Super matchup
Every Sunday we offer two picks to reach Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium on Feb. 1, plus a quick look at the trending teams: TOP NFC TEAM Cowboys: No change from last week, although the Packers are a tempting pick and we’re closely tracking the Eagles and Cardinals. But the Cowboys are super hot right now and should win their seventh straight game Monday night against Washington. TOP AFC TEAM Broncos: There really isn’t another AFC team out there that deserves top billing over these guys. The Broncos are the perfect blend at the moment and they’re going to get only better as the season progresses. The Colts, Ravens and Chargers might appear to be knocking on the door, but they are a notch or two below Denver.
Spinning up
1. Patriots: They’re stacking wins, but they’re losing key players every week. I still like their chances, but attrition could wipe out the work they’ve done to get to 5-2. 2. Lions: They should win their third straight when they meet the Falcons in London and can keep pace with the Packers in the NFC North. 3. Eagles: They can beat you several different ways and are scoring plenty of points. How will they handle one of the better defenses in the league in the Cardinals?
Spiraling down
1. Bengals: Are 0-2-1 after a 3-0 start and they face a very good Ravens team. The only bright spot is the schedule gets a lot easier after this game. 2. Bears: I don’t put much stock into the alleged infighting going on in Chicagoland. But there are problems with the Bears. The offense is spotty and the defense is a sieve. 3. Chargers: Need to make a splash trade and find a running back. The Chargers have the league’s fourth-worst rushing attack and have the second-fewest rushing touchdowns. sniff at 100 yards this season. They are the only team in the league yet to allow 100 rushing yards by an opposing team.If they can do that again, they will become the first team since the 2010 Steelers to hold opponents to fewer than100 rushing yards through the first seven weeks.