Steelers (6-2-1) at Jaguars (3-6): 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Point spread: PIT -5 | Matchup quality: 68.6 (of 100)
Jeremy Fowler’s pick: The Steelers are eager to shake the stench of last year’s two losses to Jacksonville that featured blown assignments on defense and seven turnovers by Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers contained mobile quarterbacks Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson in his limited snaps in the past two weeks weeks, so they won’t let Blake Bortles burn them with his legs this time. And don’t be surprised if Roethlisberger goes at Jalen Ramsey with success too. Steelers 27, Jaguars 20
Mike DiRocco’s pick: The Jaguars had five interceptions in their 30-9 victory in the 2017 regular season, scoring three defensive touchdowns off those turnovers. The defense feasted on turnovers last season (33) but hasn’t had the same results in 2018 (eight in nine games), and that has impacted the offense. Not as many short fields, injuries, inconsistent play from Bortles and a lack of playmakers make it hard for the Jaguars to score a lot of points. Steelers 30, Jaguars 14
FPI win projection: PIT, 64.3 percent. Entering Week 5, the Steelers were 1-2-1 and the Jaguars were 3-1. Pittsburgh has won five straight, boosting its playoff odds steadily from 23 percent to 95 percent, per FPI. Jacksonville has lost five straight, seeing its playoff odds plummet from 69 percent to 2 percent.
What to watch for in fantasy: The Jaguars have struggled this season, but the pass defense remains one of the league’s best. In fact, Jacksonville has allowed the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season.
Bengals (5-4) at Ravens (4-5): 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Point spread: NA | Matchup quality: 49.8 (of 100)
Katherine Terrell’s pick: The Bengals match up much better against the Ravens’ middle-of-the-pack offense than they did against the Chiefs, Rams or Saints. They’ve already beaten the Ravens once this season and generally play well in Baltimore, having won three of the past four. Bengals 28, Ravens 20
Jamison Hensley’s pick: The Ravens are going to be limited at quarterback, whether it’s Lamar Jackson’s growing pains, Joe Flacco‘s injured right hip or Robert Griffin‘s rustiness. To make matters worse, Baltimore is facing its biggest nemesis in Cincinnati. The Ravens have lost eight of their past 10 meetings to the Bengals. Bengals 24, Ravens 20
FPI win projection: BAL, 80.2 percent. We might not know who is starting for the Ravens at quarterback until Sunday, but it does not really matter to FPI. The Ravens would have an 82 percent chance to win with Flacco under center and a 78 percent chance with Jackson.
What to watch for in fantasy:Jackson excelled at Louisville when the pocket was clean of pass-rush pressure, so (if he starts in place of Flacco), he has the potential to post 18-20 points while making Michael Crabtree, John Brown and Willie Snead IV all double-digit-point candidates.
AFCE RESTING IN PEACE (RIP)!!!
Luciano’s Picks
Last week 1-2, Season total 19-12
This week I pick all AFCE teams as non participants……should be 4-0
As for AFCN, the MIGHTY Browns are resting, the rest is basically who cares! No Baker, no bread!
Steelers @ Jaguars: 34-20
Yea Jags of 2017 are long gone, Steelers started out badly, however they have found their LeVeon Ball-ess Rhythm. I cannot even picture how the London Jags could even come close to upsetting the AFCN Champs-to-Be!
Bengals @ Ravens: 23-9
Ravens were playing way over the heads early on, but now without a QB not called RG-Me, they simply will not scare anyone.
Flacco Power, he made sure his nemesis Lamar also got hurt!
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