Texans improve, Dolphins regress
Two 4-3 teams appear headed in opposite directions
The Houston Texans began the season 0-3 despite high expectations. They’ve now won four in a row and those high expectations have returned.
Miami had a good start, going 3-0, but now has faltered and stands 4-3 with an uncertain situation at quarterback.
Houston is a 7½-point choice over Miami.
“Nobody wants to be 0-3,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien says.
“I think it’s all about the players. If you don’t have the right type of players, then you’re probably going to be somewhere not close to where we are now. I think it’s really about the players, their resolve, their mindset, their mentality, their belief in what we’re trying to do, their belief in each other, their belief in the coaching staff.”
No one is saying the Dolphins don’t believe, either.
“Last time I checked, we’re 4-3,” running back Kenyan Drake says. “All we have to do is make the necessary adjustments we need to make to be 5-3.”
Sorry, but that will be 4-4 after ... Texans, 20-16 New England (-11) at Buffalo
Unless the weather gets brutal, this should be a rout.
Best bet: Patriots, 36-13 Baltimore (-1½) at Carolina
Can’t see Ravens as road favourites here.
Upset special: Panthers, 21-20 Seattle (+3) at Detroit
Really impressed by coaching job Pete Carroll is doing.
Seahawks, 25-22
Washington (-1) at New York Giants
Really impressed by coaching job Jay Gruden is doing.
Redskins, 24-16
New Orleans (+1) at Minnesota
Hey Saints, remember not to let Stefan Diggs loose on final play.
Vikings, 29-26
Denver (+10) at Kansas City
Until weather turns nasty, Chiefs will keep scoring in bunches.
Chiefs, 34-20
Tampa Bay (+5) at Cincinnati
Bengals look fragile, but past two losses were against superior talent.
Bengals, 27-24
Philadelphia (-3) vs. Jacksonville in London
Both of these teams look fragile. At least Eagles aren’t feuding.
Eagles, 24-16
Green Bay (+9) at L.A. Rams Packers can’t cover wideouts. Rams, 33-23
Cleveland (+8) at Pittsburgh
Don’t smell a blowout here, just another Browns late implosion.
Steelers, 20-17
New York Jets (+7) at Chicago
Jets hope Sam Darnold 2019 is where Mitch Trubisky 2018 is at.
Bears, 27-15
Indianapolis (-3) at Oakland
How long before Jon Gruden tries to sell the Golden Gate Bridge?
Colts, 33-20
San Francisco (-1) at Arizona
Don’t think many Arizonans will vacate the golf course for this.
49ers, 13-10
Last week: Against spread, 8-4-1; straight up, 11-3
Season totals: Against spread, 4852-4; straight up, 69-36-2
Best bet: 2-5 against spread, 6-1 straight up
Upset special: 4-3 against spread, 3-3-1 straight up