Cnotes NFL Picks

[Cnotes53]

NFL Underdogs: Wild Card Weekend pointspread picks and predictions
Jason Logan

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

The Los Angeles Chargers were fooled hard by the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16 of the NFL season, losing 22-10 as 4-point home favorites. It was an ugly game for the Bolts, who coughed the ball up three times and managed just 222 total yards of offense.

Books have Baltimore set as a home field-goal favorite to ?fool? L.A. for a second time in three weeks during the NFL Wild Card Weekend on Sunday, but the only ?shame? is leaving points on the table with the Chargers.

The Bolts went 7-1 SU and ATS on the road in 2018 and have a history of covering the spread as visitors, with a 21-8-1 ATS record in its last 30 road tilts going back to their days in San Diego. Los Angeles scores just under 27 points per road game and sits second in points per play as a guest, at 0.490.

While L.A. didn?t look great in its loss to the Ravens, it was successful at slowing down Baltimore rookie QB Lamar Jackson ? something no team has been able to do. According to Sports Radar, Jackson picked up more than 20 percent of his total rushing yards after contact in his first five games as Baltimore?s starter but L.A. allowed only four total yards after contact, limiting the former Heisman winner to 39 yards in the ground ? 27 of those gains coming on one run.

The Chargers defense is eager for another kick at the can when it comes to Baltimore and is playing well versus the run in recent weeks. Over their past three games, the Bolts have budged for just 3.9 yards per carry. That doesn?t bode well for a Ravens offense that has struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities in their last three games, and one going up a defense that has plenty of tape on their unorthodox attack.

Baltimore has settled for field goals on too many offensive drives, attempting 11 total FGs in the final three outings of the schedule ? making nine of those kicks. The Ravens? rush attack has stalled inside the red zone, finding pay dirt on only 25 percent of their trips inside the 20-yard line in that three-game stretch, walking away with a TD in just three of their last dozen red-zone visits. Coincidently, Baltimore is 1-2 ATS in that span after going 3-1 ATS in Jackson?s first four starts.

When L.A. cracks this Ravens defense, which allowed 17 second-half points to Cleveland in Week 17, it will force Baltimore out of its game plan and be too much for them to battle back from.

Pick: L.A. Chargers +3


Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears (+6, 41)

The Philadelphia Eagles are blowing the dust off the rubber dog masks for their Wild Card Round matchup in Chicago Sunday night, getting six points from the NFL betting odds.

The Eagles adopted the underdog role in last year?s Super Bowl run ? despite being the No. 1 seed in the NFC - and have only been pointspread pups in three games all season, going 1-2 ATS in those instances.

Philadelphia is executing at a very high level entering Sunday, having played three games versus playoff teams (beating Houston and L.A. and losing an overtime game with Dallas that it should have won) then taking care of business in a must-win matchup in Week 17. Oh, and three of those four games were played on the road.

Plenty of that success has to do with American folk legend Nick Foles, who will someday be portrayed in a Disney movie by a ?roided-up? Jon Heder. Foles has completed more than 76 percent of his passes over the past three games, thanks in part to his surprising elusiveness but also an offensive line that has taken on some elite-level pass rushers in those outings.

According to J.J. Stankevitz of NBC Sports Chicago, Foles has been pressured on just 20 percent of his drop backs in those past three games. And while he was sacked three times versus Washington, the offensive line has held big-name QB killers like DeMarcus Lawrence, Aaron Donald, and J.J. Watt at bay in recent matchups. Now, they stare down Bears wrecking ball Khalil Mack.

Chicago is very dependent on the pass rush to keep opposing QBs off their rhythm, allowing passers to complete just 61 percent of their throws on the season ? 59 percent over the last three weeks. However, three of the Bears? four losses have come with rival quarterbacks completing 67, 64, and 69 percent of their throws.

I don?t know if Foles adds a sequel to his feel-good flick with a Wild Card win in the Windy City, unless of course that movie is about Eagles bettors celebrating with the six points.

Pick: Philadelphia +6

Last week: 1-2 ATS
Season: 31-19-1 ATS

 

[Cnotes53]

WC - Colts at Texans
Kevin Rogers

The NFL playoffs kick off on Saturday afternoon with an AFC South battle between the Colts and Texans from NRG Stadium in Houston. Both these teams struggled out of the gate, but rebounded as the division sends two teams to the playoffs for the second consecutive season after Jacksonville and Tennessee made it in 2017.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

The Colts (10-6 SU, 8-7-1 ATS) finally had a healthy Andrew Luck after the former top pick missed last season with a shoulder injury. Indianapolis fell into a 1-5 hole through six games, with the lone victory coming at Washington in Week 2 as six-point underdogs, 21-6. The Colts dropped their first two home games to the Bengals and Texans, while allowing at least 34 points in four of those defeats.

However, Frank Reich?s team would turn things around by picking up five consecutive wins to climb above the .500 mark, as the offense posted 27 points or more in each of those victories. After getting blanked at Jacksonville in Week 13 in a 6-0 setback, the Colts rebounded with four more wins to close out the season, including back-to-back victories over the Texans and Cowboys. Indianapolis clinched its first playoff berth since 2014 in a Week 17 winner-take-all triumph at Tennessee, 33-17 to finish 4-2 inside the AFC South.

The Texans (11-5 SU, 7-8-1 ATS) were a mess after three weeks, losing to the Patriots, Titans, and Giants to fall to 0-3. It looked like a long season for Houston, but the Texans ran of nine consecutive wins, including back-to-back overtime triumphs over the Colts and Cowboys to start the hot streak. During that winning streak, Houston limited opponents to 17 points or less six times, while picking up three double-digit home victories over Miami, Tennessee, and Cleveland.

Houston split its final four games, including losses by three points or less to Indianapolis and Philadelphia. The Texans wrapped up their third AFC South title in the last four seasons, while picking up the second-most wins in franchise history with 11 victories, coming one short of the 12-4 mark in 2012.

WHO TO WATCH

Luck threw for the second-most touchdowns in a season in his career (39), including an eight-game stretch in which he tossed at least three touchdowns. Running back Marlon Mack is coming off a career season by racking up 908 rushing yards in only 12 games, including a 139-yard effort against Dallas in the Week 15 home shutout. T.Y. Hilton is fighting an ankle injury, but the wide receiver eclipsed the 100-yard mark in each matchup against Houston, as he hauled in nine catches for 199 yards in the Week 14 triumph at Houston.

Deshaun Watson started all 16 games for Houston after missing the second half of 2017 with a torn ACL. The Texans? quarterback threw 26 touchdowns and was intercepted only nine times, while rushing for five scores. Lamar Miller finished 27 rushing yards short of his third career 1,000-yard rushing season, but was limited to 82 yards in two meetings against Indianapolis. DeAndre Hopkins pulled in a career-high 111 receptions for 1,572 yards, including three straight 100-yard games to close the season.

HOME/ROAD SPLITS

Indianapolis finished 4-4 away from Lucas Oil Stadium, while the OVER cashed in four of those road affairs. The Colts managed a 3-2 ATS mark in the role of a road underdog, including outright victories at Washington and Houston.

The Texans won six of eight games at NRG Stadium, but covered in only four of those games. Houston began the season 0-3 ATS at home before posting a 4-1 ATS mark in its final five home contests. The UNDER hit in five of eight home games, including in two of three affairs with AFC South opponents.

SERIES HISTORY

These two rivals split a pair of three-point outcomes with the road team coming out on top each time. In Week 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium, the Texans entered Indianapolis in must-win mode after starting 0-3. Houston jumped out to a commanding 28-10 third quarter lead highlighted by two Watson touchdown passes and a Watson touchdown scamper.

However, Luck led the Colts back on a 21-3 run to end regulation, highlighted by a touchdown catch by Nyheim Hines with 45 seconds remaining. Indianapolis struck first in overtime with an Adam Vinatieri field goal, but Houston tied it with a field goal, then picked up the rare second three-pointer in the extra session to edge the Colts, 37-34 to cash as one-point favorites and hit the OVER of 48 ?. Luck finished with 464 yards passing and four touchdowns, but Indianapolis rushed for 41 yards without Mack.

The Colts picked up revenge in the second matchup in Houston in Week 14 with a 24-21 victory as four-point underdogs. After Houston scored an early touchdown, Indianapolis struck back for 17 second quarter points, as the Colts led the rest of the way. Luck finished one yard shy of 400 yards passing as Indianapolis captured its fourth win at Houston in the last five visits.

PLAYOFF HISTORY

Indianapolis has reached the postseason for the fourth time in Luck?s career since 2012, as the Colts have won two of three times in the Wild Card round. Both victories came at home, as Indianapolis lost in its last road Wild Card affair at Baltimore in 2012 by a 24-9 score. For the fifth time since 2011, the Texans are in the playoffs, as Houston owns a 3-1 record at home in the Wild Card round. Houston and Indianapolis are meeting for the first time ever in the playoffs, while the Texans are facing a division foe in the postseason also for the first time.

HANDICAPPER?S CORNER

Handicapper Joe Nelson checks in with his thoughts on the initial Wild Card matchup, ?Both defenses were very effective against the run in this rivalry as in the two games combined the Colts rushed for a total of 91 yards on 40 carries just fewer than 2.3 yards per rush. Houston was only slightly better on the ground with 208 rushing yards vs. the Colts over 60 carries just fewer than 3.5 yards per rush. Houston finished first in the NFL in allowing just 3.4 yards per rush on the season while only allowing eight rushing touchdowns this season. The Colts weren?t far behind finishing sixth in the NFL allowing 3.9 yards per rush.?

The quarterback play will be the difference in game, according to Nelson, ?Luck is 3-3 in playoff games in his career with two road wins and he is the more established passer. Watson has won on the big stage in college and was sixth in the NFL in QB Rating this season. Both quarterbacks had good numbers in the regular season meetings with just one interception each. Luck is more prone to interceptions but Watson takes a great deal of sacks and has had a high fumble count. Watson was sacked 12 times in the two games between these teams while Luck was sacked just six times.?

FUTURE ODDS

The Colts and Texans are both two of the biggest long shots to win Super Bowl LIII as each squad sits at 25/1 at BetOnline.ag. Indianapolis and Houston are each 10/1 to capture the AFC title, while the Texans have dropped from a 2 ?-point favorite to a one-point favorite at most spots with a total of 48.

 

[Cnotes53]

WC - Seahawks at Cowboys
Tony Mejia

Seattle at Dallas (-2, 43.5), 8:15 pm ET, FOX

The Cowboys were the NFC?s worst division winner. They pulled got to 10 wins by pulling off an ?upset? of the Giants in East Rutherford in Week 17, playing regulars Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper and hero Cole Beasley far longer than anyone expected to emerge with a 36-35 win.

It could?ve certainly come back to bite them had anyone suffered an injury, but since they won, the Cowboys take the field with additional swagger, having won seven of eight contests to close the regular season. The outlier came in a 23-0 loss at the Colts where the offense never found a spark.

Dallas is 7-1 at home, which affords it additional confidence. Its lone loss at AT&T Stadium also came in a game where Prescott and Co. were blanked in the second half. Tennessee did the trick on a Monday night back in early November, continuing a bleak trend despite the acquisition of Cooper that had the Cowboys looking like they would be watching games in January, not hosting them. They scored 17 or fewer points in five of their first eight contests. Over the season?s second-half, it only happened twice.

Seattle was one of those teams that put the shackles on the Cowboys early in the season, handing them a 24-13 loss as a parting gift on their visit to the Pacific Northwest in Week 3. Prescott was picked off twice and threw for just 168 yards. He was sacked five times and harassed even more. Despite 127 yards on just 16 carries from Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas failed to find the end zone until the fourth quarter. Tight end Geoff Swaim caught a team-best five balls. Beasley led all wide receivers with just three receptions.

If the Seahawks are going to pull the upset, their defense will likely have to again rise to the occasion. Beyond Cooper not being involved in that first encounter, another significant difference between today and their Sept. 23 meeting is that Earl Thomas won?t be setting the tone in the defensive backfield like he did against the team he publicly asked to trade for him weeks earlier. He picked off two passes that day, sending a clear message. The following Sunday, he was lost for the season with a broken bone in his left leg. With safety Kam Chancellor on IR and Richard Sherman playing for the 49ers, the Legion of Boom was officially no more come Week 4.

From that standpoint, the job Pete Carroll has done pulling 10 wins and a playoff appearance out of a team many expected would fall off has to rank among his top coaching jobs to date. If he can advance out of this weekend, it would solidify that argument. The defense lost LB Mychal Kendricks last month but comes into this contest relatively healthy.

K.J. Wright, who was out of the lineup for a large chunk of the season, finally looked like his old self earlier last month and is now expected to be a force next to Bobby Wagner, who was again voted to the Pro Bowl. A secondary tasked with keeping Cooper from enjoying a big night will get starting safety Tedric Thompson back from a chest injury and has upgraded corner Shaquill Griffin to probable following an ankle sprain suffered against the Cardinals last weekend. For more on injuries, be sure to read below.

The Seahawks have actually given up 24 or more points in seven of nine games since the beginning of November, so we?ll see if having a relatively healthy group helps Carroll and defensive coordinator Ken Norton, Jr. find the right formula to lock in here. It?s no great mystery that the Cowboys are going to want to ride Elliott to ensure he takes the pressure off Prescott. The NFL?s top rusher for the second time in three years finished with 1,434 yards despite being inactive for last Sunday?s win due to various ailments that Dallas is hoping he?s conquered entering this one. Although he?s only got 100-yard rushing game over his past four games, Elliott has become much more of a receiver out of the backfield, making 52 of his 77 receptions this season over his last eight outings.

Seattle will ride the prolific arm of Russell Wilson, who threw for a career-best 35 touchdowns, third-best in the league and a Seahawks all-time record. He was picked off just seven times. The Seahawks flirted with matching an NFL record for fewest turnovers in a season before Wilson was picked off by Arizona, but there?s no question they?re alive because they didn?t beat themselves often. Leading the NFL in rushing also helped despite having multiple running backs in place due to various injuries. Chris Carson, the preferred option who wound up with a team-best 1,151 yards after surpassing the 100-yard mark in each of Seattle?s final three games, is healthy and should be a handful for a Cowboys defense that ranked fifth against the run in the entire NFL.

Elliott will be facing a Seattle defense that barely finished in the top-half (13th) against the ground attack and was right around the middle-of-the-pack against the pass and in total yards allowed.

Wilson will be performing against a Dallas defense that took aim at him all afternoon despite losing the previous meeting, so an improved offensive line will be under the microscope here. They allowed their quarterback to be sacked six times last week by the Cards. There are developments up front to be wary of in the injury report below.

The Cowboys should continue to blitz often based on how effective sending extra defenders has been for them this season, but Wilson?s ability to improvise makes him extremely dangerous. He?ll be looking to beat a secondary that has been stingy all season, led by corner Byron Jones, who has been beaten for just a pair of touchdowns all season.

This will be the second playoff meeting between the teams, who met in 2006 in a game memorable for Tony Romo dropping the ball on a hold for a key late field-goal try in a 21-20 loss in Seattle. Keep reading below for more info on the series between these teams.

Prescott will be playing in just his second playoff game here and threw three touchdown passes in a strong performance against Green Bay back in 2016. Wilson, a Super Bowl champ back in 2014 who has thrown for 20 scores and run for two more over a dozen career postseason appearances. He?s 8-4 and is perfect in playoff openers. Considering the 30-year-old is playing the sharpest football of his career, he?s going to be tough to stop if this game is tight down the stretch.

On the other hand, Prescott finished off five game-winning drives this season, third behind just Drew Brees and Deshaun Watson, and he led the Cowboys to a game-tying drive against the Packers in his only playoff game as a rookie. At home, he?s also likely to be formidable if the game is on the line.

While the kickers are polar opposites in 40-year-old veteran Sebastian Janikowski and talented Brett Maher, who finally stuck after being cut in camp and a career in the CFL, both are very capable of a game-winning kick. The spread here looks right. This is basically a pick?em that the Cowboys deserve to be favored in as the home team, but no one will be surprised if it comes down to who possesses the ball last.

Seattle Seahawks
Projected season win total: 8 (Over +100, Under -120)
Preseason odds to win NFC West: 11/2
Odds to win NFC (Preseason/Current): 30/1 to 12/1
Odds to win Super Bowl (Preseason/Current): 60/1 to 25/1

Dallas Cowboys
Season win total: 8.5 (Over -120, Under +100)
Preseason Odds to win NFC East: 7/2
Odds to win NFC (Preseason/Current): 15/1 to 12/1
Odds to win Super Bowl (Preseason/Current): 30/1 to 25/1

FUTURES OUTCOMES/LINE MOVEMENT

If you bet on these teams to have winning seasons, you're sitting pretty since both outperformed expectations in season win totals provided by the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook. The Seahawks failed to cash any divisional futures since the favored Rams (1-to-2) held serve, but Dallas cashed at +350 over the favored defending champion Eagles (5-to-7).

Playoff props at Westgate paid out +160 on the Cowboys reaching the postseason and +280 on the Seahawks. Buy a friend a beverage if you were on the winning side. Fading these teams to reach the playoffs stung. A 'no' call on Dallas playing into January cost you -190, while Seattle was an even costlier loss (-360). The Cowboys are roughly in the same neighborhood odds-wise to win the NFC and Super Bowl as they were entering Week 1, while the odds were far more lucrative for the Seahawks, who now have identical odds as Dallas.

As far as this matchup is concerned, the Cowboys opened at -2.5 before dropping all the way down to 2.5 and eventually reaching the level where it currently resides at -2.

Dallas opened at -140/-150 on the money line and is available at -130 at the moment. If you like the home 'dog outright, a payout on a Seahawks win will get you +110 to +120 depending on the shop.

INJURY CONCERNS

Beathard?s availability is the biggest variable since it would thrust an unknown commodity like Mullens into the mix, but it?s by no means the only concern. The 49ers got good news regarding RB Matt Brieda, who should participate after leaving the loss to the Cardinals with an ankle/arch issue. Tackle Joe Staley, center Weston Richburg and guard Mike Person were all limited in practice, while WR Pierre Garcon is also dealing with a knee issue after missing last week?s game. Corner Richard Sherman (calf) had a rough outing against Arizona and is also dealing with a few ailments that have his status in question. The 49ers defense is already without top LB Reuben Foster due to a knee injury and have also ruled out safety Jaquiski Tartt due to a bum shoulder.

Oakland got good news on guard Kelechi Osemele, who has missed the past three games and would give the offensive line a huge boost by returning. Corner Gareon Conley and Daryl Worley are listed as questionable. Fellow CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie decided to retire, so the Raiders could be vulnerable in the back.

TOTAL TALK

Saturday?s nights total opened has fluctuated from 41.5-to-43.5. Since they can close the roof at AT&T Stadium, weather won't be a factor. Temperatures in Arlington are expected to be in the mid-50's. The 'over' went 9-7 in Seahawks games this season, prevailing in six of seven. The 'under' was 9-7 in Cowboys games. As you'll see below, the 'under' is 8-2 in the last 10 matchups between these teams

RECENT MEETINGS (Seattle 6-4 SU, 5-5 ATS last 10; UNDER 8-2)

9/23/18 Seattle 24-13 vs. Dallas (SEA -1, 40)
12/24/17 Seattle 21-12 at Dallas (SEA +4.5, 47)
11/1/15 Seattle 13-12 at Dallas (DAL +4.5, 41)
10/12/14 Dallas 30-23 at Seattle (DAL +9.5, 47)
9/16/12 Seattle 27-7 vs. Dallas (SEA +3, 43)
11/6/11 Dallas 23-13 vs. Seattle (SEA +11, 45)
11/1/09 Dallas 38-17 vs. Seattle (DAL -9.5, 46)
11/27/08 Dallas 34-9 vs. Seattle (DAL -12, 46.5)
1/6/07 Seattle 21-20 vs. Dallas (DAL +2, 48.5)
10/23/05 Seattle 13-10 vs. Dallas (SEA -3, 45.5)

 

[Cnotes53]

NFL December's Best Bets and Opinions

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

12/30/2018 16-9-0 64.00% +30.50
12/24/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
12/23/2018 11-13-1 45.83% -16.50
12/22/2018 2-2-0 50.00% -1.00
12/17/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
12/16/2018 11-12-1 47.83% -11.00
12/15/2018 3-0-1 100.00% +15.00
12/13/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
12/10/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.00
12/09/2018 11-13-0 45.83% -16.50
12/06/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
12/03/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
12/02/2018 12-11-0 52.17% -0.50

Totals...............75-63-0.....54.34%....+28.50

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Best Bets For December

DATE........................ATS..................U NITS....................O/U................UNITS..............TOTAL

12/30/2018............6 - 2................+24.00.....................7 - 5................+7.50............+31.50
12/24/2018............1 - 0................+5.00.......................1 - 0................+5.00...........+10.00
12/23/2018............6 - 3................+13.50.....................3 - 5................-12.50...........+1.00
12/22/2018............1 - 1.................-0.50.......................1 - 1.................-0.50............-1.00
12/17/2018............1 - 0................+5.00.......................1 - 0................+5.00............+10.00
12/16/2018............2 - 5................-17.50......................5 - 2................+14.00..........-3.50
12/15/2018............1 - 0................+5.00.......................2 - 0................+10.00.........+15.00
12/13/2018............1 - 0................+5.00.......................0 - 1.................-5.50............-0.50
12/10/2018............0 - 1.................-5.50.......................0 - 1.................-5.50............-11.00
12/09/2018............3 - 3.................-1.50.......................5 - 6.................-3.00.............-4.50
12/06/2018............1 - 0 ................+5.00......................1 - 0................+5.00............+10.00
12/03/2018............1 - 0.................+5.00......................1 - 0................+5.00............+10.00
12/02/2018............3 - 4..................-7.00......................0 - 3................-16.50............-23.50

Totals..................27 - 19...............+35.50....................26 - 24...............+8.00...........+43.50

 

[Cnotes53]

SATURDAY, JANUARY 5
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

IND at HOU 04:35 PM
IND +2.0
O 48.5

SEA at DAL 08:15 PM
SEA +2.5
U 43.5

 

[Cnotes53]

Cowboys edge Seahawks 24-22; Colts handle Texans 21-7
January 5, 2019
By The Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 137 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, and the Dallas Cowboys hung on for a 24-22 wild-card win over the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night.

The playoff win by the Cowboys (11-6) was the first for Elliott and quarterback Dak Prescott on their second try after losing a divisional game as rookies two years ago. Dallas will play either New Orleans or the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round next weekend.

The loss ended a run of nine straight victories in playoff openers for the Seahawks (10-7). The Elias Sports Bureau says it was the longest streak in NFL history.

Dallas' defense, ranked in the top 10 most of the season, mostly kept quarterback Russell Wilson under control and handed him his first loss in four wild-card games.

It was the eighth win in nine games for the Cowboys.

Prescott, the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2016 when the Cowboys lost to Green Bay at home as the top seed in the NFC, threw for 226 yards and had a 1-yard sneak for what appeared to be a clinching score before Tyler Lockett's 53-yard catch set up a quick Seattle touchdown.

Wilson's 7-yard scoring pass to J.D. McKissic got the Seahawks within four, and they made it a two-point game on their second 2-point conversion following an injury to kicker Sebastian Janikowski.

But the missing kicker left the Seahawks no good options on an onside kick with 1:18 remaining. Punter Michael Dickson's drop kick was caught by Cole Beasley at the Dallas 31, sealing the first playoff win for the Cowboys since beating Detroit in the wild-card round in the 2014 season.

COLTS 21, TEXANS 7

HOUSTON (AP) - Andrew Luck threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns and Indianapolis raced out to a big lead and cruised over Houston in the wild-card game.

Luck put on a show in his hometown, throwing for 191 yards and two touchdowns before halftime to help the Colts (11-6) build a 21-0 lead.

Running back Marlon Mack had 148 yards and a touchdown for Indianapolis, which advances to face the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round next weekend.

Houston (11-6), which overcame a 0-3 start to win the AFC South, gave up too many big plays and couldn't get anything going on offense in the first half to fall into the huge hole.

Deshaun Watson, who was sacked an NFL-leading 62 times in the regular season, was sacked three times and hit eight more times in a disappointing playoff debut. He finished with 235 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception.

The Colts, who opened the season 1-5, continued an impressive run by winning their fifth straight and for the 10th time in 11 games. Saturday was their first playoff appearance since the AFC championship game loss at New England in the ''Deflategate'' game in the 2014 season.

 

[Cnotes53]

NFL December's Best Bets and Opinions

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

01/05/2019 2-2-0 50.00% -1.00
12/30/2018 16-9-0 64.00% +30.50
12/24/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
12/23/2018 11-13-1 45.83% -16.50
12/22/2018 2-2-0 50.00% -1.00
12/17/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
12/16/2018 11-12-1 47.83% -11.00
12/15/2018 3-0-1 100.00% +15.00
12/13/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
12/10/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.00
12/09/2018 11-13-0 45.83% -16.50
12/06/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
12/03/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
12/02/2018 12-11-0 52.17% -0.50

Totals...............77-65-0.....54.22%....+27.50

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Best Bets For December

DATE........................ATS..................U NITS....................O/U................UNITS..............TOTAL

01/05/2019............2 - 0................+10.00.....................0 - 2................-11.00............-1.00
12/30/2018............6 - 2................+24.00.....................7 - 5................+7.50............+31.50
12/24/2018............1 - 0................+5.00.......................1 - 0................+5.00...........+10.00
12/23/2018............6 - 3................+13.50.....................3 - 5................-12.50...........+1.00
12/22/2018............1 - 1.................-0.50.......................1 - 1.................-0.50............-1.00
12/17/2018............1 - 0................+5.00.......................1 - 0................+5.00............+10.00
12/16/2018............2 - 5................-17.50......................5 - 2................+14.00..........-3.50
12/15/2018............1 - 0................+5.00.......................2 - 0................+10.00.........+15.00
12/13/2018............1 - 0................+5.00.......................0 - 1.................-5.50............-0.50
12/10/2018............0 - 1.................-5.50.......................0 - 1.................-5.50............-11.00
12/09/2018............3 - 3.................-1.50.......................5 - 6.................-3.00.............-4.50
12/06/2018............1 - 0 ................+5.00......................1 - 0................+5.00............+10.00
12/03/2018............1 - 0.................+5.00......................1 - 0................+5.00............+10.00
12/02/2018............3 - 4..................-7.00......................0 - 3................-16.50............-23.50

Totals..................29 - 19...............+45.50....................26 - 26...............-3.00...........+42.50

 

[Cnotes53]

NFL Today, Wild-Card Playoffs
January 6, 2019
By The Associated Press

SCOREBOARD

Sunday, Jan. 6

L.A. Chargers at Baltimore, 1:05 p.m. EST. Philip Rivers and the Chargers (12-4) are making their first postseason appearance since 2013, but were held to a season low in points in their last meeting with the Ravens (10-6) - a 22-10 loss last month. Baltimore rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson is 6-1 since taking over for Joe Flacco as the starter. Under first-year coordinator Don Martindale, the Ravens allowed an NFL-low 292.2 yards per game and ranked second in fewest points allowed with 17.9 per contest.

---

Philadelphia at Chicago, 4:40 p.m., EST. The defending champion Eagles (9-7) have won five of their last six and are trying to become the third No. 6 seed to win the Super Bowl. Philadelphia's Zach Ertz set a single-season record for tight ends with 116 catches. Mitchell Trubisky and the Bears (12-4) posted the team's best record since the 2006 squad went 13-3 on the way to a Super Bowl appearance. The NFC North champions are in the playoffs for the first time since the 2010 team won the division.

---

STARS

Passing

- Andrew Luck, Colts, threw two touchdown passes and finished 19 of 32 for 222 yards with an interception in Indianapolis' 21-7 victory at Houston.

- Dak Prescott, Cowboys, was 22 of 33 for 226 yards and a TD with an INT and also ran for 29 yards and a score in Dallas' 24-22 win over Seattle.

---

Rushing

- Marlon Mack, Colts, ran for 148 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries to help Indianapolis top Houston 21-7.

- Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys, had 137 yards rushing and a score on 26 attempts in Dallas' 24-22 victory over Seattle.

---

Receiving

- Keke Coutee, Texans, caught 11 passes for 110 yards and a TD in a losing cause as Houston fell to Indianapolis, 21-7.

- Amari Cooper, Cowboys, had seven receptions for 106 yards to help Dallas edge Seattle 24-22.

---

Special Teams

- Tavon Austin, Seahawks, returned five punts for 73 yards, including one for 51, in Seattle's 24-22 loss at Dallas.

- Trevor Daniel, Texans, had a gross average of 46.8 yards and a net average of 42.8 yards on five punts, with two downed inside the 20-yard line in Houston's 21-7 loss to Indianapolis.

---

Defense

- Kenny Moore II, Colts, had a sack and an interception in Indianapolis' 21-7 victory at Houston.

- K.J. Wright, Seahawks, had nine total tackles and an athletic, juggling interception in the end zone to end a scoring threat by Dallas in Seattle's 24-22 loss.

---

STREAKS & STATS

The Colts, who opened the season 1-5, continued an impressive run by winning their fifth straight and for the 10th time in 11 games. Saturday was their first playoff appearance since the AFC championship game loss at New England in the ''Deflategate'' game in the 2014 season. ... Seattle's 24-22 loss at Dallas ended a run of nine straight victories in playoff openers. The Elias Sports Bureau said it was the longest streak in NFL history. ... Seattle's Russell Wilson finished with negative yards passing (minus-8) in the first quarter of the Seahawks' 24-22 loss at Dallas. It was the only quarter of Wilson's career, including playoffs, in which he had negative yards passing. ... Ezekiel Elliott has averaged 131.0 yards rushing in two career playoff games. Only Hall of Famer Terrell Davis (142.5) has averaged more in the playoffs since 1970.

---

HAPPY HOMECOMING

Andrew Luck wrote a happy ending to the latest chapter of his comeback season, throwing for 222 yards and two touchdowns and the Indianapolis Colts raced out to a big lead and cruised to a 21-7 win over the Houston Texans in the wild-card game. He put on a show in his hometown in a stadium where he'd attended games throughout childhood and played in them since high school, throwing for 191 yards and two touchdowns before halftime to help the Colts (11-6) build a 21-0 lead. He denied feeling ''at home'' at NRG Stadium, but acknowledged having warm feelings for the city he grew up in and where his grandparents and many friends still reside. ''But it's still an away stadium,'' he said. ''It was very loud, very energetic, but fun to win, certainly.''

---

FIRST TIMERS

Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 137 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, and the Dallas Cowboys hung on for a 24-22 wild-card win over the Seattle Seahawks. The playoff win by the Cowboys (11-6) was the first for Elliott and quarterback Dak Prescott on their second try after losing a divisional game as rookies two years ago.

---

SIDELINED

Cowboys receiver Allen Hurns appeared to suffer a severe lower left leg injury in the first quarter of Dallas' 24-22 win against Seattle. Hurns was being dragged down by Seahawks safety Bradley McDougald at the end of a 14-yard catch for a first down when his lower left leg appeared to buckle. He was carted off the field and it was announced as an ankle injury. ... Seattle kicker Sebastian Janikowski injured his left thigh when he missed a 57-yard field goal on the last play of the first half. ... Seahawks cornerback Neiko Thorpe left in the first half with a shoulder injury. ... Colts safety Malik Hooker left in the third quarter of Indianapolis' 21-7 win at Houston with a foot injury. ... Indianapolis safety Mike Mitchell injured his calf in the third quarter and didn't return. ... Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins said he played most of the game with a Grade 3 AC sprain of his right shoulder after injuring it in the first half.

---

SPEAKING

''We know we have an elite quarterback and we can throw it for 400 and win when we have to. But the margin for error in playoff football when you try to do it that way is very thin. When you can win like this - running the football and stopping it - that's just everything.'' - Indianapolis coach Frank Reich on Andrew Luck and the Colts, who won their playoff opener, 21-7 at Houston.

---

''We had so much confidence coming it this game and our confidence remains. It's all about the way we fought. ... I'm proud of my guys.'' - Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott after the Cowboys' 24-22 win over Seattle.

 

[Cnotes53]

Sunday?s 6-pack

? North Dakota State (Carson Wentz?s alma mater) won its 7th I-AA football title in the last eight years.

? Bronx signed reliever Zach Britton to a three-year, $39M deal

? Tampa Bay Rays are going to shut down their upper deck, reduce seating capacity to around 25,500; will the Rays be heading to Montreal soon?

? Blazers 110, Rockets 101? Harden scored 38 points, but it wasn?t enough.

? Warriors 127, Kings 123? Curry scored 42; Golden St was down 7 after third quarter.

? ESPN?s Seth Greenberg called Michigan St?s Cassius Winston the best passer in country.

Quote of the Day
?You can shear a sheep many times, but you can skin him only once.?
Old proverb

Sunday?s quiz
Who was Dallas Cowboys? coach before Jason Garrett?

Saturday?s quiz
Matt Nagy, Jay Gruden are the two NFL head coaches who used to play QB in Arenaball.

Friday?s quiz
There are 15 basketball teams are in the ACC, with Notre Dame a basketball-only member.


Sunday?s List of 13: Wrapping up a sports Saturday??.

13) Colts 21, Texans 7? Indy was 9-14 on third down, Houston was 3-13. Colts scored TD?s on three of first four four drives, going 70-75-65 yards for scores. 76 of Texans? 105 rushing yards were gained by QB Watson, who completed only 29-49 passes- not his best effort.

Colts head to Arrowhead next weekend; winner of Charger-Raven game will visit Foxboro.

12) Cowboys 24, Seahawks 22? Dallas ran ball for 164 yards, ran 16 more plays than Seattle, held Seahawks to 11 first downs. Elliott ran for 137 yards; giving him last week off looks like a really good idea now.

Dallas heads to New Orleans if the Bears win Sunday; they head to Los Angeles if the Eagles pull the upset in Chicago.

11) San Francisco 49ers had a lot of injuries the last two years; scapegoat for those injuries is strength coach Ray Wright, who was fired this week. Wright had been with coach Kyle Shanahan in both Houston/Washington, so doubtful it was Shanahan who made this decision.

10) In last few years, I wonder how many times Kansas/Kentucky both lost on the same day? Jayhawks lost at Iowa State, Wildcats lost at Alabama. Go figure.

9) New Mexico 85, Nevada 58? Wolf Pack was #6 in country, then went to Albuquerque and got eviscerated by a New Mexico squad that had lost to Penn and North Texas.

8) St John?s 97, Georgetown 94 OT? Hoyas play lot of high-scoring games; St John?s had lost 13 straight games at Georgetown, but pulled this game out on Lou Carnesecca?s 94th birthday.

7) Upsets of the Day:
? Portland State (+16.5) 77, Montana 74 OT
? East Carolina (+15) 73, Cincinnati 71
? New Mexico (+14.5) 85, Nevada 58
? Southern Utah (+13.5) 90, Weber State 82 OT
? South Carolina (+13) 71, Florida 69
? Northern Arizona (+9.5) 81, Idaho State 69
? LaSalle (+8.5) 69, UMass 60
? Rice (+7.5) 78, Louisiana Tech 66
? Youngstown State (+7.5) 76, Milwaukee 51
? Western Carolina (+7.5) 76, Samford 69

6) Quite a night in the Big Sky Conference; underdogs went 4-1 vs spread, three of the five games went OT, and three underdogs of 9.5+ points won SU. Competitive league.

5) Odd fact of the day; There are ten players who won a Super Bowl ring and also played on a Grey Cup champ in the CFL. One guy won both and also won a title in the XFL?s only year of existence? Bobby Singh.

4) Miami Dolphins were 7-1 this season in games decided by 8 or fewer points; they were 0-8 in games decided by more than eight points.

3) Dallas (9-3), Steelers (6-5-1) and Giants (4-8) played most games decided by one score; New England (3-2) played the fewest.

2) Former Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury is the new OC at USC, but Trojans are blocking him from interviewing for NFL jobs, so there rumors that he may quit so he can do the interviews.

1) A gambler at the Hollywood Charlestown sportsbook in West Virginia played $5 on a 15-team parlay last week, and when all 15 teams he picked beat the spread, the guy won $100,000, not a bad weekend. It is really, really hard to go 15-0 in one day.

 

[jmut1203]

Thank you !

Thank you !

Really appreciate you!
Since there are only two games will you tell us why you like the team and over under ?

 

[Cnotes53]

WC - Eagles at Bears
Tony Mejia

Philadelphia at Chicago (-6.5, 41.5), 4:40 pm ET, NBC

The defending champions have already defied the odds by getting to this point.

Reaching the playoffs sounded like a silly fantasy after Carson Wentz was shut down for the season after throwing three touchdowns in a Week 13 OT loss to Dallas where everything conspired against the Eagles to seemingly end all realistic hope for finishing among the NFC?s top six. Incompetent officiating, bad bounces and an inability make plays in order to get off the field made it seem like fate just wasn?t interested in seeing Philadelphia make back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time since following a Wild Card loss in 2009 with one in 2010.

Reigning Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles would be back in the saddle, but it would surely be a short ride. The Eagles were 6-7. They went from 30-to-1 to win the NFC and 60-to-1 to repeat as champs at the Westgate Superbook to 150-to-1 and 300-to-1 after losing Wentz.

They then upset the Rams in L.A. as nearly-two touchdown underdogs, won a wild game against the Texans at home and then blanked the overmatched Redskins while getting help from their opponent in this unexpected NFC Wild Card matchup. The Bears went into Minnesota and upset the Vikings and have now won nine of 10, including four straight.

A Cinderella repeat bid is on the line with Foles running up against the NFL?s most feared defense. He?s beaten some solid units over the years, but this will be the best group he?ll face, having to do so on the road. For that reason, Philadelphia is the heaviest underdog

Chicago, making its first playoff appearance since 2010, led the NFL in fewest points allowed (17.7 ppg) and allowed the third-fewest yards per game (299.7). They had the most sacks and scored the most defensive touchdowns. Over the last 10 games, the Bears have surrendered 17 or fewer points seven times.

Linebacker Khalil Mack, defensive tackle Akiem Hicks, safety Eddie Jackson and corner Kyle Fuller all made the Pro Bowl, while a couple others were arguably deserving. This is the only matchup of the weekend that hasn?t taken place this regular season, though there is a series history to be aware that you can check out below.

The biggest name who is an injury concern is Jackson, who has missed the last two games with an ankle injury. He has gotten props from Pro Football Focus for securing the top coverage grade they?ve ever given a safety, beating out Ravens icon Ed Reed. He?s scored five touchdowns and has been the cherry on top of the sundae as far as making Chicago?s defense elite goes.

If Jackson plays, which he should, Foles will have his work cut out for him stretching the field and spreading it around in the manner that has helped spark the Eagles? attack. He comes into this game with sore ribs, which means that taking any type of hit could leave Philly with Nate Sudfeld under center.

Left tackle Jason Peters is the Eagles? biggest injury concern and is also likely to play through a nagging quad issue. Although he?s no longer the force he once was, his experience will be crucial and his effectiveness will likely end up being a key x-factor in the outcome of this one. Check out the injury report below for more on who?s in and out of this weekend?s final playoff game.

Philadelphia will try and stay hot by riding proven weapons like tight end Zack Ertz and receivers Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor. Foles has a different stable of backs than he had at his disposal to take pressure off him this time last year, so we?ll see if a healthy Darren Sproles, Josh Adams and Wendell Smallwood can replicate the production of Jay Ajayi, Corey Clement and LaGarrette Blount.

There are a number of names back from a Super Bowl-winning defense, but it hasn?t exactly been championship-caliber at all this season. Fletcher Cox remains a force up front, but the Bears are well equipped to keep him from being a major factor due to a short passing game that utilizes the speed of weapons like Tarik Cohen, Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel and rookie Anthony Miller. Although there are some bruises to read about below, Chicago has Trubisky back from the shoulder injury that cost him multiple games and forced the offense to struggle with backup Chase Daniel.

The former No. 2 pick has thrown 24 touchdown passes and over 3,200 yards, but this will be his first playoff appearance after largely struggling as a rookie last season. Working at home should help, but the Eagles will certainly be looking to rattle his cage.

Chicago has won seven of eight at Soldier Field, falling only against the Patriots on Oct. 21 in a game where it allowed a season-worst 38 points. The Bears have covered the number seven of eight times. The Eagles are 4-4 away from home this season but have won their last two, beating the Rams and ?Skins. They?re 1-2 SU and ATS as road underdogs.

Trubisky lost to Philadelphia 31-3 in Week 13 of last season, getting intercepted twice. Running back Jordan Howard picked up just six yards on seven carries. Chicago will have a healthy respect for the Eagles defense as a result, but it?s an entirely different show with Matt Nagy running things than it was with John Fox, especially since Trubisky has blossomed and gained experience.

The Bears led the league in yards per play at home and averaged over 28 points per game, so we?ll see if they get comfortable enough to be as aggressive as you can be sure their defense will be.

Philadelphia Eagles
Projected season win total: 10.5 (Over +130, Under -150)
Preseason odds to win NFC East: 5/7
Odds to win NFC (Preseason/Current): 7/1 to 15/1
Odds to win Super Bowl (Preseason/Current): 14/1 to 30/1

Chicago Bears
Season win total: 7.5 (Over +115, Under -135)
Preseason Odds to win NFC North: 8/1
Odds to win NFC (Preseason/Current): 25/1 to 9/2
Odds to win Super Bowl (Preseason/Current): 50/1 to 9/1

FUTURES OUTCOMES/LINE MOVEMENT

If you bet on the Bears to have the type of the season they've enjoyed, you've likely profited handsomely. The numbers above are all provided by the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook. The Bears paid out +800 in winning their division, but Dallas cashed at +350 over the favored defending champion Eagles (5-to-7).

Playoff props at Westgate paid out +240 on the Bears reaching the postseason. The Eagles were -280, so the Bears really came through for chalk-eaters with a bailout by defeating the Vikings, spoiling a big payday for naysayers who were set to collect at a +230 rate. Buy a friend a beverage if you were on the winning side.

As far as this matchup is concerned, the Bears opened at -5.5 to -6 before and is right there in that area currently with -6.5 the most common number out there.

The Bears opened at -250 on the money line and are available at -260 at the moment. If you like the home 'dog outright, a payout on a Eagles win will get you +210 to +220 depending on the shop.

INJURY CONCERNS

A late development on Saturday night saw Bears starting tight end Trey Burton unexpectedly land on the injury report with a groin injury that has him considered 'questionable.' Burton has scored six touchdowns and made 54 catches so if he's gone, Trubisky will be without one of his favorite targets and will have to make due with unproven Ben Braunecker and Daniel Brown. Receivers Robinson (ribs), Gabriel (ribs) and Miller (shoulder) have all been cleared to play. Chicago defensive tackle Bilal Nichols (knee) is expected to play, but safety Bryce Callahan (foot) has been ruled out and LB Aaron Lynch (elbow) isn't likely to go.

The Eagles are without multiple starters in their secondary, but that's not a new issue. Corner Sidney Jones (hamstring) has been ruled out, joining the likes of Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby, who have been out for a while already. WR Mike Wallace (ankle) is also sidelined.

TOTAL TALK

Sunday?s afternoon's total opened at 41 and has been bet up to 41.5. Temperatures in Chicago are expected to be in the low 40's with wind gusts likely to be in the teens. The 'under' has prevailed in the last four Bears games to get to 8-8 in their games this season. The 'under' was 9-7 in Eagles' games.

Weekly ?Total Talk? writer Chris David provided his thoughts on this matchup and both Sunday contests here:

RECENT MEETINGS (Philadelphia 7-6 SU, 7-6 ATS last 10; OVER 7-6)

11/26/17 Philadelphia 31-3 vs. Chicago (PHI -14, 43.5)
9/19/16 Philadelphia 29-14 at Chicago (PHI +3, 42.5)
12/22/13 Philadelphia 54-11 vs. Chicago (PHI -3, 53.5)
11/7/11 Chicago 30-24 at Philadelphia (CHI +8, 47.5)
11/28/10 Chicago 31-26 vs. Philadelphia (CHI +3.5, 43)
11/22/09 Philadelphia 24-20 at Chicago (PHI -3.5, 47)
9/28/08 Chicago 24-20 vs. Philadelphia (CHI +3, 39)
10/21/07 Chicago 19-16 at Philadelphia (CHI +5.5, 43)
10/3/04 Philadelphia 19-9 at Chicago (PHI -8.5, 40.5)
11/3/02 Philadelphia 19-13 at Chicago (CHI +7, 37.5)
1/19/02 Philadelphia 33-19 at Chicago (PHI +3, 32.5)
10/22/00 Philadelphia 13-9 vs. Chicago (CHI +6.5, 41)
10/17/99 Philadelphia 20-16 at Chicago (PHI +6.5, 35)

 

[Cnotes53]

SUNDAY, JANUARY 6
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

LAC at BAL 01:05 PM
LAC +3.0
O 43.0

PHI at CHI 04:40 PM
CHI -6.5
U 41.5

 

[Cnotes53]

Foles, Eagles upset Bears, 16-15
January 6, 2019
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CHICAGO (AP) The Philadelphia Eagles needed help to get into the playoffs, and Chicago provided it.

Look how the defending Super Bowl champions repaid the Bears.

Nick Foles hit Golden Tate with a 2-yard touchdown pass on fourth down with 56 seconds remaining against the NFL's stingiest defense, lifting the Philadelphia Eagles past the Chicago Bears 16-15 on Sunday in the final wild-card game.

Former Eagles kicker Cody Parkey hit the left upright and then the crossbar with a field-goal attempt from 43 yards with 10 seconds remaining, silencing the raucous crowd.

The key, of course, was how the Eagles, even when they are messing up, never give up. On Parkey's kick, several Eagles said defensive tackle Treyvon Hester touched it.

''I think the big thing is, we saw some adversity tonight in the first half (and) I had a couple of turnovers,'' Foles said. ''I think the big thing is that no one loses faith, no one stops believing, everyone just keeps talking, keeps believing in one another, and we just rallied. Our defense really kept us in this game.''

The defending league champion Eagles (10-7) squeezed into the playoffs by beating Washington and having the Bears (12-5) help them by knocking off Minnesota in the season finale. Philadelphia thanked its benefactor with a 12-play, 60-yard drive on which Foles, the Super Bowl MVP last February, hit six passes.

Tate made a reaching grab in the right side of the end zone near the goal line.

''We found a way,'' Tate said. ''That's playoff football right there for you. That's why we play this game for times like now once you get to January and February.''

Philly plays at New Orleans (13-3) next Sunday. Chicago's sensational turnaround season from last place to the NFC North title is over.

''We wanted to write our story and start it off,'' Bears second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky said. ''But it does not always go the way you want it to, and that's life, that's football.''

No team has repeated as Super Bowl champion since New England in 2004, and the Eagles are a sixth seed. The last sixth seed to win the NFL title was Green Bay in the 2010 season; the Packers won the NFC championship at Soldier Field that season.

These Eagles, led by Foles once again replacing an injured Carson Wentz, and a defense down to backups at several positions, seem to have that magical touch like last season.

It was a sizzling ending to a game marked by superior defense and several critical mistakes by the Eagles. They had to survive after Tarik Cohen, an All-Pro punt returner, took back the kickoff following Philly's go-ahead score 35 yards. Mitchell Trubisky completed two passes to get the Bears close enough for Parkey. But his kick took a double deflection and fell harmlessly into the end zone.

He was 11 of 12 in the fourth-quarter on field goals before missing the biggest kick of his career.

''Obviously, we're just hoping for a miss,'' Foles said. ''This was a hard-fought game. That's an amazing team we just played against and it came down to the wire.''

The Bears are 1-15 all-time in playoffs when trailing after three quarters. They fell behind when Foles connected with rookie Dallas Goedert for a 10-yard touchdown in the third period that was set up by a 33-yard pass interference call on cornerback Prince Amukamara.

Although the Eagles outplayed the Bears in the first half, errors left them behind 6-3. A 15-yard personal penalty on Michael Bennett aided Chicago's drive to a 36-yard field goal by Parkey, and a dropped potential interception in the end zone by Tre Sullivan allowed Parkey to make a 29-yarder as the half concluded.

Philadelphia also had an interception by Avonte Maddox deep in Chicago territory overturned by video replay.

Philly did score on its opening series of the game, a 50-yard drive to Jake Elliott's 43-yard field goal. And again on its first possession in the third quarter as Goedert got wide open on a short post pattern behind Adrian Amos, who had an end-zone interception of Foles' ill-advised throw in the second quarter.

Parkey also made 34-yarder early in the manic final quarter.

''We had a lot of fun and I love our guys to death,'' Bears coach Matt Nagy said.

REID'S INFLUENCE

Both head coaches, Nagy in Chicago and Doug Pederson in Philadelphia, are Andy Reid proteges. That usually means lots of passing, and each team didn't do much on the ground, combining for 107 yards rushing.

But Trubisky threw for 303 yards, going 26 of 43. Foles was 25 of 40 for 266 yards.

TURNOVERS

Teams rarely win when they are minus in turnover differential. The Eagles did, having two giveaways and no takeaways. Chicago led the NFL this season with 36 takeaways.

MASCOT REACTION

Chicago's bear mascot had the perfect reaction to Parkey's miss, falling flat on his back as he was kneeling behind the goalpost where Parkey's kick failed.

UP NEXT

Eagles: Travel to New Orleans, where they lost 48-7 during the season.

''Yeah, it wasn't very good the first time,'' Pederson said. ''I think we're a different football team now than we were then.''


*****************************


Chargers hold off Ravens, 23-17
January 6, 2019
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BALTIMORE (AP) The Los Angeles Chargers kept Lamar Jackson grounded, and by the time the rookie got the passing game going it was too late for the Baltimore Ravens.

Michael Badgley kicked five field goals, and Los Angeles harassed and hounded Jackson during a 23-17 victory Sunday in the opening round of the NFL playoffs.

The Chargers (13-4) will next face the second-seeded New England Patriots (11-5) on the road Sunday. The Chargers last won two games during a single postseason in 2007, when the franchise was in San Diego.

Of course, going deep in the playoffs are old hat for the Patriots.

''Yeah, I mean, gosh, we know the run they've had,'' Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said. ''It seems like forever. They're always in these games and games beyond.''

Rivers went 22 for 32 for 160 yards for Los Angeles, providing just enough offense to help the Chargers get even for a 22-10 loss to Baltimore (10-7) just two weeks ago.

Badgley set a franchise record for field goals in a playoff game. He connected from 21, 53, 40, 34 and 47 yards.

The Chargers built a 23-3 lead in the fourth quarter before Jackson threw two touchdown passes to make it close. Given one final chance to complete the comeback, the 21-year-old looked every bit like the youngest quarterback to start an NFL playoff game when he lost the ball on his third fumble of the game.

Jackson finished 14 for 29 for 194 yards with an interception. He was sacked seven times.

''I wasn't playing my game today. I'm ticked off about that, definitely,'' Jackson said.

The AFC North champion Ravens were making their first playoff appearance since 2014 after Jackson led the team on a 6-1 season-ending run following an injury to long-time starter Joe Flacco.

In the days leading up to the game, Jackson - the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner - was lauded for the job he did to get Baltimore into the postseason. With the former Louisville star leading the way, the Ravens went on a tear by combining a time-consuming ground game with the league's top-ranked defense.

Jackson finished with 54 yards rushing, but he was booed by many in the crowd of 70, 432 after the Ravens fell behind by 20 points.

''They were looking for better in us,'' Jackson said. ''We didn't perform well. It happens sometimes.''

Jackson threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree to make it 23-10 with 6:33 remaining and tossed a 7-yarder to Crabtree with 1:59 left, but Baltimore's last chance ended when Jackson fumbled after being hit by Uchenna Nwosu.

Baltimore finished with 90 yards rushing after averaging 229.6 with Jackson at the helm.

''We did a good job of staying in the rush lanes and containing him,'' Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said. ''The more times you see that offense, the better you're going to do against it.''

The game was not without controversy.

Los Angeles used a 1-yard touchdown run by Melvin Gordon to take a 20-3 lead with 14:44 left. The score came one play after Gordon lost control of the ball at the goal line and the Ravens took it the other way for a touchdown, but he was called down by contact and a replay confirmed the call.

''He had control of the football as he hit the ground,'' said NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating Al Riveron.

That pretty much ended any hope the Ravens had of winning their first home playoff game since the 2012 season. Baltimore had won five straight in the wild-card round under coach John Harbaugh.

At halftime, Jackson was 2 for 8 for 17 yards and an interception for a 0.0 quarterback rating. Los Angeles led 12-0 at the break, marking the first time in franchise history the Ravens were blanked in the first half of a playoff game.

The Ravens fumbled three times during their first eight offensive plays, losing the last one by Kenneth Dixon on a tackle by Melvin Ingram at the Baltimore 15 to set up Los Angeles' first field goal.

The Chargers then used a 33-yard punt return by Desmond King to set up a 53-yard field goal for a 6-0 lead late in the first quarter.

An interception by Adrian Phillips led to another field goal, and Badgley made it 12-0 with another 3-pointer on the final play of the first half.

Ingram finished with seven tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

SUGGS TO RETURN

After the game, Baltimore linebacker Terrell Suggs said he intends to return for a 17th season.

''Absolutely,'' he said. ''I would love it to be here. I would like to be a Raven life-timer.''

LOOSE BALL

Jackson fumbled on Baltimore's opening possession, but picked it up himself. The same thing happened in the second series before Dixon lost the ball. Jackson has fumbled in nine straight games.

SAN WHO?

A lot of people have had trouble adjusting to the phrase ''Los Angeles Chargers'' because the team spent so much time in San Diego.

But referee Clete Blakeman put a new twist on it, calling them ''San Francisco'' on the loudspeaker.

INJURIES

Chargers: CB Brandon Facyson missed the second half with a concussion.

Ravens: DT Michael Pierce hurt his elbow in the third quarter. ... CB Tavon Young was on the inactive list with a groin injury.

UP NEXT

Chargers: The Chargers are 0-7 against Tom Brady and the Patriots, including playoffs, since Rivers became the starter in 2006.

Ravens: Head into the offseason with Harbaugh being assured he will return in 2019 and with Flacco likely headed elsewhere.

 

[Cnotes53]

NFL December's Best Bets and Opinions

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

01/06/2019 2-2-0 50.00% -1.00
01/05/2019 2-2-0 50.00% -1.00
12/30/2018 16-9-0 64.00% +30.50
12/24/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
12/23/2018 11-13-1 45.83% -16.50
12/22/2018 2-2-0 50.00% -1.00
12/17/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
12/16/2018 11-12-1 47.83% -11.00
12/15/2018 3-0-1 100.00% +15.00
12/13/2018 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50
12/10/2018 0-2-0 0.00% -11.00
12/09/2018 11-13-0 45.83% -16.50
12/06/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
12/03/2018 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
12/02/2018 12-11-0 52.17% -0.50

Totals...............79-67-0.....54.10%....+26.50

********************

Best Bets For December

DATE........................ATS..................U NITS....................O/U................UNITS..............TOTAL

01/06/2019............1 - 1.................-0.50.......................1 - 1................-0.50..............-1.00
01/05/2019............2 - 0................+10.00.....................0 - 2................-11.00............-1.00
12/30/2018............6 - 2................+24.00.....................7 - 5................+7.50............+31.50
12/24/2018............1 - 0................+5.00.......................1 - 0................+5.00...........+10.00
12/23/2018............6 - 3................+13.50.....................3 - 5................-12.50...........+1.00
12/22/2018............1 - 1.................-0.50.......................1 - 1.................-0.50............-1.00
12/17/2018............1 - 0................+5.00.......................1 - 0................+5.00............+10.00
12/16/2018............2 - 5................-17.50......................5 - 2................+14.00..........-3.50
12/15/2018............1 - 0................+5.00.......................2 - 0................+10.00.........+15.00
12/13/2018............1 - 0................+5.00.......................0 - 1.................-5.50............-0.50
12/10/2018............0 - 1.................-5.50.......................0 - 1.................-5.50............-11.00
12/09/2018............3 - 3.................-1.50.......................5 - 6.................-3.00.............-4.50
12/06/2018............1 - 0 ................+5.00......................1 - 0................+5.00............+10.00
12/03/2018............1 - 0.................+5.00......................1 - 0................+5.00............+10.00
12/02/2018............3 - 4..................-7.00......................0 - 3................-16.50............-23.50

Totals..................30 - 20...............+45.00....................27 - 27...............-3.50...........+41.50

 

[Cnotes53]

AFC Divisional Notes
January 6, 2019
By VI News

Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019

Indianapolis at Kansas City (NBC, 4:35 p.m. ET)

Line Movement: BookMaker.eu opened Kansas City -4 and the number was quickly pushed up to 5 (-115). The Las Vegas Westgate SuperBook sent out the Chiefs -5 ? and the number has held steady at their property. Both outfits opened the total at 55 ? and early ?over? wagers have pushed it up to 56.

Indianapolis Road Record: 5-4 SU, 6-3 ATS

Kansas City Home Record: 7-1 SU, 4-4 ATS

Head-to-Head: The last meeting between the pair took place in the 2016 regular season when Kansas City captured a 30-14 road win over Indianapolis as a 2 ?-point underdog. Prior to that outcome, the Colts had won three straight games over the Chiefs which included a 45-44 comeback victory at home in the 2013-14 AFC Wild Card round. Colts quarterback Andrew Luck owns a 3-1 all-time record versus the Chiefs and that includes a pair of wins at Arrowhead Stadium, when Indy stifled Kansas City in the 2012 (20-13) and 2013 (23-7) regular seasons.

Playoff Notes: The Colts improved to 4-3 in the playoffs with Luck under center after the club defeated the Texans 21-7 in last Saturday?s Wild Card win. Indianapolis has played five road games during this span and it?s gone 2-3 while averaging 16.6 points per game.

Going back to the 1994 postseason, the Chiefs are 1-10 both straight up and against the spread in their last 11 playoff matchups. During this span, Kansas City is 0-6 in its past six home playoff games dating back to a Wild-Card win in the 1993 playoffs against the Steelers. Last season, they dropped a 22-21 decision to the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Wild Card round, failing to cover as 8 ?-point home favorites.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid owns an 11-13 all-time record in the playoffs. He went 10-9 during his 14-year run with the Philadelphia Eagles but is just 1-4 in five games with the Chiefs, and the lone win came on the road. Colts head coach Frank Reich is 1-0 in the playoffs, the first win coming last Saturday.

Total Notes: Including last week?s result versus Houston, the Colts have watched the ?under? go 5-4 on the road this season. The defense has only allowed 12.8 PPG during this span and that?s resulted in a 3-1 lean to the low side. The Colts have seen the ?under? go 5-2 in seven playoff games during Luck?s tenure.

Kansas City watched the ?under? go 5-3 at home this season despite solid numbers from its offense (32.4 PPG). Those results were helped by the Chiefs defense, which allowed 34.6 PPG on the road and just 18 PPG at home. The Chiefs have watched the ?under? go 4-2 in their last six playoff games, dating back to 2011 and that includes a 3-0 mark at Arrowhead.

Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019

L.A. Chargers at New England (CBS, 1:05 p.m. ET)

Line Movement: After the Chargers went up three scores on the Ravens in the fourth quarter of Sunday?s Wild Card game, the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook sent out an opener of New England -4 ? with a total of 48 ?. Soon after, BookMaker.eu sent out the Patriots as five-point favorites with the total listed a point lower at 47 ?.

Los Angeles Road Record: 8-1 SU, 8-1 ATS

New England Home Record: 8-0 SU, 6-2 ATS

Head-to-Head: The pair met in the 2017 regular season from Foxboro and New England defeated Los Angeles 21-13 as a 6 ?-point favorite. Including that outcome, the Patriots have won seven of the last eight meetings against the Chargers while going 6-2 versus the number. The lone win for the Bolts came in the 2008 regular season from San Diego.

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers hasn?t had much success against New England in his career, going 1-7 all-time in eight meetings. The signal caller on the other side, Tom Brady, has gone 8-2 all-time versus the Chargers and that includes a 7-0 head-to-head record versus Rivers. The aforementioned win by the Chargers in 2008 featured Matt Cassel at QB for New England, who lost Brady in Week 1 of the regular season to a knee injury.

Playoff Notes: Sunday?s 23-17 win over Baltimore in the Wild Card round pushed the Chargers to 5-5 all-time in the playoffs with Rivers under center. Los Angeles has gone 4-0 in the Wild Card round during this span but are 1-5 combined in the Divisional Playoffs and Championship rounds.

New England has won its last two postseason meetings against the Chargers, the most recent game taking place in the 2007-08 AFC title game. New England won 21-14 at home but Los Angeles covered as a 14-point underdog.

Head coach Bill Belichick and Brady have gone 27-10 in the playoffs with the Patriots. At home, the club has gone 19-3 SU and 12-9-1 ATS and that includes a run of eight straight wins headed into this matchup. Of those eight wins, five have come by double digits.

Total Notes: Including the ?under? result against the Ravens in Sunday?s Wild Card matchup, the Chargers have seen the ?over? go 5-4 on the road this season. Los Angeles (26.9 PPG) has averaged slightly more points as a visitor this season and the offense has also traveled well too. In four trips to the Eastern Time Zone, the Chargers averaged 31.3 PPG and that led to a 4-0 mark. Los Angeles also defeated Tennessee 20-19 at Wembley Stadium from London in Week 7 and the ?under? (46) connected in that matchup.

The Patriots were a solid ?under? bet (11-5) this season and most of the winning tickets to the low side came at Gillette Stadium. Despite averaging 32.9 PPG at home, New England saw the ?under? go 6-2 and it was largely due to its defense. The unit only surrendered 16.6 PPG at Foxboro, ranked second-best in the league. Make a note that New England faced three playoff teams at home and those clubs scored 28 PPG compared to 9.8 PPG versus clubs not in the postseason.

The ?over? has gone 6-2 in New England?s last eight playoffs games and during its eight-game playoff winning streak at home, the high side is also 6-2 in those games.

Going back to the 2008 playoffs, the ?under? has cashed in five of the last six encounters between the Chargers and Patriots and five of the outcomes saw a combined score of 43 points or less.

 

[Cnotes53]

NFC Divisional Notes
January 6, 2019
By VI News

Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019

Dallas at L.A. Rams (FOX, 8:15 p.m. ET)

Line Movement: The Westgate Las Vegas Super Book sent out Los Angeles as a 6 ?-point home favorite with a total of 49 ?. The early money pushed the Rams quickly up to -7. BookMaker.eu also opened the Rams -6 ? and they moved up to -7 as well. The offshore outfit sent out a total of 50 before quickly dropping to 49 ?.

Dallas Road Record: 3-5 SU, 4-4 ATS

Los Angeles Home Record: 7-1 SU, 3-3-2 ATS

Head-to-Head: The pair met in last year?s regular season and the Rams defeated the Cowboys 35-30 as five-point road underdogs. The ?over? (50 ?) cashed easily. Prior to that matchup, the previous meeting took place in the 2014 regular season when the Rams still played in St. Louis. Dallas won that game, a 34-31 decision as a 1 ?-point road favorite while the ?over? (45) connected.

Playoff Notes: The Cowboys improved to 1-1 in the playoffs under QB Dak Prescott on Saturday as it defeated Seattle 24-22 as a 2 ?-point home favorite in the Wild Card matchup. Under head coach Jason Garrett, Dallas has gone 2-2 and the two wins came at home. During this span under Garrett, all four outcomes were decided by five points or less.

The Rams lost to the Falcons 26-13 in last year?s Wild Card round as a six-point home favorite. Prior to this result, the franchise?s previous trip to the postseason came in 2005.

Total Notes: Dallas has watched the ?under? go 9-8 this season and could easily be 10-7 if Seattle didn?t score a late touchdown in last Saturday?s playoff matchup. On the road, the Cowboys saw the ?under? go 6-2 and the offense (17.2 PPG) didn?t travel well. If you take away the 36-35 meaningless win at the N.Y. Giants in Week 17, Dallas averaged 15.5 PPG. Against playoff teams on the road, the Cowboys averaged 12.4 PPG and the ?under? went 4-1 in those games.

The Rams saw their total results end in a stalemate (8-8) this season but they produced a 6-2 ?over? mark at home. The offense averaged 37.1 PPG in Los Angeles, which was the top mark in the league for all hosts.

The defense for Los Angeles (28.1 PPG) struggled at the Coliseum this season and it was diced up by quality opponents. Versus playoff teams, the Rams allowed 33.8 PPG and the ?over? cashed in all four of those games.

Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019

Philadelphia at New Orleans (FOX, 4:40 p.m. ET)

Line Movement: The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook opened New Orleans as a nine-point home favorite with a total of 51 ?. BookMaker.eu opened the Saints -7 ? and pushed the number up to 8, while their opening total was 51 ?.

Philadelphia Road Record: 5-4 SU, 5-4 ATS

New Orleans Home Record: 6-2 SU, 4-4 ATS

Head to Head: The Saints blasted the Eagles 48-7 on Nov. 18 as a seven-point home favorite in Week 11. The 41-point loss was the worst setback of the season for Philadelphia, who had Carson Wentz starting at QB. Before that game, the most recent meeting came in 2015 as Philadelphia dropped New Orleans 39-17 at home.

Playoff Notes: The Eagles improved to 4-0 both SU and ATS in the playoffs under head coach Doug Pederson and QB Nick Foles on Sunday as the club nipped Chicago 16-15 on the road int the Wild Card round. Philadelphia has been listed as an underdog in all four of these games.

The last playoff loss for Philadelphia came in 2013-14 postseason, coincidentally it was a 26-24 Wild Card loss to New Orleans at home when Chip Kelly was the coach for the Eagles.

Drew Brees owns a 7-6 career record in the playoffs, 7-5 with New Orleans. During that span, the Saints have played five home games and they?ve gone a perfect 5-0 while outscoring opponents by just under 12 PPG (35.8 to 24). Despite the hot run, the Saints are just 2-3 ATS during this span. Last season, New Orleans stopped Carolina 31-26 but it was clipped late as a 6 ?-point home favorite.

Total Notes: Including Sunday?s result from the Wild Card round, the Eagles have seen the ?under? go 10-7 this season. On the road, the ?under? is 5-4. The Eagles have watched the total split 2-2 in their last four playoff games.

The ?under? went 9-7 for the Saints this season but the ?over? produced a 5-3 mark at the Superdome behind an offensive unit that posted 34.1 PPG. Defensively, New Orleans was better on the road (18.5 PPG) than at home (25.6 PPG).

Even though New Orleans scored 48 points against the Eagles in their earlier encounter, the ?under? (57) ended up connecting because Philadelphia couldn?t muster up more than seven points.

In the 12 playoff games for Brees, the ?over? has gone 9-3. Dating back to 1988, New Orleans has watched the ?over? cash in 10 straight postseason games played at the Superdome and that includes a 5-0 mark with Brees under center. Against playoff teams, New Orleans scored 31, 48 and 45 points.

 

[Cnotes53]

Wild Card mixed for Books
January 6, 2019
By Micah Roberts

For the second consecutive Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs, the road underdogs covered all four games. That's an 8-0 against-the-spread run, which means underdogs have now covered 14 of the past 15 playoff games altogether. It might be the most impressive run I've ever seen in all my years of monitoring point-spreads for both favorites or underdogs. The public was onto the trend as well and played accordingly which offered mixed results around Las Vegas betting shops.

"We were a small winner Saturday and then a small loser on Sunday," said Station Casinos sports book director Jason McCormick. "It's crazy that dogs were so strong this weekend. The Colts and Chargers were the two sides that hurt us."

The Colts won outright Saturday at Houston, 21-7, and paid out +110 on the money-line. The Colts were extremely popular in public plays with parlays and teasers and the win kicked off the beginning of a small tidal wave of risk the books would hope they could exterminate before getting too large. The Texans opened -2.5 last weekend at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook and closed at -1.5.

The Colts are now off to Kansas City to face the No. 1 seeded Chiefs. The SuperBook, Golden Nugget, and CG Technology books have the Chiefs -6 while everyone else has -5.5. It will be interesting to see where the public pushes this one as the Colts have now won 10 of their last 11 games. Meanwhile, the Chiefs have lost their last six home playoff games at Arrowhead Stadium.

"It was a good weekend for us with the Colts and Eagles as our most notable sides," said Wynn Las Vegas sports book director Doug Castaneda. "The Chargers were a really solid side for the public this morning on both the money-line and ATS."

The Chargers won at Baltimore Sunday, 23-17, and the game never really seemed that close as the Chargers methodically built a 23-3 lead and showed they were clearly the better team. They also proved that a second look at Ravens rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson was all they needed after a 22-10 loss to the Ravens in Week 16 of the regular season. Jackson was sacked seven times, picked off once and fumbled three times -- losing one.

The Ravens created enough risk on the game that forced several books to move up from -2.5 to the key number of -3, but the public and their parlays sided mostly with the Chargers. The two-team parlay tied in with the Colts was cashingtickets often when the result was posted. Teasers too and that risk pool was huge because the Cowboys 24-22 win Saturday against the Seahawks was an all-way teaser win thanks to the back-doorcover engineered by Russell Wilson with 1:18 to go. No teaser died with the Cowboys decision, and many still remained waiting for the Chargers +8.5 to cash. It did. And it started the books off to a rocky Sunday.

"It was a small loser today as a lot of parlays and teasers were alive to that last game," said Superbook VP Jay Kornegay just after the Eagles won 16-15 at Chicago.

The risk on the game was tied to both sides making most shops looking at an all-way loss, but the public was definitely siding with the Bears, who went from -5.5 to -6.5. The Eagles winning was the best of a bad situation for several books, and some even showed a profit on the result which paid out +250 on the money-line. The Bears were a popular teaser play and it lost in most cases, but all the teasers almost survived if the Bears would have made a last-second field goal.

Cody Parkey's 43-yard field goal attempt with 10 seconds remaining hit the left upright and then to make the drama, and agony, thicker, it bounced down and hit the cross-bar on the way down before bouncing no good onto the field. It's the fifth time this season Parkey has hit the upright for a missed field goal. An 18-16 Bears win would have paid both sides of the teaser and crushed the books. Eagles backup QB Nick Foles is now 4-0 in the playoffs the last two seasons, all happening as an underdog. He'll be a huge underdog at New Orleans Sunday.

The SupeBook opened lines on next weeks divisional round immediately when the matchups were known. In addition to the Chiefs -6, the Rams are 7-point home favorites Saturday night against the Cowboys with a total set at 49.5. Sunday's games have the Patriots -4.5 and 48 at home against the Chargers. The late game has the Saints -9 and 51.5 at home against the Eagles. Underdogs went 3-1 ATS in the divisional round last season.

The SuperBook also updated their Super Bowl futures in the normal fashion, but the Chiefs got bumped up from 4-to-1 to 9-to-2 even though they didn't play. Their trek got tougher with the Colts charging ahead hard.

On the other side, the Rams had their odds drop from 6-to-1 down to 9-to-2 with the trek to Atlanta's Mercedez-Benz Stadium becoming easier with No. 3 seeded Chicago being ousted.

The Patriots are 5-to-1, Chargers 8-to-1 and Colts 14-to-1 in the AFC. In the NFC, the Saints are still 9-to-4, the Cowboys are 14-to-1 and the Eagles are 16-to-1.

 

[Cnotes53]

NFL Today, Wild-Card Playoffs
January 6, 2019
By The Associated Press

SCOREBOARD

Saturday, Jan. 12

Indianapolis at Kansas City, 4:35 p.m. EST. Andrew Luck threw two touchdown passes to lead the Colts (11-6) to a wild-card playoff victory at Houston. The Colts, who opened the season 1-5, continued an impressive run by winning their fifth straight and for the 10th time in 11 games. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs (12-4) earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC for the first time since 1997. They did it behind Mahomes, who broke out with one of the best seasons in NFL history for a first-year starter with 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns.

---

Dallas at L.A. Rams, 8:15 p.m. EST. Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 137 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter in a 24-22 wild-card win for the Cowboys (11-6) over Seattle. It was the first playoff win for Elliott and quarterback Dak Prescott on their second try after losing a divisional game as rookies two years ago. The Rams (13-3) boast one of the NFL's best offenses with Jared Goff and Todd Gurley running coach Sean McVay's innovative schemes to perfection for long stretches of the franchise's best regular season since 2001.

---

STARS

Passing

- Nick Foles, Eagles, hit Golden Tate with a 2-yard touchdown pass on fourth down with 56 seconds remaining to lift Philadelphia past the Chicago Bears 16-15.

- Philip Rivers, Chargers, went 22 for 32 for 160 yards for Los Angeles, providing just enough offense to help the Chargers beat Baltimore 23-17 and get even for a loss to the Ravens two weeks ago.

---

Rushing

- Melvin Gordon, Chargers, had a touchdown run in Los Angeles' 23-17 win at Baltimore.

---

Receiving

- Michael Crabtree, Ravens, caught two touchdown passes on his only catches of the game in Baltimore's 23-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

- Allen Robinson, Bears, had 10 catches for 143 yards and a TD in a losing cause as Chicago fell to Philadelphia 16-15.

---

Special Teams

- Michael Badgley, Chargers, kicked franchise playoff-record five field goals - connecting from 21, 53, 40, 34 and 47 yards - to help lead Los Angeles past Baltimore 23-17. He made up for a 41-yard attempt that was blocked by Za'Darius Smith in the third quarter.

- Tarik Cohen, Bears, returned a kickoff 35 yards to put Chicago great starting position - at its 42 - on its final possession in a 16-15 loss to Philadelphia.

---

Defense

- Melvin Ingram, Chargers, had seven tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery - on Uchenna Nwosu's game-sealing strip-sack - in Los Angeles' 23-17 win at Baltimore.

- Michael Bennett and Tim Jernigan, Eagles. Each had a sack in Philadelphia's 16-15 victory at Chicago.

---

STREAKS & STATS

Baltimore's 23-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers marked the first time in the Ravens' seven postseason appearances under coach John Harbaugh that they've lost their opening game. ... The Chargers advanced to play New England, but are 0-7 against Tom Brady and the Patriots - including the playoffs - since Philip Rivers became the starter in 2006. Rivers' only win against New England came in 2008 against Matt Cassel. ... The two games Sunday featured a combined seven field goals and no touchdowns in the first half. It marked the first time in NFL postseason history that there were multiple playoff games on the same day and no first-half touchdowns, according to STATS. ... Chicago is 1-15 all-time in playoffs when trailing after three quarters, including its 16-15 loss to Philadelphia.

---

TOUGH DEBUT

Baltimore's 21-year-old Lamar Jackson became the youngest quarterback to start an NFL playoff game, but got off to a rough start in the Ravens' 23-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Heisman Trophy winner from Louisville, who turns 22 on Monday, had a passer rating of 0.0 early in the fourth quarter before finishing at 78.8 by going 14 for 29 for 194 yards, two fourth-quarter TDs, one pick and one lost fumble. He was sacked seven times, and rushed for 54 yards. The Ravens were making their first playoff appearance since 2014.

---

DOUBLE-DOINK

Chicago kicker Cody Parkey hit the left upright and then the crossbar with a field-goal attempt from 43 yards with 10 seconds remaining, and the Bears fell to Philadelphia 16-15. He was 11 of 12 in the fourth-quarter on field goals before missing the biggest kick of his career. Parkey hit the uprights four times in a game against Detroit at Soldier Field earlier this season.

---

SWING

Los Angeles' 23-17 win at Baltimore was not without controversy. The Chargers used a 1-yard touchdown run by Melvin Gordon to take a 20-3 lead with 14:44 left, a score that came one play after Gordon lost control of the ball at the goal line and the Ravens took it the other way for a touchdown. But he was called down by contact and a replay confirmed the call. ''He had control of the football as he hit the ground,'' said NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating Al Riveron.

---

SUPER SEQUEL?

No team has repeated as Super Bowl champion since New England in 2004, and Philadelphia is a sixth seed this year. The previous sixth seed to win the NFL title was Green Bay in the 2010 season; the Packers won the NFC championship at Soldier Field that season.

---

SIDELINED

Chargers cornerback Brandon Facyson missed the second half of Los Angeles' 23-17 win at Baltimore with a concussion. ... Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce hurt an elbow in the third quarter. ... Chicago tight end Trey Burton was inactive for the Bears' game against Philadelphia with a groin injury.

---

SPEAKING

''I'm standing there, and they were just like chanting Flacco's name. I love `Flac,' but (Jackson) got us here. So for the fact that you're a fair-weather fan that quickly when things go rough - you turn your back on him? - that just got under my skin a little bit. So I just went to them and told them, like, `Yo, you either ride or die or you get ... out of here.''' - Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith, who didn't like fans urging Joe Flacco to replace Lamar Jackson as the rookie quarterback struggled in Baltimore's 23-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

---

''I think the big thing is, we saw some adversity tonight in the first half (and) I had a couple of turnovers. I think the big thing is that no one loses faith, no one stops believing, everyone just keeps talking, keeps believing in one another, and we just rallied. Our defense really kept us in this game.'' - Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles after the Eagles defeated Chicago 16-15.

 

[Cnotes53]

 

[Cnotes53]

AFC Divisional Notes

Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019

Indianapolis at Kansas City (NBC, 4:35 p.m. ET)

Line Movement: BookMaker opened Kansas City -4 and the number was quickly pushed up to 5 (-115). The Las Vegas Westgate SuperBook sent out the Chiefs -5 ? and the number has held steady at their property. Both outfits opened the total at 55 ? and early ?over? wagers have pushed it up to 56.

Indianapolis Road Record: 5-4 SU, 6-3 ATS
Kansas City Home Record: 7-1 SU, 4-4 ATS

Head-to-Head: The last meeting between the pair took place in the 2016 regular season when Kansas City captured a 30-14 road win over Indianapolis as a 2 ?-point underdog. Prior to that outcome, the Colts had won three straight games over the Chiefs which included a 45-44 comeback victory at home in the 2013-14 AFC Wild Card round. Colts quarterback Andrew Luck owns a 3-1 all-time record versus the Chiefs and that includes a pair of wins at Arrowhead Stadium, when Indy stifled Kansas City in the 2012 (20-13) and 2013 (23-7) regular seasons.

Playoff Notes: The Colts improved to 4-3 in the playoffs with Luck under center after the club defeated the Texans 21-7 in last Saturday?s Wild Card win. Indianapolis has played five road games during this span and it?s gone 2-3 while averaging 16.6 points per game.

Going back to the 1994 postseason, the Chiefs are 1-10 both straight up and against the spread in their last 11 playoff matchups. During this span, Kansas City is 0-6 in its past six home playoff games dating back to a Wild-Card win in the 1993 playoffs against the Steelers. Last season, they dropped a 22-21 decision to the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Wild Card round, failing to cover as 8 ?-point home favorites.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid owns an 11-13 all-time record in the playoffs. He went 10-9 during his 14-year run with the Philadelphia Eagles but is just 1-4 in five games with the Chiefs, and the lone win came on the road. Colts head coach Frank Reich is 1-0 in the playoffs, the first win coming last Saturday.

Total Notes: Including last week?s result versus Houston, the Colts have watched the ?under? go 5-4 on the road this season. The defense has only allowed 12.8 PPG during this span and that?s resulted in a 3-1 lean to the low side. The Colts have seen the ?under? go 5-2 in seven playoff games during Luck?s tenure.

Kansas City watched the ?under? go 5-3 at home this season despite solid numbers from its offense (32.4 PPG). Those results were helped by the Chiefs defense, which allowed 34.6 PPG on the road and just 18 PPG at home. The Chiefs have watched the ?under? go 4-2 in their last six playoff games, dating back to 2011 and that includes a 3-0 mark at Arrowhead.


Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019

L.A. Chargers at New England (CBS, 1:05 p.m. ET)

Line Movement: After the Chargers went up three scores on the Ravens in the fourth quarter of Sunday?s Wild Card game, the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook sent out an opener of New England -4 ? with a total of 48 ?. Soon after, BookMaker sent out the Patriots as five-point favorites with the total listed a point lower at 47 ?.

Los Angeles Road Record: 8-1 SU, 8-1 ATS
New England Home Record: 8-0 SU, 6-2 ATS

Head-to-Head: The pair met in the 2017 regular season from Foxboro and New England defeated Los Angeles 21-13 as a 6 ?-point favorite. Including that outcome, the Patriots have won seven of the last eight meetings against the Chargers while going 6-2 versus the number. The lone win for the Bolts came in the 2008 regular season from San Diego.

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers hasn?t had much success against New England in his career, going 1-7 all-time in eight meetings. The signal caller on the other side, Tom Brady, has gone 8-2 all-time versus the Chargers and that includes a 7-0 head-to-head record versus Rivers. The aforementioned win by the Chargers in 2008 featured Matt Cassel at QB for New England, who lost Brady in Week 1 of the regular season to a knee injury.

Playoff Notes: Sunday?s 23-17 win over Baltimore in the Wild Card round pushed the Chargers to 5-5 all-time in the playoffs with Rivers under center. Los Angeles has gone 4-0 in the Wild Card round during this span but are 1-5 combined in the Divisional Playoffs and Championship rounds.

New England has won its last two postseason meetings against the Chargers, the most recent game taking place in the 2007-08 AFC title game. New England won 21-14 at home but Los Angeles covered as a 14-point underdog.

Head coach Bill Belichick and Brady have gone 27-10 in the playoffs with the Patriots. At home, the club has gone 19-3 SU and 12-9-1 ATS and that includes a run of eight straight wins headed into this matchup. Of those eight wins, five have come by double digits.

Total Notes: Including the ?under? result against the Ravens in Sunday?s Wild Card matchup, the Chargers have seen the ?over? go 5-4 on the road this season. Los Angeles (26.9 PPG) has averaged slightly more points as a visitor this season and the offense has also traveled well too. In four trips to the Eastern Time Zone, the Chargers averaged 31.3 PPG and that led to a 4-0 mark. Los Angeles also defeated Tennessee 20-19 at Wembley Stadium from London in Week 7 and the ?under? (46) connected in that matchup.

The Patriots were a solid ?under? bet (11-5) this season and most of the winning tickets to the low side came at Gillette Stadium. Despite averaging 32.9 PPG at home, New England saw the ?under? go 6-2 and it was largely due to its defense. The unit only surrendered 16.6 PPG at Foxboro, ranked second-best in the league. Make a note that New England faced three playoff teams at home and those clubs scored 28 PPG compared to 9.8 PPG versus clubs not in the postseason.

The ?over? has gone 6-2 in New England?s last eight playoffs games and during its eight-game playoff winning streak at home, the high side is also 6-2 in those games.

Going back to the 2008 playoffs, the ?under? has cashed in five of the last six encounters between the Chargers and Patriots and five of the outcomes saw a combined score of 43 points or less.