Stan Hey: 6-5 Against
The NFL comes to the end of its regular season tomorrow much as its schedulers would have wished, with three play-off places in the AFC still up for grabs, and two in the NFC.
Twelve of the 16 games have a play-off implication. Those with most dramatic potential are in the AFC East, where leaders Miami travel to the New York Jets knowing a win will seal the division, and in the AFC West, where Denver lead but go to San Diego fearing a knockout. In games, quarterbacks will be centre stage.
The veteran Brett Favre came out of retirement to shake up the Jets but the player he ousted, Chad Pennington, has had even more effect on Miami, who won only one game last season. Favre is an all-American hero with history on his shoulder, while Pennington just has a chip. The raucous atmosphere at the Meadowlands, cold weather and "The Favre Saga" weigh against Miami – but Favre often gets too gung-ho in pressure games. £10 win on Miami at Coral's 31-25.
The quarterbacks in the San Diego-Denver game, Philip Rivers and Jay Cutler indulged in some provocative sledging last season, and San Diego's three straight wins will have charged Rivers up while Denver have lost their last two. Momentum is all, so a £10 win on San Diego, 1-4 at Betfred, is recommended.
Joe Lively sounds like a QB, and may touch down in today's Coral Welsh National, £5ew, 16-1 Paddy Power. The money follows Exotic Dancer to tomorrow's Lexus Chase at Leopardstown, a fiver at 11-2 (Stan James).
*The Ascot patent finished 3-PU-4, so no payout. Pittsburgh gifted a win to Tennessee; but Titans trashing a Steelers' "terrible towel" will be a yellow version of a red rag come the Conference final.
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