Saints can seize control of South
One of the NFL’s better rivalries has plenty riding on its latest instalment.
Saints-Falcons on Thursday night also is one of the better mid-week matchups on this year’s schedule.
New Orleans leads the NFC South at 9-3, one game in front of Carolina and two games in front of Atlanta.
New Orleans is a onepoint choice over Atlanta. The Falcons badly need this one, but they’ve struggled in their spanking new Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Atlanta’s playoff chances take another hit. Saints, New England 28-24 (-11) at Miami, Monday Patriots night don’t have Gronk, tiny bit which closer. makes this a Best Seattle Russell bet: (+3) Patriots, Wilson at Jacksonville 33-10 is making pitch Upset for special: MVP ’Hawks, award. 24-23 Baltimore Another (+7) test at Steelers Pittsburgh will barely Steelers, pass. 17-13 Philadelphia After loss, Philly (+2½) fans at Rams getting antsy. Calm down. Eagles, 27-24 Minnesota Vikings win (-3) here at Carolina establishes them as NFC’s best. Sorry ... Panthers, 20-16 Oakland (+4) at Kansas City AFC West mess starts getting settled. Chiefs, 22-20 Washington (+6) at Chargers Chargers do their part. Chargers, 30-20 Green Bay (-3½) at Cleveland Oddsmakers tempting us with this line. We’ll bite. Packers, 23-11 San Fran. (+3) at Houston
Niners fans getting geeked by Garoppolo. But we like Houston here. Texans, 20-13 N.Y. Jets (pick-em) at Denver This line shows how far Broncos have fallen. Jets, 27-19 Tennessee (-3) at Arizona Jacksonville, slipped here. Titans won’t. Titans, 21-20 Dallas (-5) at N.Y. Giants Bye-bye Ben factor makes us think this will be close. Cowboys, 23-20 Chicago (+6) at Cincinnati Actually thought about this as best bet. Bengals, 26-13 Detroit (OFF) at Tampa Bay Loser here might soon start coaching search. Buccaneers, 17-16 Indy (OFF) at Buffalo Bills survive this one, but playoff drought continues. Bills, 13-10
Last week: Against spread, 8-7-1; straight up, 11-5 Season totals: Against spread, 91-88-6; straight up, 121-70
Best bet: 8-5 against spread, 9-4 straight up
Upset special: 8-5 against spread, 8-5 straight up