WAYNE ROOT
MILL--New Orleans +
No Limit--LA Rams +
Perfect Play--New York Giants +
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Inner Circle--Philadelphia +
Knockout of the Month
Washington (6-5-1) is on the outside of the playoff picture with four games remaining and aims to record a much-needed victory. But Vegas oddsmakers don't care about that, they just make the line worst for Redskin followers. For the Eagles, last Sunday's 32-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals led first-year coach Doug Pederson to question the effort of some players and that ruffled some feelings in the locker room. This is the dialogue from the locker room, "I think guys are giving effort, but I think that we can take it to another level." Watch for the intensity in this game. The Eagles hope to have running back Ryan Mathews (knee) back after a two-game absence. Leading receiver Jordan Matthews (57 catches, 686 yards) might also play after an ankle injury held him out of the loss to the Bengals. The Skins have one problem that no QB or coach wants to have with that key position at center. It's two-fold as the center calls the offensive line changes and snaps the football. Back-up center Spencer Long (concuss) didn't practice Wednesday. Veteran center Kory Lichtensteiger, the starter at the beginning of the season, is now the back-up to third string John Sullivan who gets the start today. Playing on the road in a hostile environment is a recipe for something to go wrong. The game plan for Philadelphia is to establish the run. Carson Wentz tied an NFL rookie record with 36 completions last week. But he's throwing much more than the coaches like. They hope to establish the run early Sunday against the Redskins and stay with it. The Redskins are 29th in the league against the rush, allowing 4.6 yards per carry. From Vegas, the world is on Washington and the world is rarely right. Those Las Vegas casinos didn't build themselves. With an improved offense, and a defense that (despite two bad games in a row) has been pretty good at home overall, the Eagles should be able to squeak out a win in a game that few are giving them a chance.
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Pinnacle--Buffalo + ***AFC Upset of Year
According to the betting, the Vegas Sportbooks should start paying off all Steelers bet as 85% of all bets are on them. Casino owners have to love the public as the casinos continue to win every week with the genius of the betting masses. This is why teams like Buffalo continue to play hard. For future jobs and the fact Pittsburgh controls its fate over the final four weeks of this season, but could cede that control with a single loss...to a team like Buffalo. The Bills are seventh in the playoff hunt and likely needs to win its last four games to end the longest active playoff drought (16 seasons) in North American sports. The Bills won four straight earlier this season, and enter a three-game home stretch hopeful they can repeat the feat. Off two straight wins before last week, they blew a huge lead and lost ground with their loss to Oakland. The Bills are optimistic Robert Woods can return this week after missing two games with a knee sprain. It would be the first time since Week 2 the Bills have had Woods and top wideout Sammy Watkins in the lineup together. There’s no reason to be fearful of the Steelers defense. It is certainly fallible as it ranks 19th against the pass and has not been a stout pass rush group. The Steelers have not scored more than 28 points in each of their last three wins which many discount. But laying point on the road in the wintertime in Buffalo changes many game plans. If rushing is the key depending on weather, the Bills would probably like their chances in that scenario. They lead the NFL in rushing while the Steelers are 18th. LeSean McCoy has been the Bills’ best player all season, running in a scheme that is very well conceived and super productive. If McCoy has another big day, and the Bills can contain Bell, they’ll have a chance to pull the upset. Again, last week was a dagger to their collective heart, but they have a realistic chance to win their final four games of the season. They should be favored in their final three games so this game today is their trip to make it to the playoffs.
