Matt Ludtke/Associated Press
The Kansas City Chiefs will try to recover from a devastating loss and beat the Green Bay Packers for the seventh time in eight meetings when they square off in the Week 3 Monday night matchup. The Chiefs are also 71 against the spread in those games versus the Packers and handed them their first loss in the last meeting as 11.5point home underdogs following a 130 start in 2011.
Point spread: Packers opened as 6.5point favorites; the total was 48 early in the week, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark. ( Line updates and matchup report )
NFL pick, via Odds Shark computer: 24.918.7 Packers
Why the Chiefs can cover the spread
Kansas City is coming off a stunning 3124 loss to the Denver Broncos last Thursday night, falling to their division rivals for the seventh straight time. The Chiefs have not beaten Peyton Manning since he arrived in Denver, but they have defeated Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay at their best, even if it was four years ago.
Alex Smith was the quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers during that time, as it was Kyle Orton who was under center for that big upset. But Smith too has enjoyed some success against Rodgers and the Packers, winning 3022 at Lambeau Field with the 49ers as sixpoint underdogs in the 2012 season opener. Kansas City is also 51 straight up and 60 ATS in its last six September road games.
Why the Packers can cover the spread
Green Bay is 51 SU and ATS in its past six games overall and brings a 10game home winning streak into this matchup with the Chiefs. The Packers are also 721 versus the line in their last 10 home games and just beat the Seattle Seahawks at Lambeau to snap a threegame losing streak against them, including the 2015 NFC Championship Game.
Rodgers looks like the reigning NFL MVP now that he is fully healthy again, and he will be out for revenge against the Chiefs for ending their shot at a perfect season in the last
game between the teams. He will likely be studying film of how Manning attacked the Kansas City defense late in that game and should be able to do the same thing here.
Smart pick
The Chiefs do have some passrushers who can disrupt Rodgers to some degree, but so did the Seahawks, and they ultimately could not beat him at home. This game will come down to who executes better offensively, with Smith and running back Jamaal Charles both turning the ball over in critical spots at home against the Broncos. They cannot afford to do that again on the road, but Green Bay always seems to cause a few turnovers when needed at Lambeau, and they'll do just that to help cover the spread.
Betting trends
The Chiefs are 51 SU and 60 ATS in their last six games on the road in September.
The Packers are 51 SU and ATS in their last six games.
The Packers are 41 ATS in their last five Monday night games.
All point spread and lines data courtesy of Odds Shark , all quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line movement updates and get the free odds tracker app .
Dodgers fans predicted rotation woes at trade deadline
Dodgers starting pitcher Alex Wood took the loss against the Diamondbacks despite giving up just two runs in 6 1/3 innings. (Stephen Dunn / Getty Images)
A Dodgers starting pitcher not named Kershaw or Greinke took the mound Tuesday and, once again, it was all about the ghosts.
Alex Wood was strong for nearly seven innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks, his Gumby delivery twisting bats, a nice little night by a nice little pitcher. But hovering above him was the specter of Cole Hamels, who, three nights earlier, improved to 4-1 as a Texas Ranger. Wood struck out six, didn't walk a soul, and hung tough until a replay delay seemed to distract him into a gopher ball. But all around him was the spirit of David Price, who one night earlier improved to 8-1 with a 1.95 earned-run average for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Get news and notes on all the Dodgers matchups >> Wood was good, but he wasn't good enough, leaving the game with a 2-0 deficit the lousy Dodgers bullpen turned into an 8-0 defeat. Wood was strong, but he wasn't strong enough, pulled after 79 pitches and 61/3 innings because he's just 24 and never pitched this much in a season before. Like Brett Anderson, who pitched the previous night, Tuesday at Dodger Stadium wasn't about who Wood is, but who he is not. Wood is not the championship-type veteran pitcher the Dodgers fans so desperately craved at the trading deadline. He is not Hamels, and he is not Price, and he is part of the center of a storm caused by their absence.
For someone so tall and slight, Wood will nonetheless be asked to join Anderson this postseason — if the suddenly stumbling Dodgers get that far — in sturdily carrying an incredible weight. Wood and Anderson are the guys who must keep four Cy Young awards safe and shined. They are the guys who have to protect and serve Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke. It is arguably the most important role on the team. Yet there remain huge questions whether they can do it, and on those questions the Dodgers' hopes teeter. The last two seasons, the Dodgers have collapsed in October without pitching depth, and if they don't get it this season, the meltdown could happen again as quickly as you can say, “Ricky Nolasco.”
Dodgers may soon have to juggle a crowded infield The third and fourth starters are the only guys who can keep Kershaw from swaggering into Manager Don Mattingly's office, puffing out his chest, and agreeing to pitch on an unfamiliar three days' rest. He did this in each of the last two postseasons. The
change in routine didn't hurt him immediately, but caught up with him later against the St. Louis Cardinals, with many believing his weariness led to his late-game tumbles. The third and fourth starters are also the guys needed to go deep enough in games that the bullpen isn't worn out for a guy like Greinke. For all his greatness this season, Greinke is still a guy honest enough to know when he is tired, and confident enough to admit it. Greinke only has two complete games in the last five seasons, and he's rarely come close in October. He has only gone more than seven innings once in his seven career postseason starts. He's never thrown more than 107 pitches. On days he's pitching, probably two other arms will need to join him, and those arms can't be worn down by somebody going 42/3 innings a couple of days earlier. cComments ●
@Notate Redmond - have you been watching Seager hit?
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That last figure was as long as Anderson lasted in his start Monday. Like Wood, by the time the season ends, he will never have pitched this much in his life.
There is a chance both pitchers could be needed from the moment the postseason begins. Even a five-game division series, if it goes the distance, could require four starters. The only real confidence that the Dodgers have four pitchers to handle the load seemingly comes from their dugout. When asked whether he is happy with his third and fourth starters Tuesday, Mattingly said, “I think we feel as good as anybody. Brett has thrown the ball good for us all year long. Between Alex and Mike [Bolsinger], both of those guys had really good outings at different times.� It is doubtful Bolsinger would be in the postseason rotation, but you get the point. The Dodgers seem fine with this. Everyone else is going nuts. Even the statistics are going nuts. In 60 starts this season, Greinke and Kershaw have combined for a 32-10 record, and a 1.91 ERA. Before Tuesday, the other guys who have started have combined for a 27-28 record and a 4.25 ERA. Dodgers fans are now screaming they knew this was coming, and they did. Dozens of emails received here after the trading deadline all predicted it, and they were right. By refusing to give up on prospects who could help build the team for 2016 and beyond, the Dodgers may have given up on the third and fourth starters necessary to win now.
While baseball boss Andrew Friedman passed on the big names, he did try to fill the slots with several average arms. The problem is, they have all barely been average. He started it all this winter with the acquisitions of soon-to-be-injured Brandon McCarthy and Anderson, and it hasn't gotten much flashier since. Here are the 11 pitchers brought in by the Friedman administration since last winter who have started a game this season: Anderson, Bolsinger, Juan Nicasio, Wood, Mat Latos, Brandon McCarthy, Ian Thomas, Scott Baker, Joe Wieland, Brandon Beachy and David Huff. The results? A combined 4.18 ERA in 75 starts. The fallout? Demotions and bullpen assignments. Then, just last week, Friedman stood tall and admitted his failure with Latos by stunningly cutting him. What happens now? Whatever it is, it might not be pretty. On Tuesday, one night after Anderson was awful, Wood was booed and the bullpen was booed louder and October couldn't get here slow enough. bill.plaschke@latimes.com Twitter: @billplaschke Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times
Early Season Disappointments By Dramen Updated: September 18, 2012
After two weeks some things are just going wrong in the world of fantasy football. Some things are up and down and you don’t know what to expect. Who is disappointing and when is it time to release them? Should you stick with the up and downers instead of looking for an alternative? We’re looking at those questions for some players today. First up is Larry Fitzgerald. He is unquestionably someone who has been one of the best receivers in the game for the past several years yet this year has disappointed greatly. Sunday saw him bring in only 0.40 fantasy points. That kind of stat leaves you hoping a RB throws up thirty. But is it his fault? No. If the Cards get their QB situation straight and make sure to let the man throwing the ball know that he needs to get the ball to their best receiver if they hope to win regularly this year, Fitzgerald’s touches will come. When they do his numbers will follow. I wouldn’t worry about him but if the team doesn’t get things straight soon, he might become a victimized innocent bystander on many fantasy teams. Adrian Peterson looked awesome in week 1 and not so great and explosive in week 2. I do think he seems healthy but the up and down weeks could continue. Next week he faces a great run defense in the 49ers so don’t trade him or release him, but you might want to sit him this week if you have a
better option. Schaub and Andre Johnson for the Texans had a down week in week 2 but that should be expected. I have Schaub as a great half of a tandem team of QBs but probably not a great idea to start him every week. All in all if you have someone regularly struggling it is approaching decision time. Don’t throw someone who should be a great fantasy point man away just yet. Someone who you took a risk on but isn’t contributing might need to go already so there is still someone decent on the waiver wire to grab.
Game Day Chili Recipe courtesy of Geoffrey Zakarian
Game Day Chili Total Time: 2 hr 45 min Prep: 45 min Cook: 2 hr Yield:8 to 10 servings Level:Easy Ingredients 3 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil 3 pounds ground meat (any combination of ground beef chuck, pork shoulder or veal shoulder) Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped 2 large onions, chopped 2 bunches scallions, chopped (about 2 cups) 2 tablespoons tomato paste 6 tablespoons chile powder
One 12ounce bottle dark beer, such as Dos Equis Two 28ounce cans whole fireroasted tomatoes, crushed by hand 2 cups chicken stock 2 tablespoons red hot sauce, such as Tabasco 2 tablespoons green hot sauce, such as Tabasco Suggested toppings: 1 cup lightly whipped and chilled creme fraiche, sliced jalapenos, fresh cilantro leaves, diced tomatoes, sliced cherry peppers, shredded Monterey Jack and shredded Cheddar ADD CHECKED ITEMS TO GROCERY LIST Directions In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil over mediumhigh heat. When the oil is hot, add the ground meat. Cook and stir occasionally until browned all over and you can hear a slight crackling in the pan, letting you know the moisture has cooked away, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the garlic, onions and half of the scallions and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Make a space in the pan and drop in the tomato paste. Let toast for 1 minute and then stir into the meat. Sprinkle on the chile powder. Cook and stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Pour in the beer and cook until almost reduced away, about 4 minutes. Pour in the tomatoes and stock and season with the red and green hot sauce. Adjust the heat so the chili is gently simmering and cook, uncovered, until the chili is thick, dark red and flavorful, about 1 1/2 hours. Serve in bowls with the remaining scallions and suggested toppings. Recipe courtesy of Geoffrey Zakarian AdvertisePRINT RECIPE Game Day Chili Recipe courtesy of Geoffrey Zakarian Game Day Chili Total Time: 2 hr 45 min Prep: 45 min Cook: 2 hr Yield:8 to 10 servings Level:Easy Ingredients 3 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil 3 pounds ground meat (any combination of ground beef chuck, pork shoulder or veal shoulder) Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped 2 large onions, chopped 2 bunches scallions, chopped (about 2 cups) 2 tablespoons tomato paste 6 tablespoons chile powder One 12ounce bottle dark beer, such as Dos Equis
Two 28ounce cans whole fireroasted tomatoes, crushed by hand 2 cups chicken stock 2 tablespoons red hot sauce, such as Tabasco 2 tablespoons green hot sauce, such as Tabasco Suggested toppings: 1 cup lightly whipped and chilled creme fraiche, sliced jalapenos, fresh cilantro leaves, diced tomatoes, sliced cherry peppers, shredded Monterey Jack and shredded Cheddar Directions In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil over mediumhigh heat. When the oil is hot, add the ground meat. Cook and stir occasionally until browned all over and you can hear a slight crackling in the pan, letting you know the moisture has cooked away, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the garlic, onions and half of the scallions and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Make a space in the pan and drop in the tomato paste. Let toast for 1 minute and then stir into the meat. Sprinkle on the chile powder. Cook and stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Pour in the beer and cook until almost reduced away, about 4 minutes. Pour in the tomatoes and stock and season with the red and green hot sauce. Adjust the heat so the chili is gently simmering and cook, uncovered, until the chili is thick, dark red and flavorful, about 1 1/2 hours. Serve in bowls with the remaining scallions and suggested toppings. Recipe courtesy of Geoffrey Zakarian Advertisement © 2015 Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.