The Green Bay Packers have claimed another coaching victim. Two weeks ago, they destroyed the Dallas Cowboys 45-7, compelling owner Jerry Jones to sack coach Wade Phillips. Green Bay enjoyed the bye week, then returned Sunday to turf the Minnesota Vikings 31-3, resulting in the dismissal of Brad Childress. That unemployment streak should come to an end this week when the Packers visit the Atlanta Falcons. Meanwhile, perhaps Minnesota will respond the same way to its coaching change as Dallas did: by shredding the NFL odds with an upset victory on the road.
Thursday: New Orleans at Dallas (4:15 p.m. ET, FOX)
First up, there are three Thanksgiving Day games on the Week 12 slate ? we wish all the best to you and yours. The Cowboys (3-7 SU and ATS) have won back-to-back games under interim coach Jason Garrett, who was the offensive co-ordinator and high-paid assistant to Phillips. In the absence of QB Tony Romo (broken collarbone), Garrett has gotten strong results from a low-risk running game. But the Dallas pass defense is one of the worst in the league, driving the OVER to the pay window in seven straight. The Saints (7-3 SU, 5-5 ATS) have won three in a row since that unsightly loss to the Cleveland Browns (+12 away) in Week 7.
Minnesota at Washington (1:00 p.m. ET, FOX)
Like many coaches, Childress is highly intelligent when it comes to football, but not so much when it comes to social skills. His departure will improve morale on a team that?s underachieving mightily at 3-7 SU and 2-8 ATS. Interim coach Leslie Frazier, formerly Childress? defensive co-ordinator, takes over the reins and has already thrown his support behind QB Brett Favre (10 TDs, 17 INTs) as the Vikings starter. The Redskins (5-5 SU, 5-4-1 ATS) appear to be doing the same for QB Donovan McNabb (10 TDs, 12 INTs), even though he?s having his worst season since joining the league in 1999. Five of Washington?s 10 games have been decided by a field goal. Check Bodog Sports for the latest NFL betting lines on this matchup.
Philadelphia at Chicago (4:15 p.m. ET, CBS)
Michael Vick didn?t throw any TD passes last week, but he didn?t need to in a 27-17 victory over the New York Giants (+3.5 away) on Sunday Night Football. The Eagles rushed for two scores (one by Vick) and David Akers went 4 of 5 on his field goals to earn the duke. Philadelphia remains the most efficient team in the league according to Football Outsiders; the Bears, also 7-3 (5-4-1 ATS), are only No. 19 overall in efficiency and will be getting 3.5 points (?115) on Sunday at Soldier Field. The UNDER is 4-1 in their last five encounters.
San Diego at Indianapolis (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)
It could be sink or swim for both these teams. The Colts (6-4 SU, 6-3-1 ATS) have picked up all four of their losses on the road, the last three by a field goal or less. The Chargers (5-5 SU and ATS) have won three in a row SU and ATS as they perform their annual late-season push in the AFC West. Both teams have injury concerns on offense, but quarterbacks Peyton Manning (20 TDs, seven INTs) and Philip Rivers (23 TDs, nine INTs) are healthy and playing at their usual Pro Bowl level. The Chargers are 4-2 SU and 5-1 ATS in their last six meetings, winning all four games as the underdogs.
Monday: San Francisco at Arizona (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Last week?s MNF matchup between the Chargers and the Denver Broncos didn?t have much sizzle. ESPN was probably expecting bigger things from these two NFC West franchises, as well. Instead, we get a pair of teams at 3-7 SU and ATS, but both are still alive in a division where none of the four members has a winning record. The 49ers won their first two games with Troy Smith (five TDs, two INTs lifetime) at quarterback before getting shut out 21-0 last week by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3.5 away). The Cardinals have lost five in a row at 1-4 ATS, all with Derek Anderson (seven TDs, eight INTs) at the controls. San Francisco is 3-2 SU and 4-1 ATS in its last five against the Cards.
Thursday: New Orleans at Dallas (4:15 p.m. ET, FOX)
First up, there are three Thanksgiving Day games on the Week 12 slate ? we wish all the best to you and yours. The Cowboys (3-7 SU and ATS) have won back-to-back games under interim coach Jason Garrett, who was the offensive co-ordinator and high-paid assistant to Phillips. In the absence of QB Tony Romo (broken collarbone), Garrett has gotten strong results from a low-risk running game. But the Dallas pass defense is one of the worst in the league, driving the OVER to the pay window in seven straight. The Saints (7-3 SU, 5-5 ATS) have won three in a row since that unsightly loss to the Cleveland Browns (+12 away) in Week 7.
Minnesota at Washington (1:00 p.m. ET, FOX)
Like many coaches, Childress is highly intelligent when it comes to football, but not so much when it comes to social skills. His departure will improve morale on a team that?s underachieving mightily at 3-7 SU and 2-8 ATS. Interim coach Leslie Frazier, formerly Childress? defensive co-ordinator, takes over the reins and has already thrown his support behind QB Brett Favre (10 TDs, 17 INTs) as the Vikings starter. The Redskins (5-5 SU, 5-4-1 ATS) appear to be doing the same for QB Donovan McNabb (10 TDs, 12 INTs), even though he?s having his worst season since joining the league in 1999. Five of Washington?s 10 games have been decided by a field goal. Check Bodog Sports for the latest NFL betting lines on this matchup.
Philadelphia at Chicago (4:15 p.m. ET, CBS)
Michael Vick didn?t throw any TD passes last week, but he didn?t need to in a 27-17 victory over the New York Giants (+3.5 away) on Sunday Night Football. The Eagles rushed for two scores (one by Vick) and David Akers went 4 of 5 on his field goals to earn the duke. Philadelphia remains the most efficient team in the league according to Football Outsiders; the Bears, also 7-3 (5-4-1 ATS), are only No. 19 overall in efficiency and will be getting 3.5 points (?115) on Sunday at Soldier Field. The UNDER is 4-1 in their last five encounters.
San Diego at Indianapolis (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)
It could be sink or swim for both these teams. The Colts (6-4 SU, 6-3-1 ATS) have picked up all four of their losses on the road, the last three by a field goal or less. The Chargers (5-5 SU and ATS) have won three in a row SU and ATS as they perform their annual late-season push in the AFC West. Both teams have injury concerns on offense, but quarterbacks Peyton Manning (20 TDs, seven INTs) and Philip Rivers (23 TDs, nine INTs) are healthy and playing at their usual Pro Bowl level. The Chargers are 4-2 SU and 5-1 ATS in their last six meetings, winning all four games as the underdogs.
Monday: San Francisco at Arizona (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Last week?s MNF matchup between the Chargers and the Denver Broncos didn?t have much sizzle. ESPN was probably expecting bigger things from these two NFC West franchises, as well. Instead, we get a pair of teams at 3-7 SU and ATS, but both are still alive in a division where none of the four members has a winning record. The 49ers won their first two games with Troy Smith (five TDs, two INTs lifetime) at quarterback before getting shut out 21-0 last week by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3.5 away). The Cardinals have lost five in a row at 1-4 ATS, all with Derek Anderson (seven TDs, eight INTs) at the controls. San Francisco is 3-2 SU and 4-1 ATS in its last five against the Cards.
