c jordan 10/25
Chris Jordan Sunday's winners ...
400♦ INDIANAPOLIS COLTS - Talk about teams at the opposite ends of the spectrum, this one shouldn't even be close by the time they head into the locker room at intermission.
Indianapolis is No. 1 in league passing offense (326 yards per game) and completion percentage (73.5), and much of that can be attributed to the protection Peyton Manning is receiving, as the Colts' offensive line have allowed an NFL-low-tying two sacks, just the same as the Falcons.
Now you put that offense into this matchup off a bye week, which was preceded by a trio of blowouts over the Cardinals (31-10), Seahawks (34-17), and Titans (31-9) and you ask one of the worst teams in the league to play keep up? I don't think so.
The Rams, who have now lost 16 straight dating back to last season, and who is 5-33 in its last 38 games dating back to 2007, rank last in NFL scoring offense with just 9.0 points per game and is still just one of three teams in the league without a rushing touchdown, along with the Bills and Chiefs.
And for as anemic as St. Louis has been on offense, I can't imagine what it'll look like off a well-rested defense that has allowed an NFL-low two touchdowns through the air and a league-low-tying six total touchdowns this season. Can you imagine if Indy's stop unit sees the return of star safety Bob Sanders?
It's really not going to be fair, as the Manning is en route to having one of his most successful seasons ever. He's dissected some of the better defenses in the league, not to mention some of the worst, and now he's going up against a defense that ranks 27th in in the league's passing defense category.
I realize we're not too far removed from this being a high-scoring affair, but today it'll be a miracle to see the Rams put any points on the board whatsoever.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Manning take a seat late in this one, once the Colts get up by 28 or more points.
100♦ OVER Cowboys/Falcons - While Dallas is hoping to emerge from its bye week with offensive intensity, it better be concerned with how the Falcons will counter today. They're off to a 4-1 start - the franchise's best record after five games since 2004 - and has one of the more explosive offensive units in the NFL.
Of course it all depends on Michael Turner, whose running antics set up Atlanta's passing game perfectly. Of course, even if he is lethargic, sophomore signal-caller Matt Ryan has been rock solid behind a stellar offensive line that has allowed a sack in four straight games. He is capable of setting up his dink-and-dunk passes for offensive-drive production, or can go vertical with speddy wideout Roddy White.
I do believe the Cowboys will dictate the pace in this one, however, as the Cowboys have won both of their games after a bye in the team's first two seasons under Wade Phillips. And since Dallas has tallied the second-most yards in the NFL this season, I believe we're going to see the Pokes come out swinging today. Felix Jones and Marion Barber are back to provide the 'Boys with full strength attack on the ground, and it appears Tony Romo has found his new favorite target in Miles Austin.
Look for both offensive units to be on blast today, as this total will soar.
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