Jacksonville at Indianapolis (-14)
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Indianapolis just lost Ahmad Bradshaw to a broken ankle this past weekend after being slaughtered 42-20 at home against New England. We know Andrew Luck doesn’t typically lose two games in a row, but it’s their defense that seems to be letting them down lately. Denard Robinson and the Jaguars are off their bye week and will be looking to play spoiler down the stretch. With the way he’s running the football lately, we like Jacksonville to keep this game closer than most pundits believe.
THE PICK: Jacksonville (+14)
Cincinnati at Houston (-2)
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Can Cincinnati win two important games on the road inside domes? The Bengals looked really good in blowing out the Saints in Louisiana last week, but we all know it is tough to win consecutive games on the road. Just ask Denver. Houston’s quarterback change paid off as Ryan Mallett looked sharp in his debut performance. Houston has the best player on the field, J.J. Watt. He’ll make a big play or two.
THE PICK: Texans (-2)
N.Y. Jets at Buffalo (-4.5)
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You have to favor the Jets here. The game has been rescheduled from Sunday to 7 p.m. ET Monday in Detroit because of the blizzards in Buffalo. The Bills have missed multiple days of practice throughout the week due to the unimaginable amounts of snow the city has received the last few days. The Jets are off a bye and a win against the Steelers two weeks ago. Mike Vick is playing well enough to give them a chance to win and their defense is always a tough task for any offense, let alone one that stalls in the red zone as often as Buffalo’s does. Jets want to avenge the embarrassing loss Buffalo handed them earlier this season.
THE PICK: Jets (+4.5)
Tampa Bay at Chicago (-5.5)
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Just like we talked about with Cincinnati, it is very tough to win two games in a row on the road. Tampa Bay beat a lowly Washington team last week and now must go to Chicago to play the Bears. This should be a fun game as both teams have two sets of receivers that are highlight reels waiting to happen. But neither team has much defense. Chicago is fighting, with very little air, to stay in the playoff race in the NFC. We’ll back the team who doesn’t have to travel … again.
THE PICK: Bears (-5.5)
Arizona at Seattle (-6.5)
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We continue to keep picking against Drew Stanton and this Cardinals team and we keep getting burned. Well not this time. They know what’s at stake. A win up in Seattle and the division is all but theirs barring a major collapse. Tough place to play, we know, but it’s hard to bet against Bruce Arians. He puts his players in the best position possible to win every game. Seattle got run all over by Jamaal Charles last week and we imagine Andre Ellington can do the same. Cardinals keep this one close with Seattle’s lack of offensive weapons and turmoil surrounding Marshawn Lynch’s off-the-field issues.