The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Surging Patriots to face inconsistent Bills on Monday
The Patriots expect to be in a guessing game on both sides of the ball heading into their pivotal Monday night matchup with the Bills. Buffalo enters the game with the league’s top-ranked defense, allowing just 275 yards a game. Led by offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, the Bills have gone from scoring 16.8 points per game during coach Sean McDermott’s second season in 2018 to 29.6 points in 2021 — ranked second in the league.
NEW ENGLAND (8-4) at BUFFALO (7-4) Monday, 8:15 p.m. EST, ESPN
BETTING LINE: New England by 2 .5.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: New England 8-4; Buffalo 7-4. SERIES RECORD: Patriots lead 76-45-1.
LAST MEETING: Bills beat Patriots 38-9 on Dec. 28, 2020, at New England.
LAST WEEK: Patriots beat Titans 36-13; Bills beat Saints 31-6. KEY MATCHUP: Patriots CB J.C. Jackson vs. Bills QB Josh Allen. Jackson ranks second in the NFL with seven interceptions, with four coming in his past four games. Allen, meantime, has thrown seven interceptions in his past four outings. Allen’s 10 interceptions this season already match his total from last year. FANTASY TIP: Difficult to trust Jones against a Bills defense which, since the start of the 2019 season, has gone 13-1 against opposing quarterbacks with 16 or fewer starts. Buffalo’s only
loss came against Jacksonville’s Trey Lawrence four weeks ago. In those 14 games, the Bills have allowed 10 TDs passing and combined for 22 interceptions and 34 sacks.
L.A. CHARGERS (6-5) at CINCINNATI (7-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS
BETTING LINE: Bengals by 3.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Chargers 5-6; Bengals 6-5.
SERIES RECORD: Chargers lead 22-15.
LAST MEETING: Chargers beat Bengals 16-13 on Sept 13, 2020, in Cincinnati.
LAST WEEK: Chargers lost to Broncos 41-37; Bengals beat Steelers 41-10.
KEY MATCHUP: Bengals running game vs. the Chargers run defense. Cincinnati has rediscovered its ground game behind the finally healthy Mixon. Meanwhile, the Chargers’ leaky run defense is allowing an NFL-worst 145 yards per game. FANTASY TIP: Bengals WR Tee Higgins had his first 100-yard game of the season last Sunday, grabbing six of his eight targets for 114 yards and a 32-yard touchdown. As defenses pay more attention to rookie Chase, Higgins is a reliable target for Burrow.
MINNESOTA (5-6) at DETROIT (0-10-1)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS
BETTING LINE: Vikings by 7.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Minnesota 6-5; Detroit 6-4-1.
SERIES RECORD: Vikings lead 79-39-2.
LAST MEETING: Vikings beat Lions 19-17 on Oct. 10 in Minnesota. LAST WEEK: Vikings lost to 49ers, 34-26; Lions lost to Bears, 16-14.
SERIES NOTES: Minnesota has won eight straight games against the Lions after coach Mike Zimmer started 2-5 against them . ... In the last matchup, Greg Joseph made a 54-yard field
goal as time expired to give the Vikings a two-point win after Campbell successfully called for the go-ahead 2-point conversion try with 37 seconds left.
FANTASY TIPS: Start Vikings QB Kirk Cousins, who is from Holland, Michigan, and played at Michigan State. In four starts at
Detroit, he has 13 TDs (11 passing, two rushing) with no INTs, 1,297 passing yards, and a 127.3 passer rating. He has two or more TD passes with a 90-plus passer rating in nine straight road
games.
PHILADELPHIA (5-7) at N.Y. JETS (3-8)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS
BETTING LINE: Eagles by 6 .5.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Eagles 6-6; Jets 3-8.
SERIES RECORD: Eagles lead 11-0.
LAST MEETING: Eagles beat Jets 31-6 on Oct. 6, 2019, in Philadelphia.
LAST WEEK: Eagles lost to Giants 13-7; Jets beat Texans 21-14. KEY MATCHUP: Eagles running game vs. Jets run defense. Philadelphia has run all over teams this season, with QB Jalen
Hurts leading the way and Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Jordan Howard, and Kenneth Gainwell all providing some punch in the
backfield. New York, meanwhile, struggled against the run for much of the season before allowing just 3.70 yards per carry in the last two games — down from 4.71 yards per carry through Week 10.
FANTASY TIP: Jets rookie WR Elijah Moore had a four-game TD streak stopped last week in Wilson’s return, but he still had eight targets and finished with an underwhelming four catches for 46
yards. He and Wilson are continuing to build chemistry, and the likely return of Davis to the Jets’ receiving corps could create some more opportunities for Moore to get open.
ARIZONA (9-2) at CHICAGO (4-7) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox
BETTING LINE: Cardinals by 7.5.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Cardinals 8-3, Bears 4-6-1.
SERIES RECORD: Bears lead 57-28-6.
LAST MEETING: Bears beat Cardinals 16-14 on Sept. 23, 2018, in Arizona.
LAST WEEK: Cardinals had a bye, beat Seattle 23-13 on Nov. 21; Bears beat Lions 16-14.
KEY MATCHUP: Cardinals TE Zach Ertz vs. Bears S Tashaun Gipson Sr. Ertz is coming off his best outing this season with eight catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns against Seattle. He has also been a thorn for the Bears in three regular-season games against them with 20 catches for 233 yards and two TDs as a member of the Eagles. It will likely be up to Gipson to contain Ertz if Chicago doesn’t put a linebacker on him.
FANTASY TIP: Conner could be in for a big game against a bangedup defense, particularly if Smith is unavailable for Chicago.
TAMPA BAY (8-3) at ATLANTA (5-6)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox
BETTING LINE: Buccaneers by 11.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Buccaneers 5-6; Falcons 5-6.
SERIES RECORD: Tied 28-28.
LAST MEETING: Buccaneers beat Falcons 48-25 on Sept. 19, in Tampa, Florida.
LAST WEEK: Buccaneers beat Colts 38-31; Falcons beat Jaguars 21-14.
KEY MATCHUP: Falcons QB Matt Ryan vs. Tampa Bay pass defense. Tampa Bay has the league’s top-rated run defense, so the Falcons must open up their passing game to have any chance
of an upset. Ryan has endured an up-and-down season, struggling to get in sync with a receiving corps comprised entirely of journeymen and low-round draft picks. Ryan has failed to reach 200 yards passing in four of the last five games, and none of the receivers has shown an ability to get open deep.
FANTASY TIP: Tampa Bay WR Chris Godwin has nine touchdown catches in his last six games vs. the Falcons. He’s had at
least one TD in each of those outings.
INDIANAPOLIS (6-6) at HOUSTON (2-9)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS
OPENING LINE: Colts by 9 .5.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Indianapolis 7-5, Houston 5-6
SERIES RECORD: Colts lead 31-9.
LAST MEETING: Colts beat Texans 31-3 on Oct. 17 in Indianapolis.
LAST WEEK: Colts lost to Buccaneers 38-31; Texans lost to Jets 21-14.
KEY MATCHUP: Colts RB Jonathan Taylor leads the NFL with 1,205 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns and the Texans rank 31st in the NFL by allowing 135.6 yards rushing a game. He had 145 yards rushing and two scores in the first meeting with Houston this season.
FANTASY TIP: Houston WR Brandin Cooks is Taylor’s favorite target and had his third touchdown reception last week. He had
six receptions for 89 yards in the last game against Indianapolis and has a TD catch in his last two home games.
N.Y. GIANTS (4-7) at MIAMI (5-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox BETTING LINE: Miami by 4 .5.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: N.Y. Giants 6-5; Miami 6-5-1.
SERIES RECORD: Giants lead 7-2.
LAST MEETING: Giants beat Dolphins 36-20 on Dec. 15, 2019, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
LAST WEEK: Giants beat Philadelphia 13-7; Dolphins defeated Carolina 33-10.
KEY MATCHUP: Miami’s run-defense numbers are improving, and the Giants haven’t been able to do much on the ground. If New York can’t run the ball, that’s a huge edge for the Dolphins, especially given the Giants’ injury situation at quarterback. FANTASY TIP: Tom Brady, Lamar Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes were among the quarterbacks who went up against the Dolphins and Giants in November. Not even those guys managed a big-number day. If you must use Miami or the Giants this week, kickers or defenses might be the safest play.
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST, Fox
OPENING LINE: Rams by 13.
JACKSONVILLE (2-9) at L.A. RAMS (7-4)
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Tennessee 4-7, Los Angeles 4-7. SERIES RECORD: Rams lead 4-1.
LAST MEETING: Rams beat Jaguars 27-17 on Oct. 15, 2017, in Jacksonville, Florida.
LAST WEEK: Jaguars lost to Atlanta 21-14; Rams lost to Green Bay 36-28.
KEY MATCHUP: Rams QB Matthew Stafford vs. Jaguars OLB Josh Allen. Turnovers have piled up for Stafford as he has come under more pressure in recent weeks, and Allen is more than capable of making him uncomfortable in the pocket. Stafford has thrown a pick-6 in three straight games, mistakes the Rams cannot afford in their current fragile state. Although Allen has not made a sack in three games following his game-changing performance to spark the shocking win over Buffalo, he’ll like
his chances against an offensive line that had allowed nine takedowns of Stafford during the skid.
FANTASY TIP: While this should be a ‘get right’ game for the Rams, it might not lead to big fantasy numbers for Stafford and the rest of the passing attack. Jacksonville gave up four 300-yard passing performances and six 100-yard receivers through its first six games, but since the bye week no QB has hit 300 yards passing, and only Seattle’s Tyler Lockett has topped 100 yards receiving.
WASHINGTON (5-6) at LAS VEGAS (6-5)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST, Fox
BETTING LINE: Raiders by 2 .5.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Washington 4-7; Las Vegas 5-6. SERIES RECORD: Raiders lead 8-6.
LAST MEETING: Washington beat Raiders 27-10 on Sept. 24, 2017, at Landover, Maryland.
LAST WEEK: Washington beat Seahawks 17-15; Raiders beat Cowboys 36-33, OT.
KEY MATCHUP: Third downs. The Raiders have been the fourthworst team on offense at converting third downs this season at 34.4%. Washington has been the worst team at stopping them, allowing 51.4% to be converted for the sixth-worst rate through
11 games since 1991. But while Las Vegas has been trending down of late with a league-worst 26.2% in six games since Jon Gruden resigned as coach, Washington has gotten better by allowing only 28.6% the past two games.
FANTASY TIP: Raiders RB Josh Jacobs is coming off his most productive game of the season when he gained 112 yards from scrimmage with a TD against Dallas. With Waller out this week, Las Vegas may lean even more heavily on Jacobs and the running game.
BALTIMORE (8-3) at PITTSBURGH (5-5-1) Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST, CBS
BETTING LINE: Ravens by 4.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Baltimore 4-7; Pittsburgh 4-7.
SERIES RECORD: Steelers lead 30-24.
LAST MEETING: Steelers beat Ravens 19-14 on Dec. 2, 2020, in Pittsburgh.
LAST WEEK: Ravens beat Browns 16-10; Steelers lost to Bengals 41-10.
KEY MATCHUP: Pittsburgh’s porous defensive line and the NFL’s 28th-ranked run defense against Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson. The Steelers have allowed a staggering 180.5 yards per game on the ground over the last four weeks.
FANTASY TIP: Steelers WR Diontae Johnson has been the one constant in Pittsburgh’s up-and-down passing offense. He’s on pace to shatter his career highs in both receptions and yards and
is facing the NFL’s worst pass defense.
SAN FRANCISCO (6-5) at SEATTLE (3-8) Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST, CBS
OPENING LINE: 49ers by 3 .5.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: 49ers 5-6; Seahawks 5-6.
SERIES RECORD: Seahawks lead 29-17.
LAST MEETING: Seahawks beat 49ers 28-21, Oct. 3, in Santa Clara, California.
LAST WEEK: 49ers beat Vikings 34-26; Seahawks lost to Washington 17-15.
KEY MATCHUP: Can Seattle’s offense get anything going against the 49ers? Seattle didn’t do much against the 49ers in Week 4 even though it came away with a 28-21 win. The Seahawks had just 234 yards of offense, but Wilson was efficient completing 16 of 23 passes, throwing for two touchdowns, and running for one. During its three-game win streak, San Francisco has not allowed more than 325 total yards to its opponents.
FANTASY TIP: With Samuel unlikely to play, the 49ers’ top targets in the pass game are likely to be TE George Kittle and WR Brandon Aiyuk. Tight ends have traditionally had big games
against Seattle and Aiyuk’s role has grown throughout the season for the 49ers.
DENVER (6-5) at KANSAS CITY (7-4) Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EST, NBC
BETTING LINE: Chiefs by 10. AGAINST THE SPREAD: Broncos 6-5; Chiefs 4-7. SERIES RECORD: Chiefs lead 67-55. LAST MEETING: Chiefs beat Broncos 22-16 on Dec. 6, 2020, at Kansas City. LAST WEEK: Broncos beat Chargers 28-13; the Chiefs bye, beat Dallas 19-9 on Nov. 21. KEY MATCHUP: Broncos WR Courtland Sutton against Chiefs CBs Rashad Fenton and L’Jarius Sneed. Sutton had been targeted a team-high 70 times with 45 catches for 634 yards. But he’ll be going against what Pro Football Focus calls two of the highestrated cornerbacks in the league on Sunday. FANTASY TIPS: Chiefs RB Darrel Williams was a nice pickup while Clyde Edwards-Helaire was out with a high ankle sprain. But now that Edwards-Helaire has a game under his belt, and a bye last week to recover, he’ll take an even bigger share of the
load against Denver. That makes him a must-start and probably relegates Williams to the bench.
— All betting lines are according to FanDuel SportsBook — The Associated Press