<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s take a look at Super Bowl contenders. True Super Bowl contenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have you noticed that nearly all of them \u2013 Philadelphia, Dallas, Minnesota, Kansas City, Buffalo, Miami, Cincinnati \u2013 have strong offenses? Big-play offenses, with game-breaking talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While we are not sold on the Vikings as being capable of winning the conference title, their cruising through the NFC North should bode well for them down the stretch. They could be in position to rest some folks in early January before heading into the playoffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Minnesota has the ball, Justin Jefferson is as dangerous a threat as anyone in pro football. Indeed, the receiving corps is deep with Jefferson, Adam Thielen and tight end T.J. Hockenson, who was stolen at the trade deadline from Detroit. Dalvin Cook is a quality running back. We do have doubts about the line and how QB Kirk Cousins will perform in the spotlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Naturally, we have no such worries about Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and Josh Allen in the AFC. All three have the resumes you would want, the creativity you need, and the supporting cast required to get to February. Yes, Mahomes doesn\u2019t have Tyreek Hill any longer \u2013 Tua Tagovailoa has him in Miami, of course \u2013 but the Chiefs remain viable and versatile on offense, with a better running game than expected, and the NFL\u2019s best tight end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Year 3 of his career, Burrow has the swagger to go with the talent, and has already led the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance. In Ja\u2019Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati has as good a three-pronged passing contingent as anybody. The way Samaje Perine has run the ball with starter Joe Mixon injured has been a revelation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buffalo isn\u2019t nearly that kind of threat with its RBs, but so what? Allen can turn a game with his legs and guts as well as his arm, and Stefon Diggs is All-Pro caliber at wideout. Fellow WRs Gabe Davis and Isaiah McKenzie and tight end Dawson Knox round out a topnotch attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The schemes that Miami unleashes, with Tua connecting with Hill or Jaylen Waddle or the emerging Trent Scherfield, are so precise \u2013 as are Tagovailoa\u2019s passes \u2013 that at times they can\u2019t be defended. We\u2019d like to see TE Mike Gesicki involved more in the air game, but the Dolphins have speed to burn, and could torch some defenses this winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Cowboys beat opponents with precision on offense, and in CeeDee Lamb they certainly have a game-breaking receiver. The two-pronged running game with Zeke Elliott and Tony Pollard, is built for the playoffs. A key for Dallas is protecting QB Dak Prescott, and we\u2019re not sure that O-line can do so against the top defenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, there\u2019s the team setting the pace for everyone, the Eagles. Their offense can beat you anyway they choose. Philly ran the ball down Green Bay\u2019s throat, then tore apart Tennessee through the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jalen Hurts, the NFL\u2019s most improved quarterback (and maybe most improved player overall), brings every dimension a coach could want. His entourage includes a deep group of runners led by Miles Sanders, a superb receiving corps featuring A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins and TE Dallas Goedert, injured now but likely back for the postseason. Plus a veteran line as good as anyone has.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The NFL has to love so many big-time offenses in the mix for the championship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Texans at Cowboys (-16 1\/2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s how little this big spread scares us: We\u2019d lay 30 on Dallas against Houston.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BEST BET: COWBOYS, 45-13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Patriots at Cardinals (+2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only because we pick one every week \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n UPSET SPECIAL: CARDINALS, 20-16<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dolphins at Chargers (+3)<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the Dolphins are going to win the AFC East, they can\u2019t lose a game like this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DOLPHINS, 30-20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jets at Bills (-9 1\/2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the Bills are going to win the AFC East, they can\u2019t lose to the Jets again. But it will be close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BILLS, 23-15<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Buccaneers at 49ers (-3 \u00bd)<\/p>\n\n\n\n San Francisco\u2019s defense must step up every week given it\u2019s QB issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 49ERS, 17-16<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ravens at Steelers (-2 \u00bd)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Baltimore defense must do the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n STEELERS, 20-13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Vikings at Lions (-2 \u00bd)<\/p>\n\n\n\n For those who like shootouts, here\u2019s the game to tune into. As we said earlier, not buying the Vikings yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n LIONS, 35-31<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Browns at Bengals (-6)<\/p>\n\n\n\n We are buying the Bengals, who are beginning to resemble the AFC champions of 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BENGALS, 27-16<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Eagles at Giants (+7)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who isn\u2019t buying the Eagles. They committed dumb penalties last week and still romped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n EAGLES, 30-20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jaguars at Titans (-4)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Time for the Titans to get serious and put away their weak division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n TITANS, 20-13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Chiefs at Broncos (+9 1\/2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thank goodness this was flexed off Sunday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n CHIEFS, 27-13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Panthers at Seahawks (-3 1\/2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two squads whose 2022 seasons have gone in entirely different directions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SEAHAWKS, 23-20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n _____________________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wilner\u2019s 2022 RECORD<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last Week \u2013 Straight up: 10-3-1. Against the spread: 7-7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Season – Straight up: 116-65-2. Against the spread: 95-82-6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Bet – Straight up: 9-4. Against the spread: 6-7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Upset Special – Straight up: 5-8. Against the spread: 6-7.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Let\u2019s take a look at Super Bowl contenders. True Super Bowl contenders. Have you noticed that nearly all of them…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":23534,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[129],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23646","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23646","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23646"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23646\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23647,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23646\/revisions\/23647"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23534"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23646"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23646"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23646"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}