Home teams in CAPS
BILLS (-14) over Dolphins
These AFC East foes are thoroughly familiar with one another. The Bills shut out the Dolphins, 35-0, in Miami in Week 2. Buffalo is coming off a loss at Tennessee.
Two more soft spots (visits to the Jaguars and Jets) follow. Josh Allen and the Bills have the power to consummate this.
Bengals (-10.5) over JETS
It’s Cincinnati’s third consecutive road game in this season’s opening half — which may be about the only thing holding this powerhouse back, in the wake of huge routs at Detroit and Baltimore. The schedule gets markedly tougher in short order, but the running game is setting up QB Joe Burrow’s tosses.
Josh Allen APCOLTS (+1.5) over Titans
Failing to discern a solid percentage edge here, at the market. That said, might take a look at Indianapolis, with a roster that appears to harbor greater significant upside potential. The Titans have impressed of late, but reluctant to get carried away.
Rams (-14.5) over TEXANS
Schedule situation circumstances broadly favor the talent-rich visitors, especially off their non-covering cruise over the Lions last week on the Left Coast. Bigger games (Tennessee, at San Francisco, at Green Bay) follow.
Steelers (+3.5) over BROWNS
Mike Tomlin’s team caught its bye leading into this traditional helmet-buster, gaining a spate of refreshment on the heels of a pair of home wins. Of course, the Steelers beat Buffalo in their opener, and have beaten Denver and Seattle, leading into this. The Browns are capable if Baker Mayfield can go, but the Steelers still can press the right buttons.
LIONS (+3.5) over Eagles
The Eagles continue to hobble themselves with brutally slow starts, frustrating many a supporter with their first-half pratfalls. We’d usually look to coaching personnel for answers before blaming individual players. We haven’t used the winless Lions often this season, but looking that way here.
Jared Goff Getty Images49ers (-4) over BEARS
San Francisco has a tricky lookahead to hosting the Cardinals on the heels of this, so there are potential psychological hazards in play — but the Niners have played with focus and distinction on the road all season, so expect no slip-ups. Rookie Bears QB Justin Fields has considerable potential, but needs help. Bears coach Matt Nagy expected to be absent, still quarantining after testing positive for COVID-19.
FALCONS (-3) over Panthers
A diabolical NFC South exercise in the Indian Summer of host QB Matt Ryan’s career. Still have no reason to urgently expect the immediate return of workhorse RB Christian McCaffrey for the foreseeable future — which leaves Ryan tossing many accurate darts downfield.
CHARGERS (-4) over Patriots
Many league observers understand New England will likely react unfavorably after finding things all too easy when pitted against the Jets in Foxborough. The Bolts took the worst of it when in Baltimore before their bye, but may find the Pats easier pickings when they visit California. Pats QB Mac Jones has lessons to learn.
Jaguars (+3.5) over SEAHAWKS
A difficult call, given Russell Wilson is in dry-dock in the Pacific Northwest for a while. It’s tough to trust Geno Smith laying more than a trey, though he should rack up more points than usual versus the Jags.
BRONCOS (-3) over Washington
Teddy Bridgewater doesn’t need to be one of the all-time QB greats to lord it over a defense as modest as the edition currently repping for the nation’s capital. Expecting Teddy B. to get past a modest lay number versus the visitors’ dubious D.
SAINTS (+4.5) over Buccaneers
Not necessarily calling for a straight-up win, but do expect this to be competitive, given the Bucs’ significant key defensive injuries — and the Saints’ clear-cut capabilities on their better days.
VIKINGS (+2.5) over Cowboys
A crisp Sunday night picture is now clouded by capability questions involving the condition of Dallas marvel Dak Prescott’s non-throwing shoulder. The Vikings could be very tough out here if Prescott’s less than at his sharpest.
Monday
Giants (+10) over CHIEFS
Again emphasize that this is Big Blue’s preferred role in their present form, leading with their relatively stiff defense. Would be foolish to short K.C. too aggressively, but so long as the visitors steer clear of gross offensive miscues, this may well be close.





