Here are previews of the Tampa Bay Bucaneers', Miami Dolphins' and Jacksonville Jaguars' games Sunday:
BUCS AT COLTS, 1 p.m.
Two 5-5 teams. Bucs coach Lovie Smith actually used the word playoffs this week. He says his team is in the hunt. Well the Bucs are. Who would have thought it? The Bucs demolished the Eagles 45-17. Quarterback Jameis Winston threw five touchdowns and running back Doug Martin ran for 235 yards. The defense held the Eagles offense in check. Heck, even defensive tackle Gerald McCoy had a sack. Indianapolis will have quarterback 40-year-old Matt Hasselbeck starting again. Hasselbeck wasn’t bad, throwing for 213 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-21 win over the slumping Atlanta Falcons. The Bucs better hope it doesn’t come down to a field goal. Adam Vinatieri, the oldest player in the NFL at 42, nailed a 43-yard field goal with less than a minute to go to seal the deal for the Colts. Hasselbeck is 3-0 as a starter, filling in for the injured Andrew Luck.
DOLPHINS AT JETS, 1 p.m.
Miami (4-6) ran into the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday, er Tony Romo. Romo coming back from a collarbone injury, threw two for touchdowns and ended the Cowboys seven-game losing streak. The Dolphins did pick off Romo twice, but Romo was able to overcome that. The Cowboys were able to run on the Dolphins. “We didn’t do a good enough job in that area,” said Miami defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, according to ESPN. “That’s pretty much as simple as it gets.” Miami hurt itself, committing nine penalties. The Jets (5-5) did not look good in a 24-17 loss to the Houston Texans. “Revis Island," the Jets' all world corner Darrelle Revis, was burned for a touchdown, and Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said he didn’t play well. If the Dolphins are to make any kind of a run for a wildcard spot, they cannot lose this game Sunday.
JAGUARS VS. CHARGERS, 1 p.m.
The Jaguars are on a two game winning streak. Two games, no big deal, right? Well, the Jags haven’t won two games in a row since December 2013. Get this: The Jags (4-6) have won three of their last four, and believe it or not, are in the AFC South race. Seriously. Indianapolis and Houston are tied for the division lead with the Jags a game back. The Jaguars defense confused Titans rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota. Mariota was sacked four times. Before Jag fans start saving for playoff tickets, remember that Jacksonville couldn’t score on its first three times in the red zone, having to settle for field goals. Quarterback Blake Bortles had to be treated, during the game for dehydration. The Chargers (2-8) are bad. Plain and simple. San Diego has lost six straight. Last Sunday, the Chargers were beaten in their house 33-3 by the Chiefs. Quarterback Philip Rivers had his worst game of the season, going 19 of 30 for only 178 yards. The Chargers are a mess after a sideline confrontation between Rivers and his tight end Antonio Gates. The Jags should be able to take advantage of this and they’re at home.