Thursday, Nov. 30, 2000

Trends, Tips and Timely Stats — Week 14

By Art Edelstein, Contributing writer

• Heading into their big Thursday-night battle, the Lions are 4-1 straight up and vs. the spread as a road underdog. Meanwhile, the Vikings are 6-0 at home (4-2 vs. the spread). If turnovers are a factor, Detroit should have the edge. The Lions (plus-13) are near the top in turnover differential, while the Vikings (minus-8) are near the bottom. In their last four head-to-head matchups, the Lions are plus-6.

• Heading into their game at Cincinnati, Arizona is 0-5 on the road (1-4 vs. the spread), losing by an average of 19 points. Both teams have had trouble scoring and holding on to the ball. Between them, the Bengals and Cardinals have scored more than 16 points only five times. Arizona has a minus-17 turnover differential, while Cincinnati is minus-14.

• Heading into their game at New Orleans, the Broncos are 4-0-1 vs. the spread in their last five vs. NFC foes. On the other hand, the Saints have not been a very good home team (2-3 straight up and vs. the spread, 0-3 outside of the NFC West). And what has happened to the Broncos’ defense? In their last five games, Denver has surrendered at least 354 yards. In its previous six games only one opponent gained more than 300 yards.

• Heading into their game at Buffalo, the Dolphins are 4-0-1 vs. the spread in their last five road games.

• Heading into their game vs. the Seahawks, the Falcons have lost six straight vs. AFC foes (1-5 vs. the spread). In two games this season vs. the AFC, Atlanta has been outscored 83-28.

• Heading into their game at Philadelphia, the Titans have won five straight regular-season games vs. NFC opponents (4-0-1 vs. the spread).

• Heading into their game vs. the Chiefs, New England is 4-3 vs. the spread as an underdog and 0-5 vs. the spread (1-4 straight up) as a favorite. Kansas City WR Derrick Alexander’s production has dropped. In the first nine games, he caught at least one TD pass in seven contests, but he has been kept out of the endzone the last three games.

• Heading into their game vs. the Buccaneers, the Cowboys’ offense is struggling, averaging 13.6 points in its last five games. Tampa Bay has held its last five opponents to 17 or fewer points.

• Heading into their game vs. the Raiders, the Steelers’ defense has surrendered 88 points in its last three games. Pittsburgh gave up only 18 points in its previous five games.

• They’re having trouble throwing TD passes in Ohio. Other than WR Peter Warrick, no Bengal has had a TD catch since the first game of the season. And in Cleveland, the Browns have thrown only one TD pass in their last six games (none to a wide receiver since Week Four).

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