Maxxcash Los Angeles Rams at Houston Texans, 1 p.m., Fox
Line: Rams -14.5 | Total: 48
Tyrod Taylor could return this week for the Texans (1-6) after rehabbing a hamstring injury that has kept him out since Week 2. That won’t matter. The Rams (6-1) should encounter little resistance attacking a defense that ranks last in rushing yards allowed (1,020) and 21st in passing yards allowed (1,724). The spread, while lopsided, seems about right. Pick: Rams -14.5
Jacksonville Jaguars at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m., CBS
Line: Seahawks -3.5 | Total: 44
Geno Smith has been sacked five times each in his two starts for the Seahawks (2-5) while Russell Wilson recovers from finger surgery. The team’s limited offensive production, coupled with a defense that ranks 29th in passing yards allowed (1,964) and 30th in rushing yards allowed (939), has dropped Seattle to the bottom of the N.F.C. West. Their last two games have been decided by 3 points, which gives the Jaguars (1-5), fresh off their first win and rested from a bye, a chance to cover. Pick: Jaguars +3.5
Washington Footballers at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m., Fox
Line: Broncos -3 | Total: 43.5
The Broncos (3-4) have lost four straight after a 3-0 start against weak competition. Teddy Bridgewater is inconsistent in driving the ball downfield, and the defense, once thought to be the team’s strength, could not stop the Browns’ third-string running back from rushing for over 100 yards last week. The Footballers (2-5) have also underperformed because of a defense that is surrendering the most passing yards in the league (2,104). Still, Washington feels like a safer bet because it has mostly played well against good competition. Pick: Footballers +3
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Monday’s Matchup
Giants at Kansas City, 8:15 p.m., ESPN
Line: Kansas City -10 | Total: 52
It is as if the N.F.L. schedule makers foresaw that Kansas City (3-4) would struggle this season and offered the team get-right games immediately after its toughest matchups. Patrick Mahomes is now tied for the league lead in interceptions (9), while the Giants’ Daniel Jones has played relatively responsibly compared with previous seasons.
As has been the case for weeks, it is unclear whether Saquon Barkley (ankle), Kenny Golladay (knee) or Kadarius Toney (ankle) will play, and now safety Jabrill Peppers is on injured reserve with knee and ankle injuries. Jones and the Giants (2-5) blew out the Panthers last week despite being short-handed, but they are unlikely to do the same against a motivated, embarrassed Kansas City team. Pick: Kansas City -10
Thursday’s Matchup: Packers 24, Cardinals 21
We picked the Cardinals to win -6.5 thinking the absence of Davante Adams and Allen Lazard would cause the Packers to struggle keeping pace with one of the league’s best offenses. We picked wrong. Green Bay, in thrilling fashion, won, 24-21. In the game’s closing seconds, Rasul Douglas intercepted a pass Kyler Murray threw to A.J. Green, who failed look for the ball in the end zone. The turnover robbed the Cardinals of a potential game-tying field goal to force overtime after the defense denied Green Bay at the goal line on four tries and the offense drove 94 yards.
