NFL Week 7 Preview
The Cleveland Browns are no longer the butt of jokes in the NFL and this week they head to Tampa Bay looking to shed the laughing stock tag just a little more by beating up on a downtrodden Buccaneers team.
Browns out to end road wait
It has been over three years since Cleveland won an away game, but they have gone close to ending that streak already this year, losing in overtime to the Oakland Raiders, while defeat in New Orleans came via a last second field goal.
The trip to the Sunshine State should therefore hold no fears for the Browns, who have won on their last two visits to Raymond James Stadium. They do travel south off the back of a one-sided loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, but that would appear to be a bad day at the office given they have been competitive in every game previously.
The two previous losses had both been by a three-point margin, so the Browns at 1.99 to cover the +3 spread makes sense.
For the Buccaneers, they have now lost three straight, while ‘Fitzmagic’ is well and truly dead. Their defence is on course to be the worst in NFL history against the pass, allowing over 355 yards per game through the air. The offense stills posses a threat, averaging 28.2 point per game, but the Browns secondary has proven to be a no fly zone at times so can limit any damage.
Viking raiders head to New York
Pre-season Super Bowl fancies Minnesota have won the last two to steady the ship after a mini-blip and are 1.58 favourites to make it three in a row against the New York Jets.
The Vikings defence hasn’t been the lights out force it was last season and currently ranks 17th, while the loss of Mike Hughes to injury is a blow. However, this offensive line for the Jets is porous and can’t be trusted by rookie quarter-back Sam Darnold.
The Jets have also won the last two but those were against poor defences in Denver and Indianapolis, and the Vikings are a step up in class.
The hosts will need to have patched up their secondary as well to cope with the in-form Adam Thielen, who became the first player to go for 100-yards plus in the first six games of season, quarter-back Kirk Cousins and Stefon Diggs, all of who are dangerous. The options on both sides of the ball makes a Vikings win the choice.
Broncos can’t cure away day blues
The Arizona Cardinals will likely be picking in the top five in the NFL draft next year, but are still fancied here at 2.20 to get the better of a Denver team who have forgotten how to win on the road.
The Broncos have won just one regular season game away from home under head coach Vance Jospeh, since he took charge last September, and they travel to Phoenix on the back of four straight defeats.
The Cardinals have looked much better since starting rookie Josh Rosen at quarter-back but still are an offense that struggles to put up points, averaging the fewest yards per game of any team.
With the Broncos averaging 20 points a game and the Cardinals just under 14, the 1.95 on offer for there to be under 42 total points certainly appeals, in what should be a close encounter.
