Teddy's tidbits: AFC in-game betting notes
By Teddy Covers
Teddy watches the games typing furiously on his laptop while giving you the key info that the box scores and game recaps simply don’t have. This week: AFC tidbits from Week 14.
Cincinnati Bengals
Carson Palmer continues to make poor decisions with the football and was extremely lucky on several occasions early when potential interceptions were dropped by Pittsburgh defenders. His luck ran out as the game progressed, throwing a pair of pick sixes that turned a competitive game into an ugly blowout.
Palmer is holding the ball too long in the pocket and, as a result, taking sacks he shouldn’t be. And it can’t a good thing for team chemistry when Palmer Carson Palmer. (Getty)engages in heated arguments on the sidelines with his receivers after repeated mis-communications on the field.
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland is running some wildcat on offense, with multiple formations. The Browns used one package with mobile backup QB Seneca Wallace behind center; another package with slash threat Josh Cribbs taking the snaps. Neither version was effective here, but at least this team is trying something to spark a pedestrian attack that doesn't create many big plays.
With mistake prone Jake Delhomme at QB, we're seeing very conservative play calling in the red zone. Delhomme is most assuredly not a trustworthy cold weather quarterback.
This team has spent the season settling for field goals when they should be scoring touchdowns, and that's exactly what happened here; held to three points in both of their first two tries inside the Buffalo 10 yard line. And with Peyton Hillis continuing to suffer from fumble-itis (nine fumbles for the season, three today), this offense is as enigmatic as the team itself.
San Diego Chargers
This defense allowed a whopping 251 rushing yards to Oakland last week. Facing the No. 1 rushing team in the NFL this week, it was a very different story. They allowed just 67 total yards on KC’s 41 offensive plays, a truly dominant defensive showing.
Philip Rivers has completed passes to 17 different receivers this year, the most by any QB in the NFL this year. Every week, it seems as if they lose another receiver (or two) to injury, every week someone new steps up and fills in effectively. This week it was Kelly Washington and Vincent Jackson’s turn to step up; each having their first ‘impact game’ of the season.
Kansas City Chiefs
This defense got picked apart. Brandon Carr ranks among the NFL leaders in pass breakups and opposing QBs are completing less than 40 percent of their passes against him, but the guy's got stone hands. He dropped one potential interception after the next.
Even when they blitzed, this defense was unable to generate meaningful pressure on Philip Rivers. And KC’s tackling against the run today was as bad as it’s been all year.
Without Matt Cassel behind center, this team showed more quit than they have at any point this season, almost as if this divisional showdown was a throw-away game. Certainly with Brodie Croyle, they lacked any semblance of confidence and when they fell behind by two TDs early.
Croyle was a mess here from start to finish. He didn’t complete a single pass that travelled more than 10 yards in the air. He spent most of the afternoon throwing three-yard dump offs on 3rd and 8.
Miami Dolphins
Since Week 12 of last year, Chad Henne has been intercepted more than any QB in the league, despite getting benched once and missing a game due to injury. And Henne continues to throw horrible passes. He's a tall QB, so why do so many of his passes get batted up into the air at the line of scrimmage?
With Brian Hartline going on IR this week, and Brandon Marshall battling his own nagging injuries, the only productive downfield threat is the undersized Davone Bess. This team really lacks offensive playmakers right now.
At least this team bounces back well -- they've followed each of their last five losses with a SU win the following week. No team in the NFL has made more money for their supporters this year in the road underdog role.
New York Jets
The recurring offensive mistakes remain the biggest issue for Rex Ryan. Two first half turnovers led to ten early Dolphins points – all Miami would need to win the game. Those mistakes put the Jets in the one position their offense doesn't function well in -- trailing and forced to rally back from behind with a mistake prone quarterback.
Marc Sanchez is from California, he played at USC, and he avoided bad weather like the plague throughout his formative years. He is NOT a trustworthy cold weather quarterback, as clearly evidenced by another disastrous performance here.
Pittsburgh Steelers
This team is really underachieving on offense these days. Over the last three weeks, Pittsburgh has produced only 16 points in regulation against Buffalo, 13 against Baltimore and just three field goals without a TD here against the Bengals. We’re talking about 30 offensive possessions with only two TDs during that span. And one of those two touchdowns came on a three-play, nine-yard drive set up by a Troy Polamalu forced fumble.
For as much talent as Pittsburgh has at the skill positions, they aren't getting the ball into their playmakers hands in position to score. This offensive line is really struggling, hindering the team's progress in every way. Left tackle Jonathan Scott continues to get eaten up with holding penalties. He’s among the league leaders in that department.