Dallas Cowboys (10-1) @ Minnesota Vikings (6-5) – 1.30am, Friday
DESPITE LOSING FIVE of their last six games, the Minnesota Vikings still have a winning record and a chance at reaching the playoffs as winners of an unpredictable NFC North.
However, most fans — even those who choose the purple of the Vikings — will suspect they’ll be sitting at .500 after tonight’s game as the Dallas Cowboys roll into town on the back of the greatest winning streak (10) in franchise history.
But there are a number of reasons to hope for Minnesota. Home teams generally have an advantage in Thursday Night games and the Vikings have been much better at home this season than on the road proving the old adage that bad offensive lines don’t travel.
Their defence is good — though not as great as we suspected they may be earlier in the season — and could go some way to slowing down the Cowboys attack. The Vikes give up 100 yards on the ground on average while the Cowboys usually gain 157, something’s gotta give.
Verdict: The Cowboys are three-point favourites but are due a slip. This will make me look like an idiot when Dallas wins by 15. Minnesota by 3.
Kansas City Chiefs (8-3) @ Atlanta Falcons (7-4) – 6pm, Sunday
For the vast majority of this season it has looked like Atlanta were the team to beat in the NFC South. However, the sudden emergence of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as legitimate contenders has made this game almost a must-win for the Falcons.
The Chiefs, who two weeks ago lost to the aforementioned Bucs, are almost the forgotten men of the AFC as everyone discusses who’ll take the number one seed between the Pats and Raiders.
While their offence has been stuttering of late, they still have a win over Oakland to their name and that could be crucial before the postseason.
Verdict: I’m not convinced about either of these teams and the 3.5 point spread in favour of the Falcons seems just a little too high. Atlanta by 3.
New York Giants (8-3) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) – 9.25, Sunday
When you see the Giants’ record you might be tempted to think to yourself: ‘oh, I wonder if this is one of those years where Eli flies under the radar and beats the Patriots in the Super Bowl?’
But New York has benefited from the softest schedule imaginable over the past few weeks and their last three wins have come against teams — Bengals, Bears and Browns — with a combined five wins between them all season.
The Steelers have finally gotten back to winning ways after losing three on the skid but, again, the caveat is that those victories come over Cleveland and an Andrew Luck-less Colts side.
Verdict: I really don’t know if either of these teams are good. But I suspect the Steelers might have too much firepower on offence. Pittsburgh by 7.
Carolina Panthers (4-7) @ Seattle Seahawks (7-3)
The three-point loss to the Raiders last week probably flattered the Panthers a little as it was a game that was running away from them until Derek Carr dislocated his finger on a rogue snap.
Up until then, Carolina looked nothing like the team that lost just two games — including the Super Bowl — all of last season with most of the problems stemming from a raft of injuries on the offensive line.
Speaking of terrible o-lines, Seattle’s is up there with the worst in the league and, when your quarterback is under as much pressure as Russell Wilson is, it’s very difficult to win games.
Verdict: It’s a little unusual this game hasn’t been flexed out of Sunday night prime time. Home advantage should do it for the Seahawks. Seattle by 5.
And the rest (picks against the spread in bold)
Detroit Lions @ New Orleans Saints (-6)
Miami Dolphins @ Baltimore Ravens (-3)
San Francisco 49ers @ Chicago Bears (-1)
LA Rams @ New England Patriots (-13.5)
Denver Broncos (-4) @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Houston Texans @ Green Bay Packers (-7)
Philadelphia Eagles (-1) @ Cincinnati Bengals
Buffalo Bills @ Oakland Raiders (-3)
Washington @ Arizona Cardinals (-2.5)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ San Diego Chargers (-3.5)
Indianapolis Colts (-1) @ New York Jets
