Home teams in CAPS

Tyrod Taylor’s anticipated return under center for the underdog Texans appears to be perfectly timed for Houston’s return to form.

The Dolphins do not field an imposing rushing offense, and this looms as an ideal spot for these visitors to represent themselves respectably.

We’ll look to make the most of things, with the proffered head start.

The Silver and Black are anything but bulletproof as short road favorites in early East Coast starts, to be sure — especially so on the heels of the effects of Henry Ruggs III’s prevailing legal issues. What’s more, the Raiders have set down a recent history of fast seasonal starts which weren’t sustainable.

The ’Boys didn’t need Dak Prescott to do their business when visiting the underperforming Vikings in the Great North, last week. Here’s another classic case of the good, big team, up against a respectable lesser side which projects to get caught short against a returning Prescott.

As the Odell Beckham Jr. soap opera plays itself out on the shores of Lake Erie, with his release in view, we’ll lunge for the “it’s their time now” Bengals, against a Browns bunch that has been markedly overrated for months. The chickens have come home to roost, and it isn’t pretty.

We expect that this latest renewal of the NFL’s version of an SEC rivalry should produce a closer result than most may be anticipating. The Saints are fresh from their rousing home-dome upset of Tom Brady’s Buccaneers, which may leave them vulnerable. Toss in the absence of key Falcons WR Calvin Ridley. Trevor Siemian is expected to start at QB for the Saints.

Give the Panthers full marks for the possible return of top-drawer RB Christian McCaffrey. What’s more, the primary joker in the deck here is New England rookie QB Mac Jones’ status — his relative lack of big league experience.

This scheduling situation — with Buffalo scheduled to visit the Jets in North Jersey next time out — looms as a classic energy-conversation fortnight for the powerhouse Bills. Jacksonville has yet to show any genuine upward momentum. Josh Allen can establish a safe, comfortable margin here without straining muscles. Without tangible inside information, you’re guessing.

Given that all four teams in the AFC North are more than capable, the Ravens have responded to the pressures of setting the pace in the tough division. This inter-conference matchup should generate more of the same. Minnesota is off an ugly come-from-ahead home loss to the Cowboys, which did little to brighten Kirk Cousins’ prime-time reputation.

Another that looms close to a coin-toss at the market, in large part because this is far from a favorable physical matchup situation for the visitors, who are a loooong way from home — not to mention burdened with a less-than-optimal history in November against teams they find hard to take seriously. Buyers, beware.

Yet another late-afternoon if-fest, especially given Aaron Rodgers’ sudden disappearing act attributed to COVID-19 issues. Given this kind of abrupt line adjustment with Rodgers out, inclined to anticipate yet another dose of gross Chiefs underperformance, pending further developments.

Prevailing markets are broadly hinting that Cards QB Kyler Murray (left ankle) and DeAndre Hopkins (hamstring) figure to be severely limited, at best. For the Niners to be straight-up favored at this point speaks volumes, and conjures up visions of Colt McCoy under center. We’d surmise wise heads are trying to tell us something.

Tennessee is coming off a trio of enormous efforts, and can’t imagine they’re going to lay down yet another at this juncture. On the favored side, the Rams are operating at as high a level as anyone in the league and should be troublesome to handle in current form. Los Angeles keeps up the good work.

The grand mystery here is just what Chicago is going to do for points, in what is broadly expected to be a deliberately played minuet as both sides look to avoid committing anything resembling an avoidable mistake.

Last week: 7-7
Season: 55-57-2