NFL News and Notes Sunday 1/9

NFL Poolies' Cheat Sheet: Wildcard Weekend
By Shawn Hartlen

Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs (+3)

Why Ravens cover: The road team is 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings. Kansas City has one of the most conservative passing games in the league and their leading receiver, Dwayne Bowe, has been sick all week and is questionable to play. If they can't get their run game going, the Chiefs may have a hard time scoring against a Ravens' defense that is only allowing 16.9 points per game.

Why Chiefs cover: They are one of the best in the NFL at protecting the football while their defense has a knack for forcing turnovers. Baltimore's heralded defense is still pretty good, but it is not what it once was and has been vulnerable against the run at times this season. Peyton Hillis, Arian Foster and Mike Goodson all rushed for 100 or more yards against the Ravens, something that was once unheard of. Now they will have to hold off a Kansas City attack that averaged over 164 yards rushing per game this season, easily tops in the league.

Total (40.5): Under is 4-1 in the Ravens' last five wild-card games and 4-1 in the Chiefs' last five home games.

Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles (-2.5)

Why Packers cover: Michael Vick is coming off a quad injury that could limit his effectiveness in the running game. Green Bay has the NFC's second best defense and will be coming at Vick from all sides, which could make it hard for him to have the time for long strikes downfield to his speedy receivers. Philadelphia lost its final two home games and, at 4-4, have the worst home record of any playoff team while being even worse against the spread at 3-5.

Why Eagles cover: Andy Reid (3-0) has never lost a wildcard matchup as a head coach. Green Bay has struggled to run the ball all season and with conditions in Philadelphia likely to be less than ideal for Aaron Rodgers to consistently throw the ball, the Eagles could have an edge in trying to slow down the Packers' offense. The favorite is 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings. The home team is 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings. The Packers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 meetings.

Total (46): Under is 4-0 in the last four meetings and 5-1 in the last six meetings in Philadelphia.

NFL Playoff Odds: Ravens favored at Chiefs
By: Stephen Nover

The Kansas City Chiefs are an interesting home underdog Sunday at 10 a.m. (PT on CBS) facing Baltimore in an NFL wild-card playoff matchup.

The Chiefs have done a lot of things right in going 10-6 and winning the AFC West Division. They rank first in rushing, finished second in fewest turnovers, have a resilient defense and quarterback Matt Cassel has a 27:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Yet, the Chiefs aren’t getting much respect being three-point ‘dogs. The total is 41.

Why is this? Is Baltimore that good?

The Ravens are 12-4, experienced and playoff-tested, something the Chiefs aren’t having last made the postseason in 2006.

Defense is again Baltimore’s strength. Led by Ray Lewis, the Ravens allowed the third-fewest points per game at 16.9 and rank 10th in yardage giving up 318.9 per contest.

The Ravens are well-coached and solid on special teams. Their offense, though, rarely has been explosive ranking 22nd in total yards.

Baltimore has managed just three touchdowns in its last two games, victories against Cleveland, 20-10, as 3 ½-point road favorites and 13-7 last week against Cincinnati as 9 ½-point home favorites.

The Bengals limited the Ravens to 199 yards of offense and held nearly a 10-minute advantage in time of possession.

Last year, the Ravens stepped up in the playoffs upsetting New England, 33-14, as 3 ½-point road ‘dogs before losing, 20-3, to Indianapolis on the road as 6 ½-point ‘dogs.

The Ravens have a number of experienced veterans, including Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Ed Reed, Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Baltimore is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 postseason road matchups.

Joe Flacco has improved during each of his three years in the NFL. He has a 25-to-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio although eight of his interceptions occurred in road contests.

Flacco relies heavily on Ray Rice, one of the best all-purpose runners in the league with 1,223 yards rushing and 556 yards receiving on 63 catches.

Game time temperatures are expected to be in the 20s with a 20 percent chance of snow at Arrowhead Stadium, which is a grass field. Baltimore is 26-10-1 ATS in its last 37 grass games. Kansas City is 2-6 ATS in its last eight games on grass and 1-6 ATS in its last seven matchups versus AFC teams.

The Ravens have played a much harder schedule tangling with playoff teams Pittsburgh (twice), New England, New Orleans, Atlanta and the New York Jets along with Tampa Bay, which missed the playoffs despite winning 10 games.

Kansas City drew a very easy schedule meeting only two foes that made the playoffs – Indianapolis and 7-9 Seattle.

The Chiefs are 7-1 at Arrowhead with their only defeat coming last Sunday against Oakland as 4 ½-point favorites, 31-10.

Cassel was the fifth-leading passer in the AFC, but the Chiefs are largely one-dimensional with the top running back tandem in the league, Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones. The two combined for 2,363 yards on the ground with Charles finishing second to Arian Foster in rushing title with 1,467 yards.

Kansas City, however, faced only one foe that had a top-five run defense - San Diego. The Chargers held the Chiefs to a season-low 48 yards on the ground on 17 carries when the teams met four weeks ago. Kansas City lost 31-0 as 10-point road ‘dogs.

The Ravens rank fifth in run defense holding opponents to 93.9 yards per game. Baltimore’s defense was more generous through the air rating 21st allowing 224.9 a game.

Dwayne Bowe is the Chiefs’ lone legitimate wide receiving threat with 72 receptions for 1,162 yards and 15 touchdowns, the most scores of any wide receiver. Bowe missed Wednesday practice because of an illness.

Bowe is expected to play Sunday, but the Chiefs still signed 32-year-old Kevin Curtis, who played in just two games this season catching one pass for Miami.

The ‘under’ is 10-4-1 in Baltimore’s last 15 road games. The ‘over’ is 6-1-1 in Kansas City’s last eight games when meeting a team with a winning record.

NFL Playoff Betting: Vick, Eagles host Packers
By: Michael Robinson

Philadelphia Eagles fans are holding their collective breath over Mike Vicks’s health as their team hosts the Green Bay Packers for wild-card weekend on Sunday afternoon.

Bookmaker.com has Philly as three-point home favorites (plus 105) with a total of 46 points set for the matchup. Green Bay is just plus 120 to win outright.

Philadelphia (10-6 straight-up, 7-9 against the spread) won the NFC East thanks mostly to the miracle 38-31 comeback win at the NY Giants in Week 15. The Eagles had a shot at the NFC’s No. 2 seed, but got shocked 24-14 at home to Minnesota in Week 16. The final week home loss to Dallas (14-13) was a meaningless game.

The ‘under’ went 2-0 the last two weeks after the ‘over’ was 9-1 in the previous 10.

Jeremy MaclinVick sustained a quad contusion against Minnesota and struggled with two lost fumbles and an interception. He was limping noticeably at the end of the game and proclaimed himself at just 75 percent healthy this past Monday even after sitting out last week.

The slight 30-year-old quarterback made himself into an MVP candidate by throwing for 3,018 yards and rushing for 676 in just 12 games. He missed three earlier games with a ribs injury and is always one hit away from getting knocked out.

Vick’s health against Green Bay is not just about his rushing skills. His ability to avoid the pass rush and move outside the pocket gives big play receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin time to get down the field. They combined for 34 receptions of 20 yards or more.

The Green Bay defense had 47 sacks this year, second in the NFL behind Pittsburgh (48). Philly allowed 50 sacks, tied for second-worst. Coach Andy Reid needs to get running back LeSean McCoy involved early to keep the Green Bay defense honest and not completely honed in on Vick.

The Eagles know they need to score a lot of points in this game. They’re 9-0 SU and 7-2 ATS when scoring 27 points or more. They’re 1-6 SU and 0-7 ATS when scoring less.

The Packers (10-6 SU, 9-7 ATS) got a wild-card after surviving 10-3 at home last week against Chicago. Green Bay was really feeling the pressure and should be a bit more relaxed playing as an underdog.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers also has an injury situation. He suffered a concussion in Week 14 at Detroit and missed the following game at New England. Rodgers is healthy now and played well the last two weeks, but can’t afford to take any head shots.

Rodgers leads the NFL’s fifth ranked passing attack (257.8 YPG) and will target rookie corner Kurt Coleman and avoid Asante Samuel (seven picks). Green Bay doesn’t have much of a running game (ranked 24th), which puts the burden squarely on the quarterback’s shoulders.

Green Bay’s defense is fifth in the NFL in yards allowed (309.1 YPG). That’s mostly due to the pass defense (194.2 YPG, also fifth) which has the second-most picks (24). Vick has at least one interception in his last five games after none in the first seven.

The Packers allow just 15 PPG, ranked second overall. The high powered Patriots (31 points) are the only team to score at least 21 on them the last nine games.

Green Bay is 3-5 SU and 4-4 ATS on the road. However, Rodgers’ concussion factored in the last two losses. The ‘under’ went 7-1 in away games, with only the New England 31-27 win going ‘over’ the total.

These teams met opening week in Philly, with Green Bay winning 27-20. The Packers knocked out then starter Kevin Kolb (concussion), leading to Vick’s ascension. Vick threw for 175 yards and ran for 103 more, almost rallying the team back from a 27-10 deficit. The final score went just ‘under’ the 47 ½-point total. The ‘under’ is 7-1 in the last eight meetings between the teams.

Philly linebacker Stewart Bradley (elbow) appears doubtful, while guard Max Jean-Gilles (ankle) is questionable. Green Bay has battled back after losing several key players to IR earlier in the year. Defensive end Cullen Jenkins (calf), linebacker Frank Zombo (knee), safety Atari Bigby (groin) and fullback Korey Hall (knee) are all questionable.

Kickoff from Lincoln Financial Field will be 1:30 p.m. (PT) on Fox. This comes right after the AFC’s Baltimore (minus three) at Kansas City.

Sunday Wild Card Games
By Kevin Rogers

Wild Card weekend concludes on Sunday with a pair of games that aren't the easiest to handicap by any stretch. The late game showcases the 10-6 Packers heading on the road for the second straight season in this round against the NFC East champion Eagles. We'll start in western Missouri as the surprising Chiefs host their first playoff game since 2003 when they welcome in the veteran Ravens.

Ravens at Chiefs

For the third straight season, Baltimore will be on the road for the Wild Card round of the playoffs as the Ravens play at Arrowhead Stadium for the first time since 2006. The upstart Chiefs wrapped up their first AFC West title in eight seasons with a 10-6 mark, while finishing tied for second in the league with seven home victories.

The Ravens fell short of winning the AFC North despite finishing tied with the Steelers at 12-4, but Pittsburgh won the tiebreaker due to a 5-1 record within the division (Baltimore went 4-2). John Harbaugh's club ended the season with four consecutive wins, including a pair of road covers at Houston (Week 14) and Cleveland (Week 16). Joe Flacco threw a career-high 25 touchdowns and 3,622 yards, while compiling a quarterback rating of 93.6. Since Flacco's arrival in 2008, Baltimore is 17-10-2 ATS on the highway, including a 5-2-1 ATS mark this season.

The Chiefs equaled their win total this season with the 10 combined victories from 2007-09, while ending a run of four straight division titles by the Chargers. The major part of Kansas City's turnaround was its league-leading 164.2 yards/game on the ground and Matt Cassel's 27/7 touchdown to interception ratio. The 7-1 mark at Arrowhead didn't hurt, but the Chiefs didn't face on playoff team at home this season.

Kansas City beat one team above .500 all season (San Diego in Week 1), while knocking off the likes of Buffalo, Tennessee, Arizona, San Francisco, and Denver at home. The Chiefs were a solid 'under' team at home this season, compiling a 5-3 mark to the 'under.' In six of eight games at Arrowhead, the Chiefs' defense allowed 14 points or less, while giving up 31 points in the season finale to the Raiders.

The last time these two teams met was in Todd Haley's debut in Week 1 of 2009, as the Ravens rolled the Chiefs, 38-24 as 13-point favorites. Kansas City played that game without Cassel, as Brodie Croyle helped rally the Chiefs to a 24-24 tie with five minutes remaining. The Ravens scored two late touchdowns, including Willis McGahee's one-yard score to give Baltimore the cover.

The Ravens captured road victories in the first round of each of the last two postseasons at New England (2009) and Miami (2008). Baltimore drilled New England in Foxboro last January, 33-14 as 3 ½-point underdogs, thanks to a 24-point first quarter. The running game dominated the Patriots' defense with 234 yards, even though Flacco threw for just 34 yards on four completions.

Baltimore is listed as three-point favorites across the board, but that number may move to 3 ½ by game-time on Sunday. The total is set at 40 ½, while there are several 41's hovering around. The game kicks off at 1:00 PM EST and will be televised nationally on CBS.

Packers at Eagles

Both these teams are coming off a dramatically different last 14 days as the opening playoff weekend wraps up at Lincoln Financial Field. The Packers picked up consecutive home victories over the Giants and Bears to clinch the last playoff spot in the NFC, while the Eagles were tripped up at home by two underachieving teams in the Vikings and Cowboys.

Michael Vick sat out last Sunday's 14-13 loss to Dallas, as well as running back LeSean McCoy and wide receiver DeSean Jackson. The Eagles weren't great at home with a 4-4 record, but three of those losses came when Vick didn't play the entire game wire-to-wire. In the three home games in which Vick played from start to finish, the Eagles scored 26 against the Colts, 27 against the Giants, and 34 against the Texans.

The Packers had their ups and downs this season, even though all six of their losses came by four points or less. Green Bay wasn't great away from Lambeau Field with a 3-5 mark, while losing each of its final three road contests. In two of those games, quarterback Aaron Rodgers played in just one half, coming in the 7-3 loss in Week 14 at Detroit. The Packers fought valiantly the following week at New England with the inexperienced Matt Flynn under center, dropping a 31-27 decision as 14-point underdogs.

These two clubs met in Week 1 at the Linc as the favored Packers knocked off the Eagles, 27-20. The biggest loss suffered in that game for Green Bay was running back Ryan Grant and his broken foot, causing the former Notre Dame star to miss the remainder of the season. The running game took a significant hit after that, ranking 24th in the league with just a shade over 100 yards a game on the ground. However, that mid-September game paved the way for the re-emergence of Vick as a viable NFL quarterback, leading the Eagles to a pair of touchdowns despite the seven-point defeat.

Both the Eagles and Packers lost in the first round of the playoffs last January on the road with contrasting results. Green Bay fell short in a 51-45 overtime shootout at Arizona, marred by the non-facemask call on a Rodgers' fumble that resulted in the game-winning touchdown. The Eagles ended the Donovan McNabb era with a 34-14 blowout loss at Dallas, as the Cowboys used a 27-point second quarter output to bury Philadelphia.

Philadelphia hit the 'over' in seven of 10 games that Vick played from beginning to end, but only two of those 'overs' cashed at home. Seven of Green Bay's eight road games finished 'under' the total, with the only 'over' hitting in the New England loss in which Rodgers didn't start.

The Eagles are listed as 2½-point favorites, even though that number is creeping up to three in some spots. The total is set at 46½, as temperatures are expected to be in the high 20's with winds at around 15 MPH. The game kicks off at 4:30 PM EST and can be seen on FOX.

vegasinsider.com

Tech Trends - Wild Card
By Bruce Marshall

BALTIMORE at KANSAS CITY...Ravens "under" 11-4 last 15 on road since early 2009. Baltimore is also 3-2 straight up on road in playoffs the past two seasons. Kansas City has not won a playoff game since 1993, when Marty Schottenheimer was the coach and Joe Montana was the QB. Chiefs "under" 4-0-1 last 5 this season. Tech edge-"Under," based on "totals" trends.

GREEN BAY at PHILADELPHIA...Green Bay looking to atone for playoff losses at Philly in 1960 & 2003, although Pack did win and cover vs. Birds by 27-20 count in opener at Linc. Pack 2-1 as dog this season, 15-5 getting points since 2007, and 18-5 last 23 in role. Andy Reid just 2-4 vs. number last 6 as playoff host. Tech edge-Pack, based on team trends.

Ravens at Chiefs: What Bettors Need to Know

Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs (+3, 40.5)

THE STORY: The Baltimore Ravens enter the postseason as one of the league's hottest teams and owning the third-best record in the NFL. Still, they will open the playoffs on the road when they visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon. The Chiefs will be counting on every bit of that home-field advantage against Baltimore, which won its final four games and six of its last seven. The only loss in that stretch was 13-10 vs. Pittsburgh – a defeat that prevented the Ravens from claiming a first-round bye and the No. 2 overall seed. Kansas City, which hasn’t won a playoff game since 1994, went 7-1 at home this season, the only loss coming in a meaningless game vs. Oakland last weekend.

TV: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

OPENING LINE: Ravens -1, O/U 41.5

This spread moved from its opening to a field goal with one-sided action on the road team. The total dropped one point at most books to 40.5.

WEATHER: Cloudy with chance of a few snow showers and temperatures in the mid 30s. Winds will blow of speeds up to 15 mph, from corner to corner (southeast).

ABOUT THE CHIEFS (10-6, 9-7 ATS): The Chiefs rebounded from a last-place finish to win the AFC West title this season. Sparked by the league’s top-ranked rushing attack, Kansas City had as many wins as the last three seasons combined. Jamaal Charles finished second in the league with 1,467 yards and his 6.38-per-yard carry average ranks second all-time to Hall of Famer Jim Brown among backs with 1,400-plus yards. Despite the six-game win improvement from last season, the Chiefs beat just one team with a winning record (San Diego) - and they were annihilated by the Chargers in the rematch. There are some blips that were cause for concern over the final eight games, with a 20-point loss to Denver, a 31-point defeat to San Diego and a 21-point beating by Oakland.

ABOUT THE RAVENS (12-4, 8-7-1 ATS): Quarterback Joe Flacco and Baltimore are in the postseason for the third consecutive year. Aside from a Week 2 defeat to Cincinnati, the Ravens’ other losses were to New England, Atlanta and Pittsburgh – teams that sport a collective 39-9 record. Playing away from home doesn’t seem to faze the Ravens, who are 3-0 in wild card road games and inflicted one of the worst beatings on a Bill Belichick-coached team with a 33-14 rout at New England in last year’s postseason. Per usual, defense is a strength for Baltimore, which surrendered the third-fewest points in the league and held five of its last seven opponents to 13 points or less. The Ravens’ fifth-ranked run defense has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 13 consecutive playoff games.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: While Charles and Thomas Jones have fueled Kansas City’s No. 1-ranked ground game, Matt Cassel and Dwayne Bowe will be looking to exploit Baltimore’s sometimes-shaky pass defense. Cassel has thrown for 27 touchdowns – including an NFL-high 15 to Bowe – and just seven interceptions, but he must bounce back from a rocky outing in the regular-season finale against Oakland (11 of 33, 2 INTs), compiling a dreadful passer rating of 19.1. In his previous six games, Cassel had thrown for 15 TDs and was picked off just once. Bowe missed practiced Wednesday due to illness but is expected to be fine for the game.

Middle linebacker Ray Lewis is in inspirational leader and safety Ed Reed is a clutch playoff performer, but Baltimore’s ability to shut down the Chiefs may hinge on Terrell Suggs’ ability to pressure Cassel and massive nose tackle Haloti Ngata’s ability to stuff the run at the point of attack. Ray Rice ran for a quiet 1,220 yards, eclipsing 100 yards just twice. Baltimore needs a strong game out of him to take the onus off Flacco. The third-year QB had career highs in yards (3,622) and TDs (25), but averaged a mere 133 yards passing in his last three games.

RECENT HISTORY: The teams have played just twice in the past five seasons, with Baltimore winning both. Flacco threw for 307 yards and three TDs as the Ravens beat visiting Kansas City (minus an injured Cassel) 48-24 in the 2009 season opener.

KEY INJURIES: Ravens: LB Dannell Ellerbe (head), LB Tavares Gooden (shoulder), LB Jameel McClain (back), S Ed Reed (chest), CB Josh Wilson (head), S Tom Zbikowski (back); Chiefs: G Brian Waters (illness).

LAST WORD: Six teams have emerged from the wild card round and went on to win the Super Bowl. One of those teams was the Ravens, who accomplished the feat with a 34-7 drubbing of the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV.

TRENDS

- Ravens are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 playoff road games.
- Road team is 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings.
- Chiefs are 0-4 ATS in their last four playoff games.
- Under is 5-2 in Ravens’ last seven playoff games.
- Under is 4-1 in Chiefs’ last five games in January.

Packers at Eagles: What Bettors Need to Know

Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles (-2.5, 46)

THE STORY: Michael Vick and the Eagles get a second crack at the Green Bay Packers, who recorded a 27-20 victory in Philadelphia in Week 1. Vick came off the bench in that game when starter Kevin Kolb suffered a concussion and nearly rallied the Eagles all the way back from a 20-3 deficit. With Vick at the controls, Philadelphia will pit the NFC’s highest-scoring offense against the conference’s stingiest defense. One of the big question marks is the health of Vick, who suffered a bruised quadriceps in a Week 16 loss to Minnesota and sat out the regular-season finale against Dallas. Vick hurt the Eagles with his legs in the season opener, rushing for 103 yards on 11 carries.

TV: Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX

OPENING LINE: Eagles -2.5, O/U 46.5

This spread dropped as low as -2 and climbed as high as -3, but has settled around -2.5 with most books. The total has fallen half a point to 46 points.

WEATHER: Sunny with high temperatures in the mid 30s. There is a strong-to-medium wind blowing northwest from corner to corner at 20 mph.

ABOUT THE EAGLES (10-6, 7-9 ATS): Philadelphia comes into the postseason off two straight losses, including a 24-14 home loss to the Vikings that coach Andy Reid termed “embarrassing.” While Reid rested a number of key players in last week’s loss to Dallas, some observers have questioned whether the Eagles are too reliant on the home-run ball and have opposing defenses finally figured out how to contain Vick. In his first six starts, Vick did not throw an interception, but he has been picked off six times and lost a pair of fumbles in his last five games. Reid knows how to prepare his team for the postseason: The Eagles are 4-1 in wild card games – 3-0 at home – in his tenure.

ABOUT THE PACKERS (10-6, 9-7 ATS): Despite myriad injuries, the Packers secured the No. 6 seed by beating the New York Giants and Chicago Bears in the final two weeks. Green Bay’s running game never really recovered after losing Ryan Grant to a knee injury in the season opener. Despite a somewhat one-dimensional offense, Aaron Rodgers threw for 3,922 yards with 28 TDs and 11 interceptions while leading the NFC in passing rating at 101.2 – just ahead of Vick. The Packers’ defense has played superbly down the stretch, holding five of their last nine opponents to seven points or less. Green Bay has not fared well in tight games, however. Of its six losses, all have come by four points or fewer.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: No team loves to blitz as much as Philadelphia, so the Packers will need to feature some semblance of a ground game to keep Rodgers upright. Brandon Jackson rushed for 703 yards, but he averages just 3.7 yards a pop and went over 39 yards only once in his last six games. Wide receiver Greg Jennings scored 12 touchdowns on the season and had four 100-yard games in the last seven weeks. Defensively, cornerback Charles Woodson will be matched up against either DeSean Jackson or Jeremy Maclin and also loves to come on the blitz, as does linebacker Clay Matthews, who registered 13.5 sacks.

A favorable weather forecast should not hinder Philly’s passing game, but Green Bay’s tight man-to-man coverage could. To that end, the Eagles need to get dual-threat RB LeSean McCoy heavily involved in the offense. The second-year back rushed for 1,080 yards and also had 78 receptions, best among all NFL running backs. On the other side of the ball, Trent Cole leads the defensive unit with 10.0 sacks. Rodgers will have to be wary of cornerback Asante Samuel, who had seven interceptions in 11 games and has carved a reputation as a brilliant postseason performance. He has returned four interceptions for touchdowns in the playoffs.

RECENT HISTORY: Philadelphia stunned Green Bay 20-17 in 2003 in the last playoff matchup between the teams. Donovan McNabb converted a fourth-and-26 pass that led to the tying field goal before the Eagles won in overtime.

KEY INJURIES: Green Bay — S Atari Bigby (groin), FB Korey Hall (groin). Philadelphia — LB Stewart Bradley (elbow), G Max Jean-Gilles (ankle).

LAST WORD: Prior to the season-opening victory, Green Bay had lost nine consecutive games at Philadelphia, last winning in 1962.

TRENDS

- Packers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 meetings.
- Home team is 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings.
- Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings in Philadelphia.
- Under is 4-0 in the last four meetings.

NFL Playoff Odds: Ravens favored at Chiefs
By: Stephen Nover

The Kansas City Chiefs are an interesting home underdog Sunday at 10 a.m. (PT on CBS) facing Baltimore in an NFL wild-card playoff matchup.

The Chiefs have done a lot of things right in going 10-6 and winning the AFC West Division. They rank first in rushing, finished second in fewest turnovers, have a resilient defense and quarterback Matt Cassel has a 27:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Yet, the Chiefs aren’t getting much respect being three-point ‘dogs. The total is 41.

Why is this? Is Baltimore that good?

The Ravens are 12-4, experienced and playoff-tested, something the Chiefs aren’t having last made the postseason in 2006.

Ed ReedDefense is again Baltimore’s strength. Led by Ray Lewis, the Ravens allowed the third-fewest points per game at 16.9 and rank 10th in yardage giving up 318.9 per contest.

The Ravens are well-coached and solid on special teams. Their offense, though, rarely has been explosive ranking 22nd in total yards.

Baltimore has managed just three touchdowns in its last two games, victories against Cleveland, 20-10, as 3 ½-point road favorites and 13-7 last week against Cincinnati as 9 ½-point home favorites.

The Bengals limited the Ravens to 199 yards of offense and held nearly a 10-minute advantage in time of possession.

Last year, the Ravens stepped up in the playoffs upsetting New England, 33-14, as 3 ½-point road ‘dogs before losing, 20-3, to Indianapolis on the road as 6 ½-point ‘dogs.

The Ravens have a number of experienced veterans, including Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Ed Reed, Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Baltimore is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 postseason road matchups.

Joe Flacco has improved during each of his three years in the NFL. He has a 25-to-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio although eight of his interceptions occurred in road contests.

Flacco relies heavily on Ray Rice, one of the best all-purpose runners in the league with 1,223 yards rushing and 556 yards receiving on 63 catches.

Game time temperatures are expected to be in the 20s with a 20 percent chance of snow at Arrowhead Stadium, which is a grass field. Baltimore is 26-10-1 ATS in its last 37 grass games. Kansas City is 2-6 ATS in its last eight games on grass and 1-6 ATS in its last seven matchups versus AFC teams.

The Ravens have played a much harder schedule tangling with playoff teams Pittsburgh (twice), New England, New Orleans, Atlanta and the New York Jets along with Tampa Bay, which missed the playoffs despite winning 10 games.

Kansas City drew a very easy schedule meeting only two foes that made the playoffs – Indianapolis and 7-9 Seattle.

The Chiefs are 7-1 at Arrowhead with their only defeat coming last Sunday against Oakland as 4 ½-point favorites, 31-10.

Cassel was the fifth-leading passer in the AFC, but the Chiefs are largely one-dimensional with the top running back tandem in the league, Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones. The two combined for 2,363 yards on the ground with Charles finishing second to Arian Foster in rushing title with 1,467 yards.

Kansas City, however, faced only one foe that had a top-five run defense - San Diego. The Chargers held the Chiefs to a season-low 48 yards on the ground on 17 carries when the teams met four weeks ago. Kansas City lost 31-0 as 10-point road ‘dogs.

The Ravens rank fifth in run defense holding opponents to 93.9 yards per game. Baltimore’s defense was more generous through the air rating 21st allowing 224.9 a game.

Dwayne Bowe is the Chiefs’ lone legitimate wide receiving threat with 72 receptions for 1,162 yards and 15 touchdowns, the most scores of any wide receiver. Bowe missed Wednesday practice because of an illness.

Bowe is expected to play Sunday, but the Chiefs still signed 32-year-old Kevin Curtis, who played in just two games this season catching one pass for Miami.

The ‘under’ is 10-4-1 in Baltimore’s last 15 road games. The ‘over’ is 6-1-1 in Kansas City’s last eight games when meeting a team with a winning record.

NFL Playoff Betting: Vick, Eagles host Packers
By: Michael Robinson

Philadelphia Eagles fans are holding their collective breath over Mike Vicks’s health as their team hosts the Green Bay Packers for wild-card weekend on Sunday afternoon.

Bookmaker.com has Philly as three-point home favorites (plus 105) with a total of 46 points set for the matchup. Green Bay is just plus 120 to win outright.

Philadelphia (10-6 straight-up, 7-9 against the spread) won the NFC East thanks mostly to the miracle 38-31 comeback win at the NY Giants in Week 15. The Eagles had a shot at the NFC’s No. 2 seed, but got shocked 24-14 at home to Minnesota in Week 16. The final week home loss to Dallas (14-13) was a meaningless game.

The ‘under’ went 2-0 the last two weeks after the ‘over’ was 9-1 in the previous 10.

Jeremy MaclinVick sustained a quad contusion against Minnesota and struggled with two lost fumbles and an interception. He was limping noticeably at the end of the game and proclaimed himself at just 75 percent healthy this past Monday even after sitting out last week.

The slight 30-year-old quarterback made himself into an MVP candidate by throwing for 3,018 yards and rushing for 676 in just 12 games. He missed three earlier games with a ribs injury and is always one hit away from getting knocked out.

Vick’s health against Green Bay is not just about his rushing skills. His ability to avoid the pass rush and move outside the pocket gives big play receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin time to get down the field. They combined for 34 receptions of 20 yards or more.

The Green Bay defense had 47 sacks this year, second in the NFL behind Pittsburgh (48). Philly allowed 50 sacks, tied for second-worst. Coach Andy Reid needs to get running back LeSean McCoy involved early to keep the Green Bay defense honest and not completely honed in on Vick.

The Eagles know they need to score a lot of points in this game. They’re 9-0 SU and 7-2 ATS when scoring 27 points or more. They’re 1-6 SU and 0-7 ATS when scoring less.

The Packers (10-6 SU, 9-7 ATS) got a wild-card after surviving 10-3 at home last week against Chicago. Green Bay was really feeling the pressure and should be a bit more relaxed playing as an underdog.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers also has an injury situation. He suffered a concussion in Week 14 at Detroit and missed the following game at New England. Rodgers is healthy now and played well the last two weeks, but can’t afford to take any head shots.

Rodgers leads the NFL’s fifth ranked passing attack (257.8 YPG) and will target rookie corner Kurt Coleman and avoid Asante Samuel (seven picks). Green Bay doesn’t have much of a running game (ranked 24th), which puts the burden squarely on the quarterback’s shoulders.

Green Bay’s defense is fifth in the NFL in yards allowed (309.1 YPG). That’s mostly due to the pass defense (194.2 YPG, also fifth) which has the second-most picks (24). Vick has at least one interception in his last five games after none in the first seven.

The Packers allow just 15 PPG, ranked second overall. The high powered Patriots (31 points) are the only team to score at least 21 on them the last nine games.

Green Bay is 3-5 SU and 4-4 ATS on the road. However, Rodgers’ concussion factored in the last two losses. The ‘under’ went 7-1 in away games, with only the New England 31-27 win going ‘over’ the total.

These teams met opening week in Philly, with Green Bay winning 27-20. The Packers knocked out then starter Kevin Kolb (concussion), leading to Vick’s ascension. Vick threw for 175 yards and ran for 103 more, almost rallying the team back from a 27-10 deficit. The final score went just ‘under’ the 47 ½-point total. The ‘under’ is 7-1 in the last eight meetings between the teams.

Philly linebacker Stewart Bradley (elbow) appears doubtful, while guard Max Jean-Gilles (ankle) is questionable. Green Bay has battled back after losing several key players to IR earlier in the year. Defensive end Cullen Jenkins (calf), linebacker Frank Zombo (knee), safety Atari Bigby (groin) and fullback Korey Hall (knee) are all questionable.

Kickoff from Lincoln Financial Field will be 1:30 p.m. (PT) on Fox. This comes right after the AFC’s Baltimore (minus three) at Kansas City.

Tips and Trends

Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs

RAVENS: (-3, O/U 41) Baltimore has won their past 4 games entering the playoffs, making this veteran team that much more dangerous. The Ravens are 12-4 SU and 8-7-1 ATS overall this season. Baltimore is 5-3 SU and 5-2-1 ATS in road contests this year. The Ravens are 5-4 ATS as a single digit favorite this season. QB Joe Flacco has thrown for 3,622 YDS this season, including 25 TD's. RB Ray Rice has rushed for 1,220 YDS and 5 TD's this year. The Ravens defense is still the heart of this team, both physically and emotionally. Baltimore is allowing just 16.9 PPG, 3rd fewest in the NFL. The Ravens are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game. Baltimore is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following an ATS loss. The Ravens are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game. The Ravens are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 playoff road games. Baltimore is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games played in January.

Ravens are 4-1 ATS last 5 Wildcard games.
Under is 6-2 last 8 games as a road favorite.

Key Injuries - S Ed Reed (ribs) is probable.

Projected Score: 20

CHIEFS: Kansas City had a storybook season, winning the AFC West thanks to a 10-6 SU record. The Chiefs were dominant at home this season, going 7-1 SU and 5-3 ATS. Kansas City was 5-2 ATS as the listed underdog this year, including 2-0 both SU and ATS as the listed home underdog. The Chiefs averaged an NFL high 162 YPG rushing this year. RB Jamaal Charles rushed for 1,467 YDS this year, including 5 TD's. Teammate Thomas Jones rushed for nearly 900 YDS and 6 TD's this year. Kansas City averaged 22.9 PPG overall this season. Defensively, the Chiefs allowed 20.4 PPG this year. Overall, this is a very young team that will gain incredible experience hosting a playoff game against a veteran team like Baltimore. The Chiefs are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing more than 30 points in their previous game. Kansas City is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a SU loss. The Chiefs are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games as the listed underdog. Kansas City is 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game. The Chiefs are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games played in January. Kansas City is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games against the AFC. The Chiefs are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 playoff games.

Chiefs are 4-1 ATS last 5 games following a double-digit loss at home.
Under is 4-1 last 5 home games.

Key Injuries - G Brian Waters (illness) is questionable.

Projected Score: 24 (SIDE of the Day)

Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles

PACKERS: Green Bay had to win their final 2 games SU in order to qualify for the playoffs. The Packers did just that, and it earned them a spot in the Wildcard round on the road in Philadelphia. The Packers finished the regular season with a 10-6 SU and 9-7 ATS record. Green Bay was 3-5 SU and 4-4 ATS record on the road this year. The Packers were 2-1 ATS as the listed underdog this season. QB Aaron Rodgers threw for 3,922 YDS and 28 TD's this year. WR Greg Jennings had 1,265 receiving YDS and 12 TD's in a productive season for Green Bay. Green Bay averaged 24.3 PPG overall this season, while allowing the 2nd fewest PPG in the NFL at 15 PPG. The Packers defense was one of the surprising units in the NFL this season. The Packers are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games after scoring less than 15 points in their previous game. Green Bay is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games played on grass. The Packers are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 road games against a team with a winning home record. Green Bay is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall. The Packers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 playoff games. The Packers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 Wildcard games.

Packers are 4-1 ATS last 5 games as a road underdog.
Under is 4-0 last 4 games following a SU win.

Key Injuries - DE Cullen Jenkins (calf) is probable.

Projected Score: 23

EAGLES: (-2.5, O/U 46.5) Philadelphia has lost their last 2 games SU, putting quite a bit of damper into the huge optimism for this Eagles team. Philadelphia has struggled of late due to the health of QB Michael Vick. The Eagles enter the playoffs with a 10-6 SU and 7-9 ATS overall record. Philadelphia was only 4-4 SU and 3-5 ATS in home games this season. Philadelphia was 5-6 ATS as a single digit favorite this year. Vick has nearly 3,700 total YDS this season, including 30 TD's. WR DeSean Jackson had a highlight reel season, as he's one of the best gamebreakers in the league. Jackson had 1,056 YDS and 6 TD's on the season. The Eagles averaged 27.4 PPG this year, 3rd most in the NFL. Philadelphia has plenty of revenge against the Packers tonight, based on them losing in Week 1 at home. The Eagles are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after accumulating less than 150 yards passing in their previous game. Philadelphia is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following an ATS loss. The Eagles are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as a favorite up to a field goal. The Eagles are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games following a SU loss. Philadelphia is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games against the NFC.

Eagles are 0-4 ATS last 4 games played in January.
Under is 5-0-1 last 6 playoff home games.

Key Injuries - QB Michael Vick (quad) is probable.

Projected Score: 30 (OVER-Total of the Day)