Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1999

Trends, Tips and Timely Stats — Week 13

By Art Edelstein

• The Vikings are 0-4-1 vs. the spread on the road this season. They play at Tampa Bay on Monday night.

• The Colts are 4-0-1 vs. the spread on the road this season heading into their key AFC East battle at Miami.

• The Seahawks are 4-0 straight up as underdogs this season, winning by at least 10 points in all four of those games. Seattle’s opponents this Sunday, the favored Raiders, are only 1-4-1 against the spread at home this season.

• The Titans have won 13 straight games against AFC Central opponents. They look to continue that streak this week against the Ravens.

• The Browns, who travel to San Diego this week, have covered the spread in four of their last five road games and have a two-game winning streak away from Cleveland. The Chargers have lost both straight up and against the spread in their last three home games.

• The all-time series record between the Jets and Giants is tied at four wins apiece. In the last two games in the series combined, the teams have combined to score a total of only 35 points.

• If turnovers are a factor in the battle of New York, the Jets may have the edge. The Jets have a plus-9 turnover differential this season, compared to a minus-6 margin for the Giants.

• The run-oriented Buccaneers will have rookie QB Shaun King making his first NFL start this week against Minnesota. But surprisingly, Tampa Bay is tied for the fewest rushing TDs in the league with three.

• Vikings RB Robert Smith has looked good since returning to the lineup, but he still has not scored a TD this season. Smith’s 523 rushing yards are the most for any player in the league who has not yet scored a TD.

• How difficult has it been for the Cardinals to put the ball in the endzone through the air? WR Frank Sanders has 52 catches but no TDs. No other wide receiver with more than 30 catches does not have a TD.

• What has Vikings QB Jeff George done for WR Cris Carter’s numbers? In his first five games, Carter had one TD. In his next six, Carter scored 10 TDs — all from George, who has 17 TD passes in those six games.

• The Dolphins’ total of 273 net yards in their shutout loss vs. the Cowboys last week was actually their highest offensive total since Week Eight against Oakland. Miami's run defense has also struggled of late, giving up more than 100 yards in each of its last four games.

• Dan Marino has thrown six interceptions in his last 38 pass attempts after starting the season throwing only four picks in his first 140 attempts.

• The Dolphins have rushed for only one TD in their last four games.

• The Cowboys’ defense, which has picked off 10 passes in its last four games, faces Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe this week. Bledsoe has thrown nine interceptions in his last three games.

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