Minnesota Vikings at New [Jersey] Giants

All year, the Giants have consistantly appeared to be the most balanced and complete team in the NFC, but at the same time it has been pointed out that they're secondary is adequate at best, and also how while they could easily dominate rush or defense oriented teams such as Philedelphia, Tampa Bay, New Orleans, etc. they have consistantly had trouble with teams that had deep pass threats such as St. Louis and Minnesota. Put simply, Minnesota matches up perfectly with the Giants weaknesses. Even if they managed to double or triple cover Randy Moss and Cris Carter, you must remember that it really doesn't make a difference, because merely adequate backs cannot cover Hall of Fame caliber recievers, even with numbers. As far as the Giants Offense-Vikings Defense matchup goes, the vikings should be able to at least hold the giants off well enough to win. Look for Carter to have a career game by the way, simply because he has the Eye of The Tiger.

FINAL WORD
Minnesota 34
New [Jersey] 20

Baltimore Ravens at Oakland

As much hype as the ravens have gained through thier defense and special teams starring Prisoner No 666... I mean Ray Lewis, the Ravens have appeared to be unstopable to some, but what is most overlooked is thier seemingly complete absence of an offesnse. If there was no defense allowing only 5 pts a game, and no special teams starting them off at the opponents 15 yard line every kickoff, they'd be nowhere. And we all know, that no team can go the whole way to a super bowl win using only defense, simply because sooner or later, that defense will collapse in a humiliating loss. That loss will be this weekend as they take on the red-hot oakland raiders, just coming off a ROUT of the miami dolphins, a team that was frequently refeered to as having one of the toughest defenses in the NFL, as well as a potent offense to boot. The Ravens luck has to run out, and it will this weekend. Expect the Ravens offense to be completly shut down as the raiders will take out Dilfer early to injury en route to a raiders rout.

FINAL WORD
Baltimore 7
Oakland 21