The Bum's Sept. NFL Pods-Stats-News !

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Mahalooooooooooooooo bradda Kapt................

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NFL betting: 25 tidbits for Kickoff Sunday

Below is a list of 25 betting tidbits around the NFL for Sunday's action.

- The Patriots averaged 44.5 points in their two games versus the Bills last year, both of which went over the total. Number is currently 51.

- Bills WR Stevie Johnson recently stated that he felt no Patriots DB could cover him. He had eight catches for 109 yards in their two meetings last season.

- The Pittsburgh Steelers have won 10-straight home openers. The Steelers are 7-point favorites against the Titans.

- The Titans like to keep the scoring to a minimum in their Week 1 games. The under is 5-1 in their last six season openers.

- The Saints have done well against the spread at home in recent history, posting a 16-5 ATS mark in New Orleans. 3-point home faves Sunday.

- The Falcons have a new face at running back with Steven Jackson. Jackson has rushed for 1,000 yards in eight-straight seasons. The Falcons didn't have a running back eclipse 1,000 last season.

- Buccaneers CB Darrelle Revis faces his old team Sunday and with Santonio Holmes unsure if he'll play, Jeremy Kerley or Stephen Hill could be lined up against the cornerback.

- Jets rookie QB Geno Smith starts against Tampa Bay. The rook, at least, gets to face the league's worst pass defense (297.4 yards per game) last season. The Jets are 3.5-point home dogs versus Tampa Bay.

- Jags running back Maurice Jones-Drew recently told Jaguars.com that he mulled retirement during training camp and that he felt he "couldn't do this anymore". He's ready to roll know, however, and said he'll carry the rock "as many times as it takes" Sunday. Jags are 3.5-point home dogs versus the Kansas City Chiefs.

- There are many new faces on the Chiefs and hopefully that changes their opening week ATS record of late. The Chiefs are 2-5 ATS in their last seven Week 1 games.

- The Seattle Seahawks held the Carolina Panthers to a season-low 190 yards in a 16-12 win on Oct. 7. Seahawks are 3-point road faves in Carolina.

- Carolina closed last season out very strong, posting records of 4-0 SU and ATS to end 2012.

- The Bengals fare well on the road against NFC opponents as they have been victorious in five of the last six games. Cincy is a 3-point road dog in Chicago.

- Bears QB Jay Cutler has combined to throw for 1017 yards and six TDs in the past three season openers.

- Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill only managed three touchdowns to wide receivers last season. No excuses now that big-play threat Mike Wallace in the squad.

- The Browns are 1-7 ATS in their last eight Week 1 games. This game versus Miami is listed as a pick 'em at most books.

- Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has vowed to shatter the single season rushing mark. He collected 273 yards in two games versus the Lions last season.

- The Detroit Lions closed 2012 going 0-8 SU and 2-6 ATS. They were 0-2 ATS versus Minny last season. The Lions are 4-point home faves versus the Vikes Sunday.

- The Raiders will need RB Darren McFadden to get over the 100-yard mark. The Raiders are 10-2 when he does.

- The Colts were 7-1 ATS at home last season, and finished 6-0 ATS in their final six home games. Indy is favored by 10.5 at home against the Raiders.

- The 49ers allowed an NFC-low 294.4 yards per game last season. The 9ers are 4.5-point home faves versus Green Bay.

- The Pack fare well ATS in San Fran, going 5-1-1 ATS in the last seven meetings at Candlestick.

- The under is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings between the Arizona Cardinals and the St. Louis Rams. Total currently 41.5 for Sunday's game at St. Lou.

- The New York Giants finished 2012 going 0-4 ATS in their last four road games. The G-Men are 3.5-point road dogs in Dallas Sunday night.

- All eyes will be on Dallas QB Tony Romo who was awarded with a massive contract extension despite tossing a career high 19 picks in 2012.

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Late Games:

Green Bay - 4:25 PM ET Green Bay +5 500 POD # 1

San Francisco - Under 47 500 POD # 2


Arizona - 4:25 PM ET Arizona +3.5 500 POD # 3

St. Louis - Over 41.5 500 POD # 4


Check back later for sunday night game......Good Luck !!

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Sunday Night POD'S :


N.Y. Giants - 8:30 PM ET N.Y. Giants +3.5 500 POD # 1

Dallas - Over 49.5 500 POD # 2

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Week 1 Recap

September 8, 2013


The Sunday afternoon action for Week 1 is in the books with 12 games going final. Underdogs put together a 4-4-1 ATS record in the 1:00 contests, with the Titans, Jets, and Dolphins all winning outright in the 'dog role. The resounding number from the early games was the eight 'unders,' including four of those matchups finishing at least 10 points below the posted total.

The Patriots beat the Bills, 23-21, but failed to cash as 10-point road favorites. New England held a pair of 10-point leads (10-0, 17-7), as Buffalo rallied back to take a 21-17 advantage in the third quarter. The Pats needed a pair of late field goals to grab the win, the 19th in the last 20 matchups with the Bills. The game finished 'under' the total of 51, while the first-half total of 27 sailed 'over' thanks to a Buffalo touchdown in the final minute. The Bills cashed as 4 ½-point underdogs in the second half by outscoring the Pats, 7-6.

Tennessee held off Pittsburgh, 16-9 to take home tickets as six-point away underdogs. The Steelers took a 2-0 lead out of the chute, but the offense was limited to just 195 yards, while the lone touchdown came in the final two minutes. The Titans grabbed a 7-2 halftime edge with a touchdown run, while three Rob Bironas field goals put the game away. The contest easily went 'under' the total of 42, while Tennessee covered the first half (+3 ½) and second half (+3).

The Saints took care of the Falcons, 23-17 as 3 ½-point home favorites. Atlanta was ready to pull away with a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, but New Orleans scored 13 unanswered points to grab a 13-10 halftime edge (Saints -3 in first half). The Saints outscored the Falcons in the second half, 10-7 in the pick-em role, while the first half (27 ½), second half (27 ½), and the game (54) total stayed 'under.'

The Jets rallied to edge the Buccaneers, 18-17 as four-point home underdogs. Tampa Bay jumped out to a 14-5 advantage on a Doug Martin touchdown run, but a Geno Smith touchdown pass to Kellen Winslow before the half cut the deficit to 14-12. The Bucs cashed as 1 ½-point favorites in the first half, while the first half total went 'over' 20. In a low-scoring second half that saw three field goals in the final five minutes, the Jets outscored the Bucs, 6-3 to cash as three-point underdogs.

In the biggest blowout in the early contests, the Chiefs destroyed the Jaguars, 28-2 as four-point road favorites, as the 'under' of 42 ½ hit. Following an early safety by Jacksonville, Kansas City scored three consecutive touchdowns to take a 21-2 lead into the half to cash first half tickets (-2 ½), while the safety vaulted the first half 'over' of 21. The second half saw a defensive touchdown for the Chiefs, helping Kansas City cash as three-point 'chalk,' 7-0, while the 'under' of 20 in the second half easily came through.

In the lone 'push,' the Bears rallied past the Bengals, 24-21 as three-point home favorites. Cincinnati built a 14-7 lead thanks to a pair of Andy Dalton touchdown passes to A.J. Green, but Chicago kicked a late 58-yard field goal to trim the deficit to 14-10 at halftime. The Bengals cashed as three-point underdogs in the first half, while the first half 'over' of 20 ½ hit late in the second quarter. Following another Cincinnati touchdown, Chicago found the end zone twice to grab the opening week win, while the Bears cashed second half tickets (-1).

The Dolphins went back and forth with the Browns before holding off Cleveland for a 23-10 victory as 2 ½-point road underdogs. Miami kicked a pair of field goals before Cleveland took a 7-6 halftime lead on a late touchdown pass (Browns 'pushed' as one-point favorites in first half). The game stayed 'under' the total for the game (40 ½), first half (20 ½), and second half (20 ½), while Miami scored outscored Cleveland in the second half, 17-3.

The Seahawks were one of the big public favorites in Week 1, as Seattle came through as three-point 'chalk' over Carolina, 12-7. The Panthers took a 7-3 halftime edge to cash first half tickets as one-point underdogs. However, Seattle grinded out the win by outscoring Carolina, 9-0 in the second half as three-point favorites, while the first half (22 ½), second half (22 ½), and game (44 ½) total all went 'under.'

Detroit avenged a pair of losses to Minnesota last season with a 34-24 victory as four-point favorites at Ford Field. A pair of Adrian Peterson touchdowns put the Vikings ahead, 14-6 in the first half before the Lions scored a touchdown in the final seconds to cut the deficit to 14-13 at intermission. Minnesota cashed first half tickets as three-point underdogs, while the first half total of 23 ½ hit on the late Detroit score. The Lions outscored the Vikings, 21-10 in the second half as 3 ½-point favorites, while the game total of 46 ½ cashed.

The Colts were on their way to an easy victory over the Raiders, but Indianapolis held off Oakland, 21-17 as 11-point favorites. Indianapolis jumped out to a 14-0 advantage on two Andrew Luck touchdown passes, but Oakland got on the scoreboard with a touchdown run to get within 14-7 at the half. Oakland rallied for a 17-14 lead in the fourth quarter, but Luck bailed out the Colts with a touchdown scamper for the 21-17 triumph. The Raiders cashed second half tickets as four-point 'dogs, while the game total remained 'under' 45.

St. Louis overcame an 11-point fourth quarter deficit to stun Arizona, 27-24, but failed to cash as four-point home favorites. The Cardinals and Rams were knotted up at 10-10 at halftime, but Arizona outscored St. Louis in the third quarter, 14-3. The Rams owned the fourth quarter with a 13-0 output to 'push' the second half side (-3), while the game hit the 'over' of 42 ½.

In a rematch of an NFC Divisional Playoff showdown, the 49ers outlasted the Packers, 34-28 to barely cash as five-point home favorites. Both teams exchanged touchdowns for three quarters, as San Francisco and Green Bay entered the fourth quarter knotted up at 21-21. The Niners finished off the Packers, 13-7 in the final 15 minutes to take the money in the second half as three-point ‘chalk.’ The game was never in doubt finishing ‘over’ the total of 47.

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Monday Night Football Schedule


2013 MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Week Matchup *Early Line Score ATS

1 Philadelphia at Washington Redskins (-4.5) - -

1 Houston at San Diego Texans (-3) - -

2 Pittsburgh at Cincinnati Bengals (-1) - -

3 Oakland at Denver Broncos (-13.5) - -

4 Miami at New Orleans Saints (-4.5, -115) - -

5 N.Y. Jets at Atlanta Falcons (-7, -105) - -

6 Indianapolis at San Diego Chargers (-2.5) - -

7 Minnesota at N.Y. Giants Giants (-3) - -

8 Seattle at St. Louis Seahawks (-4) - -

9 Chicago at Green Bay Packers (-4) - -

10 Miami at Tampa Bay Buccanneers (-1.5) - -

11 New England at Carolina Patriots (-3) - -

12 San Francisco at Washington 49ers (-1.5) - -

13 New Orleans at Seattle Seahawks (-3.5) - -

14 Dallas at Chicago Bears (-3) - -

15 Baltimore at Detroit Lions (PK) -
-
16 Atlanta at San Francisco 49ers (-3.5)

- -
* Early Line is provided by Cantor Gaming in Las Vegas, who released all point-spreads for the first 16 weeks of the 2013 NFL regular season in early May.

2012 MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL RESULTS

Week Matchup Line Score ATS

1 Cincinnati at Baltimore 7, 43 44-13 Favorite-Over

1 San Diego at Oakland 1, 47.5 22-14 Underdog-Under

2 Denver at Atlanta 3, 50.5 27-21 Favorite-Under

3 Green Bay at Seattle 3, 45 14-12 Underdog-Under

4 Chicago at Dallas 2, 46.5 34-18 Underdog-Over

5 Houston at N.Y. Jets 9.5, 40.5 23-17 Underdog-Under

6 Denver at San Diego PK, 48 35-24 Push-Over

7 Detroit at Chicago 6.5, 45 13-7 Underdog-Under

8 San Francisco at Arizona 7, 37.5 24-3 Favorite-Under

9 Philadelphia at New Orleans 2.5, 53 28-13 Favorite-Under

10 Kansas City at Pittsburgh 12.5, 39.5 16-13 Underdog-Under

11 Chicago at San Francisco 3.5, 34 32-7 Favorite-Over

12 Carolina at Philadelphia 3, 41.5 30-22 Favorite-Over

13 N.Y. Giants at Washington 3, 50.5 17-16 Underdog- Under

14 Houston at New England 5.5, 50.5 42-14 Favorite-Over

15 N.Y. Jets at Tennessee 1, 40.5 14-10 Underdog-Under

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Preview: Eagles (0-0) at Redskins (0-0)

Date: September 09, 2013 6:55 PM EDT


Until fairly recently, it wasn't clear who would start the opener at quarterback for the Washington Redskins or the Philadelphia Eagles.

While Michael Vick had to win the job in the preseason, Robert Griffin III wasn't given a chance to take the field but will finally be back under center Monday night when his Redskins try to spoil Chip Kelly's debut as Eagles coach.

Even though Dr. James Andrews cleared Griffin last week, coach Mike Shanahan did not officially say he would start Week 1 until Monday. Shanahan and Griffin butted heads a bit during training camp, with the quarterback wanting to see more practice time and action in games while the coach used a cautious approach.

"You're always trying to take a look at what's in the best interest of your football team, obviously the health of your football team as well," Shanahan said. "But if we didn't feel like Robert was full-go, and he was ready to play and do all the things that you ask a guy to do, he would not be playing in this game.

"We believe he can do everything that a quarterback is asked to do."

That's plenty more than just being a pocket passer when it comes to Griffin, the 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year who rushed for 815 yards and seven touchdowns. He threw for 20 TDs, compared to five interceptions, and 3,200 yards while finishing as the league's third-highest rated passer with a rookie-record 102.4 mark.

Griffin now takes his first snap in an NFL game since re-injuring his right knee in a playoff loss to Seattle, having undergone reconstructive surgery which left his status for the opener in doubt all offseason.

Some teammates are saying he is now practicing as if the knee is no issue whatsoever.

"Robert is back. He's back to being himself," linebacker Brian Orakpo said.

Eagles fans hope Vick can get back to being the kind of player who so often dominated in 2010, leading a run to the playoffs, instead of the turnover-prone and injury-plagued one from the past two years.

It is Kelly's job to help make that happen, having named Vick the starter over second-year player Nick Foles to run the high-energy offensive style he brings from Oregon. With Kelly having stressed the ground game despite his fast-paced style running the Ducks, Vick has been encouraged to run more despite injury woes which sometimes came from reckless scrambling.

"I'm going to have the opportunity to do what I want to do in this offense and run the football," the 33-year-old Vick said. "And yes, I will be a threat. I think you've got to take on a certain mindset that you're going to play the game all-out."

Vick had more turnovers (15) than total touchdowns (13) last year and had only one rushing TD for the second straight season after having nine in 2010.

Kelly has been pleased with his progress in the preseason, during which he was 20 of 28 for 333 yards and four touchdowns to go with 73 yards rushing.

"The biggest thing with Mike that you saw was just his growth and improvement. He just kept learning the system," Kelly told the team's official website. "... His willingness to learn, his passion for the game of football was evidenced since the first day we saw him."

While Vick may target deep threat DeSean Jackson even more after fellow starting receiver Jeremy Maclin was lost for the season, LeSean McCoy should get plenty of touches after being limited to 200 carries in 12 games under coach Andy Reid last year while totaling five touchdowns.

Alfred Morris nearly doubled McCoy's rushing output (1,613 yards to 840), providing a potent 1-2 punch of rookies for the Redskins offense. The former sixth-round pick set a single-season franchise record and finished second in the NFL to Adrian Peterson, helping Washington finish 10-6 and win its first NFC East title since 1999.

While the Redskins won their final seven regular-season games, the Eagles dropped 11 of 12 to finish 4-12 for their worst record in 14 years.

Philadelphia lost both meetings with the Redskins, though Foles started both. Vick has won his last three games against them, throwing for 905 yards and eight touchdowns.

Griffin completed 30 of 39 passes for 398 yards and six TDs in last season's sweep, and he rushed for 84 yards in a 31-6 win when the Eagles visited FedEx Field.

That was the only time the Redskins didn't allow at least 16 points last season as the defense ranked 28th, though they're hoping to improve with Orakpo - a two-time Pro Bowler - back after missing 14 games last season with a torn pectoral.

Only Tennessee and New Orleans gave up more points than Philadelphia, which is switching to a 3-4 scheme under new defensive coordinator Billy Davis. The secondary will surely be tested by Griffin, with newcomers Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher taking over at cornerback for former Pro Bowlers Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

"RG3 is a great player," Williams said. "We understand he's going to bring his A game. So are we. We're going to find out what those guys are about."

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NFL HEAD TO HEAD

Dec 23, 2012 Score ATS Results
WAS « 27 Cover: 2
PHI 20 Over: 47
Tools: Boxscores • Recaps

Nov 18, 2012 Score ATS Results
PHI 6 Under: 37
WAS « 31 Cover: 21.5
Tools: Boxscores • Recaps

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Preview: Texans (0-0) at Chargers (0-0)

Date: September 09, 2013 10:20 PM EDT


Playoff appearances used to be the goal for the Houston Texans after the franchise's humble beginnings. Now, that's the expectation - and the goal is a Super Bowl.

While expectations for the San Diego Chargers may be considerably lower this year, they're anxious to hit the field with a new coach on the sidelines.

Brian Cushing and the Texans defense will try to spoil the Chargers' debut of a new offensive scheme under first-year coach Mike McCoy on Monday night in San Diego.

Playoff appearances each of the last two years were enough for a Houston franchise that went 55-89 in its first nine seasons. But after going 12-4 last year, the Texans aren't sheepish about setting the bar higher.

"I think it's obviously our main goal and our final goal, but there are a lot of steps that lead up to that," Cushing said of reaching the Super Bowl. "It's mentioned here and there, but ... there's a ton of steps before we start talking about the Super Bowl and it becomes a realization. It's one of those things that we have a lot of work to do before that's real."

Having Cushing back is a good start.

The fifth-year linebacker - who signed a six-year, $55.6 million extension with Houston on Wednesday - returns after tearing his left ACL in Week 5 and missing the remainder of the season. The 2009 Defensive Rookie of the Year ranked 15th in the NFL from 2009-2011 with 323 tackles.

"It's a chance to go back out there and really establish our role as a dominant defense," he said. "To help with that is going to be a tremendous feeling."

Even without Cushing for most of the year, the Texans still finished seventh in total defense, bolstered by Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt's league-leading 20 1/2 sacks. While the unit was weaker against the pass, Houston added a veteran presence by signing nine-time Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed.

Coach Gary Kubiak said it's possible that Reed could play in the opener after he was taken off the physically unable to perform list Saturday following his recovery from offseason hip surgery. The nine-time Pro Bowler will practice in pads for the first time Friday.

D.J. Swearinger, a second-round pick out of South Carolina, could be called upon at free safety if Reed can't play.

The health of star running back Arian Foster has also been a concern all offseason after he missed camp with calf and back injuries. Foster's 956 carries over the last three seasons are 99 more than the next player, but coach Gary Kubiak told the team's official website he'd likely see a lighter workload in the opener after not playing any preseason games. That could mean more carries for Ben Tate, who has totaled 1,221 yards and six TDs the last two seasons behind Foster.

San Diego missed out on the playoffs for the third straight season with a 7-9 record, leading to the dismissal of Norv Turner and the hiring of McCoy, who had served as Denver's offensive coordinator.

The addition brings a feeling of excitement to a team that finished second-to-last in total offense last season.

"This is the longest week it seems like in history," said quarterback Philip Rivers, whose 88.6 passer rating was the second-lowest of his career since becoming a starter. "You wait for game week, then it gets here, and they add an extra day to it."

Unlike the old scheme focused on deep passes, McCoy's scheme puts a greater emphasis on short and intermediate routes. Plays that develop more quickly should help Rivers after he was sacked an AFC-high 49 times.

"I think we need to play better around him," McCoy said. "I've been saying that since Day 1. He is a great quarterback; Philip is going to be fine. We got to get the entire team, everybody, has to do their job better and Philip will do his job better."

The signing of former Patriot Danny Woodhead - who totaled 747 yards from scrimmage and seven TDs - should help Rivers compensate for the loss of receiver Danario Alexander after a torn ACL in practice last month. The Chargers are hopeful that receivers Malcom Floyd and Eddie Royal will be ready to go after recovering from a knee sprain and bruised lung, respectively.

San Diego is 4-0 in the all-time series, including a 29-23 road win on Nov. 7, 2010, as Rivers threw for 295 yards and four TDs.

The Chargers are one regular-season win shy of 400.

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Eagles at Redskins: NFL bloggers debate who will cover


The first Monday Night Football game of the season is a divisional war between the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins. Oddsmakers have tabbed Washington as a 3.5-point home favorite in Week 1.

In order to get the best grasp on this NFC East battle we’ve enlisted the help of those who know these teams the best. Brandon Gowton of Philadelphia blog “Bleeding Green Nation” and Kevin Ewoldt of Washington blog “Hogs Haven” strap on the helmets and butt heads over which team will not only win but cover the spread Monday night.


Chip Kelly Factor

Chip Kelly makes his NFL debut on Monday Night Football. No one knows exactly what Kelly's NFL offense looks like yet. There may be incorporated elements of his Oregon Ducks' college offense, but it could catch the NFL by surprise. Kelly was very successful at Oregon (46-7) and he came to the NFL to continue his winning ways at the next level.

Run, run, run the ball

Eagles star running back LeSean McCoy called Chip Kelly's offense a "track meet". McCoy noted multiple running backs will be utilized because Kelly loves to run the ball. Along with McCoy, Bryce Brown and Chris Polk have flashed serious NFL talent. With a steady rotation of carries keeping these RBs fresh, the Eagles ground game could figure to be a problem for the Redskins defense.

Vick reinvigorated

Michael Vick looked flawless at times in Kelly's offense during the preseason. Vick earned the Eagles’ starting QB competition by beating out Nick Foles and hopes to play the best football of his career in order to hold on to his starting job. Kelly aims to harness the talents of Vick in full form while cutting back on Vick's mistakes. The Eagles offense will have no problem scoring points if Vick looks as sharp as he has under his new coach.



Rookie coaches stink

In 2012, seven teams had new coaches. They went 1-6 straight up in their week one games and the loss margin in those games was an average of 9.2 points (three teams lost by 15 or more). The sole winner was the Bucs’ squeaker win at home versus the dysfunctional Panthers. The Eagles and rookie coach, Chip Kelly, are on the road. I smell a parlay.

Shanahan dominates Week 1

Mike Shanahan is 15-4 SU in Week 1 and is 3-0 with the Redskins both SU and ATS (two of those wins were with McNabb and Grossman). Last year, he went into New Orleans as a 7.5-point dog and won by eight in Week 1. He's been studying Oregon film since the spring and realistically, the Redskins defense practices against one of the fastest offenses in the NFL every day.

Recent history

Last year, the Eagles were 1-5 ATS in September and now they're entering Week 1 with new systems on both sides of the ball. The Redskins have covered 10 of their last 12 games versus NFC East opponents. With the new CBA rules preventing heavy contact and two-a-days, in addition to Chip Kelly not wanting to show his hand in preseason, the Eagles enter Week 1 without really testing out either sides of the ball.

Join the debate. Who covers Monday night: Eagles or Redskins?

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Texans at Chargers: NFL bloggers debate who will cover


The Houston Texans and San Diego Chargers headline the late Monday Night Football game in Week 1. This contest will have a serious impact for sportsbooks, with all the weekend money running into this 3.5-point spread.

In order to get the tightest grasp on this game, we've enlisted the help of those who know these teams the best. Stephanie Stradley of the "Ultimate Texans Blog" and Matt Loede of "Chargers Gab" strap on the helmets and butt heads over which side will not only win Monday night but cover the spread on Monday Night Football.



More of the same

The Texans retained all their coaches and have consistent, proven schemes-coordinators on both sides of the ball since 2011. In 2012, this consistency led to them crushing opponents at the beginning of the year until injuries caught up to them. There is no surprise that in preseason play, even with backups playing most of games, that the Texans offense has led in time of possession, total offense, pass offense and fourth in rush offense.

J.J. Watt

Though J.J. Watt has been held out of most preseason snaps, in camp he's looked to be in Defensive Player of the Year form. His play acts like a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. At crucial times in games, he can erase even tough mistakes. He acts as a catalyst for the Texans defense and with Brian Cushing coming back from injury, Watt can take more chances knowing that Cushing can clean up behind him.

Balance

The Texans are the most balanced team in the league and can win at any style game. Their defense is capable of shutting down a team and their offense is capable of participating in a shootout. The Texans offense is one of the few that is strong with both passing and running, so defenses can't choose either to shut down. When the Texans won last year, they usually won big, which is the sign of a dominant team.


Tempo

There’s some excitement around the Chargers with a new coach and a new look, and they have to take advantage of being at home on a Monday night to start the season. Run some misdirections, keep the Texans guessing. If they can keep the Texans on their toes with new looks on offense and control the overall tempo, taking some shots downfield, they have a good shot at keeping the game close and pulling off the win.

Trim the turnovers

The Chargers hurt themselves way too much with bad turnovers at tough points in games last season. That can’t happen in 2013, and more specifically in this game. They have to find a way not to make big mistakes and that starts with picks and putting the ball on the turf in critical points in the game. Phillip Rivers has to be careful with the ball and the Chargers need a couple of turnovers from Matt Schaub and the Texans offense, as well.

Let's get physical

Too many times in 2012 the Chargers seemed to get beat up at the line of scrimmage. The Texans have an attitude and a chip on their shoulder, but the Chargers can’t allow them to come into San Diego and be the more physical team. Both the offensive and defensive lines have to win the battles at the line of scrimmage and make a statement that they aren't going to let themselves be beat. It starts man-to-man on the lines, and for the Chargers, it’s a key to match the Texans in that department.

Join the debate. Who covers Monday night: Houston or San Diego?

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Monday Night Football: Eagles at Redskins


Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins (-3.5, 52)

The biggest question mark of the offseason and one of the biggest mysteries entering the season will finally be answered when the Washington Redskins host the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night in a clash of NFC East rivals. Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III will take his first snap since tearing knee ligaments in a playoff loss to Seattle last season. Questions abound over what Philadelphia's offense will look like under Chip Kelly, who makes his NFL coaching debut.

Griffin, the league's Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012, was held out of the preseason by coach Mike Shanahan despite his repeated pronouncements that he was healthy and ready to go. Kelly, who presided over a fast-break offense at Oregon that piled up points at a video-game pace, also had a hot-button topic at quarterback before settling on veteran Michael Vick as his starter. Kelly had an unwelcome distraction when a video surfaced of wide receiver Riley Cooper uttering a racial slur, leading to the brief banishment from training camp for Cooper.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE: The Redskins opened as 5.5-point faves and are currently 3.5-point favorites.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-70s and skies will be partly cloudy for this NFC East matchup. Wind will blow from the SE towards the NW endzone at 6 mph.

ABOUT THE EAGLES (2012: 4-12, fourth NFC East): How Kelly's offense translates to the NFL is the biggest question mark and the key to its success revolves around Vick, who has seen his effectiveness diminish due to a combination of injuries and repeated turnovers. Running back LeSean McCoy saw his rushing touchdowns dwindle from 20 in 2011 to five last season but he seems like an ideal fit for Kelly's schemes, as does speedy wideout DeSean Jackson, whose production also took a major dip a year ago. Team harmony was tested by the remarks of Cooper, who was involved in a practice skirmish on Thursday, while the defense is also under fire after getting torched for nearly 28 points per game in 2012.

ABOUT THE REDSKINS (2012: 10-6, first NFC East): Griffin set NFL rookie quarterback records for both passer rating (102.4) and rushing yards (815) but he was not the only first-year player to make an enormous impact. Sixth-round pick Alfred Morris was second in the league with 1,613 rushing yards, including seven 100-yard games, as the Redskins amassed a league-best 169.3 yards per game on the ground. Top wideout Pierre Garcon was hobbled by a foot injury for much of the season and tight end Fred Davis missed the final nine games with a torn Achilles' tendon. The defensive front remains in flux, but an already-strong linebacking corps receives a boost with the return of Brian Orakpo, who has 29.5 sacks in 49 career games.

TRENDS:

* The Eagles are 2-9-1 ATS in their last 12 versus the NFC.
* The Redskins are 12-2 ATS in their last 14 versus the NFC East.
* The favorite is 5-0 ATS in their last five meetings.
* The under is 7-3-2 in the last 12 meetings in Washington.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Griffin threw for six touchdowns in Washington's two wins over Philadelphia last season, including a perfect passer rating (158.3) in one game.

2. The Eagles lost 11 of 12 to close out last season but Vick has won his last three starts against the Redskins.

3. Washington finished last season on a seven-game win streak in its surprising run to the division title.

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Monday Night Football: Texans at Chargers


Houston Texans at San Diego Chargers (+3.5, 44.5)

The Houston Texans are taking the Super Bowl-or-bust approach while the San Diego Chargers are entering a rebuilding phase under first-year coach Mike McCoy. The Texans open the season against the host Chargers on the Monday night stage and believe last season’s franchise-best 12-4 record – and a playoff victory for the second straight campaign – has set the state for a deep postseason run. San Diego has missed the playoffs in each of the last three seasons.

Houston signed perennial Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed as a free agent to shore up the back end and he is a game-time decision after having offseason hip surgery. Defensive end J.J. Watt racked up a league-leading 20 1/2 sacks last season in a stellar performance that earned him NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors. The Chargers cleaned house after last season’s disappointing showing by firing coach Norv Turner and general A.J. Smith and hiring McCoy and new general manager Tom Telesco.

TV: 10:20 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE: The Texans opened as 3-point road faves which has been bet up to 3.5.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-70s with partly cloudy skies in San Diego. Wind will blow from the W towards the east end zone at 6 mph.

ABOUT THE TEXANS (2012: 12-4, first AFC South): Inside linebacker Brian Cushing is healthy after suffering a season-ending knee injury early last season and Houston recently rewarded him with a six-year, $55.6 million extension. The Texans allowed 225.8 passing yards per game in 2012 and the belief is that Reed’s ball-hawking presence should further bolster a unit that ranked seventh in total defense (323.3). Quarterback Matt Schaub topped 4,000 passing yards for the third time in four seasons and Andre Johnson (112 receptions for a career-best 1,598 yards) surpassed 1,500 yards for the third time in his stellar career. Running back Arian Foster (1,424 yards, 15 touchdowns) has been bothered by back and calf woes in training camp and could be spelled by Ben Tate.

ABOUT THE CHARGERS (2012: 7-9, second AFC West): Quarterback Philip Rivers has been turnover-prone the past two seasons with 47 miscues (35 interceptions, 12 lost fumbles) and his 3,606 passing yards last season represented his lowest output since 2007. Injury-prone Ryan Mathews (707 yards) is the prime running back and top wideout Malcom Floyd (56 receptions) missed most of the preseason with a knee injury. Safety Eric Weddle (team-high 111 tackles) is one of the best at his position and the leader of a defense that is being rebuilt. The Chargers are hoping veteran pass rusher Dwight Freeney (107.5 career sacks) has something left in the tank.

TRENDS:

* The Texans are 0-5 ATS in their last five Monday games.
* The Chargers are 0-4 ATS in their last four home games.
* The under is 14-6 in the Chargers last 20 home games.
* The Texans are 0-4 ATS in their last four meetings.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. San Diego has won all four previous meetings, the most recent being a 29-23 victory in Houston in 2010.

2. The Texans were 7-0 last season when Foster rushed for 100 or more yards.

3. Rivers was sacked a league-high 49 times last season and fumbled 15 times, losing seven.

[StarDust Bum]

NFL betting: Monday night injury watch list


Here is a quick look at some of the players who are probable, questionable and doubtful for the two Monday night games.

Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins (-3.5, 52)

Eagles

- TE James Casey is dealing with a hamstring injury but is expected to play Monday against the Redskins
- CB Cary Williams has a hamstring injury but is expected to play Monday against the Redskins
- T Dennis Kelly is still recovering from back surgery and will miss at least the first two games of the regular season

Redskins

- QB Robert Griffin III has been recovering from reconstructive knee surgery but will be the starter for Monday's game against the Eagles
- WR Aldrick Robinson is dealing with a thigh injury but is expected to play Monday against the Eagles
- WR Leonard Hankerson is dealing with a knee injury and is questionable to play

Houston Texans at San Diego Chargers (+3.5, 44.5)

Texans

- RB Arian Foster is questionable to play Monday against the Chargers as he deals with a right calf strain
- G Wade Smith is expected to be ready for Monday's game against the Chargers
- WR DeVier Posey is recovering from a torn left Achilles' tendon but is expected to be ready
- WR DeAndre Hopkins has a concussion and is questionable to play Monday
- T David Quessenberry will undergo surgery after breaking his foot during practice and is out indefinitely
- S Ed Reed nderwent minor hip surgery in April to repair a small tear in his labrum and will be a game-time decision
- LB Darryl Sharpton has a concussion and is expected to miss Monday's game

Chargers

- WR Eddie Royal left practice on August 17th in an ambulance after suffering a bruised lung and a concussion. He is questionable to play Monday
- WR Malcom Floyd was carted from the practice field during preseason with a right knee injury but is expected to be ready to play
- LB Manti Te'o is dealing with a foot injury and will sit out Monday's game
- DE Corey Liuget is dealing with shoulder discomfort but is expected to play

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NFL betting: AFC North goes 0-4 SU in Week 1
It started out with a whimper for the AFC North teams, and it didn't get any better from there.

The NFL season kicked off last Thursday with Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos thumping the Baltimore Ravens by a score of 49-27.

Sunday was another dismal performance from teams in that division completing an 0-4 straight up and 0-3-1 against the spread week to open the season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the Tennessee Titans 16-9 Sunday and failed to cover as 6-point home faves.

The Cleveland Browns were beaten by the Miami Dolphins 23-10 and closed as 2.5-point home faves at some shops.

Only the Cincinnati Bengals losing by a field goal to the Chicago Bears 24-21, which finished as a push, kept the North from going 0-4 ATS.

Week 2 sees these squads matchup as the Ravens host the Browns in early action Sunday, while the Bengals host the Steelers Monday night.

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Monday's six-pack

Most popular, least popular picks in the LVH Super Contest, where 1,034 contestants pick five games each week of the NFL season........they paid $1,500 each to be in this contest, by the way.

Most popular (0-4-1 vs spread)
413- Texans-- Mon
374- Buccaneers-- L
341-Bengals-- T
297- Browns-- L
289- Panthers-- L
288- Colts-- L

Least popular (4-1-1)
36- Raiders-- W
52- Steelers-- L
58-Dolphins-- W
62-Bears-- T
63- Jets-- W
82- Bills-- W


*****

Armadillo: Monday's List of 13: Wrapping up Opening Day in the NFL.......

13) Saints 23, Falcons 17-- Sean Payton won his return to sidelines as Brees averaged 9.2 yards/pass attempt; Saints stopped Atlanta on 3-yard line in the last minute to preserve the win.

12) Patriots 23, Bills 21-- New England scored two TDs, on drives of 16-32 yards; they held Bills scoreless in last quarter and kicked winning FG with 0:05 left, to escape Orchard Park with a win. Buffalo people have to be little happy despite the loss; EJ Manuel (18-27/150) wasn't bad in his debut.

11) Titans 16, Steelers 9-- Three safeties in the NFL by 1:30 Sunday? The Titans screwed up the opening kickoff and trailed 2-0 0:03 into the season, but Steelers didn't score again until there was 1:23 left. Someone explain to me why Todd Haley is a coordinator in the NFL? What has he done?

10) Jets 18, Buccaneers 17-- Bucs' LB Lavonte David is Goat of the Day, after his late hit on Geno Smith handed the Jets the 15 yards they needed to get into position to kick the winning FG-- otherwise, they would've had to throw a Hail Mary on the last play to try and win. Not his finest moment.

Discipline isn't having short hair, or no facial hair and shined shoes; what it is is doing the right thing when you'd rather do something else. All David had to do was not clock Geno Smith out of bounds, and the Bucs win, but he did, and the Buccaneers didn't, because of a highly undisciplined play.

9) Chiefs 28, Jaguars 2--Jax blocked punt for safety 2:33 into game, but it was all downhill from there: they punted 11 times themselves. You wonder if they would consider the Tebow Option; only 59,416 tickets were sold, and neither Gabbert/Henne seems like the answer under center.

8) Bears 24, Bengals 21-- There have been 111 plays of 20+ yards in the 13 games so far this weekend; 42 on first down, 38 on second down, 31 on third down, in case such things interest you. Cincy is -6.5 over the Steelers in next Monday's game, most they've been favored over Pittsburgh by since 1989.

111 big plays in 14 games; thats 7.9 per game, four per team.

7) Dolphins 23, Browns 10-- Cleveland is now 1-14 in season openers, as Browns completed less than half their passes, ran for 47 yards, converted once on 13 third down plays. 297 people picked the Browns in the LVH contest; the thought occurred to me around 3:00 Sunday-- why?

6) Seahawks 12, Panthers 7-- Three red zone trips for Seattle; two FGs and a zero; their blue jerseys are really nice, though. DeAngelo Williams fumbled on the Seattle 8-yard line with 5:25 left, killing what was an excellent drive.

I'm beating this to death, but why did Carolina let John Fox walk? Do they care about winning? They have a terrific young QB, and Mike Shula is their offensive coordinator? Auburn QB/Alabama OC? Oy.

5) Lions 34, Vikings 24-- Adrian Peterson's Vikings are to this decade what Eric Dickerson's Rams were to the mid-80's; pretty nice team, but not good enough QB play to win big. Detroit takes too many cheap penalties- Suh had an illegal block penalty that nullified a TD, and if you look at the replay, all it was is a blatant cheap shot. He's better than that, or he should be.

4) Colts 21, Raiders 17-- Oakland was one of eight teams this week to have turnover ratio of -2 of worse; those eight teams were 0-8 SU, 1-7 vs spread, with Raiders only team that covered the spread- they ran ball for 171, passed it for 201 yards, but there were four teams that didn't turn the ball over this week, and they went 4-0, winning by an average score of 25-14. .

3) 49ers 34, Packers 28-- Kaepernick passed for 412 yards, as Boldin caught 13 balls for 208 in his 49er debut. There were 16 plays of 20+ yards in this game, most of any game so far this week. Packers went 3-out six times, which helped SF have a 13-yard advantage in average field position.

2) Rams 27, Cardinals 24-- St Louis is like Detroit; improved, enthusiastic, but they've got to cut down on cheap, stupid penalties that hurt their field positioin and make life harder. The hideous pick-6 Bradford threw came in his end zone because of a roughing penalty at the end of a Cardinal punt. At some point, if Rams/Lions are to become playoff teams, they've got to grow up and let their play do the talking.

1) Cowboys 36, Giants 31-- Six turnovers doomed the Giants, who had 428 passing yards, but also failed to score a TD after a 1st-and-goal at the 1 after a long INT return in first quarter. You score two defensive TDs, you win, but has to be mentioned that Romo showed guts playing second half with painful rib injury. Giants are now 4-1 in JerryWorld, scoring average of 33 ppg.