The race to be this season’s most disappointing quarterback began opening night when Danny Dimes (the New York Giants’ Daniel Jones) provided an epic effort in a 40-0 prime-time assault on viewers.
From Zach Wilson to Desmond Ridder to Jordan Love and Jimmy G, it’s been a favorite pastime for the pundits.
This weekend, we’ll try to speak a correction into existence: Stop the hate and support Love.
See how the primary play developed, along with a bonus play and a player prop below.
THE HEADLINER
Chargers at Packers, 1 p.m. ET
The line: Chargers -3, total 44
(DraftKings)
The Chargers are an entertaining, exciting offense and they probably offered up about a 90 percent on football’s Rotten Tomatoes entertainment reviews last week in a 41-38 home defeat against the Detroit Lions.
But that defense …
The Packers fan base was palpably beginning to turn against Love, who stepped in for Green Bay legend Aaron Rodgers this season.
Love, despite a decent Sunday (289 yards passing, two TDs, two INTs) in Pittsburgh’s hostile road environment, remains in the lower third of starting QBs in most key metrics. He’s 22nd in ESPN’s quarterback ratings.
A closer look showed some marked improvement from Love. The LA defense, coupled with the relative comforts of Lambeau Field, should bring Love some good vibes.
Green Bay’s receiving corps, perhaps boosted by the continued emergence of Jayden Reed (five catches for 84 yards including a touchdown last week), would help by making a few plays Sunday. The Chargers have given up huge chunk plays in the passing game.
Of the six Packers defeats this season, four were one-score games they fumbled on the road: at Atlanta (25-24), at Las Vegas (17-13), at Denver (19-17) and last week in Pittsburgh.
As for the second leg of our bet, there should be no question about this game’s potential for a shootout.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert lacks a quality offensive line but is certainly an elite NFL leader. He said he and his teammates remain confident following their season high in points last week.
The defense? It surrendered a season high in points.
Herbert has passed for 2,349 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions.
“I think you just have to build off it,” Herbert said about the offense, adding, “We can move the ball pretty well and we can get things rolling.”
The Bolts’ offense will roll, and it will have to keep pace with what the defense allows Green Bay to do.
The play: Parlay the Packers teased to +7.5 with the over teased to 37.5 (at -105 odds, per DraftKings).
THEY SAID IT
“I just really love his mentality. I think he’s wired the right way mentally, in terms of just how he attacks it. Not that it’s always going to be perfect, but when he does make a mistake, there’s no flinch to him.” — Packers coach Matt LaFleur on rookie WR Jayden Reed
BONUS COMBO
Sick of (Josh) Dobbsmania yet? Give us one more week.
Vikings at Broncos, 8:20 p.m. ET
The line: Broncos -2.5, total 42.5 (DraftKings).
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell has to be enjoying the game-plan process that now involves QB1 Josh Dobbs.
Minnesota’s season did not end with Kirk Cousins’ injury, and now the Vikings are favored to make the playoffs – so long as Dobbs stays upright.
The rejuvenated Vikings visit the tough Broncos defense Sunday night, but also the low-scoring Broncos offense. This seems like a nice recipe for a parlay.
Dobbs, released by Arizona as Kyler Murray became healthy, actually has some offensive assets now.
Denver was basically given its Week 10 victory in Buffalo and certainly needs to do more offensively against Minnesota, winners of five consecutive games.
Barring a couple of long TDs from Russell Wilson, the struggling Denver offense – coupled with its improving defense – should do enough to keep this score under the total.
Dobbs, meanwhile, should be good to provide enough key plays to cover the number.
The play: Two-leg same-game parlay teasing Vikings +7.5 with under teased to 45.5 (+108, per DraftKings).
PROP CORNER
Staying with the slugfest in Denver, we are going to enjoy Josh Dobbs for at least another week.
The Broncos’ invigorated defensive front is likely to pressure Dobbs into attempting to escape the pocket. That’s fine for this prop.
Dobbs has rushed six times or more in seven of his past eight games, and in addition to any scripted QB running plays, he’ll have to create some positive yards on scrambles.
Prop play: Vikings Josh Dobbs over 5.5 rushing attempts (+115 at BetMGM).
–Field Level Media