I will add a few more paragraphs to this Week 11 thread before the Sunday games, but for now you can read my Thursday Night Football Pick.
Tennessee Titans @ Green Bay Packers Pick: A two Touchdown deficit looked to be the start of the end of the season for the Green Bay Packers (4-6), but a Fourth Quarter rally followed by an Overtime win over the Dallas Cowboys may just have saved the year. It is going to take a monumental change of fortunes for the Packers and the Minnesota Vikings for Green Bay to get back into the NFC North Divisional race, but the victory in Week 10 means the Wild Card positions are still very much in reach.
A short week is perhaps not ideal for the Green Bay Packers having put in a huge emotional and physical effort to beat the Dallas Cowboys.
They are also going to be very much aware of the physical effort needed to take on the Tennessee Titans (6-3) who have won six of their last seven games having beaten the Denver Broncos on Sunday. It is a victory which keeps the Titans in a position of control in the AFC South, but this is another team that would have preferred having a usual week building up to a Sunday game rather than being scheduled to play on Thursday Night Football.
Injuries to key players on both sides of the ball will hurt the Titans, but this is a team that is built in the image of their Head Coach Mike Vrabel meaning they will always put in a full effort. Having Ryan Tannehill back at Quarter Back in Week 10 was a boost, but the game plan remains very clear for the Titans and that is giving the ball to Derrick Henry and looking for the big Running Back to crash through the Defensive Line that is in front of him.
Despite the fact that most Defensive Co-Ordinators will be spending time trying to stop the run, the Titans Offensive Line has been able to bully opponents up front and open the door for Derrick Henry to do the damage on the ground. A couple of players are missing from that Line on Thursday Night Football, but the Green Bay Defensive Line has struggled to stop the run all season and I am not sure things will be much different in Week 11.
Keeping the Tennessee Titans in third and manageable spots is important to Tannehill and the Offensive unit and I do think the Quarter Back will have enough protection to try and keep the chains moving. The Titans will not want to ask too much of Tannehill, but the veteran can do enough to make sure he does not give the game away and handing the ball off to Derrick Henry should be the first and foremost plan as long as Tennessee remain competitive.
They should be able to do that thanks to a Defensive unit that have overcome the absence of key players to continue to make big plays as the 'next man up' philosophy shines through.
Despite having Aaron Rodgers at Quarter Back, the Green Bay Packers have been much better running the ball than throwing this season as a young Receiving corps have struggled to make up for the loss of Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders. Both Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon have been in strong form for the Packers and were key to their comeback against the Dallas Cowboys last time out, but they are not expected to get a lot of change out of the Tennessee Defensive Line.
In recent games the Titans Defensive Line have held teams to 3 yards per carry and they will feel they can control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, which is very important. Jeffery Simmons has been a huge part of the Defensive Line, although he could be missing this week, but even then the Tennessee Titans will feel they can clamp down on the rush and then turn to a pass rushing team that can pressurise Aaron Rodgers.
The veteran Quarter Back has to be much happier with the impact Christian Watson was able to make in the win over the Dallas Cowboys, and there are some holes in the Tennessee Secondary that can be exploited. However, there is still an inconsistency to the passing game in Green Bay that is hard to ignore and I do think the Tennessee Titans look worthy of backing with the points being given to them.
I am not a big fan of going against a quality Quarter Back like Aaron Rodgers and the short weeks can play havoc with preparation for all involved. That may be a factor against the Tennessee Titans in this one simply because of the amount of injuries they are dealing with, but I do think Derrick Henry will provide enough of an Offensive spark to back up the strong performances being produced by the Tennessee Defense.
The Packers have a strong record on Thursday Night with a 6-1-1 record against the spread in their last eight in that situation, but they are just 2-5 against the spread in their last seven following a win.
Tennessee have some very strong recent trends and have been a covering machine in their last seven games and this really feels like enough points given to the road underdog to be worth backing in this one.
New York Jets @ New England Patriots Pick: There is only one Division in the NFL which has all four teams holding a winning record going into Week 11 of the 2022 season.
The AFC East is going to produce a tough path into the PlayOffs with all four teams looking and feeling pretty good, but that also means the importance of the Divisional games increases tenfold.
Both the New York Jets (6-3) and the New England Patriots (5-4) went into their Bye Week behind a strong win and they are two well Coached teams that should be perfectly prepared for this big Week 11 game. The Patriots do hold a win over the Jets from just three weeks ago, but Robert Saleh will feel his team made some very bad mistakes that day, which ultimately proved costly in the 5 point loss at home.
It might not sound perfect, but the Jets need to make this game much more manageable for Zach Wilson who threw three Interceptions in the defeat at home to New England. He is more experienced, but playing a Bill Belichick Defensive unit has proven to be very difficult for Wilson and the Jets will know they need to make sure this game is competitive and they do not have to over-rely on the arm of the young signal caller.
He did throw for over 350 yards and added two Touchdown passes in the defeat, but the game plan for the road team has to be to establish the run against this New England Defensive Line. You have to believe that Bill Belichick is firmly aware of that plan and will be loading the box and daring Wilson to beat them with his arm, but the Patriots Defensive Line has given up some big yards outside of that first game with the Jets and Zach Wilson could open things up if he is able to avoid mistakes.
Overall the Jets have been a team that can run the ball effectively and I do think they will be better in this one than the first meeting with the Patriots. I expect the Coaching staff would have spent the last couple of weeks working on a few creases to manage the game on the ground and keep their Quarter Back in a position where he isn't pushing to move the chains.
Avoiding mistakes is a key for the New York Jets because they have a Defensive unit that is very capable of shutting down some of the best Offenses in the NFL. They showed that in their last game when holding the powerful Buffalo Bills to 17 points and the overall numbers being produced by the Jets is very impressive.
As long as they are not having to defend short fields, the New York Jets won't feel they have a lot to fear from the New England Offense having held them to under 300 total yards in the home defeat. Mac Jones has yet to really prove he can be a franchise Quarter Back for the New England Patriots, who have not been the same since Tom Brady left, and the Jets do look to match up pretty well with this AFC East rival.
Running the ball is the main ambition for the Patriots, like it is for the Jets, and that is important to keep Mac Jones in a position to have success. However, it has been a real challenge to run the ball against the New York Jets Defensive Line all season, while the Patriots Offensive Line has not been playing as well as they would have liked in recent games.
If the Jets can put the Patriots in a position of third and long, New York will feel they can have the edge in this game and rely on a strong Secondary to make some big plays. It will also unleash what has been a strong Jets pass rush and I expect they could pressure Mac Jones into some mistakes.
One concern is that the Jets have had a poor record against the New England Patriots in recent seasons, while they were blown out off a Bye Week by the Patriots in 2021. However, New England have not covered in their last couple of games when playing out of a Bye Week, while the Jets have covered in their last four on the road.
Having a little more than 3 points looks a value play with the New York Jets who should be able to keep this one close as long as they don't have Zach Wilson giving it away again. This feels like a game that will offer the Jets an opportunity of a backdoor cover at the least, while the New York Jets Defense can contain the Patriots and limit the point output.
Detroit Lions @ New York Giants Pick: Two teams who are going to be playing on Thanksgiving Day in a few days time are playing one another in Week 11 and you have to wonder whether the short week coming up is a distraction. The Detroit Lions (3-6) earned a vital win over the Chicago Bears last week and they are used to playing on Thanksgiving Day, but it is different for the New York Giants (7-2).
They continue to overcome the numbers and the Giants beat the Houston Texans in Week 11, which has taken them to a game behind the NFC East leading Philadelphia Eagles. While the team are going to try and concentrate on this game, you cannot discount the fact they are playing in an unfamiliar spot on Thanksgiving Day and they are facing the Dallas Cowboys in a huge Divisional game.
That game could be a distraction for the Giants, while the simple Offensive game plan means they are not likely to blow teams away. Shortened games are the norm with the New York Giants who are very much a team that will pound the rock through Saquon Barkley and look to wear down the opponents in front of them.
Strong play from the Offensive Line has helped Barkley in his bounce back year, while Quarter Back Daniel Jones is someone who is very comfortable moving the ball with his legs rather than his arm. The Giants should be able to get things going on the ground against the Detroit Defensive Line that has been giving up 5.5 yards per carry and who were pounded on the ground by the Chicago Bears and their dual-threat Quarter Back last week.
Injuries in the Receiving corps have been an issue for the Giants, but Darius Slayton has stepped up for the team and there are holes in this Lions Secondary which can be exploited. As long as the Giants are in third and manageable spots, Daniel Jones won't have to push too hard to keep the ball moving and the New York Giants should be able to produce a positive Offensive return.
As much as the New York Giants are going to be comfortable with the ball in their hands, the Detroit Lions have been pretty strong Offensively even through a difficult season. The Lions Offensive Line should be able to bully the Giants up front and they can establish the run in this game to keep the team in front of the chains and put Jared Goff in a winning position.
There has been a touch of inconsistency with the way the Lions have been running the ball and that is partly down to the fact that D'Andre Swift has not been used as many would have hoped. Injury hasn't helped him, but it may mean Jared Goff has to step back and make some plays down the field, but Amon-Ra St. Brown has been a huge feature of the Receiving corps and he has piled up the yards in the last three games.
New York have been a team that have bent without breaking Defensively, but I do think Jared Goff will be able to get St. Brown rolling in this one.
The Lions did put in a huge effort to beat the Chicago Bears in Week 10 and they had to fight back from a big deficit to do that and I think that is potentially going to catch them out here. I do like the way they have been competing, but the New York Giants have shown they contain opponents in what has been a surprising season and I do think the Giants will have a touch more balance Offensively that makes the difference on the day.
Both have some solid trends behind them, but playing on the road on back to back weeks is a tough task for any team in the NFL. Head Coach Dan Campbell has always gotten the best out of his team and that makes the Lions dangerous, but I do think they could come up short emotionally in this one with the New York Giants improving their 4-1 record against the spread in their last five games at home.
I am of the mind that the New York Giants hold an over-inflated record, but I think they will be able to control the clock and ultimately do enough to beat the Lions by around a Touchdown mark, assuming the Giants won't blow a big lead like the Chicago Bears did.
Cleveland Browns @ Buffalo Bills Pick: This was a game supposed to be hosted by the Buffalo Bills (6-3), but extreme weather conditions have led to the relatively extreme decision to move this game to Detroit. The fact that the Bills are on the short week with a Thanksgiving Day game coming up on Thursday meant it wasn't really feasible for the game to be hosted by Buffalo on Monday or Tuesday and so the decision was made to relocate in Week 11.
In a quirk in the schedule, Buffalo will now be playing back to back games in Detroit with a game against the Lions following this one with the Cleveland Browns (3-6). However, Sean McDermott and the Bills will be travelling back and forth between Detroit and home for the next few days in a bid to try and keep their routine as consistent as possible.
This is a big game for Buffalo who have lost back to back games to fall to third in the AFC East as well as falling a game behind the Kansas City Chiefs who hold the current Number 1 Seed in the Conference. After winning on the road in Kansas City, the Bills Mafia would have been hoping to see their team secure home field through the PlayOffs, but work has to be done to turn things around.
Josh Allen has admitted that he needs to take care of his arm having picked up an injury that had him questionable to suit up last week- that means practice sessions are perhaps not as tough as they would be for the franchise Quarter Back. I don't think that is the reason he has been guilty of throwing some really bad Interceptions in the last couple of defeats to the New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings, but Allen admits he needs to clean up his game to get the Bills back on track.
Playing indoors is expected to suit this Buffalo Offensive unit right down to the ground and they are facing a Browns Defense that was mercilessly torched by the Miami Dolphins last week. Coming out of their Bye Week, Cleveland disappointed and they may not have left enough time for Deashaun Watson to bail them out when he returns in a couple of weeks time.
After giving up almost 500 yards of total Offense last week, I do have to believe the Cleveland Browns will be much stronger this time around. A problem for them has been the struggle to stop the run and I have little doubt that Buffalo can rip off some big gains in this one through Devin Singletary and the ability of Josh Allen to tuck the ball and make huge plays on the ground.
It does open up the Secondary to be attacked, while also making sure the Cleveland pass rush cannot disrupt the game, and last week the Browns struggled to slow down the Miami Dolphins. I still think the Buffalo Bills are the top Offensive team in the AFC and I think they can pick up where their Divisional rivals left off by establishing the run and then having Josh Allen throw to the likes of Gabe Davis and Stefon Diggs down the field.
A more pertinent question for the Browns is whether they can find the Offensive success this week to try and stay with the Buffalo Bills.
They are being given a lot more points than they were on the road against the Miami Dolphins in Week 10, but Jacoby Brissett is going to have to make more plays than he did in that defeat. First and foremost the game plan for the Browns is to establish the run and to control the clock doing so, but they showed last week it is much tougher for them when they are behind by a couple of scores and things can quickly slip away from them.
Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt can have success in this one when you think of the recent struggles the Buffalo Defensive Line have had in stopping the run. In their last three games, the Bills have almost given up 6 yards per carry with the likes of the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings racking up big numbers on the ground.
That will be music to the ears of the Browns as long as this game is close, but the Offensive Line have not been as productive when it comes to protecting Jacoby Brissett when he drops back to throw compared with their ability to pave the road for the Running Backs. If the Browns are behind the chains, Brissett will be under pressure from the pass rush, while his inconsistencies throwing the ball could be a problem against this injury-hit, but still productive Buffalo Secondary.
Unlike the Vikings, Cleveland don't really have the same all around threat when it comes to throwing the ball. However, Amari Cooper may feel he can offer his Quarter Back plenty of support as Justin Jefferson did for Kirk Cousins in Week 10, and it may give the Browns the chance for a backdoor cover.
I do think Cleveland could be dangerous, but the indoor conditions should suit Buffalo right down to the ground.
Josh Allen has not had the best record against the spread when suffering back to back losses, but the Bills did cover in that lone situation in 2021 and I think this is a team that will be focused in putting in a big performance.
You do have to expect a reaction to the blow out loss suffered last week, but Kevin Stefanski has only guided Cleveland to a 1-5 record against the spread in the last six games after a double digit defeat. The Browns are also just 4-9 against the spread in their last thirteen against AFC opponents.
Buffalo have a 4-1-1 record against the spread in their last six against the Cleveland Browns and I think they have the Offensive firepower to get into a double digit lead and then force a few mistakes out of Jacoby Brissett on their way to getting back on track here.
Las Vegas Raiders @ Denver Broncos Pick: There is a huge AFC West game taking place in Week 11 with the two top teams in the Division facing off in Los Angeles, but the other Divisional game is not really going to be attracting the same sort of attention. Two new Head Coaches are already under pressure after what has been underwhelming seasons at the Denver Broncos (3-6) and the Las Vegas Raiders (2-7).
Last season, the Las Vegas Raiders finished with ten regular season wins which took them into the PlayOffs, but Josh McDaniels has struggled in his second Head Coaching role. He did not perform as expected when he was the Head Coach of the Denver Broncos either and fans are already calling on the Raiders to end this experiment before the end of McDaniels' first season in charge.
The losses have been piling up, but owner Mark Davis has suggested he is going to stick with the under pressure Head Coach, although that decision could come under the microscope even further if the Raiders keep losing. One of their rare successes in 2022 was the win over the Denver Broncos in Week 4, but the performances have not taken much inspiration from that victory and the Raiders have lost three in a row.
Things have not been much better for Nathaniel Hackett in charge of the Denver Broncos as the big trade for Russell Wilson has proven to be a dud. The Offense has struggled with Wilson at Quarter Back and the defeat to the Tennessee Titans in Week 10 means the loser of this game can begin thinking about next season.
Russell Wilson has been a big disappointment and the Denver Broncos have not been helped with some key injuries to skill players around him. Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler are expected to be missing for the Broncos this week so the team will lean on the Defensive Line and hope they can open up some holes up front for the likes of Melvin Gordon and Latavius Murray.
Denver could not run the ball effectively against the Tennessee Titans, but that Defensive Line is considerably stronger than the one the Raiders will run onto the field and I think the Broncos could at least have a bit more success in this game. Regardless, they also need much more efficient play from Russell Wilson, who could finally have a little bit more time in the pocket than he has become used to and that should see the veteran Quarter Back put up some decent numbers when throwing the ball.
Finding a consistent Receiver is the bigger challenge for Russell Wilson as he looks to prove to the upper management that his deal is not one that the Broncos should regret going forward. A strong end to the season will at least offer that encouragement as Denver look for Wilson to make enough plays that the Defensive unit can back them up.
There has been nothing wrong with Denver on this side of the ball, but the one big weakness has been stopping the run and Josh Jacobs could have another big game against them. The Raiders Offensive Line have not been at their best in recent games, but they should be able to establish the run against the Denver Defensive Line which allowed Jacobs to pile up 144 yards in their first meeting and have allowed the last three opponents to average 5.2 yards per carry.
In recent games the Raiders Offensive Line have struggled to open holes for Jacobs, but this is a chance to bounce back.
This is so important for Las Vegas as Derek Carr continues to voice his frustrations with the way the season has gone for his team. The trade for Davante Adams was supposed to open things up for the Raiders and give them a real balance Offensively, but Line issues have meant protection has broken down and the inconsistency of the Offense has cost Las Vegas.
Derek Carr may get a little more time if Josh Jacobs can run the ball efficiently, but throwing into this Denver Secondary will be difficult anyway. The inconsistent passing game is not really one that can be trusted and this has the makings of a low-scoring game, although you do wonder how much the players are willing to give for Josh McDaniels after all of the rumours about his future.
I do think that has to be a factor in this game as the Las Vegas Raiders look to improve their 1-5 record against the spread in their last six road games. The Raiders have tended to play well against their Divisional rivals, but they are also 1-7 against the spread in their last eight when playing a team with a losing record.
Denver are hardly pulling up trees at the window, but they are 5-1 against the spread in their last six when hosting a team with a losing record on the road and I think Russell Wilson may do just enough to lead his team to a win here. Both have issues on the Defensive Line, but the Raiders have one or two more holes in the Secondary which can be exploited by the Broncos and I think it will lead to a narrow win for Nathaniel Hackett and push Josh McDaniels a little closer to another early exit when Head Coach in the AFC West.
Dallas Cowboys @ Minnesota Vikings Pick: You could see the visible frustration of Mike McCarthy on the sidelines, but everyone associated with the Dallas Cowboys (6-3) will know they blew a big opportunity to win at the Green Bay Packers in Week 10. A double digit lead and with the Defensive unit they have, the Cowboys could not have envisioned allowing a struggling Aaron Rodgers back into the game as they did, although the Week at least ended with the Philadelphia Eagles losing to keep the Cowboys 2 games behind the Division leaders.
With a big game looming on Thanksgiving Day against the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys head out on the road against another NFC North team this week in a bid to right the wrongs of the defeat to the Packers. This time the Dallas Cowboys have to face the Minnesota Vikings (8-1) who now have the joint best record in the NFC alongside the Eagles.
Last week the Vikings looked doomed after failing to score from the one yard line against the Buffalo Bills, but a mistake from the Center handing off to Josh Allen allowed them to somehow win in Overtime. No one will be bothered about how they win in Minnesota, but it is the latest victory from the jaws of defeat that have many questioning whether the Vikings are really as good as their record would say.
Like the Cowboys, the Minnesota Vikings are also set to play on Thanksgiving Day, but a healthy lead in the NFC North means they won't be overlooking any opponent on their way to trying to earn the Number 1 Seed in the Conference. That provides a huge boost to whichever team can earn it with the sole Bye through the Wild Card Round as well as home advantage through the PlayOffs.
The Vikings will likely turn to Dalvin Cook as their main source of Offensive firepower in this one as they look to expose the weakness on the Dallas Defensive unit. Throughout the 2022 regular season, it has been possible to run the ball right at the Dallas Cowboys and in recent games that weakness has been magnified so it would be worth the Vikings handing the ball to Cook and looking to stay in front of the chains.
This is vitally important to Kirk Cousins and the passing game as it will open up the passing game for the shots downfield that have been key to the success the Vikings have had. Adding TJ Hockenson to the passing game has been a boost, while Justin Jefferson is almost a player that cannot be guarded by any Defensive Back in the League.
However, this all works if the Vikings are in front of the chains.
Any third and long spot is likely going to see Kirk Cousins put under immense pressure from this Dallas pass rush and that has led to many issues for the Quarter Back throughout his career. After allowing Aaron Rodgers to connect with some big plays in the passing game, the Cowboys do have something to prove this week, but Kirk Cousins is someone who can be rattled into mistakes and that will be the key for the visiting team.
On the other side of the ball, the Dallas Cowboys will be looking to achieve the same as the Minnesota Vikings and that is to remain in a situation where they can hand the ball to Ezekiel Elliot and Tony Pollard and look for them to rip off some big games. Like the Cowboys, the Minnesota Defensive Line has struggled to stop the run and now face a strong Dallas Offensive Line which will feel can dominate the line of scrimmage.
Personally I would like to see Dallas give Pollard the majority of the carries with the speed he has and the momentum the younger Running Back has picked up in the absence of Elliot, although the latter's superior pass protection abilities could be useful when the Cowboys want to break out some play-action for Dak Prescott. Both Running Backs should be able to keep Dallas in front of the chains and there are some holes in the Minnesota Secondary that Dak Prescott can exploit as long as he improves his accuracy.
Unfortunately that has been a big problem for Prescott at times and leads to some ugly looking turnovers, but he is blessed with some solid Receiving options. Unlike Kirk Cousins, Dak Prescott does receive some pass protection and I do think the Dallas running game could slow down the Minnesota pass rush to make things that much more comfortable for their own Quarter Back.
The Vikings have thrived in turning the ball over through the air and that has helped them win some close games so it is something Dak Prescott has to hope to avoid. His two Interceptions absolutely hurt the Dallas Cowboys last week, but I think Prescott and the Cowboys bounce back here and they can win this one on the road.
Dallas have covered in their last four after a straight up loss, while they are 10-3 against the spread in their last thirteen on the road.
You can't take anything away from any team that has an 8-1 record, but I do think the Vikings have benefited from a few breaks that have gone their way and that means they are a vulnerable team. The Vikings are also 1-4-1 against the spread in their last six against NFC opponents and I think the Dallas Cowboys can win this one on the road.
Arizona Cardinals vs San Francisco 49ers Pick: The record may have the San Francisco 49ers (5-4) sitting in second place in the NFC West, but the trades made by the team and the roster as it is may be signs that this is the team to beat in the Conference. They are a half game behind the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional lead, but the 49ers have won two in a row and injuries are also clearing up on both sides of the ball, which is key as we progress towards the end of the regular season.
Finishing with the top Seed in the NFC will be tough considering the records the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings have put together, but winning the Division will mean at least one home PlayOff game and potentially more. That is going to be the ambition of the San Francisco 49ers as they head to Mexico City for what is the final international game being played in the NFL in the 2022 season.
The 49ers will be playing Divisional rivals the Arizona Cardinals (4-6) in this one and the team will be sweating on the availability of Kyler Murray who missed the win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 10. It was an important win with Colt McCoy behind Center after the Cardinals had lost four of their previous five games, but they cannot afford too many more slip ups between now and the end of the regular season if the Cardinals have genuine hopes of returning to the post-season themselves.
Injuries have also been an issue for the Cardinals in building their losing record, but that is not likely going to keep Head Coach Kliff Kingsbury in a job unless he can turn things around. Some of the decisions made by the Coaching staff will have fans scratching their heads and it certainly will have upper management considering the direction the team are heading in.
There is no doubting how different the Arizona Offensive unit looks with Colt McCoy at Quarter Back and when Kyler Murray lines up in that spot. The athleticism of the former cannot be dismissed, but no one would accuse anyone of being disrespectful if they say Murray offers much more of a dual-threat and may have the San Francisco Defense thinking a little more.
Regardless, this is a very tough 49ers Defensive unit for any team to face and they have been strong along the Defensive Line with an ability to clamp down on the run. Having Kyler Murray may pose a few more problems, but the San Francisco Defensive Line will feel they can contain a Quarter Back who cannot be at full health and force him to beat them with his arm.
In recent games there have been one or two holes in a banged up Secondary, but whoever lines up at Quarter Back is likely going to be facing a fierce pass rush around them with the team expected to be operating out of third and long spots. Stopping DeAndre Hopkins won't be easy, but the 49ers have to feel they can win more often than not on this side of the ball and at least put themselves in a position to win this game.
Unlike the Cardinals, the 49ers have added Christian McCaffrey to their Running Back room and this is a team that will just throw in a few creases to establish the run. They should be able to do that against this Arizona Defensive Line and that only makes life that much more comfortable for Jimmy Garoppolo, even if the Quarter Back still feels like little more than a game-manager.
Running the ball may give Garoppolo more time to try and hit a vulnerable Secondary, while the Quarter Back also picks up big yards by shooting out short passes and letting his Receivers pile up the yards after the catch. That will be the key for the 49ers as they look to keep the chains moving and put the pressure on the Cardinals to keep up on the scoreboard, and I do think this could lead to a relatively strong win for San Francisco.
Arizona won both regular season meetings between these teams last season so there will be a huge amount of motivation in the 49ers locker room to get this right.
The 49ers have covered in their last five games against their Divisional rivals, while San Francisco are also 15-4 against the spread in their last nineteen Monday Night Football games.
On the other side, Arizona are now 1-6 against the spread in their last seven Divisional games, while they are 2-6 against the spread in their last eight against a team with a winning record. This is a big spread, but the feeling is that there will be one or two mistakes by the Arizona Cardinals, which allows San Francisco to have the extra possessions to come away with a victory and a cover.
MY PICKS: Tennessee Titans + 3.5 Points @ 1.85 Bet Victor (2 Units)
New York Jets + 3.5 Points @ 1.91 William Hill (2 Units)
New York Giants - 3 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)
Buffalo Bills - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Denver Broncos - 2.5 Points @ 1.83 William Hill (2 Units)
Dallas Cowboys - 1.5 Points @ 1.91 Bet365 (2 Units)
San Francisco 49ers - 7.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (2 Units)
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