COLTS (-2 ½) over Chiefs; Under 46 ¹/₂: Indianapolis and Kansas City are the lone survivors who have yielded more yards than their offenses have gained. They meet for the second time in three weeks, after the Chiefs played possum in Arrowhead in a desultory 23-7 loss. It was a game in which key linebacker Justin Houston didn’t participate, but both Houston and Kansas City’s other LB star Tamba Hali — and his achy knee — are expected to play, today. Most of Kansas City’s starters took a blow in last week’s near-miss at San Diego.
The Chiefs defense is healthier than it has been, but we will see if the stop-unit stalwarts (yielded no more than 17 points in their opening 9-0 run) can hold off big-game Andrew Luck. The Chiefs took out Philadelphia when Michael Vick was the quarterback. Other than edging Dallas by a point in Week 2, Kansas City has beaten no other imposing foes. For Indianapolis, receiver T.Y. Hilton isn’t Reggie Wayne, but he will do. The Colts have beaten the Niners, Seahawks and Broncos this year — as dogs — in addition to that Chiefs win. Expect the kicking game to be key. Hank Stram isn’t walking through that door. Colts 24, Chiefs 13
EAGLES (-2 ½) over Saints; Under 54: There are peripheral reasons to be wary of the Eagles, headed by their modest Linc underperformances. During their late-season surge, they were life-and-death to hold off Washington and beat Detroit when better-prepared for the snowy elements. Perhaps the blowout of the Bears exorcised local demons, but Eagles-Cowboys games are faith-driven crusades for the Brotherly Lovers — and they now need to sustain, off of that.
We’re looking at low-20s temperatures for this game. Without splitting hairs, the batting average of dome playoff teams in subfreezing temperatures is well below the Mendoza line (.200). A comparable 2006 Saints bunch was helpless under similar conditions at Soldier Field. Unless the zebras call this rigidly, Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham are likely to feel claustrophobic against this defense. Eagles will play man, and their key defenders relish getting in opponents’ faces. Saint coach (and Philadelphia guy) Sean Payton will have his hands full, given his flawed secondary. Eagles 34, Saints 17
LAST WEEK: 7-9.
REGULAR SEASON: 107-127-2.