Monday’s 6-pack:
Interesting spreads for Week 8 NFL games:
— Green Bay @ Arizona (-3.5)
— Miami @ Buffalo (-13.5)
— Carolina @ Atlanta (-2.5)
— Philadelphia (-3) @ Detroit
— Bengals (-9.5) @ Jets
— Patriots @ Chargers (-5)
Quote of the Day
“I’m worried about giving these guys a chance to win, OK? We ain’t going down that road, OK? So everybody up and down that hallway is selling out to give these kids a chance to win. So I’m not worried about any of that, OK? So, can’t be focused on things we can’t control. What we can control is our attitude and our effort, and our kids have been incredible with all of that. And our job now is to get ’em to do the exact same thing for next week.”
Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente
Monday’s quiz
Which NFL franchise is the youngest?
Sunday’s quiz
Atlanta Braves last won the World Series in 1995; they beat Cleveland that year.
Saturday’s quiz
Peyton Manning was the #1 pick in the 1998 NFL Draft; Ryan Leaf was the #2 pick.
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Monday’s Den: Wrapping up an NFL Sunday
Cincinnati 41, Baltimore 17:
— Burrow threw for 416 yards; Chase caught 8 balls for 201 yards.
— Bengals started 2nd half with TD’s on four of first five drives.
— Bengals have had a TD play of 31+ yards in all seven games.
— Cincy won four of last five games, is tied with Ravens atop AFC North.
— Bengals averaged 10.6 yards per pass attempt.
— Ravens converted only 5-16 third down plays.
— Bengals outgained Baltimore, 520-393.
— Last 6+ years, Ravens are 18-23-2 ATS as home favorites.
NY Giants 25, Carolina 3:
— Carolina lost last four games after 3-0 start, giving up 29 ppg.
— Last four games, Panthers were outscored 80-35 in second half.
— Carolina converted only 2-15 third down plays.
— Darnold got benched; his backup went 3-14/33 passing. Not good.
— First TD for either side came with 0:59 left in third quarter.
— Giants’ last four drives: TD-FG-FG-TD.
— Panthers went 3/out on 8 of their 12 drives.
— Giants outgained Carolina, 302-173.
Green Bay 24, Washington 10:
— Washington had ball in red zone 4 drives in row, scored total of 3 points.
— Washington outgained Packers, 430-304, scored only ten points.
— Washington opponents converted 58-102 on third down (56.9%).
— Last 2+ years, Washington is 8-16-1 ATS coming off a loss.
— Green Bay won last six games (5-0-1 ATS), scoring 27.5 ppg.
— Packers scored a touchdown on three of first five drives.
— Green Bay is 13-6 ATS last 19 games as a home favorite.
— Last four Packer games stayed under the total.
Tennessee 27, Kansas City 3:
— Titans outgained Chiefs 296-52 in first half.
— Chiefs have 17 turnovers this year; they had 16 all of last year.
— KC had scored 23 TD’s on 54 drives before this game.
— Mahomes got KO’d, but passed concussion test later.
— Tennessee won five of last six games, scoring 30.0 ppg.
— Titans in first half; five drives- three TD’s, two FG’s.
— Tennessee converted 8-12 on on third down, Chiefs 4-11.
— Last four years, Titans are 8-3 ATS as home underdogs.
Atlanta 30, Miami 28:
— Falcons kicked 36-yard FG at 0:00 for the win.
— Atlanta kicked FG on last play of both halves.
— Falcons scored two TD’s, two FG’s on first five drives.
— Last 11 years, Atlanta is 8-3 ATS coming off a bye.
— Miami lost last six games, giving up 31.8 ppg.
— Dolphins converted 7-11 on third down, Atlanta 6-13.
— Miami scored TD’s on 3 of last 5 drives, took 28-27 lead with 2:27 left.
— Miami has given up 45 plays of 20+ yards, has 26 themselves.
New England 54, NJ Jets 13:
— Jets have been outscored 44-0 in first quarter of games.
— Rookie QB Wilson got hurt; rookie White replaced him.
— Rookie QB’s struggle; they’re 9-21 ATS so far this season (6-21 without Patriots’ three wins).
— Last six years, Jets are 11-24-2 ATS as road underdogs.
— Patriots are 3-0 vs rookie QB’s, 0-4 vs everyone else.
— NE in first half: five drives- four TDs and a field goal.
— Jones threw for 307 yards and two TD’s.
— New England scored 36 ppg last three games, after 17.8 ppg in first four.
LA Rams 28, Detroit 19:
— Lions recovered an onside kick, had two successful fake punts.
— Detroit was in red zone five times, scored only nine points.
— Lions gave up at least 7.3 yards/pass attempt in every game.
— Detroit is winless, but is 4-3 against the spread.
— Ramsey had game-sealing INT in end zone with 4:53 left.
— LA converted 9-13 third down plays.
— Kupp caught ten passes for 156 yards, two TD’s.
— Rams won last three games, scoring 26-38-28 points.
Las Vegas 33, Philadelphia 22:
— Eagles lost five of their last six games.
— Last six weeks, Eagles were outscored 101-43 in first half.
— Last four years, Eagles are 6-10 ATS as road underdogs.
— Only nine of Raiders’ 63 plays came on third down.
— Carr completed 31-34 passes for 323 yards, two TD’s.
— Raiders had 15-yard edge in field position.
— Since moving to Las Vegas, over is 9-1-1 in Raider home games.
— Raiders are 2-0 since Gruden left, scoring 34-33 points.
Arizona 31, Houston 5:
— Texans lost last six games, giving up 30.3 ppg.
— Last six games, Houston was outscored 109-17 in 2nd half.
— Texans had only 8 first downs, averaged 3.5 yards/pass attempt.
— Houston is 0-4 on road, losing last three by a combined 102-8.
— Houston actually led this game 5-0 in second quarter.
— Zach Ertz caught a 47-yard TD pass in his Arizona debut.
— Cardinals ran for 172 yards, outgained Houston 397-160.
— Cardinals are 7-0 for first time since 1974.
Tampa Bay 38, Chicago 3:
— Chicago’s first 6 drives: 3 first downs, 2 lost fumbles, INT, no points.
— Bears turned ball over five times (minus-4)
— Last four games, Bears converted 14-54 third down plays.
— Chicago averaged 4.7 or less yards/pass attempt in six of seven games.
— Only one of Tampa Bay’s five TD drives was longer than 48 yards.
— Buccaneers had a 20-yard edge in field position.
— Tampa Bay has 28 TD’s on 75 drives this season.
— Bucs are 4-0 at home this year, winning by 2-23-28-35 points.
Indianapolis 30, San Francisco 18:
— Game was played in a quagmire in Santa Clara.
— Colts had TD drives of 28-33-39 yards.
— Indy converted 6-14 on third down, 49ers 1-11.
— Colts covered five of their last six games.
— 49ers lost last four games, giving up 26.3 ppg.
— 49ers’ first three drives: 19 plays, 129 yards, 12 points.
— 49ers’ last nine drives: 32 plays, 134 yards, 6 points.
— Niners are 0-8 ATS last eight games as home favorites.
Cleveland 17, Denver 14:
— Broncos in 1st half: 15 plays, 71 yards, two first downs, no points.
— Broncos in 2nd half: 33 plays, 162 yards, two TD’s on three drives.
— Denver lost last four games, outscored 61-20 in first half.
— Five of seven Denver games stayed under the total.
— Johnson ran ball for 146 yards in his first NFL start.
— Cleveland converted 9-15 third down plays.
— Browns outgained Denver, 376-233.
— Cleveland ran ball for 5.5 yards/attempt.
Opening line on World Series: Astros -125
