Todays scaring midwestern fact of the day: I'm only about 2.5 hours from Omaha, Nebraska.

TB at ATL: Both of these teams will lose in the first round of the playoffs, but I just have no faith in the Buccaneers offense. Maybe I'm still thinking of the homosexual winking pirate on their old helmets. ATL

CAR at CHI: One of these teams has an offense and a defense, while one of them has a defense that relies on returning a missed field goals 108 yards for a touchdown to beat the worst team in the league. CAR

MIA at CLE: Miami looked good last week against the hapless New England defense, but bad teams often seem to have letdown games in situations like this, especially on the road. CLE

DET at DAL: The Lions may not be in the midst of a long winless road streak anymore, but I still can't bring myself to pick them away from their dome. DAL

JAX at TEN: When you have a 1-3 record at home, you know you're not going well. At least the #1 draft pick is well within reach. JAX

AZ at STL: Oh Rams, it's games like this that make you think you're a good team, when we all know better. STL

NO at NE: Calling the Patriots defense "patchwork" is an understatement at this point. It's pretty scary when you're actually glad to see your #3 wideout playing DB because it's an upgrade over the other available corners. NE

PHI at NYG: If the Giants hadn't lost this week, this would have been a perfect upset special. As it is, the Eagles are falling fast and the Giants are pissed. NYG

OAK at WAS: Weren't some people picking the Raiders to make the playoffs? Oh, preseason NFL previews, how you fail to see the obvious weaknesses in your quest to make daring picks. WAS

PIT at BAL: Tommy Maddox against a good defense? Nuh-uh. Upset special. BAL

SEA at SF: This is one of those games that the old Seahawks would lose. Have they really turned the corner? SEA

IND at CIN: Whenever it seems like the Bengals are poised to make the leap, they lose disappointingly. Sadly, this game will be no different. IND

NYJ at DEN: Is it just me or does it seem like Denver gets to play at home every week? It's not just me, this is their 6th home game of the year already. The slide is still coming, mark my words. DEN

BUF at SD: There is no possible way the Bills could possibly win this game, although with Marty Schottenheimer anything is possible. SD

KC at HOU: The Chiefs are the new Titans, I've lost all concept of whether they will win each week. This game will probably be closer than it should be. KC

MIN at GB: The Packers don't seem to be good enough to win 2 in a row, but then again neither do the Vikings. GB