Dallas Cowboys betting on rout of rival Redskins
Dallas Cowboys betting on rout of rival Redskins
Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys will put their perfect record on the line Sunday afternoon at home against the Washington Redskins who will be without star defensive end Jason Taylor following his surgery earlier this week. Despite Taylor's absence, there are plenty of 'Skins backers as they line has dropped a point since open while injuries mount across the league in the early going.
Maybe they should cut the NFL regular season to three games. That’s about all the punishment players can take these days.
There was a time when football was even more brutal than it is today, back when the flying wedge and the leather helmet were king. But that doesn’t change the fact that NFL players are in more and more danger with each passing year. Changes in equipment technology and to the rulebook are no longer keeping up with bigger, faster and stronger players.
Injuries will determine the fate of much of the Week 4 NFL slate. You don’t need to be a physician to be a handicapper, but it certainly helps to understand which injuries can be played through and which ones can really impact performance. And the official NFL injury report? Ignore it. It’s a valuable source of disinformation for NFL coaches.
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals (-3½, 44½)
Sunday, Sep 28, 1:00 p.m. (ET) CBS
Both of these Rust Belt rivals are in crisis mode at 0-3 SU and 1-2 ATS. The Browns and Bengals are near the bottom of the league in rushing and passing efficiency, and their defenses have been nothing short of lousy. The one saving grace is Cleveland’s brilliant special teams unit. Punter Dave Zastudil has cranked out 17 punts, and only four have been returned for a total of 30 yards. Place-kicker Phil Dawson is 4-for-4 on field goals. The Bengals don’t even come close in this department, which should make the difference Sunday afternoon.
The sad thing is, Cleveland’s offense just got even worse. Left guard Eric Steinbach is out 3-5 weeks with a separated shoulder. That’s not going to do much for QB Derek Anderson’s already broken confidence. Brady Quinn is a strong candidate to replace him early Sunday.
Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys (-12, 46)
Sunday, Sep 28, 4:15 p.m. (ET) FOX
The big story out of Washington (2-1 SU and ATS) is that DE Jason Taylor suffered a potentially lethal calf injury last week against Arizona. Taylor finished the game, then felt numbness in his leg and had emergency surgery Monday. Doctors spent 20 minutes draining blood that had pooled near Taylor’s ankle that could have caused tissue damage; he’ll miss Sunday’s late afternoon start versus the Cowboys (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS).
There are a lot of bettors on Washington in this matchup, with QB Jason Campbell (four TDs, zero INTs) rounding into form. But the ‘Skins have the worst special teams in the league (Dallas is ranked No. 11 in efficiency), and their defense just lost its marquee player. Marion Barber (4.6 yards per carry) and the Cowboys’ run game should take center stage in this matchup.
Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears (+3, 40½)
Sunday, Sep 28, 8:15 p.m. (ET) NBC
If you weren’t around back in 1987 to watch those replacement games (who could forget Mike Hohensee quarterbacking the Bears?), then the Sunday nighter might give you a taste of what it was like. Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (chest) and RB Brian Westbrook (sprained ankle) haven’t practiced since getting hurt last week against the Steelers. Tight end L.J. Smith (back) was also kept out of Thursday’s practice. Speculation at press time had McNabb playing, Westbrook a game-time decision, and Smith highly unlikely to play.
Those injuries explain why the Eagles (2-1 SU, 3-0 ATS) are only 3-point faves at Soldier Field versus Chicago (1-2 SU, 1-1-1 ATS). But the Bears have their own problems. Devin Hester has sore ribs and has been limited in practice; his amazing work over the past two years on special teams (including 12 TD returns) was Chicago’s best attribute. WR Brandon Lloyd (hip) is also uncertain for Week 4 after missing Thursday’s practice. It doesn’t look good at all for Da' Bears.
Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys will put their perfect record on the line Sunday afternoon at home against the Washington Redskins who will be without star defensive end Jason Taylor following his surgery earlier this week. Despite Taylor's absence, there are plenty of 'Skins backers as they line has dropped a point since open while injuries mount across the league in the early going.
Maybe they should cut the NFL regular season to three games. That’s about all the punishment players can take these days.
There was a time when football was even more brutal than it is today, back when the flying wedge and the leather helmet were king. But that doesn’t change the fact that NFL players are in more and more danger with each passing year. Changes in equipment technology and to the rulebook are no longer keeping up with bigger, faster and stronger players.
Injuries will determine the fate of much of the Week 4 NFL slate. You don’t need to be a physician to be a handicapper, but it certainly helps to understand which injuries can be played through and which ones can really impact performance. And the official NFL injury report? Ignore it. It’s a valuable source of disinformation for NFL coaches.
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals (-3½, 44½)
Sunday, Sep 28, 1:00 p.m. (ET) CBS
Both of these Rust Belt rivals are in crisis mode at 0-3 SU and 1-2 ATS. The Browns and Bengals are near the bottom of the league in rushing and passing efficiency, and their defenses have been nothing short of lousy. The one saving grace is Cleveland’s brilliant special teams unit. Punter Dave Zastudil has cranked out 17 punts, and only four have been returned for a total of 30 yards. Place-kicker Phil Dawson is 4-for-4 on field goals. The Bengals don’t even come close in this department, which should make the difference Sunday afternoon.
The sad thing is, Cleveland’s offense just got even worse. Left guard Eric Steinbach is out 3-5 weeks with a separated shoulder. That’s not going to do much for QB Derek Anderson’s already broken confidence. Brady Quinn is a strong candidate to replace him early Sunday.
Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys (-12, 46)
Sunday, Sep 28, 4:15 p.m. (ET) FOX
The big story out of Washington (2-1 SU and ATS) is that DE Jason Taylor suffered a potentially lethal calf injury last week against Arizona. Taylor finished the game, then felt numbness in his leg and had emergency surgery Monday. Doctors spent 20 minutes draining blood that had pooled near Taylor’s ankle that could have caused tissue damage; he’ll miss Sunday’s late afternoon start versus the Cowboys (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS).
There are a lot of bettors on Washington in this matchup, with QB Jason Campbell (four TDs, zero INTs) rounding into form. But the ‘Skins have the worst special teams in the league (Dallas is ranked No. 11 in efficiency), and their defense just lost its marquee player. Marion Barber (4.6 yards per carry) and the Cowboys’ run game should take center stage in this matchup.
Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears (+3, 40½)
Sunday, Sep 28, 8:15 p.m. (ET) NBC
If you weren’t around back in 1987 to watch those replacement games (who could forget Mike Hohensee quarterbacking the Bears?), then the Sunday nighter might give you a taste of what it was like. Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (chest) and RB Brian Westbrook (sprained ankle) haven’t practiced since getting hurt last week against the Steelers. Tight end L.J. Smith (back) was also kept out of Thursday’s practice. Speculation at press time had McNabb playing, Westbrook a game-time decision, and Smith highly unlikely to play.
Those injuries explain why the Eagles (2-1 SU, 3-0 ATS) are only 3-point faves at Soldier Field versus Chicago (1-2 SU, 1-1-1 ATS). But the Bears have their own problems. Devin Hester has sore ribs and has been limited in practice; his amazing work over the past two years on special teams (including 12 TD returns) was Chicago’s best attribute. WR Brandon Lloyd (hip) is also uncertain for Week 4 after missing Thursday’s practice. It doesn’t look good at all for Da' Bears.
