Our best bets for Sunday's NFL action include road wins for two AFC South teams and a touchdown for one of the league's biggest stars.
Unstoppable Jefferson can score against Chiefs
Justin Jefferson almost single-handedly beat the Carolina Panthers last week as his two touchdowns dragged an error-prone Minnesota Vikings team to their first win of the season.
They probably won’t be able to follow that victory up with another against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, but Jefferson should make his presence felt once more.
The NFL’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year is averaging 135 receiving yards per game in 2023 and catching an outstanding 70.2 per cent of the targets thrown in his direction.
Kansas City are stout against the run, but have given up four passing touchdowns already this season – three of which have been to wide receivers.
Struggling offenses point to Under in Massachusetts
Sunday’s matchup in Massachusetts between the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints features two teams with struggling offenses.
Only four NFL teams have scored fewer touchdowns than the Patriots this season and one of those is the Saints.
Neither has scored more than 20 points this season, and injuries are starting to have their say.
Saints QB Derek Carr is carrying a shoulder problem, while Patriots QB Mac Jones was benched in the second half of last week’s defeat to the Dallas Cowboys after two interceptions and a fumble.
Texans can make it three in a row
The Texans could win a third game in a row for the first time since 2018 when they face an Atlanta Falcons team returning from last Sunday’s defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.
Houston have limited their opponents to just 23 points across the past two weeks, and their offense, which has begun to blossom with rookie QB CJ Stroud under centre, has averaged almost seven yards per play.
Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder can only dream of putting up similar numbers at the moment amid talk he could be benched after he threw two interceptions last week, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
Titans have the knowhow to beat Colts
The Tennessee Titans have won eight of their last nine road games against AFC South opponents and especially know how to win in Indianapolis.
The Titans have beaten the Colts there in four consecutive years and will be confident of a fifth as they head to Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday.
Mike Vrabel’s men routed the Cincinnati Bengals 27-3 last Sunday and should get some key offensive pieces back from injury and suspension this week to further boost their cause.
The potential return of 2021 rushing champion Jonathan Taylor could mend some of the issues that cost the Colts victory against the Los Angeles Rams last weekend, but the Titans defense is the best in the league at stopping the run, allowing just 2.9 yards per attempt this season.
Tips
Justin Jefferson Anytime Touchdown Scorer @ 3/4
Saints vs Patriots Under (38.5) Total Points @ 20/21
Houston Texans (Money Line) @ 11/10
Tennessee Titans (Money Line) @ 5/7
