In week 14, I posted a 3-1 mark with my picks for the AFC South Division. I correctly predicted that both the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans would lose their games while the Houston Texans would beat the Cincinnati Bengals. It would have been a perfect week if not for the Jaguars pummeling the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 41-14. However three out of four is still respectable and I’m hoping to duplicate my success with the games for week 15.

Houston Texans vs. Carolina Panthers:

Last week, the Texans clinched their first playoff berth in team history with a 20-19 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Despite the rash of injuries during the season, the Texans have continued to roll. Rookie quarterback T.J. Yates played well last week, throwing for 300 yards along with two touchdowns. While Arian Foster (15 carries, 41 yards) and Ben Tate (8 carries, 67 yards) did not have great games last week, they did just enough to complement the passing game.

The Texans have also been playing pretty good defense this season and I think they will do a good job of containing both Cam Newton and Steve Smith. With that being said, I am picking the Texans to notch their 11th victory of the season.

Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colts:

Both teams are coming off losses in week 14. The Titans played the New Orleans Saints close before falling 22-17 while the Colts extended their losing streak to 13 games with a 24-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The Colts’ 0-13 record is the primary reason why I’m picking the Titans this week. The second reason is because of the play of quarterback Jake Locker. He picked up the offensive slack last week throwing for 282 yards and a touchdown, while Chris Johnson rushed for only 23 yards on 11 carries.

While the Colts have been competitive in a few of their games this year, their overall play on defense has been pretty bad. Based on that premise, the Titans’ quarterbacks should have a good game regardless of who plays and Johnson should bounce back this week as well.

Please note – this article was written following the Jacksonville Jaguars’ loss to the Atlanta Falcons, which is why this game was not included.

James Tillman is a resident of the Chicago-land area who has been an NFL fan for over 20 years. James is also a fan blogger on Yahoo Sports and NJFFL Dynasty. For interesting discussions about the NFL, NBA and MLB, follow him on Twitter @jtillman9693.

Sources:

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green practiced Wednesday for the first time since hyperextending his right knee on Nov. 13 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Green is still day to day, but said he was cautiously optimistic about a return to the field on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns after sitting out the Bengals’ 31-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

“Playing football people get hurt, but I hope we can be back this week,” Green told the Bengals’ team website.

Tight end Donald Green (foot) also returned to practice after missing the last two games. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap (hamstring) did not practice.

BALTIMORE –

All those stirring comebacks and down-to-the-wire finishes won’t mean a thing if the Cincinnati Bengals can’t find a way to play a complete game against a tough opponent.

They didn’t do it against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, absorbing a 31-24 defeat and squandering an opportunity to move into a first-place tie in the AFC North.

Instead, the Bengals were again left wondering what went wrong. One week after rallying from a 14-0 deficit before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati came up short in an effort to climb out of a 17-point hole against Baltimore.

And now, the Bengals (6-4) are in third place behind the Steelers (7-3) and Ravens (7-3).

“In my mind, we’re better than those teams,” tight end Jermaine Gresham said. “They’re great teams and everything, but I think big mistakes killed (us) in some areas. We just have to get better. We will get better.”

The need to play a full 60 minutes against elite competition was a constant refrain in a quiet Cincinnati dressing room, where players lamented their inability to compensate for untimely mistakes and voiced a sense that they could perform at a higher level.

“It comes down to the fourth quarter,” said rookie quarterback Andy Dalton, whose would-be game-tying drive stalled at the Baltimore 17. “That’s how every game’s been for us. We’ve got to start faster. We can’t wait around until the end of the game to pick it up, come out and get back in it. It’s definitely going to be a focus for us.”

Bengals defensive tackle Domata Peko added, “We played a good game today, but we didn’t finish. Usually, we finish. We need to finish.”

Joe Flacco threw for 270 yards and two touchdowns, rookie Torrey Smith had six catches for 165 yards, and the Ravens won despite playing without injured middle linebacker Ray Lewis, who was inactive with a toe injury.

Baltimore yielded 483 yards and let Dalton throw for 373, but the defense picked off three passes made big plays when it counted most. After Ravens running back Ray Rice was stuffed on a third-and-1 with just over two minutes left, he remained confident.

“I just looked at the clock and I said, `Our defense will get it done,”‘ he recalled. “That’s the faith I have in our guys.”

Down 31-24, Cincinnati reached the Baltimore 7 before Terrell Suggs collared Dalton, who was called for intentional grounding. On fourth-and-goal, Dalton was sacked by Pernell McPhee.

The Bengals needed seven points because on the previous series, an apparent 9-yard touchdown pass from Dalton to Jermaine Gresham was overturned by a replay that determined the receiver didn’t hold onto the ball at the end of a juggling catch. Cincinnati settled for a field goal with 5:32 remaining.

“When the receiver went to the ground, he had the ball in his right hand,” referee Ron Winter said. “The ball touched the ground and his hand came off the ball.”

Baltimore is locked in a first-place tie with Pittsburgh in the AFC North, but the Ravens own the tiebreaker by virtue of their two wins over the Steelers.

“No. 1 in the division, that’s huge,” Suggs said. “Now we’re the master of our destiny.”

Dalton went 24 for 45 with a touchdown. Cincinnati was without standout rookie wide receiver A.J. Green, who hurt his right knee last week.

But the Bengals gave Baltimore all it could handle.

“We’ve won six games to this point and we’ll win some more,” coach Marvin Lewis said. “We’ve just got to circle the wagons, lick our wounds and go.”

Baltimore took a 24-14 lead on a 2-yard run by Rice late in the third quarter. The score came after Ravens rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith picked off a pass and returned it 16 yards before fumbling. The loose ball was recovered at the Cincinnati 2 by teammate Brendon Ayanbadejo in a pile that included Winter.

The Bengals’ following possession ended with an interception by Lardarius Webb. On the next play, Torrey Smith split Cincinnati’s two-deep zone and caught a 38-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone to make it 31-14.

Dalton responded with a five-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 49-yard touchdown pass to Andre Caldwell, who slipped behind Jimmy Smith down the right sideline.

The Bengals punted six times in the first half, two short of their season high for an entire game. Cincinnati’s offense managed only 143 yards before halftime, 47 of those on one play.

On the Bengals’ second possession, Jerome Simpson made a juggling catch for a 47-yard gain to set up a 7-yard touchdown run by Cedric Benson.

The Ravens didn’t get past midfield until early in the second quarter, following a 15-yard punt by Kevin Huber. Starting at its 45, Baltimore picked up a first down before Flacco tossed a short pass to Anquan Boldin, who ran the final 20 yards for a 35-yard touchdown.

NOTES: Former Ravens kicker Matt Stover was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor during a halftime ceremony. … Ravens LB Jarret Johnson made his 74th consecutive start, breaking the franchise record previously held by Michael McCrary and Jamie Sharper. … Baltimore has won seven straight at home and 15 of 16. … Cincinnati has lost two straight following a five-game winning streak.

Start dancing, Baltimore Ravens fans.

The Ravens waltzed over the Cincinnati Bengals 31-24 Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

The win tied the Ravens with Pittsburgh atop the AFC North, but their season sweep of the Steelers gives them the tiebreaker.

Baltimore’s defense began dancing – to a cheering crowd of 71,320 fans – during a television timeout with 10 minutes, 50 seconds left in the third quarter and a 17-7 lead.

Defensive lineman Terrance Cody laughed when asked about the moves.

“The big thing on our defense is to be loose,” he said. “Stay loose. Be you. If you’re out there all stuck up, tense, it ain’t fun. We’re just out there having fun.”

Their celebration was premature.

Quarterback Andy Dalton led the Bengals on a 7-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 3-yard rushing touchdown by running back Cedric Benson that cut Baltimore’s lead to 17-14.

The sweet music kicked back in for the Ravens with 53 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Baltimore rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith intercepted Dalton’s pass at Cincinnati’s 32-yard line at that point and returned the ball 16 yards. A defender knocked the ball loose, but Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo – somehow, some way – recovered the ball in a mass that swallowed referee Ron Winter.

Running back Ray Rice rushed for a 2-yard touchdown to give Baltimore a 24-14 lead going into the fourth quarter. He finished with 104 yards rushing on 20 carries and 43 yards on five

catches.

The Ravens had received criticism for not making Rice a bigger part of their game plan. He had just 13 carries in losses to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Seattle Seahawks.

“Every week, I expect to be a big part of the game plan,” Rice said. “It’s no surprise.”

Baltimore cornerback Lardarius Webb intercepted Dalton on Cincinnati’s ensuing possession, and quarterback Joe Flacco hit rookie receiver Torrey Smith for a 38-yard touchdown to build a 31-14 lead.

Smith finished with six receptions for 165 yards, third-most in Ravens franchise history and most by a rookie. He also had his second 150-plus-yards receiving game, something no Ravens wide receiver has ever done.

“Torrey is getting better each week as a wide receiver,” Flacco said. “He did a great job, and he is a real difference for this offense against that team. With Torrey out there, he definitely has some speed and can hurt them in man-to-man coverage. That helped us out today.”

The Ravens, in just 1:38, extended a 17-14 lead to 31-14.

Safe, right?

Cue the sound of a DJ scratching a record.

Dalton hit Andre Caldwell for a 49-yard touchdown on Cincinnati’s ensuing possess, and the Ravens’ lead was just 31-21.

The Bengals appeared to have another touchdown on their next possession, but the call was reversed. Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham dove toward the end zone, and the ball crossed the goal line in his right hand. Referee Ron Winter ruled Gresham, however, didn’t maintain possession of the ball, which bounced out of his right hand when he fell to the ground.

“When he’s going to the ground, he has to maintain control of the ball throughout the process of the catch,” Winter said. “So, when he goes to the ground, he can’t have the ball touch the ground and have him lose control.”

The Bengals settled for a 27-yard field goal by Mike Nugent to cut the lead to 31-24 with 5:35 left in the game. The Ravens ran just five plays before punting.

Cincinnati received the ball at its 14-yard line with 2:27 left. The Bengals drove to Baltimore’s 17-yard line, but Ravens rookie defensive end Pernell McPhee sacked Dalton on fourth-and-17 to end Cincinnati’s chances.

McPhee had a cue from watching film. A guard on Cincinnati’s offensive line would tap the center’s hip before the snap. The center would look to his left, and McPhee had to count the number of head bobs the center did to know when the snap would occur.

“I was just paying attention to that,” McPhee said. “I just timed it up real good.”

The Ravens left impressed by Dalton, a rookie drafted out of TCU who finished 24-of-45 with 373 yards and a touchdown but three interceptions.

“He’s a rookie, but he’s a very good football player,” Harbaugh said. “He’s a good quarterback, and he proved it. He’s very accurate. He’s a guy we are going to have to learn to deal with.”

BALTIMORE – The Cincinnati Bengals have surprised quite a few people with their impressive start this season. The Baltimore Ravens are not among those on the list.

Cincinnati went 4-12 last year and still beat the Ravens. Baltimore is 5-4 in its last nine regular-season games against Pittsburgh and 3-6 against the Bengals.

So don’t go telling the Ravens (6-3) that Sunday’s showdown for first place in the AFC North is an unexpected development.

“I knew they were always on the brink of being a good team,” Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “Now they’re winning games.”

Suggs is the Ravens’ career sacks leader, but he didn’t have one last year against Cincinnati (6-3). On Sunday he will be chasing quarterback Andy Dalton, whose 14 touchdown passes over the first nine games is the most by a rookie since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

Four different Cincinnati receivers have at least 26 catches and two touchdowns, most notably A.J. Green (41 receptions, six TDs). Green’s return from a right knee injury sustained in last week’s 24-17 loss to the Steelers won’t be determined until game time, but coach Marvin Lewis still has plenty of options to send at the renowned Baltimore defense he ruled from 1996-2001.

“They’ve got some good weapons over there,” Suggs said. “This team is not only dangerous, but they’re special. Marvin Lewis knows that. They’re playing with a lot of confidence. We definitely have some work to do, especially after last week.”

Ah, last week. Coming off an uplifting win in Pittsburgh, the Ravens inexplicably lost at Seattle to tumble out of first place.

“We lost a game. Nobody feels good about it, but at the same time, we can’t really ride that wave and be on emotional highs and lows,” quarterback Joe Flacco said. “We have to get ready to play another game – a very important game.”

The winner climbs into a first-place tie with Pittsburgh, and the Ravens own the tiebreaker with the Steelers. The Bengals can ill afford to drop into third place with an 0-1 record against each of the top two teams.

“I think that’s really key, that (the Ravens) have kind of put their best foot forward already in the division by beating the Steelers twice,” Lewis said. “So for Pittsburgh and us and Cleveland … we’re all kind of playing uphill to the Ravens right now. This is a big football game that way. If you want to win your division, you’ve got to win the division games.”

Cincinnati is 4-1 on the road this season, but this will be its toughest test to date. The Ravens have won six in a row at home and 14 of 15.

“That’s our challenge, to win again on the road,” Lewis said. “We know that, like some places we’ve played this year, it can get loud. But we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do – be efficient on offense and be exact on defense. Then it just comes down to playing football.”

Cincinnati’s six wins are against teams with a combined 22-36 record, but the Bengals feel no need to defend themselves after their strong showing in defeat against Pittsburgh.

“It was tough that we ended up losing, but we were in the game the whole time,” said Dalton, who brought Cincinnati back from an early 14-0 deficit. “And so, we do have confidence we’re going to be in a lot of these games.”

After facing the mighty defense of the Steelers, Dalton now must rebound against a unit similarly stocked with veteran talent.

“It seems like when you talk about Baltimore and you talk about their defense, you talk about Ray Lewis you talk about Ed Reed,” he said. “It’s going to be fun to get a chance to play them.”

Although Dalton has been intercepted nine times, the Bengals have lost only one fumble and own a plus-3 turnover differential.

“I think that they’re winning in the same way they played last year,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “They’re just doing it a little bit better in the sense that they’ve really protected the football. That’s probably the No. 1 key. They’re playing excellent defense and they’re moving the football. They are a well-rounded football team.”

It’s nothing Harbaugh hasn’t seen before from Cincinnati.

“They’ve beaten us plenty of times. We’ve always had a ton of respect for the Bengals,” he said. “It’s a big rivalry game for us. It’s one of the toughest games we play every single year. One of the most physical games we play, and that’s what we’re gearing up for.”

Baltimore has won its last 11 games following a loss – the longest current streak in the NFL – and is 14-4 in that situation during Harbaugh’s three-year tenure. Ravens fans lamented the defeat the Seattle for days, but the players quickly went into bounce-back mode.

“It hasn’t been difficult,” Suggs said. “We’re all professionals here.”