NFL
By Monte Perez
Last week I went 3-0 picking these games. I had the Packers losing to the Bills, the Falcons beating the Panthers and the Dolphins beating the Lions. I am now 77-33 picking NFL games on The Full Monte Sports Show.
3-5 Green Bay Packers at 1-6 Detroit Lions:
Time: 1 PM
TV: Fox
Betting Line: Packers are favored by 3.5
Dan Campbell has been terrible as the Lions head coach. The Lions have a better offensive line, better quarterback, and better skill position players than the New York Giants. The Giants are 6-2 in the best division in football. The Lions are 1-6 in one of the worst divisions in the NFL. Detroit traded arguably their best offensive player, TJ Hockenson to the Minnesota Vikings. Why would the Lions trade a young player to a division rival?
The Green Bay Packers have lost 4 games in a row. Their offense has been a work in progress. They are ranked 26th, only scoring 18 points per game. Aaron Rodgers does not have a lot of proven wide receivers on his team, and they have zero chemistry. A lot of that is Rodgers. He didn’t get together with his young WRs in the off-season, and he didn’t play one snap in the pre-season. It is arrogant for Aaron to think he would develop chemistry and timing with limited practice and no pre-season participation.
Prediction:
I expect this to be a high-scoring game. Detroit is ranked 32nd in almost every defensive category. The Lions will lead in the first half and Rodgers and the Packers will come back and win it on a last-minute field goal.
Packers… 30… Lions 27
5-3 Miami Dolphins at 3-5 Chicago Bears:
Time: 1 PM
TV: CBS
Betting Line: Dolphins favored by 4.5
Over the past 2 years the Chicago Bears have traded away, Khalil Mack, Roquan Smith, and Robert Quinn. Last weekend against the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago gave up 49 points in the loss. Justin Fields continues to make progress despite being sacked 31 times this season. That is the most in the NFL.
The Dolphins have been a totally different team when Tua Tagovailoa is on the field. The Dolphins are 5-0 when he starts and finishes a game. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are on pace to set the record for most receiving yards by a wide-receiving duo.
The Dolphins’ defense is ranked 22nd in the NFL, giving up 24 points per game. They just acquired Bradley Chubb from Denver at the trade deadline. That should help this defense right away.
Prediction:
If Chubb plays, look for him to have 2 or more sacks on the day. I expect Hill and Waddle to have over 250 receiving yards.
Dolphins… 33… Bears 20
4-3 Los Angeles Chargers at 4-4 Atlanta Falcons:
Time: 1 PM
TV: Fox
Betting Line: Chargers are favored by 3 points
Both of these coaches, Brandon Staley and Arthur Smith struggle to coach the offensive side of the ball. Smith wants to run 45 times per game and Staley will go for it on 4th and 18 from his own 20-yard line in the 1st quarter.
Marcus Mariota threw for 3 touchdown passes last week in their overtime win against the Panthers. The Falcons are 32nd in defending the pass. They are giving up 306.9 yards per game. Justin Herbert should take advantage of this and throw for over 350 yards. Herbert is completing 65% of his passes, has 12 touchdowns, and only 4 interceptions.
Prediction:
The Falcons struggle when they face good passing teams. Two weeks ago they gave up 481 yards to Joe Burrow.
Chargers 30… Falcons 23
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