JACK JONES

Jack’s Free Pick Sunday: Arizona Cardinals +4

The Arizona Cardinals continue to fight despite their gloomy playoff outlook. They have won two of their last three games against two current playoff teams in Jacksonville and Tennessee. And they hanged the game to the Rams in what was a much closer game than the 32-16 final would indicate.

The thing you can count on with the Cardinals is that they will bring it defensively. Their numbers on that side of the ball over the past three games have been outstanding. They are giving up just 242.0 yards per game and 3.9 yards per play in their last three games overall.

The Redskins can’t be laying any kind of price against the Cardinals here with the way they are playing right now. They are coming off back-to-back blowout road losses by 24 to Dallas and by 17 to the Chargers. They even had a pick-6 late in that San Diego game to get their only touchdown of the game.

The laundry list of injuries is what has derailed Washington’s season. They are banged up along the offensive line, at the key skill positions, and all along the front seven defensively. They just haven’t caught any breaks in the injury department this season.

While the Cardinals do play defense, the same cannot be said for the Redskins. This is a Washington team that has allowed at least 30 points in six of its last eight games overall. Blaine Gabbert has arguably been the best quarterback on Arizona’s roster and is good enough to take advantage of this soft Washington defense.

Washington is 32-52 ATS in its last 84 games as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points. The Redskins are 14-28 ATS in their last 42 games as a home favorite of 3.5 to 7 points. The Cardinals are 14-5 ATS in their last 19 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Washington is 11-28-2 ATS in its last 41 home games vs. a team with a losing record.

Plays against home favorites of 3.5 to 10 points (Washington) With a poor scoring defense, allowing 24 or more points per game, after a loss by 10 points or more are 33-11 (75%) ATS over the last 10 seasons. Arizona is 4-1-1 ATS in its last six meetings with Washington. Bet the Cardinals Sunday.