Balt +3 Pitt
-3
This game will come down to the
health and availability of Le’Veon Bell, who did not practice Thursday.
Assuming Bell is out; the game will fall squarely on the shoulders of Ben
Roethlisberger. Unfortunately for Ben, he doesn’t have a reliable pass blocking
running back to protect him against the stout front seven of the Ravens; who
welcome back NT Haloti Ngata. With Ngata’s return and nobody to protect Ben,
perhaps the Ravens try to get pressure with just four and drop into coverage to
protect their leaky secondary; who gave up the 4th most fantasy points to wide
receivers this year. This rivalry game sets up well for Flacco, who I
think will pepper Steve Smith Sr. often to set up Torrey Smith. I really like
Justin Forsett as well because the Steelers allowed the second most receptions
to running backs in the last 4 weeks of the season. I’ll take the Ravens and
the points due to Bell’s current status.
AZ +6.5 Car-6.5
For this one, I think it’s going to
swing on a special team’s play and especially defensive turnovers. With this
game being a later start, Arizona will be taking the field the same time as
they would at home for an early game; so that west coast travel won’t be as big
of a factor. With the Cardinals tough corners and a good run defense, I think
Cam Newton and Greg Olsen will have to dink and dunk down the field. I don’t
think the Panthers offense is set up to blow out the Cardinals; especially
coming off their personal Super Bowl last week in Atlanta. But the Panthers
defense is so hot right now, against a backup quarterback that was awful in the
second half against the 49ers last week. The Panthers defense will dominate
field position and with some turnovers, allow Graham Gano to kick them into the
divisional round. I’ll take the hottest team in the league right now at home,
despite giving up the points. Give me Carolina -6.5.
Detroit
+6.5 Dallas -6.5
The Cowboys were 8-0 on the road and
just 4-4 at home and the time is right for Romo, to be Romo. The stage is set,
everything is too perfect. For me, I don’t care how good the Cowboys have
been this year; they are always that one Romo play away from choking in crunch
time. See Romo versus Peyton Manning in Week 5 last year and that late
key interception after he was lights out all day. I’m confident in this
because, despite the woes of what should be a dominant Lions offense, it’s been
their defense that’s kept them in the playoff hunt this year. That Defense gets
Ndamukong Suh off suspension after winning his appeal and the offense gets
veteran center Dominic Raiola back. Conversely the Cowboys will be without
their best defensive lineman, Henry Melton; which hurts a defense already at
the bottom of the league in sacks this year. Stafford returns to his home
state of Texas and has too many weapons, that even if Cowboys get up in the
score, they have the firepower to come back. I’ll confidently take the Lions
and 6.5 points.
Cinn +3 Indy
-3
This game will come down to good
Andy Dalton, or bad Andy Dalton. Because aside from the quarterback position, I
believe the Bengals have the better overall defense and offense. Additionally,
from what I saw last week with the Bengals pounding Jeremy Hill and getting
creative with Giovani Bernard in the slot, I think they will have no problem
pacing the Colts offense if necessary. I recognize it’s tough to go against one
of fantasy football’s best, Andrew Luck and a kicker like Adam Vinatieri, who
did miss his first field goal of the year last week. But in what is projected
to be a closely contended game and one the Colts may win on the money line with
a Vinatieri field goal, I’ll hedge myself against bad Andy Dalton and take the
Bengals and the points.