Best Bet
PATRIOTS vs. JAGUARS
Time: 8:30 a.m., Wembley Stadium, London, NFL Network.
Line: Jaguars by 5½. Total: 43½.
Records (overall/ATS): Patriots 1-5/1-4-1; Jaguars 1-5/2-4.
The Jaguars had the familiarity factor in their favor last week when they played the Bears in London. All but one of their starters and 30 players overall already had made an overseas trip to play in London, many of them multiple times.
But the Bears had the better team and did the right thing — arriving in London on Tuesday to have time to shake off the jet lag and get acclimated to their foreign surroundings.
It paid off when they made themselves at home at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and coasted to a 35-16 victory. The Bears got off to the dreaded slow start — often a recipe for disaster in London. But after two three-and-outs (typical for the Bears’ offense on any continent) and a 3-0 deficit after the first quarter, the Bears took command and rolled to victory.
The 1-5 Jaguars had a tough week. Their anticipated arrival on Friday morning was delayed because of Hurricane Milton. Their scheduled news conferences Friday were pushed back to Saturday.
That probably didn’t help, even considering their experience with the overseas trip. They looked like a defeated team in more ways than one Sunday — and appeared headed downhill toward a disastrous season that coach Doug Pederson might not make the end of.
It might turn out to be as bad as it looked last week. But this week, the scenario tilts in their favor against the Patriots at Wembley Stadium.
For a second consecutive season, the Jaguars are playing back-to-back games in London. So this week, the acclimation advantage is in their favor. The Jaguars will have been in London for nine days at kickoff. The Patriots were scheduled to arrive in London on Friday morning, a little more than 48 hours before the 2:30 p.m. London kickoff (9:30 a.m. in Jacksonville).
And unlike last week, the Jaguars are likely the better team, though in fairness that’s not that proud of a distinction. The Jaguars are 31st in ESPN’s latest power rankings. The Patriots are 32nd and last.
But on Sunday, the Jaguars only have to be better than the Pats. Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye threw for 243 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions for a passable 88.3 rating against the Texans in his NFL starting debut at Gillette Stadium. This time, it’s the Jaguars who will feel at home.
Pick: Jaguars 27, Patriots 20.
TOP PLAYS
SEAHAWKS at FALCONS
Time: Noon.
Line: Falcons by 3.
Total: 50½.
Records (overall/ATS): Seahawks 3-3/1-4-1; Falcons 4-2/3-3.
Outlook: The Falcons have won three in a row and four of five since a Week 1 loss to the Steelers — the only loss in that span is to the Chiefs (22-17 at home). Kirk Cousins is on a roll with a 99.3 rating (8 TDs, 3 INTs, 288.6 ypg) in his last five games. The Seahawks are going in the opposite direction with three consecutive losses.
Pick: Falcons 31, Seahawks 23.
RAIDERS at RAMS
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: Rams by 6½.
Total: 43½.
Records (overall/ATS): Raiders 2-4/2-4; Rams 1-4/1-4.
Outlook: Las Vegas wasn’t much better in three games with Davante Adams (19 ppg) than without him (17 ppg). The Raiders say he wasn’t a distraction, but now that he’s gone, it wouldn’t be surprising if it ended up being addition by subtraction, especially against a Rams defense ranking 29th in points allowed and 28th in yards.
Pick: Raiders 23, Rams 19.
JETS at STEELERS
Time: 7:20 p.m., NBC 5.
Line: Jets by 2.
Total: 38.
Records (overall/ATS): Jets 2-4/2-4; Steelers 4-2/4-2.
Outlook: Davante Adams could play for the Jets after he missed the last three games with the Raiders with a hamstring injury. Whether or not Adams plays, Aaron Rodgers feels better having Adams on his team. Russell Wilson could start for the Steelers, but it doesn’t matter. The team that has two QBs has none.
Pick: Jets 24, Steelers 17.
THE REST OF THE GAMES
DOLPHINS at COLTS
Time: Noon. Line: Colts by 3½. Total: 43.
Records (overall/ATS): Dolphins 2-3/1-4; Colts 3-3/5-1.
Outlook: Anthony Richardson is expected to return after missing two games with an oblique injury. He’s the Colts’ franchise QB, but he wasn’t very good before his injury — a 40.0 passer rating (1 TD, 5 INTs) in his last two complete games. The Dolphins are coming off a bye.
Pick: Colts 20, Dolphins 17.
LIONS at VIKINGS
Time: Noon, Fox 32.
Line: Vikings by 1½. Total: 51.
Records (overall/ATS): Lions 4-1/4-1; Vikings 5-0/5-0.
Outlook: The Lions are on a tremendous roll, obliterating the Cowboys 57-9 at AT&T Stadium last week after beating the Seahawks 42-29 at Ford Field before the bye. But this is their first game without star DE Aidan Hutchinson (league-leading 7½ sacks).
Pick: Lions 34, Vikings 31.
TEXANS at PACKERS
Time: Noon, CBS 2.
Line: Packers by 2½. Total: 47½.
Records (overall/ATS): Texans 5-1/2-3-1; Packers 4-2/4-2.
Outlook: The last time the Texans went into NFC North territory, they were destroyed by the Vikings 34-7. But that’s their only loss. The Packers have won four of their last five, with Jordan Love coming off his best game.
Pick: Packers 19, Texans 16.
EAGLES at GIANTS
Time: Noon.
Line: Eagles by 3. Total: 42.
Records (overall/ATS): Eagles 3-2/2-3; Giants 2-4/2-3-1.
Outlook: Eagles RB Saquon Barkley says this is not a revenge game against the team that refused to pay him, which means it is absolutely a revenge game. The Eagles will take full advantage of that situation.
Pick: Eagles 24, Giants 14.
TITANS at BILLS
Time: Noon.
Line: Bills by 8. Total: 40½.
Records (overall/ATS): Titans 1-4/1-4; Bills 4-2/3-3.
Outlook: Bills WR Amari Cooper might play less than five days after being acquired in a trade with the Browns. Whether or not he does, Josh Allen will be energized by the move and will respond with a big effort here.
Pick: Bills 30, Titans 17.
BENGALS at BROWNS
Time: Noon.
Line: Bengals by 6. Total: 42.
Records (overall/ATS): Bengals 2-4/3-3; Browns 1-5/2-4.
Outlook: With Deshaun Watson’s $230 million albatross contract looking worse by the week, the Browns traded his best receiver — Amari Cooper. That might help the Browns eventually, but not right now. Bengals QB Joe Burrow is due for a big game.
Pick: Bengals 31, Browns 16.
PANTHERS at COMMANDERS
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: Commanders by 8. Total: 52.
Records (overall/ATS): Panthers 1-5/1-5; Commanders 4-2/4-1-1.
Outlook: The Commanders could get caught looking ahead to next week’s showdown between Jayden Daniels and the Bears’ Caleb Williams — not really. The Commanders will respond after a close loss to the Ravens and take care of business vs. an inferior team.
Pick: Commanders 42, Panthers 20.
CHIEFS at 49ERS
Time: 3:25 p.m., Fox 32.
Line: 49ers by 1. Total: 47½.
Records (overall/ATS): Chiefs 5-0/4-1; 49ers 3-3/3-3.
Outlook: Andy Reid teams are 21-4 after the bye, but they’re not as good vs. teams like the 49ers. The Chiefs lost outright at home to the Eagles after the bye last year. They are 5-1 SU, but only 2-4 ATS with Patrick Mahomes.
Pick: Chiefs 23, 49ers 20.
RAVENS at BUCCANEERS
Time: 7;15 p.m., Mon., ESPN/ABC 7.
Line: Ravens by 3½. Total: 49.
Records (overall/ATS): Ravens 4-2/3-2-1; Buccaneers 4-2/4-2.
Outlook: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson can’t beat Patrick Mahomes, but that’s his only real nemesis. He has beaten Dak Prescott, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels in consecutive weeks heading into this one.
Pick: Ravens 30, Buccaneers 23.
CHARGERS at CARDINALS
Time: 8 p.m., Mon., ESPN+.
Line: Chargers by 2½. Total: 43½.
Records (overall/ATS): Chargers 3-2/3-2; Cardinals 2-4/3-3.
Outlook: Jim Harbaugh got the Chargers back on track against the Broncos last week. But at some point, he’s going to need more from Justin Herbert, who has thrown more than one TD pass in only one game so far.
Pick: Chargers 27, Cardinals 23.