Previous Week Plays – 1-2
Season Record – 24-20-1
Week 9 Recap:
The BetCrushers haven’t been too active with Thursday Night Football games, and probably should tread cautiously moving forward as well. We tried to continue the first half trend for the Eagles which has been nice for us so far this season, but a feisty Texans team surprisingly pushed around the Eagles defense, and we took the L. It puts such a terrible taste in your mouth when you go into the weekend already in the hole. Unfortunately we weren’t able to crawl back into the black in what was our smallest card of the year. We split on Sunday going 1-1, however it felt great to finally win another teaser bet. Not only that we were able to win it mostly sweat-free, as the Bengals cruised to a victory, and the Lions won outright against the struggling Packers. The Sunday loss was really frustrating as we had the Vikings team total over 23.5 points. Minnesota scored easily on their first possession, and it seemed like that one wouldn’t be a sweat either. However, the Vikings didn’t score again until they kicked a FG in the 4th quarter. The most frustrating piece beyond that, is that the Vikings had six opportunities at the end of the game inside the 4 yard line to punch in a TD that would have gotten them to 24 points and a cover, but they couldn’t get it in. A FG for the win put them at 20 points, and crushed our hopes of a profitable week nine.
Week 10 Picks:
Our week ten card is a little unconventional, as a lot of early moving lines have erased some bets we placed a few days ago. There’s still some meat on the bone though, and we’re taking a shot with a few different angles, including another teaser bet featuring the game in Germany. We’re only going with one game in a traditional against the spread format, and it’s laying some points on the road. Our biggest strategy of the weekend focuses on some first half bets with teams that have clear advantages, but may not cover full game spreads. After talking things through with some trends, we’re playing one total in a game with one of the league’s hottest teams. Overall, six bets are on the ticket that should make for an entertaining and what we hope will be a profitable week ten.
Denver Broncos vs. Tennessee Titans
vs. 
Denver Broncos (3-5) vs. Tennessee Titans (5-3)
Sunday November 13th
1:00pm
Nissan Stadium – Nashville, TN
Tennesee Titans -3 (-105)
Over/Under 39 (-110)
The Denver Broncos regroup after a bye week and head to the Music City for an important showdown with the Tennessee Titans. The quarterback situation for the Titans is still up in the air as it’s unknown whether Ryan Tannehill can resume his role as the leader, or if Malik Willis will get another start? The Broncos know who their starting quarterback will be, but the questions remain about how effective Russell Wilson can be? In a crowded AFC playoff race, the Broncos really need to steal a road win to stay in contention.
Denver Bronco fans are hoping a bye week will give Nathanial Hackett and Russell Wilson some extra time to get their offense on track. They’ve got a tough assignment going against a Titans defense that was able to hold the Chiefs down for much of the game, despite giving up a lot of yards to Patrick Mahomes a week ago. Denver has employed a committee running approach in the absence of Javonte Williams, and no one has really stepped up as the leader. The Titans are pretty stout at stopping the run, so don’t expect any of the Broncos three backs to do much in this matchup. It is worth noting that Titans star defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons is questionable in this game, and his availability is critical for this Tennessee defense. In fact, the Titans enter the weekend pretty banged up on defense in a lot of areas, although it looks like most of the starters should be able to give it a go. Denver quarterback Russell Wilson showed some signs of life in their last two games before their bye and he’s going to need to be the younger Russell Wilson as he was in those contests. That basically means he’s got to utilize his legs to move the chains when plays aren’t there. The player for Denver that really needs to step up offensively is Courtland Sutton, who has really struggled to get in sync with Wilson. Assuming Kristian Fulton is able to play for the Titans he’ll see a lot of Jerry Jeudy, so Sutton should have some opportunities. The other weapon to keep an eye on for Denver is tight end Greg Dulcich. Since finding some playing time, Wilson has looked his way often, and the young tight end has produced. While he’s no Travis Kelce, his game style is similar, and we saw what Kelce was able to do against the Titans defense.
It’s pretty apparent that Malik Willis needs a lot of work before he can be a truly effective quarterback in the NFL. That being said, he’s playing on the one team in the league where we can still be successful at this early stage in his career. The Titans offensive game plan will obviously be slightly different depending on who gets the start at QB, with the key word being slightly. Tennessee isn’t going to try to trick the Broncos on defense, or even attempt to go after their strength, which is stopping the pass. They’re going to line up and run the ball straight at them, over and over. That’s not great news for a Denver team that has had their issues stopping opposing running backs. Derrick Henry is doing Derrick Henry things, which means he’s getting the ball a lot, and wearing down opposing defenses. The offensive line for Tennessee has played well after a rough start to the season, and they have to enjoy being a grind it out type of offense. Henry and the Titans need to get ahead of the chains on first and second down so they aren’t forced to throw against this stingy Denver pass defense. It still remains to be seen what kind of an impact the loss of Bradley Chubb will have on that defense, but it certainly can’t help that the pass rusher is no longer there. If you’re looking for a receiver to make plays in this game for the Titans, it might have to come from tight ends Geoff Swaim and Austin Hooper.
Key Stats and Trends
– The Titans are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games
– The Broncos are 1-4 straight up in their last 5 games
– The Broncos are 1-6 straight up in their last 7 road games
This line moved from Tennessee -2.5 to -3, so in theory if you’re betting Denver you’re getting a much better line With it still falling on the key number, we’d still be willing to take a chance with a push, as this just lines up to be a Tennessee bounce back victory. The Titans seem able to overcome obstacles and injuries as well as any team in the league, and Mike Vrabel should have a clear advantage coaching against the Broncos in this game. The Titans very easily could have ended up winning against the Chiefs on the road, so this line should be closer to Tennessee -4 by our metrics. Where we really like this game though is with the first half for Titans. They have been one of the top first half teams all season, and the Broncos have conversely started slow in most of their games. This will be the first of three first half plays for us as we’ll hope Tennessee can continue their first half dominance against Denver.
BetCrushers Take: Tennessee Titans – First Half -1.5
Titans 21, Broncos 20 (First Half – Titans 10, Broncos 7)
Dallas Cowboys vs. Green Bay Packers
vs. 
Dallas Cowboys (6-2) vs. Green Bay Packers (3-6)
Sunday November 13th
4:25pm
Lambeau Field – Green Bay, WI
Dallas Cowboys -4.5 (-110)
Over/Under 44 (-110)
Two teams headed in different directions square off, when the Dallas Cowboys visit Lambeau Field to take on the floundering Green Bay Packers. Dallas is getting healthy and finding some momentum, while Green Bay is searching for anything positive to propel them into the second half of the season. Can the magic of Lambeau Field and Aaron Rodgers get them a much needed win to keep them in the mix in the NFC, or will Dallas be able to impose their will on the beat up Pack?
Give Mike McCarthy and his coaching staff a lot of credit for having his guys believe when it would have been really easy for them to shut it down early in the season. The team weathered early injuries on the offensive side of the ball and now are getting healthy at the right time as they head into Lambeau Field. The Cowboys most notable injury is running back Ezekiel Elliott, and not to pile on the guy, but that’s probably a good thing for the Cowboys. That forces extra work on Tony Pollard, who everyone realizes is clearly more explosive and productive at this point. Pollard is the biggest player to watch, along with the Cowboys offensive line, as he should be able to gash what has been a really soft Packers run defense. With Tyler Smith gaining valuable experience and Terrence Steele greatly improved, they should be able to handle Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed on the edges, giving Pollard room to run. While Green Bay has been stingy in their pass defense behind their strong secondary, it could be a little tougher this week against the Cowboys. For starters, they lost Rashan Gary for the season, and cornerback Eric Stokes and linebacker Devondre Campbell will miss the game as well. The Packers can slow down CeeDee Lamb, but the rest of the receivers could find more room than what the Packers had been allowing. A finally healthy Dalton Schultz is also proving to be a helpful weapon for Dak Prescott. The game plan for Dallas should be pretty simple in this one, run, run and more run until the Packers prove they an stop it.
As if the Packers offense hasn’t struggled enough in recent weeks, take a look at their injury report heading into this ballgame. Eight of their eleven starters have an injury designation, and that’s not including Randall Cobb who is currently in IR. The challenges start upfront with a banged up offensive line that hasn’t been able to provide great pass protection for Aaron Rodgers. The reigning MVP is nursing his own hand injury, and although he’s claimed it isn’t impacting his ability to throw, he’s missed some passes you don’t expect to see him miss. The biggest injury to watch though is running back Aaron Jones, who has really been the lone bright spot on the offense this season. The Packers do get wide receiver Christian Watson back this week, but he swaps out for Romeo Doubs in a get one give one injury situation. Realistically, the only receiver we’ve seen make any kind of connection with Rodgers is Allen Lazard, who is going to see a lot of coverage from the Cowboys secondary in this game. As good as Aaron Rodgers has been in his career, the Packers have to keep this game close so they can rely on their running game and try to pull out a close victory. If they fall behind and have to get into a heavy passing mode, that’s going to spell a lot of trouble from the Dallas pass rushers.
Key Stats and Trends
– The Cowboys are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games
– The Cowboys are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 road games
– The Packers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games
When the wheels fall off for a team or a player, it can happen pretty fast. That seems to be what we’re seeing here for both Aaron Rodgers and the Packers as they are home underdogs again, and one could argue should be bigger home dogs. The interesting thing about this game is it was sitting at Dallas -5.5 and some sharp money pushed it to -4.5. Sharps are sharps for a reason, but they’re not always correct, and maybe they even thought they could manipulate this line down a bit? If you’re a contrarian NFL bettor, this game is all about the Dallas Cowboys. They have a huge advantage almost everywhere across the field, and you know the team and Mike McCarthy want this win. With the injuries to the Packers, it’s hard to see how they will be able to score on offense, and their defense, which was already struggling could be even worse. This has the feel of one of those games that could push a player like Aaron Rodgers into retirement after the season is over.
BetCrushers Take: Dallas Cowboys – 4.5
Cowboys 26, Packers 17
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Kansas City Chiefs
vs. 
Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (6-2)
Sunday November 13th
1:00pm
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Chiefs -9.5 (-110)
Over/Under 51 (-110)
The Kansas City Chiefs are once again positioning themselves for a top seed in the AFC playoff picture. The Jacksonville Jaguars finally secured a win last week, as they’re trying to keep within striking distance of the Titans in their division. They’ll face each other in Arrowhead Stadium in a game with one of the higher spreads of the weekend. Will the Chiefs roll against Jags, or can Jacksonville pull off another upset in Kansas City?
After a month of basically dormant offense, the Jacksonville Jaguars came alive in the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders a week ago. Which version of the Jaguars offense will we get this weekend when they head to a raucous Arrowhead? One thing we do know is that running back Travis Etienne, Jr. looks like an absolute star in this league through a few starts. Etienne needs to have another dominant performance if the Jags’ are going to be able to pull off a massive upset on Sunday. The Chiefs defense can be vulnerable against the run, and the Jaguars offensive line has been a good run-blocking unit for the most part this season. It’s no secret that the Jaguars would love to keep the Chiefs offense off the field and shorten the game by running the ball and the clock with Etienne. Where things get interesting is in the pass rush and pass game for the Chiefs and Jaguars. Kansas City has done pretty well generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and you’d have to think defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will want to pressure Lawrence. The 2nd year quarterback not only needs to hit some quick throws when under pressure, but he absolutely cannot turn the ball over to the Chiefs with a short field. Another area the Jags should look to exploit is running with Lawrence when the opportunities are there. He has the athleticism to get out of the pocket, and the Chiefs have struggled when quarterbacks do take off with the football. Most importantly, the Jaguars can’t fall behind like they did against the Raiders. Pulling off a comeback like that in Kansas City is far less likely than it was a week prior.
When you looked at the box score of the Chiefs game against the Titans, it was a little surprising to see just how many yards they racked up in a game where they didn’t seem to be crushing it offensively. That really speaks to how great that offense is, and of course Patrick Mahomes, who finds ways to make plays regardless of the situation and game script. The Jaguars are going to have their hands full against this Kansas City passing attack, as they have struggled to get pressure on quarterbacks most of the season. Kansas City tends to look more fluid when they’re running the ball well, however this could be a game where Andy Reid decides it’s not necessary to even try. Jacksonville has been pretty stout stopping the run, but not so much against the pass. KC could end up using the pass to set up the run against this Jags defense. Keep an eye out for new Chiefs wideout Kadarius Toney, who will likely see a little more playing time as he’s getting acclimated to his new offense. With Mecole Hardman a little banged up, you know Kansas City would like to see what they can do with the equally speedy new toy they have at the position. The only real concern the Chiefs fans should have on offense in this game is whether or not the team will play down to their opponent. We’ve seen the Chiefs go into cruise control mode before against lesser teams, and off of a big primetime win last week, could we see that again?
Key Stats and Trends
– The Jaguars are 0-5 straight up in their last 5 games vs. the Chiefs
– The Jaguars are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games
– The Chiefs are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games
– The Chiefs are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 home games
Betting against the spread with the Kansas City Chiefs this season would have you solidly in the red, as they seem to be up and down, and play to the level of their competition. Just ask the Indianapolis Colts. Coming off of a big win against the Titans, this could clearly be a letdown spot where the Jaguars could make some noise. We certainly can’t pick against the Chiefs to lose, and don’t have enough confidence in the Jags even with 9.5 points, so we’re going with another first half play here. The Chiefs offense should have little trouble, even if they’re not focused throwing up some points on the Jags early, and this protects us in case they take the foot off the gas in the second half.
BetCrushers Take: Kansas City Chiefs – First Half -6
Chiefs 30, Jaguars 24 (First Half – Chiefs 17, Jaguars 10)
Cleveland Browns vs. Miami Dolphins
vs. 
Cleveland Browns (3-5) vs. Miami Dolphins (6-3)
Sunday November 13th
1:00pm
Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL
Miami Dolphins -3.5 (Even)
Over/Under 49 (-110)
The Cleveland Browns head to south Florida for a battle against the high-flying Miami Dolphins in the early window on Sunday. The Browns are searching for an upset win that would keep them alive in the AFC North, while the Dolphins are needing a victory to keep pace in the AFC East. Expect a lot of running from Cleveland, and heavy action through the air from Miami. Either way, the team that controls the line of scrimmage should have the advantage in this contest.
Jacoby Brissett has another important road start against the Dolphins in a game where the Browns are likely going to need to score some points to win. Brissett has filled in quite well during the suspension of Deshaun Watson, however there have been some things that remind us why he is a backup and not a starter in the league. He takes aim at a defense that is puzzlingly poor in Miami, hoping to exploit them in a game Cleveland has to win to stay alive in the AFC. The Dolphins haven’t been great stopping the run, or against the pass, and everyone knows Cleveland wants to run the ball right at them. The Browns will hope that the heat in Florida helps them wear down that Dolphin defense behind Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Miami has played aggressive defense all year, so expect them to bring extra help up into the box and dare Brissett to throw against them. If Cleveland has to throw, things could get difficult for them, despite the Dolphins lack of success against the pass. The Browns really only have one legitimate passing weapon in Amari Cooper, and he’ll likely see a lot of Xavien Howard. Even though Howard isn’t have a good season, at least partly due to nagging injuries, he should be able to matchup with Cooper. That doesn’t leave much for Brissett in the passing game, unless they can get creative with some screens and other play calls. Tight end David Njoku, looks to be a game-time decision, and if he can go, that would obviously be a big boost to the Browns passing offense. It looks as though he’s probably not going to play however. We’re going to be keeping a close eye on Dolphins new edge rusher Bradley Chubb to see if he can deliver the results they signed up for when they brought him over in a huge trade before the deadline.
No matter how well a team can throw the football, you have to have at least a little threat of running it along the way. One of the potentially quiet big additions at the trade deadline was the acquisition of running back Jeff Wilson, Jr. for the Miami offense. Having a more powerful back to pair with the speedy Raheem Mostert should give this Dolphins offense yet another elementary to make them even more dangerous as a group. The Browns have not done well against the run this season allowing nearly 4.7 yards per carry as the interior of their defensive line and linebackers have struggled. Look for Wilson to get a lot of work in this game, and he could end up having a nice day for Miami. Of course we know the Dolphins want to get the ball into their playmakers hands, which they should be able to do, no matter what the Browns do to take that away from them. Cleveland did get some good news as their top corner Denzel Ward has cleared concussion protocol, and will return just in time to see a lot of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Much was made about quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s ability to get the ball down the field to his speedy weapons, and he’s had so-so results with that. Where he has absolutely shined is in the intermediate passing game, getting the ball to his receivers 10-15 yards down the field and allowing them to run with accurate passing. The Browns rank near the bottom of the league in giving up big and explosive plays, and that’s not a good thing when you’re facing this offense.
Key Stats and Trends
– The Dolphins are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games
– The Browns are 1-6 straight up in their last 7 games on the road
– The Browns are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games vs. the Dolphins
At first glance this looked like an absolute play on the over with the Dolphins offense cruising, and the Browns likely to run the ball here. In digging in deeper and with some group discussion, we switched our position on this game based on a trend for the Miami Dolphins this year. It’s hard to know if it’s a fatigue issue, or just coincidence, but the Dolphins total has stayed over in every one of their home games thus far. Their defense seems to play much better at home, which is a great starting place for an under. Both teams may be able to run the ball here which could chew up some clock. In a season of unders, we’re going to buck the obvious look of the high-scoring Dolphins and root for some field goals and punts in the Miami sunshine.
BetCrushers Take: Total – Under 49
Dolphins 24, Browns 21
Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles
vs. 
Washington Commanders (4-5) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (8-0)
Sunday November 14th
8:15pm
Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Eagles -11 (-110)
Over/Under 44 (-110)
The Philadelphia Eagles look to continue their perfect season in a divisional battle against the Washington Commanders. Taylor Heinecke has breathed some life into the Washington offense since taking over for the injured Carson Wentz. He’ll face his toughest challenge yet on the road against an aggressive Philadelphia defense. Even if Washington can get some points on offense, can their defense slow down the red-hot offense of Jalen Hurts and the Eagles?
Had the Washington Commanders not started the season so slowly, we might be talking differently about them heading into the second half of the season. Unfortunately for them, they seem to be figuring things out a little late to really make a run in the NFC. In reality, they’re not quite on the same level as a team like the Eagles anyhow, and we might see that on Monday Night Football. The Commanders really have one shot to make this a game and pull of an upset, and that’s if they can run the ball effectively against the Eagles defense. Philly is minus rookie Jordan Davis on the interior of their line, and as we saw against the Texans, they can be pushed around a bit. The problem for Washington is they haven’t been great running the football on their end, as their offensive line has been mediocre, at best. Both Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson can be physical runners, and they have to keep Washington on the field and moving the ball to give Washington a chance. As far as throwing the ball goes, things could get ugly for quarterback Taylor Heinecke if he’s in obvious passing situations. The Eagles pass defense has been elite, and they have the cornerbacks in Darius Slay, Jr. and James Bradberry to match up with Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel. This would be a really nice spot for rookie Jahan Dotson to return from injury, as the Commanders are going to need another weapon to make some plays. This seems to be a common theme this week, but if Washington gets down early and is forced to throw, this game could turn really ugly really fast.
Say what you want about their opponents, the Eagles offense is shredding whoever steps in front of them. They’ll take aim at a defense in Washington that seems to have found their footing a bit after a really bad start to the season. As a whole, the Commanders defense is kind of the epitome of average in all categories. The positive is they’ve been a lot better recently. Unfortunately though, being average, or even pretty good, is probably not gonna be enough to slow down this Philadelphia juggernaut of an offense. Jalen Hurts is playing as good of quarterback as anyone in the league, including Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, and the addition of A.J. Brown at wide receiver could be the roster move of the year in the league. A healthy Miles Sanders, along with a little more commitment to run only makes the offense more balanced and tougher to defend. With all of the weapons this Eagles offense has, it’s almost an afterthought that they have arguably the best offensive line in the league, and the most underrated tight end in Dallas Goedert. The question for the Washington defense becomes, where do they focus their energy, as there are simply too many pieces to scheme against? It also doesn’t hurt that they’re thin at linebacker with injuries to David Mayo and Cole Holcomb, and this is definitely not the team to play when you’re weak at the linebacker position.
Key Stats and Trends
– The Commanders are 2-9 straight up in their last 11 games vs. the Eagles
– The Commanders are 1-6 straight up in their last 7 games within the NFC East
– The Eagles are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games
After not getting home with the first half cover a week ago, we’re giving the Eagles another shot here. The spread overall seems a little high against a Washington team that is playing better, despite the fact these teams are on different tiers. It’s well know now that the Eagles have dominated second quarters of football games, and despite the lackadaisical performance against the Texans, there’s little to believe they won’t back on track in a divisional game. It’s also fair to point out the Eagles have really owned Washington since Ron Rivera took over as head coach. As long as the Eagles are laying less than a field goal in first halves, it’s difficult to see us not considering playing them.
BetCrushers Take: Philadelphia Eagles – First Half -6.5
Eagles 31, Commanders 21 (First Half Eagles 17, Commanders 7)
Teaser Bet
Seattle Seahawks vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Los Angeles Chargers vs. San Francisco 49ers
vs. 
and 
vs. 
Seattle Seahawks (6-3) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5)
Sunday November 13th
9:30am
Allianz Arena – Munich, Germany
Tampa Bay Buccaneers -2.5 (-110)
Over/Under 44.5 (-110)
Los Angeles Chargers (5-3) vs. San Francisco 49ers (4-4)
Sunday November 13th
8:20pm
Levi’s Stadium – Santa Clara, CA
San Francisco 49ers -7 (-115)
Over/Under 45.5 (-110)
TEASER MOVES SPREADS TO: Seahawks +8.5 and 49ers -1
The NFL ventures to Germany Sunday morning with an NFC showdown between the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Seahawks continue to impress in the 2022 season, while the Buccaneers hope a last second win last week against the Rams will provide momentum for their slumping offense. On the other side of the world, the San Francisco 49ers will host the Los Angeles Chargers in an inter-state matchup. We’re pairing up the NFC West teams and “lesser” quarterbacks in a week ten teaser bet.
Without taking the time to look up the preseason advance spread on the game between the Seahawks and Buccaneers, it would have to be sitting somewhere around Tampa -7, or maybe more? Here we are in week 10, and the Buccaneers are still favored, despite a lesser record and some ugly film of their work on both sides of the ball. This is pretty simple to understand, as they do have the greatest quarterback in history still playing at a pretty high level. What they do not have, is a lot of other great things going for them as a team. You can start with coaching, as the Bucs have not been creative, and have not seemed to put their guys in the right places to win. After that, look no further than the trenches, an area that helped guide them to their Super Bowl win two seasons ago. The Bucs cannot run the football, and in what seems almost crazy to type, they can’t stop the run either. Both of those will be a problem in this game against the Seahawks, a team that wants to win in the trenches, and has done a good job of that so far this season. Rookie Kenneth Walker III could have another nice day against the Bucs defense, as Seattle will look to establish the run for four quarters. TB has done a solid job on defense putting pressure on the quarterbacks, however Geno Smith ranks right near the top with his play under pressure. Against what has been a very disappointing secondary, expect to see Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf making some plays as we have all year. On the other side, the Seahawks have also done a good job putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and we know Tom Brady lacks the mobility to escape. The young cornerbacks of the Seahawks will play aggressive against the veteran receivers for the Buccaneers, and whether or not Brady can exploit that will be one of the things to watch in this game.
Give the Los Angeles Chargers some credit for finding ways to win football games without it being very pretty. They’ll see if they can continue that trend in a California battle up north against the 49ers, and will once again be a little short-handed heading into the game. Wide receiver Mike Williams will miss another contest, and Keenan Allen still isn’t a definite to return to the lineup. That’s going to present some serious challenges for quarterback Justin Herbert. The Chargers will certainly try to lean on running back Austin Ekeler as a runner and a receiver, but that’s not going to be an easy task against the physical San Francisco defense. Despite some injuries of their own, the Niners defense is flat out stingy against the run, and forces teams into passing situations. With a banged up offensive line for the Chargers, that could spell trouble against Nick Bosa and the pass rushers for San Francisco. On the other side of the ball, San Francisco is fully loaded and healthy with all of their weapons for the first time since acquiring Christian McCaffrey, who is already paying instant dividends. Kyle Shanahan has to be salivating at what he can do with the versatile options of McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and Kyle Juszczyk agains this Chargers defense. You could argue that no defense has been more disappointing than this Chargers unit, as they’ve been outmuscled, haven’t tackled well, and have blown assignments. Against a creative and physical offense, that’s a mismatch. Unless the Chargers can generate some turnovers, it could be a long day for them on defense.
Key Stats and Trends
– The Seahawks are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games
– The Buccaneers are 0-6-1 ATS in their last 7 games
– The Chargers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games
– The 49ers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games
Who would have guessed that Geno Smith and Jimmy Garoppolo would be playing better quarterback than Tom Brady and Justin Herbert halfway through the season? That point is debatable, but it speaks to the unpredictability of what can happen in the NFL. The Seahawks behind a good draft and sound fundamentals are playing really nice football. The Buccaneers look slow and seem to lack some discipline. With a close spread, this game could go either way, but we’re pretty sure it’s not going to be a blowout. Tampa Bay has done nothing at this point to prove they can blow a team out, particularly an underrated good team like the Seahawks. In the other game, it’s pretty simple for us. We’ll take the home team that is healthier, more physical and better coached. Laying a touchdown might be a little much, but it’s tough to see this Chargers team being able to come away with a win on the road against this 49ers group.
