We knew that the Cinderella story of Dallas Cowboys backup quarterback Cooper Rush would come to an end. What we perhaps didn’t know was how public the embarrassment would be. Rush posted a 5-0 record in his first five starts in relief of Dak Prescott (one last year against Minnesota and then Weeks 2-5 this year). However, Rush ended up with three interceptions against the Philadephia Eagles in a 26-17 loss. One of those picks came on a tipped ball after Michael Gallup just stopped running on a comeback route, and the other saw CeeDee Lamb give up on an underthrown ball after Rush got slammed by an Eagles pass rusher during hiss follow-through. On the NBC broadcast, sideline reporter Melissa Stark mentioned that she has spoken with Rush’s wife, Lauryn, and that Rush had not wanted to go to the expense of flying his wife up for the game. NFL Twitter roasted Rush and his wife after the combination of that comment and Rush’s off night. Prescott looks set to return for the Cowboys in Week 7, so let’s talk about how you should plan your sports betting for this week’s action.
NFL News: Sure Losers for Week 7
→ Thursday, October 20
New Orleans Saints (+1.5) at Arizona Cardinals
(8:15 pm ET, Prime Video)
After seeing Hollywood Brown go down to injury in Week 6, the Arizona Cardinals seem to have hit desperation mode as far as the wide receiver position goes. They traded with Carolina for wide receiver Robbie Anderson, who got sent to the locker room after arguing with his position coach during Sunday’s game. To get Anderson, they had to call Carolina interim head coach Steve Wilks, who the Cardinals had previously fired – and who had filed a discrimination suit against the team. The Cardinals will also get DeAndre Hopkins back after his six-game suspension, so the Cardinals should be an offensive team. The Cardinals are 16-10 with Hopkins on the field and 5-9 without him since the Houston Texans shipped him west, and they average eight more points per game with him out there.
However, Arizona only gets Hopkins for two days of practice (since this is a Thursday game), and given that this is his first game action since Week 14 of 2021, so he might get his snaps limited. Also, the home field advantage for Arizona is limited, at best. They last won a game at State Farm Stadium on October 24, 2021 – an eight-game losing streak at home. They’ve only covered the spread at home once during that skid. The Saints may still start Andy Dalton at quarterback, but the Saints’ offense has not suffered during Jameis Winston’s absence. Saints to cover.
→ Sunday, October 23
Indianapolis Colts (+2.5) at Tennessee Titans
(1:00 pm ET, CBS)
The Tennessee Titans somehow lead the AFC South despite a 3-2 record – and the Indianapolis Colts are in second place despite tying with Houston in Week 1 and getting blanked by Jacksonville in Week 2. Quarterback Matt Ryan has started to get the offense going; last week, he threw for 389 yards and three scores in a rematch win over the Jaguars. The Titans have three wins despite having played five games without scoring a single point in the fourth quarter.
How do the Titans win? They build a lead early and then hand the ball to Derrick Henry the rest of the way. Tennessee beat Indianapolis on the road in Week 4 because Ryan kept turning the ball over (three times in all) and the Colts’ defense could not stop Henry. I would pick the Colts if they had Jonathan Taylor at full strength, but even though he practiced Wednesday, it’s hard to say he would be at 100% following an ankle injury. I think Ryan will do a better job with ball security, but the Colts’ defense has been too generous. Titans to win and cover.
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