Clearly an off-week for the Furnace last weekend as the Dolphins ‘Walk-Off’ safety in their OT win over the Bengals, and the Jets upsetting of the Saints, both did us in. It seems we’re a lot like the Jets; doing well in odd weeks and poorly in even ones which should bring us some success this week.

*Home team in CAPS

Bills over the STEELERS- These are two pretty bad teams with just 5 wins between them after nine weeks of football. We’re picking the Bills because their defense (which did not allow the 9-0 Chiefs one offensive touchdown last week) is better than the Steelers. Big Ben has thrown nine interceptions and has been sacked 31 times this season. The Steelers gave up 55 points to the Patriots last week, 34 to the Vikings and 40 to the Bears earlier in the year. E.J. Manuel returns on Sunday which is another plus for Buffalo.

#7 Ben Roethlisberger getting sacked earlier in the season, one of 31 so far, will face a Bills defense that got to seldom-sacked Alex Smith twice last week. Photo: Tom Uhlman/AP

 Bengals over the RAVENS- The Bengals should have won their fifth game in a row on Halloween but instead took a heartbreaking OT loss at the hands of the Dolphins on a safety. Tough game to call this week as the Bengals are on the road and are dealing with the losses of MLB Rey Manualuga and DL Geno Adkins. Since they will have a full 10 days in between games, Cincy should be more rested and prepared for Sunday’s contest.

COLTS over the Rams-  Another tough game as the Colts have not been overpowering in their wins of late taking their last three by six, six, and three points. However they have wins against some top caliber teams including Denver, S.F., and Seattle to their credit and frankly in a game that pits Andrew Luck against Kellen Clemens, we’ll go with Luck…

49ERS over the Panthers- Carolina has been a force winning their last four in a row as Cam Newton, a former 1st overall pick, has reminded us of how explosive a quarterback he can be after a stunning 2012-’13 season. The 49ers who have a five game winning streak of their own have put up 35-34-32-31-and 42 points in those five. It will be a challenge for the Panthers to put up those kind of numbers against a defense as stingy as S.F.’s.

Texans over the CARDINALS- Case Keenum, third string backup to Matt Schaub, has been the most exciting thing to happen in Houston since the Rockets had the Twin Towers, Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon, both playing back in the 80’s! Keenum and the Texans almost defeated the Colts and the Chiefs in his two games, losing them both by a combined 4 points. In the two games Keenum has started, the  25 year old threw for 621 yards, had 4 touchdowns, 0 INTs and a 118.0 QB rating. He will be the reason the Texans will snap their six-game losing streak this Sunday.

#7 2nd year undrafted QB Case Keenum has a cannon for an arm throwing for at leat 25 yards five times in his only two games. AP Photo