Rams’ roll might be slowed by Vikings
Minnesota could exploit L.A. injuries
In what was generally a good week of football, minus those weighty roughing-the-passer calls, it was a bad week for yours truly. The quality of play vastly improved, but the prognostications were awful. Time to rally.
The Rams rank third in offence, sixth in defence. Their point differential of 102-36 is astounding. They can move the ball on the ground with Todd Gurley or through the air. Their defence is staunch.
No weaknesses, right?
Not exactly.
Both starting corners are hobbled. Aqib Talib had surgery and Marcus Peters was helped off the field Sunday. That means backups on the outside to cover the dangerous Vikings pair of Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen.
Rams defensive co-ordinator Wade Phillips said of his backups: “I feel confident in those guys.” We’re not quite that confident. Minnesota is a 6½-point underdog at the Rams. Give us the points. Rams, 30-28 San Francisco (+10½) at Los Angeles Chargers
Niners losing Jimmy Garoppolo is as big a hit as any team has taken. Best bet: Chargers, 33-10 Cincinnati (+5½) at Atlanta Bungles no more, Cincinnati is better than people think. Upset special: Bengals, 27-23 Kansas City (-5½) at Denver, Monday night
Too many points to lay for such a rivalry game.
Chiefs, 24-20
Baltimore (+3) at Pittsburgh NFL could put this bitter matchup on every Sunday night. Steelers, 30-24
Miami (+6½) at New England Excitement in South Beach, dismay at North Station. Calm down. Patriots, 20-19
Detroit (+3) at Dallas
Can Matt Patricia out-scheme Cowboys as he did the Patriots? Cowboys, 17-16
Philadelphia (-3½) at Tennessee Two banged-up first-place teams. Carson Wentz the difference. Eagles, 21-15
Tampa Bay (+3) at Chicago Toughest game to figure out. Bears, 24-23
Buffalo (+10) at Green Bay
Bills won’t catch injury-ravaged Packers napping. Packers, 27-20
New York Jets (+7) at Jacksonville That loss in Cleveland could plague Jets for a while. Jaguars, 24-16
Seattle (-3) at Arizona Cardinals will win a game. Just not this week. Seahawks, 20-13
Houston (+1½) at Indianapolis Texans will win a game. Just not this week.
Colts, 19-16
Cleveland (+2½) at Oakland Raiders will win. Yes, this week. Raiders, 22-20
New Orleans (-3) at New York Giants
Saints march to victory. Saints, 30-20
2018 RECORD:
Last week: Against spread, 6-9; straight up, 9-7
Season totals: Against spread, 2322-1; straight up, 27-19-2
Best bet: 2-1 against spread, 3-0 straight up
Upset special: 1-2 against spread, 0-2-1 straight up