TNF: Ravens
I like the Ravens not even because of their dominant opener against Buffalo or because of their desire to avenge this same Bengals team that kept them from making the playoffs last season. The key statistic is that Marvin Lewis is 8-30 in primetime games. The poor primetime performance extends in terms of record and passer rating to Andy Dalton. Baltimore showed in its opener that it still carries tremendous depth in the secondary even with a couple players missing to injury and suspension. Dalton will face a much tougher test in Baltimore than in his season opener. The Ravens allowed 70 passing yards to Buffalo quarterbacks. Dalton will do better, but not much. Last year, the Bengals were 1-5 SU and ATS when Dalton threw for under 200 yards.
On the flip side, Baltimore’s Joe Flacco showed good rapport with his different receivers, six of whom had at least three receptions. His most famous new target, Michael Crabtree, found the end zone. Flacco only needs to be efficient and avoid turnovers because his defense excels at forcing them.
RAVENS: Marvin Lewis is 8-30 in primetime games and QB Andy Dalton also struggles historically in this spot. The Ravens defense will dominate again, the offense looks well-rounded with Flacco, Collins, Crabtree.
PANTHERS: Atlanta’s offense looked like the same inept one from last season. Granted, the Eagles have a top-tiered defense. Carolina showed that it does as well after shutting down Dallas.
BILLS: Don’t dismiss Buffalo because they faced an aggressive Baltimore defense. They have enough weapons on both offense and defense to hang around at home, where it started 3-0-1 ATS last year.
PACKERS: Aaron Rodgers basically at PK odds at home? Yes, please. The offensive line and defense will keep up their momentum after looking much better in the second half against the Bears.
TEXANS: Titans’ offense already looks like a mess with injuries on the offensive line, at quarterback, and at tight end. The Texans are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 games against Tennessee.
SAINTS: The Saints ‚D' is much better than what it showed last week. It has a week to adjust and fix its sundry mistakes. On offense, Brees, Kamara, and Thomas look like a prolific trio.
DOLPHINS: QB Matt Stafford and the Lions’ ‚D‘ made the Jets look way too good. The Dolphins’ retooled o-line and additions and budding youth on defense make it strongly improved from last season.
STEELERS: Steelers will start to adjust to life without Le’Veon Bell. A prolific pass attack will help them do that. The Chiefs will have trouble stopping that attack without a fit Eric Berry.
BUCCANEERS: Eagles’ O is still reeling with injuries at QB and WR. Fitzpatrick looked great for Tampa Bay and he has a lot of help at receiver and running back to keep this one close.
COLTS: The Skins looked better than they are against Zona, which came out flat with many new pieces to its team. As long as Luck is healthy, i’m happy with Indy as a dog.
RAMS: Rams’ stacked defense started slowly with new pieces on the road, but settled in. The offense is stacked as well. Arizona is still figuring things out and now has to travel.
49ERS: San Fran’s offense will lift off against a much easier test. Detroit’s defense looked awful in preseason and looked awful in week 1. An inept, interception-prone Matt Stafford won’t help them.
BRONCOS: QB Keenum is an upgrade. The youth at RB looks great with new red zone weapon Freeman. Meanwhile, Oakland’s ‚D' looks even weaker than last season. Denver's secondary is trending upwards
PATRIOTS: The Patriots won’t need the same help from the refs as in the AFC Championship as long as Bortles continues to struggle. Jags’ D is solid, but will wear down over time.
GIANTS: Prescott misses his favorite targets. He and Elliot won’t be comfortable behind an offensive line looking as weak as it did last season. The Giants ‚O‘ has weapons at receiver plus Barkley.
BEARS: Bears will bounce back after surrendering a huge lead. Trubisky looked strong with his four new weapons and will succeed against a Seahaws’ defense that is a chimera of its former self.
SNF: Giants
Dallas is laying chalk, but doesn’t field an offense that can score enough to cover the spread. It starts with the offensive line, which allowed six sacks in its season opener. Then, Dak Prescott clearly missed his former favorite targets Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. It surprises me that Prescott, the Rookie of the Year in 2016, still gets as much love as he does when he isn’t much of a threat without support around him.
The Giants’ offense is led by Eli Manning, who looked sharp in his opener against Jacksonville’s vaunted defense. Odell Beckham and Saquon Barkley are two weapons who are capable on every down of achieving a huge gain. The defense will keep the pressure on Prescott by limiting Elliot. The key to doing this is a defensive line that is deep and talented at defensive tackle with rising second-year star Dalvin Tomlinson and Damon Harrison.
I like the Ravens not even because of their dominant opener against Buffalo or because of their desire to avenge this same Bengals team that kept them from making the playoffs last season. The key statistic is that Marvin Lewis is 8-30 in primetime games. The poor primetime performance extends in terms of record and passer rating to Andy Dalton. Baltimore showed in its opener that it still carries tremendous depth in the secondary even with a couple players missing to injury and suspension. Dalton will face a much tougher test in Baltimore than in his season opener. The Ravens allowed 70 passing yards to Buffalo quarterbacks. Dalton will do better, but not much. Last year, the Bengals were 1-5 SU and ATS when Dalton threw for under 200 yards.
On the flip side, Baltimore’s Joe Flacco showed good rapport with his different receivers, six of whom had at least three receptions. His most famous new target, Michael Crabtree, found the end zone. Flacco only needs to be efficient and avoid turnovers because his defense excels at forcing them.
RAVENS: Marvin Lewis is 8-30 in primetime games and QB Andy Dalton also struggles historically in this spot. The Ravens defense will dominate again, the offense looks well-rounded with Flacco, Collins, Crabtree.
PANTHERS: Atlanta’s offense looked like the same inept one from last season. Granted, the Eagles have a top-tiered defense. Carolina showed that it does as well after shutting down Dallas.
BILLS: Don’t dismiss Buffalo because they faced an aggressive Baltimore defense. They have enough weapons on both offense and defense to hang around at home, where it started 3-0-1 ATS last year.
PACKERS: Aaron Rodgers basically at PK odds at home? Yes, please. The offensive line and defense will keep up their momentum after looking much better in the second half against the Bears.
TEXANS: Titans’ offense already looks like a mess with injuries on the offensive line, at quarterback, and at tight end. The Texans are 11-3 ATS in their last 14 games against Tennessee.
SAINTS: The Saints ‚D' is much better than what it showed last week. It has a week to adjust and fix its sundry mistakes. On offense, Brees, Kamara, and Thomas look like a prolific trio.
DOLPHINS: QB Matt Stafford and the Lions’ ‚D‘ made the Jets look way too good. The Dolphins’ retooled o-line and additions and budding youth on defense make it strongly improved from last season.
STEELERS: Steelers will start to adjust to life without Le’Veon Bell. A prolific pass attack will help them do that. The Chiefs will have trouble stopping that attack without a fit Eric Berry.
BUCCANEERS: Eagles’ O is still reeling with injuries at QB and WR. Fitzpatrick looked great for Tampa Bay and he has a lot of help at receiver and running back to keep this one close.
COLTS: The Skins looked better than they are against Zona, which came out flat with many new pieces to its team. As long as Luck is healthy, i’m happy with Indy as a dog.
RAMS: Rams’ stacked defense started slowly with new pieces on the road, but settled in. The offense is stacked as well. Arizona is still figuring things out and now has to travel.
49ERS: San Fran’s offense will lift off against a much easier test. Detroit’s defense looked awful in preseason and looked awful in week 1. An inept, interception-prone Matt Stafford won’t help them.
BRONCOS: QB Keenum is an upgrade. The youth at RB looks great with new red zone weapon Freeman. Meanwhile, Oakland’s ‚D' looks even weaker than last season. Denver's secondary is trending upwards
PATRIOTS: The Patriots won’t need the same help from the refs as in the AFC Championship as long as Bortles continues to struggle. Jags’ D is solid, but will wear down over time.
GIANTS: Prescott misses his favorite targets. He and Elliot won’t be comfortable behind an offensive line looking as weak as it did last season. The Giants ‚O‘ has weapons at receiver plus Barkley.
BEARS: Bears will bounce back after surrendering a huge lead. Trubisky looked strong with his four new weapons and will succeed against a Seahaws’ defense that is a chimera of its former self.
SNF: Giants
Dallas is laying chalk, but doesn’t field an offense that can score enough to cover the spread. It starts with the offensive line, which allowed six sacks in its season opener. Then, Dak Prescott clearly missed his former favorite targets Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. It surprises me that Prescott, the Rookie of the Year in 2016, still gets as much love as he does when he isn’t much of a threat without support around him.
The Giants’ offense is led by Eli Manning, who looked sharp in his opener against Jacksonville’s vaunted defense. Odell Beckham and Saquon Barkley are two weapons who are capable on every down of achieving a huge gain. The defense will keep the pressure on Prescott by limiting Elliot. The key to doing this is a defensive line that is deep and talented at defensive tackle with rising second-year star Dalvin Tomlinson and Damon Harrison.
