The Arizona Cardinals had been 2-point favorites for Sunday's game in Seattle, but most books have dropped that to a pick'em with the news that Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray will be a game-time decision and star wideout DeAndre Hopkins will sit again. Both have missed the past two games. Arizona upset the 49ers without them in Week 9 but was blasted at home last Sunday by Carolina. Colt McCoy is a bit banged up, too, with a pectoral injury but will start if Murray can't.
Speaking of the Panthers, QB Cam Newton didn't start that Cardinals game but rushed for a touchdown and threw for one in limited action in his return behind PJ Walker, but Newton will start Sunday vs. Washington. This was largely expected, so the spread has yet to move off Panthers -3. Coach Matt Rhule did say Walker "probably" will play.
Newton no doubt will take Sunday's game vs. Washington personal since the WFT is coached by Ron Rivera, the former Panthers coach who was part of the decision-making to originally release Newton from Carolina. Washington is listing wideout Curtis Samuel as questionable and could be without its top two tight ends in Logan Thomas and Ricky Seals-Jones. The WFT lost star defensive end Chase Young to a torn ACL in Week 10.
Baltimore had dropped from -6 to -4.5 earlier this week for its game Sunday in Chicago amid worries when Lamar Jackson missed practice Wednesday and Thursday with a non-COVID illness, but he was back Friday and that number has started creeping back up.
Detroit will give former third-string QB Tim Boyle his first NFL start on Sunday in Cleveland with Jared Goff missing a third straight practice Friday. David Blough, who had been listed as the No. 2 behind Goff, will instead be Boyle's backup.
Cleveland's Baker Mayfield left last Sunday's blowout loss in New England with a knee injury but will be good to go. Mayfield will have running back Nick Chubb available as the league's third-leading rusher activated from the COVID-19 reserve list Friday and will start. Chubb leads the NFL with 6.0 yards per carry, having 120 carries for 721 yards and six touchdowns. The Browns are the biggest favorites on the board at -11.5.
Dallas will be without receiver Amari Cooper not just Sunday in Kansas City but perhaps Thanksgiving against the Raiders as well after Cooper landed on the COVID list Friday. Depending on his vaccination status, Cooper's chances of playing on Dec. 2 at New Orleans could be up in the air as well. Michael Gallup, just back from injury last week, will take on a much bigger role with Cooper out and Cedrick Wilson would elevate to the No. 3 wideout.
Saints star running back Alvin Kamara will miss his second straight game with New Orleans +2 in Philadelphia. Both New Orleans Pro Bowl offensive tackles, Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk, are also out. This spread probably rises.
Who wins every NFL game? And which teams will sink your bankroll? Join SportsLine now to get NFL picks every week, all from the model that simulates every game 10,000 times and is up almost $8,000.
