PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* MNF PUNISHER >> 9-3 NFL Run! 3-1 Sunday!
(NFL) Houston vs. Baltimore,
Point Spread: 7.50 | -110.00 Houston (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: 7.50 | -110.00 Houston (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: There weren't many bigger individually stories in NFL 2017 than the play of the Texans' DeShaun Watson. Just some of his highlights were his 4 TD passes and one rush TD in Week 4's 57–14 win over the Titans. He followed that performance on SNF vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. He had five TD passes in that 42-34 loss and in a Week 8 loss in Seattle (41-38), he posted his first career game with over 400 passing yards (also threw 4 TD passes). Watson threw 16 TDs in the month of October, setting the NFL record for most TD passes by a rookie in a calendar month. However, he suffered a torn ACL on a non-contact play during practice, which prematurely ended his rookie season on Nov. 2. The Texans are now 4-6 as they prepare to visit Baltimore to face the 5-5 Ravens with backup Tom Savage making his fifth start of the season. A win would give Baltimore a 6-5 record, tying them with the Bills and I'm pretty sure the Ravens would own the tie-breaker for the AFC's final wild card spot. A win would hardly be a surprise, as since head coach John Harbaugh took over the team in 2008, Baltimore has gone 11-1 in night games, the best mark in the NFL. The Ravens have also won nine consecutive prime-time matchups, also the longest streak in the NFL.
Houston: Savage started the first two games of 2017 for Houston, although he was replaced during the Week 2 game by Watson. He has lost the first two starts when Watson went down with the injury but he was better last week against the Arizona Cardinals, going 22 of 32 for 230 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in a 31-21 victory. head coach Bill O'Brien is confident that Savage is making strides. "I think he is getting better. I think the game on Sunday is probably the best game he has played since he has been playing for us," O'Brien said. "He does not have a ton of experience, so every game that he plays, it is really important for him to remember the things that went on during that game, so he can really use that experience to get better every single day and every game. I thought he did a good job of having a short memory on Sunday, and he really made some big plays for us to help us win the game." Rookie D'Onta Foreman rushed for a season-high 65 yards and two TDs before suffering a season-ending torn left Achilles last week but Lamar Miller (605 YR / 26 catches, including 3 TDs) is a dual threat who has scored three times over the past four games. WR DeAndre Hopkins is having a strong bounce-back season with 62 receptions and an NFL-best nine TD catches through 10 games. Houston's defense is an issue, allowing 26.2 PPG (29th).
Baltimore: The Ravens are off a 3-0 win at Green Bay but they managed only 219 yards of total offense in blanking Green Bay. QB Joe Flacco has thrown more interceptions (11) than touchdown passes (nine), as Baltimore features the NFL's worst passing attack with an average of 165.2 YPG. The lack of explosiveness is reflected in the fact that RB Javorius Allen (40) and veteran TE Ben Watson (39) are 1-2 on the team in receptions. RB Alex Collins went over 100 yards in a 40-0 rout of Miami on Oct. 26 but has been limited to 49 yards or fewer in three of the past four games. The Ravens are averaging 114.6 YPG on the ground (13th) and come in averaging 21.3 PPG (18th). However, the team's D forced five TOs at Green Bay and the pass D owns a league-high 16 interceptions. Baltimore is second in scoring D (17.1 PPG) and 7th in total D (306.0 YPG).
The pick: The Baltimore D has three shutouts this season but truthfully, it's now what it was in the Ray Lewis era. Flacco has not been able to throw downfield with any consistency and always relying on the defense to bail him out just may catch up with him and the Ravens. Savage is off his best outing of the season and note that the Texans are 3-1 ATS on the road in 2017. Baltimore is not used to being this big of a favorite, as the only team Baltimore has been favored over in this price range the last two-plus years has been against the Browns. Do I need to remind you of Cleveland's record? Take the points and make Houston an 8* play.
Houston: Savage started the first two games of 2017 for Houston, although he was replaced during the Week 2 game by Watson. He has lost the first two starts when Watson went down with the injury but he was better last week against the Arizona Cardinals, going 22 of 32 for 230 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in a 31-21 victory. head coach Bill O'Brien is confident that Savage is making strides. "I think he is getting better. I think the game on Sunday is probably the best game he has played since he has been playing for us," O'Brien said. "He does not have a ton of experience, so every game that he plays, it is really important for him to remember the things that went on during that game, so he can really use that experience to get better every single day and every game. I thought he did a good job of having a short memory on Sunday, and he really made some big plays for us to help us win the game." Rookie D'Onta Foreman rushed for a season-high 65 yards and two TDs before suffering a season-ending torn left Achilles last week but Lamar Miller (605 YR / 26 catches, including 3 TDs) is a dual threat who has scored three times over the past four games. WR DeAndre Hopkins is having a strong bounce-back season with 62 receptions and an NFL-best nine TD catches through 10 games. Houston's defense is an issue, allowing 26.2 PPG (29th).
Baltimore: The Ravens are off a 3-0 win at Green Bay but they managed only 219 yards of total offense in blanking Green Bay. QB Joe Flacco has thrown more interceptions (11) than touchdown passes (nine), as Baltimore features the NFL's worst passing attack with an average of 165.2 YPG. The lack of explosiveness is reflected in the fact that RB Javorius Allen (40) and veteran TE Ben Watson (39) are 1-2 on the team in receptions. RB Alex Collins went over 100 yards in a 40-0 rout of Miami on Oct. 26 but has been limited to 49 yards or fewer in three of the past four games. The Ravens are averaging 114.6 YPG on the ground (13th) and come in averaging 21.3 PPG (18th). However, the team's D forced five TOs at Green Bay and the pass D owns a league-high 16 interceptions. Baltimore is second in scoring D (17.1 PPG) and 7th in total D (306.0 YPG).
The pick: The Baltimore D has three shutouts this season but truthfully, it's now what it was in the Ray Lewis era. Flacco has not been able to throw downfield with any consistency and always relying on the defense to bail him out just may catch up with him and the Ravens. Savage is off his best outing of the season and note that the Texans are 3-1 ATS on the road in 2017. Baltimore is not used to being this big of a favorite, as the only team Baltimore has been favored over in this price range the last two-plus years has been against the Browns. Do I need to remind you of Cleveland's record? Take the points and make Houston an 8* play.
