A Tale of Two Cities By Charles Dickens is a book that can be referenced, when trying to make sense of this past weekend’s NFL betting lines action. On the one hand, the NFC could represent England, as the teams that were supposed to win and move on to the NFC Divisional round playoffs this coming weekend, did their jobs. Meanwhile, the AFC was similar to France, in that there were more questions arising from the weekend, then answers. Today, comparable to Dickens aforementioned novel, we’ll focus on the latter price per head teams, the AFC. Despite all four home teams winning their playoff games this weekend, the Houston Texans and Denver Broncos, were a pair of teams that the bookmakers couldn’t have foreseen making any records. Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, including this weekend, only three teams have gone from losing their final three games of the regular season, to winning the first game of the playoffs in the same year. The 2009 New Orleans Saints ended the season losing their final three games, before winning in week one of the playoffs, and eventually winning Super Bowl 44. This weekend, Houston and Denver became the second and third teams to accomplish the feat, when Houston beat Cincinnati and Denver shocked the world by beating Pittsburgh. While Houston is showing that they belong in the playoffs, many people, we included, really wonder if the Broncos are a deserving team to win the bookie software Super Bowl. Entering this coming weekend’s divisional playoffs, both of the AFC bye round teams, the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens, are expected to be heavy favorites against Denver and Houston. Thus making us wonder, can the Broncos continue their David vs. Goliath climb to the top and is Houston’s defense really as good as they were against the Bengals on Saturday? The Denver Broncos and New England Patriots, will renew hostilities, three weeks after there one and only regular season matchup. In that game, after being seven and one under Tim Tebow, the Broncos offense hit a road block, as the Patriots defense stopped the run, and in effect stopped the Tebow train from cruising to the playoffs. As a result, entering Saturday night’s rematch, many people are wondering, if Broncos Head Coach Mike Foxx and his assistants have contrived a way to stop the Patriots. In theory, if the Broncos can jump out to a quick start against Brady and the Patriots, they could pull off their second NFL upset in a row. Conversely, despite having their integrity questioned, with rookie TJ Yates as the quarterback, the Houston Texans enter Sunday’s clash with the Baltimore Ravens, with some serious momentum. The Ravens, under quarterback Joe Flacco are 44 – 20 in the regular season, but only four and three in the playoffs. For this reason, and the fact the Texans defense can apparently stop the run, Houston should have the momentum entering this weekend’s action. What’s more? This game means so much more to the Ravens and Flacco then the Texans. Meaning to say, if Houston pulls off the upset and keeps rolling, the Ravens may have to consider blowing up their team.
