This is a 5* play on DET.

The Lions are coming off back to back wins, and plenty of momentum with a chance to go to the Super Bowl. Their defense has been suspect, but perhaps in a "bend don't break" fashion. The 49ers on the other hand got quite lucky that the Green Bay Packers missed a key field goal last week. Brock Purdy appeared to struggle at times, and the young QB is facing more pressure than he's ever faced. Jared Goff has been here before, and he's looked pretty solid throwing for 564 yards, three TDs on 74 percent passing in this post-season. I expect Detroit to get their share of points, and at least hang with San Francisco.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on TB.

The Eagles are a complete mess, coming into the playoffs as losers of five of their last six. Jalen Hurts appears to be battling injuries, and he's thrown more picks (5) than touchdowns (4) over his last five starts. No AJ Brown for the Eagles, and the defense is banged up on the back end. They might even have to move a corner to safety if Blankenship can't go. The Bucs defense is 100 percent healthy, and Baker Mayfield will play despite a sore ankle and bruised ribs. This looks like a case of the wrong team favored, and I'll take the home dog plus the points.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Cleveland.

The Jets are coming off a dubious 30-28 home win over Washington. They blew a 20-0 lead, but hit the game winning 54 yard field goal in the final seconds. Trevor Siemian threw for 217 yards on 27-of-49 passing against the NFL's worst defense. Now the Jets are on the road on a short week, and they face the NFL's top pass defense. The Browns are on a roll since the arrival of Joe Flacco, who threw for 368 yards and three TDs in a win at Houston on Sunday. The Browns are 7-1 at home this season, and the Jets have failed to cover in three straight road games.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on SF.

A lot of people are picking these two teams to meet in the Super Bowl, but the Ravens appear to be a team due for some regression. San Francisco had it's three game losing skid in the middle of the season, but since then they appear to have forgotten how to lose. The Niners have covered in six straight, and they are 13-1 SU in their last 14 home games. This looks like a good spot to fade the Ravens.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Denver.

The 3-11 Patriots are likely going to find it tough to get up for a Christmas Even game on the road in Denver. This team has nine starters listed as questionable just 48 hrs prior to the game. We know there will be a wholesale change over the off-season, and we don't expect the compete level to be very high in these final few games. This is a Denver team that can still make the playoffs, but they need to win this game. Russell Wilson has thrown for 1,382 yards, 13 TDs and just one INT at home this season.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on PHI.

What happened to the 10-1 Eagles? They are now the 10-3 Eagles after losing back to back blowouts versus San Francisco and Dallas. The good news is that they aren't playing the Niners or the Cowboys this week, and this looks like a potential "GET RIGHT" game for Philly. The Seahawks have lost four of their last five overall, and Geno Smith is banged up. Drew Lock came in and threw for 269 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs in the loss at San Francisco last Sunday. Lock has thrown as many picks (20) as he has TDs over his last three seasons. Smith has a groin injury that normally requires at least two weeks to heal, so even if he can play he would likely be limited.

**UPDATE** - so we are now less than 18 hrs from kickoff and we still have no clarification on Geno Smith, and breaking news that Jalen Hurts might not play due to illness. If it is Marcus Mariotta, note that his last game at Seattle he threw for 229 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT on 13-of-20 passing in a win with the Falcons last year. He also scored a rushing TD in the win. 

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on Denver.

I bet on Denver last week, and here is what I said before kickoff: "Everyone is a Vikings fan after they put together a five game winning streak. Keep in mind wins came over the Bears, Falcons, Packers, Saints and they caught the 49ers in a tough spot. Josh Dobbs has stepped in and done a great job since the injury to Kirk Cousins, and he previously played well for Arizona. It didn't translate into wins though, as the Cardinals were 1-7 with Dobbs as their starter. A road game against a Denver team that has also turned things around might be a reality check for the Vikings." Next up is the Cleveland Browns, and DTR. This looks like a tough spot for Cleveland, facing a hot QB on the road.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on LAC.

The 1-2 Chargers are a small home favorite against the 1-2 Raiders. Clearly the Chargers have a huge edge at QB with Justin Herbert versus Jimmy G. The Chargers have been more effective running the ball, and we should see Austin Ekeler back this week. Neither team has been great defensively but it's tough to see the Raiders keeping up in a shootout. LV was just 2-7 on the road last season, including a 24-19 loss at LA. Keep in mind the Raiders only win came by just 1-point against an 0-3 team that gave up 70 points last week.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on CLE.

So the Bengals lost at Cleveland last year, which is nothing new. They have lost five straight at Cleveland, and the Browns are 8-2 straight up in the last 10 meetings. The bookmakers have the Bengals favored here, despite the fact that the underdog is 6-1 ATS in their last seven meetings. The Browns still have the #2 ranked offensive line in the NFL according to PFF, and their QB situation should be better in 2023. Joe Burrow was sacked five times in last years loss at Cleveland, throwing for 232 yards with two TDs and an INT. The offensive line is still a concern for Cincinnati, and this figures to be a difficult matchup. I think the wrong team is favored here and I'll take the points.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 4* play on KC.

The public is definitely backing Philly in the Super Bowl, with 66% of the tickets on the Eagles. There is no doubt that they have been the better team in the post-season. Philly should be able to control the line of scrimmage with superior and offensive and defensive line play. The thing is, that with two weeks to prepare for this game, a Hall of Fame coach like Andy Reid should be able to game plan and scheme to minimize that advantage. There's something to be said for experience, and the Chiefs have been here before. Kansas City knows what to expect, how to handle the media and everything leading up to the game. I am going to take a contrarian approach and go with the more experienced team with the superior quarterback.

GL,

Jesse Schule

SBLVII Props include: Over 51.5 rush attempts, Over 1.5 4th down conversions, Kelce anytime TD.

This is a 5* play on Tampa. 

As bad as things appear to be in Tampa Bay, the Bucs are still the favorite to win the NFC South. This team still has plenty to play for, while it looks like the Arizona Cardinals will be waiving a white flag here this week. Arizona officially eliminated from the post-season, and down to their third string QB. Trace McSorley has thrown for 166 yards and three INTs on just over 50 percent passing in limited action this year. Given the QB situation, it's hard to see the rest of the team being too invested in this meaningless game. Expecting the Cardinals offense to struggle to move the chains, that should lead to more possessions for Brady and company. Despite the loss, Brady threw for 312 yards and three TDs last week. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 2* play on MIA.

The Dolphins appear to be badly in need of some home cooking, coming off a road trip that resulted in three consecutive losses at San Francisco, LA and Buffalo. They host Green Bay, and the Packers could be in a let down spot coming off a home win over the Rams on Monday night. The Packers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 road games, and they have failed to cover in five of their last seven coming off a win. The Dolphins are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 home games, and they are 12-3 ATS in their last 15 home games versus a team with a losing road record.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on LV.

The Chiefs are the better team here, but they are in a tough spot. Everybody is already talking about next Sunday's rematch versus Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, and it's impossible to expect KC to be 100% focused on their opponent here this week. The Raiders are 1-3, but all three of their losses came by less than seven points. Derek Carr and Davante Adams are still developing chemistry, but Adams is coming off a nine reception 100+ yard game against Denver. Josh Jacobs ran for 144 yards and two TDs on 28 carries in the win over the Broncos. The Chiefs have failed to cover in eight of their last 10 versus a team with a losing record. This game looks like it could be a shootout, but I'll take the points with a live dog.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Minny.

Turn on the TV and all the analysts will tell you how bad Kirk Cousins is in Monday Night Football games. i honesty think that's a ridiculous thing to believe, that he is significantly worse on Monday than he is on Sunday afternoon. While he's 2-9 straight up in Monday night games, his QBR in those games is actually pretty good. His chemistry with Justin Jefferson and new head coach Kevin O'connell looked pretty good last week. The defense looked equally as impressive, holding Aaron Rodgers to 195 yards and an INT, and sacking him twice. The Eagles don't look bad either, but at the end of the day they beat the lions and still gave up a ton of points. Jalen Hurts was flirting with an intentional grounding penalty all day. My read here is that the Vikes are getting points, and they have the better QB, RB, WRs, coaching is a wash, hard to say who's got the better defense. I'll take the dog.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on the Rams.

The Cardinals are undefeated, and Kyler Murray has been playing like an MVP candidate. This week looks like a tough spot for both Arizona and QB Kyler Murray, on the road at the Rams who ranks 1st in scoring defense and first against the pass allowing just 190 yards per game last season. Murray has really struggled against the Rams, throwing for 4TDs and 4 INTs in four career starts against them. The Rams won all four of those games, and the Rams are 9-1 straight up and 8-1-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings. The under is 13-3 in Cardinals last 16 road games, and Arizona has failed to cover in five straight versus a team with a winning record. The Rams are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 games as a home favorite, and the under is 13-3 in Rams last 16 games as a home favorite.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on the Buffalo Bills.

The Steelers perfect record went up in smoke in last week's loss to the Redskins, and playing on the road in Buffalo this week looks like a let down spot for a Steelers team that is a little banged up. With an 11-1 record the Steelers can afford to be complacent, and they might not be able to match the intensity of a hungry Buffalo team. The Steelers are 0-5 ATS in their last five games in December, while the Bills are 5-1 ATS in their last six games as a home favorite.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland has run over it's opponents this season, and last week they ran for 231 yards in a 10-7 win over Houston. The final score is a little misleading, as Cleveland never trailed in the game, and only allowed a late touchdown when the game was already out of reach. Nick Chubb wisely passed on a potential TD at the end of the game, allowing the Browns to kneel and run out the clock. The Eagles gave up over 150 yards and three rushing TDs in a loss to the Giants last week, and they have to be having second thoughts about the future of Carson Wentz. Baker Mayfield has his fair share of critics, but so far this season he has a higher QBR (71.4) than Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson and Phillip Rivers. He's within a few decimal points of Tom Brady (71.8). The recipe for success in Cleveland is less is more for Baker Mayfield. Expect that trend to continue and the Browns to run all over Philly in Week 11.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the San Francisco 49ERS.

The Chiefs come into Super Bowl LIV as favorites, despite the fact that San Francisco has a better record. The 49ers are statistically better both on offense and defense, and they appear to have very few weaknesses. One thing that San Francisco doesn't have is Patrick Mahomes. There is no doubt that Mahomes is the one player that is most likely to directly influence the result of this game. As difficult as it is for me to bet against Mahomes, I am more than a little concerned about just how much pressure he will be facing. The 49ers don't need a great game from their quarterback, or any single player. If their defensive line can control the line of scrimmage the way they did against Green Bay, Mahomes might not be able to save the Chiefs. Kansas City has been very impressive in these playoffs, but let's not forget that they fell into a big hole in both their wins over Houston and Tennessee. It might not be so easy to come from behind against this San Francisco team.  

Take SF.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the 49ers.

The Packers took advantage of a banged up Seattle team at home, and they barely hung on in the second half of that game. Seattle outscored them 20-7 after halftime, and they will need to avoid another blowout loss in San Francisco. The 49ers beat them by 29 points in San Francisco earlier in the season. Aaron Rodgers was sacked five times and threw for just 104 yards on 20-of-33 passing. As much as you could call this a revenge game, the Packers might not be equipped to do anything about the ferocious San Francisco pass rush. The Packers are thin at several key positions, and they have a rookie head coach. An interesting stat to keep in mind is that over the last five seasons, seven times we've seen Conference Championship games featuring teams that played during the regular season. The team that won the first meeting has won six of those seven games.

Take SF.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Seattle Seahawks.

The Packers will be four point favorite at home versus Seattle, and this is a game that figures to be decided in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks beat the Packers by a score of 27-24 at home last year, and the last time these two teams met in the playoffs the Seahawks won in overtime in a thriller. As much as Green Bay has the home field advantage, the Seahawks won seven of eight games on the road this season. The Seahawks are 11-3-1 ATS in their last 15 road games. At this point it appears that Russell Wilson is a better quarterback than Aaron Rodgers, and the defense looked great in Philly last week. The Packers deserve to be the favorite, but it might be wise to take the points in a game that could go either way.

Take SEA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on NYG.

If you checked last Sunday's scores, you might think that the Eagles beat the Cowboys last week? Well I watched that game quite closely, and let me tell you that Dallas beat the Cowboys. Poor decisions from head coach Jason Garrett beat the Cowboys. A boat load of dropped balls by the Dallas receivers beat the Cowboys. On a crucial 3rd and 1 late in the game, with Dallas having an opportunity to take the lead, they ran a toss to Tony Pollard that lost yards. Zeke Elliott was on the bench. Philly is a mess, banged up in the secondary and in their receiving corps. Zack Ertz has fractured ribs, and they come into New York asked to cover a bunch of points. My money is on Danny Dimes and Saquon to terrorize this Eagles team, and I think the Giants win outright.

Take NYG.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Dallas Cowboys.

During the Brady and Belichick era, no matter who the Patriots played on any given Sunday, they could always say they have the better quarterback. Now 10 games into the 2019 season, and it's a tough argument to make that Brady is better than Dak (currently). Even in a 28-24 loss to the Vikings, Prescott threw for 397 yards and three TDs. While Zeke has been underperforming, Prescott has been carrying the Cowboys. The Patriots on the other hand have had to lean on their defense, and Belichick's genius. The result has been an offense that is ranked 17th in the NFL in total yards. The Cowboys rank 1st overall in total yards. New England is tough to beat at home, but I think they are being asked to cover too many points here against a dangerous opponent.

Take DAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the NYG.

The Cowboys will be a huge road favorite in New York on Monday night, despite the fact that Dallas has lost three of it's last four overall. The Giants are just 2-6, but they have improved tremendously since Daniel Jones took over at QB. They are coming off four straight losses after Jones won his first two starts, but both of their last two losses came in games decided by less than seven points. Saquon Barkley was injured for two of the last four losses, but perhaps for the first time Jones will have his star running back at full strength. The Cowboys have lost two of three road games including a loss in New York to the Jets. They have no business being favored by more than a TD here.

Take NYG.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the #NYG.

The Giants are just 2-4, but they still have a shot in the NFC East, with Dallas and Philly sitting at just 3-3. The Cardinals on the other hand aren't going anywhere, with a stranglehold on last place on the NFC West. Both Daniel Jones and Kyler Murray have given their teams reason to be optimistic about the future, but Jones has showed the world why he was drafted 6th overall in the first round, and he's been more consistent than Murray. When you consider what he's had to work with, his performance is even more impressive. This week he's going to have Saquon Barkley and Evan Engram back. He's going up against an Arizona defense that ranks 30th in the NFL against the pass. While the Giants defense is stastically just as bad, they have played tougher opposition, and they have scored significantly more points of their own. This is a tough spot for an NFC West team traveling to the East Coast for an early game. All signs point to a blowout win for the Giants.

Take NYG.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Pittsburgh.

I was impressed with the Steelers last week in San Francisco. That was a game they were not supposed to win, but they came ever so close. Mason Rudolph played well, gaining confidence in the second half. This might be a battle of two 0-3 teams, but the Steelers are in a lot better shape than Cinci. At this point there's nothing left to be positive about if you are a Bengals fan.

Take PIT.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on New England.

Why do you think the Rams beat the Saints? Are you one of those conspiracy theorists that believes the only reason the Rams are playing in the Super Bowl is because a referee missed a call at the end of the NFC Championship Game? If that's what you believe, then I think you are missing something. You have to give credit where credit is due, and I think it's fair to say that Jared Goff outplayed Drew Brees. I also think it's pretty clear that Sean McVay outcoached Sean Payton. I don't think the Rams can count on winning the quarterback battle or the coaching battle here against Brady and Belichick. My money is on experience over youth, and I expect Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski to turn back the clock.

Props include:
- Todd Gurley anytime TD.
- Sony Michel anytime TD.
- Gronkowski over 3.5 receptions.
- Tom Brady over 1.5 TDs. 

Take NE.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Colts.

Patrick Mahomes will probably win the MVP Award this season, but there is no way anybody can convince me that he's a better quarterback than Andrew Luck. I've seen rookie quarterbacks like Dak Prescott, Lamar Jackson, Robert Griffin and Jameis Winston go from boom to bust overnight. The fact is that Mahomes walked into an offense that was already one of the league's best when Alex Smith was the quarterback. Players like Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and Kareem Hunt have contributed to the success of Mahomes. Without Hunt, the Chiefs haven't been the same. They were held to just 10 points in the first half of a loss at Seattle, and they needed a miracle to beat the Ravens at home. Mahomes was outgunned by Phillip Rivers in a home loss to the Chargers. Now he faces a veteran gunslinger in Andrew Luck, and a Colts defense that has allowed 10 points per game over their last six overall. The Chiefs 28th ranked run defense faces a running back that ran for 148 yards and a TD on 24 carries against the Texans last week.

Take Indy.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 5* play on the Chicago Bears. 

Can you believe that the Eagles are back in the playoffs, and last year's Super Bowl MVP is once against playing like one of the league's best quarterbacks. Nick Foles is capable of being great (at times) but let's not get carried away when we compare him to other great quarterbacks. The Bears have wins over the Packers and the Seahawks, and Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers have been consistently great for their entire careers spanning the better part of the last decade. Nick Foles on the other hand has had a handful of great games in an otherwise mediocre career. He comes into Chicago nursing sore ribs, and he's in serious danger of taking a beating today. I like the Bears to win big at Soldier Field.

Take CHI.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the LA Chargers.

Lamar Jackson has turned things around for the Baltimore Ravens, who might not have made the playoffs without him. I am not convinced he is the quarterback of the future for this franchise though, as I have seen this script before. It seems like nobody remembers his teammate RGIII early in his career in Washington. As exciting as it is when he eludes defenders and picks up big gains with his athletic ability, he's nothing short of a disaster in the passing game. He matches up against a potential future Hall of Famer in Phillip Rivers, and heaven forbid if he needs to rally his team late (as Rivers has done countless times in the past). The Ravens defense is statistically the best in the NFL, but they almost didn't survive in a must win game against the Browns last week. Baker Mayfield lit them up for 376 yards and three scores. I expect Rivers to be just as good here in this Wild Card game.

Take LAC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Indianapolis Colts.

The Titans may have won four straight, but those wins came against the Jets, Jags, Giants and Redskins. Not only have they built their winning streak against some of the weaker teams in the NFL, many of those wins were far from impressive. They trailed at home against the Redskins last week, and they were losing 16-6 at the half in a home win over the Jets a few weeks ago. The Colts have won eight of their last nine overall, including a 38-10 win over Tennessee. They led 24-3 at halftime in that game, and Andrew Luck threw for 297 yards and three TDs on 23-of-29 passing. The Colts last road game was a 24-21 win over the Texans in Houston, and they led 17-7 at the half in that game. If Marcus Mariota is healthy enough to start this game, he might not finish it. The Titans leading receiver Corey Davis is also banged up, and keeping up with Andrew Luck is going to be a tough ask for Tennessee.

Take IND.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Minnesota Vikings.

I took Minnesota +3.5 when they lost 25-20 at Chicago a few weeks ago. A missed two-point conversion at the end of the game cost me the cover. Here is what I said before kickoff: "The Bears have looked really good this season, coming into this weekend's home game against the Vikings with a 6-3 record, sitting first in the NFC North. The Vikings are hot on their heels, and at 5-3-1 they have navigated a much tougher schedule. Two of those three losses came against the #1 and #2 ranked teams in the league (Saints and Rams). Coming off a bye week, Minnesota is as healthy as it has been all year. Dalvin Cook is back, and he had over 100 yards from scrimmage in the win over Detroit. Minnesota has had success on the road, they are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 road games. The most significant number to me is ZERO! That's the number of wins Chicago has versus teams with a winning record this season. The Bears are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 versus teams with a winning record." The Bears have since won four of five games, including road wins at Detroit and San Francisco. This will be the Bears first road game against a team with a winning record. They have lost at Miami and at New York (Giants). It's hard to beat a team twice, and that is going to be especially true given what's at stake for the Vikings here.

Take MINNY.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the LAC.

I bet on the Chargers on TNF last week, and they pulled off an amazing comeback to beat the Chiefs. Here is what I said prior to that game: "The Chargers defense has been solid all year, and they rank in the Top 10 in the league versus the pass, allowing just 225 yards per game. The Chargers have covered the spread in four straight road games, and the road team is 6-1 ATS in the last seven head to head meetings" The Ravens played the Chiefs a week earlier, and they lost in overtime by a score of 27-24. Lamar Jackson played well in Kansas City, throwing for 147 yards and two TDs on 13-of-24 passing. He had thrown three picks and just one TD pass in his previous three starts, and he had a mediocre game against a terrible Tampa Bay team last week. I don't think this rookie can keep his team in the game against Phillip Rivers and a Chargers defense that ranks among the best in the NFL. A healthy Keenan Allen and Melvin Gordon will be a huge boost for the home team.

Take LAC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Panthers.

Most people still consider the Saints to be the best team in the NFL, but if there is one weakness it is Drew Brees on the road. A week after losing to Dallas, the Saints put up just three poins in the first half at Tampa Bay. They went on to rally for a win and cover in the second half of that game, but tonight they face a different monster. Cam Newton and Riverboat Ron are still alive in the playoff hunt, and they won't be an easy out here at home in Carolina.

Take CAR.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* GOY play on the Vikings.

The Seahawks are rolling, coming into Monday's home game against the Vikings riding a three game winning streak. Two of those three wins came by just three points, and none of those games were against a team with a winning record. The Vikes are coming off a loss to the Patriots at Foxboro, and they really need to get back on track here in Seattle. Minnesota has won two of it's last three on the road, and the one loss came by just five points against the Bears. A missed two-point convert cost the Vikes the cover in that game. This should be a good game between two evenly matched teams, and I'll take the points with a desperate Minnesota team.

Take MINNY.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on Denver.

The Broncos aren't rolling over for anybody at home in Mile High Stadium. We saw that two weeks ago when the Broncos held a 10-point advantage in the fourth quarter versus the Kansas City Chiefs. While Kansas City rallied to win that game, it was a lot closer than some might have expected. This week the Rams will travel to Denver, and they are asked to cover even more points than the Chiefs. The Rams have been impressive on offense, but they gave up 31 points to the Vikings and the Seahawks in each of their last two games. LA has yet to be punished for their poor play on defense, coming into Sunday's game with a 5-0 record and the odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl. This looks like a bit of a tricky spot though, and asking them to cover more than a TD seems a little overly optimistic. I'll take Denver plus the points.

Take DEN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Cleveland Browns.  I had this game circled back in the beginning of the summer, and since then the money has really come in on the Browns. While it's been a long time since the Browns have actually won a game, they are expected to be a lot better here in 2018. Tyrod Taylor might not be your favorite quarterback, but he's a pretty solid bet as an underdog when you are looking to cover the points as a home dog. Taylor's biggest asset is his dependability, protecting the football and not making many costly mistakes. In a rivalry that has  seen three straight games decided by four points or less, an improved Browns team at home getting points is quite attractive. The Le'Veon Bell situation has gone from bad to worse, with members of the offensive line publicly blasting Bell for putting himself above the team. The Steelers have failed to cover in five of their last seven season openers, and I think they'll have their hands full here in Cleveland.  Take CLE.  GL,  

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

10*

This is a 10* play on the Baltimore Ravens.

The Steelers have now won seven in a row, but four of their last five wins have come in games decided by less than a touchdown. Their come from behind win at Cincinnati on Monday night came at a significant cost. Leading tackler Ryan Shazier was carted off the field with a serious injury, and it was a particularly physical game, heading into a short week. The Ravens have won four of their last five, and the one loss during that span came by a field goal at Tennessee. Joe Flacco has been playing better of late, throwing for 269 yards and a pair of TDs on 23-of-36 passing in last week's win over the Lions. The Ravens have won two of their last three in Pittsburgh, with the one loss coming in a close game (31-27) last December. In fact four of the last five meetings between these teams have been decided by seven points or less. The Ravens have been a strong play in divisional matchups, covering in 10 of their last 12 versus AFC North opponents.

Take BAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the LA Chargers.

The Chargers have won three of their last four against the Cowboys, and two of those three wins came in Dallas. They catch the Boys at a good time, as Ezekiel Elliott is serving a suspension, and LT Tyron Smith and LB Sean Lee have missed the last two games. Lee won't play versus the Chargers, while Smith remains questionable, and is also likely to miss another game. Dak Prescott is finding life in the NFL a whole lot tougher without the security of Elliot running behind the best offensive line in football. He threw for just 145 yards and three INTs on 18-of-31 passing in the loss to the Eagles. The Chargers have won four of their last six games, and Philip Rivers is playing as well as he ever has. The veteran threw for 251 yards and a pair of TDs on 20-of-32 passing in the 54-24 win over the Bills last week. The Chargers defense ranks in the top 10 in the NFL against the pass, and they rank 3rd in the league in sacks. That's terrible news for Dak Prescott who has been sacked 12 times in the last two weeks. There are so many problems for Dallas to address, and just a few days between games. It seems like Mission Impossible for America's Team.

Take LAC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Detroit Lions.

The Lions have lost three straight, but I like their chances of getting back on track on Monday night in Green Bay. The Packers were getting by on smoke and mirrors and Aaron Rodgers magic, but since his injury the reality has set in. Green Bay tried to lean on it's running game in a home loss to New Orleans, and they might look to do the same here. The Lions are one of the best in the NFL when it comes to defending the run, ranking 5th in yards allowed per attempt. Brett Hundley has completed just 52 percent of his passes, with four INTs and just one touchdown pass since coming in to replace Aaron Rodgers. Detroit has an opportunistic defense that can really take advantage of rookie mistakes. Darius Slay and Glover Quinn each have three INTs, and they will be looking to add to those starts here in Green Bay. The Lions may have a losing record, but they should have scored a game winning TD that was controversially reversed against Atlanta, and the potential game winning drive against Pittsburgh stopped short on the five yard line last week against Pittsburgh. Mathew Stafford threw for over 400 yards against the Steelers #1 ranked pass defense, and he should have plenty of success against a banged up Packers defense.

Take DET.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Kansas City Chiefs.

Both the Chiefs and the Texans won in dramatic fashion last week, but after blowing out Tennessee, Houston looks primed to suffer a let down. They face the league's only remaining undefeated team, led by the #1 ranked quarterback and the NFL's leading rusher. Despite impressive offensive performances against New England and Tennessee, Houston still has plenty of issues. Kansas City has won three of their last four versus the Texans, and two of those wins came at Houston. The Chiefs have covered the spread in five of their last seven at Houston, and the road team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings between the two teams. Kareem Hunt comes in averaging 7.4 yards per carry, and he's already scored six TDs in four games. He should have another big game here on the road at Houston.

Take KC.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Tennessee Titans.

My biggest play of Week 1 was on Oakland, and they won by double digits at Tennessee. The Titans played well in that game, they were just matched up against a tough opponent. They head out on the road this week, playing the Jags in Jacksonville. After upsetting Houston by a score of 29-7, some people think the Jags might be for real. Blake Bortles almost lost his job this pre-season, and he failed to impress throwing for just 125 yards with a TD and an INT on 11-of-21 passing in Week 1. Leonard Fournette ran for 100 yards, but averaged a rather pedestrian 3.8 yards per carry. In my opinion, the only thing we learned about Jacksonville in Week 1 was that if you turn the ball over four times, give up a pair of defensive/special teams TDs, they will probably beat you. The Titans offensive line held up, allowing Marcus Mariota to throw for 256 yards on 25-of-41 passing against Oakland. He was sacked just once, and ran for 26 yards and a TD on three carries. The Jags have failed to cover in four of their last five home games, and they are 1-9 ATS in their last 10 games in Week 2. The Titans should roll here.

Take TEN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Atlanta Falcons.

The Green Bay Packers did it again in Dallas. They used smoke and mirrors, and Aaron Rodgers magic to escape with a 34-31 win over the Cowboys. Now they gave up 429 yards, and Dak Prescott threw for 302 yards and three TDs. It was the fourth time in five games that an opposing quarterback threw for at least 300 yards on this Green Bay defense. The one exception was when Eli Manning threw for 299 yards at Lambeau a week earlier. Even Sam Bradford and Matt Barkley (Bears backup) have torched the Packers secondary. It could get ugly here in Atlanta, facing the league's #1 offense. The Falcons not only have a stud quarterback, but they can also play defense, and run the football. They say defense wins championships, and that's not good news for Green Bay fans. You rarely see one dimensional teams make it this far in the playoffs, and I think we'll see the Packers magical run come to an end here in the NFC Championship Game.

Take ATL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Le'Veon Bell told reporters this week that he considers himself the "Stephen Curry of football". I don't know about all that, but he certainly is a beast in the backfield for the Steelers. Bell ran for 167 yards and two TDs on 29 carries in a win over Miami last week. He had a rushing and a receiving TD in a win over the Ravens in his previous start. The Steelers will play at Kansas City, and the Chiefs have struggled to stop the run. Kansas City allowed opponents to average 121 rushing yards per game, ranking 26th in the NFL during the regular season. I like Bell's chances of finding "Pay Dirt". He ran for 144 yards on just 18 carries in a 43-14 home win over the Chiefs during the regular season. Kansas City has managed to win a dozen games this season, despite the fact that they have a below average quarterback, not much of a running game, and a lack of talent in the receiving corps. You take a look at some of their wins, and you realize that this team is quite fortunate to have made it this far. They beat Atlanta on a failed PAT that went for two points the other way. They needed to score 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to come back and beat the Panthers, and in Week 1 they rallied to beat the Chargers after trailing 21-3 at half time. I don't think the Chiefs can keep on relying on luck here against the NFL's top teams in the playoffs.

Take PIT.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the New York Giants.

Green Bay has scored 30 or more points in four straight games, and comes into Wild Card Weekend as winners of six straight. The Packers success on offense has made everybody forget about how bad this team was in the first half of the season, and there are still plenty of reasons to be concerned about this defense. Mathew Stafford lit up the Packers secondary for 347 yards and two TDs last week, and week earlier Sam Bradford torched them for for 383 yards and three TDs. The week before that it was Chicago's backup Matt Barkley throwing for 362 yards and a pair of TDs. Eli Manning hasn't had his best season, but he's won a pair of Super Bowls and has a reputation for elevating his game in the post-season. He's facing a Packers defense that ranks 31st in the NFL against the pass. Only the Saints gave up more passing yards, and only the Browns conceded more TDs. New York hasn't had a lot of success running the football, but Rahsad Jennings might be to blame for that. Jennings has averaged just 3.3 yards per carry, and in recent weeks he's taken a back seat to rookie Paul Perkins. The former UCLA Bruin ran for 102 yards on 21 carries last week, and he's been far more reliable than Jennings down the stretch. As good as the Packers have looked the last few weeks, the old saying is: "Defense Wins Championships". The Giants are the more complete team, and I like their chances of hanging with Green Bay at Lambeau.

Take NYG.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Baltimore Ravens.

While neither of these two teams are going to the playoffs, I like the Ravens to end the season on a high not with a win in Cincinnati. The Bengals are going to rest some injured players, and will be without several key players including: Tyler Eifert, A.J. Green and Vontaze Burfict. The Ravens can finish with a winning record if they win today, and this could be a huge game for veteran receiver Steve Smith, who is expected to retire after this season. Flacco has played well down the stretch, throwing for over 1400 yards with 10 TDs and five INTs in his last five starts. The Ravens won three of those games, with losses at New England and Pittsburgh. The Ravens are 8-0 ATS in their last eight versus division rivals, and that trend should continue here today.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Tampa Bay Bucs.

The Bucs have won five of their last six overall after coming up short in a 26-20 defeat at Dallas on Sunday night. They turned the ball over four times in that loss, putting their defense in a tough spot. Heading into last Sunday's game the Bucs had won five straight, limiting opponents to an average of less than 13 points per game during that span. One of those wins came against New Orleans, and they picked off Drew Brees three times in a 16-11 home win. Brees is coming off a big game on the road at Arizona, but the Cardinals look like a team that has already thrown in the towel. The Bucs are still fighting for a playoff spot, and they should go all out here at the Super Dome. These two teams have gone under the total in 13 of the last 16 meetings, and the Saints have failed to reach the total in seven straight versus teams with a winning record. The Bucs have covered the spread in five straight road games, and four of their last five meetings with the Saints.

Take TB,

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals came into this season expected to be a Super Bowl contender, but here in Week 15 they have just five wins. The Saints come into Arizona with a 5-8 record, but they've lost four of their last five games, and Drew Brees has struggled during that span. Brees is coming off back to back games without a TD pass, throwing a whopping six picks in those losses. He'll face an Arizona defense that ranks #1 overall, and second overall versus the pass. The Saints defense ranks near the bottom of the league, allowing opponents to average over 366 yards per game. While the Cardinals have struggled on the road, they've been pretty good at home, with a record of 4-2-1. Their last home game was a 31-23 win over Washington, and Carson Palmer threw for 300 yards and three TDs on 30-of-46 passing. I think this is a great spot for Palmer and Arizona to bounce back from a tough road loss in bad weather last week.

Take ZONA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

After losing to the Patriots at Foxboro, the Ravens still control their own destiny. They are just one game back of the Steelers in the AFC North, and they play at Pittsburgh next week. They need to win here at home this Sunday against the Eagles, a team that has come crashing back down to earth after a hot start. Carson Wentz appeared to be wise beyond his years in the first half of the season, but he's thrown just four TD passes and nine INTs in his last six starts. He faces one of the NFL's toughest defenses this week, and the Ravens rank 2nd overall with 15 INTs this season. "This is at least where you want to be," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "The opportunity to control your own fate with victory is really what you hope for at this time of the season. Two teams in our division have that -- us and the Steelers. We'll both be fighting for that division championship." The Eagles have failed to cover the spread in four straight, while the Ravens are 4-0 ATS in their last four home games.

Take BAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule.

This is a 10* play on the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens have won four of their last five games, and their only loss during that span came by a score of 27-17 at Dallas. The Patriots are 10-2, but both of those losses came at home in Foxboro. Brady's favorite target Rob Gronkowski is done for the year with a back injury, and I think the Pats are a little overrated here as they get set to host the league's #1 ranked defense. Joe Flacco threw for a season high 381 yards and four TDs on 36-of-47 passing in a blowout win over Miami last Sunday, and he had a big game the last time he faced the Patriots. Baltimore lost 35-31 at New England in the 2014 playoffs, and Flacco threw for 292 yards and four TDs in a losing effort. The Ravens actually held a 14 point lead in that game, but couldn't hang on. Dennis Pitta looked like a man among boys last week, catching nine passes for 90 yards and two TDs. The Ravens defense held Jay Ajayi to just 61 yards on 12 carries, and they picked off Ryan Tannehill three times. This looks like a great spot to take the Ravens getting a bunch of points.

Take BAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Washington Redskins.

Washington was riding a 6-1-1 run heading into Thanksgiving, but they lost to the NFL's best team in Dallas by a score of 31-26. They followed that up with another tough loss on the road at Arizona, and now they face a must win game at Philly if they want to keep any playoff hopes alive. The Eagles have lost five of their last six, and they can't blame the schedule for their struggles. They are coming off a 32-14 loss to the Bengals, and Carson Wentz threw three INTs in that game. The rookie quarterback looked like a seasoned veteran in his first four games, but he's since thrown twice as many picks (10) as TDs (5). The Redskins expect to get Jordan Reed back this week, and he didn't play when the Eagles lost at Washington earlier in the year. Wentz was sacked five times, and only completed 11 passes in the first meeting, and I don't see things changing much this time around. Washington has won four of the last five in this series, and they are 5-0 ATS in those games.

Take WAS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Oakland Raiders.

The Raiders are 8-2, and quarterback Derek Carr is making a case for NFL MVP. He threw for 295 yards, three TDs and just one INT in last week's win over the Texans in Mexico City. I expect Carr to put up big numbers here at home today against a Carolina defense that is reeling after losing Luke Keuchly. Carolina has really missed Josh Norman, and the Panthers come into this game at Oakland ranked 21st in the league versus the pass. They've lost three of four road games so far this season, and haven't covered the spread on the road in eight straight dating back to last season. The reigning MVP has really struggled all year, and last week against the Saints he completed just 42 percent of his passes for 192 yards and a TD. That's not likely going to be good enough to keep up with Carr and the Raiders high powered passing game.

Take OAK.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Seattle Seahawks.

Seattle has won three straight, and Russell Wilson has thrown for 902 yards with six TDs and no INTs during this winning streak. Wilson had been limited by a knee injury earlier this season, but since he regained his mobility, he's been a handful for opposing defenses. The Bucs have lost two of their last three home games, and they gave up at total of 73 points in those losses. Tampa's defense ranks 24th in the NFL allowing 26 points per game. I don't like the Bucs chances of stopping Seattle, and it's going to be tough for Tampa to score enough point to keep this game close. Jameis Winston hasn't seen a defense like Seattle's since he played at home versus Denver in the first week of October. He threw for 179 yards on 17-of-35 passing, with two picks and no TDs in a 27-7 loss in that game. He was even worse against Arizona, throwing four picks in a 40-7 loss in Week 2. Seattle has covered the spread in five straight games in November, and the Hawks are 4-1 ATS in their last five at Tampa.

Take SEA.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Baltimore Ravens.

The Dallas Cowboys are the hottest team in the NFL, coming into this week's home game versus Baltimore as winners of eight in row. It's not easy to stay on top in the NFL, and that is especially true for a rookie quarterback like Dak Prescott. He might be feeling just a little more pressure this week, after Dallas legend Tony Romo gave an emotional speech, passing the torch to Prescott and calling him the undisputed team leader. He's facing a Baltimore defense that ranks #1 in the NFL in total defense and #1 overall versus the run. The Ravens are 5-4, but their average margin of defeat in the four games they lost is less than five points. If Baltimore can slow down Ezekiel Elliot, it's going to put a ton of pressure on Prescott, which may spell trouble for the Cowboys. Dallas is just 5-11-1 ATS in it's last 17 home games, and I think it's going to be difficult for the Cowboys to run up the score here against the league's best defense.

Take BAL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints are surging, coming into this week's home game versus Denver as winners of four of their last five. The Broncos on the other hand are coming off an ugly loss on the road at Oakland, and have lost three of their last five. Denver has really missed C.J. Anderson, who has been sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Backup running back Devontae Booker has been playing through a shoulder injury, and he's been limited to just 76 yards on 29 carries while starting the last two games. The Broncos are also dealing with injuries on defense, and they really struggled in the loss to Oakland, taking 12 penalties for a total of 104 yards. Drew Brees threw for 323 yards and three TDs on 28-of-39 passing in a win at San Francisco last week, and he ranks second in the NFL in passing yards. He has incredible numbers at home, completing almost 70 percent of his passes for 1,529 yards, 12 TDs and just two INTs. His last home game was a win over the Seattle Seahawks, throwing for 265 yards and a TD on 27-of-35 passing. I expect a similar result this week against another tough defense at the Super Dome.

Take N.O.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the New England Patriots.

The Bills didn't just beat the Patriots this season, they shut them out, winning 16-0 at Foxboro. Bill Belichick will look to avenge that loss here in the rematch in Buffalo this week. Things should be different this time around, with Tom Brady back from suspension, and Rob Gronkowski coming in with 16 catches for 364 yards and a pair of TDs in his last three games. LeGarrette Blount ran for 127 yards and a pair of TDs in last week's win over Pittsburgh. He could have a big day here in Buffalo, facing a Bills defense that was run over in a loss to Miami last week. The Bills have allowed opponents to average over 125 rushing yards per game so far, ranking 27th in the NFL against the run. The Buffalo backfield is in rough shape heading into this Sunday's game, with LeSean McCoy and Mike Gillislee both battling injuries. McCoy left last week's game at Miami after just eight carries for 11 yards, and he did not practice during the week. The last time the Pats played at Buffalo they won 40-32, and they are 10-2 in their last 12 at Buffalo. I'll take Brady and Belichick here in this revenge spot.

Take NE.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Atlanta Falcons.

There is plenty of hype surrounding both teams as the Falcons get set to face the Seahawks in Seattle this week. The question is, which of these two teams is for real? The answer might be both teams, but so far only Atlanta has really proved anything. Seattle is coming off a couple of double digit wins against inferior opponents. In fact, when you look at the Seahawks schedule, you can see that they've faced possibly the four worst quarterbacks in the NFL. 

This week they face the NFL's leading passer, and MVP front runner Matt Ryan. Matty Ice has thrown for 1,740 yards with 12 TDs and just two INTs this year. Perhaps more impressive, he's done it against teams like Denver and Carolina.

This game is quite reminiscent of last year's Week 6 matchup when Seattle was a 7-point favorite at home to Carolina, and eventual MVP Cam Newton. I had the Panthers in that one, and they trailed for most of the game, but managed to keep it close. They eventually came from behind to win on a last minute touchdown drive.

Seattle's offense has plenty of question marks, with injuries in the backfield, and a running game that has underachieved. Russell Wilson was injured in the win over San Francisco, limited his ability to run the ball. He's run for -2 yards on six attempts in his last two starts. Christine Michael has a rather pedestrian 290 yards and two TDs as the feature running back.

The Falcons defense held Denver to just 84 rushing yards without a rushing TD last week. I like Atlanta to keep this one close, if not winning outright at Seattle.

Take ATL.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Oakland Raiders.

The Chiefs are 0-2 on the road so far this season, and they will play at Oakland on Sunday. Quarterback Alex Smith completed just 57 percent of his passes, with 473 yards, two TDs and one pick in two road games. He's completed 73 percent of his passes for 600 yards and three TDs with one INT in two home games.

The Raiders are 4-1, and they rank 4th in the NFL in scoring, averaging over 28 points per game. Derek Carr is playing like an MVP candidate, throwing for 1,383 yards with 11 TDs and two INTs so far. Last week against the Chargers he threw for 317 yards and two TDs on 25-of-40 passing.

The skeptics will point out that Oakland's defense ranks 31st in the NFL against the pass. Perhaps we need to cut them some slack after facing the NFL's leading passer Matt Ryan, 6 x NFL passing leader Drew Brees, and Phillip Rivers who ranks 2nd in the NFL in passing yards.

Take OAK.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Buffalo Bills.

Rex Ryan and the Bills have turned things around, coming into Sunday's home game against San Francisco as winner of three straight. All three of those wins were blowouts, decided by more than 10 points. I expect a similar result here against a San Francisco team that is a complete mess on both sides of the ball. Blaine Gabbert has been a total bust at quarterback for the Niners, and he threw for 161 yards on 18-of-31 passing in last week's loss to Arizona. He was sacked seven times, and threw a pair of interceptions with just one TD. Fans are calling for backup Colin Kaepernick to step up to replace him, and that in itself is a testament to how desperate the situation is.

Kaepernick started eight games for San Francisco last year, and six of those were losses. He really looked awful in the pre-season, and there is concern that he's dropped a ton of weight, and may be less durable as a dual-threat quarterback. Only the Miami Dolphins have allowed more rushing yards than San Francisco this season, and that's alarming heading into a game against a Buffalo team that ranks 3rd in the league in rushing. LeSean McCoy will be looking to make a point here against former coach Chip Kelly, and McCoy ran for 150 yards against the Rams last week.

Take BUF.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Green Bay Packers.

The Giants are coming off a tough 24-10 loss at Minnesota on Monday night, and they head to Green Bay to face the Packers at Lambeau with just five days to rest and prepare. The Packers are coming off a bye week, and I think this sets up Aaron Rodgers and company for a big blowout home win in this spot.

Manning threw for 261 yards and an INT on 25-of-45 passing against the Vikings, and Odell Beckham Jr. caught just three passes for 33 yards. They struggled to run the ball with Shane Vereen and Rashad Jennings sidelined by injury, totaling just 78 yards on the ground. The chemistry between Manning and Beckham seems to be deteriorating, as evidenced by Manning's comments after the loss to Minnesota: "He kind of brought that on himself".

Aaron Rodgers threw for 205 yards and four TDs in a home win over the Lions two weeks ago, and he owns the NFL's highest home passer rating of all time (110.2). The Giants have failed to cover in seven straight road games against teams with a winning record, and that's a trend that I expect to continue here in Green Bay.

Take GB.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Oakland Raiders.

The Raiders are 3-1 and they've been pretty impressive offensively so far. I don't think they are getting enough respect, listed as just a small favorite at home to the Chargers. San Diego is reeling, coming into this week's game with a 3-1 record, and a long list of injury woes. Phillip Rivers continues to keep them in games, but with Woodhead, Johnson and Allen out, and Gates questionable, he's running out of targets to throw to. They are perhaps worse off on the defensive side of the ball, without Verrett, Te'o and possibly Joey Bosa as well. Derek Carr has thrown for over 1000 yards with nine TDs and just one INT so far, and he should have a field day against a struggling Chargers defense that is thin in the secondary. The Raiders won both meetings last season, by a combined margin of 11 points. I expect the Chargers to struggle here on the road with so many key players sidelined by injury.

Take OAK.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers came out flat in a 34-3 loss at Philly two weeks ago, but they came back and throttled Kansas City 43-14 last Sunday. They host the struggling New York Jets this week, and I really see no reason why this won't be another blowout. The Jets are coming off back-to-back double digit losses, and Ryan Fitzpatrick was picked off NINE TIMES in those games. It's almost impossible to conceive that Fitzpatrick could match serves with Big Ben, but an injury to Jets top wideout Eric Decker makes that even more unlikely. There is more good news for the Steelers, as it looks like Darrelle Revis will miss the game with a hamstring injury. The Steelers have covered the spread in four of their last five home games, and the home team is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.

Take PIT.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Minnesota Vikings.

The Houston Texans are 3-1, and sitting in first place in the lowly AFC South. Their wins have all come at home though, and against some of the worst teams in the NFL. Chicago, Tennessee and Kansas City have just four wins between them. Houston has played just one road game, and they got their asses handed to them in a 27-0 loss to the Patriots at Foxboro. Brock Osweiler threw for 196 yards and an INT on 24-of-41 passing in that game, and he's thrown more interceptions (6) than he has touchdowns (5) overall this season.

It won't get any easier on the road at Minnesota, facing a Vikings defense that ranks 2nd overall allowing just over 12 points per game so far. Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Vikings 4-0 start, is that they've beaten 2014 MVP Aaron Rodgers, 2015 MVP Cam Newton, and two time Super Bowl winner Eli Manning.  That doesn't bode well for a below average, mistake prone QB like Osweiler. Lamar Miller is unlikely to be the answer, he's averaging 3.8 yards per carry, and has yet to score a touchdown.

Take MIN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers laid an egg in Philly last week, but I don't think it's any time for Pittsburgh fans to start panicking. They host the 2-1 Chiefs, who have been quite lucky so far. Last week they had the game handed to them courtesy of Ryan Fitzpatrick, who looked like he was throwing the ball to the wrong team. Fitzpatrick was picked off six times, and one of those was returned for a TD. They scored another TD on a fumble return. The Chiefs didn't look great on the road in Week 2, losing 19-12 to the Texans. Alex Smith threw for just 186 yards with no TDs on 20-of-37 passing in that game. Home field has been crucial in this series, as the home team has won each of the last three meetings, and has covered the spread in six of the last seven meetings. The Steelers offense gets Le'Veon Bell back this week, and I don't see Kansas City slowing down Big Ben and Antonio Brown in Steel Town.

Take PIT.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Washington Redskins.

Washington has under achieved this season, losing to the Steelers and the Cowboys in their first two games. The Redskins got back on track last week with a 29-27 win in New York. They host the Browns this week, and Cleveland is reeling with a host of injuries. They are down to their third string quarterback, rookie Cody Kessler out of USC. The 23 year old threw for 244 yards with no TDs and no INTs on 21-of-33 passing in a loss to Miami last week. He could struggle against a Redskins secondary that picked off Eli Manning twice last week. Kirk Cousins ranks fourth in the NFL in passing yards, and he's coming off a big game against the Giants. The former Michigan State Spartan threw for 296 yards and a pair of TDs last Sunday. He could have a huge day against a Cleveland team that ranks 24th in the NFL in total defense. The Browns kept it close in losses to Miami and Baltimore, but they were aided by turnovers. The Skins have a far better offense than either the Ravens or the Fish. Washington should win by double digits.

Take WAS.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Houston Texans.

After upsetting Arizona on the road in Week 1 without several starters on both sides of the ball, the Patriots seem invincible. There seems to be a feeling that Bill Belichick can get it done no matter who starts at quarterback. History tells us that isn't the case, and I think there's a big difference between 2nd string quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, and third stringer Jacoby Brissett. We saw Miami score 21 unanswered points in the second half of last week's game, and New England just barely held on. The Texans come in with the #3 ranked scoring defense, and a quarterback that beat New England last year. This Houston defense has the potential to make life miserable for an inexperienced quarterback, and I expect Brissett to struggle here. I think Belichick's luck is about to run out.

Take HOU.

GL,

Jesse Schule

10* analysis before game time

10*

This is a 10* GOY play on Arizona.

Notes - The Brady suspension is clearly the biggest factor, as he's dropped all appeals and will NOT play. Jimmy Garoppolo has not shown any sign of being able to step up and fill those big boots.

Carson Palmer threw for 4,671 yards last year, just 99 fewer than Tom Brady. His 35 TDs were only one shy of Brady's 36.

Arizona should have a superior defense, and they have perhaps the fastest wide receivers in the league.

The Cardinals led the league in total offense last year, and it shoud be a tough ask for Garoppolo to match serves with Palmer.

The Patriots are extremely shorthanded here without: QB Tom Brady RB Dion Lewis TE Rob Gronkowski LT Nate Solder RT Sebastian Vollmer G Jonathan Cooper DE Rob Ninkovich.

Take ARI.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the New York Giants.

Cowboys fans remain optimistic despite the injury to Tony Romo, but if history is any indication, Dallas is in big trouble. Rookie quarterback Dak Prescott played well in the pre-season, but it would be naive to think it's going to be that easy once the bullets start flying for real. The pressure is on another rookie, RB Ezekiel Elliot to carry the load on offense. Everything we've seen from Elliot would suggest he will be successful in the NFL, especially running behind that stout O-line in Dallas. You never really know until a guy proves it as a pro, as evidenced by the disappointing careers of guys like Trent Richardson and Darren McFadden. Dallas lost the last meeting at New York by a score of 27-20, and they beat the Giants by just one point in last year's home opener. The Giants have covered the spread in three straight in this series, and they are 5-2 in their last seven trips to Dallas. The Cowboys have no business being favored in this game.

Take NYG.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Denver Broncos.

The Panthers were a slight favorite in last year's Super Bowl, and they lost 24-10 to the Broncos at Levis Stadium. Cam Newton threw for 265 yards and an INT on 18-of-41 passing, taking six sacks and fumbling the ball twice. He's facing that same Denver defense here in his first game of the 2016 season, and I don't see any reason why he'll be more successful on the road at Mile High Stadium.

The Broncos proved last season that they could win games in spite of poor quarterback play, and surely they won't be asking Trevor Siemian to do too much. C.J. Anderson had some success running on the Panthers defense, picking up 90 yards and a TD on just 23 carries in Super Bowl 50. 

The Panthers have failed to cover in four straight road games, and they've failed to cover in Week 1 in five of the last seven seasons. Denver won five games last year with Brock Osweiler at quarterback, and with the league's #1 scoring defense, I'll take the Broncos as a home dog to almost anybody.

Take DEN.

GL,

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Denver Broncos.

They say that defense wins championships, and that might be good news for Broncos fans. On the other hand, the Panthers defense is pretty impressive in it's own right. The Broncos own the leagues' top ranked defense, allowing just 18.5 points per game. Carolina isn't far off, allowing just 19.3 points per game. The Super Bowl will be played at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, home of the San Francisco 49ers. 

The 49ers played eight games at Levi's Stadium this year, and not a single one of those saw more than 45 points scored. In fact all but one of their home games saw less than 40 points scored. The Broncos completely shut down New England's high octane offense in the AFC Championship game, picking off Tom Brady twice in a 20-28 victory. A week earlier they held the Steelers in check in a 23-16 victory. 

The Panthers come in as the favorite, but I think this game has the potential to be a lot closer than most people think. ESPN says that 53 of 70 staffers are picking Carolina, and eight of 10 Sports Illustrated writers have picked the Panthers. One of the common themes among the pundits is that Carolina has a huge advantage in quarterback play with MVP Cam Newton facing a 39 year old Peyton Manning. 

When you look at the "tale of the tape", Newton's statistics are impressive, and Manning's are downright ugly. We've seen a different Peyton Manning in these playoffs though, and it looked like vintage "Sheriff" on the opening drive against the Patriots. Most importantly, he's done a good job protecting the football, with no INTs in Denver's two playoff wins. This isn't his first rodeo, he's been to the Super Bowl three times previously, winning with Indianapolis in 2006. 

Denver doesn't need Manning to be great, and the Broncos will likely have a conservative approach, hoping their defense will keep them in the game. The Panthers have looked vulnerable when trying to protect a lead. They've blown big leads against the Seahawks, Colts and Giants. 

I'm giving the Broncos a "puncher's chance" here in Super Bowl 50, and I'll take the points. 

Take DEN. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Denver Broncos. 

Pittsburgh only qualified for the playoffs because the New York Jets failed to win their final game of the season on the road against a Buffalo team that was already eliminated. The Steelers only won last week's game at Cincinnati after a controversial penalty put them in field goal range, but they lost Antonio Brown on that play. They come into Denver without their leading receiver, and a banged up Ben Roethlisberger. In addition, they will have to rely on fourth and fifth string running backs Jordan Todman and Fitzgerald Tousaint. 

Roethlisberger is dealing with a sprained AC joint, and torn ligaments in his throwing shoulder. He's going to try to play, but there's a very good chance that Landry Jones will be forced into action at some point. Jones threw for 209 yards with a TD and two INTs on 16-of-29 passing in his only full game, a 23-13 loss to the Chiefs. Even if Roethlisberger is healthy enough to play the whole game, he's facing the league's best defense on the road. He hasn't exactly thrived on the road this season, throwing just five TDs and nine interceptions while losing three of six. 

Peyton Manning is back under center for the Broncos, but he's likely not going to be asked to do too much here. He came in and threw for 69 yards on 5-of-9 passing in the win over San Diego in the final game of the regular season. It was Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson that carried the load, combining for 212 yards and a pair of TDs.  

The Broncos defense had a league leading 52 quarterback sacks this year, and I expect them to completely shut down the Steelers passing game here on Sunday. 

Take Denver. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the New England Patriots. 

I'm not going to give Kansas City too much credit for their win over the Texans last week. Brian Hoyer deserves most of the credit for the result of that game, throwing four picks, and fumbling the ball twice. The bad news for Kansas City is, this week they will be facing Tom Brady and the Patriots, which will be their toughest challenge since losing to the Bengals in Week 4. 

The Kansas City Chiefs came into the playoffs riding a 10 game winning streak, but I'm not buying into all the hype. When you look at who they played during that span, you will see that only two of those wins came against teams that made the playoffs. Both those teams (Denver and Pittsburgh) had their backup quarterback under center in those games.

The Patriots were 7-1 at home this year, and their only loss came against Philly, in a meaningless game with half of their offense sidelined by injury. They get Julian Edelman back this week, and they averaged 33.6 points with him healthy, and just 23.1 in the games he missed. 

Kansas City's offense could be in big trouble without their only productive receiver. Jeremy Maclin was carted off last week with an ankle injury, and is not expected to play today. Even with Maclin, Alex Smith has failed to throw for 200 yards in each of his last six starts. 

The Patriots have won five straight home games against the Chiefs, and four of the last five meetings between these two teams have failed to reach the total. I like the Pats to grind out a win here in a low scoring game at Foxboro in bad weather. 

Take NE. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Seattle Seahawks. 

Seattle enters the playoffs as one of the NFL's hottest teams, winning six of their last seven games. None of those games were close, as the Legion of Boom imposed their will on opposing teams. The Seahawks rank 2nd in total defense, 1st in scoring defense, and they have allowed the fewest rushing yards (81.5 per game). 

These teams met in the first week of December, and the Seahawks steamrolled the Vikings in Minnesota by a score of 38-7. Now the Vikings were missing a few key players on defense in that game, and they might be in a better position to compete with Seattle here on Sunday. That being said, Adrian Peterson wasn't able to get anything going against the Seahawks defense, running for just 18 yards on eight carries. 

Teddy Bridgewater threw for just 118 yards and an INT on 17-of-28 passing in the previous meeting, and he was sacked four times. He was equally ineffective in last week's win over Green Bay, throwing for 99 yards and an INT on 10-of-19 passing. Peterson ran for a rather pedestrian 67 yards on 19 carries, but scored a touchdown. He's been bothered by a sore back, and has been limited to an average of 64 yards per game over the last five games of the season. 

Russell Wilson comes into the playoffs looking like an MVP candidate, he's thrown for 24 TDs and just one INT over his last seven starts. I wouldn't go as far as to suggest that Seattle is a better team without Marshawn Lynch, but we can't ignore the fact that they were 3-4 in games Lynch played, and 7-2 in games that he missed. 

Take SEA. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Houston Texans. 

The Kansas City Chiefs come into the playoffs riding a 10 game winning streak, but I'm not buying into all the hype. When you look at who they played during that span, you will see that only two of those wins came against teams that made the playoffs. Both those teams (Denver and Pittsburgh) had their backup quarterback under center in those games. 

They will face a Houston team that really turned it on at the end of the year, winning seven of their last nine. They won four of five at home during that run, and their defense was lights out. They sacked opposing quarterbacks 23 times in those five games. 

Kansas City actually looked pretty average against some of the league's worst teams down the stretch. Three of their last four wins came by seven points or less, and that was against the likes of Cleveland, Oakland and San Diego. Alex Smith was pretty pedestrian, throwing five touchdown passes and four interceptions in those games. He's in a tough spot here on the road facing J.J. Watt and the Texans defense. 

Take HOU. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the Green Bay Packers. 

The Packers are coming off an ugly loss to Arizona, while the Vikings absolutely crushed the Giants at home last week. If you judge these teams on their performance last week, it would be hard to make a case for Green Bay here in tonight's game. I'm going to give the Packers the benefit of the doubt, and I can't pass on Green Bay as such a small favorite at home in a must win game. 

I also think the Vikings are one of the more overrated teams in the league. Eight of their 10 wins this season have come against teams that currently have a losing record, and one of their two wins versus teams above .500 came against Kansas City when the Chiefs were just 1-5. The only team they beat that had a winning record when they played them was Atlanta. 

History certainly favors the Packers, who are 5-0-1 against Minnesota since 2012. Their last home game against the Vikings was a 42-10 blowout win. When these two teams played in Minnesota six weeks ago, Green Bay was coming off three straight losses. They shut down Adrian Peterson, limiting him to 45 yards and a TD on 13 carries, winning 30-13. Peterson is banged up with ankle/shoulder injuries, and might be hard pressed to do any better tonight. 

Take GB. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

10* analysis before game time

This is a 10* play on the #NYG. 

The Philadelphia Eagles have a long way to go, as they will try to repair the damage that Chip Kelly did during his tenure as the head coach of the franchise. They will finish the season on the road at New York, with offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur filling in as interim bench boss. The Giants are also rumored to be looking at moving in a different direction, and this could be Tom Coughlin's last game as head coach in New York. 

There are plenty of reasons to expect the Giants to be more motivated here. You have the fact that it could be the potential Swan Song for a coach that led them to two Super Bowl wins. Odell Beckham Jr. will surely be motivated to have a big game after serving a suspension last week for his performance in the loss to the Panthers. I expect the Giants to come out all fired up, playing with the same intensity you would expect from a playoff contender. 

The Eagles look like a team that checked out several weeks ago. They've been brutal on defense, becoming on the second team since 1950 to allow 400+ yards six weeks in a row. Eli Manning has played well at home, throwing for 2,085 yards with 15 TDs and just three INTs. I expect him to light up the Eagles defense here today. 

Take NYG. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is an 8* play on the Kansas City Chiefs. 

The Cleveland Browns are coming off a 30-13 blowout loss at Seattle, and they've dropped eight of their last nine overall. Their only win during that span came at home to the lowly San Francisco 49ers. They face the hottest team in the league this Sunday, traveling to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs, who have won eight straight. This is a must win game for the Chiefs, who are still in the hunt for a playoff spot. 

Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse for the Browns, they had a pair of players arrested with drugs and guns in a holiday traffic stop. One of those players was starting lineman Armonty Bryant, who was second on the team with 5.5 sacks. What's more worrying though for the Browns, is that this is unlikely to be an isolated incident. We already know that Johnny Manziel has issues with alcoholism and substance abuse, and there's probably a number of other players in the locker room with some very bad habits. 

The Chiefs are ranked second in the NFL with a +15 turnover ratio, and their defense ranks third in the NFL allowing an average of just 18.4 points per game. I don't see the Browns posing much of a threat here, and this game should be a blowout. 

Take KC. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule

This is a 10* play on the New Orleans Saints. 

The Detroit Lions started the season by losing seven of their first eight games. Then they salvaged a little bit of respect with a three game winning streak, but the party was over when they lost a heart-breaker on a last second Hail Mary game winner at home versus the Packers. Last week they lost 21-14 at St. Louis, and Mathew Stafford was sacked four times, throwing for 245 yards, two TDs and an INT. 

The Saints on the other hand are coming off an impressive road win at Tampa, and their defense limited Jameis Winston to 182 yards and a TD on 18-of-32 passing. The week before that they gave the undefeated Carolina Panthers a real run for their money at home, but Carolina came from behind to win on a late TD. 

Drew Brees has thrown 25 TD passes this year, and 17 of those have come at the Superdome. The Lions have lost three straight at New Orleans since 2009, and each of those losses came by a double-digit margin. 

The Saints have always been a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde home team, and they've covered the spread in four of their last five at the Superdome. The Lions are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 road games. 

Take N.O. 

GL, 

Jesse Schule