Philadelphia, the preseason
Super Bowl co-favorite, can’t get its top receiver to run hard or go over the middle.
Washington coach Mike Shanahan, supposedly an offensive guru, staked his reputation on Rex Grossman and John Beck.
The Giants have lost four straight, part of an annual second-half collapse, and are reduced to claiming moral victories.
Dallas coach Jason Garrett intentionally took the ball out of his offense’s hands with the game on the line Sunday at Arizona, choosing not to run another play from the Cardinals’ 31-yard line.
He then unintentionally iced his own kicker by calling time. Dan Bailey nailed the 49-yard field goal that didn’t count, and missed the one that did.
Does anyone want to win the NFC Least?
It sounds far-fetched, but at one point many thought this division would send three teams to the playoffs.
NFC East teams have either underperformed or just aren’t very good. None has a winning record ATS.
And they haven’t feasted on the purportedly weaker NFC West. Excluding St. Louis, NFC West teams are 7-5 SU and 9-2-1 ATS against the NFC East. The West is still 7-9 SU and 9-6-1 ATS if you include the hapless Rams.
“The Eagles have been a total flop,” MGM Mirage sportsbook manager Jeff Stoneback told Covers.com. “The Giants? You figure ‘em out. Even though they lost Sunday, they put up the best fight versus Green Bay as anyone has all season.
“Dallas was just getting by even when they were winning,” he added. “To me, it didn’t look like they had it all together. It all makes for a fun game Sunday night.”
That’s when Dallas (7-5) hosts New York (6-6) with the division lead at stake. Books opened the Cowboys as 3 or 3.5-point favorites.
Todd Fuhrman, Caesars Palace senior race and sports analyst, said he opened the game at 3.5 “to see if we can take a little Giants money.
“I think the public will come in on Dallas,” he continued. “The Giants could come in a little bit flat and this is a good situational spot to back Dallas. I’m curious to see if the sharper bettors will lay the hook.”
The Giants will struggle to shake off the disappointment of narrowly missing a landmark win, Fuhrman said, adding that he views Dallas as the division’s only playoff team.
Despite their mediocrity, the Giants and Cowboys will draw more money than any other Week 14 game. Action is likely to be split fairly evenly.
“You’ve got two teams with such fervent fan bases,” Fuhrman said. “It’s one of those marquee games we look forward to.”
BIGGEST SPREADS OF THE WEEK
Indianapolis at Baltimore (-16.5, 41), Cleveland at Pittsburgh (-13.5, 38.5)
The Colts were surprisingly competitive at New England, covering easily as 20.5-point underdogs. But they lost top corner Jerraud Powers to a dislocated elbow.
Incidentally, Fuhrman said he didn’t post a prop on Indy going 0-16 because he didn’t think anyone would bet “No.”
The Browns are 4-8 ATS as road dogs since the start of last season.
SMALLEST SPREADS OF THE WEEK
Tampa Bay at Jacksonville (-1.5, 38), Atlanta at Carolina (3, 48), Houston at Cincinnati (-3, 37.5), Philadelphia at Miami (-3, 44)
Michael Vick says he’ll play against the Dolphins, though he won’t be 100 percent. The Eagles sure can use the spark.
But no team has been hotter ATS than the Dolphins. Miami has covered six straight by an average of 14 points, going 4-2 SU.
BIGGEST TOTAL OF THE WEEK
Oakland at Green Bay (-11, 53)
The Packers are averaging 35 points, and eight of their 12 games have gone over the total. At home, Green Bay has posted a 4-1 O/U mark. The over is 7-5 in Oakland’s games, including 4-2 when the Raiders go on the road.
Carson Palmer (9 INTs in 6 games) remains susceptible to turnovers, another factor that could jack up the score.
SMALLEST TOTALS OF THE WEEK
Chicago at Denver (-3.5, 35.5), Kansas City at N.Y. Jets (-9, 36.5), Houston at Cincinnati (-3, 37.5)
The Bears offense is a mess without Jay Cutler and Matt Forte. This total already dropped a point. Denver has played four unders in Tim Tebow’s seven starts.
The over is 9-3 in Bengals’ games this season, including 4-1 at Paul Brown Stadium.
