Surging Cowboys face big test against Saints
They’re beginning to think playoffs in Big D. They’ve been thinking Super Bowl for weeks in the Big Easy.
On Thursday night, the Cowboys host the Saints in, well, a big game.
New Orleans (10-1) has looked like the NFL’s best, even as it sits tied with the Rams for the league’s top record; the Saints handed Los Angeles its only loss. Not only is the offence dynamic, with quarterback Drew Brees having the most proficient season of his spectacular career, but the defence appears more solid than any other Super Bowl threat.
“Early in the year, they gave up some points and yards and things like that, but you just really look at them in their last, I guess, three or four ball games,” Cowboys offensive co-ordinator Scott Linehan says. And he’s talking about the New Orleans D!
The Dallas defence has been pretty darn good for much of the season, particularly recently. That’s as much a reason as any that the Cowboys (6-5) have taken over the NFC East lead. But they need to show a lot more to reach the Saints’ level
New Orleans is a 7½-point favourite, but it’ll be closer than that.
SAINTS, 30-27
Buffalo (+5½) at Miami
Bills on upswing. It ends in South Florida. Best bet: DOLPHINS, 2716
Baltimore (-1½) at Atlanta
Ravens haven’t hit the road in a month. Upset special: FALCONS, 29-26
Denver (-4) at Cincinnati
So many road favourites this week. We favour Broncos among them. BRONCOS, 23-10
Los Angeles Rams (-10) at Detroit
So many road favourites this week. We definitely favour Rams.
RAMS, 44-24
Chicago (-4) at New York Giants
So many road favourites — enough already.
BEARS, 20-13
Washington (+6½) at Philadelphia, Monday night
Two injury-plagued teams trying to keep up with Dallas.
EAGLES, 26-23
Arizona (+14½) at Green Bay
Not sure Packers should be favoured by this much over U of Arizona. PACKERS, 28-20
Kansas City (-15) at Oakland
Remember when this was one of the NFL’s great rivalries?
CHIEFS, 40-22
San Francisco (+10) at Seattle
Wasn’t too long ago this was a great NFL rivalry, too.
SEAHAWKS, 27-14
Los Angeles Chargers (+3½) at Pittsburgh
Steelers don’t do anything easily. Maybe Philip Rivers will be perfect. STEELERS, 27-26
Carolina (-3½) at Tampa Bay
If Panthers don’t snap out of funk soon, wild-card playoff spot will disappear. PANTHERS, 31-30
Indianapolis (-4) at Jacksonville
Suddenly, Andrew Luck and Colts look like a post-seasonbound team. COLTS, 19-17
Cleveland (+6) at Houston
Texans won’t win out, but won’t lose this one. TEXANS, 24-20
Minnesota (+6) at New England
Patriots might win out, won’t lose this one. PATRIOTS, 34-26
New York Jets (+9½) at Tennessee
Titans are an enigma. Slumping Jets are not. TITANS, 23-9
Last week: Against spread, 9-4-1; straight up, 12-3
Season totals: Against spread, 8777-7; straight up, 118-56-2
Best bet: 4-8 against spread, 8-4 straight up
Upset special: 8-4 against spread, 7-4-1 straight up