury.

Panthers 20, Bucs 13

Saints (7-8) at Bears (6-9)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line, O/U: Saints by by 1 1/2, 40, This rematch of last season's NFC Championship Game lacks punch now that the Bears have fallen prey to the curse of the Super Bowl loser, failing to make the playoffs the next season. New Orleans has a slim chance of being the NFC's final wild-card team but needs Washington and Minnesota to lose. Brian Urlacher, left, and Chicago's defense, which held New Orleans to 14 points in January, has played well the past two weeks.

Bears 23, Saints 17

Seattle (10-5) at Falcons (3-12)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line, O/U: Pick, 38, Seattle could have done without this long road trip the week before the playoffs, but coach Mike Holmgren, left, likely will rest his key players. Last season, Holmgren played his starters in a meaningless finale at Tampa Bay in hopes of gaining playoff momentum, only to lose two top secondary players to injuries. Atlanta continues to play with pride through a controversial season and should beat Seattle's backups.

Falcons 24, Seahawks 13

Jaguars (11-4) at Texans (7-8)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line, O/U: Texans by 6 1/2, 41, Jacksonville is locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC, headed to San Diego or Pittsburgh for a wild-card game. Coach Jack Del Rio, left, has been coy about whether he will play his starters, but in the same position two years ago, he rested them. The Texans need one win to set a franchise record for victories in a season, so they will be inspired to play well in their final home game. Too bad the Jaguars' running game and Texans' defense won't meet at full strength.

Texans 20, Jaguars 13

Bengals (6-9) at Dolphins (1-14)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line, O/U: Bengals by 2 1/2, 45, Don't be surprised if the Dolphins, two weeks after getting their first win, finish with another. Hey, it's not like they can blow having the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. And the introduction of Bill Parcells, left, likely will provided an energy boost. The Bengals pulled off an inspired win last week against the rival Browns but have absolutely nothing to play for in the South Florida heat.

Dolphins 21, Bengals 17

Bills (7-8) at Eagles (7-8)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line, O/U: Eagles by 8, 37 1/2, Watch for both these teams to be tough in 2008. But at the close of 2007, the Eagles seem to have more left in the tank than the injury-depleted Bills. And there are rumors quarterback Donovan McNabb, left, will be on the offseason trading block, possibly headed to his hometown of Chicago after wearing out his welcome with Philadelphia fans. If that's true, he'll want to finish with a flourish. The winner gets to .500.

Eagles 27, Bills 10

Lions (7-8) at Packers (12-3)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line, O/U: Packers by 5, 39, Six weeks ago, this looked like a clash of playoff-bound NFC North rivals. Oh, well. The Packers are locked into the No. 2 seed, and the Lions are limping to the finish, having lost six of their past seven. Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre, left, who did not look sharp in last week's loss at Chicago, might play a series or two. But with a first-round bye and a home game guaranteed, little from today's game will carry over into the postseason.

Packers 21, Lions 17

49ers (5-10) at Browns (9-6)

Time: 1 p.m.

Line, O/U: Browns by 12, 40 1/2, This is the first of two games that could affect the AFC playoff picture. The Browns, after losing at home last week to the Bengals, no longer control their destiny but can grab the final wild card with a win or tie combined with a Titans loss or tie against the Colts. The 49ers are playing out the string but have not given up under coach Mike Nolan, left, whose job could be saved by a strong finish. After caving under pressure last week, Cleveland quarterback Derek Anderson will lead his team to a victory.

Browns 24, 49ers 17

Vikings (8-7) at Broncos (6-9)

Time: 4:15 p.m., Ch. 13

Line, O/U: Vikings by 3, 41 1/2 , Minnesota no longer controls its destiny in the race for the final NFC wild card after last week's loss to Washington but can get in with a win and a Redskins loss. The running game, which sparked a five-game Vikings win streak, has struggled in December, putting too much pressure on young quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, left. But the Broncos have allowed a league-high 399 points this season.

Vikings 28, Broncos 17

Cowboys (13-2) at Redskins (8-7)

Time: 4:15 p.m.

Line, O/U: Redskins by 9, 39, Washington has won three straight and enters today as the frontrunner for the NFC's final wild card. A win against the archrival Cowboys puts Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs' team in the postseason, a remarkable story given the midseason adversity the team faced with the slaying of safety Sean Taylor. Dallas has no incentive to play its starters, which means the Redskins likely will win their third straight with backup quarterback Todd Collins, left, at the helm.

Redskins 24, Cowboys 14

Steelers (10-5) at Ravens (4-11)

Time: 4:15 p.m., Ch. 10

Line, O/U: Steelers by 3, 34 1/2, Pittsburgh is limping into the postseason. Running back Willie Parker was lost to a broken leg, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger likely will not play today because of a sprained ankle. The defense remains ranked No. 1 in the league in total yards but has given up several big plays the past three games. Of course, the Ravens, losers of nine straight, might not be good enough to take advantage. In the battle of backup quarterbacks, Pittsburgh's Charlie Batch, left, rates higher than Baltimore rookie Troy Smith.

Steelers 21, Ravens 10

Chargers (10-5) at Raiders (4-11)

Time: 4:15 p.m.

Line, O/U: Chargers by 8 1/2, 42, The Chargers have won five straight and can clinch the AFC's No. 3 seed with a victory. Why does that matter? The No. 3 seed avoids a second-round game in New England, though traveling to Indianapolis is small consolation. Of course, the Chargers must first win a wild-card game, something it was unable to do under coach Marty Schottenheimer. It took awhile, but San Diego has finally made the transition to Norv Turner, left, and his staff.

Chargers 31, Raiders 6

Rams (3-12) at Cardinals (7-8)

Time: 4:15 p.m.

Line, O/U: Cardinals by 6, 48, Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner, left, continues to make a case for being allowed to compete for the starting job next season when Matt Leinart returns from a broken collarbone. The Cardinals have scored 20-plus points in seven straight games, the longest streak since 1984, and Warner has thrown for 3, 000 yards for the fourth time in his career. The Rams can chalk up a dismal 2007 to injuries and hope for good health in the new year.

Cardinals 27, Rams 10

Chiefs (4-11) at Jets (3-12)

Time: 4:15 p.m.

Line, O/U: Jets by 6, 34, This is the worst game of the day, by far. Kansas City coach Herm Edwards faces his former team without running back Larry Johnson or a quality quarterback. His team has lost eight straight. For New York, quarterback Kellen Clemens, left, has one last chance to prove to the Jets front office he can be the quarterback of the future, ending Chad Pennington's stormy tenure. If Edwards' old team beats his new team, both will finish 4-12. Ach.

Jets 27, Chiefs 13

Titans (9-6) at Colts (13-2)

Time: 8:15 p.m., Ch. 8

Line, O/U: Titans by 5, 39, The final game of the regular season will decide the final playoff berth in the AFC. If the Titans win, they're in. The Colts, locked into the No. 2 seed in the AFC, have nothing to play for. Coach Tony Dungy, left, puts the health of his team heading into the playoffs above all else, so despite having a chance to go 6-0 in the AFC South, he likely will not play quarterback Peyton Manning and Co. beyond the first quarter. Tennessee typically plays Indianapolis close when the two are at full strength, with the past three meetings decided by a combined six points.

Titans 20, Colts 14

[Last modified December 29, 2007, 23:38:42]