Washington Football Team vs. Detroit Lions (-4, 46)
Alex Smith should start for the first time since his leg was almost ripped off his body.
Washington has lost five straight road games. The Lions are 2-9 at home since the start of last season, and that’s the work home record in the NFL since then.
Football Team +3.5
Houston Texans vs. Cleveland Browns (-4, 45.5)
The Browns should have Nick Chubb back for this one, after he missed the last six games with a knee injury. The Texans have the leagues worst run defense. Welcome back Nick.
Browns -4
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Green Bay Packers (-13.5, 47.5)
The Jaguars are 1-7. It’s cold in Green Bay with a lot of wind and potential for some light snow and/or rain. QB Jake Luton will make his 2nd start for the Jaguars. The Packers are 6-2 and are very much used to the cold and wind. A two-touchdown win isn’t too much to ask for from the Packers, here.
Packers -13.5
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants (+4, 44.5)
In week-7 the Giants had a 10-point lead with six minutes left in the game. They lost 22-21.
This time around the Eagles will be a different team after getting key pieces back from injury.
I expect a combined six turnovers in this one, as both teams have a knack for fumbling.
Division games are always tough, and a home ‘dog is always tempting.
Giants +4
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers (+6, 50.5)
In week-1 the Buc’s lost to the Saints. They followed that up with a week-2 win over the Panthers.
I look for them to follow-up last week’s blowout loss to the Saints with another win over the Panthers.
The Panthers defense can’t pressure QB’s, and when you can’t pressure Tom Brady it will be a long day for a defense. The Buc's play-action passing game will have the Panthers defense on its heels.
Buc’s -6
Denver Broncos vs. Las Vegas Raiders (-3.5, 50.5)
This game will feature the first two WR’s taken in April’s NFL Draft. They also happen to be college teammates. Raiders’ Jerry Jeudy was drafted at #15 and the Broncos’ Henry Ruggs III was drafted at #12 – both played at Alabama.
Other than that, there’s nothing very interesting about this one.
I’ll take the home team and give the points. For no other reason than it just seems right.
Raiders -3.5
Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals (-2.5, 56.5)
The Bills head west to try and maintain their grip on the AFC East. The Cardinals lost to the Dolphins in Miami last week and need a win to keep pace in the NFC West.
This ought to be a high-scoring battle and both QB’s will run around and cause problems for the defenses.
Bills CB Josh Norman will miss this one due to Covid-19 and Kyler Murray will present enough problems for an improving Bills defense to get the win here.
Cardinals -2.5
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Miami Dolphins (-1.5, 48.5)
Tua Tagovailoa was the 5th-overall pick in the draft and Justin Herbert was 6th-overall. Both have earned those high draft selections.
The Dolphins are coming off a big win against the Cardinals last week and have been improving every week. The Chargers are coming off of back-to-back losses and have given-up 30+ points in five straight games.
The Chargers two wins this year have been against the Jaguars and Bengals. The Dolphins in Miami after a cross-country trip should be too much to ask for the Chargers.
Dolphins -1.5
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (-7. 46)
Big Ben didn’t practice this week due to close contact with a Covid-19 teammate – Vance McDonald.
An extended walk-thru on Saturday to get Roethlisberger up to speed.
The Bengals snapped a 3-game losing streak with a big home win vs the Titans last week.
Joe Burrow will get enough done against the Steelers pass defense to make this one close.
Bengals +7
Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Rams (-2.5, 54.5)
The Seahawks are the leagues highest scoring team, but their defense is ranked 30th and allows 30.4-points per game.
There will be plenty of opportunity in the passing game for the Rams, and Aaron Donald will be chasing Russell Wilson all day.
The Rams defense will get enough done to make the 30+-points they score good enough to get the win here.
Rams -2.5
San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints (-9.5, 49.5)
The 49’ers have lost two straight and are decimated by injuries.
The Saints are one of the NFL’s hottest teams right now and Drew Brees and company should be able to avoid a letdown after stomping the Buc’s last week on Sunday night.
Saints -9.5
Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots (+7, 43.5)
The Ravens head to a rainy Foxboro where they’ll try to keep Cam Newton from throwing a touchdown pass for his 5th consecutive game.
The Patriots are playing on a short week and have a banged-up defense. Those two things will make it difficult for them to spring the upset.
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens running attack should prove too much for the Patriots offense to keep pace with. The team that runs the ball more effectively will have a big edge on the sloppy Foxboro turf on Sunday night.
Ravens -7
Monday night
Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears (+3, 43.5)
The Bears have won the last four match-ups between these two teams.
Dalvin Cook will see a concerted effort from the Bears defense to keep him from running away with this one.
The Bears offense stinks, and their defense will have to play well in low-scoring game if they want to come away with the win here.
I’ll take the points and the past success the Bears have had vs the Vikings.
Bears +3