EARNING THEIR STRIPES
Dalton, Bengals will get revenge against Steelers for earlier loss
SUNDAY BENGALS (+3) over Steelers: Cincinnati boasts enough mean, edgy characters on the defensive side to make even hard-guyz Steelers take notice. Andy Dalton tends to perform better in 1 p.m. regional broadcasts than in national prime-timers. Bengals turn tables for earlier loss at Heinz. GIANTS (-4) over Lions: Would go with the underdog if Matthew Stafford hadn’t sustained damage to the middle finger of his throwing hand. Yes, it is better than his index finger, but he threw two picks last week after only yielding one over two-plus months. RAVENS (-5 1/2) over Eagles: Baltimore is catching Philadelphia at the right time, as Carson Wentz works through growing pains. Eagles used to be gold as road dogs in cross-conference spots, but diminished running game and the holes in Wentz’s arsenal continue to ground Birds. Packers (-5 1/2) over BEARS: Game-time temps in the zerodegree range tend to be unfriendly to hamstring issues such as the one that currently bedevil Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers has lost to the Bears in Chicago, twice, against much-stronger defenses — but not since 2010. VIKINGS (-4) over Colts: Indianapolis team owner Jim Irsay told USA Today the Colts could be 10-3 this year. Sure, if they won ev- ery game decided by less than a touchdown! Andrew Luck has been a strong road dog, but Minnesota continues to be a tough out when facing AFC sides who don’t get to view them often. Adrian Peterson has been activated. BILLS (-10) over Browns: Terrelle Pryor Sr. vows a better effort Sunday, and Buffalo appears on the verge of major renovations, with Rex Ryan and Tyrod Taylor in near-term jeopardy. If only Cleveland hadn’t forgotten how to score, and had covered a number sometime in the past two months. CHIEFS (-5 1/2) over Titans: More weather business, with projected readings in the high single digits, which doesn’t bode well for the Titans, who are used to more temperate climes, as is slick young Marcus Mariota. TEXANS (-6) over Jaguars: Jacksonville’s Blake Bortles has thrown one more pick-six than touchdown passes during his NFL career. As the man said, without a trace of irony, “I’ve got to be a better tackler” (per ESPN). Even with their excellent spread record within the division, this is the largest seasonal lay for the J.J. Watt-less Texans. Saints (+21/2) over CARDINALS: The Sainted Drew Brees has gone two games running without tossing a TD pass — losing track of a six-pack of picks in the process. But Carson Palmer has long been turnover-prone, and carries the burden of favoritism.
FALCONS (-14) over 49ers: Atlanta could be more than a bit sloppy here but still will glide home. But with the switch in the Buccaneers-Cowboys game to prime time, Falcons must take stage first, and shouldn’t be presumptuous regarding their likely NFC South title, even with their easier slate, and without Julio Jones. BRONCOS (+3) over Patriots: All the Pats need to do is not lose and they’re assured a first-round bye. But Broncos are driven by greater need, given their challenging schedule. Site has long
been a tar pit for the Pats, but is Trevor Siemian up to this, without a functioning running game? Raiders (-3) over CHAR
GERS: Against the Chiefs, Derek Carr had a terrible history, in terms of his downfield passing prowess, and a broken little finger hindered his passing effectiveness. This is a bad spot for the retreating Chargers if Carr’s hand’s functionally-fit for the pending air war. Buccaneers (+7) over COWBOYS: You have to toss all those obsolete anti-Bucs angles established prior to the arrival of Jameis Winston and the acute Dirk Koet-
ter. Bucs haven’t lost this season with Doug Martin in action. MONDAY Panthers (+61/2) over RED
SKINS: Taking the near-term (Super Bowl-losing) class side, with chips on their shoulders. Kirk Cousins hasn’t proven he is elite, and the Redskins need to confirm they can win at Fed Ex on Monday nights, having done so but twice in the past 20 seasons.
LAST WEEK: 3-11-1 SEASON: 92-93-7