Bengals @ Texans
I think the most telling state here is the Bengals record against teams with a winning record this year is 1-6. While the Bengals are 8-1 against teams that are .500 or worse. Since Schaub went down with an injury the Texans are 3-3 (losing their last 3). Since Schaub went down the Texans have averaged 18 points per game (ppg) Are teams starting to figure out T.J. Yates? I don’t think so. I said before that Wade Phillips is their big X-factor. He is now back. The most points that the Texans gave up at home with Wade Phillips coaching the defense was 25 points to the Raiders and an average of 16.5ppg (That’s including the 40 they gave up to the Saints in New Orleans). Giving up 14.43 ppg at home when Phillips is coaching. The Bengals give up an average of 17.25 ppg on the road and score 23.5 ppg on the road. I like the Texans to win 20-17 (take Houston straight up!). In the first playoff game that involves the new rules.
Pick: Under 39
Lions @ Saints
In a must win game last week against the Packers’ backup the Lions game up 480 yards passing and 6TDs (note: that is not a misprint). Can you imagine what Drew Brees is going to do at home against the Lions? I don’t think anyone can fathom the possibilities. The Lions didn’t have Louis Delmas and Ndamukong Suh the last time these teams met in week 13 when the Saints won 31-17. The Saints don’t lose at home. In addition, they don’t come close to losing at home in primetime. We know the Lions don’t show up for the first half and we know I’m a Lions fan, so I will only pick the first half (although, unbiased, the Saints for the game could be the better play). My only small hope for my Lions to pull of the upset is the fact that the Saints lost (both on the road) to the Rams and Buccaneers. The last two weeks, I believed there was a shot that the Saints could lose (boy was I wrong). This week I believe that the Saints have NO shot to lose (even though, a dome is a dome, right?). Sadly, my Lions go down 43-27. Don’t love the over play because of 59 is A LOT of points, but I will take it, along with:
Pick: First half Saints -7
Pick: Saints -10.5
Pick: Over 59