Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com
If you were to take a poll of general managers in the NFL on which two quarterbacks they would like to build their franchise around right now, it’s quite possible the top two responses would be the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers is a two-time NFL regular-season MVP and also a former Super Bowl MVP. He’s still playing at an MVP level despite being nearly 36 years old. Last season, Mahomes won his first (and likely not last) MVP Award and joined Peyton Manning as the only quarterbacks to throw for at least 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a season. Everyone had circled the Sunday night game of Week 8 when Rodgers and Mahomes were to meet for the first and possibly only time in their pro careers – unless it’s in a Super Bowl soon.
Alas, they may never face off now as Mahomes injured his knee last Thursday and is expected to miss at least one game; Mahomes did practice some this week but it would be a major upset if he plays Sunday. Kansas City would have been a home favorite for this game but is now +4. Green Bay has covered just one of its past nine prime-time games.
There has been some talk that Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank might fire Coach Dan Quinn during the team’s bye, which is Week 9, unless the team were to show significant improvement by that point, but it seems to be getting worse by the week. Thus, Sunday’s home game with the Seattle Seahawks could be it for Quinn if Atlanta loses – Quinn is a former defensive coordinator with Seattle. The Seahawks are -3.5 but are 1-6 ATS in their previous seven as a favorite.
Sunday was supposed to be the New Orleans Saints’ last game without future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees as he recovers from thumb surgery. However, Brees now says he plans to play on Sunday – that might be optimistic. New Orleans, unbeaten behind backup QB Teddy Bridgewater, is a 10.5-point home favorite against rookie No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals, who are on a three-game winning streak. The Saints have covered six straight October games.
Could be a bit of a desperation game for the struggling Philadelphia Eagles as they go out of conference to visit the Buffalo Bills. The Eagles will be playing their third road game in a row, and the previous two were big ones in the NFC and losses at the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys. Buffalo continues to surprise at 5-1, but it essentially had a bye last Sunday in beating the winless Miami Dolphins. Philly is +2 and has covered once in its past 12 kickoffs at 1 p.m. ET.
The Oakland Raiders haven’t played in Oakland since September 15 and the world travelers won’t this week, either, as they visit Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans, who are -7. The Raiders are 1-5 ATS in their past six as road dogs.
