Just as everyone had predicted, at this point in the season the AFC division leaders are the Patriots, Steelers, Colts, and Broncos. Indy, again led by Jonathon Taylor, won an OT shootout over the Falcons, while the Pats captured an impressive road win over the Bucs. The Fins shocked the Bills with a relatively easy win, and the Texans scored 26 4th-quarter points in defeating the Jags. The Rams and Seahawks kept rolling, the Jets won their second straight, the Bears came from behind to defeat the Giants, and the Eagles won a defensive battle in Green Bay.
The week opens when the Pats host the Jets on Thursday night, and the Commanders play the Dolphins in Madrid early Sunday. Tampa Bay travels to Buffalo for an interesting matchup, and the Chiefs go to Denver for a key AFC West game. The Rams host the Seahawks in a battle of the NFC West leaders, and the Lions face the Eagles in Philly on Sunday night. The week concludes with the Cowboys traveling to Vegas on Monday night.
Here are this week’s lines. All spreads taken from ESPNBet on Tuesday the 11th at 9:45 am CT.
Thursday:
Jet @ Patriots (-11.5)
Sunday early in Madrid:
Commanders @ Dolphins (-2.5)
Sunday early:
Panthers @ Falcons (-3.5)
Bucs @ Bills (-5.5)
Texans @ Titans (+7.5)
Bears @ Vikings (-3.5)
Packers @ Giants (+7.5)
Bengals @ Steelers (-4.5)
Chargers @ Jaguars (+2.5)
Sunday late:
Seahawks @ Rams (-2.5)
49ers @ Cardinals (+2.5)
Ravens @ Browns (+8.5)
Chiefs @ Broncos (+3.5)
Sunday night:
Lions @ Eagles (-1.5)
Monday night:
Cowboys @ Raiders (+3.5)
Byes:
Colts, Saints
Bummer the Seahawks/Rams and Chiefs/Broncos are at the same time. Those, along with Lions/Eagles look like the games to watch.
Off less importance but still interesting will be the Bears/Vikings. The NFC North is so weird this year. Every team looks unbeatable one game and like dog crap the next.
Each of those teams are capable of beating any team, including themselves.
A week after the Eagles traded for former All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander – on whom both the Packers and Ravens have given up on this year – Alexander announced today that he is “stepping away from football” to get right, physically and mentally, while still recovering from a knee injury he had suffered last season, and on which he had had surgery in January.
I was reading a preview of the upcoming Patriots-Jets Thursday night game in my hometown rag, and it included this gem: “The Jets dealt defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and cornerback Sauce Gardner at the trade deadline, leaving coach Aaron Glenn as arguably best defensive back on the roster.”
Seahawks/Rams may be an early kind of playoff game. Whoever wins not only has a 1 game lead but also an advantage in the tiebreak if necessary. Add to that 49ers are favored by less than a field goal and the NFC West may be a two-team race by the end of Sunday.
Well, the Jets with a very impressive TD drive to open the game. 14 plays, 72 yards, over 8 minutes. 4-for-4 on 3rd down opportunities.
And the Pats answer with a 13 play, 69 yard drive that consumed 7:40. Pats were 2-3 on 3rd down and 1-1 on 4th down. Second quarter just starting.
Casually noting, while watching the game, how many players just leave their mouthguards hanging out. I know it’s a pretty common thing now, it just caught my eye tonight for some reason.
It’s more obvious when the mouthguard is a really bright color or is shaped weird (like a leaf or pacifier, for example).
I’ll bet some Patriots fan somewhere has Treveyon Henderson active on his fantasy team.
Yeah, and I’m going against him.
Are those their Civil War throwback uniforms?
Fields is lucky his hand didn’t get stepped on.
But unlike Civil War soldiers, Gang Green didn’t give them too much trouble.
Not a dominating win, but a W is a W and now the Pats have a 10 day break, then 8 days until a Monday night game, then a bye week to heal up. A winning record for the first time since the 2021 season feels pretty good.
My brother (not a Patriots fan, but still).
Yup.
I see what you did there. Bravo.
