Can the Dallas Cowboys make the point spread against the Washington Redskins
Published November 22, 2012 | 
Will the Dallas Cowboys make the point spread against the Washington Redskins?
On Thursday afternoon on Thanksgiving day, most likely around the time people all over the country will be sitting back after having their turkey, or possibly even just sitting down to eat their holiday dinner, kickoff will take place at Cowboy stadium in Texas for the football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins.
Checking the odds at the books that we watch closely, BetOnline for the US bettors and William Hill for the non US market, the line on the Cowboy-Redskins game has Dallas favored to win by 3 points? Many times this season we have seen where simply picking a favorite did not always insure you were backing, or betting on the team that would actually win the game.
This game is very important to them both. Since they are ranked 2nd and 3rd in the NFC East the outcome of this game affects the standings in that division. Both teams are in the hunt for a playoff spot as well. One scenario to consider, say the Redskins currently at 4-6 win, Dallas at 5-5 would move to 5-6 which would make them tied for second place in the division.
Washington then meets the Giants, currently 6-4 leading the NFC East on December 3rd, and since they have lost the last 2 games they will likely not be leading the division by that point in time. So you can see that the division is somewhat of a tight race between these 3 which makes the outcome of Thursday’s game important.
Let’s take a look at the game itself and what I think may happen though. Washington has won the last few games they played but they haven’t exactly been dominating in those games. The only way they can honestly win is by making big plays on the defense and forcing Dallas to turn the ball over and keep them out of the end zone. That might happen some, but I really don’t think they can do it enough to be effective.
And for the offense although rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III is doing ok, their air attack needs a bit of work. They will have to run the ball well to really compete in this game and that is something they have not done a lot of this year. In addition to going to running backs Alfred Morris and Evan Royster a lot, I look for Griffin to do a fair share of running when he gets the opportunity.
But the Cowboys defense will be ready for him. They have been doing a fair job this year on defense and they will certainly have to keep a close eye on Royster and Morris.
I think it is time for Tony Romo, quarterback for Dallas to have a big game. I think this week he will earn his pay and deliver the ball to his receivers, and this is will be a big factor in the game. With the Redskins defense being very effective against play action, he will have to keep his eyes open and may have to throw it away under pressure but he has been improving on getting rid of the ball quicker and avoiding the sack.
As important as this game is to both football teams, they will both take the field ready to play and ready to win. Each of them still has a good chance of making the playoffs, and neither of them will go down without a fight.
Of any of the three games taking place on Thanksgiving Day, this is the one that will probably be the most action packed and the one that is a little more difficult to pick. In my opinion I do think the Dallas Cowboys will make the point spread, and in fact I think they will beat the spread.
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San Francisco 49er’s vs Chicago Bears 2nd Half week 11
Published November 19, 2012 | Can the Chicago Bears come back from a 20 point deficit in the second half against the San Francisco 49er’s?
They stop the Bears on their first drive with a 3 and out. Chicago has absolutely no momentum and it doesn’t look like they have any hopes to find any.
3 plays and the 49er’s are in the red zone again. San Francisco is just walking all over the Bears. They get in for the 6 points again and have extended their lead. The score jumps to 27 to 0.
Chicago is finally able to get in for the points on this drive and the 49er’s made them work hard for it. The score is now at Chicago 7 to San Francisco 7.
Chicago stops the 49er’s again so if they can convert on their next possession they can get themselves back into the game. Sadly for the Bears that doesn’t happen though and San Francisco intercept the ball and they get to start another drive on the offensive side of the football just as the third quarter is ending.
San Francisco unable to get into the end zone on this drive take the field goal and extend their lead to 30 to 7. With Chicago backed up into the end zone the 49er’s are able to force a touchback and add 2 more points to the score making it 32 to 7.
Chicago is stopped once again and needs to punt with just over 2 minutes left in the game. San Francisco runs a play and it brings up the 2 minute warning. The final score is San Francisco 49ers 32 to Chicago Bears 7.
I thought that San Francisco would win this football game but I never thought it would be the blowout that it was. The 49er’s just dominated the game. The offense did well on the ground which was expected, but they did a good job with play action passes also. Their defense did a great job and penetrated the offensive line a lot more than I ever expected to see.
Chicago Bears vs San Francisco 49er’s 1st Half week 11
Published November 19, 2012 | 1st half of the Chicago Bears against the San Francisco 49er’s in week 11
The 49er’s are the first to get the football and they get a first down on their first play. And ironically enough the Bears get an unnecessary roughness 15 yard penalty on the play so a big gain on the first play.
San Francisco has been pretty effective so far in the air and have moved down field well and have made it into the red zone fairly quickly. They go for a pass play in the end zone on a 3rd and one but it didn’t work and they take the field goal so they are first to put the points on the board. Score is 3 to 0.
Chicago goes 3 and out on their first drive. They also had a bad kick so the 49er’s start with good field position on their next drive.
Another drive by San Francisco with passes and a big pass puts them in a 1st and goal situation, then a pass into the end zone and suddenly the 49er’s have a 10 point lead and are shutting out the Bears. Score is 10 to 0. Chicago has a little better drive but they can’t convert a 3rd down around mid field and have to punt again.
As the 1st period ends the score is at San Francisco 10 to Chicago 0. The 49er’s have possession and the ball is on the 36 with a 2nd and 3.
Even though the Chicago Bears are the NFC North leaders, their offense is not playing like they are. They need to start doing something on the offensive side of the ball with the next drive in order to stay alive in this game.
On a 3rd and 12 Chicago tries a pass play and instead of converting the 3rd down Tarell Brown corner back for San Francisco intercepts the football and the 49er’s have another chance to put more points up before the end of the first half.
A great run once again by Frank Gore and they have a first down. San Francisco is mixing it up well switching it up between play action and short pass plays as well as running plays and many of them have been gaing them the yards they need. They are in the red zone again threatening to put Chicago in a 3 score deficit.
Chicago makes a big play on defense and gets the sack on a 3rd and 11 and for them to go for a field goal giving the 49er’s their 4th score. The score now stands at 20 to 0. There is just over 6 minutes left in the first half.
The Bears start their next drive from the 30. A 3 and out once again and the Bears have to punt the ball back to San Francisco again. This drive the Bears are able to break up a 3rd down and force the 49er’s to punt.
With just over 2 minutes left on the clock, Chicago still has enough time to get some points up before the end of the half. Another 3 and out from deep inside their own territory and Chicago punts and the 49er’s will take over with the ball on their own 38.
Chicago stops San Francisco again and has one last shot with less than a minute to go in the first half but they can’t make anything happen. The half time score in San Francisco 20 to Chicago 0.
Second Half Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens week 11
Published November 18, 2012 | The second half with the Pittsburgh Steelers down by 3 points at the half against the Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens start the half with the football but the Steelers stop them cold on a 3 and out so Pittsburgh will get their first opportunity of the half.
In a great move by the Raven defense, they manage to pick off a pass for the interception. The Ravens do manage to turn the next posssession into 3 points with the field goal and the score is now 13 to Baltimore 7.
The Steelers are doing a little better on this drive and have made it to mid field. A costly penalty for a helmet to helmet hit against the Ravens gives the Steelers additional yards after a first down deep in Raven territory.
Pittsburgh manages the clock poorly and burn 2 timeouts just before the 3rd quarter ends. This may work against them later in the game. They can’t get in the end zone but do get the field goal making the score Pittsburgh 10 to Baltimore 13.
There is only enough time on the clock for the kickoff and maybe one or two plays. Shortly after starting the 4th quarter Pittsburgh is able to get their first sack of the game and forces the Ravens to punt.
I have noticed the the Ravens seem to be locking up the center a little better on a few of the rushing plays that Pittsburgh has attempted in the middle. After they break up a 2nd down run in the middle and a short pass on 3rd the Steelers must punt.
Although there have been a few scores, a lot of this football game has taken place on either side of mid field and has made it into each of the red zones very few times considering the total number of possessions.
Another drive by the Ravens and another drive shut down by the Steelers. Pittsburgh takes over after the punt at the 25.
The Steelers use their last time out with 2:04 left on the clock so the Ravens will run their 3rd down play and then there will be the 2 minute warning. Pittsburgh must stop the Ravens on 3rd and 7.
The Steelers have an offsides call on the play so it brings up a 3rd and 2 plus the 2 minute warning. This means the Ravens will run the 3rd down after the 2 minute warning and have a chance to eat up a good bit more clock time even if the Steelers can stop themn on the next play.
Pittsburgh gets the sack on the next play so the Ravens will need to punt but they will use as much time off the clock as they can. Prescious time ticking away Pittsburgh is trying but is not moving the ball effectively.
With the game on the line you can be sure that they will go for it on 4th even if they don’t convert the 3rd down. Sure enough a low snap but Byron Leftwich extends the play and makes an incomplete pass. The last play of the game was very ugly and after a few latterals time runs out.
The final score of the game is Pittsburgh Steelers 10 to Baltimore Ravens 13.
First Half Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers week 11
Published November 18, 2012 | 1st half of the Pittsburgh Steelers against the bookies favorites Baltimore Ravens in week 11?
Tonight’s matchup in the AFC North between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens may well be an exciting game. The books are favoring the Ravens, but the more I am looking at this the more I think that quarterback Byron Leftwich may surprise a number of people including the bookies.
He is actually in his 10th season and has the experience to win football games. And like I mentioned in an article earlier today here with running back Rashard Mendenhall back in the game the Steelers have a returning weapon in their running game that is explosive and can make things happen on the ground.
On their very first possession from mid field, Leftwich scrambles and runs it in for a touchdown. The Steelers put points on the board in less than one minute with a great start.
The Pittsburgh defense does their job during their first time on the field and stop the Ravens and they must punt providing Leftwich another opportunity to take the field and also to extend their lead early in the game.
The Ravens defense makes a big play and force a turnover. Flacco and the offense comes out on the field for the Ravens second offensive drive. Pittsburgh does the defense job again and force Baltimore to a field goal. This takes the score Ravens 3 to Steelers 7.
The Ravens stop the Steelers just about mid field so they must punt giving Baltimore another shot at points. But once again Pittsburgh stops them so their offense will get the ball back with minutes left in the 1st quarter.
A 3 and out for the Steelers on this drive and they punt the ball, and Jacoby Jones has a great kick return, breaks a tackle in mid field and takes it in for a touchdown. Baltimore now has the lead for the first time in the game and the score is Ravens 10 to Steelers 7.
After a trade of possessions and the Ravens have the ball again and are approaching the red zone just as the 1st quarter comes to an end.
Forced to attempt another field goal due to Pittsburgh breaking up their third down they miss an turn the ball over to the Steelers with decent field position. Unable to convert on the 3rd down the Ravens get the ball back.
The Steelers defense has been doing their job well tonight and force another punt by the Ravens. They have certainly shown why they are rated #1. Ironically the Ravens stop the Steelers on this drive and must punt again as well.
Stopped again the Ravens punt again giving the Steelers one more shot before the end of the first half. They are unable to convert it and punt with 27 seconds left on the clock. The Ravens take a knee and that ends the first half.
The half time score is Baltimore 10 to Pittsburgh 7.
Second Half New England Patriots vs Indianapolis Colts week 11
Published November 18, 2012 | Second half in week 11 New England Patriots against the Indianapolis Colts
The Patriots get in for the points on their first drive of the half and make the job for the Colts more difficult. The score moves to New England 31 to Indianapolis 17.
The New England defense stops the Colts offense on their first drive of the half and clearly swing the momentum of the game to their favor. The Patriots will get the ball back deep in their own territory with a 14 point lead.
The Colts defense does manage to stop the Patriots on 3rd down and they punt for the first time in the game. They will start the next drive with decent field position and the ball is on the 26. On a blitz the New England defense manage to force a fumble on the sack and recover the ball. On the very next play they take it in for a touchdown and the Patriots extend their lead and the score is 38 Patriots to the Colts 17.
Down by 21 points the Colts still have the ball and a 1st down as the 3rd quarter ends. The ball is on the New England 23 yard line. But on the first play of the 4th quarter the ball is picked off by Alfonzo Dennard and run in for another defensive touchdown. With the extra point the Patriots have a huge lead with the score at 45 to 17 for the Colts.
Finally able to do something in the half the Colts get a touchdown making the score Indianapolis 24 to New England 45.
Slicing down the field, a pass by quarterback Tom Brady gets a first down at mid field. Then a great run gets them to the 3 yard line, and a short hop and the Patriots are in the end zone again extending their lead to 28 points again. This makes the score 52 to the Colts 24.
With just under 8 minutes left in the game the Colts drive is stopped and they are forced to punt. A great return by Julian Edelman gives the Patriots good field position with the ball on the Colt 29.
A pass and catch on the 11 gives them a first down and they are knocking on the touchdown door once again. A short run in by Shane Vereen and they get another touchdown. With the extra point it takes the score to Patriots 59 to the Colts 24.
What looked to be a decent drive by the Colts after reaching mid field, a pass by quarterback Andrew Luck is picked off once again, his third interception of the game. It’s ironic that Luck has thrown for over 300 yards in this game.
The final score in the game New England Patriots 59 to Indianapolis Colts 24.
Indianapolis Colts vs New England Patriots 1st Half week 11
Published November 18, 2012 | The Indianapolis Colts meet the New England Patriots in the 1st half
I switched over to this game late due to the Tampa Bay win in their overtime game against the Carolina Panthers. The first play I see is a punt return by the Patriots in for a touch down.
They kick the ball and shortly thereafter the Patriots intercept a pass by quarterback Andrew Luck, and run it back 59 yards for a second touchdown. This puts the score at New England 21 to the Colts 14.
Since I hadn’t seen the first quarter of the game and needing to judge what I am seeing on this drive by New England it appears that Andrew Luck is not letting the interception bother him and is putting together a decent drive. Unable to complete the drive with 6 points the Colts take the field goal and take the score to 17 to Patriots 21.
Patriot quarterback Tom Brady will get the ball back on the 25 with just over 5 minutes left in the first half. As the game hits the two minute warning the field goal team will take the field in an attempt to extend the Patriot lead. New England makes the field goal and the score is 24 Patriots to the Colts 17.
Indianapolis will get the ball back and has just under 2 minutes left in the first half. On a 3rd and 3 Andrew Luck completes a pass to just before mid field and the Colts call a time out with 1 minute 23 seconds left in the half.
Running out of time the Colts have no choice but to attempt a 58 yard field goal, but is unsuccessful. So the half time score is New England 24 to Indianapolis 17.
Can Baltimore Ravens make the point spread against Pittsburgh Steelers
Published November 18, 2012 | Will the Baltimore Ravens make the point spread against the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 11?
This week the AFC North matchup between the Baltimore Ravens against the Pittsburgh Steelers is shaping up to be a big game for both football teams.
Both teams are wanting this win really bad and fortunately for Pittsburgh, running back Rashard Mendenhall will start the game Sunday night. This may be the boost that the Steelers need, and with Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman both playing well the past few weeks they will likely have a fair game on the ground.
But they will have to do so without starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, out for a sholder injury. The Steelers will face a larger difficulty than they would by having him on the field. The odds on this game at most of the online sportsbooks have the Ravens picked as 3 point favorites.
If Ravens’ quarterback Joe Flacco can continue hitting on 60% or more and hit his preferred wide receiver Torrey Smith as well as tight end Dennis Pitta and others then they may be difficult for the Steelers to conquer.
I think a lot of the game will hinge upon how effective the Ravens can stop Pittsburgh on the ground and how big of a game that Mendenhall has and whether backup quarterback Byron Leftwich can hit his receievers and can do so without throwing interceptions.
A tough call but I do believe the Ravens may well win the game but it might be difficult for them to make the point spread. so if you’re planning on betting on the Ravens, take the under.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Carolina Panthers overtime in week 11
Published November 18, 2012 | With only seconds left Tampa makes a two point conversion and ties the game with Carolina Panthers and force an overtime game
Tampa wins the toss and elects to recieve. They start from the 20.
Two carries by Doug Martin and the Buccaneers are inside the 45 of the Panthers. josh Freeman has settled down and like he played the last part of regulation time, has been making his throws count. They get another first down inside the 20.
A short pass to Dallas Clark and Tampa wins the football game in overtime with a final score of 27 Tampa to 21 Carolina.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Carolina Panthers 2nd Half week 11
Published November 18, 2012 | Will the Carolina Panthers keep their lead against Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second half of week 11?
Tampa Bay gets off to a slow start in the 2nd half and punts without doing much of anything on their first possession.
A false start on the 1st down backs the Panthers up. Then on a 1st and 15 the Buc’s get the sack and brings up a 2nd and 15. On a 3rd and 17 the pass is complete but short of the 1st so the Panthers go 3 and out. Carolina tries a fake and the play is broken up and Tampa takes over on downs.
The 3rd quarter has been a trade of possessions. On 1st down Tampa attempts a pass deep in their own territory but the pass is picked off and Carolina gets the ball back. Tampa manages to stop the drive so they will get another shot to get the lead back.
Unable to get the first down again Tampa must punt giving the Panthers the ball back around their own 16 yard line. Once again on a 3rd and 1 Cam Newton keeps the football and gets the 1st. Like I had predicted on this week’s “Offsides” article I suggested that Tampa would need to try and contain Newton. Tampa does make the stop and Carolina punts again.
Back to back first downs for Tampa and they are getting close to mid field. As we reach the end of the 3rd quarter Tampa get’s the first down in Carolina territory with the score still at Carolina 14 to Tampa 10.
Tampa decides to go for it on 4th and short. On the run in to the end zone the ball is fumbled just as he crosses the goal line so it goes up to the replay booth to determine if it was a touchdown before the fumble. Since the ruling on the field was a fumble recovered by a touchback, there was not enough evidence to overturn the play so the Panthers get the ball back.
Capializing on Tampa mistakes the Panthers are quick to get back to mid field. The Panthers get into the end zone again and take the score to 21 Carolina to Tampa 10.
Down by 11 points Tampa must be very careful with both the clock and their play calling. They make it into Panther territory but are forced to go for it on 4th down from the 40 after an incomplete pass on 3rd. They get the 1st on the 30 yard line so they are inching closer to striking distance.
They must convert on this drive since a field goal would still have them down more than a touchdown. They find themselves in a 4th down situation and opt for the kick and it is good. this takes the score to 13 Buccaneers to Panthers 21.
With 4 minutes left in the game the Panthers only need to keep control of the ball and wind the clock down. Tampa needs to concentrate on trying to force a turnover.
On a risky 3rd down play by Carolina, they get the 1st down just before mid field with a pass play. At the two minute warning it is 3rd and 12 with ball on the 42 yard line. even if Tampa has the opportunity to get the ball back they are short on time and have no time outs left.
Tampa will get the ball back with just under a minute left in the game having used all their time outs. They will start the drive from the 20.
With 20 seconds left they get the first down on the 24. On the next play Vincent Jackson catches it in the end zone so Tampa has no choice but to attempt a 2 point conversion to tie the game and force an overtime. They get the conversion so this game goes into overtime.
