Sunday 9-8-19 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

ABOUT THE REDSKINS (2018: 7-9, 3RD IN NFC EAST): Adrian Peterson is on the cusp of a pair of honors, as the veteran resides one rushing touchdown shy of surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown (106) for fifth place in league history. Should that rushing score come on Sunday, Peterson would join Marcus Allen (12), Chuck Muncie (11) and Priest Holmes (10) with double-digit touchdowns in season-opening games. Washington will be playing without Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams (holdout), with either Donald Penn or Ereck Flowers starting in his place. The availability of tight end Jordan Reed (team-leading 558 receiving yards last season) is also in question as he deals with a concussion sustained two weeks ago in a preseason game against Atlanta.

ABOUT THE EAGLES (2018: 9-7, 2ND IN NFC EAST): Wideout DeSean Jackson led the NFL in yards per reception (18.9) with Tampa Bay last season and is poised to open up defenses for Wentz when he begins his second stint in Philadelphia. The speedy Jackson is known for his fast starts, highlighted by his five season-opening games of at least 100 receiving yards -- one shy of Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin for the most in league history. Tight end Zach Ertz is coming off a career year in which he reeled in a franchise record for receptions by a tight end (116) to go along with 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns. An overhauled backfield now features Jordan Howard (Chicago) joining versatile rookie Miles Sanders, who was selected out of Penn State in the second round of the draft.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Washington has won its past three road season openers, which accounts for the longest active streak in the NFL.

2. Eagles DT Fletcher Cox registered four of his career-high 10.5 sacks last season against the Redskins.

3. Washington S Landon Collins, who will make his team debut on Sunday, recorded 19 tackles in a pair of games versus Philadelphia in 2018 while playing for the New York Giants.

PREDICTION: Eagles 24, Redskins 17

[Can'tPickAWinner]

ABOUT THE BILLS (2018: 6-10, 3RD IN AFC EAST): Allen will look for support from a backfield that jettisoned veteran LeSean McCoy last weekend and has new faces in the ageless Frank Gore and rookie standout Devin Singletary. Cole Beasley, who had 65 catches a year ago with Dallas, gives Allen a seasoned target in the slot, and former 1,000-yard man John Brown also joins the receving corps. Rookie defensive tackle Ed Oliver had a strong preseason and will be a key cog in a promising defense that allowed just 294.1 yards per game last year -- second-fewest in the NFL.

ABOUT THE JETS (2018: 4-12, 4TH IN AFC EAST): For his part, Bell seems more than ready to reassert himself as one of the league's top backs, despite having not played in almost 19 months and seeing no game action in the preseason. "I can carry 50 (times) if you ask me," Bell told reporters. "When I say, 'Don't hold back,' I mean literally that. I don't want to go out there and try to sprinkle me in or anything like that. I'm ready to play football. I've been waiting a long time for this moment. A lot of people are excited to see me play. Quadruple that, and that's how I feel." Bell will be trying to revive a ground attack that ranked 29th in the NFL in yards per carry (4.0) in 2018 and was held to 90 yards or fewer eight times in the final 10 games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Darnold was 16-for-24 for 170 yards with a TD and an interception in his one meeting with the Bills as a rookie.

2. Buffalo has won three of its last five games in New York, including a 41-10 laugher last November in which it outgained the Jets 451-199.

3. The divisional foes do not meet again until a Week 17 matchup in Buffalo on Dec. 29.

PREDICTION: Jets 21, Bills 20

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Marc Lawrence Incredible Stat of the Day:

NFL road favorites are 3-23-1 UNDER before another road favorite role the following week (Kansas City Chiefs).

[Can'tPickAWinner]

ABOUT THE FALCONS (2018: 7-9, TIED FOR 2ND IN NFC SOUTH): Calvin Ridley quickly gained the trust of Ryan in 2018 and led all rookie wideouts in catches (64), receiving yards (821) and receiving touchdowns (10). While Ryan also has Mohamed Sanu coming off a career year, the quarterback is pleased to see the return of two-time Pro Bowl running back Devonta Freeman return following groin surgery. "His production when he's been healthy is as good as anybody. ... We're lucky to have him back," Ryan said of Freeman, who has missed 16 games over the last two seasons. The Falcons' ground attack was ranked 27th (98.3 yards per contest) in the league, a stark contrast to the fourth-ranked passing game (290.8).

ABOUT THE VIKINGS (2018: 8-7-1, 2ND IN NFC NORTH): Thielen had an NFL fourth-best 113 receptions, a career-high 1,373 receiving yards and a franchise-record nine games with 100-plus receiving yards last season while Diggs set career-highs in catches (102), receiving yards (1,021) and touchdown receptions (nine). Impressive totals to be certain, but the Vikings weren't willing to rest on their laurels and added a player with ties to Cousins in former Washington first-round pick Josh Doctson. "It's been very easy for me so far," Doctson said. "A lot of the same concepts (as the Redskins' offense), familiar routes, just kind of different verbiage, so it's pretty easy." Running back Dalvin Cook hopes to have an easier -- and healthier -- time of it after showing flashes of promise in his first two seasons despite being limited to just 15 games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Atlanta CB Damontae Kazee recorded a career-high seven interceptions last season, tied for most in the NFL.

2. The Vikings have won 10 of the 13 meetings at home against the Falcons.

3. Atlanta returned to a familiar face when it re-signed K Matt Bryant, 44, to a one-year deal after releasing him in February.

PREDICTION: Vikings 23, Falcons 21

[Can'tPickAWinner]

ABOUT THE RAVENS (2018: 10-6, FIRST IN AFC NORTH): Baltimore is convinced that Ingram, 29, has plenty left in the tank after splitting carries for years with the Saints. "He's a proven back in the National Football League," Ravens coach John Harbaugh told reporters. "He seems very healthy. (There is) not a lot of wear and tear on Mark. He’s a downhill, physical runner. He fits our style." Ingram will run between the tackles while Jackson takes off around the outside and goes after Michael Vick's record for rushing yards by a quarterback (1,039).

ABOUT THE DOLPHINS (2018: 7-9, SECOND IN AFC EAST): Miami traded for former first-round pick Josh Rosen in the offseason, but veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick won the battle in camp and will get the start on Sunday, becoming the first quarterback to start for eight different teams. "You know it is (rewarding)," Fitzpatrick told reporters. "It's something that's never been done before. Just in terms of who I am and the career I've had and the different places I've been, this means a lot to me. I think being able to do it here with a younger group where it's going to rely so much on communication and I've got to make sure I'm at my best on every single play, whether it's during the play or before at the line of scrimmage." Running back Kenyan Drake survived the team's offseason purge and is expected to take on a bigger role in the offense after averaging 4.5 yards per rush in 2018.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Ravens CB Brandon Carr (hip) is questionable for Sunday.

2. Dolphins CB Xavien Howard tied for the league lead with seven interceptions last season.

3. Baltimore beat Miami by a combined 78-6 in the last two meetings - 2016 and 2017.

PREDICTION: Ravens 20, Dolphins 17

[Can'tPickAWinner]

NFL (Bob Balfe)
4:25 PM EST
Rotation #469-470
Lions -3 over Cardinals

[Can'tPickAWinner]

PLAY ON any NFL non-divison road dog in Game One of the season if they won 6 or fewer games last year provided they have won 12 or more of their previous overall games.
ATS W-L Record Since 1980: 31-12-2
Play On: Cincinnati Bengals