Minni +9.5
I'm still trying to get over how easy the Bears' schedule has been...now I have to come to grips with how lucky they were last week to even get close!!
The 2 INT's were lucky...the first was caught but popped up in the air as the receiver was hit, which then landed in the arms of a Chicagop defender. The second was worse still, deflected up of a NE receivers hand, hit up again by a defender, only, again, to have it land nicely with Chicago.
Moving the ball? Well, they couldn't besides two TERRIBLE interference calls (well, the second one was dubious at best, but the first was one of the worst calls I have ever seen!!)
Minnesota's run D is best in the NFL,allowing just 2.8 ypc!!...so Grossman will be forced to throw the ball often, and he's shown that when he does, he WILL turn it over.
The only game Minni has lost all season by more than 6 points was v. NE, and Chicago beat them by just 3 points last meeting this season, with Grossman throwing 2 picks...but Minni turned it over twice themselves.
I won't be surprised if the Vikes pull off the straight upset here.
SL v. Arizona under 46.5
Another MASSIVE total for an Arizona game. I've said it before, but since week 1 (Warner) 15.3 ppg...and 13.8 on the road...AND, last week's 26 came with a fumble return TD and a 99 yard kick off return!!
Leinart had a huge game number-wise, but only because he threw the ball 51 times!!! (just 6 runs!!!)
They will have much more success on the ground v. the NFL's worst run D (5.2 ypc)
In 2 weeks without Orlando Pace, SL have scored 0 and 20 last week v. a pretty poor SF defense.
The first meeting this season was 16-14 in a game where there were 59 total passes and 56 runs.
Detroit @ NE under 41.5
Without me ever noticing, the NE D is again back to it's best...and they are 2-9 under on the season to prove it! (1-10 under in their last 11 as favs!) They've allowed just 13.1 ppg so far.
I'm not sure how Detroit really get anything going here.
Nearly 2 TD's is a lot of points to lay, but equally, 41 points is a pretty high total when one team isn't scoring!
Washington v. Atlanta under 38.5
I think this total is based on both teams terrible pass D's (both allow >7.20 y/p), but neither team is likely to be able to take advantage.
Atlanta rely on their running game and Vick making plays so much more than passing the ball (Vick is eratic at best anyway), and Campbell, although he has been efficient, is only passing at 5.3 y/p.
Atlanta have scored 14, 13, 10 & 13 in their last 4 and I can't see Washington scoring 20.
Tampa Bay @ Pittsburgh under 40.5
Another high total for a team who simply don't score.
TB av an amazing 9.4 ppg on the road!, as such they are 3-11 under in their last 14 away games.
Not much more to say!
Pittsburgh should be able to get a running game going as TB aloow 4 y/r, so BR won't be forced to throw the ball 30+ times here.
The Steelers' D has been a bit off lately, but again, TB don't score...and some forecast bad weather won't help anyone's cause.
Good Luck all
I'm still trying to get over how easy the Bears' schedule has been...now I have to come to grips with how lucky they were last week to even get close!!
The 2 INT's were lucky...the first was caught but popped up in the air as the receiver was hit, which then landed in the arms of a Chicagop defender. The second was worse still, deflected up of a NE receivers hand, hit up again by a defender, only, again, to have it land nicely with Chicago.
Moving the ball? Well, they couldn't besides two TERRIBLE interference calls (well, the second one was dubious at best, but the first was one of the worst calls I have ever seen!!)
Minnesota's run D is best in the NFL,allowing just 2.8 ypc!!...so Grossman will be forced to throw the ball often, and he's shown that when he does, he WILL turn it over.
The only game Minni has lost all season by more than 6 points was v. NE, and Chicago beat them by just 3 points last meeting this season, with Grossman throwing 2 picks...but Minni turned it over twice themselves.
I won't be surprised if the Vikes pull off the straight upset here.
SL v. Arizona under 46.5
Another MASSIVE total for an Arizona game. I've said it before, but since week 1 (Warner) 15.3 ppg...and 13.8 on the road...AND, last week's 26 came with a fumble return TD and a 99 yard kick off return!!
Leinart had a huge game number-wise, but only because he threw the ball 51 times!!! (just 6 runs!!!)
They will have much more success on the ground v. the NFL's worst run D (5.2 ypc)
In 2 weeks without Orlando Pace, SL have scored 0 and 20 last week v. a pretty poor SF defense.
The first meeting this season was 16-14 in a game where there were 59 total passes and 56 runs.
Detroit @ NE under 41.5
Without me ever noticing, the NE D is again back to it's best...and they are 2-9 under on the season to prove it! (1-10 under in their last 11 as favs!) They've allowed just 13.1 ppg so far.
I'm not sure how Detroit really get anything going here.
Nearly 2 TD's is a lot of points to lay, but equally, 41 points is a pretty high total when one team isn't scoring!
Washington v. Atlanta under 38.5
I think this total is based on both teams terrible pass D's (both allow >7.20 y/p), but neither team is likely to be able to take advantage.
Atlanta rely on their running game and Vick making plays so much more than passing the ball (Vick is eratic at best anyway), and Campbell, although he has been efficient, is only passing at 5.3 y/p.
Atlanta have scored 14, 13, 10 & 13 in their last 4 and I can't see Washington scoring 20.
Tampa Bay @ Pittsburgh under 40.5
Another high total for a team who simply don't score.
TB av an amazing 9.4 ppg on the road!, as such they are 3-11 under in their last 14 away games.
Not much more to say!
Pittsburgh should be able to get a running game going as TB aloow 4 y/r, so BR won't be forced to throw the ball 30+ times here.
The Steelers' D has been a bit off lately, but again, TB don't score...and some forecast bad weather won't help anyone's cause.
Good Luck all
