The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lions hunt winless Panthers
NFC North-leading Detroit alone in 1st place for first time since 2017, hosts Carolina
JACKSONVILLE (2-2) vs. BUFFALO (3-1) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London. Sunday, 9:30 a.m. EDT, NFL Network
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: Bills by 5 1/2.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Jacksonville 2-2; Buffalo 3-1.
SERIES RECORD: Tied 9-9.
LAST MEETING: Jaguars beat Bills 9-6 on Nov. 7, 2021.
LAST WEEK: Jaguars beat Falcons; Bills beat Dolphins.
KEY MATCHUP: Josh Allen versus Josh Allen. The Bills quarterback has been sacked a combined four times in his past three outings, and coming off a season-best performance with 320 yards passing and four touchdowns, and another TD rushing. The Jaguars top pass rusher is tied for the NFL lead with six sacks — the most by a Jacksonville player through the first four games of a season. In their only other meeting, Allen had a sack and intercepted Allen.
FANTASY TIP: With the Jaguars likely placing an emphasis on slowing the Allen-led passing attack, Bills RB James Cook has an opportunity to continue producing in the run and pass game. The second-year player ranks third among running backs with 411 total yards (296 rushing, 115 receiving), and scored his first TD of the season last week.
CAROLINA (0-4) at DETROIT (3-1) Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: Lions by 9
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Panthers 0-3-1, Lions 3-1
SERIES RECORD: Panthers lead 8-3.
LAST MEETING: Panthers beat Lions 37-23 on Dec. 24, 2022.
LAST WEEK: Panthers lost to Vikings; Lions beat Packers.
KEY MATCHUP: Bryce Young vs. Detroit's defense. The Panthers have scored just two TDs in 12 quarters with Young, who has started three games. They've allowed Young to be sacked 11 times, including five in the second half against Minnesota. The Lions, who are leading the league in run defense, have eight players with at least one sack and a total of 13 sacks.
FANTASY TIP: Lions RB David Montgomery has run for five TDs, tied with Billy Sims (1980) for the most in a player's first three games with the franchise. After missing one game with a thigh bruise, the former Bears standout returned and had 141 yards of offense and three TDs against the Packers.
N.Y. GIANTS (1-3) at MIAMI (3-1) Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox 1/2.
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: Dolphins by 10
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Giants 0-4; Dolphins 3-1.
SERIES RECORD: Giants lead series 7-3.
LAST MEETING: Dolphins beat Giants 20-9 on Dec. 5, 2021.
LAST WEEK: Giants lost to Seahawks; Dolphins lost to Bills.
KEY MATCHUP: Both offensive lines vs. both defensive fronts. Quarterback Daniel Jones has been under immense pressure this season behind a struggling offensive line that gave up 11 sacks last week, and they're facing a Dolphins defensive line looking to answer for a poor performance against the Bills. Miami, on the other hand, is dealing with injuries to two of its most important offensive linemen as it faces Kayvon Thibodeaux and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
FANTASY TIP: Tyreek Hill was limited to 58 yards on three receptions last week, but he hasn't had consecutive sub100-yard games all season. He's still Tua Tagovailoa's top option with a team-high 470 yards and four TDs.
HOUSTON (2-2) at ATLANTA (2-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
1/2.
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: Falcons by 2.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Houston 2-2, Atlanta 1-3.
SERIES RECORD: Texans lead 3-2.
LAST MEETING: Texans beat Falcons 53-32 on Oct. 6, 2019.
LAST WEEK: Texans beat Steelers; Jags beat Falcons in London.
KEY MATCHUP: Texans rookie QB C.J. Stroud vs. Falcons pass defense. Stroud ranks fourth in the NFL with 1,212 yards passing entering Week 5. That’s the second most by a player in his first four games, trailing only Cam Newton, who had 1,386 in 2011. Stroud, the second overall pick, has thrown six touchdown passes and has set a rookie NFL record by making 151 pass attempts without an interception. The return of Falcons CB Jeff Okudah from an ankle injury makes the Atlanta secondary a strength. Okudah, who made his first start last week, joins cornerback A.J. Terrell and safeties Jessie Bates and Richie Grant in the base defense.
FANTASY TIP: Productive tight ends are difficult to find. It's not a shock that a tight end is Atlanta's second-leading receiver with 15 catches. To the surprise of many, that player is Jonnu Smith and not Kyle Pitts. Smith led Atlanta with six catches for 95 yards last week and will try for his third straight game with five or more receptions. TENNESSEE (2-2) at INDIANAPOLIS (2-2) Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: 1/2.
SERIES RECORD: Colts lead 35-22.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Titans 3-1, Indianapolis 2-2.
LAST MEETING: Titans beat Colts 19-10 on Oct. 23, 2022.
LAST WEEK: Titans beat Bengals; Colts lost to Rams in OT.
KEY MATCHUP: RB Derrick Henry vs. Colts run defense. The two-time NFL rushing champ has dominated this series recently, getting seven 100-yard games in 14 games. Henry has 253 carries for 1,287 yards and seven scores all-time against Indy. And after last week's 122-yard game against the Bengals, he may be poised for another big day against a defense allowing 126.8 yards per game. Indy must play better to slow down Henry.
FANTASY TIP: Henry. This is one time fantasy players should just make the safe pick. No, Henry didn't look like his dominant self the first three weeks, but he sure impressed last week against the Bengals when he averaged 5.6 yards per carry and scored his second TD of the season. This is a matchup Henry has exploited for years and it seems likely he will again Sunday.
NEW ORLEANS (2-2) at NEW ENGLAND (1-3)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Colts by 1
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: Saints by 1.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Saints 0-4; Patriots 1-3.
SERIES RECORD: Patriots lead 10-5.
LAST MEETING: Saints beat Patriots 28-13 on Sept. 26, 2021.
LAST WEEK: Saints lost to Buccaneers; Patriots lost to Cowboys.
KEY MATCHUP: Saints RB Alvin Kamara vs. Patriots linebackers. Kamara had 24 touches last week on 11 carries and 13 receptions. The primary duty of trying to keep track of him will fall on New England linebackers Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jahlani Tavai.
FANTASY TIP: It's a good time to start Saints WR Michael Thomas. He led the team with 53 receiving yards last week and has 50 or more receiving yards in 10 of his past 11 games. He’s also looking to get his seventh game in a row on the road with five-plus catches. He had five catches for 89 yards in his only game against New England in 2017.
BALTIMORE (3-1) at PITTSBURGH (2-2) Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: Ravens by 4.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Ravens 3-1; Pittsburgh 2-2.
SERIES RECORD: Steelers lead 33-25.
LAST MEETING: Steelers beat Ravens 16-13 on New Year's Day.
LAST WEEK: Ravens beat Browns; Steelers lost to Texans.
KEY MATCHUP: Pittsburgh's offensive line vs. Baltimore's front seven. The Steelers ran for 198 yards against the Ravens on New Year's Night, gashing Baltimore between the tackles. Baltimore was playing out the string then. The Ravens are in first place now and the swagger is back. If the Steelers want to calm the waters following a tumultuous first month, giving the ball to Najee Harris until Baltimore proves it can stop him is not a bad way to go.
FANTASY TIP: Ravens K Justin Tucker is never a bad idea. In a game that figures to feature a lot of field goals, Tucker could rack up the points. He's made 55-of-57 field-goal attempts against the Steelers over his career, more than any other team by a significant margin. The occasionally swirling winds at Acrisure Stadium have hardly been an issue for perhaps the greatest kicker in the history of the league.
CINCINNATI (1-3) at ARIZONA (1-3)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m., Fox
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: Bengals by 3.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Cincinnati 0-3-1; Arizona 3-1
SERIES RECORD: Tied 6-6.
LAST MEETING: Cardinals beat Bengals 26-23 on Oct. 6, 2019.
LAST WEEK: Bengals lost to Titans; Cardinals lost to 49ers.
KEY MATCHUP: Burrow vs. the Cardinals secondary. Arizona's defense has been OK through four games, but there's been some growing pains in the secondary. Two-time All-Pro Budda
Baker is still out with a hamstring injury and third-year Marco Wilson has struggled at times over the first few wee FANTASY TIP: If your team is struggling at QB, it might time to consider adding Dobbs as a short-term answer. ranks 10th in the NFL in passer rating.
PHILADELPHIA (4-0) at L.A. RAMS (2-2)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m., Fox
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: Eagles by 4 1/2.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Eagles 2-1-1; Rams 2-0-2.
SERIES RECORD: Eagles lead 22-20-1.
LAST MEETING: Rams beat Eagles 37-19 on Sept. 20, 202
LAST WEEK: Eagles beat Commanders in OT; Rams beat Colts in
KEY MATCHUP: Eagles third down offense vs. Rams defen Philadelphia was able to move the ball up and down the fi against Washington, but some untimely errors kept the Eag from blowing the game wide open as they went 4 for (33.3%) on third downs. Los Angeles is holding opponents 26.7% (12 for 45), and third-and-long distances allow Aar Donald and rookie OLB Byron Young to unleash their pass ru Whichever team gets to dictate terms on third downs will ha a major edge, especially if it puts the Eagles in position to u their seemingly unstoppable QB sneak on fourth-and-short.
FANTASY TIP: Philadelphia has the second-stingiest run d fense in football, allowing 63 yards per game. That mea Rams RB Kyren Williams will have to supplement his p duction as a receiver to be in lineups. Despite his hea usage, Williams is a risky option this week.
N.Y. JETS (1-3) at DENVER (1-3) Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: Broncos by 1 1/2.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: New York Jets 2-2; Denver 0-3-1
SERIES RECORD: Broncos lead 21-17-1.
LAST MEETING: Jets beat Broncos 16-9 on Oct. 23, 2022.
LAST WEEK: Jets lost to Chiefs; Broncos beat Bears.
FANTASY TIP: Jets RB Breece Hall leads the Jets with 2 yards rushing on 32 carries. Hall’s sensational rookie seas ended in Denver last season when he tore his left ACL am a big game. He had 72 yards on four carries, including a yard touchdown scamper when he got hurt. Coach Rob Saleh said Hall has no more snap limits, so expect the J to cut him loose against the league's worst run defense.
KANSAS CITY (3-1) at MINNESOTA (1-3)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: Chiefs by 5 1/2.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Chiefs 2-2; Vikings 1-2-1.
SERIES RECORD: Chiefs lead 8-5.
LAST MEETING: Chiefs beat Vikings 26-23 on Nov. 3, 2019
LAST WEEK: Chiefs beat Jets; Vikings beat Panthers.
KEY MATCHUP: The Vikings' offensive line against t Chiefs offensive line. OK, so they don't match up agai each other, but whichever group performs better will g their team a huge advantage. The Vikings have allowed pressures of Kirk Cousins, according to Sportradar, which the second most in the NFL. The Chiefs rushed for mo than 200 yards against the Jets to offset an uncharacteris cally shaky performance by Patrick Mahomes.
FANTASY TIP: Travis Kelce remains a must-start tight e even though he had just 26 receiving yards last we against the Jets. But as teams increasingly try to take h away, and given the Chiefs' propensity for using multi tight end sets, Noah Gray could become a viable option deeper leagues. He has two games with three catches a had a 34-yard TD reception last week against the Jets.
DALLAS (3-1) at SAN FRANCISCO (4-0)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: 49ers by 3
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Cowboys 3-1; 49ers 3-0-1.
SERIES RECORD: Tied 19-19-1.
LAST MEETING: 49ers beat Cowboys 19-12 on Jan. 22.
LAST WEEK: Cowboys beat Patriots; 49ers beat Cardinals
KEY MATCHUP: Dallas pass rush vs. 49ers QB Brock Pur The Cowboys did the best job against Purdy of any tea during last season's playoff meeting. His 87.4 rating was lowest of any start as he went 19 for 29 for 219 yards and TDs. Dallas had two sacks and Micah Parsons and Co. p heavy pressure on Purdy all game.
FANTASY TIP: RB Christian McCaffrey has 600 yards fr scrimmage and seven TDs already this season. He joined Hal Famers Emmitt Smith (1995) and Jim Brown (1958 and 1963) the only players to hit those marks in the first four games of t season and should get plenty of opportunities again on Sund as San Francisco tries to keep the pass rush away from Purd
1/2. GREEN BAY (2-2) at LAS VEGAS (1-3) Monday, 8:15 p.m., ESPN
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NFL LINE: Packers by 1.
AGAINST THE SPREAD: Packers 2-2; Raiders 1-3.
SERIES RECORD: Packers lead 8-5.
LAST MEETING: Packers beat Raiders 42-24 on Oct. 20, 20
LAST WEEK: Packers lost to Lions; Raiders lost to Charge
KEY MATCHUP: Raiders WR Davante Adams vs. Packe CBs. Provided he's healthy, Adams would love to put great numbers against his former team, and he enters t game on a roll with 33 catches for 397 yards and thr touchdowns. If Green Bay's Jaire Alexander is healthy — missed the past two games with a back injury — he sho be quite a challenge for Adams. Alexander, who returned practice Tuesday, wouldn't be the only one defend Adams, but it likely would be the most dynamic matchup
FANTASY TIP: Adams will get the attention, but don't forg about WR Jakobi Meyers. Because the Packers will se extra players at Adams, that should open up plenty of o portunities for Meyers, who has 18 catches for 199 ya and two TDs in three games.