Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers face Joe Burrow and the Bengals with first place in the AFC North at stake.
asserted
Rodgers → face → stake
The Sunday night matchup is the only primetime game in Week 9 featuring two winning teams.
asserted
matchup → feature → teams
Rodgers outplayed Burrow in Pittsburgh’s 30-27 victory in Week 3.
asserted
Rodgers → outplay → Week
The Steelers (6-2) have won four straight and are coming off a bye.
asserted
Steelers → win → bye
The Bengals (6-2) also have won four in a row and are back after a trip to Spain, where they beat Atlanta.
asserted
they → win → Atlanta
That’s an advantage for Pittsburgh.
asserted
That → ’ → Pittsburgh
Pro Picks sees a close game.
asserted
Picks → see → game
BENGALS: 24-23
WASHINGTON (2-5-1) at NEW YORK GIANTS (5-2-1)
Line: Giants minus 1 1/2
The Commanders missed a chance to win the first meeting last month because they screwed up the clock and settled for a tie.
asserted
they → miss → tie
He has to watch out for Arvell Reese, who had three sacks last week against Philadelphia.
asserted
who → have → Philadelphia
J.J. McCarthy makes his first home start for the Giants and Cam Skattebo is expected to return from a hamstring injury.
asserted
Skattebo → make → injury
McCarthy hasn’t thrown a TD pass in his two starts.
asserted
McCarthy → throw → starts
The Giants lost 10 straight games on Thursday nights before beating the Eagles last year.
asserted
Giants → lose → Eagles
Drake Maye and Christian Gonzalez struggled in a lopsided loss at home to Green Bay.
asserted
Maye → struggle → Bay
The Patriots need their QB and star cornerback to play well to have a chance against Detroit.
asserted
QB → need → Detroit
Jared Goff’s streak of 30 consecutive regular-season games with at least one TD pass ended last week in a win at Miami.
asserted
streak → end → Miami
The Lions have won five straight games after a 1-2 start.
asserted
Lions → win → start
LIONS: 26-22
BUFFALO (7-1) at NEW YORK JETS (2-7)
Line: Bills minus 8 1/2
Buffalo has won five straight in this series and 10 of 12 since 2020.
asserted
Buffalo → win → 2020
Josh Allen has 21 TDs combined passing and rushing this season.
asserted
Allen → have → TDs
The Bills have played much better defense the past two weeks.
asserted
Bills → play → defense
Jets rookie edge rusher David Bailey has 7 1/2 sacks and five forced fumbles in eight games.
asserted
Bailey → have → games
BILLS: 24-17
CAROLINA (3-5) at NEW ORLEANS (3-5)
Line: Saints minus 2 1/2
Two losing teams battling for first place is common in the weak NFC South.
asserted
teams → lose → South
The Panthers are reeling following three straight losses.
asserted
Panthers → reel → losses
But QB Bryce Young has played some of his best football this season.
asserted
Young → play → football
He’ll face plenty of pressure from the Saints.
asserted
He → face → Saints
Chase Young and Carl Granderson have combined for 15 1/2 sacks.
asserted
Young → combine → sacks
New Orleans swept the series last year after Tyler Shough took over as starting QB.
asserted
Shough → sweep → QB
UPSET SPECIAL: PANTHERS: 23-20
HOUSTON (3-5) at CLEVELAND (5-4)
Line: Texans minus 4 1/2
C.J. Stroud has 16 TD passes with only two interceptions and the Texans have won three of four after an 0-4 start.
asserted
Texans → win → start
A defense that sacked Justin Herbert eight times could have a big day against an offensive line that’s allowed 38 sacks.
uncertain
that → sack → sacks
Shedeur Sanders played well last week filling in, but Deshaun Watson will start.
asserted
Watson → play → ?
The Browns are 3-0 at home and begin a stretch of four straight in front of the Dawg Pound.
asserted
Browns → begin → Pound
TEXANS: 20-17
JACKSONVILLE (6-2) at TENNESSEE (1-7)
Line: Jaguars minus 10 1/2
The Jaguars were aggressive at the trade deadline, bolstering a defense that’s allowed just 15.1 points per game.
asserted
that → bolster → game
Trevor Lawrence leads an offense that’s fourth in scoring (28.6 points).
asserted
that → lead → scoring
The Titans are coming off a bye following an impressive performance by Cam Ward in an overtime loss to the Bengals.
asserted
Titans → come → Bengals
But they traded another top defensive player, sending safety Amani Hooker to Buffalo.
asserted
they → trade → Buffalo
The Jaguars swept the season series in each of the last two years.
asserted
Jaguars → sweep → years
JAGUARS: 30-16
KANSAS CITY (6-2) at ATLANTA (3-6)
Line: Chiefs minus 3 1/2
Patrick Mahomes has a new receiver after the Chiefs acquired Josh Downs.
asserted
Chiefs → acquire → Downs
Kenneth Walker III has five 100-yard rushing games already for Kansas City.
asserted
III → have → City
The Falcons have All-Pro running back Bijan Robinson, who leads the NFL with 880 yards rushing in one more game played than Walker.
asserted
who → have → Walker
Atlanta has lost four of five, traded Bates and is coming off a game in Spain.
asserted
Atlanta → lose → Spain
BEST BET: CHIEFS: 26-17
MIAMI (1-7) at INDIANAPOLIS (2-7)
Line: Colts minus 3 1/2
Kyle McCord will make his first career start for the Dolphins, who placed Malik Willis on injured reserve this week.
asserted
who → make → reserve
…and 21 more, not listed.
The Aporia
