• WR CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys — over 67.5 receiving yards: Plagued with holes within the again finish, this Bengals protection has allowed an open goal on 58.6% of their protection snaps and a reception of 15 or extra yards on 22.7% — each of which rank bottom-five within the NFL over that span.
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Estimated studying time: 4 minutes
Recreation Overview
With neither franchise holding increased than a 2% likelihood to make the playoffs, based on PFF’s mannequin, the percentages of this sport having any vital affect are exceedingly slim.
Nonetheless, this sport does carry some intrigue in betting markets. The Cowboys managed to string collectively a pair of wins to shut out November, snapping a five-game failed cowl streak. Dallas overcame its struggles at residence — the place the crew was 1-5 straight up and towards the unfold — with its first residence win of the yr final week.
These optimistic traits for Dallas shall be put to the take a look at towards a Bengals crew that has carried out properly in betting markets on the highway. Cincinnati holds a 5-1 highway document towards the unfold, together with a 3-0 mark when favored.
Joe Burrow’s phenomenal season — he holds the NFL’s highest passing grade by Week 13 — has been marred by Cincinnati’s struggling protection, significantly throughout this important stretch of video games. Since Week 8, the Bengals have earned the league’s lowest general defensive grade (56.5) and rank final in EPA allowed per play.
Conversely, the Dallas protection has skilled a resurgence in latest weeks with the return of Micah Parsons and DaRon Bland to the lineup. With each gamers again and setting the tone for this unit, the Cowboys protection ranks second in EPA per play allowed over the previous two weeks.
WR CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys: Over 67.5 receiving yards (-112)
The shift to Cooper Rush beneath heart has understandably brought on a dip in Lamb’s manufacturing. Over Rush’s 4 begins, Lamb has surpassed this receiving line simply as soon as — again in Week 11. Nonetheless, quantity stays on his aspect, because the gifted receiver ranks fifth in targets (37) since Week 10. With continued alternatives, count on Lamb’s manufacturing to bounce again on this favorable matchup towards a porous Bengals secondary.
Cincinnati’s struggling protection unit has been a key issue within the crew’s disappointing season. Since Week 8, the Bengals rank useless final in EPA per cross play allowed. Suffering from holes within the again finish, this protection has allowed an open goal on 58.6% of their protection snaps and a reception of 15 or extra yards on 22.7% of snaps — each marks rank within the backside 5 within the NFL over that span.
This Bengals secondary has allowed a receiver to surpass this line in every of their final six video games. In simply their final two video games, they gave up a mixed 197 receiving yards and eight receptions of 15 or extra yards to Steelers WR George Pickens and Chargers WR Ladd McConkey.
