NFL Trends and Indexes - Week 1 (Wednesday, September 5 - Monday, September 10)

[Udog]

NFL

Week 1

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Tale of the tape: Bengals at Ravens
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Take a quick glance at the tale of the tape for Monday night’s AFC North showdown between the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens:

Offense

Ravens OC Cam Cameron’s plan is to let QB Joe Flacco take more leadership on the field and implement a no-huddle offense this season. That means more emphasis on the passing game and finding second-year wideout Torrey Smith, who impressed as a rookie last season. The Ravens have a lethal weapon to fall back on in RB Ray Rice, should the new passing scheme falter.

Cedric Benson is out and the BenJarvus Green-Ellis era begins in Cincy. Bernard Scott is out with a hand injury, so expect the former Patriots’ running back to get the majority of the carries. Quarterback Andy Dalton will be looking for A.J. Green to stretch the Baltimore defense, but doesn’t have much depth to rely on if Green is double-teamed. The club's other six receivers on the roster have a combined 51 career NFL receptions.

Edge: Ravens


Defense

Cincinnati had one of the top defenses in the league last season, achieving a Top-10 ranking in total defense for the second time in three years. The unit is led by second-year tackle Geno Atkins, who paced the team with 7.5 sacks - tying him for the league lead among interior lineman.

The absence of reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and five-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker Terrell Suggs is a huge blow to the Ravens’ pass rush. However, there’s still a guy named Ray Lewis that inspires the defense in Baltimore. The 37-year-old inside linebacker is set to begin his 17th NFL campaign and Lardarius Webb is projected to become one of the elite cornerbacks in the NFL this year.

Edge: Ravens


Special teams

Mike Nugent had two game-winning field goals last season but also missed four of his 11 kicks down the stretch. However, the Bengals have boasted one of the league's best coverage teams in recent years.

The Ravens were one of four teams to allow three touchdowns on returns last season. Baltimore addressed the weakness with the signings of Pro Bowl special-teams players Corey Graham and Brendon Ayanbadejo in the offseason.

Edge: Bengals


Word on the street

“I think A.J. Green is a special talent, he is a really special talent. The guy can go down the field; he can go across the middle. But, when he goes across the middle, he has to see us. And that’s not taking anything away from him, but this is what we live for. When we see receivers come across the middle, if we are in the right defense, we are going to smack you, and we are going to let you know that you came across the middle on the wrong team.” -- Ravens safety Bernard Pollard.

“Offensively, they’ve gone to an up-tempo offense. They have not huddled with their first group in any of their preseason games. That’s what they’re looking to do – at least they’ve worked on it thus far in the preseason. Whether or not we see that, we’ll see. The most important thing is for us to stay sound and be very relaxed in what we’re doing, and to defend and attack their offense in that situation.” -- Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis on the Ravens’ new offense.


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[Udog]

NFL

Week 1

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Tale of the tape: Chargers at Raiders
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Take a quick glance at the tale of the tape for Monday night’s AFC West showdown between the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders:

Offense

Chargers QB Philip Rivers topped 4,000 yards for the fourth straight season in 2011 but also had a career-high 20 interceptions. Vincent Jackson packed his bags for Tampa Bay and was replaced by wideouts Eddie Royal and Robert Meachem in the offseason. San Diego will be without the services of running back Ryan Mathews, who is still recovering from a broken collarbone.

Raiders RB Darren McFadden was limited to just seven games in 2011 because of a foot injury. He hasn't played in all 16 games in any of his four NFL seasons and will get the chance to play alongside QB Carson Palmer for the first time Monday. Receiver Jacoby Ford won’t play in the opener because of a left foot injury.

Edge: Chargers


Defense

San Diego has a new defensive coordinator, John Pagano, as it tries to bounce back from an 8-8 campaign last season. The club used its first three draft picks to select defensive players, including outside linebacker Melvin Ingram in the first round.

The Raiders look to tighten up a defense that became the sixth since the 1970 merger to give up at least 4,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards in one season. The silver and gold will debut a new defensive scheme Monday night. The team has a whole new set of cornerbacks, led by Ron Bartell and Shawntae Spencer and two new starters at linebacker in rookie Miles Burris and Philip Wheeler.

Edge: Chargers


Special teams

The Chargers’ special teams unit was a disgrace last season. The unit surrendered 21 points through the first five games and punter Mike Scifres had five of his punts blocked last season. Rich Biasaccia, who was the highly-regarded special teams coordinator for the Buccaneers in 2010, is now in charge of sorting out of the mess.

Nobody attempted more field goals of over 50 yards last season than Sebastian Janikowski. The Florida State product has nailed at least 80 percent of his field-goal attempts in each of the last four seasons.

Edge: Raiders


Word on the street

"It’s a challenge. When you think about the things that are involved in going up there to play, you’ve got the crowd noise, the environment, and the Raiders’ defensive players who are very physical. You also have the energy of opening day and Monday Night Football on top of that. We’re going to have to be very smart in terms of managing the situations we’re in.” -- Chargers head coach Norv Turner on playing in Oakland.

“Looks to me like (Antonio) Gates is fully healthy and running really well so he’s obviously a challenge. They lost one of their wide receivers and replaced him with another guy that I’m familiar with, Robert Meachem, who can run down the field and stretch the field so they’ve obviously changed but I don’t think the philosophy of what they’re going to do has changed.” -- Raiders head coach Dennis Allen on what he expects from the Chargers in Week 1


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[Udog]

NFL

Week 1

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Bengals at Ravens: What bettors need to know
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Cincinnati at Baltimore (-7, 41)

The Cincinnati Bengals made noise by becoming the third AFC North team to qualify for the playoffs last season. The Bengals will test their mettle right out of the chute on Monday when they visit Baltimore to open their season against the reigning division-winning Ravens. Quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver A.J. Green made the Pro Bowl after their stellar rookie campaigns. The two young guns will need to continue that chemistry if the Bengals are going to unseat the Ravens, who won both meetings between the clubs in 2011.

Baltimore saw its season end in heartbreaking fashion after former Pro Bowl kicker Billy Cundiff's 32-yard field-goal attempt went awry in the waning moments of the team's AFC Championship Game loss to New England. The Ravens will look to dust themselves off behind dynamic back Ray Rice, who led the team in both rushing (1,364 yards) and receiving (704) while leading the league in yards from scrimmage (2,068). For his efforts, he received a $40 million contract in the offseason. Coach John Harbaugh's club will begin the season with a heavy heart after longtime owner Art Modell passed away Thursday morning at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Modell moved the then-Cleveland Browns to Baltimore in 1996.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE: Ravens -6. O/U: 41.

WEATHER: Forecasts are calling for clear skies and temperatures in the high 60s. Winds will be blowing lightly out of the north.

ABOUT THE BENGALS: Former New England running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis replaces Cedric Benson as the bell cow in the backfield. Green-Ellis, who has yet to fumble in his NFL career, rushed for 11 touchdowns last season and 24 since 2010. Dalton threw for a season-best 373 yards in Cincinnati's 31-24 loss to Baltimore on Nov. 20. In addition to Green, tight end Jermaine Gresham creates matchup problems for defenses and will look to build on his career-best six touchdown receptions last season.

ABOUT THE RAVENS: Veteran linebacker Ray Lewis continues to provide an imposing presence after leading the club in tackles (95) for the 14th time in his career. Speaking of veterans, safety Ed Reed has tormented the Bengals in his career by recording nine interceptions. The team, however, will need to overcome the loss of reigning Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs (career-high 14 sacks in 2011), who is sidelined with a torn right Achilles tendon.

TRENDS

* Bengals are 0-6-1 ATS in their last seven games vs. AFC opponents.
* Under is 4-0 in Baltimore’s last four home games.
* Bengals are 4-1-1 ATS in their last six meetings.
* Ravens are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six home games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Baltimore has high hopes for younger stars such as promising wide receiver Torrey Smith, who had a breakout game against Cincinnati. He amassed a season-best 165 yards on Nov. 20.

2. Cincinnati CB Dre Kirkpatrick, who was the 17th overall pick of the 2012 draft, will sit out with a bone spur near his right knee.

3. Ravens QB Joe Flacco doesn't put up gaudy numbers, but the young quarterback has won 44 of his 64 games that he has started since entering the league in 2008.


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[Udog]

NFL

Week 1

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Chargers at Raiders: What bettors need to know
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San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders (-1, 46.5)

The Oakland Raiders begin their latest quest for an elusive playoff berth under new coach Dennis Allen on Monday night when they host the San Diego Chargers in the season opener for both teams. Oakland has not reached the postseason since 2002, when it lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII. The Raiders went 11-5 that year, their last season with a winning record.

Oakland has shown improvement of late, going 8-8 each of the last two seasons following seven straight campaigns with fewer than six victories. It has won nine of its last 12 games against AFC West rivals but has had little success against San Diego recently, losing 14 of the last 17 overall meetings and seven of eight at home. The Chargers, whose 38-26 road triumph in the 2011 season finale cost the Raiders the division title, have missed the playoffs each of the last two years after claiming the AFC West four consecutive times.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE: Raiders -1. O/U: 46.5.

WEATHER: Forecasts are calling for clear skies and temperatures in the low-60s Monday night in Oakland. Winds will be light out of the south.

ABOUT THE CHARGERS: Philip Rivers is the main factor for San Diego. Last season, the veteran joined Drew Brees and Peyton Manning as the only quarterbacks in league history to throw for 4,000 yards in four or more straight campaigns. However, he also threw a career-high 20 interceptions. Rivers has performed well against division rivals since becoming the club's starting QB in 2006, posting a 26-10 record. The Chargers hope to have running back Ryan Mathews in the lineup Monday. Mathews, who suffered a broken clavicle in the preseason, returned to practice Monday but has yet to be cleared for contact.

ABOUT THE RAIDERS: Full seasons from two key offensive players could help Oakland get back to the postseason. Quarterback Carson Palmer appeared in only 10 games last year after being acquired from Cincinnati, throwing for 2,753 yards and 13 touchdowns. Meanwhile, running back Darren McFadden was limited to seven contests in 2011 due to a foot injury. He has yet to play a full season since being drafted fourth overall in 2008. Defense was Oakland's sore spot last season as it became the sixth team since 1970 to surrender 2,000 rushing yards and 4,000 passing yards in one campaign.

TRENDS

*Chargers are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 meetings in Oakland.
*Underdog is 6-0 ATS in their last six meetings.
*Over is 5-0 in the last five meetings between the teams in Oakland.
*Raiders are 4-0 ATS in their last four games in September.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Palmer's top two career passing performances have come against the Chargers. He threw for 440 yards versus San Diego in 2006 while with the Bengals and registered 417 yards in the 2011 season finale.

2. Oakland is 36-15-1 in home openers, the third-best mark in the NFL.

3. Rivers has thrown for 24,137 yards since becoming San Diego's starter, ranking behind only Brees (28,394).


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