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NFL Conference Championship Weekend: Over and Under Bets

Posted on 18 January 2019 | by Brad Gagnon

This NFL season, with sports betting expected to be a more common and accepted practice, we’re making a point to look beyond point spreads and analyze often-neglected totals. As part of that approach, we’re offering up our favorite bet over and favorite under each week.

Over and Under Best Bets

Take the over: New England Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs

Total: 56.5

The Chiefs remain vulnerable against the run. The Colts averaged 6.2 yards per rush against them but weren’t able to establish the run consistently due to the score.

Meanwhile, the Patriots have really discovered a strong running game thanks to the emergence of Sony Michel. Look for them to keep it on the ground and set things up for the passing game to take advantage of a secondary that is also beatable.

You know Tom Brady will get some shots in, and there’s little doubt Patrick Mahomes will do the same. New England’s run defense is also vulnerable — only the Rams surrendered more yards per carry than the Pats and Chiefs this season — and Damien Williams and Spencer Ware should have plenty of success setting up the passing game. Kansas City could also get a shot in the arm from the return of injured guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif.

These teams combined for 83 points in their first meeting, and this should be another track meet. After initial weather concerns, the latest forecast indicates this game won’t be played in sub-zero temperatures after all, and I think both teams will have just enough in them on offense to push this one into the 60s.

Predicted score: Chiefs 34, Patriots 28

Take the under: Los Angeles Rams at New Orleans Saints

Total: 56

Dating back to Week 13, the Saints have averaged fewer than 20 points per game. And while they scored 45 points the last time they faced Los Angeles, Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is too smart to let that happen again. Look for Aqib Talib — who didn’t play in that first meeting — to do a better job against productive star Saints receiver Michael Thomas, and don’t be surprised if underrated Rams linebacker Cory Littleton limits Alvin Kamara’s damage.

That could make life real tough against a defensive front featuring defensive player of the year shoo-in Aaron Donald as well as Ndamukong Suh, who looks inspired thus far in January.

And while the Rams also scored 35 points in that Week 9 meeting, that offense has also been less stable and consistent without Cooper Kupp down the stretch.

The Saints defense is certainly beatable, but keep in mind that New Orleans completely shut down the Eagles for three and a half quarters on Sunday and has surrendered 17 or fewer points in seven of its last nine games.

Not even sure this one will hit 50.

Predicted score: Rams 24, Saints 23

Good luck, we’re all counting on you.

Previous results
Last week: 2-0
2018 season: 23-14-1

What To Look For – Divisional Playoffs

Posted on 11 January 2019 | by National Football Post

PRESS RELEASE

WHAT TO LOOK FOR – DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

LOWER SEED SUCCESS: The INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (11-6) and PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (10-7) both earned victories on Wild Card Weekend as the No. 6 seed in their respective conferences.

The Colts, who travel to Kansas City on Saturday (4:35 PM ET, NBC), and the Eagles, who play at New Orleans on Sunday (4:40 PM ET, FOX), look to become the first No. 6 seeds to reach the Conference Championship since 2010, when both the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets accomplished the feat.

The No. 6 seeds to reach the Conference Championship since the 12-team playoff format began in 1990:

SEASON	TEAM	CONFERENCE	ADVANCED TO
2010	Green Bay	NFC	Won Super Bowl XLV
2010	New York Jets	AFC	Conference Championship
2008	Baltimore	AFC	Conference Championship
2008	Philadelphia	NFC	Conference Championship
2005	Pittsburgh	AFC	Won Super Bowl XL

*2018*	*Indianapolis*	*AFC*	*???*
*2018*	*Philadelphia*	*NFC*	*???*

In the AFC, the LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (13-4, No. 5 seed), who face New England on Sunday (1:05 PM ET, CBS), and the sixth-seeded Colts are both still alive. With victories by both teams in the Divisional Playoffs, it would mark the first Conference Championship game featuring a No. 5 and No. 6 seed since the 12-team playoff format began in 1990.

WINNING WAYS: The DALLAS COWBOYS, who defeated Seattle 24-22 on Wild Card Weekend, and the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, who had a bye last week, will each be playing in the Divisional Playoffs.

Dallas, who plays at the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night (8:15 PM ET, FOX), has 35 playoff wins and can tie the PITTSBURGH STEELERS (36) for the most postseason victories all-time. New England, who hosts the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday (1:05 PM ET, CBS), has 34 postseason victories and can surpass the GREEN BAY PACKERS (34) for the third-most playoff wins all-time.

The teams with the most postseason wins in NFL history:

TEAM	WINS	LOSSES	WIN PCT.	SUPER BOWL WINS
Pittsburgh	36	25	.590	6
*Dallas*	35	27	*.565*	5
Green Bay	34	22	.607	4
*New England*	34	20	*.630*	5
San Francisco	30	20	.600	5

TOUCHDOWN LEADERS: Kansas City quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES and the Chiefs are set to face off against Indianapolis quarterback ANDREW LUCK and the Colts in the Divisional Playoffs on Saturday (4:35 PM ET, NBC).

Mahomes, who led the NFL with 50 touchdown passes, and Luck, who ranked second with 39 touchdown passes in 2018, have the most combined regular-season passing touchdowns (89) among any opposing quarterbacks in a playoff game in the Super Bowl era.

With Mahomes and Luck ranking first and second in regular-season touchdown passes, Saturday will mark the fifth time since 2002 that the top two passing touchdown leaders from the regular season will face off in the postseason.

The postseason games between the top two regular-season passing touchdown leaders since 2002:

SEASON	PLAYER (TEAM)	TD PASSES	PLAYER (TEAM)	TD PASSES	PLAYOFF ROUND
2016	Aaron Rodgers (GB)	40	Matt Ryan (Atl.)	38	NFC Championship
2014	Andrew Luck (Ind.)	40	Peyton Manning (Den.)	39	AFC Divisional
2009	Drew Brees (NO)	34	Peyton Manning (Ind.)	33*	Super Bowl XLIV
2009	Drew Brees (NO)	34	Brett Favre^ (Min.)	33*	NFC Championship

*2018*	*Patrick Mahomes (KC)*	50	*Andrew Luck (Ind.)*	39	*AFC Divisional*

^Pro Football Hall of Famer

*Tied for 2nd

AGE IS JUST A NUMBER: New England quarterback TOM BRADY and the Patriots welcome quarterback PHILIP RIVERS and the Los Angeles Chargers to Gillette Stadium on Sunday (1:05 PM ET, CBS).

Brady, who will be 41 years and 163 days old on Sunday, and Rivers, at 37 years and 36 days old, combine for a total of 28,688 days old, the oldest combined age by opposing starting quarterbacks in a postseason game in NFL history.

The oldest combined age by opposing starting quarterbacks in a postseason game in NFL history:

DATE	QUARTERBACK	TEAM	QUARTERBACK	TEAM	COMBINED DAYS OLD
*1/13/19*	*Tom Brady*	*New England*	*Philip Rivers*	*Los Angeles Chargers*	28,688*
1/24/16	Peyton Manning	Denver	Tom Brady	New England	28,603
1/9/99	John Elway^	Denver	Dan Marino^	Miami	27,704
1/16/94	Warren Moon^	Houston Oilers	Joe Montana^	Kansas City	27,306
1/22/17	Tom Brady	New England	Ben Roethlisberger	Pittsburgh	27,162

^Pro Football Hall of Famer

*Total days as of Sunday, January 13

RATED WELL: Philadelphia quarterback NICK FOLES and the Eagles head to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday (4:40 PM ET, FOX) to face New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES and the Saints.

Foles, who has the highest postseason passer rating (105.2) in NFL history, and Brees, who ranks fifth with a 100.7 passer rating, are two of five quarterbacks to have a passer rating of 100 or higher in the postseason (minimum 150 attempts).

The quarterbacks with the highest career postseason passer rating (minimum 150 attempts):

QUARTERBACK	COMP.	ATT.	YARDS	TDS	INTS	RATING
*Nick Foles*	*125*	*179*	*1,432*	10	3	*105.2*
Bart Starr^	130	213	1,753	15	3	104.8
Kurt Warner^	307	462	3,952	31	14	102.8
Matt Ryan	237	351	2,672	20	7	100.8
*Drew Brees*	*354*	*537*	*4,209*	29	9	*100.7*

^Pro Football Hall of Famer

Foles (69.8 percent) has the highest postseason completion percentage in league annals (minimum 150 attempts) and Brees (65.9 percent) ranks fifth.

The quarterbacks with the highest career postseason completion percentage (minimum 150 attempts):

QUARTERBACK	COMP.	ATT.	PCT.
*Nick Foles*	*125*	*179*	*69.8*
Matt Ryan	237	351	67.5
Kurt Warner^	307	462	66.5
Ken Anderson	110	166	66.3

^Pro Football Hall of Famer

SHOWDOWN IN SO CAL: Dallas running back EZEKIEL ELLIOTT and the Cowboys head to Southern California to take on defensive tackle AARON DONALD and the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night (8:15 PM ET, FOX).

Elliott, who led the NFL with 1,434 rushing yards in 2018, rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown in Dallas’ Wild Card Weekend victory over Seattle. Elliott has recorded at least 125 rushing yards in each of his first two playoff appearances and can become the fourth player in NFL history to record three consecutive postseason games with at least 125 rushing yards.

The players with the most consecutive postseason games with at least 125 rushing yards in NFL history:

PLAYER	TEAM	DATES	CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH 125+ RUSH YARDS
Terrell Davis^	Denver	1/11/98-1/17/99	4
Arian Foster	Houston	1/7/12-1/5/13	3
John Riggins^	Washington	1/15/83-1/30/83	3

*Ezekiel Elliott*	*Dallas*	*1/15/17-1/5/19*	2*

^Pro Football Hall of Famer

*Active Streak

Donald, who led the league with 20.5 sacks and earned the 2018 Deacon Jones Award as the NFL’s sack leader, became the 11th different player since 1982 to record at least 20 sacks in a single season.

With a Rams win on Saturday, Donald would join Pro Football Hall of Famer LAWRENCE TAYLOR (1986) as the only players to record at least 20 sacks and advance to the Conference Championship in the same season since 1982.

The players to record at least 20 sacks and advance to the Conference Championship in the same season since 1982:

PLAYER	TEAM	SEASON	SACKS	ADVANCED TO
Lawrence Taylor^	New York Giants	1986	20.5	Won Super Bowl XXI

*Aaron Donald*	*Los Angeles Rams*	*2018*	*20.5*	*???*

^Pro Football Hall of Famer

Courtesy of NFL Communications

NFL Divisional Playoff Weekend: Over and Under Best Bets

Posted on 10 January 2019 | by Brad Gagnon

Over and Under Best Bets

Over of the week: Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams

Total: 49

The Cowboys offense has come alive. Dak Prescott is playing well, Ezekiel Elliott has picked up steam and the offensive line is healthier than it was during much of the regular season. As a result, Dallas has averaged 32.3 points per game the last three weeks.

Meanwhile, the Rams might not be projected to load up on points considering the way they finished the regular season — they averaged “just” 27.0 points per game during the final four weeks of the year — but they still averaged a league-high 37.1 points per game at home this season, and star running back Todd Gurley is now healthier than he’s been in weeks.

Both defenses have stellar playmakers, but the Rams have the league’s worst run D in terms of rushing yards allowed per attempt. That bodes well for Elliott. The Dallas D is excellent against the run but remains vulnerable through the air and struggled when defending running backs in the passing game. And that, of course, bodes well for Gurley and the rest of L.A.’s high-powered, innovative offense.

It’d be a huge surprise if the Cowboys and Rams didn’t combine for 50-plus points Saturday night in front of a split crowd at the L.A. Coliseum.

Predicted score: Cowboys 30, Rams 27

Under of the week: Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs

Total: 57.5

Whaaaat?

OK, the Chiefs have one of the worst defenses in the NFL, and that unit was at its worst when it gave up 35.6 points per game between Week 11 and Week 16 before recovering in finale against Raiders. But let’s not forget that Indy’s shockingly strong defense has surrendered a league-low 15.5 points per game dating back to Week 7.

Both offenses will undoubtedly move the ball and find the end zone, but I get the feeling oddsmakers have given too much credit to NFL touchdown pass leaders Patrick Mahomes and Andrew Luck and not enough credit to Indy’s all-around stellar D and Kansas City’s under-the-radar pass-rush.

The Chiefs can be had on the ground and in the secondary, but don’t be surprised if Bob Sutton dials up some stops with his sneaky-good pass-rush, and be less surprised if the still-mistake-prone Mahomes experiences some growing pains in his first career playoff start.

After all, the same thing happened to Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson and Mitchell Trubisky last week, as well as Jared Goff in his maiden playoff voyage last January.

This game won’t be low-scoring by any stretch, but I doubt these teams combine for more than 50 points.

Predicted score: Colts 27, Chiefs 24

Good luck, we’re all counting on you.

Previous results
Last week: 2-0
2018 season: 21-14-1

Super Bowl 53 Future Book Odds: Start To Finish

Posted on 10 January 2019 | by Martin Chandler

Wildcard weekend is out of the way and Super Bowl 53 coming up fast. Here are the current odds for teams in the playoffs. We’ve also put together a visualization of the odds for teams throughout the season below. The Saints have been the consistent favorite throughout 2018, with the Chiefs following close behind.

NFL Odds

Super Bowl LIII Line

AFC +3

NFC -3

Who will win Super Bowl LIII?

AFC Team +130 (13/10)

NFC Team -150 (2/3)

Odds to Win Super Bowl 53

New Orleans Saints 5/2

Kansas City Chiefs 4/1

Los Angeles Rams 9/2

New England Patriots 6/1

Los Angeles Chargers 9/1

Indianapolis Colts 10/1

Dallas Cowboys 12/1

Philadelphia Eagles 12/1

Exact Super Bowl Matchups (Most likely to least likely)

New Orleans Saints vs. Kansas City Chiefs 4/1

New Orleans Saints vs. New England Patriots 5/1

Los Angeles Rams vs. Kansas City Chiefs 6/1

Los Angeles Rams vs. New England Patriots 8/1

New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles Chargers 8/1

New Orleans Saints vs. Indianapolis Colts 10/1

Los Angeles Rams vs. Los Angeles Chargers 12/1

Los Angeles Rams vs. Indianapolis Colts 14/1

Dallas Cowboys vs. Kansas City Chiefs 16/1

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs 16/1

Dallas Cowboys vs. New England Patriots 20/1

Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots 20/1

Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Chargers 28/1

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Chargers 28/1

Dallas Cowboys vs. Indianapolis Colts 33/1

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Indianapolis Colts 33/1

Here you can select a team and see what the probability of them winning the Super Bowl was throughout each week of the season.

NFL Wild Card Weekend: Over and Under Best Bets

Posted on 4 January 2019 | by Brad Gagnon

Over and Under Best Bets

Over of the week: Seattle Seahawks at Dallas Cowboys

Total: 42.5

Just 34 percent of games involving the Seahawks or Cowboys fell short of the total this season, and Saturday’s over/under of 42.5 indicates we’re still under-estimating both teams’ ability to score points.

The Cowboys put up 63 points in their final two games of the regular season and averaged 25.0 points per game at home this season, while Seattle scored 65 points in its last two games and averaged 26.8 points per game overall.

That made the Seahawks offense the sixth-highest-scoring unit in football, thanks partly to the league’s highest-ranked running game and a suddenly-respectable offensive line. Plus, Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett have been crushing it in that receiving corps,

Meanwhile Amari Cooper has teamed up with Ezekiel Elliott to give Dallas one of the most dangerous offenses in the game. The Cowboys scored at least 27 points in five of their last eight games with Cooper, and Elliott once again gained steam during the second half of the season.

That doesn’t bode well for a Seahawks run defense that surrendered 4.9 yards per carry during the regular season, especially as the Dallas offensive line gets healthier.

Predicted score: Cowboys 26, Seahawks 23

Under of the week: Los Angeles Chargers at Baltimore Ravens

Total: 42

I can’t comprehend why this total is above 40. After all, the Los Angeles Chargers offense has gone a little cold, scoring just 33 points in their last two regular-season games. Just 10 of those points came in Week 16 against these Ravens, who scored just 16 offensive points of their own in that prime-time matchup.

Baltimore’s top-rated defense surrendered just 17.9 points per game during the regular season, while the Chargers ranked in the top 10 with just 20.6 points per game allowed.

Look for Baltimore’s D — which has been known to rise to occasions in the playoffs — to be just as strong at home as it was in that road victory over the Chargers. And look for L.A. to do an even better job at limiting the Ravens’ unique rushing attack, now that it has more tape and experience to work from.

It’s a lot easier to trust these defenses than these offenses, especially considering the Chargers’ history with big-game duds and L.A.’s turnover-filled final few games of the 2018 regular season.

Predicted score: Ravens 20, Chargers 17

Good luck, we’re all counting on you.

Previous results
Last week: 0-2
2018 season: 19-14-1

Big time: Browns playing rare significant late-season game

Mayfield doesn't regret actions, says not 'cookie-cutter' QB

Posted on 28 November 2018 | by National Football Post

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Baker Mayfield won’t change for anyone and refuses to be a “cookie-cutter quarterback.”

Cleveland’s outspoken rookie said Wednesday that he doesn’t regret calling former Browns coach Hue Jackson “fake” and he has no intention of changing his behavior. Following the Browns’ 35-20 win on Sunday in Cincinnati, Mayfield was cold toward Jackson and then said he was unhappy his first NFL coach accepted a job with the Bengals, a division rival.

Mayfield’s comments drew criticism and he fired back with a post on Instagram assailing Jackson. Mayfield declined to elaborate about their relationship.

The No. 1 overall draft pick said he’s entitled to his opinion, and “although I’m an athlete, I’m not a cookie-cutter quarterback, never have been, never will be. I speak my mind. That’s just how I am, so I didn’t like the (Jackson) move and people don’t have to care. I’m not looking for anybody’s approval.”

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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

FANTASY PLAYS: NFL crunch time creates shifts in daily game

Posted on 28 November 2018 | by National Football Post

The crescendo of the fantasy football season also marks a shift across the NFL landscape that starts this week.

Teams learn they’ll be in or out of the playoffs, others manage injuries with an eye toward January or next season, while some teams battle for playoff positions.

Understanding those dynamics and how they relate to daily fantasy can help separate you from the crowd. Here are a few spots for fantasy players to exploit during Week 13:

JAGS RUNNING BACKS

Leonard Fournette’s suspension opens up value in the Jacksonville Jaguars backfield for Week 13 with T.J. Yeldon and Carlos Hyde both becoming intriguing options. Both running backs cost less than $5,000 on FanDuel, while Yeldon is $4,400 and Hyde is just $3,300 on DraftKings. The Jaguars have a 21-point implied team total this week and both backs could have value.

Yeldon is a target on DraftKings with its point-per-reception format and should maintain his third down role at minimum with upside of receiving 50 percent of the snaps. Yeldon has a floor of four to six targets, with upside for more in a game where the Jaguars will start QB Cody Kessler and are projected to be playing from behind.

At $3,300 Hyde is still in consideration on DraftKings and could be the better play on FanDuel with the more TD-heavy scoring settings. In Week 8, his first game with Jacksonville, Hyde stepped in for Fournette and received the majority of the team’s carries and the first crack as the goal-line back. Now more familiar with the playbook, Hyde could see 15 to 20 carries and should again be featured at the goal. At near minimum price on both sites Hyde doesn’t need to do much to pay off his cheap price tag.

SPOILERY BUCS

While the Buccaneers are all but eliminated from contention, they will look to spoil things for divisional foe Carolina. The Tampa Bay QB position, whether occupied by Ryan Fitzpatrick or Jameis Winston, is a QB1 in seasonal leagues and has produced top 5 numbers at the position.

Winston will lead the Bucs offense and there could be value at the wide receiver position. DeSean Jackson is seeking a second opinion on his thumb and was ineffective in Week 12, playing less than 50 percent of snaps and catching just three of his eight targets. If Jackson misses time, it will lead to an elevated snap count and target share for both Chris Godwin and Adam Humphries. Both receivers have produced 20-plus point fantasy outputs and can be considered as secondary options for lineups pairing up Winston with top target Mike Evans.

Godwin and Humphries can also be considered as contrarian elements of Carolina Panthers stacks that feature Cam Newton and Christian McCaffrey, knowing that Carolina should be able to put up points with a projected team total above 29. The Buccaneers will be forced to throw and one of Godwin or Humphries is likely to pay off their low daily price tag. Users building multiple DFS lineups would be wise to exploit this injury situation.

NOTES FOR WEEK 13

Indianapolis tight end Jack Doyle is out for the season and Eric Ebron will see an increased target share in addition to his high red zone usage. Running back Rex Burkhead returns for New England which could impact Sony Michel and James White. Melvin Gordon’s injury will create value from Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson in the Chargers offense.

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For more Week 13 daily fantasy advice and tips, visit DailyRoto: https://dailyroto.com

NFL Week 13: Over and Under Best Bets

Posted on 28 November 2018 | by Brad Gagnon

Over and Under Best Bets

Over of the week: Los Angeles Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers

Total: 51

It’s not as though 51 isn’t a high number, but I wonder if the total for Sunday night’s Chargers-Steelers game would be significantly higher if the Bolts weren’t without star running back Melvin Gordon.

If indeed the total has fallen as a result of Gordon’s injury, that could be a mistake. Because Gordon’s backup, Austin Ekeler, has been fantastic. The versatile second-year back is averaging 5.8 yards per carry (more than half a yard better than Gordon) and he’s coming off a 10-catch performance in a blowout victory over the Cardinals.

The Chargers might not score 45 points in Pittsburgh like they did against Arizona, but they should be good for at least 24. They have a better offense than Denver, and the Broncos put up 24 on the Steelers a week ago.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh offense will be hungry to bounce back following a tough road loss to the Broncos. The Steelers are averaging 36.0 points per game at home this season, and they should make a run at that number in what is a huge prime-time game.

Predicted score: Steelers 34, Broncos 26

Under of the week: Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Total: 56.5

Carolina and Tampa Bay combined for 70 points when they met last month, which explains why the total is up above 56 for their meeting Sunday in Florida. But expect a correction in this matchup, especially now that…

1. The Bucs defense has straightened out at home, surrendering just 16.0 points per game in their last three outings at Raymond James Stadium.

2. Jameis Winston looks to be back on track at quarterback for the Bucs, which could mean fewer turnovers and thus fewer short fields for Tampa’s opponent.

3. The Carolina offense has come back to earth after a hot streak and is averaging a so-so 22.3 points per game in the last three weeks.

4. The Panthers haven’t scored more than 24 points in a road game this season.

This one might not even come close.

Predicted score: Panthers 27, Buccaneers 13

Good luck, we’re all counting on you.

Previous results
Last week: 1-0-1
2018 season: 15-8-1

Cowboys, Saints both thriving defensively lately

Posted on 27 November 2018 | by National Football Post

METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan doesn’t sound interested in reviewing how the Saints gave up 48 points in Week 1 or 37 points in Week 3.

“Early in the year, they gave up some points and yards and things like that, but you just really look at them in their last I guess three or four ballgames,” Linehan said.

The more recent version of New Orleans’ defense hasn’t allowed more than 17 points in any of its past three games.

“They’re just really doing a good job of getting stops and creating negative plays for the other team, whether it be sacks or turnovers,” Linehan said. “We’ve got a big challenge.”

Indeed, for all the offensive star power in Thursday night’s Saints-Cowboys clash — from New Orleans’ Drew Brees, Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara to Dallas’ Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and Amari Cooper — it is also about defenses that have played well lately. Or in the Cowboys’ case, most of the season.

Dallas has not allowed an opponent to score more than 23 in any of its past three games, has not allowed 30 points in a game all season and ranks third in the NFL in points allowed per game at 19.4.

“They’re playing extremely well,” Saints coach Sean Payton said of the Dallas defense. “Their front gets after the quarterback. I think that their back end is really good relative to their scheme. … They’re well-coached and I think that they’re playing with real good passion. It’s one of the better defenses we’ve seen.”

Saints quarterback Drew Brees was similarly effusive in his praise.

“Defensively, they fly around. They’re very well-coached, disciplined,” Brees said. “They are just doing all the things that the great defenses do — getting pressure on the quarterback, good against the run. So really in every facet of what you would say is winning football, championship-caliber football, these guys are doing it right now.”

Cowboys coach Jason Garrett cited coordinator Rod Marinelli’s work and an infusion of “some good young pieces on all three levels of our defense over the last couple of years” as reasons why Dallas has played well on that side of the ball this season.

“The guys have a good understanding of what we want them to do and I think we play hard,” Garrett said. “We’re physical, we run to the ball and take great pride in being a great defensive unit.”

Both defenses feature relatively young players in prominent roles, such as defensive end Taco Charlton, linebacker Jaylon Smith and safety Xavier Woods in Dallas, and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, linebacker Alex Anzalone and cornerback Marshon Lattimore in New Orleans.

Meanwhile, each team has a playmaking defensive end in his prime: Cameron Jordan for the Saints and Demarcus Lawrence for the Cowboys. Their linebackers also are led by accomplished veterans in New Orleans’ Demario Davis and Dallas’ Sean Lee.

New Orleans ranks No. 1 in the NFL against the run, which creates a compelling matchup against Elliott, the NFL’s leading rusher.

Some of the Saints’ success against the run stems from the fact they’ve played with large leads, which leaves opponents little choice but to try to come back through the air.

“At the same time, you see the first, opening, couple drives — three-and-outs — limited success in (opponents’) run game,'” Jordan said. “There’s also been games where we had to play all four quarters, all 60 minutes and even beyond that, and we still come out with the same result.”

Dallas is tied for fourth against the run as it prepares to face Kamara and Mark Ingram, and ranks 12th against the pass.

The Saints have a less flattering No. 30 ranking against the pass, but have been able to counter that with turnovers, such as three in the red zone against Atlanta last week. And they’ve gotten good pressure on quarterbacks, with 13 sacks in the past three games.

“I don’t think quarterbacks are getting comfortable back there,” Saints defensive tackle Tyeler Davison said. “There’s not space for them to step up. You can’t escape on the edges. I feel like when quarterbacks play against us now, they have to have that clock in their head. They know that, ‘If I don’t get this ball out, something’s going to happen to me.’ Especially with our offense doing so well, it allows us to pin our ears back and go attack the quarterback.”

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AP Football Writer Schuyler Dixon in Dallas contributed to this report.

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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Not that simple: Titans focus on trying to win a game

Posted on 27 November 2018 | by National Football Post

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Titans’ playoff hopes are slim at best after losing five of their last seven games. So Tennessee’s focus for December is simple. And desperate.

“Try to find a way to win a game. Put our full focus on the Jets,” first-year head coach Mike Vrabel said Tuesday.

The Titans (5-6) had a chance to stay in the AFC South race, but disappointing performances resulted in a 38-10 thumping at Indianapolis last week and then a 34-17 loss in Houston on Monday night.

The back-to-back losses have dropped Tennessee three games behind Houston. Now five teams stand between the Titans and the second AFC wild-card slot that they squeezed into last season with a 9-7 record.

If that’s not bad enough, Baltimore, Indianapolis and Miami all hold a crucial tiebreaker having beaten the Titans head-to-head.

“We can’t think about no playoffs, no nothing, anything about health,” safety Kevin Byard said after the loss in Houston. “The only thing in front of us is the New York Jets.”

The Titans, who have lost five of their last seven, wrap up the regular season playing four of five at home. Three opponents currently are 3-8, starting with the Jets and followed by a matchup against the Jaguars on Dec. 5. Their lone road trip is a trip to New York against the Giants (3-8) on Dec. 16.

Sunday’s game with the Jets will be only the Titans’ third home game since the end of September.

“We got to give our fans something to cheer about,” Vrabel said.

First, Tennessee needs to figure out how to give Mariota more time. No team has allowed more sacks this season than the Titans, and they gave up six to the Texans for a total of 39 through 11 games. Mariota has been sacked 35 times through 10 games and easily is on pace to top the 38 sacks in 12 games in his rookie season when Tennessee went 3-13.

The Titans wasted a franchise record performance by Mariota as the quarterback completed his first 19 passes and finished 22 of 23 for 303 yards with a 95.7 percent completion rate that was second only in NFL history to Phillip Rivers’ mark of 96.6 percent set a day earlier.

Mariota said he can do a better job of helping his teammates.

“I was holding onto the ball a little too long,” Mariota said. “I got us into negative situations taking some of these sacks. I’ll look back at the film, I’ll get better from it, and improve.”

The Titans also gave up a season-worst 281 yards rushing. And a team that went to Houston with the second-fewest accepted penalties in the NFL racked up seven flags for 50 yards.

Now they face playing two games in the span of five days, their third in 11 days.

“It’s all about us,” Mariota said. “It’s all about us taking care of our business and just focusing on what we can control.”

Notes: Vrabel said CB Malcolm Butler (stinger) is in the concussion protocol. He said they hope to get WR Taywan Taylor (left foot) back this week, though S Dane Cruikshank should miss another week.

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