Xam’s Daily Gems:
Packers/Cowboys Over 50.5 Points -118
Both the Packers and the Cowboys are coming into this game with high powered offenses. The Cowboys have been dominant at home this year, scoring at will in front of their home fans all year. They’re facing possibly the worst defense in the entire playoff field in this game. The Packers played well defensively last week, but they’ve been a major disappointment for much of the year. The Cowboys shouldn’t have any issue doing what they want offensively. The key will be how Jordan Love fairs in a hostile environment. He has shown remarkable poise and played well down the stretch of the regular season. If he can keep the game close and interesting, the Cowboys should care for the rest. The Cowboys scored 30 or more points in all but one of their home games and went over 40 points multiple times as well. They can score early and often. If Green Bay keeps it interesting, we should have a shootout on our hands.
Lions Money Line -164
The Lions proved to be a formidable home team this year, going 6-2. They averaged over 30 points per game at home this season, so the Rams will have to score tonight to win. Standout rookie tight end is trending towards playing tonight despite suffering a knee injury in last week’s game. That is big news for the Lions. The Rams were just 5-4 on the road this year. The Rams were 5-4 on the road, and averaged 27 points per game in the games in which QB Matthew Stafford played. The Rams will have to score to win tonight. The key will be Detroit’s defense slowing down the passing game. The Rams rested starters last week, so you know head coach Sean McVay has been cooking up plays for Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. If the Lions can slow them down, that’ll go a long way to getting this win and moving onto the Divisional Round.
Jordan Love Over 250.5 Passing Yards -110
Love has been playing great football recently, and he should be forced to go to the air early and often in this game. The Cowboys shouldn’t have issues scoring today, which will force the Packers to try and keep up through the air. Love hasn’t been fazed in recent weeks. The Cowboys have also been known to give up some yardage through the air. If this game turns into a shootout like it should, Love will have plenty of chances to get the ball to his playmakers and accrue yardage. Head Coach Matt LaFleur has surely spent the week coming up with ways to get the ball in space and to move the ball downfield. He has shown more and more trust in Jordan as the year has gone on, and depending on how this game goes, he will likely need to depend on him again.
Rico Dowdle Over 18.5 Rushing Yards -110
Dowdle has been impressive in limited snaps as the backup running back in Dallas. He averaged over 4 rushing yards per carry during the regular season, and was a little bit better than that at home. This is a game that could see Dallas running the ball a lot in the 2nd half. Dowdle only needs a few carries to hit this number. He has earned the trust of his team and Green Bay won’t mind him getting carries, since it means that Dallas isn’t throwing the ball in these situations. Dowdle has the ability to break off a long run at any point in the game. The Packers gave up almost 4.5 yards per carry during the season, so they can be susceptible for big runs.
Cooper Kupp Over 5.5 Receptions -150
Kupp got the week off last week, so Matt Stafford’s most trusted weapon is coming into this game fresh and ready to go. He had 6 or more receptions in 6 games this year, and had 9 games with 7 or more targets. In short, in a hostile environment in a game that should feature a ton of points, Kupp will get his opportunities. Him and Stafford have an incredible connection, so expect that to show itself tonight. The Rams will have to score and pass the ball effectively to win tonight. That means getting their number 1 wide receiver involved early and often.
Jahmyr Gibbs Over 50.5 Rushing Yards -110
Gibbs seemed to get better and better as the year went along. He was downright dominant at home, rushing for 5 yards a carry at Ford Field. The Rams gave up over 4 yards per carry during the regular season, so they can be run on. They’ll also likely be focused on stopping Jared Goff and the dynamic passing game of the Lions. That should give Jahmyr Gibbs more room to operate. The Rams would likely prefer to see the Lions run the ball. He averaged over 11.5 carries per game at home this year, which shows the level of trust the Lions have in him.