Big game between teams from Big Easy and Big D; Seahawks predicted to prevail over Niners
They are beginning to think playoffs in Big D. They’ve been thinking Super Bowl for weeks in the Big Easy.
Tonight, 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 defeat. Not only is the offence dynamic and Drew Brees is 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 ballgames,” said Cowboys offensive co-ordinator Scott Linehan. “They’re just really doing a good job of getting stops and creating negative plays for the other team, whether it be sacks or turnovers. “We’ve got a big challenge.” 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.
“We have all the confidence in ourselves,” said quarterback Dak Prescott. “They put on their pants the same way we do. They’ve won 10, and I guess we’ve won three (in a row).”
It will be 11 for the Saints, unanimously top-ranked in the AP Pro32. They are 7 1/2-point favourites over No. 12 Dallas.
SAINTS, 30-27
KNOCKOUT POOL
Dallas did the job on Thanksgiving, and as Pro Picks heads into December, time to go with rejuvenated SEATTLE.
No. 3 Kansas City (minus 15) at No. 31 Oakland
Remember when this was one of the NFL’s great rivalries?
CHIEFS, 40-22
No. 30 San Francisco (plus 10) at No. 10 Seattle
Wasn’t too long ago this was a great NFL rivalry, too.
SEAHAWKS, 27-14
No. 16 Denver (minus 4) at No. 24 Cincinnati
So many road favourites this week. We favour Broncos among them.
BRONCOS, 23-10
No. 2 Los Angeles Rams (minus 10) at No. 23 Detroit
So many road favourites this week. We definitely favour Rams.
RAMS, 44-24
No. 5 Chicago (minus 4) at No. 27 New York Giants
So many road favourites — enough already. BEARS, 20-13
No. 25 Buffalo (plus 5 1/2) at No. 21 Miami
Bills on upswing. It ends in South Florida. BEST BET: DOLPHINS, 27-16
No. 13 Baltimore (minus 1 1/2) at No. 22 Atlanta
Ravens haven’t hit road in a month. UPSET SPECIAL: FALCONS, 29-26
No. 9 Minnesota (plus 6) at No. 4 New England
Patriots might win out, won’t lose this one. PATRIOTS, 34-26
No. 20 Cleveland (plus 6) at No. 7 Houston
Texans won’t win out, but won’t lose this one. TEXANS, 24-20
No. 15 Washington (plus 6 1/2) at No. 17 Philadelphia, Monday
Two injury-plagued teams trying to keep up with Dallas.
EAGLES, 26-23
No. 32 Arizona (plus 14 1/2) at No. 19 Green Bay
Not sure Packers should be favoured by this much over U of Arizona.
PACKERS, 28-20
No. 6 Los Angeles Chargers (plus 3 1/2) at No. 8 Pittsburgh
Steelers don’t do anything easily. Maybe Philip Rivers will be perfect.
STEELERS, 27-26
No. 14 Carolina (minus 3 1-2) at No. 26 Tampa Bay
If Panthers don’t snap out of funk soon, wild-card playoff spot will disappear.
PANTHERS, 31-30
No. 11 Indianapolis (minus 4) at No. 28 Jacksonville
Suddenly, Andrew Luck and Colts look like postseason-bound team.
COLTS, 19-17
No. 29 New York Jets (plus 9 1/2) at No. 18 Tennessee
Titans are an enigma. Slumping Jets are not. TITANS, 23-9
Seattle talking about return of Richard Sherman with 49ers
RENTON, Wash. — Pete Carroll looked to a Seahawks staffer with a bemused expression as he continued to field questions about a player who is no longer part of Seattle’s locker room.
“Pretty good love-fest for Sherm,” Carroll quipped.
Richard Sherman’s return to Seattle this week has dominated the conversation and will dominate the attention leading into Sunday’s game between the Seahawks and Sherman’s new team in San Francisco — sure to be the game within the game.