Games to Watch - Week 15 Paul Joyce, Fantasy Football Senior Staff Writer Dec 12, 2003 | More

Last week, winter arrived with the first weekend in December.  That snow game in Foxboro was a blast to watch.  I have to imagine it was even more fun to be at the game.  Getting to the stadium and back home in one piece was probably another story.  Lots of great football on tv last week.  The schedule makers set it up and the teams delivered.  Even the Sunday Night Atlanta-Carolina game turned out to be good.

While the schedule makers may have missed out on the back-to-back homer this week, there’s plenty of good football available.  A lot of playoff positions could be decided this week and whether your fantasy league starts its playoffs this week or next, this week’s games have huge implications from a fantasy perspective.  But we don’t care about any of that here.  We’re just going to talk about the games that will be fun to watch.  Let’s see which games may or may not bring you joy this weekend…

Top Shelf

Atlanta at Indianapolis                               Sun. December 14 @ 1:00pm ET on CBS

Summary:  These two QB’s couldn’t be any more different…but they’re both a lot of fun to watch.

Hot Tip:  Mike Vanderjagt.  Seriously, with Manning, James, and Harrison around, he hasn’t gone wrong all year.

I hope Michael Vick said Hey to Dan Reeves as they met in the doorway.  Too bad they won’t get to finish the year out together.  I don’t blame Reeves for leaving now.  Anyhow, with Vick back, the Colts’ job of winning the division this weekend becomes that much more difficult.  They’re at the RCA Dome but that will play to Vick’s style.  We’ll certainly see how sure he is of that leg this weekend when he’s making cuts on the carpet.

The Colts just keep rolling on.  Their defense has slipped in recent weeks but the offense is more than capable of keeping them in any game.  That’s why this one’ll be fun to watch.  Both QB’s are capable of dialing up some offense whenever it’s needed.  Whichever one performs without turning the ball over will take home this W.

Also on Tap

Seattle at St. Louis                                      Sun. December 14 @ 1:00pm ET on Fox

Summary:  Plenty of playoff implications in this one.

Hot Tip:  Let’s see how Matt Hasselbeck responds to the beating they took in Minnesota last week.

The Progno gives this game the High Scoring Game of the Week honors.  That alone is enough reason to watch this game.  Marshall Faulk is riding a 4-game 100+ yards rushing streak and the Rams have won 12 in a row at home while Seattle has lost 5 in a row on the road.  However, Seattle has beaten the Rams in their last to matchups and have a lot more to lose in this one.

Minnesota held the Seahawks to one touchdown last week.  That certainly won’t take it this week either.  Hasselbeck will need to find his way into the end zone early and often to keep up with the Greatest Show on Turf.  Note: it pains me to stoop to using that stupid name for the Rams offense but it just seems to flow in that sentence.  Anyway, this is the game you don’t want to miss.

Philadelphia at Miami                                  Mon. December 15 @ 9:00pm ET on ABC

Summary:  The best quality matchup on both sides of the ball this week.

Hot Tip: Corell Buckhalter hasn’t gotten a whole lot of headlines this year but he’s gotten the job done.

The Eagles are flying high into Miami on an 8-game winning streak.  A huge win over Dallas last week puts them in control of their division and a good shot at the #1 spot in the NFC.  Miami is no longer in control of their destiny.  After losing to New England last week, they need to win out and get some help from either Tennessee or Denver to get a wildcard spot.

Both of these teams want this one and the MNF folks will be happy in the end.  Jay Fiedler is listed as Questionable (knee) but says he’ll play.  Make no mistake about it, though.  This will be the Ricky Williams show.  Philly’s D has had a lot of trouble stopping the run and Ricky Williams is already salivating.  Donovan McNabb picked up NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors last week and is playing his best football of the year.  Tune in to see which one of them will wind up on the horse trailer.