Phil Steele
Football expert Phil Steele is the owner and publisher of Phil Steele’s College Football Weekly regarded as the college football bible. Get in-depth coverage of college and pro football at PhilSteele.com.
Both of this week’s plays are very similar in that they are among the league’s elite teams, off a recent Super Bowl appearance, a clear preseason division favorite and two of the happiest teams to see the regular refs returning after falling to 1-2 with questionable calls last week.
Patriots (-4) over BILLS: Pats come in with the No. 10 ranking in both scoring offense and defense, and they certainly remember dropping their last trip to Ralph Wilson Stadium. It’s been 10 years since New England started 1-2, and while not a “must win,” I will back the better team and better coach.
PACKERS (-7¹/₂) over Saints: Green Bay has faced the league’s No. 1, 4 and 11 scoring defenses, while New Orleans has struggled against the No. 23, 28 and 29 defenses. The Packers D, after a No. 32 finish last year, is back up at No. 4 now.
In the last 10 years, only three teams have ever allowed more than 400 yards per game in a season. Saints are at 477, and the three teams that beat them this season are a combined 0-6 in their other games!
LAST WEEK (NFL): 1-1. SEASON: 3-3.