2006
Joe Duffy is CEO of OffshoreInsiders.com,
which is offering a
premium version of the advanced news and notes, computer trends,
weather information and more for the entire bowl season. Much of the information is compiled from
hometown newspapers and the team’s own press releases. The entire bowl season
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NFL
Cowboys-Giants
MasterLockLine.com
From Cy McCormick: most of our
sharp NFL experts believe Eli Manning has struggled greatly since the Amani Toomer injury. They are 0-3
since his injury and he was Manning’s favorite target.
NY Times
Manning has the worst third-down passer rating in the N.F.L. His overall passer rating was a sturdy 87.5 when Toomer went down. In the past three games, his rating is a
dismal 46.4, and he has had his worst performances of the season. The team’s
passing offense, ranked 11th in the league three weeks ago, is now
18th. Manning has two touchdowns and six interceptions in the past
three games. Approved
sportsbooks are at www.linetrackers.com
Journal Times
Giants Sam Madison picked a heck of a time to come back to
the starting lineup from a two-week absence with a re-strained right hamstring.
Some will say, hey, just in time. The Cowboys come to town tomorrow, and the
Giants need all the veterans possible as they attempt to retake first place in
the NFC East. The more pessimistic, though, say a tender hamstring is bad
enough, but throw in the task of covering Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens and it’s
just a matter of time before the thing goes “twang” again.
allows R.W. McQuarters,
to move over to left corner, where he will start while Corey Webster nurses
turf toe. Frank Walker, one of the most inconsistent cornerbacks in the league,
started last week in
unnecessary-roughness penalty that Coughlin termed “stupid.” Joe Duffy’s sports
betting selections are at www.GodsTips.com
Buccaneers-Steelers
Post-Gazette
Even without Hines
Ward, the Steelers’ passing game could still flourish against the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers. Ward, the AFC’s eighth-leading receiver with 57 catches, will
miss only his second start in nine seasons tomorrow after having arthroscopic
surgery to remove bone chips in his left knee Monday. That means Nate Washington, who has probably
distinguished himself more for his drops than his catches this season, will
make his first start against the Buccaneers. Washington, an undrafted
rookie in 2005, is fifth on the team with 27 catches, but he leads in yards per
catch (16.1) and is tied for second behind Ward with three touchdowns. But
could be tied with Ward with six touchdown catches if he didn’t drop passes in
the end zone in games against
Of course, there was also that costly “flinch” at the end of regulation that prevented
the Steelers from attempting a winning field goal in
Tampa has given up 21 touchdown passes this season—tied
with Green Bay for most in the NFL—but have only managed five interceptions,
tied with the Saints for fewest in the league. The Steelers will be without
Ward and safety Troy Polamalu (knee), but the rest of their injured
players are expected to play against the Buccaneers. The lone exception is wide
receiver/punt returner Willie Reid (foot/questionable), who has missed the past seven
games.
Falcons-Redskins
Times
the Falcons not
only lost back-to-back to the Lions and Browns (3-17 against the rest of the
league) but followed with one-sided defeats to heavyweights Baltimore and New
Orleans. The latter 31-13 spanking was preceded by owner Arthur Blank
threatening major changes if Atlanta didn’t produce a winning season and was
punctuated by franchise player Vick’s now-infamous dirty bird salute to the
hecklers in the Georgia Dome crowd. Injuries have hurt the defense which
added passrusher John Abraham and safeties Lawyer Milloy and Chris Crocker in
the offseason, but played without Abraham and middle linebacker Ed Hartwell for
eight games apiece. Atlanta’s defense is ranked 22nd, just as it was
last year. Stevie Vincent’s BetOnSports360.com
is pioneer in forensic handicapping and part of OffshoreInsiders.com
The Falcons are ninth
against the run and 11th in sacks but 30th against the
pass. The Falcons’ 3-4 NFC record is the worst of the conference’s five teams
that are 5-6 overall, putting them 11th in the race for six playoff
spots with three road games and home dates with contenders Dallas and Carolina
remaining. So Mora didn’t mince words when asked if tomorrow’s game against the
4-7 Washington Redskins is a must-win. “Yeah, we have to win it,” he said.
Washington Post
The only time the Redskins have won back-to-back games was
the third and fourth games of the season, when they beat
and
marked the high points on offense and defense.On
offense, the Redskins racked up 976 yards over those games — 495 against
and 481 against the Jaguars. Against
the Redskins played their most physical game offensively and Clinton Portis had his only 100-yard rushing outing of the season.
But the Redskins have sputtered since. They lost to the New York Giants,
and
Oct. 29 bye weekend, and lost to
after an emotional victory at home against the Dallas Cowboys. Joe Duffy’s
sports betting selections are at www.GodsTips.com
Texans-Raiders
Houston
Texans coach Gary Kubiak said
2-9 record is misleading, and the numbers seem to bear
that out. The last three weeks, the Raiders have four-point losses to
City
and a seven-point loss to
If the playoffs began today, all three of those AFC West teams would be in the
postseason. Both of the Raiders’ wins (22-9 over
and 20-13 over
come at home.
only 39 points in its last three home games and has given up more than 20
points just once in its last seven games.The Texans
are 29th in the league in scoring at 16 points a game. Texans
fullback Jameel Cook (knee) was downgraded to
questionable, but Gary Kubiak said his playing status would be a game-time
decision after a pregame workout on Sunday. The
Texans likely will have all three of their lead backs Wali
Lundy, Samkon Gado and Ron Dayne — on the active roster for the first time since the
third week of the season.
Jacksonville-Miami
Times Union
completes its tour of the NFL on Sunday when it meets the Dolphins on the road
for the first time in franchise history. I’ve never played in
Florida
Pahokee native in his ninth NFL season. “So to go back home in front of family
and friends, I’m just ready to go man, sort of like the way I felt leading up
to that Philly game.”
notched one of his three 100-yard outings on Oct. 29 at
averaging 6.9 yards per carry in a 13-6 Jags victory. But another stellar
performance from
tough, given the stinginess of
fifth-rank run defense. Instead of worrying about the postseason,
said Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio told the club to have fun during its last five
regular-season contests. Jaguars cornerback Brian
Williams practiced Friday, but whether he starts against the Dolphins on Sunday
is still unknown. Williams said earlier in the week that he expected to play,
but backed away from speculating on Thursday. Second-year cornerback Scott
Starks took Williams’ place in the Jags starting lineup during Friday’s
practice. MasterLockLine.com has the top plays from the top
sports service in their highest ranked sports.
The Jaguars’ two
ailing cornerbacks appear to be healing and they could make a big difference in
the secondary against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Starting cornerback Brian
Williams and nickel back Terry Cousin, who were
sidelined in
both practiced. Williams, who returned to practice after missing Wednesday’s
workout, remained questionable while Cousin, who has missed five weeks with a
torn groin muscle, practiced for the second consecutive day and was upgraded
from doubtful to questionable. With both Williams and Cousin out in
the Jaguars started rookie Dee Webb at cornerback and he was victimized on
three big plays that led to
17 first-half points.
Sun Sentinel
Last year’s season-ending six-game winning streak and
offensive improvement coincided with then offensive coordinator Scott Linehan moving from the coach’s box to the sideline where
he could communicate directly with his players. This year’s offensive turnaround
seemed to begin with another shift of positions. Damion
McIntosh moved from right guard to his natural spot at left tackle, and
expensive offseason free-agent acquisition L.J.
Shelton slid over from left tackle to right guard, a position he never played
at any level. The offensive line has clicked since the swap was made prior to
Game 6 against the Jets. The average points have increased from 12.2 to 22.7.
Rushing yards have gone from 84.9 to 111.1 yards per game. Quarterback Daunte Culpepper was sacked a league-leading 21 times in
the first four games, but Joey Harrington has gone down just eight times over
the past seven games. Since the start of training camp, injuries, unfamiliarity
or poor play have combined to wipe out a group of guards, including Seth
McKinney, Joe Berger, Joe Toledo, Bennie Anderson, Kendyl
Jacox and McIntosh. It seemed to take two games,
losses to the Packers and Jets, for the revamped unit to bond. Harrington, who
took over for Culpepper the game before the line moves, has factored into the
offense’s rise from 24th to 16th, with his quick release
and midrange passing skills.
believes the line’s success correlates to playing with leads and remaining
committed to the running game. The Dolphins trailed or were tied at halftime in
their first six games (1-5) and have been ahead at halftime in the past four
games (4-0).
Jets-Packers
NY Post
The Jets practiced outside yesterday in the rotten
weather, as they often have done under Eric Mangini.
The head coach wants his team to be ready for whatever conditions it might
face, and the strategy has already paid dividends when the Jets went to
England
was nothing, however, Mangini could do to replicate
the frigid temperatures or the remnants of the snowstorm that is hitting the
and is sure to leave some remnants when the Jets play the Packers.
Seahawks-Broncso
Seattle
Eleven games into the season, with his team battling for
its division title, Mike Shanahan is starting a rookie quarterback in Sunday
night’s game against the Seahawks. Jay Cutler is replacing veteran Jake Plummer.
Joe Duffy’s sports betting selections are at www.GodsTips.com
49ers-Saints
SF Gate
Starting tight end Eric Johnson is likely out for the rest
of the season with a medial collateral ligament sprain in his left knee. He
sustained the injury in Wednesday’s practice when a player fell across his leg
while Johnson was blocking linebacker Manny Lawson. Replacement Vernon Davis,,
who the 49ers chose with the sixth overall choice in April’s draft, has the
potential to alter any offense. He has six catches for 48 yards and a touchdown
in his limited action.