Close Calls - Week 4
By Joe Nelson
VegasInsider.com
Glancing at the scoreboard won’t tell you the whole story in most games. Here are some of the games that went down to the wire relative to the spread in the fourth quarter last week in Week 4 of the NFL regular season.
Jacksonville Jaguars (PK) 30, Indianapolis Colts 27 (48½): While the Colts were favored most of the week, the spread on the AFC South clash in London sat below 3 and the outright winner was going to cover in most scenarios. 0-3 Jacksonville seemed in control early with a 17-6 lead at the half, but then only added field goals in the third quarter to lead 23-6. Indianapolis quickly turned the tide with a pair of long touchdown drives in the first eight minutes of the final frame and it was suddenly a three-point game. Jacksonville answered quickly with Allen Hurns taking a short gain back across the field all the way to the end zone and Jacksonville was in good shape up 10 with five minutes to go, with that score also clinching the ‘over’ as well. The Colts were back within three just two minutes later and Indianapolis had the ball back and turned in a 23-yard gain just ahead of the two-minute warning to keep both outcomes still in play. On 3rd-and-10, T.Y. Hilton came up just a yard short of the first down and the Colts failed on 4th-and-1 near midfield as both teams left London at 1-3.
Washington Redskins (-8½) 31, Cleveland Browns (48½) 20: The Browns may still be winless, but they have given a fight despite using four different quarterbacks already this season. After falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter, Cleveland rallied to take a 20-17 edge into the fourth quarter, making the heavy underdog cover look likely on a line that was as high as -10 early in the week. Washington took the lead early in the fourth quarter with a 91-yard touchdown drive and the next two Cleveland possessions ended in turnovers. Getting the ball in Cleveland territory after a Cody Kessler interception, the Redskins found the end zone five plays later on a Matt Jones run and that score was enough for narrow wins for Washington against the number and the ‘over’, although two late Cleveland drives did enter Washington territory, but not close enough for a field goal attempt that could have stolen the spread win.
Seattle Seahawks (PK) 27, New York Jets 17 (39½): The Seahawks led 14-10 at the half and 17-10 heading into the fourth quarter, getting a great game from Russell Wilson who was questionable to even play early in the week. The ‘under’ certainly looked promising at that point in the game, but Seattle had a four-play touchdown drive early in the fourth quarter to take a 24-10 advantage following an interception. The Seahawks had a 10-play drive that resulted in a punt to keep the scoring down, but on the next Jets offensive snap the Seahawks got the ball back with another interception. Seattle went backwards, but still managed a field goal to reach 37 points but the Jets would answer with a touchdown just ahead of the two-minute warning to clear the ‘over’.
Houston Texans (-4) 27, Tennessee Titans 20 (39½): The total on the this AFC South clash sat near 40 most of the week and that is where the scoring sat late in the third quarter after the Titans settled for a short field goal after a 13-play drive to make it 20-20, effectively winning for the ‘over’ at that point barring a five quarter tie. The spread result was still very much in play with a number that opened as high as -7 for the Texans before sliding all week. A Brock Osweiler interception kept the momentum with the Titans, but with less than a minute to go in the third quarter a Tennessee punt was returned 67 yards for a touchdown on a play that was probably aided by an illegal block in the back. That score proved to be the difference as Houston’s defense held strong on four remaining possessions for the Titans, including a drive that reached the 28-yard line inside of two minutes.
Oakland Raiders (+3) 28, Baltimore Ravens 27 (44): Oakland took a 14-3 lead early in this clash between resurgent AFC squads, but late in the third quarter, a Ravens touchdown put Baltimore within two points. Baltimore went for two after that score despite nearly 18 minutes of game clock remaining and the move didn’t pay off. The miss left just 26 total points on the board heading into the fourth quarter as the ‘under’ looked promising. The Raiders made the most of great field position after a fumble on a sack early in the fourth quarter and took a seemingly firm 21-12 two-score lead as an underdog. After an exchange of punts, the Ravens hit a 52-yard pass play to Steve Smith to get back within two and disaster struck the Raiders with a fumble deep in their own zone. A few plays later, the Ravens suddenly had a 27-21 edge, flipping the likely side and total results in the game. Getting the ball back with just over three minutes to go Derek Carr led a great drive, going 66 yards in just over a minute to take a 28-27 advantage as a slight underdog. Baltimore had plenty of time but stalled on the 50-yard line with four consecutive incomplete passes.
Dallas Cowboys (-1) 24, San Francisco 49ers 17 (44½) : After a pair of blowout losses, the 49ers opened as just a slight home underdog vs. Dallas with that line falling over the course of the week. The 49ers came out with great energy and had a 14-0 advantage early in the second quarter with two excellent scoring drives. Dallas scored two touchdowns in the final three minutes of the first half to even the game. The 49ers did produce a field goal to take the lead in the second half, but Dallas would find the end zone with a minute to go in the third quarter to lead by four. San Francisco seemed to get the boost it needed early in the fourth quarter with a solid punt return to near midfield, but on the very next play Blaine Gabbert took a deep shot that ended with an interception. Dallas turned the turnover into three points while burning a great deal of time off the clock. San Francisco had the chance to answer to put the spread result back in play as well as sealing the ‘over,’ but on 4th-and-6 from the Dallas 35-yard line, the 49ers fell just short.
New Orleans Saints (+3½) 35, San Diego Chargers 34 (54): An exciting offense-filled game was certainly expected in this game with one of the higher totals of the season, but the production was a bit limited early as San Diego led 24-14 at the half. The Saints would complete a short 48-yard drive for a touchdown in the third quarter to close within three points playing as an underdog of just above three-points most of the week. San Diego seemed to take control in the fourth quarter with 10 points added to lead by 13, hitting the ‘over’ in the process with a field goal with just over eight minutes to go. The Saints had to punt just two minutes later, but a fumble gave New Orleans the ball in great field position. Four plays later, New Orleans was within six. Incredibly, the Chargers would fumble again on its next offensive play and the Saints had another short field touchdown just after the two-minute warning, this time taking a one-point lead. A comeback attempt from the Chargers didn’t happen with a sack and a penalty on the first two plays and facing 4th-and-22, Philip Rivers was intercepted as the Saints got their first win in great comeback fashion.
Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) 43, Kansas City Chiefs 14 (48): There didn’t appear to be much drama in store Sunday night as everything went right for Pittsburgh with a 22-0 lead in the first quarter. Those on the ‘under’ got a bit of hope with punts filling up the second quarter, but in the final minute before halftime Pittsburgh connected for another seven points rather than a field goal, though a missed kick from the Chiefs helped the cause. Pittsburgh scored early in the third quarter to make it a 36-0 edge and the first scoring for the Chiefs didn’t come until the fourth quarter, sparked by a lousy Pittsburgh punt. The Kansas City touchdown put the total at 43 points, but Pittsburgh responded to seal the ‘over’ with about seven minutes to go in the game with another touchdown, with the Chiefs also adding another late score.
Minnesota Vikings (-3½) 24, New York Giants 10 (42½): The Vikings took command with a 14-0 lead halfway through the second quarter, but just before the half the Giants got on the board with a field goal. After missing an earlier kick Blair Walsh added three for Minnesota in the third quarter and with just 20 total points through three quarters the ‘under’ looked safe. The underdog Giants made it a bit interesting in the fourth quarter completing a 91-yard touchdown drive early in the final frame to close within seven. The Vikings had a pair of big 3rd down conversions and eventually answered with a touchdown with nine minutes to go to push the lead back to 14. There was still a lot of time remaining as the side and total results weren’t completely set just yet, but a New York drive to the Minnesota 36-yard line wound up with the Giants misfiring on 4th-and-5. It likely wouldn’t have impacted the result but the Giants also failed on a 4th-and-short attempt just after the two minute warning as the ‘under’ held for the now 4-0 Vikings.