HERE WE GO AGAIN
DeVito, Wilson can keep N.Y. momentum going
THE POST’S Wednesday back page was printed in New York but it might as well have been from Bizzaro World. It read, “WHO WOULDA THUNK IT?!” stacked between action photos of Tommy “Cutlets” DeVito and Zach Wilson. The occasion was the naming of the local quarterbacks as their respective conference’s Offensive Player of the Week.
The honors were well-deserved and could never have been predicted on Oct. 29, when Brian Daboll declined to let DeVito throw the ball downfield in the rain against the Jets, or even weeks later when Wilson imploded after that miracle win and was benched.
Though these developments are probably too late to result in postseason rewards, at least they have served to make the final few weeks of football in the big city more entertaining, even as both teams are sizeable road underdogs in Week 15.
Giants (+6) over SAINTS: New Orleans is tied for first in the NFC South despite a 6-7 record and losses in three of its past four games (with the win coming last week against the dreadful Panthers). Derek Carr has been banged up, and his two starting receivers (Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed) are listed as questionable midweek. It’s a nice setup for Wink Martindale’s defense.
New Orleans is healthier on defense, and the Superdome will be inhospitable for DeVito, but I’m getting the sense his teammates are all-in with him, and that Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka are figuring out ways to maximize his talents. This line actually went up a half-point after the Giants’ victory over the Packers, so perhaps there are bettors who fade teams that have to travel off an emotional Monday night game. But I think the recent success and fervor around DeVito will keep their energy high.
Jets (+8.5) over DOLPHINS: This line has sunk from 13.5 prior to the Dolphins’ Monday nighter against the Titans. The colossal loss at the end was only part of the bad news for Miami. Early in the game, star players were going down one after another. Raheem Mostert, Jaylen Waddle, Tyreek Hill, De’Von Achane, if only temporarily. At midweek, four of their five starting offensive linemen were on the injury report as well. The Jets’ defense, which turned Houston’s league-leading pass offense to dust last week, will be looking to make a statement here.
Can Wilson and the Jets’ offense do enough to take advantage? Well, he typically follows up his rare good games with clunkers, but I’m willing to take a chance here because Wilson seems to have adopted a nothing-to-lose attitude and is playing more freely.
SATURDAY
BENGALS (-3) over Vikings: Pretty good Joe Burrow impression by Jake Browning, who has put up 34 in each of back-to-back wins. Vikings are coming off a 3-0 shutout win over the Raiders and now try Nick Mullens at quarterback, with star receiver Justin Jefferson questionable and running back Alexander Mattison out.
COLTS (-1.5) over Steelers: The Colts have been a consistent offensive force all season. Looking for Gardner Minshew and mates to bounce back from a 31-14 loss in Cincinnati and return to being the group that’s scored at least 20 points in 11 of its 13 games. The Steelers have failed to hit the 20 mark seven times.
Broncos (+4.5) over LIONS: Detroit’s past month has been a mess with two losses, a miracle win over the Bears and a win over the Saints in which they nearly blew a big lead. Sean Payton and Russell Wilson have gotten it together in Denver, winning six of their past seven.
SUNDAY
Bears (+3) over BROWNS: Congrats to Joe Flacco on his 311 yards and the win over the Jaguars, but Browns stars are crumbling around him. RBs Jerome Ford and Kareem Hunt are questionable, and SS Grant Delpit will be missed by a banged-up secondary. Justin Fields is enjoying a revival for the Bears. Buccaneers (+3.5) over PACKERS: Baker Mayfield has been duking it out in some close wins of late. And though Tampa Bay has some injuries on defense, the Packers are on short rest off a Monday nighter, and that could help keep this within a field goal either way. TITANS (-3) over Texans: The Texans’ overachieving offense was cut down by the Jets and a cluster of injuries last week. C.J. Stroud (concussion protocol) missed Wednesday’s practice, and the receiving corps and offensive line have a lot of Q’s listed. Not crazy about taking a Titans team off a miracle Monday win, but that seems to be the only alternative.
Chiefs (-7.5) over PATRIOTS: Chiefs have lost two in a row and four of six, and last week went bonkers over a penalty that was their own fault (no matter how many photos their fans post on the internet of similar offsides that weren’t called). They’ve scored more than 21 points just once in the past six games. But I think this is the week Andy Reid refocuses everyone, even against a tough defense on the road.
Falcons (-3) over PANTHERS: Though the Falcons lost late to the Bucs last week, Desmond Ridder’s 347 passing yards were encouraging. Atlanta has injuries across the offensive line, but it shouldn’t take many points to cover against the Cats — who have lost six in a row, averaging 11.6 ppg.
CARDINALS (+12.5) over 49ers: Niners have won five in a row but failed to cover the two double-digit closing lines in that run. I’m intrigued by Kyler Murray and the Cardinals after last week’s win at Pittsburgh, and this feels a little like the Cowboys spot earlier this season.
RAMS (-6.5) over Commanders: Let’s do the math: Commanders have given up 29, 31, 45, 45 in four losses in a row. Rams have scored 37, 36, 31 in going 2-1. There’s usually more to it than that, but sometimes it’s just that.
Cowboys (+2) over BILLS: Forecast of upper 40s and mostly dry is a nice gift to the Cowboys. It could be way worse in Orchard Park in mid-December. Matchup of Bills desperation vs. Cowboy’s pursuit of a division title and NFC top seed. Feels like we’re getting the better team plus points here.
Ravens (-3) over JAGUARS: Jacksonville is coming off losses to Jake Browning and Joe Flacco in which it yielded a total of 65 points. Now here comes a largely healthy Ravens team that’s 4-1 on the road.
MONDAY
Eagles (-3.5) over SEAHAWKS: Eagles went 3-2 through the gauntlet of Dallas-KC-Buffalo-San Francisco-Dallas. They got blown out in the last two but are healthy and ready to hammer the next pedestrian team on their schedule. Seahawks are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
BEST BETS: Bengals, Colts, Eagles.
LOCK OF THE WEEK: Bengals (Locks 4-10 in 2023).
LAST WEEK: 6-8-1 overall, 0-3 Best Bets.
THURSDAY: Raiders (W).