BEST BETS
ATLANTA FALCONS (4-3) at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (4-3)
LINE: Atlanta by 2.5
Jump on this line before it goes away. Two weeks ago Kirk Cousins threw for 509 yards and four touchdowns against the Bucs, who were able to almost keep up in a 36-30 OT final. Now Tampa is without WRs Chris Godwin (ankle), Mike Evans (hamstring) and quite likely RB Bucky Irving (toe). They won’t keep up this Sunday.
TAKING: ATLANTA -2.5
Falcons 26, Bucs 13
NEW YORK JETS (2-5) at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-6)
LINE: New York by 7
The Jets are in must-win mode after losing four straight since blasting the Pats 24-3 . The Patriots have allowed 73 points in the last two games and, with Davante Adams and Aaron Rodgers having an extra week to get reacquainted, plus Breece Hall and Braelon Allen pounding the rock against the “soft” New England run defence, this meeting will also be lopsided.
TAKING: NEW YORK -7
Jets 31, Patriots 13
CHICAGO BEARS (4-2) at WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (5-2)
LINE: Chicago by 2.5
It looks like Jayden Daniels (ribs) will miss what was lined up to be an electrifying showdown with the only player picked ahead of him in the 2024 draft. While Marcus Mariota performed well as his replacement last week, he was facing a Panthers pass defence ranked 25th. Coming off a bye, the Bears are seventh against the pass, and Caleb Williams has thrown seven TD passes and just one pick while leading them to three straight wins.
TAKING: CHICAGO -2.5
Bears 24, Commanders 17
AND THE REST ….
BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-2) at CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-6)
LINE: Baltimore by 9
The Ravens are one of the best four teams in the NFL and, with five straight wins, they’re also one of the hottest. But Jameis Winston is a better quarterback than Deshaun Watson and although the Browns aren’t going anywhere, they’ve got some pride and Nick Chubb back in the lineup.
TAKING: CLEVELAND +9
Ravens 24, Browns 21
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (4-3) at HOUSTON TEXANS (5-2)
LINE: Houston by 5.5
C.J. Stroud has defeated the Colts by a total of six points in the last two games he has faced them, including Week 1’s 29-27 in Indy, and in those two games, Nico Collins had a total of 312 receiving yards on 15 catches. Collins is still shelved with a hamstring and the Colts could have both Jonathan Taylor and DeForest Buckner from injuries.
TAKING: INDIANAPOLIS +5.5
Colts 23, Texans 20
GREEN BAY PACKERS (5-2) at JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (2.5)
LINE: Green Bay by 4.5
Jordan Love is tied for second-most touchdown passes (15) despite missing two games. He’ll rebound from a two-interception game last week and with his merry band of receivers should light up the Jags, who are just back from two games in London and have the second-worst pass defence in the league.
TAKING: GREEN BAY -4.5
Packers 28, Jags 17
TENNESSEE TITANS (1-5) at DETROIT LIONS (5-1)
LINE: Detroit by 11.5
Even without the explosive Jameson Williams (facing a two-game suspension for PEDs), it’s difficult to imagine the roaring and soaring Lions failing to cover the week’s highest spread against the Titans, who have not scored more than 17 points in any of their losses and have already become sellers by trading WR DeAndre Hopkins and LB Ernest Jones IV.
TAKING: DETROIT -11.5
Lions 27, Titans 14
ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-4) at MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-4)
LINE: Miami by 3.5
TAKING: The expectation of most is the return of Tua Tagovailoa will lift an offensively gifted Dolphins team that has put up 40 points in the four games it has been without him. The expectation from this corner is that it Tagovailoa is not quite himself in his first game back from the latest concussion and that the up-and-down Cards build off last week’s win over the Chargers to keep it close.
TAKING: ARIZONA +3.5
Dolphins 23, Cardinals 21
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (4-2) at CINCINNATI BENGALS (3-4)
LINE: Cincinnati by 2.5
The Eagles not only survived but thrived offensively without left tackle Jordan Mailata in last week’s 28-3 pounding of the Giants, while the Bengals have officially re-entered the playoff race by winning three of their last four. You really can’t trust either team’s defence these days but Cincinnati needs the win more and will finally get one at home, in a shootout.
TAKING: CINCINNATI 34, Eagles 31
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-5) at LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (3-3)
LINE: Los Angeles by 7.5
If OC Klint Kubiak can figure out a way for Spencer Rattler to get rid of the ball quickly, the Saints will have their best game during a slide that has seen them lose five straight as it appears they’re getting a number of players back, including Chris Olave and Taysom Hill. Chargers defence is strong, but Justin Herbert needs receiving help.
TAKING: NEW ORLEANS +7.5
Chargers 17, Saints 13
BUFFALO BILLS (5-2) at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4-3)
LINE: Buffalo by 3
Josh Allen’s TD pass/interception ratio is up to 12-0, but what the Seahawks should find just as concerning as the Bills QB really clicking with Amari Cooper in their second game together is how they’re going to stop a Buffalo running game that has Ray Davis complementing James Cook and, of course, Allen. Seattle’s run ‘D’ is 28th best in the league and its offence looks like it will be missing DK Metcalf.
TAKING: BUFFALO -3
Bills 28, Seahawks 22
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (6-0) at LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-5)
LINE: Kansas City by 10
You may know the Chiefs have won 12 straight since suffering a 20-14 loss to the Raiders last Christmas Day, but did you know that at training camp Raiders safety Trey Taylor mocked Patrick Mahomes holding a Kermit the Frog doll and that coach Antonio Pierce claimed to have the recipe for beating the Chiefs? Did you also know that DeAndre Hopkins will play his first game for the Chiefs just a few days after they acquired him?
TAKING: KANSAS CITY -10
Chiefs 24, Raiders 10
CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-6) at DENVER BRONCOS (4-3)
Line: Denver by 9.5
Under the guidance of rookie QB Bo Nix, the Broncos have put up 67 points in their last two wins. Now they face the NFL’s worst defence and a team that will give the reigns back to Bryce Young after Andy Dalton suffered a sprained thumb in a car accident this week.
TAKING: DENVER -9.5
Broncos 30, Panthers 10
DALLAS COWBOYS (3-3) at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (3-4)
LINE: San Francisco by 4.5
The Niners have a number of key offensive players not practising this week because of injuries, and no one knows for sure right now which of them will be ready to go. The Cowboys had a week off to lick their wounds from a 47-9 blasting by the Lions. I’ll probably regret this, but with Micah Parsons’ status a game-time call, I’m betting they keep this one close.
TAKING: Dallas +4.5
Niners 21, Cowboys 17
NEW YORK GIANTS (2-5) at PITTSBURGH STEELERS (5-2)
LINE: Pittsburgh by 6.5
The Giants have scored a total of 10 points in their last two games, so it’s pretty tough to expect them to get their act together against a the Steel Curtain, which has surrendered more than 20 just once this season. In his first start with Pittsburgh, Russell Wilson pass for two TDs and more yards (264) than in his last dozen with the Broncos. Also worth noting: Steelers are 13-6 ATS in their last 19 Monday nighters.
TAKING: PITTSBURGH -6.5
Steelers 21, Giants 13
(Both took Vikings -3 over Rams Thursday)
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