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For some NFL teams, we’re kind of in that “funky time,” when quarterbacks are going down and the trade deadline is approaching.
Not that it was a hugely significant deal, but the New York Jets just gave the Philadelphia Eagles some draft choices in exchange for Joe Flacco, who admittedly is past his sell-by date.
If you haven’t seen it yet, you ought to seek out the lambasting first-year coach Robert Saleh got from ESPN’s Rex Ryan and Dan Orlovsky, who know bad coaching when they see it.
Panthers at Falcons Team Totals
Time: Sunday, October 31 – 1 PM ET
Team Totals Odds: Panthers – Over 21.5 Points (-115) / Under 21.5 Points (-115)
The Play: PANTHERS UNDER 21.5 POINTS (-115)
The situation has become a mess in Carolina, where Sam Darnold is playing like he’s lost confidence in himself, and apparently the management is getting restless because an offer has been made (according to the rumors) for DeShaun Watson. Which in turn, will give Darnold even more insecurity.
The offense is a shaky proposition without Christian McCaffrey – that much is evident, because they haven’t won a game without him. But they really need to evaluate how to go forward with a plan that is less reliant on him. That’s the bottom line; they won’t go anywhere without some balance.
Bengals at Jets Team Totals
Time: Sunday, October 31 – 1 PM ET
Team Totals Odds: Jets – Over 14.5 Points (-115) / Under 14.5 Points (-115)
The Play: JETS UNDER 14.5 POINTS (-115)
The Jets are in the unenviable position of wishing Darnold was still on their active roster. Rookie Zach Wilson is down with an injury, and Mike White got his first game action in the NFL stepping in for him against New England. White has been around for a few years, mostly as a third-stringer or practice squad player, after putting up some impressive numbers at Western Kentucky.
He’s not ready to be a starting quarterback in the NFL.
So the Jets traded for Joe Flacco, who in all likelihood won’t be available, since he can’t practice until Friday. That leaves Josh Johnson as the backup to White.
Meanwhile, Robert Saleh’s coaching staff is being ripped to shreds. And you do have to wonder how much of a plan they really had to bring Wilson into the NFL. It shouldn’t have been this painful.
People talk about Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, but the Bengals’ defense is the unheralded part of the success story, ranking third in the NFL in yards allowed per drive.
#youtube:tUL2OjrMiH4
Patriots at Chargers Team Totals
Time: Sunday, October 31 – 4:05 PM ET
Team Totals Odds: Patriots – Over 21.5 Points (-115) / Under 21.5 Points (-115)
The Play: PATRIOTS OVER 21.5 POINTS (-115)
Yes, the Pats could conceivably come out flat in a trip to the West Coast against a revenge-minded team. But there is something about this Charger defense that they can exploit.
You certainly can’t say that Brandon Staley has not been successful bringing the Bolts back in his first year as a head coach. What’s been unexpected is that it hasn’t been on the strength of the stop unit. Right now they are 22nd in the league in yards and points allowed on a per-drive basis, and perhaps more importantly, they are dead last in rushing yards allowed and yards per attempt.
New England has rediscovered the ground game, running the ball 48% of the time the last three games. Bill Belichick is going to keep going that way until the Chargers prove they can stop it. And if Staley pulls his two-deep safeties closer to the line of scrimmage, Mac Jones has the ability to burn them down the field, as he’s playing with more and more confidence.
Buccaneers at Saints Team Totals
Time: Sunday, October 31 – 4:25 PM ET
Team Totals Odds: Saints – Over 22.5 Points (-120) / Under 22.5 Points (-110)
The Play: SAINTS UNDER 22.5 POINTS (-110)
Jameis Winston has not completed more than 19 passes in a single game this season. The way the Saints have gone about things, they have run the ball 53% of the time, easily the top figure in the NFL. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they are chewing up a lot of yardage. They are only 24th in yards per attempt (3.9).
And Tampa Bay has limited its opponents to just 3.7 yards per carry. So this does not appear to be a very advantageous matchup for the New Orleans offense, which will likely be without Michael Thomas, Deonte Harris and Taysom Hill again.
