If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
The Philadelphia Eagles (4-9, 3-9-1 ATS) ended their eight-game losing streak at Tampa Bay last week, and they now get another chance to play spoiler vs. the Cincinnati Bengals (7-6. 6-6-1) Thursday from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia at 8:20 ET on NFL Network. The Bengals blew a late lead at home in a 20-19 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, leaving Cincinnati tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the second and last wild card spot in the AFC with those two teams on a collision course to settle things head-to-head in the regular season finale.
The Eagles' rookie quarterback Nick Foles just keeps getting better every week, and he had his best game yet vs. the Buccaneers as he completed 32-of-51 passes for a whopping 381 yards an two touchdowns, and he led Philadelphia back from an 11-point deficit as his two touchdown passes both came in the last four minutes including the game winner on the final play of the game, crippling the Bucs' playoff hopes by dropping them to 6-7. Putting things in perspective though, Foles accomplished that vs. the worst passing defense in the NFL as Tampa Bay is surrendering a distressing 311.1 passing yards per game. He will not have things nearly as easy this week vs. a Cincinnati pass defense that ranks 10th at 221.6 yards and seventh in defensive passing average at only 6.2 yards per attempt. Furthermore, the Bengals lead the NFL with their 41 sacks and Geno Atkins, who just may be the best defensive tackle in football, could wreak havoc with the suspect Eagles' offensive line. Thus Philadelphia will need a much improved effort from running back Bryce Brown, who somehow had six yards on 12 carries vs. the Bucs after looking so impressive in his first two starts.
The Bengals ran into a very emotional Dallas team playing the day after the untimely death of practice squad player Jerry Brown, and Cincinnati did outgain the Cowboys by 48 yards. Andy Dalton completed 20-of-33 passes for 206 yards and running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis remained hot with 89 rushing yards on only 18 carries. Both can have success here vs. an Eagles' defense allowing 7.2 yards per pass attempt and 4.2 yards per rush. Furthermore A.J. Green, who might be the best wide receiver in the AFC right now, uncharacteristically had a couple of drops and he figures to bounce back strong as he usually does, Plus this is a huge game for the Bengals, who must remain no worse than tied with the Steelers heading into the season finale because Pittsburgh won the first meeting. Now the Bengals have not fared well vs. teams with winning records the last two years but they have gotten fat vs. losing teams, and the Eagles fit that category at 4-9.
In fact, Cincinnati is 9-4-2 ATS in its last 15 games vs. teams with losing straight up records. The Bengals are also 4-1 ATS in their last five road games while the Eagles are an abysmal 7-19-1 ATS in their last 27 home games including 0-5-1 ATS at home this season.
Pick: UNDER 45
3 Unit Play. Take #505 Over 201 San Antonio at Portland (10:35 p.m., Thursday, December 13)
Anytime the Spurs play back-to-back games seems like the current game goes over the total. The Spurs are averaging 112.4ppg in their last 10 games and tonight we see the Spurs again hit the century mark against the Blazers defense. The Spurs are 9-3 O/U in their last 12 games and the Blazers are 13-3 O/U following a SU win. Last 6 meetings between these 2 teams 5 of them have gone over the total. Tonight all these trends continue and we get back some of the cash we lost Wednesday night.
Cincinnati (-4) at Philadelphia 8:20PM NFL Network
We play the NFL flip-flop to kick off week 15. Last week the Bengals got burned late by the Cowboys in a 20-19 loss. But with the Steeler defeat, they still control their own fate in the Wild Card race with the Steelers. In the same time frame, the Eagles were snapping their 8 game losing streak with a last minute 23-21 victory at Tampa Bay. But a closer inspection of that victory saw that the Eagles allowed T-Bay to run 32 times for 136 yards. Philly ran just 16 times for 29 yards. A review of the critical numbers above shows why the Eagles had only a 12% chance to cover the spread in that game. But the Eagles are still fielding a banged up OL and rookie QB. A fierce Bengals defense which has recorded 42 sacks will be salivating at the opportunity to get to young Foles. In fact the Bengals defense has been leading the late season 4-1 SU ATS resurgence with allowing just 12 PPG L 5 weeks. It is that unit that keys the turnaround in fortunes from last week in this contender vs. Towel Tosser scenario.
Comment