Author: Al McMordie - Wednesday, November 29, 2006

With five games left in the regular season, we can certainly separate some of the pretenders from the contenders as the postseason approaches. Just as important, from a betting standpoint, we can pinpoint teams that have run out of steam or simply don't care anymore. Either they've tuned out their coach, or just have not had an enjoyable season, it's possible to find teams that have thrown in the towel. Here's a look at some late season stretch teams to keep an eye on.

Browns: Cleveland suffered an excruciating loss at home to the Steelers a week ago, a 24-20 defeat because of a late Pittsburgh comeback. The players were realy fired up for that game, as Pittsburgh had embarrassed them at home the year before, 41-0. Browns players were all talking about some payback. In fact, they did outhustle the Steelers, but the defensive and offensive deficiencies on this Cleveland team are many, which led to the loss.

After that defeat, the Browns had nothing left in the tank in Sunday's home loss to Cincinnati, 30-0. The Bengals haven't been able to stop anyone, yet Cleveland could muster only 202 total yards. The Browns have no offensive line and young QB Charlie Frye had no TDs, and 4 picks. After overachieving for parts of the season, one has to wonder if the Browns are out of gas.

Falcons: Atlanta may be 5-6 and has a shot at a winning season, but if you're looking for a team to stick a fork in, this would be one. Atlanta is 0-4 SU/ATS the last 4 games. They looked dead Sunday at home against the Saints, allowing a long TD pass on the final play of the half and then playing lifeless ball in the second half. Let's face it: Michael Vick is a coach killer. He is a great running back, but a poor quarterback. The Saints showed the way to beat Atlanta once again: Get ahead and force Vick to pass. More often than not, he can't do it.

Cardinals: Ever since that shocking collapse on Monday night to the Bears, the Cardinals are 1-4 SU/ATS. Arizona is 8th worst in total defense and 4th worst in total offense. Definitely stick a fork in this group.

Bucs: On that Monday night game at Carolina a few weeks ago, Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden told his team to let it all hang out. They did, taking a 7-0 lead...on the way to a 24-10 loss. A week ago they got flattened 38-10 at Dallas. The offensive line suffered another injury in that loss and they have a rookie in QB Bruce Gradkowski trying to run the offense. Rookies Jeremy Trueblood and Davin Joseph are manning the right side of their line.

The remaining schedule is brutal for the Bucs, a Dec. 3 game against the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers in Pittsburgh, followed by games with the Falcons, a road game at Chicago and the season finale against the defending NFC champion Seahawks. While the young offense is the obvious weakness, most shocking is how far the Tampa defense has fallen, currently 10th worst in the NFL. The Bucs are 0-5 SU, 1-4 ATS on the road.

Steelers: Sports book operators in Las Vegas have said money has been coming in on the Steelers all season, a carry over from winning the Super Bowl. But they have been money-burners at 3-7-1 ATS. Pittsburgh has suffered from a terrible schedule and turnovers. The Steelers are just 1-5 SU, 0-5-1 ATS on the road after getting shut out at Baltimore Sunday. They won't quit with Bill Cowher as head coach, but be careful about backing these $$$ burners.

Lions: The Lions (2-9 SU, 3-8 ATS) are a great example of how upper management and poor drafting can ruin a team. Matt Millen has done an awful job and probably won't be around next season. He has botched several first-round draft picks and team is 21-68 since he became GM.

They are on an 0-3 SU/ATS run. Make sure you check the Detroit newspapers on line, as the anti-Lion stories are rampant. Their biggest problem is the worst offensive line in pro football. When they face teams that have any kind of pass rush, it will be murder.

Good luck, as always...Al McMordie.

Related Articles:
- NFL Playoffs Analysis - Handicapping The Coaches
- Handicapping College Bowl Games
- NFL Handicapping Down The Stretch
- Football Handicapping - Halftime Wagering
- Meat And Potatoes Football
- Big Al's Free College Football Handicapping Preview
- NFL Handicapping - The Impact Of Weather
- College Football Handicapping The Coaches

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