Houston Texans (-3) at Detroit Lions
DeShaun Watson isn’t PJ Walker so I’m not putting too much stock into how the Lions defense played last week. Watson had a pretty clean sheet last week against the New England Patriots. Two touchdowns, no interceptions and 344 yards passing. The efficiency with the passing game was present in the running. As a team, Houston (3-7) rushed for 55 yards on 19 carries.
Detroit managed to get shutout by a Carolina team that had a rookie quarterback starting. Matt Stafford didn’t even throw for 200 yards while the running game never took off.
Pick: Houston -3
Washington Football Team (+3) at Dallas Cowboys
Cue up your “battle of first place between two 3-7 teams” jokes.
Both teams showed some life last week. Dallas’ Andy Dalton was serviceable but it was Ezekiel Elliott’s performance that gives Cowboys’ fans hope. Elliott ran for 103 yards on 21 carries last week. As a team, the Cowboys rushed for 180 yards.
Washington’s rushing game woke up last week also. Rookie Antonio Gibson ran for 94 yards of Washington’s 164 yards. Like Dalton, Alex Smith was “good enough”.
Pick: Dallas -3
