Sure, Cincinnati rested some key players on defense – as well as running back Cedric Benson – but it also allowed Carson Palmer and the rest of the offense to play well into the third quarter. Palmer finished without a single passing yard, and Chad Ochocinco was held without a catch for the first time since 2003.

Were the Bengals keeping their real gameplan close to the chest, or are they in real trouble on Saturday against the Jets and their top-ranked defense?

NY Jets at Cincinnati (-2, 34) – Saturday, 4:30 PM ET

The line is on the move for Saturday’s redux between the Bengals (10-6, 7-9 ATS) and Jets (9-7, 9-7 ATS) at Paul Brown Stadium after oddsmakers opened Cincy as 4-point favorites earlier in the week.

Things figure to be different than in last week’s blowout, but it’s hard to ignore just how dominant was New York in dismantling Cincinnati. The Jets and their league-leading rushing attack racked up 257 yards against the Bengals, while keeping Cincinnati’s offense at the aforementioned standstill.

Benson’s return makes a difference, as does playing in front of a home crowd. That said, Bengals backers could be in for a letdown after their team limped into the playoffs with a 1-6 ATS (3-4 SU) mark over their last seven games.

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Philadelphia at Dallas (-4, 45) – Saturday, 8 PM ET

The matchup from last week that carries the most weight is this one. The Eagles (11-5, 9-7 ATS) were playing for a first-round bye last Sunday, but the Cowboys (11-5, 9-7 ATS) made quick work of their NFC East rivals in a 24-0 shutout as 3-point chalk at Cowboys Stadium.

Oddsmakers have held firm at Dallas -4, and that’s the sharp play against the spread. Philadelphia is once again without starting center Jamaal Jackson (knee), meaning backup Nick Cole is snapping the ball. Without Jackson, the Eagles had three false start penalties last week, while McNabb fumbled a pair of snaps.

Winners of three straight both SU and against the NFL point spread, the Cowboys haven’t won a postseason game since 1996 when they went to the NFC Divisional Round.

Baltimore at New England (-3.5, 43) – Sunday, 1 PM ET

With Wes Welker (knee) gone for the season, the Patriots (10-6, 7-7-2 ATS) clash with the Ravens (9-7, 8-7-1 ATS) at Gillette Stadium on Sunday in the other AFC Wild Card tilt.

New England has slotted rookie wideout Julian Edelman into Welker’s spot in the offense, just like it did when Welker missed two games earlier in the season. In those two games plus his work last week after replacing Welker in the Pats’ 34-27 loss at Houston (-7), Edelman has a respectable 221 yards receiving on 21 catches.

Perhaps of bigger concern for New England is the relative health of Tom Brady, who expects to play with a pair of broken ribs and a finger injury on his right hand. Brady’s 54% career completion rate against Baltimore is his lowest against any team in the league.

Green Bay at Arizona (-1, 47) – Sunday, 4:40 PM ET

Two key injuries are at the forefront of Sunday’s NFC Wild Card battle between the Packers (11-5, 11-4-1 ATS) and Cardinals (10-6, 9-7 ATS) at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Cornerback Charles Woodson (shoulder) left before halftime in Green Bay’s 33-7 win as 3-point underdogs at Arizona last week, but is expected to play through the pain on Sunday. The Packers need him in the lineup to help contain Larry Fitzgerald and the Cards passing game.

One player Green Bay might not have to worry about is Anquan Boldin, who wasn’t in pads at practice on Wednesday because of a sprained left ankle. Boldin is likely to be listed as questionable along with tight end Ben Patrick (concussion), defensive end Calais Campbell (thumb), and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (knee).

 

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