Week 14 NFL Odds

Carolina @ Seattle

After a disappointing loss to Las Vegas last Sunday, Carolina’s chances of getting back to the postseason are all but gone. The Panthers aren’t scoring like they were a year ago when they owned the NFL’s best offense and part of the reason is a banged up offensive line. Center Ryan Kalil won’t make the trip to Seattle for Sunday night’s game. His replacement, Gino Gradkowski, is questionable as is OT Daryl Williams. The results of the injuries to the offensive line have left reigning NFL MVP Cam Newton not playing like an MVP.

The Panthers score 25 points a game, but give up 25 on defense, something that is very uncharacteristic of a Ron Rivera defense. Rivera, the Panthers head coach, has a hard time identifying just one thing that has caused the poor season. Carolina will just keep plugging away and they have to do it against one of the NFC’s best. Winning at CenturyLink Field in Seattle is tough. Doing so with a maligned offensive line and a subpar defense makes it even tougher.

What the Seahawks hope Carolina does not do is take a page from the Tampa Bay defensive playbook. The Bucs beat Seattle last week 14-5 and did so by pressuring Seahawks QB Russell Wilson on 60 percent of his passes. The results produced six sacks and Seattle never got into any rhythm on offense. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell will have to regroup his offense and get back to what the Seahawks do. In the end, it will be Seattle’s league-leading defense that will be the difference.

Tampa Bay @ San Diego

A month ago, it looked like Tampa Bay might once again battle for a Top 5 draft pick. The defense was atrocious and the offense wasn’t much better. Then came three consecutive wins that included the Bucs best defensive performance of the year. Tampa Bay sacked Seattle QB Russell Wilson six times and held the Seahawks to just five points. First-year head coach Dirk Koetter hopes that his defense’s performance continues.

The Tampa Bay offense looked strong too led by second-year QB Jameis Winston and WR Mike Evans. Winston was 21-for-28 for 220 yards and two touchdowns, both to Evans, in the win over Seattle. With eight catches and 104 yards, Evans moved into second in the NFL in receiving yards with 1,020. Leading rusher Jacquizz Rodgers will miss Sunday’s game though. The Chargers defense is one of the poorer units in the league. San Diego allows 26.5 points per game.

What San Diego does well though is score. Quarterback Philip Rivers leads the NFL’s fifth-ranked pass offense. San Diego scored 28.3 points a game, fourth-best in the league. The Chargers are 5-6 after a 21-13 upset of AFC South leader Houston last week.  Rivers completed 22-of-30 passes for 242 yards and all three Chargers touchdowns. Surprisingly, Tampa Bay is 4-1 on the road this season. While the Chargers are a longshot for the postseason, the Bucs still have an outside shot and must keep pace with Atlanta in the NFC South.

Washington @ Arizona

Despite a Thanksgiving Day loss to Dallas, the Redskins are still very much alive in the NFC wild card race. The loss was just Washington’s second in its last nine games. Quarterback Kirk Cousins is playing his way into the upper echelon of quarterbacks in the league. Cousins is second to only Drew Brees in passing yards (3,540) and the Redskins are a Top 10 scoring offense averaging 25.5 points per game. Now, they have to travel to Arizona and face a Cardinals team that is fighting for its playoff life.

Arizona enters Sunday’s game 4-6-1 and on a two-game losing streak. The once proud Cardinals defense has given up 68 points in the last two weeks. Making matters even worse is the weekly injury report which includes CB Patrick Peterson who is listed as questionable. Ed Stinson and Christian Bryant are both out for the game against Washington.

The Cardinals are hard to figure out. Quarterback Carson Palmer has thrown for 2,931 yards, RB David Johnson is having a solid year with 921 yards, and veteran receiver Larry Fitzgerald has 78 catches for 802 yards. The Arizona defense is good enough to allow just 20.7 points per game, 11th in the NFL. But, the Cardinals just have never been consistent all season. After putting up 33 and 28 points in wins over San Francisco and the Jets, Arizona managed two field against Seattle. A loss surely crushes their playoff hopes.

NFL WEEK 12 Previews

Bears @ Lions

The Detroit Lions are still looking for their first win of the 2021 season. They did manage a tie in Pittsburgh a few weeks ago and lost a close game to Cleveland last week. This week may be their best chance yet to get their first win as their NFC North foe Chicago Bears come to town for Thanksgivng.

The Bears are coming off an embarrasing loss to the Lamar Jackson-less Ravens in a 4th quarter thriller. The Lions have been in more than a few games this season, including almost knocking off the Ravens in week 3, and this is their first game this seson in which they’ll be favorites.

The Bears are unsure who will be the starting QB yet, as Justin Fields was knocked out of the Ravens game last week with a leg injury. If he can’t go it’ll be veteran Andy Dalton who came in for Fields off the bench.

Raiders @ Cowboys

The Las Vegas Raiders have been one of the most storied and eventful teams this season after losing their head coach a quarter of the way through, as well as young wide receiver Henry Ruggs being arrested for vehicular manslaughter.

They were hot eralier in the year but have been inconssitent since losing Gruden to being fired. Last week Joe Burrow and the Cinci Bengals walked all over them in dominating fashion. Derek Carr and the offense will have to bounce back on Thursday to keep up with Dak Prescott and the rest of the high-flying Dallas offense.

Look for lots of points in this one as both offenses look to take over. Cowboys have also been inconsistent in recent weeks and are coming off a bad loss to the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium on Prime Time. They need a win to keep pace, as do the Raiders when these two tems trying to stay in contention face off Thursday.

Browns @ Ravens

The two hated rivals square off in Prime Time Sunday night football with Baker Mayfield and the Browns traveling to Baltimore to take on Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. Jackson missed last week with a non-covid illness, but his backup Tyler Huntley was still able to pull out the win on the final drive of the game for the Ravens.

Jackson has been back to practice this week and is planning to make his return in this critical matchup between two teams fighting for the crown of the AFC North. Baltimore has owned this matchup over the last two decades but Baker Mayfield has given Browns’ fans hope that things may be different.

NFL WEEK 8 Previews

Bengals @ NY Jets

Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals are suddenly at the top of the AFC North after a huge blowout win on the road in Baltimore last week, and they also currently have the best record in the AFC heading into week 8. They’ll be going against a NY Jets team that has struggled much of the season under first year head coach and quarterback. Expect more potential struggles this Sunday as the Jets will be without starting QB Zack Wilson. Instead, rookie QB Mike White will take his first NFL snaps under center.

The Bengals led by Ja’Mar Chase and Joe Burrow have been tearing up this league thus far in 2021. The duo have picked up right where they left off in college as a dangerous tandem. Chase looks like the next big name wide receiver and he’s not even half way through his first season, and Joe Burrow is looking like the franchise quarterback the Bengals drafted him to be number one overall from LSU. First year head coach Robert Saleh will have to come up with some defensive magic if he has any hope of stopping the potent Bengals offense.

Rams @ Texans

In a matchup of two teams heading two different directions, the LA Rams travel to Houston to take on the Texans on Sunday. For the first time since Week 3 of the season, the Rams will come into a game having lost the week before. The Rams dropped a 24-10 decision to the Bucs in LA last Sunday night. The Tampa Bay defense slowed down LA just enough holding what was the league’s best rushing attack to just 98 yards on the ground. That will have to change against a very good Rams defense.

The Rams, now 7-1, beat Arizona last week 32-16 and, in the process, secured the franchise’s first winning season since 2003. The Rams lead the NFC West with a one-game lead over second-place Seattle. Facing Philadelphia on Sunday begins what is likely the toughest three-game stretch of the Rams’ schedule. After the Eagles, Los Angeles travels to Seattle and Tennessee. A victory over Houston could go a long way in helping the Rams secure home-field advantage in the postseason.

If the Rams are going to beat the Texans, it will be up to QB Jared Goff and RB Todd Gurley once again. Goff has matured by leaps and bounds from a year ago. Last week, the second-year quarterback completed 21-for-31 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns. Gurley rushed for 74 yards and caught six passes for 84 more. While the offense leads the NFL in points per game (30.1), Philadelphia cannot forget about the Rams defense. Los Angeles holds opponents to just 18.5 points per game and has plenty of talent including LB Alec Ogletree who returned an errant Arizona pass for a touchdown in the win last week.

Dolphins @ Buffalo

The Miami Dolphins (1-7) have hardly any shot at making the AFC playoffs. But if they were to, the first step in claiming the AFC’s final postseason berth begins with a win in Buffalo on Sunday. The Bills beat the Dolphins 24-16 earlier this season and they have won two of their last three games. Buffalo beat the New England Patriots 37-16 after a controversial call at the end of the first half took the wind out of the Bills. The two teams were tied 13-13 at the end of the half.

Still, the Bills can somehow back themselves into the postseason if they win out. Tennessee faces the 1-7 Jacksonville Jaguars and the Chargers face Oakland. The Bills can also get in if they win and Baltimore loses to the Bengals, though that is not likely.

Dolphins @ Bucs

The Tampa Bay Bucs are coming off a Sunday Night victory in Foxboro that many built as the game of the century, and while it certainly was never going to live up to that billing, it was still a very competitive and close football game between Brady and his old team, the New England Patriots.

Rookie QB Mac Jones came to play against a tough Bucs’ defense and kept the game close throughout. Tom Brady and the Bucs offense took the lead late in what was a long, torrential downpour for much of the game, and it ended with Patriots’ kicker Nick Folk doinking a potential game-winning 56 yard field goal off the crossbar as time expired.

 Indianapolis @ Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh -2.5 Points

In year’s past, a Steelers-Colts game in Week 15 on a Sunday would be a huge attraction with all sorts of playoff implications wrapped around it. Not this time. It’s hard to believe that just two seasons ago the two teams were playing in an AFC Divisional playoff game. This year, the 4-9 Broncos will travel to face the 3-10 Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Both teams have had quarterback issues. The Colts’ problems started even before the season began. Phillip Rivers had offseason shoulder surgery, missed training camp, and then was held out of the preseason. He wasn’t ready when the season started so backup Scott Tolzien started in Week 1. It was an absolute disaster. Tolzien threw two pick-sixes and the Colts lost 46-9 to the Rams. Jacoby Brissett has replaced Tolzien and has played well at times, but he still has a long way to go.

The Colts defense is also part of the problem. To say Indianapolis is awful is a pretty good measure of the Colts’ efforts at keeping opponents out of the end zone. They are 31^st in points against giving up 26.4 per game. Scoring seems to be a problem too. Indy scores just 16.3 points per game, 30^th in the NFL.

The Steelers, who lost eight in a row before beating the New York Jets last week 23-0, used to be synonymous with great defense. This year, Denver is giving up 24.2 points per game, 24^th in the league. Last Sunday’s shutout of the Jets was a glimpse into the past under legendary defensive coordinator Wade Phillips (now with the Rams) when Denver was ranked in the top ten in most statistical categories.

On offense, Denver’s quarterback problems have forced head coach Vance Joseph to pull original starter Trevor Siemian in favor of Brock Osweiler. Osweiler then gave way to Paxton Lynch who subsequently returned the job back to Trevor Siemian. It was Siemian who threw for 200 yards and a touchdown to lead the way against the Jets. He will have an opportunity to shine again against a very poor Indianapolis defense.

L.A. Chargers @ Kansas City

Chargers -1.5 Points

Rewind 10 weeks to Week 5 of the 2017 NFL season. The Kansas City Chiefs had just beaten the Houston Texans to start the year 5-0. The Chiefs were on fire with an offense that was averaging 32.8 points per game.

At the other end of the AFC West Division was the Los Angeles Chargers. In Week 5, the Chargers won their first game of the season, a 27-22 victory over a New York Giants team that wasn’t very good. Under new head coach Anthony Lynn, the Chargers were close. They had lost three of their first four games by a combined seven points.

What a difference 10 weeks makes. Both teams are now 7-6 and Saturday night’s matchup at Arrowhead Stadium could determine who wins the division. The Chargers have won seven of their last nine games with an offense led by Philip Rivers and a ferocious defense led by DE Joey Bosa and LB Melvin Ingram.

Rivers has thrown for 3,611 yards and 23 touchdowns. Wide receiver Keenan Allen is having as good a year as any receiver in the NFL with 1,143 yards on 83 receptions. Melvin Gordon has rushed for 853 yards (8^th in the league) and the Chargers average 22.9 points a game.

On defense, the Chargers give up just 17.3 points per game. That number is second in the NFL. The pass rush is as good as it gets. Bosa is a star in just his second season. He leads the team with 11.5 sacks (5^th overall in the NFL) and Gordon has nine more.

Kansas City headed in the opposite direction after Week 5. The Chiefs have won just two of their last eight games. They beat West division rival Oakland last week 26-15 to snap a four-game losing streak. Kareem Hunt (1,046 yards rushing) ran for 116 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Alex Smith has thrown for 3,507 yards, 23 touchdowns, and has tossed just five interceptions. Saturday’s winner will have the inside track at winning the division and earning a trip to the postseason.

Dallas @ Oakland

Cowboys -3 Points

The Dallas Cowboys (7-6) still have a shot at the postseason. Their three-game run to the playoffs begins with the Raiders in Oakland on Sunday night. Even if Dallas can navigate through Oakland, Seattle, and Philadelphia (which will be without QB Carson Wentz), the Cowboys will need some help.

After losing three in a row, Dallas has found some semblance of their old running game and found a way to beat both Washington and the New York Giants in consecutive weeks. Dallas rushed for 182 and 122 yards in the two wins. The running game has been silent since losing Ezekiel Elliott to a six-game suspension. Elliott is still the team’s leading rusher with 783 yards. He will have to sit out this week and then can return for the team’s final two contests.

The Raiders dropped to 6-7 with a loss to Kansas City last week, a defeat that all but ruined their chances at the postseason. Quarterback Derek Carr placed most of the blame squarely on his shoulders. He threw two costly interceptions, but the Raiders’ problems run much deeper than Carr. The vaunted running game of a year ago produces just 91.5 yards per game (26^th in the NFL) this year. The defense isn’t as strong either giving up 23.4 points a game.

The two teams have only played twice since 2009. Dallas won both games. The two games, one in 2009 and the other in 2013, were both played in Texas. The last two times that the teams have played in Oakland (2001 and 2005), the Raiders were victorious.

The Raiders have won their last two games at home, a 21-14 win over Denver and a 24-17 victory over the New York Giants. The Cowboys are actually better on the road, 4-2, this year than they are at home where they are just 3-4.

Atlanta @ Tampa Bay

Falcons -6 Points

If the NFL season ended today, the Atlanta Falcons would earn a wild card entry into the NFC playoffs. At 8-5, they face Tampa Bay on Monday night then a difficult two-game stretch against the rest of the NFC South Division – New Orleans and Carolina. Atlanta owns one victory over the Bucs already beating Tampa Bay 34-20 on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

Tampa Bay doesn’t want a repeat of the earlier game with Atlanta. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan completed 26-of-35 passes for 317 yards and a touchdown, but it was WR Julio Jones who the Bucs could not stop. Jones caught 12 passes for 253 yards and two scores. Atlanta rolled up 516 yards of total offense in the win.

The Falcons have won four of their last five games and will need a win on Monday night to stay alive in the postseason race. Seattle, also 8-5, is hot on their tail for the second and final wild card in the NFC. Atlanta has beaten the Bucs the last two times the teams have played that includes a 43-28 victory last November in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

For the Bucs, they have dropped three in a row even though starting quarterback Jameis Winston has returned after an injury. In a 24-21 loss to Detroit last week, Winston committed three of his team’s five turnovers. There is talk of a rift between Winston and Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter. Whatever it is, Tampa Bay needs to figure it out fast. They finish the season with three straight games against NFC South opponents – Atlanta, Carolina, and New Orleans – who are a combined 26-13.

The Bucs are dead last in the NFL against the pass giving up 276.1 yards per game. They face one of the game’s best quarterbacks in Ryan and possibly the most physically gifted wide receiver in the game in Jones. Tampa Bay also gives up its share of points, 24 per game which is 22^nd overall in the league.

New Orleans @ Atlanta

Falcons -2.5 Points

With four games remaining and three in the NFC South Division, it is clear what the Atlanta Falcons must do. Win. Their first opportunity comes on Thursday night when they meet the division leader New Orleans at home in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It is the first of two games between the two teams in a span of 17 days. They are two games that will also likely determine the postseason fate of the defending NFC champion Falcons.

Coming of a 14-9 loss to Minnesota last week, the Falcons are now 7-5, a game behind second-place Carolina and two games behinds the Saints (9-3). Atlanta had won three in a row prior to Sunday’s loss and the Falcons are hopeful they can get back to the kind of offense that helped them win those three games. Atlanta averaged 31.6 points a game during the three-game win streak, but ran into a buzz saw of a defense in Minnesota. Atlanta will have to improve on third down, an area where they were weak in the loss to the Vikings.

Head coach Dan Quinn certainly has the weapons to score points. Quarterback Matt Ryan has thrown for 3,057 yards and 16 touchdowns. Running backs Devonta Freeman (589 yards) and Tevin Coleman (561) are equally capable and WR Julio Jones (68 rec., 1,063 yds.) remains one of the best receivers in the game.

The Saints are equally skilled on offense with the NFL’s third-ranked pass and rush offenses and the third-best in terms of points per game. With Drew Brees (3,298 yards, 17 TDs) at quarterback, the Saints can beat you in the air. With the combination of Mark Ingram (922 yards) and rookie sensation Alvin Kamara (606 yards, 7 TDs), New Orleans can beat on the ground too. Where the Saints have really improved this season is on defense where New Orleans gives up just over 20 points a game.

Atlanta won both games in the series last season. Both were high-scoring affairs, 45-32 in New Orleans and 38-32 in Atlanta. The last time the Saints won in Atlanta was the final game of the 2015 season, a low-scoring 20-17 victory.

Philadelphia @ L.A. Rams

Rams -2 Points

Philadelphia (10-2) also relies on its second-year quarterback Carson Wentz. Selected No. 2 last year right after Goff, Wentz has thrown for 3,005 yards and an NFL-best 29 touchdown passes. While he did throw for 348 yards against Seattle last week, Wentz was sacked three times, threw an interception, and fumbled the ball away once. Those types of mistakes cannot happen against a team as good as Los Angeles.

The two teams have not played each other since 2014. Philadelphia has won each of the last four meetings dating back to 2005. The last Rams’ win over the Eagles was in 2004 when the franchise was still in St. Louis.

Baltimore @ Pittsburgh

Steelers -5 Points

One thing is a definite in Sunday night’s Baltimore-Pittsburgh AFC North clash. The game will be physical. It is normally one of the most physical games in the NFL year-in and year-out. The Ravens travel to Pittsburgh on the heels of a three-game winning streak. Baltimore (7-5) currently holds one of the AFC’s two wild card spots and could surely use a victory to enhance its postseason position. Beating Pittsburgh is something easier said than done and the Steelers have won the last two games in the series.

Back in Week 4 of the season, Pittsburgh and RB Le’Veon Bell ran all over the Ravens in a 26-9 victory. Bell had 144 yards rushing and two touchdowns. The Pittsburgh defense held Baltimore to just 288 yards of total offense and forced three turnovers, but the Ravens appear to be a much different team this late in the season.

The Ravens, always known as a strong defensive team, have watched their offense transform somewhat over the past few weeks. In last week’s 44-20 win over Detroit, the offense really blossomed as QB Joe Flacco threw for two touchdowns and RB Alex Collins scored twice on the ground. The Ravens will need that kind of output against the Steelers.

Pittsburgh (9-2) has the league’s leading rusher, Bell, and leading receiver in Antonio Brown (1,195 yards). The Steelers are dynamic on offense and if there is a better defense in the league than Baltimore, it’s Pittsburgh’s. The Steelers are fourth in the league in points allowed per game (17.5) and are third in the NFL in total defense giving opponents just 289.4 yards per game.

Prior to the previous two meetings, Baltimore had beaten Pittsburgh in six of seven games. The Ravens last won at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh in 2015 winning 23-20 in overtime.

New England @ Miami

Patriots -10.5 Points

Over/Under 47.5 Points

It seems like they just played each other. The Patriots and Dolphins will meet for a second time in 15 days when they face each other on Monday night. New England won the first matchup 35-17 thanks to four touchdown passes from quarterback Tom Brady. Miami (5-7) did end a five-game losing streak last week when the Dolphins offense did something it’s not used to doing – score. Miami beat Denver 35-9 behind two touchdown passes from Jay Cutler and 120 yards rushing by RB Kenyan Drake.

Miami has struggled all year to run the ball and to score points. Even after the 35-point outburst and 145-yards rushing total against Denver, the Dolphins are still 26^th in the NFL in scoring (17.3) and 29^th in rushing yards per game (84.7). Those numbers do not strike fear into a defense like New England’s.

Since giving up 33 points in consecutive weeks early in the season, the Patriots defense has given up just 13.8 points per game during the team’s eight-game winning streak. Last week, New England did not surrender a touchdown beating Buffalo 23-3. The win, the Patriots’ tenth of the season, gave New England its 15^th straight season of at least 10 wins. The victory also likely locked up a ninth straight AFC East crown.

For Miami to have any amount of success, they will need to control the football. That is something they do not do very well given their lack of a running game. To make matters worse, C Mike Pouncey is listed as questionable for Monday night’s game. Pouncey is Miami’s best offensive lineman.

New England has won the past three games in the series and five of the last six. Miami’s last win over the Patriots came at the end of the 2015 season. That 20-10 win happened in Miami, the site of Monday night’s game.

NFL WEEK 13 Previews

Washington @ Dallas

Redskins +1 Points

Over/Under 44 Points

One week after Thanksgiving and both Washington and Dallas are still alive in the playoff race albeit just barely. The Redskins at least enter this Thursday’s game coming off a win last week. Washington got two touchdown passes from QB Kirk Cousins and was thankful for having played one of the worst teams in the NFL, the New York Giants. The Giants were so bad they managed just 170 yards and did not score an offensive touchdown in a 20-10 Redskins win.

Dallas enters Thursday night’s rivalry game on the heels of a three-game losing streak. Since losing RB Ezekiel Elliott to suspension, the Cowboys have been in a downward spiral. The offense has managed a three-game total of 22 points. The defense has fared even worse. The Cowboys have given up 92 points to Atlanta, Philadelphia, and the Los Angeles Chargers. In the loss to the Chargers on Thanksgiving Day, Dallas surrendered 434 passing yards to QB Philip Rivers. Dallas is now 24^th in the NFL in points allowed per game (24.5).

The team that is 25^th in points allowed just happens to be Washington (25.1). Prior to the win over the Giants, the Redskins gave up 72 points in two weeks, 38 to Minnesota and 34 to New Orleans. Luckily, Washington will face its second straight opponent that is struggling offensively. Washington held the Giants to just 84 yards rushing and sacked QB Eli Manning four times.

Dallas has more problems than just Elliott, who will miss three more games before his return. Offensive tackle Tyron Smith has been out and that has caused big problems for QB Dak Prescott. If the Cowboys fail to score in double digits against Washington, they will find themselves in a four-game losing skid that will all but derail any hopes of a playoff berth.

The Cowboys won the first meeting of the season, a 33-19 victory at FedExField in October. Elliott rushed 33 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Dallas has won the last three straight over Washington and five of the last six, but Elliott was a key in each of those wins.

Philadelphia @ Seattle

Eagles -5 Points

Over/Under 47.5 Points

The best team in the NFL continues to roll and faces what may be its toughest test of the regular season over the next two weeks. The 10-1 Philadelphia Eagles will commence a two-game West Coast road trip this week when they face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night. The Eagles are a virtual lock for the NFC’s top seed in the postseason while the Seahawks have some work to do.

Seattle has a tough stretch of its own facing Philadelphia, Jacksonville, and NFC West Division leading Los Angeles in the next three weeks. The Seahawks will do it without two-fourths of its Legion of Boom secondary. Both Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor are out for the season. Seattle got a win last week, but it was against now 1-10 San Francisco.

The Seahawks struggle in the running game and have been ever since Marshawn Lynch left the franchise. The team’s leading rusher is quarterback Russell Wilson (401 yards) and the team finally cracked 100 yards per game (102.9), but this week they go up against the NFL’s best rush defense. Philadelphia held Chicago to just six yards rushing last week and are holding opponents to an average of just 65 per game.

Seattle has won the last three games in the series with Philadelphia and that includes last year’s 26-15 win which was also at CenturyLink Field, site of Sunday’s game. The last time the Eagles beat the Seahawks was in 2008, a 26-7 win in Seattle, one of the tougher places to play in the NFL.

Philadelphia leads the league in scoring averaging 31.9 points a game. Its defense is third in points allowed per game (17.4) and the Eagles running game is among the best. Philadelphia running backs average 147.5 yards a game, good for second in the NFL.

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati

Steelers -5.5 Points

Over/Under 43.5 Points

It is one of the ugliest rivals in the NFL. Every time the Steelers and Bengals get together, the game is physical and there are usually some fines levied. Expect it again as the 9-2 Steelers travel to Cincinnati to take on the 5-6 Bengals who, believe it or not, still have a shot at the postseason.

Pittsburgh beat Cincinnati the first time around this season and has, in fact, defeated the Bengals the last five times the two teams have played. Earlier this season, the Pittsburgh defense held the Bengals to just 179 total yards including just 71 on the ground. The Steelers sacked Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton four times and forced two interceptions in the 29-14 victory.

Pittsburgh has won six straight and is led by the NFL’s leading rusher, Le’Veon Bell, and the league’s leading receiver, Antonio Brown. Bell has 981 yards rushing and Brown has caught 80 passes for 1,195 yards and eight touchdowns. The Steelers offense can beat you a number of ways and the defense, though it had trouble last week against Green Bay, is still one of the better units in the NFL. The Steelers give up just 17.5 points per game, which is fourth in the league.

Cincinnati will have to do something it hasn’t been real good at this season if they are to beat the Steelers – score. The Bengals average only 18.1 points per game (25^th in the NFL). The offense isn’t very good at running the football. Cincinnati is 31^st in the league in rushing averaging 75.6 yards per game and the passing game (198.6 yards per game, 28^th) is not much better. The Bengals biggest weapon is WR A.J. Green who has 53 catches for 809 yards and six touchdowns. Cincinnati has won two straight, but those wins came over Denver, which is just 3-8, and Cleveland, which has still yet to win a game.

Carolina @ New Orleans

Panthers +4 Points

The battle for control of the NFC South takes place Sunday in New Orleans as the Saints take on the streaking Carolina Panthers. Both teams sit at 8-3 and a victory gives the winner a one-game lead in the division race. Sunday’s game likely will serve as one of the deciding factors in who wins what is presumably the toughest division in the NFL. As it stands currently, the Saints, by virtue of their earlier win over Carolina, would win the division, and the Panthers and Falcons would be the NFC’s wild cards.

The Saints enter this week’s game coming off a tough 26-20 loss to the Rams. New Orleans had won eight in a row before last week’s loss. The New Orleans offense is as dynamic as they come with QB Drew Brees (third in the NFL in passing yards) and the running back trifecta of Mark Ingram, Adrian Peterson, and rookie sensation Alvin Kamara. Ingram is the NFL’s fourth-leading rusher with 837 yards and Kamara has come on strong as of late. In the loss to the Rams, the Tennessee product rushed just five times but gained 87 yards and caught six passes for 101 more. He scored two touchdowns.

Carolina has won its last four games thanks, in part, to a return to what it does best. The Panthers have averaged 185 yards rushing in the last four games including two 200-yard-plus efforts. The defense has been effective but is still inconsistent at times. Head coach Ron Rivera’s unit gives up 18.8 points per game but has allowed 48 points in the last two games. If the Panthers are going to have a shot on Sunday, they are going to have to slow the Saints down.

For New Orleans, much of their success this season has been due to a much-improved defense. In the first meeting with Carolina, the Saints held the Panthers to 288 total yards and they forced three turnovers. Brees was a model of efficiency completing 22-of-29 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Carolina cannot allow that to happen again.

NFL WEEK 10 PREVIEWS

Seattle @ Arizona

Seahawks -6 Points

With the Los Angeles Rams taking over sole control of the NFC West, both Seattle and Arizona cannot afford another division loss as the season heads into its second half. The two teams will start Week 10 with their matchup in Arizona on Thursday night. The Cardinals likely have the more difficult road to follow as they will have to navigate the rest of the season without starting quarterback Carson Palmer. Drew Stanton performed well last week in Palmer’s place, but it was the play of RB Adrian Peterson that caught the nation’s attention in Arizona’s win over San Francisco. Peterson carried the ball 37 times for 159 yards. If he continues to do that, it will take some pressure off of Stanton and the passing game.

The Seattle defense has been one of the league’s best during the tenure of head coach Pete Carroll and the unit has played well thus far this season. Minus last week’s game-winning drive and an outstanding performance by Houston rookie Deshaun Watson, the Seahawks’ defense has been one of the stingiest in the league. They are fifth in the NFL in scoring defense giving up 18.6 points per game. In last week’s 17-14 loss to Washington, Seattle allowed only 244 total yards but 16 penalties and three missed field goals proved to be the difference.

New England @ Denver

Patriots -7.5 Points

The Patriots-Broncos matchup has been one of the best in the NFL for the past several years. The 2017 version will not. The two teams enter Sunday’s game headed in opposite directions. The Broncos lost for the fourth straight time last week in convincing fashion, a 51-23 defeat at the hands of 8-1 Philadelphia. Now, first-year head coach Vance Joseph has to take on the defending Super Bowl champs at a time when the Patriots are red hot.

New England has won its last four games and had the benefit of a bye last week in order to prepare for Denver. The Patriots struggled early in the season especially on defense. Head coach Bill Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia had serious issues in giving up 30-plus points in consecutive weeks. Over the course of the Patriots’ four-game win streak, the problems on defense seem to be resolved. New England has given up just 11.7 points per game in those last four wins.

Offensively, Tom Brady leads the NFL’s best passing offense. Brady has 2,541 yards passing and 16 touchdowns thus far this season. The Patriots have made up for the loss of WR Julian Edelman and are seventh in the league in scoring averaging 27 points a game.

Miami @ Carolina

Dolphins +10 Points

The bottom is slowly giving out on the Miami Dolphins’ season. Somehow, they managed to start the season 4-2, but have lost two straight and now get into the most difficult stretch in their schedule. They will take on 6-3 Carolina on Monday night before facing the Patriots and Bills twice each before season’s end. Don’t forget a Christmas Eve date with AFC West leader Kansas City. It is highly possible that the Dolphins, current owners of the NFL’s worst offense, do not win again in 2017.

Last week, Miami squandered the best performance of the season by quarterback Jay Cutler and lost to Oakland 27-24. Cutler threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns, but the Dolphins committed 11 penalties and found a way to lose to the Raiders. The running game is virtually nonexistent. Miami averages 77.6 yards rushing per game, 30^th in the NFL. Head coach Adam Gase’s offense is dead last in scoring (14.5 points per game).

The Dolphins take that offense up against a Carolina defense that is fourth in the NFL in points allowed per game (17.7). In last week’s win over Atlanta, the Panthers held the Falcons to just 53 yards on the ground while chalking up 201 of their own. QB Cam Newton had 86 yards on nine carries and rookie Christian McCaffrey gained 66 yards on 15 carries. Each scored a touchdown in the win.

The two teams have only met five times total. Miami won the first four, but Carolina won the last meeting back in 2013. The Panthers have won their last two games and they are just 2-2 at home this season. Both teams traded key players away last week before the trade deadline. The Dolphins got rid of leading rusher Jay Ajayi and Carolina traded leading receiver Kelvin Benjamin.

Dallas @ Atlanta

Falcons -3 Points

The Dallas Cowboys are right back in the thick of the playoff hunt with three straight victories. Their fate is likely in the hands of the legal system as running back Ezekiel Elliott awaits a six-game suspension. He was able to play last Sunday in a win over Kansas City and appears to be a go for Sunday’s game against Atlanta. In each of the past three wins Elliott has been a factor rushing for over 100 in wins over San Francisco and Washington and then totaling 97 in the win over the Chiefs. If Dallas can run the football, good things will happen in Atlanta.

The Falcons (4-4) have lost four of their past five games, two of them by three points and another by six. The Atlanta pass rush has not been as fierce as last season when LB Vic Beasley led the league in sacks. So far, the Falcons have just 18 sacks total as a team and Beasley has just four to his name. Atlanta is just mediocre against the run giving up 114.5 yards per game (18^th in the NFL) and if they can’t stop Elliott the Falcons are in trouble.

Atlanta has been somewhat of a nemesis for the Cowboys over the years. In the past six meetings between the two franchises dating back to 2001, the Falcons have won four times including the last two. Atlanta beat Dallas the last time the teams met in Atlanta back in 2012. Matt Ryan threw for 342 yards that day and the Falcons held Dallas to just 65 yards on the ground. If Atlanta can get a repeat of that performance, they can get themselves back into the NFC South race. New Orleans (6-2) and Carolina (6-3) are currently ahead of the Falcons.

Week 9 Previews

Patriots at Ravens

The New England Patriots have been arguably the most impressive team all season thus far in 2019 as they’re currently undefeated, sitting atop the AFC as well as the AFC East, and have a record setting defense along with Tom Brady at quarterback. Things are shaping up quite nicely for the Patriots to make another run at their 8th Lombardi trophy this year, but standing in their way is another formidable AFC team and one that has given them trouble in the past… The Baltimore Ravens.

This Ravens team is lead by their running game and most notably their MVP candidate Lamar Jackson who is in his second year in the league. Lamar has improved his completion percentage by over 7% since his rookie 2018 season and he’s running at record setting pace by averaging just over 8 yards per carry. The Ravens will need to control the clock and keep Tom Brady on the bench if they hope to win this prime time matchup at home against the undefeated Patriots.

Many teams have struggled to figure out Lamar Jackson and his unique talents, but if any coach can scheme a way to shut him down, it’s Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick. Look for the Patriots to try to keep Lamar in the pocket and use a spy linebacker to shadow his every move, not letting him beat them with his legs, and instead forcing him to throw from the pocket. If Lamar can pass accurately and open up the running game, it’ll be a long day for Tom Brady and the Patriots.

Cowboys at Giants

One of the oldest rivalries in the NFL renews itself for the 2019 season as the first place Dallas Cowboys travel to New York to take on the New York Giants in an NFC East showdown. The Cowboys are coming off a bye in week 8 but in week 6 they were upset by the listless NY Jets at the Meadowlands before bouncing back strong the following week at home against the Eagles in Prime Time.

Dak Prescott is looking like the star quarterback many Cowoys fans think he is and along with receivers Amari Cooper and Allen Hurns on the outside, and Zeke Elliott in the running game, the Cowboys have all the offensive firepower to compete with any team in the NFL. Thus far they’ve been inconsistent on both sides, as one week they’ll look like Super Bowl contenders and the next week they lose to the sorry NY Jets. They’ll need to figure it out and carry their momentum they established before the bye when they get ready for the Giants team who is coming off a loss in Detroit last week to the Lions.

Rookie quarterback Daniel Jones has still been looking solid since replacing Eli Manny in week 3, but it hasn’t translated to wins of late, in no small part to their injury problems in the backfield. Down to their third strong running back and not many weapons on the outside besides Golden Tate, the Giants offense and Daniel Jones will have to step it up this week if they want to keep it close with the division leading Dallas Cowboys coming off their bye. week.

Colts at Steelers

Jacoby Brissett and the Indianapolis Colts have been one of the biggest surprised teams this season after Andrew Luck unexpectedly retiring just weeks before the start of the season. Brissett hasn’t missed a beat in replacing Luck as he’s been among the most efficient passers in the league thus far through the first 8 weeks of the season. It also helps when you have one of the best offensive lines in all of football and Jacoby barely takes any hits every week.

The Colts did escape a bit of a scare last week at home against the helpless Denver Broncos as they had to drive down in the final minutes to get Adam Vinetari in field goal range to win the game with time expiring. While a win is a win in the NFL, the Colts will need a better effort this week if they want to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road in Pittsburgh. The Steelers have been struggling after losing Big Ben for the season in week 2, but backup Mason Rudolph has showed steady progress each week and is coming off a solid home win against the winless Miami Dolphins on Monday Night football.

Expect the Colts to make up for last week’s stuttering performance against the Broncos as they’ll look to dismantle the Steelers secondary. TY Hilton is having a huge year thus far and on the ground Marlon mack is keeping teams from dropping too many defensive backs against the pass. While this game may end up being closer than many expect, it’ll take an exceptional effort from Pittsburgh to upset the high flying Colts in week 9.

Week 8 Previews

Browns at Patriots

The Patriots are once again up to their usual selves as they’ve started the 2019 season with a perfect 7-0 record. However, the only asterisk is a big one, they’ve only beaten one winning team thus far… The  Buffalo Bills. Who happened to have the ball at the end of that game with a chance to win it, but Josh Allen and the offense came up short in the end.

The Patriots defense is on record setting pace as they’ve allowed fewer yards per game and points per game than arguably the greatest defense of all time, the vaunted Baltimore Ravens defense of 2000 with Ray Lewis and company. They’ll need to remain stingy if they want to keep their perfect record as the Cleveland Browns along with their star studded offense come to town for a game in which the Browns desperately need to win. With names like Baker Mayfield, OBJ, Jarvis Landry, and Chubb on offense, it’s a wonder that the Browns have only won two games this year, but they’re fresh of their week 7 bye and looking to get back on track this week against Bill Belichick’s talented Patriots team.

Expect some offensive fireworks as Tom Brady and the Patriots offense know they’ll have to put up some points if they want to beat a feisty Cleveland offense. Baker Mayfield has been accident-prone thus far and may cough up a few turnovers this game, which very well may be the difference in Sunday’s matchup.

Packers at Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs have stumbled of late since losing starting Quarterback Patrick Mahommes to a dislocated knee a few weeks ago. After two straight losses to the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans, the Chiefs got back on track with an easy win against the Stumbling Broncos, but they’ll need to put it together in a big way this week with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers coming to town. They seem to be hitting their stride just at the right time and the defense has also been causing a lot of turnovers to help bolster a solid offense with weapons at all the skilled positions.

Backup quarterback Matt Moore will be at the helm for the Chiefs and he’ll have his full arsenal of offensive talent with Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins, and Tyreek Hill on the outside. Even though Moore will never be Patrick Mahommes, the Chiefs still have all the necessary firepower in order to compete with the streaking Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers.

Two high powered and talented offenses will look to outdo the other when they square off in prime time on Sunday Night football at Arrowhead Stadium. The house will be rocking, but Aaron Rodgers and company should be up to the task of quieting the Kansas City faithful. Look for a high scoring affair with Rodgers looking to make his mark with his first year head coach Matt LeFluer.

Giants at Lions

The Detroit Lions have been snake bitten of late with two critical last minute losses to good teams on the road. This week they’ll play host to the upstart Giants and shining rookie quarterback Daniel Jones. The Giants have come back to earth of late after a very hot start by Jones, but due to mounting injuries at the running back position, they’ll have to find a new formula for success if they hope to get a win in Ford’s Field on Sunday against the NFC North Lions and Matthew Stafford.

Stafford is having somewhat of an MVP caliber season thus far and has been carrying the Lions week in and week out. They had a tough loss in Green Bay just a few weeks ago, and will need a win against the Giants in order to keep pace. The Lions’ problem this season has mostly been their defense, and more specifically, their pass rush, or lack thereof. They haven’t been able to get to the quarterback at all in 2019 and thus have resorted to risky blitzes that often leave their defensive backs out to dry against competent receivers.

Two teams in desperate need of a win to keep pace in their respective divisions will square off in this week 7 matchup, and expect there to be offensive fireworks with both defenses struggling to stop opposing offenses this year. Matthew Stafford will have to continue to carry the Lions offense along with star wide receiver Kenny Gollaway.

Buccaneers at Titans

The Tennessee Titans offense has struggled in recent weeks despite having star running back Derrick Henry in the backfield to carry the load. Despite some solid contributions on the outside by rookie wide receiver AJ Brown, the Titans have struggled all season to get the passing game going with Marcus Mariota at the helm, and so head coach Mike Vrabel made the call this week to pull Mariota and start Tannehill in his place. Tannehill has shown flashes at times in the passing game and is expected to be more serviceable in that way, but what he adds in the passing game the Titans will lose in the running game as Mariota was always a threat with his legs.

They’ll be going against a high powered Tampa Bay offense lead by Mike Evans and Jameis Winston. The Bruce Arians’ team has been very inconsistent all year, at times playing like a playoff team and at other times looking like a bottom feeder with a defense that couldn’t stop a cold. The Buccaneers’ blueprint for winning is to score a lot of points and hope that the defense can do just enough to limit the opposing offense.

This will be a matchup of a very strong Tampa Bay offense against a very strong Titans defense. Their two strengths may cancel each other out and lead to a highly contested, close ball game that could come down to the final minutes. Expect the Tampa Bay offense to give the Titans everything they can handle in Sunday’s contest and the under may be the bet if the Titans offense can’t muster enough points to keep pace.

NFL WEEK 6 PREVIEWS

NY Giants @ Denver

Broncos -11.5 Points

Over/Under 39.5 Points

Somehow, the New York Giants’ season just keeps getting worse. The Giants were 0-4 heading into last week’s game against the Chargers, also 0-4, when things took another tumble. Star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. suffered a fractured ankle and he will likely miss the remainder of the regular season. Yes, the Giants lost, 27-22, for their fifth straight defeat of the season. This is fresh off an 11-5 year in which the Giants earned a wild card. Now, they head to Denver to face the 3-1 Broncos who are coming off a bye week.

The problems on offense for New York stem from an inability to run the football. The Giants average 77.8 rushing yards per game, 30^th in the NFL. Without the ability to run the ball, teams can rush QB Eli Manning and the results produce just 16 points per game for the Giants. With their best offensive player now out, things might even get worse. If Beckham’s injury wasn’t enough, receivers Brandon Marshall and Sterling Shepard both left last Sunday’s game with ankle injuries.

For Denver, running the football has helped QB Trevor Siemian to grow up in the Broncos offense. Denver averages 143 yards per game and RB C.J. Anderson is fourth the league in rushing with 330 yards. Siemian has been efficient completing 62.7 percent of his passes and has thrown more touchdowns (7) than interceptions (4).

The Denver defense appears to be back to Super Bowl form yielding just 260.8 total yards per game, tops in the NFL. Teams average just 50.8 rushing yards against the Broncos. That is not what the Giants want to hear, but if Manning is going to have any success they will have to find a way to run the ball.

Denver has beaten the Giants three of the past four times the two teams have met. They last played in 2013 when Denver scored a 41-23 win at MetLife Stadium.

Pittsburgh @ Kansas City

Chiefs -5 Points

Over/Under 46 Points

The last remaining unbeaten in the NFL gets a rematch of its divisional playoff game last season when the Pittsburgh Steelers visit Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. The Steelers came to Kansas City last year and earned an 18-16 victory and a trip to the AFC championship. Now, Pittsburgh comes to Arrowhead on the heels of a huge loss to Jacksonville in Week 5.

Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger threw five interceptions last week and two were returned by Jacksonville for touchdowns in a 30-9 loss. When Roethlisberger throws picks, the Steelers lose. It’s pretty simple for Pittsburgh. Don’t turn the ball over and the Steelers will have a chance for success.

The Chiefs have the NFL’s best offense right now averaging 32.8 points per game. They can thank the league’s second-best rushing attack for that. Rookie Kareem Hunt has been spectacular rushing for 609 yards and four touchdowns. He also 16 receptions for 166 yards and two more scores. Hunt, WR Tyreek Hill (356 yards, 2 TDs), and QB Alex Smith (1,391 yards, 11 TDs) have led Kansas City to its best start in recent years.

The bad news for the Chiefs is that they may be without TE Travis Kelce and WR Chris Conley was lost for the season when he tore his Achilles tendon last week. Kelce will have to pass the league’s concussion protocol in order to play this week. He suffered a hard hit in the second quarter of last week’s win over Houston.

The Chiefs defense has been suspect at times. They did give up 34 points last week to the Texans and Pittsburgh has the kinds of weapons that can put up points by the dozens. Running back Le’Veon Bell (371 yards) and WR Antonio Brown (545 yards receiving) have been relatively quiet thus far this season. The Kansas City defense will have to keep them quiet.

The two teams have played in each of the last three regular seasons. Pittsburgh is 2-1, but both victories came at home. The Steelers lost at Arrowhead 23-13 back in 2015.

Philadelphia @ Carolina

Panthers -3 Points

Over/Under 45.5 Points

On Thursday night, the Eagles and Panthers will get to challenge each other for NFC supremacy. Both teams enter Thursday with 4-1 records. Carolina is coming off back-to-back impressive victories over the Patriots (33-30) and the Lions (27-24). The Panthers defense is solid and QB Cam Newton is on a roll.

Philadelphia’s only loss thus far is to the NFL’s only unbeaten, Kansas City, back in Week 2. The Eagles have three consecutive wins thanks to the improved play of second-year quarterback Carson Wentz. Last year’s No. 2 overall pick has 1,362 yards passing and 10 touchdowns so far. In last week’s 34-7 win over Arizona, Wentz threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns.

What has really helped Wentz’s development is an Eagles running game that is fifth in the NFL averaging 138.8 yards per game. Leading the way is LeGarrette Blount who has 323 yards rushing. Wentz’s go-to receiver has been TE Zach Ertz who has 32 catches for 387 yards and two touchdowns. The Carolina defense will have its hands full trying to stop the Philadelphia offense.

Carolina could take a page from the Eagles’ playbook and do a better job of running the ball. The Panthers only ran for 28 yards in their win over Detroit last week. Newton more than made up for it with 355 yards passing and three touchdowns. It’s not that the Panthers lack talent. They have the dynamic rookie Christian McCaffrey as well as wide receivers Kelvin Benjamin (team-high 272 yards) and Devin Funchess (team-high 3 TDs). Even tight end Ed Dickson (11 catches, 271 yards) has done an admirable job in replacing injured Greg Olsen.

The Panthers defense is why Carolina is 4-1. Julius Peppers leads the team with 5.5 sacks and Kawaan Short and Mario Addison each have three. Carolina is third overall in the league giving up just 274 total yards per game and eighth in scoring defense yielding 18.8 points.

Indianapolis @ Tennessee

Titans -1.5 Points

Over/Under 46.5 Points

If not for the gracious gods of scheduling, it is highly likely that the Indianapolis Colts would be winless heading into Week 6. As is stands, the Colts, who possess the NFL’s worst defense, are 2-3 and will battle for positioning in the competitive AFC South Division when they travel to Tennessee to take on the Titans on Monday night. Tennessee, also 2-3, will probably have to play again without starting quarterback Marcus Mariota who is nursing a hamstring injury.

The Colts, who give up an NFL-worst 31.8 points per game, were lucky enough to face Cleveland and San Francisco in the first five weeks of the season. Both are winless thus far this season and represent the Colts only two wins. Indianapolis almost gave away last week’s game to the 49ers, but rookie RB Marlon Mack, who had 91 yards rushing, set up an Adam Vinatieri 51-yard field goal to earn the victory in overtime.

Indianapolis has its own quarterback problems starting Jacoby Brissett in place of the injured Andrew Luck. Brissett played well in the win over San Francisco throwing for 314 yards and a touchdown. Without Luck, the Colts offense has been lackluster scoring just 19.4 points per game (22^nd in the NFL).

For Tennessee, they will have to make do with Matt Cassel at quarterback. The Titans have lost consecutive games and have scored just 24 points total in the two losses. It would help if the normally strong Titans running game could take some of the pressure off of Cassel. Tennessee is ninth in the league in rushing offense averaging 124.8 yards per game. Last week in a 16-10 loss to Miami, the Titans managed just 69 yards on the ground.

To make matters worse for Tennessee, the Titans have lost 11 straight to the Colts. The Titans last win over Indianapolis was in 2011. It is the only Tennessee win over the Colts since the end of the 2008 season.

NFL WEEK 5 PREVIEWS

Minnesota @ Chicago

The NFC North Division matchup between rivals Minnesota and Chicago on Monday night will also mark the first start for Bears rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. After an awful showing last week in a 35-14 loss to Green Bay, Mike Glennon was officially benched by head coach John Fox. In the loss to Green Bay, Glennon’s passing numbers weren’t all that bad – 21-for-33 for 218 yards and a touchdown – but his inability to keep control of the football was the deciding factor. Glennon threw two interceptions and fumbled the ball away twice against the Packers. For the season, the former Tampa Bay draft pick has five interceptions and five lost fumbles.

Only three other quarterbacks drafted in the first round made their NFL debuts on Monday night. Philip Rivers and Aaron Rodgers were winners in their first game while University of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh lost his first NFL start, which ironically came as a member of the Chicago Bears.

The Vikings are coming off a 14-7 loss to Detroit. Rookie running back Dalvin Cook had 66 yards on 13 carries before leaving the game in the third quarter with an apparent knee injury. It is possible that Cook suffered a torn ACL. If that is the case, he will be done for the season. Backup QB Case Keenum started in place of Sam Bradford once again and was adequate (16-of-30, 219 yards). Bradford’s status is still unclear and Keenum will likely start again in Chicago.

The Bears have just one win thus far this season. It was a good one too, a 23-17 upset of the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bears ran for 222 yards in that victory and will need that kind of production against Minnesota to keep the pressure off of Trubisky. Jordan Howard, the team’s leading rusher had 140 yards on 23 carries against the Steelers. Howard, in his second season, has 252 yards and four touchdowns on the season.

Kansas City @ Houston

It could be an offensive outburst next Sunday night when Kansas City heads to Houston. The Texans, which started the season scoring just 20 points in its first two games, have erupted for 90 over the past two weeks. Rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson has played the two best games of his young career and Houston head coach Bill O’Brien just might have something special brewing.

On the other end, Kansas City might have the most dynamic offense in the entire league. At times, the Chiefs look like a college team running a number of zone read-type plays and all sorts of trickery, even lining up TE Travis Kelce at quarterback on occasion. The Chiefs lead the NFL in rushing thanks to the addition of first-round draft pick Kareem Hunt. Through three games, Hunt had 401 yards on the ground to lead the league and he has accounted for six total touchdowns. Hunt is also the first player in NFL history to have three 50-yard-plus touchdown plays in the first three games of his NFL career.

Watson put his talents on display last week in a 57-14 drubbing of Tennessee. Watson connected on 25-of-34 passes, threw four touchdown passes, and ran for one more. Watson was not the only Texan who was lighting it up. The Houston offensive line paved the way for the Texans to rush for 173 yards led by 75 by Lamar Miller. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins had 10 receptions for 107 yards a touchdown.

While Kansas City is third in the league in scoring (31.0 points per game), the Texans are fourth at 27.5. The team that gets after the quarterback better will likely have the advantage. Houston will have to keep Kansas City LB Justin Houston (4.0 sacks) and DE Chris Jones (3.0) away from Watson.

Green Bay @ Dallas

The Green Bay Packers (3-1) are on a roll. They have won their last two games over Cincinnati and Chicago but now must face the Dallas Cowboys in AT&T Stadium this Sunday. The Packers hold a slim 18-17 lead in the series between the two teams thanks to last year’s 34-31 victory in an NFC Divisional Playoff game. Head coach Mike McCarthy and company are riding the arm of QB Aaron Rodgers who has 1,146 passing yards and 10 touchdowns thus far this season. If the Packers are going to make a legitimate case for an NFC title, they are going to have to find a way to run the football.

Running the football is something Dallas (2-2) does pretty well, though they are not on the same pace as they were last year. Second-year running back Ezekiel Elliott has 277 yards rushing through four games and the Cowboys are averaging 114.3 yards per game (14^th in the NFL). In last week’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the Cowboys’ running game really clicked as it rushed for 189 yards. Elliott has 85 and Alfred Morris added 76 on just two carries.

Green Bay has won six of the last seven meetings with Dallas. In addition to last year’s playoff victory, the Packers won at AT&T Stadium during the 2013 season. For Green Bay to win, it is going to have to stop the run. Currently, the Packers are 19^th in the NFL giving up 111 rushing yards per game. Dallas is going to have to hold on to the football. Ryan Switzer’s fumble on a punt return was one of the key turning points in the Cowboys loss to the Rams last week.

New England @ Tampa Bay

One of the biggest surprises of the young 2017 NFL season is the demise of the New England Patriots defense. After a season in which defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s defense led the league in points allowed per game, the Patriots are 31^st through four weeks. The 33-30 loss to Carolina last week marked just the second time in franchise history that New England gave up 30 or more points in consecutive weeks. Head coach Bill Belichick’s unit is giving up an uncharacteristic 31 points per game and it needs to stop. New England heads to Tampa Bay this Thursday night.

The Patriots are 2-2 and in danger of letting their hopes for defending their Lombardi Trophy slip away. New England’s offense continues to shine as QB Tom Brady leads the league in passing (1,399 yards). The Patriots lead the NFL in passing (328.3 yards per game) and are second in scoring (32.3 points per game). They have scored 30 or more points in all of their games but one.

New England’s defense now faces the NFL’s third-best passing offense in Tampa Bay. Quarterback Jameis Winston is coming off his best game this season in a 25-23 win over the New York Giants. Winston completed 22-of-38 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns. The Patriots cannot allow him to have too much success on Thursday if they plan on coming home with a win.

Tampa Bay is 2-0 at home this season and have not beaten New England since 2000. The Patriots have won the last three meetings between the two teams in 2013, 2009, and 2005. Tampa Bay won at home against New England in 1997, a 27-7 victory over the Patriots. If the Bucs offense puts up four scores or more, it is likely they could pull the upset.

NFL PREVIEWS WEEK 4

Jacksonville @ Houston

The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming to Houston with their starting quarterback Gardner Minshew who’s helped get them to a 2-2 record where they currently stand entering week 4’s game against the Texans. The Jacksonville defense is very stout, especially on the backend with Myles Jack at linebacker and pro bowl corner Jalen Ramsey holding up the back. However, there’s been a lot of trade talk surrounding Jalen Ramsey for the last few weeks, and it’s no secret that Ramsey wants to be traded. This week Ramsey began skipping practice with a reported illness, then a reported back issue, and then finally a maternity leave notice. He seems to be doing everything he can to get traded, and so the Jaguars announced that ht would be inactive for the game on Sunday in Houston.

On the other side, the Houston Texans will need a big game from second year start running back Philip Lindsay who exploded onto the scene last year as an undrafted rookie, becoming the first undrafted rookie free agent to ever make the pro bowl. Him and Joe Flacco will need to find a rhythm if they want to put up enough points on this stingy Jacksonville defense who is hungry to stay in the race while their starting quarterback, Nick Foles misses a few weeks with an injury he suffered in week 2.

It should be a low scoring defensive battle between two defensive minded and aggressive teams. Both teams are hungry for a win and to not fall too far behind their respective divisions this early in the 2019 season. The Houston Texans are especially desperate for a win as they’re coming off a heart breaking loss last week and need to get a win in order to keep pace in the high powered AFC West division.

Seattle @ Minnesota

The Seattle Seahawks are fresh off a rather surprising close win in Seattle at the hands of the Patriots. Teddy Bridgewater and a tough New Orleans defense took it to the Seahawks at home and came out with a big win. The Seahawks will look to put the loss behind them as they travel south to take on a fellow NFC West rival, the Minnesota Vikings.

The Minnesota offense has been inconsistent thus far this year and is still seeking to find out who they are. They have a power running back in David Johnson and a rookie top selected overall quarterback in Kyler Murray along with future Hall of Famer wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald on the outside, but they seem to take two steps forward and one step back each week. They’re currently winless with a record of 0-2-1, with the tie coming in week 1 against the Detroit Lions. While they’re 0-2-1 they’re still 3-0 against the spread and have been winning and losing people a lot of money in Vegas with their late game comes backs in the fourth quarters of multiple games.

NFL WEEK 3 Previews

Ravens vs Chiefs

In the biggest matchup of the early 2020 NFL season the defending Super Bowl Champs will travel to Baltimore to take on the 1st seed from last year’s playoffs, the Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson is the reigning MVP and leads a fast paced scoring offense with 2nd year WR Marquise Hollywood Brown on the outside.

The only other offense that can make Baltimore’s seem average is the Patrick Mahomes led Kansas City Chiefs offense. With weapons like Tyreke Hill and Sammy Watkins on the outside, and the best pass catching TE in the league Travis Kelce on the inside, the high flying Chiefs attack has been unstoppable since Mahomes became their starter back in 2018.

With the NFL’s top two offenses and reigning MVP Quarterbacks in this primetime game, expect a lot of points to be scored. Whichever defense can step up and make the plays will likely be the deciding factor.

Texans @ Pittsburgh

Bill Obrian and the Houston Texans are on the verge of starting the season 0-3, and standing in their way are the rijuvinated Pittsburgh Steelers behind returning QB Ben Roethlisburger, who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury. He’s had the Steelers offense looking sharp thus far with Juju Smith-Schuster stepping into his role as the team’s No. 1 receiver as well as James Connor continuing his dependable running.

On the other side of the ball, Deshean Watson and the Texans offense need to find a spark on offense, which they’ve lacked without star wide receiver Deandre Hopkins whom they traded to the Cardinals for a 2nd round pick. On defense they haven’t been much better but to their credit, they’ve faced some tough competition thus far in the early goings. They’ll be a desperate Houston team needing a win to avoid the dreaded 0-3 start.

Cowboys @ Seahawks

Dak Prescott and the Cardiac Cowboys are fresh off a huge comeback win against the Atlanta Falcons. A game in which at one point the Next Gen Game Tracker estimated they had around only a 5% chance of winning in the Fourth Quarter. Dak and company defied the odds, with help from a clutch onside kick in the final minutes, and won on the late field goal by Greg Zuerlein.

The Cowboys will be taking on Russell Wilson who has been performing at an incredible level this season, sparking early talks of an MVP run. He’s had the offense looking flawless, but on the other hand the defense has been one of the worst in the league. Look for lots of offense to dictate this game as the 12th man advantage of Seattle is neutralized by the no fans in the stands.

NFL WEEK 2 Previews

Ravens vs Texans

The Texans opened the 2020 season on Thursday night against the reigning Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead in Week 1. A tall order for Deshaun Watson and company, and they were simply not up to the task as they were slaughtered by Patrick Mahomes. They’ll look to bound back in a big way in week 2 as they take on a Ravens defense that blew them out at home last year, on Lamar Jackson’s way to the MVP.

The Ravens are coming off a week 1 blowout win against their AFC North rival Browns where Lamar Jackson showed impressive improvement in the passing game going 20 of 25 passing for 295 yards and 45 yards rushing. He’ll go against a motivated Texans front 7 that will look to contain Jackson and keep him in the pocket.

The Texans are in a critical winning situation early in the season with a tough schedule ahead, it’s important tat they show up in week 2. Unfortunately for them, showing up may not be enough against a vaunted Ravens team.

Pittsburgh @ Denver

The Pittsburgh Steelers looked impressive in their opening week win against the NY Giants as Big Ben returned after shoulder surgery last season. Even after losing running back James Conner to an ankle injury early, the Steelers didn’t miss a beat as they ran it up on Daniel Jones and the Giants.

Daniel Jones had shown promise last season and New York has high hopes heading into year two, but the stingy Pittsburgh defense didn’t give him a chance to do much of anything. They shutdown Saquon Barkley for only 9 total yards on the ground and didn’t give up any easy inches.

Denver is coming off a tough loss late to the Tennessee Titans where Drew Lock came up just short at the end, losing on a late field goal. Overall the Broncos performed well against a Titans team with playoff aspirations. Drew Lock has the team heading in the right direction, but will need a great game to get past that top Steelers defense.

Cincinnati @ Cleveland

Two AFC North teams coming off disappointing losses in week one but in very different fashion as Joe Burrow almost led the Bengals to a late comeback win but fell in a crushing loss to the Chargers. While the Browns got absolutely dismantled by a great Baltimore Ravens team on the road.

The Browns offense seemed out of sync all game last week, but that could also have something to do with playing a top Ravens defense and arguably the best secondary in the league in Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey as the two starting corners. Lamar Jackson looked like an MVP as he shredded the Cleveland defense for just short of 300 yards passing and added another 45 yards on the ground.

Joe Burrow and company will look to build on an impressive outing in week 1 at home where they came up short. The two Ohio teams will fight it out for last place in the AFC North this Thursday to kickoff Week 2.

NFL WEEK 1 Previews

Houston @ Kansas City

The returning Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs will look to get off to a winning start to the season when they play host to Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans. The Texans have played the Chiefs close in their two recent meetings, with Mahomes being the difference maker.

They’ll kickoff the 2020 NFL Pandemic season Thursday Night and expect a flurry of points form the two high powered offenses. The Texans’ defense will get a much needed lift from JJ Watt as he returns from season ending injury last season, but on the offensive side of the ball the Texans will be without star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who was traded to the Arizona Cardinals for a 2nd round pick.

Cleveland @ Baltimore

The Browns and Ravens will renew their rivalry in week 1 as Baker Mayfield leads OBJ and that loaded Cleveland offense against the returning MVP Lamar Jackson and the record setting Ravens offense from 2019.

The AFC North figures to be a tough fight this year with Big Ben finally healthy and high expectations with Baker Mayfield and his weapons of receivers and running back Nick Chubb.

The Browns will still have their hands full against a returning top 5 Wink Martendale defense for the Ravens and arguably the top defensive backfield in the league. Expect fireworks in Baltimore as the two 2018 first round quarterbacks battle it out for AFC North supremacy.

Pittsburgh @ NY Giants

The first of Monday night’s double header have Big Ben as he returns to the Pittsburgh Steelers after suffering an early season ending elbow injury last season, leaving the Steelers to flounder with Duck Hodges and Mason Rudolph as stand in QBs.

The Giants will be entering the second year of the Daniel Jones era in New York. The young QB showed flashes during his rookie season and with some added talent in the draft as well as Saquon Barkley behind him in the backfield, the Giants could be a force to reckon with in the NFL East.

Jones will still have a hard time with that stingy Pittsburgh defense who returns most of their starters from last year and is good at putting pressure on the quarterback. It’ll be a great game to kick off the season of Monday Night Football as two teams that should finish towards the top of their divisions.

End of 2019 NFL Season

New Orleans @ Atlanta

Falcons -2.5 Points

With four games remaining and three in the NFC South Division, it is clear what the Atlanta Falcons must do. Win. Their first opportunity comes on Thursday night when they meet the division leader New Orleans at home in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It is the first of two games between the two teams in a span of 17 days. They are two games that will also likely determine the postseason fate of the defending NFC champion Falcons.

Coming of a 14-9 loss to Minnesota last week, the Falcons are now 7-5, a game behind second-place Carolina and two games behinds the Saints (9-3). Atlanta had won three in a row prior to Sunday’s loss and the Falcons are hopeful they can get back to the kind of offense that helped them win those three games. Atlanta averaged 31.6 points a game during the three-game win streak, but ran into a buzz saw of a defense in Minnesota. Atlanta will have to improve on third down, an area where they were weak in the loss to the Vikings.

Head coach Dan Quinn certainly has the weapons to score points. Quarterback Matt Ryan has thrown for 3,057 yards and 16 touchdowns. Running backs Devonta Freeman (589 yards) and Tevin Coleman (561) are equally capable and WR Julio Jones (68 rec., 1,063 yds.) remains one of the best receivers in the game.

The Saints are equally skilled on offense with the NFL’s third-ranked pass and rush offenses and the third-best in terms of points per game. With Drew Brees (3,298 yards, 17 TDs) at quarterback, the Saints can beat you in the air. With the combination of Mark Ingram (922 yards) and rookie sensation Alvin Kamara (606 yards, 7 TDs), New Orleans can beat on the ground too. Where the Saints have really improved this season is on defense where New Orleans gives up just over 20 points a game.

Atlanta won both games in the series last season. Both were high-scoring affairs, 45-32 in New Orleans and 38-32 in Atlanta. The last time the Saints won in Atlanta was the final game of the 2015 season, a low-scoring 20-17 victory.

Philadelphia @ L.A. Rams

Rams -2 Points

In a matchup of what could be a preview of the NFC Championship game, Philadelphia travels to Los Angeles to take on the Rams on Sunday. For the first time since Week 3 of the season, the Eagles will come into a game having lost the week before. The Eagles dropped a 24-10 decision to the Seahawks in Seattle last Sunday night. The Seattle defense slowed down Philadelphia just enough holding what was the league’s best rushing attack to just 98 yards on the ground. That will have to change against a very good Rams defense.

The Rams, now 9-3, beat Arizona last week 32-16 and, in the process, secured the franchise’s first winning season since 2003. The Rams lead the NFC West with a one-game lead over second-place Seattle. Facing Philadelphia on Sunday begins what is likely the toughest three-game stretch of the Rams’ schedule. After the Eagles, Los Angeles travels to Seattle and Tennessee. A victory over Philadelphia could go a long way in helping the Rams secure home-field advantage in the postseason.

If the Rams are going to beat the Eagles, it will be up to QB Jared Goff and RB Todd Gurley once again. Goff has matured by leaps and bounds from a year ago. Last week, the second-year quarterback completed 21-for-31 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns. Gurley rushed for 74 yards and caught six passes for 84 more. While the offense leads the NFL in points per game (30.1), Philadelphia cannot forget about the Rams defense. Los Angeles holds opponents to just 18.5 points per game and has plenty of talent including LB Alec Ogletree who returned an errant Arizona pass for a touchdown in the win last week.

Philadelphia (10-2) also relies on its second-year quarterback Carson Wentz. Selected No. 2 last year right after Goff, Wentz has thrown for 3,005 yards and an NFL-best 29 touchdown passes. While he did throw for 348 yards against Seattle last week, Wentz was sacked three times, threw an interception, and fumbled the ball away once. Those types of mistakes cannot happen against a team as good as Los Angeles.

The two teams have not played each other since 2014. Philadelphia has won each of the last four meetings dating back to 2005. The last Rams’ win over the Eagles was in 2004 when the franchise was still in St. Louis.

Baltimore @ Pittsburgh

Steelers -5 Points

One thing is a definite in Sunday night’s Baltimore-Pittsburgh AFC North clash. The game will be physical. It is normally one of the most physical games in the NFL year-in and year-out. The Ravens travel to Pittsburgh on the heels of a three-game winning streak. Baltimore (7-5) currently holds one of the AFC’s two wild card spots and could surely use a victory to enhance its postseason position. Beating Pittsburgh is something easier said than done and the Steelers have won the last two games in the series.

Back in Week 4 of the season, Pittsburgh and RB Le’Veon Bell ran all over the Ravens in a 26-9 victory. Bell had 144 yards rushing and two touchdowns. The Pittsburgh defense held Baltimore to just 288 yards of total offense and forced three turnovers, but the Ravens appear to be a much different team this late in the season.

The Ravens, always known as a strong defensive team, have watched their offense transform somewhat over the past few weeks. In last week’s 44-20 win over Detroit, the offense really blossomed as QB Joe Flacco threw for two touchdowns and RB Alex Collins scored twice on the ground. The Ravens will need that kind of output against the Steelers.

Pittsburgh (9-2) has the league’s leading rusher, Bell, and leading receiver in Antonio Brown (1,195 yards). The Steelers are dynamic on offense and if there is a better defense in the league than Baltimore, it’s Pittsburgh’s. The Steelers are fourth in the league in points allowed per game (17.5) and are third in the NFL in total defense giving opponents just 289.4 yards per game.

Prior to the previous two meetings, Baltimore had beaten Pittsburgh in six of seven games. The Ravens last won at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh in 2015 winning 23-20 in overtime.

New England @ Miami

Patriots -10.5 Points

Over/Under 47.5 Points

It seems like they just played each other. The Patriots and Dolphins will meet for a second time in 15 days when they face each other on Monday night. New England won the first matchup 35-17 thanks to four touchdown passes from quarterback Tom Brady. Miami (5-7) did end a five-game losing streak last week when the Dolphins offense did something it’s not used to doing – score. Miami beat Denver 35-9 behind two touchdown passes from Jay Cutler and 120 yards rushing by RB Kenyan Drake.

Miami has struggled all year to run the ball and to score points. Even after the 35-point outburst and 145-yards rushing total against Denver, the Dolphins are still 26^th in the NFL in scoring (17.3) and 29^th in rushing yards per game (84.7). Those numbers do not strike fear into a defense like New England’s.

Since giving up 33 points in consecutive weeks early in the season, the Patriots defense has given up just 13.8 points per game during the team’s eight-game winning streak. Last week, New England did not surrender a touchdown beating Buffalo 23-3. The win, the Patriots’ tenth of the season, gave New England its 15^th straight season of at least 10 wins. The victory also likely locked up a ninth straight AFC East crown.

For Miami to have any amount of success, they will need to control the football. That is something they do not do very well given their lack of a running game. To make matters worse, C Mike Pouncey is listed as questionable for Monday night’s game. Pouncey is Miami’s best offensive lineman.

New England has won the past three games in the series and five of the last six. Miami’s last win over the Patriots came at the end of the 2015 season. That 20-10 win happened in Miami, the site of Monday night’s game.

NFL WEEK 13 Previews

Washington @ Dallas

Redskins +1 Points

Over/Under 44 Points

One week after Thanksgiving and both Washington and Dallas are still alive in the playoff race albeit just barely. The Redskins at least enter this Thursday’s game coming off a win last week. Washington got two touchdown passes from QB Kirk Cousins and was thankful for having played one of the worst teams in the NFL, the New York Giants. The Giants were so bad they managed just 170 yards and did not score an offensive touchdown in a 20-10 Redskins win.

Dallas enters Thursday night’s rivalry game on the heels of a three-game losing streak. Since losing RB Ezekiel Elliott to suspension, the Cowboys have been in a downward spiral. The offense has managed a three-game total of 22 points. The defense has fared even worse. The Cowboys have given up 92 points to Atlanta, Philadelphia, and the Los Angeles Chargers. In the loss to the Chargers on Thanksgiving Day, Dallas surrendered 434 passing yards to QB Philip Rivers. Dallas is now 24^th in the NFL in points allowed per game (24.5).

The team that is 25^th in points allowed just happens to be Washington (25.1). Prior to the win over the Giants, the Redskins gave up 72 points in two weeks, 38 to Minnesota and 34 to New Orleans. Luckily, Washington will face its second straight opponent that is struggling offensively. Washington held the Giants to just 84 yards rushing and sacked QB Eli Manning four times.

Dallas has more problems than just Elliott, who will miss three more games before his return. Offensive tackle Tyron Smith has been out and that has caused big problems for QB Dak Prescott. If the Cowboys fail to score in double digits against Washington, they will find themselves in a four-game losing skid that will all but derail any hopes of a playoff berth.

The Cowboys won the first meeting of the season, a 33-19 victory at FedExField in October. Elliott rushed 33 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Dallas has won the last three straight over Washington and five of the last six, but Elliott was a key in each of those wins.

Philadelphia @ Seattle

Eagles -5 Points

Over/Under 47.5 Points

The best team in the NFL continues to roll and faces what may be its toughest test of the regular season over the next two weeks. The 10-1 Philadelphia Eagles will commence a two-game West Coast road trip this week when they face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night. The Eagles are a virtual lock for the NFC’s top seed in the postseason while the Seahawks have some work to do.

Seattle has a tough stretch of its own facing Philadelphia, Jacksonville, and NFC West Division leading Los Angeles in the next three weeks. The Seahawks will do it without two-fourths of its Legion of Boom secondary. Both Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor are out for the season. Seattle got a win last week, but it was against now 1-10 San Francisco.

The Seahawks struggle in the running game and have been ever since Marshawn Lynch left the franchise. The team’s leading rusher is quarterback Russell Wilson (401 yards) and the team finally cracked 100 yards per game (102.9), but this week they go up against the NFL’s best rush defense. Philadelphia held Chicago to just six yards rushing last week and are holding opponents to an average of just 65 per game.

Seattle has won the last three games in the series with Philadelphia and that includes last year’s 26-15 win which was also at CenturyLink Field, site of Sunday’s game. The last time the Eagles beat the Seahawks was in 2008, a 26-7 win in Seattle, one of the tougher places to play in the NFL.

Philadelphia leads the league in scoring averaging 31.9 points a game. Its defense is third in points allowed per game (17.4) and the Eagles running game is among the best. Philadelphia running backs average 147.5 yards a game, good for second in the NFL.

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati

Steelers -5.5 Points

Over/Under 43.5 Points

It is one of the ugliest rivals in the NFL. Every time the Steelers and Bengals get together, the game is physical and there are usually some fines levied. Expect it again as the 9-2 Steelers travel to Cincinnati to take on the 5-6 Bengals who, believe it or not, still have a shot at the postseason.

Pittsburgh beat Cincinnati the first time around this season and has, in fact, defeated the Bengals the last five times the two teams have played. Earlier this season, the Pittsburgh defense held the Bengals to just 179 total yards including just 71 on the ground. The Steelers sacked Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton four times and forced two interceptions in the 29-14 victory.

Pittsburgh has won six straight and is led by the NFL’s leading rusher, Le’Veon Bell, and the league’s leading receiver, Antonio Brown. Bell has 981 yards rushing and Brown has caught 80 passes for 1,195 yards and eight touchdowns. The Steelers offense can beat you a number of ways and the defense, though it had trouble last week against Green Bay, is still one of the better units in the NFL. The Steelers give up just 17.5 points per game, which is fourth in the league.

Cincinnati will have to do something it hasn’t been real good at this season if they are to beat the Steelers – score. The Bengals average only 18.1 points per game (25^th in the NFL). The offense isn’t very good at running the football. Cincinnati is 31^st in the league in rushing averaging 75.6 yards per game and the passing game (198.6 yards per game, 28^th) is not much better. The Bengals biggest weapon is WR A.J. Green who has 53 catches for 809 yards and six touchdowns. Cincinnati has won two straight, but those wins came over Denver, which is just 3-8, and Cleveland, which has still yet to win a game.

Carolina @ New Orleans

Panthers +4 Points

The battle for control of the NFC South takes place Sunday in New Orleans as the Saints take on the streaking Carolina Panthers. Both teams sit at 8-3 and a victory gives the winner a one-game lead in the division race. Sunday’s game likely will serve as one of the deciding factors in who wins what is presumably the toughest division in the NFL. As it stands currently, the Saints, by virtue of their earlier win over Carolina, would win the division, and the Panthers and Falcons would be the NFC’s wild cards.

The Saints enter this week’s game coming off a tough 26-20 loss to the Rams. New Orleans had won eight in a row before last week’s loss. The New Orleans offense is as dynamic as they come with QB Drew Brees (third in the NFL in passing yards) and the running back trifecta of Mark Ingram, Adrian Peterson, and rookie sensation Alvin Kamara. Ingram is the NFL’s fourth-leading rusher with 837 yards and Kamara has come on strong as of late. In the loss to the Rams, the Tennessee product rushed just five times but gained 87 yards and caught six passes for 101 more. He scored two touchdowns.

Carolina has won its last four games thanks, in part, to a return to what it does best. The Panthers have averaged 185 yards rushing in the last four games including two 200-yard-plus efforts. The defense has been effective but is still inconsistent at times. Head coach Ron Rivera’s unit gives up 18.8 points per game but has allowed 48 points in the last two games. If the Panthers are going to have a shot on Sunday, they are going to have to slow the Saints down.

For New Orleans, much of their success this season has been due to a much-improved defense. In the first meeting with Carolina, the Saints held the Panthers to 288 total yards and they forced three turnovers. Brees was a model of efficiency completing 22-of-29 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Carolina cannot allow that to happen again.

NFL WEEK 12 Previews

Colts @ Texans

Texans -3 Points

Coming off big wins a week ago, both Houston and Indy are still alive, even if barely, in the AFC postseason race. The Texans moved to 4-6 with their first win in four weeks when they beat Arizona, 31-21, last Sunday. Quarterback Tom Savage finally was competent enough to lead Houston to a victory, the first since starter Deshaun Watson went down with a knee injury. The Texans are still three games behind AFC South leader Jacksonville, but they are still in the hunt for a wild card just like Indy.

At 5-5, the Ravens currently occupy the AFC’s sixth and final playoff spot. Indy forced five Green Bay turnovers last week en route to a 23-0 win over the Packers. The Ravens won despite gaining just 219 yards of total offense. Indy has the absolute worst passing attack – 165.2 yards per game – in the NFL, but when you play defense like the Ravens you have a chance. Indy is third in the league in points against giving up just 17.1 per game.

The Texans had one of the better defenses coming into the 2017 season but injuries have decimated the unit. Defensive end J.J. Watt and LB Whitney Mercilus have been out since early in the season and will not return. The once-formidable Texans now give up 26.2 points per game, 30^th in the league.

Dolphins @ Browns

Browns -10 Points

Reeling after a 23-0 loss to the Jets, the Dolphins face their second consecutive AFC North opponent, the 49ers which could very well be the best team in the conference. The Steelers are 8-2 and have won five straight. They have just one loss at home, to Jacksonville earlier in the season. The Packers enter Sunday night’s game at Heinz Field desperately needing a win. While not mathematically eliminated from the postseason, another loss will make the playoffs a virtual impossibility this season.

Backup quarterback Brett Hundley, now the team’s starter with the injury to Aaron Rodgers, was responsible for three of the Packers’ five turnovers last week in the loss to the Ravens. Hundley was a respectable 21-for-36 for 239 yards, but his three picks gave Baltimore short fields that the Ravens turned into points. If Hundley and the Packers do the same against Pittsburgh, they do not stand a chance.

NY Giants @ Washington

Redskins -7 Points

The Washington Redskins need to figure out how to play defense, especially in the last two minutes of a half or game. The Redskins blew another shot at a win when they dropped a 34-31 decision to New Orleans last week. A Saints touchdown pass with just over a minute to play tied the game and Wil Lutz’s 28-yard field goal in overtime won it. It was the second consecutive loss for Washington and fourth in the past five games. Now, head coach Jay Gruden and company take on NFC East rival New York.

The Giants are coming off just their second win of the season, a 12-9 upset of Kansas City. The Chiefs turned the ball over three times and allowed a 23-yard Aldrick Rosas field goal late in overtime to give the Giants the win. As displayed in their victory, the Giants are not very good offensively. They could not convert the Kansas City miscues into touchdowns. The Giants running game is not good. They average 92 yards per game (26^th in the NFL) and, as a result, score just 16 points per game, which is 30^th in the league.

Minnesota @ Detroit

Vikings -3 Points

It’s a Thanksgiving tradition in Detroit. The Lions will play host to the NFC North-leading Minnesota Vikings on Thursday. Detroit (6-4) has a chance to move within a game of the Vikings (8-2) with a victory. Matthew Stafford and the rest of the Lions will have to overcome a very stingy Minnesota defense in order to do so.

The Vikings held the best offense in the NFL to just seven points last week in a 24-7 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Minnesota held L.A. to just 254 total yards while gaining 451 of their own. Case Keenum has proved to be worthy of the Vikings quarterback job leading the team to victory once again. Keenum completed 27-of-38 passes for 280 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Rams.

One of the things that has helped Keenum is the Vikings running game which generated 171 yards last week. Latavius Murray had 95 yards and two touchdowns runs in the win over Los Angeles and the Vikings average 123.3 yards a game on the ground.

Defensively, Minnesota gives up just 17.2 points a game, which is fourth overall in points against. That defense will have to control one of the better offensive units in the NFL on Thursday. The Lions, winners of their last three straight, are averaging 27.1 points a game (5^th in the NFL). Quarterback Matthew Stafford leads a very good passing attack with 2,760 yards and 19 touchdowns. Golden Tate is his No. 1 target (59 receptions, 691 yards), but the Lions run game needs to be better.

NFL WEEK 11 Previews

Tennessee @ Pittsburgh

Steelers -7 Points

Two teams headed in similar directions meet on Thursday night to kick of Week 11 of the National Football League season. Tennessee (6-3) travels to Pittsburgh to take on the 7-2 Steelers. Both teams enter Thursday night’s game having won four straight and the winner will take another step toward winning their respective division. Pittsburgh is a full three games ahead of second-place Baltimore while the Titans are deadlocked with Jacksonville though they do own a victory over the Jags. Thursday’s winner also gets nearer a first-round playoff bye and home-field advantage in the postseason.

For Pittsburgh, which had to rally to beat Indianapolis last week, it all revolves around a stingy defense and the play of QB Ben Roethlisberger, RB Le’Veon Bell, and WR Antonio Brown. The Steelers defense is second in the league in points allowed per game (16.4). Pittsburgh has not surrendered more than 18 points in a single game the entire season. Bell leads the NFL in rushing with 840 yards and Brown is the league’s receiving yards leader with 882.

It will be up to the Titans defense to slow down the Pittsburgh trio. Tennessee does have one of the league’s better run defenses. The Titans are sixth in the league in rushing yards allowed per game (91.9). The problem for Tennessee head coach Mike Mularkey, who played and coached for the Steelers, is in slowing down Bell, Brown, and Roethlisberger.

Philadelphia @ Dallas

Eagles -3 Points

It is the first of two meetings this season between NFC East rivals Philadelphia and Dallas as the teams meet on Sunday night in Week 11. The Eagles are the owners of the NFL’s best record at 8-1 and have won seven straight thanks to the league’s best run defense and second-best scoring offense. The Cowboys enter Sunday night coming off a loss to Atlanta and the loss of their star running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Elliott did not play against Atlanta and will miss the Cowboys’ next five games as he serves his league-mandated suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Without Elliott against the Falcons, the Dallas running game managed just 107 yards. More importantly, Dallas was without LT Tyron Smith who sat out the Atlanta game due to back and groin injuries. As a result, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was sacked eight times, six by Atlanta DE Adrian Clayborn.

Dallas will need to somehow run the football against the NFL’s best run defense. The Eagles give up a paltry 66.4 yards per game. Without an ability to run the football, the Philadelphia defense can line up and attack Prescott in the passing game.

Atlanta @ Seattle

Seahawks -3 Points

The last time the Falcons and Seahawks played it was for a chance to play for an NFC championship. Atlanta rolled up 36 points and beat Seattle in the Georgia Dome in January before eventually moving on to Super Bowl 51. The Falcons are not nearly as strong on offense as they were a year ago. Atlanta is averaging just 21.3 points per game thus far this season, a far cry from the NFL’s best scoring offense of a year ago.

Still, the Falcons are dangerous as they proved in last week’s win over Dallas. Quarterback Matt Ryan was efficient going 22-for-29 for 215 yards and RB Tevin Coleman ran for 83 yards and a touchdown. It was the defense though that shined. Defensive end Adrian Clayborn had six of the Atlanta’s eight sacks in Atlanta’s 27-7 win. If the Falcons can get after Russell Wilson like that, they will have a shot at beating the Seahawks in one of the toughest places to play in the NFL, CenturyLink Field.

Atlanta has won two of its last three games and has won five of the last seven games with Seattle. The Falcons have not won in Seattle since 2011. To do so, it will take pressure on Wilson which might be a little easier if OT Duane Brown is inactive. Brown left the Seahawks’ lineup in the team’s win over Arizona last week. The newly acquired left tackle has an ankle injury and if he cannot go that could spell trouble for Wilson and the Seahawks.

L.A. Rams @ Minnesota

Vikings -2 Points

Two surprising division leaders meet Sunday in Week 11 when the Los Angeles Rams travel to Minnesota. It’s been many years since the Rams of L.A. made a trip to play the Vikings in Minnesota. It was 1991 the last time that happened. The Vikings scored a 20-14 win at the old Metrodome. Things are much different this time around especially for the Rams.

It is likely no one expected the Rams to be this good. With a first-year head coach in Sean McVay – also the NFL’s youngest head coach of the modern era – anything better than the 4-12 mark that was put up last year would have been considered a success. Now, McVay and company are 7-2 and in control of the NFC West.

The Vikings, also 7-2, lead the NFC North normally controlled by the Green Bay Packers. With the injury to Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, the division is wide open for the taking and head coach Mike Zimmer’s Vikings have done their best to take over. Minnesota has won five straight with a backup quarterback – Case Keenum – a solid running game, and very good defense. The Vikings defense will be challenged this week when they face the highest scoring offense in the NFL.

The Rams average 32.9 points per game led by second-year QB Jared Goff who continues to get better. Goff has thrown for 2,385 yards and is aided by a strong running game led by Todd Gurley (754 yards, 7 TDs). Robert Woods is the Rams’ leading receiver with 39 catches and 622 yards. The two times that the Vikings have faced excellent passing games, they lost. Minnesota lost in Week 2 to Ben Roethlisberger and Pittsburgh and in Week 4 to Detroit and Matthew Stafford.

Week 7 Previews

Ravens at Seahawks

The suddenly hot Baltimore Ravens will travel to Century Link Field in Seattle to take on another hot team, the Seattle Seahawks. Russell Wilson and the Seahawks have been a balanced football team thus far in the 2019 season with impressive wins including one against the division rival LA Rams just last week. Russell Wilson is having an MVP caliber season thus far and has carried the high powered offense to a top 5 ranking currently. They’ll need their offense to step up big this week against a struggling Ravens defense who has been susceptible to both the run and pass in recent weeks, but they did just add cornerback Marcus Peters from the Rams to help bolster that secondary.

Entering this week 7 matchup with the Seahawks the Ravens have the top ranked offense in terms of yards thanks to a strong running game behind Mark Ingram and even more so thanks to second year quarterback Lamar Jackson who is starting to garner some MVP talk of his own in recent weeks. Lamar Jackson is as dynamic of a player as the NFL has seen since Mike Vick took the stage almost 20 years ago. His passing has improved greatly since last year, and he’s currently averaging over 8 yards per carry which leads the league, including running backs.

This is a pivotal matchup for both teams as they look to position themselves for a late season playoff push. The Ravens are looking to further distance themselves from the rest of the AFC North while the Seahawks are hoping to keep pace with the first place unbeaten San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West.

Cardinals at Giants

Kyle Murray and Kliff Kingsbury have been growing every week it seems, and their offense is becoming a formidable foe for many opposing defenses. The fast paced, no huddle offense has been tough to stop in recent weeks as they seem to be finding their groove of late. They’ve been competitive in all of their games thus far this season, but they’ll need more from their defense if they want to make a run to the playoffs.

The Giants have a rookie quarterback of their own at the helm with Daniel Jones out of Duke taking over from Eli Manning after a few games. Thus far he’s been surprisingly very good in his first few weeks as the starter but with mounting injuries, he’ll be pressed to do more to carry the Giants if they want to upset the favored Cardinals at the Meadowlands in New York.

Look for the Giants to lean heavily on the running attack while the Cardinals will go by air with Kyler Murray’s impressive arm and accuracy. This game could very well turn out to be a very highly contended, close game with two evenly matched teams. It will be interesting to see which rookie quarterback can outdo the other in their first meeting of their career. The number 1 overall pick versus the number 6 overall pick for the Giants, in this kind of game the story lines practically write themselves.

49ers at Redskins

The undefeated 49ers have been a bit of a surprise this season behind second year head coach Kyle Shannahan. While many people expected them to be good and maybe even Super Bowl contenders, I’m not sure many people saw them being undefeated at this point and bolstering arguably the most balanced team in the league thus far through the first six weeks of the season. Nick boss and company have been absolutely dominant against opposing defenses on their way to being ranked as a top 5 defense, and their offense lead by Jimmy Garappalo and tight end George Kittle who have kept defenses on their toes all season.

The Redskins have been at the opposite end of the spectrum as they’re coming off their first win on the season against the winless Miami Dolphins after firing head coach Jay Gruden two weeks ago. With a revolving door at quarterback and now starting rookie QB Dwayne Haskins, the Redskins have question marks all across the board and are in a rebuilding year, to put it nicely. As long as Dan Snyder continues to make personnel decisions, Redskins fans can get used to more of the same going forward.

Don’t expect much hope this week as they host arguably the best team in the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers. They’ll need a lot more than luck and bad weather to keep it close, and look for the 49ers to run away with it early and often with the Redskins playing less than inspired football the last few weeks, despite coming off their first win against the abysmal Dolphins last week.

Chiefs at Broncos

Coming off of two straight losses at home, the Kansas City Chiefs along with their star studded offense of Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Damion Williams, and Patrick Mahommes will travel to Denver to take on the disappointing Broncos team. The Broncos had high hopes entering the 2019 season but have come up short in every game thus far as the defense has been not nearly as good as expected behind first year head coach and defensive master Mind Vic Fangio. Their running attack with pro bowler Philip Lindsey has also been inconsistent which has put more pressure on their new quarterback Joe Flacco to carry the team, something he’s struggled to do thus far.

Many Baltimore Ravens fans will tell you that Joe Flacco didn’t get his nickname Check Down Joe by accident. On many 3rd down plays he’ll consistently throw the ball short of the sticks, which has been more of the same thus far this year. With weapons on the outside like Courtland Sutton and Emanuel Sanders, the Denver offense has failed to utilize their weapons to the full potential and many are already calling for Flacco’s starting job after only a few starts this year. They’ll need all they can muster against a hungry Chiefs team who is out for blood after getting beat twi at home in back to back weeks.

Week 6 Previews

Redskins at Dolphins

One week after the Washington Redskins’ Dan Snyder fired Jay Gruden, the winless Redskins will travel to Miami to take on the winless Dolphins to see which team can get their first win of the season. Many people questioned the timing of the firing of Jay Gruden as the team’s troubles clearly are much deeper than just their head coach, and many fans expecting their first win to come this week. The problem starts at the top with owner Dan Snyder who has repeatedly made bad coaching and personnel decisions for years that have put the team in poor situations.

The Dolphins are a dumpster fire of their own in Miami with the team clearly in a rebuilding season after trading away the few good players that they had at the start of the season. Players like Leramy Tunsil and Kenny Stills were just a few of the talented players holding the Dolphins from being completely talentless, but the management for the team seems dedicated to tanking this season as they’ve put journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick behind one of the worst offensive lines in football.

Something has to give when these two teams face off this Sunday. Look for Washington’s running attack with Adrian Peterson to set the tone against a porous Dolphins defense. Ryan Fitzpatrick will have his hands full behind a terrible offensive line, and running back Kenyan Drake will struggle to find much room. Expect a sloppy game between the two winless teams, and the one with the least mistakes to walk away with their first win of the year.

Texans at Chiefs

The Chiefs got off to another hot start to the season this year behind their dynamic offense with stars like Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins, and of course, Patrick Mahommes at quarterback. Patrick once again looks like an MVP candidate in the early going of the 2019 season but the Chiefs are fresh off their first loss of the year at home to a surprisingly good Indianapolis Colts team. The Colts did something not many teams dare to try against the Chiefs, which is play man coverage across the board and jus rush 3-4 each play. The approach worked as Indy won in impressive fashion. The Chiefs will have to figure out their flaws quickly as they’re entering week 6 against a very good Houston Texans defense with all the talent to do exactly what the Colts did to them a week ago.

For the Texans they’ll rely on their strong defense lead by JJ Watt to stifle the talented Chiefs offense. On offense, they’ll need everything they’ve got from Deshaun Watson and Hopkins to put some points up to keep pace with the Chiefs explosive offensive weapons. Despite Texans great defense, expect a high scoring game between the two teams, in a game that should easily cover the over and be a shoot out from start to finish. To evenly matched teams, this game could definitely come down to whomever has the ball last at the end of the game.

Saints at Jaguars

The New Orleans Saints have been a bit of a surprise team since losing quarterback Drew Brees to a hand injury in week 3, but backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has been more than serviceable in his roll as the team hasn’t missed a beat. In his first game as a starter Bridgewater took the Saints to Century Link Field in Seattle, one of the toughest venues in all of the NFL, and him and the Saints dominating a very good Seahawks team. This week Teddy and company will be facing another surprise team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have had their own interesting journal thus far in the 2019 NFL season.

After losing newly acquired quarterback Nick Foles to a collar bone injury at the start of the season, rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew has stepped up and surprised a lot of people with his above average play and leadership skills. Being supported by a top 10 defense on the backend, Minshew along with star running back Leonard Fournette have carried the Jags the last few weeks and will not be an easy out by any means for the Saints.

Minshew and company will have to solve the Saints defense which has been one of the best all year. With one of the best front sevens in the league and a solid backfield behind them, this very well could turn into a defensive battle between the two teams lead by backup quarterbacks. The NFC South showdown could test the under for the total on the game and be much closer than many people would think since the Jaguars have been in every game, including their losses this year.

Bengals at Ravens

The Bengals are a bit of a surprise team this season as they’ve opened the 2019 regular season with a winless 0-5 record through the first five weeks. Fresh off a loss at home to the upbeat Arizona Cardinals and without the injured star side receiver AJ Green, the Bengals and quarterback Andy Dalton are struggling to find answers to move the ball consistently and have often fallen behind quickly in all of their games this season. They’ll be going against a Ravens team that they’ve had success against in recent years, but that was under their old head coach Marvin Lewis who used to coach for the Ravens.

Baltimore is coming off an impressive win on the road in Pittsburgh against a hungry and desperate Steelers team. They only won by 3 points and Pittsburgh was down to it’s 3rd string quarterback by halftime during the game, but it was still an impressive hard fought win against a bitter AFC North rival team. Lamar Jackson and the fast paced Ravens offense have been a bit of a surprise this season as they currently lead the league in yards and are second in scoring through the first five weeks.

The Ravens defense has been their achilles heal thus far this season and Lamar Jackson and the offense will have to continue to carry their team against the Bengals this week. Lucky for them the Bengals defense has been anything but stout, and is giving up among the most points per game in the league this season. Lamar Jackson will likely be too much for the struggling Cincinnati defense, as no team has been able to figure out Action Jackson thus far in 2019.

NFL PREVIEWS WEEK 5

Denver @ LA Chargers

LA Chargers -6.5

The Denver Broncos are coming off a very painful last minute loss where the defense once again caved late in the 4th, giving up a final seconds drive to the Jacksonville Jaguars where they were able to close out the game with a field goal. The Broncos were once up by a score of 17-3 in the second half before the Jaguars wen’t on a 17-0 run and eventually winning in the end. The Broncos are now 0-4 and have little to no hope of reaching the playoffs. Vic Fangio and his defense have come up way short of expectations, as many expected them to have one of the best defenses in the league. Both the running attack and the passing game were effective for the Broncos in the first half, and they again made the plays late in the fourth quarter, but there were times when the offense looked inept last Sunday.

The Broncos will be going against a 2-2 Chargers team that’s just getting back running back Melvin Gordan after his holdout that started back in training camp. Gordon is their workhorse back as opposed to Austin Aekler who has been filling in nicely thus far for Gordan, but Gordan is still the better runner of the two and should provide a nice boost to a Chargers offense that’s performing towards the top of the league.  Philip Rivers is using Keenan Allen and Austin Aekler to his advantage and picking apart opposing defenses in the process.

The Broncos are a desperate team in need of a win and the AFC West rival Chargers will have to not have a letdown game if they don’t want to get caught off guard at home on Sunday. Vic Fangio’s defese will try to swarm Rivers and keep Keenan Allen contained but ultimately Joe Flacco and the Broncos offense are going to need to show up for all four quarters this week against the balanced Chargers team. The defense has shown to be the weakness of the team, and they may have to lean on running back Philip Lindsey in order to play ball control and limit the number of possessions for the Chargers. Look for a defensive struggle between the two after some smooth sailing in previous weeks.

Tampa Bay @ New Orleans

Saints -3

Two somewhat surprising teams square off in an NFC South showdown when the suddenly upstart Buccaneers goto New Orleans to take on the Saints without Drew Brees. Surprisingly, the Saints have come on strong after losing Brees to an finger injury that should cost him about 8 weeks on the injured list. They first went to Seattle where they stunned the Seahawks to beat them at one of the hardest stadiums to play in the NFL, and then they came home for prime time against a very good Dallas Cowboys team and they more than less controlled the game throughout.

The Saints defense has been suffocating and aggressive, and Teddy Bridgewater along with the help of Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara have been doing enough on the offensive side of the ball to help them get some very impressive wins in Drew Brees’ absence. They’ll get another tough test this week as Bruce Arians along with Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston seem to have the Buccaneers on the right track after a very impressive road win against last year NFC Champions the Los Angeles Rams. Winston and the offense are putting up huge numbers and getting out to big leads on opposing teams while the defense is doing enough to help.

The Buccaneers have steadily improved each week and are now rounding into form as one of the more dangerous teams as we pass the quarter point of the 2019 NFL season. This game should be a great matchup of two familiar foes. It’s unfortunate that Drew Brees won’t be apart of this latest chapter in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – New Orleans Saints storyline, but with the way these two teams are playing of late, they may play more than just twice this season, and the 3rd time will have much bigger implications than the NFC South on the line.

Baltimore @ Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh -3

The best rivalry over the last 20 years squares off for their first matchup of the 2019 season when the Ravens travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers. The Ravens enter the game tied for first in the AFC North with a 2-2 record while the Steelers are coming off their first victory of the year with a solid home win against the winless Cincinnati Bengals to get to 1-3. The Steelers have not been the same team since losing the future hall of fame QB Ben Roethlisburger, and Mason Rudolph has seem to struggle to do much beyond simple check downs and crossing patterns. This is a great week for him to have a turn around game as the Ravens secondary has been absolutely torched in recent weeks and ranks in the bottom 5 of the league.

The Ravens offense is still flying high and producing behind second year quarterback Lamar Jackson but it’s been the defense lately that’s been losing for the Ravens. After Sundays embarrassing loss at home to the Cleveland Browns, a game that saw Baker Mayfield pick apart the Ravens defense and then running back Nick Chubb dominating when given the chance, the Ravens made a few desperate roster moves, cutting former 3rd round draft pick Tim Williams. The Ravens currently have a top 5 offense with a top 5 defense on the other side of the ball, which is very different from the Baltimore Ravens that the NFL has come to know since they entered the league in 1996.

The Steelers coaches have game planned around Mason Rudolph in order to protect his obvious weaknesses, but eventually he’s going to have to beat teams by throwing the ball down the field. This Ravens defense is primed for the picking, but many critics doubt Rudolph’s ability to beat teams with his arm, and so the Ravens will more than likely stack the box to try to keep running back James Connor in check throughout the game.It should be another great chapter in one of the best rivalries the game has ever seen.

LA Chargers @ Miami

Chargers -14.5

The LA Chargers will travel to Miami to take on arguably the worst team in the NFL, the Miami Dolphins. The age old question of “Can the best college team beat the worst NFL team?” is being put to the test this year by the lowly Dolphins as they’ve looked absolutely inept at all times this year. Despite only trailing the Cowboys by single digits at halftime last week, they still found a way to blow the game big time in the second half on their way to a blowout loss.

Things won’t be any easier this week against the visiting Chargers team with offensive weapons such as Austin Aekler, Keenan Allen, and Philip Rivers at the helm conducting everything. The Chargers are 1-2 but both losses came in close games to two good teams: the Indianpolis Colts who they lost by 7 and the the Detroit Lions who they lost to by 3. Both teams have shown to be competent in the early going.

Not only will Philip Rivers have his full assortment of weapons at his disposal but he will also be getting back star running back Melvin Gordon who ended his holdout this week and returned to the team. Melvin had been holding out since training camp earlier this season in hopes of getting a better contract, but failed to make much progress and chargers running back Austin Aekler has looked more than solid in replacing Gordan this year.

The 14.5 point spread seems about right for two teams that are clearly going in opposite directions this season. Though the Chargers currently have a losing record, look for them to be a force to be reckon with later on in the AFC West and in the NFL playoffs if they can catch a spot in for the second season in a row.

Cleveland @ Baltimore

Baltimore -7

In the AFC North the 1-2 Cleveland Browns and the 2-1 Baltimore Ravens will square off to see who will grab the lead in the early going of the 2019 season. The Ravens have been very impressive thus far after steam rolling the Dolphins in Miami, then finishing off the Cardinals in Baltimore to goto 2-0, and then losing to arguably the best team in football, the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead stadium late in the 4th quarter. The Ravens look like one of the teams to beat in the AFC this year, but Baker Mayfield and the Browns will have upset on their minds as they enter Baltimore for the week 4 matchup against the Ravens.

Baker Mayfield will look to bounce back after last week’s frustrating loss to the LA Rams as they lost on a 1st and goal stand by the Rams defense at the goal line, and Baker through an interception to end the game in the end zone. Baker has played exceptionally well in his young career against the Ravens as he’s thrown for over 300 yards passing in each of his two stats last year and almost pulled off the upset to send the Ravens home in week 17 last year.

Baker will need help from his two star wideouts Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckam Jr. along with second year stud running back Nick Chubb. The four playmakers are the backbone of the Browns offense but have struggled to put it together thus far after three weeks this season. The Ravens would be the perfect team to get their groove back against as a win would technically pull the Browns into a first place tie with the Ravens and give them the tie breaker for now.

Look for an offensive showcase of talent from both teams as the two have all the talent and speed on the outside that any defense can handle. Both defenses will be put to the test with the high powered offenses and whichever defense makes the fewest mistakes will likely come out on top of this AFC North matchup.

Buffalo @ Tennessee

Titans -2.5

The Buffalo Bills are a bit of a surprise team this season as they enter week 5 of the 2019 season sitting in second place of the AFC East division with a 3-1 record coming off a loss to the division leading Patriots in a game in which they had a chance to win at the end. Buffalo has developed a solid defensive culture over the last ten years and this season they’re picking up right where they left off with a strong defense and an offense that’s been well improved since last season. Second year quarterback Josh Allen has been much improved especially in his accuracy this season as he’s completing over 60% and is still a very skilled runner, as well.

The biggest question mark for the Bills heading into Sunday’s game is the availability of quarterback Josh Allen. He took a brutal helmet to helmet hit last week and had to leave the game early against the Patriots. He’s still in concussion protocol as of Thursday and theres still no giveaway of if he’ll be starting on Sunday. If he’s not able to go then backup Matt Barkley will get the nod against a tough Tennessee Titans defense. With Mariots being inconsistent on many fronts this season and the offense sputtering at times, the Titans defense has had to come up big and thus far they have done exactly that on their way to a hard fought 2-2 record.

The Titans are used to getting things done on the ground where they have work horse running back Derrick Henry pulling the load and Mariota sprinkling in some short passes when possible. At times their offense seems handicapped, especially when opposing defenses are able to effectively shut down Derrick Henry and the run, and Mariota hasn’t proven that he can consistently beat teams with his arm still. It would be a pivotal win for each team as they’re still very much in their respective division races and jockying for the top spot and a playoff birth.

NFL PREVIEWS WEEK 3

LA Rams @ Cleveland

Rams -4.5

The LA Rams look like one of the most dangerous teams in the league as they’re built to win on both sides of the ball. With Jarred Goffe leading the offense along with coach Sean McVay, and wideouts Robert Woods, Brandon Cooks, and Cooper Kupp who returned from a season missing injury last year. This team looks like it picked right back up where it left off last year on its way to the Super Bowl where they would eventually lose to the Patriots.

They’ll be traveling to Cleveland to take on a Browns team who had very high expectations from almost everyone this season but have yet to deliver on it. With big names on offense like Baker Mayfield, Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb, and Odell Beckam Jr. the Browns were expected to be one of the best teams in the NFL. Thus far in the first two weeks that hasn’t worked out well but Cleveland will look to turn things around Monday night at home.

Currently Baker Mayfield leads the league in interceptions and has looked raddled at times going into week 3 against the Rams. The second year quarterback set the rookie passing touchdown record last year and was expecting a huge leap forward after the addition of OBJ to an already stellar Browns offense, but things just haven’t clicked as of yet. The dog pound will be rocking and this could be the kind of environment to awaken the sleeping Giant as the Browns will need to make a move in order to stick with the undefeated Ravens in the AFC North.

NY Giants @ Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay -5.5

It’s potentially the end of an era in New York Giants football as Eli Manning has been benched in favor of rookie quarterback Daniel Jones. Jones was drafted number 6 overall in the 2019 draft out of Duke, and the pick was highly criticized by everyone who believed that Jones was more of a late first round option at the position. If preseason is any indiciation, the Duke rookie quarterback may have the goods as he was one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the preseason and has been deadly accurate in practice as well.

The Giants will look to slow down a high powered buccaneers passing attack behind Jameis Winston, Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin. The three have been scaring defenses thus far in the early going of the season and look like quite a formidable trio to defend against. While Jameis has been known to throw more than his fair share of interceptions over the years, he’s surrounded by enough talent and Bruce Arians has always been known to get the most out of his quarterbacks.

This game will entirely come down to Daniel Jones and the Giants passing attack. We all know that Saquan Barkley will show up and do his job in carrying the load for the Giants, but at some point Daniel Jones will need to make the throws to win them a game, and everyone in New York will anxiously be waiting for that moment. It is a great option to start his career against as the Tampa Bay defense doesn’t scare anyone and could give Jones the kind of opportunity he needs to be successful in his first start in the league.

Baltimore @ Kansas City

Chiefs -4

Two of the best looking teams thus far in the early going of the 2019 NFL season are the 2-0 Baltimore Ravens and the 2-0 Kansas City Chiefs. The two teams will square off in Kansas City this weekend in week 3 which could potentially serve as a tie breaker later in the year for two teams that seem like they may be fighting over home field position at some point this year. Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore offense have been a big surprise this year as they’re currently the topped ranked offense after blowing out the Dolphins in week 1 and then handling the Cardinals at home in week 2 to get to 2-0.

Patrick Mahommes and the Chiefs are no surprise this year as they just made it to the AFC Championship game last year and were an off sides call away from going to the Super Bowl behind their 2nd year starter, MVP quarterback. Travis Kelce and the dangerous Chiefs air attack will look to expose the Baltimore linebackers who have shown to be susceptible to crossing patterns and have had general coverage problems particularly with their inside linebackers Kenny Young and Peanut Onuswouer. The Ravens defensive backs can’t afford a hickup this week against one of the best teams in the league and probably the best offense in the league.

Lamar Jackson and company will need to play ball control at Arrowhead stadium in Kansas City this week to stay with the Chiefs high powered offense. It is the Ravens that are the top ranked offense in the early going in the season and who may win the game may be the defense that makes more plays against each other’s dangerous offenses. Look for a game of ball control and aggressive play calling from Baltimore to try to stay with the Chiefs, but it’s hard to see anyone staying with the fast and talented Chiefs offense right now as they’re hitting on all cylinders.

NFL PREVIEWS WEEK 2

New Orleans @ Seattle

Seattle -5

The New Orleans Saints lost their leader and future Hall of Famer quarterback Drew Brees last week to a finger injury which will sideline him for about 8 weeks. The team that has made it to the NFC Championship game two years in a row and been robbed by a lucky miracle and a horrible missed call by the refs will look to backup QB Teddy Bridgewater to keep them in the hunt while Drew Brees rehabs his finger.

They’ll be going to one of the toughest environments to play in all of football as the twelfth man in Seattle always comes to play and brings the noise making it hard for opposing offenses to function and hear at the snap. Teddy Bridgewater is a more than capable backup and was a start until a gruesome looking leg injury made him miss a year and lose his starting status before he was signed to be Drew Brees’ backup last season. He will have head coach Sean Payton on his side who is considered to be an offensive minded guru and can game plan to Teddy’s strengths in hopes of stealing a game in Seattle against a tough Seahawks team.

The Seahawks are coming off an impressive week 2 win where they took it to the Steelers in Pittsburgh to get to 2-0 on the season. The Seahawks looked impressive even though Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisburger left with an injury around halftime and had to be replaced by second year quarterback Mason Rudolph who didn’t fare that well against the aggressive Seahawks defense.

The Saints will have their hands full in the absence of Drew Brees this week, but this is an overall talented Saints team especially with pro bowl running back Alvin Kamara tearing defenses apart each and every week. They’ll need Kamara and that offensive line to step it up if they expect to come out of Seattle with an upset win over the Seahawks this week to stay in the talk for the top of the NFC South.

Minnesota vs Green Bay

Green Bay -3

The NFC North will have a showdown to see who takes the early lead in the division when the 1-0 Green Bay Packers play host to the 1-0 Minnesota Vikings. Both teams won with defense last week, but Aaron Rodgers and the offense will look to turn things around after a disappointing week 1 showing against the Bears.

Minnesota looked impressive last week in their win over the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons have one of the most lethal passing attacks in all of the NFL behind Julio Jones, Hooper, and Matt Ryan, but the Vikings absolutely shut them down in week 1 on their way to an impressive victory. They’ll have their hands filled in week 2 facing the Green Bay offense who has all the weapons they could possibly want, even though they struggled to put it all together last week against one of the best defenses in the league, the Chicago Bears.

The Green Bay defense will look to impose its will against the Vikings offense lead by Kirk Cousins. Kirk has struggled against good teams since being acquired by the Vikings last year. He’s made some very questionable decisions and is paid a lot of money so he’ll be under extra scrutiny if the Vikings don’t produce soon.

Kansas City @ Oakland

Chiefs -7

The high powered Kansas City offense lead by third year quarterback and last year’s MVP Patrick Mahommes opened up the 2019 season with an impressive win in Jacksonville. Lighting up a Jaguars defense that many consider to be quite good this season with names like Myles Jack and Jalen Ramsey patrolling the defensive backfield in Jacksonville. Mahommes did what Mahommes tends to do to even great defenses, he dissected them and put up over 30 points on offense on their way to an easy week 1 victory over the Jaguars with newly acquired QB Nick Foles from the Eagles.

The Chiefs did suffer a big loss during the game as star wide receiver Tyreke Hill injured his collarbone in the game and will be out several weeks, still waiting on an injury report as he’s expected to have a MRI done this week to see the damage. Without Tyreke Hill the Chiefs are still extremely talented and fast at the skilled positions with guys like Travis Kelce and Lesean McCoy stepping up to pick up the slack. This team looks like it’s in playoff form already after only one week and they’ll look to continue it against a surprise Raiders team that’s coming off a week 1 victory.

The Raiders offense didn’t miss Antonio Brown who they acquired in the off season and then had to cut later due to dram. Instead, quarterback Derek Carr and tight end Darren Waller dominated the passing game all night. Tyrell Williams who was also acquired in the off season from the LA Chargers also chipped in as a big, speedy wideout on the outside who can stretch the field and open up opposing defenses. Both teams looked great in week 1, but the Chiefs will look to make pretenders out of the Raiders who were somewhat disappointing last year.

This is an important AFC West showdown for the early lead in the division and a potential tie breaker down the road if the teams finished tied for the division. Look for both offenses trying to carry their teams, but Patrick Mahommes and the Chiefs offense simply has too many weapons and can out pace any team in the NFL with their talent and speed.

Chicago @ Denver

Bears -2.5

Two teams that were supposed to be defensive power houses entering the 2019 season and only one has shown to be the real deal thus far. The Bears basically shutdown Aaron Rodgers to open the season on Thursday night football, but the Packers still pulled out a late win against what’s sure to be a dominant Chicago defense this year.

Khalil Mack and company were stout up front, closing all running lanes and not letting Aaron Rodgers get out of the pocket where he’s always more dangerous to work his magic. In the end the Bears offense couldn’t do anything behind Mitch Trubisky and an inept Chicago Bears rushing attack. Not to take too much credit away from Green Bay who played very hard on defense on their way to a low scoring win against the division rivals of the NFC North.

Denver was also billed as a big defensive powerhouse this year after the great defensive coordinator for the Bears for so many years, Vic Fangio, who is considered to be one of the best defensive minds in the game today, he was hired as the Denver Broncos head coach. Many people expected Fangio to take what was an already great defense in Denver and make it elite, but thus far in the early going it has not panned out and the Raiders thrashed the Broncos up and down the field in week 1.

On offense the Broncos weren’t much better as newly acquired quarterback Joe Flacco was subpar and relied more so on the second year star running back Philip Lindsay. Despite having Emannuel Sanders and big rookie tight end from Iowa, Noah Fant, Philip Lindsay is still by far the best offensive weapon that the Broncos have and they will have to rely heavily on him to get the run game going and open up the throwing lanes for Joe Flacco.

Baltimore vs Cardinals

Baltimore -13

Coming off a huge win in Miami last week to open the season, the Baltimore Ravens look like one of the early dominant teams of the 2019 NFL Season. Second year quarterback Lamar Jackson had by far his best game as a pro as he had a perfect passer rating against the very spotty Miami Dolphins defense, which included 5 touchdown passes and over 500 yards passing.

It looked like a huge improvement particularly to his accuracy for the second year QB, who had been working with a QB throwing coach all during the offseason to improve things such as his grip and mechanics. Early indications are that the move has paid off big time as Jackson looked like a completely different quarterback than the one he was last year.

In addition to the amazing offensive performance the defense showed up in a big way shutting down the Dolphins offense and making them look inept at times. While the Dolphins could end up being one of the worst teams in the 2019 season, it was still a very impressive outing for a team that looked like one of the best teams in the league thus far in the early going of the season.

They’ll be hosting a team that fought its way back in the late 4th quarter to grab a tie from their home opener with the Detroit Lions last week. Rookie quarterback and first overall pick of the 2019 NFL draft looked sluggish for most of his rookie debut last week but came on late to bring the two teams to a tie with a last second drive late in the 4th. This week there could be fireworks as both offenses look dangerous and loaded with weapons from Marquise Brown to Larry Fitzgerald, it could be a very high scoring affair between the two in the week 2.

NFL PREVIEWS WEEK 1

Baltimore @ Miami

Baltimore -7

The Baltimore Ravens enter week 1 of the 2019 NFL season as heavy favorites in Miami. After winning the AFC North last year and losing in the first round of the playoffs, Lamar Jackson and company are looking to build on a promising rookie campaign and will look to get off to a hot start against a questionable Miami team.

Within the last few weeks alone Miami has been surrounded by numerous trade rumors and also traded their shutdown left tackle Laremy Tunsil to the Texans. Considering both the added offensive firepower of the Baltimore Ravens along with the returning #1 ranked overall defense from last year, this one could get away from the Dolphins early if they don’t find a way to slow down Lamar Jackson.

Miami’s offense will be lead by Ryan Fitzpatrick, the journeyman QB with some stints of success along the way. Behind him is newly acquired Josh Rosen who the Dolphins traded for from the Arizona Cardinals who just drafted Rosen in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. After a very disappointing showing in his rookie year behind an atrocious offensive line in Arizona, Rosen was cut loose for only a second round draft pick.

Miami’s home field advantage has been non-existent for over a decade now, but the heat itself can be a factor for some visiting teams. Don’t expect this Ravens team to get caught off guard. Look for the Ravens offense to be clicking early and putting up big numbers on a questionable Dolphins secondary.

Buffalo @ NY JETS

Jets -3

Two New York teams will square off to open their 2019 seasons in the Meadowlands with two second year QBs at the helm: Sam Darnold for the Jets and Josh Allen, respectively, for the Bills. Both players showed flashes as success as rookies but are expected to make big leaps in year two.

Josh Allen has turned out to be in a similar mold as Cam Newton with his big, athletic running style and sometimes inaccurate arm. Allen looked wild at times last year but also made some impressively athletic plays with his leagues, especially impressive when you take into account that Josh Allen is built like a tank at 6’4″ around 230 lbs. In his second year out of Wyoming, where he was selected from in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Allen will need to improve upon his accuracy if he wants a chance to contend with the Patriots in the AFC East division.

Like Allen, Sam Darnold was also taken in the first round of the 2018 draft. Darnold played his college ball at USC, and had an overall solid first season under center for the Jets last year. With the new addition of Le’veon Bell in the backfield, Sam Darnold will look to take this new Jets offense to another level.

On defense the Jets added middle linebacker CJ Mosely from the Ravens, and have high hopes that he’ll be another former Ravens that adds instant production to their defense. They’ve had more than their fair share of former Ravens including Ed Reed who finished his career here. The Jets new defense will look to shutdown Josh Allen in what is likely to be a very defensive battle between the two teams.

Indianapolis vs LA Chargers

Chargers -6

Philip Rivers and the Chargers are back looking to make another playoff run to follow up their playoff run in 2018. They made it to the divisional round of the playoffs last year after a dominating defeat of the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore as they shutdown Lamar jackson and the Ravens offense with a unique defensive scheme.

There are plenty of storyline going around the Chargers this year and they’re without some key playmakers from last season. Tyrell Williams has signed with the Oakland Raiders as a free agent and star running back Melvin Gordan has already expressed his intentions of holding out for a new contract as the team enters the start of the season.

The Colts have plenty of storylines of their own as their own star QB Andrew Luck announced his retirement just weeks before the start of the 2019 NFL season. The team was caught completely off guard and will rely on backup QB Jacoby Brissett to take them to the promise land after backing up Andrew Luck for a few years. Many of the Colts faithful have high hopes for Brissett who has shown flashes in some spots over the years, but has never shown that he can command his own offense full time, week after week of putting film out for defenses to dissect.

NY Giants @ Dallas

Dallas -7

The NFC East kicks off their 2019 season with a rivalry matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants with Eli Manning still at the helm but for how much longer, nobody knows. The Giants drafted QB Daniel Jones as the 6th overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft, which shocked many people who expected him to go much later in the first round. Regardless, Eli has to be feeling some pressure from the high draft pick waiting in the wings to take his spot.

Beyond their quarterback situation the Giants will still have star running back Saquan Barkley who will look to build on a phenomenal rookie campaign where he carried the New York offense all year long. Arguably the best running back in the league, Barkley will have to do the same this year if this questionable Giants offense is going to compete in the NFC East and try to get to a playoff spot.

The Dallas Cowboys have had their own drama to deal with as Zeke Elliott ended his holdout the final week before the 2019 season was to begin. Everything worked out at the last minute and Zeke got paid, now it seems he’ll be in the starting lineup Sunday when the Cowboys host the Giants in Dallas. Along with Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper, the big 3 for Dallas is among the most dangerous offensive trios in the league and are poised to make the Cowboys a force to be reckon with when the playoffs come around. They also have one of the best offensive lines in the league paving the way for Zeke and company as they have a good chance to win the NFC East this year with Philly being the only other expected contender.

 

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End of 2018 NFL Season

SUPER BOWL LIII PREVIEW

If Super Bowl LIII is anything like the conference championship games, NFL fans are in for a real treat. For the first time in the history of the league, both the AFC and NFC title games went to overtime. When the dust cleared, the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams emerged as their respective conference representative for the league’s ultimate game.

This season’s Super Bowl will be played on Feb. 3 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The game pits the experience of the Patriots against the vibrant youth of the Rams. It’s the ninth trip to the Super Bowl for New England, a team led by Bill Belichick who will likely go down as the game’s greatest coach ever. The Patriots are also fortunate enough to have the game’s greatest quarterback in Tom Brady, who at 41 years of age continues to play at an elite level.

What Belichick and Brady have accomplished is nothing short of amazing. Belichick took over the Patriots head coaching job in 2000. In 19 seasons, his teams have missed the postseason just three times (2000, 2002, 2008). The Patriots have won 15 of the last 16 AFC East Division titles, including the last ten in a row. New England has played in each of the last eight AFC title games and has won the last three. Both Belichick and Brady own five Super Bowl rings.

Rams head coach Sean McVay, just 32 years old, would like to get his first ring. His Rams are going to have to do what they did all season in winning 13 games – not turn the ball over. In their three losses, Los Angeles had costly turnovers most coming from third-year quarterback Jared Goff. Goff, who threw for 4,688 yards and 32 touchdowns this season, threw a pick in a loss to New Orleans. He tossed four interceptions in a loss to Chicago and had two costly turnovers in a loss to Philadelphia late in the season.

McVay’s offense is loaded. Goff has two 1,000-yard receivers in Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks. Woods led the team with 86 catches for 1,219 yards in 2018. In the NFC title game win over New Orleans, Goff was 7-for-7 for 107 yards when targeting Cooks. When Goff is not throwing to Woods or Cooks, he is either throwing or handing off to RB Todd Gurley. The former Offensive Player of the Year rushed for over 1,000 yards this season but missed the final two regular season games with an injury. Gurley scored a touchdown in the win over the Saints last week, but he only had 10 yards on four carries and he totaled just one catch for three yards. He will have to play better if the Rams expect to win.

The Los Angeles defense, which features NFL sack leader Aaron Donald, will have its hands full with New England. If Brady gets a 100-yard performance out of either Sony Michel or James White, the Rams are in trouble. The Patriots are 11-0 in the postseason when they have a running back reach the century mark.

White will be a key factor or New England. He caught 87 passes this season and is dangerous out of the backfield or lined up in the slot. White caught 15 passes in New England’s divisional round playoff win. The Patriots defense loves to play man-to-man defense and did so nearly 60 percent (59.8) of the time during the regular season. The Kansas City Chiefs got plenty of Cover 1 against the Patriots, which helped to confuse QB Patrick Mahoney early in the game.

This is the third straight trip to the big game for New England. The Patriots, including this year’s game, will have played in four of the past five Super Bowls and have won it all twice.

NFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PREVIEWS

New England @ Kansas City

The New England Patriots will play in the AFC championship game for the eighth consecutive season. The Patriots roster is loaded with veterans that have been here before. Quarterback Tom Brady will play his 39^th playoff game when the Patriots travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs on Sunday.

Despite being 41 years old, Brady is still one of the best quarterbacks in the business. In New England’s divisional round win over the Chargers, Brady completed 34-of-44 passes for 343 yards and one touchdown. While he didn’t have his best season, the future Hall of Famer still completed nearly 66 percent of his passes for 4,355 yards and 29 touchdowns during the regular season.

The Patriots had a resurgence of their running game too with rookie Sony Michel at running back. Over the Patriots final two games of the regular season, the team rushed for 517 yards. Last week in the win over Los Angeles, Michel ran for 129 yards on 24 carries and scored three New England touchdowns. Running the football and keeping it away from Kansas City’s high-powered offense will be important come Sunday.

This year’s AFC title game will pit Brady against the next generation of elite quarterbacks in the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes. In just his first full season as the Chiefs’ starter, Mahomes threw for over 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns. He joined Brady and Peyton Manning as the only others to ever do so.

The Chiefs offense is uber-talented. Mahomes is the general, but Kansas City features WR Tyreek Hill and TE Travis Kelce as well. Both finished the regular season with over 1,000 yards receiving. Though Kansas City did lose RB Kareem Hunt during the season, the team still averages 436.3 yards of offense and 35.3 points per game.

The two teams met earlier in the regular season. Kansas City was 5-0 when they traveled to Foxborough to play the Patriots. Brady threw for 340 yards and a touchdown and Michel had 106 yards rushing and two scores in a 43-40 New England victory. Mahomes did throw four touchdown passes, but it wasn’t enough to beat the Patriots at home.

This time around, the Chiefs will have the advantage of playing at home at Arrowhead Stadium. The last time the Patriots came to Arrowhead was in 2014. It was a memorable Chiefs victory. Kansas City won 41-14. The Chiefs are going to have to come up with some defense if they are going to stop New England. Defense is the Chiefs’ Achilles heel. Kansas City finished 31^st in the NFL during the regular season in total defense giving up an average of 405 yards per game.

LA Rams @ New Orleans

The NFC championship game brings two of the best offenses in the NFL together again. New Orleans and the Los Angeles Rams met at midseason in New Orleans. The Saints prevailed 45-35 in a game where New Orleans QB Drew Brees threw four touchdown passes. The Saints’ offensive weapons all came alive in that win over the Rams. New Orleans would go on to win the NFC South and the Rams would capture the NFC West for the second straight season. Now, the two teams will meet again.

This time, the winner gets to go to the Super Bowl. This time, it might also come down to defense as the determining factor. Both teams are known for their prolific offenses. New Orleans was eighth in total offense this season averaging 379.2 yards per game. The Saints were also third in scoring at 31.5 points per game. They came in just behind the Rams at 32.9.

In addition to Brees and his 3.992 yards and 32 touchdowns, the Saints have one of the best rushing attacks with Alvin Kamara (883 yards) and Mark Ingram (645). The pair combined for 20 touchdowns in the regular season. The Saints also had the NFL’s receptions leader in WR Michael Thomas. Thomas caught 125 passes for 1,405 yards and nine touchdowns.

The Rams were second in the league in total offense putting up 421.1 yards of offense per game. Jared Goff threw for 4,688 yards and 32 touchdowns. Running back Todd Gurley rushed for 1,251 yards and 17 touchdowns and missed the last two regular season games. The Rams also had two 1,000-yard receiver in Robert Woods (1,219) and Brandin Cooks (1,204).

In the end, it could come down to defense in the NFC title game. The Rams have the NFL sack leader in DT Aaron Donald who had 20.5 during the regular season. He is a force who can disrupt the timing of the Saints’ passing game. The Rams held NFL leading rusher Ezekiel Elliott to just 47 yards in their divisional round win over the Cowboys.

The Saints are even better against the run. They finished second during the regular season giving up just 80.2 yards rushing per game. Since Week 7 of the regular season, New Orleans is allowing just 16.9 points per game. They have also sacked opposing quarterbacks 28 times and that includes putting up zero in the win over Nick Foles and Philadelphia last week.

New Orleans will have to slow down the Rams running game, which it did in the regular season win. The Saints allowed Gurley just 68 yards though Los Angeles did total 483 for the game. In the win over Dallas last week Gurley rushed for 115 yards and teammate C.J. Anderson had 123. The Saints cannot afford to let that happen on Sunday.

NFL DIVISIONAL ROUND PREVIEWS

Indianapolis @ Kansas City

The Colts and Chiefs have a playoff history, and Kansas City would very much like to change the recent narrative. In the 2013-14 postseason, the Chiefs held a 28-point lead in the third quarter of their wild card game with Indianapolis. The Colts came back and won 45-44, the second greatest playoff comeback in NFL history.

In 2003, the Colts played at Kansas City in a divisional round playoff game. Neither team punted. The Chiefs could not contain Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning and lost 38-31. In 1995, Kansas City was the AFC’s top seed but lost 10-7 to the Colts in a game also at Arrowhead Stadium. Can the Chiefs overcome the past?

They have the likely NFL MVP in QB Patrick Mahomes who has thrown for 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns in 2018. Head coach Andy Reid also has TE Travis Kelce (103 receptions, 1,336 yards, 10 TDs) and WR Tyreek Hill (87-1,479-12) which helped the Chiefs lead the NFL in scoring (35.7 points per game).

What the Chiefs lack is any defensive consistency. Kansas City finished the 2018 regular season ranked 31^st in total defense. The Chiefs allowed 405.5 yards per game. They were 27^th against the run (132.1 yards per game) and 31^st against the pass (273.4). That could prove costly against the Colts.

In the Colts last ten regular season games, they went 9-1 thanks to QB Andrew Luck, an improved running game, and a defense that doesn’t allow big plays. Luck completed nearly 70 percent of his passes in those ten games and had 23 touchdowns while getting sacked just eight times. In the Colts’ wild-card win over Houston, Luck was not sacked.

The running game has been outstanding. Marlon Mack has rushed for 908 yards in 12 games and had over 148 in the win over Houston. As a team, the Colts rushed for over 200 yards against a very good Texans defense.

The Colts defense has been consistent especially in the last 11 games. Indianapolis finished 10^th in points allowed (21.5) and eighth against the run (101.6 yards per game). Where the Colts have really been good is at not allowing explosive plays, those defined as runs or passes over 20 yards. Indianapolis ranked fifth in the NFL in fewest explosive plays allowed. The Chiefs are known for their explosive offense.

Dallas @ LA Rams

With a 24-22 win over Seattle in the wild card round, the Dallas Cowboys head to Los Angeles to face the NFC’s No. 2 seed, the Los Angeles Rams, in the divisional round on Saturday night. Dallas has won eight of its last nine games and has done so with an emphasis on the run game led by NFL leading rusher Ezekiel Elliott. He was a key in the Cowboys win over Seattle last week.

Dallas had lost to Seattle in the regular season, but Elliott gave the Cowboys the spark they needed by rushing for 137 yards on 26 carries. He also scored on a one-yard run early in the fourth quarter. If Dallas has any intentions of beating the Rams, Elliott is going to need to have a big day. The Rams are last in the NFL in rush yards per carry giving up 5.07. If Elliott can have success on first and second down, it will help QB Dak Prescott avoid the aggressive pass rush of L.A.’s Aaron Donald.

Donald led the league in sacks with 20.5 and became just the third defensive lineman in NFL history to be named All-Pro in four of his first five seasons. The other two were J.J. Watt and Reggie White. The Rams are very good at rushing the passer. They are also very good on offense.

Los Angeles averages 32.9 points per game, second-best in the NFL. They are led by QB Jared Goff who threw for 4,688 yards and 32 touchdowns. Todd Gurley, who missed the final two games of the regular season, ran for 1,251 yards and 17 touchdowns. Gurley will likely be back against the Cowboys. He will be a key just as Elliott is for Dallas. The Rams have the third-best rushing attack in the NFL averaging 139.4 yards per game.

Goff has plenty of targets in the passing game too. Both Robert Woods (1,219) and Brandin Cooks (1,204) went over the 1,000-yard mark in receiving yards. That passing game might be needed as Dallas has the fifth-best run defense in the league. Still, the Cowboys were just 3-5 on the road during the regular season and are not the type of offense to get into a shootout with the Rams.

LA Chargers @ New England

The Chargers pulled off the upset last week beating Baltimore to advance to the NFC Division Round against New England. It’s been a long time since a visiting team has been to Foxborough and won a postseason game. It’s been six years, but the Chargers just might have the team to pull off a second consecutive upset.

In their win over the Ravens, Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley used a unique package featuring seven defensive backs at times. The strategy paid off as it confused Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson. The results were seven sacks, an interception, and three fumbles in a 23-17 victory. If the Chargers are able to do the same to Tom Brady, they have a shot at an upset.

The bye week was extremely beneficial for the Patriots, especially Rob Gronkowski. The big tight end has not looked like his usual self in 2018. Gronkowski has missed time this season and has just 47 receptions for 682 yards and three touchdowns. If he is healthy, Gronkowski will create some serious matchup problems for the Chargers defense.

The Patriots have been to the last seven straight AFC championship games and have owned the series against the Chargers. The Chargers have beaten the Patriots just three times since 1973. The two teams have met twice recently in the postseason. In 2007, New England played on the road in a divisional round game and beat the Chargers 24-21. The following season, the teams met again in the AFC title game. New England won 21-12 at home.

The Chargers have been extremely good on the road this season winning eight of nine games. They won games in Seattle, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, and last week’s wild card game in Baltimore. The Patriots, under head coach Bill Belichick, have won 27 playoff games and that includes five Super Bowl titles.

Philadelphia @ New Orleans

Just getting into the postseason seemed like fate for the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Are they destined to get back to the big game? An errant 43-yard field goal in the waning seconds of their wild card game with the Chicago Bears will send the No. 6 seeded Eagles to face top seed New Orleans on Sunday in the NFC Divisional Round.

Backup quarterback Nick Foles, who led the Eagles to the Super Bowl and captured the game’s MVP last year, is back at it once again. A two-yard pass to Golden Tate with just 56 seconds to play proved to be the difference as Philadelphia beat Chicago 16-15. Now, they must do the unthinkable and beat the NFC’s No. 1 seed. The Eagles have a chance to duplicate the 2008 season.

In 2008, the Eagles were 5-5-1 after a big loss to Baltimore on Thanksgiving. They ended up in the NFC championship game as the No. 6 seed. The Eagles were 4-6 after 10 games this season and won five of their last six to make the postseason. The task ahead is daunting.

They will face a Saints team that scores 31.5 points a game and averages nearly 380 yards of total offense. The quarterback is a future Hall of Famer who is the NFL’s career passing yardage leader (Drew Brees). The Saints top receiver (Michael Thomas) led the NFL in receptions with 125 and the running back tandem of Alvin Kamara (883) and Mark Ingram (645) accounted for over 1,500 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground. Oh, and the Saints play defense. New Orleans finished the regular season ranked No. 2 in run defense allowing just 80.2 yards per game. Chicago finished first at 80.0.

The difference in getting to the NFC championship game will likely come down to defense. Philadelphia’s unit is nothing like last year’s but somehow held Chicago to just 65 yards rushing and kept the Bears out of the end zone limiting them to three field goals on drives of 8, 13, and 6 plays.

The Saints defense has already shown what it can do against Philadelphia. When the two teams met at midseason, New Orleans held the Eagles to just 196 total yards in a 48-7 Saints’ victory. Carson Wentz was at quarterback then and threw three interceptions.

NFL WILD CARD PREVIEWS

Indianapolis @ Houston

For the third time this season, the Indianapolis Colts will take on the Houston Texans though this time the result is much more important. The winner will advance in the AFC playoffs and have a shot at making Super Bowl LIII. In both games this season, the home team lost. The two teams last met on Dec. 9 in Houston where Indianapolis scored a 24-21 win.

It was a tale of two seasons for the Colts who started the year 1-5. One of those early losses was to Houston, a 37-34 defeat in overtime in Week 4. After the disastrous start, the Colts would finish the season 9-1 led by a defense that ranks in the top-10 in both defensive QB rating and yards per rush. Quarterback Andrew Luck has also returned to his All-Pro caliber self. Since Week 7, Luck’s QB rating is second only to New Orleans’ Drew Brees.

Houston (11-5) also had difficulties early in the season losing their first three before beating the Colts in Week 4. That win was the first of nine straight. The Texans defense is outstanding thanks to the return of former three-time Defensive MVP J.J. Watt, who has 16 sacks. Offensively, the Texans should have a healthy Lamar Miller back at running back. Miller has rushed for 973 yards this season and had a dramatic 97-yard touchdown run in Week 12.

The concern for Houston is quarterback Deshaun Watson. He has been sacked 62 times this season. That not only leads the league, but is also the fifth-most in NFL history. It’s a lot of punishment for a quarterback to take in one season. Watson is at fault for many of those sacks holding the ball too long. He does have a very good target in WR DeAndre Hopkins who has caught 115 passes for 1,572 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.

Seattle @ Dallas

There may not be two more similar teams facing off in the NFL’s postseason than Seattle and Dallas. The two teams meet on Saturday in the NFC wild card round. Both teams finished the regular season 10-6 and did so after missing out on the playoffs in 2017. Both teams went 4-1 in their last five games and won in Week 17 with some late-game heroics. Both built their 2018 comebacks around solid defense and a powerful running game.

Now, the two will square off for the second time this season. Seattle scored a 24-13 victory back in Week 3 behind 102 rushing yards from RB Chris Carson, the Seahawks’ leading rusher. The Seattle defense forced three Dallas turnovers, two on interceptions of QB Dak Prescott.

That Dallas team is much different from the one that finished the season 7-1. Prescott finished the season with 3,885 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. Running back Ezekiel Elliott won the NFL rushing crown finishing the regular season with 1,434 yards. The Dallas offense welcomed Amari Cooper at midseason in a trade with Oakland. Cooper responded with games like the 10-catch, 217-yard performance in Week 14. Head coach Jason Garrett will need his stars on offense to produce.

The Seahawks revival was built around Carson who wound up fifth in the NFL’s rushing race with 1,151 yards. Seattle leads the NFL in rushing yards per game with 160.0. The commitment to the run allowed QB Russell Wilson to throw for 3,448 yards and 35 touchdowns. The only problem for Seattle heading into the playoff game is the offensive line. It’s as a good a group as there is in the NFL, but Germain Ifedi, J.R. Sweezy, and D.J. Fluker are all nursing nagging injuries.

Seattle has won the last three meetings between the two teams, including two wins in Dallas, the site of Saturday’s game. The two teams have met in the postseason just once before. In 2007, Seattle won 21-20 at home in an NFC Wild Card game.

LA Chargers @ Baltimore

It’s another rematch as Los Angeles heads to Baltimore looking to avenge its regular season loss to the Ravens. The two teams just faced off on Dec. 22, a game in which the Baltimore defense had its way with Philip Rivers and the Chargers’ offense. The Ravens held the Chargers to just 198 yards and 10 points. Baltimore forced three turnovers – two on Rivers’ interceptions – and sacked the Chargers quarterback four times.

The Ravens (10-6) defense has been a big part of their dramatic turnaround. Baltimore ranks second in the NFL in points per game (17.9) and No. 1 in the league in total defense (292.9 yards per game). The other part of the turnaround has been the revival of the running game. The Ravens rank second in the NFL in rushing yards per game (152.6) and are led by rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Jackson is the Ravens’ second-leading rusher with 695 yards. He is a unique threat on any given play. Still, the record for rookie quarterbacks in playoff games is not great. Since 2000, 21 rookie quarterbacks have started a game in the postseason. Their combined record is 9-12.

The loss to Baltimore was the only one in the last six games for the Chargers. Rivers and company recorded impressive wins over Pittsburgh (33-30) and Kansas City (29-28) along the way. Rivers has enjoyed one of his better seasons with 4,308 yards passing and 32 touchdowns. Los Angeles should have Melvin Gordon (885 yards rushing) back in the lineup and TE Hunter Henry, who tore an ACL back in May in a non-contact drill, may play. Regardless, Rivers has WR Keenan Allen as his top target. Allen caught 97 passes for 1,196 yards this season.

The Ravens and Chargers have never met in the postseason before. Baltimore has won three of the last four games in the series dating back to 2012. The game’s X-factor could be Chargers WR Mike Williams. While Williams has just 38 receptions this season, nine of them have been for touchdowns. He scored a 10^th on a jet sweep.

Philadelphia @ Chicago

It was meant to be. The Philadelphia Eagles were supposed to be in the NFC playoffs to have a chance to defend their Super Bowl title. Philadelphia beat Washington 24-0 in Week 17 and watched as the Chicago Bears beat the Minnesota Vikings to send the Eagles to the postseason. Ironically, it is those same Bears who will be the Eagles first opponent.

Chicago marked a dramatic turnaround from last season with a 24-10 win over the Vikings in Week 17 to finish the regular season at 12-4. The Bears won their first NFC North title since 2010 and enter the playoffs having won their last four games of the season. One of those was a very impressive 15-6 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.

If defense wins championships, the Bears have an edge. Chicago’s defense ranks in the top-5 in most statistical categories. They are first in scoring defense allowing 17.7 points per game. They are also No. 1 rush defense allowing just 80 yards per game on the ground. In their final four games of the season, the Bears allowed just over 10 points per game.

Last year’s Super Bowl MVP, Nick Foles, was called upon once again to bail out the Eagles. With starting QB Carson Wentz out with a back injury, Foles stepped into the Philadelphia lineup to lead the Eagles to three straight season-ending wins. He led the Eagles to wins over the Rams and the Texans, both division champions, before ending the season with the win over the Redskins.

It will likely be up to Foles and RB Darren Sproles to lead Philadelphia to an upset. The Eagles defense is not what it was a year ago and allowed 48 points to New Orleans, 29 to the Cowboys, and 30 to Houston. Sproles has returned to the Eagles lineup and provided some late-season spark.

Philadelphia has won the last three straight against Chicago, including a 2016 win at Soldier Field. The Bears and Eagles met in a divisional playoff game in 2002 in Chicago. Philadelphia won 33-19. The 2018 Bears are 7-1 at home. Their only loss was to the AFC’s No. 2 seed in the postseason, New England.

NFL WEEK 17 PREVIEWS

Indianapolis @ Tennessee

This AFC South battle is simple. The winner is going to the playoffs and the loser is going home. The Colts currently occupy the sixth and final seed in the AFC thanks to a remarkable turnaround following a 1-5 start to their 2018 season. The Titans have won their last four games to put them into position for a playoff berth.

The Titans struggled a little over a month ago when they lost two straight to the Colts and AFC South leader Houston. Tennessee gave up 72 points in the process. That was uncharacteristic of Mike Vrabel’s defense, which is actually one of the better units in the NFL. The Titans give up just 18 points a game, which is second in the NFL.

Indianapolis won that first game 38-10 thanks to three Andrew Luck touchdown passes and two Tennessee turnovers. The Titans followed that up with a 34-17 loss to Houston. Since, Tennessee has given up just 47 points in four games. They will need to slow down Luck and the rest of the Colts offense to get a win on Sunday.

The Colts resurgence has been bolstered by a running game led by Marlon Mack who now has 789 yards on the season. Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton is Luck’s top target and has 1,209 yards and six touchdowns receiving. Indianapolis has won eight of its last nine games to put itself in position for its first playoff berth since 2014.

The two teams meet twice annually and in the past 14 meetings, Indianapolis has won 12 times. The only two losses came last year when the Titans swept the season series for the first times since 2002. Should Houston somehow lose to Jacksonville on Sunday, the Colts-Titans winner will become the AFC South champion. That would result in a higher seed. Regardless, Sunday night’s winner will be playing on wild-card weekend.

Chicago @ Minnesota

The Bears (11-4) enter Week 17 with a chance to secure the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. Chicago has won the NFC North Division for the first time since 2009 and will be no worse than the No. 3 seed. To take over No. 2 they will need to win at Minnesota on Sunday and hope for the Los Angeles Rams to lose. The Bears have beaten the Vikings once already this season winning 25-20 during a mid-season five-game win streak.

Chicago has built their worst-to-first story behind a defense that continues to shut down opponents. Last week, the Bears held San Francisco to just 47 yards rushing in a 14-9 win. The offense wasn’t as sharp as usual, but QB Mitchell Trubisky was an efficient 25-of-29 for 246 yards and a touchdown. He did not throw an interception.

The Vikings kept their playoff hopes alive with a win over Detroit last week. Minnesota is now 8-6-1 and needs a win in Week 17 to secure that playoff spot. They can actually move up to the No. 5 seed with some help. While that is unlikely, Minnesota must win in order to make the postseason. It helps that the Vikings are 5-2 at home this season, but head coach Mike Zimmer’s team has been extremely inconsistent this season. What’s even more interesting is that the Vikings have just one win over a team with a winning record – Philadelphia (8-7).

Prior to the Bears victory earlier this season, Minnesota had won three straight and six of the previous seven over Chicago. Quarterback Kirk Cousins (4,166 yards, 29 TDs) and WR Adam Thielen (110 rec., 1,335 yards, 9 TDs) are going to have to come up big for Minnesota. The Vikings defense has played well the past two weeks giving up just a total of 26 points. The Bears offense struggled last week against San Francisco in a 14-9 win. The Bears defense is among the NFL’s elite though allowing just 18.2 points per game.

Cleveland @ Baltimore

The Cleveland Browns made the AFC North a whole lot more exciting with their fifth win in six games last week to move the Browns – yes, the Browns! – to .500 (7-7-1). Cleveland beat in-state rival Cincinnati last week to sweep the season series and make Sunday’s game with Baltimore that much more exciting. The Ravens can win the division with a victory over Cleveland. Pittsburgh, a loser last week at New Orleans, needs the Browns to beat Baltimore in order to have a shot at the postseason.

The Browns are playing as well as anyone. Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield is completing 64.6 percent of his passes since taking over as the Browns starting quarterback. His current mark is the second-highest mark in franchise history trailing legend Otto Graham by a mere 0.1 percent. Mayfield now has 3.065 yards passing and 21 touchdowns on the season. He has been helped by a solid running game featuring another rookie, Nick Chubb. The former Georgia star has 860 yards rushing after another 100-yard game last week against Cincinnati.

What has been equally impressive is Cleveland’s defense which has allowed no more than 20 points in each of its last five wins. The Browns only loss came at Houston, which has already clinched a playoff berth.  Cleveland held Cincinnati to just 209 total yards. If the Browns can do that at Baltimore, they may have a chance.

The Ravens defense might be the best in the NFL. They certainly looked like it last week when they held the Chargers to just 10 points in a 26-10 victory last week. Baltimore’s offense has also been transformed since rookie Lamar Jackson took over at quarterback. The Ravens average 143 rushing yards per game and Jackson is the team’s second-leading rusher behind Gus Edwards who had 92 yards in the win over Los Angeles. The longer the Ravens control the football, the longer they keep it away from Mayfield and Chubb.

Philadelphia @ Washington

Sitting at 4-6, it didn’t look like the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles were going to make it back to the playoffs. After winning four of their last five games, the Eagles can make the postseason. But, they do need some help. They will face NFC East rival Washington on Sunday in a must-win game. To make the playoffs, the Eagles must take care of business and then hope the Minnesota Vikings lose to Chicago.

The Eagles have pulled two consecutive upsets with backup quarterback and last year’s Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles. Philadelphia beat the Los Angeles Rams 30-23 and then last week beat AFC South leader Houston 32-30 with Foles under center. Foles threw for 471 yards and four touchdowns last week against the Texans and engineered the game-winning drive that produced a last-second field goal for the victory.

Foles and the Eagles will try to do it again against a much-maligned Redskins team. Washington dressed nine of its 22 Week 1 starters in last week’s loss to Tennessee. The Redskins lost their top two quarterbacks to injuries and have won just once their last six games. The defense, which was the strength of this team, has fallen apart in the second half of the season. In their last five losses, the Redskins have given up nearly 30 points per game.

Now, Washington will face an Eagles offense that is hot. Philadelphia is averaging nearly 30 points per game in its last four victories. Foles has completed over 70 percent of his passes in each of his last two starts since taking over for the injured Carson Wentz. It will be up to Foles and the passing game to make it happen for the Eagles whose running game is mediocre at best. Tight end Zach Ertz leads the Eagles with 113 catches for 1,148 yards. He and Foles will be the key factor in whether or not Eagles win on Sunday.

The Eagles have won the past three straight against Washington. That includes a 28-13 win earlier this season at home in Philadelphia.

NFL PREVIEWS WEEK 16

Pittsburgh @ New Orleans

It’s a second straight test for the Steelers which found a way to overcome their shortcomings against New England over the past few seasons to beat the Patriots last week. Now, they must face New Orleans which has already clinched the NFC South and a playoff berth. The Saints will be playing to ensure they get the NFC’s No. 1 seed in the postseason. Pittsburgh needs a win to make sure it can win the AFC North.

Both the Steelers and the Saints can move the ball and score points. Pittsburgh is fourth in the NFL in total offense (405.8 yards per game) and QB Ben Roethlisberger is second in the league in passing yards with 4,462. He has thrown 30 touchdown passes, six of them to breakout star WR JuJu Smith-Schuster. The second-year player out of USC leads the Steelers in both receptions (95) and receiving yards (1,274). Roethlisberger also has another All-Pro target in Antonio Brown (90 receptions, 1,112 yards, 13 TDs).

Leading rusher James Conner missed the last two games and is day-to-day with an ankle injury. Rookie Jaylen Samuels filled in nicely in the win over New England with 19 carries for 142 yards. The Steelers are fifth in the NFL in scoring averaging 27.4 points per game.

The Saints are built similarly with veteran Drew Brees at quarterback. Brees is having another stellar season with 3,463 yards passing and 31 touchdowns. Running back Alvin Kamara, last year’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year leads the team with 793 rushing yards and he is the team’s second-leading receiver with 591 yards on 70 receptions. Brees’ big gun in WR Michael Thomas who is having his best season as a pro with 102 catches for 1,218 yards and eight touchdowns.

New Orleans is also stout on defense.  They lead the NFL in rush defense allowing just 77.6 yards on the ground per game. They are holding opponents to 21.8 points a game. Pittsburgh checks in at No. 6 against the run (96.9 yards per game) and gives up 22.6 points per game.

The Saints have beaten the Steelers in three of the last four meetings between the two teams. That includes the last two games played in New Orleans (2010 & 2002). Each of those last four meetings has been decided by 10 points or less.

Kansas City @ Seattle

After suffering just their third loss of the season last week, the Kansas City Chiefs head to Seattle to face another tough task – playing the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks could have clinched a playoff berth last week but were upset by the San Francisco 49ers. A win in one of their final two games should assure them a spot in the postseason. Getting that victory this week will take a great effort.

The Chiefs arguably the best offense in the NFL. Kansas City averages 35.6 points per game led by second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs QB has been magnificent the entire season. He leads the NFL in passing yards (4,543) and touchdowns (45). Mahomes leads an offense that features two 1,000-yard receivers. Tyreek Hill has 78 catches for a team-high 1,304 yards receiving. Tight end Travis Kelce leads the Chiefs with 93 receptions for 1,220 yards. The two have combined for 21 receiving touchdowns.

The Chiefs have made do without leading rusher Kareem Hunt who was released following a domestic dispute. Kansas City has used Spencer Ware, who didn’t play last week due to injury, and Damien Williams in Hunt’s place. Williams ran for 49 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 29-28 loss to the Chargers. Despite the loss, Kansas City still holds the advantage over Los Angeles in the AFC West thanks to its better division record (4-1). The Chiefs clinch the division and a first-round bye with a win over Seattle on Sunday.

Where Kansas City struggles is on defense. The Chiefs are dead last against the pass and while Seattle is a ground-based offense QB Russell Wilson can shred defenses with his arm. Wilson has 3,025 yards passing and has thrown for 31 touchdowns. The Seahawks make their living by running the football. They lead the NFL averaging nearly 155 yards on the ground per game. Chris Carson is the leading rusher with 913 yards. Mike Davis (439) and rookie Rashaad Penny (413) are very capable backups.

The Seahawks have not beaten the Chiefs since 2002. Kansas City has won the last three straight over Seattle including a 42-24 win over the Seahawks in Seattle in 2010.

Baltimore @ L.A. Chargers

The Baltimore Ravens have won four of their last five games. Their only loss came to one of the two teams that lead the AFC West. On Saturday, they will face the other – the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers clinched a playoff berth with a 29-28 win over Kansas City last week. The Chiefs are the team that gave Baltimore its only loss in its last five games.

In those five games, the Ravens have started rookie Lamar Jackson at quarterback. He has produced as the Ravens have put more emphasis on the, especially the quarterback run. Jackson is now the team leader in rushing yards with 566. In those last five games, Jackson has rushed for no less than 67 yards, but he has not thrown for more than 178 in any of those games. Still, the Ravens ball-control offense and stout defense have helped them win and maintain a hold on the AFC’s sixth playoff seed.

Baltimore leads the NFL in scoring defense allowing 18.1 points a game. Head coach John Harbaugh’s defense will have to slow down a very good Chargers offense. Quarterback Philip Rivers is enjoying a fantastic season with 3,951 passing yards and 31 touchdowns. His leading receiver is once again Keenan Allen who has 88 catches for 1,074 yards and six touchdowns. The question mark for the Chargers is RB Melvin Gordon. With 802 yards, Gordon is the team’s leading rusher, but he hasn’t played in the last three games.

An even bigger question mark for head coach Anthony Lynn and the Chargers is the status of backup RB Austin Ekeler. The Chargers still won their last four games leaning heavily on rookie Justin Jackson in last week’s win over the Chiefs. Los Angeles averages over 400 yards (404.6) of total offense per game. The Baltimore defense counters with a unit that allows just over 308 total yards per game.

The two teams haven’t played since 2015 when Baltimore recorded a 29-26 win at home. The teams haven’t played since the Chargers relocated to Los Angeles. The Ravens have won two of the last three, but they are just 3-4 on the road this season.

Cincinnati @ Cleveland

Normally, a late-season Bengals-Browns game doesn’t mean much. It might not mean that much this year either, but the Browns are not completely eliminated from playoff contention. Cleveland has won four of its last five games to move to 6-7-1 and while they cannot win the AFC North they can achieve a wild card berth. They do need some help though.

It starts with a victory over their in-state rival. Cleveland already has one win over the Bengals this season. Just a few weeks ago, the Browns beat Cincinnati 35-20, Cleveland’s first win over the Bengals after seven straight losses. Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield was on fire completing 19-of-26 passes for 258 yards and four touchdowns.

The Browns have surprised many around the league with their play since head coach Hue Jackson was fired earlier this season. After starting 2-6-1, Cleveland is 4-1. They have been able to run the football consistently with another rookie, Nick Chubb, who leads the team in rushing with 860 yards. The defense has also done an admirable job. In their four recent wins, the defense has given up a total of 72 points, or 18 per game. Baltimore leads the NFL in scoring defense giving up 18.1 points per game.

Cincinnati (6-8) started the season 4-1 and appeared to be the class of the AFC North. Then, the season fell apart. The Bengals went 1-7 in their next eight games and finally won again just last Sunday, a 30-16 win over a 3-11 Oakland team. Cincinnati has self-destructed on defense. The Bengals are the NFL’s worst allowing opponents 413 total yards per game. Cincy ranks in the bottom five in almost every defensive statistical category, including points allowed per game (29.5), pass defense (270.6), and run defense (142.4).

The bright spots for Cincinnati include running back Joe Mixon, who will surpass 1,000 yards for the season with six more yards. Wide receiver Tyler Boyd (76 receptions, 1,028 yards, 7 TDs) is the team’s leading receiver. The last time Cleveland beat Cincinnati at home was in 2013. The Browns still have a chance at the playoffs though it is a one percent chance according to ESPN Analytics. While Cleveland must win its final two games, a number of other outcomes must happen for the Browns to go to the postseason. One of those is a highly unlikely Week 17 tie between Indianapolis and Tennessee.

NFL PREVIEWS WEEK 15

New Orleans @ Carolina

New Orleans heads to Charlotte to take on NFC South rival Carolina on Monday night. It will be the first of two meetings with the Panthers over the final three weeks of the 2018 season. The Saints (11-2) have already clinched the division title and are now looking to get their grips on the NFC’s No. 1 seed throughout the playoffs. Currently, the Saints own the top spot by virtue of their win over the 11-2 Los Angeles Rams.

The Panthers (6-7) appeared to be headed to a wild card spot when they were 6-2 just over a month ago. Five straight losses later, Carolina looks like it will be sitting at home during playoff season. The Panthers are one of three 6-7 teams that are on the outside looking in. They need a win badly and then will need some serious help to get into the postseason.

Carolina’s woes have come in multiple forms. The offense has sputtered at times. The defense, especially the secondary, looked formidable through the first eight games. Then, the Panthers secondary took a nose dive. Carolina has struggled getting off the field on third down and has given up too many big plays. In last Sunday’s loss to Cleveland, the Panthers gave up a 51-yard touchdown pass. Holding a 20-17 lead entering the fourth quarter, Carolina gave up a 75-yard drive that culminated in a touchdown that proved to be the winning points.

Now, head coach Ron Rivera and his defense are tasked with stopping one of the most lethal offenses in the NFL. The Saints average nearly 397 yards of total offense and 34.4 points per game. Quarterback Drew Brees is having an MVP season. Brees is completing 75.7 percent of his passes for 3,463 yards and 31 touchdowns this season. Running back Alvin Kamara leads the team in rushing with 793 yards and he is also the team’s second-leading receiver. Wide receiver Michael Thomas should be an All-Pro with 102 catches for 1,218 yards and eight touchdowns.

The Saints have won the last three straight against the Panthers including both games last season. New Orleans scored 31 points in each of those games.

Philadelphia @ LA Rams

The defending champion Philadelphia Eagles look like they will not have a chance to defend their Super Bowl from last year. An overtime loss to Dallas last week and a brutal remaining schedule will likely end the Eagles 2018 season in December. Philadelphia travels to Los Angeles to take on the 11-2 Rams on Sunday night.

The Eagles are now 6-7 and a single win by Dallas or a loss by Philadelphia gives the NFC East crown to the Cowboys. The Eagles would need a miracle in order to make the postseason. The offense was once again sluggish in the first half – just 70 yards and no points – against the Cowboys. The running game continues to struggle averaging just 97.9 yards a game. Quarterback Carson Wentz (3,074 yards, 21 TDs) and tight end Zach Ertz (1,016 yards, 6 TDs) are the keys to the Philadelphia offense.

The Rams defense features last year’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, who is having another MVP-like season. Donald leads the NFL in sacks with 16.5. He continues to drive opposing quarterbacks crazy with his relentless pressure. It is not the defense that has been turning heads this season. It has been the Rams offense.

Los Angeles scores nearly 33 points per game and averages over 436 total yards. Quarterback Jared Goff is completing 64.4 percent of his passes for 3,934 yards and 27 touchdowns. He is coming off his worst game of the season thought. Last week against the Bears, Goff had just 180 yards passing, was sacked three times, and threw four interceptions. The Eagles defense is nothing like Chicago’s, but if they are able to pressure Goff Philadelphia may have some success.

Rams RB Todd Gurley is the NFL’s second-leading rusher with 1,203 yards. He was held to just 28 yards on 11 carries against Chicago last week. Gurley needs to have success to help Goff in the passing game. The loss to Chicago was only the Rams second of the season. Los Angeles continues to battle for the No. 1 seed in the upcoming NFC playoffs.

Philadelphia has won five straight against the Rams dating back to 2005. The last time the Eagles beat the Rams in Los Angeles was 1990 prior to the franchise’s move to St. Louis.

LA Chargers @ Kansas City

Thursday night’s Chargers-Chiefs matchup could very well decide the AFC West Division. Kansas City has the lead currently at 11-2 and the Chiefs have already clinched a playoff berth. The Chargers (10-3) trail by just a game and have been one of the NFL’s hottest teams this season with nine wins in their last ten games. Their only loss was by a single point to division rival Denver.

Thursday’s winner will have the inside track on the division title and, more importantly, on the AFC’s No. 1 seed throughout the playoffs. The top seed receives a first-round bye as well as home-field advantage throughout the postseason. For a Chargers victory, it will come down to slowing down one of the NFL’s best offenses.

The Chiefs score 36.2 points per game and average over 449 yards of total offense. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is an MVP candidate with 4,300 yards and an NFL-best 43 touchdown passes. While the Chiefs did lose leading rusher Kareem Hunt, they have a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in Tyreek Hill (1,258) and TE Travis Kelce (1,159). Slowing them down will not be easy.

The same could be said for the Chargers offense which doesn’t score quite as much (28.2) but does average 402.5 yards of offense per game. Like Kansas City, the Chargers could be without their leading rusher Melvin Gordon, who missed last week with a knee injury. If Gordon returns, that could be a difference for Los Angeles. Gordon has 802 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.

Quarterback Philip Rivers just turned 37 and is enjoying a year in which he has thrown for 3,638 yards and 29 touchdowns. Wide receiver Keenan Allen has caught 88 passes for 1,074 yards and six scores. The Chargers defense could also be a key. While the Chiefs give up 431.8 yards and 27 points a game on defense, the Chargers are much more stout allowing just 20.8 points per game. Joey Bosa has four sacks since his return to the lineup and rookie Derwin James has 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, and 12 pass break ups.

If history is any indication, the Chargers are in trouble. Kansas City has won the last nine in a row against the Chargers. The Chiefs are also 6-0 this season at home at Arrowhead Stadium, site of Thursday night’s game.

New England @ Pittsburgh

A year ago, a controversial call helped the New England Patriots defeat Pittsburgh 27-24. This season, the Patriots are back again at Heinz Field this Sunday looking for their sixth consecutive win over the Steelers. A win by either team will be significant in that it will play a role in which team gets a first-round bye in the upcoming AFC playoffs.

The Steelers, who have lost three straight after dropping a 24-21 decision to Oakland last week, still lead the AFC North with a 7-5-1 record. Pittsburgh has just a half-game lead over Baltimore (7-6) and if the Steelers could somehow find a way to close the season with three straight wins, they might just take over the No. 2 seed in the AFC. That would give Pittsburgh a first-round bye in the playoffs.

New England (9-4) is once again in control of the AFC. They currently hold the No. 2 spot in the AFC playoff picture. Win or lose Sunday, the Patriots will still hold the No. 2 seed, but a loss to either the Bills or the Jets in the final two weeks could move them out of position for a first-round bye.

The Patriots, like the Steelers, lost last week. They dropped a 34-33 decision to Miami on one of the plays of the year in the NFL. The Dolphins scored on a last-second hook-and-ladder. Still, New England can win the AFC East for the 10^th straight year.

The Steelers will have to do their best to pressure QB Tom Brady, who has thrown for 3,700 yards and 23 touchdowns this season. Running back Sony Michel has gained 253 yards in his last three games and has 760 for the season.

The Patriots will have to slow down Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger who has 4.227 yards and 28 touchdowns. The Steelers will probably be without RB James Conner again. He is the Steelers leading rusher with 909 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Pittsburgh’s last win over New England came back in 2011. That win, 25-17, came at Heinz Field, one of the more difficult places to play in the NFL.

NFL PREVIEWS WEEK 14

LA Rams @ Chicago

Sunday night’s Rams-Bears matchup in Chicago will be much more interesting if Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky lines up under center. The second-year quarterback has missed the Bears last two games with a shoulder injury. Veteran backup Chase Daniel has started in Trubisky’s place. Daniel performed fine in a Thanksgiving Day win over Detroit, but his two interceptions were part of an upset loss to the New York Giants last week.

The loss to the Giants was the Bears first after winning five straight. Chicago rallied to score 10 points in the final 1:13 of the game to tie the game at 27-all before losing in overtime. Daniel did complete 26-of-39 passes for 285 yards and a touchdown, but the interceptions and the five sacks didn’t help. Daniel also fumbled the ball four times but didn’t lose any. A healthy Trubisky would give the Bears a boost against a very talented Rams defense.

The Rams (11-1) beat Detroit last week limiting the Lions to 102 rushing yards and registering four sacks of quarterback Matthew Stafford. Aaron Donald, the NFL sacks leader, recorded two more to give him 16.5 for the season. He also had five tackles for loss. The Rams do give up 24.8 points per game, but most teams just can’t keep up with their star-studded offense.

Quarterback Jared Goff is completing 66.4 percent of his passes. He has thrown for 3,754 yards and 27 touchdowns. Goff has been exceptional throughout the season. His top target is Brandin Cooks who has 63 catches for 1,028 yards and three touchdowns. Robert Woods has 64 catches and 971 yards and third option Cooper Kupp has 40 receptions for 566 yards and six touchdowns. Add in RB Todd Gurley and the Rams are virtually unstoppable. Gurley has 46 catches to go with 1,175 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns. With all of these pieces, the Rams average 34.9 points a game, third-best in the NFL.

The Bears have won five of the last six against the Rams, but the two teams have yet to play since the franchise relocated to Los Angeles from St. Louis.

Minnesota @ Seattle

The owners of the NFC’s wild card slots right now are Minnesota and Seattle. The two teams will meet on Monday night in one of the noisiest stadiums in the league. The Seahawks are 7-5 and are sitting pretty in the NFC’s No. 1 wild card spot. Seattle has won three straight and has the NFL’s best running game. Quarterback Russell Wilson is making plays when he needs to and the Seahawks are primed for a postseason run.

Minnesota (6-5-1) is coming off a loss to New England last week and has been playing pretty good defense as of late. The problem for the Vikings is that the running game continues to sputter. Minnesota averages just 86.1 yards on the ground per game. That is 30^th in the NFL. Quarterback Kirk Cousins makes up for much of the Vikings’ inability to run the football. Cousins has 3,490 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. Wide receiver Adam Thielen continues to prove himself as one of the NFL’s elite receivers with 98 receptions and 1,166 yards.

Seattle put itself right back in the thick of the playoff race by beating Green Bay, Carolina, and San Francisco in succession. Last week against the 49ers, Wilson threw just 17 times, completed only 11 but tossed four touchdowns in a 43-16 victory. With the Rams having clinched the NFC West, the Seahawks only route to the postseason is via a wild card. Another win on Monday night would further cement their hold on one of the two spots in the NFC.

The Seahawks lead the overall series with the Vikings 10-5 and have won the last four straight meetings. That includes two straight wins in Seattle. The last time Minnesota won in Seattle was back in 2006. CenturyLink Field is one of the tougher places to play in the NFL, especially later in the season. Seattle is 3-2 at home this season.

Indianapolis @ Houston

The hottest team in the NFL right now resides in Houston where the Texans have won nine straight since dropping the first three games of the season. Houston is now 9-3 and in control of the AFC South. They will face division opponent Indianapolis on Sunday. Houston beat the Colts in their first meeting this season back in September. The 37-34 overtime victory was the Texans first of the season and the one that started the nine-game streak.

Since then, the Texans have suffocated opponents with a defense that has been nearly dominant. In six of the Texans past eight games, Houston’s defense has held its opponents under 20 points. The defensive end tandem of J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney has owned the opposition. Watt, who has remained healthy for the first time in three seasons, has 11.5 sacks. Clowney has seven.

Offensively, quarterback Deshaun Watson has been highly efficient throwing for 3,031 yards and 21 touchdowns. Running back Lamar Miller nears the 1,000-yard mark with 876 and WR DeAndre Hopkins is having an All-Pro caliber season with 1,115 yards on 80 catches. The Indianapolis defense has been suspect in the past and will need to slow down the Houston offense to have a chance.

The Colts (6-6) had won five straight games behind the play of QB Andrew Luck, who now has 3,360 yards passing and 32 touchdowns. His luck ran out last week as Indianapolis failed to score in a 6-0 loss to Jacksonville. Luck was sacked three times and the Colts managed only 41 rushing yards against the Jags. That will have to change for the Colts to be successful. Indianapolis is not entirely eliminated from postseason play just yet and still has a chance to make the playoffs.

Houston has won four of the last six against Indianapolis. The Texans are 5-1 at home this season winning their last five straight at NRG Stadium. The Colts, on the other hand, haven’t fared so well away from home. Indianapolis is just 2-4 on the road in 2018.

Philadelphia @ Dallas

An NFC East matchup in Dallas on Sunday holds the fate of both the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. A Cowboys victory puts Dallas that much closer to winning the division and getting back to the postseason. An Eagles loss would likely eliminate the Philadelphia in its quest for defending its Super Bowl title from a year ago. To stay alive, the Eagles are in desperate need of a win.

The two teams played on Nov. 11 in Philadelphia. Dallas QB Dak Prescott was efficient and RB Ezekiel Elliott ran for 151 yards in a 27-20 Cowboys victory. Elliott’s one-yard touchdown run in the final five minutes of the game proved to be the difference.

Philadelphia, which had the NFL’s No. 1 rush defense a year ago, is 10^th this year giving up 103.6 yards per game. If they have difficulty stopping Elliott like they did in the first game this season, the Eagles are in trouble. Dallas has won four straight games and a big part of the Cowboys turnaround has been the success of Elliott and the running game.

The first win over the Eagles started the four-game streak for Dallas who then beat Atlanta and Washington. It was last week’s 13-10 win over New Orleans that really opened some eyes. The Cowboys held the league’s most potent offense to just 176 yards of total offense. The defense has been outstanding and the running game stellar as Dallas seeks another NFC East title.

Dallas has won the last two against Philadelphia and three of the last five. The Cowboys are 5-1 at home this season. Their only loss at AT&T Stadium was to Tennessee. Philadelphia needs a win badly. The Eagles are in danger of missing the postseason after winning last year’s Lombardi Trophy. If Philadelphia cannot manage a win over Dallas, getting a victory the following two weeks will be even tougher. The Eagles face the Rams and then Houston, winners of nine straight.

NFL WEEK 13 PREVIEWS

New Orleans @ Dallas

The 10-1 New Orleans Saints head to Dallas to take on the streaking Cowboys who assumed first place in the NFC East last week with their win over Washington on Thanksgiving Day. Now 6-5, the Cowboys are right back in the thick of the postseason race with three consecutive wins over Philadelphia, Atlanta, and the Redskins.

Now, Dallas faces the unenviable task of facing possibly the best team in the NFL. The Saints lead the NFL in scoring averaging 37.2 points per game and appear unstoppable. New Orleans has scored below 30 points just twice all season. Quarterback Drew Brees has been masterful in leading the Saints offense. Brees broke the NFL record for career passing yardage earlier this season. He is on track to surpass 4,000 yards for the 13^th consecutive season. Brees has 3,135 yards and 29 touchdowns thus far this season.

Brees is just one cog in a machine that can put up points quickly. Running back Alvin Kamara is a dual threat. The second-year back has 706 yards rushing and is the Saints second-leading receiver with 57 catches for 519 yards. Kamara has 706 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns on the ground.  Mark Ingram, who missed the first four games of the season, is a capable threat as well with 440 yards rushing. Michael Thomas is the Saints leading receiver with 86 receptions and 1,080 yards.

New Orleans is just as dangerous on defense. The Saints have the league’s best rush defense holding teams to fewer than 74 yards per game. In last week’s win over Atlanta, New Orleans allowed just 26 rushing yards. That run defense will be put to the test by the NFL’s leading rusher, Ezekiel Elliott.

Elliott has 1,074 yards so far this season but is experiencing some hip soreness after the win over Washington. The Cowboys played three games in 12 days. Head coach Jason Garrett gave Elliott some time off in preparation for Thursday’s game with the Saints. Dallas is one of the top rushing offenses in the NFL averaging 134.5 per game. Elliott had 121 yards against the Redskins and 122 against Atlanta.

The Saints have won four of the last five in the series with Dallas. The only loss in those five games came at Dallas in 2014. The Cowboys won 38-17.

Minnesota @ New England

If the Vikings (6-4-1) are going to continue holding on to the NFC’s first wild card, they are going to have to come up with some big wins. One of them would be on Sunday against New England. The Patriots are 8-3 and in control of the AFC East. They have won the division nine seasons in a row. Minnesota trails Chicago in the NFC North and has remaining games with Seattle and the Bears in addition to Sunday’s game in Foxborough.

The Vikings haven’t beaten the Patriots since 2000 in a game that was played in Gillette Stadium. New England has won four in a row against Minnesota. The last time the teams met was in 2014. The Patriots won 30-7 in a game that didn’t feature much offense by either team. New England was the beneficiary of a 58-yard blocked field goal return.

This meeting could be different as Minnesota has a strong passing game led by QB Kirk Cousins. The Vikings went out and acquired Cousins in the offseason and it has paid off. Cousins has 3,289 yards and 22 touchdowns so far in 2018. The running game has struggled though and is averaging just 85.3 yards a game. Minnesota would certainly like to be able to run the football and keep it away from Tom Brady and the rest of the Patriots offense.

New England rebounded last week with a win over the Jets. They had lost badly to Tennessee the week prior. In the win over the Jets, New England ran the ball for 215 yards led by rookie Sony Michel’s 133. James White, who is also the team’s leading receiver with 67 receptions, had 73 yards on just nine carries.

The difference on Sunday could come down to defense where both teams have had their share of struggles. Both teams are known for their outstanding defensive coaching staffs, but both teams are in the middle of the standing in scoring defense. Minnesota allows 22.4 points per game and the Patriots 22.6. The two teams have only played each other 12 times. New England has eight wins.

LA Chargers @ Pittsburgh

Both the Chargers and Steelers will make the AFC playoffs – barring anything crazy – and both had recent six-game winning streaks. Both teams had their streaks ended recently, both by the same team – the Denver Broncos. Now, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles face each other Sunday night in a game that will help determine playoff seeding in the AFC.

The Steelers lost to the Broncos last week in large part because they turned the ball over three times and failed to run the football. Pittsburgh had just 75 rushing yards in the loss to Denver. Leading rusher James Conner, who has 849 yards for the season, had just 53. He will need to be more productive for the Steelers to have success on Sunday night. 

The Steelers passing game is as good as any in the NFL. Ben Roethlisberger is second in the league in passing yards with 3,664. Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is having a breakout year with 1,055 yards on 77 receptions. He had a 97-yard scoring catch in last week’s loss. Pittsburgh is quite capable of moving the football. They just need to keep control of it and not turn it over against the Chargers.

Los Angeles lost to Denver two weeks ago and rebounded with a big 45-10 win over Arizona last week. Philip Rivers set an NFL record by completing 25 straight passes. He finished 28-of-29 for 259 yards and three touchdowns. The bad news for the Chargers is that running back Melvin Gordon has an injured MCL in his right knee. He is listed as week-to-week. If he doesn’t play against Pittsburgh, that could be trouble for the Chargers.

Pittsburgh has won four of the last five and nine of the last eleven against the Chargers. Four of the past five games between the two teams have been played in Pittsburgh, site of Sunday night’s game. Playing at Heinz Field is tough enough. Playing at Heinz Field in December will make it even more difficult for Los Angeles.

Washington @ Philadelphia

Monday night’s Redskins-Eagles matchup takes on more significance after Week 12. The Redskins lost control of the NFC East with a loss to Dallas and the Eagles remained alive in the playoff race with a win over the Giants. The big question for Washington is if they can maintain their playoff positioning with Colt McCoy at quarterback. McCoy will be the Redskins’ guy the rest of the season now that Alex Smith is out with a broken leg.

Washington (6-5) has now lost two straight to fall into second place in the division. They still currently are in position to earn a wild card. They own the NFC’s second wild card by virtue of their 6-3 conference record. How McCoy and Adrian Peterson handle the offense will go a long way in determining if the Redskins make the postseason. Washington averages only 20 points per game on offense, but their defense has been able to keep them in games. The Redskins give up 20.8 points a game, seventh-best in the league.

Washington will take on an Eagles team that desperately needs another win. At 5-6, Philadelphia cannot afford too many more losses especially with remaining games with the Cowboys, Rams, and Redskins again. The Eagles have struggled on offense since losing RB Jay Ajayi to a knee injury earlier in the season. Philadelphia’s leading rusher is Josh Adams who has just 291 yards for the season. He got 84 of those last week in the win over the Giants.

While the Eagles have struggled to run the ball effectively, where they really need improvement is on defense. Where they were a Top 10 defense in most statistical categories a year ago, they are not in 2018. In consecutive losses to Dallas and New Orleans, the Eagles allowed a total of 75 points. That is going to have to stop if Philadelphia is going to make a run to the postseason.

The Eagles won both games last season, but prior to that Washington had won five straight. Last year in Philadelphia, Carson Wentz threw for 268 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-24 Eagles victory.

NFL WEEK 12 PREVIEWS

Washington @ Dallas

Thursday’s Cowboys-Redskins matchup got much more interesting after Dallas beat Atlanta 22-19 last week. Now, the Thanksgiving Day feast will be for control of the NFC East. With two straight wins now, the Cowboys are 5-5, just a game behind the 6-4 Redskins who lost to Houston last week.

The Redskins also lost starting quarterback Alex Smith to a gruesome broken leg. Exactly 33 years to the day when former Washington quarterback Joe Theisman suffered the same injury, Smith went down midway through the third quarter when he was sacked by Kareem Jackson. Smith broke both the tibia and fibula in his right leg. Colt McCoy replaced Smith and threw a touchdown pass but could not lead Washington back to a victory.

Washington will bring a few veteran quarterbacks including Kellen Clemens and Josh Johnson to work out. McCoy will become the starter. The Redskins offense was nothing special even with Smith. Washington is averaging just 19.7 points per game this season. Running back Adrian Peterson has really helped take some of the pressure off the passing game with his 723 yards rushing. He will need to be even better to help McCoy this Thursday.

The Redskins defense has kept the team in games this season by allowing 19.8 points per game. Washington’s defense will face a Cowboys offense that has had its own share of struggles. QB Dak Prescott and the passing game has been unspectacular so far. Prescott has 2,135 yards passing and a QB rating of just 49.5. The bright spot, of course, has been RB Ezekiel Elliott who is second in the NFL with 953 yards rushing. In last week’s win over the Falcons, Elliott had 122 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Washington beat Dallas 20-17 back in October. It was the first win over the Cowboys in five tries. Dallas has won six of the last eight against the Redskins. Dallas has lost three of its last four Thanksgiving Day games. The Cowboys only win? In 2016, Dallas beat Washington 31-26.

Seattle @ Carolina

Despite two consecutive losses, the Carolina Panthers (6-4) still have control of their playoff destiny. The Panthers still own the NFC’s No. 1 wild card spot, but can ill afford to lose a third straight. That is a distinct possibility as Seattle (5-5) comes to town. The Seahawks are fighting for their own playoff lives. Seattle is coming off a much-needed 27-24 win over Green Bay last week. The Seahawks, like the Panthers, are in a division where the leader – the 9-1 Rams – will likely win the division. Seattle’s only hope for an extended season is by wild card.

To beat Carolina, the Seahawks will have to continue to do what works and that is the NFL’s best running game. The Seahawks average 154.3 yards per game. Head coach Pete Carroll has a stable of capable backs led by leading rusher Chris Carson who has 580 yards on the season. Mike Davis has 372 yards and rookie Rashaad Penny has 300 on 62 carries. The Seahawks gained 173 rushing yards in the win over Green Bay.

Carolina has had some difficulty running the football as of late. They managed just 56 yards in last Sunday’s loss to Detroit. The week before, in a blowout loss to Pittsburgh, the Panthers ran for 95 yards and were held to just 242 total. Quarterback Cam Newton was sacked five times by the Steelers and three times by the Lions. Head coach Ron Rivera will need to figure out the offense’s woes if Carolina is going to get its first win in three weeks.

The good thing for Carolina is that they play at home where they are 5-0 this season. Carolina last played Seattle at home in a divisional playoff game in the 2015 season. The Panthers won 31-24. Seattle won the last game played by the two teams in 2016. The Seahawks won 40-7, but that game was played in Seattle.

Green Bay @ Minnesota

The race for a wild card in the NFC is on the line when Green Bay travels to Minnesota on Sunday night. The Vikings are 5-4-1 and the Packers are 4-5-1 and each team still has a realistic shot at a wild card. Green Bay somehow has to figure out a way to win on the road this season. They have lost all five of their away games thus far and are 4-0-1 at Lambeau Field. The tie came in Week 2 to the Vikings.

Minnesota has lost two of its last three including a big loss to Chicago last Sunday night. The Vikings were held to 268 yards of offense by a defense that pressured QB Kirk Cousins all game long. Cousins completed 30-of-46 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns, but he threw two interceptions and was sacked twice by the Bears defense. With the loss, the Vikings are now 1-1-1 in the division.

In the first meeting with the Packers, Cousins was 35-of-48 for 425 yards and four scoring throws. The Packers have had some issues slowing down opponents’ passing games. Green Bay allowed New England’s Tom Brady and the Rams’ Jared Goff 295 yards and three touchdowns each in losses to both teams. If they allow Cousins to go wild again, the Packers will be in trouble.

What can help Green Bay and QB Aaron Rodgers is a healthy running game led by Aaron Jones. A week after running for 145 yards and two touchdowns, Jones was held to just 40 yards in a loss to Seattle last week. The Packers managed just 48 yards on the ground against the Seahawks. That must improve in order to beat Minnesota. That will be a challenge since the Vikings own the league’s fourth-best run defense. Minnesota allows 94.8 yards per game.

Minnesota has won four of the last six meetings with Green Bay. Prior to that, the Packers had won 10 of 12. The winner of Sunday night’s game is still right in the thick of the NFC playoff race. The loser still has a chance, but it will be much more difficult.

Tennessee @ Houston

The Houston Texans are on fire. After dropping three in a row to start the season, Houston has won seven straight. Four of the team’s final six games are at home including Monday night’s matchup with division rival Tennessee.

The Titans (5-5) have been anything if inconsistent in 2018. A week after blowing out the New England Patriots, Tennessee fell apart and lost badly to Indianapolis 38-10. Quarterback Marcus Mariota went down in the first half with an elbow injury and did not return. His status is unknown and if he cannot go backup Blaine Gabbert would start.

That would be nothing new for the Titans and head coach Mike Vrabel. In Week 2, Gabbert started in place of an injured Mariota and led Tennessee to a 20-17 victory over Houston. It was the second straight win for the Titans over the Texans and the third in the last four meetings.

Monday night’s game is in Houston where the Texans have had much success against Tennessee in the past. In fact, the past six times that the two teams have played in Houston, the Texans won all six. A Houston win would push the Texans closer to a first-round playoff bye. Currently, Kansas City (9-1) would own the AFC’s top seed and Pittsburgh (7-2-1) the No. 2 seed. Both Houston and New England are 7-3.

Houston has turned its season around thanks to an All-Pro season from wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. The sixth-year pro has 68 receptions for 950 yards and eight touchdowns. He has taken on an even bigger role in the offense since the season-ending knee injury to Will Fuller. Lamar Miller (611 yards rushing) is the leader of a running game that produces 122.1 yards per game (11^th in the NFL).

Where the Texans have really gained ground is on defense. Defensive end J.J. Watt is fourth in the league in sacks with 10. Houston has nine interceptions and has returned two of them for touchdowns and as a whole the defense has 17 takeaways (6^th ).

NFL WEEK 11 PREVIEWS

Green Bay @ Seattle

With a win over Miami last week, the Packers moved to 4-0 at home at Lambeau Field. The problem for Green Bay is that they have yet to figure out how to win on the road. The Packers (4-4-1) are now faced with the task of playing in one of the most hostile environments in the NFL in Seattle on Thursday night.

The Seahawks are in a similar situation to Green Bay. At 4-5, the postseason is slowly slipping away and the schedule is not helping. After the Packers, Seattle is at Carolina and has remaining games with Minnesota and Kansas City. Beating Green Bay is a must if the Seahawks are going to have a shot at an NFC Wild Card. How they can do it is no secret.

Seattle is now the NFL’s No. 1 rush offense. In last week’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the Seahawks rushed for 273 yards led by rookie Rashaad Penny who carried just 12 times and gained 108 yards. Seattle now averages 152.2 per game on the ground. Green Bay has some issues in defending the run. Last week, they gave up 131 yards to Miami but allowed an average of 5.7 yards per rush.

The Seahawks had won four of five games before dropping their last two to the Rams and Chargers (who have a combined record of 16-3). In those two games, QB Russell Wilson threw a total of five touchdown passes and rushed for over 130 yards. He will once again be called upon to make some big plays if Seattle is going to even its record at 5-5.

The Packers have some injury problems too. SS Kentrell Brice and LB Nick Perry both missed last week’s win over Miami and may not be ready with the quick turnaround this week. That could be trouble against the Seahawks run game. Offensively, the Packers have found a run game with Aaron Jones. Jones ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns against the Dolphins and leads the Packers with 494 yards on the season.

Jones ability to run the football will be a key for Green Bay as it will open things up for QB Aaron Rodgers. The future Hall of Famer has 2,741 yards and 17 touchdowns so far this season. The more success Jones has running the football; the more success Rodgers will have in the passing game. Green Bay still has an outside shot at winning the NFC North but can’t afford too many more losses.

Minnesota @ Chicago

It’s been a while since the Vikings played at Soldier Field against the first-place Chicago Bears. New head coach Matt Nagy has the Bears at 6-3 after their third straight win a week ago. Minnesota is close behind at 5-3-1 and is battling to win the NFC North for a second straight season.

One of the keys for Chicago has been the play of edge rusher Khalil Mack who returned to the Bears lineup last week after missing two games due to injury. Mack recorded two sacks in the 34-22 win over Detroit. That gives Mack seven for the season on a defense that is one (30) behind the NFL leaders – Green Bay, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, and yes, Minnesota.

The Bears defense has kept them in games this season by allowing just 319.6 yards per game, fourth in the NFL. Chicago is also fourth in scoring defense (19.4 points per game) and second in run defense allowing just 84 yards rushing per game.

While the defense has played well, second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and the offense continue to improve. The Bears have averaged 33 points a game in their three-game win streak and are averaging 29.9 for the season, the fifth-best mark in the league. Chicago did not run the ball effectively last week, but Trubisky threw for 355 yards and three scores.

The Vikings have won four of their last five with a strong defense and an offense built around quarterback Kirk Cousins. With Dalvin Cook hampered by nagging injuries, the run game is 28^th in the league. Cousins has made up for that with 2,685 yards and 17 touchdowns. His primary target is Adam Thielen, who is having the best season of any NFL receiver. Thielen has 78 catches for 947 yards and seven touchdowns so far. In Minnesota’s win over Detroit on Nov. 4, Thielen failed to surpass 100 yards receiving for the first time this season.

Minnesota has won the last three games in the series and has won eight of the past 12 overall. All four of the Vikings losses were at Soldier Field the site of Sunday night’s game.

Philadelphia @ New Orleans

The 2018 season is slowly slipping away from the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. On Sunday, they face the formidable task of trying to beat the 8-1 Saints in New Orleans. Since dropping their season opener to Tampa Bay, the Saints have not lost. Head coach Sean Payton has the NFL’s most prolific offense (36.7 points per game) and the league’s best run defense. That is a deadly combination.

The closest scare that the Saints had was a narrow 24-23 win over Baltimore near midseason. The Ravens scored near the end of the fourth quarter and appeared ready to send the game to overtime but kicker Justin Tucker missed the first extra-point of his career and New Orleans got the victory.

The Saints offense is loaded with veteran QB Drew Brees at the controls. Brees has completed 77.3 percent of his passes for 2,601 yards and 21 touchdowns. Running back Alvin Kamara is as dynamic as they come. Kamara leads the Saints with 546 yards rushing and he is the team’s second-leading receiver with 55 catches for 473 yards. Michael Thomas leads the team with 78 receptions and 950 yards.

The Eagles run game has suffered since the loss of RB Jay Ajayi to a season-ending knee injury. Philadelphia is 22^nd in the NFL in rush offense. QB Carson Wentz appears to be healthy and has 2,148 yards passing and 15 touchdowns, but he can’t do it alone. Golden Tate, recently acquired via trade with Detroit, was used on only 18 snaps in last week’s loss to Dallas. That is going to have to change if the Eagles are going to make a run at the postseason.

At 4-5, Philadelphia still has two games with NFC East leader Washington as well as a game on the road with the 9-1 Rams and another with Houston (6-3), the AFC South leader. The Eagles won the last meeting with the Saints, but that was in 2015. The last time the teams played in New Orleans (2012), the Saints won 28-13.

Kansas City @ Los Angeles Rams

It is a showdown made for Monday night. The 9-1 Kansas City Chiefs will take on the 9-1 Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football in a game that will impact postseason seeding.  If the playoffs started today, the Chiefs would be the No. 1 seed in the AFC. They have some cushion as the No. 2 seed, Pittsburgh, is 6-2-1. The Rams are the current No. 2 seed since New Orleans is 8-1 but owns the tiebreaker over L.A. by beating them two weeks ago. The winner will improve its chances at obtaining a top seed in its respective conference.

Both teams are among the most prolific in the league. The Chiefs are No. 2 in scoring behind New Orleans averaging 35.3 points a game. Second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been unstoppable and leads the NFL with 3,150 passing yards and 31 touchdowns. His top targets include RB Kareem Hunt, WR Tyreek Hill, and TE Travis Kelce.

Hunt, who has 754 yards rushing, also has 23 catches for 337 yards and six touchdowns. The speedy Hill has 55 receptions for 891 yards and nine scores. He also has a kick return touchdown. Kelce leads the Chiefs in catches with 57 for 787 yards and six touchdowns. Mahomes has thrown multiple touchdowns in every game but two this season.

The Rams rely a little more on their run game which makes sense they have the NFL’s leading rusher in Todd Gurley, also the NFL’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year. Gurley has 988 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground and 40 catches for 402 yard receiving. Quarterback Jared Goff is extremely efficient completing 68.4 percent of his passes for 3,134 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Brandin Cooks (51-857) and Robert Woods (55-832) are excellent targets for Goff, but the Rams did get some bad news in their win over the Seahawks last week. Second-year wide receiver Cooper Kupp (40-566-6 TDs) suffered a serious knee injury. It was revealed that Kupp did tear the ACL in his left knee and will miss the rest of the season.

Monday night’s game will likely come down to defense and, if that is the case, the Rams have the advantage. The Chiefs give up 410.7 yards per game, 29^th in the NFL, and allow 24 points per game. The Rams are a top 15 defense in most categories and have the NFL’s sack leader in DT Aaron Donald (12.5), last year’s Defensive Player of the Year.

NFL WEEK 10 PREVIEWS

Carolina @ Pittsburgh

It’s a crucial crossover game in Pittsburgh on Sunday as the Steelers host the 6-2 Carolina Panthers. Pittsburgh has rebounded from a 1-2-1 start to win its last four straight including last week’s 23-16 win over AFC North rival Baltimore. Now, head coach Mike Tomlin and company will face an equally formidable opponent in the Panthers, 42-28 winners over Tampa Bay last week.

The Panthers are built like a playoff team with a sound defense and the NFL’s second-best rushing offense. The Panthers average 143.9 yards rushing per game thanks to the duo of RB Christian McCaffrey and QB Cam Newton. McCaffrey is Carolina’s most dynamic weapon with 502 rushing yards and a team-high 49 receptions for another 378. Newton is completing 67.3 percent of his passes and has rushed for 342 yards.

Carolina is eighth against the run allowing 94.1 yards on the ground per game, but has been susceptible to the pass. Last week against Tampa Bay, the Panthers allowed four touchdown passes to Bucs QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. On Sunday, they will face the fourth-best passing offense in the NFL. Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger leads a Steelers offense that averages 313.6 passing yards per game. Roethlisberger has thrown for 2,560 yards for 16 touchdowns.

The Steelers also have a pretty capable replacement for RB Le’Veon Bell who still has yet to report to the team due to a contract dispute. James Conner, Bell’s replacement, is second in the NFL with 706 yards rushing. He has rushed for over 100 yards in each of his last four games. Conner is also a capable receiver. In last week’s win over Baltimore, Conner had 107 yards rushing and also caught seven passes for 56 yards and a touchdown.

Pittsburgh and Carolina have not played each other since 2014. The Steelers have won five of the six games all-time, including the last five in a row. The two teams last played in Pittsburgh in 2010. The Steelers won 27-3.

Dallas @ Philadelphia

The postseason hangs in the balance for Sunday night’s NFC East showdown winner. Dallas travels to Philadelphia to face the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles. Philadelphia has won two of its last three games to move to 4-4 for the season. Coupled with Washington’s loss last week, the Eagles are now just a game out of first place. A win would keep them very much alive in the division race.

The Cowboys, who faced Tennessee last Monday night, have been anything if inconsistent this season. The offense, which averages 20.0 points a game, has struggled to score at times. Dallas erupted for 40 points in a win over Jacksonville then put up just 17 in a loss to the Redskins. While Ezekiel Elliott has kept the running game alive – 619 yards on 132 attempts – the passing game has left much to be desired.

The Cowboys are one of just three teams with fewer than 200 passing yards per game. They are 29^th in the league (183.1 yards per game) in passing. Dak Prescott, who was outstanding as a rookie, just hasn’t had enough production from the receiving corps. That should change with the addition of Amari Cooper who was obtained in a trade with Oakland. Cooper should help WR Cole Beasley (33 rec., 350 yds.) stretch defenses.

What keeps Dallas in games is its defense. The Cowboys are first in the league in points against allowing 17.6 per game. They will face a Philadelphia offense that is struggling to run the football after the season-ending knee injury to Jay Ajayi. The Eagles have won two of their last three thanks to the play of quarterback Carson Wentz. The third-year pro threw three touchdowns apiece in wins over the Giants and the Jaguars.

The Eagles have won three of the last five games in the series. Philadelphia won last year 37-9 in November and then rested most of their starters in the season finale won 6-0 by Dallas. Two of those five games went to overtime.

Seattle @ LA Rams

The Rams (8-1) lost for the first time this season last week at New Orleans. Now, they will try and rebound in a rematch with division rival Seattle. The Seahawks (4-4) felt like they were on their way to a wild card by winning four of five games but lost 25-17 last week to the Los Angeles Chargers. At 4-4, the Seahawks need every win they can get as they face an end-of-season schedule that may be the toughest in the league.

Seattle has done well through the middle part of the season due to a resurgence of the running game. Even in last week’s loss to the Chargers, the Seahawks ran for 154 yards as a team. Currently, Pete Carroll’s offense is third in the NFL averaging 137.1 rushing yards per game. One of the two teams ahead of Seattle is the Rams. Both teams will need to be successful running the football, but Seattle can help itself by keeping the Rams’ explosive offensive weapons off the field.

The Rams average 33.2 points a game (3^rd in the NFL) and scored 35 points last week in the loss to the Saints. Todd Gurley leads the NFL in rushing with 868 yards and QB Jared Goff has 2,816 yards passing and 20 touchdowns. Goff has three outstanding targets in Brandin Cooks, the team’s leading receiver with 757 yards, Robert Wood (51 rec., 743 yds.), and Cooper Kupp who leads the Rams with six touchdown receptions.

The Seahawks battled the Rams earlier in the season but lost 33-31. Seattle actually led 31-24 entering the fourth quarter, but a Gurley five-yard touchdown run and a Cairo Santos field goal gave the Rams the victory. Seattle will have to pull out all the stops to secure a win over the Rams at home. The Seahawks remaining schedule features games against Green Bay, at Carolina, Minnesota, and Kansas City before the end of the season. With the Rams the likely division winner, Seattle needs to keep pace with wild cards like the Vikings and Panthers.

Detroit @ Chicago

The surprising Bears are 5-3 and lead the NFC North, a half-game ahead of second-place Minnesota. On Sunday, they will face division rival Detroit at home. Chicago has only beaten the Lions once in the previous ten meetings between the two teams. That win was in 2016 at home at Soldier Field.

This Bear’s team is a little different than year’s past. It starts with a defense that is fifth in the league in yards allowed per game (321.4). Chicago’s defense is so good, the Bears offense managed just 190 yards in Sunday’s win over Buffalo yet the final score was 41-9. Chicago’s defense scored twice, once on Eddie Jackson’s 65-yard fumble return and again on a 19-yard interception return by Leonard Floyd. The Bears took advantage of four Bills’ turnovers in gaining their fifth win of the season. Chicago allowed Buffalo just 264 yards including just 64 on the ground.

The Lions (3-5) had won three of four and appeared ready to make a move in the NFC North. That was until a loss to Seattle and then a 24-9 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings last week. Detroit allowed a Minnesota franchise record 10 sacks and managed just 66 yards rushing. That is not good news for the Lions as they face a Bears defense that is tied for seventh in the league in sacks with 24.

Chicago has DE Khalil Mack, the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, who leads the team with five sacks. Mack has also forced four fumbles and intercepted a pass that he returned 27 yards for a touchdown. The Mack-led defense yields just 19.1 points per game, fourth-best in the NFL. In Chicago’s last two games, the Bears have given up nine to the Bills and ten to the Jets.

Second-year QB Mitchell Trubisky is showing glimpses of being an elite level quarterback in leading head coach Matt Nagy’s offense to 29.4 points per game, the fifth-best point total in the league. Trubisky has thrown for 1,949 yards and 16 touchdowns.

NFL WEEK 9 PREVIEWS

Tennessee @ Dallas

Monday night’s Tennessee-Dallas matchup has plenty of postseason implications. If the Titans and Cowboys expect to be playing in this year’s playoffs, a victory on Monday night is necessary. Tennessee started the season 3-1, but three consecutive losses leave the Titans just 3-4 and wondering what happened. Dallas has been anything if inconsistent throughout the season and sits at 3-4 after a 20-17 loss to Washington last week.

Both teams have similar issues. Both are very good defensively and rank in the top ten in most statistical categories. Dallas is actually second in the NFL in scoring defense allowing 17.6 points per game. The Titans check in at third allowing 18.1. Where both teams have problems is on offense. Tennessee ranks just 30^th in the NFL in scoring averaging 15.1 points a game. The Titans lack of production is largely related to a passing game that is also 30^th in the league (173.0 passing yards per game). In the Titans recent stretch of futility, Tennessee has scored just 31 points in three games.

The Cowboys aren’t much better. Like Tennessee, the Dallas passing game struggles and is 29^th in the NFL (183.1 yards per game). What head coach Jason Garrett and company do well is run the football. Ezekiel Elliott is second in the NFL with 619 rushing yards leading a running game that averages 136.9 yards a game, fourth-best in the league.

While the running game has been able to flourish, quarterback Dak Prescott has spent too much time running for his life. Prescott has been sacked 23 times already this season. He went down 32 times all of last season. As a result, the Cowboys fired offensive line coach Paul Alexander and replaced him with Marc Colombo, the team’s assistant offensive line coach since 2016.

Monday’s game will likely come down to Prescott and Titans QB Marcus Mariota. Mariota has thrown for over 150 yards in just two of Tennessee’s seven games and he has just three touchdown passes. He has been hampered by an elbow injury suffered in Week 1, but his performance is going to have to improve if the Titans want to remain in position for a postseason berth. Tennessee is currently second in the AFC South.

Green Bay @ New England

Two of the NFL’s best quarterbacks square off on Sunday when Aaron Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers face Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. The two greats have met just once before in 2014. Rodgers got the better of Brady in a 26-21 Packers victory. Unlike that game, Sunday’s matchup will be played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., where the Patriots are unbeaten (4-0) this season.

New England has won five in a row since starting the season 1-2. The Brady-led Patriots offense scored 38 or more points in four straight games before last Monday night’s 25-6 win over Buffalo. Brady threw for 324 yards in the win, but the Patriots defense played exceptionally well limiting the Bills to just 46 yards rushing. Veteran LeSean McCoy had just 13 yards on 12 carries. New England’s Devin McCourty sealed the victory with an 84-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter.

The Patriots defense will be tested by Rodgers and the Green Bay offense. The Packers’ passing game averages 308.1 yards per game, fifth-best in the NFL. For the season, Rodgers has thrown for 2,283 yards and 13 touchdowns. Brady has similar numbers – 2,200 passing yards, 16 touchdowns. Green Bay has improved over the past few years in the run game but still leaves much to be desired. The Packers use both Aaron Jones (274 yards) and Jamaal Williams (233) in the run game. Green Bay averages 104 rushing yards per game (21^st) and needs to have success running the ball against New England in an effort to keep the football away from Brady and the Patriots offense.

The last time the two teams played at New England (2010) the Patriots won 31-27. Brady completed just 15-of-24 passes for 163 yards but threw two touchdowns. The Patriots defense sacked Green Bay QB Matt Flynn five times and picked him off once. Head coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots defense will likely try to apply the same kind of pressure to Rodgers.

Pittsburgh @ Baltimore

AFC North rivals Pittsburgh and Baltimore meet for the second time this season on Sunday amid much different circumstances than the first meeting. Just a few weeks ago, the Ravens were 4-2 and looked like the clear-cut favorite to win the division. The Baltimore defense was the NFL’s best, but two losses later the Ravens are 4-4 and are fading in the postseason outlook.

The Steelers, who started the season with a tie with Cleveland, have won four straight including last week’s 33-18 win over the Browns. Incidentally, the victory over Cleveland marked the end of the tenure of Browns head coach Hue Jackson who was fired on Monday. With the win, the Steelers lead the division with a 4-2-1 record.

Baltimore is just happy that October is over. Since the beginning of the 2015 season, the Ravens are just 3-13 in the month of October. There are only two NFL teams with worse records during October – Cleveland and San Francisco. To get back on the winning track, the Ravens will have to get back to the basics. That starts with stopping the run.

In the first win over Pittsburgh this season, Baltimore held the Steelers to just 19 yards on the ground. In consecutive losses to New Orleans and Carolina, the Ravens allowed 134 and 154 rushing yards, respectively. For the season, the Baltimore defense is still giving up less than 100 yards a game. Baltimore will need to find that groove again on Sunday against a Steelers team that can run the football.

Pittsburgh running back James Conner is third in the NFL with 599 yards rushing. Even with Conner, the Steelers offense really revolves around QB Ben Roethlisberger. The 15-year veteran has thrown for 2,290 yards and 14 touchdowns and leads the second-most productive passing offense (318.1 yards per game) in the NFL. Surprisingly, All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown is tied with second-year pro JuJu Smith-Schuster for the team lead in receptions with 46. Brown does have eight touchdown receptions on the season to Smith-Schuster’s two.

For the Ravens to have a chance at avoiding a third straight loss, they will have to slow down the Steelers running game and apply pressure to Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh beat the Ravens the last time (last October) the two teams played in Baltimore.

The Rams counter with the NFL’s best running game. Los Angeles averages 150.9 yards per game led by NFL-leading rusher Todd Gurley (800 yards, 11 TDs). The ability to run the football opens up the passing game for a confident Jared Goff who has thrown for 2,425 yards and 17 touchdowns. The Rams are third in the league in scoring averaging 33.0 points per game. They have scored at least 30 points in six of their eight games this season.

The difference on Sunday might come down to defense where the Rams hold an advantage. New Orleans gives up 26.1 points a game, which is 23^rd in the league. The Saints are very good against the run though. In fact, New Orleans is No. 1 in the NFL against the run allowing opponents only 74.1 yards a game. Where the Saints suffer is against the pass. The New Orleans secondary gives up over 315 passing yards each week. The Rams, which feature reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, allow 19.4 points per game (6^th) and excel at pressuring quarterbacks. Donald leads the NFL with 10 sacks.

NFL WEEK 8 PREVIEWS

New Orleans @ Minnesota

They are two of the hottest teams in the NFC right now and they are likely the two biggest threats to the conference coup being started by the 7-0 Los Angeles Rams. New Orleans travels to Minnesota to face the Vikings on Sunday night in Week 8.

The Saints line up one of the NFL’s most potent offenses behind the record-breaking veteran quarterback Drew Brees. Last week, Brees became just the third quarterback to surpass 500 career touchdown passes in a win over Baltimore. He had already broken the career passing yardage mark earlier this season.

Brees has plenty of weapons on a Saints offense that averages 34.0 points per game, second-best in the league. Wide receiver Michael Thomas is Brees’ top target with 53 catches and 588 yards. Running back Alvin Kamara has over 700 total yards and 14 touchdowns. New Orleans also has RB Mark Ingram back in the lineup after a four-game suspension to start the season.

For Minnesota, Brees and company will be a handful. The Vikings defense, regarded as one of the best in the NFL the past few years, gave up 31.3 points per game in a three-game stretch where Minnesota tied Green Bay and lost to the Bills and Rams consecutively. The past two weeks, both Vikings wins, the defense has tightened up. The cause for concern is that Minnesota’s defense played extremely well against two rookie quarterbacks – Arizona’s Josh Rosen and the Jets’ Sam Darnold.

New Orleans has lost the last two games it has played against the Vikings. Both of those games, played last season, were in Minnesota. The Saints have not won in Minnesota since 2011. In that game, Brees exploded for five touchdown passes.

The Vikings have arguably the best receiver in football right now. Adam Thielen leads the NFL in receiving yards with 822. He has recorded 100-plus yards in each of the Vikings seven games. If he goes over 100 against New Orleans, he will tie the NFL record for consecutive games with 100-yards-plus receiving.

Green Bay @ LA Rams

Can anyone beat the Rams? Los Angeles has the NFL’s best running game led by reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley (686 yards, 11 TDs). Quarterback Jared Goff has settled in on an offense that averages 457.4 yards per game. Goff is completing nearly 70 percent of his passes and has just five interceptions compared to 14 touchdowns. The Rams welcome 3-2-1 Green Bay to L.A. on Sunday.

In addition to an offense that scored 33.6 points per game (3^rd in the NFL), the defense is also outstanding. In last weeks’ win over San Francisco, the Rams defense forced four turnovers and sacked 49ers QB C.J. Beathard seven times. Aaron Donald, last year’s Defensive Player of the Year, recorded four of those sacks himself, had six tackles for loss, and five hits on Beathard.

That defense is going to have its work cut out for it in chasing Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers, who leads the NFL’s third-best passing offense (317.3 yards per game). The Packers have won two of their last three games, but wins over 2-5 Buffalo and 1-6 San Francisco leave much to be desired. Green Bay is still very much alive in the NFC North Division race trailing Minnesota by a half-game.

The Packers need a win as they must face the Patriots next week, the Vikings again – they tied earlier this season – an improving Chicago late in the season. A crucial part of the Packers’ success may rely on a running game that is improving but is still ranked 20^th in the NFL (103.7 yards per game).

The Green Bay defense will have to find a way to slow down Gurley. The Packers are eighth in the NFL in total defense allowing opponents 328.3 yards per game. The problem is Green Bay has a tendency to give up points. Over their last two games, the Packers have given up 30 and 31. Prior to shutting out Buffalo, Green Bay gave up 31 in a loss to Washington. If they can’t slow down the Rams, Rodgers and the offense will have to be prepared for a shootout.

Seattle @ Detroit

Both Seattle and Detroit are in interesting positions heading into Week 8 of the 2018 season. The two teams, who meet Sunday in Detroit, are both 3-3 and have won three of their past four games. Both teams seem to have found running games this season and it has been paying off. The Lions rushed for 248 yards last week in a 32-21 win over Miami. Seattle, which had a bye last week, is seventh in the NFL averaging 127.8 yards per game on the ground.

For Seattle, the running game has helped QB Russell Wilson who has 1,308 yards passing and 13 touchdowns. Wilson, who was sacked six times in the season opener, has not been under as much pressure now that RB Chris Carson (352 yards rushing) has gotten on track. Seattle has beaten Dallas, Arizona, and Oakland and came very close to beating NFC West leader the Los Angeles Rams (33-31) two weeks ago.

The Seattle defense is starting to return to its days of the Legion of Boom. The Seahawks are fifth in scoring defense allowing 19.5 points per game and head coach Pete Carroll’s unit is also sixth in total defense allowing 326.7 yards a game. In their last game, they held Oakland to just a field goal in a 27-3 win.

The Lions found their running game behind rookie running back Kerryon Johnson, who is the team’s leading rusher with 444 yards. He recorded his second 100-yard game of the season with 158 yards on 19 carries in the win over Miami. Detroit’s run game – 122.3 yards a game – has opened things up for quarterback Matthew Stafford who has 1,602 passing yards and 12 touchdowns.

At 3-3, Detroit is still very much alive in the NFC North race. They are just a half-game behind Green Bay, a team they have already beaten and play once more. Seattle, while it likely will not win the NFC West, is still in position for one of two wild card berths in the NFC.

Baltimore @ Carolina

Ravens kicker Justin Tucker missed the first extra point of his career last week with 24 seconds remaining in Baltimore’s game with New Orleans. The miss gave the Saints a 24-23 win and prevented the Ravens from taking possession of the AFC North lead. Instead, Baltimore drops to 4-3 and a half-game behind rival Pittsburgh. Now, the Ravens head to Carolina to face the Panthers this Sunday.

Sunday’s game should be all about defense. The Ravens come in as the NFL’s best ranking first in both total defense – 280.6 yards per game allowed – and scoring defense – 14.4 points per game allowed. Even in the loss to New Orleans last week, Baltimore held the Saints well under their points (24) and yardage (339) totals for the season. This week, the Ravens will have to slow down the fourth-best rushing offense in the league. Second-year pro Christian McCaffrey leads the Panthers with 378 yards rushing. The versatile former first-round draft pick is also the Panthers leading receiver with 40 receptions for 289 yards. Quarterback Cam Newton is completing 65.6 percent of his passes for 1,427 yards, 11 touchdowns, and just four interceptions.

Carolina (4-2) is also a Top 10 defense holding teams to just 95 yards rushing and 21.8 points per game. Defensive end Mario Addison leads the Panthers with 4.5 sacks. Addison took a hit to the lower back in Carolina’s 21-17 win over Philadelphia last week. He will continue to be evaluated throughout the week and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.

Both teams need a victory to stay alive in their respective division race. Carolina trails New Orleans (5-1) by a single game. Baltimore is tied with Cincinnati for second place in the AFC North. The Ravens have victories over the Bengals and the division-leading Steelers already this season. Baltimore will face each team once more this season.

NFL WEEK 7 PREVIEWS

Cincinnati @ Kansas City

The Bengals and Chiefs each lost close games a week ago and now must face each other on Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium. Cincinnati appeared headed to a 21-20 victory over AFC North rival Pittsburgh last week, but gave up a late touchdown pass in a 28-21 loss. The Bengals drop to 4-2 and into a tie with Baltimore. Cincinnati has beaten the Ravens once this season.

Kansas City ran into the New England Patriots and battled to the end losing on a last-second field 43-40. Now 5-1, the Chiefs still control the AFC West leading the Chargers by a full game. The Chiefs have the second-best scoring offense in the NFL averaging 35.8 points per game. The Bengals will have to slow down the Chiefs productivity if they are to have a chance.

That will be easier said than done as the Bengals are 29^th in the league in total defense giving up 409 yards per game. They are 28^th against the pass (292 yards per game) which is not good since Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes is one of the best in the NFL this season. Mahomes, in his first full season as a starter, has 1,865 yards passing and 18 touchdowns so far. The Chiefs passing game ranks sixth in the NFL at 306.5 yards per game.

While the Kansas City offense can score, the defense does give up plenty of yard and points. Like Cincinnati, the Chiefs are not very good against the pass. They are 31^st in the league in pass defense (340.3 yards per game) and give up an average of 28.7 points. Cincinnati is much better throwing the ball (262.3 yards per game) than running it. The Bengals are just 25^th in the league in rush offense averaging 89.8 yards a game. Leading rusher Joe Mixon (336 yards) is the only Cincinnati back to have any success this season.

Houston @ Jacksonville

The Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3) might be broken. The Jags have lost two straight games and have given up over 800 yards of total offense and 70 points in the process. The offense was atrocious in a 40-7 loss to Dallas last week and now Jacksonville must take on AFC South foe Houston, also 3-3, this Sunday.

Three teams – Jacksonville, Houston, and Tennessee – are all 3-3 in the AFC South. The Jags have lost to the Titans already. This is their first meeting with the Texans this season. A loss would put head coach Doug Marrone’s team at a serious disadvantage in the division race.

The Jags offense is going to have to produce much more than it did against Dallas. Jacksonville was held to just 204 total yards against the Cowboys. The running game has struggled due to the losses of Leonard Fournette and T.J. Yeldon. Fournette is expected to be back this Sunday against Houston. He has missed four games due to a hamstring injury. Yeldon is out with an ankle injury. As a result, the Jags managed just 64 yards rushing against Dallas.

Marrone’s defense needs to be better as well. Last season, the Jags led the NFL in pass defense and ranked second in both turnovers (33) and sacks (55). This year, they aren’t anywhere close. Plus, Jacksonville has given up 44 first-half points in its last two games as opposed to 12 in their first four games of the season.

This would be the week that Marrone and the Jags defense needs to come alive. Houston QB Deshaun Watson is playing with injured ribs. The Texans second-year quarterback has been hit a total of 66 times and has been on the wrong end of 25 sacks. That type of pressure can take a quarterback out of his game. Watson and WR DeAndre Hopkins are the big reasons why Houston has won three straight. Hopkins has 44 receptions for 657 yards and three touchdowns so far this season.

Jacksonville won both games against Houston last year by large margins – 29-7 and 45-7. Prior to last season, the Texans had won six in a row against Jacksonville.

New England @ Chicago

An overtime loss to the Miami Dolphins took some of the intrigue away from Sunday’s New England-Chicago matchup. The Bears, now 3-2, are off to one of their best starts in several years. Chicago had won three in a row before Sunday’s 31-28 defeat. Now, the Bears must take on one of the NFL’s best.

New England struggled at the start of the season losing two of its first three games. Since, the Patriots are 3-0 and have done so with an offense that is nearly unstoppable. New England has scored 38, 38, and 43 points in its last three games led by the guy that could be the greatest quarterback of all time – Tom Brady. Brady has thrown for 1,599 yards and 13 touchdowns so far this season.

Brady led the Patriots back twice in the fourth quarter in last week’s 43-40 win over Kansas City. Trailing 33-30, Brady scored on a four-yard run. With the game tied at 40, Brady led the Patriots on a game-ending seven-play, 65-yard drive that culminated in K Stephen Gostkowski’s 28-yard field goal for the win. New England put up 500 yards of total offense led by Brady who completed 24-of-35 passes for 340 yards and a touchdown. Running back Sony Michel carried 24 times for 106 yards and two scores. Not only will the Bears have to deal with Brady and the passing game, the Patriots have shown they can run the ball with the rookie Michel.

Chicago has the NFL’s fourth-best scoring defense giving up just 19.2 points per game. The defense has been helped by the acquisition of pass-rusher Khalil Mack. Acquired in a trade with Oakland just prior to the start of the season, Mack now has five sacks, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one interception that he returned for a touchdown in a 24-23 loss to Green Bay.

The Bears will try and keep the ball away from the New England offense the NFL’s eighth-best rushing attack. Chicago averages 130 yards per game on the ground led by RB Jordan Howard who has 272 yards.

New Orleans @ Baltimore

The NFL’s most prolific offense – New Orleans – meets one of the league’s stingiest defenses when the Saints travel to Baltimore on Sunday. New Orleans enjoyed an extra week to prepare for the Ravens, which is probably a good thing. Baltimore manhandled Tennessee last week in a dominating 21-0 victory. Baltimore held the Titans to just 106 yards of offense and nearly broke the NFL record for most sacks in a single game. The Ravens sacked Tennessee quarterback Marcus Mariota 11 times. That kind of pressure could surely knock Saints QB Drew Brees off his game.

The Ravens, which rank No. 1 in the NFL in total defense and points allowed per game, have yet to face an offense like the Saints. The closest that Baltimore may have come to a Saints-like offense is Cincinnati. The Bengals put up 34 points against Baltimore in a 34-32 victory. The Ravens also lost to Cleveland 12-9 when Browns QB Baker Mayfield threw for 342 yards. While the Ravens are good on defense, they have been exploited by good quarterbacks. Brees is better than both Cincy’s Andy Dalton and Mayfield.

The Saints offensive line is not Tennessee’s. Don’t expect Baltimore to apply the same type of pressure to Brees that they put on Mariota. Mariota has been sacked nearly three times a game in 2018. Brees has only gone down eight times the entire season.

Baltimore and New Orleans have only played six times total in NFL history. The Ravens lead the series winning five of the six meetings. The two teams have not played since the 2014 season. That year, the game was held in New Orleans and Baltimore won 34-27. New Orleans only victory over the Ravens occurred in 2002 in a game played in Baltimore, site of Sunday’s matchup.

NFL WEEK 6 PREVIEWS

Kansas City @ New England

The Kansas City Chiefs proved that they are not just a pretty offense as their defense was responsible for five turnovers in a 30-14 win over Jacksonville last week. Now, the 5-0 Chiefs will face another tough test when they travel to Foxborough for the second consecutive year to face the Patriots. The two teams met in the 2017 season opener a game won by Kansas City. The Chiefs scored 21 unanswered fourth quarter points to win 42-27. Can they repeat?

The Patriots got off to a suspect 1-2 start losing to Jacksonville and Detroit in consecutive weeks. With wins over Miami and Indianapolis the last two weeks, the Patriots appear to have corrected some of their wrongs and are poised once again to control the AFC East. They are currently 3-2 and own the tiebreaker over the 3-2 Dolphins.

New England got WR Julian Edelman back last week from his four-game suspension. He started the season off with a typical Edelman performance – seven receptions for 57 yards – in last week’s win over Indianapolis. James White caught 10 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown as QB Tom Brady threw for 341 yards and three scores. The Patriots has scored 38 points in each of its last two games.

That could be trouble for Kansas City which has one of the worst pass defenses in the league. Through five games, the Chiefs are giving up 343 passing yards per game good for 31^st in the NFL. Only Tampa Bay (358) gives up more passing yards. Last season, the Chiefs held Brady to just 16 completions and 267 yards. He did not throw a single touchdown.

Brady’s counterpart, Patrick Mahomes, is having a season to remember. The win over Jacksonville last week was the first game in which Mahomes did not throw a touchdown pass. He is completing 63.6 percent of his passes for 1,513 yards and 14 touchdowns through five games. Last year’s first-round draft pick has thrown just two interceptions all season.

LA Rams @ Denver

The Los Angeles Rams will give the Chiefs a run for their money as the best offense in the NFL. The Rams have scored at least 33 points in each of their first five games this season. They are averaging 34.6 points per game thus far in 2018 and now head to Denver to take on the 2-3 Broncos. After two wins to start the season, Denver has dropped three straight including an embarrassing 34-16 defeat at the hands of the Jets last week.

Denver gave up 512 yards of total offense, including a whopping 323 on the ground, last week. Now, they have to face the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year in Rams RB Todd Gurley. The Rams running back had 77 yards rushing a three touchdowns in last week’s win over Seattle. That gives Gurley 415 yards for the season good enough for second in the NFL. Denver is now 30^th in the league in run defense giving up 139.6 yards per game on the ground.

The Rams have plenty of offensive weapons including QB Jared Goff and WR Brandin Cooks. Goff is completing a blistering 72.3 percent of his passes for 1,727 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has thrown for at least 321 yards in all but one game thus far this season. Cooks has 26 receptions, a team high, for 452 yards and a touchdown. In addition to the 34-plus points per game, the Rams lead the NFL averaging 468.4 yards of total offense per game.

For Denver to have a shot at giving the Rams their first loss, they are going to have to run the football. They only had 92 yards in the loss to the Jets last week. That was well below the Broncos average of 137 per game. Quarterback Case Keenum is also going to have to play better. Through five games, Keenum has just five touchdown passes and a quarterback rating of just 33.2.

Philadelphia @ NY Giants

Things just seem to keep falling apart in New York. The Giants lost 33-31 to Carolina last week and now must welcome last year’s Super Bowl champ Philadelphia to MetLife Stadium on Thursday night. The Giants scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns – one an Odell Beckham 33-yard reception, the other a Saquon Barkley 15-yard reception – to take a 31-30 lead over Carolina with just 1:08 to play. Then, a career-best 63-yard Graham Gano field goal sent the Giants home with a 1-4 record.

The Eagles haven’t fared much better even with Carson Wentz returning at quarterback. Philadelphia lost for the second straight week dropping a 23-21 decision to Minnesota last week. The Eagles battled back from a 20-6 deficit but a Wentz-to-Zach Ertz touchdown pass with 1:09 just wasn’t enough. Philadelphia’s offense, known for its creativity and flare a season ago, is having a tough time putting points on the board in 2018. Philadelphia is averaging 20.6 points per game so far this season.

Philadelphia’s defense is playing quite well allowing opponents just 20.8 points a game. That is good for eighth overall. Where the Eagles excel is against the run where once again they are in the Top 3. Philadelphia is second  against the run yielding a measly 66.4 yards per game on the ground. They should have no problem with New York, a team that has struggled the past several years with the running game.

The Giants average only 75.6 rushing yards per game, 28^th in the league. Rookie Saquon Barkley has 308 yards rushing, but he is the only running back producing any yardage. The Giants second-leading rusher is Wayne Gallman. He has 32 yards.

It will be up to Giants QB Eli Manning and Beckham to lead the Giants offense. In the loss to Seattle last week, Manning threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns. Beckham was on the receiving end of eight of those passes for 131 yards and a touchdown. History is not on the Giants’ side. New York has only beaten Philadelphia once in the last eight meetings between the two teams.

Baltimore @ Tennessee

Two of the NFL’s Top 10 defenses square off against each other when Baltimore travels to Tennessee next Sunday. The Ravens check in at No. 2 in scoring defense (15.4 points per game) while the Titans are fourth at 17.2. Both teams are coming off close losses in Week 5. Baltimore dropped a 12-9 decision to Cleveland in overtime and the Titans lost 13-12 to Buffalo.

Both teams are built around powerful defenses and strong running games. First-year head coach Mike Vrabel and veteran Ravens coach John Harbaugh are built of the same mold and it shows. Both teams are 3-2 and in great positions in their respective divisions.

The difference on Sunday could be Joe Flacco. The Ravens quarterback leads the NFL’s eight-ranked passing offense. Baltimore throws for 305 yards per game. Flacco has 1,550 yards passing with eight touchdowns and just three interceptions. Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota has been hurt at times and has thrown for just 676 yards so far this season. He has more interceptions – 4 – than touchdowns passes – 2.

The Ravens were perfect in the red zone through four games scoring on all of their drives in the red zone. Against Cleveland last week, the failure to score a touchdown marked just the 10^th time that has happened in the past 11 years.

The two teams played last year in Tennessee where the Titans won 23-20. Baltimore trailed 16-6 but scored battled back before Mariota threw a touchdown pass to Eric Decker to seal the win. The Titans have won the last two games in the series played in Tennessee.  The Titans defense held Baltimore to 73 rushing yards last year but allowed Flacco to complete 34-of-52 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns. The two interceptions Flacco threw were critical in the Titans’ victory.

NFL WEEK 5 PREVIEWS

Washington @ New Orleans

New Orleans -6

The Washington Redskins are thankful that they had an extra week to prepare for Monday night’s game with the New Orleans Saints. The Redskins defense will have its hands full with one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL. The Saints are averaging 34.3 points per game with veteran quarterback Drew Brees and RB Alvin Kamara leading the way. It was Kamara that was instrumental in New Orleans’ 33-18 win over the New York Giants last week.

Kamara, last year’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, ran 19 times for a career-best 134 yards and three touchdowns, all of which were scored in the second half. Kamara also caught five passes for 47 yards in the victory, the Saints’ third of the season. While New Orleans can generate offense and put points on the board, the defense is not very good at keeping opponents out of their own end zone. The Saints defense gives up 30.3 points per game, which is 30^th out of 32 teams in the NFL.

That could be good news for the Redskins (2-1) who erupted for 31 points in their win over Green Bay two weeks ago. Quarterback Alex Smith was an efficient 12-of-20 for 220 yards and touchdowns. Smith was aided by a running game that produced 166 yards. Veteran RB Adrian Peterson ran 19 times for 120 yards and two scores. The ability to run the football kept the Green Bay defense from getting to Smith.

Where Washington may have some success is getting pressure on Brees. Against the Packers, the Redskins were able to get to Aaron Rodgers and record four sacks and seven total quarterback hits. If they can do the same to Brees, the Redskins can stay in the game.

The two teams met last year in New Orleans where a Brees-to-Kamara 18-yard touchdown connection tied the score at 31-all and forced an overtime. Saints kicker Wil Lutz nailed a game-winning field goal giving New Orleans a 34-31 win.

Dallas @ Houston

Houston -3

Sunday night’s game features Dallas traveling to in-state rival Houston in a Governor’s Cup matchup. The winner, of course, will take home the Governor’s Cup. Since the Texans joined the NFL as an expansion team in 2002, the two teams have met just four times. Dallas has won three, including the last meeting in 2014. Both teams are coming off close victories last week.

Dallas got 152 yards on 25 carries from NFL-leading rusher Ezekiel Elliott in a 26-24 win over Detroit. Elliott also caught four passes for 88 yards making him the first player since 2011 to have at least 150 rushing yards and 80 yards receiving in a single game. Elliott will surely be on the Texans defensive radar. Dallas is third in the NFL in rushing with an average of 145.3 yards per game.

Where Dallas falls short is in the passing game where the Cowboys are 30^th in the league (166.5 yards per game). Quarterback Dak Prescott does not have the weapons on the outside to stretch the field. The Cowboys leading receiver thus far is Cole Beasley who has 16 receptions for 185 yards. As a result of the poor passing game, Dallas is scoring just 16.8 points per game. That mark is also 30^th in the NFL.

The Texans (1-3) haven’t fared much better. They did get their first win of the season last week having to go to overtime against Indianapolis to get it. Quarterback Deshaun Watson finally looked like he did a year ago and threw for 375 yards and two touchdowns. Defensive ends J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney combined for four sacks and six tackles for loss. They are going to have to slow down Elliott and pressure Prescott in order for Houston to have success.

Houston is strong in the running game averaging 123.3 yards a game, but the defense gives up yards and points by the bunches. The Texans pass defense (288 yards per game) and total defense (382.3) rank near the bottom of the league. The Dallas passing game is not as good as that of Indianapolis or New England, but with Elliott the Cowboys can run the football.

L.A. Rams @ Seattle

Seattle +7.5

There may not be a more complete team in the NFL than the Los Angeles Rams. NFC West rival Seattle is about to find out just how good the Rams are. The Seahawks, 2-2 and second in the NFC West, host Los Angeles on Sunday.

After dropping their first two games of the season, the Seahawks have won two straight. Last Sunday, they beat Arizona 20-17 but the victory was overshadowed by an apparent season-ending injury to S Earl Thomas. Thomas, who had held out prior to the season seeking a bigger contract, looks to have suffered a broken leg. It was the same leg he injured just two years ago. Seattle was far from impressive in the win. Quarterback Russell Wilson was 19-of-26 for 172 yards and RB Mike Davis ran for 101 and two scores for the Seahawks. They will need to do more if they are going to beat the Rams.

Los Angeles was busy last Thursday destroying what used to be a pretty good Minnesota defense. Jared Goff threw for 465 yards and five touchdowns to bring his season totals to 1,406 and 11. He is completing 72 percent of his passes. Don’t forget, the Rams also have the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year in RB Todd Gurley who is second in the NFL with 338 yards rushing. The Rams average 35 points a game on offense.

Even more impressive is the defense. The Rams give up just 16.8 points a game and defensive tackles Aaron Donald, last year’s Defensive Player of the Year, and Ndamukong Suh, picked up in free agency, each have two sacks. The Rams can rush the passer and stop the run. They held the Vikings to just 54 yards on the ground last week.

The Rams and Seahawks played in Seattle late last season. Goff threw two touchdown passes and it was Gurley who had the big day rushing for 152 yards and three scores. The Rams won 42-7.

Minnesota @ Philadelphia

Philly -3

Prior to the season, this looked like one of the marquee games of the year. The game lost some of its luster after both teams lost tough games last week. The Vikings gave up five touchdown passes to Rams QB Jared Goff in a 38-31 loss to the Rams. The Eagles allowed QB Carson Wentz to be sacked four times in a 26-23 overtime loss to Tennessee.

While Sunday’s matchup should still be an interesting game, it will not be the NFC championship of a year ago. The Eagles poured it on Minnesota 38-7 in earning a trip to Super Bowl LII. This time around, it will be Kirk Cousins at quarterback for the Vikings. Cousins is completing 72 percent of his passes and has two 400-yard-plus games already this season. He threw for 422 and three touchdowns in the loss to the Rams last week.

What the Vikings lack is a running game. Injuries on the offensive line have led to a ground attack that is dead last in the NFL. Minnesota averages just 63 yards rushing per game. The bigger concern for Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is on defense. Minnesota was considered by many as the best overall defense in the NFL a year ago. So far in 2018, the Vikings are giving up 27.5 points per game well over 10 per game more than they did all last season. If Minnesota cannot stop Wentz and the running game of Philadelphia, the Vikings are in for a long day.

The Vikings have lost the last two to Philadelphia and have not won in the City of Brotherly Love since 2010. The Eagles allowed way too much pressure on Wentz last week. In addition to the four sacks, the Eagles quarterback was hit 11 times. Philadelphia has been anything but impressive. Their two wins this season have come against Atlanta, which is 1-3, and Indianapolis, which is also 1-3.

NFL WEEK 4 PREVIEWS

Miami @ New England

New England -6.5

With QB Ryan Tannehill back under center, the Miami Dolphins are 3-0 and leading the AFC East. They will get their first real test of the season this Sunday in New England. The Patriots are coming off of a 26-10 loss to Detroit last week, one of the rare times that a Bill Belichick coached team has lost in consecutive weeks. The Patriots are 1-2 on the season.

Miami beat Tennessee 27-20 in its season opener and then have back-to-back wins over the Jets and Raiders, teams that have a combined two wins. The Miami defense has been consistent allowing just over 17 points a game good enough for fifth in the NFL. The Dolphins suffered a blow last week though as DE William Hayes tore an ACL while sacking Raiders QB Derek Carr. In an effort not to put his body weight on Carr –which would result in a penalty – Hayes got his foot caught in the ground resulting in the injury.

The Dolphins will have to contend with a Patriots offense that, shockingly, finds itself ranked among the worst in the NFL. The New England passing game is averaging just 202.3 yards a game, 26^th in the NFL. The running game isn’t much better (97.7 ypg, 20^th) as New England lacks consistent playmakers both in the backfield and on the perimeter. Wide receiver Julian Edelman will not return until after this week’s game with Miami. Running back Rex Burkhead, the team’s leading rusher thus far with 98 yards, was banged up in the loss to Detroit.

Patriots QB Tom Brady hasn’t performed all that poorly – 64 percent, six TDs, 93.9 passer rating – but for a quarterback of his stature the numbers just aren’t where they should be. It has been 16 years since New England suffered consecutive losses by 10 or more points. If the offense doesn’t start producing, it could be three. Miami won the last meeting between the two teams, winning 27-20 last December.

New Orleans @ NY Giants

NY Giants +3

New Orleans, fresh off an overtime win over NFC South rival Atlanta, will face the New York Giants on Sunday. The Giants captured their first win of the season last week with a 27-22 win over winless Houston. New York may just have a chance at a second straight win as they face a Saints defense that is last in the NFL in points allowed per game (34.3).

Eli Manning threw for two touchdowns last week in the win over Houston, but it is the same old, same old for the Giants. They are averaging 87.7 yards per game on the ground, which is 25^th in the NFL. Rookie Saquon Barkley did have 82 yards rushing against Houston, but the Giants need to be more consistent in running the football.

The Saints aren’t much better on the ground, but they don’t have to be when they have Drew Brees at quarterback and the NFL’s leading receiver Michael Thomas at wide receiver. Brees and the Saints passing game averages 345.3 yards per game, which is a big reason why New Orleans is third in the NFL in scoring (34.7 points per game). Thomas has 38 receptions for 398 yards and running back Alvin Kamara, who had 15 receptions in the win over Atlanta, has 30 catches and 289 yards for the season.

The Saints are giving up 345 passing yards and 430 total yards per game thus far in 2018. Still, they are a favorite to win the NFC South for a second consecutive season. New Orleans has lost two of its last three games with the Giants and has not beaten them in New York since a 30-7 victory in December of 2006. The two teams last played in the 2016 season. The Giants won 16-13 playing at home.

Baltimore @ Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh -3

It’s an old-fashioned, smash-mouth football game in Pittsburgh this Sunday night when Baltimore clashes with Pittsburgh at Heinz Field. The two AFC North rivals have played some of the most physical football games in the NFL over the past several years. Sunday night will likely be no different.

Baltimore enters with a 2-1 record having beaten up on Denver last week. Quarterback Joe Flacco threw for 277 yards and a touchdown in the win over Denver. What the Ravens lack though is a running game. They are averaging just 86.7 yards on the ground per game. To beat Pittsburgh, the Ravens will need to run the football and protect Flacco. Second-year Pittsburgh OLB T.J. Watt, brother of Houston’s J.J., has three sacks already.

The Steelers have underachieved for the most part early in 2018. Owning a 21-7 halftime lead over Cleveland in their season opener, Pittsburgh allowed the Browns to tie the game in the fourth quarter. The game resulted in a tie. Then, Pittsburgh gave up six touchdown passes to Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes in a 42-37 loss. The Steelers will have to limit Flacco’s opportunities and prevent Baltimore from running the football. The Pittsburgh defense has not been its usual self giving up an average of over 30 points a game in its first two games of the season.

Baltimore, on the other hand, has been its usual self on defense. The Ravens are fifth in the NFL in scoring defense (17.0 ppg) after three weeks. They will not have to face Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell who continues to hold out. James Conner has filled in admirably, but he is no Bell. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has spread the ball around among Antonio Brown (18 catches) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (18 catches).

The Steelers have won the last three games in the series. Baltimore has not won in Pittsburgh since the 2015 season.

Kansas City @ Denver

Denver +5.5

They are the best offense in the NFL. The Kansas City Chiefs take their explosive offense to Denver on Monday night where they will face long-time AFC West rival, the Broncos. Kansas City is averaging over 39 points per game and has owned Denver lately in the series between the two teams. The Chiefs have won the last five straight over Denver and have captured the last two division titles. Slowing down QB Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs is a high priority for the Denver defense.

The Broncos (2-1) enter Monday night’s game coming off their first loss of the season, a 27-14 defeat at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens. Ravens QB Joe Flacco completed 25-of-40 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown against Denver, which has struggled against the pass this season. In their three games this season, Denver has allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete nearly 70 percent  (69.5) of their passes for five touchdowns. The collective passer rating against Denver is 102.2 and this is the same defense that was among the NFL’s best against the pass in 2015 and 2016.

Now, Denver must take on a Kansas City offense that seemingly scores at will. Mahomes is the first quarterback in NFL history to record 13 touchdowns passes in the first three games of a season. Head coach Andy Reid and his staff have done it by incorporating some spread offense concepts into their offense. Mahomes, a spread offense quarterback at Texas Tech, is more comfortable and is, consequently, having more success with Kansas City.

The Chiefs lead the series with Denver 61-55-0. They won last year 27-24 in Denver. That game marked the first NFL start for Mahomes. He completed 22-of-35 passes for 284 yards in the Chiefs’ win. Denver has not beaten Kansas City since the first meeting of the 2015 season. That game was played in Kansas City. The last victory over the Chiefs in Denver came in 2014.

   

NFL WEEK 3 PREVIEWS

NY Jets @ Cleveland

NY Jets +3

Could it finally happen?  The 0-1-1 Cleveland Browns, who have not won an NFL game since December 2016, host the New York Jets on Thursday night. The Jets start an inexperienced rookie quarterback in Sam Darnold, who looked more like a first-year quarterback in last week’s loss to the Miami Dolphins. Darnold completed 25-of-41 passes for 334 yards but threw two interceptions and was sacked three times.

The Browns, meanwhile, looked good on defense against the usually explosive New Orleans Saints. Cleveland held the Saints to just 21 points and was a missed field goal away from heading into their second consecutive overtime game of the season. Cleveland held New Orleans to just 275 total yards and sacked veteran QB Drew Brees three times. Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi recorded two of those sacks.

Offensively, quarterback Tyrod Taylor was efficient going 22-of-30 for 246 yards and a touchdown, but the running game generated just 93 yards. Cleveland is close; they just need to learn how to finish games. Kicker Zane Gonzalez missed a 52-yard field goal with eight seconds to play and will likely be out of a job this week. Gonzalez is just 2-for-5 this season and had the opportunity to win or tie both of Cleveland’s games this season.

The Jets will have to get their running game going to take pressure off of Darnold. Last week, New York managed just 42 yards on the ground against Miami. In Game 1 against the Lions, the Jets ran for 169 yards. They won 48-17.

Fighting history will be an uphill battle for Cleveland. The Browns have played the Jets in each of the last three seasons. Cleveland has lost each one and, in fact, has lost to the Jets in five straight. The last time the Browns beat the Jets was in 2007 and the last home win against New York was in 2006.

Dallas @ Seattle

Seattle -1.5

Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott did not make a mistake in last week’s win over the New York Giants. Prescott completed 16-of-25 passes, threw a touchdown, was not intercepted, and was not sacked. The Seattle Seahawks defense is going to need to get some pressure on Prescott and somehow slow down RB Ezekiel Elliott when the two teams meet on Sunday.

Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson had a most difficult time in his team’s season opener when he was pressured all day and sacked six times. It doesn’t help that for a second straight season the Seahawks appear to be unable to run the football. In their Week 1 loss to Denver, Seattle ran for just 64 yards. To beat the Cowboys, the Seahawks are going to have to find some semblance of a ground game.

Doing so will not be easy against a Cowboys defense that held the Giants to just 35 yards on the ground. Rookie sensation Saquon Barkley managed just 28 yards on 11 carries. The Dallas defense has given up just 16 points to Carolina and 13 to the Giants. If they can keep Seattle to two scores or less, Dallas will be in position to claim its second victory of the season.

The Seahawks have won the last two games in the series with Dallas. Seattle won last year in Dallas 21-12 and in 2015 13-12. Both games were played at AT&T Stadium. The last time the two teams played in Seattle – 2014 – Dallas won 30-23. Playing at CenturyLink Field has always been an advantage for Seattle. It is the loudest stadium in the NFL. Last year was the Seahawks worst home performance (4-4) since 2011. Since then, Seattle has gone 8-0 at home once and 7-1 three times.

Pittsburgh @ Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay +1.5

It’s been a while since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers started a season 3-0. You have to go back to the days of Jon Gruden as head coach to find the last time it happened. It could again as the Bucs face Pittsburgh in front of a lively home crowd on Monday night.

The Steelers have yet to win losing last week to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs and tying the Cleveland Browns in Week 1. Pittsburgh gave up six touchdown passes to Mahomes, which could spell disaster in Week 3. Tampa Bay backup Ryan Fitzpatrick, playing in place of suspended starter Jameis Winston, has had back-to-back gems. Fitzpatrick has thrown for at least 400 yards and four touchdowns in Tampa Bay’s two season-opening wins. Last week, he was 27-of-33 for 402 yards and four scores in a 27-21 victory over defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia.

Pittsburgh’s defense has given up an uncharacteristic 63 points in two games. That needs to change as does Antonio Brown’s virtual disappearance from the offense. Brown does have 18 catches, but he is averaging just 8.9 yards per reception and has just one touchdown. Teammate JuJu Smith-Schuster had a huge day against Kansas City catching 13 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. Tight end Jesse James also had a big day with five receptions for 138 yards and a score. Brown needs to make some big plays for the Steelers to be successful.

Tampa Bay still has issues on defense. They were one of the NFL’s worst units in 2017 and could be again in 2018. The Bucs are giving up 30.5 points a game, 27^th in the league. Pittsburgh needs to find its running game again. After rushing for 135 yards in the season opener, RB James Conner managed just 17 yards on eight carries against the Chiefs.

Pittsburgh leads the series with Tampa Bay 8-2. The last time the two teams played – 2014 – Tampa Bay was the winner, 27-27.

LA Chargers @ LA Rams

Rams -7

The battle for Los Angeles is on when the Chargers take on the Rams on Sunday. Both teams feature prolific offenses and sport excellent defenses. The Chargers defense was roughed up in Week 1 by the Chiefs as they played without All-Pro DE Joey Bosa. The Chargers rebounded for an easy 31-20 victory over Buffalo last week.

The Rams have been more impressive averaging over 33 points a game while giving up just 13 total points in two games. Last week, the Rams shut out Arizona, 34-0, allowing the Cardinals just 137 yards of total offense and only five first downs. The Chargers are a little more dynamic on offense than the Cardinals, but if the Rams have that kind of success this coming Sunday it appears they will move to 3-0.

Chargers QB Philip Rivers leads the NFL’s third-best passing game. The Chargers average 329 yards per game through the air. Running back Melvin Gordon only rushed for 28 yards against Buffalo, but he totaled three touchdowns – one rushing and two more receiving.

The Rams are very good on offense with third-year QB Jared Goff (587 yards, 3 TDs), WR Brandin Cooks (12 rec., 246 yds.), and reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley (150 rushing yards, 3 TDs). So far, the Rams defense has been equally impressive. The unit has four interceptions already, one of which was returned 50 yards for a touchdown by CB Marcus Peters.

This will be the 12^th meeting between the two franchises and the first with both calling Los Angeles home. The last time the two teams met was in 2014 when the Rams were in St. Louis and the Chargers were in San Diego. The Chargers claimed a 27-24 win. The Rams lead the series 6-5.

NFL WEEK 2 PREVIEWS

Baltimore @ Cincinnati

Even Money

The Bengals welcome AFC North rival Baltimore to Cincinnati on Sunday. Paul Brown Stadium, home of the Bengals, has not been very friendly to the Ravens recently. The last time Baltimore beat the Bengals in Cincinnati was in the 2011 season. The Bengals have won seven of the last nine meetings with the Ravens and Sunday’s winner will take the overall lead in the series which is currently tied at 22-all.

Baltimore got off to a great start in Week 1 with a 47-3 win over Buffalo. The offense totaled 369 yards and quarterback Joe Flacco threw for three touchdowns. More importantly, the Ravens defense suffocated Buffalo allowing just 153 total yards. Baltimore picked off Bills’ starting quarterback Nathan Peterman twice and sacked him three times before he was yanked in favor of rookie Josh Allen. The first-round draft pick didn’t fare much better as he completed just 6-of-15 passes for 74 yards and was sacked three times.

The Ravens will try and get after Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton who was very efficient in the Bengals season-opening 34-23 win over Indianapolis. Dalton completed 21-of-28 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Cincinnati had to rally from a 23-10 deficit to beat the Colts. The Bengals defense gave up 380 yards – 319 to QB Andrew Luck – which could present a problem. The Ravens aren’t known for their passing game, but Flacco spread the ball around to nine different receivers with success against Buffalo.

Last season, the road team won both games. Baltimore won in Cincinnati 20-0 last September. The Ravens sacked Dalton five times and the Bengals quarterback threw four interceptions in a disastrous performance. Cincinnati managed just 77 yards rushing and 221 for the game. If that happens again, head coach Marvin Lewis and company are in trouble.

New England @ Jacksonville

New England -2

Yes, it’s a rematch of last year’s AFC championship game. Both the Patriots and Jaguars won their season openers and both teams are favored once again to win their respective divisions. New England took care of Houston 27-20 last Sunday behind a surprisingly spirited pass rush. The Patriots forced Houston QB Deshaun Watson into three sacks, 12 hits, and an interception. It was not exactly what Watson had in mind in his return to the Houston lineup after injuring a knee early last year.

The Patriots will need similar pressure on Jacksonville quarterback Blake Bortles, who was just good enough to help the Jags beat the Giants last week. Bortles went 18-of-33 for 176 yards and a touchdown. He threw one interception and was sacked once. Where the Jaguars excel is in the running game. Jacksonville ran for 137 yards in the win over the Giants. T.J. Yeldon led the team with 51 yards on 14 carries and Bortles added 42.

For New England, it always comes down to QB Tom Brady. He started the 2018 season with another gem completing 26-of-39 passes for 277 yards and three touchdowns last week. Tight end Rob Gronkowski caught seven of those passes for 123 yards and one score. The Patriots ran the ball well too. Rex Burkhead gained 64 of the team’s 122 yards on the ground. Trey Flowers and Deatrich Wise Jr., who ironically both played collegiately at Arkansas, each tallied 1.5 sacks in Week 1 and will be counted on again to pressure Bortles.

If history is any indication, the outlook for the Jags doesn’t look good. New England rallied in last year’s AFC title game to win 24-20 and earn a trip to Super Bowl LII, but the two teams’ prior history is even more slanted in favor of New England. Jacksonville and the Patriots have played each other 12 times in NFL history. The Patriots have won 11. The only Jacksonville victory came in the AFC Wild Card game at the end of the 1998 season. The Jags won 25-10 at home in Jacksonville.

NY Giants @ Dallas

Dallas -3

The NFC East heats up already in Week 2. Neither the Giants nor Dallas wants to start the 2018 season 0-2. The Cowboys just couldn’t muster much offense in a 16-8 loss to Carolina. The Giants were actually fairly successful on offense against a very good Jacksonville defense, but a late Eli Manning interception sealed the Giants fate in Week 1.

While New York dropped a 20-15 decision to the Jaguars, the Giants may have found a superstar in the making. No. 2 overall pick Saquon Barkley scored on a 68-yard run with 10:39 left in last week’s game to pull the Giants to within five points of the Jags. Unfortunately, New York couldn’t score again and lost but Barkley wound up with 106 yards on 18 carries in his first NFL game. He and Manning will face a formidable task in the Dallas defense.

The Cowboys defense didn’t play all that poorly in limiting the Panthers to 293 total yards. Carolina did rush for 147 yards and averaged 4.6 yards per carry, but Dallas pressured Carolina QB Cam Newton all day. The Cowboys recorded three sacks on Newton and can help themselves against the Giants by doing the same to Manning.

Dallas beat the Giants in both meetings last season. In the first game of the 2017 season, Dallas harassed Manning all game long sacking him three times and forcing one interception. The Giants netted three points in a 19-3 loss. In the second game of the year, Dallas did not sack Manning but picked him off twice and the Cowboys won 30-10. Dallas has won seven of the last ten meetings between the two teams dating back to the beginning of the 2013 season. The Giants last won in Dallas in 2016 on a late Manning touchdown pass for a 20-19 victory.

Seattle @ Chicago

Chicago -3

The Seattle Seahawks may have a problem heading into their Monday night game with Chicago. In their season opener, Seattle’s offensive line allowed six sacks of quarterback Russell Wilson. That same offensive line paved the way for just 64 rushing yards as Seattle dropped a 27-24 decision to Denver. Now, the Seahawks have to go up against the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year in Khalil Mack. Recently acquired from the Oakland Raiders, Mack had an excellent debut for the Bears last week against Green Bay.

Mack had just three tackles, but he recorded a tackle for loss, a sack, a pass breakup, and an interception that he returned 27 yards for a touchdown that gave the Bears a 17-0 halftime lead. Chicago would go on to lose after Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers returned from an injury to lead a fourth-quarter comeback, but the Bears defense is for real.

The Bears offense, on the other hand, has some work to do. Running back Jordan Howard did rush for 82 yards on 15 carries in the opener, but quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and the Bears passing game struggled. Trubisky was 23-of-35 for just 171 yards passing. He ended up getting sacked four times and finished with a quarterback rating of 29.5. That will not cut it against a Seattle defense that is normally pretty stout.

Seattle did give up an uncharacteristic 146 yards on the ground last week, but the Seahawks did force three Case Keenum interceptions. One of those was grabbed by the last surviving member of the Legion of Boom secondary, Earl Thomas. Thomas held out all offseason and training camp and just joined the team on Wednesday prior to the game in Denver.

The two teams haven’t played since 2015 when Seattle won 26-0 at home. In fact, the Seahawks have won the last three straight against the Bears, including wins in 2011 and 2012 in Chicago.

NFL WEEK 1 PREVIEWS

PITTSBURGH @ CLEVELAND

 Pittsburgh -4

Since losing to their AFC North rival Pittsburgh in the 2002 AFC Wild Card game, the Cleveland Browns have only beaten the Steelers four times. Cleveland’s last win came four years ago in the 2014 season, a 31-10 victory at home. In fact, the last three Browns’ wins over Pittsburgh have come in Cleveland, the site of Sunday’s season opener.

In last year’s opener, Pittsburgh struggled running the ball for just 35 yards and holding on for a 21-18 victory. The Steelers may struggle again as RB Le’Veon Bell has yet to report to the team. At issue is his contract. Pittsburgh has placed the franchise tag on Bell for the second consecutive season. The $14 million-plus he would be paid for this season would make him the league’s highest-paid running back.

Cleveland enters the 2018 season with just four wins since 2015. That includes last year’s 0-16 disaster. Head coach Hue Jackson and the Browns front office have managed to put together a pretty competitive roster. Former Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor will start for Cleveland and help to develop No. 1 overall draft pick Baker Mayfield. Former 49er Carlos Hyde should bolster the running game and last year’s No. 1 pick Myles Garrett is a budding star at defensive end.

Without Bell, the Steelers running game will fall on the shoulders of second-year pro James Conner The Steelers also have a new offensive coordinator in Randy Fichtner who will take advantage of QB Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and the rest of the Steelers’ skill personnel. The Steelers have not lost to the Browns in three straight seasons and despite playing on the road don’t intend to in 2018.

KANSAS CITY @ LA CHARGERS

Kansas City +3.5

It’s a season-opening AFC West clash in Los Angeles as the Chiefs visit the Chargers. The two teams are likely the two that will contend for the division title. The Chiefs have won the last two division crowns and are 22-10 over the past two regular seasons. Over the past four regular seasons, Kansas City has not lost to the Chargers. The last time the Chargers defeated the Chiefs was at the end of the 2013 season back when the Chargers were in San Diego.

Many pundits picked the Chargers to win the AFC West based upon one of the NFL’s best defenses and an offense led by QB Philip Rivers. The Chargers quarterback was once again one the league’s best last season completing 63 percent of his passes for 4,515 yards and 28 touchdowns. Wide receiver Keenan Allen had himself a year with 102 receptions for 1,393 yards. Melvin Gordon gives the Chargers a 1,000-yard (1,105 to be exact) running back making the offense difficult to defend.

Defensively, the Chargers are going to try and get after new Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes. The second-year quarterback started the Chiefs final regular season game last year and proved that he was ready to take over for Alex Smith. Mahomes had a strong preseason and the Chiefs still have an offense that features last year’s rookie sensation Kareem Hunt. Hunt rushed for 1,327 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 53 passes for 455 yards and four more scores.

Don’t forget speedy Tyreek Hill who caught 75 passes for 1,183 yards and seven touchdowns. Hill is also used as a runner on jet sweeps as well as in the return game. Tight end Travis Kelce had 1,083 yards receiving last year and is one of the best at his position in the NFL. The Chargers counter with a defense that was third in both pass defense and scoring defense last season. DE Joey Bosa (12.5) and OLB Melvin Ingram (10.5) accounted for 23 sacks. The Chargers add rookie free safety Derwin James to the equation in 2018. James, 6-3 and 215 pounds, is the type of player who can cover wide receivers, play in the box as a run defender, or even create havoc as a blitzer.

CHICAGO @ GREEN BAY

Chicago +7.5

The Chicago Bears played AFC North rival Green Bay in the 2010 NFC Championship game one that the Packers won 21-14. Since, the Bears have beaten the Packers just twice. The last Bears’ victory was in the 2015 season. The two teams open the 2018 season on Sunday night at Lambeau Field.

The big news in Chicago is, of course, the acquisition of Khalil Mack which many believe makes the Bears an instant contender in the NFC North. As bad as the Bears were a year ago, the defense was pretty good. Chicago finished seventh in pass defense (211 yards per game) and ninth in scoring defense (20 points per game). The addition of Mack, the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, only makes Chicago better. In four seasons, Mack has 40.5 sacks including 10.5 last season in Oakland.

Where the Bears need to improve is on offense where second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky looks to mature. Trubisky completed 59.4 percent of his passes and threw as many interceptions, 7, as touchdown passes. He was sacked 31 times after earning the starting job over veteran Mike Glennon. Running back Jordan Howard – 1,122 yards in 2017 – should help take some of the pressure off of Trubisky. Allen Robinson, obtained in the offseason from Jacksonville, takes over as the Bears No. 1 receiver and presents Trubisky with a solid target. The Bears also went out and got a quality tight end in former Eagle Trey Burton.

Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers, fresh off signing a new contract extension, leads the Packers offense that should be more balanced. Green Bay will have to deal with the suspension of Aaron Jones in Week 1 which was made even more difficult now that Devante Mays was placed on injured reserve.

LA RAMS @ OAKLAND

LA Rams -4

The Rams and Raiders haven’t played since the 2014 season when the Rams were still in St. Louis. The two teams meet in the second of two Monday night games to open the 2018 season. The game marks the return of Jon Gruden as Raiders head coach. Gruden spent four seasons – 1998 to 2001 – in Oakland going 38-26 with two AFC West titles. He has spent the last decade working in the broadcast booth.

One of Gruden’s first moves was trading away DE Khalil Mack. The Raiders and Mack could not come to terms on a contract extension, so Gruden bargained for future draft picks. Oakland must make up for the 40.5 sacks provided by Mack over the past four years. The Raiders defense will have to stop what could be the most explosive offense in the NFL.

The Rams offense starts with QB Jared Goff who overcame an awful rookie season to shine last year under the guidance of head coach Sean McVay. Goff completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 3,804 yards and 28 touchdowns. He threw just seven interceptions. The Rams also return the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year in running back Todd Gurley. The fourth-year pro rushed for 1,305 yards and caught 64 passes for 788 more. Gurley totaled 19 touchdowns in an offense that led the NFL in points per game (29.9).

The Rams also return the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in DT Aaron Donald, who just recently signed a contract extension with the team. The Rams upgraded the defense in the offseason obtaining DT Ndamukong Suh and corners Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib. It’s the type of defense that could lead the Rams to repeat as NFC West champs.

_____________________________

2017 NFL Season

Super Bowl LII Preview

Philadelphia vs New England

Eagles +5.5 Points

Over/Under 48 Points

For the 10^th time in NFL history, the New England Patriots will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. By virtue of their come-from-behind 24-20 victory over Jacksonville in the AFC title game, the Patriots will take on NFC champion Philadelphia in Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 4.

The 10 Super Bowl appearances are an NFL record and the Patriots have been getting used to playing for the Lombardi Trophy having won it in three of the last four Super Bowls. Their opponent, Philadelphia, hasn’t been to the big game in quite some time. In fact, the last time the Eagles played for a Super Bowl title was at the end of the 2004 season. Their opponent? New England. The Patriots recorded a 24-21 victory that year to become back-to-back champions. New England, which defeated Atlanta in the first-ever Super Bowl overtime game last year, will have another chance at consecutive titles.

For New England, tying the Pittsburgh Steelers with a sixth SB victory starts with head coach Bill Belichick and future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady. Rarely, possibly even never, does Belichick get outcoached and you can bet on one thing. The Patriots defense is going to figure out ways to make life difficult for Eagles QB Nick Foles. If New England is able to create a few turnovers, that sixth Lombardi Trophy could be theirs.

One of the most impressive statistics of the Belichick era in New England is in regards to turnover differential. Including playoff games, when New England wins the turnover battle in a game the Patriots are 159-15. Odds are that if Matt Patricia (Pats’ defensive coordinator) and Belichick can create some Foles’ miscues New England will be hoisting another silver trophy.

What has really fueled New England thus far this postseason is WR Danny Amendola. The Pats’ wide receiver has 18 receptions for 196 and two touchdowns in two playoff games. His two touchdowns from Brady were the difference in the AFC championship game. Amendola has a knack for shaking man-to-man defenders and for finding spaces in zones which allows Brady to focus in on what he does best – dissecting defenses with the short- to intermediate-range passing game.

Philadelphia, which enters Super Bowl LII as the biggest underdog in history, has reason to be optimistic. Belichick has never won a Super Bowl with a defense this bad. How bad is the New England defense? Consider this. Twenty-eight NFL teams finished the regular season ahead of the Patriots in total defense. New England gave up 366 yards of total offense per game. Only Indianapolis, the New York Giants, and Tampa Bay were worse. Those three teams combined for 12 wins.

So, there is hope for Foles, who took over for the injured Carson Wentz, and the rest of the Eagles’ offense. Foles looked brilliant in the NFC championship when he threw for 352 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-7 win over Minnesota. In the second half, Foles posted a perfect passer rating of 158.3 after completing all 11 of his passes and two of his three touchdowns. If Blake Bortles and the Jacksonville Jaguars can put up 374 yards on the Patriots, there is no reason why Foles and the Eagles cannot.

It will take the effective Foles, not the guy that went 19-for-38 against the Raiders Foles, to beat New England. If he can manage mistakes, the Eagles clearly have a defense that can keep the Patriots running game in check. Jacksonville limited the Patriots to just 46 yards on the ground, but Philadelphia will somehow have to overcome the power of Brady and the wizardry of Belichick.

Conference Championship Previews

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

Jacksonville @ New England

Jaguars +8.5 Points

Over/Under 46 Points

Jacksonville heads to Foxborough on Sunday knowing that the odds are entirely stacked against them in the AFC title game. The Jags have faced the Patriots just 11 times in their existence and have just one win. New England has been to the past six straight AFC Championship games and has won three. In fact, the Patriots have been to 13 title games and are 9-4 overall. The Jags? They have been to two and lost both.

For Jacksonville to have any success, it will have to stick to what it does best. The Jags are the most physical team remaining in the playoffs and they will have to stick to that prescription for a chance at pulling the upset. Leonard Fournette needs to have success running the football as he did a week ago in the big win over Pittsburgh. The Jags defense finished second to Minnesota in both total defense (286.1 yards per game) and scoring defense (16.8 points per game). Head coach Doug Marrone must find a way to get after New England QB Tom Brady.

In last week’s win over Pittsburgh, the Jags gave up 545 total yards and 42 points. The last time Jacksonville played New England – during the 2015 season – Brady threw for 358 yards, the Patriots totaled 471, and they scored 51 points. The best way to prevent Brady from going off like that again is to control the football on offense.

If there is one coach in the NFL that can figure out a way to stop Fournette and the rest of the Jags offense, it’s New England’s Bill Belichick. Last week, it was evident that the only chance of success for Tennessee was to control the football with their power running game. The problem with that was that Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia loaded the box and held Titans’ running back Derrick Henry to just 28 yards on 12 carries. With the running game held in check, the Patriots could then pin their ears back and get after Tennessee QB Marcus Mariota, which they did to the tune of eight sacks.

Of the Patriots and Jags previous 11 meetings, four have been in the playoffs. Jacksonville’s only win over New England was in an AFC Wild Card game at the end of the 1998 season, but that game was played in Jacksonville. Oh, and the last four AFC title games have been won by the home team. Yes, the deck does seem to be stacked against Jacksonville.

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

Minnesota @ Philadelphia

Vikings -3 Points

Over/Under 38.5 Points

Neither of these two quarterbacks should be here. Case Keenum was a career backup and that is why Minnesota signed him as a last resort just in case something happened to Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater was not yet fully recovered from his knee injury. Nick Foles returned to Philadelphia where second-year signal-caller Carson Wentz was enjoying an MVP-like season. Then, both had to become starters, one much earlier than the other, and now both will face off against one another in Sunday’s NFC Championship game.

Keenum has enjoyed a career year after taking over for Bradford in Week 2 of the regular season. Keenum has been the product of a very good Vikings defense and a sound running game that has allowed him to manage games. He has not been called upon to make many big plays, but he delivered the Vikings’ biggest play of the season last week to beat New Orleans. On the game’s final play, Keenum hit Stefon Diggs who then proceeded to go 61 yards for the score that put Minnesota in the conference title game.

Keenum threw for 3,547 yards and 22 touchdowns this season, but only 9.4 percent of all of his passes were thrown when the Vikings trailed in the fourth quarter. Keenum hasn’t had to do much other than manage games and not make mistakes. If he can continue that, the Vikings have a shot at another Super Bowl berth.

Foles took over for Wentz late in the season after the Eagles starter tore an ACL. Foles, much like Keenum, managed Philadelphia very well last week in its 15-10 win over Atlanta. He too can thank a very good Philadelphia defense for shutting down the Falcons. Foles can also thank his offensive line and RB Jay Ajayi who led the Eagles with 54 yards rushing.

For the second consecutive week, the Eagles will be the underdog at home. That’s fine for playing at home in a conference championship has its advantages. In the last eight conference title games, both AFC and NFC, the home team has come out victorious. Philadelphia has played as a home underdog in the postseason four times in franchise history. Their record? 4-0.

Divisional Round Previews

Atlanta @ Philadelphia

Falcons -3 Points

Over/Under 41.5 Points

For the first time in NFL history, a sixth seed is favored over a No. 1 seed in a playoff game. The Falcons, 26-13 winners over the Los Angeles Rams last weekend, are favored to beat Philadelphia despite the Eagles playing at home and having had an extra week to prepare. The reason the Eagles will play as a home underdog is, of course, because of the loss of their starting quarterback Carson Wentz to a season-ending knee injury.

Wentz was on his way to a potential league MVP after throwing for 33 touchdowns. Only Russell Wilson (34) threw for more and Wentz played in three fewer games. Nick Foles has taken over at quarterback and has been inconsistent. In his first game as the starter, Foles threw for four touchdowns in a win over the Giants. In the final two regular season games, Foles was off his game. He only played the first quarter in the season finale since the Eagles had locked up the NFC’s top seed in the playoffs, but for Philadelphia to advance Foles is going to have to perform.

The Falcons are experienced and are playing very well on defense at the right time. In last week’s win over the Rams, Atlanta held the NFL’s best offense to just 2.6 yards after the catch on their 24 receptions. The Falcons limited Todd Gurley, who was giving NFL defenses nightmares, to just 10 receiving yards. If the defense can pressure Foles and create mistakes, the Falcons could be headed back to the NFC championship. The only downfall for Atlanta is that as the sixth seed in the NFC they will not be able to play a home playoff game.

Tennessee @ New England

Patriots -13 Points

Over/Under 46.5 Points

The defending Super Bowl champions are a huge favorite over a Tennessee team that was fortunate to make the postseason winning in Week 17 to secure a berth. The Titans then rallied from a 21-3 deficit in last week’s wild card playoff with Kansas City and won 22-21. Can they pull a second straight upset on the road in Foxborough?

It’s unlikely, but possible. The Patriots are 17-4 at Gillette Stadium in the postseason and in their last five divisional round playoff games there have scored at least 34 points in all but one. Some may say that QB Tom Brady is beginning to decline especially after a December in which he threw just six touchdowns and picked off five times. For the Patriots though, when one struggles someone else picks up the slack.

This time, the slack is being managed by RB Dion Lewis who has totaled 366 yards and five touchdowns in the Patriots last three games. He has 896 yards on the season and gives New England a strong running game that Tennessee must defend. The Titans are pretty good against the run – fourth in the NFL – as they showed in the win over Kansas City. They held rookie Kareem Hunt to just 42 yards and the Chiefs to 69 total rushing yards.

What Tennessee will likely try to do is run the football to keep it away from Brady and All-Pro TE Rob Gronkowski (69 rec., 1,084 yds., 8 TDs). The Titans had success last week handing the ball off to 6-foot-3-inch, 247-pound Derrick Henry who rushed for 156 yards on 23 carries. Henry is big, physical, and surprisingly nimble. The New England defense will have its hands full trying to stop Henry and the complementary play-action passing game of the Titans.

New England has beaten Tennessee six times in a row dating back to 2003. The six-game win streak includes a 2004 playoff win (17-14) at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

Jacksonville @ Pittsburgh

Steelers -7.5 Points

Over/Under 41 Points

It is unlikely that Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger throws five interceptions against the Jaguars this time around. In Week 5 of the regular season, the two teams met at Heinz Field and the Pittsburgh quarterback simply was out of his element. This time around, expect the playoff Roethlisberger to lead what could be the NFL’s best offense against what may be the NFL’s best defense.

If Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio Brown is able to go at full speed, the Steelers will have a distinct advantage over Jacksonville. The Jags do not do anything crazy on defense. Head coach Doug Marrone relies more on his defense’s athleticism to slow down opponents. On the other side of the ball, it’s the same idea. Jacksonville has the NFL’s No. 1 rushing attack led by rookie RB Leonard Fournette. The Jags averaged 141.4 rushing yards per game this season and Fournette led the team with 1,040.

The key for Jacksonville is going to be the play of quarterback Blake Bortles. In last week’s 10-3 win over Buffalo, the Jags didn’t generate much offense, but Bortles managed to create some with his legs. The fourth-year quarterback ran for 88 yards on 10 carries. His passing performance, though, left much to be desired. Bortles was just 12-for-23 for 87 yards. He did throw the game’s only touchdown, a one-yard completion to TE Ben Koyack.

The Steelers are still very effective on defense. They are a Top 10 unit in all of the major statistical categories – total defense (5^th), pass defense (5^th), rush defense (10^th), and scoring defense (7^th). Pittsburg has had great success in shutting down opponents’ running games. If Bortles is not up to the task in the passing game, it could be a long Sunday afternoon for Jacksonville.

The win over Buffalo last week was the Jaguars first playoff victory since 2007. Ironically, that victory was a 31-29 win over Pittsburgh at Heinz Field.

New Orleans @ Minnesota

Vikings -4 Points

Over/Under 45 Points

The Saints and Vikings met in the regular season opener and both teams are much different now compared to then. It was Sam Bradford who passed for 346 yards and Dalvin Cook who ran for 127 more in a Minnesota win in Week 1. That was the last game Bradford played. Cook blew a knee later in the season, but the Vikings’ approach on offense is much the same. Precise, high-effective passing coupled with a powerful running game. Only now, it’s QB Case Keenum running the show and RB Latavius Murray (842 yards) leading the ground attack.

New Orleans proved that it could beat a team multiple times in a season. They beat Carolina for the third time this season in last week’s wild card playoff. Quarterback Drew Brees was on fire throwing for 376 yards and two touchdowns. The normally stout running game was slowed by Carolina’s defense to the tune of just 41 yards. The Saints have relied on the two-headed attack of Mark Ingram (1,124 yards) and rookie Alvin Kamara (728). Kamara is also the Saints’ second-leading receiver with 81 catches for 826 yards. He has scored a total of 13 touchdowns.

Where the Saints have improved the most is on defense. In year’s past, New Orleans has ranked at or near the bottom in most defensive statistical categories. This year has been much different. The Saints finished the regular season 10^th in scoring defense and it was the defense that bailed New Orleans out in last week’s win over Carolina. The Panthers had a first down at the Saints’ 26-yard line with just 58 seconds remaining. Saints DE Cameron Jordan pressured Cam Newton into an intentional grounding penalty and then, on fourth down, Vonn Bell sacked Newton to end the game.

Prior to the meeting in this year’s season opener, the Vikings dropped four straight to New Orleans including a 31-28 overtime loss in the 2009 season’s NFC championship game. That game was in New Orleans. The last time the teams played a postseason game in Minnesota was in 2001, an NFC Divisional Round playoff won by the Vikings.

Wild Card Round Previews

Tennessee @ Kansas City

Titans +8.5 Points

Over/Under 44 Points

With its win over Jacksonville in the regular season finale, the Tennessee Titans earned a trip to the postseason and will travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs on Saturday. The Chiefs began the 2017 season on fire starting 5-0 but fell into a midseason slump before winning their final four games of the season to finish 10-6.

Chiefs QB Alex Smith is likely the key for the Chiefs who became just the second team in NFL history with a 4,000-yard quarterback, a 1,000-yard receiver, a 1,000-yard rusher, and a 1,000-yard tight end. Kansas City will likely need all of those weapons – Smith, Tyreek Hill, Kareem Hunt, and Travis Kelce – to beat the Titans. Despite all of the criticism of Smith, he does have 12 career playoff touchdown passes and has thrown just two interceptions in the postseason over his 13-year career.

The Titans are solid against the run, which is why Smith might become more of a factor. Tennessee has given up just five rushing touchdowns all season. They held 11 of their 16 regular season opponents under 100 yards rushing, including Jacksonville in the regular season finale. Leonard Fournette rushed for 69 yards on 19 carries and the Jags totaled just 83 for the game. Tennessee finished the regular season fourth in the league in run defense allowing opponents just 88.8 yards per game. The Chiefs have one of the better rushing attacks in the NFL led by Hunt who rushed for 1,327 yards in his rookie season.

It may be up to the Tennessee offense to make the difference. Quarterback Marcus Mariota has had a decent year – 3,232 yards and 13 touchdowns – and the running game is solid, but the Titans might be without RB DeMarco Murray (659) due to a sprained knee. He didn’t play in the win over Jacksonville in Week 17. Derrick Henry leads the Titans with 744 yards rushing.

The two teams have only played each other twice over the past four seasons. Tennessee won both games, which were played at Arrowhead Stadium, the site of Saturday’s game.

Atlanta @ L.A Rams

Falcons +6.5 Points

Over/Under 48.5 Points

The Atlanta Falcons won in Week 17 to earn a return trip to the postseason and a chance at defending their NFC title from a year ago. Their opponent earned its first NFC West title in 14 years going from worst to first in just one season under new head coach Sean McVay. The Los Angeles Rams became the first Super Bowl-era team to go from worst to first in scoring offense led by QB Jared Goff and MVP candidate RB Todd Gurley.

All Gurley has done is accumulate 2,093 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns. He and Goff were held out of the Rams regular season finale. Gurley would likely have been the NFL rushing champ if he had played last week. He finished with 1,305 yards on the ground. Goff took a giant leap forward under the guidance of McVay and threw for 3,804 yards and 28 touchdowns.

The Rams have also played well on a defense coordinated by long-time NFL coach Wade Phillips. The Rams give up 20.6 points per game and will have to play well against a very talented Atlanta offense. The Falcons have not had the success that they did a year ago, but last year’s NFL MVP Matt Ryan has still thrown for 4,095 yards and 20 touchdowns. The dynamic duo of Devonta Freeman (865) and Tevin Coleman (628) has combined for over 1,400 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. Wide receiver Julio Jones is still one of the NFL’s best. Jones finished second in the league with 1,444 yards receiving.

Where Atlanta has excelled more recently is on defense. In their season-ending victory over Carolina, the Falcons held a pretty good offense led by Cam Newton to just 248 total yards, just 87 on the ground. The job for the Falcons defense is pretty simple – slow down Gurley and Goff. Atlanta will have to put some pressure on Goff while at the same time getting an extra defender involved in the run defense.

The Falcons have won six of the last seven games against the Rams dating back to 2004. That includes a 2005 meeting in the NFC playoffs, a game won by Atlanta 47-17 at the old Georgia Dome. The two teams met last year in Los Angeles. The Falcons won 42-14.

Buffalo @ Jacksonville

Bills +8.5 Points

Over/Under 39.5 Points

It has been a long time since Jacksonville hosted a home playoff game. It’s also been a long time since the Buffalo Bills have qualified for the postseason. The year was 1999. The Jaguars hosted a playoff game in Jacksonville and Buffalo faced Tennessee in a playoff game that would be remembered for its “Music City Miracle.”

The Bills backed into the playoffs with a win over Miami in Week 17 and a Baltimore loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Jags won the AFC South despite losing to Tennessee in its final game. When the two teams meet on Sunday, two of the best defenses in the NFL will tangle. Jacksonville finished at or near the top in most every defensive statistical category.

The Jags were second in total defense (286.1 yards per game) and second in scoring defense (16.8 points per game). Jacksonville was also second in sacks with 55 led by Calais Campbell’s 14.5 and Yannick Ngakoue’s 12. The Jags had four players in the Top 40 in sacks. The heavy pass rush also helped the Jags lead the league in pass defense as they gave up just under 170 yards per game.

It is unlikely that the Bills will have much success throwing the ball against Jacksonville. Buffalo is 31^st in the NFL is passing offense. The Bills offense revolves around a ground game led by LeSean McCoy who rushed for 1,138 yards this season and has passed 10,000 for his career. McCoy did sprain an ankle in the season finale and is questionable for Sunday’s game. If he can’t go, the Bills could be in trouble. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor is the team’s second-leading rusher with 427 yards.

Jags head coach Doug Marrone left Buffalo after the 2014 season. The Bills went 9-7 that season but didn’t qualify for the playoffs. The Bills have beaten Jacksonville three of the last four times the two teams have played. The only Buffalo loss was in 2015 in a game in London. Buffalo won in Jacksonville in 2013.

Carolina @ New Orleans

Panthers +7 Points

Over/Under 48 Points

It is hard enough beating a team twice in one season. Now, the New Orleans Saints will try to defeat NFC South rival Carolina for a third time this season as the two teams meet in the NFC’s Wild Card playoff on Sunday. The Saints high-powered offense put up 34 and 31 points on the Panthers, who are not all that bad of a defense. Quarterback Drew Brees and running backs Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara have been too much for most any defense to handle this season. Carolina will need to keep those three in check all game if they are going to have a shot at pulling the upset.

Both teams finished the regular season with losses. Carolina’s loss to Atlanta put the Falcons in the playoffs and gave the Saints the NFC South Division title even though New Orleans lost to Tampa Bay in the season finale. To beat the Panthers again, New Orleans will need to run the football as it did in both previous victories.

Mark Ingram has rushed for 141 yards against Carolina this season and rookie Alvin Kamara got more involved in the offense as the season progressed. In the second meeting with the Panthers, Kamara totaled 126 yards on 14 touches and scored twice. The New Orleans defense has been a big key and will be once again. For the most part, the Saints have held Carolina QB Cam Newton in check. In the first game, New Orleans sacked Newton four times and forced three interceptions. In Game 2, New Orleans held Carolina to just 279 total yards.

Prior to the season-ending loss to Atlanta, the Panthers had won seven of eight games. The only loss was to New Orleans. It is no secret what Carolina must do in order to win. The Panthers must have success running the football – they have the NFL’s fourth-best running game (131.4 yards per game). Newton (754 yards) is the team’s leading rusher while Jonathan Stewart has 680 yards and rookie Christian McCaffrey has 435. Stewart missed the final game of the season with an injury and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.

NFL WEEK 17 Previews

Carolina @ Atlanta

Panthers +4 Points

Over/Under 46.5 Points

It is all on the line on Sunday in Atlanta. The Falcons (9-6) must win in order to claim the last NFC wild card and play in this year’s postseason. Atlanta blew a chance to win the NFC South losing to New Orleans last week 23-13. Sunday, the Falcons will face a Carolina team that has won seven of its last eight games including a 20-17 victory over Atlanta back in early November.   

What the Falcons can bank on is that they do play well at home against Carolina. Atlanta has won the last two against the Panthers at home and seven of the last nine dating back to 2008. This year, however, the Falcons are playing in a brand new home – Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Atlanta needs its running game to heat up and, on the other side of the ball, the Falcons cannot let the Panthers run wild as they did in the first meeting this year. Carolina QB Cam Newton ran for 86 yards and a touchdown while rookie Christian McCaffrey added 66 and a score of his own. The Panthers ran for 201 yards in the victory.

Falcons QB Matt Ryan threw for 313 yards and Julio Jones caught eight of those passes for 118, but the Falcons had problems running the football. Atlanta ran for a total of 53 yards and the usually prolific tandem of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman combined for just 51.

If Atlanta loses on Sunday, they can still get into the playoffs if Seattle loses to Arizona. The Seahawks (9-6) must win and have Atlanta lose to claim the final NFC wild card slot.

Buffalo @ Miami

Dolphins +3 Points

Over/Under 42.5 Points

The Buffalo Bills (8-7) still have an outside shot at making the AFC playoffs. The first step in claiming the AFC’s final postseason berth begins with a win in Miami on Sunday. The Bills beat the Dolphins 24-16 earlier this season and they have won two of their last three games. Buffalo lost to New England 37-16 after a controversial call at the end of the first half took the wind out of the Bills. The two teams were tied 13-13 at the end of the half.

Still, the Bills can back into the postseason if they beat Miami and both the Chargers and the Titans lose on Sunday. Tennessee faces the 10-5 Jacksonville Jaguars and the Chargers face Oakland. The Bills can also get in if they win and Baltimore loses to the Bengals, though that is not likely.

The Bills, who lost to Miami on the road last year, will rely heavily on RB LeSean McCoy who has 1,128 yards rushing this season and surpassed the 10,000-yard mark in his career recently. Tyrod Taylor leads the NFL’s worst passing attack – Buffalo averages 175.9 yards passing per game, 32^nd in the league.

If there has been a model of inconsistency the entire NFL season, it is the Dolphins (6-9). After three straight wins early in the season, the Dolphins, who made the postseason last year, were 4-2. Then, head coach Adam Gase’s squad found a way to lose five straight. After a win over an ailing Denver team, the Dolphins pulled the biggest upset of the season knocking off New England 27-20. Quarterback Jay Cutler has done what he has done his entire career. He outplayed Tom Brady in the win over the Patriots then completed just 19-of-38 passes last week in a loss to Kansas City.

The Miami running game has improved over the final quarter of the season. Kenyan Drake has emerged as the Dolphins leading rusher (569 yards). Still, Miami averages just 86.3 yards a game on the ground, 28^th in the NFL. Buffalo has struggled against the run and is 30^th giving up 126.7 yards per game.

Oakland @ LA Chargers

Chargers -8 Points

Over/Under 43.5 Points

After losing the first four games of the 2017 season, the Los Angeles Chargers (8-7) still have a chance at making the postseason heading in to the final week of play. The Chargers will host AFC West rival Oakland (6-9) and must win to have a shot at playing in Week 18. Los Angeles has won five of its last six games and has a 17-16 victory over Oakland already this season.

In order to make the playoffs, the Chargers will need some help. In addition to beating the Raiders, L.A. needs Tennessee to lose to Jacksonville and Baltimore to defeat Cincinnati. If all of that happens, the Chargers will claim the final AFC wild card.

The Chargers’ turnaround was made possible by a ferocious defense led by DE Joey Bosa (team-high 11.5 sacks) and LB Melvin Ingram (10.0 sacks). The Chargers are tied for fifth in the NFL with 41 total sacks. The team is also third in the NFL in points allowed per game giving up just 17.5.

On offense, the Chargers have a wealth of talent that has managed to stay pretty healthy throughout the year. Quarterback Philip Rivers is second in the league with 4,128 passing yards and the Chargers have a 1,000-yard back in Melvin Gordon (1,012) and a 1,000-yard receiver in Keenan Allen (1,260).

The Raiders disappointed in 2017 after making the postseason last year. The once powerful running game is just 25^th in the league (96.6 yards per game) and QB Derek Carr (3,253 yards, 21 TDs) has not nearly been as successful as last season. The offense averages less than 20 points a game (19.4) and the defense that was so good a year ago is mediocre at best in 2017.

Jacksonville @ Tennessee

Titans -6 Points

Over/Under 41 Points

The Jaguars (10-5) have surprised the NFL winning the AFC South with what is likely the league’s best defense. The Jags will take on division rival Tennessee on Sunday and regardless of the outcome have secured the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs. The Titans (8-7) beat the Jags 37-16 in Week 2 of the season. The two teams have split the season series for the last eight years.

The Titans have lost their last three in a row but still have hopes of making the postseason. At the moment, Tennessee controls the sixth and final AFC playoff spot. They will clinch that spot with a win over Jacksonville. The Titans can also back into the playoffs if they lose on Sunday. If both Buffalo and the Chargers lose in Week 17, Tennessee gets the wild card berth.

The Jags had won seven of eight before losing last week to San Francisco. Jacksonville gave up a season-high 44 points in the loss to the 49ers. Jacksonville has the league’s best running game averaging 145.3 yards a game on the ground and the league’s second-best scoring defense (16.9 points per game). Quarterback Blake Bortles (3,529 yards, 21 TDs) has played well the second half of the season and the Jags defense leads the NFL in sacks (51).

Tennessee was sitting pretty at 8-4 just a month ago and had a shot at winning the division. Then, the Titans proceeded to fall apart and lose close games to Arizona (12-7), San Francisco (25-23), and the Los Angeles Rams (27-23). The Titans are about as pedestrian as a team can get. Quarterback Marcus Mariota has 3,098 yards passing but just 12 touchdown passes. The running game, 16^th in the league, is led by Derrick Henry’s 693 yards. The offense averages 21.3 points a game (18^th) and the defense gives up 23.1 (20^th). It is going to take a monster effort by the Titans to gain a victory and clinch a playoff berth on Sunday.

NFL WEEK 16 Previews

 Seattle @ Dallas

Cowboys -4.5 Points

Over/Under 47 Points

Just two weeks ago, the Seattle Seahawks were 8-4 and headed for an NFC West showdown with the Los Angeles Rams. After consecutive losses to Jacksonville and the Rams, the Seahawks are now in danger of missing the postseason. Head coach Pete Carroll and company failed miserably last Sunday losing 42-7 to the Rams at home, which in essence ended the Seahawks playoff hopes.

Now, Seattle heads to Dallas to take on the Cowboys who are also 8-6 but have won three straight and welcome back RB Ezekiel Elliott from a six-game suspension. Playing at home on Christmas Eve with their star running back, the Cowboys are going to be tough to beat. Like Seattle, Dallas must win to have any chance at making the postseason. The Cowboys must win out and need serious help as they must pass by three teams to gain the final seed in the NFC.

The Dallas run game has finally returned to some semblance of what it was with Elliott. The Cowboys ran for 126 yards in a win over Oakland last week. The ground game has helped the Cowboys score 98 points in its last three games, wins over Washington, the Giants, and Oakland.

The Seahawks have won two of the last three against Dallas, including the last meeting at AT&T Stadium in 2015. Seattle won 13-12 on a late field goal by K Stephen Hauschka. Prior to that win, the Seahawks had not won in Dallas since 2002. To do so on Sunday, QB Russell Wilson is going to have to work some of his finest magic. Wilson has been virtually the entire Seahawks offense this season. In addition to his 3,669 passing yards and 30 touchdowns, Wilson is Seattle’s leading rusher with 521 yards.

Carroll and the Seahawks need to beat Dallas and then close the season with a win over Arizona to have a shot at the postseason. The more difficult part of the equation involves the Rams. Seattle could have taken the NFC West Division lead with a win last week. Instead, they need the Rams to lose their remaining two games to make it to the playoffs.

Pittsburgh @ Houston

Steelers -9.5 Points

Over/Under 44 Points

The Steelers have clinched the AFC North and nearly had control of the AFC’s top seed but watched it disappear in a 27-24 loss to New England last week. The Steelers cannot afford another loss with Jacksonville close on its heels as they head to Houston to face the Texans on Christmas Day. The Jags (10-4) are just a game behind the Steelers and would own a tiebreaker having beat Pittsburgh earlier in the season.

Pittsburgh (11-3), which lost for the first time in nine games last week, will play without NFL-leading wide receiver Antonio Brown. The veteran receiver suffered a high ankle sprain in the loss to the Patriots. Brown has 1,533 receiving yards and set an NFL record with 100-plus (101) receptions in five consecutive seasons. He will be out until the playoffs.

The Steelers have the NFL’s second-best passing offense led by QB Ben Roethlisberger who has thrown for 4,025 yards and 26 touchdowns. Running back Le’Veon Bell is the NFL’s leading rusher with 1,222 yards. He also has 80 catches for 627 yards. Houston will have its share of challenges in facing Pittsburgh.

The Texans’ defense lost two of biggest stars, DE J.J. Watt and OLB Whitney Mercilus, in Game 5 of the season. Then, the offense lost rookie quarterback sensation Deshaun Watson. The season pretty much fell apart after that. Houston has dropped four straight and has won only once in its past eight games.

The Houston pass defense is not good. The Texans rank 27^th in the NFL and also rank 25^th in total defense. If that isn’t bad enough, Houston is dead last in the league in points allowed per game giving up 27.1 a game.

With Watson out at quarterback, backup Tom Savage took over but he was hurt also and T.J. Yates stepped in last week. Disastrous doesn’t begin to describe Houston’s offense last week. Yates was 12-for-31 for 128 yards as the Texans offense generated just 186 total yards in a 45-7 loss to Jacksonville.

Oakland @ Philadelphia

Eagles -9 Points

Over/Under 47.5 Points

In their first game without Carson Wentz at quarterback, the Philadelphia Eagles and backup Nick Foles proved that they can still score. Foles threw for four touchdowns in a 34-29 win over the New York Giants. Now, the Eagles can continue their quest for home-field advantage when they welcome Oakland to Lincoln Financial Field on Christmas night.

The Raiders enter the game 6-8 and somehow still alive in the AFC playoff race. Oakland is not mathematically eliminated, but for all intents and purposes, head coach Jack Del Rio and company will not be returning to the postseason in 2017. With back-to-back losses to Kansas City and Dallas last week, Oakland relegated itself to thinking about 2018.

The Eagles are still the NFL’s most prolific offense scoring an average of 31.3 points per game. Foles must continue to perform at quarterback. He is aided by the NFL’s second-best running game which produces 140.5 yards per game. Philadelphia’s stable of running backs includes leading rusher LeGarrette Blount (717), Jay Ajayi (356), and Corey Clement (307).

The question for Philadelphia is the play of their defense. The unit’s play has slipped the last two weeks giving up 35 to the Rams and 29 to the Giants. The Eagles are still one of the top defenses in the league. They are eighth in scoring defense yielding 19.9 points per game, but Oakland has some weapons on offense.

The Raiders just haven’t seemed to get all of their offensive weapons to work at once this season. Quarterback Derek Carr has not been the Carr of 2016 and WR Amari Cooper has had his share of injuries. He will miss the game with the Eagles. The Raiders run game, one of the best in the NFL a year ago, averages just 93.7 yards per game.

Philadelphia is guaranteed a first-round bye in NFC playoffs. The Eagles can finish no lower than the No. 2 seed. Wins in their final two games or a Minnesota loss will guarantee head coach Doug Pederson’s squad home-field advantage for the postseason.

Minnesota @ Green Bay

Vikings -2 Points

Over/Under 47.5 Points

With the Packers’ playoff hopes extinguished, Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy now has a decision to make. Play two-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers or sit him and save him for the 2018 season? It’s a tough one. Sitting Rodgers might send the wrong message, but playing him risks another injury. Rodgers was hurt in the first meeting with Minnesota, the team that the Packers will face on Saturday night. He returned last week but failed in an attempt to beat the Carolina Panthers. Green Bay lost 31-24.

Regardless of who plays quarterback for Green Bay, he will have to deal with one of the league’s better defenses. The Vikings are second in the NFL in points against giving up just 17.3 per game. In three of their last four wins, Minnesota has given up nine points or less. In the first meeting between the two teams earlier this season, the Vikings won 23-10.

Minnesota quarterback Case Keenum has had a brilliant season throwing for 3,219 yards and 20 touchdowns. The running game is in capable hands with Latavius Murray (662 yards) and Jerick McKinnon (484) who have taken over for first-round draft pick Dalvin Cook who suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier in the year. Wide receiver Adam Thielen has emerged into one of the NFL’s premier pass catchers. Thielen has 83 receptions for 1,191 yards and is currently fourth in the league in receiving yards.

Minnesota has won three of the last four in the series. Green Bay did beat the Vikings last year at Lambeau Field. Rodgers threw for 347 yards and four touchdowns in the 38-25 win. The Vikings are still in the hunt for the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. They must win both of their remaining games and Philadelphia, the current top seed, must lose both of its remaining games.

Denver @ Indianapolis

Broncos -2.5 Points

Over/Under 40.5 Points

In year’s past, a Broncos-Colts game in Week 15 on a Thursday night would be a huge attraction with all sorts of playoff implications wrapped around it. Not this time. It’s hard to believe that just two seasons ago the two teams were playing in an AFC Divisional playoff game. This year, the 4-9 Broncos will travel to face the 3-10 Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Both teams have had quarterback issues. The Colts’ problems started even before the season began. Andrew Luck had offseason shoulder surgery, missed training camp, and then was held out of the preseason. He wasn’t ready when the season started so backup Scott Tolzien started in Week 1. It was an absolute disaster. Tolzien threw two pick-sixes and the Colts lost 46-9 to the Rams. Jacoby Brissett has replaced Tolzien and has played well at times, but he still has a long way to go.

The Colts defense is also part of the problem. To say Indianapolis is awful is a pretty good measure of the Colts’ efforts at keeping opponents out of the end zone. They are 31^st in points against giving up 26.4 per game. Scoring seems to be a problem too. Indy scores just 16.3 points per game, 30^th in the NFL.

The Broncos, who lost eight in a row before beating the New York Jets last week 23-0, used to be synonymous with great defense. This year, Denver is giving up 24.2 points per game, 24^th in the league. Last Sunday’s shutout of the Jets was a glimpse into the past under legendary defensive coordinator Wade Phillips (now with the Rams) when Denver was ranked in the top ten in most statistical categories.

On offense, Denver’s quarterback problems have forced head coach Vance Joseph to pull original starter Trevor Siemian in favor of Brock Osweiler. Osweiler then gave way to Paxton Lynch who subsequently returned the job back to Trevor Siemian. It was Siemian who threw for 200 yards and a touchdown to lead the way against the Jets. He will have an opportunity to shine again against a very poor Indianapolis defense.

L.A. Chargers @ Kansas City

Chargers -1.5 Points

Over/Under 46 Points

Rewind 10 weeks to Week 5 of the 2017 NFL season. The Kansas City Chiefs had just beaten the Houston Texans to start the year 5-0. The Chiefs were on fire with an offense that was averaging 32.8 points per game.

At the other end of the AFC West Division was the Los Angeles Chargers. In Week 5, the Chargers won their first game of the season, a 27-22 victory over a New York Giants team that wasn’t very good. Under new head coach Anthony Lynn, the Chargers were close. They had lost three of their first four games by a combined seven points.

What a difference 10 weeks makes. Both teams are now 7-6 and Saturday night’s matchup at Arrowhead Stadium could determine who wins the division. The Chargers have won seven of their last nine games with an offense led by Philip Rivers and a ferocious defense led by DE Joey Bosa and LB Melvin Ingram.

Rivers has thrown for 3,611 yards and 23 touchdowns. Wide receiver Keenan Allen is having as good a year as any receiver in the NFL with 1,143 yards on 83 receptions. Melvin Gordon has rushed for 853 yards (8^th in the league) and the Chargers average 22.9 points a game.

On defense, the Chargers give up just 17.3 points per game. That number is second in the NFL. The pass rush is as good as it gets. Bosa is a star in just his second season. He leads the team with 11.5 sacks (5^th overall in the NFL) and Gordon has nine more.

Kansas City headed in the opposite direction after Week 5. The Chiefs have won just two of their last eight games. They beat West division rival Oakland last week 26-15 to snap a four-game losing streak. Kareem Hunt (1,046 yards rushing) ran for 116 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Alex Smith has thrown for 3,507 yards, 23 touchdowns, and has tossed just five interceptions. Saturday’s winner will have the inside track at winning the division and earning a trip to the postseason.

Dallas @ Oakland

Cowboys -3 Points

Over/Under 45.5 Points

The Dallas Cowboys (7-6) still have a shot at the postseason. Their three-game run to the playoffs begins with the Raiders in Oakland on Sunday night. Even if Dallas can navigate through Oakland, Seattle, and Philadelphia (which will be without QB Carson Wentz), the Cowboys will need some help.

After losing three in a row, Dallas has found some semblance of their old running game and found a way to beat both Washington and the New York Giants in consecutive weeks. Dallas rushed for 182 and 122 yards in the two wins. The running game has been silent since losing Ezekiel Elliott to a six-game suspension. Elliott is still the team’s leading rusher with 783 yards. He will have to sit out this week and then can return for the team’s final two contests.

The Raiders dropped to 6-7 with a loss to Kansas City last week, a defeat that all but ruined their chances at the postseason. Quarterback Derek Carr placed most of the blame squarely on his shoulders. He threw two costly interceptions, but the Raiders’ problems run much deeper than Carr. The vaunted running game of a year ago produces just 91.5 yards per game (26^th in the NFL) this year. The defense isn’t as strong either giving up 23.4 points a game.

The two teams have only played twice since 2009. Dallas won both games. The two games, one in 2009 and the other in 2013, were both played in Texas. The last two times that the teams have played in Oakland (2001 and 2005), the Raiders were victorious.

The Raiders have won their last two games at home, a 21-14 win over Denver and a 24-17 victory over the New York Giants. The Cowboys are actually better on the road, 4-2, this year than they are at home where they are just 3-4.

Atlanta @ Tampa Bay

Falcons -6 Points

Over/Under 47 Points

If the NFL season ended today, the Atlanta Falcons would earn a wild card entry into the NFC playoffs. At 8-5, they face Tampa Bay on Monday night then a difficult two-game stretch against the rest of the NFC South Division – New Orleans and Carolina. Atlanta owns one victory over the Bucs already beating Tampa Bay 34-20 on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

Tampa Bay doesn’t want a repeat of the earlier game with Atlanta. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan completed 26-of-35 passes for 317 yards and a touchdown, but it was WR Julio Jones who the Bucs could not stop. Jones caught 12 passes for 253 yards and two scores. Atlanta rolled up 516 yards of total offense in the win.

The Falcons have won four of their last five games and will need a win on Monday night to stay alive in the postseason race. Seattle, also 8-5, is hot on their tail for the second and final wild card in the NFC. Atlanta has beaten the Bucs the last two times the teams have played that includes a 43-28 victory last November in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

For the Bucs, they have dropped three in a row even though starting quarterback Jameis Winston has returned after an injury. In a 24-21 loss to Detroit last week, Winston committed three of his team’s five turnovers. There is talk of a rift between Winston and Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter. Whatever it is, Tampa Bay needs to figure it out fast. They finish the season with three straight games against NFC South opponents – Atlanta, Carolina, and New Orleans – who are a combined 26-13.

The Bucs are dead last in the NFL against the pass giving up 276.1 yards per game. They face one of the game’s best quarterbacks in Ryan and possibly the most physically gifted wide receiver in the game in Jones. Tampa Bay also gives up its share of points, 24 per game which is 22^nd overall in the league.

New Orleans @ Atlanta

Falcons -2.5 Points

Over/Under 51.5 Points

With four games remaining and three in the NFC South Division, it is clear what the Atlanta Falcons must do. Win. Their first opportunity comes on Thursday night when they meet the division leader New Orleans at home in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It is the first of two games between the two teams in a span of 17 days. They are two games that will also likely determine the postseason fate of the defending NFC champion Falcons.

Coming of a 14-9 loss to Minnesota last week, the Falcons are now 7-5, a game behind second-place Carolina and two games behinds the Saints (9-3). Atlanta had won three in a row prior to Sunday’s loss and the Falcons are hopeful they can get back to the kind of offense that helped them win those three games. Atlanta averaged 31.6 points a game during the three-game win streak, but ran into a buzz saw of a defense in Minnesota. Atlanta will have to improve on third down, an area where they were weak in the loss to the Vikings.

Head coach Dan Quinn certainly has the weapons to score points. Quarterback Matt Ryan has thrown for 3,057 yards and 16 touchdowns. Running backs Devonta Freeman (589 yards) and Tevin Coleman (561) are equally capable and WR Julio Jones (68 rec., 1,063 yds.) remains one of the best receivers in the game.

The Saints are equally skilled on offense with the NFL’s third-ranked pass and rush offenses and the third-best in terms of points per game. With Drew Brees (3,298 yards, 17 TDs) at quarterback, the Saints can beat you in the air. With the combination of Mark Ingram (922 yards) and rookie sensation Alvin Kamara (606 yards, 7 TDs), New Orleans can beat on the ground too. Where the Saints have really improved this season is on defense where New Orleans gives up just over 20 points a game.

Atlanta won both games in the series last season. Both were high-scoring affairs, 45-32 in New Orleans and 38-32 in Atlanta. The last time the Saints won in Atlanta was the final game of the 2015 season, a low-scoring 20-17 victory.

Philadelphia @ L.A. Rams

Rams -2 Points

Over/Under 48 Points

In a matchup of what could be a preview of the NFC Championship game, Philadelphia travels to Los Angeles to take on the Rams on Sunday. For the first time since Week 3 of the season, the Eagles will come into a game having lost the week before. The Eagles dropped a 24-10 decision to the Seahawks in Seattle last Sunday night. The Seattle defense slowed down Philadelphia just enough holding what was the league’s best rushing attack to just 98 yards on the ground. That will have to change against a very good Rams defense.

The Rams, now 9-3, beat Arizona last week 32-16 and, in the process, secured the franchise’s first winning season since 2003. The Rams lead the NFC West with a one-game lead over second-place Seattle. Facing Philadelphia on Sunday begins what is likely the toughest three-game stretch of the Rams’ schedule. After the Eagles, Los Angeles travels to Seattle and Tennessee. A victory over Philadelphia could go a long way in helping the Rams secure home-field advantage in the postseason.

If the Rams are going to beat the Eagles, it will be up to QB Jared Goff and RB Todd Gurley once again. Goff has matured by leaps and bounds from a year ago. Last week, the second-year quarterback completed 21-for-31 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns. Gurley rushed for 74 yards and caught six passes for 84 more. While the offense leads the NFL in points per game (30.1), Philadelphia cannot forget about the Rams defense. Los Angeles holds opponents to just 18.5 points per game and has plenty of talent including LB Alec Ogletree who returned an errant Arizona pass for a touchdown in the win last week.

Philadelphia (10-2) also relies on its second-year quarterback Carson Wentz. Selected No. 2 last year right after Goff, Wentz has thrown for 3,005 yards and an NFL-best 29 touchdown passes. While he did throw for 348 yards against Seattle last week, Wentz was sacked three times, threw an interception, and fumbled the ball away once. Those types of mistakes cannot happen against a team as good as Los Angeles.

The two teams have not played each other since 2014. Philadelphia has won each of the last four meetings dating back to 2005. The last Rams’ win over the Eagles was in 2004 when the franchise was still in St. Louis.

Baltimore @ Pittsburgh

Steelers -5 Points

Over/Under 43.5 Points

One thing is a definite in Sunday night’s Baltimore-Pittsburgh AFC North clash. The game will be physical. It is normally one of the most physical games in the NFL year-in and year-out. The Ravens travel to Pittsburgh on the heels of a three-game winning streak. Baltimore (7-5) currently holds one of the AFC’s two wild card spots and could surely use a victory to enhance its postseason position. Beating Pittsburgh is something easier said than done and the Steelers have won the last two games in the series.

Back in Week 4 of the season, Pittsburgh and RB Le’Veon Bell ran all over the Ravens in a 26-9 victory. Bell had 144 yards rushing and two touchdowns. The Pittsburgh defense held Baltimore to just 288 yards of total offense and forced three turnovers, but the Ravens appear to be a much different team this late in the season.

The Ravens, always known as a strong defensive team, have watched their offense transform somewhat over the past few weeks. In last week’s 44-20 win over Detroit, the offense really blossomed as QB Joe Flacco threw for two touchdowns and RB Alex Collins scored twice on the ground. The Ravens will need that kind of output against the Steelers.

Pittsburgh (9-2) has the league’s leading rusher, Bell, and leading receiver in Antonio Brown (1,195 yards). The Steelers are dynamic on offense and if there is a better defense in the league than Baltimore, it’s Pittsburgh’s. The Steelers are fourth in the league in points allowed per game (17.5) and are third in the NFL in total defense giving opponents just 289.4 yards per game.

Prior to the previous two meetings, Baltimore had beaten Pittsburgh in six of seven games. The Ravens last won at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh in 2015 winning 23-20 in overtime.

New England @ Miami

Patriots -10.5 Points

Over/Under 47.5 Points

It seems like they just played each other. The Patriots and Dolphins will meet for a second time in 15 days when they face each other on Monday night. New England won the first matchup 35-17 thanks to four touchdown passes from quarterback Tom Brady. Miami (5-7) did end a five-game losing streak last week when the Dolphins offense did something it’s not used to doing – score. Miami beat Denver 35-9 behind two touchdown passes from Jay Cutler and 120 yards rushing by RB Kenyan Drake.

Miami has struggled all year to run the ball and to score points. Even after the 35-point outburst and 145-yards rushing total against Denver, the Dolphins are still 26^th in the NFL in scoring (17.3) and 29^th in rushing yards per game (84.7). Those numbers do not strike fear into a defense like New England’s.

Since giving up 33 points in consecutive weeks early in the season, the Patriots defense has given up just 13.8 points per game during the team’s eight-game winning streak. Last week, New England did not surrender a touchdown beating Buffalo 23-3. The win, the Patriots’ tenth of the season, gave New England its 15^th straight season of at least 10 wins. The victory also likely locked up a ninth straight AFC East crown.

For Miami to have any amount of success, they will need to control the football. That is something they do not do very well given their lack of a running game. To make matters worse, C Mike Pouncey is listed as questionable for Monday night’s game. Pouncey is Miami’s best offensive lineman.

New England has won the past three games in the series and five of the last six. Miami’s last win over the Patriots came at the end of the 2015 season. That 20-10 win happened in Miami, the site of Monday night’s game.

NFL WEEK 13 Previews

Washington @ Dallas

Redskins +1 Points

Over/Under 44 Points

One week after Thanksgiving and both Washington and Dallas are still alive in the playoff race albeit just barely. The Redskins at least enter this Thursday’s game coming off a win last week. Washington got two touchdown passes from QB Kirk Cousins and was thankful for having played one of the worst teams in the NFL, the New York Giants. The Giants were so bad they managed just 170 yards and did not score an offensive touchdown in a 20-10 Redskins win.

Dallas enters Thursday night’s rivalry game on the heels of a three-game losing streak. Since losing RB Ezekiel Elliott to suspension, the Cowboys have been in a downward spiral. The offense has managed a three-game total of 22 points. The defense has fared even worse. The Cowboys have given up 92 points to Atlanta, Philadelphia, and the Los Angeles Chargers. In the loss to the Chargers on Thanksgiving Day, Dallas surrendered 434 passing yards to QB Philip Rivers. Dallas is now 24^th in the NFL in points allowed per game (24.5).

The team that is 25^th in points allowed just happens to be Washington (25.1). Prior to the win over the Giants, the Redskins gave up 72 points in two weeks, 38 to Minnesota and 34 to New Orleans. Luckily, Washington will face its second straight opponent that is struggling offensively. Washington held the Giants to just 84 yards rushing and sacked QB Eli Manning four times.

Dallas has more problems than just Elliott, who will miss three more games before his return. Offensive tackle Tyron Smith has been out and that has caused big problems for QB Dak Prescott. If the Cowboys fail to score in double digits against Washington, they will find themselves in a four-game losing skid that will all but derail any hopes of a playoff berth.

The Cowboys won the first meeting of the season, a 33-19 victory at FedExField in October. Elliott rushed 33 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Dallas has won the last three straight over Washington and five of the last six, but Elliott was a key in each of those wins.

Philadelphia @ Seattle

Eagles -5 Points

Over/Under 47.5 Points

The best team in the NFL continues to roll and faces what may be its toughest test of the regular season over the next two weeks. The 10-1 Philadelphia Eagles will commence a two-game West Coast road trip this week when they face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night. The Eagles are a virtual lock for the NFC’s top seed in the postseason while the Seahawks have some work to do.

Seattle has a tough stretch of its own facing Philadelphia, Jacksonville, and NFC West Division leading Los Angeles in the next three weeks. The Seahawks will do it without two-fourths of its Legion of Boom secondary. Both Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor are out for the season. Seattle got a win last week, but it was against now 1-10 San Francisco.

The Seahawks struggle in the running game and have been ever since Marshawn Lynch left the franchise. The team’s leading rusher is quarterback Russell Wilson (401 yards) and the team finally cracked 100 yards per game (102.9), but this week they go up against the NFL’s best rush defense. Philadelphia held Chicago to just six yards rushing last week and are holding opponents to an average of just 65 per game.

Seattle has won the last three games in the series with Philadelphia and that includes last year’s 26-15 win which was also at CenturyLink Field, site of Sunday’s game. The last time the Eagles beat the Seahawks was in 2008, a 26-7 win in Seattle, one of the tougher places to play in the NFL.

Philadelphia leads the league in scoring averaging 31.9 points a game. Its defense is third in points allowed per game (17.4) and the Eagles running game is among the best. Philadelphia running backs average 147.5 yards a game, good for second in the NFL.

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati

Steelers -5.5 Points

Over/Under 43.5 Points

It is one of the ugliest rivals in the NFL. Every time the Steelers and Bengals get together, the game is physical and there are usually some fines levied. Expect it again as the 9-2 Steelers travel to Cincinnati to take on the 5-6 Bengals who, believe it or not, still have a shot at the postseason.

Pittsburgh beat Cincinnati the first time around this season and has, in fact, defeated the Bengals the last five times the two teams have played. Earlier this season, the Pittsburgh defense held the Bengals to just 179 total yards including just 71 on the ground. The Steelers sacked Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton four times and forced two interceptions in the 29-14 victory.

Pittsburgh has won six straight and is led by the NFL’s leading rusher, Le’Veon Bell, and the league’s leading receiver, Antonio Brown. Bell has 981 yards rushing and Brown has caught 80 passes for 1,195 yards and eight touchdowns. The Steelers offense can beat you a number of ways and the defense, though it had trouble last week against Green Bay, is still one of the better units in the NFL. The Steelers give up just 17.5 points per game, which is fourth in the league.

Cincinnati will have to do something it hasn’t been real good at this season if they are to beat the Steelers – score. The Bengals average only 18.1 points per game (25^th in the NFL). The offense isn’t very good at running the football. Cincinnati is 31^st in the league in rushing averaging 75.6 yards per game and the passing game (198.6 yards per game, 28^th) is not much better. The Bengals biggest weapon is WR A.J. Green who has 53 catches for 809 yards and six touchdowns. Cincinnati has won two straight, but those wins came over Denver, which is just 3-8, and Cleveland, which has still yet to win a game.

Carolina @ New Orleans

Panthers +4 Points

Over/Under 48 Points

The battle for control of the NFC South takes place Sunday in New Orleans as the Saints take on the streaking Carolina Panthers. Both teams sit at 8-3 and a victory gives the winner a one-game lead in the division race. Sunday’s game likely will serve as one of the deciding factors in who wins what is presumably the toughest division in the NFL. As it stands currently, the Saints, by virtue of their earlier win over Carolina, would win the division, and the Panthers and Falcons would be the NFC’s wild cards.

The Saints enter this week’s game coming off a tough 26-20 loss to the Rams. New Orleans had won eight in a row before last week’s loss. The New Orleans offense is as dynamic as they come with QB Drew Brees (third in the NFL in passing yards) and the running back trifecta of Mark Ingram, Adrian Peterson, and rookie sensation Alvin Kamara. Ingram is the NFL’s fourth-leading rusher with 837 yards and Kamara has come on strong as of late. In the loss to the Rams, the Tennessee product rushed just five times but gained 87 yards and caught six passes for 101 more. He scored two touchdowns.

Carolina has won its last four games thanks, in part, to a return to what it does best. The Panthers have averaged 185 yards rushing in the last four games including two 200-yard-plus efforts. The defense has been effective but is still inconsistent at times. Head coach Ron Rivera’s unit gives up 18.8 points per game but has allowed 48 points in the last two games. If the Panthers are going to have a shot on Sunday, they are going to have to slow the Saints down.

For New Orleans, much of their success this season has been due to a much-improved defense. In the first meeting with Carolina, the Saints held the Panthers to 288 total yards and they forced three turnovers. Brees was a model of efficiency completing 22-of-29 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Carolina cannot allow that to happen again.

 

NFL WEEK 12 Previews

Houston @ Baltimore

Ravens -7 Points

Over/Under 38 Points

Coming off big wins a week ago, both Houston and Baltimore are still alive, even if barely, in the AFC postseason race. The Texans moved to 4-6 with their first win in four weeks when they beat Arizona, 31-21, last Sunday. Quarterback Tom Savage finally was competent enough to lead Houston to a victory, the first since starter Deshaun Watson went down with a knee injury. The Texans are still three games behind AFC South leader Jacksonville, but they are still in the hunt for a wild card just like Baltimore.

At 5-5, the Ravens currently occupy the AFC’s sixth and final playoff spot. Baltimore forced five Green Bay turnovers last week en route to a 23-0 win over the Packers. The Ravens won despite gaining just 219 yards of total offense. Baltimore has the absolute worst passing attack – 165.2 yards per game – in the NFL, but when you play defense like the Ravens you have a chance. Baltimore is third in the league in points against giving up just 17.1 per game.

The Texans had one of the better defenses coming into the 2017 season but injuries have decimated the unit. Defensive end J.J. Watt and LB Whitney Mercilus have been out since early in the season and will not return. The once-formidable Texans now give up 26.2 points per game, 30^th in the league.

Historically, Houston has not fared well against Baltimore. The two teams have played each other just nine times and the Ravens own seven victories. The Texans have won two of the last three meetings though. Houston won the last meeting in 2014 (25-13) but has never won in Baltimore at M&T Bank Stadium. After facing Houston, the Ravens have a tough two-game stretch that will likely determine their playoff destiny. Baltimore takes on Detroit at home and then their rival the Steelers in Pittsburgh.

Green Bay @ Pittsburgh

Steelers -14 Points

Over/Under 41.5 Points

Reeling after a 23-0 loss to Baltimore, Green Bay faces its second consecutive AFC North opponent, Pittsburgh which could very well be the best team in the conference. The Steelers are 8-2 and have won five straight. They have just one loss at home, to Jacksonville earlier in the season. The Packers enter Sunday night’s game at Heinz Field desperately needing a win. While not mathematically eliminated from the postseason, another loss will make the playoffs a virtual impossibility this season.

Backup quarterback Brett Hundley, now the team’s starter with the injury to Aaron Rodgers, was responsible for three of the Packers’ five turnovers last week in the loss to the Ravens. Hundley was a respectable 21-for-36 for 239 yards, but his three picks gave Baltimore short fields that the Ravens turned into points. If Hundley and the Packers do the same against Pittsburgh, they do not stand a chance.

The Pittsburgh defense is among the best in the NFL. The Steelers give up just 16.5 points per game, second-best in the league. In last week’s 40-17 victory over Tennessee, the Steelers defense held the Titans to 52 yards rushing, sacked Titans QB Marcus Mariota five times, and intercepted him on four occasions. If Hundley cannot deal with that kind of pressure, Green Bay is in for a long night.

Pittsburgh has won the last four regular season meetings with the Packers. The last was in 2013 at Lambeau Field where the Steelers scored a 38-31 win. The last time the teams played at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh won a close game, 37-36. Green Bay’s only win over Pittsburgh since 1998 came in 2011 in Super Bowl XLV. After starting the season 3-1, the Packers have gone 1-4 in their last five games. Their only win is over Chicago, which is 3-7 on the season.

NY Giants @ Washington

Redskins -7 Points

Over/Under 44.5 Points

The Washington Redskins need to figure out how to play defense, especially in the last two minutes of a half or game. The Redskins blew another shot at a win when they dropped a 34-31 decision to New Orleans last week. A Saints touchdown pass with just over a minute to play tied the game and Wil Lutz’s 28-yard field goal in overtime won it. It was the second consecutive loss for Washington and fourth in the past five games. Now, head coach Jay Gruden and company take on NFC East rival New York.

The Giants are coming off just their second win of the season, a 12-9 upset of Kansas City. The Chiefs turned the ball over three times and allowed a 23-yard Aldrick Rosas field goal late in overtime to give the Giants the win. As displayed in their victory, the Giants are not very good offensively. They could not convert the Kansas City miscues into touchdowns. The Giants running game is not good. They average 92 yards per game (26^th in the NFL) and, as a result, score just 16 points per game, which is 30^th in the league.

The Giants may be able to move the ball against Washington which is horrendous on defense. The Redskins give up 26.6 points per game (31^st). Part of the defense’s troubles occur on third down in the final minutes of a half or game. Washington allows opponents to convert on third down 66.7 percent of the time in those situations. That is why the Redskins are now 4-6. The offense, led by QB Kirk Cousins (2,796 yards, 17 TDs), has scored 61 points over the past two weeks. The defense has given up 72.

The Giants won the last game in the series, 19-10, played at the end of last season. Washington has lost six of the last eight in the series. The Redskins last victory over the Giants at home at FedExField was during the 2015 season.

Minnesota @ Detroit

Vikings -3 Points

Over/Under 44.5 Points

It’s a Thanksgiving tradition in Detroit. The Lions will play host to the NFC North-leading Minnesota Vikings on Thursday. Detroit (6-4) has a chance to move within a game of the Vikings (8-2) with a victory. Matthew Stafford and the rest of the Lions will have to overcome a very stingy Minnesota defense in order to do so.

The Vikings held the best offense in the NFL to just seven points last week in a 24-7 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Minnesota held L.A. to just 254 total yards while gaining 451 of their own. Case Keenum has proved to be worthy of the Vikings quarterback job leading the team to victory once again. Keenum completed 27-of-38 passes for 280 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Rams.

One of the things that has helped Keenum is the Vikings running game which generated 171 yards last week. Latavius Murray had 95 yards and two touchdowns runs in the win over Los Angeles and the Vikings average 123.3 yards a game on the ground.

Defensively, Minnesota gives up just 17.2 points a game, which is fourth overall in points against. That defense will have to control one of the better offensive units in the NFL on Thursday. The Lions, winners of their last three straight, are averaging 27.1 points a game (5^th in the NFL). Quarterback Matthew Stafford leads a very good passing attack with 2,760 yards and 19 touchdowns. Golden Tate is his No. 1 target (59 receptions, 691 yards), but the Lions run game needs to be better.

On the other side of the ball, the Detroit run defense needs to be better. The Lions defense has given up over 200 yards rushing in each of the past two weeks. Against opponents the quality of Minnesota, giving up that many yards on the ground is going to get you beat.

NFL WEEK 11 Previews

Tennessee @ Pittsburgh

Steelers -7 Points

Over/Under 44 Points

Two teams headed in similar directions meet on Thursday night to kick of Week 11 of the National Football League season. Tennessee (6-3) travels to Pittsburgh to take on the 7-2 Steelers. Both teams enter Thursday night’s game having won four straight and the winner will take another step toward winning their respective division. Pittsburgh is a full three games ahead of second-place Baltimore while the Titans are deadlocked with Jacksonville though they do own a victory over the Jags. Thursday’s winner also gets nearer a first-round playoff bye and home-field advantage in the postseason.

For Pittsburgh, which had to rally to beat Indianapolis last week, it all revolves around a stingy defense and the play of QB Ben Roethlisberger, RB Le’Veon Bell, and WR Antonio Brown. The Steelers defense is second in the league in points allowed per game (16.4). Pittsburgh has not surrendered more than 18 points in a single game the entire season. Bell leads the NFL in rushing with 840 yards and Brown is the league’s receiving yards leader with 882.

It will be up to the Titans defense to slow down the Pittsburgh trio. Tennessee does have one of the league’s better run defenses. The Titans are sixth in the league in rushing yards allowed per game (91.9). The problem for Tennessee head coach Mike Mularkey, who played and coached for the Steelers, is in slowing down Bell, Brown, and Roethlisberger.

The Steelers will have their hands full with Titans QB Marcus Mariota, one of the game’s better young quarterbacks. Mariota has 1,783 passing yards and has been extremely efficient in the Titans last two wins over Baltimore and Cincinnati. The Pittsburgh defense will have to contend with a pretty good Tennessee running game that features DeMarco Murray (433 yards). The Titans are seventh in the league averaging 124.8 yards per game.

Philadelphia @ Dallas

Eagles -3 Points

Over/Under 48 Points

It is the first of two meetings this season between NFC East rivals Philadelphia and Dallas as the teams meet on Sunday night in Week 11. The Eagles are the owners of the NFL’s best record at 8-1 and have won seven straight thanks to the league’s best run defense and second-best scoring offense. The Cowboys enter Sunday night coming off a loss to Atlanta and the loss of their star running back Ezekiel Elliott.

Elliott did not play against Atlanta and will miss the Cowboys’ next five games as he serves his league-mandated suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Without Elliott against the Falcons, the Dallas running game managed just 107 yards. More importantly, Dallas was without LT Tyron Smith who sat out the Atlanta game due to back and groin injuries. As a result, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was sacked eight times, six by Atlanta DE Adrian Clayborn.

Dallas will need to somehow run the football against the NFL’s best run defense. The Eagles give up a paltry 66.4 yards per game. Without an ability to run the football, the Philadelphia defense can line up and attack Prescott in the passing game.

Leading the NFL’s second-best scoring offense (31.4 points per game) is second-year quarterback Carson Wentz, who has 2,262 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. He is helped by a powerful running game led by LeGarrette Blount (504 yards). The Eagles are fourth in the league in rushing (136.8 yards per game) and added Jay Ajayi to the mix. The former Miami running back had 77 yards on eight carries in his Eagles’ debut two weeks ago. The ability to run the football has made life much easier for Wentz who has proven to be worth the No. 2 overall draft pick from a year ago.

The Eagles have won two of the last three meetings with Dallas. Two of the past three games have gone to overtime, including the last game at AT&T Stadium, site of Sunday night’s game. The two teams will meet once more this season on Dec. 31 in Philadelphia.

Atlanta @ Seattle

Seahawks -3 Points

Over/Under 45 Points

The last time the Falcons and Seahawks played it was for a chance to play for an NFC championship. Atlanta rolled up 36 points and beat Seattle in the Georgia Dome in January before eventually moving on to Super Bowl 51. The Falcons are not nearly as strong on offense as they were a year ago. Atlanta is averaging just 21.3 points per game thus far this season, a far cry from the NFL’s best scoring offense of a year ago.

Still, the Falcons are dangerous as they proved in last week’s win over Dallas. Quarterback Matt Ryan was efficient going 22-for-29 for 215 yards and RB Tevin Coleman ran for 83 yards and a touchdown. It was the defense though that shined. Defensive end Adrian Clayborn had six of the Atlanta’s eight sacks in Atlanta’s 27-7 win. If the Falcons can get after Russell Wilson like that, they will have a shot at beating the Seahawks in one of the toughest places to play in the NFL, CenturyLink Field.

Atlanta has won two of its last three games and has won five of the last seven games with Seattle. The Falcons have not won in Seattle since 2011. To do so, it will take pressure on Wilson which might be a little easier if OT Duane Brown is inactive. Brown left the Seahawks’ lineup in the team’s win over Arizona last week. The newly acquired left tackle has an ankle injury and if he cannot go that could spell trouble for Wilson and the Seahawks.

The Seattle offense revolves around Wilson who, in addition to throwing for 2,543 yards, is also the team’s leading rusher with 290. If not for Wilson, the Seahawks’ ground game would be nonexistent. Seattle averages 100.7 yards per game and if they cannot find a way to run against Atlanta, Clayborn and last year’s sack leader Vic Beasley will be primed and ready to put pressure on Wilson. The Seahawks are 6-3 and a game behind NFC West leader, the Los Angeles Rams.

L.A. Rams @ Minnesota

Vikings -2 Points

Over/Under 45.5 Points

Two surprising division leaders meet Sunday in Week 11 when the Los Angeles Rams travel to Minnesota. It’s been many years since the Rams of L.A. made a trip to play the Vikings in Minnesota. It was 1991 the last time that happened. The Vikings scored a 20-14 win at the old Metrodome. Things are much different this time around especially for the Rams.

It is likely no one expected the Rams to be this good. With a first-year head coach in Sean McVay – also the NFL’s youngest head coach of the modern era – anything better than the 4-12 mark that was put up last year would have been considered a success. Now, McVay and company are 7-2 and in control of the NFC West.

The Vikings, also 7-2, lead the NFC North normally controlled by the Green Bay Packers. With the injury to Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, the division is wide open for the taking and head coach Mike Zimmer’s Vikings have done their best to take over. Minnesota has won five straight with a backup quarterback – Case Keenum – a solid running game, and very good defense. The Vikings defense will be challenged this week when they face the highest scoring offense in the NFL.

The Rams average 32.9 points per game led by second-year QB Jared Goff who continues to get better. Goff has thrown for 2,385 yards and is aided by a strong running game led by Todd Gurley (754 yards, 7 TDs). Robert Woods is the Rams’ leading receiver with 39 catches and 622 yards. The two times that the Vikings have faced excellent passing games, they lost. Minnesota lost in Week 2 to Ben Roethlisberger and Pittsburgh and in Week 4 to Detroit and Matthew Stafford.

NFL WEEK 10 PREVIEWS

Seattle @ Arizona

Seahawks -6 Points

Over/Under 41.5 Points

With the Los Angeles Rams taking over sole control of the NFC West, both Seattle and Arizona cannot afford another division loss as the season heads into its second half. The two teams will start Week 10 with their matchup in Arizona on Thursday night. The Cardinals likely have the more difficult road to follow as they will have to navigate the rest of the season without starting quarterback Carson Palmer. Drew Stanton performed well last week in Palmer’s place, but it was the play of RB Adrian Peterson that caught the nation’s attention in Arizona’s win over San Francisco. Peterson carried the ball 37 times for 159 yards. If he continues to do that, it will take some pressure off of Stanton and the passing game.

The Seattle defense has been one of the league’s best during the tenure of head coach Pete Carroll and the unit has played well thus far this season. Minus last week’s game-winning drive and an outstanding performance by Houston rookie Deshaun Watson, the Seahawks’ defense has been one of the stingiest in the league. They are fifth in the NFL in scoring defense giving up 18.6 points per game. In last week’s 17-14 loss to Washington, Seattle allowed only 244 total yards but 16 penalties and three missed field goals proved to be the difference.

The Seahawks and Cardinals have had some epic battles in the past. Just last year on Christmas Eve, the Cardinals scored a 34-31 win at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, one of the toughest places to play in the NFL. Arizona has not beaten Seattle on their home field in its last four tries. That includes the 6-6 tie last October. The last time the Cardinals beat the Seahawks at home was a 20-16 win during the 2012 season.

New England @ Denver

Patriots -7.5 Points

Over/Under 46 Points

The Patriots-Broncos matchup has been one of the best in the NFL for the past several years. The 2017 version will not. The two teams enter Sunday’s game headed in opposite directions. The Broncos lost for the fourth straight time last week in convincing fashion, a 51-23 defeat at the hands of 8-1 Philadelphia. Now, first-year head coach Vance Joseph has to take on the defending Super Bowl champs at a time when the Patriots are red hot.

New England has won its last four games and had the benefit of a bye last week in order to prepare for Denver. The Patriots struggled early in the season especially on defense. Head coach Bill Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia had serious issues in giving up 30-plus points in consecutive weeks. Over the course of the Patriots’ four-game win streak, the problems on defense seem to be resolved. New England has given up just 11.7 points per game in those last four wins.

Offensively, Tom Brady leads the NFL’s best passing offense. Brady has 2,541 yards passing and 16 touchdowns thus far this season. The Patriots have made up for the loss of WR Julian Edelman and are seventh in the league in scoring averaging 27 points a game.

Denver has had its share of issues on offense beginning with the quarterback. Trevor Siemian, who began the season as the starter, was benched in favor of Brock Osweiler in Week 9. Osweiler completed just 19-of-38 passes for 208 yards in the loss to Philadelphia. He was constantly pressured and didn’t receive any help from a running game that mustered a total of 35 yards. If Joseph and the Broncos don’t get that fixed, the rest of the season is going to be very long.

What was surprising in Week 9 was the Denver defense. One of the premier units in the NFL, the Broncos were torched for four touchdown passes by second-year Eagles QB Carson Wentz. The Eagles also ran for 197 yards amassing a total of 419. If the Broncos do not play well on defense, you can bet that they will lose again to the Patriots at home. New England won last year, 16-3, at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver.

Miami @ Carolina

Dolphins +10 Points

Over/Under 39.5 Points

The bottom is slowly giving out on the Miami Dolphins’ season. Somehow, they managed to start the season 4-2, but have lost two straight and now get into the most difficult stretch in their schedule. They will take on 6-3 Carolina on Monday night before facing the Patriots and Bills twice each before season’s end. Don’t forget a Christmas Eve date with AFC West leader Kansas City. It is highly possible that the Dolphins, current owners of the NFL’s worst offense, do not win again in 2017.

Last week, Miami squandered the best performance of the season by quarterback Jay Cutler and lost to Oakland 27-24. Cutler threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns, but the Dolphins committed 11 penalties and found a way to lose to the Raiders. The running game is virtually nonexistent. Miami averages 77.6 yards rushing per game, 30^th in the NFL. Head coach Adam Gase’s offense is dead last in scoring (14.5 points per game).

The Dolphins take that offense up against a Carolina defense that is fourth in the NFL in points allowed per game (17.7). In last week’s win over Atlanta, the Panthers held the Falcons to just 53 yards on the ground while chalking up 201 of their own. QB Cam Newton had 86 yards on nine carries and rookie Christian McCaffrey gained 66 yards on 15 carries. Each scored a touchdown in the win.

The two teams have only met five times total. Miami won the first four, but Carolina won the last meeting back in 2013. The Panthers have won their last two games and they are just 2-2 at home this season. Both teams traded key players away last week before the trade deadline. The Dolphins got rid of leading rusher Jay Ajayi and Carolina traded leading receiver Kelvin Benjamin.

Dallas @ Atlanta

Falcons -3 Points

Over/Under 50.5 Points

The Dallas Cowboys are right back in the thick of the playoff hunt with three straight victories. Their fate is likely in the hands of the legal system as running back Ezekiel Elliott awaits a six-game suspension. He was able to play last Sunday in a win over Kansas City and appears to be a go for Sunday’s game against Atlanta. In each of the past three wins Elliott has been a factor rushing for over 100 in wins over San Francisco and Washington and then totaling 97 in the win over the Chiefs. If Dallas can run the football, good things will happen in Atlanta.

The Falcons (4-4) have lost four of their past five games, two of them by three points and another by six. The Atlanta pass rush has not been as fierce as last season when LB Vic Beasley led the league in sacks. So far, the Falcons have just 18 sacks total as a team and Beasley has just four to his name. Atlanta is just mediocre against the run giving up 114.5 yards per game (18^th in the NFL) and if they can’t stop Elliott the Falcons are in trouble.

Atlanta has been somewhat of a nemesis for the Cowboys over the years. In the past six meetings between the two franchises dating back to 2001, the Falcons have won four times including the last two. Atlanta beat Dallas the last time the teams met in Atlanta back in 2012. Matt Ryan threw for 342 yards that day and the Falcons held Dallas to just 65 yards on the ground. If Atlanta can get a repeat of that performance, they can get themselves back into the NFC South race. New Orleans (6-2) and Carolina (6-3) are currently ahead of the Falcons.

NFL WEEK 9 PREVIEWS

Detroit @ Green Bay

Lions -2.5 Points

Over/Under 43 Points

A bye week was probably exactly what Green Bay needed last week. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a broken collarbone in a loss to Minnesota and backup Brett Hundley didn’t look particularly comfortable in a loss to New Orleans. With a week to regroup, the Packers now get back to business against NFC North rival Detroit on Monday night.

Hundley, in his third year with Green Bay, showed his lack of experience in a 26-17 loss to the Saints. He was 12-for-25 for 87 yards. The former UCLA star threw one interception and was sacked once. What will help him against the Lions on Monday is a running game led by Aaron Jones who had 131 yards on 17 carries. The problem is that Detroit is fairly stout against the run giving up an average of 91.6 yards per game, which is seventh in the NFL.

The Lions defense is very opportunistic as well which has yielded 16 takeaways so far this season, which is tied for second-best in the league. Detroit already has more takeaways than its defense did in all of 2016. Still, the Lions have found a way to lose three straight after starting the season 3-1. Where the Lions have failed recently is on third down and in the red zone. In a 20-15 loss to Pittsburgh last Sunday night, Detroit was just 2-of-12 on third down and had to settle for five Matt Prater field goals when the offense had plenty of opportunities to score.

If that doesn’t change, the Lions may endure more pain at the hands of Green Bay. The Lions do not do very well at Lambeau Field, site of next Monday night’s game. In fact, Detroit has won exactly one game at the historic venue. That came in 2015. In the three games since that win, the Packers have won each time and have won 19 of the last 23 games played between the two teams. The big difference this time around will be the play of Hundley. He is not Rodgers, but if he doesn’t make mistakes Green Bay has a shot at winning at home.

Oakland @ Miami

Raiders -3 Points

Over/Under 44 Points

The Miami Dolphins have one of the worst offenses in the NFL and somehow they are 4-3. That offense is likely to get them in trouble though especially against the teams remaining on their schedule. Miami lost to Baltimore 40-0 last Thursday night. The Ravens held the Dolphins to just 196 total yards and backup quarterback Matt Moore was picked off twice and sacked three times. Moore was subbing for the injured Jay Cutler, who really hadn’t done that much better in guiding a Dolphins offense that is dead last in the league in scoring (13.1 points per game).

Now, the Dolphins must figure out their offensive woes quickly as they take on 3-5 Oakland, a 34-14 loser to Buffalo last week. The Raiders’ season has been a disappointing one after the success they had a year ago. Oakland has lost five of its last six games after starting the season with consecutive victories. Like Miami, the Raiders have had problems on offense. Even after acquiring RB Marshawn Lynch, the running game is a mess. Oakland rushes for just 88 yards per game, 26^th in the league. It doesn’t help that the team’s turnover ratio is minus-6 after the Raiders turned the ball over four times on Sunday against the Bills.

It is truly amazing that Miami still has a winning record. Despite having a minus-60 point differential, the Dolphins have won four games against pretty decent competition. There are only four teams in the NFL with a point differential worse than Miami’s. Two of them have yet to win a game. Miami has been shutout in two games this season and if their performance continues, the Dolphins might not win again. They still must face New England and Buffalo twice each.

The key to Sunday night’s game might be Oakland QB Derek Carr. Carr has 1,654 yards passing and 12 touchdowns. He has had to carry the Raiders’ offense at times and he is capable of doing so. There is talk that Cutler, who is still listed as ‘Out,’ may be back and ready to play against the Raiders. If so, the Dolphins offense might fare a little better.

If history is any indication, the Dolphins might somehow get to 5-3. Miami has beaten Oakland in five straight meetings (and eight of the last nine) between the two teams. The last time the Raiders beat the Dolphins was in 2007, a 35-17 victory that, ironically, was played in Miami.

Kansas City @ Dallas

PK

Over/Under 51.5 Points

The Dallas Cowboys reminded the NFL that they indeed are a team to be reckoned with in consecutive wins over San Francisco and Washington just last week. The Cowboys’ offense mustered up 73 points while the defense gave up just 29. Running back Ezekiel Elliott, who is still dodging suspension, has come through big in both games rushing for over 100 yards in each as well as scoring a pair of touchdowns in both games.

Elliott is the key to the Dallas offense which is now second in the NFL in rushing and fifth in scoring (28.3). Elliott ran for 150 against the 49ers and 147 in last week’s win over rival Washington, a win that gives the Cowboys a one-game advantage over the Redskins in the NFC East Division. The Cowboys running back is now third in the NFL in rushing with 690 yards. Elliott will surely be one of the keys as Dallas takes on Kansas City this Sunday afternoon.

The Chiefs have struggled recently dropping two straight to Pittsburgh and Oakland. Defensively, the Chiefs aren’t as strong as they should be for a division leader. Head coach Andy Reid’s defense might have trouble containing Elliott. The Chiefs are 26^th in the NFL against the run giving up an average of 124.6 yards per game. In the loss to Pittsburgh, Kansas City gave up 194 yards on the ground, 179 of them to the NFL’s leading rusher Le’Veon Bell.

The two teams have not played since the 2013 season when Dallas traveled to Arrowhead Stadium and lost to the Chiefs 17-16. The last time the two teams played in Texas, the Cowboys were 31-28 winners in the old Texas Stadium back in 2005. Chiefs’ sack leader LB Justin Houston is listed as questionable as is Dallas WR Cole Beasley.

Buffalo @ NY Jets

Bills -3 Points

Over/Under 43 Points

The Buffalo Bills can move into a tie for first place in the AFC East with a win over the New York Jets on Thursday night. A Bills (5-2) victory would tie them with New England, a team Buffalo will face twice in December. First-year head coach Sean McDermott and the Bills have won four of their last five games including last week’s 34-14 beat down of the Oakland Raiders. The Jets? They are just trying to prove they are not the worst team in the NFL.

The Jets were doing a good job of showing the NFL that they were not tanking the season when they started out 3-2. Since then, things haven’t gone so well for the Jets, losers of three straight albeit by a touchdown or less. New York is about as mediocre as a team can get. The Jets rank 20^th through 25^th in most every single statistical category, both on offense and defense. With three straight losses under their belt, a fourth straight might cause the Jets to implode. After the Bills, New York will still face the likes of Kansas City, New Orleans, Denver, and New England for a second time.

What the Jets will have to do on Thursday to have any chance of an upset is to slow down the Bills’ running game. It’s no secret that McDermott and the Buffalo offense like to turn around and hand the ball off to LeSean McCoy. Buffalo averages just under 125 yards rushing per game and their defense is one of the league’s best. The Bills are third against the run (80.1 yards per game) and third in scoring defense (16.4 points per game). When you play good defense and run the ball in the NFL, good things usually happen. If they happen on Thursday night, Buffalo will enjoy its status as a division leader and the Bills will be that much closer to ending an 18-year playoff drought.

Buffalo beat the Jets in the season opener 21-12. McCoy rushed for 110 yards and the Buffalo defense limited New York to just 214 yards total. It was Buffalo’s first win over the Jets in three tries. The Jets won both games last season. Those are the only two Jets’ victories over the Bills since 2013.

NFL WEEK 8 PREVIEWS

Houston @ Seattle

Texans +5.5 Points

Over/Under 45.5 Points

The Houston Texans need to find a way to beat good football teams. They have three wins thus far over teams with a combined 6-14 record. Other than their win over 4-3 Tennessee, the Texans have not been all that impressive. Now, they head to one of the toughest places to play in the National Football League – Seattle’s CenturyLink Field.

The Seahawks have won three straight and their defense is once again the NFL’s best. Seattle is allowing a league-low 15.7 points per game. Anytime you have a defense that can prevent opponents from scoring, you have a chance. The Seahawks offense has not been outstanding, but quarterback Russell Wilson (1,556 yards passing, 11 TDs) has done enough to generate four wins. The running game still needs some work, but Seattle will be in every game because of its defense.

Houston (3-3) has found its quarterback of the future in rookie Deshaun Watson. He has been aided by a running game that is third in the NFL (137.7 yards per game). The one-two punch of D’onta Freeman and Lamar Miller has helped the Texans rank third in scoring offense in the NFL (29.2 points per game). After putting up just 20 points in the first two games of the season, Houston has scored 157 in its last four games.

Houston has never beaten the Seahawks in Seattle. The two teams have only played three times in NFL history. Seattle has won two including the only game played in Seattle. That was back in 2005 when Seahawks RB Shaun Alexander ran for 141 yards and four touchdowns in a 42-10 Seattle victory.

Dallas @ Washington

Cowboys -2 Points

Over/Under 50.5 Points

After two straight losses, Dallas rebounded with a 40-10 victory over winless San Francisco. Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott totaled 219 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. Head coach Jason Garrett will have his star for at least one more week while the legal system deals with his suspension. That means the Cowboys will have Elliott when they take on NFC East rival Washington on Sunday.

The Redskins will have not only Elliott to deal with, but also the rest of the Dallas offense. Quarterback Dak Prescott has 1,426 yards and 14 touchdowns thus far this season. He became just the second Cowboys quarterback to register three passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown in the same game with his performance last week against the 49ers. The Dallas running game is second in the NFL averaging 147.5 yards per game and if not Elliott (540 yards), the Cowboys also have former Redskins 1,000-yard rusher Alfred Morris.

A win by either team puts the winner back into contention for a division title with Philadelphia. The loser is still in it but has an uphill battle to make it to the postseason. The Redskins are led by QB Kirk Cousins who is once again enjoying a productive season. Cousins has 1,334 yards passing through just five games. Entering their sixth game, the Redskins only two losses have come to NFC East leader Philadelphia and AFC West leader Kansas City.

Dallas won both games with the Redskins last season. Both games were close decided by five points or less. The Cowboys have had somewhat of a hold on the series between the two long-time rivals. Dallas has won four of the last five and six of the past eight meetings. Sunday’s game takes place at FedEx Field where the Cowboys have won the last four games between the two teams.

Pittsburgh @ Detroit

Steelers -3 Points

Over/Under 45 Points

It’s probably a good thing that the Detroit Lions had an extra week to prepare for their next opponent, the 5-2 Pittsburgh Steelers. The Lions have given up 79 points in their last two games, both losses, and are in desperate need of a win. At 3-3, Detroit is right in the thick of the NFC North race which is up for grabs now that Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is out for at least eight weeks.

Detroit will play host to the Steelers, a 29-14 winner over AFC North foe Cincinnati last week. The Steelers are solid on both sides of the ball with a defense that ranks third in the NFL in scoring (16.6 points per game) and an offense that features QB Ben Roethlisberger, RB Le’Veon Bell, and WR Antonio Brown. Bell ran for 134 yards in the win over Cincinnati, Brown caught a touchdown, and Roethlisberger threw a pair of scoring passes. Bell is second in the NFL in rushing (684 yards) while Brown leads the league in receiving yards with 765.

The Lions defense, which was a big reason for the team’s 3-1 start to the season, has faltered in recent weeks and head coach Jim Caldwell hopes the bye week will help the unit regroup. Detroit is third in the NFL in takeaways with 14 on the season. Nine of those are interceptions and if the Detroit defense can force turnovers against Pittsburgh, the Lions will have a shot at a victory.

The Lions have never beaten Pittsburgh at Ford Field. The two teams have only played once there back in 2009 when the Steelers claimed a 28-20 win. Pittsburgh has won the last four over Detroit. The Lions last win over the Steelers was in 1998 in the team’s old home, the Pontiac Silverdome.

Denver @ Kansas City

Broncos +7 Points

Over/Under 43 Points

It’s an old AFC West rivalry that dates back to the days of the AFL. Denver travels to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs on Monday night. Both teams have lost each of their last two games. Kansas City was unbeaten at 5-0 before losing to Pittsburgh at home and then Oakland on a last-second Raiders touchdown. Head coach Andy Reid needs his defense to step up and deliver. The Chiefs’ offense is second in the NFL in scoring (29.6 points per game), but the defense gave up 31 in its loss to Oakland and 34 in its last victory over Houston. Super Bowl contenders do not normally give up 23 points per game as the Chiefs are currently.

Denver (3-3) has now lost three of its last four games and last Sunday failed to score for the first time in over 20-plus seasons. The Broncos were shutout by the Los Angeles Chargers 21-0 last week. It was the first time since the 1992 season that Denver failed to score. The Chargers defense limited Denver to just 69 yards rushing and sacked quarterback Trevor Siemian five times.

Monday night will be the first of two games against the Chiefs this season. The two teams will meet in the season finale, a game that could determine the division winner and who gets into the postseason. The Broncos desperately need a victory and if history has any say Denver has a great chance of handing the Chiefs their third straight loss.

While Kansas City has beaten Denver the last three times the two teams have played, prior to that Denver won seven in a row. Prior to meeting last Christmas Day at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, the Broncos had won five in a row on the Chiefs’ home turf. For that to happen, the Broncos are going to have to get production from Siemian as well as their running game. The Denver defense is ninth in the league in scoring defense (19.7 points per game) and will have its hands full trying to slow down one of the most dynamic offenses in football.

NFL WEEK 7 PREVIEWS

Kansas City @ Oakland

Chiefs -3 Points

Over/Under 46.5 Points

Thursday night’s AFC West Division rivalry game starts off Week 7. Kansas City, which was knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten by Pittsburgh, travels to Oakland to take on the beleaguered Raiders. After winning their first two games of the season, Oakland has dropped four straight to fall to 2-4. Quarterback Derek Carr, who missed two games, returned last week but the Raiders gave up a last-second field goal and lost 17-16 to the Los Angeles Chargers.

The once explosive Oakland offense has been nothing like what it was a year ago. The running game is awful averaging just 93.7 yards a game, 24^th in the NFL. The lack of consistency running the football has affected the passing game too which is 26^th (184.7 yards per game) in the league. Not having Carr for two games hurt, but in his return last Sunday Carr threw for just 171 yards, threw two interceptions and was sacked once. That kind of performance isn’t going to cut it against the Chiefs (5-1).

Kansas City won five in a row before running into a defense that has given them trouble for the past several years. The Chiefs’ offense, which was No. 1 in the NFL in points per game, managed just 13 on Sunday. Head coach Andy Reid and company still had a shot to win in the fourth quarter but the offense just didn’t produce. The NFL’s leading rusher, rookie Kareem Hunt, was held to just 21 yards on nine carries against the Steelers. He will need to be much better against Oakland.

The Chiefs have won the last five consecutive meetings with the Raiders, including the last two at the Oakland County Coliseum. The Raiders last win over Kansas City was in November of 2014 when Oakland won 24-20 at home. Chiefs RB Charcandrick West and WR Tyreek Hill are listed as questionable for Thursday night’s game.

Atlanta @ New England

Patriots -3 Points

Over/Under 55 Points

After a 3-0 start to the 2017 season, the defending NFC champion Atlanta Falcons have dropped two consecutive games. Ironically, both losses have come to AFC East teams. The Falcons will face their third straight AFC East opponent on Sunday night in a rematch of last year’s Super Bowl. Atlanta travels to New England to avenge last year’s defeat. The offense is going to have to be much better if the Falcons plan on having a legitimate shot to win.

So far this season, the dynamic Atlanta offense has been mediocre at best. Quarterback Matt Ryan and company average 24.2 points per game, but they are not the same Falcons offense from a year ago. Devonta Freeman leads the team in rushing with 353 yards and Tevin Coleman has added another 213, but wide receiver Julio Jones, one of the game’s greats, has yet to score a touchdown. Jones has 25 receptions and 367 yards, but he has had only three catches that have produced 20 yards or more and has not been to the end zone. That must change.

The Patriots have fixed some of their defensive troubles that plagued them earlier in the season. New England is still 30^th in the NFL in points allowed per game (26.5), which is hard to believe. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s unit has played well the past two weeks, but they must continue to get better as the season progresses.

Offensively, quarterback Tom Brady is playing as if he were in his 20s again. He has thrown for 1,959 yards and 13 touchdowns thus far this season. The New England passing game is first in the NFL (309.8 yards per game) and the running game, led by Mike Gillislee’s 290 yards and four touchdowns, is just good enough to be dangerous.

The Patriots did have trouble with Kansas City and Carolina, which both feature multiple weapons on offense. Atlanta is similar with both Freeman and Coleman in the backfield and Jones on the outside. If New England allows Ryan and his cast to have success, the Patriots could be in for a long night. Atlanta needs some success. Sunday night’s game is the first of three consecutive road games.

Washington @ Philadelphia

Eagles -4.5 Points

Over/Under 48.5 Points

The Philadelphia Eagles proved they were for real with a 28-23 win over Carolina last Thursday. Now, they must do it again against NFC East Division rival Washington. The Eagles (5-1) beat the Redskins in the season opener, 30-17, behind a great effort from QB Carson Wentz who seems to get better every week. A victory for Philadelphia would complete a season sweep of the Redskins for the first time since the 2013 season.

Wentz was pressured all night by Carolina last week but still managed to throw for 222 yards and three Eagles’ touchdowns. The second-year pro out of North Dakota State has thrown for 1,584 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. He is helped by a ground game that generates 132.5 yards per game, the fifth-best rushing unit in the league. LeGarrette Blount leads the Eagles with 390 yards on the ground. The ability to run the football has taken some of the pressure off of Wentz.

On the other side of the ball, the Eagles’ defense is the NFL’s best against the run. Philadelphia allows opponents just 65.7 yards rushing per game. When opponents can’t run the ball, the Eagles are able to apply pressure to opposing quarterbacks like they did the first time around in Washington. Philadelphia held the Redskins to just 64 yards rushing and Eagles’ DE Brandon Graham had 3.5 of the 4.0 sacks on Washington QB Kirk Cousins. Cousins did throw for 240 yards and a touchdown, but the constant harassment by Philadelphia forced the Washington quarterback to throw an interception and fumble the ball twice. If the Eagles repeat that performance, they will take a three-game lead in the NFC East with a win over the Redskins.

Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh

Steelers -5.5 Points

Over/Under 41.5 Points

When all seemed lost for the Cincinnati Bengals, head coach Marvin Lewis’s team responded with consecutive victories over Cleveland and Buffalo. With an extra week of preparation, Cincinnati now heads to AFC North Division rival Pittsburgh, a team that has had trouble with recently. The Bengals have lost four straight games to the Steelers including that AFC Wild Card game at the end of the 2015 season. Winning at Heinz Field is something that is difficult for any team, but the Bengals did win there in 2015.

The Bengals’ offense has not been as productive as it has in years past. The run game is 28^th in the NFL (84 yards per game) and the Bengals score just under 17 points per game. It won’t get any easier for Cincinnati as they will play the rest of the season without TE Tyler Eifert who will have back surgery. What has helped Lewis and company get two wins this season is a defense that is second in the league in points allowed per game, 16.6. Defense will be the key if the Bengals are to have a shot at beating the Steelers on Sunday.

The Steelers (4-2) have been a model of inconsistency picking up solid wins over Baltimore and previously unbeaten Kansas City last week, then losing games to Chicago and Jacksonville. Last week, the Steelers defense limited NFL leading rusher Kareem Hunt to just 21 yards on nine attempts in a 19-13 victory over the Chiefs. Pittsburgh’s Killer B’s – QB Ben Roethlisberger, RB Le’Veon Bell, and WR Antonio Brown – have been solid so far this season. Roethlisberger has 1,521 yards passing and seven touchdowns. Bell has 550 rushing yards and four touchdowns and Brown has 48 catches for 700 yards. If the three get loose against Cincinnati, look out.

NFL WEEK 4 PREVIEWS

Washington @ Kansas City

Chiefs -7 Points

Over/Under 49.5 Points
The AFC’s last remaining unbeaten welcomes the 2-1 Washington Redskins to Arrowhead Stadium on Monday night. Kansas City appears to have the offensive weapons to take on anyone in the NFL. The Chiefs are coming off a 24-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, the third straight game in which rookie RB Kareem Hunt has proved he is worthy of the league’s Rookie of the Year award. Hunt rushed for 172 yards on 17 carries. He became the first player in NFL history with three 50-yard-plus runs in the first three games of his career.

Hunt leads the NFL with 401 yards rushing, but he is not the only Chiefs’ offensive weapon. The speedy Tyreek Hill has 16 receptions for 253 yards and two scores and TE Travis Kelce has 14 catches and one touchdown. Kelce has even lined up at quarterback in certain situations as Kansas City offensive coordinator Matt Nagy has put together one of the most unique offenses in the NFL.

The Redskins fell to Philadelphia in Week 1 but followed that up with two consecutive wins including last week’s very impressive victory over the Oakland Raiders. Washington QB Kirk Cousins completed 25-of-30 passes for 365 yards and three touchdowns. The Redskins defense also played well sacking Raiders QB Derek Carr four times and picking him off twice.

The Chiefs and Redskins have only played each other nine times since the AFL-NFL merger. Washington has won only once and that was back in 1983 at the old RFK Stadium. The last meeting between the two teams was in 2013. Kansas City won 45-10. Arrowhead Stadium is one of the more difficult places to play especially on a Monday night.

Oakland @ Denver

Broncos -2.5 Points

Over/Under 47 Points
The Raiders-Broncos AFC West showdown on Sunday lost some of its luster when both teams were beaten rather handily last week. Denver traveled to Buffalo where the Bills loaded the box and dared the Broncos to throw. Denver QB Trevor Siemian just wasn’t consistent enough and the Broncos fell 26-16. Oakland played at Washington and had similar troubles as QB Derek Carr was picked off twice and sacked four times in a 27-17 loss.

Moving forward, it will be the Denver running game that must improve. C.J. Anderson and Jamaal Charles combined for just 92 yards last week. The running game can take some of the pressure off of Siemian who was 24-for-40 last week with two interceptions. He was also sacked three times as Buffalo was able to force Denver into sure passing situations.

For Oakland, it’s just a matter of playing better. Carr did not play well against Washington completing just 19-of-31 passes. The powerful Raiders running game produced just 32 yards. Oakland has one of the best offensive lines in the league. Their performance last week was an anomaly. It is possible that the playing on the East Coast and the time difference did play a role in how Oakland played.

The Raiders own the advantage in the long-running series between the two rivals. Oakland has 62 wins to Denver’s 51 (there have been two ties), but it is the Broncos who have controlled the series over the last five to six seasons. Denver won eight straight between November 2011 and October 2015 and has won nine of the last eleven games. The Broncos won the last meeting on January 1 of this year, 24-6, at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, the same venue for Sunday’s game.

Indianapolis @ Seattle

Seahawks -13 Points

Over/Under 41 Points
If not for the Cleveland Browns being on the schedule in Week 3, the Indianapolis Colts would likely be 0-3 entering their Sunday night game with Seattle. The Seahawks, surprisingly, are also 1-2 thanks, in large part, to an offense that is anemic at best. Head coach Pete Carroll’s team did manage to score 27 points last week but the defense fell apart in a 33-27 defeat at Tennessee. Both Seahawks losses have come on the road.

Indianapolis has been without starting quarterback Andrew Luck for the first three games. He is listed as out for this Sunday’s game as well though he may return to practice this week. Without Luck, the Colts have been awful. Backup Scott Tolzien threw two pick-sixes in the season opener and was benched. Jacoby Brissett, obtained in a trade with New England just prior to the start of the season, has stepped in performed better. Still, the Colts offense leaves much to be desired. Indy ranks in the bottom third of the NFL in rushing, passing, and points per game.

The Colts defense isn’t much better. Head coach Chuck Pagano’s unit gives up 30 points per game, 31st in the NFL. That isn’t going to cut it, but the Seattle offense has only managed 16 points per game thus far. Russell Wilson and kicker Blair Walsh have been the only real weapons for the Seattle offense. The running game has fallen into the hands of rookie Chris Carson with the failure of Eddie Lacy to be effective.

Normally stout, the Seattle defense was gashed for three consecutive touchdowns in the third quarter of last week’s loss to the Titans. The Seahawks gave up 24- and 55-yard touchdown passes and a 75-yard run by DeMarco Murray. That is not characteristic of a Seattle defense. Indianapolis has not played at Seattle since 2005 when they lost 28-13. The Colts have won the last two meetings – 2009 and 2013 – but both games were played at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Pittsburgh @ Baltimore

Steelers -3 Points

Over/Under 41.5 Points
Sunday’s Steelers-Ravens matchup could have an effect on the outcome of this year’s AFC North title. The rivals each enter the game with 2-1 records and both are coming off their first losses of the season. Pittsburgh fell 23-17 to Chicago in overtime while Baltimore was crushed at home by Jacksonville, 44-7. None of that matters though when these two teams meet.

Pittsburgh leads the series (25-21) between the two teams but has managed only two wins over the Ravens in the last eight attempts. That includes a win the last time the two teams met on Christmas Day last season. Pittsburgh won 31-27 at home. The Steelers have not won at M&T Bank Stadium since the 2012 season.

It’s no secret that the Steelers will have to shut down the Baltimore running game. The Ravens are currently fourth in the NFL in rushing averaging 142.3 yards per game. If Pittsburgh can stop the run, it would force the Ravens passing game to make plays, something it has not done this season. Baltimore is dead last in the league in passing yards per game (121.3).

It is the Baltimore defense, which fell apart last week, that has been the reason why the Ravens are 2-1. Head coach John Harbaugh’s unit gives up 18 points per game (fifth in the NFL). Pittsburgh’s running game, which features RB Le’Veon Bell, has not performed well thus far this season. The Steelers are averaging just 69 yards per game. With a big game last week, WR Antonio Brown now leads the NFL in receiving yards with 354. Brown, Bell, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger must have a big day against the Baltimore defense to pull off a win in Baltimore.

2016 NFL Season Historic NFL Odds

Week 3 NFL Odds

Houston Texans at New England Patriots

Texans -1.5 points

Over/Under 40.5 points

The Houston Texans look like a brand new team behind new quarterback Brock Osweiller and his arsenal of weapons at the wide-out position and in the backfield. Houston is off to an impressive 2-0 start and have looked dangerous thus far in the early going of the 2016 regular season. If that offense can keep clicking like it is with Brock and DeAndre Hopkins leading the charge, the Texans are a team to watch throughout the season and possibly into the Playoffs. They’ll be visiting a Patriots team that is also 2-0 behind Tom Brady’s replacement Jimmy Garoppolo, however, Garaooppolo is now dealing with injury issues and may have to sit week 3, which would leave Jacoby Brissett as the remaining starter for the Pats and wide receiver Julian Edelman acting as emergency backup.

Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars

Ravens -1 points

Over/Under 47 points

The Baltimore Ravens came back from a 1st quarter 20-2 deficit to defeat the browns by a final score of 25-20. They held Josh McCown and the Browns to zero scores in the final 3 quarters of the game, and sealing the deal with an interception at the goaline by Ravens linebacker CJ Mosely. It was an impressive comeback for a Ravens squad that still has a lot of question marks, but is still off to a strong 2-0 start on the year after beating Buffalo in week 1. The Jaguars are at the other end of the spectrum after getting off to a disappointing 0-2 start with a lot of promise leading up to the season. They got smacked bad at San Diego by a strong Chargers team. Jacksonville will be desperate for a win and should be able to pick apart that Ravens’ suspect secondary.

Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals -3 points

Over/Under 41 points

The Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos are off to a hot start even after many expected a rebuilding after the loss of Peyton Manning to retirement and Brock Osweiller to the Texans, but they look as strong as ever and that defense is back at full strength. They’re coming off an impressive 34-20 win at home against Andrew Luck and the Colts with the defense chipping in with two touchdowns. They’ll be entering Cincinnati to take on a Bengals team that just got smacked by their new division rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh. Combined with their solid win from week 1 against the Jets, the Bengals enter Sunday’s big game with a 1-1 record, and looking to bounce back from a poor offensive and defensive performance last week on the road.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles

Steelers -3.5 points

Over/Under 46.5 points

The Pittsburgh Steelers enter week 3 ranked atop many experts’ NFL Power Rankings with that powerful offense clicking on all cylinders. They’ve started the season with two solid wins after dominating the Redskins in week 1 and then finishing off the Bengals at home just last week. Ben Roethlisburger and Antonio Brown look as dangerous as ever and are lighting things up, while DeAngelo Williams has been good in Bell’s absence while he serves his four game suspension for missing drug tests. They’ll be traveling to Philadelphia to take on the new Eagles behind rookie quarterback Carson Wentz who has been lights out thus far in his first two weeks in the NFL. Wentz displays all the tools to be a star in the league for years to come and has the Eagles off to an easy 2-0 start after dismantling the Browns in week 1 and then the Bears in similar fashion last week.

Week 2 NFL Odds

Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns

Ravens -5.5 points

Over/Under 42.5 points

The Ravens opened the season last week with a decent win at home over the Buffalo Bills. The offense had a few big splash plays from the passing game but was overall pretty average. However, the defense looks to be back to form by keeping the Bills under 170 yards of total offense. The Browns looked like the Browns in week 1 when they played at Philadelphia behind quarterback Roger Griffin III, but he’ll now miss time with an injury and hand the reigns over to Josh McCown who threw for over 400 yards last year against the Ravens. Both teams have question marks, but the Ravens still like a team of mystery who could either fade as the season goes on, or find that playoff determination that’s served them in the past.

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers -3 points

Over/Under 48.5 points

A young budding rivalry brewing in the AFC North is the Steelers and Bengals. The two teams have created a lot of bad blood between them stemming from physical games bordering on the edge of the rule book at times. Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict is at the top of the hate list after some malicious hits on steeler players as the Bengals seemingly unraveled and self destructed in the playoffs in Pittsburgh last season. Cincinnati once again seems primed to take the next big step in the playoffs, but they’ve looked like that for years now. The Steelers look to be like arguably the best high powered offense in the league with Ben Roethlisburger throwing to Antonio Brown and their cast of solid wide receivers. Expect a close and extremely physical game when these two meet this Sunday.

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills

Jets -1.5 points

Over/Under 40.5 points

Tyrod Taylor and the Buffalo Bills offense got off to a horrific start last week at Baltimore against a young and unproven Ravens defense. They were held to less than 170 yards of total offense, which is impressively bad. Their defense was better, but not good enough as they gave up a few big pass plays allowing the Ravens to take the opener by a score of 13-7. The Jets look like a fresh team this season with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm slinging it to great receivers like Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. They also have new acquisition Matt Forte in the backfield who looks motivated and ready to produce big this season with his new team. The Jets have a lot more offensive power than the Ravens, and the Bills defense will have to step it up if they want to keep them out of the endzone.

Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams

Seahawks -6 points

Over/Under 37.5 points

The LA Rams looked like the worst, most inept team in all of the NFL’s week 1 action. Their offense was pitiful behind starting quarterback Casee Keenum, and second year running back Todd Gurley couldn’t get things going on the ground either against the San Francisco 49ers. The Rams showed no potential at all against a 49er defense that isn’t expected to be great this year. It was as bad of a start to the LA Rams era as one could imagine. The Seahawks opened up at home against the Miami Dolphins last week and had to fight off a pesky Dolphins team that fell short by 2 points to the Seahawks. Personally I’d look at that as the Dolphins coming prepared and motivated for this coming season, instead of suggesting that Seattle has turn the slope and is starting to decline. It’ll be interesting if the Rams can even keep this game from getting away from them early.

Week 1 NFL Odds

Carolina Panthers at Denver Broncos (Thursday Night)

Panthers -3 points

Over/Under 41.5 points

In a rematch of last year’s Super Bowl, the Panthers will travel to Denver to take on the reigning Champion Broncos. The line opened at Broncos -1 but the public has strongly influenced the line as it currently sits at Panthers -3. Denver seems like a mess at the quarterback spot after surprisingly cutting March Sanchez and naming inexperienced Trevor Siemian to start. More concerning is that they just made a trade a few days ago to acquire quarterback Austin Davis, so they’ll be carrying three QBs including rookie Paxton Lynch. On the other side of the ball, Denver’s defense should be dominant once again this season, and will need to be in order to make any type of deep playoff run. The Panthers enter the game with revenge on their mind and a team loaded with weapons on both sides of the ball. It’s hard to see the Panthers not winning the game outright given the Broncos’ offense in transition.

Oakland Raiders at New Orleans Saints

Saints -1 point

Over/Under 51 points

Derek Carr and the Oakland Raiders will open up the season on the road in New Orleans as they take on Drew Brees and the Saints. The Raiders have looked primed to take that next step after hitting big on drafting young players like Derek Carr, Amari Cooper, and Khalil Mack. The Saints are coming off a down year that saw them finish with a 7-9 record and 3rd place in the NFC South division. They did little this off-season to add any new prime weapons around Drew Brees, and have a defense with plenty of holes in it. They’ll have to put up points if they want to stay with the Raiders’ offense and avoid a week 1 loss at home. With another losing season this year, Sean Payton and the New Orleans Saints are going to start to think they missed their window to win a championship.

Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens

Ravens -3 points

Over/Under 44.5 points

The Ravens missed the playoffs last season for the first time since John Harbaugh and Joe Flacco joined the team. They were held back with injuries to a number of star players, such as Joe Flacco, Steve Smith, Terrell Suggs, and Justin Foresett. After finishing with a 5-11 record last year, many people are sleeping on the Ravens this year, a role that has served them well in the past. With all of their key injured players back and healthy, Baltimore is poised to make some noise this season in the AFC North. They’ll also get back 2nd year player Breshad Perriman who just saw his first NFL action in the final preseason game. They’ll host a Buffalo Bills team that finished 8-8, just out of the playoffs last year. They’re led by two former Ravens, coach Rex Ryan and quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Along with Sammy Watkins and a strong defense, the Bills have the chance to breakthrough into the playoffs this year if they continue to progress. The line for week 1 falls right at Ravens -3, which is right about where it should be for opening week with a lot of questions about a Ravens team coming back from an injury-filled season.

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys

Giants -1 points

Over/Under 46.5 points

The line started at Cowboys -3 but the public was heavily spooked by the loss of Dallas starting quarterback Tony Romo for the season, moving the line to Giants -1 currently. Rookie Dak Prescott from Mississippi State will make his NFL debut at home in one of the best rivalries in football. It’s a great introduction for a kid who has came out and been spectacular during the preseason, and giving Cowboys’ fans confidence that they may still be a threat even without Romo this season. With the addition of Ezekiel Elliott and Dez Bryant back healthy, this Cowboys are always a formidable opponent. The Giants will return their own cast of stars with Eli Manning, Odell Beckham Jr., and Victor Cruz returning after a long time of rehab. This should be one of the more interesting and unpredictable matchups of Sunday’s NFL. With so much riding on Dallas’ two big rookies at quarterback and running back, it’ll be a gambling man’s guess of who gets off to an early lead after week 1 in the NFC East.

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2015 NFL Season