1 replies

1. 0 likes

   GOLDSHEET

   SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2

   NEW ENGLAND 27 - San Diego 24--N.E.'s bad injury luck has moved into its second straight year, with S Rodney Harrison (former Charger) and top pass blocker LT Matt Light both felled (check status) in last week's hard-fought win in Pittsburgh. Add those to the previous LB & CB injuries, and Pats backups could be asked to do a lot vs. S.D. team (7-0-2 vs. spread last 9 away) that has TE Gates back in fold and speedy rookie KR/RB Sproles to add his explosiveness to that of RB Tomlinson.

   (02-SAN DIEGO +3 21-14...SR: New England 17-13-2)

   JACKSONVILLE 16 - Denver 13--Rugged Jags "under" 10 of last 12 at home. And can't knock that idea with defensively-competent and offensively-inconsistent Broncos visiting. Trying to help protect gimpy QB Leftwich last week, Jacksonville handed the ball 37 times to RB Fred Taylor (for 97 yards). Denver's own ground game features more power (M. Anderson & R. Dayne) than speed these days. Jake's mobility will help vs. powerful Jag DL, but Plummer must avoid killer mistakes.

   (04-JACK. 7-Denver 6...D.20-8 D.35/106 J.22/67 D.23/39/0/250 J.8/16/0/109 J.0 D.1)

   (04-JACKSONVILLE +3 7-6...SR: EVEN 3-3)

   CINCINNATI 27 - Houston 20--Houston, which fired off. coord. Chris Palmer at the start of its bye week, now faced with the prospect of keeping pace with well-balanced, versatile offense of 3-0 Cincy and its trash talker deluxe, WR Chad Johnson (19 recs. for 307 yds., 3 TDs). OL coach Joe Pendry (his unit TY has yielded 13 sacks!) previously served as off. coord. for HC Dom Capers at Carolina. Bengals have been the recipient of 5 ints. each of the past two weeks (first time in NFL in 34 years)! With Capers getting the full attention of his offense, look for rested Texans to pound away on the ground and for heady QB Carr to avoid many mistakes this week.

   (03-CINCINNATI -5 34-27...SR: Cincinnati 2-0)

   UNDER THE TOTAL Indianapolis 24 - TENNESSEE 11--With Indy's defense (only 16 points allowed first three games!) healthier, deeper and faster (is DE Freeney--3 sacks last week--on his way to the def. MVP TY?), can't count on well-coached Tennessee to keep pace with Peyton Manning (took a knee at end of game last week on Cleveland 6), who's not used to having the luxury of slowing things down. But don't forget, he has the weapons to overmatch a rebuilding Titan defense when he turns it on. Indy has won & covered last 4 meetings during Tenn.'s decline, with 3 wins by DD margins.

   (04-Indy 31-TENN. 17...I.27-25 T.30/153 I.23/129 I.24/33/0/244 T.26/40/1/236 I.1 T.1)

   (04-INDY 51-Tenn. 24...I.29-17 I.28/150 T.25/115 I.25/34/2/417 T.21/36/2/225 I.1 T.0)

   (04-Indianapolis P 31-17, INDIANAPOLIS -12 51-24...SR: Indianapolis 11-10)

   Philadelphia 22 - KANSAS CITY 20--Good chance for K.C. to prove its defense is for real in taking on three-time NFC champ Philly. And Chiefs figure to get a through test, with Donovan McNabb now possessing a variety of quality targets in WRs Terrell Owens & Greg Lewis, emerging TE L.J. Smith, and RB Brian Westbrook. If Chiefs RBs Priest Holmes & Larry Johnson fail to dominate, Eagles pass rushers & DBs will have the edge vs. Trent Green.

   (01-Philadelphia -3 23-10...SR: EVEN 2-2)

   TAMPA BAY 27 - Detroit 10--Give John Gruden credit, he is doing more with his young offense--rookie RB C. Williams (record three 100-yd. games to start career), TE Alex Smith, 2nd-year WR M. Clayton--than former coaching mate Steve Mariucci is doing with his group of Harrington, K. Jones, Williams, Williams & Rogers. But insiders say Gruden is most surprised with the improvement of some of his young OLmen (rookie G Mahan, 2nd-year G Buenning and former backup T A. Davis. Joey Harrington still inconsistent (5 ints. at Chicago), while T.B. defenders dropped 4 potential ints. last home game vs. Buffalo (nabbed 3 in other two games).

   (02-Tampa Bay -9 23-20...SR: Detroit 26-24)

   NY GIANTS 30 - St. Louis 20--Yes, Giants gave up 350 YP in last N.Y. game vs. New Orleans and were routed last Sunday at S.D. Still, no one is questioning 2005 improvement of Eli Manning (5 TDs, 2 ints.) & the Giants (especially with the addition of power back Brandon Jacobs), and no one questions the offensive firepower in the St. Louis arsenal. It's just that Martz' offense has given up 15 sacks and often exposes QB Bulger (fumble TD allowed vs. Tenn.) to vicious hits. Do you sometimes think, like us, that Martz' worst enemy lives in his mirror?

   (03-NY GIANTS +1 23-13...SR: St. Louis 26-12)

   NEW ORLEANS 22 - Buffalo 13 (at Alamodome in San Antonio)--First game for Saints in the first of their two temporary home sites. And, since it's the first game for them in the city in which they "reside" (most of them in hotel rooms), will cut them a little slack regarding last week's big loss and their underachieving 5-9-1 mark as home favorite in N.O. L3Ys. Athletic QB J.P. Losman has a bright future, but the present is his second road start and only fourth start overall. Advantage Saints, with all due respect to Bills' aggressive defense.

   (01-New Orleans -2' 24-6...SR: Buffalo 4-3)

   WASHINGTON 16 - Seattle 10--Was their shocking 14-13 late win in Dallas the "hump win" Joe Gibbs, Mark Brunell & Redskins have been waiting for? Maybe so. But remember, those two perfect passes to Santana Moss are the only TDs Washington has scored the first two games. Still, Brunell & Clinton Portis should find the going easier vs. Seattle's rebuilding front seven than vs. the rugged Chicago & Dallas units of the Skins' first two games. Seahawks 11-6-1 last 18 as road dog, but how sore is QB Hasselbeck's arm? Gibbs 14-4 "under" since his return!

   (03-WASHINGTON +3' 27-20...SR: Washington 8-4)

   NY Jets 17 - BALTIMORE 13--Even if Jay Fiedler must replace the sore-shouldered Chad Pennington this week, prefer N.Y. over Baltimore offense being run by a marginal QB, with OTs and RB Jamal Lewis apparently not the same as in the past, and which has scored no meaningful TDs TY (two late 4th-Q scores)! Presence of Curtis Martin should help keep Ray Lewis "at home." Raven OL allowed 9 sacks first two games, while Balt. has covered only 1 of last 8 chances overall since late LY.

   (04-Balt. 20-JETS 17 (OT)...B.18-16 N.36/156 B.32/76 B.19/33/0/186 N.13/23/1/149 B.1 N.0)

   (04-Baltimore -1 20-17 (OT)...SR: Baltimore 3-1)

   ATLANTA 27 - Minnesota 13--In a game of hustle, speed, determination, and chemistry, Falcons get the call here. Even with last week's big win vs. tired Saints, Vikes still have early-season concerns (off. coord., C, OL, turnovers, sacks, LB injuries) --not to mention the fact that Randy Moss is a Viking no mas. Even if Mike Vick is still less than 100% due to his tender hamstring, he figures to be evasive enough to neutralize the Minnesota pass rush much of the game, allowing RBs Dunn & Duckett (167 combo rush yds. last week) to do their thing. Falcs 6-13-1 "under" in Jim Mora, Jr. regime.

   (03-Minnesota -4' 39-26...SR: Minnesota 15-8)

   Dallas 26 - OAKLAND 19--Before going much further, coaching of "Tuna" vs. Turner appears to be a mismatch on nearly every dimension (e.g., commitment to the ground game, commitment to defense, team discipline, decisions in the clutch, etc.). And, after Bill Parcells saw his secondary geek the Washington game and give up an 89-yd. TDP last week, you can be sure he'll be giving Randy Moss all the special attention the WR deserves. Dallas' alternating def. fronts figure to squeeze a few of those killer mistakes out of the usually "cooperative" Kerry Collins.

   (01-OAKLAND -17 28-21...SR: Oakland 5-3)

   *San Francisco 24 - Arizona 23 (at Mexico City, Mexico)--First regular-season NFL game outside the borders of the U.S. And both teams figure to be at least semi-eager participants, as S.F.'s only victories in its nightmare 2-14 campaign LY came vs. Arizona. And the Cards eager for revenge--anywhere--after they lost both 2004 contests to S.F. 31-28 in OT! Niner QB Tim Rattay appears rejuvenated after LY's arm injuries. Arizona can't get a ground game going, and QB Warner strained a groin last week. CABLE TV--ESPN

   (04-S. FRAN. 31-Ari. 28 (OT)...S.28-19 A.29/103 S.19/57 S.38/57/0/391 A.19/34/1/217 S.2 A.0)

   (04-S. Fran. 31-ARIZ. 28 (OT)...A.25-23 S.41/168 A.25/75 A.26/44/1/299 S.18/34/0/184 S.1 A.1)

   (04-SAN FRANCISCO -1 31-28 (OT), San Francisco +7 31-28 (OT)...SR: San Francisco 17-10)

   MONDAY, OCTOBER 3

   *CAROLINA 24 - Green Bay 21--G.B. had never started 0-3 in the Brett Favre era, while Panthers 1-2 after two last-second losses. And Carolina has extended its "good-dog, bad-favorite" pattern perfectly TY, beating favored N.E., but going 0-2 when laying points to drop to 5-16 its last 21 laying points. Yes, Favre misses his veteran Gs of recent years. But new starting WR Robert Ferguson had a TDC for the second straight week, and rebuilding defense showing more speed. TV--ABC

   (04-G. Bay 24-CAR. 14...G.22-17 G.47/152 C.13/38 C.23/40/1/262 G.15/22/0/127 G.0 C.1)

   (04-Green Bay +3 24-14...SR: Green Bay 6-2)

   MONDAY NIGHT HISTORY

   Green Bay and Carolina on Monday Night

   Green Bay is 14-14 SU and 16-11-1 vs. the pointspread on the road on MNF;

   10-6-1 SU and 9-8 vs. the pointspread at home on MNF.

   Carolina is 1-2 SU and 1-2 vs. the pointspread at home on MNF;

   1-0 SU and 1-0 vs. the pointspread on the road on MNF.

   NFL KEY RELEASES

   TAMPA BAY by 17 over Detroit

   DALLAS by 7 over Oakland

   - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

   UNDER THE TOTAL in the Indianapolis-Tennessee game

   

   posted by phantom

   Sept. 27 2005 7:24pm